The Three-Arm Baby .

[mrbluto]

A Three-Arm Baby

Have I got your attention?

Ok - here we go:

There's an old fable about two women who claim to be the mother of a baby. Neither refuses to give up their claim so all the townspeople insist they see a judge to settle the matter. In one version of this fable (the one without a sword) the judge orders the following contest to decide the matter:

     "Each of you grab an arm and pull - and we'll see who is the mother, who wants the baby more."

One of the women looks horrified, but takes her place. The other woman takes her place.

They both begin to pull. After only a few moments, the baby cries in pain and the horrified mom lets go. The other woman beams in triumph. She cradles the baby.

     "Not so fast" says the judge. (actually, since this is a fable, he probably said that with more decorum)

     "Give the baby to the other woman."

     "But you said we'll see who the mother is with the tug-of-war!" said the woman holding the baby.

     "We did - the one who couldn't stand to hurt the baby, the one who would sacrifice even motherhood for the baby's sake - that's the true mother."

I think you can see where I'm going with this.

The Democratic nomination is a three-armed baby.

(Metaphorically speaking. I had to make that clear for some. You know who you are.)

Edwards let go first.

We're watching to see who lets go second. It ain't easy for either of them.

The only sure thing at the moment is that neither of the remaining contenders cared as much as Edwards.

Right now it's a damned if we Obama, damned if we Clinton, sort of situation.

I don't think the supporters of either side is going to support the other if "their guy" doesn't get the nomination.

We can't afford to give up that support. We're going to need that support. Maybe not to win the general election, but to give the next Democratic President the Mandate he or she needs to fix whats gone on, to have the tools necessary to tame corporate greed, and to whip some spine into a legislature that has shown little actual willingness to take on the fight. I wish we could run someone who hasn't pissed off half the party either directly or by uncontrolled proxy.

There is a way.

We can select a nominee whose campaign hasn't alienated anyone yet. (at least not on the scale that Obama's and Clinton's has)

I think the best thing for the Democratic party, considering how screwed up the nominating process is, is a

Brokered Convention.

There. I said it.

Now a lot of people will feel a need to come out of the woodwork and peck me to death.

Maybe the nominee would be Edwards, maybe Gore - who knows?

Now I await the brick-bats and invective that will be cast my way.

Have at it.