THE SHUTDOWN AND BEYOND...PRESIDENT OBAMA'S NEXT THREE YEARS...HILLARY CLINTON FOR PRESIDENT IN 2016...AND HER RUNNING-MATE THAT WILL COMPLETELY SHOCK THE NATION

     Okay, so here it comes.  We, as Americans, should not have to live our lives in this country...with Democrats and Republicans attacking each other to such a degree...that nothing ever gets done.  We SHOULD NOT have to...and we CAN'T.  The fact of the matter is...that in the eleventh hour...at the brink of catastrophe...as our nation nears the death and demise of our government...the Democrats and Republicans will come together...and they will resolve the debt ceiling issue...and the GOP - who is responsible for closing our nation's capital for the last 13 days - will eventually re-open Washington for business.  But as to when...exactly when...that's still a question that remains unanswered.

     It's disgusting that the GOP has let it go so far...let it go this long...by holding America "hostage" - to use President Obama's word - but 

when push comes to shove...Speaker of the House John Boehner...Republican from Ohio... will have to do what is right...and will call for a vote...to take down the "Gone Fishing" signs...on all federal buildings.

     Will Boehner and his conservative cronies...agree with President Obama and other Democrats...to raise the debt ceiling...in a long standing fashion...and in a so-called "clean" way...or will there be strings attached?  That is yet to be seen.  Or...will they first come to terms on some sort of a temporary increase...with the promise by the President...that he will at least agree to talk...and to consider negotiating?  Again the question is...negotiate about what?  The Affordable Care Act CANNOT be included...in ANY...that's right...in ANY compromise or negotiations.  "Obamacare" CANNOT...SHOULD NOT...AND WILL NOT be touched.  And the President would be a fool to back down now.  And say what you want about President Obama.  You can disagree with him politically - which, of course...I don't.  You can dislike him personally 

- which, of course...I don't.  But President Obama... is no fool.

     Reopening the government...and raising the debt ceiling...are not matters of...IF they will be done.  It's a matter of...WHEN they will be done.  I simply can't believe that Speaker Boehner and his raucous Republicans...will allow the absolute destruction of the United States of America.  The political pissing match will have to end...and end soon.  But unfortunately...three months from now...six months from now...a year from now...and all the way through the remainder of President Obama's second term...the GOP - especially "The Tea Party Tyrants" - are going to try to trample the Democrats and the President... and every single one of Mr. Obama's positive plans that he and The White House hope to accomplish...in order to move America in a direction that is for the best.

      As a result...come 2014...this is what has to happen.  The Democrats have got to take over the House of Representatives...so that with a Democratic House...a Democratic Senate...and a Democratic President...Mr. Obama can fulfill all of his dreams on his Presidential agenda...and take the United States...to perfection...or at least to...near perfection.  That being said, however...there is a BUT.  And that BUT is...that Americans are fickle.  And although the polls continue to give the lowest approval ratings in history to Congress...and survey after survey has shown and has proven...that a vast majority of Americans are blaming the Republicans for the government shutdown...and for the mess that was created by such brash and bitchy boneheads...I'm not quite sure whether Americans nationwide...will vote out the whining, cranky culprits...who are to blame for this shutdown...and for the despicable embarrassment that our nation has had to face.  But if they do in 2014...will Americans keep Republicans out of office - out of The White House...the Senate...and the House of Representatives...in 2016?  Will the people of our great country...forgive and forget?  Will they have a short memory?  Or will Americans realize and remember...that it was the Republicans' responsibility for crippling our government in 2013?  We obviously won't know those results until next year...and two years after that.  

However...President Obama is strong enough to achieve his goals...and is smart enough to compromise - within reason - while battling the GOP.  And it's a shame that I am compelled to use the word "battling."  But that's exactly what it is...a battle.

     In this world today...in this country today...it seems apparent...that in order to get anything done...in a timely fashion...or in a way that is going to be accepting by all parties concerned...the President, the Senate and the House of Representatives need to be of one party.  Obviously...for me...that party needs to be Democratic.  But maybe it's time...innovation takes over.

     The single best person to run our country...beyond President Obama and his Administration...is a man who unfortunately...Constitutionally...can never become President again.  And that's President Bill Clinton.  If I had my druthers - and...according to many polls... millions and millions of other Americans agree - Bill Clinton would be elected President of the United States...for LIFE.  Knowing that can't happen, however...the person I supported in 2008 for President...is a lock to get the Democratic nomination 

in 2016.  And that's my favorite political gal...who is married to my favorite political guy...and that's...Hillary Clinton.  

     Now the truth is - and please understand me clearly - it's obvious that with Hillary...we do get Bill.  But I would vote for Hillary Clinton for President if her name was Hillary Rodham...or Hillary whatever her last name was.  With or without Bill...Hillary Clinton in 2016...is the single best candidate the Democrats have...and for 2017 and beyond...Hillary Clinton is the single best person to be President of the United States.  But will a President Clinton - a President Hillary Clinton - have any more success with a Republican House of Representatives...that is if the Democrats don't win back the House in 2014...or if they do...but don't retain majority in 2016?  A lot can happen between now and then.  So, that being said...America...and Americans...need to get creative.  And here's how we do it.

     Those of us who are Democrats...along with the Independents...and perhaps even some Republicans...elect Hillary Clinton as the 45th President of the United States.  And...at the same time...we elect as Vice President...Hillary's running mate...New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.  Yes you read right.  And although some of you may be saying to yourself..."Has Gary completely flipped his lid?  Is he absolutely whacky?  Has he gone totally bonkers?"  No...trust me, I haven't.  A Clinton-Christie ticket is an unbeatable team.

     I was never much of a fan of Governor Christie until October 31st, 2012... nearly a year ago.  But New Jersey's chief executive has proven to me over the last eleven and a half months...that he is one of the few Republicans - albeit the fact that he is outside Washington, DC...(at least for now) - who is willing to recognize that doing what is best for our country...and doing what is best for his state...is most important.  Governor Christie demonstrated that he cared more about people...than he did about politics.

     Two weeks before the 2012 Presidential Election...at a campaign event for Republican nominee Mitt Romney...Governor Christie questioned President Obama's leadership...calling Mr. Obama...someone who is "blindly walking around The White House...looking for a clue."

     When Hurricane Sandy pounced the New Jersey shore...and crushed coastline communities with death, devastation and destruction...the Democratic President came to the rescue of the Republican Governor and the people of "The Garden State"...bringing with him...quick assurances of federal aid.  A battered state brought together these two political opponents...and formed a relationship...that replaced nasty insults...with generous praises.

   

     At a news conference on Halloween day, 2012...with President Obama at his side...Governor Christie expressed his heartfelt sentiments for the President.  "I cannot thank the President enough for his personal concern and compassion for our state and the people of our state."  Governor Christie told reporters that Mr. Obama was "outstanding"...and "deserves great credit."  Meanwhile...the President returned the compliments...and thanked the Governor "for his extraordinary leadership and partnership."


     Now I certainly don't agree with Governor Christie on all political issues...but I discovered an enormous amount of respect and admiration for him when he cared more about the people of New Jersey...and more about rebuilding his state...than helping to get Governor Romney elected President.  "I have a job to do in New Jersey that is much bigger than presidential politics.  There will be some folks who will criticize me for complimenting him.  But the fact is...I don't care.  I speak the truth.  That's what I do.  I say what I feel and what I believe.  And I'm just doing the same thing with the President of the United States."

     Those of you who are regular readers of The Controversy are well aware of my sincere devotion and the colossal support I have for President Obama.  Democrats nominated Mr. Obama on August 27th, 2008 at their national convention in Denver, Colorado...and the country elected him on November 4th.  But to be honest...it was Hillary Clinton who I privately campaigned for that year.  And when Mrs. Clinton interrupted the official roll call at the Denver convention...to move that Mr. Obama be selected by acclamation...I knew the former First Lady and U.S. Senator from New York... had eight years to prepare...to do it all over again.

     The question of course - always - was...would she do it?  Would Hillary Clinton ever run for President again?  From the moment she was sworn in as Secretary of State...on January 21st, 2009...I was confident...that Mrs. Clinton still held on tightly...to her own Presidential ambitions.  And everyone...from the media...to citizens all across the country...to this day...continue to wonder.  Will she...or won't she?

    

Governor Christie last week...practically came right out...and told the world...that he will be seeking the Republican nomination for President in 2016.  "I can walk and chew gum at the same time," Christie told his gubernatorial opponent...Democratic State Senator Barbara Buono...in a debate on October 8th.  "I can do this job...and also deal with my future.  And that's exactly what I will do."  And with the overwhelming lead that Christie has over Buono...in every poll to date...it's a no-brainer that the New Jersey Governor will be re-elected...a little more than 3 weeks from now...on November 5th.

     But what about the Presidential election in 2016?  Could Chris Christie beat Hillary Clinton?  Could anybody beat Hillary Clinton in 2016?  If Secretary Clinton wants the job...if she is still hungry enough to become the first female President of this nation...is there any Democrat...who can take that nomination away from her...and is there any Republican...who can defeat her...when Americans vote on November 8th, 2016?  I doubt it.  And I think Democrats know that.  The question is...do Republicans?  The question is...does Chris Christie?

     How can we unite a country...that is so polarized...and so passionately divided?  Imagine this.  And ponder this with me for a moment...before - as I noted earlier in this column - you think I've gone off the deep end.  Suppose... just suppose...the following scenario.  A telephone call from Hillary Clinton to Chris Christie.  "Hello, Chris.  It's Hillary Clinton.  How would you like to be my running mate in 2016?"  No matter what happens to the Senate and the House of Representatives...whether the Democrats retain majority in the Senate... and the Republicans keep the House...or whether the Democrats win enough seats to take over control of all of Congress...to paraphrase the opening of the original Star Trek television series...a Clinton-Christie White House... would boldly go where no White House has gone before.

     But if Hillary Clinton is to be assured...if she is to be guaranteed the Democratic nomination for President...she must declare her candidacy as soon as possible.  In other words...very, very soon...in order to avoid...if not altogether eliminate...a fight in the state primaries.  The Republicans would then be off to scuffle and skirmish with each other...and to try to figure out who they feel is mighty enough to beat one of the nation's - one of the world's - most popular people...female...or male.

    

And again...with Hillary...we do get two Clintons for the price of one.  Not that Bill would be involved with the day to day operation of the country - I don't believe that for a minute - after all...Hillary Clinton is her own person.  But with other Commanders-in-Chief...The First Lady - or in the case of Bill Clinton...The First Gentleman - the President's spouse is his...or her...personal Confidant-Counselor-Consultant-and-Companion-in-Chief.

     Hillary Clinton has strength and intelligence...and she has a track record that proves she can make things happen.  She did it as The First Lady...she did it as a United States Senator...and she did it as Secretary of State.  But Bill Clinton is arguably the best politician America has ever seen.  And on the campaign trail for his wife...President Clinton would be an asset that cannot be equaled by anybody else.  President Obama realized that in 2012.  Unfortunately, it's a shame that  

Al Gore didn't grasp on to that notion in 2000. If he had...the former Vice President would have no doubt won one more state - perhaps his home state of Tennessee - and therefore...the Presidency.  

     Think about how our country would be different...if Vice President Gore - who I supported then and still support today - would have accepted President Clinton's help in 2000.  George W. Bush wouldn't have been President...there would have been no Iraq war...economically, the United States 

 
would never have tanked, as it did...and a memo... written eight months before the September 11th attacks by the chief counter-terrorism adviser on the National Security Council, 

Richard Clarke...warning the Bush White House about a threat against the United States by al-Qaeda...may not have been ignored.  Clarke's correspondence on January 25th, 2001 to

then National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice stated, "We urgently need such a principals-level review on the al-Qaeda network."  Of course we don't know for sure whether the terrorists who hijacked the airplanes on 9/11 would have been stopped if Clarke's memo was taken seriously...but it is possible...that the World Trade Center towers may still be standing today...and more than 3,000 people would be alive...if the Bush Administration had paid close attention to its top counter-terrorism expert.  But I digress.

     As for Hillary Clinton as President...she is a leader...and she has the experience - both domestically and in foreign affairs - to encounter and solve the problems - whatever they may be - here at home...and abroad.  She is perhaps the most powerful woman in American history...and was without question...the most active Secretary of State.  Hillary Clinton has the wisdom...but also the warmth...to lead the United States.  She has an intellectual mind...but also a thoughtful demeanor.  Mrs. Clinton can communicate as a diplomat...and as a decision maker.  While the U.S. under President Obama will continue to improve economically...stay out of all war zones anywhere in the world...and bring peace, happiness, better healthcare (through "Obamacare") and opportunities for prosperity to all Americans... there is no person - male or female - better suited to be our NEXT President... than Hillary Clinton.

     As for now...our current President...has his work cut out for him.  Mr. Obama and Congress are coming down to the wire...this Thursday, October 17th...when disaster will strike.  Democrats and Republicans must...must... must come to an agreement to end the government shutdown.  But as President Obama stated last Tuesday..."We can't make extortion routine...as part of our democracy."  Therefore...as America nears doomsday...the question remains...are the President and Congress getting closer to re-opening the government...or is the possibility of default...not only looming over our heads...but becoming more and more likely?  

     Will there be a final solution to America's fiscal fiasco by Thursday?  If in just four days...the United States of America...for the first time in our 237-year history...defaults on our debt...the negative impact is going to be horrendously tragic for all Americans.

      However...I am optimistic that cooler heads will prevail...and Congress will vote to end the government shutdown...before we go over the cliff.  And  

then...President Obama is going to get us out of the hole that Congressional Republicans have dug.  But as the President definitively noted last week... Congress has to "vote to meet our country's commitments...pay our bills... raise the debt ceiling."  And I'm hopeful...that the smart and sensible people - and I know there are some - in the House and Senate...both Democrats and Republicans alike...will finally join forces with the President...so that this week...this year...and over the next three years...America can move forward - which again brings us to 2016.

     So my Democratic and Republican friends...can you say...President Hillary Clinton?  Can you say...Vice President Chris Christie?  Can you think... can you embrace...can you completely accept...and can you vote for President Hillary Clinton and Vice President Chris Christie...to be in the same White House?  Don't just think it.  Do it.  Love it.

     

     And that's The Controversy for today.

     I'm Gary B. Duglin.

     "We'll talk again."

The Controversy is a publication of GBD Productions.  Founder and Editor-In-Chief of The Controversy is Gary B. Duglin.  

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