The Bill and Hillary Show

Okay, I think this needs to be said. And I say this as someone who remains committed to ultimately support the nominated candidate with a 'D' behind their name. I say it also as someone who occasionally gets concerned about the negatives that will be flung by the eventual candidate on the other side. I also say this because it reaffirms a concern that keeps cropping in regarding a Clinton candidacy in the general election.

I remain convinced that a Mitt Romney or John McCain or Mike Huckabee or even Guiliani would rather face Hillary Clinton than face Barrack Obama. I believe this to be true because any pundit with an 'R' behind their name has been presuming Clinton to be the candidate for the past three years and they all talk (with supposed candor) about what a hard opponent she would be to face. But, after years of Clinton bashing, how can we believe this attitude is sincere?

Isn't it more likely that, by ringing the 'inevitable' bell for Hillary, they believe they can con the masses into putting forth the candidate they can trash for almost a year and ultimately beat.

Whether this presumption is accurate or not remains to be seen. But Bill Clinton's attitude is not helping.

Twice now (New Hampshire and Nevada) Bill Clinton has gone into defense mode prior to the contests. He has criticized process, challenged procedures, attacked the media, attacked their closest rival and attacked the intelligence of their rivals supporters.

In both cases the Clintons ultimately triumphed in the contested state revealing his antics as altogether unnecessary. In the process, the media paints an image of a divided democratic party and the general electorate is reminded of a very negative side of an otherwise popular former president.

For me, Clinton Fatigue is real. To move this country in a new direction will take a leader with guts and vision. It will take a leader who can move beyond the rhetoric of the past.

Setting aside the qualities of any individual candidate I am concerned that the Republicans will make it difficult to get that message across. Further, it works to their advantage if they can change the discussion away from today's issues and dwell on the past.

Bill Clinton's soft underbelly makes him a delicious target for his enemies, especially the ones who sit on their fat buts in front of microphones for a living.

I have no doubt any candidate with a 'D' behind their name will have to endure endless attacks. It may throw the attack machine off their game a bit if they are required to write new material.