'The Stupidity of Inevitability'

From Turkana at The Left Coaster:

Is it too late for Hillary? That's the question everyone is asking, and the fact that they are asking works against her. Obama is benefitting from the bandwagon effect, but that, itself, gets back to the inevitability game. In the short break between Iowa and New Hampshire, bandwagon excitement can make a huge difference- as it is; and it seems almost certain to easily roll right through South Carolina. Can it be sustained through February 5, and the much larger states, with their much more diverse voting populations? Possibly, but not necessarily. But will the corporate media, who have for so long so loathed the Clintons, succeed in convincing the public that a few quick wins by Obama ends the race? We will see.

At some point, Obama's own seeming inevitability is going to result in a renewed focus on his own flaws and vulnerabilities. His middle name and his youthful indiscretions are, thankfully, not going to be problems, but his unimpressive record and failure to explain what exactly "change" means could be. People care about Iraq and health care and global warming and the housing market. As the excitement of Obama's meteoric ascent wears off, people are going to want from Obama the same answers they have long demanded from Hillary: Why should you be president? How are you going to repair the damage done by the Bush Administration? How are you going to make the country and the world better places? Some are now using almost mystical terms to explain the effect of Obama's rhetoric, but pragmatics will soon reassert their rightful place. . . .