The history of the Clinton campaign suggests that there will be no "Gentleman's Agreement", as the armistice negotiated between Generals Grant and Lee is styled by historians. So, in lieu of any sign of a graceful capitulation by the Clinton, Obama needs to take decisive and proactive steps now to begin his stewardship of the Party, making peace with Clinton supporters on his terms.
It is essential for our success in the Fall.
Obama has made a good faith effort for reconciliation with the Clinton people. Now, seeing as he is clearly the presumptive leader of the Democratic party, it is time for exercising the prerogatives of leadership. The Clintons have been permitted to keep their rifles and their horses for the Spring planting, but they are the vanquished and they are going to have to acknowledge it by ceasing the petulant and unreasonable demands, and by taking metaphorical loyalty oaths to the Party.
While Obama has behaved quite magniminously and benignly thus far, in the grand tradition of Grant at Appomattox, Hillary can't be accused of aping the gracious and honorable surrender of General Lee.
Obama's people need to insure that the DNC Rules Committee eviscerates every Clinton demand at that May 31st meeting. It needs to be clear that the Florida and Michigan delegations will be seated at the pleasure of the Obama people, who are the new Sheriffs in town.
But, more fundamentally, the Clintons need to know that they will be treated with respect but not deference. They themselves had no qualms about running roughshod over the Party regulars in 92, so while they will moan and kvetch and rend their raiments and bring out the sackcloth and ashes, they cannot be expected to respect any opponent who displays less strength than they once did.
It's time to put them in their place. Otherwise, they will kill the Party with a thousand petty demands and endless complaints.
Discussions, not negotiations, should begin with these three unequivocable suppositions.
No money for Penn or Hillary personally.
No fully vested delegations for the recalcitrant Florida and Michigan delegations.
No offer of the second spot to Hillary herself.
From this firm postion, the Obama team can proceed to discuss terms with the Clinton people which are generous and beneficient. However, the Clinton people must understand implicitly and absolutely exactly who is running the Party apparatus. And they must acknowledge that leadership of the Democratic party, unlike that of the Clinton administration, is not a partnership with Hillary wielding veto power or special portfolio.
Commensurate with this, Obama must demand quietly that Hillary's remarks to the Convention be subject to prior editing by his Convention managers.
And, if I were he, I would let it be known that Bill Clinton's role at the Convention will be no more prominent than those of President Carter, Al Gore, Walter Mondale and Michael Dukakis. PERIOD.
Frankly, I would insist that Hillary make some reciprocal gestures aimed at stifling, if not outright muzzling, Clinton surrogates like Geraldine Ferraro or Joy Behar. The "sexism" charges are not only unhelpful, they are downright destructive to the Party. As Party leader, Obama must make it clear that such patently transparent exploitation of the gender issue for political purposes will only insure the marginalization of persons making such statements. As the Obama platform includes some fundamental women's issues, such as the future of Roe V. Wade, those who wish to participate in the formulation of policy and the enactment of legislation will have a powerful incentive to participate in the process, rather than bewail any alleged injustice.
In the final analysis, Rachel Maddow is absolutely correct is identifying the next ten days as crucial to the success of the Obama campaign. He must begin the exercise of leadership by bringing the Clinton people back under the Party's umbrella on HIS terms. He need not be arrogant or capricious (and it simply is not in his nature to be either), but he should be firm.
He is now the head of the Party. Dean, Gore, Kerry, and Edwards now answer to him when it comes to Party matters.
And so do Bill and Hillary.