Hillary Clinton not quite down yet?

I am not so sure Hillary Clinton will be telling us goodbye all that soon.

Newsweek's Jonathon Alter says she should step down down, and avoid the embarrassment of defeat in the March 4th primaries in Texas, Vermont, Rhode Island and Ohio.

Well, fine, Mr. Alter, you national boys have a heap of smarts. Now, I don't carry any water for either of the two remaining Democratic Party candidates. My boy, John Edwards, doesn't have a dog in this fight (although his name still is on the Texas ballot).

My mother's side of the family comes from Vermont. I was there awhile back and got to drive logging roads and look at autumn colors. Nice place, but I don't know anything about its politics.

Don't know how it is in Ohio. Nice place, I understand. It gave us James Thurber. Used to play cards with a helluva player name of Lillile who lived up there. I rode through the state in the back seat of a car when I was kid. I remember a lot of green. I understand there's some football played up there too.

Never been to Rhode Island, not even through it. There's a good chance I flew over it once or twice, but that's about it.

However, I do know Texas.

I have to admit. Clinton's crowds are ... well ... sorry, but they are pathetic compared to the arena-busting crowds Obama has drawn over most of the state. Most folks seemed to think the two fought to a draw at the last debate and Clinton closed with a semi-concession speech.

A “do or die” situation inspires the troops. They shoulder their underdog burden and wear it with pride as they knuckle down.

Hillary and her camp are in "Alamo Mode". That's not a la mode, with the ice cream on top of the pie, but hunker-down-and-get-ready-to-fight-to-the-end-in-one-last-stand mode. Often, that kind of determination can overcome inspiration.

Face it, there are many older Dems here who don’t want to seem racist, but just don’t feel right voting for Obama. I am not making this up. They say they are concerned about experience, electability in the South and a sense that Hillary has “earned” her turn. These are the folks you can count on to vote. Many of these also are the folks who see John McCain as a nice man who would not make a bad president.

Of course, there's always that cloud of racial hatred and possible violence that hovers around. That "argument", of course, is an "excellent" excuse to not vote for Obama. It is a vote to save the country all that pain. You know, of course, if "something" happened, "they" would be rioting in the streets.

Finally, the Republicans will not be easily denied the date with destiny they so relish – running against a Clinton again. The BS Swiftboat has its autopilot set on Whitewater and is ready to go (example: a comment after they motorcycle officer died – “people just seem to die around the Clinton’s”).

Texas is an open primary. There is no party registration. The Republican race is decided. So, what should any blue-blooded Republican do? Go vote for Hillary in the Democratic primary. Some may be there just to vote against a black man for president. It is most unlikely that wave of voters lining up are all Democrats.

So, with a little bit of help from her friends and enemies, Hillary Clinton still could pull it off.