“Iron Woman” has mediocre weekend, possible sequel to come

Ironic.

That’s one way to look at what happened earlier this month.

With the enormous success of Iron Man, we learned that Hollywood’s newest genre wasn’t destined to forever make sub-par, plotless blockbusters. Soon after, some three time zones away, we watched a Stark distinction emerge: Hillary Clinton’s fickle win in Indiana and Barack Obama’s decisive double-digit delivery in North Carolina. In other words, chances are we’ll be seeing an Obama ticket come this fall.

Just as Iron Man topped the box offices, the “Iron Woman” seems to have finally lost her chance at winning the ballot boxes. Ironic.

But it turns out that she may not be completely out of the picture.

“She is hard-working. She is tough. She is very smart, and so I think she would be on anyone’s list, short list, of vice presidential candidates,” Obama said, hinting at what has been called the “dream ticket.”

If America likes two candidates, why not give them both? However, the likelihood of the duo running a unified platform is debatable. After all, Obama is trying to run away from exactly the kind of politics that Clinton represents.

But then again, despite the occasional hiccup, both contenders are politically conjoined twins. Clinton has advocated for the gas tax (a horrible idea); Obama wants to get out of Iraq earlier. Clinton wants “universal” health care, among other differences. But functionally, throwing Congress into the mix, chances are that the political future of this country under either administration would pan out the same way. We’ll depart from Iraq as soon as they can run their own country, a gas tax won’t be levied and some alloy of a more inclusive health care policy will emerge.

Besides, this election has received unprecedented attention from the public, and it’s clear that the Democratic primary process is the reason.

Joining forces would mean the Democrats wouldn’t go into the general election divided. Superdelegates are being harshly lobbied on both sides, and the candidates have been running in a dead heat for months now. Instead of biting into all of these problems, the Democrats can follow Obama’s example and rise above the situation. It doesn’t have to be the end for Clinton.

Secondly, what Obama said was right. She is smart. She’s tough, hard-working and, most importantly, she’s experienced and lethally ambitious. And that’s just what Obama needs right now. The United States is at war in Iraq, and the conditions in Afghanistan are worsening. Putting a Democrat in office, from the party that definitely is not known for being big on security and defense, might be unsettling for many. But perhaps the idea of Clinton, with her foreign policy experience, will be a comforting sight.

If she doesn’t end up at Obama’s side, there’s no telling what she’ll do next. She may remain a senator indefinitely, retire with her family or start a line of perfume. But in a recent interview with Bill O’Reilly, she may have revealed her backup plan.

“I want to correct the record on New York, because we do have to make some big changes in New York, changes that I’ve advocated. And I hope we’ll finally get around to doing it,” Clinton told O’Reilly. Maybe we’ll be seeing the “Iron Woman” trying her luck in New York’s gubernatorial race soon.