Clean energy and dirty politics. the Solyndra scandal

I try to avoid getting wrapped up in the daily political scandals and the barbs tossed back and forth across the aisle. I typically have more productive things to do.  But the Solyndra scandal isn't going away anytime soon so I figured I'd read up on it.  Here's the gist of it..

The Solyndra scandal involves the Obama administration's giving a $535 million loan guarantee to Solyndra in 2009, with the promise that the company would create 4,000 new jobs. Instead of creating the news jobs, Solyndra reduced its staff to approximately 1,100 employees. In early September 2011, the company ceased all business activity, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and laid-off all employees...

According to e-mails which were released exclusively to the Washington Post, the Obama administration had tried to rush federal reviewers to approve the loan so Vice President Joe Biden could announce it at a September 2009 groundbreaking for the company’s factory. The company was a hallmark of President Obama's plan to support clean energy technologies.

Imagine that. Politicians who use their influence to benefit individuals and companies that donate to their political campaigns. Wow. Who woulda thunk it could ever happen here in the USA. / 

But maybe there is a deeper conspiracy at work here. (cues the mysterious music..) President Obama has a horrible approval rating. He has lost all his mojo with the Democratic base and he's got no trick cards left up his sleeve to get it back. He could potentially lose the White House in 2012.  He may have already been dubbed an albatross.

There are people out there, in his hometown no less, wondering aloud if Obama should just step aside and skip the 2nd term for the good of the party. Why Obama Should Withdraw

His approval rating is at its lowest level ever. His party just lost two House elections — one in a district it had held for 88 consecutive years. He's staked his future on the jobs bill, which most Americans don't think would work.

The vultures are starting to circle. Former White House spokesman Bill Burton said that unless Obama can rally the Democratic base, which is disillusioned with him, "it's going to be impossible for the president to win." Democratic consultant James Carville had one word of advice for Obama: "Panic."

Could the Solar Panel scandal actually cause enough of a problem for Obama that it forces him out of a 2nd term?  Under normal circumstances I would say no, Obama will likely win reelection whomever the TeaOP runs against him.  But then Hillary is not interested in being anyone's secretary for long and by 2016 Obama's policies may have caused irreparable damage to the Democratic party and the US financial system rendering Hillary's patience all for naught.  2012 just might be her best shot at not only winning the presidency but also being able to lead the US out of the multiple crisis we face at home and abroad.

If the Solyndra Scandal can somehow pave the way for Hillary, the Ablest Person in a generation to the Democratic ticket in 2012, the GOP will get a lot of free help focusing sunlight on the shady dealings by the Obama administration.  Jes sayin..