Kirk,

The strings of power I believe are pulled from outside of government. Old money power families, corporations etc.

You must have forgotten Ross Perrot,, he also yanked the chains.

As far as the current Democrats,,,Clinton will get the nomination. In the States a person only gets 1 chance to run for president, if they loose the election they loose the party nomination for the next one. Bush was unbeatable in 2004, that's why she didn't run. The Clintons or CLINTON INC as they're know are ruthless, they've been know to crush everyone in their path..Bill controls the Democratic party,,for her to loose would be a major upset....

America will have for the first time a nominee that will either be the first black or first woman president..I strongly believe that a white christian ( so she claims) femminist woman would be tolerated more than a black muslim man..

FYI the last U.S president that broke new grounds was John.F.Kennedy  he was the FIRST catholic to be elected president.