This is remarkable footage of Hillary Clinton making her case for allowing “every vote to count” in Florida and Michigan. On the merits, Hillary Clinton has a point, of course. Barack Obama is reaching new heights of hypocrisy in blocking these states from trying to now comply with DNC rules and have a revote. (This isn’t changing the rules in the middle of the game, it’s complying with them. The only rule was against having an unauthorized primary in the window before February 5.)

But her steely determination, her simmering defiance to take this to the convention if needed is almost breathtaking. (You can just imagine that same venom: “We will not resign the presidency!” “We will not give them the Rose law firm records!”) She is simultaneously impressive, and downright scary in her “we will not be stopped” resolve.

Who’s got the nerve to tell her no? (You can imagine the aides or the Democratic elders drawing straws to decide who gets that task.) And even if someone does, what will force her to listen? (You can imagine the eye rolling with which she received Senator Leahy’s suggestion to pack it in.)

It might be smart, really smart, after a win in North Carolina and/or Indiana for Barack Obama to offer to give the darn delegates to her in the same proportion as these states’ earlier primary election results. You say that’s giving in to blackmail? Well, yes. But when the bank robber is threatening to shoot hostages, you give him an escape route. So give her the delegates (the political equivalent of unmarked bills) and a helicopter and send her on the way. Otherwise, I suspect Obama will come to regret it. Deeply.

Or he can always play chicken with the Clintons all the way to August, hoping she won’t blow up the party less than three months before the election. (I’m thinking the McCain team is rooting for this option.)