As a Hillary Supporter, I Know it's Probably Over on 3/4/08!

[MarianJack]

And you know what? I'm OK with that.

For me, it was all about being FOR Hillary, not AGAINST any of our other candidates.

I've always considered Barak Obama to be a great man. My concerns about him were never about what kind of president he'd be, but that he just might "gentleman" himself into losing 35+ states because he believed that the public wouldn't fall for the inevitable rethuglican smear & slime machine YET AGAIN.

I have several hopes for the upcoming campaign for our all but presumptive nominee. I hope his handlers and managers are preparing him for the tidal wave of hate and venom that is INEVITABLY coming without pause in the next few months. I hope that Sen. Obama will make it clear to the party leaders that they are expected to DEFEND Obama and stand with him in this onslaught.

I was embarrassed to see the way that the party leadership stood by in 2000 & 2004. It shamed me to see Al Gore left on his own while he was being called a liar. It shamed me to see John Kerry left on his own while he was being called a coward. Our party did not defend 2 brilliant men who would have been great presidents against obscene accusations from the panderers of george w freakin' bush! I hope that Sen. Obama and his campaign team are telling the party leadership that this is NOT acceptable. I believe that Howard Dean will not allow that to happen. WE cannot allow it to happen.

I would have been proud to point to Hillary Clinton and tell my son that she was the president. I'd have felt the same way about Al Gore and John Kerry. I will feel the same way about Barak Obama.

I've been around for awhile. The first presidential election I was aware of was 1960. I was 5 years old and chastised my uncle for talking about nixon because my father had told me that "nixon" was a bad word. The first campaign I worked in was Bobby Kennedy's in 1968. What I've seen was that the worst times for Democrats in presidential election years is when we are divided.

Does anyone here really think that our country could survive 4 (or, God forbid, 8) years of the "more of the same" philosophy espoused from the "straight BS express"?

I hope that we all have the wisdom of realizing this year that supporting our party IS supporting our country. I wanted Hillary. It now looks very unlikely to happen. I will actively support Barak Obama with all of my heart and soul. I owe it to my family, my country and my conscience.

On January 20, 2009, my son will be 2 months short of his 9th birthday. I look forward to finally being able to point with the same pride with which my parents pointed to JFK, and say "There, son, is OUR PRESIDENT".

PEACE!

[babylonsister]

1. Rec'd. Wonderful post, and thanks for the dose of reality. nt

[MarianJack]

9. And Thank Yuo, babylonsister!

:patriot:

[anonymeme]

61. So You're a "Hillary Supporter" the Way Bush a "Human Rights" Supporter, Then?

So You're a "Hillary Supporter" the Way Bush a "Human Rights" Supporter, Then?

One More Such "Hillary Supporter" and we can all lay down, entranced, while the Big Obama Swoon washes over us all.

[casus belli]

2. You rock! Great post. :) n/t

[MarianJack]

10. Thanks, casus belli!

:yourock: too!

[VolcanoJen]

3. Oh, wow.

:hug: :hug: :hug:

[MarianJack]

14. Back at'cha!

:hug: !

[havocmom]

4. Damn, MarianJack, I would give up the privilege to recommend threads for a year,

if I could give this one the five to put it on the Greatest Page!

Damn, best OP in a very long time.

Thank you. You have restored my faith in people around here. :toast:

[MarianJack]

18. Thanks, havocmom!

I think that when the dust settles, most will come around!

[havocmom]

21. From your keyboard to DU's hearts and minds!

:hug:

[Zachstar]

5. You are a wonderful Clinton supporter!

Hey I look forward to having a clean race in 2012. I may not support Clinton now. However, if there are alot more of people like you in 2012 then this will be one HELL of an ERA.

I am happy that you did not let the horrid Clinton Supporters here get you down. They are scum and will likely go away after the GE or even after Clinton exits.

*Offers to shake your hand* See you and Clinton in 2012?

[MarianJack]

22. Handshake All Around!

[Trajan]

6. Im for both ...

And against neither ...

GREAT post ....

[MarianJack]

24. I'm like a Hillary supporter I saw @ our Maine Caucus.

He had both a Hillary and a Barak button.

[papau]

90. News had Texas car photos - Defeat Hillary in Texas on both McCain and Obama stickered cars - Nov

will be a hard vote for some of us.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

7. it ain't hardly over

[Zachstar]

12. It is if you want her to have a chance in 2012.

Yet many of the bad Clinton supporters are in desperate/scorched earth mode right now and could care less.

It is OVER!

[ElsewheresDaughter]

20. ~*~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77XqG8p6-GE

[FedUp_Queer]

53. I confess. I'm sick and tired.

I'm sick and tired of these two campaigns. But I will tell you something that has left a bad taste in my mouth about Hillary's campaign. I actually asked a Hillary supporter many weeks ago why he was in favor of her (I was and am an Edwards supporter). I asked because I didn't know why the person was for her. I knew why I was for Edwards, and just was curious. The person was actually taken aback that I would ask such a thing. The response was "how dare I ask" such a question and that he didn't have to justify his position to me. Fine. He's right. He didn't. But it told me a lot. It told me of the sense of entitlement that many in her campaign seem to feel about anyone challenging her entitlement to the nomination. I mean...how dare anyone actually challenge her on what was rightfully hers and how DARE any mere Edwards supporter ask a Clinton supporter to justify their decision to support Sen. Clinton. So, that's the perspective I'm coming from. When Edwards dropped out, I pondered telling Hillary and Barack to screw themselves and write in Edwards (I live in NY and know the Dem will win the state anyway.). Then, I actually started looking into them. I really want to join the election in the Fall, but I have to actually believe in the candidate and campaign because I want them, not because I don't want McCain. As a gay person, there are several issues to me that are paramount in importance, make or break issues, if you will. First, the Defense of Marriage Act; second, the Uniting American Families Act; and third don't ask, don't tell. On these three issues, the candidates are virtually the same. First, they are both for overturning don't ask, don't tell; second they are both for the Uniting American Families Act; but third, Barack is for completely overturning the Defense of Marriage Act, but Hillary is for leaving some of it in tact. For me, advantage Barack.

Then, I looked at health care. Frankly, Hillary's "plan" is better than Barack's "plan" from everything I've read. However, I realize that with such a sea change in American policy, there will be compromises and changes on a bill that comes out of Congress, but I can only go on what their respective plans are. For me, advantage Hillary.

Because the substantive issues important to me come to a draw, I look to campaign tactics and intangibles. Barack has run an outstanding campaign: well-organized, inspirational, and very professional (and he has elicited over 1,000,000 donors). That means in a total electorate of 200,000,000 people (there are about 300,000,000 people in the country, but not all, of course, can vote), 1 of every 200 people has given money to Barack. That's .5% of the voting population has given money, not just attended a rally. It speaks of a person who can inspire people to ACTION. I would surmise that there are many, many people who have never given money to a campaign included in that count.

Hillary engenders a large amount of passion in her supporters as well. However, her campaign has been one of the most poorly run campaigns I've ever seen. To be that flush with money, have that much support early on (establishment and popular support) and be in this predicament tells me one of two things or both. Either she is a bad judge of the people she put around her; good people messed up; or both (in addition to Obama running a great campaign). This does not seem to bode well for the general election. Now that I am focused on the campaigns, I look at rhetoric, etc.

I see Hillary claiming the "experience" mantle. I see experience as a Senator. I see experience as First Lady. I see a life of public service. In Barack, I see experience as a Senator. I see a life of public service (maybe not as many years, but then again, he's 15 years younger than Hillary is). How is their experience different? Just because Hillary says she has experience, doesn't make it so. I recall that Bill, in 1992, was criticized for his lack of experience. Yet, nobody would say he was any worse than George HW Bush, who had tons of experience. In fact, on the international front, he was MUCH better (ask the Irish; look at the bojinka plot or the millenium bomb plot). The point is this...many Hillary supporters claim experience, but frankly nobody seems to say exactly what it is. In fact, Senator Richard Lugar, probably the most well-respected Senator on Foreign Policy issues, co-sponsored a bill with Obama on non-proliferation of conventional weapons (http://obama.senate.gov/press/070111-lugar-obama_non/). In fact, Slate.com asked her campaign people what exactly her experience was and here was the response (http://donspoliticalblog.blogspot.com/2008/02/hillarys-foreign-policy-experience.html). The point I'm making is this: neither one has "experience" as most of us regard the term. When someone asks me as an attorney if I have experience in this area, they are asking me if I've ever done it before. They are not asking me if I have read about it being done; whether I could learn it; or whether people say I could do it. Have I had experience going to a trial court and arguing a motion before a judge, YES. Do I have experience arguing an appellate brief before a panel of appellate judges, NO. Could I do it because of my judgment and ability, YES. It seems to me the Hillary people are trying to equate experience with actually doing it with the notion that she has the judgment and ability to do it. So...does Hillary have foreign policy experience, NO. Does Hillary have the judgment and ability to do it...YES. In like regard, does Obama have foreign policy experience, NO. Does Obama have the judgment and ability to do it...YES. This is where I doubt the credentials and tactics of Hillary's campaign. She is claiming she already has the experience and that her prior experience is directly applicable. Obama is saying that he has demonstrated good judgment, which he can rely on when foreign policy crises strike. On this, he strikes me as more credible.

To conclude, I like Obama's GLBT stance better. I like Hillary's health care plan better. The fact remains that each has the same "experience" in the area of foreign policy, and even domestic policy. The two sides need to really get past the insults and innuendo. I have pleaded repeatedly with people on here to do so. Stop with the insults. Stop with the hyperbole. In an instance as this one, where two candidate have very similar ideas and experience, like it or not, it comes down to words. It comes down to who can inspire people to action. Who can inspire people who are always a part of the process and who can inspire people who've never been a part of it to enter it. Hillary Clinton is inspiring, no doubt about it. Unfortunately for Hillary Clinton, she happened to come across a person who has the power to inspire better than she can, just a bad twist of fate on her part.

I cannot remember in my lifetime a politician who actually inspired people like Obama seems to be doing. I remember Bill Clinton's "hope agenda" in 1992. I remember the final line of his convention speech "I still believe in a place called Hope." I can't tell you how many times Obama's campaign has reminded me of the 1992 Clinton campaign. It was a generational campaign. Hillary and Bill were Obama's age, and George HW Bush was as old then as Bill and Hillary are now (I think). Even so, the Obama campaign seems the type of campaign that Bobby Kennedy ran in 1968. It is in this, along with his ideas, to which Mrs. Clinton's ideas are very similar, that explains Obama's appeal. Words really can inspire. I respect Sesn. Clinton. I respect her greatness (now and in the future), but it's probably that events are beyond her control. My wish is that we as Democrats can stick to the issues, and even during a hard fought primary, stay above the name-calling, innuendo, hyperbole, and doubting people's motives we disagree with. We are all Democrats. More importantly, we are all proud LIBERALS. Differences, struggles, etc. are great. Let's just not tear each other down personally in the process.

[The Doctor.]

74. That's a whole lot of 'rational' fer Primary season.

Very well put there.

[bluescribbler]

86. This should be an OP

So I could recommend it. There has been entirely too much flaming on DU for my taste lately. Go Dems!

[FedUp_Queer]

88. Thank you for the vote of confidence.

We all need to come down from the ramparts and realize we are family. Of course, it's true that we treat other family members worse than we'd ever treat our friends.

[shrub chipper]

89. Great post

Let's hope we see more of this type of rational post around here.

We have to get our eyes on the Prize!!


America and the Democratic Party deserve better.

[WillyT]

8. Superb Post !!! - Big K & R !!!

:kick::yourock::kick:

:hi:

[caledesi]

11. I will vote for Hillary if nominated. I am an Obama supporter, but

BOTH would stand up to these rethugs. Peace out.

[adoraz]

13. great, great post

[blonndee]

Fantastic!

Although I support Obama and have become rather angry at Hillary lately, I am sorry that it looks like you will be disappointed. We all know from experience how painful that can be, and it could easily be the Obama supporters in this position (and it's not over yet!). You're absolutely right in that what's most important is that we not have repeats of 2000 and 2004. Firstly, I don't think the Democratic party could take such another letdown; secondly, and most importantly, as you point out, neither can our country.

Thanks for your awesome post.

[NC_Nurse]

15. This is the best post I've seen in a long time. K&R

Thank you so much! :loveya:

[sandnsea]

16. The Clintons are the party leadership

You're supporting the person who never goes to bat for Dems, never fought against Bush, who only fights for Clintons.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

19. Not sure I would go that far, but you're not too far off either.

[Exilednight]

95. They're DLC leadership, not Democratic leadership.

[Bodhi BloodWave]

Great post and rec'd

I am quite positive tho if he gets the nomination you will see a more aggressive Obama as well, he has shown some of it during the primaries but mostly covered by velvet so to speak. Once he is against the republicans rather then a fellow democrat i think he will let loose a bit more as to me he seems the type that would try to avoid behavior that can harm the party or a fellow democrat to badly.

While i also believe his aggression will be more subtle then outright attacks, i am positive they will be just as effective

:hug:

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

17. You're right, we could not survive a McPain presidency . Nice post.

[Johnny__Motown]

23. K&R thanks for the great post,

[goclark]

25. Simply eloquent!

:hug:

[Yael]

26. Happy to K&R

I am still disappointed that my guy didn't make it, but I stand behind Senator Obama and hope like heck his coattails will help us take back a fillibuster-proof congress.

:grouphug:

[ClayZ]

27. Best Post on DU all week! K and R

:yourock:

[MarianJack]

28. Thanks, ClayZ!

Gotta go now, but I'm very touched by the response this post has received!

PEACE!

[Cha]

29. Wow, what an amazing post

from a clinton supporter!

[doublethink]

30. Wow ..... I haven't been posting much lately on DU .....

except for a recent :kick: here and there just in the last few days. I've just been waiting for the right time when the 'adults' can come back into the house so to speak. Your post may be the beginning of that, who knows, maybe after this Tuesday, come what may .... posts like your will begin to un-do the damage the scorched earth policy these primaries has done in here. All the best and Peace.

K&R. :kick:

[grantcart]

31. thank you for your thoughts

[blondie58]

32. Thank you MarianJack for such a thoughtful and rational post

It is true- it is not about Hillary vs. Obama- it is about getting the WH back from the Repubs for the good of ALL of our country. I think that either candidate would make a fine president- although I think that we need to break from the Bush/Clinton/Bush/Clinton dynasties.

I must say also that this is one of the best posts that I have seen from a Hillary supporter. IMHO, the Hillary group seem to be the ones who have drunk the Koolaid.

[Catchawave]

33. Very well stated, thanks ! K&R

[Kittycat]

34. Great post.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us :)

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

35. One more rec from me. Thanks for your rational analysis -- rationality has been

in short supply around here lately. It's refreshing to see someone understand that it should never be about being *against* another Democrat.

I've been supporting Obama, but not because I hate Hillary. I don't hate her; I just like Obama a bit more. Neither of them were my first choice, and as the primaries progressed I actually got to liking Hillary rather more than I did at first. Nevertheless, for reasons that aren't important here, I decided that as between the two I preferred Obama -- but I hate to see Hillary being trashed and slandered, because she's a good Democrat and I'd happily vote for her if she's nominated. And I'm pleased to see that there's at least one Hillary supporter (and I'm sure there are many others) who would be happy to support Obama against the Republican slime machine. We will need that support no matter what happens.

Thanks again for for your wise words.

[milkyway]

36. That's how I felt about Bill in 1992. I had my 2-yr-old son pull the lever in the voting booth

for him. I was really happy that after 12 years of Reagan/Bush that my son would grow up with a president we could root for. I did not want my son to become as cynical and distrustful of our government as I had become.

That's one of the appealing aspects of an Obama presidency--a lot of people will feel good again about our government and country. It's time to reclaim patriotism from the right. It's our country, too.

[beltanefauve]

37. Could it actually be safe

to venture back into GD-Primaries again?

Wow, great post, and thank you!

[Window]

38. You have restored some of the faith I seem to have lost here lately.

For that, I thank you.

K/R


Peace:thumbsup:

[loveangelc]

39. It's not over, and she has a chance to win both tx and oh.

i think its great that you are being gracious in potentiall losing.

[Colobo]

40. What a great post, Marian! Go Dems!

[Kajsa]

41. Thank you, MarianJack,

for a thoughtful, intelligent post that everyone here should read.

You are a true blue Democrat and stand for unity in our party.

It is very much needed, especially after we have our nominee.

Thanks, again.

:) :applause:

Strong K&R.

:kick:

[George II]

42. Great attitude, thanks....

and yes, it IS better to be FOR a candidate than against another. Glad to see I'm not the only one here that feels this way.

[NanceGreggs]

43. Absolutely spectacular!!!

:applause: :patriot: :applause:

[XtraProudDem]

44. Thanks MarianJack...

Two thumbs up. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[liberal_rxstudent]

45. Well put...

I feel the same way. My daughter is 4 and I have started explaining why this country is great. The way things have been going for the past few years...ouch. I am working my butt off to get my peers more involved and more interested in politics. It is not a hobby...it is a duty to know what is going on and speak up. Thanks for your post! Let's get our party back into the white house!!

[Unca Jim]

46. Indeed!

My pick (Richardson) didn't make it either, but I never forgot that what we're really doing here is getting behind the person who takes our country back from the idiots who have been running it into the ground for so long.

We (and the rest of the country) will grow to appreciate Obama as he undoes what has been done. We would have grown to appreciate Clinton if she did it as well. What matters is that the work gets done next year.

I honestly don't get the hate.

[No Blood for Hubris]

47. Uh, excuse me, but last I heard, the fat lady had not sung.

So it ain't over.

Cui bono from posts like these?

Very inappropriate, and insulting to all those voters who have yet to cast their ballots.

[MadBadger]

48. BaraCk

just lettin you know

[Skarbrowe]

49. God, this is so much better to read than "someday people will

be embarrassed that they ever voted for Clinton". THANK-YOU, MarianJack. I left the board after that previous remark was made. I was not for Obama from, oh, about 2006, but I've come around to liking him because I think the qualities he has that I actually didn't care for, might actually do some good against the Republicans. It was a bad perception on my part. I think I got into gender issues with Hillary, meaning I became much more for her than I thought I would be. To be honest, I never wanted her to run for President. I knew the beating she would take. I also knew that many, many Democrats didn't like her at all. What I didn't expect was the vitriol I've been seeing on this board. Mind blowing.

Thank-you again for your post. I realize Hillary will most likely have to give a good long, hard think about getting out before Pennyslvannia. I'm afraid she will wait until after that primary and I don't think a lot of us here can take that emotionally. geez... I want her to fight as long as it is reasonable, but that day, the one she so dreads so much, has to come.

[ribrepin]

50. Finally we are getting back to the DU I loved and followed for the last many years

I was a Biden supporter, but he dropped out. Now I've gone with Barack. I love the Clintons and I was proud to call President Clinton my president, but the Clinton time has passed.

I've been avoiding DU since Biden dropped out because of all the nastiness. Like you, I want our democrats to support other democrats. They allowed Clinton to twist in the wind, but somehow he survived and I'll always love him for that. They allowed the repubs to say terrible things about Gore and Kerry and they couldn't overcome it on their own.

The Clintons will always be party elders to me...I support Obama, but I couldn't join in the bashing of the Clintons. Peace

[Mme. Defarge]

51. Merci!

And K&R.

[rodeodance]

52. I think your OP is premature--hope you stay with her until she decides. I trust

she will make a wise decision when that time comes.
She is a very capable woman as I am sure you know. just premature when she is working her butt off the next few days.

No response is needed. best.

[Hav]

54. .

That was a beautiful post. Thank you.

[tnlefty]

55. Thank you for this excellent post.

My faves were out a while ago and I've basically been observing, but I've discovered that I'm getting a little emotional at the prospect of Sen. Clinton being out and I'm pretty much convinced that it is a woman thing.

Whoever the nominee is it's going to take all of us working hard to ensure that McLame doesn't get into the White House. :hug:

[dailykoff]

56. Great post, inspiring!

Thank you! :thumbsup:

[BringBigDogBack]

57. kick

[ekwhite]

58. Thank you for a wonderful post

I would like to thank everyone else for responding to this post in a gracious manner. If Senator Clinton drops out or stays in after Tuesday, thanks for reminding us that we need to stick together as Democrats. I, for one, salute you. :patriot:

[Sonnenschein]

59. Now Hillary was not only left to her own, but being attacked by Obama for being "devisive".

[mtnsnake]

60. Can't say as I ever remember you favoring Hillary here, but good luck & peace to ya

In the unlikely event that Hillary loses to Obama, I'll be waiting to join you. Until then, we've got a wide open primary race on our hands.

[frogcycle]

62. GREAT POST

You speak wisdom.

Thank you.

[man4allcats]

63. Not that's one helluva post!

:toast: :thumbsup: :toast: :thumbsup: :toast: :thumbsup: :toast: :thumbsup:

[IowaGirl]

64. She could be the Comeback Girl......

you know. Whatever, we will all pull together to get through this for the good of the country. I cried myself to sleep every night for a week when Al got ripped off in the election. I knew we'd go to war because everyone who was close to GW said he'd definitely look for a reason to take Saddam out. 9/11 just made things easier for him. I just don't want to cry for a week again in November and I WANT OUR BOYS BACK!!!!! :patriot:

[Savannah_H]

65. delegate counts

too bad your have that new system for counting delegates for each state...
Hillary could have been the nominee

[Spiffarino]

66. Well, if Hillary turns it around

...I'll have a good laugh at this and drink a toast to you.

I hope Barack wins it, but I won't die if it's Hillary. She's still a damn sight better than the best the Republicans could offer.

[parkeradison]

67. I know it's over for Hillary on March 4

It probably is, but this has been a crazy election in both parties, so hang on and wait and see. You never know, there could be a couple more surprises before it's over.

[Q3JR4]

68. To be completely honest,

neither candidate really inspires me. That being said I will be voting in the next election for whomever the nominee ends up being, mostly because it's the dem or mccain and I'd cut my heart out before voting for a *-lite.

I don't expect anything to change (the people who "represent" us could care less about what we need--health care, good paying jobs--because they don't have to worry about any of that...all at taxpayer expense), but I'm hopeful that things will be better than they otherwise could be.

I also will not participate in name calling, or backstabbing, and I will not announce to the world that if candidate X gets the nomination I'm staying home. In my book you don't do things for the good of yourself, your ego, the party, or candidate X. You do things for the good of your family, yourself, and your country. If mccain decides to take us down the same failed path as the asshole currently occupying the white house (and all indications are that he will), then for the good of the country you don't stay home and deny the democratic nominee (who may or may not be better or worse) a single vote in the election.

Only children take their toys and go home when they don't get their way. Let's treat each other like adults, swallow our prides, hold our noses, and do what's best for the country.

As much as it turns my stomach, that's what I intend to do in the next election.

Q3JR4.

[AZBlue]

69. Fantastic post - proud to be your 100th recommend!

I really appreciate anyone who is FOR their candidate and not AGAINST another candidate.

[David Zephyr]

70. Thank you for your great sense of proportion and the call of history at this moment.

Every hour that McCain has to gather his forces while Hillary continues (after 11 straight losses) to challenge the obvious nominee at this point is hurting our Party.

I have been hoping for an Obama/Clinton ticket, but if she will not drop out after Tuesday and continues with her reckless campaign driven by Mark Penn, then I will no longer even support her for VP.

She has to bow out this week.

[Rebel101]

71. Call of History at this Moment

"She has to bow out this week."  

No she doesn't.  

[LaStrega]

72. bravo!

:kick: & highly recommended!

[lisainmilo]

73. Very thoughtful post

I like seeing nice threads like this...:)

[Prophet 451]

75. Well said

And similar to my own feelings. I was for Kucinich or Edwards, not because I thought either Obama or Hillary would be a disaster but because I thought they would be better.

EDIT: That said, this has been such a weird campaign that I'm not counting anyone out just yet.

[Guava Jelly]

76. That was very nice

Thank you :D

[NJmaverick]

77. Great post- I hope others follow your excellent example

It's good to see the big picture.

[sandyj999]

78. Right There With You!

We just need to take over that huge mess and attempt to fix it! I will totally support the person that receives the nomination.

[mirrera]

79. Great post. And not because I am an Obama supporter...

I agree with all your points about the party leadership, and I agree with you that Dean is going to make a huge difference. He already has.

[davidpdx]

80. Good post MJ

I know it's hard to see the candidate you support drop out. Edwards really was my second choice and in the event Obama had dropped out I would have supported him (I actually sent money to both early last year when I was still undecided).

When I did decide, it was a tough decision, but I felt I wanted to be involved in a campaign early on. Obama is the one who has inspired me to be involved and want to be part of the solution.

There are too many reasons to list why I couldn't vote for Hillary Clinton, including the type of campaign she's run. This coming from someone who proudly voted for her husband not once, but twice (and I shook his hand in 1996).

At some point the primary will end (though I'm not prepared to say this week) and people will need to get behind the Democratic nominee to win back the White House in 2008. Whomever is the nominee, it's going to be hard for the supporters of the other person to give up, there's no doubt about that.

[Frumious B]

81. Don't count Hillary out yet.

I support Obama. However, I would still be reasonably satisfied with a Clinton nomination and win in November, certainly more than I would be with a McCain win. I think it is a mistake for people to get ahead of themselves in writing Hillary Clinton's obituary in this campaign. She is someone that you underestimate at your own peril. I remember New Hampshire too well to fall into that trap. I think it's a given that Obama carries Vermont and that Clinton carries Rhode Island. Texas is close and appears to be leaning Obama while Ohio is close and appears to be leaning Clinton. However, it wouldn't shock me if Clinton swept both states. Even though her margins of victory likely would not be enough to help her much in the delegate count it would still give her an ample excuse to stick around. I do think that if Obama takes Texas, Ohio or both to go with Vermont then the race is effectively over, but I'm far from confident that this will happen.

[democrattotheend]

82. It's not over - don't give up yet

I was in Ohio over the weekend and I still think Clinton has the upper hand there.

That being said, I am glad that you are happy with both candidates and at peace with the prospect that your candidate might not win. We need more sane Clinton supporters like you around here!

[racaulk]

83. Fantastic post!

Thank you for posting this! :hi:

K&R

[JVS]

84. Here's hoping that it's over on 3/4

:toast:

[bluescribbler]

85. K&R

I wish more people here felt the way you do. It makes me sick to think that there are some Democrats who will stay home, or worse, vote for McLame if their chosen candidate doesn't win the nomination. :puke:

I, for one, would have been proud to point to any of the Democratic candidates and say, "That is our President." My first choice was Bill Richardson. When he dropped out, I went for John Edwards. He dropped out before I had a chance to vote for him, so i voted for Obama. :hi: :hug:

[drm604]

87. Thank you for posting this.

Maybe it's because I'm a former Edwards supporter who is undecided between Clinton and Obama, but I've found the tone on DU in recent weeks to be disgusting. This applies to both sides. Lately, I'm almost ashamed to be a member here. The phrase "childish behavior" comes to mind. I realize that some of it is probably from right-wing operatives trying to start trouble, but unfortunately some of it is from true-blue Democrats. (Now I'll probably be attacked by one or both sides screaming that I'm a stealth supporter of their nemesis. It won't be the first time.)

I'll gladly support either of them in the general election, and not just as "the lesser evil".

[Flying Dream Blues]

91. Great Post. Peace to all. In unity there is strength. nt

[Gman]

92. As another Hillary supporter, I agree and echo everything you say

It's not about being against Obama, it is about being for Hillary, the woman.

Two very dear, African-American women friends cornered me the other day to try to convert me to Obama. I told them, "The first woman president or the first AA president. How do you choose the right one?" They answered, "Isn't it great?" I said, "It's fantastic! We never thought we'd see this in our lifetimes."

What ever happens and whoever is the Democratic nominee in November, they have my unqualified vote.

btw, try as they did, my friends were unsuccessful.

[natrat]

93. the crooks will steal it for her-just watch

[Medusa]

96. I fear so too-Rovian tactics

not good. And if they do, they will alienate and disenfranchize millions in the process. But oh well, it will be theirs and that is all they care about.

[GeorgeGist]

94. Are you experienced?

President Bill and his partner Hillary triangulated with thugs, in and out of government, while Gore and Kerry were being eviscerated.