It's All Over!!

[metalluk]

Now, you're probably imagining that this is another one of those inane posts arguing that Senator Clinton might as well throw in the towel. Something or other happened today that makes it mathematically impossible for her to win. Or perhaps, those of you who recognize me as a Clinton supporter might be anticipating an even more absurd post suggesting that Senator Obama might as well call it quits because he's plummeting in the polls or so badly damaged by Wright-gate that he's unelectable. Guess again! This post is not about the primary season ending. That will likely drag on for 3-5 more months.

No, I've come to the stark conclusion that it really doesn't much matter, anymore, which of the two Democratic Senators is nominated. Why burn the time and wallow in angst? It's the General Election that's all over. Senators Obama and Clinton are no longer vying for the opportunity to be President, but only for the privilege of getting shellacked in the fall, effectively ending that candidate's future as a viable national political candidate.

In his foreign policy speech today, John McCain slid himself so adroitly into the political center, without giving ground on core Republican concerns, that he'll be well-positioned to carry not only every voter to his right, but a significant share of Independents and disaffected Hillary or Obama ex-supporters as well. The bulk of the drama will have belonged to the primary season, in my opinion; the General Election is now a foregone conclusion. And let's be realistic, that old "unity ticket" scenario just isn't going to happen after all the manure that has passed between the two Democratic candidates and teams, with worse likely to follow. It's all over.

Read McCain's speech for yourself if you doubt my take. Imagine McCain delivering that opening paragraph during one of the fall debates and the reaction of swing voters in the television audience. Then, imagine, after that, Barack (or, less likely, Hillary) trying to paint McCain as a war-monger. People generally trust the weight of personal experience even more than party doctrine.

I've decided to make this my last post at DU, at least for this election cycle. Please don't imagine that I'm leaving with any sense of pique or frustration. I've enjoyed my brief time here at DU. I've enjoyed most of the participants – ardent Obama supporters and Clinton enthusiasts alike. Sure, there's too much infantilism – on both sides – but I've seen and heard much worse. It's silly and unproductive, but harmless enough as well. I wish you all well – Clinton supporters, Obama supporters, and those still hanging onto the vision of a presidency led by Edwards, Kucinich, Clark, Biden or whomever else you may have wanted. You're a fine group of people, despite the difficult times that the Democratic Party is confronting. The Democratic Party has and always will have the moral high-ground. Now, if it ever acquires the discipline to govern effectively – well, wouldn't that be something special!

It's time for me to move on to other activities where time and effort will be more likely to make some difference. This particular endeavor is all over.

Feel free to leave a cordial farewell, a good riddance, or nothing at all. It's been special.

[Kukesa]

1. Bye. n/t

[Botany]

2. Promise? Hand to God ... Cross your heart and hope to die ....

"I've decided to make this my last post at DU"

C-ya!

[mcctatas]

3. ...

so he gave a speech contradicting his record, his interviews and his sound bites so it's all over...some people are soooooo easy (of course that's how president chucklenuts wont twice)... happy trails to you?

[HysteryDiagnosis]

4. Did you vote this post up? Kidding, too bad you cannot stay and

help pick up the bodies on the sides of the keyboards.... 265 posts, not very good mileage, we usually get millions or even billions out of someone before they cave. Sorry to see you leave, hope you come in and lurk once in awhile.

[60TrenchesGone]

5. It's not over if...

Hillary realizes her odds are so slim that she cannot win, and bows out for the good of the party in the coming weeks. Instead of continuing to try and invent new tales and find new mud to sling, she simply suspends her campaign, bows out graciously, and endorses Obama as an excellent choice for President of the United States of America.

Now why does that seem so far-fetched?

[TwilightGardener]

6. What? His "Hall Of Democratic Nations/I Hate War But Love It" speech?

Puh-leeze. He's an idiot. See ya, Mr. Two-Weeker.

[FrenchieCat]

7. Bye!

If you think that McCain did anything "astute"....
then I respectfully suggest that you go here ------> http://www.johnmccain.com/pathtovictory/democrats.htm?s=google&t=electability

[whatchamacallit]

8. He obviously impressed you

but I imagine that's not too hard to do if you're already leaning his way. Sorry, this post is either lame defeatist bullshit, or propaganda.

[RBInMaine]

9. In the political world, we are a lifetime from the general election. This is tough business. If you

can't take the heat, yes, you should get out of the kitchen. To hear one McCain speech, then to look at what is happening in this contentious primary contest at one moment in time, and then make conclusions about November at the VERY early date is bigtime naive.
We have had tough primary contests before. This will sort out. We will have a nominee and a united Dem party well before the convention. FL and MI will be represented with delegates at the convention in some fair manner.

Make your cases Dems, but also relax your heads. It's light years before November. It'll be sorted out. The country wants change bigtime.
We have huge advantages. Don't sweat it in March for Christ sake.

[think4yourself]

10. Wow!

2 Weeks.

[WilliamPitt]

11. Care to place a wager on that?

Oh, wait. You're gone now.

Alas.

[PseudoIntellect]

12. Well, there's still all of April, May, June, July, August, September, and October

for McDaddy to make a fool of himself, but okay.

[thevoiceofreason]

13. But, you've been here a mere 17 days -- aye, we barely knew ye.

[grantcart]

16. wonder who he/she will come back as?

[Neshanic]

14. "John McCain slid himself so adroitly into the political center",

You can say that again, but that will go unnoticed here, as Obama supporters are screeching for Hillary to drop out.

I listened to that speech, because I wanted to hear his gymnastics on how things are, but was stunned by what he said. He drove right into moderate safe republican land. That's where the votes are. That's where the votes always have been. Now add all the Democrats that will forgive and forget him cuddling monkey boy, but not forgive and forget this clusterfuck going on now.

That's a bunch of votes. There's gonna be some surprised people around here.

[Dogmudgeon]

18. I'm not as pessimistic, but I think we're fooling ourselves.

We think that McCain can't win. Yes. He. Can.

We think that the GOP will be easier to beat and less "evil" than Team Clinton as for Team Obama. No, it won't.

We think that "G.D. America" and "typical" and Michelle's gaffes won't be remembered, replayed, recited, and reacted to. It isn't, and it will get worse.

We think that while the Press has fallen in love with Obama, that it has cut all ties to Papa John McCain. They haven't. The Press is a fickle lover, a needy child, and a crazed lunatic, posing as a cool and detatched intellectual Solon.

*I* think we will win. But it's going to be so much closer, so much more difficult, so much more stressful than we are certain of. If the anti-Clinton faction (i.e., nearly all Democratic hipsters, the Press, and the Blogosphere) thought that fighting The Mean Old Wicked Witch has been difficult, they have forgetten about the Beltway Cthulhu.

No fewer than four DUers have tried to argue me blind that "Bosniagate" will kill That Awful Liar Hillary, but that "G.D. America" will be viewed with the keen and nuanced insight of a Lit Crit PhD candidate. I have already had to spend time justifying the remarks of Rev. Wright and Michelle Obama to irate Democratic friends -- and I'm a Hillary supporter. We had better start dealing with it NOW before it bites us in the ass LATER.

The Bosnia sniper story is the favorite of political junkies, the blogosphere, and cable news. And that's all. Anyone who's forgetten where they left their car keys, or who has mixed-up memories of high school or their wedding day, listen to it and laugh -- or roll their eyes. And if Hillary is soon to be sleeping with the political fishes, who cares?

If Hillary is absolutely out of the race -- why are they even breaking a cold sweat because of her?

It makes no sense.

Then again, thinking that you have no weaknesses and that the tide of history will carry you to a promised land of ease and comfort is hardly any better.

--p!

[Neshanic]

20. You just wrote a masterpiece.

[Dogmudgeon]

24. Thanks!

:blush:

It's been kinda ... uh ... difficult around these parts lately. And we've got an election to win.

We also have a valuable and loyal stalwart to (politically) rehabilitate, but sadly, very few of our fellow DUers see it that way.

Thanks again for your words of support!

--p!

[sudopod]

15. GTFO

kthxbai

[skater314159]

17. Is This A Freeper Employing Emotional Blackmail?

... let's review my post about Emotional Blackmail:
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/skater314159/168

Wow! It's a Freeper using Emotional Blackmail!

Buh-Bye!
:hi:

[dorktv]

19. Honestly, you really think that one speech eight months before the election

will hand Senator McCain the Presidency?

um...

[Neshanic]

21. Again, underestimating/overestimating typical non-DU voters to suit the point.

They don't give a rats ass about his strategery to get where he has to be. He's saying stuff they like.

Compared to the inevitable, on days when Monay falls on a odd number, then we will convene a study group to meet on issues that we would consider on ending the war, but not when it looks like we are "soft liberals",so then we favor a multi-prong kinda, maybe, if we can end the war discussion, from Obama and Hillary.

They will make it excrutiatingly complex to if and when we stop the war. No average Joe voter will believe them or trust them. McCain? He's not a cut and runner. Look for hilarity to ensue after the first war question of the debate with McCain.

It's that fucking simple.

[TahitiNut]

22. Who was that masked man??

Why did he swipe my silver bullets? :dunce:

[scheming daemons]

23. You've been here 17 whole days... I'd say you have been a McCainiac all along....just spreading FUD

...
:shrug:

[Barrymores Ghost]

25. Give my best to the Three Billygoats Gruff, loser. n/t

[Arkana]

26. I can't hear you properly.

Please take John McCain's dick out of your mouth first.