Or we could call it what it is:  An extortion attempt.
Why shouldn't Obama have the unencumbered right to choose afforded all other victors?  Memo to Clintons:  This is still a functioning democracy.

Chris, Warwick, RI (Sent Wednesday, June 04, 2008 11:27 AM)

Chris - if you view this process as a hiring process, answer me this.

Say you are part of a hiring committee.  A voting majority chooses one candidate over your choice, so the job offer is given to that candidate.  

Do you accept the committee's decision or do you continue to fight it and encourage those who voted with you to fight with you?

What do you think your future in that company will be if you act like that?

Everybody needs to chill. HRC is going to concede... she has to or else she risks her political future and the legacy of the Clintons in American History.

That was a great race, and now its time to trounce McBush in November!

Obama '08!!!

Speaker Pelosi is wise to stay above the fray and not put any pressure on Senator Clinton.  This is one "cat fight" we don't wnat or need.

In the meanwhile, please read the following...

"I Am Not A Bargaining Chip, I Am A Democrat"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hilary-rosen/i-am-not-a-bargaining-chi_b_105133.html

Two words for anyone who thinks Obama should choose Hillary as his running mate:

Vince Foster

Oh wait he committed suicide, right?

I guess it's possible.  Jack Kervorkians patients committed suicide.

Obama/Anyone but Hillary Clinton in 2008.  Integrity matters and the Clintons have none.

AND WE CARE WHY?...................

CLINTON LOST IT'S OVER AND NO AMOUNT OF MEDIA FOCUS ON CLINTON WILL CHANGE THE STATUS THAT.

Now that it’s OVER, I continually hear that everyone should treat Hillary Clinton graciously, that she is deserving of our respect and consideration. Fair enough, she’s fought hard is deserving of afforded that treatment. On the other hand, where is the same consideration being extended to Senator Obama from herself, her campaign? She won’t say,  they won’t say it, they won’t even acknowledge the fact that HE WON and she has lost the nomination…..She even tried to upstage him on HIS SPECIAL NIGHT by inserting her interest in being on his ticket to the media prior to Obama’s victory speech in Minneapolis…..One thing that hasn’t been mentioned, which is a contradiction in terms, is that even in her public denial of his winning the nomination, she still is open to being on his ticket?

Nonetheless, we should remember a core principal is at work here, it is that the personality of the two campaigns, are no more than extensions of personalities of the candidates themselves. Has this been a hard fought and lengthy process? Yes, it has. Have there been revelations on “both” sides? Yes, there has been. But, now it’s over. In the waning days of the last few primaries, the Clinton campaign’s candidate and senior advisors constantly mentioned that neither candidate had received the requisite number of delegates and she wouldn’t consider leaving the race until that winning metric had been achieved. Now that that has been accomplished and more and more super-delegates flock to Obama. But after watching the machinations of her campaign why should we be surprised that there is still denial from the Clinton Campaign?

Before, the issue was somewhat cloudy, there was always someone to spin the issues, to cover up her true motive(s). Now she’s finally been uncovered and she’s displaying “her personality” in front of the whole world.  She’s openly running “her own personal flag” up the pole, saying I could give a damn about the nation, I could give a damn about  the party, I could give a damn about the process…it’s all about, what it’s always been about…ME! She and her campaign have finally arrived at rock bottom and are now digging down below that level and for that she is deserving of our respect, consideration and gracious treatment? When does this person realize that the world doesn’t revolve around her….she’s proving one undeniable fact, that all of the dark stories and whispers about she and her husband’s maniacal thirst for personal power were vastly underrated….  

hillary billary voted for the war.
but hillary billary wanted much more.
hillary billary wanted to be the top seed.
but alas barack obama took the lead.
now hillary billary is so sore that she has her bowels in terrible uproar.

Like many Barack supporters, I'm not very keen on Hillary being on the ticket.  This morning Bigoted Pat Buchanan said (incorrectly) that Barack has to decide soon.  I think not. I imagine a conversation where Obama would tell Hillary she's on a short list, she and Bill will be vetted. We will have to have some information regarding Library donors and business dealings. (also there is Paul v Clinton fraud case to consider) We will look closely at the VP candidates and make a careful decision. Hillary's commitment to Health could be managed with a cabinet position.  There is no reason to hurry. Again, Pat Buchanan, you are wrong.

Personal bet.  Barack will pick someone else, but not another woman.

Who cares if Hillary supports Barack. I'm not gonna wait for this woman to come to her senses. And neither will Obama wait for her to come around. The general election has begun.

I was listening to Ed Shultz radio show and a woman told Ed that Barack never voted on a single bill while in the Illinois congress. Ed challenged the woman and she had to admit she wasn't sure if Barack did or didn't vote on any bills.

This is what the republicans and frankly what some frustrated Hillary supporters will try to do. They are trying to distort and discredit our soon to be president. We have to stay vigilant and fight back!

Obama 08

The Vice Presidency is one step away from the Presidency and Pelosi wants the running mate "to be decided by the nominee of the party."

The the people's voice be heard. Listen to their votes. The people want both Clinton and Obama.

Why not make it so?

While Hillary may have some very loud supporters, that doesn't mean they are the majority of the Democratic party. I believe Rachel Maddow on MSNBC referred to them as a fringe group. I would agree. There will always be people who think that "might makes right" and they can just yell and make a scene to get their way. Hillary and her crew have riled up some supporters with false and unfair claims and it looks like she's going to try to use this to her advantage. However, I believe that in the end, reasonable and rational people will rule. Sen. Obama does not need her or her tactics.

If Joe Biden had come in second would we have to "give him space?"  This tip-toeing around HRC until she can "accept reality" is about as sexist as it gets.  HRC set all women back about 30 years by her whining, self-pitying campaign.

Everybody is so giving to Hillary.

When I married my husband, I needed his generous example of how to be a giving person. Greed, and stingyness are a learned behavior.

Why can't Hillary take from all the examples of graciousness around her, and be beter?

Gov. Rendell (PA), close HRC supporter, was just on MSNBC and suggested that Hillary was concerned about her supporters and would like her delegates to be able to vote for her at the Convention, not to contest the nomination (repeated twice) but so they could say they voted for her ... he closed by saying something to the effect "that is what she is trying to figure out." This is paraphrased ... I'm a little surprised none of the commentators have followed up on this.

The way I heard it, and I may be wrong, Hillary would like to find a symbolic way for her supporters to vote for her at the Convention, probably so they feel they have been heard ...understandable...

Not sure how this could happen without contesting the nomination, however.

Did anyone else hear the Governor's remarks...did I totally misunderstand what he said?

Time(acutally way past time) to use the lesson we learned in Kindergarten, sometimes we have to be a good loser to be a winner.  Shame on you Hillary. Stop being a spoiled brat and congratulate the winner.

Speaker Pelosi is more patient and tolerant of passive-agressive behavior than I am. I'm tired of watching my political leadership tip-toe around on eggshells to avoid triggering a Hillary hissy-fit - for someone who claims to be a feminist - Hillary surely does depend on others putting-up with her diva-esque moods, especially after Hillary's outright petulance and rudeness in her speech last night - she relies on the good manners of others to be able to act like narcissistic fool without reprecussions. I repect Speaker Pelosi deeply and believe that Hillary needs to respect Pelosi as Pelosi is her - unfortunately, Hillary's ongoing poor behavior has demolished my respect for her. I am a 54 year-old white woman who is absolutely delighted to have been a part of helping Obama secure the nomination - OBama-Richardson '08

People, stop coddling Hillary!  She isn't the first person on earth to lose a Presidential bid, the halls of Washington, DC are lined with them.  Hillary is repeatedly given a pass on her bad behavior and I for one can't wait for the MSM to be done with her, she represents the worst as a woman and an American.

Maybe the speaker could give Hillary a rhetorical pass to get back on the Democratic bus or a rhetorical kick in the patut if she continues her current sulking.

Why has Pelosi not endoresed Obama?  She commited to endorse the canidate with the most delegates at the end of the primaries. Well we are there so where is she???? TYPICAL DEMOCRATIC POLITICIANS!HUH! There was at least 5 of these and she is one of two that have not!

Clinton is showing her true colors. Even after supporting Goldwater, Nafta, Bush's war and the recent Iran resolution, dismissing and disrespecting Obama, using the race card after accepting the lifelong support from the African American community, outlining what at best was a macabre path to the nomination by recalling the Robert Kennedy assassination, manipulating and lying about the math, she still doesn't seem able to summon the integrity and character to congratulate the democratic nominee. There's talk that she's demanding the VP spot, requesting that her staff be absorbed, that her debts be payed (from a candidate whose supporters are in fact hard working americans of all stripes). Obama's nomination is a phenomenal success story for all americans, the result of our hard work to put race behind us, the King dream realized, one of the great outcomes of those young people, white, black, men and women,  christian and jewish who came to the south risking their very being to march for civil rights. The Goldwater girl apparently still does not care. It's been said that "she" won't tolerate another woman on the ticket, exhibiting a "crabs in the bucket syndrome". It's amazing! The great sacrifice is to do what is right today for a better America. That may mean that your work, Senator Clinton, may not get you to the promised land, but like all those great women before you and with you it will help those that follow.
I did not support Senator Clinton because I believe that she authorized the war for political expediency. I believe it was worse than poor judgement, which is the best spin you can put on it. I believe she lacked character. I can't remember seeing anything so lacking of grace...and character.
Shame on you Senator Clinton.

Ms. Pelosi, how about: "the running mate must be decided by Senator Obama" ... since he is, after all, now the nominee??  Why all this ducking and dodging by politicians and pundits alike?  All this "Obama is now the near-certain nominee" and garbage like that.  Is it possible that we are all so afraid of hurting her feelings, or something, that we can't speak the truth for what it is?  I just don't get it, obviously. And while I'm on the subject, I really resent this whole notion that "you Obama supporters need to be nice to us."  Can someone explain that to me?  I understand we need her contingent to win in November, but is that contingent upon how "nice" we are?  Give me a break.  I've been hassled and heckled by HRC supporters everywhere about the Obama sticker on my car.  Even some ugly racial stuff.  I think you guys have been pretty nasty, too.  Not to mention your candidate, who didn't even have the decency to take note of the historic moment that took place last night. Obama on the other hand waxed on and on about how great HRC is.  I think we're quickly learning who has grace and dignity, and who isn't very "nice."

People have to "move in their own time"?

Exactly when is Ms. Pelosi (and Congress) planning to start moving?  

Here's an idea.  Let's have a town hall meeting in San Francisco and talk about THAT.

Let Obama base his democratic vice president on JFK's win-cinching pick, the most powerful woman in the US.--No, not that late-acknowledging candidate who came in second--THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE! If he chooses Nancy Pelosi, he chooses a well-respected woman, someone who's earned her political experience HERSELF, and turns the election in to a WIN-WIN for two political minorities!

To heck with this rhetorical space garbage.  Time for "Sore Loser" Hillary to get a grip on reality and show she still has some class by conceding the race to Barack and to endorse him wholeheartedly.  Time to stop this self serving nonsense from the sore loser and to show some party loyalty!

Go Obama 08/12!

Please continue your attacks on HRC this will help you Obama supports get HRC supporters to support your canidate. NOT you Obama supporters are a buch on crying babies, Obama will not win the GE, I'm giving my vote to McCain.  You talk about change and that you will not follow the politics of the past but you don't wast any time to critized her any way you can.  Where is all your talk about briging the party together?  I forgot these comments are just pure talk from your rockie cannidate.  I was willing to give Obama my support but after seeing all of you hating on HRC I will not support Obama.  

Gov. Rendell (PA), close HRC supporter, was just on MSNBC and suggested that Hillary was concerned about her supporters and would like her delegates to be able to vote for her at the Convention, not to contest the nomination (repeated twice) but so they could say they voted for her ... he closed by saying something to the effect "that is what she is trying to figure out." This is paraphrased ... I'm a little surprised none of the commentators have followed up on this.

The way I heard it, and I may be wrong, Hillary would like to find a symbolic way for her supporters to vote for her at the Convention, probably so they feel they have been heard ...understandable...

Not sure how this could happen without contesting the nomination, however.

Did anyone else hear the Governor's remarks...did I totally misunderstand what he said?
LLM, Clanton, AL (Sent Wednesday, June 04, 2008 1:54 PM)

-----------------------------------------------------

My understanding is that unless Senator Clinton formally "releases" her delegates prior to the convention they must vote for her in that first ballot at the convention.  She can, in essence, concede the nomination but still go through the nomination process at the convention and still have delegates cast their votes for her.

Sounds like a lot of formalities that her campaign doesn't really have to worry about.

It goes without saying that Hill & Bill will not want to give up the speaking fees he would be forced to, in the event she were to be VP. They(she)has some money she would like to recoup, and that may well be the price of concession to BO. It may be the conversation they will have and then good riddance.

To all of her "army Troops"

You are NOT to be bartered and traded like heads of cow for a position!  Aren't you blue-blooded Americans?  I'm staggered that you Hillary backers aren't deeply offended by her overt "using" of you to get what she wants!  I'm really Offended FOR you.  please read this article . . .

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hilary-rosen/i-am-not-a-bargaining-chi_b_105133.html

I just got off the horn with OBAMA's Campaign. I also was on Larry King last night with a question/commentary for the panel. I urge serious dialog regarding the pitfalls of tieing Obama to CLinton in ANY regard.

He cannot make this mistake. She has already shot across the bow indicating her ill will, sour grapes methods of coping with reality. Offering her anything along the lines of VP is political suicide.

I URGE YOU ALL STRONGLY to BOTH call in (1-866-675-2008 options#6)tell them you do NOT wish your candidate to choose or even OFFER HRC a shot as VEEP...AND go to the web site and send in a formal letter letting them know how PASSIONATELY opposed you are to the thought.

GET ON IT NOW so we do not have to worry about the what if's!

Mike in LA Ca
Get a grip and a dictionary

Dave, CA.  My sentements exactly.  Now along with her other lack of moral or lack of integrity we can add extortionist. But Obama won the primary without her help and she doesn't have a hold on those 17 million voters. Some of them will put the country and the party before her. Obama has won well over 17 millon himself and with those, and even half of her voters (she loses PR votes in the GE) in can win the election.

I feel bad that Obama did not get to fully revel in a victory speech last night and really celebrate. It was a monumental night!! Here Hillary decides to be 6 years old and pout - she's giving us women a bad name. I can tell you this, if the shoe were on the other foot, Obama would have graciously conceded, but OH NO, NOT HILLARY!! Hillary could learn a few things from Obama's example. He said really wonderful things about Hillary last night, Hillary only said a few generic admirable mentions regarding Obama. I was a strong Hillary supporter initially, but Obama really won me over. I just can't understand all those folks out there who don't think Obama is for the blue collar worker etc. etc. - ask yourselves this - who made 109 million dollars last year?? (Hint - she aint male!), then ask yourself who went to law school and who could have become a lawyer making 6 figures and instead went to participate in non-profits making a very meager salary by choice?? Obama is the one for the blue collared workers out there, those without hope, insurance or income. Hillary is thinking about that population as well, but she does not have the first hand experience Obama does regarding the problems and the people involved. Hillary has been trying to strategize how to win the nomination for months, instead of showing people who she really is and what she's about she's focused on how to make the numbers work for her. Obama has focused on expressing who he is and what he's all about and proving his high moral character. Obama has been tolerant, gracious and proved again and again what an incredible leader he can be.

She will not quit until smeone drives a stake through her heart.  And maybe not then.  Stop giving her space and drive the beast out.  **Lights torch and gathers pitchfork**

Obama has not "won" the nomination yet, as superdelegates do not vote until the convention. Yes he has the 2118 necessary to win the nomination but since that number is not all elected delegated he is not the official nominee, just the presumptive nominee. Superdelegates can still change their mind, highly unlikely, but possible. Besides, he's going to lose to McCain in the General Election anyway.

I can see it now...

President Obama walks into the Oval Office to see Hillary behind the desk on a phone call.

Obama : Senator Clinton....what a pleasant shock.  May I ask what you're doing?

Clinton : (covering the mouthpiece of the phone) what do you mean what am I doing?  I'm the President.

Anyone?

Why is everyone treating the candidate of "strength and experience" like she is a baby?

Note to Hillary Clinton:

The jig is up and your antics are no longer entertaining. We don't need you to concede, we need you to grow up.

If the shoe were on the other foot, Obama wouldn't have even been allowed to ruminate after losing 11 states straight like she did.  It's amazing all the leeway given this woman, and now it's moved into mental illness.  Thank God she didn't become the nominee because there's a serious problem here.

YOu Obama supporters are not seeing the big picture. Hillay got the popular vote, but super delegates choose Obama. As party rule, he becomes the nominee, but there are more or equal number of Hillary supporters than of Obama. Obama needs those supporters to win the general election. Look, 36 million people participated in this primary. Usualy 80+ million people vote in general election. Now tell me if all the democrats are frustrated for last 8 years and now very exicted to get a democratic ticket to the white house, how can Obama win the general election with only 18 millions of voters and 50% of Hillary supporters. He has a long ways to go to convince people that he is the right one.
If you think winner take all, then Hillary would be the nominee as she won all the big states that have larger delegates.

When you write comments on these type of blogs, please think that your thinking is ill founded and narrow and number does not lie, so be respectful.

No Hillary Clinton! There are others who are highly qualified for this position. Why give to an ungrateful woman who won't even acknowledge she's lost?

Is this the first time someone has lost in a close election?  Who is Clinton to think she can take ownership in 18 million votes...(her total, not mine)?  Entitled?  I don't think so.  Never did.  Does she really think those voters are stupid? Would people who want a chance at a change in our government throw it away just for her?  She is putting too much real estate into those votes, by far.  She needs to go back to the senate until the people of New York put her out to pasture.  The pundants are wrong about "respecting" her.  She has proved to be a sore loser, and not a true Democrat, but a spoiler of the worst kind. Hey, Keith Olberman, she is my vote for worst person in the world!!

I simply cannot believe in 2008, we are playing a childish  little game like this with her ...she lost and that's it! She can try again in 2012. This is crazy, like she's crazy and almost suicidal...every one has to give her some space???? white hard working woman for Obama and anyone but HRC

Hopefully, news and politics being what they are,  in a few days  Hillary will be out of the headlines, and the country will forever be free of the special brand of "it's all about me."  If Hillary Clinton truly cared about the Democratic Party and healing the country, she would hav conceded last night, instead of bullishly extending her campaign in a vague way,  Her behavior was outrageous and her arrogance beyond tolerable.

I am a 64 yr-old white female lifelong Decomcrat, and until this election, when Barack Obama appeared as an extraordinary candidate, I had been a long time Clinton supporter.    The Clintons' lost my support when they burst on the scene with their arrogant sense of entitlement for another eight years in the White House, and they have since lost every bit of respect I had for them.

Hillary Clinton is the last woman I would want to see as they first woman president of the United States.

As an Obama supporter, I am opened to the idea, but the decision must be made by the nominee. Clinton cannot force him to do what he does not want to do. Any attempt to force him to choose her will back fire big time.
Vive Obama!

Bubba, you need to go back to school.  He beat the Clintons in their own race.  He will pick up the Democratic votes in the general.  Do that math.

HOWS THIS FOR A UNIQUE IDEA ?; LET DO WHAT BEST FOR THE COUNTRY (DEMOCRATIC PARTY) AND WINNING IN NOVEMBER AGAINST MCBUSH. IF A "DREAM TICKET' OBAMA/CLINTON WILL GET US ELECTED, SO WE CAN FIX THIS NATION, THEN THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO. BUT, IF OBAMA AND CLINTON CANNOT KEEP EGOS OUT OF THE WAY, THEN , WE DONT NEED THAT TICKET ! WE NEED 2 PEOPLE WHO CAN ACTUALLY WORK TOGETHER. WE HAVE ENOUGH ENEMIES IN THE REST OF THE WORLD, WE DONT NEED 2 OF THEM IN THE WHITE HOUSE !

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