Last nights results may prove to be the water shed moment in the Democratic race for the White House. My hope is that both of the candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama can see the forest from the trees and accept their roles in moving our Democracy forward. For the last 2 Months it has been my belief and impression that the race was for who has to take the top spot and who will be the VP. It may have been an issue of an impending poor mental health, the length and depth of this whole process has certainly taken it’s toll I am just not sure anymore. Yet I do know that as a result of this long hard race and a united ticket can, only bridge the divisions created between your core supporters, and I am calling on you both to make it happen, Obama/Clinton 08.
I supported Hillary as my first choice for some time and I do believe she represents the ability to move an agenda forward that will give hope to the working middle class of which I am one. Still the energy and honesty from Barack over the last 3 months has been nothing short of moving and exciting. I do believe now that he represents the best hope to save our society and democracy but he will not be able to do it alone. I think the next test he needs to pass will be to convince Hillary to join him as VP, her experience in Washington and in the Senate could prove the key to accomplishing the agenda that needs to pass and her ability to work across aisles could prove to be critical to a successful administration. At the same time 8 years from now she will be 69 years old and stand as the likely successor to an administration she has played a key role in. If they can reverse the effects of the 8 years of King Bush I and Queen Cheney and set a new course for the United States that is both safe and prosperous she will have her turn as the leader of the free world. No one ever said this was going to be an easy job and 16 years of struggling will be a daunting task yet I am sure she is capable of accomplishing just that.
This task is by no means assured but as a team they certainly would posses the best talent we have to offer as a party and their combined abilities and in my opinion the best chance for success.
Senator Clinton you have run a wonderful race you know you have a broad base of support here in this country and you have cracked that glass ceiling in a big way now it is time to show patience and the hard work you have talked about for 2 years and move forward for the sake of your supporters and our county show me the courage you have demonstrated thus far and accomplish the goals we so desperately need to succeed at.
I look forward to winning in November and greater opportunity for all of us in the future.
As Usual just my opinions
she is willing to 100% tow the Obama line and makes a very public and genuine effort to reach out to those she has pushed away. I am highly doubtful that she will want to do this, but we shall see.
<
p>
Obahma/Clinton Ticket.
<
p>She has to be made to go away and never come back.
<
p>Please, we have to take her out for good.
She has severed all her ties to the Obama campaign, black voters, and many hardcore liberal democrats with her attack ads against all of these segments. She has tried to play a Rovian strategy of divide and conquer and she has failed. Its time for her to hang in the towel and go back to the Senate.
the life out of everything for her own self- accomadating sickness.
And I can’t figure out if you’re a genuine Hillaryhater, or mocking the Hillaryhaters.
I still have yet to see/hear these attacks people are talking about. I think the campaign has been rather civil. I can only hope that you are from MA, which will go Democratic regardless of the nominee. I’m not keen on caving to anyone’s demands.
By stating that John McCain would be more ready to be President than Obama, by continuing to run negative ads in every state against Obama 2 months after this race was mathmatically decided and continuing to claim Obama is “elitist” and “out of touch” (though I don’t see him lending $11 mil to his campaign!) just this week, Hillary has given up any right she may have claimed to a spot on the Dem ticket. The truth is that she ran a campaign – after it was clear she could not possibly win enough delegates – that looked more like an attempt to make sure Obama did not win in Nov and perhaps in the process keeping her future alive. That does not sound like a logical choice to me for VP of the Dem party.
…how are you going to react in the general? One reason I believe HRC will be a better nominee is that she is tested weathering the GOP attack machine. Frankly in the most literal sense McCain probably IS more “ready” to be President than Obama, but Obama’s ideas are a lot better than McCain’s. This race has NOT been mathematically decided until I see that magic number (2025)! I’m really sick of the implication that HRC does not have every right in the world to continue to fight for this nomination. Even Obama has said she has that right. She said again last night she would do whatever it takes to help the Democratic nominee. Your suggestion to the contrary is nothing but cynicism with no citable basis.
For all the comments thank you but I just want to make a point to Chris. You can not change the outcome that is staring you in the face I am sorry with just a split in the remaining races HRC still can not make the 2025 number unless she takes 80% of the remaining super delegates and she gets 100% of Michigan. I suppose it could happen I mean look at the people who play the Lottery day after day believing it could happen to them but practically it’s not likely. Test, vetted what ever you want to all it you can’t over come the system. Just look over your shoulder at 2000 and 2004 final outcome. My deep concern is the division that has occurred in this long process and the reality check that time is needed to heal these wounds a Democratic Party that goes into November with out the time to heal makes it extremely difficult to change the course of this country. Let’s face it currently the course stinks we have a President who has the standing label of a liar and an economy that no one really even understands how it is still standing with the budget deficit, inflation and a failed energy policy thanks to Queen Cheney. It is a clear testament to the strength of all of our people not the government. I want to see a change just like I want to see a change in global warming because as with global warming you reach a tipping point where you cannot repair the damage and reverse the course because you have gone to far. I do believe HRC will make a great president and maybe at age 69 after being VP she will fulfill her dream and the dream of every women to break that glass ceiling and I will support her again. In my opinion now if she continues or leaves and takes her ball and goes home leaving a damaged Barack Obama she has done a grave disservice to her party and to the very base who has rallied her time and time again and that is the women of America and the chance at having a women a heart beat away from the presidency and another shot at the presidency will be decades away. How many will never see the day?
<
p>No it is time to heal it is time to put together the best hope of winning in November ( which is still no sure bet) and move forward not lose the ground you have already fought so hard to take.
<
p>Its time for OBAMA/CLINTON 08 and a united Democratic Party to face McCain and to win in November 08
<
p>As Usual just my opinions
<
p>Edward Quinn
Chris, my “suggestion to the contrary” is not “nothing but cynicism” but rather based on the facts of the negative campaign Hillary is running. I never suggested she needs to get out of the race now, she has every right to hang in there and hope somehow, some way Obama gets blown out of the water by some major scandal – she has earned that right and come in second. For the sake of the party and if she truly will “do anything” to help our nominee in the fall, she can stay in the race and still stop trying to be the one who blows him up (see “elitists” comments, ads on “bitter” comments, etc.) at the detriment of the party. Unless no more than 20% of the ramining voters and virtually no more superdelegates support Obama it is really hard to argue that this race is not officially over. That said, she has her right to every last vote she can get and I think she should stay in, but in a productive not damaging manner for the party. As far as her being vetted for the General, it would take the Repubs about two weeks to dredge up all of Pres Clinton’s pardons (remember the Richs?), foundation contributors, McDougalls, all of the stuff voters haven’t thought about for 8 years. Nonssense I agree, but we cannot ignore the ability of the Repubs to revive this crap.
She got to the Senate because of the power of her husbands presidency. She is this far into the campaign because of the power of her husband’d presidency.
<
p>She is a false goddess. Unlike every other woman ploitician I can think of, she 100% where she is because she married the right man. Using the name of “women” to force her upon the country is demeaning to women. The presidency requires alot more.
<
p>Hillary being the candidate for women is like saying George W. Bush was the candidate of baseball owners. Yeah, we know he is one, but that has nothing to do with him being the Republican nominee.
<
p>If I was woman, and whoever said I wasn’t, I would be embarressed if she was my role model. She would be the anti-role model to me.
<
p>Slept her way to the top.
Ok maybe Ernie you have a point somewhere I just don’t see the proof. Every politician has risen from connections and success from some other. Look at our house and Senate how many worked for other elected politicians and learned the lessons needed for their own success.
<
p>Hillary Clinton has had the perspective of being the first woman and learning many of the hard lessons of being in the national spotlight. She owes that to her Husband and his success and he owes it to others that he served and supported over the many years that led to his final election. The point is no matter how you cut it she knows and that does give her the right to claim the qualifications to run just as much as any one else in the race at anytime.
<
p>There is no rulebook or more like a guide as to how you rise to a level to run for national office. Experience counts and comes from all avenues. Hers is no more or no less earned. He policies although I disagree with some are no different in their structure then Barack’s or McCain’s she just has a different view of a solution.
<
p>Ultimately if the course of this country is to change and issues like the war in Iraq and Iran is to change if we are to come up with a real energy policy that can deal with $200.00 a barrel oil and if we are going to return integrity to the office of the President of the USA then I know we need to elect a Democrat. You may not like that you may be benefiting from King George’s policies I can’t say but it sounds that way to me.
<
p>If we are going to see that change I am working for I know we need to heal these wounds and that healing can and should start with a combined ticket. This will be a test for Obama and Hillary as to their ability to lead as both work to mend the rift between their camps and unite the majority of our country for this November.
<
p>As a Democrat who worked for Bill Clinton’s campaign in 96 and Al gores in 2000 and John Kerry’s in 2004 I know the value of Bill Clinton’s success and failures and the fight that looms ahead to accomplishing this task.
<
p>So dis Hillary maybe that has a boost to your ego but I do believe the record speaks to her having credentials equal to the others, certainly light years ahead of the buffoon currently holding office.
<
p>Good Luck in your world I just hope it won’t be mine!
<
p>My point is she is the best you can do?
<
p>Disgraceful. We need Hillary.
<
p>Really Ed. I personally do not like being bullied and that is what the Clintons have done the past 10 tears in forcing this joke on us.
<
p>Suspend the gas tax. Really Ed?
<
p>A woburn kid like you shouldn’t let people crap opn them.
<
p>Ted kennedy and Bill Richardson didn’t.
There are a lot of things you can say about Bill Clinton in his personal decisions. Like many they appall me. But his personal life does not affect me personally what does effect me was his actions as President and here is where you and I differ. Like sports some times the team leader gets to much credit and to much blame but in the 1992-2000 years of the United States our economy experienced a real expansion a real increase in jobs and a giant leap forward in technology and many many of the middle class finally saw a glimpse of the light we had all heard existed from those who experienced it Decades before.
<
p>The Bill Clinton gave us purpose and justification for being Democrats by proving to many that yes Democrats could lead and lead well. For that I thank him and respect him. Hillary shares in that I find no evidence that she did anything that would reflect badly on her character or dignity or the dignity of the office of the first lady. Her hands on approach to issues she believes in were at times rebuffed by a Republican controlled legislature but nonetheless she made the attempt and raised the issue. Clearly issues that needed to have a bright light shined on them.
<
p>Now if you are going to focus on one person’s personal short comings do so that is your decision but don’t pass it around as a matter of guilt by association because that Pig just won’t fly. The Clintons now do stand at a cross roads the decisions made in the next few weeks may very well be what history remembers most about both of them.
Your comments about Hillary are neither based on fact nor warranted simply because she has chosen to run for President. As a man not a guy I am not in the least way uncomfortable at the prospect of a women as President of our country what I am offended by is having a village idiot holding the seat for 8 years and trashing our entire democracy.
<
p>I stay committed to my belief that our best chance in November is for a Democratic Team of Obama/Clinton 08.
<
p>As Usual just my opinions but also my beliefs
<
p>Let me get this staright Mr. Ed.
<
p>I attack Hillary because I find it appalling that she may have vaulted to the White House soley for the fact that she conspired, or however you want to say it, with her President husband to use the power of his presidency to get the Highest job of all.
<
p>You respond with page 13, sectyiuon 5 of the tool handbook. Argue that I have trouble distingushing between the Clinton President and the Clinton man.
<
p>The more you talk Mr. Ed the more you appear as the obtuse tool I thought you are. You have walked around that appalachia called Woburn acting like a big man because you ‘just came from the mayor’s office’ and blah blah blah.
<
p>Go away Ed because I may have to start paying attention to your ramblings here and let the silent majority see what a disappointment you are.
if this is parody, self-parody, or sincere.
<
p>She “conspired” to win the preseidency by being first lady? That doesn’t even make sense.
She “conspired” to win the preseidency by being first lady
<
p>Ernie I believe is suggesting the fact that Hillary must have slept her way to the First Lady post can you imagine that and I don’t want to imagine Chelsea is a product of an immaculate conception.
<
p>Yet what a dinosaur vision of a womans role in a marriage Ernie has.
<
p>Hummmm Ernie’s just ernie
<
p>As Usual Just my Opinions
I have fpund my new Charley. I jkust read your answers to my questions.
A bigger tool than I thought.
Perhaps you deserve a seperate post from me.
<
p>Guolty of all my misspeellings, bad grammar, mixing up John Dean with Howard Dean and all else.
<
p>I love your condescending attitude eD.
<
p>You rejuvenate me Ed.
<
p>Sory Ed, being a big man in woburn town hall, sort of, and repeating Democratic lefty gospel does not make you a smart man.
<
p>Boy, you are a disapoointment.
<
p>BTW you ran a hell of a campaign for state rep Mr. Woburn. You got your ass kicked as I recall. You see Ed, you ahve to work to win. You did not. Remember. And you were arrogant. Rememeber? And you got creamed big time? Rememebr? By a schmuck. RememberBut go ahead and marginalize me Ed. Try please/
<
p>because the problem is Ed, agree or not with me on the issues I, EB#, a fictional character, have more of something than you have here. Credibility.
<
p>Tool
Yes Ernie I di not win the one and only race I ran. Factors can be debated for years to come and work is certaily one that can be debated
<
p>”if you had knocked that door at 5PM instead of 4PM you would have connected with those voters” “or you were on that street last weekend instead of this weekend you would have met so snd so”
<
p>A lose is a lose 1 vote 10 votes 100 votes but you do learn one thing Ernie who are your real friends and that is an experience I will never dismiss. I met a lot of great people who I call friend now and they the same and that is a wonderful experience.
<
p>and you never know what the future holds Ernie I like to look ahead not behind.
<
p>So get your anger out Ernie your not changing the Progressive movement with your rants the Democratic Party is slowly changing back to a party of Equal oppertunity and I am glad to be a part of advancing that agenda.
<
p>Maybe you should consider joining the fight with your passion and conviction you would make a great recruit but I guess you will have to get past some of your issues first but remember in my book the door is always open and your welcome anytime.
<
p>Best to You Ernie great debate! hope you feel better
<
p>As Usual Just my Opinions
<
p>
<
p>What demands? Made by whom?
Those who say or at least imply we had better nominate my candidate or I stay home. The previous comment is the first I saw somebody insist HRC NOT be chosen as running mate. Anything that approaches an attitude of if I don’t get my way I’ll take my marbles and go home just doesn’t sit well with me.
How about I think Hillary is bnad for the country and therefore I will not vote for her on any ticket.
<
p>Take my maartbles and go home?
<
p>screw you chrissy.
Your last line was completely uncalled for. If you honestly believe McCain is better than our nominee by all means vote for him; that is your right. My comment was made on the assumption that bloggers here were mostly Democratic sympathizers who would not favor McCain on the merits.
humorless tool.
take that all yu humorless tools out there.
I give credit where credit is due.
Mostly.
…but there is no need to cut this short. In less than a month now, everyone will know where we stand, except for that pesky MI/FL issue. I want a unity ticket once this is really settled, but I’m not sure about towing the Obama line 100%. As long as they don’t contradict each other their messages can be complementary. I believe that a weakness of the Kerry/Edwards ticket in 2004, which I very much wanted, was that Edwards was not allowed to continue campaigning on the themes of his own campaign and apply them to the unified campaign. The Edwards that campaigned for President was not the one that campaigned for VP and that’s a shame.
I agree with Christopher. Whatever you gain by cutting the primary season 28 days short is outweighed by what you lose by pre-emptively ending the democratic process.
<
p>Plus, Kerry was the top of the ticket.
needs a non- career senator or congressperson. Richardson the best i can come up with. Good for hispanics vote and has experience to guide Barak through his what the hell am I doing time.
<
p>Need someone like that. Not necessarily him. Who else is there? Biden and Dodd are Senators. Not good having too senators on team.
<
p>Barak needs washington experience. A governor is not the answer. Some one with a high profile who has credentials in Washington yet not all on Capital Hill. Someone who can help him come out fighting if he wins.
You know big Al isn’t going to do it.
<
p>If it isn’t Hillary, then it has to be done a certain way as to not piss of half of the democrats (since half of them voted for her).
…Obama’s VP needs to be someone from the Clinton camp. Could be Bayh, Rendell, etc… anyone but Lanny Davis :).
Despite all the denials, this is a gender and race election and the results are going to prove what many of us have known all along, that is women in the USofA continue to be second class citizens. 77 cents on the dollar of a man’s wages.
<
p>I have yet to see real advocacy for women on this progressive blog….maybe we could think about a little discourse on the subject with mother’s day approaching.
Cumulatively, that’s the case, in that total wages earned by men are larger than total wages earned by women. However, it does not dive deeper into other factors: for example, men tend to work more hours and are also more willing to take “undesirable” jobs that might pay more. This example is purely anecdotal, but when I was hurting for money once, I worked the overnight shift at the local Target and got an extra two bucks an hour. Most of my coworkers were men. They were also overwhelmingly minorities, but that’s neither here nor there.
<
p>Another issue is that there are more cases of maternity leave than paternity leave. Let’s face it: women are more family-oriented, and men are more career-oriented. That’s not a bad thing; I hope that everyone can find a way to focus more on quality of life, but it also means that women are more likely to take extended periods of time off of work.
<
p>Essentially, if you take men and women with similar positions, similar hours, and similar qualifications, they make about the same. When you think about it, there isn’t really a wage gap.
<
p>You should know better than to regurgitate things that a government agency says. They’re not concerned with solving problems; their main concern is maintaining funding.
<
p>Also, I don’t think anyone has a problem with women standing for higher office. Just not this woman. It would be a different story if, say, for example, Condi Rice were standing for president, although if you ask me, I would rather see her in her dream job (NFL commissioner) instead of Goodell. He is unbelievably stiff on the podium on draft day. Also, what’s with this “Okay, Jets fans!” Ugh. 😉
I would encourage you to investigate the Mass Commission on the Status of Women.
<
p>
<
p>Commissioners are unpaid, they volunteer their time, resources and expertise.
<
p>The standards and quality of the Commissioners and excellent. Did you read the report?
<
p>
<
p>I have worked closely with the Commission on projects and was not regurgitating my friend….contempt prior to investigation is not a laudable characteristic.
<
p>As far as the female candidate, my post was in reference to the short list proposed for VP to Obama that lacked sufficient female presence.
I don’t really like any of the Candidates, but after having lived in NY, I question Hillary’s loyalty to the Democratic Party. We all know she was a Republican in College, but how many of you knew that a few of her major aides in NY were actually Republicans not to long ago. I point you to the race for the 21st Congressional seat in Albany. Hillary gave the nod to her Regional Rep. Tracey Brooks. Its interesting to note that she was also a card carrying Republican up until about the time Hillary Clinton became Senator. I also know that one of her staffers in Long Island is the son of a powerful Nassau County Republican. I also find it funny that her biggest supporters in the Hudson Valley and Long Island are Democrats who are more less in cohoots with the Republican Senate Majority leader in NY. Kind of makes you wonder………
clinton has been a very popular senator, winning re-election. even my family in nearly-new york new jersey have come to like and respect her (after initial media-generated knee-jerk reservations).
that she might win the nomination. shame on her. shame on her for living up to obama’s rhetoric.
A People Exclusive
<
p>Clinton will stay in the senate.
to remove the positive things they both had to say about clinton. they had positives and negatives to say about obama, too.
That is blog speak for : I parsed this.
and a gross mischaracterization, which is what that was.
It was nearly impossible two months ago, now completely impossible even with MI and FL seated (she’d still be 100 behind in pledged) unless all the rest of the superdelegates want to overturn the pledged delegate AND popular vote count, or Obama loses the rest of the contests by like 40% or something sick. Which we all know he won’t.
<
p>It’s fine to stay in if you have a remote shot, but when it’s nigh impossible, it’s called being in denial. I don’t want a candidate who can’t look at the facts on the ground and make rational decisions. I mean, who does that sound like to you?
<
p>It doesn’t bode well for her decision-making skills going forward, does it? When she ignores facts she doesn’t like?
<
p>We need this time to start hitting McCain. He’s had far too much time to rise in the polls by virtue of there being no opposition and with a complicit media.
<
p>All this is fairly objective. I’ve made no secret of my skepticism about Hillary (I sort of saw this coming, though not the specifics, give her voting history). I am not gaga for Obama. I just see what’s happening and think, what a waste.
what does it have to do with John cherrypicking comments by the Edwards’s?
“D” meaning “decision” or “drop-out” as you wish.
<
p>From Lawrence O’Donnell in theHuffington Post:
<
p>
…for this campaign to continue. It is not like there is some big policy difference on the war, or economics, or the environment, or ethics. Just gender and race. On gender, Clinton has made great strides and has made it easier for accomplished women to run for President or VP. But this should not continue for one more minute. The money wasted over the next few weeks should be used to position Obama for the general election campaign, vetting VP candidates and getting the troops on the ground to get bigger majorities in the House and Senate, and capturing statehouses in advance of the next census.
<
p>There is too much to do to continue a potentially divisive race. It is time for Hillary to recognize the math and move on.