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Saturday, June 7, 2008

The Last Goodbye: Blogging Clinton’s Withdrawal and (Presumably) Endorsement Speech

posted by on June 7 at 9:02 AM

Good morning. Anyone awake out there in Slogland? I wish I wasn’t, but here we are, a few minutes away from Clinton’s speech…

8:55 a.m. My preferred livestream is here, and while we wait I’m reading about how, “Now that a would-be first female president is ending her quest for the White House, the race is more about women than ever before.”

9:12 a.m. Why hello, all of you. Looks like we have a crowd. Clinton was supposed to speak at 9 a.m. PST but these things never start on time. I’ve now moved on to reading, while I wait, about why her loss was her own damn fault.

9:29 a.m. Still waiting… Predictions on who will introduce her? Terry McAuliffe again? (He introduced her at her last valedictory speech as “the next president of the United States.”) Or maybe Bill Clinton? Or Chelsea? Or—and this would be a huge surprise—Obama?

9:35 a.m. As someone in the comments just noted, Clinton’s web site is now asking visitors to “support Senator Obama today.”

9:38 a.m. Commenter Kathryn Rathke writes:

I am picturing her clinging to the door jambs with her fingernails. Where are they anyway, somewhere in Italy?

Yes, it is very Roman colosseum in there, isn’t it? The event is at the National Building Museum in D.C.

9:40 a.m. And here we go. Bill, Chelsea, Hillary, and Hillary’s mother, Dorothy Rodham, have just been introduced by an announcer and are headed toward the stage.

9:43 a.m. The four of them take the stage and join hands, but instead of raising their joined hands together in the traditional victory salute, they keep them at their sides. Then Bill, Chelsea, and Dorothy leave the stage.

Hillary:

Well, this isn’t exactly the party I’d planned but I still like the company.

9:47 a.m. Clinton begins by praising her supporters and promising: “I will continue to stand strong with you, every way and every place that I can.” She also notes, again, that there are 18 million of them.

9:50 a.m. “The way to continue our fight now… is to do all we can to help elect Barack Obama the next president of the United States.” She is suspending her campaign, endorsing Obama, and throwing her full support behind him.

9:53 a.m. She doesn’t look happy about it, but she is praising Obama at some length here, repeating his name and reminding her crowd that the Democratic party is a family that needs to come together now.

9:55 a.m. As she ticks off the list of issues that are important to her, the first is healthcare—and she again mentions her hope for universal healthcare, which she had tried to make a point of contrast with Obama during the primaries.

9:58 a.m. Echoing Obama’s speech on Tuesday—in which he said something like, “America, this is our moment”—Clinton says: “We cannot let this moment slip away.”

And then, the most quotable line so far: “Today I am standing with Senator Obama to say, ‘Yes we can.’”

10:00 a.m. It’s really striking: Clinton only has an easy smile when she’s talking about her campaign and what it accomplished (at the moment she’s saying that she proved a woman could be elected Commander in Chief). When she talks about Obama, it’s far from all smiles. Her mouth is saying one thing, her face is saying another.

10:05 a.m. Clinton talks about running as a woman. This is, to me, the most interesting and most powerful part of her speech. She never talked about this on the campaign trail, saying only that she wasn’t running as a woman, but as a candidate for president who happened to be a woman.

But now it’s very clear just how strongly she felt about her barrier-breaking candidacy. She talks for a long time about this—maybe the longest amount of time she devoted to any subject in this speech—concluding with:

Although we weren’t able to shatter that highest and hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you it’s got about 18 million cracks in it and the light is shining through like never before.

10:15 a.m. Also:

It would break my heart if in falling short of my goal I in any discouraged any of you from pursuing your goals.

And:

Every moment wasted looking back keeps us from moving forward. Life is too short, time is too precious and the stakes are too high to dwell on what might have been.

10:16 a.m. It ends with Clinton on the stage, briefly, giving a double thumbs up and waving, standing with Bill and Chelsea, and then exiting and reaching out to shake the hands—overwhelmingly female from what I can see on the livestream—that are waiting to bid her farewell and good luck.

10:24 a.m. Final thoughts: A long, gracious, and ultimately quite moving speech, obviously very difficult for her to give but probably as helpful to her battered image as to Obama’s campaign. Clinton needed to connect, without equivocation, with the electoral reality that most Democrats now perceive. She did that, repeatedly throwing her support behind Obama and setting herself up to move toward the Ted Kennedy model—lose a nomination fight but move on, get back to work, and win the undying loyalty of several core Democratic constituencies (the ones she plugged repeatedly were women, gays, and lower income voters from what I remember) by proving that you’re ultimately in it for them and not for yourself.

I was also struck by how powerful it was to see Clinton finally speak honestly of her feelings about running as a woman. She couldn’t—or felt she couldn’t—do this on the campaign trail. I was glad to see her do it today. It’s a paradox that requires a little more digesting, at least for me, but Clinton seemed so much more free to speak passionately as a woman, and talk forcefully about the barriers women still face, now that she isn’t running to be the first woman president.

I don’t know who freed up this side of her—her consultants? herself?—but it was great to watch this part of Clinton come out into the open. This is obviously such a huge part of who she is, such a central aspect of her passion for politics, and it’s a shame it couldn’t be seen more clearly before today.

If she can’t be president, Clinton seemed to be saying, she will still be one of the loudest voices speaking on behalf of gender equality. It was good to hear. It’s a voice that, as she knows, America still needs.

RSS icon Comments

1

Right here with ya, Eli! :-) Hangover and all...


Posted by Jubilation T. Cornball | June 7, 2008 8:55 AM
2

Eli, I'm playing a drinking game here (with coffee!!!) where I take a drink every time she says "fighting."

How wired will I be at the end???

Posted by Jubilation T. Cornball | June 7, 2008 8:59 AM
3

I'm here. Can't bear to listen to the speech live, so I'm just going to read your updates.

Posted by Morning Woods | June 7, 2008 9:05 AM
4

I'm here...

The thing that I'm looking for is to see whether she continues to make the spurious claim that she won the popular vote. If she makes that claim again, then I think the tone of this "concession" will be suspect.

That said, I'm working hard to be optimistic! :-)

Posted by Timothy | June 7, 2008 9:05 AM
5

Good morning. Let's hope it's not too long.

Posted by Gary7 | June 7, 2008 9:06 AM
6

present! thanks for slogging it- i don't really feel like i've experienced an event any more if i haven't also watched the liveslog and then read a perverted and off-topic discussion about it.

Posted by anna | June 7, 2008 9:07 AM
7

Good morning! Hung over but on board.

Posted by Gabe | June 7, 2008 9:08 AM
8

I'm at my post too.

Posted by Dan Savage | June 7, 2008 9:08 AM
9

How many time will she mention white working class people?

Posted by Cato the Younger Younger | June 7, 2008 9:08 AM
10

Anyone else having difficulty getting the MSNBC stream to work?

Posted by DMC | June 7, 2008 9:09 AM
11

Present.

Posted by Wolf | June 7, 2008 9:09 AM
12

@10 -- Working fine for me. You must hate America, DMC...

Posted by Jubilation T. Cornball | June 7, 2008 9:09 AM
13

MSNBC is talking about 1876 and Tilden....

Posted by Cato the Younger Younger | June 7, 2008 9:10 AM
14

ALL Democrats hate America and want to die in terrorist attacks...

Posted by Cato the Younger Younger | June 7, 2008 9:11 AM
15

Hmmmm....should I have coffee now or a warm PBR? I'll start with coffee, and keep the beer handy I think.

Posted by Gabe | June 7, 2008 9:13 AM
16

I have a feeling this is going to start right when I need to leave for soccer. And that pisses me off.

In my job, I'm responsible for getting events started -- and finished -- at the exact scheduled second. How come politicians can NEVER seem to pull this off?

I'm feeling a little bit of "Fuck Hillary...you lost, get out there, ON TIME, say goodbye, and let's be done with it.

Makes you wonder if there are fingernail marks in the concrete as Bill and Chelsea pull her toward the stage?

Posted by Jubilation T. Cornball | June 7, 2008 9:15 AM
17

This delay has me concerned that what she really wants is to still send the message that she can control the media at her whim...

...I also wonder if it isn't a continued tactic to bury this news as far down in the public mind as possible. It's no secret that she's scheduled this on the darkest news hour of the week, but I wonder if by missing the target time, she hopes that the vast majority of watchers will tune out and move on to other things, minimizing the number of people who will hear her "conceded."


Posted by Timothy | June 7, 2008 9:15 AM
18

Gee, beer and hangovers? Damn, I already ran 7 miles this morning and have showered! And Greenlake was freaking crowded for 7 am today.

Posted by Cato the Younger Younger | June 7, 2008 9:15 AM
19

How can she be ready at 3 AM when she can't be ready at noon?

Posted by It's Mark Mitchell | June 7, 2008 9:17 AM
20

@17 -- Maybe she has a cracked hoof?

Posted by Jubilation T. Cornball | June 7, 2008 9:17 AM
21

I'm here, but I have to bake a birthday cake and change the Mannequin's outfits. Let me know how it turns out.....

Posted by Catalina Vel-DuRay | June 7, 2008 9:17 AM
22

Cato...I'm delaying an 80 mile bike ride to watch this thing, and if I have to wait too much longer, I'll be off thinking better thoughts. :-)

Posted by Timothy | June 7, 2008 9:18 AM
23

God, now part of me feels a little sad... like the end of an era. I just got teary thinking about it.

Man, I'm gonna miss mocking Hilary every chance I get. (sobs)

Posted by catnextdoor | June 7, 2008 9:18 AM
24

Wonder how long it takes her to answer that 3am phone call? She is already 30 minutes late!

Posted by Cato the Younger Younger | June 7, 2008 9:19 AM
25

@20 (Jubilation), if so, she'll blame the media for it. ;-)

BTW...I love the SLOG as much as the next person, but I swear this is the slowest-loading web site on the Internets. :-)

Posted by Timothy | June 7, 2008 9:21 AM
26

Hillary is trying to see we can have Canada and Mexico vote in the Primary....

Posted by Cato the Younger Younger | June 7, 2008 9:23 AM
27

I have to smoke bongs, get in my soccer kit, and be out the door in 6 minutes...I think I'll have to miss this.

Posted by Jubilation T. Cornball | June 7, 2008 9:23 AM
28

I think it's really a shame that so many Democrats don't recognize that Hillary is a great woman and a great political figure. You can like Obama more, think he'd be a better candidate and a better president, but don't belittle what Hillary has done. You'll only push Hillary supporters away.

Save the name calling for the other party, please.

Posted by Seriously | June 7, 2008 9:25 AM
29

I only couny 9 American flags in the stage area. Is that enough?

Posted by Gabe | June 7, 2008 9:26 AM
30

Well I can't wait all day. Them cupcakes royale ain't going to eat themselves.

Posted by elenchos | June 7, 2008 9:27 AM
31

I agree with Seriously. Mostly.

Posted by Dan Savage | June 7, 2008 9:27 AM
32

If anyone else is outside the country (and thus can't get msnbc's feed), hillaryclinton.com's feed works. Also, it's already switched to asking people to support Obama, which is a nice touch.

Posted by Cow | June 7, 2008 9:27 AM
33

@28: This just makes one wonder if Hillary would decide to come to the inauguration in, say, April.

Posted by Wolf | June 7, 2008 9:28 AM
34

@28 -- FTW. Could not agree more and THANK YOU for saying as much. You'll be flamed, but I have your back :-)

BTW -- while we're waiting around, the reason I have a hangover is because I was cleaning up the glassware from my dinner party last night and realized someone had left all their dessert wine...then I noticed there was about a half glass of Prosecco in the bottle...so I poured them together and drank it...HIGHLY unrecommended.

Posted by Jubilation T. Cornball | June 7, 2008 9:29 AM
35

@28 what we end up "name calling" at the GOP is going to make you forget Hillary ever existed.

I'm also still trying to figure out what she has done for this country... Selling out on her health care plan 10 years ago hardly counts.

Posted by catnextdoor | June 7, 2008 9:29 AM
36

I'm an Obama supporter but was an early, early Clinton supporter. I think Hillary is an incredible woman. My decision to support Obama had nothing to do with Clinton, and everything to do with Obama.

I have been extremely frustrated with the campaign that Hillary has run, and continue to be frustrated. I'm tuning in today in order to be able to lay my frustration aside, to once again embrace Hillary as vital team member of the Democratic party in 2008.

I hope she returns to the Senate with passion and fury to fight for the issues she cares about, and that we all see her ongoing work as vital to a progressive agenda.

Posted by Timothy | June 7, 2008 9:31 AM
37

@36 -- You said "fight" so I'm taking a drink. And on that note, I guess that's the only drink I'll get because I have to leave for the footy game.

Eli, you're an American treasure. Thanks for focusing attention on this vital race.


Posted by Jubilation T. Cornball | June 7, 2008 9:34 AM
38

Has this shit still not started yet? I seriously could have ridden three mechanical bulls, taken 20 tequila shots, eaten huevos rancheros and given birth by now. Jesus.

Posted by catnextdoor | June 7, 2008 9:34 AM
39

I am picturing her clinging to the door jambs with her fingernails. Where are they anyway, somewhere in Italy?

Posted by kathryn rathke | June 7, 2008 9:34 AM
40

At my post. Newsflash! The motorcade has arrived! Chelsea gets out of vehicle... oh, break to commercial. Meanwhile, my son is asleep in his highchair and I've had too much coffee.

Posted by Madashell | June 7, 2008 9:41 AM
41

@35

Really, you can't think of anything Hillary has done for the country? How about, at the very least, being a voice for women, being a role model for young women, working for children and helping elect Democrats across the country?

Debate her policies all you want, but she's there working, tirelessly, for the country. Yes, she has ambition, but that shouldn't be a fault. She's taken the hits from Republicans and now from Democrats, hits that are often (but far from always) unfair and sexist.

I think we should just recognize she had a right to be there, to be in the race, and now she is leaving presumably in a unifying manner. So extend your hand and invite the Hillary supporters in to the Obama camp. Obama has been doing a good job of doing that, and of recognizing that he is a stronger candidate because of her. His supporters should do the same.

Posted by Seriously | June 7, 2008 9:44 AM
42

My guess it that the message on her website asking to help support Obama is just another ploy at trying to get people to donate and help her pay off her debt...

Posted by sam | June 7, 2008 9:44 AM
43

She's wearing black - in mourning? Also, I wonder about timing this speech on a Saturday AM. Not exactly prime news time.

Posted by Madashell | June 7, 2008 9:48 AM
44

Did I miss anything? Oh, wait, here she is. With another story of a kid who supported her campaign instead of buying a bike/going to Disneyland/going to college.

Posted by tsm | June 7, 2008 9:50 AM
45

And don't forget the "ornrey old cowboy". What next? The Jewish Mama making the chicken soup and the Irish Cop on the beat?

Posted by Catalina Vel-DuRay | June 7, 2008 9:52 AM
46

The saddest thing about this whole campaign has been the parroting of the Republican attacks against the Clintons over the last 16 years by Obamas. One Obama idiot even said that she shouldn't be the veep because O might be Vincefostered.

It is past time for the Os to show some sense and stop any bashing of HRC and her supporters from here on out.

Posted by McG | June 7, 2008 9:53 AM
47

@41 Sorry, but Hilz and her husband made my time studying abroad a living hell with the affair. (pssst! Europeans think they're idiots) Yeah, she didn't have the affair but- how is she a great role model when she didn't even stand up for herself and get the hell away from him? NOT a good role model if you ask me. Just stick by him? So weak. Awesome.I really feel sorry for her and the fact that she cant stand up for herself. I'll never, ever raise my daughters to be anything like Hilary.

Posted by catnextdoor | June 7, 2008 9:53 AM
48

I just cheered:)

Posted by Gabe | June 7, 2008 9:55 AM
49

moneyshot. thanks, you can all go home now, start saving for that a new bike.

Posted by mcFly | June 7, 2008 9:55 AM
50

Ah, yes, the Obama-booers. There are a few dead-enders out in that audience.

Posted by tsm | June 7, 2008 9:55 AM
51

OK...now I'm crying. Now I can finally turn my focus toward winning in November.

Thanks, Hillary, for this concession. For making it strong and real.

My heart overflows with love and respect for Hillary again.

Posted by Timothy | June 7, 2008 9:56 AM
52

Awesome. My alarm is set to the radio and I was just awakened to that final line.

Posted by leek | June 7, 2008 9:57 AM
53

right on seriously - she's done something worthy and historical

her speech started out a little boring and the same ol stories but she's getting to biz now with speaking of support for OHB

Posted by irl | June 7, 2008 9:57 AM
54

When she isn't forced to speak horseshit--Obama isn't a Muslim, to her knowledge; economists don't know anything about the gas tax--she's a good speaker.

Posted by Jonathan Golob | June 7, 2008 9:58 AM
55

Glad to hear her include gay rights in her litany of things democrats want.

Posted by arboreality | June 7, 2008 9:59 AM
56

Good speech for sure. Thank god this part is over.

Posted by catnextdoor | June 7, 2008 9:59 AM
57

The long primary will only help the Democrats by way of unprecedented voter registration in EVERY state.

The more I think about it, the more I think the Party was hoping for a long primary, not trying to end it.

Posted by Mahtli69 | June 7, 2008 9:59 AM
58

In Europe people couldn't understand why anyone cared about the affair. Europeans loved Clinton.

In Australia they said that they were happy that they got the criminals not the Puritans.

You'd be lucky to have children half as good as Hillary.


Posted by McG | June 7, 2008 10:00 AM
59

@47
Made your time studying abroad a living hell with the affair? Did you read that sentence after you typed it? The world does not think they are idiots.

And if you think Hillary doesn't stand up for herself, you're a fool. Sometimes, just sometimes, a woman's worth is more than her marriage. And who are you to judge what she does in a marriage anyway? It's her marriage. Not yours.

Posted by Seriously | June 7, 2008 10:00 AM
60

good to point out the last 8 years!

Posted by irl | June 7, 2008 10:01 AM
61

Her supporters couldn't look more unimpressed. Do any of these people actually care about the issues she's talking about, or is it just about her?

Posted by tsm | June 7, 2008 10:02 AM
62

@46: No. Hillary's wounds this campaign are almost completely self-inflicted, from the BS Bosnia story to even breathing the name of Bobby Kennedy into this campaign when we all know how that one ended.

And then there's the terrible campaign she ran. I don't pin this loss on Hillary--I'm looking right at Ickes and McAuliffe and wondering how the hell two men that bright could misread the landscape so terribly.

Posted by Ryan | June 7, 2008 10:03 AM
63

YES!!!! Say it again!

Posted by Gabe | June 7, 2008 10:03 AM
64

This repeated "help elect Barack Obama our President" is a bit awkward. But, to her credit, she's hitting the point again and again, over and over, ensuring that this will be the news clip that resonates across the World.

Go Democrats. Go Obama. Unity 2008.

Posted by Timothy | June 7, 2008 10:05 AM
65

Wow, this is more dynamic public speaking than I'm used to seeing from her. The "when we live in an America" rhetorical device is really well used.

Posted by Beguine | June 7, 2008 10:05 AM
66

"Could a woman really be commander in chief? Well, I guess we answered that one."

Lol. I guess we did.

Posted by ru shur | June 7, 2008 10:05 AM
67

Are we going to have a group hug?

Posted by Madashell | June 7, 2008 10:07 AM
68

I think we should hold a spontaneous Unity 2008 Election party tonight somewhere. Dan? Eli? Want to get the ball rolling?

Posted by Timothy | June 7, 2008 10:08 AM
69

Is it just me, or is this the best speach she has given?

Liked her hitting the "more perfect union" thing to.

Posted by Gabe | June 7, 2008 10:08 AM
70

Was that "fifty women in space" a little jab at Huckabee's line about sending Hillary Clinton to Mars?

Posted by tsm | June 7, 2008 10:10 AM
71

That was a dumb line. Isn't shattered glass less translucent?

Posted by huh | June 7, 2008 10:10 AM
72

Oh Hilary. Please, make a strong statement about the contrast between Obama and McCain. At this point, a vote for Obama is a vote for women's rights. Please make it more about the fight ahead and not about you!

Posted by Christina | June 7, 2008 10:11 AM
73

Typed too fast there. I meant "cracked".

Posted by huh | June 7, 2008 10:12 AM
74

there was a good line about don't go there - looking back keeps us from moving FW

Posted by irl | June 7, 2008 10:12 AM
75

"Every moment wasted looking back keeps us from moving forward."

Great line.

Posted by Timothy | June 7, 2008 10:12 AM
76

NICE! Validating the efforts of those who voted for her because of gender...bringing them back into the fold.

Posted by Gabe | June 7, 2008 10:12 AM
77

Note: She said she was "SUSPENDING" her campaign - not conceding...

Posted by sam | June 7, 2008 10:15 AM
78

decent job of ampin' her peeps to vote for OHB
She has to get them bitter ladies like my Mom to vote - lots of PO'd old ladies out there

Posted by irl | June 7, 2008 10:15 AM
79

Was the long primary good for the party? Did someone seriously ask that question?

Ask any Democrat PCO how their enrollment lists look this cycle compared to last. Ask Republican recruiters in swing districts if the long primary was good for the Ds.

Was the long primary good for the Ds? Jesus... I've had to add Dwight Pelz and Chris Gregroire to my spam filter.

Posted by six shooter | June 7, 2008 10:15 AM
80

Has she mentioned McCain at all? Is she going to?

This is, for me, like watching the long farewell performance of a band you don't like. Clearly the fans can't believe they're hearing "My Troubles Are Nothing Compared to Yours" one more time, but I couldn't care less.

Posted by Andy James | June 7, 2008 10:16 AM
81

@47 um, thats funny, because I was in school in Europe at the same time. And pssst.. the euro's I knew thought the americans were stupid for caring. And FYI not every couple believes in complete monogomy. Some even have "understandings" and political creatures have to hide those away from sexphobic folks like you (and a republican congress). I think Hillary is a strong woman because she can work through her relationship without conforming to your "moral" demands.

Posted by um | June 7, 2008 10:16 AM
82

Time to Party! Time to move forward! Let's take the Whitehouse in November.

Where are we going to drink tonight?

Posted by Timothy | June 7, 2008 10:19 AM
83

@80: I don't miss the political bashing in this speach, I kinda welcome it's absence. She's endorsing Obama and trying to encourage her followers to do the same. I agree with her keeping it "above the board" and positive here....there will be lots of time to denounce the old white dude.

Posted by Gabe | June 7, 2008 10:20 AM
84

Nothing to add but "That would've made it up on Ebay." Thanks dude. Good to know why you're really there.

Posted by squidoo | June 7, 2008 10:20 AM
85

Chelsea looks great. She's been the only part of the Hillary campaign that hasn't made me want to tear my hair out.


Can we be done with Hillary now for a bit? I have Clinton exhaustion.

Posted by It's Mark Mitchell | June 7, 2008 10:20 AM
86

i heard Keith Olberman say earlier that the "suspending" is some fancy talk due to owing lots of money - like some kind of leagal speak

Posted by irl | June 7, 2008 10:21 AM
87

The hopes of the Republicans die with this speech.

This party will come together, and my guess is that the McCain team is looking at each other quietly this morning, wondering how in the hell they're going to beat the democrats in November.

Posted by Timothy | June 7, 2008 10:25 AM
88

Well, maybe it was the area I was in... they thought we were idiots for caring, yeah, and thought they were stupid for denying it. Once on the news they once said something about if americans cared so much why is she standing by him? Anyhow- then xmas happened and Clinton approved the US army to bomb iraq and that really pissed off the french. Literally half the school didnt talk to me after that, and when one finally did and I tried to explain that I had nothing to do with the Clintons or the government he spit at my feet.

Just speaking from personal experience.

Posted by catnextdoor | June 7, 2008 10:27 AM
89

okay. . .
. . .now . . .let's get to speculating and watch the talking heads yak on and on about the VP possibilities.

woowho it's gonna be fun

Posted by irl | June 7, 2008 10:30 AM
90

That was gracious and heart-felt exit. Reminds me of why I originally almost supported her. She did good.

Posted by Beguine | June 7, 2008 10:32 AM
91

Cat, it sounds like you were talking to a douchebag (or a school of douchbags).

I think it's too bad you would hold that against Hillary or deny her strengths and the role she has played in history for women. That's something those douchebags would want.

Posted by seriously | June 7, 2008 10:33 AM
92

She's going to have to be VP....right? The only way he can win big... right? Seems logical?

Posted by catnextdoor | June 7, 2008 10:33 AM
93

91- You're totally right. And I was 16, so it dented me in my growth. Just like now I have to fold my salad because my french douchebag family got upset when I didnt. Oh well. If she becomes VP I'll be really happy, then she can run again and win.

Posted by catnextdoor | June 7, 2008 10:36 AM
94

Woah, Hillary and I both conceded today!

Posted by catnextdoor | June 7, 2008 10:39 AM
95

I loved her speech today. It's gonna be hard for me to completely forgive her and her campaign for all the dirty tatics they used, but this speech reminded me why I liked her so much before all of that. I wasn't keen to the idea originally, but now I would welcome Hillary as Obama's VP. Unfortunately, the logistics of that potential pairing seem less than favorable.

Posted by jay | June 7, 2008 10:39 AM
96

When her tone was quiet, her voice low, almost a whisper--those were the most effective moments of the speech. Sounded almost authentic, real.

Posted by homage to me | June 7, 2008 10:40 AM
97

I dared to go visit virulently anti-Obama site Hillaryis44.org to see what'd they have to say.

We will also continue our series discussing why Democrats should not vote for Obama

OK, we have a small cadre of Hillary supporters faced with a Democratic candidate of very, very, very similar policy positions, whom Hillary has now personally endorsed ... and they're insisting on voting against him.

It's hard for me to imagine what perfectly good reason might be coloring their decision.

Posted by tsm | June 7, 2008 10:42 AM
98

Well, my 60+ year old white mom (who was an early Clinton supporter but got on the O-Train a while back) was critical of Hillary for making the speech to much about herself. I'd like to think for every one of those crackpots #97 mentions there's one like dear old mom:)

Posted by Gabe | June 7, 2008 10:49 AM
99

Wow - I'm just tuning in and found a clip; she looks like she hasn't slept for a week - the bags under her eyes are alarming.
My compassion is returning for her.

Posted by kelly | June 7, 2008 10:51 AM
100

R.I.P. Jim McKay, ABC Sports.

Posted by Bub | June 7, 2008 11:00 AM
101

Hillary rocks. She's going to help us all kick ass in November. This is going to be a fantastic moment in history. I honor your campaign, Hillary, and I congratulate you for your contributions to the Democratic Party, and your contributions to come. Onward!

Posted by Fnarf | June 7, 2008 11:00 AM
102

@100 - "The thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat"

Posted by Mahtli69 | June 7, 2008 11:03 AM
103

Yeah, props to her for acknowledging what was at stake and doing the necessary thing.

Eventually.

Posted by tsm | June 7, 2008 11:06 AM
104

i was also really moved (and really surprised) with the amount of time she dedicated to talking feminism in this speech. i think it's something she's been struggling with the whole time, and maybe her advisors told her early on to play it down--which is a shame. maybe now that her race is over, she's taking the freedom to say "screw the advisors, this is a discussion we need to have." and, no longer can the media brush it off as "playing the gender card to get votes"--something they never should've done in the first place.

Posted by kim | June 7, 2008 11:10 AM
105

#97, over at NoQuarterUSA...

Does NOT release her delegates!

She was reading a speech that was politically necessary.

We have TWO months to reverse this travesty.

Back to work, people!

It's usually some nonsense about how he's a dirty Chicago politician and a liar and a fraud who will say anything to get elected. Or how he's the less qualified candidate, or his church, or because he race baited, or because the media and the "DNC elites" "shoved him down our throat".

Oh, and the sexism! He has a few idiotic supporters, so Barack Obama is obviously a sexist! Sigh.

And then there's this piece of utterly disgusting trash:

"Obama's Nomination Feels Like O.J. Just Got Off"

...

Same as O.J., Barack Obama doesn’t give a shit about Black America. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t care all that much about any of America in fact.

He wants power. He used those folks in Chicago to get power there and same as I told you months ago that he would toss them aside when he was done–he has.

...

I think #98 is right. Like the Paultards, there just can't be as many of idiots voting as their presence on the internet would seem to suggest.

Posted by w7ngman | June 7, 2008 11:27 AM
106

Please, PLEASE stop reading No Quarter. It'll just drive your blood pressure up. The kooks there will either come around or they won't, and you don't want to watch. Really, you don't.

Funny thing, today I was in the doctor's office and there was a six-month old Newsweek there with a picture of Rudy Giuliani on the front, and it took me a second to remember, "oh, yeah, he ran for president this year, didn't he?"

Let some time pass.

Posted by Fnarf | June 7, 2008 2:06 PM
107

@87 Don't get cocky. It will be all to easy for the GOP to win this fall. Look how long HRC was considered the nominee apparant and what's happened now. McCain could pick some right wing nutcase as runing mate like Huckabee and mobilize the non bathing demographic. Or he could pick a trimmer like Lieberman and all those independents who were for Obama could start filtering back over to the otherside.

Either way, they are not just going to give up.

Posted by mikeblanco | June 7, 2008 2:14 PM
108

#106, I know Fnarf. You're spot on about blood pressure. I think Aislinn is tired of me ranting about them, but at the same time it's like a terrible car accident and I can't stop looking at the severed limbs.

Seriously, though, comparing Obama to O.J. fucking Simpson deserves to be ridiculed and denounced a million times over.

Oh, and I've pretty much resigned to the fact that they *won't* come around. You simply can't recover from that kind of blind hatred. Once you start to believe that many lies in an effort to further your agenda, the amount of cognitive dissonance involved in voting for Obama would be too much to handle.

Posted by w7ngman | June 7, 2008 2:15 PM
109

@108, I think many of these people can handle that kind of cognitive dissonance just fine, given the convoluted arguments they were putting out there for Clinton in the end. And if it took them that short a time and that flimsy a set of reasons to convince themselves that Obama is actually the incarnation of Lucifer, then perhaps they can unlearn it just as easily.

Posted by tsm | June 7, 2008 2:36 PM
110

MY FIRST 100.00

1. Great speech, right message, well delivered. She claimed her place in history which she has surely earned.

2. Obama via all the ending delay has kept the media focused on HIM. Hillary has done him a favor. Mc Cain can hardly get a line of press folks, THAT is a free media strategy of big import. Keep you man/woman on the front page.

3.She mentioned gay twice to my great delight and with total ease. What a relief.

It time to defeat the war monger and the Bush third term is seemingly accurate. Hillary did it well, work against Mc Cain - work forward not backward - nothing else matters.

America can not sustain many more years of this crap .... sending Obama my first 100.00 .... today, online.

Posted by John | June 7, 2008 2:49 PM
111

God that was classy and probably hard for her to do. Now I really want her to be president.

Posted by um | June 7, 2008 3:17 PM
112

If you go over to Clinton's Web site and check out the blog comments you see how batshitcrazy some of her supporters are, literally advocating to help elect McCain (McCain '08!, Clinton 2012!!) because they don't want Obama. That's just insane. Apparently these people have already forget how utterly wretched the last 8 years have been in this country because of a Republican-controlled White House.

Posted by Sam | June 7, 2008 4:42 PM
113

It was a fantastic speech and I was happy to see it.

People need to stop bagging on Clinton. And those who support her need to jump on the bandwagon and support our nominee.

Here's to unity!

Posted by Donolectic | June 7, 2008 8:09 PM

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