Clinton will do "whatever she can" to help Obama, aide says

One of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's top advisers made clear today that the former candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination would agree to serve as Sen. Barack Obama's vice presidential candidate. "It's not a job that she's seeking. And it's not a job that she's campaigning for," said Howard Wolfson, the adviser. "But she has made it clear, during the campaign and now, that she will do, as I've said, whatever she can and whatever she is asked."

Meanwhile, three other potential vice presidential candidates -Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine (D) and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) and Virginia Sen. Jim Webb (D) - left the door open to serving on a ticket this fall.

"I think probably it would be hard for anybody to say no under a situation like that," Kaine said of being asked.

"It would be difficult to turn that down," Pawlenty said.

Pawlenty and Kaine spoke on "Fox News Sunday." Appearing on CBS, Webb was slightly more circumspect when asked if he would serve as vice president.

"I would leave that to Barack Obama. And, having a discussion with him, I'm happy to give him as much advice as I can, and support," Webb said. "I'm not really looking to be in that spot."

Webb was more categorical about the notion of serving as Republican Sen. John McCain's (Ariz.) vice president. "Well, I can give you a definite no on that as to whether he would ask me and as to whether I would accept," Webb said, laughing.

On ABC's "This Week," Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) gave a little more insight into the secret meeting between Obama and Clinton in her Washington home last week.

"We talked, you know, friend to friend, about where she would go," Feinstein said. "She wanted to have that meeting. She didn't want to have to go out and make a press statement. She didn't want to be followed to the meeting. She wanted one opportunity to sit down with Senator Obama, just the two of them, and I think establish a sense of rapport between them, I think put aside what had happened on the campaign trail, and I think be able to see if -- I used the word nerve endings for such -- that they could forge some kind of a positive bond and working relationship."

General election debate

Prominent surrogates for the Obama and the McCain campaigns started the general election debate with the nation's top issue: the economy.

Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), a top McCain supporter, said "you've got a liberal in Senator Obama, who will repeal the Bush tax cuts that expire in 2011. The capital gains rates will go up. Dividend tax reductions will go down. The marginal rates will all go up."

By contrast, he said, "John [McCain] will say keep the tax rates in place. He will be talking about energy independence. One way to help our economy is stop sending $450 billion overseas, with oil prices this high. Look for oil and gas in our backyard, find alternative energies to get away from fossil fuel consumption. And at the end of the day, stop spending."

Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), a top Obama supporter, disagreed. "The fact is that John McCain voted 95 percent of the time with George Bush last year, and 90 percent of the time with George Bush over the entire presidency. That's not a change. That's not reform. That's not a difference."

He added, "And on the economy, it's profound for the American worker and people who are struggling today. ... For people earning $50,000 or less, who are retired, he's going to do no taxes for them, and he's going to pay for all of this and be fiscally responsible by not continuing the irresponsible Bush tax cuts that this nation at the high level cannot afford."

By Zachary Goldfarb |  June 8, 2008; 12:47 PM ET
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From: Head of State LIVE
http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/06/clintons-exit-speech.html

Saturday, June 7, 2008
Clinton's Exit Speech

Liveblogged:

Hillary, Bill, Chelsea entering the building.

The elegant lit-from-within columns of the National Building Museum flank a podium surrounded by crowds. The scene is reminiscent of the late 19th century. The place is packed.

Terry McAuliffe moves closer to the front of the stage.

Hands in the air applauding and cheers, a fusillade of cameras. We see Bill's face first, smiling; behind him is Hillary. he pauses to hug McAuliffe. Charles Schumer slaps him on the back with a smile. The camera turns to Hillary as she mounts the podium. A large cheer. Bill, Hillary's mother, Hillary, and Chelsea in a line atop the podium.

A pained joyful almost explosively joyful smile from Hillary as the crowd erupts. The sadness, actual joy at the love, deep bags beneath her eyes, there is a certain stunned quality--a dissociation almost as if it isn't real for her, even as another part of her clearly feels the reality, and trues to manifest the toughness, while deep, the catch in her voice captures--there is no other word for it--the anguish underneath.

"To the young people"...a somewhat raucous cheer.."like Anne Riddel"..."New Yorkers...Arkansans...And all those women"-cheer- "in their 80's and 90's, born before women could vote". An anecdote about this.

Strength pushed forward before anguish.

"18 million of you from all walks of life"--a cheer.

Her voice is a manifestation of willed declaration of what has been created by her, for her, on her behalf, cut through with the depth of controlled tears.

"To help elect Barack Obama the next president of the United States" adding a significant and notable depth to her voice. "I endorse him and put my full support behind him. And I ask all of you to work as hard for Barack Obama as you have for me". Mixture of cheers and sounds of upset.

First the forced smile as she begins to enumerate Obama's merits. Cheeks pulled up by sheer effort. However, then she become serious--and she means it. "Ensuring that Obama enters the Oval Office in 2009"

"The Democratic Party is a family and now its time to restore the values we cherish and the country we love..our paths have merged..united more than ever. So much is at stake." Cut to Chelsea--smile with tears.

"We all want an economy that lifts all or our people...A health care system that is universal, high quality and affordable" cheers " This isn't just an issue for me--it is a passion"--and indeed it is, as she hammers it home with vigour.

Remarkably, as she did in the Senate, you can see her settling in, hardening in, to the task ahead--taking her firm determination, and in the midst of this speech, turning it to the new task--still, in the sadness and exhaustion, willing herself to a new life of purpose, as she has done before in the face of loss.

A nod to rehabilitating Bill: "The man who revitalized the US in two elections is here today."

Remarkable, as through sheer force of will against anguish and depression, she slowly pivots, letting her pose of determination turn the anguished machine to its new task.

"Today, I am standing with Senator Obama to say 'Yes we can!". This is the VP pitch.

"Together, we will live in a stronger America. That's why we need to elect Obama our President."

This is a statue of strength mounted over a soul in anguish. Cuts to Chelsea, manifestly tearful mirror that anguish.

Now the repetition theme " And that is why we must help elect Barack Obama our President".

This is full and unequivocal support--a full corrective to her primary night speech.

"Could a woman really serve as commander in chief? Well, I think we answered that one. " A second VP pitch.

"Now, on a personal note, when I was asked what it meant to be a woman running for President, I always gave the answer that I was proud to be running as a woman, but I was running because I thought I would be the best president.

But I am a woman and I know there are biases out there, often unconscious, and I want to build an America that will embrace the ability of every last one of us....to build that future, we must ensure that women and men alike understand the struggles of their mothers and grandmothers and that women enjoy equal pay and equal respect." The subtle reminder of electoral power--just the slightest foot on the neck of pressure regarding the electoral power of the Clinton bloc and the VP choice, while also noting the genuine and remarkable historical achievement of her run.

"To those who were disappointed that we couldn't go all the way, it would break my heart if I discouraged you in...pursuing any of yours...to do what you want to do shouldn't she say "if I discouraged you to vote for Barack Obama? ) and never let anyone say that you can't or shouldn't go on..."

More:
Head of State
http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/06/clintons-exit-speech.html

Posted by: Cara Prado | June 8, 2008 1:11 PM

Sen. Clinton should stay off the ticket and let Obama crash and burn in November. She can run again in 2012 and win the presidency, perhaps as an independent and not with the corrupt Democratic Party.

Because of Sen. Clinton's supporters, it will be McCain wining in 2008. Her supporters will not surrender in "unity" to the cult powers of Obama as desired by the corrupt Democratic Party.

Obama did not get the nomination fair and square. He clinched a stolen nomination with hijacked MI delegates, and de facto Obama surrogate House Speaker Pelosi rigged the nomination for Obama.

Sen. Clinton should be the Democratic nominee. She was the best qualified and the strongest candidate to win the general election in a landslide victory hands down.

Posted by: crat3 | June 8, 2008 1:46 PM

MY DREAM LINES FROM OBAMA
As we pursue change in America, let us start by changing from the old way of condoning internal partisanship towards the new way of harnessing diversity towards partnership. Let us work for change not by breaking from the past but by blending what's brilliant in it to what's transformational in the future. Let us effect change not with fear and suspicion but with confidence and reconciliation. Let change start with us Democrats and America will follow. And so today, I set the tone for inclusive change and real unity in my choice for vice president -- Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Posted by: MG1220 | June 8, 2008 2:26 PM

crat3: "Obama did not get the nomination fair and square. He clinched a stolen nomination with hijacked MI delegates, and de facto Obama surrogate House Speaker Pelosi rigged the nomination for Obama."

crat3, as I responded to you in another newspaper where you posted similar nonsense, you are delusional.

Obama did not violate one single rule. He did not "steal" anything. The rules vis-a-vis FL and MI were originated by Terry McAuliffe, who was DNC chairman before Howard Dean and has been a campaign chairman for Clinton, as well as by Harold Ickes, who also has helped run Clinton's campaign. All three of them, Clinton, McAuliffe, and Ickes, signed off on the decision to strip the two states of ALL their primary delegates. She is on tape saying that the MI voter *did not count.* It was only when she was losing that she changed her tune and started agitating for recognition of FL and MI's delegates.

When the issue came back to the DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee, each campaign was allowed to present a plan for seating none, some, or all of the delegates. The ultimate agreement that was reached was suggested by the *State* of MI, not the Obama campaign, and a number of the Committee members who were Clinton supporters signed off on it. Ickes' eruption was nothing but pure hypocrisy to begin with, since he had been, as a RBC member, instrumental in imposing sanctions on FL and MI and was now pretending that none of that should matter. In addition, the *four* delegates that he was hysterical about would have done absolutely nothing for Clinton; indeed, even if she had gotten *all* of MI's delegates, she still would have lost.

The idea that the popular vote meant that Clinton should have won is similarly ridiculous. It fails to account for the caucus states at all, and includes Puerto Rico and other territories which don't even vote in the general election. And besides that, the whole point is moot, because it is *delegates* that decide the nominee, not the popular vote. Maybe the system should be reformed, but you cannot change the rules retroactively or in the middle of the race.

Pelosi had nothing to do with anything. And Clinton had quite a few important people in Congress, such as Sen. Diane Feinstein, on her side -- indeed, she started out with far more influence in Congress than Obama did.

You are going to have to get over yourself. If you're going to vote for McCain because you're mad at the Democratic primary system, you have your head up your a**. It totally dishonors Hillary Clinton. She has worked her heart out for women, children, civil rights, health care, and so on. Electing McCain will ensure that NONE of that will go forward. On the other hand, a vote for Obama *will*, because his platform and Clinton's are virtually identical.

If it's Obama's supposed character flaws that have your knickers in a twist, don't forget that McCain is no saint either. He actively sought the endorsement of the two radical religious nutjobs with their totally racist views, and took his sweet time about disavowing them. He, for all his railing about special interest groups, has had a number of lobbyists working for his campaign, including several who represented countries who are not friendly with the US -- yes, he kicked most of them off after the fact, but he knew about them and their ties beforehand. He complains about Obama's peripheral relationship with Bill Ayers, but he is a good friend of G. Gordon Liddy, who is an unrepentant lawbreaker from Nixon's era. He has a vile temper, documented in all sorts of places. He divorced his wife, who stood by him all during his captivity in Vietnam, while she was in the hospital, and was overheard by reporters calling his current wife a particularly nasty word that rhymes with hunt but starts with a 'c'. Yeah, a real prince.

You go on and do what you have to do. Apparently you don't mind how foolish you look in the process.

Posted by: Sally1860 | June 8, 2008 5:07 PM

It seems race is all Obama''s supporters care about, even stooping low enough to falsely accuse the Clintons of racism! the Clintons, who have stood up for blacks and against racism for so many years! I will NEVER vote for Obama now, he and his foul minded supporters don't deserve my vote, or the votes and support of any of Hillary''s supporters. Sorry Hillary, unless he chooses you for the other half of this ticket, I cannot support him even if you ask me to, can''t do it.

Posted by: Hillary All the Way | June 8, 2008 6:15 PM

~

Yeah, it's hard to imagine what in the world Senator Clinton or the DNC or Obama himself could possibly say to change my mind about Obama's lack of credentials.


No board of directors in their right minds would give an executive management position to one with as thin a resume as Mr. Obama.


To do so would be considered too risky and a breach of responsibility.


Throw in 20 years with the likes of Wright, Pflegler, Ayers and Rezko and there is no way he's even electable, at this point.


The DNC have flipped their lids, pushing Obama over the finish line even as the voters repudiated him (avg loss of ~ 33% for the last 4 out of 5 primaries).

~

Posted by: DickeyFuller | June 8, 2008 6:32 PM

It is a very curious situation, indeed, what part Hillary Clinton will play in this election. Her husband will do what he can to sink Obama, in my opinion, without it being too completely overt. She will work hard for Obama, but secretly hope Bill is successful. Obama, in the meantime, will scurry around the country trying to be someone he isn't, to people he disdains.

And all the while, an overwhelming percentage of ordinary Americans will come to the conclusion, quietly, that they simply cannot vote for Obama, for various reasons. Some of which are quite valid, and some of which are quite scurrilous.

Posted by: Larrywp | June 8, 2008 9:31 PM

For you die-hard Hillary lovers and Obama haters, how would you answer the following questions:

In what way is Obama's resume "thinner" than say John Edwards' in 2004, who also first ran for president while serving his first term in the US Senate?

Laura Bush has traveled to 25 countries as First Lady, and is currently in Afghanistan to talk about women's issues. Do you think she wracking up legitimate foreign policy experience that she could use to buoy a presidential bid if she chose to run in say 2012?

I truly don't understand all this venom from Hillary supporters about Obama's inexperience. He has held elected office longer than Hillary, even though he is 14 years younger.

It has never been a prerequisite before that someone running for president needs to have lived in the White House before. Where on earth is all this nonsense about his lack of experience coming from?

Posted by: ThankYouForYourSupport,Hillary! | June 8, 2008 10:05 PM

Dicky - let's hope you didn't major in math. S. Dakota was a narrow win for Clinton. Montana a solid win for Obama. W. Virginia, Kentucky, and Puerto Rico were big wins for Clinton. So, (3*33+2-10)/5 - 18.
BB

Posted by: Fairlington Blade | June 8, 2008 10:29 PM

Clinton linked to 'international trafficking in women'
Documents show presidential mission invited organized crime members
Posted: October 26, 1999
1:00 am Eastern

By Charles Smith
© 2008 WorldNetDaily.com

Despite White House denials, the Clinton administration has had major contacts with Asian organized crime syndicates such as the Triads, and has befriended kingpins of international prostitution operations.

Unraveling the tangled web involving Bill Clinton, Beijing and Asian organized crime starts with the president's close, and self-described "old," friendship with Arkansas restaurant owner Charlie Yah Lin Trie. Trie, who managed to donate hundreds of thousands of dollars to Bill Clinton and the Democratic party, is alleged to be a member of the "4 Seas" Triad, an organization of underworld lords based in Hong Kong.

Indeed, much of the money donated by Trie came directly following visits to the White House by others linked to the Triads, including Macau millionaire Ng Lapseng, whose main business is his Fortuna hotel and hostess service of brothels.

"Ng LapSeng spent two days inside the residence at the White House with Bill Clinton," stated Ed Timperlake, co-author of "Year of the Rat," the runaway best-selling book on Bill Clinton's Chinese connections.

"Ng came in to visit with huge wads of cash in his pockets," said Timperlake during an exclusive WorldNetDaily interview. "Not just an oval office coffee visit, but inside the presidential living quarters. Ng Lapseng even obtained a clear photograph of himself with President Clinton and first lady Hillary Clinton, standing in front of a DNC (Democratic National Committee) emblem during a fundraiser. It's in the book."

The brochure advertising Ng's Fortuna hotel boasts, "attractive and attentive hostesses from China, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Burma together with erotic girls from Europe and Russia offer you an exciting and unforgettable evening with friends or business associates."
Ng Lapseng with Bill and Hillary Clinton in the White House. Photo courtesy of the House Reform and Oversight Committee.

Ng's cash links to Clinton are direct and deep. He entered the United States with over $300,000 cash in his pockets, and subsequently visited the White House 12 times, according to Timperlake's book. In addition, Ng wired Charlie Trie "from $1.1 million to $1.5 million. ... Of this amount, at least $645,000 made its way through Trie to the DNC as illegally laundered campaign contributions."

One of Ng's operations includes DNC fundraiser Ted Sioeng in a firm called Ang-Du International. Ang-Du, according to the Wall Street Journal, abducts Thai women for Macau brothels. Sioeng, however, is best known for his photographic appearance with Vice President Al Gore at the Hsi Lai Buddhist Temple.

Clinton's ties to international trafficking in women have even caused some traditional supporters to oppose the administration. "The Clinton administration and the World Bank helped Thailand organize and nationalize their prostitution business," stated National Organization for Women Dulles (Virginia) Chapter President Marie Jose Ragab. "It is state-sponsored trafficking in women, complete with passports, transportation and infrastructure."

"Last year in Thailand alone, trafficking 600,000 women and girls brought $5 billion into the country," Ragab wrote in the NOW Times back in 1992. "The women and girls, the commodity, are invisible. There are millions of them with no identity, no international laws to protect them, no one to reclaim them. Their passports are confiscated by the traffickers upon arriving in countries they may never have heard of. Sold or leased by catalogues, on videos, or 'sight unseen,' they are 'parked' in centers to allegedly work as maids, telephone operators, mothers' helpers. Eighty percent will be seriously physically abused."

"This is a form of slave trade," Ragab said recently. "It is worse now because of the Clintons. It was typical for this administration" to meet with Ng Lapseng. "This is one of the reasons why we endorsed Republicans this year."

The documented contacts between Triad gangsters and the White House also include a "Presidential Business Development Mission," personally approved by Bill Clinton.

According to U.S. Commerce Department materials, in September 1994, Commerce Secretary Ron Brown and Loral Aerospace CEO Bernard Schwartz were invited to sail on an evening paradise cruise from Hong Kong with a "who's who" of Triad business families.

The official Commerce Department "guest list" for a Sept. 2, 1994 dinner on board the "Pacific Princess" included several family-run businesses closely associated with the Communists in Beijing and the Triad gangs such as Raymond Kwok, C.H. Tung, Walter Kwok, Canning Fok, and Chinese billionaire Li Ka-Shing. Who are these people?

* Li Ka-Shing teamed with Robert Kwok and Henry Fok, according to a recent biography titled "Li Ka-Shing," to form the China International Trust Investment Company (CITIC), described in a 1997 Rand Corporation report as an "investment concern under China's governmental State Council." The guest list for the Pacific Princess included the Executive Director of CITIC, Robert Adams.

* The Fok family leader, Henry Fok, is reported to be a member of the 14K Triad. According to Timperlake and co-author Bill Triplett, "Henry Fok first made his name by running United Nations-embargoed goods to China during the Korean War. His son was later convicted for trying to bring Chinese machine guns into the United States."

* The Kwok family, reportedly led by Robert Kwok, allegedly is involved in the heroin smuggling business inside Burma. However, Peter Kwok served as a consultant to the China Overseas Shipping Company (COSCO), and COSCO Hong Kong Holdings, a company owned by Li Ka-Shing. In 1989, Kwok helped CITIC and Li Ka-Shing raise $120 million to buy a Hughes-built communications satellite for AsiaSat, a company part owned by the Chinese Army unit COSTIND (the Commission on Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense). Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-Ca., also knows the Kwok family well. Feinstein's financial ties include her husband, Richard Blum, who is part owner of the far east investment firm, Newbridge Capitol Corp. Blum's partner at Newbridge is Peter Kwok.

* CITIC, the joint firm formed by Li Ka-Shing, Henry Fok, and Robert Kwok also has a special status. "CITIC", states the Rand report, "became identified with the PLA as a result of the scandal surrounding Wang Jun and his visit to the White House on 6 February 1996." In February 1996, President Clinton met with Chinese arms dealer Wang Jun after taking a donation from Arkansas DNC donor Charlie Trie. The Rand Corp. noted that "Wang Jun is both director of CITIC and Chairman of Poly Group, the arms trading company of the General Staff Department. Poly Technologies, Ltd., was founded in 1984, ostensibly as a subsidiary of CITIC, although it was later exposed to be the primary commercial arm of the PLA General Staff Department's Equipment Sub-Department."

What does it all mean? "The leadership in Beijing openly states that there are 'good patriotic' Triads," stated Timperlake. "The merging of the Triads, financiers like Li Ka-Shing, and the leadership in Beijing is a nasty law enforcement problem. It is almost state-sponsored gangsterism."

Charles Smith is a national security and defense reporter for WorldNetDaily. Visit his site, Softwar.

Posted by: Memorylane | June 8, 2008 11:42 PM

In what way is Obama's resume "thinner" than say John Edwards' in 2004, who also first ran for president while serving his first term in the US Senate?

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

He didn't win did he?

Posted by: Truth Seeker | June 8, 2008 11:53 PM

Even when picking a daycare for my son, I look for some experienced old lady to be in charge. Hmm, people are asking why experience matters for the president?

Posted by: ram | June 9, 2008 12:10 AM

Obama lacks CREDIBILITY. He is surrounded by cracks and crooks and somehow this isn't supposed to matter. I supported Clinton because she is a moderate and I agree with her on issues that matter to me. Obama is a cult leader. Look at the hype around this ENTERTAINER. McCain is closer to Hillary than Obama. There is a HUGE difference between Obama and Hillary. I could care less about which party wins, what concerns me is which candidate will get things done. Obama is too distracted by his FAME. McCain in 08

Posted by: mordezles | June 9, 2008 12:36 AM

I'm not saying experience doesn't matter, I'm wondering why some Hillary supporters so venomously diminish Obama's experience. He has held elected office for 12 years and has taught constitutional law at one of the best law schools in the country. His resume is not especially weak for a presidential candidate, but it became essentially the only point that Hillary's campaign could pound on to try and draw a distinction between the two of them since the vast majority of their policy positions are very similar. It would be a shame if the campaign that ultimately failed her did enough damage to the perception of Obama in her supporters' eyes that many of you won't vote for a perfectly qualified and extraordinarily inspirational candidate that shares Hillary's positions and goals for America in the general election simply over sour grapes.

Posted by: ThankYouForYourSupport,Hillary! | June 9, 2008 12:47 AM

" is surrounded by cracks and crooks"

Isn't that exactly what the conservatives have been saying about both Clintons for the past 16 years?

"McCain is closer to Hillary than Obama. "

Which is precisely why I couldn't vote for Hillary in the primary. If the only issue that matters to you is a hawkish foreign policy, then I can see why Hillary was your candidate. By all means, McCain seems like a better fit for you in the general. No need to squawk and spew bile about it.

Posted by: Zer9 | June 9, 2008 12:54 AM

I supported Clinton because she is a moderate and I agree with her on issues that matter to me.....I could care less about which party wins, what concerns me is which candidate will get things done.

--------------------------------------------
What things do you want McCain to get done? Do you think he will resolve the issues that matter to you? I'm afraid the only thing he'll get done is starting a war with Iran.

Posted by: MaggieW | June 9, 2008 1:00 AM

At her Baruch College event in NYC just a few days ago, Hillary Clinton added her name to a Major League Baseball that was inscribed by the famous New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra with the quote: "It ain't over till it's over." Bill Clinton also signed his name to the ball. A photo of it can currently be seen on ebay. This Yogi Berra quote summarizes the essence of the Clintons' drive to win and their spirited campaign style. Don't count them out from politics just yet.

Posted by: TedinNY | June 9, 2008 11:36 AM

HYPOCRISY OF POLITICS

The strange hypocritical world of politics now finds Hillary supporting Obama ---

http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2008/06/inevitable-hypocrisy-of-politics.html

Posted by: PacificGatePost | June 9, 2008 1:20 PM

this is not nor ever has been the united states of hillary or obama! you are voting for the future of THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. a part of America has already aided and abetted the worst administration in modern history (twice). a vote for a continuation of this administration's suicidal policies by mccain is nothing short of treason.

Posted by: patriot | June 9, 2008 3:04 PM

I'm sorry to hear that Hillary. It's either you or McCain. Obama isn't even in the picture. He's dangerous, besides being a phony and a true, first class liar. You'd never want to count on his ass for anything, because you know, he'd throw you under the bus for his own selfish motives in a red second!

Posted by: Schmetterling | June 15, 2008 3:40 PM

P.S. AND MAYBE A SURGICAL STRIKE AGAINST IRAN, WITH ALL OUR EUROPEAN ALLIES ON BOARD WITH US, AS THEY ARE INCREASINGLY LOOKING TO MILITARY ACTION AS WELL, MIGHT BE THE BEST THING FOR PEACE IN THIS WORLD, OR IS THAT NOT EVEN WITHIN THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY?

BECAUSE IF OBAMA DON'T GET IT, THEN HE'S NOT MY CANDIDATE. AND HE DOESN'T BECAUSE HE'S WAY TOO RAW INEXPERIENCED AND JUST PLAIN NOT QUALIFIED TO LEAD THE WORLD'S ONLY SUPERPOWER, NOT NOW, NOT EVER. HE'S NEVER DONE ONE DAMN THING IN HIS LIFE EXCEPT EFF AROUND. NO THANKS.

Posted by: Schmetterling | June 15, 2008 3:43 PM

Senator Hillary Clinton has demonstrated throughout the primary campaign that she is not the type of person who can unify the nation.

Her tone was divissive and she felt that she had a divine right to the nomination - such arrogance. She has set back the advance of women by decades.

The best choice of a running mate for Obama is Wesley Clark.

Posted by: Charles | June 16, 2008 1:20 AM

Sally,

Totally true that they both went along with the party leaving MI out at the beginning...but only BHO had his associates prevent revotes from occurring in MI and FL. I will vote for him, but he is a slimy politician like the rest of them- so please don't continue the idea that he is somehow morally superior to her- they both played politics- he gamed her- but that doesn't make him better in any way. Also- the popular vote argument includes all the caucuses except the 4 that do not offer vote tallies- IA, NV (she won by 5%), ME (small turnout) and Washington state (which has a caucus followed by a non-binding primary making it impossible to count)- Additionally, caucuses are biased in that they favor people of means.

If Barak is really a reformer- he should force the Dems to do away with the archaic system and go on straight- in party- primary votes- with the party helping poor states to have primaries if necessary (MN, WA, IA, NV, TX are not poor states and should not have a system that is clearly biased anyway. It should be Dems only because we are a party- the primary is not a general election- if we want everyone to select who the nominees are than we should have a one-day selection of top 3-5 candidates that we can vote on with no party affiliations allowed.

Posted by: Anonymous | June 16, 2008 1:29 AM

Anyone who thinks McCain is closer to HRC than BHO is out of their minds.

I am a leftist. HRC was my candidate because she had really well developed and thought out progressive policies that she knows how to get through- like LBJ did domestically (JFKs presidency was actually somewhat of a disaster for the first 2 years) rather than generalizations and rhetoric without firm convictions for anything in particular. Still, left leaning rhetoric is better than right leaning promises. I urge anyone who supported HRC, like I did, to vote for Barak this time, wear your HRC shirt while you do it and hold your nose- but don't allow McCain to be elected.

In 2009, after the vote leave the Democratic party- lets start something real- the party has done nothing but disappoint me for all of my years of loyalty to them (24 years a Dem, since I was 13 years old- voluteered for Jackson in 88, etc.- hell, I flew to FL for the day to drive voters for Kerry)
Leon

Posted by: Anonymous | June 16, 2008 1:38 AM

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/2130407/Hillary-Clinton's-defeat-fuels-divorce-rumours.html
Hillary Clinton's defeat fuels divorce rumours
Last Updated: 3:58PM BST 15/06/2008
Rumours have been rife that the Clintons' marriage may be on the rocks. From Washington, Tim Shipman dissects the dynamics of the power-hungry duo's complex relationship.

Obama-Hillary = nightmare ticket.

Posted by: Anonymous | June 18, 2008 4:11 PM

Hillary Clinton's defeat fuels divorce rumours

Last Updated: 3:58PM BST 15/06/2008
Rumours have been rife that the Clintons' marriage may be on the rocks. From Washington, Tim Shipman dissects the dynamics of the power-hungry duo's complex relationship.

Obama/Hillary = Nightmare ticket.

Posted by: dummy | June 18, 2008 4:13 PM

Hillary, like McCain, has supported success in Iraq. Success in Iraq, that is, competent bourgeois control over the oil resources, is key to America's overall strategic position on the globe. Our national competitors wish to check American influence and interests: China, India, Russia, EU and radical Islam. Hillary was far more realistic early on.
Obama health plan is pathetic. McCains plan is closer to Hillary's in that it adheres to market symmetry. Obama's plan creates market asymmetry. Hillary also supported America's commitment to promised treaties i.e. NAFTA. Bush came in and simply walked away from inconvenient treaties. Hillary was in support of petro tax relief for ONE summer. Realizing that demand for petro is inelastic IN THE SHORT RUN, both her and mccain realized that this would provide some relief for folks and would perhaps spook the markets to the downside...which is why mccain is talking about drilling. To spook the markets. The saudis did this is the 80s. Hillary is simply much more of a thoughtful moderate than WHACKO Obama. Obama wishes to continue debasing the American Currency and harming the environment through policies of OVERCONSUMPTION. He's a complete ENTERTAINER and CRIMINAL.

Posted by: mordezles | June 19, 2008 12:15 PM

"Hillary will do everything to help Obama", yeah, even stab him in the back.

Can people be so gullable to believe that Hillary will do an about face and truly support Obama? The anger she must be feeling will tear her apart. She cannot stand the fact that she lost. And now to have her support the person that "took" away her chance at the whitehouse is driving her crazy. That is why I think that she is plotting a devious plan to try and take the nomination away or maybe even help him win inorder that she can manuver her way into the prime spot. Remember her words during the primaries--"anything can happen". Haunting words from someone who has a very shady background. Just ask the late Vincent Forster. The one person who could have nailed the Clintons with all the information he had on them. How convenient for her that he decided to comit "suicide". Why not call it what it was, a homicide.

Posted by: CARLOS | June 21, 2008 1:36 AM

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