Senator Clinton did her homework before appearing before her Senate colleagues on Tuesday.  Secretary designate Clinton said that the Obama administration would be using “smart Power.”  Meaning that it would be use all the tools at their disposal and would not be bound by rigid ideology.  What this means in practice is a possible future dialogue with Iran, engaged diplomacy on Gaza, and a determined withdrawal from Iraq.  Secretary designate Clinton is expected to be confirmed by Inauguration Day.  See full story below.

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Secretary of state designate Hillary Clinton promised a “smart” blend of US military and diplomatic power projection under Barack Obama, and said America must never give up on Middle East peace.

In the latest twist to her trail-blazing political career, Clinton got a warm embrace from the Senate Foreign Relations committee in her confirmation hearing Tuesday, and laid out the first building blocks of the new US foreign policy.

As Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza rages, she ruled out talks with the Islamist militant group but expressed disquiet over civilian casualties on both sides.

She also previewed an “aggressive” bid to halt North Korea’s alleged proliferation activities and promised the United States would belatedly throw itself into the fight against global climate change.

“I believe American leadership has been wanting, but is still wanted,” said Clinton, who narrowly lost her campaign against Obama for the Democratic nomination last year, ending her bid to be the first woman president.

“We must use what has been called ‘smart power,’ the full range of tools at our disposal,” Clinton said, advocating a mix of diplomatic, economic, military, political legal and cultural strategies.

In a dig at the Bush administration, Clinton said she and Obama believed in foreign policy which married “principles and pragmatism, not rigid ideology.”

But, Clinton, who is expected to cruise towards confirmation, warned that military power “will sometimes be necessary … as a last resort.”  see remainder of article here.

Senator Hillary Clinton will appear before the Foreign Relations Committee this morning.  Senator Clinton is expected to be confirmed but will face questions regarding the financing of her husband, former Bill Clinton’s, library as well as his international connections and fundraising activities for the Clinton Global Initiative.  Sen. Clinton will also face questions regarding her views on foreign policy and more than likely some of her campaign activities including her remaining campaign debt.  One would think that she will be asked about statements made about her view of foreign policy and how during her campaign it was dramatically different from President-elect Obama’s view.  The Senate is a collegial body that will confirm Senator Clinton but at the same time will ask a few tough questions of the New York Senator.

With the Secretary of State announcement on the horizon this story seems appropriate.  There are reports that the Clinton camp is claiming that President-elect Barack Obama was very persuasive in his attempt to persuade Sen. Clinton to accept the Secretary of State position.  However, what perplexes this writer is that if President-elect Obama was the one trying to persuade, why did the former president, Bill Clinton, have to agree to nine conditions associated with the the unconfirmed “offer?”  If Senator Clinton had the upperhand, why agree to all the conditions?  The Clinton camp account also does not jive with another Elizabeth Drew’s, author, report of Sen. Clinton’s meeting with the President-elect.  Apparently, Drew reports, there was no offer during the Obama-Clinton meeting two weeks ago.  The New York Review of Books gives us a behind-the-scenes look at what actually happened. 

Obama’s meetings with Hillary Clinton and John McCain about playing important roles in his presidency indicated his imagination and his shrewdness, although sources close to Obama say he did not offer her the job of secretary of state when they met. He had said during the campaign that he wanted various views in his government, and in turning to his own former competitors, Obama was at the same time magnanimous and seeking to keep them close. Both were in a position to cause him difficulty in the Senate–Clinton, in particular, had kept her constituency intact (through HillPAC) and was planning her own Senate agenda, including her own health care program, no matter what Obama proposed. But Clinton lacks the seniority, and therefore a committee position from which to get her proposals taken up by the Senate. (She tried to get a special subcommittee appointed, but Edward M. Kennedy, who has his own health care plan and is chairman of the committee with jurisdiction over the issue, blocked her, offering her later a role concerning health insurance.) McCain had indicated that he wanted to help Obama in the Senate, and by taking him up on it, Obama has both flattered and coopted him.
Mrs. Clinton’s and her closest advisers’ turning a suggestion by the President-elect that she might, among other things, head the State Department into an “offer” and reports that she was agonizing over whether to accept it, did not please officials in Chicago, some of whom hoped that issues over disclosure of Bill Clinton’s post-presidential record might block the appointment. But the former president’s camp blocked that by promising to cooperate with requests for information and to accept limits on his activities, including clearance of speaking engagements abroad. Statements by the Hilary camp on November 21 saying that “she’s ready” for the position but then backtracking, saying that some matters were “under discussion,” typified the whole mess, the only snag thus far in an otherwise unusually smooth transition involving impressive choices–an object lesson to Obama (which he had reason to know already) that getting involved with the Clintons is rarely uncomplicated.

The news came over the wire last night.  President-elect will nominate Sen. Hillary Clinton to be Aecretary of State next week.  The official announcement will be made at a joint press conference the Friday following Thanksgiving.  Per the Associated Press.

WASHINGTON – President-elect Barack Obama is on track to nominate Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state after Thanksgiving, an aide to his transition said Thursday.
One week after the former primary rivals met secretly to discuss the idea of Clinton becoming the nation’s top diplomat, the two sides were moving quickly toward making it a reality, barring any unforeseen problems.

The transition aide told The Associated Press that the two camps have worked out financial disclosure issues involving Clinton’s husband, former President Bill Clinton, and the complicated international funding of his foundation that operates in 27 countries. The aide said Obama and Hillary Clinton have had substantive conversations about the secretary of state job.

Clinton has been mulling the post for several days, but the transition aide’s comments suggested that Obama’s team does not feel she is inclined to turn it down.

The natives were restless in Denver today in anticipation of what the former President Bill Clinton. Fear no more because Bill Clinton HIT IT OUT OF THE PARK!!!!   The audience went wild during several point sin his speech.  Congressman Meeks introduced President Bill Clinton. The former president expressed his honor to be appearing at the convention.  He then said that he is here first to support Barack Obama and second to warm up the crowd for Joe Biden.  President Clinton then said that he will do everything he can to elect Barack Obama for president.  The former president reiterated that the nation is in trouble and that our position in the world has been weakened.  President Clinton then said that the job of the next president is to rebuild the American dream and restore our leadership in the world Clinton then stated with conviction that Barack Obama is the man for this job.  The former  President said that Barack Obama is ready to lead and honor the oath to preserve, honor, and defend the Constitution of the United States.  The President received a standing ovation several times during his speech.  And the coupe de gras, Clinton stated indisputably that “Barack Obama is ready to be the President of the United States.”  President Clinton emphasized the importance of diplomacy first in this new world.  It was a great performance by President Clinton.  The torch has been passed. 

There was quite a bit of anticipation for Sen. Hillary Clinton’s speech last night amongst the chattering class.  Punditville was falling all over themselves hoping for something, something unexpected to happen so that they would be able to chatter about it for a few weeks.  We can tell you that the mood on the floor of the convention was not as a buzz as the chattering class is reporting.  As a matter of fact there is really no drama at all.  The mood on the streets and in the Convention hall is excitment and gratitude that the democratic party has such a great candidate.  There have been a few protests but they are usually par for the course at any party convention.  Anyway, back to Sen. Clinton’s speech.  Chelsea Clinton introduced her mother, and Sen Clinton came out to thundering applause.  The speech was well received by the delegates and all the other attendees lucky enough to secure credentials.  We stood just behind Governor of Virgina Tim Kaine and Virginia Congressman Jim Moran.  Both of whom seemed pleased by the speech.  We also interviewed a few Clinton delegates afterwards to get their opinion.  Most of whom said that they are democrats first and will be voting for Sen. Barack Obama in the fall.  One said that she will be voting for Sen. Obama but needs a little more time to come to terms with the idea that her 92 year old mother might not see the first female president.  This particular delegate also said that she would not be able to vote for John McCain given his position on several key issues that are deal breakers for her.  We also spoke with Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York who said that the speech was great.  He also said that he thought that Clinton’s speech hit just the right note because it gave people reasons to be for Sen. Obama rather than to simply vote for Sen. Obama.  Sen. Schumer went on to say that the speech had substance and stressed the importance of helping the middle class.  He said that the speech was “well done, well thought out, and given with real conviction.”  Finally the Senator of New York concluded that “it wasn’t easy to do.” We also spoke briefly with Gov. Bll Richardson of New Mexico who said that the speech was “well done.” 

There were a few celebrities in attendance including Richard Dreyfuss and Jane Seymour.

This is the latest e-mail sent to SUPERDELEGATES (remember those) by PUMA.  Originally the acronym meant  Party Unity My Ass, but it recently changed its name to People United Means Action.  These folks are the die-hard Hillary supporters who are refusing to accept her lost and are aggressively pushing for a roll-call vote at the convention.  Apparently, Clinton’s little speech in California regarding “catharsis” got them all riled up again.  First, let me say that the total group is nowhere near a representative sample of Clinton’s former supporters.  Last I heard there were about 100 of them with very big mouths.  They are widely believed to be Republican operatives acting under the auspice of Clinton supporters.  The group makes exaggerated claims about the number of  members so as to get as much press time as possible.  Second, they are still actively campaigning to change the mind of super delegates in a last ditch, desperate attempt, to give Clinton the nomination.  Yea Sen. Clinton, a “catharsis” will be very constructive (snark).  To think, this writer actually considered giving Sen. Clinton a few dollars to help toward retiring her debt.  It is stunts like these that remind all of us of all the emotions stirred up during the primary.  Further, last I checked the vast majority of Clinton supporters are now voting for Obama.  I’m very happy to hear that former governor Mark Warner of Virginia will also be speaking on Tuesday night, the same night as Clinton.  Thus Tuesday night will not be Clinton night afterall, hers will be just one of many speeches given that night.  Again, there is no need for a roll call vote.  Everyone else has moved on except the die-hard, unable to accept, legitimate defeat, PUMA people.  Below is the letter sent out to superdelegates by PUMA representatives.

From:

Sent: Monday, August 11, 2008 1:19 PM
To:
Subject: Hillary in Nomination

August 11, 2008

Puma PAC

Reply TO:XXXX@pumapac.org

Dear Super Delegate,

I am a Democratic voter and member of Puma PAC, People United Means Action  We represent the more than 18 million American voters who supported Senator Clinton and who reject the selection of Barack Obama as the Democratic nominee.

Barack Obama is simply the weaker of the two final candidates for nomination. He is losing ground to Senator McCain every day.  Millions of Democrats vow not to vote for him in November because of his inexperience and unreadiness to lead.

Only Senator Clinton can win back the White House for our Party in November.

PLEASE do your job and support Senator Clinton for nomination in Denver.

The Democratic VOTERS want you to support a real winner and leader. The American PEOPLE want you to. Common Sense wants you to. A commitment to DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES wants you to.

PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING. AMERICAN DEMOCRATS AND VOTERS WILL SUPPORT YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE AND WILLINGNESS TO STAND UP TO PARTY INSIDERS BY REPRESENTING THE VOICE OF THE VOTERS.

Sincerely,

W. Kronert, San Diego, Ca.

Puma PAC democrat

Your candidate lost…..GET OVER IT!

The Obama and Clinton campaigns released a joint statement announcing that the former president, Bill Clinton, will be speaking on Wednesday night at the Democratic convention in Denver.  President Clinton will speak before the vice presidential pick on Wednesday.  The role of the former president would play at the convention has been a subject of speculation for a few weeks and in the last week its reached a fever pitch.  Up until yesterday, the Democratic party was deciding whether John Edwards would speak at all in light of some tabloid stories alleging a scandal involving infidelity.  As a matter of fact, the Party is reported to have told the former North Carolina senator that he would need to clear up the scandal before he would be invited to speak.  Now it appears that Bill Clinton has been given that open spot and Edwards is out.

Though Sen. Clinton has been given a prime time speaking role at the Democratic Convention, she still does not seem to be satisfied.  The senator from New York may seek to put her name in nomination/roll call vote.  This is regardless of the fact that such an act will result in more division within the democratic party.  Instead of unifying the party at the democratic convention, this will result in division by stirring up old wounds from the primaries.  Why??  And again, Clinton and her former supporters are being recognized on the second night of the Democratic Convention where she has a prime-time speaking role.  Placing Clinton’s name in the nomination will result in a floor fight on the Convention floor.  Why is this necessary??  Even though the Republican party would take great delight in the democrats fighting amongst themselves, this would be a disastrous for the democratic party.  The fact that Clinton would even put this out there as an option make me question her motives.  Is she interested in recognition of her supporters or is there a more sinister motive at play?  At what cost should the democratic party do such a thing.  Is it worth……increasing the risk of division within the party thereby subjecting Obama to at least a month of valuable campaign time after the Convention to re-unite the party?  Is it worth……increasing a possibility of lost in November?  Sen. Clinton says that placing her name in nomination will increase the likelihood of unity after the Convention because her delegates will be recognized.  First, that is already happening on Tuesday.  Second, look at the polls Sen. Clinton, all the groups that you say need to be united are already united behind Obama.  What is the point of creating unnecessary division where none exist?  This is needless drama and for what?  Pundits continually put the onus on Obama to use his diplomatic skills to bring in the Clintons.  How about putting the onus on the Clintons to grow up and accept the fact that they lost fair and square and start putting the Democratic party first?

See Clinton’s full quote below.

“Because I know from just what I’m hearing, that there’s incredible pent-up desire. And I think that people want to feel like, ‘OK, it’s a catharsis, we’re here, we did it, and then everybody get behind Sen. Obama.’ That is what most people believe is the best way to go,” she said.

“No decisions have been made. And so we are trying to work all this through with the DNC and with the Obama campaign.”

It’s OOOOOOOOVVVVVEEERRR.  Please let it go! 

Last week, we reported that CBS distorted Sen. McCain’s answer in an interview that aired a couple of weeks ago.  Well, it appears that the third place network is still at it.   Many of the news outlets have been reporting on former President Bill Clinton’s lukewarm response to a reporter’s question about whether Sen. Obama “is ready to be president.”  It has been discovered by Media Matters that CBS edited out a significant portion of Clinton’s answer so that it gave a different impression than that of the unedited tape.  This is the entire exchange unedited:

SNOW: Is he ready to be president?

CLINTON: Well, in the — you could argue that no one is ever ready to be president.  I mean, I certainly learned a lot about the job in my first year. He’s shown a keen strategic sense and his ability to run an effective campaign. He clearly can inspire people and motivate people and energize them, which is a very important part of being president, and he’s smart as a whip so there’s nothing he can’t learn.

This is what ABC reported:

begin video clip]

SNOW: Is he ready to be president?

BILL CLINTON: Well, in the — you could argue that no one’s ever ready to be president.

[end video clip]

One wonders what else was left out of that interview?

Tuesday night, August 26th, has been deemed Hillary night at the Democratic National Convention.  Sen. Clinton will give her speech on what will  be the 88th anniversary of women’s right to vote.  The Senator will be joined on stage by several other female democratic senators.   Sources close to Clinton also say that there is little chance that she will be chosen as Sen. Obama’s running mate.  Many also speculate that because the vice presidential pick usually speaks on the Wednesday of Convention week, the fact that Clinton is speaking on Tuesday confirms that she is out of the running.  However, the New York senator is in serious talks with the Obama campaign about hitting the campaign trail in the next couple of weeks.

Today on the Today Show, Meredith Vieira calls Sen. John McCain on the carpet regarding his criticism of Obama for not holding Afghanistan hearings when he, Sen. McCain, has missed all six Senate hearings held by the Senate Armed Services Committee on Afghanistan of which he has been a member for the last two years.  Vieira pointedly asked McCain “where is your accountability???”   McCain rambled on for a bit about how he has been to Afghanistan a few times and how the SURGE worked.  He continued his ramble, the SURGE is working, completely dodging the question.  Meredith then questioned him about his past statements on the economy and Phil Gramm! He rambled and dodge again.  Even continued talking over Meredith in an obvious attempt to ignore follow-up questions.  Great interview!  Finally, someone in the main stream media wakes up. 
Follow link to video

Since Sen. Hillary Clinton dropped out of the race she has aggressively sought a commitment from Sen. Barack Obama to help pay off her campaign debt.  So far the campaign has only been able to raise $100,000 toward that goal.  This writer appreciates that Clinton has bills to pay given her prolonged stay in the primary, however, I disagree that the burden should be imposed on Obama to pay off those bills.  Besides, Obama is a bit cash strapped himself.  At least until he receives the official nomination in August. 

When you combine McCain’s individual war chest with his party’s bankroll, it turns out the Republican nominee has about $90 million currently burning a hole in his pocket, while Obama and the DNC weigh in at a relatively paltry $47 million, or half as much.

Meanwhile, the RNC and other right wing operatives of the McCain campaign are saturating the airwaves with attack ads against the presumptive democratic nominee and it is improbable that the Senator from Illinois has the money to respond.  My advice to the Obama campaign is to concentrate on McCain and get back to Hillary after November 4th.  If the situation were reversed and Obama had lost and accumulated such debt, it is highly doubtful that Clinton would respond in turn.  This is a hard enough race as it is without continually having to deal with issues connected with the defunct Clinton campaign.  Let it go for now. 

As for those of you who have not donated at all or within the last month….the Obama campaign needs you!  In order to respond effectively to the latest bombardment of republican attacks, Obama needs funds.  To put your minds at rest, none of the donations that you make to the Obama campaign will go to pay off Hillary’s debt…it’s against the law for that to happen.  So feel free to donate generously.

Republican 527′s not subject to campaign finance rules will also be doing their part on behalf of McCain.

The National Rifle Association plans to spend about $40 million on this year’s presidential campaign, with $15 million of that devoted to portraying Obama as a threat to voters’ Second Amendment rights. And just this morning the Christian Defense Coalition launched a new campaign called “Barack Obama: The Abortion President” designed to blunt Obama’s attempts to make inroads with evangelicals. All of which boost McCain–without depleting his war chest.

We can help simply by making a donation of whatever we can afford.  If we want change in Washington we need to speak loudly with our pocketbooks and wallets. Obama is already at a disadvantage because of the long primary.  Having a funding disadvantage is just NOT an option if we want success in November.  We the voters need to step up.  If we want Sen. Barack Obama in the White House in 2008, we need to pony up.  Do your part to get rid of the same old politics in Washington and vote for effective change.  Please pass on this message to your friends and family…lets not let our candidate down.  DONATE

This is not a joke, Howard Wolfson will be working for Rupert Murdoch owned Fox News as a contributor for the 2008 election!  Perhaps he is the new token liberal there to support Juan Williams (NPR and Fox News commentator)…oh wait, not sure where Mr. Williams stands these days.  Good ol Juan tends to take every opportunity to knock down Obama.  I would swear that Williams is now a McCain supporter given his recent comments regarding the presumed democratic nominee.  To this writer, the NPR contributor seems to want to sabotage Obama by consistently using the GOP talking points against him.  Perhaps Mr. Williams has bought into the rhetoric of the right?  Maybe, OR, the more likely reason, his candidate (Hillary) didn’t win the primary so now he has set out to do his part to make sure that Obama doesn’t win the general.  This was most clear the past two Sundays on Fox News Sunday when Good ol Juan took stronger positions against Obama than his ultra-conservative republican colleagues.  Nice job Juan…..good looking out.

After weeks of silence, presumptive democratic nominee Barack Obama and former president Bill Clinton finally had a 20 minute conversation yesterday.  Clinton spokesman Matt McKenna gave this statement regarding the conversation.

President Clinton continues to be impressed by Senator Obama and the campaign he has run, and looks forward to campaigning for and with him in the months to come,” McKenna said.

So Bill is looking forward to campaigning for Obama.  Hmmmm. One word to the Obama campaign, beware of a very bruised ego.  My question: what will Bill Clinton’s response be the first time he is confronted with a criticism leveled against his administration by the Obama campaign during the primary process?  Lets see, will he be more concerned with electing the democratic nominee to the White House?  OR, will he be more concerned with redeeming his legacy and respond in a way that benefits him and perhaps his wife in 2012?  My advice to the Obama campaign, keep Bill Clinton on a very short leash.  It is evident that an intense rivalry exists between the two alpha males and Clinton’s motives may not always be pure. This is not meant to be offensive to the Clintons because they are brilliant politicians and would be assets to any campaign under the right circumstances.  Bill and Hill’s significant contributions to this country cannot be denied.  However, the democratic primary was a bitterly fought battle between two formidable candidates with hurt feelings all around, not to mention unbridled ambition.  The Obama campaign should not expect a Huckabee like ally in the Clintons, even less so because she will not be Obama’s veep pick.  The Clintons and Obama can help each other as long as everyone is clear on the target end.  Obama can help Bill Clinton rehabilitate himself within the African-American community and the national stage; Bill Clinton can help Obama in states that Hillary did well in like Pennsylvania, West Virginia, etc.   This can work as long as everyone knows who the candidate is and both are clear on the end goal.  Somehow I don’t think that Obama will have any problem making clear who the candidate is, consensus with respect to the end goal may be a bit more challenging. Ding, ding, ding……let the battle of the alpha males begin.

WASHINGTON — Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton was gracious in her full-throated endorsement of Senator Barack Obama. But that does not mean all is forgiven by others in the Clinton universe.

For proof, look no further than Doug Band, chief gatekeeper to former President Bill Clinton.

Mr. Band keeps close track of the past allies and beneficiaries of the Clintons who supported Mr. Obama’s campaign, three Clinton associates and campaign officials said. Indeed, he is widely known as a member of the Clinton inner circle whose memory is particularly acute on the matter of who has been there for the couple — and who has not.

“The Clintons get hundreds of requests for favors every week,” said Terry McAuliffe, the chairman of Mrs. Clinton’s presidential campaign. “Clearly, the people you’re going to do stuff for in the future are the people who have been there for you.”

Mr. McAuliffe, who knows of Mr. Band’s diligent scorekeeping, emphasized that “revenge is not what the Clintons are about.” The accounting is more about being practical, he said, adding, “You have to keep track of this.”  Read article for those at the top of list.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton gave her final speech related to her candidacy today at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC.  The New York senator endorsed her rival of sixteen months yesterday after completing a battle for the ages last Tuesday.  Clinton suspends campaign.  See transcript and Obama Response.

Barack Obama Response

At this defining moment for our nation, we should be proud that our party put forth one of the most talented, qualified field of individuals ever to run for this office.  I have not just competed with them as rivals, I have learned from them as friends, as public servants, and as patriots who love America and are willing to work tirelessly to make this country better.  They are leaders of this party, and leaders that America will turn to for years to come.

That is particularly true for the candidate who has traveled further on this journey than anyone else.  Senator Hillary Clinton has made history in this campaign not just because she’s a woman who has done what no woman has done before, but because she’s a leader who inspires millions of Americans with her strength, her courage, and her commitment to the causes that brought us here tonight.

We’ve certainly had our differences over the last sixteen months.  But as someone who’s shared a stage with her many times, I can tell you that what gets Hillary Clinton up in the morning – even in the face of tough odds – is exactly what sent her and Bill Clinton to sign up for their first campaign in Texas all those years ago; what sent her to work at the Children’s Defense Fund and made her fight for health care as First Lady; what led her to the United States Senate and fueled her barrier-breaking campaign for the presidency – an unyielding desire to improve the lives of ordinary Americans, no matter how difficult the fight may be.  And you can rest assured that when we finally win the battle for universal health care in this country, she will be central to that victory.  When we transform our energy policy and lift our children out of poverty, it will be because she worked to help make it happen.  Our party and our country are better off because of her, and I am a better candidate for having had the honor to compete with Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Sen. Hillary Clinton Concession Speech (transcript)

Thank you so much. Thank you all.

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

I want to start today by saying how grateful I am to all of you – to everyone who poured your hearts and your hopes into this campaign, who drove for miles and lined the streets waving homemade signs, who scrimped and saved to raise money, who knocked on doors and made calls, who talked and sometimes argued with your friends and neighbors, who emailed and contributed online, who invested so much in our common enterprise, to the moms and dads who came to our events, who lifted their little girls and little boys on their shoulders and whispered in their ears, “See, you can be anything you want to be.”

To the young people like 13 year-old Ann Riddle from Mayfield, Ohio who had been saving for two years to go to Disney World, and decided to use her savings instead to travel to Pennsylvania with her Mom and volunteer there as well. To the veterans and the childhood friends, to New Yorkers and Arkansans who traveled across the country and telling anyone who would listen why you supported me.

To all those women in their 80s and their 90s born before women could vote who cast their votes for our campaign. I’ve told you before about Florence Steen of South Dakota, who was 88 years old, and insisted that her daughter bring an absentee ballot to her hospice bedside. Her daughter and a friend put an American flag behind her bed and helped her fill out the ballot. She passed away soon after, and under state law, her ballot didn’t count. But her daughter later told a reporter, “My dad’s an ornery old cowboy, and he didn’t like it when he heard mom’s vote wouldn’t be counted. I don’t think he had voted in 20 years. But he voted in place of my mom.”

To all those who voted for me, and to whom I pledged my utmost, my commitment to you and to the progress we seek is unyielding. You have inspired and touched me with the stories of the joys and sorrows that make up the fabric of our lives and you have humbled me with your commitment to our country.

18 million of you from all walks of life – women and men, young and old, Latino and Asian, African-American and Caucasian, rich, poor and middle class, gay and straight – you have stood strong with me. And I will continue to stand strong with you, every time, every place, and every way that I can. The dreams we share are worth fighting for.

Remember – we fought for the single mom with a young daughter, juggling work and school, who told me, “I’m doing it all to better myself for her.” We fought for the woman who grabbed my hand, and asked me, “What are you going to do to make sure I have health care?” and began to cry because even though she works three jobs, she can’t afford insurance. We fought for the young man in the Marine Corps t-shirt who waited months for medical care and said, “Take care of my buddies over there and then, will you please help take care of me?” We fought for all those who’ve lost jobs and health care, who can’t afford gas or groceries or college, who have felt invisible to their president these last seven years.

I entered this race because I have an old-fashioned conviction: that public service is about helping people solve their problems and live their dreams. I’ve had every opportunity and blessing in my own life – and I want the same for all Americans. Until that day comes, you will always find me on the front lines of democracy – fighting for the future.

The way to continue our fight now – to accomplish the goals for which we stand – is to take our energy, our passion, our strength and do all we can to help elect Barack Obama the next President of the United States.

Today, as I suspend my campaign, I congratulate him on the victory he has won and the extraordinary race he has run. I endorse him, and throw my full support behind him. And I ask all of you to join me in working as hard for Barack Obama as you have for me.

I have served in the Senate with him for four years. I have been in this campaign with him for 16 months. I have stood on the stage and gone toe-to-toe with him in 22 debates. I have had a front row seat to his candidacy, and I have seen his strength and determination, his grace and his grit.

In his own life, Barack Obama has lived the American Dream. As a community organizer, in the state senate, as a United States Senator – he has dedicated himself to ensuring the dream is realized. And in this campaign, he has inspired so many to become involved in the democratic process and invested in our common future.

Now when I started this race, I intended to win back the White House, and make sure we have a president who puts our country back on the path to peace, prosperity, and progress. And that’s exactly what we’re going to do by ensuring that Barack Obama walks through the doors of the Oval Office on January 20, 2009.

I understand that we all know this has been a tough fight. The Democratic Party is a family, and it’s now time to restore the ties that bind us together and to come together around the ideals we share, the values we cherish, and the country we love.

We may have started on separate journeys – but today, our paths have merged. And we are all heading toward the same destination, united and more ready than ever to win in November and to turn our country around because so much is at stake.

We all want an economy that sustains the American Dream, the opportunity to work hard and have that work rewarded, to save for college, a home and retirement, to afford that gas and those groceries and still have a little left over at the end of the month. An economy that lifts all of our people and ensures that our prosperity is broadly distributed and shared.

We all want a health care system that is universal, high quality, and affordable so that parents no longer have to choose between care for themselves or their children or be stuck in dead end jobs simply to keep their insurance. This isn’t just an issue for me – it is a passion and a cause – and it is a fight I will continue until every single American is insured – no exceptions, no excuses.

We all want an America defined by deep and meaningful equality – from civil rights to labor rights, from women’s rights to gay rights, from ending discrimination to promoting unionization to providing help for the most important job there is: caring for our families.

We all want to restore America’s standing in the world, to end the war in Iraq and once again lead by the power of our values, and to join with our allies to confront our shared challenges from poverty and genocide to terrorism and global warming.

You know, I’ve been involved in politics and public life in one way or another for four decades. During those forty years, our country has voted ten times for President. Democrats won only three of those times. And the man who won two of those elections is with us today.

We made tremendous progress during the 90s under a Democratic President, with a flourishing economy, and our leadership for peace and security respected around the world. Just think how much more progress we could have made over the past 40 years if we had a Democratic president. Think about the lost opportunities of these past seven years – on the environment and the economy, on health care and civil rights, on education, foreign policy and the Supreme Court. Imagine how far we could’ve come, how much we could’ve achieved if we had just had a Democrat in the White House.

We cannot let this moment slip away. We have come too far and accomplished too much.

Now the journey ahead will not be easy. Some will say we can’t do it. That it’s too hard. That we’re just not up to the task. But for as long as America has existed, it has been the American way to reject “can’t do” claims, and to choose instead to stretch the boundaries of the possible through hard work, determination, and a pioneering spirit.

It is this belief, this optimism, that Senator Obama and I share, and that has inspired so many millions of our supporters to make their voices heard.

So today, I am standing with Senator Obama to say: Yes we can. Read the rest of this entry »

Two seconds after Obama clinched the nomination, the chattering class began punditing about who he should choose as his vice president.  Sen. Obama said as he was leaving DC that the next word that the public will hear from his campaign regarding the VP position is when he announces his vice president.  The Senator also said that his campaign will take its time deciding who will be his running mate.  Obama has also emphasized that this is one of the most important decisions that he will make and he will not be rushed in making it.  Obama confirmed that his campaign have begun the VP consideration process but such process will not be conducted in the press or through surrogates.  In addition, the Senator demonstrated just what kind of leader he intends to be yesterday.  Having just won the toughest, most protracted and contentious primary in decades, Obama did not rest on his laurels but flew to Washington DC and went to the Senate floor to introduce new legislation expanding public access to government spending.  While in DC Obama also INFORMED the party that Howard Dean would remain DNC chair.  The junior senator from Illinois and the new leader of the Democratic Party also INFORMED the Party that there will be no more lobbyist money taken by the DNC, a policy that he implemented in his campaign at its genesis.    And last but by no means least, Sen. Obama met with Sen. Clinton last night regarding beginning the process of uniting the party.  Both campaigns released the following statement,

Joint Statement from Obama and Clinton Campaign

Senator Clinton and Senator Obama met tonight and had a productive discussion about the important work that needs to be done to succeed in November.”

Sen. Clinton, a little lesson on grace…and lack thereof.  Grace is when you are about to make history by becoming the first African-American to become the presumptive nomininee of a major political party, you deflect the attention from you by speaking at length about how your opponent has made history with her extraordinary campaign.  Grace is when you are in the middle of making history, you do not even acknowlege why, but instead gives an entire speech on the issues facing our country and the next steps we as a nation need to take to resolve them. 

Grace is Not however,

…..forcing 23 members of Congress and 8 Senators to give you an ultimatum to drop out of this race by Friday or else. 

Grace is not…….with full knowlege of your opponent clinching the nomination, and after you have clearly lost the race, at your last speech of the primary being introduced as the next President of the United States. 

Grace is not…….in your final speech, when all of America is watching, attempting to deligitamize your opponents victory and the process because you came in second. 

Grace is not……allowing four days to pass before giving a formal concession thereby taking away from this historic moment. 

Grace is not…….refusing to acknowlege that your opponent has won the race. 

Grace is not……allowing the opposing party’s candidate to acknowlege that your opponent has won and you do not. 

Grace is not……..only agreeing to concede after your supporters start flipping to your opponent in droves. 

Grace is not……..taking a dig at your opponent in what should have been your concession speech.

Grace is not…..trying to strong arm your way on to your opponents ticket as VP by leveraging your concession. 

Grace is not…….attempting to hold your supporters hostage until you indulge your own selfish motives and attempting to use such supporters as a bargaining chip in the process. 

Grace is not…….stealing his moment by attempting to elbow your way into the narrative like a childish bully. 

Grace is not……..sending out an email one hour after your speech asking your supporters for their thoughts and rigging the feedback prompt so that your supporters can only respond one way and that is to check a box saying “yes I support you, keep fighting Hillary.” 

Grace is not……trying to accumulate enough of such emails so as to use them as leverage to either force your opponent to help you pay back your campaign debt, secure a spot at the Democratic convention, or get the VP nod. 

Grace is not….claiming 18 million voters as “your voters” as if they are brainwashed puppies who will follow and do whatever you command.  

Yes Sen. Clinton, how you handled your last days of this historic primary was much less than graceful.  The fact that this nation has come so far as to elect an African-American as leader of a major party is an achievement of monumental proportions.  Not to mention the testament to how far we have come as a country.  The fact that you took away from that moment with your selfish and childish antics is very difficult to wrap this writer’s head around.  Even your most ardent supporters, Ed Rendell and Charlie Rangel, spoke out against your actions.  Whomever is advising you, Mark Penn, you should fire immediately. Because your loss has been a foregone conclusion for at least a month, you have had plenty of time to wrap your head around it.  Your tone and words the night of the last two primaries left many people, including your supporters, speechless.  So this weak excuse being pushed by your surrogates that you needed time to bring your supporters along?….uhhh….they were expecting your concession Tuesday night.  People were ready to begin the process of unifying the party.  Obviously you had a different agenda…spite perhaps.  It was reported that you were asking undeclared superdelegates to wait until the day after June 3rd to give their endorsement to Obama.  Why?  Was it your intent to embarrass the Illinois senator on what should have been his night?  Then, when the superdelegates refuse to indulge your narcissistic plot you decided to sabotage the night yourself.  Well I guess the public outcry over your speech was an unexpected glitch in your plan.  Honestly, I do not think that you could have choreographed a worst exit.  Good job.

According the New York Times, Sen. Hillary Clinton will suspend her campaign and endorse Sen. Barack Obama at an event on Friday Saturday in Washington DC.  Update:  Clinton will be holding events on both days in Washington, DC.  One private event on Friday, at her home, for staff and long time supporters; and one on Saturday, where Clinton will hold a public event with Sen. Obama.  Clinton’s decision comes after intense pressure from her supporters and a signaling from the Obama campaign that her being VP is highly unlikely.  The reason given by the Obama campaign is that Bill Clinton may balk at the the notion of submitting to the vetting process.  The vetting process would require that Bill Clinton disclose all of his business dealings and a complete list of donors to his presidential library.  Jim Johnson, a member of Obama’s vice presidential vetting committe, established the rule after working on the vice presidential vetting committee for the Mondale-Ferraro campaign.  Because Johnson did not vet Geraldine Ferraro’s husband’s finances, a New York real estate businessman, the campaign suffered tremendously when he was rumoured to be linked to organized crime.  There were also questions raised as to Ferraro’s husband’s tax returns.  Regardless of whether there was any truth to the rumours, the damage was done.  So Bill Clinton would have to submit to the vetting process just like the spouses of all the other VP prospects.

Hillary Clinton wins Puerto Rico!  Sen. Obama called Sen. Clinton to congratulate her on her win.  Unfortunately for Sen. Clinton, the turnout on the island was not enough to give her what she was hoping for in terms of a lead in the popular vote count.  The turnout was a disappointing 50% below what it has been in previous elections reaching a mere 384,000 of the 3 million registered voters.  The 55 delegates at stake will be divided proportionally.  Puerto Rico cannot vote in the general election therefore the primary does not speak to either candidates electability in November.  The Clinton family made a total of four visits to Puerto Rico in their vigorous effort to boost her popular vote count.  Sen. Clinton is expected to use the popular vote count to argue to superdelegates that she is the more electable candidate.  Also, Clinton’s claim of a higher popular vote count does not include caucus states, Guam, or the Virgin Islands.  States and territories won by Sen. Obama.  Clinton math….you gotta love it.  To clinch the nomination, the victorious candidate must win 2118 delegates by the end of the primary contest.  The previous 2025 number was increased yesterday to 2118 after the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee voted to include half of the Florida and Michigan delegations at the conclusion of their meeting on Saturday.  Thereby increasing the number of delegates to the 2118 number required to reach a majority because of the newly seated Michigan and Florida delegations.  The previous 2025 number did not include the Michigan and Florida delegations because both states delegates were stripped when both states moved up their primaries in violation of DNC rules.  The DNC RBC sat Florida as the voters voted in the Sunshine state giving Clinton 56 delegates to Obama’s 36.  From Michigan, Clinton received 38 delegates and Obama received 31 with Obama receiving the uncommitted votes in Michigan plus an additional four delegates to reach a total of 31 overall.   Including today’s results out of Puerto Rico as they stand now with 29% of the vote in, Obama has 2071.5 needing only 46.5 more delegates to clinch the required 2118 victory number.  Clinton has 1911, needing 207 more delegates to clinch the nomination.  There are a total of 204 undeclared superdelegates remaining.  After the results from South Dakota and Montana, Obama will need a mere 20-25, contingent upon the Montana and South Dakota margins of victory, of the undeclared superdelegates to win the nomination.  Clinton needs 195 of the remaining undeclared superdelegates to win the nomination.  On Tuesday, South Dakota and Montana go to the polls.  It is expected that the Obama campaign, in the next 48 hours, will roll out the additional 30 superdelegates it needs to clinch the nomination.  The Obama campaign is encouraging superdelegates to publicly declare before the Montana and South Dakota primaries so that it can declare an official victory soon after the polls close in these last two states.    

While speaking in front of the Argus Editorial Board in South Dakota, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton was asked why are some people asking her to drop out of the race, responding Clinton actually said the following; 

“My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California. I don’t understand it,” she said, dismissing calls to drop out.

Officially, the most selfish, irresponsible, indefensible comment that a candidate for President of the United States can ever make!!!  Sen. Clinton it is really time for you to bow out of this race because you have officially crossed the line!!!  The United States has a history of violence related to politics and racial oppression, and to even put this out there is repugnant, reprehensible, and absolutely unforgivable.  What exactly is going on in your head Sen. Clinton???  When Sen. Clinton allegedly apologizes, she does not apologize to Sen. Obama for insinuating his demise as a way for to win the nomination, but express “regrets” only to the Kennedy family who are owed an actual apology.  Superdelegates need to make their decision known and end this woman’s reign of destruction.  Sen. Clinton, you are officially UNFIT to lead this country!!!

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton won Kentucky by a significant margin. With 100% of the vote in, Clinton won Kentucky 65% to 30%.  The fact that Clinton was able to garner such a significant amount of support when it is being reported that her campaign is on its last legs is a testament to her skill and tenacity.  The Kentucky win also increased Clinton’s popular vote count by 250,000.  The Clinton campaign also reported that she raised 22 million in the month of April.  Unfortunately, it will not make a difference in this primary process.  Most have concluded unoficially that Barack Obama is the democratic nominee.  During Obama’s speech he recognized Clinton for her contribution, formidability, and history making campaign.  The Ilinois senator said this about his rival, “Senator Clinton has shattered myths and broken barriers and changed the America in which my daughters and yours will come of age.”  I agree with this comment wholeheartedly.  Congratulations Sen. Clinton for a race worthy of a significant moment in history.