The End

Before I begin this, let me first say: I need no additional advice, I have enough already. I'm not hurt, I'm not hysterical, I'm mad as hell and with just cause, but spare me the sympathy. I invested much in this primary season and I only wish to share my final thoughts as it comes to an end. In no logical order.

The DNC Picked Our Candidate. That's the most under-reported element of all. What was unique about this primary was that no one won, no one was able to garner enough pledged delegates to reach the ever-changing magic number. Right now we are going on the speculation of how party elders tell us they will vote in August at the convention. These party elders being the superdelegates. Clinton didn’t win and neither did Obama. And another fact to set the record straight, the roolz, while both bizarre and unusual, were not followed. The state of Florida had an exemption, it was not honored. South Carolina and New Hampshire both also set their dates too early on the calendar according to the roolz, they were not punished. The stripping of a state's entire delegation is also not in the rulebook but it happened at the suggestion of Obama-supporting Donna Brazile. She led many non-roolz adhering manipulations of the primary to assist Obama. Giving delegates that belong to one candidate to another candidate is not in the rulebook. Clinton could have gone to the DNC meeting with a strong argument on these shenanigans, but she didn't. She's a loyal Democrat. She didn't air their dirty laundry. These facts I point out and others were exempt from the argument. She simply asked to count all the votes. Democrats are supposed to be for that. I suppose they still are except when it would impact their preferred candidate. John McCain gets it. This was no random choice of words "Pundits and party elders have declared that Senator Obama will be my opponent". Let's hope the egomaniac that is Obama can “stoop” to this kind of talk before McCain woos them all away. Perhaps the DNC could have used some of this information when breaking a tie, or not. Nor do they seem to care about this. A good summary of how the DNC twisted the rules to nominate Barack Obama can be found here.

Decisions, Decisions. Fuck Unity. Legitimacy Lost. Listen.

The Pledge. Ah, the famous pledge. Here it is kids: Do not campaign in Florida or Michigan. Yep, that’s it. Not another word. So everything else you’ve heard about this pledge, well, just more lies. In fact, only Obama broke the pledge. Go figure.

Hillary's Concession. It was brilliant. Hillary did more than concede. Hillary laid out each one of the bedrock principles of her campaign and of the Democratic Party. She ensured that all of those ideals her supporters held true would be merged into a Barack Obama campaign. She ensured that she acknowledged all that was remarkable about this campaign, the cracks made in that highest glass ceiling and the long road ahead in shattering it. And she made clear beyond any possibility of skepticism that the party must unite and her desire for her supporters to now move that support to Barack Obama. But even as she does as all were hammering for her to do, the story line became that this speech wasn't soon enough. Hillary has built a large coalition and a coalition that supported her continued efforts. So on the night of a big win for her, the story was, why isn't she conceding? This would have been a slap in the face to all those who had so much invested in her campaign. And to demand this had no historical context. See no one seemed to have these feelings when Teddy Kennedy fought all the way to the convention in his battle with sitting President Carter. Brown took months to concede to Bill Clinton, Bradley took months before supporting Gore. Jesse Jackson took his 400 delegates to the convention for Christ's sake. Even Ronald Reagan even took his fight to the Republican convention in 1976. I'm sure there are others, but I'm not that old. It took Hillary only a few days to give her unwavering support to Obama even though she was actually a contender unlike those cited here.

As always, Somerby says it best:
"Some people wanted a concession on Tuesday. That’s fine, but historically, people don’t do that. By the way: It would be weird to spend all day Tuesday asking people to vote for you—then to show up at 8:30 PM and say, “I’m out of here—please vote for the other guy.” Whatever you think of Clinton’s speech, it would be somewhat odd to endorse on the night you ran in two primaries, trying to win. Historically, people don’t do that. (There’s one other point to consider here: For ourselves, we weren’t heart-broken by this campaign’s outcome—but a great many Dem voters were. Historically, pols don’t kick voters to the curb on the night their dream has died. They give them some time to adjust to what happened. But then, this is basic human relations, a subject the life-forms comprising our pundit corps tend to know little about.)"

The Media. This precedent was set from jump: she is wrong if she attacks him but she is only worthy of attacks. See, this goes way back. Bill Clinton remains unbeaten and unbowed by the worst the media has to dish out. In fact, he dishes back, a rare move for a Democrat. See the media cannot forget and they cannot forgive. After 24-7 coverage of fictional scandal, for years and years, Bill came out on top. They couldn’t do anything to topple him. They saw the same thing with Hillary. The more they beat her up, the stronger she became and more importantly, the more popular she became. In spite of the GOP talking points suggesting that Hillary was the weaker candidate, the Republicans and their media enablers were shaking in their boots at the prospect of losing to a Clinton, again. They've taken more crap than any couple in modern history, and they're still standing. See Hillary ended this thing strong. Obama limped across the finish line. They did all they could to prop him up and for this sole reason: to beat her. And he never did. Seething, they remain absolutely incensed that the popularity of both of them has risen as their assaults increased. The party elite, the media elite, all dumbfounded and enraged as the Clintons’ strength comes from the people, not from them. Think of all the lies. Crying. Racism. Hiding Secrets. Calling for Assassinations. All of it: fairy tales. Touche corporate media!

We know the worst offense is intelligence.

And the lefties? Well, Olbermann has become a complete shrill for what he was supposed to be fighting against when starting out. And now serves only as a mouthpiece for the right as he focuses night after night on regurgitating the exact memes that the right has created on Hillary Clinton. People noticed. Now, while all the talking heads seem to clearly have an issue with women, I do think Olbermann tops the list, he has a disdain for women, specifically powerful women, that would rival any.

I’ve long said that the corporate interests favor Republicans. The media is owned by these very corporations. If they are propping up a Democrat, there’s trouble. Is this a master scheme gone terribly right for them? Are the leaders within the left blogosphere and the leaders of the party the absolute dumbest Democrats of all? Someone agrees: Right Wing Crap Polluted Democrats.

So now that is over, have they overcome their Clinton-hating addictions? It appears not. Still story after story, night after night, no focus on Obama, his campaign, his plans. Nope. Just beating up Clinton. How are we to tell the state of Obama’s candidacy? Is it as strong as fabled? Has all this energy just been about beating Clinton? Diminishing the power of the Clintons? We’ve given up on nominating the strongest, most experienced, competent and most-electable Democrat, so put her out the picture, can this guy stand on his own?

This makes me think of a commenter at this story who so poignantly says this: "Last night I was trying to explain this to a clueless friend of mine, and was beginning to lose my cool. My 18 year old daughter was there and intervened, explaining Obama accepted all the sexism in the media like a Christmas gift instead of returning to sender. Pretty smart, my baby is.”

Now of course, a few voices chime in. You know now that the stupid bitch quit. They ate her alive for months, but now it's time to make nice. They realize the damage they’ve done and many of these publications have vested their entire futures on the gamble of Obama the President.
The American Prospect
The Nation
The New York Times
The Boston Globe
The LA Times
ABC News

The Blogger Boyz. While the blogger boyz may delude themselves by thinking they are driving the MSM narrative now, in reality they now serve only as an echo chamber for the corporate powers that be. Clinton Derangement Syndrome amongst the left blogosphere has been the most shocking thing about this primary. Is there a difference anymore between them and the MSM? Sadly, no. They united in force to lie, slander, smear and destroy Hillary Clinton. Early on, I began seeing a trend, one that happened almost suddenly. It was evident by how clearly it was being executed by the blogger boyz in lock step with one another that it was not coincidence. I feared that this new found acceptance of annihilating Hillary Clinton would divide and destroy the party. Looking back, it is unquestionable that I was correct. Now in their unfathomable derangement they may cost their boy the presidency. And, about those triangles, look now how the lines have been altered. Of course, the most egregious offender of all felt like this before the coalition joined ranks in bringing down Clinton. Now, they are sadly dupes. Duped. Rumors say they are paid by the Obama campaign, this may be true, this I have no evidence of, but certainly feel, they were thinking of their future. Now that the wonder bubble has popped, they need begin their pandering in hopes of ever recovering. No matter what happens, I will never visit again. Credibility lost, forever.

Ian Welsh opines on “When the Blog Pack Attacks” here.

The Departing Democrats. Who really harmed the Democratic Party? Ah. Those that pledged to leave. While I cannot support the notion, can I blame them? Hell no. There are some that pay much closer attention than others and are still smart enough to realize that the TV lies. Anyone who fully understands what just really happened is enraged and rightfully so. Unfortunately, the revenge may sting, more than we can survive. Rather than listen to me opine on the phenomena, let’s look at what some affected have to say. Comments I’ve captured from various blogs:

“I think that the vast majority of Hillary's supporters have already made up their minds about whether they will support Obama or not. If any minds are going to be changed, it will be because of something that Senator Obama does or does not do himself. Those of us who will vote for John McCain already know that he does not share our values. In fact, that's the point. We are so incensed about where the Democratic Party has gone that we are willing to vote for someone who disagrees with Roe v. Wade, thinks women make less money because we need more education and training, and has called his wife an unspeakable name in public. There is nothing you can tell us about Senator McCain that will make him so bad that we will not vote for him. The worse he is, the better. When one is protesting, one wants to send the message loud and clear. Do you hear me NOW?”

"I can no longer pretend that the basic tenets of fairness, supporting the working class, opposition to misogny and racism have been not been abandoned by my party. To support it would be to give the Democratic powerbrokers my acceptance and approval of their corruption."

"This primary election was the last straw after years of supporting the lesser evil and look where we are now. Frankly, both parties will now have to court my vote by promoting the values I believe in. Perhaps this will break open the stranglehold the 2 party system of tweedeldee-and tweedeldum. The same old strategy doesn't work anymore."

"By the way, you can shove the DC Democrats, they do not represent a large portion of their party. The old northeastern liberal elite have grabbed control again with their toxic identity politics. If you support that, you deserve to be the loser for another generation."

"For me a vote for the dem. nominee is a vote for the way the DNC, the blogs, and MSM mistreated Hillary during this campaign. If they get away with this again they'll keep doing it. I'll say it again, I won't be voting for him. I'll vote down ticket but not the top "

"But I won't easily forget how many people stood silently by and did nothing while Hillary Clinton was subjected to offense after offense. If this can be done to arguably the most powerful woman in the country, what does that mean for the rest of us? All I have is my vote and my integrity. I'm not giving either up easily. Something even more important to me than the (admittedly) grave issues confronting us today has been awoken by this primary. I'm not sure how the Obama campaign fixes this. I guess time will tell if I'm alone or one among many."

"It will have to come together without a core group it used to have. I don't think BO and Friends really understand what has happened here.We aren't going to take it and come "back" when HRC has brought us so far forward only to have been kicked in the gut by the party that we did so much for over the years."

"And by the way...it is BS that any of us "assumed" that HRC had the nomination. That is just media hype about her - which was then picked up by Hillary Haters. Any woman knows that being a woman means having to work three times as hard while still getting the s*it kicked out of you just to remain "even". "

And some interesting reads on the subject:
Hell Has No Fury
No Means No
So
Don't Reward Bad Behavior
Reflections
White Women Take the Gloves Off
You Broke It, You Own It

Some even say she should continue, but really, get over yourselves already, you can always go see Sex & The City.

Now of course, everyone wishes to woo back those they've serially abused.

Racism. For those not living in TV fantasy land and have their feet grounded firmly in reality realize exactly how race entered this campaign, by whom and to whom it benefited: Barack Obama. Perhaps the most heinous thing the party did this cycle was to allow Bill Clinton to be portrayed as a racist and a fear-monger. We don’t have much success to promote and destroying the legacy of Bill Clinton is frankly borderline criminal. The Obama campaign clearly needed to win over the loyalty the African Americans had for the Clintons in order to game this primary successfully and of course the media enabled it. Tim Russert did let slip in one debate though the secret 4-page memo that outlined for the press how the Clintons injected race and they took it and ran. A black man being president is wonderful thing and one we should awe, but exploiting it in the process, not so commendable.

Winning on Clinton Hate. Or, winning on points. Obama couldn't point to policy differences or a stronger voting record and most certainly not a better grasp of the details. He was left with "Vote for me, I'm not that bitch." It's not the first time it's been tried but the first time Democrats fell for it. Many of his supporters argue endlessly that he voted against the war when in fact he was not yet a US Senator and had to opportunity to vote for or against it. No one voted for war anyway. The authorization was to prevent war. I'm stunned by those who feel that based on his history he would have had the courage to dissent from the pack. But I do support active imaginations, so be it. He endlessly bashed the accomplishments of our only 2-term Democratic president since FDR. But to get her, he had to feed on the right-wing inspired, media endorsed hatred of all things Clinton. The Obama campaign and the party stood by while this occurred and in some cases either encouraged it or diminished our concerns about it. His was a new kind of politics, yet he didn’t say a word, why not this has no place in this campaign? When falsely painted as racists, the Clintons said it. Hell, even McCain has said it. If he was inevitable, if he had already won and this was just a formality, why not? This would have brought party unity. People still don’t get it. It’s not about her losing, it’s about what happened. Of course, Gallup shows picking her as VP would give him a bounce, and sadly enough, I think she would do it against her wishes for the good of the party. Now, where was the winning the nomination bounce? Oh, it didn't happen. Come November, there’s no Clinton to vote against, what will Clinton hatred do for him then? Obama has said clearly that the Clintons are the past. They are what’s wrong with Washington. Of course now he will look for their support, and man does he need it.

Don't Leave the Party. If we leave now, we have no voice in righting the wrongs of this primary season. Yes, the party is right now at best a disgrace but what leverage will we have by walking away? They’ve already said they don’t need us. They’ve said there is a “new coalition”. Donna Brazile herself has said that the Democrats need not worry about working class voters, they’ve been replaced, her message to the base was “stay home”. If we are to hope for ever returning our party to it’s roots, we must fight for it. No, don’t accept what’s happened, I would never support that, but don’t leave. My plans are not to walk away but to fight harder than ever. Am I giving money until I see change? No. Will I be working for a candidate until I see change? No. But will I be at those party meetings fighting like hell? You bet your ass I will. I can still remember handing out stickers at my local polling place for Jimmy Carter when I was in the 7th grade. I can remember every campaign I’ve worked tireless hours for. And I remember why. It is the legacy of FDR. It is the party he built that has garnered my blood, sweat and tears. The Republicans have tried since the inception of the New Deal to tear down what FDR had built and I be goddamned if I am now going to let the Democrats be the ones to end his legacy. The Democrats are not a party of liberal elites and varying ethinicities alone. We are to represent those who get up each day and go to work and not Barack Obama, not Howard Dean, not Nancy Pelosi, not Harry Reid, no one should be allowed to change that.

The good news is, there are plenty of level headed people still out there. Share the love:
Coda
For the Record

So in closing, she fought hard for us and fought against both the establishment and big-moneyed interests that fueled her opponent, the little guy lost but has some debt to pay now as a result. Please give. Everybody has $10 to spare.

Sometimes, it really is hard to be a woman.