I think that Hillary did abandon the joy too early in the race and ended up being out-campaigned and swamped by the Obama rhetorical highs. Frankly I think he is just a better candidate and will eventually be a great president.

What is overlooked however, is that his campaign is not a loss for women. If we can get past the fact that he defeated a woman in the primary, the fact that the US of A can elect ANY minority person to the Presidency opens the door for all.

We all stand on the shoulders of giants, and Barack Obama is one of those. In the future ANYONE can make a serious run for the office and look back at his campaign and say "if a mixed breed, black , ex-muslim (?), single parented man can get elected president, so can I".

Getting a black person elected in America is much more difficult then electing a woman, and a larger accomplishment. This is a touchstone moment in American politics, and women should be behind him 100%. Presidential elections will never be the same.

I can say what soured this woman on her candidacy--it is not that she is a woman, but the sense of entitlement, that it's her turn (which I kind of think of as Republican, to be honest).

I am a woman born on the cusp between Gen X and baby boomer. I have spent my entire working life watching people be put in positions "because it's their turn", instead because they would be the best choice for the position. I have seen better qualified persons (of both genders) be passed over because they haven't sat in a desk long enough to be perceived to have "paid their dues".

If the mindset of the campaign had been to show that the policies were the best, the execution would be the best, the advisors that would be appointed would be of the highest quality, (how important have we found this to be in the last 8 years) by running a great campaign...by not telling me I am a misogynist (!) if I preferred another candidate (sniff John Edwards, sniff), then it would perhaps have been another story.

"We stand on the shoulders of giants and Obama is one of those."

Oh, please. Technically he hasn't even been nominated yet and you call him a giant?

The 'giants' whose shoulders we stand on are the people of the past who are called giants because of their accomplishments that benefited all of us. Obama has yet to accomplish much of anything and may not in the end.

The idea that we're all standing on his shoulders is a hell of a paternalistic idea you've got there!

Good point. Hillary did not lose this race because of sexism. She came very close to winning, and basically lost due to poor strategy (note to future pres. candidates: ignoring caucus states is not a good idea).

I think that it's worth noting that I did not receive any negative emails against Sen. Clinton during this race. However, I can't count the number of emails being forwarded around to me that question the patriotism and religion of Sen. Obama. The whisper campaign mounted against him to fan the flames of racism make the sexism argument look ridiculous.

How about this nerdnam:

If we can rally together and defeat the (deeply flawed) republican nominee then future candidates and generations will be able to say "We stand on the shoulders of giants like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton".

...generations will be able to say "We stand on the shoulders of giants like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton".

Well, we hope. But they would have to accomplish good things in office. And I just don't see that overblown rhetoric is the way to accomplish much of anything. Just because Obama has the 'shiny new' doesn't mean he's going to do well in office or even get elected.

And just because Hillary's husband was a good president doesn't mean she would do well as the president, or even get elected (apparently).

"Getting a black person elected in America is much more difficult then electing a woman, and a larger accomplishment."

On what do you base this? A woman hasn't been nominated for a major party ticket yet, and a black man has (presumptively), so you've basically contradicted yourself.

Why is it a 'larger accomplishment' ? Is anybody still playing the black people have it worse than women victim's game (or vice versa)? It sure sounds like it.

OMG I can't wait for this identity politics crap to end.

What I liked about Obama was his willingness to NOT mention race, meaning he didn't play the race card game: " Oh, I'm black, I have been opressed so please vote for me".

White woman like Hillary feel they are entitled and this goes for many college educated white females as well. White women have it easier than black men. They feel they should have it easier, many who want to portray themselves as independent women, deep down, expect white men to protect them whenever they sense some form of unfairness-like a black guy after the same position.

"They feel they should have it easier, many who want to portray themselves as independent women, deep down, expect white men to protect them whenever they sense some form of unfairness-like a black guy after the same position."

by god... that is by far the dumbest post i have ever seen in my life. enough said

It is not a dumb post, many white females feel this way. They like to portray themselves a tought and independent, but when they feel threatened, they expect their white male counterparts to protect them.

Obama is all rhetoric and no substance and we will all find this out soon enough.I have been a Democrat for 30 years but I cannot and will not run to the polls and vote for him merely because he is the party's nominee. I will listen to what McCain has to say first. I am not sold on Obama and will not follow him blindly as so many of his "cult" followers have. Now that Senator Clinton is not in the race the Republicans have my ear.

I've never blindly followed any candidate. Basically, it boils down to this, if you like spiralling energy and higher education costs, a plunging dollar, a crumbling infrastructure, war without end, and a Bill of Rights not worth the paper it is written on, then by all means...Vote Republican!! Obama and Clinton have virtually the same positions on most issues. Clinton got out-strategized by Obama. It was a contest and someone had to lose. It was decided a long time ago that the loser would be the one who had less delegates. Hillary had less delegates, therefore, she lost. If you are even considering a vote for McCain, then you were never a Democrat to begin with.

Factual and to the point. The only thing I would disagree with you on is that Hitlary committed political suicide. She did so by blatantly lying when the truth would have probably sounded better (landing under sniper fire in Bosnia) is just one example. She committed political suicide by taking Obama for granted. She underestimated his political intelligence and the given fact that he is the first black man to run for POTUS. Last but not least she presented a view of herself that came off like Hey here I am a Clinton and a woman, so I am entitled to be the first woman POTUS. That snobbish attitude made me want to vote for anyone but her. As for anyone who even considers voting for McCain never being a Democrat to begin with; McCain may be the best hope the Democrats have of getting into the White House in the next 4 years. If there is one thing McCain has proved it is that he more of a supporter of the American public that a Republican or Democrat. He is not afraid to ruffle political party feathers when necessary for the best interests of the American public.

I am Non Partisan and my retirement income is tax free so like McCain I don't much care who our next POTUS is I just hope he is the person who will do the best possible job for the people. Screw the Republican/Democrat parties, elect a POTUS who is of the American Voter's party.