The injustice of defeat lies in the fact that its most innocent victims are made to look like heartless accomplices. It is impossible to see behind defeat, the sacrifices, the austere performance of duty, the self-discipline and the vigilance that are there – those things the god of battle does not take account of.
– Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Flight to Arras, 1942

Last night, Barack Obama made history, becoming the first African-American to act as the standard-bearer for a major U.S. political party in a Presidential race. I sincerely congratulate him upon his victory. He gave a gracious and inspiring speech to a huge, enthusiastic crowd of supporters in Minnesota.

Hillary Clinton also gave a speech last night to a smaller but equally enthusiastic crowd in New York City. It was also gracious and inspiring. The one thing it did not do was concede defeat or even acknowledge that Obama had acquired the necessary number of delegates to clinch the election.

And she was absolutely right not to do so.

It simply would not have made sense after she had come so far and accomplished so much. It would not do justice to a contest that was so close in both delegates and, especially, the popular vote. It would not be seemly even as she continued to win one of the two remaining primaries, taking South Dakota by a ten point margin.

But, above all, a concession by Clinton last night would be an outright betrayal of the many people who have supported her so loyally, so loudly, and for so long. Last night, Clinton repaid that loyalty with loyalty and this is yet another reason why she has earned the respect of all Democrats.

It remains unclear exactly what will come next for her. If she wants the Vice-Presidency, no other Democrat has more right to lay a claim upon it. Likewise, she will have and deserves tremendous leverage as to what policies and programs Democrat stress at the convention this August and into the general election.

During her speech, Clinton laid out many of these policies as “what I want.” However, it was something she said at the end of her list that struck a chord in my heart and made me want to reach out to her with renewed respect and affection.

“I want the nearly 18 million Americans who voted for me to be respected, to be heard, and no longer to be invisible.”

The one thing I have never doubted about Clinton is that she is a born public servant, someone who sincerely wishes to help others. Never mind her own accomplishments and much touted resume, it is Clinton’s tenacity and dedication to her followers and to the ideal of letting every vote be counted because every vote matters that earns her a place of honor upon the Democratic stage this year and for all time.

Nobody likes losing. Yet, there are some who, although they fail to win, fight so valiantly and so nobly to the bitter end that even those who have prevailed cannot, in good conscience, deride the vanquished but rather acknowledge the mantle of glory draped upon their shoulders by defeat. This was the mantle Clinton proudly and appropriately wore for her followers.

During his speech, Obama accepted victory “with profound humility and knowledge of my own limitations.” As an Obama supporter, I understand those limitations very well. Despite charges of media fawning, his name and character were subject to intense scrutiny and disparagement during this primary season. I can forgive and accept his all-too-human failings.

Yet the one thing the new Democratic presumptive nominee could do that would truly lower his estimation in my eyes would be to ignore or marginalize Clinton and her supporters going forward. That, above all, would stand in stark contrast to the “new kind of politics” he promises to enact.

I do not think that will happen. As he listens to and respects the concerns of Clinton supporters, I hope those supporters can put aside their understandable disappointment and the rancor of a close campaign and get to know the candidate I have seen and come to admire, just as I admire their champion.

Before Clinton or Obama spoke, John McCain had the stage in New Orleans. As I watched him clumsily attempt to paint himself as the real candidate of change and jeer Obama for his “old, failed” ideas – his performance so galling unbelievable and unconvincing that even the partisan audience had to rouse itself to join in the hatred – it is clear to me where the real enemy of every Democrat lies in the months ahead.

I again congratulate Senator Obama on securing the nomination. However, I equally congratulate both Senator Clinton and he on a race superbly run and which last night more than ever illustrated the stark differences between the two Parties and what America may become, depending on which of them prevails in November.

Obama will now go on to fight that fight. Clinton may join him or she may not. I hope she will. Regardless of her choice, she deserves respect. Some bad decisions early in this contest may have cost her the nomination but her fortitude at the end has won her and all of her supporters a mantle of glory.

I stand here tonight to say that we have never known defeat; we have never been vanquished. We have not always reached the goal toward which we have striven, but in the hour of our greatest disappointment we could always point to our battlefield and say: “There we fought our good fight, there we defended the principles for which our ancestors and yours laid down their lives; there is our battlefield for justice, equality and freedom.”
– Anna Howard Shaw, U.S. suffragist, 1906

But I'm not buying it yet. She's still holding a gun to his head, now allegedly demanding a roll call vote at the convention. Her behavior vis a vis Michigan and Florida indicates she will bend the rules in order to get an advantage and I believe she still wants to be the top of the ticket. After all, she ran on a racial divide in order to secure her own political future. I still think she may be running on the hope that there's a one-term McCain.

I listened rather than watched the speeches last night. It sounded to me like Obama was complimenting her through clenched teeth. For the first time in all his political speeches, his aspect seemed forced and insincere to me. Should she end up on the ticket, he'll have to get over that. She sounded like the cat that ate the canary, just biding her time.

I probably will forgive in time. I do recognize that she's feisty and tough and has a resume and has done some good things and is capable of doing more. I dispute, however, that anyone in politics, including Hillary Clinton, is in it primarily to be a "public servant". Even the politicians I like are first and foremost attention hogs who appear to get a sort of sexual charge from the spotlight.

I've been mulling this over since last evening. Obama's people must meet with Clinton's people and work out an agreement that will bring Clinton's supporters into line behind Obama. The steps to be agreed upon:

1. Clinton will oh so graciously concede and promise to work tirelessly for Democratic victory in November.

2. Obama will oh so graciously offer the vice-presidency to Clinton.

3. Clinton will oh so graciously decline the VP slot as she can conrtibure more as a Senator (or maybe as Secretary of Health and Human Services), but she will nonetheless work tirelessly for a win in November.

4. Obama will oh so graciously ask Howard Dean and Donna Brazile, the very people who got him to wher he now is, to step down as the chieftains of the DNC, as they have been divisive, the Clintonistas hate their guts and we need unity to win in November. Terry McAuliffe will NOT, however, get the chairmanship again.

5. Obama will oh so graciously promise that Clinton's delegates will be heard at the convention, that they will have an impact on the Party's platform.

For,McCain speech making isn't his forte to be sure. But he made some very good points and got some real good shots in on Obama.

I guess we'll have to decide if we are electing American Idol , an image to adore and worship or are we electing a man who is well tested to remain loyal and strong under the hardest of tests?

McCain's good points were his stance on enviromental issues and the need to become free of foreign oil, his understanding of the need to draw down responsibly in Iraq..his long held, very moderate to left leaning voting record.

He made a real score with me when he successfully pigeoned holed Obama on the point where Obama gives the impression it is all about him and his glorious image of himself as a savior of the world, whereas Mccain is a man who loves America for saving him.

That was right exactly on the mark and spoke perfectly to the ambivelence that many Americans worry about Obama about..his rank odor of meglomania/narcissm.

McCain also made me laugh out loud for real with his low key but perfect comedic timing when he looked directly in the camera and said, "The American people have known me for a long time, but you just now getting to know Barack Obama".(tongue firmly planted in cheek there)

The way he smiled and snickered couldn't have been more right on the mark funny..because that again hit precisely on the mark of whatsome Americans are thinking now...i.e. "Now that I see what Obama is really about(Wright, Ayres, Michelle etc) he doesn't look too good.

All in all..McCain may surprise you TheBell, when he wins in November.

p.s. I see the Obama whitewash has begun already this morning. He's speaking now about the horrors of the Holocaust. It's so telling how the need his campaign has to try and portray him as anything but anti semite is the very first order of business.

Good luck with that.

I am sure Farrakhan is still in jubiliation mode at his guy's nomination.

However on a bright note I do think it looks good for us as Americans across the globe to have black presidential nominee. I think that itself speaks to our inclusive nature. That's a good thing.

I just don't believe this black man is the someone I could trust as president of The United States of America.

As for Hillary. She's up again this morning also speaking at the same event Obama just spoke at on Jewish issues.

She looks fine and will be fine.

I too think she deserves all the time in the world to decide how she will divvy up her delegates and I know she has been working hard trying to get Obama's team to help the black congresswomen who supported her to get a fair break and help and support from Obama's people to insure that these black women will not be villified by their black constiuents for not supporting him.

Because I know it may well surprise you because to Obama supporters he is all good and all pure and knowing etc..but his campaign did much to foment racial hatred and fear tactics of black on black anger towards those who did not support him ,as well as floating numerous false canards and false charges of Hillary using race when she hadn't done that at all.

He ran a really dirty, racially divisive and bullying campaign behind the scenes, and that's another reason, I simply can not ever trust or respect the guy.

No way.

I read yesterday that Hillary was one of the people in the Clinton White House who had to be on board with a policy before Bill would approve it. She's evidently smart and cares about doing the right thing.

But come on, man, she has all the grace of a bull in a china shop.

Making no acknowledgement of Obama's historic accomplishment last night was downright boorish.

The RFK comment was not malicious, just absolutely ham-brained (is that a term?).

The "hard-working white people" comment was not racist code, just positively lacking in sensitivity.

Quite simply, Hillary is a wonk. She does well when she doesn't have to talk to the public too much. And she has huge negatives among Republicans.

That's not what you want in a VP. The VP candidate has to campaign every day from his or her selection until November.

Obama should privately meet with Hillary and publicly embrace her. He should explain to her that he needs a retired general or some other unimpeachable hawk as VP, but she can have any other job in government they want. They should agree that Hillary will announce that Obama has offered her the Vice Presidency, but, mentioning in passing the well known "warm bucket of spit," she declined, but asked Obama if he would nominate her to be [insert job here], and Obama agreed.

Hillary and Bill can then make occasional campaign appearances, particularly in Florida, Michigan, and the band between Philadelphia and Little Rock.

Hi, rundeep. Luckily, you don't have to "buy it" for it to be true. Obama won and that is a great thing as far as I am concerned. I can understand why Clinton and her supporters are feeling bitter right now. I would have a tough time feeling bitter had Obama lost. However, I certainly see no point in being bitter having won. Thanks for your reply.

Hi, BobW. Those all seem reasonable negotiations to me, expect for #4, which would be strictly vindictive on Clinton's part. Still, there is no question that Dean is disliked by many and most DNC Chairs never hang around that long anyway
. . .

Thanks for replying and the interesting food for thought.

Hi, LaurieAnnM. If you think that was a great speech by McCain, then I hope for your sake that he just keeps giving it over and over and over again until November. I like McCain and gladly voted for him over Bush back in the 2000 GOP primaries but that was one of the worst political speeches I have ever heard in my life. The only way McCain is NOT running for Bush's third term is continuing his oratorical eloquence (sarcasm intended). The giggling "Hee! Hee!" you liked so much after his "just getting to know Obama" barb left me feeling embarassed . . . for McCain. If his strategy is to simply re-play "the best of Clinton" attack ads, then he is badly miscalculating.

All that said, you are right that oratory is NOT McCain's strong suit, even if I have heard him do it better. I really think the three debates will be his big chance to score. He is much better in that forum, whereas Obama has never been able to do more than hold his own to date.

No, I won't be suprised if McCain wins. A lot can happen in five months and no doubt will. If he does, I think it will be the best hope of halting the GOP from its current slide into complete far-right madness. Still, I won't be one of the folks voting for him this time around.

Hi, RonB52. I have said many time, as I did in my top post, that Clinton is a natural-born public servant (much more so than Bill). However, I have also said that she is not a natural politician and that did come shining through this campaign.

I think she might be a very effective V.P. for Obama if the two of them could agree on how to share power and how things would run on a day-to-day basis. I concede that is a very big "IF." I do agree with you that there are many other valuable and important jobs she could do in an Obama Administration. Taking on healthcare, once again, would be one I am sure she just itching to try.

Thanks for your reply.

I probably will forgive in time. I do recognize that she's feisty and tough and has a resume and has done some good things and is capable of doing more. I dispute, however, that anyone in politics, including Hillary Clinton, is in it primarily to be a "public servant". Even the politicians I like are first and foremost attention hogs who appear to get a sort of sexual charge from the spotlight.

Yes..the 800 pound primate glowering back out at all of us.

Which I am for. But you were rationalizing her refusal to concede as "loyalty" to her supporters. I'm pointing out I doubt that. Every losing candidate has people who will be disappointed by a concession. That doesn't mean you don't concede, especially after a divisive campaign. The best thing you can do is to concede graciously, quickly and with feeling. No matter how you see her -- as Joan of Arc stumbling beneath a shield, arrows piercing her armor and still calling with confidence to her God or merely as a petulant playground bully, you can't claim her behavior as creating unity.

'Nuff said. "L."

Luney, you are totally whacked, but having you in a thread is like being assailed with plastic butterknives. Which is, oddly, not altogether uninteresting if frequently irritating.

My take (not that anybody asked, but I'm getting on a plane soon, and sadly, unlike Keif, I haven't been drinking): Clinton's fortunes at least until November are symbiotic with Obama's. That's true no matter what she wants to be (and there's been a startling lack of imagination on BOTF on that score -- Supreme Court Justice? Senate Majority Leader? Queen of the World? (the last, because if somebody asks, "What made you Queen of the World?" she can answer, "The popular vote." I slay myself.)) So there's no real question that she'll concede; it's more a matter of figuring out what she wants, so that it's clear to her and her supporters what's in it for them. That may take a little time; in a way she has more capital than she can spend. And she will continue to annoy those who find her annoying. It wouldn't surprise me if she's taking the measure of her clout inside the party hierarchy, and trying to do something about that. But she's savvy enough to know that a floor fight would make her the next Ralph Nader. So no, not creating unity yet, but certainly not torpedoing it either.

My preference for her would be Majority Leader -- she can shape policy, and her ambition would then have salutary constitutional consequences. Plus she's distant enough from the main event that if Obama loses, she remains the obvious option next time around.

Final thought-- I wonder if McCain is one of those folks who got more popular while nobody was paying attention to him, but when he starts showing up in the press again will lose steam. Sort of a mini Giuliani effect.

I see her in the Cabinet -- Health is a logical choice. She could accomplish it all -- the healthcare nirvana she's worked for there. I said before though I think she's always had the same amount of capital. Her bona fides were clear for a long long time.

The Senate will be tough for her I think now. Lots of your formerly close friends come out for your opponent, you may not want to meet them happily in the cloak room again. Then again, maybe you do.

McCain is personally very popular. But I think that has probably peaked. We've been getting increasing negatives on the Dems because that's where attention has been focused. When we start talking about gas again, then the map favors Democrats. Especially with cons not terribly motivated by McCain.