Your turn again.

Joe Gandleman responds to my posts on Obama's VP selection thusly:

YET ANOTHER SUGGESTION OF ENTITLEMENT: . . . Question: if the person who gets the Vice Presidential slot is the one who got the next largest number of votes, then why bother with Veep selections? Or hasn’t it been that the Presidential nominee balances political needs and then makes a decision. There is no entitlement to the V.P. slot.

Of course there is no entitlement to the VP slot. What Joe forgets is there is no entitlement to VOTES either. What Joe and other people commenting on my posts seem not to get is that I am not making an argument that Hillary is entitled to anything - I am making an argument that Obama would be wise to CHOOSE Clinton, as it will help his chances in November. I do wish people would actually address my post instead of dreaming up arguments to refute that I never made.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

Since February, I have been concerned that with all the advantages Barack Obama he could still lose the general election largely because the Republicans have nominated the only Republican in the country who can possibly win, John McCain.

This is a Democratic year and significant increases in our existing majorities in House and the Senate are virtually assured. So how can the Presidency not be a sure thing? Three principal reasons.

One, Barack Obama is vulnerable to a vicious Republican attackon who he is and his inexperience. He is a first term Senator who burst on the scene 4 years ago. His image with the American People is vulnerable to a negative attack. The good news is this is definitely a Change election and the new is in vogue. In 1992, Bill Clinton faced similar vulnerabilities and effectively neutralized them. Given Obama's enormous financial advantage, there should be no problem on this point, unless someone bungles the job.

More . . .

Hillary Clinton gave a great speech yesterday. And Unity is at hand . . .

I'd like to interrupt this Unity Day message with a small reminder to the Barack Obama campaign and the Democratic Party - unless he picks Hillary Clinton as his running mate - the day he announces his Vice Presidential candidate will be a day of disunity.

I hope someone is thinking about that. Because since today is "Why Hillary Lost" Day in the Media, they need to remember that Hillary Clinton got half of the votes. Yes, she lost . . . barely. Obama is in a tight race with John McCain and needs a unified Democratic Party and if he is set on NOT picking Hillary Clinton as his VP, I hope he has a plan for re-unifying the Party the day after he insists on NOT unifying, indeed, in dividing the Party by not choosing Hillary Clinton as his VP.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only.

Comments closed

Given that his political positions are diametrically opposed to Hillary Clinton's, this is apparently how John McCain hopes to attract Hillary supporters:

Senator John McCain’s campaign is taking a more lighthearted approach to chatting up these women, at least in a new blog it debuted last night, The McCain Report.

The latest entry says, “Attention disaffected Hillary supporters, John McCain is a huge ABBA fan. Seriously.” Embedded is a YouTube video with the famous refrain:

If you change your mind,
I’m the first in line
Honey I’m still free
Take a chance on me

Gag me.

Obviously, I am thrilled and honored to have Senator Clinton's support. But more than that, I honor her today for the valiant and historic campaign she has run. She shattered barriers on behalf of my daughters and women everywhere, who now know that there are no limits to their dreams. And she inspired millions with her strength, courage and unyielding commitment to the cause of working Americans. Our party and our country are stronger because of the work she has done throughout her life, and I'm a better candidate for having had the privilege of competing with her in this campaign. No one knows better than Senator Clinton how desperately America and the American people need change, and I know she will continue to be in the forefront of that battle this fall and for years to come.

A transcript of Hillary Clinton's speech.

By Big Tent Democrat

Dateline: Aspen. I was able to hear the last ten minutes of Hillary Clinton's speech.

I thought she was great. As one of her supporters, I am going to honor her wishes. She could not have been more clear.

Sen. Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee. The 18 million people who voted for her should now enthusiastically support Sen. Barack Obama.

Even if you thought Hillary was the better candidate for President, she is no longer in the race. That is not going to happen.

What matters now is that we put a Democrat back in the White House. We must all work for that. The alternative , a John McCain presidency, is simply unacceptable.

The race is over. Let's get past it and look forward.

I'm past it. I thank Hillary for her commitment, her resolve and her passion. She inspired millions of us. She will continue to inspire, lead and work to improve our lives -- just not as President.

TalkLeft is proud to now officially declare, "Barack Obama in 2008." He has our full support.

Update Below:

Hillary Clinton did something that is very difficult in my opinion, she made a great speech out of a concession endorsement speech. Why?

Because she conceded nothing on the issues nor in any way discounted what she and her supporters accomplished. And then she endorsed him, but the endorsement was not the standard stump endorsement. It was an intelligent, rational, respectful argument to her supporters for why she was endorsing Barack Obama. she would speak to the issues and punctuate her line with "and that is why we must elect Barack Obama President."

She then recognized the historic nature of this election. As I wrote last Tuesday night, while a dream was realized when the Democratic Party nominated an African American as our Presidential candidate, a dream was thwarted also, that of a woman nominee. Hillary Clinton honored BOTH moments in this speech.

It was one of the best speeches I have ever seen.

Hillary Clinton will be arriving momentarily to deliver her speech celebrating her campaign for President and to endorse Barack Obama. The live blog will be below the fold.

By Big Tent Democrat

On Wednesday, Roger Simon of Politico:

. . . Obama is not, one of his senior advisers assured me Tuesday night, going to spend a lot of time in the next few months wooing Clinton supporters whose feelings may be hurting.

I wrote in response "So it turns out the Obama campaign has some not too smart people on his campaign too. Expect a swift rebuke from Axelrod over this."

More . . .

CNN Opinion Research Poll sez:

What would Hillary Clinton bring to a Democratic ticket? Answer: about three percentage points. A hypothetical Obama/Clinton ticket would currently get 52 percent, compared to 46 percent for a hypothetical McCain/Romney ticket. And if she's not on the ticket? Sixty percent of her Democratic supporters would vote for Obama, 17 percent would vote for McCain, and 22 percent say they would stay at home in November and not vote for anyone.

Earlier, a Gallup poll indicated Clinton gives Obama a 5 point bump. I think electorally, no one offers Obama what Clinton offers him. Will the Obama camp be professional about this? Or will it be driven by personal feelings?

By Big Tent Democrat

The Times Caucus Blog has some tidbits from The Meeting:

Senator Dianne Feinstein of California got the call from Hillary Rodham Clinton Thursday afternoon: Could she, would she let Mrs. Clinton use her home in Northwest Washington for a little sit-down with a certain senator from Illinois, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president of the United States? Mrs. Feinstein had made the offer before and it was still good. And so a few hours later, at just about 9 p.m., Mrs. Clinton and Senator Barack Obama arrived for a face to face chat. No staff. No spouses. Just the two of them in Mrs. Feinstein’s living room.

And so it happened, The Meeting, that Democrats knew was inevitable, but for a long while thought would never come. It lasted about an hour.

More . . .

One of Barack Obama's biggest assets in the upcoming campaign is his relationship with the Media. In short, he is their Darling. They have tossed over their long love John McCain for him. This is worth a ton.

The Media has told Barack Obama that he can not pick Hillary Clinton as his running mate. To use the parlance, they have "jammed" him regarding his VP decision. Of course, since the Media is doing the jamming, they will never write that Obama's not choosing Hillary Clinton BECAUSE the Media jammed him is a sign of weakness.

On the other hand, I believe most honest observers know that if Barack Obama picks Hillary Clinton, the November election will be a lock. Of course, Barack Obama can win without Clinton. But with her, he WILL win. More . . .