Clinton to Concede on Tuesday.....

[Mr. Peabody]

According to HuffPo, Hillary will concede tomorrow night after the last primaries.


Clinton Gathering Top Donors

Hillary Clinton has summoned top donors and backers to attend her speech tomorrow night in an unusual move that is being widely interpreted to mean she plans to suspend her campaign and endorse Barack Obama.

Obama and Clinton spoke Sunday night and agreed that their staffs should begin negotiations over post-primary activities. In addition to help raising money to pay off some $20 million-plus in debts, Clinton is known to want Obama to help out black officials who endorsed her and are now taking constituent heat, including, in some cases, primary challenges from pro-Obama politicians.

"This has never happened before," one donor said, referring to the personalized request by email to attend the event in New York Tuesday night.

Obama is expected to claim enough delegates to put him over the top that night at a separate event in Minneapolis.

Earlier in the day it was reported that Clinton staffers were being urged by the campaign's finance department "to turn in their outstanding expense receipts by the end of the week," another sign that the run at the White House was nearing an end. In addition, Politico wrote that members of Clinton's advance staff had received calls and emails Sunday night, summoning them to New York City and telling them their roles on the campaign are ending.

[Wild Cobra]

Sorry, I have little faith in anything in the Huffington Post.

She wants the supers to decide. If that doesn't do it, she will take it to convention in my opinion. She doesn't care about anything but a win. I don't think she will give up that easy. She is 'Lawful Evil' and even breaks the law at times to get her way.

[Mr. Peabody]

Sorry, I have little faith in anything in the Huffington Post.

She wants the supers to decide. If that doesn't do it, she will take it to convention in my opinion. She doesn't care about anything but a win. I don't think she will give up that easy. She is 'Lawful Evil' and even breaks the law at times to get her way.

Normally, I'd agree with you. I don't see Hillary conceding a thing until she is literally forced to do so by Pelosi, Reid, and Dean, but even her strongest supporters are asking her to concede.


Vilsack says it's over
Posted: 11:41 AM ET


(CNN) – Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, one of Hillary Clinton's most ardent supporters, said Sunday it's time for Hillary Clinton to acknowledge she has lost her bid for the Democratic nomination.

Vilsack, who was briefly a presidential candidate himself last year, told the Associated Press it's "pretty clear that Senator Obama is going to be the nominee."

"After Tuesday's contests, she needs to acknowledge that he's going to be the nominee and quickly get behind him," Vilsack also said.

Vilsack first announced he was running for president in November, 2006, but dropped his bid three months later after the Democrat failed to drum up a significant level of support or raise the necessary campaign funds needed to compete. He endorsed Clinton shortly after and played a key role in the New York senator's unsuccessful Iowa campaign effort.

His comments came the same day the Clinton showed signs she plans to press on after Tuesday's contests — continuing argue she has won the popular vote and that the party's superdelegates are able to switch their allegiances before the convention in August.

Filed under: Hillary Clinton

[JoeChalupa]

I heard about this rumor being reported around some of the major networks so I think there is some truth to it and Terry McCauliffe did confirm it today.

[balli]

Good. I still hope the bitches' plane crashes on Wednesday.

[Wild Cobra]

I'll believe it when I see it.

[JoeChalupa]

Yes you can!!!

[G-Nob]

Suspend. Not Concede. There is a difference.
The wording leaves open the possibility the campaign will hold steady until the official nominating process at the convention. What that means is if something Obama says/does between now and the August convention changes the minds of the superdelegates, then Clinton wants everyone to jump on her ship. In the mean time, she'll ask that Obama assist her in relieving campaign debt in exchange for an endorsement.

[angel_luv]

I hope Hilary does concede.
She is not the lady I would want to be the first female president.

[Don Quixote]

Angel ... what are you doing in here? The people in the political forum are MEAN! Get out before you become like one of them!

And ... why should Hillary concede? She's now won 6 of the last 8 primaries, and all the big states. She's a bit behind, yeah, but it's not like this is an Obama landslide. And she can say that she's have a better chance in the general against McCain, and she might be right.

Clinton supporters ... don't take this from the Huff Puff! Stand up to Obama!

[pooh]

She just needs to step down, it's an embarassment.

[MaNuMaNiAc]

Angel ... what are you doing in here? The people in the political forum are MEAN! Get out before you become like one of them!

And ... why should Hillary concede? She's now won 6 of the last 8 primaries, and all the big states. She's a bit behind, yeah, but it's not like this is an Obama landslide. And she can say that she's have a better chance in the general against McCain, and she might be right.

Clinton supporters ... don't take this from the Huff Puff! Stand up to Obama!

Let me guess, you're republican

[Don Quixote]

I might be. So what? :)

From the outside, I don't see a compelling reason for Clinton to quit. She won all the big states that Democrats need, she'd be a stronger candidate in the general, and it's not like she's far behind in the popular vote. Most of Obama's lead happened before the media had to report anything about Obama's friends or what he believed. Personally, I'd like to see Obama in the general, but I can see why Clinton supporters feel like their gal is being shafted. She's getting swept aside ... for this guy?? He's a walking cliché! You can write his résumé on the back of a driver's license!

But where are her supporters on ST?

[clambake]

he's a republican that has taken up in stalking angel.

you are the type that gives religion a bad name. God hates that shit.

[Don Quixote]

I don't really give a rip who wins the D-nomination, honestly. If they want to let the Messiah have it, fine with me.

[G-Nob]

Are you the "iron my shirt" guy?

[Mr. Peabody]

The big holdup appears to be that Clinton wants her money back from the campaign . . .


Negotiations are understood to be taking place between the Obama and Clinton campaigns about the Illinois senator helping to repay some of the massive debt incurred by his rival. One of Hillary Clinton’s donors said that the former First Lady’s campaign was as much as $40 million in the red.

In a conference call with major donors this afternoon, contributors were told by Harold Ickes, a senior Clinton adviser, that she was unlikely to pull out of the race until the issue of her massive debts was resolved. The New York senator has lent her own campaign at least $11.5 million.

One source close to a major donor said: "It’s not about the vice-presidency or any other position she might get. It’s about the money – in particular the Clinton family money." The Obama campaign might have to reach deeply into its well-stocked coffers in order to secure the full support of Mrs Clinton and her husband Bill in the November general election.

[balli]

My hope now is that Bill files for a divorce. He's way too cool to waste the rest of his life with that woman tied around his ankle. He should get divorced and usurp Howard Dean's job at the DNC. Hillary should buy a remote island with the settlement monies and declare herself president of the native peoples who dwell there. Unfortunately they'll already have a leader so they'll send her packing to the Pacific in a raft made of bamboo. Then she'll die of starvation, wash up on the shores of Australia and wild sea gulls will eat her remains.

[Mr. Peabody]

My hope now is that Bill files for a divorce. He's way too cool to waste the rest of his life with that woman tied around his ankle. He should get divorced and usurp Howard Dean's job at the DNC.

Hmm...let's see - jet set around the world with billionaire friends or sit in on Rule and Bylaws Committee meetings like the one that took place Saturday?

I'm sure Bill is happy with what he is doing.


Burkle’s usual means of transport is the custom-converted Boeing 757 that Clinton calls “Ron Air” and that Burkle’s own circle of young aides privately refer to as “Air Fuck One.”

[BradLohaus]

^New reality show: "Bill & Hill try to stay relevant"

[balli]

I'm sure Bill is happy with what he is doing.

Don't you mean who?

Edit: Oh, I guess you did. Didn't see the Vanity Fair thing the first time around.

And I get what you're saying, but just because Bill would have more fun doesn't mean that he wouldn't be a great fixture in the Democratic Party, minus Hillary. The Democrats could still use Bill Clinton, even if he probably doesn't have much use for them.

[Don Quixote]

I guess Democrats are as sick of the Clintons as the rest of us are!

What else could explain the rise of the Obamessiah? I can't think of any other way -- he's not that impressive. If his name were Barry Dunham, and he were white, he wouldn't even be in the picture.

[ChumpDumper]

Here we go again with the "because he's black" canard.

The other candidates really suck.

That's all.

[boutons_]

"that impressive."

why must he be THAT impressive at all? Is being THAT impressive a negative? Was dubya ever THAT impressive?

Opposite Old Sick Stupid McFlopPanderKeating, HUSSEIN! is pretty damn impressive, but only in comparison.

When HUSSEIN! gets sworn in next Jan 20, he will have almost no room to maneuver due to the straightjacket of hardening shit dubya and dickhead are leaving behind.

[Wild Cobra]

And ... why should Hillary concede? She's now won 6 of the last 8 primaries, and all the big states. She's a bit behind, yeah, but it's not like this is an Obama landslide. And she can say that she's have a better chance in the general against McCain, and she might be right.

You know, I think I figured it out. Somehow, Hillary also believes there are 57 states. With the trend she has, she can still win!

[Don Quixote]

There is no reason for her to quit. None. At least not until the convention.

She has dedicated supporters, she has won the states that Democrats will need to win, and her popular vote total (at worst) is only 0.2-0.4% behind the Golden Child. And she's riding a furious rally since February.

[xrayzebra]

There is no reason for her to quit. None. At least not until the convention.

She has dedicated supporters, she has won the states that Democrats will need to win, and her popular vote total (at worst) is only 0.2-0.4% behind the Golden Child. And she's riding a furious rally since February.

I don't think she is going to quit. Not this close to the
convention and with all the delegates and popular vote.
Obama has a lot of baggage, as well as Billary, and
I would guess that internal polling shows Obama would
lose in the general election.

[Don Quixote]

There's definitely some buyer's remorse going on with the Democrats. Are they thinking they perhaps were in too much of a hurry to anoint their Messiah?

I'm not saying Hillary takes the nomination, but she has done well enough to give the party a problem.

[JoeChalupa]

She cannot win the nomination and she will bow out gracefully. Does she HAVE to? No, she does not. But anyone who even remotely understands politics knows she needs and must drop out. Her and Bill's reputation in the democratic party have taken a beating regardless of what the exit polls say.

[JoeChalupa]

There's definitely some buyer's remorse going on with the Democrats. Are they thinking they perhaps were in too much of a hurry to anoint their Messiah?

I'm not saying Hillary takes the nomination, but she has done well enough to give the party a problem.

Giving the party a problem is one she does not need.

[JoeChalupa]

AP is reporting that Hillary will concede to Obama's likely nomination but won't officially drop out. It is time to get this Party started for our victory in November!!!

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Don Quixote]

I mean, I know why the Dems are desperate to get the Clintons out of the picture. (1) They've woken up and have realized what conservatives have known about them for years -- they're unscrupulous liars with no moral character. Or maybe liberals knew it and didn't care. (2) Someone better has come along to sweep them off their feet, and (3) the Clinton campaign has exposed a deep divide in the party. The sooner they get rid of her, the sooner Dems can unify. So I get it.

But hear this -- Obama is going to have real problems getting blue-collar, white, rural, religious voters this fall. Clinton at least would have had a chance with them. So nominate Obama. Really. He's the best hope for change we can believe in. Right?

[JoeChalupa]

I respect your opinion but disagree. I'm confident in the American people to not buy into the right-wing attack ads and not want another 4 years of the broken promises of the republican party. There is NO perfect candidate.
Just like many, many republicans are NOT happy with McCain, just ask yonivore and xrayzebra, they will support their party nomination.
Is McCain the best nominee for the republican party? Well, he is who he is.

[clambake]

-- they're unscrupulous liars with no moral character.

:lmao speaking of moral character, hows that angel luv stalking coming along? :lmao

[Don Quixote]

Hmm ... I doubt how many of the "bitter clingers" will go for him. Or patriotic Democrats. The "right-wing attack ads," much of them done by the notoriously right-wing Clintons, have served to expose Obama for what he is, a radical lefty who is a socialist on economic policy, a dove in foreign defense, and well to the left of middle America on social issues. Democrats have been down that road before.

My own reservations about Obama have nothing to do with any ads, but are the result of reading hundreds of articles by smart (mostly conservative, some liberal, and some even by Obama-supporters) people. I knew this stuff about him back in 04 -- about Ayers, about his socialist leanings. Nothing new here. And your party's about to nominate him. Good luck!

[Don Quixote]

Democratic daydream, from the NY Post

http://www.nypost.com/seven/06032008/news/columnists/hillarys_one_chance_at_redemption_113777.htm


TROY, Mich. - If Hillary Rodham Clinton wants to restore her tattered reputation and repair the party she has shattered, there is only one place for her to be tonight: St. Paul, Minn. ...

A surprise appearance and endorsement by Clinton - who is scheduled to hold her own event in Manhattan - would allow Democrats to mark that territory in history as the heart of a new and perfect unity for the party.

The election-night festivities would begin as usual with Obama mounting the stage before 20,000 wildly cheering voters.

He would start his victory speech and then pause. After a dramatic silence, he would say he wants to introduce a very, very special guest.

Already buzzing with giddiness, the puzzled crowd whispers and speculates.

The curtains spread, and to the tune of "I Will Survive," a face unimaginable yet so familiar appears. Hillary Rodham Clinton, her granite smile, steady wave - even her cheery yellow pantsuit - would in an instant become so brave and honest and selfless.

She would endorse Obama in biblical terms and embrace him - literally - with both arms. Obama would bury her in the genuine gracious praise that comes so naturally from him.

And just when the drama could not possibly heighten, the curtains would part again and out would walk her husband and her daughter, along with Michelle Obama and their two girls.

In that instant, everyone would forget all there has been in this campaign to dislike about Bill and remember why they once loved him.

A warm family embrace would underscore just how much Hillary gave up to be there, in the name of something much bigger than herself.

It's been a long and nasty fight, and Hillary has just one card left. But it's an ace. Will she play it?

[xrayzebra]

I disagree. I'm confident in the American people to not buy into the right-wing attack ads

Joe, I hope you are not referring to the fact that they will
"attack" Obama as to what he really is. An activist left
wing liberal with no programs, only agenda's. And pointing
out that his groups of friends are the same. Including
a known terrorist who bombed his way to fame.

Obama has plenty of baggage and a questionable past.
And the opposition would be really stupid to not point it
out. But you would call it attack ads. I wouldn't.

[JoeChalupa]

Joe, I hope you are not referring to the fact that they will
"attack" Obama as to what he really is. An activist left
wing liberal with no programs, only agenda's. And pointing
out that his groups of friends are the same. Including
a known terrorist who bombed his way to fame.

Obama has plenty of baggage and a questionable past.
And the opposition would be really stupid to not point it
out. But you would call it attack ads. I wouldn't.

What I mean is that most intelligent voters can see pass the ridiculous stuff. That is all. But I don't think like a republican conservative so I could be wrong. I for one don't care where McCain practices, or even if he doesn't practice, his religion. I don't care who his drinking buddies are. I don't care that his wife is filthy rich. All I care about is his policies and I agree more with the democratic side. That is all.
Bash all you want. I just choose not to buy in the attacks from either side.

[Don Quixote]

Then again ... it looks like Hillary might take South Dakota tonight. It'll certainly be close.

Look, I accept that Hillary's going to lose the nomination because Democrats "aren't that into her." She lost because she's not St. Barry. But the Democrats are nominating the weaker candidate in the general.

[balli]

But the Democrats are nominating the weaker candidate in the general.

That says more about America than it does about Obama.

[Don Quixote]

Well, that's open to interpretation. This is the reality -- the Democrats are on the verge of nominating yet another effete milquetoast for President. He's been exposed as another dovish, tax-hiking liberal, the likes of whom tend to get creamed in national elections. In other words, they're nominating Mondale, Dukakis, McGovern, or Carter (1980). The Clintons, who have every reason to keep fighting, know this, for indeed Clinton won in 92 by running as a moderate.

So, in a normal cycle, this election should be a landslide for the Republicans. But ... McCain is not from the conservative Goldwater-Reagan wing of the party. He's firmly in the Dole-Bush school. He's much more centrist than Reagan was, and that will keep this election close. If he were to run a conservative campaign (e.g., securing the border, low taxes, aggressively execute the war on terror, and support domestic oil drilling today), he'd win big. But we don't, and that'll make this a close election.

[JoeChalupa]

The nomination process is not perfect but it is what we currently have along with what may the down side. One can argue that the electoral college in the presidential election does not always result with the best candidate but it is what it is.

[CosmicCowboy]

No way Hillary concedes tonight.

She WILL concede that after the delegates were counted from the state caucuses that Obama got more state delegates than she did.

She will claim that she got more popular votes than Obama. She will probably remind everyone how furious that they all were when Bush won the White House based on electoral votes when Gore allegedly won the popular vote.

She will remind everyone that super delegates votes won't be counted until the convention and Obama currently does not have a clear majority of delegates.

No way Hillary concedes the nomination tonight. Remember, the money issue is a moot point if she ends up with the nomination...the DNC will pick up the 40 million hickey...

[angel_luv]

Angel ... what are you doing in here? The people in the political forum are MEAN! Get out before you become like one of them!


They're not mean; they are opinionated- and all with interesting takes, I think.

[Don Quixote]

Angel ... take that pretty face and that sweet attitude out of here. It doesn't belong.

[CosmicCowboy]

No way Hillary concedes tonight.

She WILL concede that after the delegates were counted from the state caucuses that Obama got more state delegates than she did.

She will claim that she got more popular votes than Obama. She will probably remind everyone how furious that they all were when Bush won the White House based on electoral votes when Gore allegedly won the popular vote.

She will remind everyone that super delegates votes won't be counted until the convention and Obama currently does not have a clear majority of delegates.

No way Hillary concedes the nomination tonight. Remember, the money issue is a moot point if she ends up with the nomination...the DNC will pick up the 40 million hickey...

Told you so...:lol

n Defeat, Clinton Graciously Pretends to Win

By Dana Milbank
Wednesday, June 4, 2008; A03

NEW YORK "What does Hillary want?"

Hillary Clinton put the question to her supporters here Tuesday night, moments after her opponent, Barack Obama, clinched the Democratic presidential nomination.

What Hillary did not want to do was to concede defeat. "I want the nearly 18 million Americans who voted for me to be respected, to be heard," she told her fans, who answered with cheers of "Denver! Denver!" and "Yes she will!"

The campaign was over, and Obama had locked up the nomination after a flood of more than 40 superdelegates announced their support for him throughout the day. But in the Baruch College gymnasium here (the "Bearcat Den"), Clinton spoke as if she were the victor.

She and her husband and daughter took the stage, smiling, clapping and bopping to the beat. She said nothing about losing the nomination, instead thanking South Dakota for giving her a victory in Tuesday's balloting: "You had the last word in this primary season!" This, she said, confirmed that she had won "more votes than any primary candidate in history."

Clinton congratulated Obama -- not for winning the nomination, but for running an "extraordinary race." She recognized Obama and his supporters "for all they accomplished."

It was an extraordinary performance by a woman who had been counted out of the race even when she still had a legitimate chance. Now she had been mathematically eliminated -- and she spoke as if she had won.

Though some might think her remarks self-delusional, Clinton wasn't kidding herself; earlier in the day, Clinton had told lawmakers privately that the race was over and she would consider being Obama's vice president. Her public defiance reflected a shift in the balance of power that came with Obama's victory. Now that he had won the race, he would need to woo Clinton if he wanted to prevail in November.

"Obama has work to do," the outspoken Clinton adviser Lanny Davis told reporters in the hallway outside the gymnasium here. "Senator Clinton can't do it for him."

Obama's aides had done their best throughout the day to build excitement for his clinching of the nomination. "Obama needs 41 delegates to secure the Democratic nomination," Obama spokesman Dan Pfeiffer announced in an e-mail he sent out at 6:56 a.m.

It was the beginning of a day-long water torture for Clinton, as Obama aimed, by day's end, to reach the 2,118 delegates needed to clinch the nomination.

For Obama, however, it wasn't a pretty way to clinch. He had won only six of the last 14 contests, and Tuesday night he lost South Dakota, too, where he had been heavily favored. Now that the party had partially accepted results from the Florida and Michigan primaries, Clinton could claim with some justification that she had received more votes than Obama.

And so the limping nominee needed to be carried across the finish line by the superdelegates whose support Pfeiffer announced throughout the day: a Michigan congresswoman, a Massachusetts superdelegate, one from Mississippi, two from Michigan, one from the District of Columbia, two from California, one from Florida, three from Delaware. "Twelve delegates from the nomination," Pfeiffer announced. Then 11, then 10.

The rush of the opportunistic superdelegates toward the inevitable nominee only worsened what was certain to be an unhappy day for the Clintons, who had arrived at their Westchester home at about 3 a.m. after an awkward last day of campaigning in South Dakota. Bill Clinton had flown into a rage and called a reporter a "scumbag." At her last event in South Dakota, Hillary had lost her voice in a coughing fit. Somebody had seen fit to play an inappropriate John Fogerty tune before she took the stage: "It ain't me, it ain't me. I ain't no fortunate one."

On Tuesday evening, the crowd began to assemble at Baruch College in Manhattan for Clinton's non-concession speech. The scene was made to look festive: The Clinton campaign ordered 70 boxes of Domino's pizza for the press corps, and set up a cash bar for its fundraisers, or "honored guests." The honored guests were not in a partying mood, however. One older woman pointed at a reporter accusingly and said: "He is the one who destroyed our heroine!"

A crew from "The Daily Show" joined the party, and, hoping to keep Clinton in the race, struck up a cheer of "Four more months!"

Such an outlandish thing seemed almost plausible among the Clinton backers in the hermetically sealed Baruch gym. Below ground level, there was no cellphone or BlackBerry reception, and there was no television playing in the room. That meant that they could not see the network projections showing that, while Clinton had won South Dakota, Obama had won enough delegates to clinch the nomination. Instead, they listened to Tom Petty's "Won't Back Down."

Just before Obama officially clinched, the Clinton campaign issued a press release as if it were still in the middle of a nominating battle. "Wyoming Automatic Delegate Backs Hillary," the e-mail said. It didn't include the name of the brave superdelegate.

Terry McAuliffe, the campaign chairman, took the stage and read the full list of Clinton's victories, from American Samoa to Massachusetts. Introducing Clinton, he asked: "Are you ready for the next president of the United States?"

This brought laughter from the reporters in the back of the room, but Clinton induced the crowd to boo the "pundits and naysayers" who would have run her from the race. "I am so proud we stayed the course together," she told her backers, who interjected cries of "We believe in you!" and "Yes, we will!"

Only obliquely did Clinton refer to the fact that she had, in fact, lost the nomination. "The question is: Where do we go from here?" she said. She would figure that out "in the coming days," she said, but "I will be making no decisions tonight." The crowd in the Bearcat Den erupted in a sustained cheer. She referred her supporters to her Web site, as she had after many a primary night victory.

For a candidate who had just lost the nomination, she seemed very much in charge.

That must be what Hillary wants.

[O-Factor]

Im not positive that I would vote for Obama, but he would lose my vote if Hillary "tells him" to chose her for vice president and he listens to her. That would be disgusting.

Be a man Obama, choose your own running mate.

[CosmicCowboy]

She doesn't want to be VP. She wants to blow him up before the convention.

[clambake]

She doesn't want to be VP. She wants to blow him up before the convention.

you can't use the word "blow" when bill is around.

[O-Factor]

"Blow"

Bill hears that word and instinctively says "Yes please"

[Ignignokt]

obama is going to have to figure out how to win without superdelegates in the fall.

[Nbadan]

According to ABC News Clinton will concede on Friday


Sen. Hillary Clinton said this afternoon on a conference call with supporters that she will appear alongside her supporters on Friday and drop out of the presidential race, Democratic sources tell ABC News' Kate Snow.

But some of her most loyal backers have begun to publicly urge her to exit the race and unify the Democratic Party behind Obama.

"Unless she has some good reasons — which I can't think of — I really think we ought to get on with endorsements and dealing with what we have to deal with … so we can move forward," New York Congressman Charlie Rangel told ABC News' Kate Snow.

ABC News (http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=4996520&page=1)

[Clandestino]

Republicans win