The Party’s Over

The American Spectator ^ | June 9, 2008 | W. James Antle III

[2ndDivisionVet]

No matter what November brings, Barack Obama has managed to accomplish something no Republican has done since 1980: He has wrung a concession speech out of the Clintons.

Clintonite dead-enders may never forgive him for it. As Hillary Rodham Clinton suspended her presidential campaign and pledged to back the man who defeated her in the Democratic delegate race, there was a smattering of boos the first time Obama's name was mentioned. Nevertheless, Hillary intoned, "I endorse him, and throw my full support behind him. And I ask all of you to join me in working as hard for Barack Obama as you have for me."

The era of Bill's government is over -- for now, at least.

Hillary Clinton was supposed to be the inevitable nominee. She led in the early polls and the first superdelegate tallies. Obama stumbled in the summer and fall of 2007, raising questions about whether such an inexperienced candidate could possibly compete with the Clinton machine. In October 2007, Hillary led Obama 57 percent to 33 percent among black registered Democrats. She was the choice of 68 percent of black women voters.

Then a funny thing happened on the way to the Clinton restoration. Obama won the Iowa caucuses. Hillary finished third. Her image of inevitability was forever shattered. Black voters, sensing a historic opportunity, began moving en masse to Obama. The Clinton campaign found itself ill prepared for a long, drawn-out contest with a freshman senator they planned to dispatch quickly. Mark Penn famously misunderstood how California's delegates were allocated. The Clintons took a pass on the caucus states, allowing Obama's young and enthusiastic supporters to out-hustle them for delegates.

Bill Clinton's famous political skills failed him. The man Toni Morrison called our "first black president" displayed a tin ear for African Americans.

[Surtur]

Oh, I know she will do something, but the difference is that right now she will be hiding her actions by using surrogates, but if she was elected and in office, she wouldn’t have to hide and her revenge would be displayed publicly for all to see as a warning not to oppose her further.