A Sigh of Reli -- Oh God

Hillary Clinton never ceases to amaze me. She loses the nomination -- she has lost, by the way -- and she can't even admit defeat. I don't know if its arrogance, delusion, poor political judgement, or all three, but last night was just another example of why I don't ever want to have to pull a lever next to her name. Her campaign is blatantly dishonest and oily, choosing obfuscation over revelation.

I saw Matt Lauer's interview with Howard Wolfson of the Clinton campaign this morning on The Today Show. Lauer held up a copy of The Washington Post with the headline, "Obama Claims Nomination." He then asked Wolfson if the headline was accurate. Any sane, forward-thinking person knows that the answer is, "Yes." But that's not acceptable for Howard Wolfson. His response? To be honest, I stopped listening after he began by saying that Barack Obama ran a wonderful campaign and brought a lot of people to the Democratic Party. This is the same kind of obfuscation and backward-logic that allows the Clinton campaign to claim that Clinton won the popular vote (even though the Michigan and Florida contests were bogus), and exactly why I am so turned off by her and them.

Recently Barack Obama's (now former) church made headlines again, when a visiting priest openly mocked Hillary Clinton during a sermon. He claimed that she felt she was white and entitled to the presidency, and that a younger, black candidate does not deserve it. Well, apart from the white part, that's how many people feel about her -- that she feels she's entitled to this, no matter what. But honestly, she all but had his nomination sown up 16 months ago, and she presided over what could be the most significant and massive political collapse in United States history. That, to me, sounds like gross incompetence, and you don't hire someone who has shown themselves to be grossly incompetent.

Perhaps her non-concession is an attempt to force Obama to name her as his Vice-Presidential running mate, as some people are speculating. Is this a good idea? I don't know. She doesn't seem like she has the personality to be 2nd to anyone. And if it were to occur, I think that the public would have a hard time looking at an Obama administration and not seeing an internal power struggle between Obama, Clinton...and Clinton! Yes, her husband. Bill Clinton has turned into major baggage for his wife, and she should find a basement to lock him in. I personally look at a vote for Hillary as a vote for Hillary and Bill. Some believe that Obama needs Hillary to win, but I guess that's for smarter, more experienced people to decide.

I am a big proponent of putting country before party; doing what is best for the country, even if it is not in the interest of your party. However, I feel that in this situation what is best for one is best for the other. What is best for the Democratic Party is also best for the country: Hillary Clinton needs to get out of the way.