First Door on the Left

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Video.

I’m not so sure that I’m quite as ready to forgive and forget as Senator Obama appears to be…

Obama shares fundraisers with Clinton

WASHINGTON (AP) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is sharing one his most valuable assets - his top fundraisers - with former rival Hillary Rodham Clinton to help her pay off her debt, the latest effort to heal the wounds of a bruising primary campaign.

Obama on Tuesday asked his finance team to help Clinton pay back at least $10 million from her failed presidential campaign, setting the stage for joint appearances by the two former rivals later in the week. In a teleconference with his top fundraisers, Obama asked them to do what they could to help Clinton.

“What I said was to my large donors who are in a position to write large checks, to help Senator Clinton retire her debt, or at least a portion of it. And I think they’re going to be those who are willing to do so,” Obama told reporters at a news conference in Chicago.

A large chunk of Obama’s cash has come from small donors, but he said he was not making the same appeal to them.

“I’m not going to be individually contacting $15 donors, because frankly, it probably wouldn’t be that effective in terms of making a big dent in Senator Clinton’s debt,” Obama said.

Obama’s green light to his money bundlers came before he and Clinton were scheduled to meet in Washington on Thursday with some of her top fundraisers in a show of unity after their bruising contest for the Democratic presidential nomination. On Friday, the two planned to campaign together in New Hampshire.

Obama clinched the nomination earlier this month; Clinton suspended her campaign and endorsed him.

All the talk has been about how we need to treat the Clintonistas with kid gloves so they will come back to the fold. I don’t quite see it that way. They need to do some serious apologizing and ask nicely to be allowed back into the fold. They and their candidate and her family said some pretty nasty things and made lots of not-so-nice accusations during the primaries. I’m not so sure that the Obama folks should be paying off Hillary Clinton’s debts. As John Cole says…

The debt, if you think about it, is from the last few months of the campaign when Clinton went with the kitchen sink strategy. Obama is now subsidizing the “White People Won’t Vote For Him” Appalachian tour, the 3 am ad, and the rest of the bile they chucked his way over the last two months when it was clear Clinton could not win.

I’m not so sure I’m ready to make nice. Yet. Maybe after a few “We’re sorrys,” which I haven’t heard or read. Yet.

A lot of people acted like Republicans (some still are), and for that they need to apologize. I’m still waiting.

The former president still is not “over it…”

Clinton praises Obama’s greenhouse policy, sort of

Bill Clinton

MIAMI (Reuters) - Former President Bill Clinton offered faint praise for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s energy policy on Sunday, saying he preferred it to that of Republican rival John McCain.

“I think we’ll get better national policy next year,” Clinton told the U.S. Conference of Mayors in a speech centered on improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gases.

It was the former president’s first public appearance since his wife, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, ended her presidential campaign on June 7, after Obama emerged as the Democratic candidate in the November election.

The former first lady endorsed Obama, urged her supporters to rally behind him and is scheduled to campaign with him later this week.

But her husband has not publicly endorsed the presumptive Democratic nominee to succeed President George W. Bush. Asked by journalists when he might do so, Clinton smiled and shook hands with spectators without acknowledging he heard the question.

In his speech, Clinton predicted Congress would pass a cap-and-trade system to reduce carbon emissions.

“Because I believe so strongly in this, I favor Senator Obama’s position, which is to go to 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gasses over Senator McCain’s position, which is to go to 70 percent,” he said. “But that’s light years ahead of where Republican’s have been.”

Hillary Clinton has been enjoying a well-deserved vacation. It is time for her to get back to work…

Clinton, Obama to make joint appearance next week

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton

(CNN) — Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama will make a joint public appearance next week for the first time since she ended her White House bid.

Clinton’s national finance director, Jonathan Mantz, sent top donors an invitation Tuesday for a June 26 meeting in Washington, D.C. featuring both former rivals. Mantz also asked Clinton donors to show unity by giving Obama $2,300, the maximum donation allowable under federal campaign finance laws.

He added that Clinton “will do everything she can to unify the party and to elect Barack Obama the next President of the United States.”

It’s been a little over a week since we’ve seen or heard anything from Hillary Clinton or her campaign. That changed today. Today I received this message in my e-mail:

Dear Len,

Together, you and I changed America forever. We touched so many lives over the course of this campaign, and I can’t thank you enough for the support you showed me. I met so many wonderful people out on the trail, and I wanted to share some of those memories with you.

I hope you’ll take a moment to view our online album with some favorite photos from the campaign.

Thank you so much — I’ll be in touch soon.

Sincerely,

Hillary Rodham Clinton

(The message is accompanied by a link through which you can make a contribution to her campaign. In all fairness, she may just be looking for a way to retire her huge campaign debt.)

There are apparently still a number of people out there who feel, for whatever reason, that Mrs. Clinton was cheated out of the Democratic nomination. They say they will never vote for Barack Obama. They say they would rather vote for Johnny McCain. (I’m convinced that most of these folks are Republicans just looking to stir up trouble, but that’s just me.)

If Hillary is really looking to unite the party and ensure that Barack Obama is elected as the next President of the United States, this message is not the way to do it. The only thing I can see this message accomplishing is a refueling of the bitterness some of her supporters harbor.

But, whatever… Thanks for the memories, Hill.

I’ve had nothing to post all day and besides I haven’t really been in the mood so I figured that rather than give you some inane something it was better to give you nothing. However, the nearer it draws to bedtime and the shutting down of the computer for the day, the more guilty I am feeling for not posting. I happened upon a couple of R. J. Matson cartoons that he published today (far from inane) and figured I’d share them with you. (I was going to save them for Friday, but by then you will likely have seen them elsewhere, if you haven’t already.)

These are dedicated specifically to the Hillary supporters out there, but most especially to a fellow named Jay (he knows who he is… I think that’s him in the first cartoon). They are thumbnails and unless your eyesight is much better than mine, you will need to click on them to make them bigger.

P.S. Chances are good that you will see one for both of these again in this week’s Friday Night Cartoons. Reckon you’ll just have to tune in on Friday to find out.

Addendum:

You should also be sure to check out this website: HillaryFans4McCain. Remember to sign the loyalty oath that applies to you.

“The way to continue our fight now, to accomplish the goals for which we stand is to take our energy, our passion and our strength and do everything we can to help elect Barack Obama the next president. Today, as I suspend my campaign, I congratulate him on the victory he has won and the extraordinary race he has run. I endorse him and throw my full support behind him.” — Hillary Clinton, June 7, 2008.

I dropped by Hillary Clinton’s weblog this morning and read some of the comments folks left following her speech yesterday. I’m here to tell you… There are some people over there who need some serious loving. Here’s just a small sampling of what I found…

“GO HILLARY! YOU ARE THE BEST!

18,000,000 of us our with you until you are our President.

Please keep fighting for us! We will fight for you!”
–
“BUT WE WILL NOT VOTE BO…”
–
“We support you FOREVER!!!

BUT we will NEVER support BO!!! He doesn’t deserve it! He stole it!!! NEVER means NEVER!!!

Also, we will FOREVER remember what BO, his nasty supporters, MSM, & the UNdemocratic DNC did in this election.

McCain 08!!!

Hillary 2012!!!”
–
“WE WON’T STAND TOGETHER WITH BO!!!

NEVER!!!”
–
“It’s just because what BO (pus the media) did to Hillary is unforgivable. Let him reap his own karma. Let him lose big to McCain. Nobama!”
–
“DNC does not deserve you!!!I will never vote for OBama….HILLARY 2012″
–
“To get Hillary in in 2012 we must vote McCain come November.”
–
“We must start now for Hillary 2012. This time we get bashed by the press and bullied by the party elites. But, we will work hard and we will prevail. Stay strong and never give up. Only a little more than 3 years away. Keep smiling!”
–
“When you first go to HillaryClinto.com now they want you to sign up to support BHO.

NEVER………….NEVER…………NEVER…….NEVER

McCAIN 08

HILLARY 2012″
–
“Hillary, we donated, called, took abuse and rallied for YOU not him. In case you missed these, we did 4 rallies for YOU!!!!”
–
“Sorry Hillary - I can not support BHO!!!

That will never happen…..

Hillary 08
McCain 08″
–
“SO SORRY DEAR HILLARY,
I CAN NOT SUPPORT THAT NOBAMA!
NEVER NEVER NEVER!
MY VOTE FOR YOU OR MCCAIN ONLYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!
LOVE YOU ALL!!!”
–
“McCain /Sarah Palin 2008

Hillary 2012….that is the ONLY way we can elect Hillary

Please all Hillary supporters DO NOT write her name in…it will go to obama….Help elect McCain in 2008….that’s a guaranteed win for her in 2012…GUARANTEED!!!!!”

That’s just a very small sampling. It goes on and on and on. You really have to wonder of any of them even listened to Senator Clinton’s speech yesterday. (I really have to wonder if a lot of these comments weren’t left by masquerading Republicans.)

If you know any of these people, take them in your arms, pat them gently on the back and let them know that you love them. They are really hurting right now.

Share this clip with them…

The speech started about 45 minutes behind schedule (and about three days late) and she didn’t get around to mentioning Barack Obama until a little over six minutes into it, but all in all a good speech. A bit self-congratulatory and she definitely played the gender card, but she was very clear in her determination to see Barack Obama elected President of the United States and very clear in asking her supporters to support him as well.

Ending Her Bid, Clinton Backs Obama

WASHINGTON — Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton formally threw her support behind Senator Barack Obama on Saturday, clearing the way for Mr. Obama to head into the general election with a plan to challenge Senator John McCain in typically Republicans states.

Mrs. Clinton, speaking here to an audience of advisers and supporters who had been invited to attend from across the country, used the final rally of her presidential campaign to end her barrier-breaking bid for the presidency and endorse Mr. Obama. She pledged that she would do what it takes to help Mr. Obama win the White House.

In her last rally as a presidential candidate, Mrs. Clinton expressed deep gratitude to the voters. who had cast ballots for her. She suspended her campaign, rather than officially ending it. That’s a technicality that will allow her to raise money to retire her debt and to control the delegates she won. It is not an indication that she has any intention of resuming it.

Mr. Obama stayed away because he understood this was her moment.

I think the moment would have been a lot stronger had Senator Obama been there to accept her endorsement and her support, but what do I know?

Mrs. Clinton offered nothing less than a full-throated endorsement for and embrace of Mr. Obama and his candidacy. She has said many times that she would work her heart out for the nominee, and aides said she knew that now was the time to begin to show it.

I hope her supporters are listening. It would be huge, huge mistake to assist Johnny McCain and the Republicans in any way whatsoever in this election.

I am sure there will be video of the speech available at some time this afternoon. I will try to post it when it becomes available.

So, what were your impressions?

UPDATE: Here’s the video:

The estimates that I have seen put between 8,000 and 10,000 people in attendance.

(YouTube link)

UPDATE: Seriously?!

Would it be sexist to mention that women are always late? Half of my life, it seems, is spent waiting for women.

Hillary Clinton was supposed to deliver her concession speech at 12:00 noon Eastern Time today. As I write this, it is 12:18 p.m. ET. She has not yet left her house to go to the venue where the speech will be given.

We’re waiting.

I’ve been hearing and reading about of lot of Senator Clinton’s supporters who are saying they will now be voting for Johnny McCain, that there is no way they would ever vote for Barack Obama. I know that a lot of them are hurt and grieving right now and that is understandable. I have to believe, though, that once they have worked through their disappointment and grief, they will understand the harm they will be doing themselves and their country by not supporting the Democratic nominee. It may take a few weeks, but their wounds will heal. They will do as Hillary (and their country) asks of them…

Clinton promises to “strongly support” Obama

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Hillary Clinton will end her presidential bid and declare her support for Barack Obama, she told supporters on Thursday, ending a grueling 16-month nominating fight that split the Democratic Party.

Clinton said in a letter to supporters released Thursday morning that she will publicly back Obama on Saturday and also pledge to work for party unity in the general-election race against Republican John McCain.

“On Saturday, I will extend my congratulations to Senator Obama and my support for his candidacy,” the New York senator and former first lady wrote.

“I have said throughout the campaign that I would strongly support Senator Obama if he were the Democratic Party’s nominee, and I intend to deliver on that promise.”[..]

Clinton will thank her supporters at the event that was originally planned for Friday but switched to Saturday to allow time for more supporters to attend.

“This has been a long and hard-fought campaign, but as I have always said, my differences with Senator Obama are small compared to the differences we have with Senator McCain and the Republicans,” Clinton said in the letter.

“I will be speaking on Saturday about how together we can rally the party behind Senator Obama. The stakes are too high and the task before us too important to do otherwise.”

I know the Republicans are extremely disappointed, but the Democrats will once again become one party. They were really counting on a lot of Senator Clinton’s supporters to replace the votes that Johnny McCain is not going to get from conservative Republicans. Sorry, Johnny, it’s not going to happen.