Haven't we had enough of it?

I think it's about respect.  She mentioned it about her voters, but she also has been disrespected by the media and many Obama supporters, although not necessarily by Obama (I understand that is debateable).  People have been screaming at her to quit since February and she stayed and fought.

I think she just wants to leave on her own terms a little.  

Respect.  She deserves it.

In other close nominating contests there were no great conciliatory gestures at this point.  In fact, for Reagan in '76 and Kennedy in '80, this issue did not even come up till the convention.

Don't be seduced by the media's playbook.

What Hillary brings to the table is not really the 18M voters - most of them will make up their own minds, and frankly, it's ludicrous to think there's any scenario under which Hillary will not endorse Obama in the end.  But the Clinton machine is powerful, the fundraising network is large, the influence is genuine.  The fact that Obama managed to build an operation that could outdo all that is truly impressive, but it doesn't mean he can simply throw away all the Clinton connections.  It's going to take an all-hands-on-deck approach to win in November.

"There's no bargaining. You don't bargain with the Presidential nominee. Even if you're Hillary Clinton and you have 18 million votes, you don't bargain."

And Hilary Rosen saying

"She is waiting to figure out how she would "use" her 18 million voters. But not my vote. I will enthusiastically support Barack Obama's campaign. Because I am not a bargaining chip. I am a Democrat."

This year's game has been designed and sold by the media with the DNC's help. But, it defies reality. If just a handful of supers change their minds, he's under that magic number again.

One more big scandal and the man is toast. Unless she concedes and her delegates become his.

She is not playing a game to get herself the VP spot, she is still running for president. That's the way it should be.

Moreover, Obama and his supporters and much of the Democratic elite have spent this campaign not only attacking her, but trashing her and Bill personally.  They've been called racists, Bill's been compared to McCarthy, and she's been accused of wanting Obama murdered and that's just stories coming directly from the Obama campaign.  I cannot believe that part of her price for uniting the party behind Obama isn't some kind of show of respect, not just words, an action.  And what better sign of respect could Obama send than asking her to be on the ticket?  

And you can tell it's a possibility because the Village is screaming bloody murder.  Earlier today some Democratic strategist announced on MSNBC that Hillary's refusal to concede and strong-arm tactics backfired and now Obama can never select her.  Never!  

Link

What do you want to bet that he does nothing to balance the budge should he become president?

Will Shields be excoriated by the MCM?

Crickets. (And snark over--but when Shields said he was going to refer to history, I thought he might mention some of those male second place primary candidates who stayed in the race until the convention vote....

Are there any MCMers who look at history instead of the MCM Narrative? WWTSBQ? Hillary rained on his parade! Oh, the SB!

He's staying loyal to Hillary but will support Obama.  The interviewer kept pressing him about the Hillary as VP issue and Rendell said they would both have to meet and determine if it's a good fit.  He seemed a bit dubious, mentioning the fact that no Presidential candidate wants a VP who will outshine him.

He also said (in response to a question) that he himself would not be a good VP candidate for Obama b/c he's used to calling all the shots and b/c (as he tactfully put it) he doesn't have the foreign policy experience that Obama would need.

Surely they want some of that back.

What's Bill supposed to do if she's VP?    Can Obama look presidential if someone forces their way on to the ticket?  A lot of that stuff just doesn't make sense.  I think as it sinks in she'll see that there is no other option, she has lost the primary.  It takes a lot more than her supposed 17 or 18 million votes (nobody thinks that number is legitimate except the most rabid Clinton supporters) to win the presidency, and a good chunk of those folks are going to support Obama, the ones that won't won't either way.   Honestly,  I think if she was serious about a VP spot,  it would all happen in the back rooms and she'd be doing whatever Obama wanted, now.  This outcome wasn't a surprise, it was a done deal weeks ago and it was made public at the rules and ylaws meeting.  It fundamentally undermines her platform and his if they were to join.  To a lot of folks the lack of a concession makes it look an awful lot like the Clintons have very little respect for Obama and the whole process.

She done well today at AIPAC - she will do some events where she will gradually introduces Obama to her supporters.

The need to constantly overanalyze each and every thing ad infinitum is not good in my view.

It's bad enough that the media keeps beating the drums.  Maybe there are other issues of the day to focus upon?

Here is an example of something that should concern us:

Bill Clinton and John McCain share a problem

New Vanity Fair profile of Clinton doesn't let a lack of evidence get in the way of salacious innuendo.

The article states:

Both the Vanity Fair profile and the earlier New York Times story offer not a smidgen of direct evidence (i.e., video, frothy e-mails, lipstick-smeared collars, anything) to prove that either politician cheated on his wife.

But the new Clinton piece, in particular, offered plenty of innuendo. Vanity Fair relies on "Hollywood dinner-party gossip" and equally obscure sourcing to hint at possible liaisons between Clinton and an actress, "a female friend" and "a woman in a bar."

More threatening to the former commander in chief's legacy, Purdum asserts, is his tendency to run with a "fast crowd," including a pair of tabloid-land Lotharios, Los Angeles supermarket magnate Ron Burkle and movie-and-music producer Steve Bing.

Purdum, who could not be reached for comment, writes that Clinton and other former presidents should conduct themselves "in ways that do not seem to cheapen, degrade or exploit the high office they held."

Fair enough. But what about journalistic conduct?

The writer concedes near the top of his story that there is no "proof of post-presidential sexual indiscretions on Clinton's part." He then races from that disclaimer to quote former aides, a "Clinton-watcher" and other unnamed figures, who vent plenty of suspicions.

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-onthemedia4-2008jun04,0,6973427.story

To me, this is as important as the minutia over matters that will sort themselves out in the coming days.

However, Obama is not certainly without leverage as well. Just as she can help him mend some fences with female voters, he's key to helping her restore her image with the AA community - both critical groups for any Dem pol. He can also help erase what has to be an enormous amount of campaign debt, allowing numerous small businesses to finally get paid and avoiding the embarrassment that could result if they were to collect or sue.

They do not know what she's going to say or do.

You are certainly right, however, that HRC put Obama on the spot.  He not only has to consider what the effect will be if he doesn't pick her as his VP, but at this point he has to consider how he'll look if he decides he wants her to be the VP. And that may not be too good.  He will look like he can be bullied and rolled, not a particularly appealing image when confronting a white male macho war hero who calls his wife the "C" word in front of reporters.

Maureen Dowd has put Obama's masculinity in play and she will not be the only one.  It makes it hard to pick Clinton as his running mate if to do so makes him look like a skinny, big-eared wimp.

So, whether Ms. Clinton did what she did out of stratergy or just by accident, she has certainly complicated her road to the vice presidency.  

Why Ms. Clinton would want that job is beyond me.  Think of how LBJ chafed at being ridden by Bobby Kennedy -- picked on, humiliated, ignored -- all for accepting an offer of VP the Kennedys thought Johnson would decline.  That kind of humiliating treatment would be even more likely if HRC was seen to force her way onto the ticket.  What would be in it for her?

I pretty much HATE the idea of Hillary for VP, only because it seems clear(to me) that Bill comes with the package, for better or for worse.  Maybe that's an overreaction - I haven't seen him causing her any trouble as the senator from NY (my homestate), but, seriously?  He caused her plenty of headaches, I think, on the trail (and did plenty of good, as well. Don't get me wrong).  

But why not Secty of State?  That seems such a better fit for her talents?

Brazile is a troublesome character because she was on CNN and the RBC (undeclared  but evidently not uncommitted). She also matsreminded two debalces in florida.

i've had quite enough of her opinion and influence.

I don't think Hillary Clinton fought hard these months to take second fiddle to someone unfit for the presidency. She's been running for the nomination to the top spot.

Once again I feel like I'm living in a facist state, but this time it's my own party and the liberal media who have failed to report polling, distorted the news, with intent to do so, and leveled a hatred akin to racism, that is  entirely uncalled for. I'm still reeling, as I'm sure many women are across the country.

I can't remember such an assault other than the right wing attacks directed at Bill..  

So, yes, she needs to do what any other candidate doesn't have to, because the media and her own party, underline, own party, have leveled this assault on her; there are going to be many women, who will carry this memory into the voting booth in November. The polls seem to jive with this.

At any rate, my point here is that Clinton will do what she knows to be in the best interests of the country, the party, her supporters and self. She's a class act.

It won't matter what she does - how much/how little, imo. The media will always move the goal post out further, or change the rules, or...

Obama plays old-style politics, in spite of his "change" mantra/shtick. He is a creation of David Axelrod (John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich, Deval Patrick), nothing more. I therefore don't expect a whole lot from him or his campaign.

He's saying all the right words right now. He needs to say them a lot. And he needs to keep saying them. But he also needs to show the "beef". Can he? Will he? Anybody's guess at the moment.

He wants HRC's donors/donor lists/email lists first (it's about the $$, stupid). IF he gets that upfront, HRC is gonna have to play real hardball again, because Obama will start to backpedal or he'll drag things out. He's good at this.

I trust HRC's judgment. Yeah, the media will crucify her no matter what she does or says, etc. For her it's about the 18 million voters, it's about "respect" and recognition to our concerns and needs, and about some important provisions re: universal health care, perhaps a cabinet post or two for targeted individuals (those she knows and trusts who have the experience). Don't know who those might be. I think the VP spot is neither here nor there. I'm not sure she really wants it, or ever did. But it is a big bargaining chip at the moment for 'gives' on some other issues/concerns.