I wish I could take credit for authoring this piece.  Afterall, Susan Reimer has written down every thought that has crossed my mind over the past few days.  But even though I didn't take the time to write anything down, here it is......in black & white......spelled out in language simple enough for even the most unsophisticated voter to comprehend.  I just wish somebody had clued in the DNC before they decided which candidate was the best choice for America.

I can only hope that both Susan Reimer & I along with 18,000,000 others are wrong.

You know, the biggest myth of this campaign was that somehow the Clintons controlled the apparatus.  They didn't.  And, and, you know, I look back and I think that the, the two moments before the campaign even started were clues as to how difficult this was going to be for them.  One was the election of Howard Dean as DNC chair, and the other was Democrats winning control of Congress in 2006 and the ascension of Nancy Pelosi as one of the leaders.  Here they had two of the sort of three cogs of the Democratic leadership, in Nancy Pelosi and Howard Dean, who were waiting for there to be a crack in this inevitability armor of, of the Clintons.  And once there was, it's as if they were just waiting.  And it wouldn't have mattered if it was Barack Obama, Mark Warner, had he run, or John Edwards.  Whoever ended up filling the vacuum of the anti-Clinton, they were going to rush to them.  And I think that that's something the Clinton campaign never appreciated.  I think they thought that it was sheer will they would get those superdelegates with them.  They would get whatever rulings they needed, whatever primary calendar they wanted.  But every step of the way, nothing went their way on process in the inside, and I think that shocks a lot of us today that they lost the inside game.  It's one thing to lose the outside game, votes and all that stuff, but they lost the inside game.

by Andrew Stephen
UK's New Statesman US correspondent

Gloating, unshackled sexism of the ugliest kind has been shamelessly peddled by the US media, which - sooner rather than later, I fear - will have to account for their sins

My cousin's wife, who I'm pretty sure is not a Democrat, recently sent me an email in which she described some of the many challenges she and other hard working women routinely face. She also sent me this link to a story entitled "Women Push Back in Support of Clinton". She would love to see Hillary win the Presidency, and in that I am confident that she is representative of many other women in this country who are not Democrats.

Hi Everyone,

Well - WesPAC's looking for those of you who have decided Hillary Clinton is your candidate.

Four Years and Counting

Let’s keep making a difference. Please contribute to our “2008 Fund” today

Four years ago, I was in the first month of my presidential campaign. I remember wondering to myself: “Can we make a difference? Will people come out to listen to a retired general and political outsider, who has never held elected office?”

Now, four years later, I can say without any hesitation: We made a difference.

Now let’s keep making a difference. Please contribute to our “2008 Fund” today – so we can fight for the issues and candidates that will help get America back on track in the next election!

http://securingamerica.com/contribute

With you behind me in 2003 and 2004, we helped Democrats lead the debate on the issues of Iraq and national security. We made the case: Democrats are the party of national security. Democrats will keep America safe. And though we took tough losses in 2004, we laid the groundwork for 2006. Then in 2006 your support amplified my voice. I hit the campaign trail for dozens of candidates, and we carried Democrats to victory, gaining control of Congress.

Well, I need your help again today. 2008 will be a critical election up and down the ballot as we usher in new leadership to fix the mess George W. Bush has created. While I have decided not to seek the presidency myself, we have an ambitious plan to keep me on the campaign trail helping Democrats win. Now we need the resources to do it.

We have 48 hours to raise $25,000 to jump-start our “2008 Fund.” Please make a contribution today!

http://securingamerica.com/contribute

Last cycle, WesPAC helped 42 candidates win their races across America, including several veterans and 25 candidates who flipped their seats from Republican to Democratic seats. We helped bring political balance to Armed Forces Radio by adding Ed Shultz to the airwaves, and we continued to press both Republicans and Democrats to change course in Iraq.

Now, we’re fighting to take Rush Limbaugh off taxpayer-funded Armed Forces Radio for his despicable remarks against our troops. We’re pushing for a responsible end to the occupation in Iraq. We’re speaking out to prevent a military conflict with Iran. And of course, we’re fighting to elect Democrats up and down the ballot.

I ask you to stand with me in these fights. We have 48 hours to raise $25,000 to jump-start our “2008 Fund.” Help us get there before Friday’s midnight deadline.

http://securingamerica.com/contribute

Our “2008 Fund” will make sure WesPAC and I have the resources we need to help Democrats win up-and-down the ballot, from coast-to-coast. But we can’t do it without your help.

Let’s keep making a difference.

Sincerely,

Wes Clark

CROSS BMG

Back in 2005, Gov. Romney vetoed funds for flood prevention in Peabody. And in 2006, Peabody Square flooded again. Totally forseeable, totally avoidable, and our Governor made sure that it, in fact, was not avoided. We got on Romney's case for the needless veto of an obvious and outstanding need.

read more at Blue Mass Group
http://bluemassgroup.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=7091

Steve Clemons is all a twitter at the thought of Chuck Hagel entering the presidential race. Since Steve's forte is national security, I can understand his excitement.

Agree with him or not, you have to admit that Hagel's has been the loudest, most consistent voice (except for Wes) among possible contenders, on the debacle that is Iraq, and indeed, Bush's whole foreign policy "vision".

Posted this on a dead GD thread but didn't want it to disappear.

A very nice Op-Ed from a young person who obviously has more sense than the pundits

The entire piece is great but I especially like the explanation for why Wes is waiting.

snippet