A class act.......

[Vanessa White]

I am sad today, sad that Hillary, I believe, has come to the end of her run for the nomination. She gave a beautiful, humble speech last night, and it made me all the more proud to have supported her. At this point, I would support, even though I thought that I wouldn't, her being the VP candidate with Sen. Obama. I think to do so would be in the best interest of the party at this point; and I think she knows that and is willing to do it to help secure a Democrat in the White House.

I almost cried last night; actually, had tears in my eyes. I posted a message to her on her website today. I am ready, ready to back Sen. Obama, although not my first choice. Any other thoughts here? I so admire her courage in staying in until EVERY VOTE WAS COUNTED........ she was not intimidated to stand her ground, and I so admire her for that.

[Gennee]

Sen. Clinton waged a courageous battle but she said some things I found rather disingenuous. My sister believes that Sen. Obama will pick her as his VP. Me, I'm not so sure. My concern is would she have too much influence to the point of usurping Obama's authority. It's a 50-50 proposition as to whether he'll select Sen. Clinton as his VP. If he does I will support it.

Gennee

[Steven E. Webster]

Friends,

I was holding my breath waiting for Hillary's speech today. I'm glad she took the time to prepare this speech and didn't try to do this on election night. It was a very good and a unifying speech. She appropriately took credit for her (and her supporters) accomplishments and placed that in the wider perspective of what must yet be accomplished for the future of the nation and the world we are so mixed up in.

I'm looking forward to a Democratic team in the White House and in Congress--one that will surely include experienced folks from the Clinton Administration as well as lots of fresh young ideas coming up from younger generations. I believe Obama is up to the challenge of bringing diverse folks together to do what needs to be done.

Steven Webster

[pnggrad79]

I have always backed Obama simply because I feel like he would be the most likely to institute pro-gay legislation that would affect us positively. To me,however, it would have been cool to have a woman president. That would be awesome. For the first time, we might have had stature added to women's rights in this country. I wish her the best of luck and I wouldn't count her out of the political arena just yet.

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by Gennee

[COLOR="DarkRed"][SIZE="4"][FONT="Comic Sans MS"]Sen. Clinton waged a courageous battle but she said some things I found rather disingenuous. My sister believes that Sen. Obama will pick her as his VP. Me, I'm not so sure. My concern is would she have too much influence to the point of usurping Obama's authority. It's a 50-50 proposition as to whether he'll select Sen. Clinton as his VP. If he does I will support it.

I voted for Hillary, being a resident of NY for both of her Senatorial campaigns, as well as for the Presidential Primary. But I was dismayed that she took somethings for granted.

She was late in having offices in many states, where Obama did, having a more top-down approach, which smacked of a certain hubris. Obama, to his credit, beat her fair and square, from the ground up. And I will support him!

And yes- she said some troubling things in the last weeks of her campaign. All I could do is shake my head.

My sense is that (and there has been a lot of editorializing about this) is that the Clinton's didn't quite count on having to compete for the African-American vote. Those with a memory will know that Bill Clinton was considered a champion of racial equality. As such- he still- maintains offices here in Harlem.

Hillary? She won her Senate office on her own merit, canvassing the state repeatedly, really doing the leg work.

I am saddened that she did not get the nomiination, and believe that it will be a long time, perhaps a generation, before another woman will have the opportunity to run for President again. I mean- can anyone think of a candidate that is ready to do so now? I can't.

If Obama picks her as his running mate (and I think that would be a shrewd move), he has nothing to worry about from her: he is the one who will give her any and all authority he wants to her to have. VP's don't get to set the tone, the President does. As example, one has only to look to the current President: has has given his VP unprecedented power. And that power isn't inherited.

What worries me is the powers that the current President has given himself by fiat: all those signing orders and such, where he decides what parts of laws that Congress has passed he will and will not abide by. That, I find very disturbing.

If we want a King- then we should change our system of goverment. But the President, in my opinion, should not have the right to pick and choose what laws the poeple- and it is the govenment of the people- he likes and doesn't like.

And for goodness sake, should we be ever so blessed to have a democrat in the White House again, let us bring back Habeas Corpus, which has been suspended under the current administration. As it is, the government can seize any citizen and spirit them away and there is nothing anyone can do about it.

If I was President, reinstating this rule of law would be on my short list.

A common-law writ ordering a person who detains another to present that person before a court or judge in order to determine the legality of the detention. Protected by Article I, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution, the right to habeas corpus is a protection of individual liberty.

[Zerbie]

Originally Posted by Daniel

What worries me is the powers that the current President has given himself by fiat: all those signing orders and such, where he decides what parts of laws that Congress has passed he will and will not abide by. That, I find very disturbing.

If we want a King- then we should change our system of goverment. But the President, in my opinion, should not have the right to pick and choose what laws the poeple- and it is the govenment of the people- he likes and doesn't like.

And for goodness sake, should we be ever so blessed to have a democrat in the White House again, let us bring back Habeas Corpus, which has been suspended under the current administration. As it is, the government can seize any citizen and spirit them away and there is nothing anyone can do about it.

If I was President, reinstating this rule of law would be on my short list.

Oh for God's sake yes!! When they suspended Habeus, for the first time in my life I began to fear our government. The fact that I do not do anything wrong only compounded my feelings of fear. I wish more people understood that suspending these laws makes us UNSAFE, not safer.

Danny. I would vote for you.

As it is, now that we have a nominee, I will definitely try to get involved in the campaign, time permitting (I have two other very big projects coming up, one in Sept, one probably in late October.) I have ordered the Obama '08 bumper sticker. If nothing else, that will be visible on the Zerb-Mobile.

[sailaway58]

Obama would be out of his mind to have Hillary as V.P.
He does not need her baggage. He needs to find a person that supports his agenda can bring people like me to the decision that voting for a democrat won't be the end of the world.
I voted in the democratic primary for the first time in 30 years. Obama needs to show he can make good decisions. Hillary would be a disaster for him.

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by sailaway58

Obama would be out of his mind to have Hillary as V.P.
He does not need her baggage. He needs to find a person that supports his agenda can bring people like me to the decision that voting for a democrat won't be the end of the world.
I voted in the democratic primary for the first time in 30 years. Obama needs to show he can make good decisions. Hillary would be a disaster for him.

Ok. I can see that. What I don't understand is your assertion of 'disaster'. Could you fill out your thoughts about this a bit more? As in why a disaster?

The positions of both Obama an Clinton are practically identical. That being so, what bugs you about Hillary? I ask this, because I don't understand the animus towards her (not saying that you have animus mind you). Just want to understand where you are coming from.

Now. freely thinking here, is the 'baggage' you refer to Bill? And his sexual misadventures? It is a moral matter for you?

[Steven E. Webster]

Originally Posted by Daniel

I am saddened that she did not get the nomiination, and believe that it will be a long time, perhaps a generation, before another woman will have the opportunity to run for President again. I mean- can anyone think of a candidate that is ready to do so now? I can't.

Daniel,
You may be right. On the other hand, Obama is only recently on the national scene. Wasn't it at the 2004 Democratic Convention that Obama first got on the national "radar screen" as an "up and comer." Who knows what sharp young woman is waiting in the wings currently serving in a state legislature or as a city mayor or state governor even?

Hillary really has put 18 million cracks in the "glass ceiling" as she said in her recent party unity speech.

Steven Webster

[pnggrad79]

If Clinton had won the nomination it would be 28 years of the Bush, Clinton seesaw and frankly, I have had enough of the retarded seesaw crap. Let's get someone fresh with new ideas and a new direction in there. McCain is too old. I hope Obama wins and I hope someone doesn't get all John Wilkes Booth on him. It would be cool to have a black person as president. Its about damn time!

[kara speltz]

Originally Posted by Daniel

Ok. I can see that. What I don't understand is your assertion of 'disaster'. Could you fill out your thoughts about this a bit more? As in why a disaster?

The positions of both Obama an Clinton are practically identical. That being so, what bugs you about Hillary? I ask this, because I don't understand the animus towards her (not saying that you have animus mind you). Just want to understand where you are coming from.

Now. freely thinking here, is the 'baggage' you refer to Bill? And his sexual misadventures? It is a moral matter for you?

Truthfully, I've never been a Hillary fan. I trust her even less than I trust Bill. But when she threatened to annihilate Iran that was absolutely the last straw. This attitude that the US has the right and necessity to act as a world police force has got to stop. We need people who will talk first and hopefully never shoot.

While I wish that Catholic priest had never said what he did at Obama's church, it was the truth. Hillary comes out of a long line of privelege and she doesn't acknowledge or recognize it.

I know there are only so many changes Obama is going to be able to make within this capitalist system, but as someone who grew up without privelege, I'm very hopeful, we can begin the process of letting go of the privelege we Americans feel entitled to, and reduce our consumerism, which is the source of all these wars we've waged.

Kara

[Rick336]

Originally Posted by kara speltz

I'm very hopeful, we can begin the process of letting go of the privelege we Americans feel entitled to, and reduce our consumerism, which is the source of all these wars we've waged.

Reducing consumerism?

We have become way too addicted to our SUVs, wide-screen TVs, microwave ovens, i-phones, DVD players, hot tubs, cell phones, home computers, digital camcorders, ski boats, mountain bikes, coffee-makers, designer clothes, riding lawnmowers, electric toothbrushes, satellite TV, CD players, trash compacters, motorcycles, jet skis, jewelry, digital cameras, i-pods, and tons of other stuff found year after year under our Christmas trees until it eventually ends up in yard sales, flea markets, storage lockers, basements, or on top of a mountain of other stuff at the land fill. And then we get up at 6:00 a.m. every morning to work 60 hours a week at two jobs so we can go out and buy brand new stuff. It's the American way of life and we're all hooked.

So good luck with that.

Rick

[matthewspeed]

Originally Posted by Rick336

Reducing consumerism?

We have become way too addicted to our SUVs, wide-screen TVs, microwave ovens, i-phones, DVD players, hot tubs, cell phones, home computers, digital camcorders, ski boats, mountain bikes, coffee-makers, designer clothes, riding lawnmowers, electric toothbrushes, satellite TV, CD players, trash compacters, motorcycles, jet skis, jewelry, digital cameras, i-pods, and tons of other stuff found year after year under our Christmas trees until it eventually ends up in yard sales, flea markets, storage lockers, basements, or on top of a mountain of other stuff at the land fill. And then we get up at 6:00 a.m. every morning to work 60 hours a week at two jobs so we can go out and buy brand new stuff. It's the American way of life and we're all hooked.

So good luck with that.

Rick

Good luck is right!! But I have to admit, I have no plans on giving up my coffee maker! I need my coffee!!

[matthewspeed]

forgot to add from the last message - I can't give up my clothes either! sorry. I am a clothes horse!

[Gennee]

Originally Posted by Daniel

I voted for Hillary, being a resident of NY for both of her Senatorial campaigns, as well as for the Presidential Primary. But I was dismayed that she took somethings for granted.

She was late in having offices in many states, where Obama did, having a more top-down approach, which smacked of a certain hubris. Obama, to his credit, beat her fair and square, from the ground up. And I will support him!

And yes- she said some troubling things in the last weeks of her campaign. All I could do is shake my head.

My sense is that (and there has been a lot of editorializing about this) is that the Clinton's didn't quite count on having to compete for the African-American vote. Those with a memory will know that Bill Clinton was considered a champion of racial equality. As such- he still- maintains offices here in Harlem.

Hillary? She won her Senate office on her own merit, canvassing the state repeatedly, really doing the leg work.

I am saddened that she did not get the nomiination, and believe that it will be a long time, perhaps a generation, before another woman will have the opportunity to run for President again. I mean- can anyone think of a candidate that is ready to do so now? I can't.

If Obama picks her as his running mate (and I think that would be a shrewd move), he has nothing to worry about from her: he is the one who will give her any and all authority he wants to her to have. VP's don't get to set the tone, the President does. As example, one has only to look to the current President: has has given his VP unprecedented power. And that power isn't inherited.

What worries me is the powers that the current President has given himself by fiat: all those signing orders and such, where he decides what parts of laws that Congress has passed he will and will not abide by. That, I find very disturbing.

If we want a King- then we should change our system of goverment. But the President, in my opinion, should not have the right to pick and choose what laws the poeple- and it is the govenment of the people- he likes and doesn't like.

And for goodness sake, should we be ever so blessed to have a democrat in the White House again, let us bring back Habeas Corpus, which has been suspended under the current administration. As it is, the government can seize any citizen and spirit them away and there is nothing anyone can do about it.

If I was President, reinstating this rule of law would be on my short list.

My feeling is that another woman will run and do well. It just depends on the candidate running. Also there are parts of the country that simply will not vote for a woman or an African-American.

Gennee