wasn't a failure to concede... but a failure to face reality. A continued attack on the nominee and no mention on the only opponent left in this race... John McCain.

..tho I disagree with your take on Howard Fineman's comment. The offer/refuse VP dance is a really common one. It shows respect both ways, actually.

I personally do not see how it would work for Clinton to take a secondary role (and Obama can't go for the Cheney model of VP if he is to be respected as the leader). Hillary and Bill are both bigtime leaders. They are not followers.

So, I hope there is a great role in store in which Hillary can lead with all her talents (Senate majority leader, Supreme Court Justice, Sec of State, etc.)

It's not going to matter that Hillary chose not to officially concede last night.  Obama is going to be very strong against McCain in every region of the country and by the time we come out of the convention, it's going to start to look like a joke.  

There are so many possibilities for the party to capitalize on the tensions that have built up.  There is some potent speculation, much more realistic than the VP thing that Hillary will be offered a significant role in taking on the issue of health care either in the cabinet or as the leader in the legislature.  

Every time there is a moment of cooperation between either of the Clintons and Barack Obama, it will be widely reported precisely because of the tensions that have built up over the past year.  Every time it happens it will be good for Democrats and good for the platform.  

Bill Clinton, as ex-Prez has done some good work in terms of helping Africa.  Picture him doing what he has been doing but with a friend in the White House.  And Obama really can and should be that.  

There should be some awesome speeches at the convention, that's for sure.  

I had a charmed day yesterday, fortuitously catching a bus with my friends on it, getting a good spot in line, and being there in the Xcell Energy Center with Barack as history was being made.

I missed all the media coverage and I don't miss it one bit.  I'm sure I'll get to see them clutching at pearls tonight and for the next five months.

Obama's speech was awesome.

Was disappointed that Hillary had such a meaningless event last night, she couldn't have waited another day to give that speech?  Let us savor the moment of a minority nomination victory, without her me, me, me.

News Media has been terrible, and will continue to be terrible.

If you don't read the newspaper, you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper, you are misinformed.

Very nice speech. I'll give props where it is due. I really liked the bit about Hillary doing what no women has done before. Very Star Trek.

Like Dracomicron (above post) I was happily in my own bubble away from the media buzz and talking heads blathering on and on.

The media doesn't know what the heck it is talking about. I was there, in that room with her most ardent supporters... celebrating her and her historic run and what it has meant to the millions who voted for her and believed her to be the best candidate. People know that this is over. Yes, there are hard feelings, anger, sadness, open wounds... but the hardliners / deadenders / Hillary-or-nobody voters were few and far between (I maybe talked to 2 or 3). These people are DEMOCRATS through and through. Do they think that the best candidate won, no. But they know he won.

I absolutely guarantee that we will see Clinton on a stage somewhere with Obama very soon... endorsing his candidacy and throwing the weight of her support behind getting a Democrat back in the White House. There is no doubt.

There was absolutely no reason that had to happen last night... give her some space and some time. It took Edwards months to endorse. Allow her the same respect.

UNITY!

I am a Clinton supporter and it did not sound to me like she was dissing Obama. I get that Obama is the nominee.

She did what everybody should do - highlighted what she accomplished in the campaign. She won the popular vote.

Studies show that when women highlight their accomplishments people react negatively, but when men do, they tend to earn admiration from listeners. Maybe that's to explain the varied reactions to her speech.

Clinton could have made this speech on Monday.  If, as you suggest, the speech was made to thank her supporters then there was no need for it to be done on the same night Obama became the first African American to be the presumptive nominee of major political party in the US.   The media was right to call her on her speech. It was poorly timed and didn't help the party at all.

Damn, VAAlex. you're awesome. I just read through all the comments and I wanted to give you a shout out. You are spot on.

defending her honor right til the very end, you are too smooth.

As somebody who was a bit miffed by the tone of her speech last night, I have to say that this diary and the one by Annatopia above have really helped me put her behavior into perspective. OF course she and her supporters deserve a chance to celebrate the victories that they achieved. It is sort of a shame that it had to come on the same night as Barack's big moment, but it did make for great political theater. And the media talking heads were really savage to her last night.

Yes, sterling defense:

Dissenter: "I think Hillary blew it because of these reasons:

-She didn't acknowledge the candidate who'd won.
-She didn't congratulate him on any of his achievements (She specifically said "for the campaign he ran").
-She didn't take advantage of the largest television audience she would have for the rest of the year to unite the party.
-She didn't take on McCain, the opponent of the party.

• She repeated campaign talking points against a Democrat when the campaign was over, thereby diminishing his victory.
  
• etc., etc.

VAAlex: "Well, I'm sorry she didn't live up to your expectations. Let's agree to disagree."

DISSENTER: "Well, what about the specific points I made up there. care to address them?"

VAAlex: "Obviously nothing she would say would be enough for you..."

Repeat 20 times. That's this thread.