Anyone else find it hilarious that the source of unity on DU ended up being Hillary Clinton?

[TwilightZone]

To many on DU, she's always been just this side of the anti-Christ. There are still some holdouts, of course, but the opinion of her has certainly been transformed.

Her supporters sure look vindicated today, or at least much better understood. Many of them knew that this is who she really is and that she was capable of a performance like last night's speech. That speech was quite simply a grand slam.

The speech also makes the "Hillary is a Republican" and "Hillary is going to undermine the convention" memes look pretty ridiculous now, doesn't it?

As a big-D Democrat, I'm thrilled. We need all the help we can get in winning this November, and it's obvious that Hillary can contribute greatly to the cause.

[SteppingRazor]

1. I can't really say I'm surprised.

After all, who else but her could have filled that role?

[tazkcmo]

2. Why?

When she was the source of the division?

[Tom Rinaldo]

11. We were the source of much of the division

The things that many bloggers, folks like us on both sides, said about both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were far more divicive than anything coming our of either campaign. Collectvely, "we" did a whole lot to keep the pot stirred. In Hillary's case, since she was a teen she never has and never will be a Republican, and she was never Karl Rove in a pantsuit.

[LibraLiz1973]

13. Nope. YOU are the source of the division.

Give it up.

[JoFerret]

58. No.You are that source

sweetie.

[Name removed]

75. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mnhtnbb]

3. She gave one helluva' speech last night. Good for her.

[Egnever]

4. um no

She created it, she was the only one that could end it. She did a great job.

[Cha]

24. Yeah, I love it when history tries to

get rewritten and somebody comes along and sets it straight!@ :toast:

Brian Schweitzer is being replayed on c-span!

http://www.c-span.org/Watch/C-SPAN_wm.aspx

[kansasblue]

5. wonderfull, heartwarming, excellent... not so much hilarious nt

[TwilightZone]

34. Ironic, perhaps?

It's a development that I think most people would not have foreseen. The hatred of her on DU has (had?) reached epically irrational levels, and it's amazing how effectively she made that irrationality look a little silly.

[Marrah_G]

6. She is a remarkable woman, I was so proud last night.

[countingbluecars]

7. Her speech was wonderful.

She did the right thing. I'm just sorry it took until the convention.

[Bake]

14. No pleasing some people

She's BEEN doing exactly that ever since Obama clinched the nomination. I guess you weren't paying attention.

I just hope Obama will have that same fire out on the trail for the next two months.

Bake

[high density]

19. Last night was excellent

That doesn't mean people can rewrite history and ignore that video from YouTube a couple weeks ago where she was promising her supporters more crap to further HER agenda, not Barack's. She should not have been leading them on like that. Most of us will never understand why she continued talking like that even after she lost, but it seems like we've finally seen the end of it.

[The Hope Mobile]

63. EXACTLY!!

Great she finally did it . . . but the fact that McCain's people can make an ad using her words about Obama shows how treasonous and "politically immature" she has behaved the rest of the time. The GOP LOVES the fact that she caused so much division within our party. Talk about sour grapes. She finally did the right thing because she finally realized that it was the politically expedient thing if she wants to have any kind of future . . . and hopefully she had some awareness of how much she undermined the progressive agenda with her words/actions. Sorry to sound unforgiving but it is what it is . . . and its NOT vindication.

[mkultra]

27. just give them time, There is injury on both sides

[countingbluecars]

32. I am pleased.

And I have been paying close attention to this race. I do realize that the MSM played a huge role in the disharmony in the party. I just believe that this type of unity speech could have and should have happened earlier. But that's in the past now. I am looking forward to President Clinton's speech tonight. I also believe that Obama "will have that same fire out on the trail for the next two months". We have a great candidate!

[TwilightZone]

35. I have no doubt that he will.

The real campaign begins after Obama's speech this week. He's certainly very capable - his '04 speech essentially propelled him to where he is now. I think we'll see that kind of passion on the campaign trail the next two months.

[StevieM]

66. Well then I have more great news! All your complaints against her are nonsense. (eom)

[The Magistrate]

8. Very Little Of The Distaste Expressed For Sen. Clinton, Sir

Whether from the right or the left, is grounded in a rational view, either of politics or of people.

[TahitiNut]

18. Very Little Of The Distaste Expressed For Sen. Obama, Sir

Whether from the right or the left, is grounded in a rational view, either of politics or of people.

:shrug:

[The Magistrate]

20. Also True, My Friend

[TahitiNut]

25. It is the latter, and not the former, that is far more relevant to the task at hand, sir.

As an independent (and times like these merely confirm the sanity of my choice), I'm again bemused at the continued navel-gazing of primary advocacy at a time when it's totally counter-productive.

When any 'team' is obsessed with preemptively preparing the ground for the allocation of debits and credits for an outcome and not, in fact, expending 100% of their energies in ASSURING the outcome, then the failure to achieve that beneficial outcome becomes a foregone conclusion.

[The Magistrate]

36. Looking Forward, Sir

It is certainly true that irrational distaste for Sen. Obama is a continuing factor. The primaries are well over, and all, whomever they supported, ought to rally to the standard of the Party's nominee. No good is served by continuing a faction fight, no matter which faction a person is part of.

The irrational element is worth remarking on, though, in post mortum vein, because it added considerably to the heat of the fighting, and so to the bitterness of the divide, which contributes to the difficulties encountered in healing it.

[TwilightZone]

21. Agreed.

Rationality is not a DU strong suit. That applies to pretty much everything, though!

[sandnsea]

23. Only if you ignore China, NAFTA, ski resort trades,

phony college assistance, FICA surplus they allowed to be given to the rich, Iraq lies, and a variety of other policies that haven't proven to be helpful at all. It's quite rational to oppose them on that basis alone.

[The Magistrate]

37. Opposition Is One Thing, Ma'am: Extremities Of Vitriol Are Quite Another

[SeaLyons]

9. I don't feel vendicated, just very proud to be a Democrat

and very hopeful that we will win the White House.

Hillary is awesome, Barack is awesome, Joe is awesome - the Democratic Party is awesome.

NO WAY, NO HOW, NO McCAIN!!!!!

GOBAMA!!!!

[damndude]

10. Stunningly appropriate

[blondeatlast]

12. Between her incredible speech and the disruptors that are getting summarily shot down,

this place is almost too cozy!

(Not really, I freaking love it!)

[TwilightZone]

28. No kidding.

I know exactly what you mean. I've been wondering if I signed on to the wrong web site.

[TwilightGardener]

15. I still don't trust her and Bill 100%, but I thought her speech was helpful.

I'm not going to start worshipping her over a speech, however.

[TwilightZone]

31. Nor should you.

The speech didn't change who she is, but I think it does highlight how silly some of the extremist views of her have been.

[Bake]

33. I don't trust ANY politician 100%.

Trusting politicians 100% leads to one thing. Disappointment. Heartbreak.

And yes, that includes our candidate, the I'm VOTING FOR.

Bake

[Marrah_G]

42. Trusting any politician 100% is a foolish thing, unless you are perhaps related to them

[TwilightZone]

60. Even then.

:)

[rebel with a cause]

64. I am sorry, I advocate putting this all behind us as far

as being divisive, but I agree with you.

What was that she said about Obama just being a speech. It kind of makes you think now that she should not have said that, because someone (not me) could now say the same thing about her. ;)

Just being goofy people. Put away your torches and pitchforks.

As someone once said, "Can't we all just get along."

And people please quit posting these "in your face" things to Obama supporters unless you are looking to start it up all over again, and if you are doing that, I can only assume you are stupid or a repub. because we have all said it was a good speech and are trying to put it all to rest. Enough already.

[demnan]

16. Yes

n/t

[Raffi Ella]

17. She was who I've always known her to be.

She transcended the primaries last night and let everyone see what I've always seen. I am a very proud Democrat this morning.


GOBAMA

:dem:

[sandnsea]

22. Uh, the track record and votes haven't changed

She gave a helluva speech last night and brought her supporters around. She should have done it months ago. But good she did it now. That doesn't mean I believe she's miraculously going to champion policies that actually work for working people, or truly change trade policy, or stop with the US imperialist blustering. It just means she's smart enough to know the only chance she has for any kind of legacy is to bring the party together now, and she did a great job of it.

[TwilightZone]

26. She did do it months ago.

Where have you been?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6771546&mesg_id=6771546

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Skinner/254

[sandnsea]

29. Not like she did last night

and Skinner isn't god.

[highplainsdem]

30. I'm glad to finally see less Clinton-bashing here. The Clinton bashers are just as bad as PUMAs

when we need party unity.

We are still seeing some Clinton-bashing here, though, and even that level is pathetic in a Democratic forum. As other DUers have pointed out, those people seem to be obsessed. (Or maybe they're operatives out to undermine Democratic unity.)

I hope the mods will be getting rid of those topics quickly. We have an election to win, and it's hard to do it with some Democrats throwing verbal brickbats at the candidate who put 18 million cracks in that glass ceiling. All of that should have ended after the primaries ended and she endorsed Obama.

[DevonRex]

43. I wish they'd all just STFU. I'm so very proud of Hillary. Her

speech was wonderful. She did MORE than she had to do. I knew she would, but it sure is nice for everyone to have seen it.

Obama wanted to celebrate and honor Hillary because she's a powerhouse democrat who will have a place in history from now on.

I fully supported that decision and I'm delighted she proved that she's a great democrat. Nobody would be able to say otherwise after last night.

[TwilightZone]

59. It can only help.

Plus, it keeps the media focused on the convention. The more face time for us, the less McCain gets.

[JerseygirlCT]

38. Well, no

A lot of the disunity came from people who claimed to support her - so she was the key to unity.

She ran a pretty nasty campaign, and said things that have already hurt our nominee. She encouraged people to continue sending her money and fighting the fight long after the fight was really over.

So yeah, it was really hers to mend, IMO.

That said, I thought she did a terrific job. As a few other times during this year, this was one of those times where I got a glimpse of the Hillary Clinton her supporters rhapsodized about - human, warm, not mean and hard-edged.

[Overseas]

49. Thank you for expressing how I feel. //nt

[PBS Poll-435]

39. She still twists the panties of a few here to the point of chafing

And it makes them look even more petty today.

[Raffi Ella]

44. I've noticed that too prodn2000

Their posts stand out like weeds among prize roses.

[TwilightZone]

52. Agreed.

She does seem to have defused a lot of them, though. Definitely makes for a more pleasant DU.

[PBS Poll-435]

54. Thankfully...

And they haven't been TS'd, but they sure aren't hanging around here today...

[TwilightZone]

55. Yeah, I've noticed that, as well.

I'm sure they'll be back in a few days, but this place is a lot more fun when we're focusing on McCain, et al, instead of eating our own.

[avaistheone1]

40. Clinton was at her best, and the Republicans panties must really be twisted todayl

roflmao

[TwilightZone]

41. Agreed. She did exactly what they wanted her *not* to do.

She remained relevant. An understatement, of course, but that fact must drive them crazy.

[LostinVA]

45. Last night showed the reason some have tried so hard to create disunity on here and IRL

So, no, it doesn't surprise me. Much of the drama and fighting was created, not actual. I'm glad to see that their time is finally gone on here.

SOLIDARITY!

[Raffi Ella]

46. Hear Hear!

:toast:

[TwilightZone]

47. Good point.

She declawed the disunity brigade at pretty much the perfect time. The post-convention time is the beginning of the real campaign.

[1Hippiechick]

48. You have to ask yourself this: Were you voting just for ME, or were you voting for....." Amazing.

[TwilightZone]

53. That certainly had the desired effect.

It made it nearly impossible for the Puma crowd to retain any credibility. If they have any respect for her at all, they'll follow her lead.

[Symarip]

50. It's just weird

I always thought when she was making all her mistakes (bosnian sniper fire, etc), there's no way the person she was displaying could really the true woman she is. If I were one of her primary supporters, I'd really have it in for Mark Penn. It's rather obvious in my eyes, he really fucked things up for her (remember the Hillacopter?).

Last night, we got to see just how much of a team player she can be. She's on our side, as Democrats, and I'm glad that I had the chance to see her make such a strong stand for all of us. Good on her.

Let's get moving.

[scheming daemons]

51. Really, she was the only thing that COULD be a source of unity

In any such situation as this, unity comes from the leader of the losing side and how they behave.

It's just the way it is.

[Politicub]

56. Hillary is the real deal

DU was a painful place to be during the primary, but I'm glad I held out. I was an early Hillary supporter, but quickly pivoted toward Obama after it was clear he would secure the nomination. I think 95% of Hillary's supporters did this - it's just the media is good at flushing out the attention whores and GOP disrupters to keep the drama alive.

In reality, we dems were united all along. I was so impressed with Hillary's speech last night - as I have been many times seeing her along the campaign trail.

[TwilightZone]

57. 95% of Hillary supporters...

I think you're exactly right. I think most of the supporters of all of the other candidates gravitated to Obama when he became the nominee. The strength of the holdouts was exaggerated here and in the media.

[DevonRex]

61. Of course not. She had a monumental task and she was wonderful.

It had to be Hillary who stepped up to the plate. I am so very proud of her.

[TwilightZone]

68. I'm not really surprised at her performance.

I am surprised at the DU reaction. I really didn't expect that people would give her this much credit for it.

[DevonRex]

70. And she deserves every bit of it. I had tears in my eyes. :) nt

[TwilightZone]

71. An impressive performance at a very important moment.

She pretty much singlehandedly undercut the media's obsession with the supposed divisions in the Democratic Party. The media tuned in looking for division and saw a party that may be more united at this moment than in a long, long time.

[Occam Bandage]

62. Nope. The division was centered around her (not commenting on its cause, mind you). She was,

fairly or unfairly, the only person who could have brought peace to the party. I think she did last night.

[Bucky]

65. You break it you fix it.

I remain a huge Clinton fan, but the fact is peoples' feelings are sore because she ran a largely negative campaign focused too heavily on personality attacks and continued to pursue this strategy long after her cause was hopeless.

I supported her right to make the decision then, if not her decision itself. I stand by that. But our problems in the convention today stem more from how she ran than from any other cause.

[BlooInBloo]

74. Aw crap - you beat me to it. I fail.

[theboss]

67. I was extremely pissed at her for about three months...but....

I've been extremely pissed at family members for longer. I always hoped that she would come around.

She made the primary into a mud fight and I was willing to play along. But, it's over now. And I am willing to remember 16 years over 3 months.

[Blarch]

69. The ends don't justify the means

It's like the US military bragging about re-building Iraqi bridges that we bombed.

It's like Abramoff working to get the Indian casinos re-opened after he had them closed.

It's like Hillary getting praise for uniting a party she fractured.

[BlooInBloo]

72. What's the surprise? She was the *source* of the disunity, so it stands to reason....

that she would be the *fix*.

[ruggerson]

73. You won't get people to own their idiocy

because it's human nature to pretend that we are never wrong.

Some of the remarks in this very thread are hilarious.

[NashVegas]

76. Unity? What Unity?

Look, thanks for trying, really.

Four years ago, when Dean dropped out, I wrote a rose-colored essay comparing his campaign and its use of the internet to the principles laid out in James Carse's book Finite and Infinite Games. I think it's in my Journal.

One of the constructs was how the internet was moving elections from being like a regular spectator sport where only certain officially appointed players were participating, to being more like a sport where the game spreads to the bleachers and the spectators are now part of the game.

While that's great for fundraising, what it's not so great for is those occasions where people who understand that political elections are scripted theatre are planting themselves in the stands and pretending to be regular joes. They're encouraging regular people to go at each others' jugulars, unmindful that the people coaching them to it are full of shit and are going to go out and have scotch together after the game is over. Then you have those self-appointed joes who swallow everything and need to believe their candidate is pure, the opponent is evil incarnate.

I have never, in almost 30 years of voting, seen a campaign where a fellow Democrat was regularly portrayed as offensively, as relentlessly as Obama supporters portrayed Hillary Clinton and the people who voted for her in the primaries.

There are no less than five new Democratic online communities that I'm aware of, that have sprung up specifically in response to the constant attacks on Clinton and supporters by the media - especially by the "progressive" side of the internet, including the alleged leftie blogosphere.

Unity? This isn't unity. On the part of some of the people who trashed Clinton and her supporters, there may be some contrition. For my own, there is politeness, for civility's sake.

[Honeycombe8]

77. That's like saying Aren't you proud that Hill returned the jelly beans she stole? What a gal!

She was the source of the problem, and she went a long way to resolve the problem, stealing the spotlight on the historical day that an Af. American got the official nomination of his party for the first time in the country's history.

Mission accomplished?