Mo Udall was quoted as saying presidential ambition is a disease which can only be cured by embalming fluid. I'm not suggesting anything other than its obviously a powerful force. Whether Hillary makes her final concession tonight is moot; the Democratic Party needs to get on with the business of winning the general election and I think, whether they're openly admitting it or not, everyone in the party recognizes this.

After finishing second in a presidential primary Udall is also quoted as saying "The people have spoken, the bastards."

Its painful, but not nearly as painful as four more years of failed and misguided policy.

If you look at the hotly contested presidential primaries in 1968 (Democratic Party), 1976 (Republican), and 1980 (Democratic Party) each one lost (Nixon won 1968, Carter won 1976, Regan won 1980), so the assumption may be based on these primaries.

However, all of those races involved incumbents (Humphrey 1968, Ford 1976, Carter 1980) which isn't the case here. There are also other variables that make this an unusual election. We have a couple of wars, rising food and fuel prices, a housing market in chaos, a dollar dropping lower than whale s***, and a record number of Americans dissatisfied with the direction of the country. There is also the impact of the internet which has created an unprecedented donation situation with Obama, who may be the first web president.

I think that this election is going to play out straight up, meaning that second guessing the opponent and the swift-boater scum isn't going to win it. This time, I think the Democratic Party is going to have to win hearts and minds stateside.

Woooo-hooo!!! I'll wait until tonight to open the champagne, but I'm already celebrating.

I think the larger lesson is that HBO knows how to create quality entertainment by letting the creators pursue a vision rather than movie by committee, demographics and test audience. The Sopranos, The Wire, Sex and the City, Six Feet Under, Extras - they know what they're doing.

I won't hold my breath...

I'm listening to McCain right now who opened his speech with a BIG pander to angry Hillary voters and, as per Republican rules, blamed the media for her loss to Obama.

Geez, he's talking about lowering trade barriers now - in New Orleans no less - and they're cheering. They must be hammered on Hurricanes or REALLY angry Hillary voters.

OMG - they just announced Obama is officially the presumptive nominee!

Gotta go...

Ya-hooooooooooooo!!!!

You're too pathetic to be a buzz kill. See ya.

WTF, is Hillary Italian now or something? What's with the "respect my voters"? Is she offering a coalition to Obama? I guess her voters weren't in the Democratic party to begin with...

I think Hillary is going all European on us and trying to form some kind of coalition government with her voters.

You're right, you know the Republicans are going to do this, so my response - if they do it - is to remind everyone of the Keating 5 and how American Continental / Lincoln Savings bilked old people out of their life savings.

There's plenty of dirt to sling, but I don't hate John McCain so I won't get into it here. Fair warning, though, if the Swift Boat scum want to rumble, we need to be ready and good to go.

No dude, you are doomed.

9/11 wasn't an inside job. The Bush administration hasn't been successful at anything including bringing down the World Trade Center.

What the hell, rant away...

Single women represent the biggest block of non-voters in the country, so first let's address how they have helped to disenfranchise themselves.

I don't like it. In fact, four years ago I was spending every spare minute getting people to register to vote - especially women. I'm not going to give up on trying to get women to the polls, but I think the ball is in Hillary's court here and she seemed very willing to take responsibility for her voters last night.

I have watched this election very closely and fail to understand the perception that Obama has participated in sexism where Hillary - or any other woman for that matter - is concerned. In fact, it gave the creeps when her husband said "I did not have sex with that woman." That woman. Wow. Now there's sexism and a whole bag of other crap in that comment. I don't hold that against her, but I'm not going to pretend it didn't happen. I still think its creepy.

As for Obama sitting down with Ferraro - why? I don't know any women who've been clammoring to hear from Geraldine, do you? Really? Hillary distanced herself from Ferraro's comments and you want Obama to take tea with her?

I was for Edwards and switched to Obama because I didn't like some of the votes Hillary cast and a big one for which she didn't bother to show up. Then I increasingly found myself wondering about the wisdom of her campaign. I would have voted for her had she been the nominee because the last eight years have been so friggin' miserable and I have no illusions of what a McCain presidency will bring.

Since you're so generous with advice for Obama, I have some for you: improve Salon. It isn't as good as it was several years ago and I'm not referring to any editorials you've written about Clinton or Obama.

Since Obama's campaign was sheer strategical brilliance, I trust they know better than to consider Joan Walsh their go to gal for sound advice.