If you had read Jeffersonian's post carefully you would see that the "Screw 'em" remark was aimed at "billary", i.e., Hillary and Bill NOT Hillary's supporters.

As a woman, as an older woman I am outraged and offended by the ficitional narrative that Hillary lost the nomination because of sexism. Yes, there is sexism out there - we've all experienced it. And, yes, sexist remarks have been directed at Hillary. BUT sexism is NOT the reason that Hillary lost. The main reason was that her campaign was mismanaged both financially and strategically. And one could point to many things she said and did during the campaign that also hurt her candidacy. (One example, she claimed that she invented the question mark - oops! sorry, that was Dr. Evil's father.) The reason I am outraged and offended is that anytime legitimate criticisms are directed at Clinton - she or her supporters shout "SEXISM!!" How is this helpful? Claiming sexism anytime you are called on the carpet does nothing but hurt women and certainly hurts women in politics which is a tough, tough game. Hillary and her supporters should follow the "advice" she gave to Obama: "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen." Problem is, if you can't stand the heat, you may never get out of the kitchen!

Apparently, you were watching a different AIPAC conference when you said Clinton's speech was full of specifics and Obama's had none. There were many, many specfics in Obama's speech - one can probably view and listen to it on many internet outlets. Another point is this a speech does not serve the same function as a position paper. A speech is intended to give a broad outline of one's position and proposed policies rather than bore the audience by simply regurgitating a position paper. Position papers are pretty dry and don't make for scintillating reading - would you really want to spend an hour or so listening to someone read a positon paper to you? However, this is a tired old cliche in this campaign - Obama can only give pretty speeches with no substance. Not true at all - his speeches are full of substance if one cares to listen.

And talk of this type is simply "trash talking" by the right and, as with all "trash talk," is designed to "psych out" one's opponent - and nothing more.

Yet, I do believe that a certain percentage of these voters will indeed vote for McCain and it is not all about sexism. Remember, Clinton courted the more conservative Democrats. It is quite posssible that these voters would have voted for the Republican in November ANYWAY - regardless of who the Democratic nominee was. When it comes to issues of choice, gay marriage and national security many of these voters feel more comfortable with the Republican positions.

Legions of progressive women voting for McCain? I don't think so. To cite one reason this won't happen - McCain has made it clear who he'd appoint to the Supreme Court - someone who would (and possibly could) overturn Roe v. Wade. If you are pro-choice you don't want this to happen - if you are not pro-choice you probably would have voted for McCain over Clinton in November anyway. Of course, some progressive women are really pissed off and may stay pissed off and vote for McCain or abstain (which amounts to the same thing). But remember not all women supported Clinton not even older women - I am 51, two of my neighbors are close to 80, my mother is 73 and many of the women I've met as an Obama volunteer are older women - and we all voted for Obama in the primaries and will do so in November. And we will do so on the issues that are important to ALL progressive women - choice, the war, health care, improving the lives of women and children (who constitute high percentage of those living in poverty), improving the lives of those who are suffering because of the economy, civil rights, etc., etc.

I honestly think that the challenges the Democrats will face in the general election will be no different than those faced in 2004. The good news - the country has become disillusioned with the Bush administration and the Republicans - 80% believe the country is moving in the wrong direction. The bad news - well, the old joke goes like this: How do Democrats form a firing squad? They stand in a circle.

I have seen the polls - what is your point? Let me make my point clear: progressive women, Democratic women who are true feminists will NOT vote for McCain in November. Many of the women (AND MEN) who voted for Clinton in the primaries are NOT progressives AND they are NOT feminists. I will concede that an awful lot of those voters will vote for McCain. But women who stand for progressive, feminist values? Why? Why on earth would you risk turning the clock back 30-40 years? What kind of a legacy would we then bequeath to our daughters, our granddaughters? Shame on you.