I don't actually think Hillary said McCain was better than Obama. Someone misspoke, I think.

I hear you.

@ljwalker: I think you eloquently describe precisely what so many of my Hillary supporting friends are feeling. I don't really think it's sexism, except perhaps in some technical sense. I have posted before that I relate to Hillary because I am that smart girl who always has to have the last word, who insists she's right and usually is (:)), who can seem divisive or argumentative when she's really just asking questions for more information, etc. The problem is that I have always wished I were more like Obama, who I think is just as smart and just as right, but who, in addition has that thoughtful demeanor, that measured tone, that doesn't alienate. That he is a man is not really relevant to me; I think his combination of smarts and style could as easily come in a female package. Truth be told, I happen to think he's the right combination of Hillary and Bill.

@doc: "A lot of Clinton supporters are mad as hell about the viciousness with which she's been attacked by members in her own party, and the patently unfair treatment given her by the MSM, pundits, and supposedly "liberal" blogs and columnists. They're fed up with alleged progressives and Democrats calling her a bitch and a whore and a criminal and covered with slime and a liar and...well, you know all the words, because a lot of you have used them over and over."

I can only say honestly that this feels like hyperbole to me. It seems overstated when examined through my own lens. Have you been paying too much attention to all those anonymous posters from weeks past? Are you allowing yourself to get emotionally tangled up with the few posters who enjoy toying with others? They come in all shapes and sizes and candidate affiliations. Do yourself a favor: pay attention only to those of us who thoughtfully reply to the issues and your own arguments. There really are some of us here. We may disagree, perhaps even forcefully, but all that vicious, bitch, whore talk you speak of? Not so much.

As for the MSM bias: I've seen it and called it, but the charge itself has become a bit shrill--(and now here comes AKA for my head for using that word, smiley face.) There was a time when Hillary was the inevitability candidate, and there's even a youtube sketch out there where Brian Williams, as host of SNL, is talking to the field of other candidates (actors) and saying that the media have already decided on Hillary so he doesn't really care about where they stand for the debate, and so on. Obama certainly had to overcome some obstacles to get where he is. And his fawning fans' videos, along with much recent press, hasn't helped him. He's been scrutinized this week much more than Hillary, and his press has become much more problematic. I think the tendency is to focus on the front runner. I'm not saying she's not had a rough time. I just don't think it's as bad as you say.

I agree with you that Clinton went over some kind of line there. Anyone care to defend? If she wants to compare herself to Obama on the experience thing, that's totally legit. But to throw McCain in along with her own plus column? Wow.

Quite seriously, your posts are the kind that will make Obama fans move toward Clinton should she win the nomination. I appreciate your sentiments and actually relate, esp. to the "heartsick" as I have felt the same way (although my candidate is Obama). Please know that we're not all dismissive jerks. Your posts--along with many other Hillary supporters--remind me of the same thing.

I live in Ohio and will vote tomorrow. Most of my Democratic friends are voting for Hillary. My gut tells me she will win here. Words cannot express how much I hope she loses big--not because she is a bad candidate but because I want this thing to be over. It was fun for a while but it's making me very nervous at this point. But she has tenacious support here. The local curmudgeon at the Plain Dealer, Dick Feagler, mentioned in today's paper that he was surprised at the tenacity of her supporters when he wrote a column very obtusely supporting Obama. He said he's been writing for 35 years and little surprises him, but the strength of her support does.

We'll see.

that analysis wasn't too shabby. Drink up!