The amazing failure in the Clinton campaign, for me, remains her desperate insistence on clinging to the past and what has already happened -- or not happend, depending on one's level of skepticism when it comes to the definition of "experience."

Ms. Clinton has not for a single moment let got of that known, that model of nostalgia for the 60s and the 90s, both of which are now a long time gone. This flogging of the electorate with what we already know suggests that perhaps there really is no notion of change in a Clinton future, and at this moment I sincerely believe the majority of Americans feel so beat down they would gamble on the kindness of a stranger if only to get rid of the stench of the same stale, wrong, fearmongering business-as-usual routine we have been living with for seven years and if one excepts the Bill Clinton administration's eight, pretty much everything that's happened since 1963.

A makeover is due the entire country, and Ms. Clinton could have shown us how it's done, but she's got a white-knuckle grip on the past and it's killing her campaign. I'm not sure it matters who gets the job done as long as it gets done, but it certainly has been surprising and disappointing to see how steadfastly Clinton has stood by her man while learning virtually nothing from him.

We really need to move on now, with Hillary or without her.

"Clinton supporters and even neutral observers will tell you the game changes there, in big states where only Democrats can vote (independents can vote in the Democratic primaries in Iowa and New Hampshire)."

This wording is misleading. I can't speak to NY or other big states, but I know in CA registered Independents can vote in the Democratic primaries. I believe people registered as Decline to State can also vote in the primaries.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/03/07/BAGNTOGLT81.DTL&type=printable

http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_stump/archive/2008/01/07/hillary-s-california-dreaming.aspx

It is kind of unforgivable for a CA-based publication to overlook this. CA is the most populous state; we will contribute 300+ delegates to the national convention, so our so our place on Super Tuesday is important.

you got part of this right, joan:

But a big win for Obama in New Hampshire Thursday could be a different kind of tsunami, sweeping up potential and even committed Clinton supporters in a nationwide wave of enthusiasm for Obama's inspiring-if-vague politics of change.

barack obama's website has policy plans in great detail. they are not vague. as for "how" he will implement these plans ... he seems to be forming a new coalition ... of change-oriented dems, independents, and republicans. congress won't know what hit them. his conciliatory and inclusion approach may leave some points to a broader compromise, but he will be able to lead a wave of change.

hopefully you'll be able to see this, too, joan. be prepare yourself for a disappointment in under one month. but ... as i've said repeated times around these parts: losing this will be the best thing that could ever happen to clinton. it will allow her to break free and really become herself. i can definitely cheer her on for that.

Was Clinton's wavering voice and teary eyes a genuine display of frustration or a cynical act to reveal a softer, vulnerable, and consequently a more likeable side to the former First Lady. I have no way of knowing. But I do think it speaks volumes of the way people view the Clinton political machine that the first thing that came into my mind and my wife's mind was that she was faking. Hillary Clinton can never escape Hillary Clinton.

I predict Obama will get 40% or more of the NH vote. I think there's a genuine chance he'll approach 50%. If that happens Clinton will be all but finished.

There's nothing vague about that!

No, I'm not ready to move on . I remember the 90s, I remember the vitriol , fake scandals , the impeachment. The Clintons were greatly wronged, and the media went right along with it .

This in a time of peace and prosperity.

I have been watching the Clintons for many years , since he was Gov of my state. Hillary has grown by her experience , she is a tireless advocate for womens and childrens issues . She goes up against special interests , she is more liberal than Bill and I believe that with a majority in congress she will do great things. The media is once again sliming the Clintons , they hate them ( no one has really explained why this is so )

She is simply the best person for the job, and the more they " pile on ", the more support she will get from people like me who know her record.

Also , although Americans do not seem to care about this, but the Clintons are loved and respected by other countries.

The Clintons had their day in the sun. A new day has dawned and today belongs to Barack Obama. Clinton and her supporters may regard this as terribly unfair but it is never too late to learn that life is unfair.

Before Iowa, she was the shoe-in candidate for coming first, Obama was supposed to come second and Edwards last.

She came third in Iowa and the media is still painting her, rather than the guy who came second, as Obama's chief rival.

Edwards, who actually beat her in Iowa despite having far less in the way of election funds than her, is being painted as having his campaign being over.

She was, and still is to some extent, the media's annointed.

“slago” writes:

“I have been watching the Clintons for many years , since he was Gov of my state. Hillary has grown by her experience , she is a tireless advocate for womens and childrens issues”

Perhaps you missed the part where she was on the board of WalMart from 1986-1992, where she aided and abetted Wal-Mart’s ongoing union crackdowns, gender biased labor practices, not to mention their trade in foreign manufactured products made, in large part, by children locked in sweatshops halfway across the planet.

Here is a link that sums things up nicely:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonathan-tasini/hillary-and-walmart-a-l_b_15235.html

Since you never posted on Salon before, I’ll assume you are a paid flack for the HRC campaign. If not, and you sincerely mean it when you write, “She goes up against special interests , she is more liberal than Bill…” then you are simply an ill informed fool.