http://letters.salon.com/politics/war_room/2008/06/03/petition/permalink/139580d02a71c108f6f0b7bade91ceac.html

Hillary can be made to supply a forced endorsement for a much smaller price than the Vice-Presidency. She has alienated the Democratic Party machine with her antics; if she wants to keep that machine working for her in future, she'll have to do whatever they say, and do it with a smile. Her days of self-centered destructive antics are over.

The Hillary supports whined and carped about this assessment...and you were all wrong.

I. Told. You. So.

I was always indifferent to Hillary but I was so impressed with her speech and the integrity and dignity she showed supporting Obama, I can't help but have tremendous respect for her.

I'm really not clear on this. Where is the evidence of the 18 Million voters who voted for Clinton? The delegates were pressured to change their votes. The "historic" near election of a woman to the Presidency was dismissed along with the real roll call. They didn't celebrate Clinton's run. They celebrated Obama's win, forced the Clinton's to debase themselves in the name of party unity, and, as always, simply dismissed the people who supported Clinton. So much for history. This didn't have to happen.This was a great day for black history. A truly great day. But they could have made it special for women, too, as voices rang out to celebrate Clinton's votes. It would have been so wonderful to hear emotional Clinton delegates call out their vote for her. Even as she lost, it would have felt like history was made. Now... it feels like I've been kicked in the stomach. This shouldn't be a contest between black history and women's history. We ALL could have won.

I know I'm virtually alone on Salon letters as a person who does not ride the unity pony. Most have left because they don't like the conflict, the hostility. I get tempted. At some point I will probably leave for a while. But memories like how I felt when I found out about this roll call fiasco will bring me back.

I've been following the Democratic convention and was very pleased by Senator Clinton's speech. Her message for unity of the Democratic party is the best chance to win the election in November. Barack Obama can't win without the help of Senator Clinton,Bill Clinton,Al Gore, John Kerry and other great leaders of the party. As the Douala of Cameroon say,"One finger alone can't wash the face."

Guy Blaise

yes, they are ALL pulling together ... they get it ... respect it.

The Democratic party imploded in 1968 and it's rarely been healthy since -- until night before last, but especially last night, when all the planets aligned, the gods smiled, and there was clearly at least one party in this country prepared to take care of business without lying, cheating, stealing, killing or otherwise besmirching the good name of the Republic. It sure as hell wasn't (and won't be) the Republican party, which has an act far too strong to hope to follow.

It would not have been possible without the heroic and undeniably sincere voice of Hillary Clinton. She may not have run the superior campaign (and in any other year surely it would have been) but she sure as hell established herself as a heroine not only of her party but of the country it seeks to lead.

God knows someone has to.

This convention has been the anti-1968. Heroic. My hat is off to Ms. Clinton, to the nominee, and to the party I have wanted so badly to love for so long.

Were Clinton's followers going to tear their hair out and rend their clothing while weeping hysterically? March out in unison while singing "I am Woman"? What kind of "meltdown" did you expect? These women are adults and can control themselves in public. If they are upset, they'll express it in private - or maybe on Fox. Or, more likely, at the ballot box.

This grudgeful loser.

Hilary Clinton wouldn't know dignity if it cheated on her.

How can there be unity where so are so many spiteful people who can not give credit where credit is due. There is certainly something missing in your posters which is called common decency and love of our fellow beings.

I feel just as you do about the roll call. It was wrong to do it as they did because those delegates did not belong to the candidates as much as they did to the voters.

Yes, it was petty that it didn't happen as it should have.

I was watching the role call with fascination (ok, I have the time, I am unemployed at the moment). It was fun to hear how proud the speakers were of the history of their states and enjoy with them their moment. If the organizers wanted to speed things up they could have skipped over the repetition of the woman who chaired that session (sorry I do not know her name).

CNN put some historical notes at the bottom of the screen and, if I recall, someone was the first woman to receive so many votes. So why not an exact count for Hillary? When the next woman comes along, how will we know she has surpassed Hillary's vote count? I really wanted to know the final tally, regardless of how many points were given to Hillary. I wanted to know how many delegates from California chose to stay with her. Just curious.

Yes, yes, I'll vote for Obama. (but not in capital letters yet, and certainly no exclamation point. I am still annoyed with some of the Obama supporters who continue criticizing Clinton supporters for having an opinion.)

I'm glad she lost, I think she would have been a disaster. Having said that, I think AKA Smith is exactly right about the delegates belonging to the voters. Would it be so hard to actually count the votes cast by the voters? Would it be so bad to let the people speak - to just report what they said and then - honestly - announce the result and move forward from there?

Does everything have to be faked, does everything need to be made look nice?