countrywoman — You will NOT see a nod to Senator Obama — as I have repeatedly observed, noted and written about here and elsewhere. It is an interesting study and behavioral analysis. You will NOT see any balance whatsoever beyond what we post ourselves — from MEDIA VETERANS. The macro observation is how these veterans may/may not impact our overall NEWS/MEDIA and information deliverables in their professional capacity as stewards of our Constitutionally-protected news operations Americans depend upon for their Democracy to work. You are getting a “sausage-like” perspective that is priceless and explains MUCH about what has happened over the last 7 years - and the FUSION between our elites in Government/MEDIA. HRC’s Bosnia story was KNOWN to be a lie — by ALL Media — for a long time. The MEDIA never touched any of the scandals of the 90s. Mark Penn did one thing right…and you are still seeing the results. Burston PR has completely spun the entire historical narrative and the MEDIA bought it hook, line and sinker. On this site, it is still about HRC. Barack, who may become the President, doesn’t exist AT ALL. The historical nature of his win - totally absent. Now, think about that in terms of WHO owns/manages this site — and then, look at YOUR Democracy and the airwaves/spectrum that belongs to ALL Americans. The FCC will be Barack’s FIRST PRIORITY. Believe it. As for HHS/Medicare — THEY don’t want a rerun of HRC over there. I work w/the permanent management and have for a decade. They want/need and Americans deserve real solutions to the problems in preparation for the ascendancy of 79 boomers into third age — not more crony assignments to satisfy constituencies. Barack out-strategized HRC. She should acknowledge this and stop the DRAMA.

Manipulating her supporters and the rules/nos. to deligitimize the Nomination Process — w/out accepting ANY responsibility for what she could have done better and blaming anyone/everyone and Barack for her loss — is WHY HRC will not be offered the VP slot. Young people can see through this and they don’t respect this kind of “leadership” any longer. They are correct.

We cannot have a Secretary of State who is delusional about “sniper fire” episodes when he/she returns from foreign travel — or who doesn’t tell Americans the TRUTH about his/her experiences/impressions, etc.

Frank - You will be missed and, others will be following you if Joni, et al don’t figure out a way for QUALITY, RESPECT and FAIRNESS to thrive on this site. I posted on a NYMag.com blog about my own experiences on this site — w/out mentioning the name. How sad - when there is so much promise — but promise and CELEBRITY are not enough. Personal assaults have no place in CONVERSATIONS — except in Kindergarten. Joni — What will you do when Tiffany’s or advertisers who are not friends of WoWers — see the toxic flaming on your site???

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/al-giordano/no-more-drama_b_105405.html No More Drama

Chef Zee - I have to do much research for my own biz and have licenses w/Medicare - a quagmire Gov. agency if ever there was one! And, growing up in Harlem in the 50s and 60s — w/two parents who were Civil Rights lawyers — politics and how they directly affected advancement for African-Americans and women, were daily fare. I also learned from an early age to PROCESS complex information from many different sides/points of view. Instead of tapping down discussion, my parents encouraged it - invited friends over such as our new Governor’s dad and other former NYC pols from the neighborhood — to discuss the monumental changes and the REAL impact on our lives — in the 60s. Sadly, in the 70s/80s - our politics became more business and special interest driven. So, ordinary Americans were really discouraged from civic participation. The irony I recently wrote/discussed w/Vint Cerf (the real father of the Internet) is the more advanced our technologies, the LESS Americans seemed ready, willing and able to become excited, connected and motivated to civic participation. Reagan was really the last time I saw evidence of this — because of the man, himself. Even on this site, you see pithy comments on a POLITICS section of the site — or flaming of perspectives folks don’t agree with. Instead of just ignoring my posts — which is what I do when someone manifests themselves as someone I don’t want to read. The point is CONTROL. This year will be different. I am in HRC’s “home State” - grew up w/our new Gov. - work w/a huge and dysfunctional Gov. agency (even they agree!) at a pivotal time for HEALTHCARE policy - love politics and civic ENGAGEMENT - am both a fan of and pioneer of Net media and friends w/key players for ten years (which for the Internet, which has already had a wild west boom/bust/boom cycle in its infancy) - am an African-American boomer woman who grew up very much like Barack Obama - in Harlem, boarding schools, Hawaii and Summers on the Navajo Res. in Window Rock, AZ. My 33 year old daughter was born in Eugene, OR and I voted for HRC for Senator and campaigned vigorously FOR her when many had doubts. We are complex human beings. It is important, as Barack Obama moves forward, that Americans in Appalachia and elsewhere — understand we are as complex as anyone else — and what they see on TV or what they hear from Jesse Jackson and other so-called “leaders” — is not WHO we are and how we think. A more sophisticated understanding about Barack Obama and ALL Americans is on deck. I welcome it. I want to hear from Native Americans about who they are and what’s important to them at this point in our history. You won’t find THAT in MEDIA, sadly. I want to read a more diverse perspective — not a transplant of traditional media unworthy of this wonderful new medium. The Internet is a LIVE thing vs. a dead/packaged/trite thing. I want to engage w/out intermediaries whose last original thought was in 1975 — and are so mired in self-interest (aka HRC) they can ONLY associate with mirror images of themselves. I like Monica Crowley’s MIND, though we don’t agree on politics/policy, etc. I can recognize EXCELLENCE and celebrate it — when I see it. If we are going to have a Ph.D on this site to commune with — we should carefully read what she has to say. For my part, it is enjoyable — and, she is also my competitor when we go into the trenches this Fall! Worthy opponents — our Republican friends! We’ll give them a run for their money - this year! So, before someone w/pithy comments posts they don’t like my commentary, my thinking, my writing from the perspective of my ethnic perspective w/out the gauze most African-Americans (who are successful) cast over themselves to insulate themselves/their differentness from view — I will continue to do so as long as I find enjoyment and personal value. Perhaps it is TIME for our Caucasian friends to meet us. As in the 60s, CHANGE is hard work. This is not a time for simplistic, pithy one-upsmanship, though folks can participate in their own way and some of us will just ignore it. What we won’t do is try to CONTROL it. This is an open medium and flaming went out in Junior High. How interesting that the same girls who conducted themselves that way when we were tweens — still do in adulthood. That has been an interesting thing to watch. This will be transitional year. Americans want a new direction and concensus instead of constant warfare. We have to EARN it by reading, researching and not leaving that task to the Monicas to do it FOR us. No shortcuts this year! :-)

It matters for the pols who backed her play and had to try to account for her refusal to concede — to their constituents. It particularly mattered to the NY delegation, who could not endorse the new Party Nominee until she conceded — per their commitment as a block. Some are going to lose their jobs over their support — for too long. What else is new — with the Clintons, who have never been known for their long tails. We lost the Congress during their tenure in The White House, after more than half a century.

Barack also did the aforementioned w/out breaking a sweat, overreacting and dragging the Clinton skeletons out of the closet. For THAT we should ALL be grateful…though HRC’s supporters don’t register this at all. Maybe in future — as some of us have come to recognize the truth of the matter our Conservative friends tried to school us about the Clintons in the 90s. Next time, Monica, tell us w/out politizing the message. Tell us as an American citizen’s civic duty — and we will listen in real time — not decades later. We promise to do the same. Already — progress.

The pressure to concede was because of the nature of her Campaign and its General Election strategy of assaulting and damaging a fellow Democrat to the extent we will see it carried forth by John McCain’s PR spinners very shortly. That is what is unprecedented. HRC wanted to take her VICTIM act to the Convention, hanging on to her “18mil supporters” as chattel for bargaining. Fortunately, her speech in the Baruch College bunker — in front of college students — w/out conceding and clearly planning to continue — was enough. Even the deference to a former President and First Lady has limits. Barack has successfully ended the Clinton domination of the Party and for three mos., simultaneously dealt with the Republican challenger who was a defacto partner of the Clintons. He has wrestled triangulation to the ground — hopefully, for good. It is the essence of what has gone wrong with our Government and prevented progress due to lack of the ability to form compromise and consensus. Barack is effective. Now, let’s see if he can execute Plan B. The Republicans.

Eleanor — I didn’t say I had buyer’s remorse regarding my votes for the Clintons — nor does my complete clarity (vs. limited clarity circa the 90s) about their inadequacies translate into validation of, or agreement with the opposition and its candidates and the alternatives they were offering during the years I voted for the Clinton/Gore ticket. I believed then, as I do now - Bill Clinton and Al Gore were a good team and a necessary BALANCE to a power-crazy Newt Gingrich-led Congress — driven by ideology I do not share. In short, I made the choice of the lesser of two evils from my perspective. However, it is important that I validate and show some respect for the perspective and opinions that were correct regarding the extent of the character flaws of Bill and Hillary Clinton. Recognizing that is important at present, because it is ONLY now that Hillary is out of Bill’s shadow that I realized the extent of her own flaws — and how they may/may not have influenced Bill Clinton’s conduct, actions, choices and decisions while President — and not for the better. I shared a belief with many women during the Clinton White House years — and when I voted for Hillary for Senator — that she was the blameless VICTIM of Bill’s hubris, and the HEALTHCARE debacle was more of the same. Now I know better — and in that regard can not only agree with Monica, but tip my hat to her and other Conservatives who TRIED to tell us what they saw. If Conservatives could have de-politicized their messages to Liberals regarding the President and his wife — we may have BOTH been better served. Now that Democrats are the VICTIMS of the Clintons, some of us can appreciate and respect what our Conservative brethern were exposed to in the 90s — and offer an apology of sorts. I have come to believe the price we all pay for what we received from the Clintons was too high for the damage they do. The Clintons would have us believe we have to accept and/or ignore their “issues” BECAUSE what they bring is so valuable to us. We felt we had no choice and they made sure we did not. Which brings me to Barack, who the Clintons tried to damage beyond HRC’s capability of winning — to ENSURE we (again) will have no other choice in 2012. I submit, if you consider Barack through the prism of his ability to subjugate the Clinton Machine when nobody on the Right or Left could/did — then he is already ahead of the game in terms of talent and strategic ability. I voted for Reagan. The things I liked about him were his optimistic disposition and supreme confidence and comfort in his own skin. I also liked his wife, Nancy. I liked her style and her deep devotion to him. I FELT good when I saw them and they were always together. Now, you might say — what does THAT have to do with the Presidency and I would respond — a whole lot. Much like today, we were in crisis, at a crossroads and needed to take a new direction. Though I certainly did not share his politics or conservative beliefs, I felt he cared about America’s future and had a VISION for the path we needed to take. A Liberal Congress would keep things from going too far, I felt. And so they did, for the most part. He was the opposite of Nixon and, even if it were an illusion, projected and inspired CONFIDENCE. Barack Obama is similar. He is wise beyond his years due to this complex origins and having to grow up too soon. He has a talent for navigating the complex differences among and between us — as Americans — with skill and finesse. I think Reagan’s acting career enhanced his skills in this same area. Barack and Michelle clearly have a REAL relationship and, she is his biggest booster, protector and support — his anchor, just as Nancy was. They LIKE as well as love their husbands. This is an important distinction from other Presidents and makes a man a better President, in my view. The job is difficult and having competition and/or other kinds of marital dysfunction is a major distraction, in my view. Now, let’s get down to brass tacks. Barack has out-managed, out-raised $ and build a national ground game inspiring millions to be full and active participants — across the broadest spectrum of the diversity of the American populace — the Nation has seen in recent memory. Reagan had this ability. So did Kennedy, FDR, Teddy R. and — of course, Lincoln. Some kind of combo of charisma, self-deprecation, confidence and self-knowledge translates into AUTHENTICITY. Not perfection, mind you — but some kind of American REAL DEAL and the best of what we are is forged in these men. HRC has made it possible for the female version of this to move forward. That’s her contribution if she doesn’t do any more damage, which future women will also have to pay for. Barack understands and embraces modern technology and the Internet as a way of life — not something you send emails on. His post-boomer worldview is formed by the technologies boomers invented, but still view as tools/utilties vs. LIFESTYLE and experiential extensions of our SELVES. Consequently, the kids love him because he GETS them, what’s important to them, how they live and THEIR hopes, dreams and aspirations. He has and will continue to make THEM his pivot, instead of the boomers who should begin moving off center stage but, as with Hillary herself, need to be pushed BIG TIME. We don’t go quietly and w/out resistence. Barack is pushing us — FOR THEM. They can’t pot and flower in our shadow. He KNOWS this. He made his case generational — and some of us boomers/seniors intuitively know he is right. As w/Reagan’s ascendancy — when folks laughed at his having been an actor — it came to pass during that particular time of TRANSITION that previous pols w/”experience” were not translatable to where we needed to go next. It wasn’t a perfect first Administration, but it worked. Ditto, Bill Clinton’s. Another transition President. And, JFK. It is Barack’s time. It will not be perfect. His Cabinet and VP will have to offset his limitations and enhance his strengths. He has a quality mind and ability to transcend differences — always seeking consensus. He is what we thought George W. was, but wasn’t/isn’t. He has had to overcome things HRC never experienced or even thought of. He has a “knowing” or, as my grandma would call WISDOM. Surrounded by a Cabinet of the best — including a Republican or two — and his insatiable desire for knowledge to solve problems and plan strategies — and, most of all, his ability to motivate our young from their stupor to begin assuming their role in the leadership of America and in the world — makes him a worthwhile risk. Progress is always a risk. We are America. We have always moved forward with optimism and courage. And…we have always taken risks on our young. They are worth it! Thank you for allowing me to make my case. I welcome alternate perspectives and validate differences. I don’t seek or respect trivializing politics or simplistic, pithy questions and answers. Too much at stake and we can no longer pass the buck to THINK TANKS to do our civic duty.

Hillary Clinton lost because of her inability to brook the views of others and a sense of entitlement. And so it remains. Learning nothing, HRC’s supporters are unwittingly removing her from consideration for the VP position clearly being campaigned for. We are not all in the Baruch College BUNKER, four flights under Manhattan island, w/out Internet access or cell phones — and under CONTROL. Thank goodness.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-zogby/the-end-of-boomerism-as-w_b_105… The End of Boomerism As We Know It …The Clintons are prototypical Baby Boomers — committed to ideals of peace and justice but overwhelmed with themselves. They (we, because I was born in 1948) are consumed with being the center of attention, the bride and groom at every wedding, so much so, that the ends don’t simply justify the means, they are one and the same. Getting elected is the game, the final goal, the definition of self-worth. In his recent book, former White House spokesman Scott McClellan decried the mentality of “the permanent campaign” that he said permeated the White House of George W. Bush (the other Boomer president), which in some respects mirrors the Clinton behavior. Sad to say, Bill Clinton became best known for the hallmarks of Boomerism — self-centeredness and permanent adolescence — as exhibited by the Lewinsky affair and all the other, lesser controversies and scandals. The obsessions and legacy of the Clintons led to what the American voters thought was their antidote — the election of Bush, the boy who woke up and discovered he was president. Of course, they were wrong. Bush’s exemplification of permanent adolescence could be seen almost immediately. The big new story out of the White House in early 2001 was his penchant to award everyone with childish nicknames, but there were other indications. Then, discussing the threat of Iraq in 2002, Bush said “After all, this is the guy who tried to kill my dad.” We soon discovered that loyalty and clubbishness trumped experience and judgment, and an inability to admit mistakes destroyed credibility around the globe and three decades of Republican prestige in handling foreign policy. …After 16 years, Americans have finally declared, state by state, caucus by caucus, primary by primary, that they have had enough of the Boomer generation in the White House. In the final analysis, Hillary Clinton is smart, charming — and the wrong person for the times. Voters have moved beyond Boomerism.

Correction: It was NOT always the purview of the rich and elite. (political discourse)

I wouldn’t feel sorry for Senator Obama’s supporters. We worked VERY HARD to wrestle the Clinton MACHINE to the ground — especially in New York. We did it without making personal attacks on anyone, but we did not permit misinformation/disinformation, race-baiting or gender leveraging to hijack this opportunity to CHANGE the direction of our Country and its leadership — at every level. A more worthy beneficiary of pity are our soldiers in Iraq, 40 million Americans who have to choose between healthcare and other necessities…or, John McCain…who will be going up against a movement that goes well beyond what many of my boomer/senior peers don’t even begin to understand is underway — and, are trying to hold back. Civic action and political discourse used to be something Americans of every stripe — rich and poor — participated in and had strong opinions about. It was always just the purview of the rich and elite. I am w/the kids! Sorry!

…yes, he KNOWS how to use the Internet, how to MANAGE a nationwide ground game to enroll millions of NEW voters to get active in civic engagement and PAYS HIS BILLS. He is FOR something instead of against and believes in E pluribis unum. Terrible!