Armchair Guerilla Concedes; Endorses Obama
I know the vast majority of the readers out there (if there actually are enough readers of this blog from which to cull a “vast majority”) are waiting for Hillary Clinton to concede, but for now you will have to make due with Armchair Guerilla's less-anticipated, but perhaps more heartfelt, concession. In the spirit of grand delusions, I am hoping that after reading this, Hillary will see the writing on the wall and recognize that her quixotic quest for the Presidency must end.
Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee. He represents our best chance at ending the war in Iraq as quickly and responsibly as possible; restoring this country’s power, leadership and prestige in the world; delivering medical coverage to all citizens and reforming our wasteful healthcare system, appointing Supreme Court justices who will protect a woman’s right to choose, respect the separation of powers, protect our civil rights and ensure greater fairness in the judicial system; reversing the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy; finally implementing policies to address global warming and dependence on fossil fuels; protecting and shoring up social security and medicare; preventing further erosion of the safety net; restoring competence to government; helping to bridge, rather than exploit, divisions based upon racial, class, ethnicity and sexual orientation; and many other things I'm sure I left out.
It’s quite an agenda. But judging by what I’ve seen, Obama has the intelligence, dedication and political skills to pull it off. He has run a nearly flawless campaign, rarely straying from his message of change and articulating his positions with eloquence and conviction. He has also conducted himself with dignity, staying largely above the partisan fray and remaining gracious during this extraordinarily taxing and heated primary. The one thing that has always impressed me most about him is his ability to express his often-nuanced positions simply but without condescension or artifice. For the first time, I saw a Presidential candidate who answered questions the way I might (if I were a bit more eloquent, that is). And yes, we should not underestimate the very significant symbolic significance of a person of color finally achieving the highest office in the land. Barack Obama is a unique talent. He will be tested this Summer and Fall but if he executes as well as he has thus far, he should be able to defeat McCain and spearhead Democratic gains in Congress and the Senate.
Because this is Obama’s day, I don’t want to dwell on my former candidate of choice, Hillary Clinton. Lord knows, there’s plenty of folks around here to take care of that. I will say that I supported her because I thought she had better chance than Obama of defeating the Republicans in the Fall and doing the work of President. My belief was based upon her extensive preparation for the office and her command of issues and process. I frequently came to her defense (sometimes obnoxiously so, I admit) because I felt she was being unfairly pilloried. Those wounds remain. I do not, however, believe the result was unfair or that the nomination was stolen from her. I am confident that she will soon make her own concession and will actively support Obama in the general election. I am disappointed that she has not done so already. Perhaps she is trying to negotiate something for herself or Bill in recognition of the enormous turnout she inspired. That is her right. However, the longer she waits the more she confirms the worst suspicions people have about her. On that, I will agree.
Of course, without Hillary to kick around, I wonder what we’ll have left to fight over here at TPM. Any suggestions are welcome.
A gracious and classy concession speech, Woody - I mean, Armchair Guerilla. Thank you.
And yes, I suspect we'll need to recruit some new trolls for TPM... preferably Republican ones.
June 4, 2008 6:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well-said ACG. And yes, we need to go to the right-wing blogs and lure some trolls over here.
June 4, 2008 6:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Am I known as a troll? Better to be a troll, I suppose, than anonymous. In any event, as soon as I posted this I thought of plenty of things to disagree with.
June 4, 2008 7:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
You've always been a bit enigmatic to me, but I doubt many people have thought of you as a troll. (Surely someone has, of course. I don't think you can post more than 5 comments on TPM before someone will decide you're a troll.)
Not to put words into the mouth of Opus, but in case you were thinking that he was saying you're a troll, that's not at all what he was saying.
June 4, 2008 11:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Better an enigma than a known quantity. I must keep my enemies guessing.
June 4, 2008 11:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not to be dismissive, ACG, but I never doubted that you'd come around at the end of the campaign. I knew we could count on you.
June 4, 2008 6:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is actually my "plan b" after my initial proposal of the Clintonista Revolutionary Action Party (C.R.A.P.) fell through when the mass uprising of hardworking white voters that I had expected in West Virginia and Kentucky failed to materialized. Not wanting to be left out in the cold, and craving a taste of power, however insignificant, I joined forces with the elitists.
Actually, when I started visiting this site back in February, I was fairly torn between the two candidates. I became a staunch Hillary supporter in opposition to some of the more unfair attacks. That and my tendency to deviate from the prevailing ideology.
June 4, 2008 7:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think it was that Breaking Away faction of art colony southern Indiana Hoosiers that did your insurgency in. You can't trust them. They'll just get you drunk and make you sing karaoke.
June 5, 2008 4:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
How could you betray us like this?
Some guerilla.
June 4, 2008 8:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
You should no that I have no principles or firm beliefs. I will, I hope, continue to be a thorn in the side of those who mindlessly (or even thoughtfully) spew dogma.
June 4, 2008 9:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Your dogma piddled on my karma.
June 4, 2008 10:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
I do know how to spell know... and no.
June 4, 2008 10:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I kind of liked no.
June 5, 2008 3:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well..as long as your anti-dogma.
What are you thoughts on catma?
June 5, 2008 12:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
I am decidedly phlegmatic when it comes to catma. But I get very exercised by cant.
June 5, 2008 1:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
for me it's Kant.
However, I greatly appreciated reading your concession just now, and have decided to back you all the way to Denver.
June 5, 2008 2:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
I recommend that we fight over whether Lieberman should be expelled from the Democratic caucus this year, essentially giving him to the republicans and giving them the majority; or whether we should wait until next year.
A third option is to banish him from the United States.
June 4, 2008 10:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Option three sounds good to this CT resident. I was cleaning out some cupboards and ran across a stack of papers with a mailer that was titled "Firefighters for Joe."
I burned it.
It just seemed like the right thing to do.
June 4, 2008 11:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Joe tried to get me to back him up on TPM but I told him, "you're on your own on this one, fella." I know of several retirement communities in Florida that would gladly take him in so he could live out his days in peace, to his chagrin.
June 4, 2008 11:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
As you know, and as a New York resident this is particularly attractive to me, I previously recommended that Joe marry Schumer and both move (permanently) to Spain. I am fairly sure that Spain would not treat that as reopening the Spanish American war.
June 4, 2008 11:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Who is going to operate the McCain animatronic puppet if Joe is banished? "Al Qaeda in Iran…Iraq…er…Iran."
June 5, 2008 12:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hard to complain about Lieberman after Obama's AIPAC speech today.
June 5, 2008 12:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
I won't really relax until the VP is chosen, but after that I have to admit I've been wondering what I'm going to do with my time now that I won't be obsessively reading political websites all day long. Somehow I don't thing the general election is going to engage my passions in the same way...
I guess I'll have to go back to Facebook Scrabulous.
June 4, 2008 10:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hypocrisy, posturing, arrogance, stupidity are constants. We will just have to seek them out more carefully. I can't imaging getting much of a thrill, though, over bitter screeds criticizing McCain. Too easy a target.
Oh, I just see that Hillary Clinton did in fact read my concession speech and was so moved she decided to concede herself. Or maybe she just didn't want to be upstaged by a guerilla.
June 4, 2008 10:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm beginning to think that Obama's biggest problem is that he won't be running against Hillary any more.
June 5, 2008 12:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
lol!
June 5, 2008 3:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
lol, that was almost my exact thought when I read that post that so nakedly and honestly admitted the posters real passion is not pro-Obama but anti-Clinton. Since 90% or so of the energy here has been anti-Clinton as opposed to pro-Obamam I have wondered what Obama supporters would have to say when they didn't have her to gin up their passion anymore. But, no worries, they get another month or so to keep hating while Obama chooses his running mate. And considering their inventiveness in concocting outrage from whole cloth, I am sure they can keep hating all the way until November and beyond. Especially in the unlikely circumstance he would choose her - since so many here have said that would get them to vote for McCain. Wow ! now that is irrational hatred!
June 5, 2008 2:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oregon Activist: Now that I have you on the board, I want to take this opportunity to say that for my money (and the money of my considerable donor base) you are at the top of the Clinton defender list. I am particularly impressed by your making case for Clinton as the more progressive candidate, taking Obama to task for his often more cautious approach. However, given my recent conversion, you are now the enemy. I will give you this one free pass.
June 5, 2008 2:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
No worries, I will vote for Obama. Not that people track such things diligently, but I have posted defenses of Obama when I think criticism has been unfair. I have even made the liberal case for Obama, it just was much thinner gruel than the liberal case for Clinton and neither of them matched the liberal progressivism of Edwards. It was, however, more substantive and policy-oriented than the ephemera from his supporters.
I have objected to racist slurs against Obama and the idiocy of the secret Muslim lunatics. My quarrel is less with Obama than with his supporters.
Obama was empathetic to working class whites who did not support him. His supporters called them white trash, hillbillies, racists and ignorant. Some suggested an IQ test before they can vote and other crap that I expect from Republicans, not Democrats. Some said that the Democratic Party doesn't need the working class. oh, I could go on and on and on with the offensiveness of Obama supporters.....
and that's not even touching on the sexism issue.
June 5, 2008 3:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gracious concession and welcome to the dark side!
And no worries. I've no doubt we'll find plenty of things that we can argue over. Hell, two months of speculations over VP picks for starters. And we can all bitch about the media.
June 4, 2008 11:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Are you still angry? Or are you now enjoying a momentary respite before revving the engines again?
June 4, 2008 11:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Naw, I'm not angry. I'm barely even prickly. But not yet sanguine.
June 5, 2008 11:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
I hope your wounds will heal soon, Armchair Guerilla.
June 5, 2008 12:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm feeling better already.
Just looking for a few Clinton supporters I can bash.
June 5, 2008 12:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
You just joined Obama and you're already feeling bitter? Oh, better Nevermind.
June 5, 2008 12:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
I am energized by newfound appreciation for "Barry O." I've moved on. And every time I look at that avatar I feel like cracking open a cold one... or in this case, another glass of kool aid. Oh no! I said it. Now the whole thread is going to come crashing down.
June 5, 2008 1:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hey man, you posted this at 6:24pm, and the NYT posted its story about Clinton conceding and endorsing Obama this Friday at 6:54pm. Hmm... Makes me wonder what's going on here...
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/04/clinton-is-moving-toward-suspending-campaign-and-endorsing-obama/index.html?hp
June 5, 2008 12:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
I am aware and it is not a coincidence. See my subsequent post.
She realized after reading this that she could no longer continue without my legions of devoted followers.
June 5, 2008 12:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
A shameless plug.
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/06/hillary-clinton-reads-armchair.php
June 5, 2008 12:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
HAHA, I thought so! I guess I must extend you my wholehearted thanks. Thank you.
June 5, 2008 12:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you Mr. Guerilla, you are wise and courteous. I think that the vast majority of Hillary's supporters will soon become ready to focus their attention against John McCain and towards the fight to take our country back.
As for argument we can start with who we think will or won't make a great VP. Anyone care to bash Jim Webb? He sounds pretty bashable.
June 5, 2008 12:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well done.
I think HRC's non-concession speech ticked a few of us Obamers off, but this will pass too. There's still time to end it gracefully enough, and in the end, this has never been about the candidates. We should remember it is about all those things you listed that we want to have happen, and we know won't happen with McCain at the helm.
Anyhow, thanks for the thoughtful, sincere, and UNIFYING post. Now, let's go open a can 'o whup-ass on McCain!
June 5, 2008 12:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
I am sensing too much harmony here and am therefore shifting my endorsement to John McCain. Have at it.
June 5, 2008 1:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm still laughing about C.R.A.P
BTW Hillary called, she said your a wuss.
June 5, 2008 1:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
I guess I'm just another bit of roadkill thrown under the bus of the Clintons' boundless selfish ambitions.
June 5, 2008 1:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
No, I think she's just trying to use reverse psychology.
June 5, 2008 1:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh please. You've been riding the unity pony for weeks. This post is a pathetic attempt to steal the affection that we Obama supporters have generously lavished on Louisville, who was always the real deal, in contrast to your namby-pamby Clinton support. I'll see you in the hills, CRAPPER.
June 5, 2008 3:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hilarious, Armchair. One of your best posts. :-)
June 5, 2008 4:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Great post. I so admire all of the people on this site who are willing to fight so hard for their candidate of choice. And knowing that when the dust clears, we're all on the same side makes me happy as hell.
This will go down in history as one of the worst years the Republicans have ever seen. Onward to the White House!
June 5, 2008 7:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Seeing her speech at AIPAC yesterday, where she quietly deferred to Obama, I realized that it's probably not anything that calculating. She's just not used to losing. She was trying to figure out how to do it with grace and honor. Good for her. After 16 months of fierce battle, that's her right.
June 5, 2008 7:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
Rabbit is right. Man was that hard to get out.
June 5, 2008 8:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well said Armchair. On to November.
June 5, 2008 7:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, onto November. Look the republicans are in total chaos(no pun intended). I was driving back home the other day and took a few minutes to get the ole blood pressure going and listened to Limbaugh.....One of the idiots was on their discussing how a "real" conservative should be coaxed out and brought into the race. They were all but carpet bombing McCain......In actuality he is pretty well screwed. He is going to have to tack right instead of going to the middle like a normal Republican Candidate for President. They are ripe for the picking....
June 5, 2008 8:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
i was hoping the guys on the site could start a briefs vs. boxers war.
or, in the spirit of inclusion, we could simply argue over whether miller lite tastes great, or if it's less filling.
either way, i'm lacing up the gloves.
June 5, 2008 10:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
We could argue over whose concession and endorsement is more enthusiastic. And we can always continue arguing about Hillary.
June 5, 2008 12:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you. Well said. Now let's turn our attention to McCain and how to make sure he does not enter the White House, other than to congratulate Barack Obama, of course.
June 5, 2008 12:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Can NO ONE tell me if we're still hugging!?!?
June 5, 2008 1:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
The hugging is over. As you can see, I've disavowed by endorsement of Hillary and am switching over to the McCain camp. I do so not because I favor McCain, but to preserve the spirit of animosity and division that has enlivened these boards over the past several months.
June 5, 2008 1:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama is the Messiah!
June 5, 2008 1:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Are you high? Rec'd. ACG rocks.
June 5, 2008 2:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oregon Activist: I want to take this opportunity to say that for my money (and the money of my considerable donor base) you are at the top of the Clinton defender list. I am particularly impressed by your making case for Clinton as the more progressive candidate, taking Obama to task for his often more cautious approach. However, given my recent conversion, you are now the enemy. Based upon my admiration for your previous work, I will grant you one free pass.
June 5, 2008 3:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Armchair Guerilla, I'm going bananas over your post.
June 5, 2008 4:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well if you are going to support McCain - suggest you change your nick to Wheelchair Guerilla.
June 5, 2008 7:16 PM | Reply | Permalink