Obama is an amazing candidate - a charismatic progressive, the first to come along in a long, long time. He could do so much for this country, pushing through progressive legislation, repairing our foreign policy, turning the courts around, not to mention marking a true turning point in healing the scars of slavery and racism.

It is all almost too much to hope for, and to have one of our own, or one who claims to be one of us, Hillary Clinton, refuse to start helping the cause, for apparently deeply selfish reasons, is frustrating in the extreme. I started posting on TPM from this frustration, and you read it over and over here from others. That's where this is coming from, I think.

As we all start to believe that Clinton will either help, or be irrelevant, the temperature will cool. I'm not yet reassured that she won't carry a grudge through the summer, and make Obama's job getting elected more difficult, but I hope in fact things are wrapping up.

Sometimes the most emotional, troubled arguments are within the family, which I think holds true at the moment in politics.

Agree with Wilh*m and with ViChi. National cynicism is in danger of being replaced by optimism.

You know, I'm kind of liking that Obama's race isn't so front and center. He certainly didn't run a campaign as a "black candidate".

If you are really looking towards MLKJ, then let's remind ourselves that Obama is not not being

judged by the color of [his] skin, but by the content of [his] character.

I just posted exactly the same observation on another blog that you are making in your post. It's not only here at TPM. It's also on every single TV channel.

What's your explanation?

He is a great inspiration to me, regardless of race, gender or species.

WTF does that mean?

Totally agreed! I found this commentary on CNN that was wonderful:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/04/jakes/index.html

It is interesting to see how similar these feelings are to those expressed by Hillary supporter's dreams for their daughters.

I'm celebrating Obama's achievement by google-bombing McCain's "new" slogan. Feel free to play, too:

a leader we can believe in

bomb-bomb-bomb the tubes...

Thanks for the praise-ful vibe, raider99

I finally just saw all of Obama's speech from last night and was moved to the usual brink-of-tears. This time though the unhinged audience excitement really increased the intensity of what he was saying. They were off the hook!!! I could just feel the collective release, like we had arrived, really ARRIVED, regardless of what Clinton said or would choose to do.

It IS incredible how many people have been inspired, and even if Obama's goals seem lofty and beyond reach it is important that we are putting them out there and being given permission to feel something besides cynicism. (Right? Is it ok to feel a little optimistic?)

*exhales* AHHHHHHH

Agreed. Let's move on. It's about Obama vs. McCain now. I would add that the VP decision is also a secondary matter.

Hear, hear!!

Yes, do celebrate Obama. He has won and even better, because this campaign has gone to EVERY state, he has built infrastructure on the ground. Voters have been registered and mobilized in EVERY state, not just the early voting states. Far from weakening Obama, the long primary has registered and mobilized voters in historic numbers, built nationwide campaign infrastructure and secured a massive campaign war chest that could, in the future, completely change the Congress as well as the White House.

All of the hard work of fighting for the nomination puts the party's nominee in place to wage a nation-wide, multi-state strategy with a strong foundation. The volunteer lists and phone trees already are there, the phone bankers are there, the contacts and networks are there, not just in the 10-15 early states but in every state.

Far from bemoaning the long, long primary campaign, we should celebrate Obama and the solid campaign infrastructure that can secure victory in November.

oh gee, the world is "proud of us" and is happy that we're "growing and evolving"? golly-gosh, that's how I want to pick a president. I mean, that's what's important after all: that the world likes us.

as for this wonderful moment that the writer is so verklempt about, here's a truly wonderful moment to look forward to: when a black man or a woman can run for president and IT'S NOT EVEN MENTIONED. when a black man can lose and people don't say it's because of racism. when a woman can lose and people don't say it's because of sexism.

when President Obama screws up and the press calls him on it and we can argue about him screwing up and his color is not any part of the discussion: THAT's the wonderful moment we should all be looking forward to.

all this crap about "we can never understand what it means to them" just underscores the point that there's an us and a them. yeah, I don't know what it's like to be black. but a black man doesn't know what it's like to be a woman. a christian doesn't know what it's like to be a jew. can we all get over ourselves, lose the hyphens, and become Americans again?

Many were so very angry about the all Hillary all the time coverage, especaslly Tuesday night. It was beyond the pale, still hard to believe.The media allowed it to happen. I heard one person remind who had just won. Nevertheless today the news is finally about where it should be & Barack is gaining more respect with everything being said.

Most important is for the bashing of all democrats to stop. What possible purpose could it have now? You have written an absolutely great post, hope as many as possible read it & then reread it. Thank you so very much.

Please excuse misspell of especially.