[UPDATED: Pelosi proclaims that we have a nominee. Disregard this post. :-) ]
Well, this is just sad. Howard Dean, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and DGA Chairman Joe Manchin have released a statement declaring the Democratic primary over. But the way they talk, you would think we still don't have a nominee:
"Democrats must now turn our full attention to the general election. To that end, we are urging all remaining uncommitted super delegates to make their decisions known by Friday of this week so that our party can stand united and begin our march toward reversing the eight years of failed Bush/McCain policies that have weakened our country.
"We once again congratulate all of the candidates for their leadership and dedication to providing this country with a New Direction. We look forward to working with them and with all Democrats to win the White House, congressional seats and state capitals so we can deliver the change the American people deserve and demand."
What a bizarre, wishy-washing, weak-willed press release. On the one hand, the process is over, and it's time to kick McCain's ass. You'd think that would mean it's time to declare the obvious - that Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee for the President of the United States - and get down to business. Nope. Apparently, this task isn't so urgent that it can't wait a few days (plus the weekend) for everybody to come to grips with the blitheringly obvious.
Here's an idea, guys. You want the remaining superdelegates to decide? Then decide yourselves. For the love of all that's holy, you're superdelegates, too. Your candidate (who, I repeat, is a guy named Barack Obama) has won the popular vote. He has won in pledged delegates. He has a 100+ superdelegate lead over Hillary Clinton. Indeed, his opponent has lost more super-dels this week than she's gained! What was once a "long, long shot" for Clinton is now a stone-cold impossibility. The race is over - and everybody recognizes that except you, the people who are supposed to help lead us to victory in November!
Please, Chairman Dean. Speaker Pelosi. Majority Leader Reid. Chairman Manchin. We Dems have been incredibly patient during this long, drawn-out psychodrama of a primary. Please stop allowing Hillary Clinton to hijack what precious little time we have to move against McCain.
Declare this over today. Everyone else already has.