Clinton goes from inevitable nominee to on the ropes - AP analysis of the campaign that was.

[Faygo Kid]

(Interesting reading. I think a lot of the bitterness of her supporters is caused by the fact that, like she did herself, they simply saw Hillary as inevitable - they never believed losing could happen, and now that it has, they are pissed not at her, Wolfson, Penn and McAuliffe for running a bad campaign, but at Obama for running a good one.) Anyway, some excerpts:

WASHINGTON — Hillary Rodham Clinton began her presidential quest armed with talent, tenacity, fame, money, connections and a team that knew how to win. Many people believed her victory in the Democratic nomination was a sure thing. Her ultimate failing may have been in believing it, too. . .

. . . By now, it's common knowledge that she planned to wrap up the nomination in early February. It was a reasonable assumption in 2007 but there wasn't much of a Plan B when that didn't work out in 2008.

"Her inevitability was based on a concept that no one would have the gumption or the resources or drive to get in _ anyone with serious chances," Dick Harpootlian, a former South Carolina Democratic chairman and Barack Obama supporter, said after her Super Tuesday strategy fell short.

"They had an inevitability strategy, which was sort of a political Maginot line. It was illusionary. You just went around it, and, you know, Barack Obama did that." . . .

. . . On one Sunday in September, Clinton used the phrase "When I'm president" at least seven times on the talk shows.

"If this were a wedding, we'd be at the 'speak now or forever hold your peace' part," Steve McMahon, a former Howard Dean adviser, said of Clinton's position in October.

"It will be me," she said confidently in November. . ."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/11/ap-runs-autopsy-of-clinto_n_101191.html

[Faygo Kid]

1. Kicked for the Radio Lady.

Extraordinary phenomenon. Absolutely extraordinary.