I disagree with those that call for HRC to bow out because she cannot overcome the math.  That's not the way the game is played.  At the end of the day, Obama will not have enough delegates to lock up the nomination.  Hillary is, if nothing else, a viable candidate.  The Democratic primary is designed to produce this type of result and Hillary is playing the only hand she has... to the hilt.

Ego and ambition are the only two things keeping Hillary in the race.  She knows that due to a fatal miscalculation on the part of her campaign she cannot take the lead in pledged delegates.  She can deny Obama a lock, but, if the nomination goes according to delegates, she loses.  Her path to the nomination hinges on neutralizing Obama's lead in delegates and will, by definition, be very controversial.  Especially if tainted results from FL and/or MI play a role.

Hillary's running a tough, combative campaign because she's got nothing to lose at this point.  She's backed into a corner and needs to deliver the knock-out punch that people were looking for in the debates.  It appears as if Obama will have to overcome a down-dirty, rove like campaign of innuendo and smear from a fellow - democrat obsessed on winning the WH.  I hope he can do it.

Firing Powers was the smart thing to do.  In one stroke he showed  a true committment to the high road, made a quick decision, developed some good contrast with her semi-literate pit bulls and eliminated it as an issue.  I expect to see a re-grouped focus on responding to Hillary-ttacks.  I also expect we will see Ms. Powers return once the nomination or the WH is secured.

My biggest fear, if Hillary should somehow obtain the nomination, is that in doing so she will have alienated a significant portion of Obama supporters and wind up depressing the high voter turnout that will be crucial to her victory.  I don't like negative campaigns, I don't like Hillary's negative campaign, nor do I want to reward negative campaigning.  Yet I will vote for Hillary over McCain because she is better on the issues.  Obama is better yet which is why I am voting for him, but Hillary is playing the game by the rules that exist.  If you don't like her tactics, you have to change the rules.  Call her on it.  She'll stop.  She is only engaging in them because they work.

Which brings me to my final point, that Hillary would make a fine president no matter how she gets there.  I think she is smart enough and ambitious enough to take a victory as an enormous mandate for change and an opportunity to not only be the first female president, but, perhaps another FDR or LBJ.  With majorities in Congress, America can finally begin taking steps towards national healthcare and begin withdrawl from Iraq.

Despite what Hillary is suggesting as part of her campaign rhetoric, we all want a democrat in the WH.