I agree with most of what you wrote here, but I'd like to point out that:

Obama and his supporters have managed to ostracize approximately 30% of Clinton's supporters—including me. Yet Obama thinks he can unify the entirety of America when he can't even unify his own party?

No, Obama doesn't think this. He's just saying something to get elected. All politicians do this.

[Obama wants to] crown himself the Messiah of Hope and Change with religious-like speeches and posters and logos and branding, pick a little cash out of their pockets, and use it to achieve his ambitions.

Again, it's politics. Did you not see this coming?

You know, I wanted change, but I was not "bitter" before. Well, I am bitter now. Some of you guys are like the freaking Borg. I will NOT assimilate.

Lol. And Awsome.

'commended.

...dont cry for me clintonista

Are you into sports at all? More specifically, do you follow the NBA at all? I used to live in the west and I am a HUGE Suns fan. I despise the Lakers (as many people do for good reason). But a strange thing happens to me when we get to the Conference finals, I kind of end up rooting for the western team even if it is the Lakers. I am always talking trash about the Lakers but if we get to the finals, I end up supporting my region. Although, now that I'm no longer in the west it's a little different. All I'm saying is support your candidate but in the end there's more at stake than what some crazy people said on the internet.

You'll find plenty of people who'll try and show you their reasonable side here just to prove your expectations wrong. Don't worry about me doing that: I'll come right out and say you can dish it out but can't take it.

I read the link. It's not relevant to my argument.

This NOT an issue of hypocrisy for me. It's a matter of Obama biting off more than he can chew, and his supporters not realizing it.

He can't do what he claims he can do and he is demonstrating that lacking by ostracizing (or allowing to be ostracized by his backers) so many of us Clinton supporters.

There's a second layer to the problem, that creates a feedback loop: Obama backers who are doing the ostracizing (and possible Obama himself, too, with his snippy comments that make Clinton supporters feel that he thinks we're idiots)... Well they fail to see the extent of of this point because in the business of defending Obama.

"Obama and his supporters have managed to ostracize approximately 30% of Clinton's supporters—including me."

Come on. Obama supporters haven't "ostracized" Clinton supporters. Polls currently indicate that 30% of Clinton supporters say they will not support Obama. That is not ostracization.

I believe that, should Obama become the nominee, that the vast majority of Clinton supporters who now say they will not voter for Obama, will ultimately vote for Obama. Likewise the vast majority of Obama supporters should Clinton be the nominee.

Additionally, your angry post seems to epitomize the behavior for which you criticize Obama supporters.

And, please, please, please, don't project onto Obama and all of his supporters some of the very rude and stupid comments you read in these comment threads. After all the numbers of folks inhabiting this discussion forums is a miniscule slice of Obama supporters. And those posting rude and stupid comments are an even more miniscule slice.

If you're not swayed by what Obama has to say, don't support him. Make a point of highlighting what's wrong with him now.

Democrats* (as a group) are fickle people. They'll campaign their hearts out for someone (i.e. Bill Clinton), then eight years later insist that he was the worst thing to happen to the party, because the person they helped get elected didn't do something about [gun control/Tibet/whatever issue]. In four or eight years, the people boosting Obama on these boards will be doing the same thing.

If there's one thing that I've learned from being a dispassionate observer of American politics, it's that Democrats are constantly disappointed. Their candidate didn't fight hard enough, or didn't win, or wasn't liberal enough or wasn't electable enough or didn't do enough in office or wouldn't shut up or wouldn't say the right things, or whatever. Maybe that's a side effect of being idealistic, but that's the way it is.

My advice to you is this; ignore the Obama supporters and say what you want to say about the primary. Vote with your mind and leave your heart at home. Ask youself (and others) about the real policy differences between the two candidates (hint: there's very few), and make a decision from that.

If you do that, you'll probably come to a conclusion like the one that I came to; Obama and Clinton offer literally the same policy packages. You win if you vote for either of them. Once you see things like that, it makes the rabid supporters seem laughable and contrived, and they'll never bother you again.

*Full Disclosure: I'm not registered as either a Democrat or a Republican, although I've always been too appalled by the GOP to ever vote for them. This is why I refer to Democrats in the "them" sense.

-Left

Many of us Obama supporters do not understand the deep sense of aggrievement possessed by Clinton supporters. My recollection regarding the animosity that has developed between support groups begins with Clinton supporters dismissing Obama supporters as being Cultists! I mean, really.

I don't know if you realize how arrogant it is for you to say that you will be INSANELY angry if McCain defeats Obama (as if somehow you KNOW positively this couldn't possible happen to Hillary) all while noting 30% of Hillary supporters may not even vote for the Dem. nominee, thereby becoming the decisive factor in handing McCain the victory you claim makes you INSANELY angry to contemplate. How does this make any sense?

You know what - no long explanation about why you are a jackass is needed here - it's simple - anyone who bases how they vote in the election on what they read some anonymous idiot online say or what a group of anonymous people online say is STUPID OR INSANE OR BOTH.

This was a case where I needed to write a post but not publish it. The first draft involved the words "go," "fuck," and "yourself" because I found your post to be hypocritical. Every single one of your posts and comments on this site bashes Obama in some way whether you consider it fair or not and none of your comments are in any way conciliatory or even respectful. So it seemed odd to me that you would have the, ah, audacity to demand that people treat you with respect.

However, let me apologise for that bit of rashness.

It seems that the problem is actually your fundamental misunderstanding of what unity is. It is not a magical power, or a maneuver. It is not something that can be imposed. It is not fast-talking people to doing something they are against. Unity cannot be imposed externally.

Unity is the function of people setting aside differences to work on the similarities. This can be catalysed by someone who acts as the educator and helps people identify the important stuff but ultimately the responsibility belongs to the people.

See how that works? You cannot demand that Barack Obama should get you to put aside your grievances without you working for it at all.

So take a moment to self-reflect, figure out what is important to you. Do not stoop to arguing. It is your responsibility as much as ours.

When you feel like giving it another try, welcome back.

"Obama can't even get his backers to talk to Clinton & supporters with decency."

Obama has not (that I am aware of) claimed that he will be able to control everyone who supports him--if I'm mistaken in that claim, please correct me. He has claimed that if we focus on our similarities more than our differences, we as a nation can get more done, and that we have a better chance of doing so if our president is actively pursuing this goal.

I understand that "venting" is different from wanting to have a conversation, which is probably why you have reacted with frustration even to some of the less trollish attempts people have made to address your grievances ("don't bother responding" etc.) Be frustrated. Heaven knows I get that way on boards like these more often than not.

But why should anyone want to recommend a simple "vent?"

The comments here represent change I can believe in!