I've come to terms, and now think this is the likely scenario -- Clinton/Obama 2008.  I'm not quite happy about it.  Obama should have fought last week, and blew it.  Not sure the fighting can help him now.  I still want Obama to take-it-to-the-house, but, as a cautious and prudent Democrat (and weighing how devastating the last 7+ years have been), I think this is the more likely scenario:   1. IT'S A TIE - The votes and delegate totals from here on out will basically end in a tie.  MI and FLA will probably end up tie-ing too.  If either doesn't win decisively in a state where the other is supposed to win (as Chuck "The Master" Todd says), then neither can claim victory.   2. THE SIT-DOWN - In June, the DNC will host a massive Sopranos-style "sit-down" where she gets her half of the party elders to appeal to Obama's conciliatory spirit to accept the VP slot. He will get untold political-riches/power if he accepts, and the clear shot at 2016.

Party Elders: "Barack, HRC's tiny, mild attack is nothing compared to what will take place by the GOP. You have to serve in the VP slot to ever have a chance at President.  Only this will kill the anti-American and crypto-Muslim tag. You need gravitas, so earn it for 4-8 years.  You also need to learn to be vicious when necessary.  You are the future of the party. Band together with HRC now, and you will be the standard bearer for the next 2 decades after her reign."

3.  TERRORISM TRUMP CARD - I think the biggest wild-card is that above all else, we must play the best Democrat hand going into the next 8-9 months.  If there's a Terror Attack on our soil with Obama as the nominee, I think he's sunk in a matter of minutes (Let's say, 8:00 minutes since that's how long W kept reading "My Pet Goat" on 9/11...).

Party Elders: "Barack, you'll be DOOMED if there is another terrorist attack between now and November. No amount of hope can stop the wave of fear that will push people to John W. McCain. HRC needs Obama as VP. And Obama can't make the leap to full President-gravitas, and full acceptance as a true-blooded, love-it-or-leave-it American without accepting a ride as VP."

We'll see.  A lot can happen, but that's my prediction.

Barack:  Permission granted to get tough; not nasty.  We know you already.  Now give us a reason to stick with you.  You’ve mined the biggest grass roots movement ever, and tapped into the largest pipeline of motivation based on goodwill we’ve ever seen in politics.  Now defend it.  You owe it to your supporters.

He needs to stop his large inspiring speeches.  I saw him once, and it was awesome.  But we're past that now.  We've gotten the introduction, now let's see if he can fight. 

Fight with a happy heart Barack.  Hope needs its undaunted defender.

Re: Hillary:  I think it will be tough for him to fight her conventionally.  He can't call her names or scream "meet me in PA for a debate!" because he'll come across as overbearing/mean like Rick Lazio did against her in 2000.  She'll get tons of sympathy votes as a result.  He needs to get fired up and fighting mad about things, but always against an outside force or institution and in a way that shows voters he'll fight for them.

1.  Attack the MSM in the same way Hillary did this week for every conceivable slight.

2.  Do not defend yourself when attacked, DEFEND VOTERS.  Get indignant about injustice.  Photo of Barack in Muslim looking garb?  "I will not stand by while the intelligence of the voters is insulted and taken for granted!  This photo is insulting to Democrats everywhere and doesn't reflect our values!" 

Rexko trial?  "That man is in a court case and everyone in this country deserves a fair trial.  I will not stand by and let due process by trampled on!"

3.  Maureen Dowd today ended her column like this:  “We love you, Bill!” yelled one boy. “You did a good job, except for Monica.”  Barack must emphasize that voting Clinton means voting FOR SCANDALS.  "I will not stand by and let Washington revert to the scandals of the past!  I owe it to my supporters and to the American people."

4.  Attack Bill Clinton.  Goad him into making his usual stupid remarks.  The first thing that can be brought up is Bill's losing the Congress to Republicans, and effectively, the White House in 2000.

5.  Attack the Republicans with "The Kitchen Sink."  Not necessarily McCain, but Bush, Enron, Lobbyists, Gas Prices, Mortgage Crisis, Oil companies, Tom DeLay, Abramoff...  Throw everything at them, and get brutal.

6.  This isn't a fighting thing, but he needs (needed) to publicly fire the staffer/economist that spoke to Canada without his permission.

TPM (Josh):  Let's note that Sen. McCain has decided to hang tough with his embrace of anti-Catholic, anti-Semitic Pastor John Hagee. And the major papers and cable news outlets have decided to give him a pass.  [03.04.08 -- 12:50PM]

A few days ago, a report said Obama is having trouble gaining Catholic votes.  Russert's attack re: Farrakahn coupled with Hillary's winking on 60 Minutes that Obama might be a Muslim has made it necessary for Barack to shore up those ties.  

All the while, McCain has been given a pass re: his acceptance of support from Hagee, the Catholic and Jew hating nut job. 

Why didn't Barack demolish McCain with this news?  He could have used this opportunity to solidify the Catholic & Jewish vote across the country in November. 

The reason is because Barack's hands were full with denying false allegations.  She's been dogging him with false Rezco and NAFTA/Canada allegations.  Ironically, this Rezco thing is similar to Whitewater, and Travelgate, and even Monica/Zipper-gate (to some extent).  There's nothing there.  It's just a nasty political ploy to take advantage of the appearance of impropriety, even when all facts prove that nothing illegal has taken place.

How many more lost opportunities will there be until June when she's forced to drop out?

Just another example why Hillary should drop out tonight after she gains ZERO (0.00) net delegates.