"It can be tough to lose a hard-fought race - I know, because I've been there."
So recalled Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, the leader of the pack in early polls for the 2004 Democratic presidential primary, following Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's endorsement Saturday of the party's presumptive presidential nominee, Sen. Barack Obama.
Lest anybody forget, Mr. Dean was riding high in his campaign for the White House four years ago when, for whatever reason, he delivered his infamous "I Have a Scream" speech. The Internet-based Urban Dictionary suggests his exuberance "was played around 700 times on CNN within the next 24 hours."
Closing a chapter
The first page of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's official presidential campaign Web site Sunday simply posted this message: "Support Senator Obama Today. Sign up now and together we can write the next chapter in America's story."
Tell her that
"As you may know, I was a boxer. And I've seen many fights go the distance. But never have I seen one where everyone came out stronger - until now."
- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada after Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton ended her 501-day campaign for president Saturday
Awaiting Mitt
Inside the Beltway reader Chuck Bloomer of Virginia writes: "I saw a bumper sticker as I drove home down Interstate 395: 'Mormons for Obama.' I have a feeling it is a very small group."
Get real
Maybe now that the Democratic Party has finally chosen Sen. Barack Obama as its presumptive presidential nominee the so-called Democratic and Republican "strategists" we are subjected to on cable TV will start discussing the important issues instead of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's chances of becoming the vice presidential nominee.
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For that matter, maybe the candidates themselves will now begin debating what's really important for America.
That said, four graduate engineering students of Carnegie Mellon recently penned an open letter to the remaining slate of presidential candidates asking that each detail his or her positions on issues like energy independence. As of last word, no White House hopeful had responded.
Nevertheless, for their effort, the four students on Wednesday will be presented with awards at the 19th annual Energy Efficiency Forum at the National Press Club, where keynote speakers will include Pulitzer Prize-winning author and New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman and Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman.
Pulpit mixing
That unusual TV ad aired of late featuring an unlikely pairing of outspoken preachers - conservative Pat Robertson and liberal Al Sharpton - has left a bad taste in the mouths of the left, who obviously don't like mixing with the right.
Results of a new national study of 305 Democrats, Republicans and independents reveal that Democrats are less supportive of immediate government action on global warming after viewing the ad featuring Mr. Robertson and Mr. Sharpton.
The study was conducted by HCD Research and the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion to obtain Americans' views on the ad about climate change.
Oil orgy
Rather than listening to senators and congressmen, a good many of them lawyers, debate the reasons for the cost of gasoline rising so dramatically to record levels, perhaps academia should be summoned to the floor of Congress.
"I used to teach a little economics in college," Sen. Byron L. Dorgan, North Dakota Democrat, speaks up. "I taught the supply and demand intersection and what happens to price. I understand all that. If we take a look at supply and demand, there is nothing that justifies what is happening in the futures market with respect to oil prices."
So what's happening then?
"I will tell you what I think is happening," he says. "On the oil commodity markets, we have a dramatic orgy of speculation and carnival of greed."
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