Emotions still run strong on Clinton

Re “After a hard run, at last it’s truly over,” June 4

Hillary Rodham Clinton’s speech Tuesday night was a tragic lost opportunity and another in a series of strategic and political blunders by her campaign. More than anything, her failure then to concede Barack Obama’s historic win saddens me to the core. Clinton had millions of viewers ready to hear what should have been a gracious concession speech and unifying rallying call. Instead, it was another unspoken threat to Obama. This lost opportunity will never come again.

By not showing human grace and conceding defeat, Clinton further inflamed her die-hard supporters, continued to split the party while silently threatening Obama with unnamed, unsaid demands. That form of politics is so yesterday -- one among many reasons Obama upset the Clinton juggernaut.

Alex Downs

Long Beach

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I’ve never said anything nice about Clinton before; nonetheless, she ran a hard race in a field dominated by men, not unlike the great filly Eight Belles, which pounded across the finish line in second place on, apparently, two broken ankles at this year’s Kentucky Derby.

Eight Belles went into the history books after being euthanized; Clinton is sharing a page of history but still standing and chomping at the bit.

Mary Alice Altorfer

New Braunfels, Texas

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Obama: Would you like to have my vote in November? You’d better have Clinton on the ticket with you.

M.L. Goodman

Long Beach