Rahm: Obama the 'presumptive nominee'

What happend to delegates representing what the PEOPLE want ?
NO to OBAMA !!

Rahm Emanuel, how much political money you received from Obama? Common sense tells everyone that Hillary should be the presumptive nominee long ago when either Florida is counted or if winner takes all like republican party did.

a sad day people going to vote for someone who has no expertise at all. Our country will be in big trouble. If it happens I will switch parties and vote for mccain. Very sad day for Americaf

All of this 'non-committal' SUPER delgates is what has been the least productive throughout this campaign.

We can't afford McCain and another 4 years of Bush's policies. I agree with Hillary and Barack on questions of policy - and on the answers to those questions. An end the occupation of Iraq, universal health care, a strong and healthy economy, powered by clean and sustainable energy, a secure nation, and a clean, cool and beautiful environment.

The question is how do we get there from here? In '92, Bill Clinton said, "Vote your Hopes, not your Fears." That's why Obama is winning - with hope, vision, and judgment.

clinton fans, we need you to defeat mccain. come to your senses, unless your spurn then allows mccain to win and continue a disastrous foreign policy, subpar domestic policy and then appoints neocons to the court that will overturn roe v wade.

don't cut off your nose despite your face, get it together. we need to unite

yeah the PEOPLE, the popular vote, goes to Obama. you are one person, one vote (theoretically, anyway).

common sense? Even with Michigan and Florida, Barack would still have more states, delegates and popular vote! How does common sense tell anyone that Hillary should be the nominee if we count those states or not? All you can do is speculate and "what-if". I have not heard one substantive argument discounting this point!

YES WE CAN!!!!!!!!!!!!

OBAMA '08

Obama's got it even if you count FL and MI results.

The people want Obama. The Delegates are representing the people

"What happend to delegates representing what the PEOPLE want ?
NO to OBAMA !!"

Yes to Obama, he's our best choice... and NEWSFLASH, you're not the entire people - we all are, and I'm certainly against Clinton...

No to Obama.
He is unelectable.

Joe and Susan:

The American people HAVE spoken---Senator Obama is ahead in delegates, now ahead in superdelegates, more than half the states won, ahead in popular votes. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN RATHER LOUDLY AND CLEARLEY ----NO MORE CLINTONS!!!

You two have gone bananas

Yeah it seems when you go to the Hill and start doing some serious shmoosing on some derriere you get what you want. At least obama's nose is the right color

I've spent the past 15 years believing that Hillary Clinton would be an excellent president for the United States, and good for the world overall. In the past few months I've come to the conclusion the Mr. Obama might very well make a better president than Mrs. Clinton. Now I hope she doesn't let her campaign get too nasty and destructive during the rest of this contest. We all have to live with the results.

Obama has won both the popular vote and the delegate vote. It was close, but Hillary needs to bow out. Florida and Michigan both broke the party rules, so their votes should not be counted (especially Michigan - my HOME TOWN - since Obama wasn't even on the ballot so we don't REALLY know how Michigan voters would have voted in a real primary). There's no doubt that Hillary would have won Florida because of her popularity with seniors (probably at least partially due to a generational racial gap, but that's another story).

Obama has won. Personally I'm glad to see it. He's the first black (American anyway) politician I've seen who doesn't play the race card 100% of the time, he's an eloquent speaker, he works with the right on key issues but doesn't ignore the environment, wants to majorly push alternative fuels R&D and seems to shoot straight. Seems like he's exactly what we need to get away from the radical left lobbying, overspending of "old-school" Democrats and the oil-company ties of "old-school" Republicans.

Jon Stewart had a really good point on this: he said Hillary said a LOT about how the popular vote should be all that counts when Al Gore won the popular vote but lost the election, why does she now want the super-delegate vote to swing things back in her camp by overriding the popular vote?? I for one want to see the super-delegate system eliminated.

It is becoming more and more apparent that Obama IS who the people want and the responsible "super" delegates are now following suit.

How did all the remaining Clinton supporters end up commenting on this one post? Obama has won this hard fought battle and Hillary didn't pull any punches. He fully deserves to be the nominee and he brings something to the table that neither Hillary nor McCain do, hope for real change.

Rahm Emanuel led the successful Democratic victories for the House and Senate in 2006. He knows what it takes to win, so his opinion is really valuable and meaningful.

FL & MI were totalitarian elections with only one candidate's name (Clinton) on the ballot, it is ridiculous to even suggest that they be counted.

Sen. Clinton should withdraw as soon as possible, to give time for everyone to cool off and to get behind the party's nominee. Sign the ClintonWithdrawNow petition here:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/clintonwithdrawnow

According to the democratic process based upon objective and factual numbers of the delegates and votes earned, he is obviously the presumptive Democratic Party nominee. Mr. Rahm Emanuel's comment is absolutely right.

Cheer Sen. Obama 08

Time to move to Canada and renounce US citizenship before Obama's Global Poverty act goes into effect . Nice Going Rahm.

You ask what the people want Joe Hopert? I believe it is Obama that has been beating Clinton in the popular vote by a decent sized margin for months. It was only until recently that Clinton had held a bigger lead in pledged super delegates than Obama, at which time her campaign was making the argument that the super delegates should choose who they feel is the best candidate. At this time Obama still holds a strong lead in the popular vote and is closing the gap in super delegates. Rahm Emanuel, common sense tells everyone that Obama's name was not even on the Florida ballot, making it just a little one-sided. Also, it was known a long time before the primaries that Michigan and Florida would not have their votes counted as punishment for moving their primaries up so early, and I did not see Clinton complaining back then.

Obama still wins the popular vote AND delegates with Florida and Michigan counted.

Hillary's over. Hopefully we'll soon have someone in the Oval office with an education he earned, an extensive vocabulary, and a talent for statesmanship.

We need it.

Sounds like sour grapes infighting to me. An election is always about who best suites your outlook, doesn't always mean that your outlook is shared by the majority though. Change parties to vote for McCain, that sends a real message to your current party. Threats like that are why the Dems are so divided at this point. If you don't like it, run for office yourself. END of story

Maybe the Democrats should rethink and reform their primary election style. Hillary should have been the presumptive nominee. Not to mention, though Obama has the lead, albeit slight, they're basically tied -- thus, the party is divided. I sure hope that we can come together in the Fall. If Obama becomes the nominee, then I will vote for him! Democrats '08!

How very lucky we are in these most desparate times to get the most unifying, intelligent, tactful, eloquent, inspiring visionary as a nominee - and likely President of the United States. This especially after the eight years of sleaze of the Clintons and eight years of complet incompetence of the Bush neo cons. Please America come to your senses and drop your preconceptions about race and gender and summon your wisdom for good common sense which most of us crave.

Not everyone wants Obama - I still think Hillary will make the better President - If it weren't for black folks voting for him because he has black skin, he would be behind Hillary!

Joe and Susan, A race should be won by following rules. Just because hillary did not win by rules.. you dont go screaming that the rules need to be changed so that she can win. From the starting DNC rules were clear that delegates will be awarded proportionally and hillary's campaign knew that and agreed to those rules. But now hillary wants to change the rules to whatever she thinks will give her a chance. As far as michigan and florida.... they broke the rules and clinton and barack were told about it and they agreed to that. Now she is loosing and she wants the rules to be changed. That is the most absurd thing I have ever heard from a primary contestant. These kind of tricks and strong arm tactics gives us peek into a persons character. She lost and there should be no change of rules. Period...

Hillary Who?

I do not understand why any "True" Democrat would say that they would switch parties if their candidate was not nominated. That is like disowning your child because they got a c+ on their report card. The similarities between Barack and Hillary are abundant. The flaws of both of them are apparent. But one is an insider, and one is promising hope and change to the normal run of things. The people have spoken. And that is why Barack is leading. Hillary is dragging it out, to the detriment of the party. Not getting your way as a voter should not mean an abandonement of your party. Not if you really are informed, and care about the direction of the country. So please, re-think your stance. Learn the positions. Ignore the drivel of the MSM. Vote Democratic this November, no matter who the nominee.

Whine whine Florida whine whine Michigan whine whine.

DO THE MATH.

Clinton would still be losing if the votes in Florida and Michigan we're counted. Also, Obama was NOT ON THE BALLOT in Michigan so anyone who argues that the votes should just be counted as is are the ones who have no respect for democratic process. I did not vote for either candidate in my primary and it's really plain to see that the nomination is all but decided. Clinton and her supporters are looking/sounding all the more foolish and desperate and the audacity of the Clintons to think they are entitled to the White House is nothing but a negative for the Dems.

Barack Obama is the best candidate for the job. He will be a great President of this nation. He will bring intelligence, candor, and honesty to the White House. He will bring the courage to tackle the many difficult issues facing this nation today.

I think it's great that we are going to have our first black President. I am frankly surprised that people are so rascist that they can't look beyond the color of his skin and see the man underneath.

i guess i will do this in order from most recent to oldest. and i do find it strange that four of the same views were posted within four (4) minutes of each other. it really is a "very sad day for Americaf" when we start telling every one around us what we should think. here goes...

4. non-committal Super delegates are doing exactly what they should be doing: letting people make their own decisions without undue influence. seems like a good idea to me, considering how sheep-like people in the democratic party are, judging from the other 3 posts.

3. no expertise? she was a first lady for crying out loud. if that entitles you to anything, im not sure what, but im pretty sure it doesn't entitle you to claiming that you are the superior candidate.

2. common sense dictates that if your state breaks established rules, you dont get a "do-over"!!! its not third grade people, and its not kick ball time on the play ground. if you like the way that the republican party has set up their primary, go join them. im sure that they would welcome you. NEXT...

1. ummm... they do. and those are the rules for super delegates. read #2 and follow that advice.

The choice is simple...

Black Man White woman

I can't quite follow the logic that says Obama is "unelectable" when he is winning. "Hey, don't give it to the guy who's winning. He can't win." Excuse me?

Hillary Clinton is a great American and can continue to be a powerful political voice in the effort to bring real change to the American political landscape. Her efforts, however, to undermine Obama and bait the voter with political give aways in order to win votes soured many of us on her candidacy and authenticity. Obama has won, and he has won while being doubled teamed, fighting off attempts to misrepresent him by his associations, mischief making by unscrupulous neocons and unjustified attacks on his patriotism. Americans have fully embraced his call for change and look with optimism toward leadership that will unite our country and not prey upon our fears and our differences.

It's time for Hillary to stop being stupid. Now she wants delegates from states where Obama didn't campaign, or in some cases even appear on the ballot, because he complied with the party's position on early primaries.

Hillary is only helping the Republicans by being so stubborn. Though she apparently doesn't want the #2 spot, Obama could make it clear that she's welcome in his administration in a significant role such as secretary of state or attorney general.

The Super-Delegates are scared that Hillary knows the system and is a forces to be reckon with, So lets back Obama, Republicans win again,

Food for thought when Bill Gates Retires do you think that Microsoft would consider hiring Obama as CEO.....Need more experience to run this corp.

Someone posted this:

To the Clinton supporters: If Clinton secures the nomination, would you really want droves of Obama supporters to leave the party rather than vote for her? Wouldn't you rather have Obama and his supporters rally behind her and help carry the Democrats through?

Same question for the Obama supporters with Obama as the nominee.

What I'm getting at is that no matter how you slice it, whichever of them gets the nomination, to win the election Obama could use the support of the millions of people who voted for Clinton just like Clinton could use the support of the millions of people who voted for Obama - white, black, middle class, upper class, "educated", "uneducated" - everyone!

Hasn't the divisive talk gone on long enough? Let’s focus on keeping this party together so that we can defeat the republicans in November. Remember Iraq! Remember the economy! Remember the potential conflicts with Iran and North Korea! Remember the Supreme Court! We've seen what the last eight years have wrought!

If the Clinton supporters question Obama's support among "white Americans", then help to mobilize that support base to get behind Obama. If you question his stance on the issues vis-à-vis Clinton’s, their stated positions, at least on domestic issues, are not diametrically opposed. If you just don’t like Obama for whatever reason, ask yourself if you’re really ready to keep the Bush warship going for 4-8 more years just because you don’t like Obama personally. Same for the Obama supporters.

I support Obama, but if Clinton’s the nominee, I do not want to forget for one moment what the republicans have in store for us if our divisions cause the Democratic Party to lose in November. Please, let’s stop all this vitriolic infighting and start the process of healing.

The biggest problem with Hillary is that she is unelectable.

In response to --
"What happend to delegates representing what the PEOPLE want ?"
They are, Obama's popular vote totals will not be beaten by Clinton in the upcoming primaries. I'm including Forida and Michigan (where is name was not on the ballot).

"Common sense tells everyone that Hillary should be the presumptive nominee long ago when either Florida is counted or if winner takes all like republican party did."
There is no way that Obama would have lost by the same margin had he truly been able to campaign in Florida. The Democratic primary is based more on the popular vote than that of the Republicans. We will have the nominee with the most popular vote.

"a sad day people going to vote for someone who has no expertise at all. Our country will be in big trouble. If it happens I will switch parties and vote for mccain."

Using the expertise arguement discounts Lincoln, JFK, and FDR (just to name a few). Are you voting on policies? This isn't a sporting event where you go for the team that just beat your team in the play offs or whatever.

I don't care who wins the Democratic nomination. I just don't want a Republican in the White another term and I'm tired of the "if not Hillary than McCain arguement" (and vise versa) because it is not logical. If you liked Hillary's policies than you will like Obama's. Explain how McCain's policies are better than Obama's but not Clinton's.

Electing a President with little or no experience in Washington? Last time we did it with Bill Clinton was such a disaster. Come on Democrats. Hillary and Barack have the same exact policies. If your a closet racist, just admit it and vote for the white man. If you're really a Democrat, vote for the Democrat.

For: David Webb Tim Tripp Al Lamp ash NinaK JH RF ashish

QUIT PROMOTING THE ANTI-CHRIST OBAMA. HE'S PURE EVIL

Obama has a tremendous amount of work ahead of him in mending the party. These so called super delegates have usurped the voters in MI and FL. I cannot support Obama under these circumstances. Hillary by far is the better candidate on paper, in substance, and experience. The media is partly to blame for gicing Obama a "pass" for most of the year and not vetting him as they should have early on. It's a sad day for democracy and for women in general. In November I will vote for McCain, like many unhappy Dem's and Hillary supporters.

Dear, dear Democrats and non-hardcore Republicans:

It is time to unite. Those who consider voting for McCaine or not voting at all because either Obama or Clinton wins the nomination would be doing exactly what another commentator said here... cut your nose to spite your face!

Would you rather have McCaine instead of the other Democratic candidate (Obama or Clinton)? Seriously! Think, please do not let your emotions blunder you into another four years of wasted time. The longer we wait, the harder it is going to get. Already the current president led us astray (can't imagine why people even voted for him the second time around - what a mistake!). Another four years, and you could kiss your social security, medicare and medicaid good bye into the waiting hands of war profiteers from the tax haven of Caymen islands.

Vote and vote Democrat this fall and tell your friends and relatives too!

Hillary would make a good president as would Obama-Unfortunately she has proven herself as a person to be "A MONSTER" and as Mr. Hitchens stated "This TERRIBLE Woman" in Brit partlance, A MONSTER-She is so hateful that it will be Obama or Mccain and if it is Mcsame, I hope he tries to bring back the draft and overturn Roe-Maybe Barack will wake up this sad, mindless, reactionary and pathetic nation.

"HILLARY'S" white comments are calculated coded "RACE BAITING", and we have seen it throughout this race with Bill Clinton, then Ed Rendell, Then Geraldine Ferraro and the Rev. Wright. Open eyes people. Stop the Bigotry of members of both parties and all Americans as well.

I am still voting for hilary, she has more experience, and all obama wants is
change. well I have some loose change in my left pocktet.He needs to tell people how he is going to make the changes he speaks of.

Responding to posts by Joe Hopert, Susan Lee, Bill Johnson -

Obama has more pledged delegates based on the popular vote and based on the DNC rules that were agreed to by Obama & Clinton (concerning FL and MI). If it were "winner take all" like the Republicans, I'm sure Obama would win too - after all, he won more states!

Bill, you probably always voted Republican anyway - especially if you want to continue Bush's policies with a McCain presidency - are you out of your mind?

McCain is unelectable: too old, too dumb, and for those 'family values Republicans', he dumped his car-accident-damaged first wife for a rich Beer Heiress. Eight years ago he might still have won, since Conservatives own and control the mainstream media. But now, with most people getting news from the Internet, he has no chance.

Whoever the Democratic candidate is will be the next President, that's why Hillary is so reluctant to drop out of the race, she can smell Victory if only Barack would disappear. But he won't. Checkmate. Game over.

Obama may be the presumptive nominee, but 3 weeks is a long time in politics and a lot more can happen.

There is so much more we need to know about this man, Obama! The media has been so quick to dismiss Clinton, it would appear that someone higher up has a vested interest in Obama winning the nomination.

And please don't even suggest for Obama to offer Hillary the vice-presidency, as we would only look upon it as a tactical move. Something that Obama has excelled in... he would make an offer to make himself look gracious, but in reality, he only would offer it because he knows he cannot win in November without us.

Well, it's not going to work, because we will never vote for any ticket that has Obama as the headliner!

We will vote McCain and accept his tax cuts, thank you very much!

What's this about black politicians playing the race card? The entire GOP is built around the anti-black race card. 275 odd members in Congress, exactly zero of whom are black, and a voting base entirely dependent on dixiecrats, archie bunkers, rednecks and other bigots fulminating against civil rights, gay rights, feminism, freedom from religion, and other existential evils.

I have been a devoted Democrat for a long time. This will be the first time for me to cross over to vote for a Republican candidate. I rather vote for someone whom I can predict than someone who has no history and no experience.

Also, this morning it dawns on me that if I vote for McCain, he will be a one-term President. That means, Hilliary can rerun for the Presidency in 2012. With Obama, Hilliary will have to wait for 8 years.

Hillary Clinton is a great American and can continue to be a powerful political voice in the effort to bring real change to the American political landscape. Her efforts, however, to undermine Obama and bait the voter with political give ways in order to win votes soured many of us on her candidacy and authenticity. Obama has won and he has won while being doubled teamed, fighting off attempts to misrepresent him by his association, mischief making by unscrupulous neocons and unjustified attacks on his patriotism. Americans have fully embraced his call for change and look with optimism toward leadership that will unite our country and not prey upon our fears and our differences.

I love to hear the clinton pigs squeal.

Susan Lee, you are wrong. The party has rules that it abides by. While it might sound unfair to Hillary because of Florida votes, she supported the same rules before, and now that she is loosing, we should abandon those rules to accomodate her wish. Obama has played by the rules and should not be punished. While I respect Hillary as a politician and one among democrats fit for the office of the presidency, I feel she should let go and start working with Obama in defeating Mcain in November. She sould also stop attacking Obama because it is not helping anyone but the republican party.

Obama is winning in every metric, but Hillary supporters act like he is not "what the people want". I want Obama, everyone I know wants Obama. The country needs change and Clinton and Mccain do no represent that...

Oh, and comment #16 by a Clinton supporter is straight up racist...Class act, though hillary fans...

Just my own personal opinion but questions YOU needs to ask yourself:
Will you vote for who YOU want as YOUR President or is it the Corporate controlled Media who will think and pull that ballot lever for you?
Think about it.

What the PEOPLE want is OBAMA

It has come on what since the beginning on this campaign, has been said!!! MEDIA, and republicans had being working, against the CLINTON nomination!! and pushing obama, so they will have a free way for CAIN!! mc cain. they were voting for it!! Now the will make cheat out of obama candidacy, (Muslim?, hypocrite, unpatriotic?) All racists working for ,republicans will do, on obama the looser !! they want!!!)The will get the bush 3 her. period!! And the MEDIA will change their tune!!! They will not longer be backing obama, the new media preference will be CAIN.

you are all idiots none of the current candidates are any good McCain might as well be a Democrat he is so Liberal and neither Hillary nor Obama should be president either. Neither of the Clinton's have done anything for this country. Bill Clinton did nothing to help our country he just happend to be president during the .com boom which is the only reason he did not put us into more debt. Moreover, he cut our armed forces practically in half closing many of our bases which are going to be very valuable if we ever go to war for real. Moreover, Obama has not really been a politic long enough to be able to understand he cant really do any of the things he was promising is he going to magically make china stop polluting the whole world. Is he going to magically lower gas prices and magically make oil appear out of the ground and refineries to go with it. Or is he going to wave his hands and make the whole world perfect. I doubt it.

Obama has sweep all of the requirements hands down. Clinton doesn't have a leg to stand on. Even 'if' MI and FL were able to recast, those states would need to have a completely new ballot and turn out. Obama would still be in the lead.

I too felt Hillary was the right woman for the job 5 months ago. After watching her campaign develope, I've come to realize that she is not only wrong for the job, but she is one vindictive bitch, not very smart, and hypocritical to the core.

I am truly thankful that the rest of the Dem nation saw what I did not see 5 months ago. The rest of us need to open up our eyes and see the light. Hillary needs to understand, this isn't her year for the race and step aside with dignity.

I canvassed for Senator Clinton in Indiana and I found the enthusiasm and support for her "on the ground" was palpable, as reflected in her win there. I found a number of individuals who were said they would vote for McCain if Clinton is not the nominee, not out of spite for Senator Obama, but rather because they really feel more comfortable with McCain than with Obama on values, positions, etc.

The efforts to short-change the democratic process either by cutting off the Florida and Michigan delegations, or by the weird, continuing pressure on Clinton to pull out are misguided and could have a devastating effect on Democratic chances in November.

The situation will be best addressed by allowing the primary process to follow through and to encourage vigorous campaigning until the end of the process. The Florida and Michigan delegations should be seated. Odds are that Obama still wins, although it's not a certainty -- but if he wins, he then does so legitimately.

I am so glad that Rahm has finally spoken because he represents the majority of the Democrats in Congress and the Senate. It is too bad that Edwards does not have the guts to take sides. Thank God he dropped out as his inability to understand the value of his endorsement represents his lack of political conviction toward the Democratic Party.

not all people want Obama. Only the ones with blinders on

The really nasty comments here are the usual blathering of rightwing trolls having fun trying to stir up the dems. The truth is there's not any real difference ideologically between Obama and Clinton. Our party is fortunate to have two talented, intelligent candidates to choose from. There is, however, a huge difference between either of the dems and McCain. I'll vote for whichever of our candidates wins the primary so we can finally put this country back on the right path again. Don't pay any attention to the nonsense rightwingers blow out their pieholes about either of our candidates -- remember that Bush was the best their party had to offer.

#65 - saying that people felt more comfortable with McCain than Obama if Hillary doesn't make it is a quiet way of saying, not comfortable with Obama's race. If they really were looking at "values, positions, etc." as claimed, they would find Obama's and Hillary's are very close to each other's, and drastically different from McCain's.

LETS FACE FACTS. THE ONLY WAY THAT A WOMAN AND A MINORITY MEMBER WILL WIN ELECTION '08 IS TO DECIDE ON THE FRONT RUNNER AND CREATE THE MOST POWERFUL FORCE IMAGINABLE WITH THE OBAMA-CLINTON DREAM TICKET.....MCCAIN WOULD LOSE ALL STATES IN A LANDSLIDE DEMOCRATIC VICTORY AND WE'LL HAVE SEEN WORLD HISTORY.....THE FIRST EVER BLACK PRESIDENT OR WOMAN WITH THE FIRST EVER FIRST MAN OR BLACK FIRST LADY. WE HEARD ENOUGH FROM THESE REPUBLICANS, WHAT ELSE DO WE HAVE TO LOSE THAT WE HAVEN'T UNDER THEM...LET'S MAKE HISTORY AND THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD............TIME FOR A CHANGE IN POLICY....THE GOP'S HAD THEIR SHOT, AND STOLE ANOTHER 4 YEARS LETS NOT, GIVE THEM 4 MORE.DEMOCRATS TIME TO UNITE AND FIGHT...

WERE BEING SHAFTERED......HERE'S WHO YOU SHOULD VOTE FOR......CHECK THAT PERSON'S PAST AND CHECK WHO THEIR FRIENDS ARE AND THEN MAKE A RIGHT DECISION.....MY GRANPAP'S ADVICE AFTER YOU KNOW WHO THEIR FRIENDS YOU 'LL KNOW WHO THAT PERSON IS .

If Obama is elected it's time to leave the US. He will pull all the troops and the war will come to our front doors. I don't care if you don't like Bush at least he kept the war on foreign land. His experience to lead this country is so limited that he has to seek wisdom from his racist rev wright.

Senator Clinton has not been able to gain the majority support of her own party and there is no reason to conclude that she is going to do better with people that do not identify with the Democratic Party. The senator is free to do what she likes, but grace under fire is demonstrated by the wisdom to duck and withdraw before one gets totally embarrassed and irreparably damaged.

It might be time to turn out the lights, the party’s over. However, one is free to be a hanger-on and end up wearing the lampshade.