Heading into Democratic Unity Weekend, with Hillary Clinton expected to end her presidential campaign and endorse Barack Obama, it's worth taking one last look at what might have been -- in fact, what was indeed the case from Tuesday night when Obama clinched the nomination until Thursday night when Hillary let it be known she was pulling out of the race: classic Clintonism.

After all, what did Hillary do after Barack became the all-but-official presidential nominee? Go gracious on us and concede? Pledge political fealty to the party standard bearer? Not on your life. She gave another rootin'-tootin' campaign speech about her favorite cause: Herself.

"A lot of people are asking, 'What does Hillary want?'" she said at a rally following Obama's victory speech. "I want what I have always fought for: I want the nearly 18 million people who voted for me to be respected and heard and no longer invisible."

What was she talking about? The "invisible" votes, sorry, didn't add up to political victory but, in Hillaryland, everyone's a winner, especially Hillary. That is, Barack won but Hillary wanted to take the marbles home. Apparently, she has since decided to sail a ship-of-stately into the political sunset (tomorrow is another day). But at that moment, age-old, familiar "I want it because it's mine" Clintonism confounded convention to gratify the lust for power. In a word (at least I think it's a word): Waa-aaa-aaa!

Then again, Hillary later let it drop, ton-of-bricks-like, she would like to be Obama's running mate.

But don't call her, Barack. She'll call you -- eventually. As the New York Post reported, "He tried to call her twice following (his) speech -- but got her voicemail."

Voicemail?

The paper adds: "She finally returned the call as his plane was about to fly out of St. Paul to Washington. He offered to meet her but nothing was finalized."

Outside the Capitol on Wednesday morning, Obama was asked whether he was disappointed by Clinton's non-concession speech. He replied: "I thought Sen. Clinton, after a long-fought campaign, was understandably focused on her supporters."

Ouch. Bad sign. This obviously prepared and overly diplomatic response was way too deferential for the top of any ticket, especially one who has already made history, in Obama's case for being the least-experienced -- sorry -- the first black presidential nominee. Continued...