memeorandum: The force is with Obama, ‘Star Wars’ creator says (Agence France Presse)

3:50 AM ET, June 5, 2008

Top Items:

Clinton Will Drop Out of Presidential Race — Barack Obama Captures Nomination After Intense Democratic Fight — It's over. — Sen. Hillary Clinton will drop out of the presidential race on Friday, ending her historic bid for the White House and ceding the Democratic nomination to Barack Obama, ABC News has learned.

Discussion: Political Radar, Foreign, CNN, Buck Naked Politics, Comments from Left Field, Wizbang, Political Machine, Hot Air, The Democratic Daily, Gateway Pundit, Liberal Values, Tom Watson, Wonkette, MyDD and Truthdig

Adam Nagourney / The Caucus:

Clinton to Suspend Campaign, Endorse Obama — Updated | 10 p.m. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton will endorse Senator Barack Obama on Saturday, bringing a close to her campaign for the White House, aides said. Her decision came after Democrats urged her Wednesday to leave the race and allow the party to coalesce around Mr. Obama.

Discussion: CNN, TIME.com, culturekitchen, Ben Smith's Blogs, Jack and Jill Politics, The Field, Crooks and Liars, Talking Points Memo, Newshoggers.com, The Stump, JammieWearingFool, The Impolitic, TalkLeft, Donklephant, PoliBlog (TM), LiberalOasis and skippy the bush kangaroo

MinnPost:

Clinton supporters wowed with warm reception at Obama rally — REUTERSSen. Hillary Rodham Clinton — By Doug Grow | Wednesday, June 4, 2008 — Sad but resigned, key supporters of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton joined the thousands on hand to celebrate Sen. Barack Obama's historic night.

Discussion: The Democratic Daily

David Alexander / Tales from the Trail:

Hamas unendorses Obama after speech to pro-Israel lobby — WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama may have taken care of his Hamas problem onWednesday with a speech to the AIPAC pro-Israel lobby. — The Illinois senator was ridiculed, criticized and generally harassed …

Discussion: The Caucus, Hot Air, Gateway Pundit, Sister Toldjah, Marc Ambinder, Liberal Values and Capitol Briefing

Hilary Rosen / The Huffington Post:

I Am Not a Bargaining Chip, I Am a Democrat — Senator Clinton's speech last night was a justifiably proud recitation of her accomplishments over the course of this campaign, but it did not end right. She didn't do what she should have done. As hard and as painful as it might have been …

Discussion: Portfolio.com, The Caucus, MyDD, Pam's House Blend, BlueOregon, The Democratic Daily, AMERICAblog and Spin Cycle

Jonathan Freedland / Guardian:
Carter tells Obama: don't pick Clinton

Discussion: Ben Smith's Blogs, CNN, Women For Fair Politics, THE GUN TOTING LIBERAL™, The Trail, Real Clear Politics, Political Machine, Top of the Ticket, Liberal Values, FP Passport, American Street and TPM Election Central

Alexander Bolton / The Hill:
GOP roots for Clinton

Discussion: Hot Air and The Plank

Greg Wallace / Political Radar:
Rangel: Clinton should get on with it — ABC News' Kate Snow Reports …

Discussion: The Hill's Blog Briefing Room

Zzaki / Political Punch: Hamas Un-'Endorses' Obama

ABCNEWS:
Clinton to Concede Race to Obama Friday

Discussion: Taylor Marsh, The Caucus, Swampland and Wake up America

Daniel W. Reilly / The Crypt's Blogs:
Obama talks with Clinton, Lieberman

Discussion: New York Times and The Swamp

Chicago Tribune:

Rezko convicted of corruption — A federal jury today convicted developer Antoin “Tony” Rezko of corruption charges for trading on his clout as a top adviser and fundraiser to Gov. Rod Blagojevich. — Rezko's guilty verdict on 16 of 24 corruption counts could have broad repercussions for Blagojevich …

Hindrocket / Power Line:

THE MOST WILDLY INAPPROPRIATE STATEMENT EVER? — Barack Obama's friend, financier and political supporter Tony Rezko was convicted by a Chicago jury today on sixteen counts involving various forms of political corruption. Obama released this statement:

Discussion: Fox News, PrestoPundit and The American Mind

WLS-TV:
Rezko begins serving time immediately

Discussion: Rezko Watch

New York Times:
Ex-Obama Fund-Raiser Is Convicted of Fraud

Discussion: NewsBusters.org and THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS

Jeralyn / TalkLeft:
Rezko Guilty Verdict: The Relevance

Discussion: WBBM-TV and myfoxchicago.com

Jackie Calmes / Wall Street Journal:

Clinton Unlikely as No. 2 — Concession Expected Saturday; Obama Camp Discounts VP Talk — WASHINGTON — Supporters of Sen. Hillary Clinton suggested she would like to be Sen. Barack Obama's running mate, but close advisers to Sen. Obama are signaling that an Obama-Clinton ticket is highly unlikely.

Discussion: Donklephant

CBS News:

CBS Poll: Obama Leads McCain — Obama Ahead By Six Points; But Many Clinton Voters Plan To Back McCain — (CBS) Presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama holds a six point lead over his Republican counterpart John McCain, a new CBS News poll finds. Obama leads McCain 48 percent …

Discussion: Daily Kos and TPM Election Central

Hilary Bok / Washington Monthly:

HISTORY... I didn't support Barack Obama because of his race. I didn't need to: I just thought he was the best candidate by far, mostly for wonky reasons. (I started down the road to supporting Obama when I read this sentence from a Washington Monthly article: “On the campaign trail in 2004 …

Discussion: Eschaton

Elaine Ganley / Associated Press:

Outcry after French court rules on virginity — PARIS (AP) - The bride said she was a virgin. When her new husband discovered that was a lie, he went to court to annul the marriage—and a French judge agreed. — The ruling ending the Muslim couple's union has stunned France and raised concerns …

Discussion: The Volokh Conspiracy

Sommer Mathis / DCist:

Police to Seal Off D.C. Neighborhoods — Can you say Police State? The Examiner has the scoop on a controversial new program announced today that would create so-called “Neighborhood Safety Zones” which would serve to partially seal off certain parts of the city.

Discussion: The Raw Story, Megan McArdle and Newshoggers.com

Examiner:
Lanier plans to seal off rough 'hoods in latest effort to stop wave of violence

Discussion: The Agitator

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:

TPMTV: MCCAIN LEAVES FOX SPEECHLESS — If you were awful enough to delight in John McCain's prebuttal speech trainwreck last night, feast your eyes on the Fox News commentators trying to decide if it was just bad or downright terrible ... (Speaking personally, this episode is one you simply do not want to miss.)

Discussion: RADAMISTO and skippy the bush kangaroo

Jill Lawless / Associated Press:

Excitement about Obama spreads around the world — LONDON (AP) — Excitement about Barack Obama emerged as a global phenomenon Wednesday as commentators and citizens around the world welcomed the news that he had sealed the Democratic presidential nomination.

Discussion: Commentary and GINA COBB

Sam Stein / The Huffington Post:

Obama In Heated Conversation With Lieberman — Update: Obama and Lieberman had a heated conversation on the floor of the Senate later today. Details below. — Senator Joe Lieberman, serving aptly as John McCain's foreign policy attack dog, jumped on a conference call with reporters …

Discussion: CNN, The Carpetbagger Report, Talking Points Memo, D-Day and Wonkette