It’s a bit unclear to me why the talking heads are all fawning over Hillary Clinton’s closing statement in last night’s debate. Here’s her last lines (plagiarized, of course), they’re toward the end of the clip:

And, you know, no matter what happens in this contest — and I am honored, I am honored to be here with Barack Obama. I am absolutely honored.

Whatever happens, we’re going to be fine. You know, we have strong support from our families and our friends. I just hope that we’ll be able to say the same thing about the American people, and that’s what this election should be about.

She just hopes that “we’ll be able to say the same thing about the American people?” Man, what a pessimistic, self-centered view of the future of our country.

As already noted, this isn’t just her line — and it underscores the dreariness with which democrats approach leadership. Clearly, Americans are lost without them. Without the Clintons, Kennedys and Edwardses of the world, we wouldn’t have any hope for our lives.

Perhaps that’s why Barack Obama thinks it’s audacious to even mention hope.

Pessimism breeds pessimism. Consider the times in your life when you are surrounded by dreary people. They bring you down. Contrast that with the times you are surrounded by folks with a positive attitude. It’s infectious. It lifts you up.

That’s one of the characteristics that separates our two parties — and one of the reasons I vote Republican.

Clinton’s rhetoric is a far cry from Ronald Reagan’s “eternal faith in America” and his constant reference to the “shining city on a hill.”

And, hopefully, John McCain will tap that — pointing out the democrats’ constant pessimism. He’s spoken of his faith in American and the American people before, recently in Virginia: “My hope for our country resides in my faith in the American character.”