Yeah. I just didn't hear the whole story. I figured as much.

Hillary at a rally in Rhode Island today

At least they're getting this out of the way early: Obama fights back on questions about his patriotism

Uh oh. He's baaaaaaaack!

Meh, Nader is a shell of himself at this point. He's like the Titanic and proves that campaigning is more lucrative than working for real.

Liberals who live in swing states have already learned their lesson, I don't anticipate this having any impact.

Agree.

SNL does the Dem debates

What? Didn't they say that after 2000? And what happened in 2004? It was even worse. Lame electorates (read: democratic voters) tend to stay lame. If a democrat is going to win a swing state, it will be from independents and weakly republican voters changing sides.

In 2004, it was story after story about how energized the under-21 voters were, how they were going to set records for voter turnout and be a force in the election. Well, they set records all right. They stayed away from the polls in droves and there is nothing to suggest they won't do the same this year.

Actually, under-21 voters had a record turnout in 2004. In the end, it didn't make any difference.

I don't recall Nader doing near as well in 2004 as he did in 2000 and figure his share of the votes are more likely to decline than improve from 2004 levels.

As far as overall Democratic turnout goes I am less certain (everything is trending towards a bigger turnout in primaries but we'll have to wait and see in November...) though the fact that we aren't relying on the stale loaf of bread known as John Kerry to inspire the voters can't hurt.

Under 21's have to be what, like 2-3% of voters? That's not that important. It's more like the 18-29 group that matters.

As an Obama fan, doesn't really worry me one bit that Nader is running as an independent, because of what happened in 2004.

Nader popular vote in 2000: 2.74 % (with the assistance of the Green Party)
Nader popular vote in 2004: 0.38% (as independent)

And the vote in 2000 only mattered because Florida was so close. I doubt we will see that perfect storm again.

I heard a report today that 25% of the potential November electorate are under the age of 30. Voter turnout is higher this year than it's ever been during a primary season and that's with the Presidential race having started last year.

I think this is the millenials coming out party in the form of one of their own running for President.

Geraldine Ferraro giving a glimpse into what might be a revolt by the party elites to tip the election to Hillary.

Eh, I don't see it. If Hillary wins by seating the Florida and Michigan voters, there's going to be some irreparable damage to the party and she won't win in November. Only way that Hillary can win and still hope for a shot in the general is by winning big in both Texas and Ohio...which, unless something big happens in the next few weeks, doesn't look like that will happen. Ideally for the party, Obama finishes this thing as quickly as possible and the delegates from Michigan and Florida are seated, but without any effect on the outcome.

I'm no lawyer, but surely Obama would have a great shot at challenging that in court, seeing as he withdrew his name from the ballot in both states in line with what the party instructed him (and Hilary) to do

I'm also a huge cynic, and I'm sure there are a lot of the Democrat elite that would much rather see Hilary win the nomination, but I'm not sure they are that stupid. It would be complete and utter political suicide. I don't see how that would be any less controversial that if the superdelegates just came out and sided with Hillary to begin with. At least then Obama wouldn't have any legal recourse.

Hillary's staff is circulating this picture. Desperate at all? Yup... he must be a Muslim.

I guess Hillary is one too!

According to drudge (where the story came from), the reason it was circulated was:



So, it seems its about media bias rather than "Obama is a Muslim!!!1!"

Hey, Louis Farrakhan just endorsed Obama - that should help clear up this whole Muslim issue!

This is true, but honestly, who cares that Obama was dressed like that? The media probably didn't make a big deal of it precisely because it's not a big deal.

Like I said, it's reaks of desperation.

Well, most inner campaigns make a big deal that they aren't being treated fairly by the media. Yes, I may have worked for Republican campaigns in Northern New Jersey, but every one of them were saying similar things internally (if we did what he's doing, the media would be all over us).

I don't really see it as desperation.

I guess I see it as desperate because the campaign is whining like little a little school girl about things not being fair and then digging up pictures that are almost two years old to prove it.

I doubt this even registers even a small shockwave either way because the only people who give a shit aren't voting for Obama anyway.

I think that the culture inside a campaign is far different than that outside of it. Those inside a campaign see slights and biases in every single direction, where those outside of it wonder what in the Hell those people are talking about. Republican campaigns have a little bit more it (due to concerns about the "liberal media"), but it isn't just a Republican thing.

Though sometimes you get some good info well before it is well known, like when I worked for the Bret Schundler for NJ Governor campaign. He was running against Jim McGreevey and there were BIG time rumors that McGreevey was gay and was cavorting around with men in cars and whatnot... and how if it was Schundler the media would have been on him like a ton of bricks in an instant. I kind of shrugged that off, but a few years later... well, you know.

I wonder if Clinton, knowing that she is going to lose, is doing her best to hurt Obama on the way out--figuing that if he does not win in 2008, she would like McCain to win so that she can run again in 2012.

While I do think that if McCain wins the Presidency, the loser of this nomination immediately becomes the Democratic favorite in 2012, I don't think Clinton has gone to that strategy (deep sixing Obama). I think she still believes she's got a shot to take this thing.

That might be the political equivalent of pulling the goalie in the last minute.

boy tomorrow nights debate really will be "There will be blood."

Obama is up 51-39 in national democratic polls

Story

She's going down guns blazing, as we expected. I don't think it'll help. If they'd done this shit six months ago, maybe. But now? Too little, too late.

There is nothing for lawyers or courts to be involved in, the party can choose its nominee however it wants and by whatever rules it wants.

Obama is picking up steam in Texas. He seems to have locked down the mariachi vote!

But they can't change the rules. That's where a lawsuit would come in. The candidates agreed to a set of rules and seating the FL and MI delegates would be contrary to the agreed upon rules.

Was this debate earlier in the evening than the last one? I remember watching the tail end of the last one on CNN while at the gym, but when I went tonight, all CNN was showing was some special on Iraq (at least, I'm assuming the Iraqi flag indicates that, as there's no sound and I was too far away to read the captioning).

It was on MSNBC with Tim Russert and Brian Williams as the moderators, so I am guessing it was exclusive to that channel.

Not when certain promises or representations are made, on which someone relies to their detriment. Never underestimate the reach of the law.

Not when certain promises or representations are made, on which someone relies to their detriment. Never underestimate the reach of the law.

Not when certain promises or representations are made, on which someone relies to their detriment. Never underestimate the reach of the law.

From CNN and NY Times:


Clinton really said or believes that???

Yup. She been getting the benefit of the press her whole career (CNN does stand for the Clinton News Network, right? I mean you can't be a democratic political commentator unless you worked for the Clintons), but now feels they aren't bowing to her enough.

This chick is deader than disco as far as this election goes. I see her lossing though slimly in Texas, Oh, and Vermont next Tuesday.

Hillary Clinton has gotten the benefit of the press her whole career?! Which press are we exactly talking about?

Imran, serious question. Where were you and what were you doing from 1992-1999?

Are we talking about the same press that hammered her for the entire Clinton administration? I don't remember anyone saying anything nice about her. They liked Bill, no doubt, but didn't like her at all.

Imran, I'm still interested in knowing where we you during those years, not questionning your perception.

Another perception was that she was the martyr, first as the cheated-upon wife of Gov. Clinton (and its aftermath during the campaign) and then later getting all of the sympathies during the Monica affair. She had huge, huge vocal allies among the feminist, gay and soccer moms contigencies.

I was in school during those years. All the way up to college. And it wasn't like my parents were big time Democrats who were feeding me those lines, they were (and still are) Republicans.

You followed the media attention while in jr. high and high school, including the run-up to the 92 election?

Of course... though Hillary Clinton was better treated until 1993... I think people forget that a lot of the good press for Bill Clinton during the 90s didn't exactly flow to Hillary Clinton (though sometimes his bad press did... with the cheating scandels). Why else do you think the polls show Bill to be vastly more popular than Hillary?

Because Bill has charisma and Hillary has none and is starting to approach negative charisma levels?

As a politician (regardless of ideology), Bill Clinton has a lot more in common with George W. Bush and Barack Obama than he does with Hillary, Al Gore and John Kerry. On the campaign trail, Bill Clinton, GWB and Obama genuinely connect with their audience, and people gravitate to them.

Hillary, Gore and Kerry do not have this quality, and when they try to imitate it, it comes across as "forced".

She was completely blasted up and down over the health care debacle (and rightfully so)

SI