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Primaries Matter - Feel the Momentum!
DFA-List Candidate Donna Edwards has her primary election on Tuesday, and there's been a lot of news over the past few days.
Today, the Washington Post endorsed Donna over Bush-Democrat incumbent Al Wynn.
For her part, though, Ms. Edwards, a lawyer and foundation executive, has been an effective, energetic advocate for a range of liberal causes -- the environment, higher minimum wages, stemming domestic violence, campaign finance reform. As a community organizer, she has been an unstinting voice for improving mass-transit options, although sometimes at the expense of building roads that the 4th District badly needs. Even in cases where she clashed with local developers, however, she won their respect as a sensible and no-nonsense adversary. Poised, persistent and principled, she would make a fine representative for the 4th District.
And how are the polls looking? Matt Stoller at OpenLeft got his hands on an internal poll from the Edwards campaign. The results?
Donna Edwards - 40%
Al Wynn - 32%
But, polls don't mean much - it's all about what happens on tuesday in Maryland. Oh, and yes, there will be a Presidential Primary on the ballot as well. Donna made some news on that front:
Most importantly, both Sen. Obama and I offer a real change - a new vision and new voice in politics that actually works for the people. The change that we both envision requires thousands upon thousands of people working together, striving for change and demanding better of our elected officials.
This is an incredible place for a challenger to be. Only a few days out and leading over an entrenched Beltway Democrat. Help Donna Edwards in any way you can, and show the beltway insiders thar primaries do matter!
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Dean is first for starting and sticking with the 50 state strategy.
Government BY the people is just beginning.
9:39 AM EST
Go Donna Edwards !
Buck the establishment and show that 50-state strategy, Monica refers to of Howard's, is working.
Earlier, their "news" reporter indicated that the reason Obama got so many votes in Louisiana is that the Black population came out to vote for him. Then he added a btw Obama got a lot of votes in Washington and Nebraska too.
I hate the media. I pretty much only listen to AAR these days, but they have infomercials on in Chicago on Sunday mornings. So NPR is my second choice after the Internets.
Well, here's more c s from me:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080210/pl_nm/usa_politics_clinton_dc_1
Clinton seeks to cast herself as underdog vs Obama
By Caren Bohan 33 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sen. Hillary Clinton, viewed by many last year as virtually unstoppable in her bid to become the Democratic presidential nominee, is now seeking to portray herself as the underdog against her rival Sen. Barack Obama.
Political analysts saw some irony in the idea that Clinton, who has been a household name since her husband, Bill Clinton, first ran for president in 1992, is pinning the label of "establishment" on her opponent.
...
While Obama has outpaced Clinton in fundraising in the first few weeks of this year, she edged out Obama in 2007. She has also had access to the Clinton political contacts of a decade or more.
...
Many analysts were not surprised that Clinton, who would become the first woman U.S. president, might try to take on the mantle of a challenger to the establishment in a year when "change" has become the buzzword of both Democratic campaigns.
Calvin Jillson, political analyst at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, said Clinton is "very clearly the establishment candidate ... and will not be able to shed the label of the establishment candidate."
Obama, who would be the first black president, uses soaring rhetoric to call for a new kind of politics that seeks to bridge racial and partisan divisions.
Clinton insists her experience would make her better able to bring about change.
"What she's trying to do is find a way to reduce Obama's compelling argument that he is the change candidate," said Terry Madonna, political analyst at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
But Madonna said that labeling Obama as the candidate of the status quo may not make a dent in his support.
...
At Clinton's campaign events, the idea of her as an underdog or "anti-establishment" candidate drew puzzled looks from voters
...
Ilya, you forgot to mention what office she is running for, though you did, in the fourth paragraph, mention the state of Maryland. The mention of "beltway insiders" in the fifth paragraph makes me guess it's the U.S. Congress, though it could be the state legislature.
From previous thread (by the time I finished, this post was up):
If Clinton is given the nomination by the superdelegate machine politicians, she will need Obama to have any chance at all. But if Obama is the candidate, Clinton as VP would be a liability. Why? Because Clinton anywhere on the ticket will bring the wingnuts and dittoheads out in force, no matter how little they think of McCain. There is absolutely nothing these yahoos love more than hating Hillary. Obama on the ticket could help balance that factor, giving many Democrats someone to be enthusiastic about, because NOBODY, in either party, really LIKES Hillary Clinton.
I certainly don't like her, though for me it's not a matter of "personality" or other superfluous factors. It's things like her cynical vote for her vote to invade Iraq, cast for purely political reasons, and her continuing failure to even admit it was wrong, whatever lame excuse she gives for it. It's the fact that she is the dream girl of the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC), the corporate "Republican Lite" wing of the party. If she heads the ticket, only the presense of Obama in the VP slot, could induce me even to vote for her.
Right now, the Republicans are disspirited, in part because many of them hate Bush nearly as much as we do, and in part because they have no candidate that all three branches of the Reagan coalition will be happy with. The best they can do at this point, given a McCain-Huckabee ticket (if the latter doesn't burn too many bridges in a desperate attempt to catch up), is some uneasy support from the warhawk/neocons and the religious right; the coprorate feudalists who just want to rape the economy, won't be happy with either of them. Put "Hillary" up there, who unfairly or not is their Wicked Witch of the East, and we will see enthusiatic bloodlust from the other side.
Happy sunny Sunday morning,
My two cents on the previous thread:
Obama/Clinton will and should never happen.
When Obama wins, IMO he will need to choose a strong VP to run against McCain and Hillary Clinton is definitely not that person.
I don't have a clue as to who they would choose, whether it be someone with military experience, a woman (Kathleen Sebelius, governor of Kansas comes to mind), someone young enough to win the WH again after either years.
donna, you mentioned NPR and the poor journalism, that has narrowed the sources in which you have, albeit even limited, faith.
I don't need a poll to be my bloodhound, you are not alone. The underground railroad is a superhighway.
But, why are we so unsatisfied? Isn't there profit in satisfying the market? Why is the media market ignoring our needs? Don't they want to satisfy the customer, and make money.
But then, of course, there is very little satisfaction of needs in the American marketplace where mediocrity is, evidently, the source of the greatest profit.
John Galt? Who?
My sunday sermon. I must admit that I've long been tempted to start my own church. It's such an American thing to do. LOL
Obama VP ?
Biden or Dodd. I think they gather Independent and Republican voters from the same source as 'Cain.
Paine, I keep telling you that while the profit motive is definitely inimical to things people need, rather than want as an option, it's possible that even in case of the latter, profit is inimical to high quality products and services. While competition does have the potential to promote higher quality, when competition devolves into conflict or a contest wherein the competitors try to eliminate each other, the last man standing will almost inevitably be mediocre, if not a fraud.
Obama will pick a DLCer in order to placate them. Otherwise they will subvert his campaign -- which the Clintons and their most loyal minions may well try to do anyway in order to protect their accustomed status as proprietors of the store.
cC wrote "we can have a meaningful discussion about a Michelle Obama candidacy, um.....when she becomes a candidate for something? Until then it is just blather."
This was your second wan attempt at answering a question on a fundamental issue which you raised, specifically, "What experience is required to become qualified for the presidency?". You failed each time to answer it, opting instead for some breezy insult with no relation to the subject.
I think I know why. You know, discussing politics with you is a very unrewarding experience.
The Washington Post Endorses Donna Edwards
"Poised, persistent and principled, she would make a fine representative for the 4th District." -- The Washington Post, February 9th, 2008
read more >>
You've Heard the Attacks, Now Learn the Truth
There is no doubt that her experiences have made her a tougher, wiser person, and it'll make Donna Edwards a passionate fighter in Congress for you.
read more >>
I'd recommend Edwards for Obama's running mate. He'll balance the ticket. He's a white southern male with a moderate voting record, who is adept at making closing arguments, which will come in handy during the debates.
I'd recommend Edwards for Obama's running mate. He'll balance the ticket. He's a white southern male with a moderate voting record, who is adept at making closing arguments, which will come in handy during the debates.
Edwards brought nothing to Kerry's ticket and would do the same for Obama. He's ridden into the sunset and will hopefully stay there, while fulfilling the charity related work he began after leaving the Senate (if only to prove it wasn't just a campaign gimmick.)
Sitka wrote "Edwards brought nothing to Kerry's ticket and would do the same for Obama."
The difference was Edwards brought no balance to the ticket for Kerry outside of their north and south geographical origins.
19.
Obama VP ?
Biden or Dodd.
Perhaps too old to carry on as president after eight years. I would think someone younger.
Paine wrote "Richardson?"
Speaking strictly strategically, Richardson would be an inspired choice.
NPR is somewhat unreliable IMHO.
C-SPAN - has anyone else seen a drift toward irrelevancy (our your drift away from) C-SPAN ?
I no longer get C-SPAN2 from my Cable fiefdom.
C-SPAN on the internets has become IMO a roadblock.
9.
My sunday sermon. I must admit that I've long been tempted to start my own church. It's such an American thing to do. LOL
Not to mention the great tax breaks:))
Tom went batshit when I opined that neither Clinton nor Obama can be considered progressive.
I stick to that opinion, based on their support from big health, big pharma, big banks, and the Military-Industrial complex.
Phil opines that Obama will "do the right thing" as president if his supporters state their desires forcefully.
Sorry Phil, I can't agree. Money trumps loyalty to your base every time.
11:00am
Sitka, re: Obama will pick a DLCer in order to placate them.
no, I don't think so. someone who's a bit centrist, perhaps, but NOT a dlc'er! he would lose half of his support before his work had even begun. that doesn't sound like that's his plan to me...
cC - re: your response to me - I wan't attacking you, I was saying how I felt about anyone trying to convince me to vote for a woman based solely upon gender. and yes, I do believe Hillary is power hungry and mainpuilative. imo that is the main reason she voted for the war - like many others, she thought it might be political suicide to vote against it at the time. she's definitely hawkish, blended with a dose of political cowardice and as a democrat she should have fought to represent her constituency on the war, not play it politically safe. and like Bush, she doesn't admit to her mistakes - her massive ego won't allow her to.
she fought tooth and nail with the dlc insiders in 2004 AND 2006 to take away the will of the people - trashing good grassroots candidates at all levels to promote the dlc's blessed ones. she plays the victim/gender card when it's useful and then she sends out her MALE attack dogs with half-truths and slanderous statements against her opponents - this is quite a conflict, to me. for soooo many reasons she's not to be trusted with the welfare of our country and would not be a good candidate for leader, in my book.
Frank Rich with an acute analysis of Clinton's Hallmark Channel presentation, "Voices Across America: A National Townhall," aired on the eve of Super Tuesday. He writes:
"Like the scripted 'Ask President Bush' sessions during the 2004 campaign, this town hall seemed to unfold in Stepford. The anodyne questions ('What else would you do to help take care of our veterans?') merely cued up laundry lists of talking points. Some in attendance appeared to trance out.
" . . . . However boring, this show was a dramatic encapsulation of how a once-invincible candidate ended up in a dead heat, crippled by poll-tested corporate packaging that markets her as a synthetic product leeched of most human qualities. What’s more, it offered a naked preview of how nastily the Clintons will fight, whatever the collateral damage to the Democratic Party, in the endgame to come.
" . . . .
" . . . . Last week, Mr. Dean became sufficiently alarmed to propose brokering an 'arrangement' if a clear-cut victory by one candidate hasn’t rendered the issue moot by the spring. But does anyone seriously believe that Howard Dean can deter a Clinton combine so ruthless that it risked shredding three decades of mutual affection with black America to win a primary?
"A race-tinged brawl at the convention, some nine weeks before Election Day, will not be a Hallmark moment. As Mr. Wilkins reiterated to me last week, it will be a flashback to the Democratic civil war of 1968, a suicide for the party no matter which victor ends up holding the rancid spoils."
Not to mention the great tax breaks:))
>
I travel around towns and I see a lot of door-to-door Christians.
I question w/not the Federal $$$ doled-out to "religious" organs, which I find unconstitutional, allows these organs to spread their seed more readily with greater potency.
I don' like it on bit. Anyone know w/not Barack has a position on Federal funding the churches?
hujo - please provide the link and data for Obama's 'support from big health, big pharma, big banks, and the Military-Industrial complex.' if you bother to look, I believe you will find that you are magnifying the impact of that support - from studying the FEC filings I do not find LARGE support from any of those factions. as a matter of fact, Obama's support looks a lot like the 2008 version of Dean 2004.
John wrote "Tom went batshit when I opined that neither Clinton nor Obama can be considered progressive."
That was great. I tried to hypnotize you over the internet into saying "Yes, we can" everytime you hear the name Obama.
well of course my response to you hujo is ABOVE the post I was commenting on... flippin' blog!
inimical?
What? LOL
Monica, your post is at #10. LOL
Realtime is an illusion.
Can Edwards be correct: a two tier economy where
1. the well-off can find quality
2. the least common denominator satisfies the least well-off (IE let them eat cake)
In choosing a VP, it is not only important to choose one that will help get the nominee elected but to also weigh the future electability of that person, or their ability to take over the prez office whenever necessary.
Classic. Just yesterday, Indy tried to get on Joan's case by accusing her of deciding for other people whether Kucinich was a viable candidate. I had to break the news to him that not only was Kucinich's candidacy not viable, but it looks like Ron Paul's isn't, either.
Well, what these several last weeks and the last night especially show to me is that the need for changes this Country and this People are desperate for is an over-ripened. People tired to wait for them, for the real ones, they are refusing to get fooled by division of sexism and/or of racism (does not mean they might not be fooled AGAIN by some other type of division!). People showed they are way ahead of their “professional leaders”, are loosing faith in those leaders’ words and promises and are much closer to start DEMANDING actions from them.
Obama’s recent advancement ahead of Hillary not so much underscores his strengths but much more of her (e.g. old party’s establishment) weaknesses. Don’t forget they both are establishment candidates and their principal stances are not so much different. Seeming failings of Hillary candidacy is just clear indication that People’s desire for changes and for new movement to get those changes is gaining momentum. It does not mean if Obama elected such a movement might or should stop. It is just only its very beginning.
In addition, Obama’s recent expression of some fresh and powerful thoughts of his own deserves to be mentioned here.
First, that’s his idea about the “mindset that brought us to this war” which requires to be changed!
Second is his slight mentioning of people to be “included in the process of changes” (not exact quote) for those changes to become sustainable.
And third his courageous attempt to bring Regan as the example of a leader who was able to unite nation, at least temporarily, around his pre-election (though ultimately failed) agenda. (Unfortunately Obama backed away from his point very fast under the Demo’s old establishment pressure).
Overall, to begin implementation of those sustainable changes where “people are included” Obama’s election seems much more preferable. However even if elected it would become still only the SYMBOL of those possible and hopeful changes, it would be still TOO FAR from BEEN SUFFICENT to guarantee those changes.
Only we, the People can ultimately guarantee it!
Joan wrote "In choosing a VP, it is not only important to choose one that will help get the nominee elected but to also weigh the future electability of that person, or their ability to take over the prez office whenever necessary."
Using that criterion, I would suggest Feingold, but I would hate to drag him out of the Senate.
David Schuster
IMHO was nearer Kieth Olbermann
which is why the corporation he works for has suspended him indefinitely.
I didn't find his remark "pimping Chelsea out" offensive in the least.
DFA endorsed Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand is a super delegate endorsing Clinton. How sad. Besides Taking back America we need to take back the word progressive from the un-progressive so called progressives.
Chuck wrote "DFA endorsed Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand is a super delegate endorsing Clinton. How sad."
It's not too edifying, but superdelegates aren't committed. I I just don't believe that they are going to swing the nomination against whoever becomes the consensus candidate after the state delegate selection process has ended. If that does happen, there will be huge fireworks on the convention floor a la 1968.
Good morning everyone.
I think Shuster's comment showed really bad form. Enough for a suspension but not enough to be fired over. The guy has done some great journalism. I think at this point the Clinton campaign is stretching for some press. In the meantime, they are now exploiting Chelsea themselves.
I'm waiting to hear from linda b. Must have been a very busy, trilling and exciting day for her. A breakfast fundraiser, a luncheon fundraiser at which she was to also speak, then a adrive to Richmond for dinner and Obama and Clinton and all the other fuss and candidates who love to appear at JJ dinners. I've been to six of them in Florida and it sometimes seems like they will never get to the speaker you really came to hear.
CNN, which had Obama's speech in Richmond, went on until 11:30 or more. Add to that a long drive home, I expect we may not hear from her until later today.
40. Me neither Paine -- pimping is vernacular to the young for selling I think. And some of us old er fogies too.
45.
Imn2Paine
Sun, 02/10/08
Reply to this
33.
former
>
was that all cut-and-paste?
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Paine, what do you mean?
I don't understand your question, what cut-and-paste?
43.
Imn2Paine
Sun, 02/10/08
R. Anyone know w/not Barack has a position on Federal funding the churches?
The separation of church and state is critical and has caused our democracy and religious
practices to thrive.
“[Conservative leaders] need to understand the critical role that the separation of church and state has
played in preserving not only our democracy, but the robustness of our religious practice. Folks tend to
forget that during our founding, it wasn't the atheists or the civil libertarians who were the most effective
champions of the First Amendment. It was the persecuted minorities, it was Baptists like John Leland...It
was the forbearers of the evangelicals who were the most adamant about not mingling government with
religion, because they did not want state-sponsored religion hindering their ability to practice their
faith...” – Call to Renewal Keynote Address
39.
Paine,
Yes, C-Span is becoming irrelevant and IMO partisan. too many times in recent weeks they have had on the Federalist Society for hours at a time. And now they just ended some conservative convention that went on for several days.
They have also been giving out wrong information. They repeated over and over yesterday how Washington STATE's primary was to be next week, when it is Wash. DC that is next week. They also put out wrong delegate information several times.
You would think we could at least expect correct info from them. And that they would have on as many candidates' speeches (Dem and R) as often as they could at this time.
I do enjoy watching the Senate though on C-span 2, which they must carry whenever they are in session.
40. Forgot the link for Obama's quote on the separation of church and state.
http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/ObamaonFa...
While login/logout each time before/after post, blog reacts differently.
Hey HQ can't find consultant to fix it?!
We'll pay..., lol!
44.
Imn2Paine
Sun, 02/10/08
C-SPAN - has anyone else seen a drift toward irrelevancy (our your drift away from) C-SPAN ?
Not so sure about irrelevancy. They've done some stuff recently that have ticked me off. For one, they've gotten into the habit of 'commercials' (boring ones) pimping (did that on purpose) their own serieses (plural of series??). Also, they were glaringly absent last night from live coverage of Va JJ day dinner and the returns from Nebraska, Washington, Lousiana. And I really miss Brian Lamb on Friday mornings.
I like the web stuff, espec since Comcast took away CSPAN II.
51.
Imn2Paine
Sun, 02/10/08
Reply to this
33.
former
>
was that all cut-and-paste?
-------------
Ok, I see..., lol.
No, that mine...lol, was "cut" from my own head..., lol.
Morning Folks,
Quick hello, then have to do some work.
Huron John, you owe it to yourself to read Obama's book. The answers are there.
Imn2Paine, Obama addresses that relationship of church oriented organizations, federal dollars, and what the problems are with that. He recognizes that particularly in prisons and dealing with young people that churches can help, that recidivism is far more costly to the government than grants for particular programs. But as is Obama's way, he recognizes the different perspectives and calls for balance and accountability. Again, read his book. You'll find the answer in the section on faith.
I guess I have to say it, I'm an Obamaphile. I like the idea that love is at the end of that word. He is extraordinary. His brilliance, honesty, assessment of the problems we are facing and will face is like nothing I've read before. He is more brilliant, in my perspective than was Eugene McCArthy and other heroes of mine. We need this man to lead us.
He understands history from the People's History of the United States point of view, a la Howard Zinn. He points out what our policies have been, where they've been hypocritical and destructive to us and to the countries involved; yet, he believes in the transformative quality this country has offered to people, the chance to build our own lives, the chance to live up to the promises given to us and those we give back.
I sometimes wonder why a young person in his mid 40s, brilliant, successful, able to to anything he wants, honest, and loving would want the terrible job of President, especially after what we've seen these last seven years. There will be so much to do, so much to repair, so much to work towards, and we have crazies in this country. God forbid that anyone should be denied an assault weapon.
Well, please, consider reading at least parts of his book. I don't think we've seen his like in my lifetime except for maybe JFK and the hope, brilliance, and vision he offered.
Again, it's wonderful to have voices and perspectives to consider on this blog. Thanks.
Imn2Paine
Sun, 02/10/08
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Judging by how many of you are now bitching about this blog...............I think Huron John was right in calling them out......................there is nothing wrong with consructive criticism..........
I say lets get some Indian hi tech people over here...........theyll have it fixed in 10 minutes I betcha...................
didn't find his remark "pimping Chelsea out" offensive in the least.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Paine,
I find it a statement similar to "nappy headed ho's"..................your thoughts.
cChal - I had to examine my naval about Hillary and the sexist thing, being a woman of her age (a little older) and having come through the same tumultuous sp times. But my main reasons for not supporting her (although I will vote for her if she gets the nomination) are:
1) She got onto my list when Howard was making his great speech at the Dem convention and got a standing O and the CSPAN camera went to Hill and Chelsea thoroughly enjoying glasses of bubbly something till they saw the camera. Chelsea first, then Hill straightened up, as if being caught by the Sunday school teacher. After all Howard had done, they couldn't be gracious enough to applaud him in his one shining moment at that convention.
2) Experience -- what's her experience?? She's been in the Senate longer but during that time Obama was in the IL statehouse -- I consider that a wash. Her time as first lady is roughly equivalent to my time as a surgeon's wife. You don't want me working on your gall bladder for sure. Yes she's a lawyer, but so is he -- a Constitutional scholar at that.
3) To me Hill represents that which we all hate about Washington -- things and people like K Street, Carville, Matalin, Begala, Reid and Pelosi and their tit for tat way of doing things. Isn't it time for something new?
I have examined my naval and I don't see sexism in any of this, although I have worried about it.
Yes WE can.
Thanks for the responses.
Interesting link, Annilow.
Gotta head out, as people are hungry for food and adventure here.
yes, we can
55. Well, because he's already achieved more than he could ever hope for and so he feels blessed to give something back.
I do think that people do unto others as was done to them and when they've been given benefits they want to pass those benefits on.
The idea that humans have to be forced to do what others want is narrow-minded and counter-productive.
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By Doug Gibson on Feb 9, 2008 10:41 PM ESTI just got this from PDA: