11:40 AM EDT

Howard is first (and needs to speak up about this dem nomination process -- the remaining uncommitted SDs are sitting on their duffs, glued to the fence).

12:15 PM EDT

Where's Howard in all of this ?

(the drip, drip, one SD comes out for Clinton, another one for Obama, a day feels like watching a Galapagos tortoise race in slow motion):

http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/01/superdelegate-list.html

good reading, some bad words, beware.

I just wanted to get out ahead of the rest of this article and say this.

John McCain is a fucking tool.

OK, we'll get to that another day. Like, after we have a nominee.

So, let's backtrack a few months. Romney and Clinton were the frontrunners. I said that I didn't think either would win.

I also said that I didn't think Clinton would step down gracefully. I also had people telling me that Clinton was going to dominate this thing, and since that point, she's been playing catch up. She's going to lose North Carolina, which will negate the gains tonight in Pennsylvania. She might tie Indiana, but I think Obama wins that. Oregon goes to Obama. South Dakota goes to Obama. She might win Kentucky, but I can honestly say that Kentucky is one of the Top Three States That I Want Nothing to Do With. I think any candidate that brags about winning Kentucky better be a Republican.

http://www.cmbat.com/politics/2008/4/23/with-pennsylvania-behind-us.html

This is a superb critique of the Pope's visit.  He ignored issues that needed addressing and concentrated on pedaphile priests - whom he tried to hide.

http://www.counterpunch.org/mcgovern04222008.html

According to Mark Halperin Hillary has snagged a *Prominent blue-dog* SD. Shuler?

Bye.

I hope that the strategizers behind the Obama campaign will encourage him to deal witht he issues, provides specifics, get him up front and close to the people so that he addreses their concerns,  and he persuades them.

Let Hillary alone, let her attack until she turns blue.  Just say that this is more political tricks, more polarizing, that on the websites and in brochures there are direct answers to any accusations.

Freeze her out.  Ignore her,  smile, carry on with the message, new thinking and ways of solving problems, new ways of coming together.   

Sorry for the typos.  Fingers must be plain rebellious, don't do what they're supposed to do.

Kentucky is a beautiful state full of friendly people and should have a say, and they have been turning blue.  Kentucky was the final home of jc, I would love her retort to the quote you just posted linda

come to think of it Ali was from Louisville

float like a butterfly sting like a bee

I'll kick in some more bucks to organize Kentucky precinct by precinct.

Pat

the Clintons suckered Obama into running negative ads in the last days and that counterdicts his stake that his is a different politics.

12:55 PM EDT

mary vb -

Rep. John Tanner (TN) is the new endorser for Clinton.

Former Edwards National General Chairman and 49 Other Edwards Supporters Throw Support to Barack Obama

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/hqblog

this is really strong...

Pat in Colorado
Wed, 04/23/08
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hows THIS for strategy.................I just spilled my chicken soup on my leg so some great ideas are coming at me in waves now.............

BO should just, respectfully ignore HC right now............no dissing just make beleieve shes not there............

Next, pretend its just BO and Mccain and start going after Mccain like he means it.......pretend its the general election.......show the country what he would be like going up against a Mccain.....and no pussy footing A-typical democratic bullcrap.....come out, professionally but like a bulldog.......take no prisoners(literally) and start facing up to this guy.............

The natural process will evacuate HC soon enough....................of course, this party never accepts prudent advice so ill just sit back and watch it implode as usual...............

are any of those 49, super delegates?

I was wondering the same thing linda b.

I hope so.

are any of those 49, super delegates?

+++

linda b -

Yes, 3 of then are current NC U.S. Congress reps but had already earlier endorsed Obama.  Thus, SD movement-wise, no movement for Obama today (one, ie. Tanner of TN, for Clinton today).:

http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/01/superdelegate-list.html

1:28 PM EDT

SSSSSSSSLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOWWWWWW dAY

Well stated, Michael Ellis.  Sounds good to me. I think you articulated a winning strategy.

It occurred to me that we've been talking about the rotting infrastructure in this country: water systems, sewage, highways, buildings, etc.  

Our educational system is even more damaging: rotting infrastructure that produces an ignorant, easily frightened, and trivialized citizenry.  Because we won't pay for education, we are rotting our infrastructure in the worst way possible by producing a citizenry that can't think, can't solve problems, won't read (the majority of Americans read fewer than one book a year), and we seem to think this is okay.  The fact that one in four students in Detroit graduate from high school is more than horrifying.  College is not affordable for most.  With our industrial base evaporating (Thanks Bill, Hillary, and George), what are people to do?  It's not enough to even have a skill or trade because technology is changing daily, and thinking is more necessary than ever.

And Phil, you are right. Obama was side tracked, though he was never the vicious, lying, mean voice that HIllary was.  If he is to win, he must be who he said he wants to be, give us the sturdiness, thoughtfulness, calm decision maker we so much need. 

should be one in four graduates.  Ah, to be an English major.  I think I make more mistakes than non English majors.

That's a 9.2% difference, not 10%. The media is fudging again to keep the horse race going.

That's a distinction without a difference--it was still a substaial win, and the horse race is still on--alas

1:37pm

Message for the Progressive Democrats of America

----- Original Message -----
From: Tim Carpenter for PDA
To: Susan Rowe
Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 10:23 PM
Subject: No Blank Checks

We Want Healthcare NOT Warfare--NOW!

Dear Susan,

Under threats from George Bush that he will veto any war funding legislation that contains domestic spending and potential layoffs looming within the Defense Department if the legislation is not immediately passed, Congress is now considering appropriations for the Iraq occupation.

Apparently, that’s not their only consideration. House Democratic leaders are also considering the general election. In a patently political move, leadership is considering adding an additional $70 billion to the $102 billion outstanding from Bush’s FY2008 request in order to remove the funding issue from the electoral debate.

That’s crazy-thinking. To continue the war just to end it later is not a long-term winning political strategy, nor does it address our critical needs:

An estimated 9000 Americans have died since the beginning of the Iraq war because they lack health insurance.

Millions are losing their homes because of our economic crisis brought on in large part by war spending.

Roads, bridges, and schools are crumbling.

We’re losing far more jobs than we are creating as gasoline profits and prices soar.

Withdrawing our troops and mercenaries and addressing these pressing human needs is a long-term winning electoral strategy. The American people want our military involvement in Iraq to end and our resources directed to meeting our needs at home.

It is crazy-thinking to give this irresponsible and dangerous administration a blank check worth $70 billion to spend without a clear plan for a swift, safe, and orderly withdrawal of the military, accompanied by an economic recovery plan that works for all of us.

Take Action Today! Please call Speaker Pelosi at (202) 225-2847 and Rep. John Murtha, Chairman of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee at (202) 225-4965.

Tell them:

We want Healthcare NOT Warfare!

http://pdamerica.org/articles/news/2008-...

$172 billion more on top of the estimated $3 trillion Iraq price tag is unacceptable.

Yours in the movement,

Tim Carpenter
National Director


PS--Please ask your friends to sign the Healthcare NOT Warfare petition.

Sign the petition HERE: https://www.thedatabank.com/dpg/309/pers...

A troubling article yesterday, saying the life expectancy of women is  going down

The really bad trouble is the places they looked at were in Radford and Pulaski, Va. where my husband's family is from.

They showed diabeties, obesity, education as main factors.

That shows how the decline of education as one way to keep the populace down.

That is why southwest VA is such prime ground for the republicans.

Keep them stupid and believe me they are.

Michael

You are a laugh a minute. From the last thread, I was not telling Indies to grab a Democratic ballot for the good of the Indies! It was so they could then for Obama.

btw, that "you crack me up" comment has all the fingerprints of someone else who visits here frequently. I'd drop it if I were you, you may not want to sound toooooooooo much like her.

then for Obama = then VOTE for Obama.

shun is a good strategery.

The first link on this thread is to the Orlando Sentinel, currently my own paper.

The GOP makes it sound as if they are representing the little guy and make it easier for this little guy to file a challenge to his/her tax appraisal.

As usual, that is not the case. Their biggest purpose is to help corporate owners, apartment owners or condo developers, two of which are telecom companies -- Nextel South Corp. and AT&T. Few individuals file Trim challenges here.

I apologize if this has been posted, but I agree with this guy

US elections 2008: Despite her decisive win in Pennsylvania, she won't be able to convince superdelegates to overturn Obama's lead

Without the ability to win any metric that measures the preferences of the electorate, she has left superdelegates with an impossibly narrow choice. There is now no longer a rationale from which the superdelegates could possibly hand her the nomination. She will, no doubt, spend the remainder of her campaign continuing to insist that she is more electable than Obama and that electability, more than democratic preferences, should be the standard on which decisions are made.

But Clinton's electability argument has also been completely upended. There is no argument, no matter how persuasive and cogent, that can be made to the superdelegates about Clinton's electability that won't be obliterated by Clinton winning the nomination unearned. If the superdelegates give Clinton the nomination without her having won the popular vote or pledged delegate count, without any rational connection to the will of the people, an enormous swath of Democratic voters are likely to stay home in November.

Since Franklin Roosevelt, no Democrat has won the White House without the loyal support of the African-American community. But having watched the potential first black president denied his rightful chance to compete by party insiders may sever that loyalty permanently. The activist base of the Democratic party, which has been at the core of the remaking of the political landscape, will likely also be rocked by a Clinton coup. If the superdelegates nominate her, it will rip the base of the party in half and destroy the extraordinary progress that the Obama movement - and the Dean movement before it - has produced. Even if she is more electable before their decision, she will be unelectable after.

http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/dylan_loewe/2008/04/the_new_inevitability.html

time for hillary to go home. caught lying about some comments to abc news.

using fl and mi and part of her popular vote.

You people are politically savvy, someone please explain to me how she can go around talking about the popular vote?  From what I understand there is no way to determine the caucas states popular vote count.

The system was made for delegate count wasn't it?

It's the delegates Hillary!  Go home! And shut up!

Superdelegates get off the fence.

Thus, SD movement-wise, no movement for Obama today (one, ie. Tanner of TN, for Clinton today).:

rd,

(CNN) – Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry endorsed Barack Obama's White House bid Wednesday.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/23/oklahoma-governor-to-back-obama/

Clinton knows that caucus voters are not counted in most states, only heads are counted toward the delegate count.

But if they could be, Olbermann estimated that using MN and WI as a basis, he would have 1,300,000 popular votes instead of his 700,000+.

31.

Joan -

Yes, true that about 1 SD for Obama today -- Brad Henry.

But it still comes across like a game of pulling flower petals -- he loves me, he loves me not -- of each one SD for Clinton, one for Obama.

It's boring, tedious and looks manufactured IMO.

rae

Clinton believes she is entitled to change the rules when it benefits her. If they cannot be changed, she wants to be compensated for her "losses" I guess.

update:

Hillary netted 10 delegates in Penn. What a win. Wowzers.

What next Hillary? Guam??

2:12 PM EDT

the SD drip, drip (this past week):

http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/01/superdelegate-list.html

...

4-17-08 - Added Add-on Reggie Whitten (OK) and Add-on Harry Thomas Jr.(DC)# for Obama
Added Add-ons Jim Florio (NJ)# and Brendan Byrne (NJ)# for Clinton.
4-18-08 - NY State Party Vice Chair Dave Pollak removed from Clinton and replaced with new Vice Chair Reginald LaFayette who also supports Clinton.
- Added Rep. Betty Sutton (OH) for Clinton
- Added DNC Janice Griffin (MD) for Obama. She endorsed a while ago but we never had a valid source.
4-19-08 - Added DNC Steven Achelpohl (NE) for Obama
- Added Rep. Tim Ryan (OH) for Clinton
4-20-08 - Added DNC Moretta Bosley (KY) for Clinton. She endorsed a while ago but we never had a valid source.
4-21-08 - Added DNC Enid Goubeaux (OH) for Obama
4-23-08 Added Gov. Brad Henry (OK) for Obama.
- Added Rep. John Tanner (TN) for Clinton

Stay tuned... we'll update this list as we find out more.

...

From MSNBC's 'First Read':

*** We can stop the delegate math: Turning to the delegate math, if Clinton nets approximately 16 delegates out of Pennsylvania, she'll trail in the pledged battle by 150 delegates. With just 408 pledged delegates remaining, that means she'd need 68% of all pledged delegates left to overtake Obama. Now, if Obama and Clinton simply split the 187 delegates up for grabs on May 6 basically down the middle (which would be a rosy projection in Clinton's favor) and Obama's pledged delegate lead simply stayed at 150 and didn’t grow to 160 (the most likely outcome in two weeks), Clinton would need to win 85% of the then 221 remaining delegates up for grabs. 85%! As we mentioned on air last night, the battle for pledged delegates is over, Obama will win that metric and win it by some 100+ delegates.

I was not telling Indies to grab a Democratic ballot for the good of the Indies! It was so they could then for Obama.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Joan,

Well isnt that cushy..........so, Independents should grab a balot for the good of your party and BO..................well, Joan, you and your party have npt earned that right as of late..........but in the words of Jack Nicholson from "A few Good men"..............

"You have to ask me nicely"................

Mike, I see you dropped your soup!

Are you home sick??

Our state women's caucus will be holding elections for new officers this fall.

I may end up being the new 1st vice chair of our Va Dem Women's Caucus. It has to do with membership so that suits me fine.

I am now the 3rd District rep to the caucus.

www.Vadwc.org

slow news day so here goes..

New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman was attacked with pies in the face by environmental activists during a speech about energy at Brown University yesterday.

The Providence Journal reports that Friedman's message — that responding to climate change will make America "stronger, more innovative, [and] more energy secure" — was greeted by protesters:

Not everyone agrees with Friedman's vision that innovation is the path to climate and energy salvation. Just seconds into his speech, he was interrupted by two environmental activists, who stormed the stage shortly after Friedman stepped up to the microphone, tossing two paper plates loaded with shamrock-colored whipped cream at him.

rdorgan wrote:

ABB* won last night in PA

(*anybody but Bush)

(*anbody but Barack)

(*anybody but black)

Wow!  I guess it doesn't occur to you that many women want to see a woman in office or maybe they think she might be a better candidate.   And just maybe blacks are going for BO becuz they'd like to see a black man in office to try to right the wrongs and injustices still occurring.  I know 3 happily married affluent women who will vote for HC.  To try to make Hillary supporters into women who are not smart or educated or somehow mistreated etc etc etc is short-sided, altho there may be some of that too. The psychology of this election is deep and complicated.

Just read over at First Read that Eliz Edwards will be showing up at one or two Clinton rallys. That's her choice but I am mighty disappointed. Character counts for a lot in a candidate to me and I thought it did with Eliz. Edwards as well.

How about letting it be her choice and then not attacking her character?  Can you do that?  Can you respect others opinions? 

s===================

couldn't happen to a better guy

About one in four Clinton supporters said they would back John McCain in the general election should Obama win, while fewer than one in five of Obama’s voters said they support McCain if Clinton should win.

IMO, the dems will win the gen'l only if both are on the same ticket.

Local news last night  had a national poll:   HC/BO ticket at 48% and and BO/HC ticket at 40%, with the rest not knowing.

While you all are worrying about what lie HC told, how many points so and so has, and who's doing more mud-slinging,

MCCAIN IS WALKING AWAY WITH THE PRESIDENCY. 

Telling HC to leave the race is undemocratic, bordering on fascist. 

Telling Indys to register and vote for BO is ....  well, there are no nice words.   

If the education of Americans is as poor as some people here think, and that even high school isn't enuf to produce critical thinkers, and a huge % of people under 25 can't find Iraq on a map and half of Americans didn't read ONE book last year...........(source, Colbert last night)

well.......

a lot of those people voted for BO....the youth vote. 

I remain in Mike and Huron's camp.  Some people call us cynical ...perhaps we're realistic.     Wouldn't you be happier on the BO blog where everyone agrees with you and you wouldn't have to be assailed with some unpleasant facts?

msnbc is actually playing the NC ad with rev wright's comments and pictures of obama.

thanks hillary, is this your doing?

seahell wouldn't you be happier on the hillary blog or do you just like to stir up trouble. or maybe mydd.

a lot of those people voted for BO....the youth vote

the youth vote is under 30, putz. or are you a paid blogger?

Keeping the record straight about who will bomb whom.  "Redploy" means   *taking them outta Iraq and sending them to Afghan and Pakistan ...with all that actionable intel....HC and BO are practically foreign policy twins

******************************


   
"If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won't act, we will."
Barack Obama

......

He said Americans were more vulnerable to terrorist attacks than before the 9/11 attacks because of a war in Iraq "that should never have been authorised and should never have been waged".

"The first step must be getting off the wrong battlefield in Iraq, and taking the fight to the terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan," he said.

US presidential candidate Barack Obama has said he would use military force if necessary against al-Qaeda in Pakistan even without Pakistan's consent.

3:18 PM EDT 

fyi - linda b, Fred, there's a new Front thread

Gosh, those facts are unpleasant, aren't they?

Gosh seashell, I find it disturbing that she saids she is willing to obliterate a country.  Also that she calls Iraqis killed in war collateral damage.

Don't you?