Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Howard Dean May Intervene In Dem Primary

Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid took his comments about the state of the Democratic primary one step further today, suggesting that he and other prominent Democrats would intervene in the race if primary season concludes without a clear winner:

Reid said he would consider writing a joint letter with Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) demanding that superdelegates make their endorsements public.

"The three of us, we may write a joint letter [to superdelegates]," said Reid. "We might do individual letters, we are in contact with each other."...

However, when asked by a reporter if he would be forced to intervene if the undecided superdelegates did not make up their minds, Reid replied "I might have to."

This might explain Harry Reid's primary remarks last month that "things are being done" to end the nomination:

Q: Do you still think the Democratic race can be resolved before the convention?

Reid: Easy.

Q: How is that?

Reid: It will be done.

Q: It just will?

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Reid: Yep.

Q: Magically?

Reid: No, it will be done. I had a conversation with Governor Dean (Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean) today. Things are being done.

Nancy Pelosi has abstained from such comments, though she has repeatedly suggested that superdelegates should not overturn the will of primary voters, a position that sits well with the Obama camp:

"If the votes of the superdelegates overturn what's happened in the elections, it would be harmful to the Democratic party," Pelosi said in an interview taped Friday for broadcast Sunday on ABC's "This Week."...

"It's a delegate race," she said. "The way the system works is that the delegates choose the nominee."

Meanwhile, Howard Dean has decided that superdelegates should not wait for the primaries to conclude; they need to state their endorsements now:

An increasingly firm Howard Dean told CNN again Thursday that he needs superdelegates to say who they're for - and "I need them to say who they're for starting now."

"We cannot give up two or three months of active campaigning and healing time," the Democratic National Committee Chairman told CNN's Wolf Blitzer. "We've got to know who our nominee is."

Comments

[IntelligentDesign]

A modern day adaptation of Snow White, act II:

Hillary 2007: Mirror mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?

Mirror: Why it is you my fair lady.

Hillary 2008: Mirror mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?

Mirror: Your husband is your fame, he has carried you far; but there is another, Barack Obama, he is the new rising star.

[Sounds of mirror being smashed into tiny little pieces.]

Hillary: James, I want you to go out and destroy Barack Obama.

Carville: But my lady, if we destroy Obama we also destroy the Democratic...

Hillary: Silence! You will do as commanded; you know the penalty if you fail!

Carville: Yes your majesty...

[RanTheMan]

It's about time that the parents stepped in and gave Hillary a time out.

She's been a not-so-inevitable lying brat for far too long.

[OrionGal]

Can we get her a new hat to wear with this time out?

[RanTheMan]

I think a baseball cap with a giant "L" on it would be appropriate.

[Dragon5616]

Or at least a new pantsuit?

[MeLuvHillary]

He says she can’t get his votes, but he can get hers. Well, doesn’t that sound…confident…or arrogant…one of those. Look, I believe him to be a good man, a decent man, but man nonetheless. She is not the demon that some proclaim her to be, but, I believe, SHE also has the good sense to know that she is not the saint that some would have her be. I hear him speak sometimes and I’m just not sure that he (or his supporters for that matter) understand that he is not the savior. He is a man, a good man, a decent man, but a MAN. Stop speaking of him as if he is an intrinsically better or more valuable human being.
Barack may have millions of people supporting him, but make no mistake, so does she. She can’t win without his supporters, but he certainly can’t win without us. Forcing her out will be a very, large mistake. While I could vote for him, you should not take for granted that everyone else will. We see something in her that we don’t see in him. Before you climb on your high horse and decry the stupidity of Clinton supporters who would support McCain instead of Barack, let me ask you this. If she were to wins the primary, would you support her? She could win by super-delegates, which is by the RULES, whether you like it or not. We all need to consider both sides of this situation.

[Dragon5616]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/2/18/04016/9401/874/458820

[MeLuvHillary]

Yawn

[Aleka4]

LOL. She might think it is serious!

[exxman]

Ok, look. We Obama supporters are well aware that Barack Obama is a human being, not a messiah. Hillary Clinton is a human being as well and a fine well intentioned human being as well. She has come off a bit self serving in this campaign as of late. As the tide turned against her, she did not take the high road. The examples are many and I will not go into them here. Of course Obama hit back. He had no choice.

In the event we end up with Hillary Clinton as the Democratic nominee of course I will vote for her. Having said that, I must add that in my 56 years I have not witnessed a candidate for any political office who could inspire hope in me the way Obama does. Hillary uses fear (the three AM phone call ad is one example. The bin Laden ad is another). Obama makes me think that we can salvage this country. As a very wise and respected ex-president once said, "If one candidate is trying to making you afraid and one is trying to making you think, you better go with the one that is trying to making you think." That ex-president would be William Jefferson Clinton. I think I'll take his advise.

[MeLuvHillary]

Thank you. Your response was reasoned a measured, unlike the drivel often passes for discussion here. I don’t find the ad picturing Bin Laden to be fear-mongering. If simply looking upon that loon’s visage evokes fear, then that’s a problem within that whoever see it. I don’t think the ad scared anybody; we don’t give people enough credit. It was used in context, talking about terrorism. There are certain things we are going to have to face. It’s not fun or comfortable talking about them, but it’s necessary. I can see how some would automatically think it was being used purely to “scare up votes” given the past seven years of this administration. But every time someone dares to speak threat, it doesn’t mean their fear-mongering. There are challenges we must face. While we needn’t dwell on potential horrors, we must not ignore them either. We can speak of the good and acknowledge the bad.

[ignrnthllblly]

Of course she could win by super-delegates and of course that is within the rules. And I do not dislike it. I do believe, however, that those facts are beside the larger point to be considered, and that is the survival of the party as the majority party. The idea that the party can take a grass-roots candidate (and his record fundraising) and displace him by an act of administrative fiat and then depend upon his supporters to deliver an "annointed" candidate is LUNACY.

If Hillary supporters want to take their ball and go home after losing, that's their choice. But to expect Obama supporters to kiss the Clintons' whip would be a fatal miscalculation which could empower the Republican party for generations. Clinton is playing with dynamite and knows it. Reason says the party must disarm her.

[MeLuvHillary]

You read, but don't comprehend. I don't expect you to kiss anything. If they make it to the end and Barry wins (really, truly, completely wins), that's fine. But to short circuit the Democatic process to give it to him that win, would be a "fatal miscalculation" also. She is not a leper on an island. Approximately half of the democratic party is supporting her. Just look at the polls and results thus far. Once again, you need to consider both sides of this. There are alot of people on your side of the fence, but there are alot of people over here as well. You fail to realize that.

[several]

wow. did Rush recently tell all his dittoheads to go to HuffPo and sling vitriol at all us god-saken liberals? this thread is like a magnet for hate-filled right-wing meanie-faces.

as for the actual topic at hand, personally i'm pleased that the democratic leadership might actually show some... leadership.

[AjicNYC]

do you think roland was threatening WRIGHT , in reference to wrights monday event , by saying

Roland on CNN

"I wouldn't be surprised if that event gets cancelled SOME PEOPLE certainly believe that should be the case because why do you want to make this story knocking obama completely off the front page for the next 5 to 7 days"

who do you think SOME PEOPLE are??? The Black Community?? Is this an OPEN threat live on TV????

SOME PEOPLE ????

[TiffanyHusseinBanned]

What is Hillary's path to the nomination?

[Dragon5616]

The Yellow Brick Road?

[neocon43]

Win six out of the next eight states and seat the Florida delegates.

[Dragon5616]

Somebody mentioned flag pins downthread. Here is the Obama lapel pin strategy:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/17/215641/186/813/482280

[WHusseinLA]

Nice one, Dragon. Please send me an investor's prospectus.

[Dragon5616]

At present, I only have a Red Herring available.

[EvoMan]

We do need to nominate the more electable candidate:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/4/24/152116/935/761/502664

Sorry, Clintonistas.

[patapsco99]

Ok guys and gals, you all have put me in such a good mood the only thing that could finish this evening off perfectly is some ice cream. I must depart.

Thank you for the great debates and to the conservatives God Bless and to the Liberals, may you find a loving God besides yourself and money. Ok, God bless all Americans including the liberals because I am such a fascist.

[shockmagog]

No debate, just trollish comments. Good luck with your god, whether it be hairy thunderer or cosmic muffin.

[JuneCleaversBeaver]

His Lord and Chimperor is Reagan.

[patapsco99]

P.S. cheesecake sounds good too.

[arvada]

plenty more where you come from

[Dragon5616]

You're so magnanimous. Gee, I feel humbled by your generous blessing.

[AdLib]

Another drone off to recharge by docking between Rush's cheeks.

[RanTheMan]

ROFL!!!!!

[bikerdude]

If these democratic "politicians" want to do something worth while, they can begin impeachment proceedings against President Bush and Vice President Cheney. It is high time we hold them accountable for fheir actions, and impeachment is the method set forth in the constitution for that purpose. Anything less is just politics as usual from that bunch.

[HumeSkeptic]

Where's JohnCT with his "67"?

[JuneCleaversBeaver]

67

(Was walking the dog)

[neocon43]

Tell us about the constitution bikerdude.While your at it tell me where it says you are entitled to free health care.Actually break it down and tell me the two functions of government.

[BlueStateMan]

I believe it starts with ".....provide for the general welfare". Unless, of course you feel that one's health isn't included in that.

[shockmagog]

Since you brought it up, stickler for a Constitution with all the trimmings, it's located in the part about "promote the general welfare." It can be interpreted as health care for all citizens paid for by taxes.

Look at how the 2nd Amendment has been tweaked over the years, if you think we need every detail written into the Constitution.

[Christopher1]

Three of the biggest losers on the face of the earth, looks like leechs and parsites do stick together

[RanTheMan]

Bush, Cheney, and Rove.

[shockmagog]

Yep, Bush, Cheney and McCain--The 3 Stooges of death.

[neocon43]

Defenders of freedom.Your party is the stooge of death.

[Bliss]

...the final outcome.

[Bliss]

In an ideal democracy, the Democratic National Convention wouldn't be a lame publicity stunt but an actual convening of the party to hash out ideas AND CANDIDATES. A friend attended the '68 convention with all-day seminars discussing the candidates' policies and platforms to help delegates come to an informed and DELIBERATED decision on the final day. Now it's a stupid commercial with little true meaning, delegates these days are faceless yahoos practically forcefed pre-manufactured sentiments and all the confetti you could choke on.

Beware the doomsayers, they do not represent the people or our party but their own elitist agendas. The people have spoken and they clearly favor BOTH candidates - all too close for power players to manipulate by applying any pressure like disappointing appointees Reid, Pelosi and Dean. Superdelegates ARE part of the process - why deny anyone the freedom to cast a vote of their own making when each is ready - ? - as clearly laid out in the rules of our Democratic party!

As for HEALING the RIFT -- get over it! This is nothing, past primary races have been far more destructive and emotionally polarizing -- far more! Again, this kind of negative talk is more politics as usual. Let the race run its course, we have an important decision to make - and how we get there in a manner that reflects our party values - the PARTY, not individuals (hired to represent the party, not dictate) - is just as important as

[WHusseinLA]

I'm looking forward to the balloon drop.

[JuneCleaversBeaver]

To hell with that. I want the hospitality suites

[Dragon5616]

Great idea! Let's repeat '68! Let's see, I think I have my old gas mask somewhere in the back of the closet.

[HopeGirl]

you need to chill buddy

[ggmome]

Interesting thing to note: Are all of those who are on the boards 'supporting' the Clintons, the same ones who talked about them like D O G S, when impeachment was in the works...

Truth be told, the Speaker of the House Pelosi, the Senate Leader Reid and the DNC leader can do something now and could have done more prior to this, to alleviate this debacle, but did they? Naw, they straddled the middle of the fence, but here they are, all stuck together like rice, DOING NOTHING!

A whole year later, dripping on the rock wearing it thin. Personally, I am gived out!

[neocon43]

Reed and Pelosi are going to do the same thing that did on the Iraq war.Nothing!It will be great comedy.

[JuneCleaversBeaver]

As funny as your numerous drunken meltdowns?

When are you going to post again as "Noe's daughter"?

"Leeeeeve my muther ALONE!"

[amazigh]

she should not be forced out of the race...this is a democracy, people! there might be pies n' yogurt at the end of the finish line!!!!!

[Dragon5616]

And it might rain Honey Nut Cheerios tomorrow, but I would leave the milk out too long.

[Dragon5616]

*wouldn't

[SARGE1]

Hillary Is Behind In "Every Major Poll Period !!

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/us/democratic_presidential_nomination-191.html

Obama Beats McCain Over Clinton

http://time-blog.com/real_clear_politics/


Hillary Has The Highest Negatives Of The 3, Her Negatives Are Higher Than Her Positives

-Sarge1

[MichiganJFrog]

But didn't you hear? She's the ONLY one who can win in the general.

[HopeGirl]

Obama runs better that Clinton does in most GE polls.,

it is what it is.

Clinton is only in it to suck more money out her 'donors' AKA her husband.

She has a HUGE bar bill to pay off, those salt of the earth types know how to travel and they want you to pay for it.

So, Hillary supporters get over to Hill.com and give her some cash please. She can't win but she isn't going to be stuck with the bill for her mess.

[KarenJW]

She'll still be running after the inauguration. Someone's going to have to tell her that it's over. Then she can resume running after Billy Boy and his latest distraction............attraction........... whatever!

[AdLib]

Thanks for the reality check, Sarge (salute)!

[WHusseinLA]

*salute*