The race between Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama remains frozen in amber, with even an unlikely unprecedented string of lopsided victories between now and the end of the primary season unable to change the dominant dynamic: Senator Obama is the frontrunner. Both senators have motivated the base, energizing the party with unprecedented primary and caucus turnout. But now it must come to an end and a transition made to general election mode. Sen. McCain is his party's nominee and is currently consolidating the conservative base. While I feel he still has little chance of winning the general election, we are at a moment in which the Democratic party can march to a historic victory -- a repudiation of conservatism. The more the show of the primary season goes on, the less likely a major victory this fall (although even if the dang thing goes to the convention I still think the Dems will win).
The superdelegates have so far been content to sit on the sidelines and wait out the process, yet time is now of the essence. They need to vote their consciences now, reminded by Speaker Pelosi that they should take heed the will of the Democratic party's voices in 44 states.
Barack Obama most importantly leads in delegates, leads in amount of states won. Sen. Clinton has run a strong campaign, but Sen. Obama's has been stronger and that is why neither candidate can get to the nomination based solely on their primary/caucus performance. The superdelegates need to act. There are eight months until the general election. Eight months of voter mobilization, eight months of educating the voters about our nominee and the Republican nominee. Eight months of fundraising and coordination between the nominee and the national party to be done.
The Democratic Party has a chance to not only elect a Democrat but to deal a severe blow to conservatism. The way to get there is for the superdelegates to act.
Vote now. Follow the people. Choose a nominee. Win the election.
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Agreed. Thats right, in view that McCain surged past Obama in the polls it's time for Obama to step down.
Better luck time next time.
All you have to do to get some sense of it is to listen to Black radio.
What's more, if you watch Black TV, TVOne, there is a commentary running that speaks to.
The Democrats better get their act together and PUSH Clinton out NOW.
Surely, they realize they have enemies in their ranks!
Alter the rules for the next "cycle; succumb to the mobs' chorus......, but accept--for a change--the value of "process" itself......
Funny how she' been LOSING FOR SOOOO LONG, yet the MSM, DNC, and the rest of the Democratic party still let her continue when there's no way for her to get the nomination without dirty trickery. No do-overs, no changing the rules that everyone agreed to in the middle of the game. What are we, kids playing dodgeball at recess??????
She won't get out on her own.
She needs to be pushed.
It is just a little thing called democracy, I realize a dying term with all of the socialists out there, but still the way it works.
If she was behind anyone but Obama she would have already been forced to step down.
Here is your real hero:
There's a reason Hillary Clinton has remained relatively silent during the flap over intemperate remarks by Barack Obama's former pastor, Jeremiah Wright. When it comes to unsavory religious affiliations, she's a lot more vulnerable than Obama.
full story at ->http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080331/ehrenreich
First, you make a great case for why these SuperDelegates should act, then go on to say "even if the dang thing goes to the convention I still think the Dems will win". Well, then what's the rush? This sentence weakens the entire article.
Second, you wrote, "Sen. Clinton has run a strong campaign..." Though this is a matter of opinion, I disagree that "strong" is the right word for her campaign. She was so overconfident of victory on SuperTuesday that she wasn't ready for any of the states after Feb. 5th. This error in planning and judgement led to a disorganized ground game and big losses throughout February. Before Christmas, she was writing off Michigan and Florida like all the other candidates at the time (remember the other 7?)...now she's begging these states to revote.
I wouldn't call this "strong"; I'd call it "bungling".
Super delegates could still choose for themselves how to vote (not changing the rules), yet the final deciding votes would come from the people (democratically).
I think some the super delegates want to “wait and see” who is the winner, so they don’t end up backing a candidate that ultimately loses. I think the super delegates should show more leadership and endorse a candidate now.
john Edwards is going to be on leno thursday nite which tells me he may be close to endorsing a candidate and my guess it will be hillary. i wish he wouldnt but it may tip n.c. for her .
the fire will go out of the party and the dems will lose the wh, the senate, and the house, because those newly excited voters will stay home .
> This show the difference in the support of the two candidates. Those of us that
> support Sen Clinton will gladly support Sen Obama if he win the primary. That is
> because we are DEMOCRATS.
Precisely so. In broad strokes... Clinton supporters are more likely to define themselves as DEMOCRATS. Obama supporters are more likely to define themselves as AMERICANS or HUMAN BEINGS.
I'm confident that in the great sweep of history, the trend is AWAY from divisive identifications: black/white, male/female, democrate/republican... and towards more unity. The small-minded politics of us-vs-them my triumph in this particular campaign, but it's on the wrong side of history.
Stuart's "Random Thoughts" blog
I will also be disappointed if JRE endorses HRC.
These super delegates don't care who becomes President they are concerned about their political careers. They know it's time they stop this thing, they see the math, they know HIllary can't make the numbers and they know they are not going to steal the election for her, they see the polls that McCain is benefiting from this. But they won't step in because it's not the party they are concerned about nor the American people they just want to make sure come November they still have a job.
Two new polls USA Today/Gallup and CNN still show both Clinton and Obama beating McCain. But, Clinton currently leads by MORE than Obama.
The Democratic voters in Florida have stated they will not vote in the general election if they are not counted in the Primary. This means Florida will go Republican in 2008 and almost guarantee a Republican victory.
You Temporary Democrats are destroying the Party, not Hillary Clinton.
1) Allocate the delegates 50/50....or
2) Award the delegates based on the popular and pledged delegate vote totals.
Which one do you support?
There are 5 months until the convention.
Are the Dems going to do the Republicans job for them - for five months - just to confirm Obama? Five months to fight among themselves, three months to fight McCain. Just so Hillary can go to the convention and hope for smoke-filled rooms.
There are 353 uncommitted superdelegates. If you subtract the 313 delegates from MI and FL, the candidate only needs 1,869 delegates (not 2,025) to clinch the nomination. IF the superdelegates declared NOW, the handwriting would be on the wall for Hillary and she could set her sights on 2012. Until that happens, expect more kitchen-sink, scorched earth campaigning from Hillary and a better chance for McCain to beat a bloodied Obama.
Either Dem is better than McCain for America. However, we are forced to choose between two excellent candidates, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. The longer that we take to make our choice, the better the chances for McCain in October. The choice has been made. Obama/? 2008!!