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Carolina On My Mind
And it seems like it goes on like this forever.
You must forgive me.
If I'm up and gone to Carolina in my mind.
-James Taylor, Carolina on my Mind
Let's agree: Carolina decides: It's over or it has only just begun. It's already starting to get silly. Hillary's gone from Wall Street's favorite candidate to beer swigging working class champion on the late shift, from stern policy wonk to shameless serial panderer. Obama's been transformed from the son of a single mother, community organizer who can bring us together to a black nationalist, brie and arugula elitist who hates America. It can only get worse if it goes on.
We need a simple agreement. If Hillary sweeps tonight, she's not simply earned the right to go on; it's a brand new race. And if she wins out the remainder of the primaries, superdelegates would have every reason to see her has the best candidate and award her the nomination.
But if she loses North Carolina tonight, it's over. Done. And any super delegate who is sentient and truly not committed should bring this thing to an end, by endorsing Obama as quickly as possible. If Obama wins North Carolina, he'll not only have an insurmountable lead in pledged delegates and popular vote, he'll have staunched the bleeding suffered from the Wright wounds.
To date, the primaries have elevated Obama, exposed him and bloodied him. He'll bear the scars into the general. They've made Hillary a better, if less credible, candidate. She'll carry even higher negatives into the general. But the travails both have gone through have been merely a tea party compared to the scorched earth assaults Republicans are ready to launch. It's simply wrong to argue that Hillary is giving Republicans their attack lines. Republicans don't need lessons from anyone in slash and burn politics.
But even while dismissing the hand wringers decrying how divisive the primaries have been, we should still be clear. The free ride given McCain must end. It is time to put the spotlight on the truly destructive agenda that he is championing -- continuing the war, doubling the Bush top end tax cuts, unraveling employer based health care, starving investments vital to our future, from education and training to broadband and transit, and pursuing the unsustainable trade policies that ship jobs abroad, drive down wages at home, and force us to sell off assets or borrow $2 billion a day
So if Obama wins North Carolina, it's over. The superdelegates couldn't take the nomination from Obama without severely damaging the party. And it will serve no one -- neither Hillary nor Obama -- to continue a race in which she has no choice but to burlesque his positions to contrast them with her own in route to inevitable defeat. The Clinton campaign will want to fight on, no doubt. But it will be time for Dean, Reid, and Pelosi to shepherd the uncommitted superdelegates into getting off the fence in large numbers to bring this thing to a close.
So Carolina should decide: either game over or a brand new ballgame.
In my mind, I'm gone to Carolina.
Can't ya see the sunshine?
Can't ya just feel the moonshine?
Ain't it just like a friend of mine?
It hit me from behind
And I'm gone to Carolina in my mind.
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they say he has a chance of winning IN too...wooo hoooooooooooo
It's over. Barack won NC!!!! they say big time
Yea! Barack has won in NC!!! According to the statistics, I'm one of the few older, white, women who voted for him. But there apparently were more than a few. Looking forward to November...
How would Hillary ever win an election when she can't win now without the Republican vote ? The votes that Obama got were his own, not help from the Repugs. Hillary is the looser all the way around.
Time for Hillary to go. She makes more enemies everytime there is an election.
The one major advantage of not having a presumptive democratic nominee and the GOP having one is that the DNC can hit McCain hard, and repeatedly. Get on it, Dean! No time like the present.
It's not over until the fat lady sings. That will be after the count of the general elections when Senator Obama will have beaten Senator McCain and everyone will have forgotten Senator Clinton.
"It's not over until the fat lady sings."
It happened back on the ninth of last month. See under, "Elton, J."
From these posts there is something incoherent. If Senator Obama is perceived to lie, he is supposed to be deficient in character. If Hillary lies, it is expected. Senator Obama was most graceful during the ABC debate when he defended Senator Clinton when she was attacked about her Bosnia lies. He said that both of them campaigned hard and that sometimes they mispoke. I could not believe his grace when I heard him defending her. And during this campaign he never brought it up. Did she thank him for that? Instead she went on bludgeoning him to death for every mispoken sentences.
I hate to say this but sometimes when women fight, we could fight so dirty, worse then men... with plenty of manipulative innuendos. Senator Obama deserves a fairer fighter.
It's not women in general. It's Senator Clinton in particular.
nostalgia . . . So aptly put. Sen. Obama displays tremendous grace. For the first credible female candidate for President, it is disappointing to see how Sen. Clinton conducts herself. It's tiring.
I am looking for a candidate that has the intelligence, grace and discernment to make the best choice for all Americans.
You are being realistic, dear sir, but Clinton is not playing with a full deck: she's a crazed, megalomaniacal individual on a tear to destroy anything in her path. Only kicking her out of the Democratic party (could that be done?) or finding her stone-drunk in some sewer might end this thing in a sane and reasonable manner.
If the democrats had winner take all primaries, Clinton would be leading in delegates. If she wins in Indiana, we're going to start hearing more from Florida and Michigan. Why should those voters be denied their rights because of Howard Dean? If Florida and Michigan have a voice in this election Obama is done. Over. All North Carolina proves is that Obama has the black vote. That's not enough. it was never enough. And it never will be enough.
And if Clinton had won more primaries and caucus states, she'd also be leading in delegates. But she didn't. Why do we have to keep hearing about what would be true if we lived in an alternate (Clintonian) universe? What relevance does it have?
As for MI and FL, Howard Dean didn't make the decision. The whole DNC did. And get this through your head -- ALL OF CLINTON'S SUPPORTERS ON THE DNC VOTED TO DEPRIVE MICHIGAN AND FLORIDA OF THEIR DELEGATES. Okay? So stop blaming Dean and Obama. Clinton was fine with MI and FL having no delegates until she started LOSING. I understand the Clintonistas desperately want to change the rules in the middle of the game, but remember, she agreed to them to begin with.
You guys really should experiment with telling the truth for a change. It's really much, much simpler.
From the start you lost me....NC does not decide it all....you are wrong, sorry. It just sounds like fear when Obama supporters try to make Hillary quit...to me it sounds like "stop her before he loses" blah, blah blah....try again. You have no right to stop the elections before they are finished. You are not a democrat and say that, no matter who you support, it is sickening to hear a democrat say all the votes should not be counted, leave the party now, you are NO DEMOCRAT, SIR. I will no longer consider anything you say ever, ever again, you are not a democrat and try to silence voices....that is a republican tactic, resign now.
Anyone who says they are voting for McCain if Obama wins is not a democrat either. And I see far, far more Clinton supports on Huffpost saying that they're doing to that than Obama supporters the other way 'round.
I'm A-OK with Hillary continuing to run as long as she stops being such a politician about it. Stop with the kitchen sink and focus on the issues. Stop making it a fight about race and make it a fight about policy. Stop pandering for votes and start thinking of REAL solutions, not fake ones that even her own economic adviser thinks sucks.
If she is unwilling to act like an adult for the remainder of the primary, then she needs to quit and let the adults fight McCain.
See, here is the difference: Senator Obama can win according to the rules. Senator Clinton can't. So if she somehow managed to get nominated, supporters of Senator Obama have something to be upset about. OTOH, if Senator Clinton loses, her supporters simply have to concede that the better politician won because he will have taken the high road all the time.
If there is no plausible way for her to win more delegates or the popular vote, and there is ample evidence her continuing (or even winning the nomination at this point) will shatter the party beyond repair and only bolster McCain's bid for the White house, I would argue that Hillary's refusal to drop out after Obama wins NC demonstrates that HILLARY is NO DEMOCRAT, MA'AM.
I am a Obama supporter and I think that if Hillary wishes to continue on, its perfectly alright. What I do have a problem with, is the "scorched earth" tactics that her campaign is using. If she falls short of the nomination, she would have given the retards.....I mean, repubs, any additional bullets to possibly take Obama out.....as Democrats, we should be behind whoever is our nominee is.....right ? But I hear, white democrats saying they will not vote for Obama if he wins the nomination.....if anyone feels that way, you are no Democrat at all. Our party should be cake walking all the way to the Whitehouse this fall....instead, it appears that we will be fractured and let McCain carry out a third Bush term.....wake up people.
Actually, I just got this from ABC.com:
"Today, Clinton stressed the importance of the North Carolina contest.
"This primary election on Tuesday is a game changer. This is going to make a huge difference in what happens going forward. The entire country " probably even a lot of the world is looking to see what North Carolina decides."
Sounds to me like Hillary's the one who set the rules about how important NC is.
Then again, she's been "changing goalposts" pretty constantly.
ginny, calm down. No matter what, the primaries will continue. Whether the nominee is already decided or not, the voting goes on. For example, McCain has won the nomination but the republican primaries continue. This is the first time in a very long time that the decision wasn't made by now. To ask the losing candidate to concede when there is no logical way for her to win is not the same as trying to stop the elections.
Your blog and your attitude are why this election cycle is so screwed up. Oh for an honest pundit.
Or if she loses California, or New York - oh wait, she won those, didn't she?
CAPTAINSKIPPY,
You can bet your skipper joints that Hillary would not win New York now nor California. Oh by the way Indiana is a red state like Hillbots always says, they will vote republican in the GE...
Obama will carry both New York and California in the general.....
Obama had an insurmountable lead months ago. She is given chance after chance after chance. And, why? Look at the cost to the America people. Not unlike the cost to us when when the country was riveted to Whitewater and the blue dress. This could not be more leaderless and embarrasing.
As to the white working class who have rallied around Hillary. Ask yourself are they the same white working class who will be voting in November or will they actually vote for their true party, the Republicans. I guarantee you iit will be the same youth and same blacks plus all the white who have left her becuase of her unethical conduct in thsi election will be voting for Obama in November.
ALL working class whites are really republicans...you are nuts. I am a white, working class democrat, have voted dem for over 30 yrs....so, maybe you should ask a white, working class person about it, since you obviously are not one yourself, don't know any and have no clue....
I'm for Obama but that said, I wish you would look again at who is supporting him. His great attraction is an ability to cross traditional lines. During the primary, there are some groups who prefer Hillary, same with Obama, but that is Dem v Dem. I think he can bring over the same working class that are now voting for Hillary because they know McCain won't help them.
Ridiculous.
Senator Obama himself said INDIANA is the tie-breaker.
Did you miss that?
He is not in charge of the world, or did you miss the memo.....Hillary can stay in as long as she likes, it isn't all about what you want, believe it or not.
It is about numbers of delegates. That tells the story. Huckabee got out when it became clear he could not mathematically reach the figure. McCain was known as the putative nominee before then.
Never once did Obama say that Hillary needed to drop out..By the way, I have my T.V. on. He just stomped her in NC.. I think Hill Billy is going to take Indiana but not by the blow out she needs..LOL, Kiss your big mouth lady goodby..She can pack her bigs and go back to whatever place she says is her hometown this time.
Obama 08
Okay Ginny, how old are you really? This post sounds as immature as your last. Join the adult table and stop acting like a 10 year old. Only big boys and girls are allowed to post on HuffPo.
GLaB
When did you start listening to Obama?
North Carolina has more electoral votes than Indiana, if I recall correctly.
Didn't James Taylor pen this song from a ward at the state hospital?
A hard part of his life that he succesfully overcame.
I remember another song
"Just yesterday morning 'they' let me know you were gone,
Suzanne the plans they made put and end to you"
But ,alas, Hillary isn't Suzanne. And we Americans don't have the santuary of a hospital to make it through our dark night.
BlackFrancis - Here are Obama's own words.....the blindness of Obama supporters to even recognize the truth when it is plain site is disturbing:
KEITH"There"s an awful lot of strong material that"s now on videotape; we have played it; I see no reason to play it again, but there"s that phrase he said that "God damn America" is a better phrase to use than "God bless America" ¦ can you"can you characterize your own reactions to this? Did you know that he had made these statements before these videotapes appeared?
OBAMA"You know, frankly I didn"t¦ahhh¦I wasn"t in church during¦ahhh¦the time that these statements were made. Now I think it"s important, Keith, to point out that¦ahhh¦.he"s been preaching for thirty years¦ahhh¦he"s a man who was a former Marine¦uh¦who served this country¦he"s a biblical scholar¦somebody who"s spoken at¦ahhh¦theological schools all across the country and is widely regarded as a preacher. That"s the man I know¦uh...that"s the person who was¦uh¦pastor of this church¦uh¦I did not hear such incendiary language¦uhhh¦myself personally¦uh¦either in conversations with him or when I was in the pew¦uh"he always preached a social gospel¦uh¦and was¦ahhh¦sometimes controversial in the same way that..ahhh¦many people who speak out on social issues are controversial¦uhh¦but I"I"these particular statements that¦uh¦have been gathered...are ones I strongly objected to, strongly condemned¦uh¦had I heard them¦uh¦in church I would¦uhh¦expressed that concern directly¦uhh¦ to Reverend Wright, so I didn"t become familiar with these until¦uhh¦recently.
So many lies from Obama...please feel to apologize for misleading people now....
Yeah, pay attention there, BlackFrancis. What do you think you are? Some kind of elitist latte-drinker?!!
You're probably just one of those kinds of people that don't count. (The list is getting so long I can't remember who all is on it anymore!!)
I wish that there was an option of "I'm not a fan of CraigMM" - I've seen enough posts to click that option. "fraid I don't see the smoking gun, son...you seem to state a conclusion without facts to support it. Unless you have proof that he was in the pew during those particular sermons or that you have all his sermons and they all contain "I hates me some whiteys" preaching, you sound like you are trying too hard. I don't know if you attend church or you are nursing your Saturday night "just got paid" hangover, but socially relevant sermons happen all over churches, some fiery and some mild. I think your quote doesn't do anything except tell us that you are not going to vote for Obama. There's a tear in my beer over that loss...
So what? McCain has sat in on some bizarre sermons and no one has made an issue of them. Obama didn't make the statements, and has distanced himself from Wright.
My guess is that the people who are offended were looking for a reason to not like the dark guy, and the Clintons have provided one where you can claim it's those other people who are racist, not you. Yeah right..
The point was that Obama lied when he said he never heard controversial statements from the pew when he was on Olberman because he said that he did when he gave his politically necesary speech in Philadelphia.
Obama supporters continue to deny that he lied even when the transcripts and videos prove that Obama lied.
So what? He lies like 50 or more times in 3 days, and you say "so what?"...so what would it take to see he lies, does he need to come to your house and lie to your face personally............what does it take, he lied over and over....see the truth, or resign yourself to 4 more years of a liar as President, haven't you had enough of that, I know I have.
Compared to "Sniper Fire" Annie Oakley Clinton, (with Bubba skulking around in the background, the thought of a new crop of interns dancing in his head,) as an alternative, I think I'll stick with the man who has to deal with a difficult issue such as race and racism -- and doesn't take the easy way out. Obama took care of his business. Hillary tries to hide hers.
Obama took care of business by calling the Clintons racists. He has taken care of business by blaming Ms. Clinton for the deeath of Benazir Bhutto. He has taken care of business by using GOP talking points. If that is your idea of taking care of business you need to re-think things.
you failed to point out where he is lying.
You haven't backed up your statement! Where is he lying? People like you that throw out misinformation just to prove what? What about Clinton talking about the huge deficit she has had to climb out of in Indiana? What hugh deficit? Care to discuss that Craig?
End the Iraq war and start another. Wake up America!!!!!! Hillary is now ready to take on Iran, but she is not just going to war, she is going to "OBLITERATE" Iran. There you go, this is the woman who supposedly decided in the past few months (after initially supporting the war). that she is against war, now she wants to Obliterate another country, innocents be damned! The fact that even today she is now ready to obliterate Iran, should tell you something about this woman. People accuse McCain of being a Warmonger, and here we go again, Hillary joins his band wagon, she's got two cojones remember, James Carville donated them to Hillary. The only Problem is if he donated two of his who donated the other!!!!!!!!!
This Clinton campaign just makes me want to PUKE.
According to Scott Ritter (who was oh-so-right about Iraq) we'll be in Iran before the next inauguration. And Hillary has already voted for it, so she will have no moral or philosophical ground on which to oppose the aggression.
Another Obama supporter with a faulty memory. Ms. Clinton voted for the non-binding Kyl-Lieberman amendment which did only one thing. It correctly labeled the IRG as a terrorist organization. If Ms. Clinton is wrong for her vote why have you failed to attack Obama. He helped write SB 970, which has the same goal as Kyl-Lieberman, but is binding.
Scott Ritter is my hero, and is also an American hero. He took severe hits from and was ridiculed by pro-war forces in the media. He was proven 100% right. Unfortunately, he is now largely ignored by the media.
Hillary Clinton has supported just about every American war except Vietnam. Not coincidently, her husband had to avoid that war.
I hope Scott Ritter is wrong about Iran.
Obama 2008
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Posted May 6, 2008 | 11:29 AM (EST)