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SaltySaltillo

Recent comments by this user

Obama Muslim Smear Resurfaces: NYT Op-Ed Tags Obama As Muslim 'Apostate'

Wow... I heard that he is not only a muslim, but he is an atheist, a scientologist, and a secular humanist as well and a radical black Christian with ties to Catholic liberation theologists in the darkest jungles of Kenya (the jungles are so dark, no one can find any jungles there). posted 05/12/2008 at 18:20:11

Bob Barr Announces Bid For Libertarian Nomination

Can I be Sec of AG? I love dirt... especially the Hollywood kind. posted 05/12/2008 at 18:21:58

Top 10 Reasons Obama Defeated Clinton for the Democratic Nomination

Yeah, a disaster for the status quo! posted 05/12/2008 at 18:14:28

Webb is more likely - same party and all... posted 05/12/2008 at 18:14:11

Obama Visits Missouri During West Virginia Primary

Fortunately, contrary to the latest Clinton spin, Democrats do not need WV to win in November. WV is worth 5 Electoral Votes! Clinton surrogates say Democrats need WV if they are to win because no Democratic president in recent memory has won in November without winning WV. But Clinton won in 1992 with 370 Electoral Votes. He could have easily lost WV and still become president. WV was a dispensible state for Clinton. And if Clinton could have won without it, so can the Democrats in November.

Clinton surrogates say if Gore had won WV in 2000, Gore would be president. This is true.... but if Gore had won any of Colorado, Nevada, New Hampshire or Florida, Gore would be president. There is nothing magical about WV. Gore didn't need WV to win in 2000, and Democrats don't need WV in November. posted 05/12/2008 at 21:04:20

What Should Obama Do In West Virginia and Kentucky?

A day-one Obama enthusiast, I find myself nodding my head as I read this. I have not been terribly impressed by Obama's approach to the WV and KY primaries. What happened to the 50 state victory? Is Obama short on money after PA? Why the neglect?

The silver lining of the long Democratic nomination has been that Obama has succeeded in building grass-roots on-the-ground campaign infrastructures in many states he otherwise wouldn't have had the opportunity to build.

Why is he skipping WV and KY?
Sure, he's losing, but there is a virtue to campaigning. posted 05/11/2008 at 17:01:22

Obama Enters Enemy Territory: West Virginia

What kind of spin are you working? West Virginia has only voted Democrat 3 times in the last 9 elections. That hardly constitutes a Democratic stronghold. The other day a Clinton surrogate had the nerve to say the Democrats CANNOT win in November without West Virginia and that Gore lost in 2000 because he lost West Virginia (actually, that point could be made about ANY state won by Bush worth 5 or more electoral votes - Ohio, Tennessee, Florida, etc)

People say the game is still on, this is the bottom of the 9th, this is the fourth quarter, and therefore Clinton should not quit because "anything can happen"... but that needs to stop. There is a fixed, predetermined, limited number of pledged delegates left. And if people vote the way they are expected to vote (even with the huge WV victory), it is not enought. The Sports metaphors need to stop - this isn't a sport, this is a chess match, and Clinton is in check and has no moves to make that won't put her in check. We all know that chess games don't end with the capture of the king, they end with the closing of the doors of escape... the king is never actually captured, just put in a move where no moves are winning moves. Clinton is almost in that position now. posted 05/10/2008 at 17:14:07

Obama Campaign Launches "Vote For Change" Voter Registration Drive

Which "terrorist" and what "interest" are you talking about? If this is an Ayers post, you are a slime: the only "interest" Ayers ever showed in Obama was a $200 donation to his IL Senate campaign a decade ago. The "meet-and-greet" at Ayers house in 1996 was organized by Alice Palmer, who was retiring, as a way of introducing the young Obama to Ms. Palmer's constituents and supporters, including Ayers. Obama in 1996 only knew that Ayers was an English professor at a local college. He didn't choose the location of the event, and never sought Ayers' political support after that night.
But you don't care about facts, do you "normal folk".... you just trade in scandal. posted 05/10/2008 at 14:27:47

No... this is more Abraham Lincoln's "government of the people, by the people, for the people" posted 05/10/2008 at 14:23:43

Clinton: Obama Not Winning Over "Hard-Working Americans, White Americans"

It appears that the undecided Superdelegates are still in it for Clinton.... something is holding them back. The conventional wisdom used to be that the Supers were going to vote for whomever had the majority of pledged delegates. Now that it is virtually impossible for Clinton to overcome Obama in pledged delegates, one cannot help but wonder what is holding them back this time. This morning an undecided superdelate told Mika B. on MSNBC that he was waiting to see who won both the pledged delegates AND the majority of votes... Mika didn't have the IQ to ask if his criteria included states like IA WA NV or ME (for those who don't know, these states have not released their popular vote totals) or what if the candidates split the delegates and popular vote? In other words, the only thing I can think is that the undecided supers are holding out for a Clinton comeback... posted 05/08/2008 at 10:45:49

Hillary Will Drop Out by June 15

I agree... why June 15, why not now? I sympathized last night with the typically lunatic Pat Buchanan who made the point that the party shouldn't let Clinton stay in. We all know KY and WV are going to vote for Clinton, and it doesn't advance the Democratic party's interests at all to see the race continue any more, and the elections in KY and WV will only serve as a sort of humiliation of Obama that can be prevented by getting her out of the race NOW. posted 05/07/2008 at 14:41:14

Obama Gives Media A Critical Valentine During Victory Speech

I must have only seen Wolf and Lou... in fact, I distinctly remember at 1 AM CNN finally calling IN for Clinton, and Wolf saying to the cameras "well, a win is a win"... A total pro-Clinton spin... Dems know that "wins" like IN, or MO, or Guam don't count for a thing in this because it isn't whether you win a state or not but by HOW MUCH... whether you are counting delegates or popular vote. posted 05/07/2008 at 14:36:16

Someone really needs to put the Clinton campaign and the pundits in their place with this "swing state electability" argument. If you look at county-by-county results of states that Clinton is winning in the primary, you see a pattern emerge that is like the 2004 general election: everywhere Clinton is only winning in counties that Bush won in the 2004 general election, while Obama is winning in counties that Kerry won in 2004. In Pennsylvania, Kerry won, but on a county by county vote, Kerry only won around Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The rest of Pennsylvania voted for Bush, but Kerry's urban support carried the state. Obama's strength was the same Philadelphia voters that gave the state to Kerry. So the idea that Obama is losing in places where the Dems need to win to carry PA is false.

In OH and IN, Kerry only carried one city in Ohio in'04: Cuyahoga county (Cleveland), while the rest of the state broke for Bush, yet Kerry barely lost Ohio. Obama carried Cuyahoga County, but also carried Franklin and Hamilton counties (Columbus and Cincinatti).

In Indiana in 2004, Kerry only carried Lake county; the rest of the state for Bush. Again, Obama carried Lake county, as well as Indianapolis, Bloomington and several other northern counties.

In states where Kerry lost, Obama is winning more than Kerry did. In states where Kerry won, Obama is winning the same counties the same constituencies that put Kerry over the top in the general. posted 05/07/2008 at 13:18:18

Funny that you heard Tim say "its over".... That means you were watching MSNBC! The cat is out of the bag on media bias in this election, and it is across the board (we are waiting for some sociologist to tell us why it happens) - I was flipping between MSNBC and CNN last night and the change in discourse tone was remarkable: MSNBC was talking about how Clinton is done, while CNN was talking about how Clinton could salvage herself still and what path she could take going forward... remarkably different spins of the same facts going on in two different news centers... posted 05/07/2008 at 13:12:52

North Carolina Superdelegate Endorses Hillary Clinton

There is a new name for her constituents: it is the Appalachian anger vote... posted 05/07/2008 at 13:17:56

George McGovern Switches To Obama, Urges Clinton To Drop Out

Oh... can anyone tell me which way it is to the pro-Clinton news comment board... I have a message that needs delivery. posted 05/07/2008 at 13:31:09

The only thing you forgot to say is the call for Obama to drop out of the race... posted 05/07/2008 at 13:29:25

Exit polls show that 1 out of 10 voters in Indiana was a regjstered Republican but they broke 53% for Clinton, 47% for Obama. That means about 67,000 Republicans voted for Clinton, while 59,000 voted for Obama, for a net difference of about 8,000 votes. I don't think we can point to Rush Limbaugh to explain Clinton's empty win. posted 05/07/2008 at 13:28:44

Exit Polls: Indiana, North Carolina Latest Information

Guam does half delegates posted 05/06/2008 at 18:59:21

Gee, Jim Crow voting laws like proving the ability to read also "cost nothing" ... posted 05/06/2008 at 18:26:31

Ignoring Mattatat's claim - if 1 out of 10 Indiana voters today is a registered republican, and Clinton wins by a margin of 5, doesn't that mean Obama REALLY won among Dems and independents? posted 05/06/2008 at 18:25:25

So we are to disregard the exit poll data from every state that has voted so far along with those elitist "economisticians"? posted 05/06/2008 at 18:23:59

Mattatat slur-monger: What numbers are you referring to? Do you have some double top secret data source to prove how many Republicans are voting for Obama versus Clinton? I smell a Bosnian Sniper Fire Story... posted 05/06/2008 at 18:22:55

Clinton-Obama/Obama-Clinton: We Need Them Both to Win

You should not identify yourself as a Clinton supporter in the same blog in which you call for the nightmare ticket - it is too obvious what your reasoning and motive is.
If Obama is the nominee, he has much better choices. If Clinton is nominee, Obama should go back to the Senate, prepare for a possible Governor of IL run in 2010, and a possible run for President in 2012 after Clinton gets crushed by McCain in November. posted 05/06/2008 at 18:32:55

John And Elizabeth Edwards: What Do They Like (And Dislike) About Dem Candidates?

Ok, they have gone on record saying they won't endorse. Can we start ignoring these people now? Please? posted 05/05/2008 at 18:13:42

On an Obama/Clinton Ticket: A Response to Andrew Sullivan

Problem is, Clinton is not really a Democrat - she is what her voters want her to be... and at this point, she has discovered that her core base is the so-called "Reagan Democrats" who are in fact misnamed and should more appropriately called the "Clinton Republicans" since these are the people that voted for Reagan twice, Bush Sr. and Bush Jr. twice. That to me is a Republican with a soft spot for Clintons and that is what keeps HRC going.

If Obama picks HRC, he might was well pick someone like Ron Paul just to add more wackiness to this campaign. In other words, it won't happen. It doesn't make sense to happen. posted 05/05/2008 at 17:47:20

Rove's Next Trick -- If Obama Must Answer For His Minister Now, Just Wait to See What the Republicans Will Do To Clinton Inc. in October

Right now there are four arguments on the table:

a. "Clinton can win in November but Obama cannot."
b. "Obama can win in November but Clinton cannot."
c. "Neither Clinton nor Obama can win in November."
d. "Both Clinton and Obama can win in November."

I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings too bad, but Schaefer's right: Clinton cannot win in November. That is just the way the cookie crumbles. Can Obama? I don't know. But I came into this election convinced that HRC is damaged goods in the general election, and am more convinced today than ever. So my choices are b. or c. I haven't really heard a savvy argument for a... any takers? posted 05/05/2008 at 18:10:39

Ah yes, the classic "he is a phony" argument... a variation of the "all hat no cattle" from HRC on Feb 22. I will see you "phony" and raise you 2 "sleeping with the enemy" and a "Do anything for a vote"... I call. posted 05/05/2008 at 18:05:55

Bluesage,

I empathize, but it has nothing to do with being anti-Obama. I am firmly on Obama's side in this election, and this happens to me over and over again that my posts "disappear" or never appear. posted 05/05/2008 at 18:01:44

Colbert, Brazille Talk Dirty Over Superdelegates

Ah yes... the French... famous for their dry and clever sense of humour. posted 05/01/2008 at 17:17:48

Labor Leader Says Clinton Has "Testicular Fortitude"

Maybe he knows something about HRC that we don't. posted 05/01/2008 at 09:05:46

Senator: Obama Has Dozens Of Secret Superdelegates Lined Up

Well, at least we discovered something about our democracy... it is really a function of media spin and polling. We only get to vote if we are lucky enough to get a call from a polling company. Democracy by Gallup. posted 04/30/2008 at 12:52:09

Embrace Your Inner Elitist

I take offense to you too... Let me give all of y'all a lesson about Texas: it is about 45% Democratic, close to 3 million people participated in the Democratic primaries, and there has always been a liberal, free-spirited tradition in Texas that is exemplified by many people who have chosen to call this state home, like the economist Clarence Ayres, the theologian Charles Hartshorne, and entertainers like Willie Nelson... and Texas is, I think, the most liberal state among the former Confederate states... so don't say "Texas saw its self-image in Bush". We didn't ... we just have a lot of residual bigotry and ignorance that keeps Texas from really showing its true character and spirit. posted 05/01/2008 at 11:41:55

Its because some forms of Christian worship in our country center around hero-worship (Joel Olsteen at Lakeside, for example) while more traditional Christian worship is built around the principle of fellowship with a community of worshipers. In Catholic mass, for example, the sermon doesn't last more than 5 minutes and constitutes only a very minor part of the act of worship. The real core of Christian worship is the breaking of the bread together.

For people who either practice the hero-worship form of Christianity or, more likely, people who are not seriously practicing Christians any more mistakenly assume that Christian worship is an intellectual dialogue between the individual and a central figure in the pulpit. This is a misunderstanding of Christian worship, but it explains a lot of the dumb mentality that asks "how could he sit in those pews for 20 years?" posted 04/30/2008 at 10:15:37

Seitzman, I was with you until you bashed Texas in the last sentence. Not cute. It makes you look... well, makes you look stupid... I know you think you are one of the "smart people" who wants the country back, but ... Texas-bashing shows me you only think you are smart and cute. posted 04/30/2008 at 09:33:14

Obama's Reverend Wright Press Conference (VIDEO)

My thoughts exactly. As I watched Olbermann and the Daily Show (2/3 of my news dosage in any day), I told my wife what a silver lining this Wright thing is for Obama: he can engage in all the "denouncing" and "rejecting" and "mea culpa" that the MSM and everyone else demands of him, give closure to all questions of his association with the guy, and move on... posted 04/29/2008 at 14:37:34

McCain Strongly Rejected Long-Term Iraq Presence: "Bring Them All Home"

testing posted 04/28/2008 at 21:54:38

Elizabeth Edwards Denies Endorsement Rumors

I heard there are two issues: one is Obama's arrogance/self-confidence once rubbed Elizabeth the wrong way and Obama's pragmatism on health care (a plan that can become a reality rather than Clinton's unworkable pipe-dream) was perceived by Elizabeth as not "progressive enough." posted 04/29/2008 at 12:36:39

Reno urged to prepare for worse as earthquakes continue

The woodne flume was not built to float lumber down river - the Orr Ditch (as it is properly called) is a water diversion for generating electricity. I know the region as well as I know anywhere on earth, and I must say these earthquakes are odd - quite abnormal - even though it is not the first time. posted 04/26/2008 at 17:31:37

Chris Matthews vs. Jimmy McNulty

This blog and these comments are the most important discussion coming out of this election year. If we can learn anything about our world, it is that the MSM is an extraordinarily powerful, mostly antidemocratic force shaping our society.

For some reason I have read almost nothing in the blogosphere, although it shocked me to no end, that Gibson and Stephanopoulos conflated $250K per year as the top end of the American middle class income range when they tried to nail Clinton and Obama to the cross of "Read-my-lips-no-new-taxes". If anyone goes back they will see that Gibson quite clearly framed the tax question as "middle class americans making up to 250K per year."

Can someone please inform Mr. Gibson that 250K per year puts one in the top 5% of income earners in this country? 95th percentile wealth is not middle class. And a tax on people earning 250K a year is not hurting the middle class. posted 04/26/2008 at 17:47:43

The Undeniable Virtue of Jeremiah Wright's Pro-Blackness (and the Problem with Pro-Whiteness)

Ridley,

I am on the same page and have been there since this whole Wright-scare busted loose.
But I disagree with you about the character of "pro white" culture - it isn't white sheets and nooses - it is the world we live in - call it what you will, Eurocentric or what have you. We don't need to call ourselves "pro white" because the world we have built is fundamentally and tacitly built around and for the white community. Here is a novel idea that we white folks should be considering instead of getting spooked by the realization that we really don't know black culture at all: neither black nor white but both together... maybe that is the culture we should all (Hannity too) be building together in the 21st century. posted 04/25/2008 at 18:52:14

McCain On Obama: "Clear Who Hamas Wants to be the Next President"

Gee, it is probably clear who David Duke wants our next president to be too, Mr. McCain. posted 04/25/2008 at 14:47:59

Whoopi: "Part Of Me Wants Mccain To Win"

I know what part of her wants McCain to win: her wallet! Even the most well intentioned wealthy people can be bought by the cheap promise of a tax cut! posted 04/23/2008 at 23:04:25

Whole Wide World Wants Obama

We occupy three worlds: the Media Mind Warp World, the World on Paper, and the Real World.

In the Media Mind Warp World (where most Americans seem to live) Clinton has turned the tables on Obama, now has a viable candidacy, and voters care about issues like flag pins. In this world, the Media has a vested economic interest in sustaining the longest, most-drawn-out election campaign possible because the news audience goes way down in Spring and Summer (as does TV audience generally) and the MSM is trying to milk this story for all it can.

In the World on Paper, states are neither won nor lost. Pledged delegates are allocated according to clearly defined rules. This is the world of Obama. He is built his campaign on a strategy plan for succeeding in the World on Paper; he gamed the rules and maximized his success in the World on Paper.

In the Real World, motives are not what they appear: Clinton knows she cannot become the nominee, but she is lining herself up for a 2012 comeback. The harder Obama falls right now, the greater her chances of becoming successful in 2012. A McCain presidency will be terrible, and give us 4 more years of GOP, and the Democrats will be practically guaranteed the 2012 presidency. And after Obama's failed candidacy (with a few pushes, trips, kicks by Clinton to move the process along), she will be poised as "the one you should have nominated in '08". posted 04/23/2008 at 17:35:12

Why I Predicted the PA Results Exactly Right

Looks like my last post didn't make it past the censors so here it goes:

Eskow, there is no Bradley effect, and you are congratulating yourself for nothing. The vast majority of polls pre-election showed Obama polling at below 45%... only one PPP showed him breaking 45% and that was still within the margin of error. He came out EXACTLY as the polls predicted he would - right around 45%. Check out real clear politics for the whole enchilada... True, there were a lot of undecideds in each poll... and true, they mostly broke for Clinton. But being unsure about throwing your support behind Clinton and then voting for her at the end of the day is not the "bradley effect" - the bradley effect is lying to pollsters and voting the opposite of what you say. posted 04/23/2008 at 17:06:32

Jeremiah Wright Used In New Ad By North Carolina GOP: Watch Video

Of course it is a sham... How many times did McCain have to wink at Chairman Daves and cross his fingers as he said these words... There is a clear on-going pattern: GOP goons slime the opposition. McCain publically express faux outrage. GOP goons ignore McCain and move forward with their sliming operation or stop, but only once the damage is done. posted 04/23/2008 at 12:46:25

Hillary's New Inevitability

What is scary and amusing in a big way is that after North Carolina, the next biggest prize on the map is Puerto Rico. and its 3 million registered voters. Who here is prepared to have the nominee decided by the people of Puerto Rico? Media coverage will be quite amusing from May 21 to June 1 as the Chris Mathews and Pat Buchanans and Anderson Coopers of the TV world struggle to find dumb platitudes to fill air time leading up to the voting.... I can't wait to hear Chris Mathews' explanation of the typical voter in San Juan... or the nuances of difference between the Ponce voter and the San Juan voter. posted 04/23/2008 at 21:07:57

She is not out of reasons to continue - not if she can engineer an Obama crash-and-burn. She knows, and has known, that Obama is the nominee for many weeks. But seeing Obama succeed in November gives her nothing - just a few more years in the Senate.

On the other hand, if Obama becomes the nominee but gets beaten badly by McCain in November, the door is wide open for another Clinton run in 2012. For some reason we Democrats forgive people that run in the primaries but don't win the nomination more easily than we forgive candidates who lose in the general (compare John Edwards' current popularity compared to John Kerry's).

HRC's campaign in 2012 will be premised on the argument that we should've picked her in '08 and and we are in whatever mess we may be in after 4 years of McCain because of our own bad judgment in picking the "unelectable" Obama. posted 04/23/2008 at 18:33:24

Rendell Says College Kids "Drink The Kool-Aid" Of Obama Speeches

Maybe the reason young people are turning their backs on Clinton is because of the extraordinary condescension and complete lack of respect people like Rendell have for young people... just a thought. posted 04/21/2008 at 21:26:40

Obama Draws Largest Crowd Of His Campaign At Philadelphia Rally

35,000!!! Holy cow!!! 35,000. And almost nothing in the MSM... a mere afterthought. Let's just step back and ponder this - when, in any one's memory, has any candidate for elected office mobilized so many people? I for one was stunned by this number. posted 04/22/2008 at 01:39:29

Mark Penn Resigns As Chief Strategist For Clinton Campaign

Can you say "Conflict of Interest" boys and girls? posted 04/06/2008 at 21:27:21

Obama Lawyer Career Explored By LA Times

Did he write about that in his "Dreams" book? posted 04/07/2008 at 12:46:04

The lawyers among us will surely recognize how utterly banal this article is. If they are trying to suggest that Obama is being dishonest because 30% of his time during his first 4 years out of law school was spent doing cases that are not strictly "civil rights" cases, it is ridiculous. Anyone at a 13 lawyer law firm knows that cherry-picking is not something you can always engage in - sometimes you have to handle matters your clients require, even if they don't fit into your ideal job description. Is anyone's job any different?

Further, many lawyers will remember that the years fresh out of law school are years for learning, experiencing different paths of law and deciding on a practice specialty. Are we to hold a 46 year old man to task because he was not zealously committed heart and soul 24 / 7 to public service?

Why are we holding Obama to a different standard than McCain or Clinton. I never hear anyone really call McCain out when he tells his "lifetime of dedication to our country" story on his years as a beer distributor in Arizona before being elected to the senate (or that he abandoned his first wife with three children in order to marry into a beer distributor heiress). And what about Clinton's years as a partner at a corporate law firm as part of her 35 years of public service? posted 04/06/2008 at 21:51:23

Hillary Clinton Tax Returns: See Full Details

Well, now we know why she is awake at 3 AM to answer phone calls. It probably takes her all night just to balance her checkbook!!! posted 04/04/2008 at 19:44:12

Wow. That's almost Mitt Romney rich. Why do they keep asking for us commoners to make contributions to their campaign? If Bill believed so much in his wife, couldn't they fund her candidacy, Romney style? posted 04/04/2008 at 17:19:26

Roger Ebert Promises Return To Movie Reviewing This Month

Godspeed, Roger. We all miss your wit and insight and lifetime of service to the film business. Our thoughts and prayers have long been with you and your family. posted 04/02/2008 at 11:00:59

Sometimes Honor Is Wrong -- The Problem With John McCain

This piece is called "The Problem with John McCain." You mean you only know of one?!? posted 04/02/2008 at 14:44:45

Why Women Like Me Support Hillary (One Story from the "High-Heeled Militia")

This is a nice story about a normal person whose life is touched because a famous person took an interest in her. That's so sweet. Like when we sent a video to Ellen DeGeneres of our 5 year old and she wrote a letter back thanking us. But um... one problem - where is the part about why this makes Hill a better candidate than any one else? posted 04/01/2008 at 01:13:49

Obama's Alliance With McCain, And How It All Fell Apart

It is the one where the lobbyists cannot feed the politician unless the politician is standing - small change that makes a huge difference.... especially given how deep the lobbyists have gotten in DC recently.

This is typical Obama... dramatic transformation accomplished through a series of small baby steps. Like his health care... doable, even if Krugman complains it is not what a liberal would dream up in a perfect world. posted 03/31/2008 at 15:10:45

Obama Is Right: Words Matter When You Want Your Opponent to Leave the Race

Sebelius? posted 03/31/2008 at 13:07:42

So now manners and civility require that Obama concede the nomination to Clinton.
It is not unimportant that Clinton has the support of about the same support as Barack Obama.
But there was a procedure that was designed to determine who wins the nomination, even in close races: first one to 2025 delegates wins. Not who won the popular vote. Not who won the states with the biggest electoral vote. Not who won the most states that traditionally vote democrat. Not who won the most primary-states.
The number of delegates thate separates the two is not trivial - not now, when there are just around 500 pledged delegates up for grabs in the remaining elections.
Obama will not have 2025 pledged delegates at the end. But he will be much closer than Clinton. So why is she bothering to go through the ritual of running until Denver? In 2004 Edwards dropped out before Kerry reached the required 2,162 delegates, and it took a meeting of superdelegates on March 11, 2004 to award Kerry enough Superdelegates to get him there. So the idea that we have to drag this out does not have precedent in recent memory. There used to be an etiquette which was that the party rallies behind a single candidate as soon as that candidate emerges as the probable pledged delegate leader - it is what happened after Super Tuesday in 2004 and many of us are wondering why it has not happened yet in 2008. posted 03/31/2008 at 12:36:31

President Bush Booed At Baseball Game

Truman is a giant among presidents? Why, because he decided to drop an A-Bomb on Japan rather than stage a land invasion? Because he presided over the start of the Cold War? Oh, I remember now... because he helped engineer the creation of Israel in 1948. He was no Buchanan, but "Giant" might be putting it a bit too generously. posted 03/31/2008 at 12:42:25

Hooked on Hillary

Last night we saw President Bush's pitching skills, and that didn't stop him from winning the election.
Or do you think Bowling is a more worthy American sport than baseball? posted 03/31/2008 at 12:45:43

Clinton Camp: Obama Falsely Claims He Doesn't Take Oil Money

Ok, so since I am required by law to disclose who I work for when I give $25 donations, Obama has now "taken money" from my employer's industry?

Wow, good thing I don't work for the company that takes lunch money from little children and then puts them to work in a glue factory for 12 hours a day or else Clinton and Obama both would have some explaining to do. posted 03/28/2008 at 17:35:04

Krugman On Mortgage Plans: Obama "Cautious," Clinton "Bold And Progressive"

Klassic Krugman ... define your candidate's views as the more "progressive" views and your opponent's views as more "moderate" without ever explaining why one is "progressive" and one isn't or why it is even better to be "progressive" (as defined by Krugman) than not. This is just a giant straw man argument... typical Krugman. posted 03/28/2008 at 13:02:30

US Embassy Personnel In Baghdad Told Not To Leave 'Reinforced Structures' Due To Incoming Insurgent Fire

The surge is working... yes, definitely working... posted 03/27/2008 at 20:15:15

Census: Texas Is The Hot Place To Live

Yes, Texas is a hot place to live... especially in the summer. But the beer is plentiful. I wouldn't have it any other way. ... except I wish the beaches were as good as on the Florida side of the Gulf. posted 03/27/2008 at 19:01:28

yeah, Texans, we are so bad... Willie Nelson is the worst. posted 03/27/2008 at 18:56:50

James Carville, Mary Matalin Leave Washington

Good riddance (except that LA is only 4 hours away from my home... please don't visit TX any time soon!) posted 03/27/2008 at 14:42:50

22-Year-Old Efraim Diveroli, Awarded $300 Million Defense Contract To Arm Afghan Forces, Supplied Them With Aging, Defective Arms

Wow. This is how we are fighting the war on terror and all I hear about when I turn on the TV is Rev. Wright and lies about visits to Bosnia. When is someone going to invent an alternate reality machine where I can leave this world and go to one that makes more sense? posted 03/27/2008 at 12:10:53

Puerto Rico Governor Indicted

Well, first Spitzer now Acevedo... I guess both sides are bound to lose a superdelegate or two.

Worst part is, this was Obama's only high profile friend on the island. I think Obama needs to brush up on his Spanish and get on a plane to PR fast to do some "Levantense para Cambio" campaign events... Si se puede. Maybe Richardson can go with him and try to help.

By the way, why is it so hard for anyone to figure out what voters in PR are thinking. Some really dumb pundits think PR will go for Clinton because hispanics in TX and CA went for Clinton. This is silly, though, because Puerto Ricans are Americans who are not moved by the same issues that move Mexican immigrants, for example. What is motivating the PR voter? I cannot imagine.

But there is a strong PR NY connection that goes back 80 years... Clinton is NY... brand name recognition? posted 03/27/2008 at 12:16:35

Time Mag Cover: "How Al Gore Could Save The Democrats"

Gee, Gore already had an election stolen from him, so he is going to take the chance to steal it back? I don't think so. We could just amend the Constitution to form a presidential council, jointly staffed by Clinton and Obama, to solve all executive decisions... why not? It is silly season, after all. ... posted 03/27/2008 at 11:30:54

Obama Pushing To End Nomination Before Convention

What about Webb?
Doesn't Sebelius get a fair shake? posted 03/27/2008 at 11:44:15

Hillary's Approval Rating Plummets In NBC/WSJ Poll

Well, the Clinton response will be: "you don't have to have a high approval rating to be president. Just look at President Bush." posted 03/26/2008 at 20:30:53

Man Who Inspired Wright Sermon: I Would Have Walked Out Of His Church

"Peck said that he had not had the chance to view Wright's clips in their entirety. "

Ah, does anyone else see something wrong with Peck's commenting on Wright's sermon in which Wright quoted Peck's "America's chickens" line without having actually seen any part of the sermon other than the part that was Peck's own words? posted 03/26/2008 at 17:24:05

Clinton Donors Object to Pelosi Comment

Wow, this letter is really messed up for one crucial phrase: "Super-delegates, like all delegates, have an obligation to make an informed, individual decision about whom to support and who would be the party"s strongest nominee."

Isn't that just reaffirming that these 20 people agree with Clinton's recent remarks that pledged delegates can switch sides? Notice that "informed, individual decision" is not the exclusive prerrogative of the supers any more... any (pledged) delegate now has an obligation to make an individual decision.

How do we reconcile this with the opening remarks that the remaining states' voters have a right to be heard. What is the point of voting if the delegates that are awarded in the process are now expected by both Clinton and the letter writers apparently to make the same the same "informed, individual decision" as the supers? posted 03/26/2008 at 16:49:16

Smears and Tears: How Obama's National Security Week Turned Into the Mendacity of Hype

Joe Wilson seems to have missed the fact that Obama planned, announced, scheduled and gave two lengthy speaches about Iraq and foreign policy (one in NC, other in WV), neither of which got any media attention because it was national race-mongering week. So don't blame Obama for your failure to pay attention. posted 03/26/2008 at 14:59:21

Paul Krugman Slams...Hillary

NO ProudLiberalDan -
I share your sympathy about getting the general election show going, but to reduce Krugman's entire output from mid-Jan to mid-Feb to a mere critique of Obama's healthcare plan is disingenuous.

The week Clinton attacked Obama for invoking the unholy name of Ronald Reagan Krugman dedicated his entire op-ed to why Obama was bad for having done so.

The week when Clinton tried to make the argument that Obama was as yet unvetted but Clinton was vetted, Krugman backed her up, saying she had already been subject to and passed the "Clinton Rules" that tanked the likes of Gore.

The week Clinton was demonizing Obama supporters as cult-like Krugman called them intolerant ("I see is coming from supporters of Mr. Obama, who want their hero or nobody. I"m not the first to point out that the Obama campaign seems dangerously close to becoming a cult of personality. ")

The week Edwards dropped out Krugman made the argument that Clinton was the better of the two remaining candidates because she was picking up more Edwards supporters and Edwards had been the most progressive candidate.

And on the health care issue, this is classic Krugman. But to argue one side or the other on such an issue is not going to mean that Obama or Clinton is more or less progressive, although the Krugman sleight of hand is to call whichever candidate he disagrees with the less progressive one. posted 03/26/2008 at 20:51:38

I thought it was because he gets a free pass with the press because he is married to Andrea Mitchell and knows all the big wigs on a first name basis (he is the guy at the NBC christmas parties with a crowd of eager-eyed tim russerts and chris matthews encircling him as he tells stories about his old friend, Ayn Rand) posted 03/26/2008 at 17:03:48

Look Anti-Obamaloons, the criticism of Krugman is along a few lines: First, he really stepped out of his field of expertise back in Jan/Feb when he went on the character-assassination warpath for Clinton. He is an economist, but that didn't stop him from penning an "Obama-is-an-empty-suit and not as liberal as people think" series of op-eds about the guy that really smacked of Clintonista spin. I think he disappointed some readers by taking such a hard line within the party, rather than saving his venom for showing why either Obama or Clinton is better than McCain.

But here is the bigger problem: Krugman's primary method of argument is the straw man argument. Krugman has appointed himself the spokesperson and authority on all things liberal/progressive. He then proceeds to identify people who take positions on issues he disagrees with, and proceeds to explain why that person is in fact the less progressive/liberal for no other reason than that Krugman disagrees with them (and since Krugman is the spokesperson for what it means to be progressive.. you get the picture).

I disagree with Krugman on a lot of ideas, because there are multiple, alternative views that can all be considered "progressive" ... it is not a game of who is more and who is less, as if we all order ourselves on a spectrum - the left end of the spectrum has room for a plurality of sometimes conflicting proposals and ideas. posted 03/26/2008 at 17:00:55

Of course Krugman has to take this position, despite his otherwise unwaivering loyalty to Hillary... How else could it be? Krugman is the anti-Greenspan. He has been pointing his finger at Greenspan for years. I was wondering how he would react to this news that his favorite candidate is talking about his worst nightmare as a possible fix to the problem. Now I see, Krugman still has his scruples. posted 03/26/2008 at 13:21:48

Those Hidden Costs

Thanks, Great article Mr. abdul-Jabar.

But let's find out what is really important: have you found Colbert's hiddn nazi gold yet? Just kidding... keep up the good fight. posted 03/26/2008 at 14:56:34

Sen. Clinton's Own Religious Cult Includes Brownback, Santorum

ok, I am confused. So Clinton is a manchurian candidate of the vast-religious-right-wing-conspiracy. That is more plausible than Obama-as-Muslim-manchurian-candidate. But if the Senate's weekly prayer breakfast is the secret meeting place for this conspiracy... I thought Obama also attended these things...? posted 03/25/2008 at 17:59:00

Obama Tax Returns: Low On Story Lines And Charity Donations

This whole guilt-by-association connection between Wal mart and a supplier is bogus. Wal mart is anti-labor but it is also anti-supplier. The purchasing department is a goliath that plays incredible hardball with suppliers and squeezes them for everything they can. Being a supplier to walmart means you are a victim of the goliath, not its accomplice. posted 03/25/2008 at 19:03:43

In fairness to Michelle, being on the board of a small business that supplies products to Wal Mart is not guilt-by-association. Wal Mart is as disreputable for exploiting its suppliers as it is for exploiting its workers. The purchasing relationship between any given supplier and Wal Mart is a David-Goliath relationship. I fail to see why being on treehouse Foods can "haunt" the Obamas. posted 03/25/2008 at 17:13:40

Hitchens: Obama Sold Out His Grandmother

This is crazy... I have been posting to this thing all day and no comments appear... bizarre. posted 03/25/2008 at 18:37:30

Andy - it is about the messenger... If this criticism were coming from someone like Mike Huckabee, it would be totally different (but then again, Huckabee defended Wright). Hitchens is antitheist for whom any choice of family priest would be a bad one. Hitchens is an avowed "antitheist" who believes all religion is bad and should be rejected/replaced by secular principles. Think of this guy as the Anti-Hagee... if Hagee wants the Iraq war because it leads to the Rapture, Hitchens is for the Iraq war because it involves killing people that believe way too intensely in God... and no bad can come of that. So it is tough taking such a vociferous anti-theist seriously when he slams Obama for going to the wrong church/ posted 03/25/2008 at 17:05:46

The message is refuted by the messenger. Hitchens is not a mere atheist, but a self-identified "antitheist" who hates all forms of religion and God worship and sees all politics on earth today as a struggle between secularism (good) and any kind of religion (bad).

It also doesn't help that Hitchens is an enthusiastic supporter and defender of the war in Iraq because he sees it as part of a greater global war on Islam which he thinks is a necessary part of creating a post-theological secular world.

Maybe if Huckabee had made this criticism it would have more stickiness... Oh yeah, I forgot, Huckabee defended Obama and Wright. posted 03/25/2008 at 16:21:31

Anyone who knows Hitchens knows that any choice is a "revolting choice of family priest." If there is anything Hitchens hates more than the Clintons, it is God and the people that believe in such a thing. posted 03/25/2008 at 16:02:04

Obama: Even the Conservatives' Right Choice

Ah... Every Ron Paul supporter is a conservative that opposes the war. This sort of comments is motivated by ignorance, Simone. posted 03/25/2008 at 19:09:42

Clinton: Wright "Would Not Have Been My Pastor"

Ha ha ha ha ha this is a good one! posted 03/25/2008 at 16:18:30

Ah, now you just sound like that liberal Obama supporter Mike Huckabee. posted 03/25/2008 at 16:18:10

Isn't that what she admitted .... You don't choose "The Family" but you can choose a mere church. You can leave your church, but The Family is like the mob... once you are in, you can never get out. posted 03/25/2008 at 16:14:04

Limbaugh's Lying Voters Under Investigation

BOfever - careful trying to show off your legal knowledge... it is not a "county law" - it is Ohio state law. The fact that it is not a "federal" law does not matter either. posted 03/25/2008 at 14:19:08

NYT's Krugman Finds Candidates' Financial Policy Lacking, Finally

Nice to see Krugman is finally trying, modestly, to move away from his recent roles as a hitman for Clinton against Obama. I am dying to see what he has to say about Clinton's invocation of Greenspan to get us out of our housing problems - Krugman has played the "Anti-Greenspan" for so long, I wonder whether he will step out against Clinton on this move. posted 03/24/2008 at 18:14:59