Clinton "Resigned" to Loss of Nomination

Ahem, Reality Bites.

Sen. Hillary Clinton's aides "said she seemed to have come to terms over the last week with the near certainty that she will not win the nomination, even as she continues to assert, with what one associate described as subdued resignation, that the Democrats are making a mistake in sending Mr. Obama up against Sen. John McCain," the New York Times reports

."Clinton has kept her counsel about what she might do to draw her campaign to a close and when she might do it. Her associates said the most likely outcome was that she would end her bid with a speech, probably back home in New York, in which she would endorse Mr. Obama. Mrs. Clinton herself suggested on Friday that the contest would end sometime next week."

Laffy's Theater Kids: "The Bush Twins"

By GottaLaff



This video was shot by one of my students. The sketch is from Saturday Night Live, performed by kids from my Comedy Workshop, just for YouTube. It's no frills, but it gets the point across. Let me know what you think, and I'll pass it on .

Mention the name "President Bush" at GOP event: Cricket, cricket

By GottaLaff

At the South Carolina state GOP convention today, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) spoke of President Bush. No applause. Radio silence:

At his first mention of Bush’s visit, Graham paused, waiting for applause. When it didn’t come, it took a slight nod from Graham to prompt a round of applause.

Lindsey: Okay, now! ::cricket:: Okayyyyy, now!! ::cricket cricket:: Never mind.

“President Bush is my friend,” he continued, “and I’m not going to run away from the friend.”

"The friend" had apparently alienated everyone in the room. But we admire Lindsey for his loyalty. He'd make a great Boy Scout.

Graham credited Bush with preventing additional attacks on the U.S. since 9/11, cutting taxes three times and successfully nominating Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court.

No wonder nobody applauded.

“History is going to judge him a lot better than everybody thinks,” Graham predicted.

What a prophet. Let's see what else Lindseykins predicted:

"What we do can affect the outcome. But if we don't see progress on two of the three big issues -- oil revenues, de-Baathification, provincial elections -- in the next 90 days, it may not happen. And Iraq could be a failed state."

I take it back. He was right on that one.

Hillary Clinton supporter/protester: "Howard Dean is a leftist freak!"

By GottaLaff


No words:

[T]wo blocks away from the northwest Washington Marriott where the DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee is meeting right now to try to figure out Florida and Michigan, the Hillary protesters are occupying an utterly alternate (and healing-free) universe: a universe in which one of the big lawn rally's speakers yells that the Democratic Party no longer is in the business of "promoting equality and fairness for all"; in which a Hillary supporter with two poodles shouts, "Howard Dean is a leftist freak!"; in which a man exhibits a sign that reads "At least slaves were counted as 3/5ths a Citizen" and shows Dean whipping handcuffed people; and in which Larry Sinclair, the Minnesota man who took to YouTube to allege that Barack Obama had oral sex with him in the back of a limousine in 1999, is one of the belles of the ball. [...]

Clusters of people in Hillary shirts ask to take their photo with him, one woman covered in Clinton buttons introduces him to Greta Van Susteren, and he estimates he has handed out 500 fliers. "You could improve your credibility if you downplayed the gay sex and focused on the drugs," sagely advises one Hillary supporter [...] In fact, he's treated nearly as well as he might be at a meeting of the Vast Right-wing Conspiracy. In the thirty minutes I stand with him, only one woman expresses disgust at his fliers and his willingness to chattily discourse on whether Obama is "good in bed."

These are the people who share my party. Is this some kind of parallel universe? Somebody wake me up, please. Please?

Has it come to this? We tend to assume the Hillary camp's hot rhetoric--that Obama's less ready than McCain to be commander-in-chief, that the DNC in Florida is like Mugabe in Zimbabwe--is studied, purposeful, that they can't really believe it. That may be true at the Lanny Davis level, but by the time it trickles down to Hillary's most grassroots supporters, it becomes deadly serious. [...]

It's easy to sink into despair here. Standing and watching all these Democrats chat up Sinclair--who's retained Montgomery Blair Sibley as his lawyer and says the Republican National Committee has also been in touch with him--makes me want to fall to my knees, rend my garments, and start insanely screaming, "Wake up! Wake up! You'll hate a President John McCain!" But the rhetoric from the top has imparted its poison below, and the bitterest criticisms of Obama gain traction as they circulate through the virulently-pro-Hillary echo chamber. "Would you rather have a president who had an affair [Bill Clinton] or one who was a murderer [Obama]?"

Will somebody tell me who Obama was supposed to have murdered? And will somebody tell me what has happened to this party? This country? Their sanity? My sanity?

Silver lining... Or maybe pewter:

Following instructions from Obama HQ, almost no Obama supporters have shown up to protest, amplifying the impression of the alternate Hillary universe. But around the edges, a few small signs of the other universe peek through, the one in which Barack Obama leads and most Democrats don't suspect him of multiple felonies. Inside the Marriott's gift shop, the sales clerk tells me that Democratic bumper stickers have been selling like crazy today. "Mostly Hillary?" I ask.

"Actually, mostly Obama," she giggles.

TBPNTOTV!!! The "It's over now" edition

TBPNTOTV!!!* speaks!

Campbell Brown: Hillary put out a release reserving the right to bring the votes to the Credentials Committee.

Robert Zimmerman, superdelegate: Many of her supporters voted for the resolutions, so this may be premature. ... This was the fairest solution possible.

Jeff Toobin: It's over now. The numbers aren't there. There is zero prospect of a convention fight, many Hillary supporters broke off.

*THE BEST POLITICAL NEWS TEAM ON TELEVISION!!!

Florida, Michigan seated with half-votes: Clinton okays taking it to Credentials Committee

By GottaLaff

Open thread.

To answer Commenter Chris, the Credentials Committee can restore full votes, instead of 1/2-votes.

MSNBC:

Andrea Mitchell: It remains to be seen if it's an empty threat by Hillary. It could be a bargaining chip to see how she's treated by Obama camp, to see what superdelegates will do, how well she'll do in the remaining primaries... and to reassure voters that she's not caving.

Rachel Maddow: I see this as a dramatic day, with the results of the primaries fading in importance. What happened in this room is a clear signal. Florida and Michigan got their resolutions passed with support from Obama. Michigan: The Clinton campaign said NO. The atmosphere was so hostile it nearly derailed the meeting.

Chuck Todd: Big thing: The DNC is not controlled by the Clinton campaign any more. This is Obama's party now. Yes it's true that Ickes can threaten, but Don Fowler signaled, "guys, it's over."

Mitchell: The screaming: Clinton supporters are shouting "Denver, Denver!" They want to be there at the convention. They will be, but they won't get a full vote.

Todd: New magic number is 2118. Obama will only need about 20 supers after splitting the remaining primaries, which is a fair assumption. Will he be able to have them come out before Tuesday, and have a Frank Capra moment?

Mitchell: The Clinton camp will play on his weaknesses, including his resignation from his church.

Harold Ickes: Hillary will take it to the Credentials Committee

By GottaLaff [Note: I changed the title of this post]

A vote to restore full Florida voter capacity to 100%: 12 in favor; 15 against, including Donna Brazile (quick camera scan of group).

A vote to restore full Florida voter capacity (both pledged and unpledged delegates), giving each 1/2 vote, giving Clinton 55 delegate votes: 27 voting in favor, which qualifies as a unanimous vote.

Alice Huffman: "The world's not perfect... but it's good. What the party needs is unity." (huge applause) To hecklers: "Please don't interrupt me. And please don't do what they expect us to do... Conduct yourself like proper men and women."

Next: The Michigan challenge

A vote to restore full Michigan votes, giving each 1/2 vote:
Don Fowler:

It is not the first choice of my candidate Hillary Clinton, but we should support this compromise. I say that to my good friend Harold Ickes.

Harold Ickes:

I rise in opposition. We find it inexplicable that this body, supposedly devoted to rules, will fly in the face the single most fundamental rule in the delegate selection process, Fair Reflection... analogous to the First Amendment of the Constitution. This motion will hijack...HIJACK... 4 delegates won by Clinton and judgment of the voters. Now that's what I call democracy. There's been a lot of rhetoric about democracy and on and on. I am stunned that we have the gall to substitute our judgment for 600,000 voters. Was the process flawed? You bet your ass it was flawed. It's hard to find an election in the U.S. that isn't flawed. Did a lot of people not vote? You bet your ass they didn't vote.

I don't think an election would withstand the test we laid down here. Fair Reflection is in the constitution of our party. It will take 55 delegates from Uncommitted status .. and convert them to Barack Obama. So I'm going to vote against the motion, and I hope others join me, finally. There's been a lot of talk about party unity. Let's all come together, wrap our arms around each other. I submit to you that hijacking 4 delegates is not a good way to start down the path of party unity.

One final word: Mrs. Clinton has instructed me, within her rights, to take this to the Credentials Committee.

The Hillary camp doesn't like the allocation of delegates. But they swear there will be unity. Honest.

Now the vote to restore all pledged delegates able to vote 1/2 vote: Clinton 69 (divided by 2 for vote total) delegates, Obama 59 delegates (divided by 2), all unpledged delegates entitled to 1/2 vote: 19 in favor. 8 opposed. The motion carries.

BREAKING: OBAMA RESIGNS FROM TRINITY UNITED CHURCH

By GottaLaff

That was just reported via Lynn Sweet, to MSNBC.

Rachel Maddow: This was a perfect day to bury that.

Here's the report:

Obama resigns from Trinity United Church of Christ

WASHINGTON--Hat tip to Chicago's Monroe Anderson at www.monroeanderson.com for the scoop that Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) has resigned his membership at Trinity United Church of Christ. Hat tip to Marc Ambinder at www.theatlantic.com for passing it on. Obama quits his church following Father Michael Pfleger's sermon ridiculing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) from the Trinity pulpit last Sunday, reigniting stories about Obama's associations with the inflammatory Trinity pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

Democratic Delegate Debate: A deal is close

By GottaLaff

Chuck Todd just now on MSNBC:

They're getting close to a deal: 69-59, cut in half (half-votes), plus, Obama would get both of the add-on superdelegates so they can say it's not a net of 5, but a net of 3 or 4. The Rules Committee would cut the deal.

Todd: The Obama camp won't concede a Florida win, but a straw vote win at best. Harold Ickes said in a briefing, "delegates nominate, period." And Obama's about to get away with a very good delegate deal. ... Florida: She could net as many as 19 delegates. They'll seat them all, but they get half votes. 9 of the 13 Edwards delegates have pledged to Obama, so that's 4.5. So the 19 is a net of 15.5. So they may end up only netting 13-15 out of Florida. Michigan: Accepting 69-59 proposal, but at half-votes. The key for Obama camp to accept this is that he'd get both of the add-on superdelegates, who were vacant delegates up until now. The net in Michigan could be as little as a net of 3 if the superdelegates are at full strength. Obama would still be 200 ahead of her, maybe as little as 175. Likely net 15 Florida, 4 out of Michigan. The goal of the Obama campaign was to keep it to under 20 delegates.

But will superdelegates by half, or full, votes? That's what nobody knows yet.

Chris Matthews: Hillary gets to win these states, but Obama gets to win the whole deal.

And here comes the Committee, back from "lunch".

Chuck Todd: Florida-- 21-18 if half votes, 21-31 if they're full votes. The last 3 states, if evenly split 43-43 which is likely, then Obama is about 15-20 superdelegates away from crossing the finish line.

Video Of Pro HRC Protesters At RBC Meeting

By Paddy



Oy.

The Democratic jury is out... to lunch

By GottaLaff

The Democrats took a lunch break. And by lunch break, I mean a very long sequestered meeting about seating delegates.

More to liveblogging to come...

Howard Dean and Al Gore are holding a fundraiser called a Unity Dinner tonight. Now all they have to do is unify.... and finish the Delegate Debate before dawn.

"The Clintons no longer control this party.": MSNBC's Nora O'Donnell just confirmed what Commenter Mainsailset confirmed what Chuck Todd said.

Dennis Hastert isn't a lobbyist

By GottaLaff

Dennis Hastert got a new job!

Former House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) has agreed to join the lobbying law firm Dickstein Shapiro as a senior adviser, the District-based firm said yesterday. [...]

At Dickstein, Hastert "will not be lobbying; he will be providing strategic counseling to our clients," a spokeswoman for the firm said.

Nah, he won't be lobbying. He'll just a senior lobbyist adviser who will be helping the lobbyists who do lobby continue to figure out how to lobby so they'll be better lobbyists. See the difference?

John Sidney McMistakeless

By GottaLaff

Barack Obama is smart. He recognizes a Bush clone when he sees one:

Democrat Barack Obama accused Republican John McCain Saturday of not owning up to what Obama calls his "mistake" — saying that the U.S. has drawn troops down to pre-surge levels in Iraq.

"We all misspeak sometimes," the Illinois senator told a crowd in Rapid City, South Dakota. "I've done it myself. So on such a basic, factual error, you'd think that John McCain would just say 'Oh, I misspoke, I made a mistake' and then move on. But he couldn't do that. Instead, he dug in."

Obama connected McCain's Iraq comments to President Bush's unwillingness to admit fault "when he was presented with facts that went against his views" on the war.

"Just like George Bush, John McCain is refusing to admit that he's made a mistake," the White House hopeful continued. "And that's exactly the kind of leadership that has got us fighting for five years in a war that should've never been authorized."

It's bad enough that John Sidney McSame represents a replay of abysmal Bush policies. The fact that he also mirrors the Chimpenfuhrer's inability to admit mistakes should be a huge red alarm to his supporters. You'd think this would be an eye-opener, wouldn't you?

Then again, I keep forgetting how many voters choose to keep their eyes shut, blind to the most obvious, most dangerous failures of judgment by both Bushes: John Sidney and George W.

Al Gore, Howard Dean, and the Democratic Party

By GottaLaff

Howard Dean opened at the Rules Committee meeting with a story about Al Gore:

"I was very very angry at my party for some of the things that had been done," Dean said, going on to recall getting a phone call in the middle of the night from Al Gore, to whom Dean ranted and raved about his loss.

"What do I owe the Democratic Party?" Dean recalled telling Gore. "Why should I be a Democrat after what the party did to me?"

According to Dean, Gore responded: "Howard, you know, this is not about you. It's about your country."

"Nobody could have said that to me except for Al Gore," Dean continued, since Gore had had the presidency snatched from him by "five intellectually bankrupt Supreme Court justices who did the wrong thing."

Was he signaling that Gore was about to weigh in on the Democratic primary, and that the Democrats should be listening?

The endless day of Delegate Debating

By GottaLaff

Chuck Todd: The latest buzz, informed speculation: Punt the Michigan issues to the Credentials Committee. But the Clinton folks don't have the votes to do that. The solution may be the default, the 69-59 split. The Rules don't want to accept the primary, but may say the Michigan Dem Party wants to allocate the delegates this way, so we'll defer to them.

Obama may get enough superdelegates that it won't matter. This is not a victory for Clinton at all, donors won't wait the 2 months. Obama camp is aggressively trying to get the superdelegate counts out by Monday. The onslaught of supers hasn't happened. I talk to supers, a couple on the committee, and one admitted that if we rule that we're not seating full delegations, and instead doing half and half, then he'll conclude that there's no math way for Hillary to win, so will come out for Obama. That's why Plouffe is here, working the room. This could be a good day for Obama.

Chris Matthews: So, a double victory: Hillary gets popular vote in Fla, and goes to Michigan goes to Credentials Committee, while Obama gets the numbers. Best case scenario.

Rachel Maddow: If they punt in Michigan, it means there's no magic number, no final delegate number, so it's still open. I'll be watching for Donna Brazile. She's a respected voice, gets spontaneous applause in the room. But she's been saying, "it's got to end."

Nora O'Donnell: After Tuesday, isn't Armageddon for the Democratic Party?

Joe Andrew (switched from Clinton to Obama): I think there will be a vote tonight, certainly on Florida, hopefully on Michigan. Closure is important. Punting to the Credentials Committee is the danger.

Chris: I think the superdelegates who are politicians, who really care about who wins, will move next week. They'll GO. Even the softer Hillary people.

Joe: I think you're right. Each excuse to NOT make a decision will be taken a way. All the primaries will be done, a Rules decision tonight, so no reason for supers to NOT announce who they're for. Obama's in a position to be perceived to compromise. He gave up the 19 delegates, so that's the way a gracious person, a winner reacts. [Chris: If Hillary's attacks go on for another 2 months, can he win the general?] Things can be "not good" for the Dems, but not necessarily help the Republicans; whether it helps the Republicans has yet to be seen.

Democratic Delegate Debate, more

By GottaLaff

Watching MSNBC:

Maddow: Clinton is in it to stay in it no matter what. It can't resolve itself.

Detroit Free Press' Todd Spangler, on CSPAN: The idea of both states losing half their voting power is a done deal. I was just told that they plan to fight on to receive the other half of those delegates. Watch the Obama supporters on the Rules Committee to want a 50-50 Michigan split, or maybe accept the 69-59, just to get this overwith.

Back to MSNBC:

Bonior: We're asking for an even split, 50-50 in Michigan. We were generous in Florida. ... We've gotta move on, unify, we only have 5 months until the election. We'll focus on McCain. Obama will be the nominee. The Committee will decide this, hopefully today, because they understand the time factor. ... The popular vote shouldn't count. Even the Michigan Dem. party feels that way.

Pat Buchanan: Harold Ickes spoke for Hillary. They'll say all delegates should be seated and treated equally, demanding what they did in Michigan. She'll win Puerto Rico and go on to say I am the candidate of the people, Obama is the candidate of the delegates. The superdelegates won't take this away from Obama. Hillary will say this, but then wait for Obama's offer. She'll make him reject her.

Chris: Why? To what effect? Press him to make her v.p.?

Nora: She already counted Fla and Michigan's popular vote. Today they would legitimize them and she'd further that argument. She's said she's more electable, does better with the base (white working class, not African Americans) and older voters, and women. So she doesn't need the popular vote argument to convince them that she'd be the best v.p. candidate. Obama has said that Abe Lincoln brought in rivals, that he's a pragmatist, wants the best government. He doesn't want to rule her out. Many Dems would support a dream ticket.

Howard Wolfson: The day itself is a victory. [See this post, Andrea Mitchell called it] We're making the case to superdelegates [see Nora's comments just above these, he's reiterating those... She's electable, etc.] I'm not sure the Committee will come up with a 50-50 split. I'm pretty comfortable with that.

Todd: But you'll abide by what they decide.

Wolfson: We'll have to see what they decide. In Florida, it's a huge victory for Clinton, and a 19 vote pick-up is more than the status quo, so it's a victory. In Michigan, uncommitted is uncommitted, not necessarily for Obama, so no popular vote credit for him. He took his name off the ballot. ... We're moving towards a resolution in Florida, but Michigan is harder. It's a good day for the party. ...

Mitchell: If there's no math way she could win, what does she do?

Wolfson: She's fighting for the nomination, but we're also fighting for unity. We can achieve both. Obama's committed to those things. [He then threw in a Pastor dig]

Delegate Debate liveblog, the sequel

By GottaLaff

MSNBC:

Chris Matthews: Obama's aim today is to put the fire out.

Todd: Michigan is still an open question. Obama doesn't want to recognize that primary. The popular vote is a silly question, but the Obama campaign is not willing to concede that just because they agreed to the 19 vote advantage in Fla, the popular vote shouldn't be counted. It's not a metric. But they'd accept it by default in Florida. Michigan is another story, it can't be legitimate.

Chris: Clintons want to count the total number of votes.

Washington Post guy: Exit polls are wrong.

Nora O'Donnell: The first wave of exit polls is usually way off. But toward the end are more accurate. This is an effort by the party to appear unified. Keep everyone happy. That is difficult. That's why there have been very heated arguments. Dean wants to walk out saying, 'We are unified.' Obama doesn't want to legitimize the popular vote in Michigan, because Hillary would have a reason to continue. That's key. If Clinton had called for the seating of ALL the delegates, will that be enough for her? Will she take it to the convention and keep fighting? The door would be open just a bit. Obama camp conceded in Florida, giving her half the delegates. But Clinton says, "I want it all." That's what they're putting forth. Levin wants a full seating of the delegates, however you apportion it. And if they don't do that, Levin said he'd take it to the Credentials Committee and the convention.

Rachel Maddow: If the overall strategy is "this can't be resolved", and you raise the rhetoric, you justify going to the convention.

Nora: Why the 500 + protesters? Why were they bussed up there? To say they were glad they reached a compromise? There's a family feud going on.

Chris: I heard there would be 10,000. They're very calm, not angry... yet. It'll come down to, are we going to have a combustion in the party through the summer, or will Clinton be satisfied with a popular vote victory and go with that to the superdelegates and try to win this week?

Post Guy: It doesn't lie with Clintons, but with Levin. Will HE be happy? He said he'd go to the Credentials Committee if he's not happy.

Mitchell: Clinton wants to run up the popular vote, but she'll never close the delegate gap. Then go to the superdelegates. If they jump to Obama, this will wind down. There's no appetite for a scorched earth policy, not from Hillary or Bill. There's a larger interest in the Dem. party. There's still a lot of negotiating to be had.

Chris: If she can claim that she got the most votes, she can start a drumbeat to be on the ticket, per a sense of things I got from Terry McCauliffe.

Nora: She could say that withOUT getting the popular vote. It's more of an historical aspect, being the first woman candidate.

Chris: Because he doesn't want to pick her, that's why.

Mitchell: Whatever happens today, they'll declare victory, because of the very thing that took place today. Because of the division of delegates, by inference, she can declare victory, and will argue for the popular vote.

Todd: They'll adjourn for lunch, but it's an unofficial meeting, cordoned off, like jury deliberations. We may find out that they'll either consider the 2 states together, or separately. Obama camp will rethink the concession if they think the Michigan deal is going south...

Mitchell: Granholme's endorsement, is it being traded? If Obama gives Clinton a deal for Michigan, then will Granholme endorse him? Hillary may go back to Florida and declare victory. Todd's analogy of jury deliberations? Well Judge Pelosi has made a statement, too.

Todd: Ickes and the other Clinton partisan will have the least influence because they're so partisan. However the DNC chair, Don Fowler, a Clinton supporter, is ready to cut a deal. He could have a lot of sway. And Donna Brazile is uncommitted, she will be a respected voice too.

Mitchell: There's an event with Al Gore tonight.

Todd: They don't want to step on the Puerto Rico primary, so the committee will want to resolve this tonight.

Mitchell: Plus, they want to be on the Sunday talk shows with an agreement, unity.

Todd: Obama would lose 19 delegates today, roll out superdelegates on Monday, so Tuesday night, when we call Montana, we call the nomination. That's their best case scenario, and it's plausible. But it's not a probable one yet. We'll see after today, and after Puerto Rico tomorrow.

Obama says his ears too big for Rushmore

By Paddy



What? He's got big ears? Who knew.

MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL MEMORIAL, S.D. (AP) — Democrat Barack Obama paid an unscheduled late-night visit to Mount Rushmore Friday, visiting the national memorial at closing time and joking that his ears were too big to ever be included in such a display.

(snip)

Asked by a reporter if he ever envisioned himself carved into the mountain, he said, "I don't think my ears would fit. There's only so much rock up there."

Liveblog: Delegate Debate, continued

By GottaLaff

Once again, please forgive the typos and shorthand:

MSNBC:

Wexler: The superdelegate question for me was one of fairness. We have to abide by the rules of this bylaws committee. We will accept this decision and move forward. ... The Clinton campaign looks to be acting in a very responsible way toward unity.

Todd: What about Jewish voters?

Wexler: Clinton has their support, but so does Obama v. McCain in the general. We'll beat him badly on Social Security, and Obama has an A+ record on Israel, he's a staunch advocate for their security.

Rachel Maddow: Fla and Michigan had rogue contests. Michigan was an uncontested election and against the committee rules, but also the names of the 2 candidates weren't available to be voted upon. It's a reach to count it...

Senator Carl Levin, of Michigan, up.

Levin: Michigan has achieved unity, we're asking you to preserve it. (applause) Seat all the delegates with full voting rights... there's an overwhelming agreement for this. I believe both candidates support this. That's been missing, unity between our candidates... The Michigan Democratic party supports that position. Disagreement: The Party has reached a compromise on allocation. It's imperfect... no scientific way to reach that conclusion, but a fair way, a reasonable way, per Mark Brewer. Obama wants to divide the votes 64-64 because the primary was flawed. Clinton's rep will say 73-55, representing the vote because her name was on the ballot and assuming that the uncommitted should go to Obama, even though some would have gone to Edwards. We know it was a flawed primary. We couldn't get a re-vote. If you don't seat them in full, you'll interject an element of disunity where we have unity. If you can come up with a better allocation than 69-59, so be it. If there's a 4th way to do this, that'll be in your hands. We've given you the best we can do, united the Michigan Democratic Party with this formula (69-59).

No state has the right to go first before Michigan. So we fought to open up the process. We'll take our case to the convention, we said in 2004. Terry McAuliffe said don't do that. We'll appoint a commission. They had hearings for a year. I was a member of that commission. We came up with a recommendation for a minor change, to open up the system so other states besides Iowa and New Hampshire, could go early. That there be an additional first tier, one or 2, first tier caucuses between Iowa and New Hampshire. N.H. hated it, and voted No. We don't believe we're a party of privilege, no state should have that. So insert 1 or 2 caucuses. Michigan accepted that. We praised it. ... We accepted that we weren't one of the 4 pre-window states provided N.H. accepted. They didn't. We couldn't get an answer from the commission to whether or not a state could go early. The commission's findings were that serious concerns that Iowa and N.H. weren't reflective of the electorate. So, N.H. would go third. N.H. said no, he'd jump forward to #2, before Nevada. So, back at square one. After this committee said, "go third"?? We ask YOU, where's the integrity of that? Enforce the new rule. If you won't, then give Michigan a waiver, too. You gave them a waiver, but denied us a waiver. So, we had to take that privilege on again.

It's complicated. We said we'd accept the rule if everyone else did, but the committee let that one state off the hook. We wouldn't take that any more... The sequence was the key... the fight wasn't the 4 states in the window, it was the sequence within the pre-window. Don't punish us for that. We only differ on the proportionment.

Liveblog: The Delegate Debate

By GottaLaff

Again, please forgive typos and shorthand.

MSNBC's Nora O'Donnell: Wexler, yelling at some of his presentation, "let us unify, let us move on" essentially saying Obama has made a major concession, by giving them half of the vote. But how will the Clinton campaign respond? Ickes tried to question him about whether they'd oppose a full delegation. Wexler said he'd stick to the rules of the committee.

Andrea Mitchell: Ickes argued that the rules don't argue against 100% seating. That Fla and Michigan have been punished enough.

Chuck Todd: It's a victory for the Clinton campaign, maybe not what she wanted, but a big victory.

ON TO MICHIGAN:

Mitchell: A much harder argument, no unity at all.

Commentator: Barack Obama's name wasn't on the Michigan ballot. "Uncommitted", does that equal Obama's votes? That will be a major point of contention.

Chuck Todd: Does the Michigan primary count? Clinton, Obama, DNC hardliners are the 3 groups arguing. We don't have a consensus yet on that.

Michigan Democratic Chair, Mark Brewer: Seat the entire delegation. They've been punished enough. Any further punishment will hurt our chances in the general election. Michigan has been bypassed to this point. ... by both candidates. There is no advertising, no staff, no events, no voter registration, no GOTV. Plus, McCain reminds the voters of Michigan of this. A reduction of delegates will only add fuel to this. Obama/Edwards supporters organized in a massive scale... so, an extraordinary 40% pledged for Uncommitted. So.. they weren't uncommitted. At the subsequent convention, these results were confirmed.
We encouraged people to vote uncommitted, because we were worried there would be uncounted write-ins. We looked at the write-ins, and there were 30,000 uncounted votes statewide, based on exit polling. Most of those were probably for Obama. They were not included in any calculation. So, we adjust the delegate allocation to reflect the true state of voter preference based on ALL the data (exit polls, our study of uncounted write-ins, etc.), which is fairer. That is the basis for the 69-59 allocation.

Q: Exit polls aren't reliable. Why use them?

Brewer: Because you had an incomplete ballot, which didn't give us a true picture of the preference of voters.

Q: It's clear that Uncommitted is a presidential preference. They are awarded delegates. They're bound by no one, like superdelegates. They probably WERE for Obama, but: A willy-nilly arbitrary assignment of delegates when you've had a vote between 2 legitimate preferences, this will be chaotic. If we take some data from a primary, some from exit polls, we're really in trouble. (applause) We shouldn't set a precedent.

Brewer: This is not the normal situation. Every bit of evidence shows they were for Obama or Edwards. So we think it makes sense to allocate them officially to Obama.

Q: I feel like Alice in Wonderland. We have hard votes, but then we'd discount them with exit polls. If we could do that, Kerry would be president right now. I get the same sense with Florida, wondering what would happen if more people had voted.

Q: Virtually all the candidates were pulling their names off of the ballot, so you did what you could do to conduct the election. Would the results be different if all the names were on the ballot? It was an Alice in Wonderland election, as was said. You could have built other numbers, so is this legitmate?

Brewer: If the ballot had been complete, the result would be close to the exit poll, 46-35 perhaps.

Q: What is this challenge saying with respect to the rules? I agree we could issue a waiver to seat the entire delegation, but... second: What specific rule of the charter authorizes us to allocate or assign numbers of delegates to particular candidates? The Fair Reflection Rule? Delegates SHALL be allocated that reflects preference or uncommitted status. It says SHALL. Are you saying this rule applies here?

Brewer: That doesn't apply here, because there was no caucus or primary that reflects voter preference. I'm not relying on that rule. We had an incomplete primary, so we have to do SOMEthing. I brought the best and only available data to allocate...

Ickes: The 4 candidates voluntarily withdrew their names, but no party rule required that. Some said they did it to curry favor with the likes of Iowa (applause).

Brewer: My concern isn't the candidates, but the voters having their will expressed (bigger applause).

Robert Wexler at the Delegate Debate: Open Thread

By GottaLaff:

Liveblogging as long as I can (excuse the shorthand and typos):

Robert Wexler just asked for 50% of the delegates to be restored, as an "extraordinary Obama concession." (Plus a half vote for the superdelegates) .... "in the interest of unity. Seat the Floriday delegation. The primary would count. All the points are valid, but we need to compromise. The rule of your committee is that Floridians have no votes. We are here today asking to be reinstated according to the petition... so that the party can unify... Only the committee can determine what the formula will be. We will respect that decision... "

Wexler is answering questions: Harold Ickes asks what concession is being made. "If you're referring to the 2004 primary, by the time Fla voted, kerry was the presumptive nominee, there was no contest as there has been this year. (applause) We support the petition that you have before you. It's also clear that YOU have the power to partition and determine the delegates. We're saying, that the max. amount of delegates will be supported in the effort of unity. Why a concession? Because in PA and OH together, Hillary won a total of 19 delegates, we're offering unity... which amounts to the victories of OH and PA... Let us unify! Let us move on!

Ickes: Are you familiar with the concept of fair reflection?

Wexler: "The concept of fair reflection"? (laughter) Mr. Ickes, you'll have to educate me on what the "concept of fair reflection is". Did Mr. Ickes not respond?

Chairman: Mr. Ickes has chosen not to respond. [...]

Wexler: You should not penalize a campaign for complying with your rules. ... I vehemently disagreed with what this committee did last year. I met with Dean on several occasions. We as a group and said, NO, don't do this to Fla! But you all voted to penalize Fla not at 50%, but at 100%. Don't fault us for creating unity ... with a plan to give us the petition!

Q: I couldn't foresee this a year ago. I'm getting letters asking for a full vote.

Wexler: Understand, the petition is based on the votes that were cast. The division of delegates is based on the percentage that each candidate wants. ... Voters rights: No one in Fla. has championed this more than I. The irony... there was one person in Florida who fought for voter's rights, and you're lookin' at him! I took my case to court! ... We didn't prevail!... Finally, with a new governor, I worked for a verifiable paper trail! That's one reason Obama chose me to be here today! ... We want Floridian voices here, and that's why we support the petition here today!

MSNBC: It's a done deal. Senator Clinton can now say she "won something". Bill Clinton said he would affect the verdict of this Committee.

Open thread.

Bill Clinton's Paranoia

This is just extremely depressing. Don't they have anyone sane enough around them to take him aside and intervene?

Bill Clinton’s enemies list

With Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign on the verge of defeat, Bill Clinton has been placing blame on enemies including a brazenly biased media that tried to suppress blue-collar votes, a powerful anti-war group that endorsed rival Barack Obama and weak-willed party leaders unable to stand up to either of these nefarious forces.

Pieced together from the former president’s public remarks at his wife’s campaign events and a private conversation last week with top donors to her campaign, the theory goes something like this: After Hillary recovered from a string of losses to rival Barack Obama with March 4 wins in Texas and Ohio, powerful forces conspired to pressure the superdelegates who will decide the nomination to back Obama by discouraging her supporters from voting and trying to hide evidence proving she would fare better than Obama against presumptive GOP nominee John McCain.

(snip)

After rattling off a series of poll numbers showing Hillary Clinton faring better than Obama against McCain, Bill Clinton told donors: “We are in the strongest conceivable position electorally and not in a good fix with the superdelegates, because they have felt all the pressure from the Obama side, from the media, from the MoveOn crowd — who they think is an automatic ATM machine for everybody for life. So, they’re reluctant to take on all that.”

Great RBC Info Diary At DKos

By Paddy


Go here. I couldn't do better myself.

Pro-Clinton protestors make their way to Washington

By Paddy

EXCLUSIVE- I have recieved some super secret video of a pre-protest kerfluffle between warring factions within the Pro-Clinton supporters.

Warning- It's not pretty.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — After weeks of planning by unions, women’s rights groups and others supporting Hillary Clinton's push to seat Florida and Michigan delegates at the Democratic convention this summer, supporters of the New York senator's presidential bid arrived in the nation’s capital by the busload Friday in advance of rallies outside Saturday's Rules and Bylaws Committee meeting.

“I’m hoping we restore 100 percent of the delegates from both Michigan and Florida and the popular vote will also be restored,” said Karen Feldman, an organizer of the “Count Every Vote” rally. “…I firmly believe that in Florida that was the purest election we’ve ever had, and I think that those votes should stand where they are and should be counted the way they are.”

Deep Thought Of The Day

By Paddy


Never in a bazillion years did I ever think I'd wake up one morning thinking, "Oooh, the Democratic Party Rules and By-laws committee is meeting today!!! Gotta get up now!"

Former Bush donors now giving to Obama

By Paddy


Just stunning. Not just giving money, volunteering too!! The Republicans have killed their party.

WASHINGTON — Beverly Fanning is among the campaign donors who'll be joining President Bush at a gala at Washington's Ford's Theater Sunday night, but she says that won't dissuade her from her current passion: volunteering for Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

She isn't the only convert. A McClatchy computer analysis, incomplete due to the difficulty matching data from various campaign finance reports, found that hundreds of people who gave at least $200 to Bush's 2004 campaign have donated to Obama.

(snip)

Many of the donors are likely "moderate Republicans or independents who are dissatisfied with the direction of the country now and are looking for change," said Anthony Corrado, a government professor at Colby College in Maine who specializes in campaign finance.

"There is a large block of Republicans, particularly economic conservatives, who just feel that the Republican Party in Washington completely let them down" by failing to control spending and address other problems, Corrado said. "The Republicans have really given these donors no reason to give."

Cheney's notes v. Scottie's words

By GottaLaff

Fernando and I have been wondering why Scottie's quote from George Bush ("He was saying that you, yourself, was the one that authorized the leaking of this information. And he said 'yeah, I did.'”) is such a revelation. Anyone remember this?

Last year, during the federal criminal trial of Libby, Cheney's handwritten notes were introduced into evidence. The notes revealed that Bush played a larger role in the campaign to discredit Wilson than he had previously acknowledged. To provide some context to McClellan's public comments on the issue, The Public Record is republishing a story by Jason Leopold from the trial of Scooter Libby that explains Bush's role.

Cheney's Handwritten Notes Implicate Bush in Plame Affair
By Jason Leopold
January 31, 2007

Copies of handwritten notes by Vice President Dick Cheney, introduced at a trial by attorneys prosecuting former White House staffer I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, would appear to implicate George W. Bush in the Plame CIA Leak case.

So why was Puffy McMoonFace's book the newsmaker? My take, as I told Fernando, is that:

• It came from a Bushie's mouth, directly... literally, Bush's mouthpiece. Someone he trusted, so the impact was palpable. We could watch him speak, and we could hear his words.
• He repackaged an "old product", that Bush was implicated, and breathed new life into it.
• Therefore, it's "new!" and "different!", like laundry detergent! or... confessions!
  

Other than that, I'm not sure why this particular thing is getting the play that it is, when it is. Any ideas?

Obama's mischievous, aggressive election kick-off

By GottaLaff
That Obama, he's such a scamp:

Senior political officials tell Politico's Mike Allen that Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is likely to hold a huge rally Tuesday night in the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, the site of the Republican National Convention from Sept. 1 to 4.

Tuesday is the night of the final Democratic primaries, and the choice of venue is a mischievous, aggressive way for Obama to unofficially kick off the general election campaign against Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). The location gives huge meaning to the moment, with Obama likely to frame a tough case against his new opponent in the very hall where McCain will accept his party’s nomination.

For a brief moment, I got a little dizzy. I forgot what it was like to respect a candidate, especially one who has, you know, wit.

Scottie didn't fail Richard Clarke

By GottaLaff

I heard Richard Clarke on my way home, talking to Rachel Maddow. His book, what little I heard them discuss, sounds intriguing. Hence, this Quote-O'-the-Day:

"I think I can forgive you now."

-- Former White House terrorism czar Richard Clarke, quoted by ABC News, after receiving an apology from former White House press secretary Scott McClellan for bashing his 2004 book, Against All Enemies.

Teddy Kennedy won't return to the Senate next week

By GottaLaff

Teddy Kennedy may not be physically be there, but his presence will be felt:

Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) will not return to the Senate next week and has asked colleagues to help out on critical legislation, his office said on Friday.

Kennedy will continue convalescing at home this week, but his office emphasized he would stay plugged in by speaking with fellow senators by phone as Congress returns for a month-long spurt of work. It did not give an indication of when Kennedy would come back to the Senate.

He still knows how to get things done, even when he's absent:

A Kennedy aide said the 76-year-old senator would ask Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), a close friend, and Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) to help with bills on mental health parity and higher education. Dodd and Mikulski are members and Kennedy is chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

"Senator Kennedy turned to them because he didn't want his absence to slow progress just as these bills are nearing completion,” the aide said.

He's strong even when he's weakened.

Friday Evening Distraction

Since I don't have to worry about hits right now (I got a link from Politico!!! Almost as good exciting as the one I got from The Great And Powerful Glenn!!), I'm going to reward all of us with a video. mmmm

Nancy Pelosi warns Clinton diehards

By Paddy


A the freaking men.

(05-30) 13:16 PDT SAN FRANCISCO -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Friday warned supporters of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who are threatening to take the delegate fight as far as the Democratic National Convention, that they are pursuing "a scorched earth philosophy" that would seriously damage the chances of electing a Democratic president in November.

"There is too much at stake in our country for us to be thinking that we can afford the luxury of intra-party battles eight weeks before the election," said Pelosi, in her strongest words yet on the battle over seating delegates from Florida and Michigan. "We've had many months to have a debate, to come to a conclusion. And one way or another ... we have to come together."

(snip)

"The American people have to know the Democratic Party can run its own delegate selection process ... if they want to govern America," Pelosi said Friday. "The rules are what the rules are."

"Instead of talking about process," Democrats now need to "talk about how we have a progressive economic agenda. ... That's what the American people want to hear about," she said. "That's how we can take America in a new direction."

Dems, GOP squabble over McCain's troop numbers

By Paddy

That has to be the #1 most disingenuous headline I've ever seen. There is no "squabble" there are only hard cold facts. Even Joe Watkins on MSNBC doesn't attempt to try and figure this one out, he's just been dancing all around it on his segments today, attacking Obama for "the same old politics". Well, if "the same old politics" is just getting the freaking facts correct, guess you got us there Joe.

Via Think Progress-

Yesterday at a townhall meeting in Wisconsin, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) claimed that troops in Iraq are already down to “pre-surge levels”:

So I can tell you that it is succeeding. I can look you in the eye and tell you it’s succeeding. We have drawn down to pre-surge levels. Basra, Mosul and now Sadr city are quiet and it’s long and it’s hard and it’s tough and there will be setbacks.

(snip)

This assertion is wrong. There are now 155,000 troops in Iraq — far above the 130,000 before the surge.

But today on a conference call with reporters, the McCain campaign tried to dismiss this factually inaccurate statement. “So what?” said Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ), a strong McCain supporter. “What does that amount to?” He added that McCain just “misspoke.” According to adviser Randy Scheunemann, McCain meant to say that troops will be eventually drawn down to pre-surge levels.

Update- I do believe John Cole has the final word on this-

Maybe he needs to make all those trips (to Iraq) because he is a slow learner? I mean, five trips, and he still doesn’t know wtf he is talking about. So, yeah. Obama does want to “go there,”

Study: Bush Even Less Popular After McClellan TV Appearance

By Paddy


Is that even possible?

NEW YORK- Americans' opinions of President Bush dropped even lower after viewing the Scott McClellan interview on The Today Show, according to a study conducted yesterday by HCD Research and the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion.

(snip)

For instance, the study found that the proportion of Democrats having "very unfavorable" views of Bush rose from 61% to 64% after seeing the show, and the number of Republicans feeling that way increased from 12% to 14%. Another 22% of Democrats and 24% of Republicans now view the president in a "mostly unfavorable" way.

Lieberman-Hagee: Caught on tape‏

By Paddy

Ugh, we're expecting huge thunderstorms and it's gotten my head all messed up- so you get an easy one. Take the time to sign this petition please? From J Street, a progressive Jewish organization-

Sen. Joe Lieberman called extremist Pastor John Hagee a "man of god." This is the same Pastor that said God sent Hitler to force Jews to move to Israel!

Go here to take action and tell Sen. Lieberman not to go to Hagee's group's conference:

The love affair should be officially over after John Sidney McCain's attack on vets

By GottaLaff

Suddenly we all seem to be on first dates with the very public officials with whom we've had dysfunctional relationships for years. Scottie McClellan is puzzling everyone with his new book, and now it seems we're just getting to know the vaunted veteran who refuses to support other equally vaunted veterans.

Edward Humes* goes after John Sidney McShunsVets in a big way. He should get together with Cliff Schecter, they'd have a field day:

The media and pundits seem perplexed, collectively suggesting: That's not the John McCain we know.

Which is true: It is the John McCain they don't know. If the media weren't so mesmerized by the McCain image they have long promoted and instead got to know the McCain record, they would realize that there is nothing surprising or inconsistent about his position on the GI Bill. [...] The only surprise is that anyone finds this surprising.

What? After slapping us around all these years, we're just discovering your record of abuse? We demand a visit to a couples counselor.

This time, though, McCain is swimming against the tide of history. The original GI Bill -- signed into law in 1944 -- was one of the most important laws every adopted by Congress. It transformed the nation after World War II in epic fashion, with generous college benefits, stipends, subsidized mortgages, business loans and job training and placement.

Veterans got free rides to any college that would accept them. Tuition, books, housing and living expenses were all covered, giving rise to a new generation of scientists, inventors, teachers, doctors, civic leaders and artists. Low-interest, no-money-down home loans backed by the government made it cheaper to buy than to rent. Suburbia, widespread homeownership, college as a majority aspiration, the middle class -- all were built on the back of the GI Bill.

Mmmm, looking at our scrapbook, the one we made together, remember Sidney? Sweet memories of... a middle class. Gee, we'd nearly forgotten about them.

It reinvented the American dream. Bob Dole and George McGovern went to school on the GI Bill. So did Clint Eastwood and Paul Newman. So did 14 Nobel Prize winners. So did 7 million other World War II veterans. [...] The World War II-era living stipend is gone; in its place, members of the military must agree to a $100 monthly payroll deduction to receive the college aid. An education benefit that sent WWII vets to Yale now won't cover four years at the average public university, though many recruits don't understand this when they sign up.

We thought Sidney believed in our future. ::sniffle:: We thought he cared. We feel so... used!

McCain argues that making the education benefits too generous will hurt retention, as enlistees will leave for college after three years rather than reenlist. [...] [Sen. James] Webb points to a Congressional Budget Office analysis that found any possible losses in retention caused by his bill would be balanced by the increases in recruitment it would generate.

What? Sidney, is that true? You've been misleading us all this time? You cad! All you care about is yourself! What about us? What about your own family?

McCain's rationalization for opposing the bill may not hold water, but his stance makes perfect sense in light of his record. From 2004 to 2006, the Disabled Veterans of America gave him annual scores ranging from 50% to the most recent 20% when it comes to supporting the group's legislative priorities. The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave him a grade of "D" in its most recent analysis of voting records. The American Legion says he is dead wrong on the GI Bill, as does the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

You self-centered old fool. We're ready to break this relationship off. If you can stray to a younger woman, we can devote ourselves to a younger man... who believes in us:

When Obama (who has averaged an 86% rating from the Disabled Veterans of America) criticized McCain on the GI Bill, the Arizona senator angrily suggested that Obama's status as a non-veteran rendered his opinions on military matters worthless (an odd stance, as this standard would also discount the opinions of 85% of American men, 98.8% of American women and two-thirds of Congress).

And don't try to argue with us. We know who the Real McCain is:

So let's take McCain up on his invitation. Here is how he has stood on recent legislation supported by major veterans organizations:

* On Webb's GI Bill, he expressed opposition, and he was AWOL when it was time to vote on May 22.

* Last September, he voted against another Webb bill that would have mandated adequate rest for troops between combat deployments.

* On a badly needed $1.5-billion increase for veterans medical services for fiscal year 2007 -- to be funded through closing corporate tax loopholes -- he voted no. He also voted against establishing a trust fund to bolster under-budgeted veterans hospitals.

* In May 2006, he voted against a $20-billion allotment for expanding swamped veterans medical facilities.

* In April 2006, he was one of 13 Senate Republicans who voted against an amendment to provide $430 million for veterans outpatient care.

* In March 2004, he voted against and helped defeat on a party-line vote a $1.8-billion reserve for veterans medical care, also funded by closing tax loopholes.
[...] Webb pointed out that there really was no compromise in McCain's proposal because it would have excluded most veterans by offering full education benefits only to those with multiple enlistments, even though 70% to 75% of enlistees leave after one tour.

Take that, Sid. Oh, and give us back all our CDs... and the Army Jeep. We're trading it in for a Prius. You think you can get away with deserting us? Think again. We're leaving you for good:

So here is where the McCain image and reality part company. It is certainly true that his affectionate and respectful rhetoric for America's servicemen and women takes a back seat to no one. But when it comes to improving the health and education of our veterans, McCain's record leaves them stranded by the side of the road.

*Edward Humes is the author of "Over Here: How the GI Bill Transformed the American Dream" and, most recently, "Monkey Girl."

"The race is over, they're... waiting for Clinton to drop out."

Paddy linked me to this:

Paul Kane: I've spent the past several months talking to as many super-delegates as any reporter in America, I'd guess, since I cover on a day-to-day basis about 280 of them here on Capitol Hill.

I hate saying this, because all the Clinton people are going to flip out and say, You're biased, you're biased, you're biased. So go ahead and flip out if you want, but the simple basic truth is that the super-delegates stopped paying attention to the Clinton-Obama race about a couple days after the Indiana and North Carolina primaries.

They've stopped paying attention to the primary, and instead they're focused on an Obama-McCain matchup in November. That's the basic, simple, definitive reality that has happened in this race. The "undecided" super-delegates at this moment are not going to "decide" any time soon, because to them the race is over, they're just waiting for Clinton to drop out.

I'm working on a McCain post, so I'm copying and pasting this one in full. Have fun with it.

What next, "Carbon: The Musical"?

By GottaLaff

It's not exactly like a carbon footprint doing a little soft shoe, but think of the possibilities!

Al Gore’s “Inconvenient Truth,” first a film and then a book, is now becoming an opera. Officials of the Milan opera house La Scala say the Italian composer Giorgio Battistelli has been commissioned to write it for the 2011 season, The Associated Press reported. Mr. Battistelli is currently the artistic director of the Arena in Verona.

It's only over when the Exxon Mobil fatcat sings.

Bill O'Reilly Wants NBC/MSNBC Employees To Quit

By Paddy




Billo gets frothy yakking about Scotty's book and NBC/MSNBC. Too much fun.

NOTE- Video replaced, thanks Fernando!!

Priest Criticizes Obama Over His Preacher, But Has Said Similiar Things**

By Paddy

Interesting. Seems to me this guy needs a little visit by the IRS to his "church". From the "Empire State GOP Gala"-

"One more thing, Lord," Lisante said during the invocation. "Please tell Senator Obama that maybe change is a good thing and that maybe he should think about changing his favorite preacher

"I know a lot more of us would be comfortable with his judgment skills if he hadn’t sat for 20 years through those words offered by his preacher of division, bigotry, and --honestly -- half truths without a word of objection from the Senator. That is, until the media brought it up, and now he doesn’t want any part of the guy. I’m willing to be his new preacher."

From the evil YouTube-

It is interesting to note, that just 15 hours after the attacks Monsignor Lisante observes that we should examine why the attackers hate us so much, and that the policies we conduct around the world might not only have helped to cause the attacks, but that our response should be measured so as not to facilitate its perpetuation.(ed. note- AKA "Chickens come home to roost")

Gibson becomes visibly uncomfortable, and immediately announces that they will continue the discussion after a commercialess break. As the show continues, Gibson acknowledges that Msgr. Lisante is present, but essentially ignores him in favor of rehashing that attacks have occured and taking reports from associates in the field.

Fast forward to about 1:40 to his bit.

** Guess it's only bad if you're a "Scary Black Preacher".

Harold Ickes Warns of Clinton Defections

By Paddy


If Ickes is worried.....

Harold Ickes, Sen. Hillary Clinton's "chief delegate hunter," told the Huffington Post "that there may be some defections" among the 13 DNC rules and bylaws committee members who have endorsed Clinton. "If Ickes and his allies cannot hold all their troops in line, a motion before the RBC to seat all 210 Florida and 156 Michigan delegates with a full vote each would face certain defeat."

Poll: California's Democrats shift into Obama's camp

By Paddy


One state at a time.

Three and one-half months after Hillary Rodham Clinton won the state's presidential primary, California Democratic voters now prefer second-place finisher Barack Obama, according to a new Field Poll.

In a May 16-27 survey of Democratic voters, Obama was preferred over Clinton by 51 percent to 38 percent – nearly the reverse of Clinton's 51.5 percent to Obama's 43.2 percent in the California primary.

In a related poll that included Democratic, Republican and independent voters, Obama and Clinton each held a 17 percentage-point lead in the state over presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain.

Plus two overnight supers- Superdelegates Boyd & Betty Richie to Endorse Obama

TGI Friday Links

By Paddy




Condoleezza Rice meets rock band Kiss

Japan woman caught living in closet

DISPATCHES FROM AMERICA- How the Pentagon shapes the world

Washington Times: Texans say McClellan's turn started at home with mom Bush defenders and impartial observers point in particular to Mr. McClellan's mother, Carole Keeton Strayhorn, as having set a precedent for turning on former allies, while others say that his family tree had strong liberal leanings.

Brazil reports sighting of rare uncontacted Amazon tribe

Boys not better than girls at maths, study finds

Defense Secretary Gates visits Guam military base

LA Times: Clinton faces new pressure on 2 fronts Top party officials want her to bow out soon, and campaign insiders are losing faith in her strategy.

McCain's Web gap is showing

Stonehenge was a royal family's burial site, researchers say

Diamond fetches $6.2-million in Hong Kong

CNN: DNC faces big challenge Saturday With just three contests left in the Democratic primary season, Sen. Hillary Clinton is making a big push for votes. But her presidential hopes may now hinge on a meeting of a Democratic Party panel.

Latin artists support Obama in music video

By Paddy

Some spice for your morning.

More than 20 stars from the Latin music and film community released a Spanish-language video in support of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Thursday, days before Puerto Rico's primary.

The video, Podemos con Obama, or We Can With Obama, features such Puerto Ricans as actor John Leguizamo and hip hop artist Don Omar, and international pop stars Alejandro Sanz and Paulina Rubio. Actors George Lopez and Jessica Alba also participated.

(snip)

Produced by Andrés Levin, the video was inspired by one he made earlier this year Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am, titled We Are The Ones, and unveiled just before the Democratic primaries in Texas and Ohio in March. Both Alba and Lopez also participated in that ad.

The video opens with Spanish text that says President Bush was re-elected in 2004 by roughly 3.5 million votes, and that 8 million Hispanics who were eligible to vote did not.

''Your vote makes all the difference,'' the video says before Sanz appears playing guitar.