Political Punch

@ebony:

It IS a character flaw. She exaggerated. Ummm... me too. ;-) So I'm not asking her to be better than that. I'm asking her to lead because she is better than that. It's easy to see. Look at Chelsea. E'nuff said.

What I do is balance that remark against a lifetime of service. I balance that remark against a life time of intelligent forceful and even b*tchy hard work. I see the finest woman ever put forward for a high office in this country because wherever her heart is, she fights for it with all she knows how to be. I can forgive her that remark quite easily.

And finally, because if she really is the one person the Republicans most want to beat, then she is the right person to win the Presidency. They have a long long history of picking against my self interests, and I don't think they've changed.

Not this time. Eight was enough.

Maybe I'm just being dense, but it seems like every news article is giving Hillary supporters hope, yet the numbers show she doesn't have a chance. I think this should prompt universities to require at least basic math courses for journalism majors. Unless...you don't think the media would hype up something as important as this nomination just to keep us all reading/watching, do you?

Maybe I'm just being dense, but it seems like every news article is giving Hillary supporters hope, yet the numbers show she doesn't have a chance. I think this should prompt universities to require at least basic math courses for journalism majors. Unless...you don't think the media would hype up something as important as this nomination just to keep us all reading/watching, do you?

ABC is the best. I hope you get all Hillary supporter/viewers that have boycotted MSNBC, CNN, FOX, et al. We are a larger pool of veiwers to be had.

"Remember how Dukakis was ahead by 17% until voters started learning how far left he was."

It wasn't "far left" that did in Dukakis. It was that stupid tank foto, the fact that he is not very tall, and that he couldn't keep his wife from drinking nail-polish remover, or whatever it was.

By the time a new president takes office -- if, indeed, BushCo doesn't seize state power permanently, as last year's "emergency" provisions suggest may ALREADY have happened -- being "left", in terms of political programme, probably won't be much of a problem, because the so-called economy will be very bad for the millions of people in the American underclasses the present candidates never mention.

John Edwards -- think about it, folks: for one thing, nobody (except maybe jealous old Jonathan Alter) hates John Edwards. Edwards is accomplished, brilliant, well-behaved, well-married, AND -- unlike the crowd driving the present "presidency" process -- made his own money in socially-useful work.

Jake Tapper writes:
"It seems as though Mellencamp is like the Democratic party in general -- unable to make a decision and pick a candidate."

Not your best sentence, Mr. Tapper. Neither of these people is going to the White House.

There are more than a few John Edwards partisans for whom neither of the center-right diversity twins, is an acceptable substitute. What THESE voters -- left Democrats, and others -- Ralph Nader, let us remember, endorsed John Edwards -- who will NOT join the celebrity-left in boarding the Obama bandwagon.

The better Clinton does, the longer it goes, the greater the chance that hot-house hustler Obama -- who's spent his entire sheltered life being groomed for installation as a top dog -- implodes, or is further exposed not only as "unelectable"/unable to govern, but as the profoundly UNdemocratic tool of a bad bunch of corporate white guys for whom questing after absolute power is a class amusement.

Maybe Mellencamp is among those who are waiting for the Democratic "leadership", in its possible wisdom, to conclude that the birthday-suit season is over, and that it's time for real Democrat John Edwards -- not a "post-partisan", not encumbered by a presidential spouse -- to carry forward the Democratic nomination, roll back the abuses of the present administration, reclaim democracy, and make a millennial effort for social justice and simplicity.

By nominating Edwards, the Dems also could short-circuit the defection of traditional Democrats to Nader, McKinney, and/or Gravel -- all or most of whom might well be brought aboard the Edwards train.

We should all be as good as John Mellencamp.

dl,

And a couple of other things you seem to not be aware of Halliburton sold Iran the centrifuges to enrich the uranium.

As well as a GAO report that parts for jets only Iran has were sold recently.

The rhetoric on the world stage isn't what is going on behind the scenes.

I doubt you remember the October Surprise of 1980, or the Iran/Contra scandal, which also involved the Bush family, money, arms, and parts for their military equipment. Two examples of what is said on the world stage for the masses, contradicting the reality behind the scenes.

dl,

Dubya started up the arms race with Russia, and Obama has Zbig in his campaign.

Zbig is really the one with Russia in his crosshairs, for literally decades.

And the belief that Russia doesn't have weapons. Have you read about their thermobaric bomb yet? Or the fact that they've already made Dubya's star wars missle plan obsolete?

You keep going on and on about Iran. The statement of threat is only there if they attack Israel. Do you know when the last time Iran attacked a country? Hundreds of years ago.

Iran is only an issue if neo-cons bomb it before they leave office. An issue Zbig himself has written about in op-eds stating he thinks they will try a false flag attack to justify it.

Of course, some think that is closer when you consider Admiral Fallon who recently retired and was against any military action against Iran.

You need to read more of the paper than just the Obama op-eds.

len,
I totally respect your support for Hillary but, how do you deal with the Bosnia issue? I mean at first I was excited about having either Obama or Hillary on the ticket I was hoping that
they could both be on the ticket but, if I'm going to vote for her in the general election, should she win the primary election, I need to know that she is trustworthy. How do you make sense out of the whole Bosnia issue? Don't get me wrong, I'm sure all politicians lie about one thing or another in order to cover up something embarrasing but, I just don't understand telling a lie for the sake of telling a lie. That seems like a major character flaw to me.

Hillary will continue to win because she is going straight to the voters now with issues that concern them. Her speech last night was a turn of the page in her campaign. It was polished and professional with all the right notes at the right time. The change of strategists is obviously helping.

Obama's speech was weak, repetitive and BADLY stage managed. If you are going to put three guys behind him who look like they just left the bar, take their cellphones first. That whole event on TV was amateur hour.

And that is what is going to decide the nomination fight from here to August: professionalism vs talented amateurs, governing skills vs crowd control, competence vs flash. You can't just sell change; change is happening every day. You have to show competent executive leadership and the right plans that we can all get behind and get done.

The time of intimidation and thug tactics as a winning strategy are over. Negative campaigning will go on, but the tone has to change to one of real issues over distractions, real character over projections, and real plans over wishful thinking.

dl,
no problem dl.

Everything that's been "brought out" about Obama is simply things about people that he knows. Nothing has been brought out about Obama himself. Everything that's been brought out about Hillary are things that Hillary said or did herself not simply someone she knows. I truly don't believe that she can win in the general election because her credibility is a little weak, especially after the Bosnia thing. Obama hasn't milked it for all he could but, John McCain will run that into the ground in a general election.

As a working musician, a gig is a gig is a gig. On the other hand, as an experienced musician, with confidence, politics and music are a bad brew for the musician. Yes, I know we have a history of musicians stressing their own political beliefs, but onstage, take my word for it, it ain't good for the act.

Caveat vendor, Cougar.

sorry ebony didn't realize centrists rule said that.

centristsrule
you said,
"Obama is going to lose by a landslide in the fall. Democrats only win the presidency when they can appeal to the center. Obama only appeals to the very far left.

Hillary and McCain are centrist canidates. If Hillary loses the primary then many centrist and independent voters like myself will be voting for McCain.

The democratic party has destroyed itself again."

That's not entirely true. I'm not to the left at all as a matter of fact, I voted for Bush in the last two General Elections but, I'm leaning towards Obama this time.

ebony

Hillary voters are all dems... it is Obama voters that are new or Independent...
so to be honest the group that is more likely to vote for the anti-roe vs.wade candidate whose hawk stance is similar to hillary's is going to be all those voters who want out of this foreign policy stance we are in...

Hillary has shown...she is only saying things to get elected.

Look at this "new" stance on Iran.

Starting arms race like Reagan and Russia only this time they don't have weapons.

So you threaten a non-nuclear enabled country with nuclear obliteration and massive retaliation... with Nuclear weapons...what do you think that does to Iran's radicals psyche.

Yes it makes them want to fight us with nuclear weapons even more.

or that she is saying she is going to police the middle east on America's dime by telling them we will protect you all no matter who you are (terrorist nation or not) if you forgo nuclear weapons...

This is crazy and yes...it is playing with the idea that she is reasoned strength...she is not... if we are going to vote for someone who thinks this way. Then the choice would obviously be someone like McCain who as wrong as he is on the stance at least is military...not just makes it up on tv.

so yeah ...Obama supporters (no matter what the polls say right now) are much more likely to pull that trigger/lever.

so go ahead and vote for McCain (Barack will win even if half of Clinton supporters went the other way...the dirty little secret is no one acknowledges those national polls posing the two candidates obviously already include defections)...

Hillary had a low ceiling anyway and the only reason she is still in this race is because she had a high floor (meaning her weak supporter in amount...are brainwashed loyal zombies) who only want their queen to win.

I believe we will find obama is not the true democrat. whenever the dems stay to the center the dems. win. the country as a whole is more to the center. whenever you get the extremes of either party it ends up being a disaster for the country as a whole.
Sen. Clinton is a centrist-in the ge
she will have a fight on her hand with mccain and the rep. but she will win
because of the fear of war,weakness on the economy and how the two tie together.sen. clinton understands how to fix this, john mccain does not.
I would also like to say, the only real battle going on here is between the voters and the media-the media all forms are so in the tank for obama they have lost all objectivitiy.
the media keeps trying to shove obama in our face and say pick him.
and everything the voters have a chance to have their say they say no thanks to the one the media his peddling.
I think as far as the media goes this whole trashing Sen. Clinton is backfiring in the medias face. not to mention the damage obama seems to be doing to himself-all on his own.
the media cannot cover-up for him when he is in the light for all to see.
I think the longer this goes on the more we will learn about obama and the more we will decide he is not ready to be president yet. that is why the dnc and the media want sen. clinton to quit.
well the voters do not want it that way.
the media has done the american voter a terrible disservice. a person from iowa said they wish they could have their vote back because of what is know about obama now.
if the voters want sen. clinton to become POTUS-she will be-no matter what the media wants or says otherwise.

centristsrule
you said,
"Obama is going to lose by a landslide in the fall. Democrats only win the presidency when they can appeal to the center. Obama only appeals to the very far left.

Hillary and McCain are centrist canidates. If Hillary loses the primary then many centrist and independent voters like myself will be voting for McCain.

The democratic party has destroyed itself again."

That's not entirely true. I voted for Bush in the last two primary elections but, I'm leaning towards Obama this time.

If you are willing to vote for McCain over Obama then you are not a true Democrat and we do not want you in our party and good riddance. I will back the Democratic candidate no matter who it is. I am sure McCain will welcome you into his camp and you can embrace the GOP politics that have brought us to the place we are currently in. I am sure we can pick up some of those 30% of the GOP who did not vote for McCain.

He's just happy to get some pub for the first time in a long time.

Mellencamp Has the right to privacy. Kudo's to him for treating all candidates fairly and equaly and choosing to use his right of privacy.

Voting is a right, so is the right to privacy.

No one has to tell anyone whom they or voting for. No one should make anyone feel like they have either.

centristsrule,

Yes. Why is the DNC so blind to that? Remember how Dukakis was ahead by 17% until voters started learning how far left he was.

Progressive Democrat,
Yes, I noticed that they pulled the article down too.

Why would you say I would vote for McCain no matter what? Truth is I am a Democrat who voted for Clinton in my primary.

What does Rush Limbaugh have to do with anything? He is trying to con people into thinking he is behind Clinton voters when in fact he has nothing to do with it. I guess he wants to sell more junk to pay his alimony bills.

Obama is going to lose by a landslide in the fall. Democrats only win the presidency when they can appeal to the center. Obama only appeals to the very far left.

Hillary and McCain are centrist canidates. If Hillary loses the primary then many centrist and independent voters like myself will be voting for McCain.

The democratic party has destroyed itself again.

geevil,

You will be voting for McCain in the fall no matter what. If you were a true Democrat or Progressive you would not be voting for McCain no matter what. So you are one of the 28% who still support Bush and his policies and will vote for McSame no matter what. Hey Rush Limbaugh is about to start. Better go listen to get some more talking points.

No chance Obama supporter. I will not waste my vote writing in Clinton. I would vote for McCain instead of Obama.

When I say Hillary supporters at least write in Hillary Clinton rather than voting for Republicans for the White House, I meant if one doesn't want to vote for the Dem nominee if it isn't Hillary.

Obviously Hillary will close ranks and back the Dem nominee, I am addressing this to those who say they'll vote for McCain if not Hillary.

We can't give the Republicans one vote for more of the same. And I will give my vote to Hillary regardless.

Hillary '08

Mellancamp is a heck of a good guy, and his music reflects that. Kudos to him for hosting both Obama and Hillary events and yet is an Edwards supporter.

Now that's unity I hope we're able to pull together for November!

Hillary voters hopefully will be able to vote for her as Dem nominee this November but if not write in Hillary Clinton.

We Hillary supporters must not give one vote to the Republicans for the White House. We fought too long and hard this primary to do that.

Hillary '08

Call me pedantic, but I just had to point out that Cougar was a stage name, not his born name, which is what "nee" means; John Mellencamp (nee Cougar) is just wrong, he is actually nee Mellencamp.

And I can understand why he would have a hard time making up his mind - the candidates of both major parties are all in thrall to the corporatocracy and we can expect whoever wins to continue destroying our country to benefit the elite.

tuck

Obama speaks the truth...he has said similar things everywhere. As much as you all want to paint a picture that it was different... it really wasn't ...

This "condescending" thing is created... it's a less than Hillary saying "screw'em" about the small towns in the south.

but once again this "biased" media doesn't really cover it.

Isn't it funny how Hillary gets to the negative punch and then runs the other direction when you realize she is as guilty as anybody of misspeak.

The difference is one candidate apologizes (even for little things that were created)and learns...the other candidate denies, denies, denies some more and incites the public... her campaign is like the little kid who comes out and whacks his sibling then runs back and hides behind their parents legs so the parent gets mad at the sibling and not the little brat who is hiding.

This same little brat is the one who goes out and doesn't like the neighborhood bully talking about throwing rocks...so tells the bully "I have rocks and I will throw them if you try to pick up those rocks"

while their sibling is trying to talk the neighborhood kid out of a fight... and getting the other bullies from joining the neighborhood kid...

The little brat decides in his wise wisdom to pick up the rock ...which makes the neighborhood kid come back later with more rocks. basic logic...

If you are dealing with a rogue nation that does not have nuclear weapons...you don't threaten them with nuclear obliteration... ...or massive retaliation.
This is not russia and reagan.
This was not an arms race...Hillary with her comments will make it one.

Great post, HoosierSue.

I don't believe that Hillary can win in the general election. While Rev. Wright was certainly a thorn in Obama's side I still I don't think most people believe that Obama shares Wright's views. For the most part, I think that the only people who will hold Wright against Obama are people who wouldn't have voted for him in the first place. Hillary on the other hand with her own mouth made up that whole Bosnia thing. Why would on earth would she do that? Obama didn't push that the way he could have. John McCain, on the other hand will eat her alive with that.

I'm glad that you Hillary fans are having your last gasp of excitement over her win last night -- and a win is a win.

But I hope you aren't digging into your pocketbooks to send her your hard earned money, which will only go to pay off her debt anyway!

While she temporarily takes back the lead in the popular vote -- she last had it sometime around Super Tuesday, very briefly, if I recall correctly -- she will hold this lead only for a very short time. And she gained little in the way of delegates, even with twelve still left to be allocated. She barely made up for the supers that Senator Obama picked up just in the past two weeks. And he'll likely begin catching up on those he lost last night beginning this morning!!!

So, it isn't over until it's over! But your dreams of somehow stealing this election are pretty far-fetched.

But, for today, Congratulations Hillary. Now get the concession speech ready so we can really cheer you on!

Obama 2008 -- Yes, WE CAN!!!

Lets look at the sober reality:

Still behind in delegates.
Still behind in popular vote.
Still behind in money raised.
Stil behind in number of states won.

How is winning PA by single digits somehow a pivotal moment in the campaign?

Obama supporters continue to spin his loss any way they can. She won, it could be 8, 9 or 10 point margin but she won, give it a rest people................Rise Hillary Rise

I live in Evansville so can offer a bit more info here. The venue Obama was in holds 13,000; he attracted approx. 8,000. We have two colleges here which works for him. What doesn't work for him:

Rev. Wright
Questions of patriotism
Inexperience
Bill Ayers
Michelle Obama

All are negatives, but Rev. Wright takes the overwhelming top slot. I hear time and again that a man cannot sit in a church for 20 years and not hear a thing. Hoosiers consider that to be just plain common sense.

One lady said to me that he needs to put his hand over heart when The Pledge of Allegiance or National Anthem are played. She told me she does, and even if she didn't, she'd sure have sense enough to if she was running for president. More Hoosier common sense!

As an aside, I knew Obama targeted young people, but was surprised at one of his tactics. Voter registration is now closed, but while it was ongoing he offered any high school kid who registered 20 new voters a chance to play basketball with him. I'm still not sure how I feel about that.

Anyway, I early voted for Hillary yesterday and it was truly a moment I'll never forget. I so believe in this lady and all my life I wondered if I'd ever have the chance to vote for a woman or African American for president. This year, thanks to the Democratic party and the long primary, I had a chance to actually choose between those two. It was a moment I'll never forget as long as I live.

I think John Mellencamp is being very smart now. Obviously he doesn't have the power of an Oprah -- but she would have been better served to do what he's doing. Oprah should have given the black candidate AND the woman candidate equal public support. If she had a personal preference, that's fine, but turning her back on the woman candidate was just awful. And I think it made a difference: many women were not happy with her decision and that helped them to make up their own minds -- about Hillary.

HAD THE BIASED MEDIA TOLD THE TRUTH ABOUT GOLDEN BOY OBAMA --- BEFORE HALF OF AMERICA HAD VOTED --- HE WOULDN'T BE IN THIS RACE --- JOHN EDWARDS WOULD BE!

IT'S SAD THAT AN ANTI-AMERICAN IS HEADING UP THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
THERE IS STILL HOPE: CLINTON / EDWARDS 2008!

IF WE DON'T VOTE FOR HILLARY --- McCAIN WILL WIN IN NOVEMBER!

Do not be fooled by the charisma of this man, Barack Hussein Obama --- he clearly resents America and wants to "change" it in the way “anti-Americans” want it to be shaped.

Obama has no experience, judgment, credibility nor loyalty toward the USA. He is just a cynical, arrogant political opportunist with no wisdom. For months, Barack Hussein Obama has been talking about fundamental "Change."

Most of us wonder what kind of change he wants? He has not been able to tell us. If we connect the dots --- we can get a pretty good idea of the kind of change Obama is talking about: He is being endorsed by anti-Americans and terrorists Ayers, Wright, Farrakhan, Rezko, and many other people who hate America. He is for the black supremacist and far-left anti-American ideology running things.

His ideas of change are a combination of the ultimate liberal wet dream and America's worst nightmare.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! HE’S OUTSPENT HILLARY 4 TO 1 AND STILL CAN’T STOP HER! OUR COUNTRY IS NOT FOR SALE! NO BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA!

CLEARLY, HILLARY CLINTON IS THE WISER CHOICE TO REPRESENT DEMOCRATS THIS FALL.

IrishJim,

It is the whopping number of precincts that Hillary took that is amazing!! Consider also that Obama took 90% of the black vote in and around Philly and there is a HUGE story!!

Maybe he's waiting for that Edwards endorsement. C'mon Edwards, we know you're in the Clinton camp so just say it.

Why is the press talking up a double digit victory for Hillary? The latest tally I saw lists the margin at a little over 8%. So she effectively blew a 25 point lead down to single digits. What happened to the conventional wisdom that she has to win by double digits. 8% is a single digit win.

dl, when you said it may be possible that ..."the small town may have certain difficulties when seeing someone different and not falling into the nervous security of someone that looks the same?", I think you're right on. My own town, of a little over 10,000, recently went through its own election on the mayoral level. It is a conservative town - I stand out as a Democrat supporting ANY candidate, Hillary won this area amongst us Dems. As with most small towns (and America in general, as a matter of fact), there is a small group of men who own and run most of the town. These men are also on the city council, school board, etc., and have been mayor. We had two candidates this time around, one part of that same status quo, and one, a longtime resident but who has a record of going against the tide. I was disappointed to see that those who voted again went with the "name" (associated with the auto dealership in town) and the same 'ol, same 'ol.

Obama knew exactly what he was talking about when he made the bitter comment. No one wants to admit that racial issues exist and that church-going and outdoor-loving people can go against some of those basic beliefs and be closed to those who are different. But it is quite the opposite. Of the two schools in our town, one has a higher percentage of diversity (which is not saying much, maybe 10% of our students in the total district are not white). My neighbor, who is an overall good person, goes to church regularly and has a son-in-law and other relatives who are avid hunters, told me that she thinks the more diverse school is just changing too much. "All those Mexicans! And the blacks!" she proclaimed to me. We sold our house last year and my neighbor asked me not to sell the house to any "Mexicans" because they would bring down the property values, and he bristled when I told him that sounded like bigotry.

It is ignorance and it is really sad, but it also exists in these small towns. Add to it a declining economy, a town where jobs are disappearing and businesses are moving or closing, and a mentality that there are so many on welfare getting "handouts" while others suffer without, and you get bitter people that stick to what they know rather than venture into the unknown.

I was disappointed to see Hillary win in PN, mostly because I want this bloodbath to be over - and I'm not referring to Obama, whom I support, but to the party in general. This will kill us in the end and we will lose the White House no matter who ends up the nominee, and set ourselves up for another 8 years of "status quo."

What in the world would ABC news know about issues facing this country?
They opperate in large towns, and have clueless reporters that do not even know there is a war in Iraq!

Here's a guy who has not learned more than three chords on a guitar in thirty years and he thinks we care what vast knowledge he has acquired in politics?
What a tool!

dl, could it be that small town people don't appreciate being told they are "clinging to religion" while Obama told small town people in south carolina, georgia,mississippi, and alabama that he was religous too?

What Obama implied was that Black people who are religious (but vote for him) are great, but white people who are religous but don't for him are "clinging".

Small town people are not dumb.

they smell condescention and the use of religion for political gain on Obama

Jake speaking Mellencamp and of "small towns" ...could it be that it isn't just about Obama not being able to reach the small town ...but the small town may have certain difficulties when seeing someone different and not falling into the nervous security of someone that looks the same?

I was born in a small town (close to a city but a small town nonetheless)

Could it be that the race stuff that has been introduced was meant for this exact reaction... to play on America's small town outsider fears?

Common sense and my small white town tells me yes. I think this is the worst side of politics.

and I bet Mellencamp will eventually too.