Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Woo hoo Iowa caucusers.

oh, no, dnd...now i remember...Bill didn't win anything until Georgia...then South Carolina.....

Catch you on the flip-flop. Happy caucus watching to all.

Amen, Craig! Couldn't agree with your comments more!

Have fun, Zoey! Hope we catch you on the teevee tonight!

Craig is spot on, as the answer to the quiz about who was the last one who won in Iowa and went all the way: Carter.

Dex wins the prize.

Amen to that Craig! Everyone of them should stay until Feb 5th!

Zoey, have fun "wheeling" and dealing in your caucus tonight. stay off that bum ankle!

Zoey,
I'm stuck in a Hotel without CSPAN, but I will be watching for Cut shots!

Craig,

I can understand your point but I would like to see South Carolina as the first elimination state.

After all, the number of blacks and other minorities don't make up more than 5% of the populations of Iowa and New Hampshire. I think one could argue a slightly racist tinge that these voices don't get a chance to start the winnowing process...

Zoey,

Sorry for your plight but I can't even think of a hotel that has C-Span...with their limited band with the chains would have to give up a more profitable "adult" channel

NO! Sheila -- how horrible that C-span isn't on in your hotel....I'm looking forward to that. (Yesterday I was stuck at Vanderbilt all day for med testing and they didn't have c-span....hated it!)

I know Patso.....Twitch....Twitch.....at least I have MSNBC......I was in one that only had FNC once......AHHHHHHH!!!!

Patso? Sorry Patsi. My fingers aren't walking well on this cold medicine. ;0)

Sheila,

A hotel with FNC only. Dick Cheney rates it five stars.

OK posse, here's the final numbers. As we say, the data are what the data are....

http://www.central.edu/publicdocs/01%2D03%2D08FuturesMarketGraphs.pdf

Republicans:
Huckabee: 66.3% -- 70.3%
Romney: 27.0% -- 31.0%
McCain: 0.0% -- 2.3%
Thompson 0.2% -- 4.2%
Guiliani: 0.0% -- 2.1%
Paul 0.0% -- 2.1%

Democrats:
Obama: 69.2% -- 73.3%
Clinton: 13.8% -- 19.8%
Edwards: 10.5% -- 14.5%
Dodd, Richardson, Biden 0.0% -- 2.0%

Going to caucus and will try to blog from there -- Spike

Bear,
I don't think anyone should drop out until after Michigan. Make Shelia's vote count!

Really no one should drop until it's clear they cannot win and someone else will be able to get enough votes before the convention

Sheila,

See if the PBS channel is carrying where you are. The one here in Washington is.

Craig, once again, you are very insightful. You're the greatest!

Craig,

That's an excellent point to make as the caucuses are about to begin. I hope all the second-tier Democrats saved enough for plane fare to NH.

kgc,

Thanks for showing the example of Chris Matthews' obvious duplicity. Two-thirds of the Democrats are rejecting Hillary, but it's a win for McCain if he can get 18% in Iowa. I understand what he's saying about McCain, and the expectations game, but it's amazing how he can speak out of both sides of his mouth and only use one side of his brain.

Last night, I was tempted to drive back to the office (too cold to walk) just to talk to the C-Listers about Matthews challenging Hillary's ability to be an agent for change saying, "How could she be different from Bill?"

I wish the Clinton representative had reminded him that a change from the past 7 years would be a great start.

Oh well, time to go home. Hopeful that I'll have a repaired computer by the weekend. Enjoy the coverage. I'll be watching for Zoey and her wheelchair.

Thanks Jamie, I'll keep looking!

dnd...nobody gave a rat's tail about Iowa until "unknown" Jimmuh Carter popped that corn in the race in 1976.

Matthews might as well get down and lick Obama's boots.

He'll be licking Hillary's if she gets the WH or he won't get to attend the much beloved Christmas Party.

I just figured he was through with the rear end of the upper parts of his anatomy.

Although I guess I should not beI am rather shocked
that msgop repeated two rumors as news stories even when the stories had been repudiated.

poor, poor Tweety....
so many thoughts....... so few brain cells......

don't worry about 2nd tier candidates getting to NH..... our weekly local paper.... which came out today..... listed all the places in the state that the candidates will be visiting for the next 5 days..... they all seem to be coming..... both Dems and Repubs.....

"Bear,
I don't think anyone should drop out until after Michigan. Make Shelia's vote count!"

dnd -- I want people to wait for Tennessee's vote. What are we, chopped liver? My sister in Kansas feels the same about her vote.

I think this is too close to call....but I believe the media has completely underestimated what John Edwards has done in Iowa. They've done their best to kick him to the curb, and I don't think it's going to work. I think he just might win this....

Off topic: only Sheila might appreciate this since she knows the trickiness to a rhubarb pie.....I think the secret is a heaping tablespoon of orange marmalade.

Patsi,
I think you're right that the media has dissed Edwards (and Biden and Richardson and Dodd). I'd be tickled to death if the talking heads on tv had to re-spin their predictions tomorrow morning.

My recipe for rhubarb pie. Get a bunch of rhubarb and strawberries. Throw the rhubarb away and make a strawberry pie...

Pundit Predictions

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/01/prediction_time.html

C-Span is being innundated with Ron Paul callers in the lead up to the Caucus coverage.

dnd....
when I was a kid.... every other summer we drove to New Brunswick Canada to visit family.... my maternal grandmother always made a fresh strawberry pie just for me....

just seeing the words "strawberry pie" brings back many pleasant memories of her....... thanks, sweetie.......

This is a silly children's version of the song, but I always thought it would make a great campaign song, particularly if you could get Glenn Close to do it as a reprise of the Broadway show

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0YTNkk41gk

Hey Patsi, I use Raspberry jam. lol Good Girl!

I've been getting calls all day long from live (for the first time) campaign workers for the Dems...... Obama's people just called.....

yeah.... I'm answering my phone again......

I'm talking to these people and being very polite to all of them..... I tell them I'm voting for Richardson..... but make sure to tell them I want a Dem to win and then I thank them for working on the behalf of a Democratic candidate.....

if some of you get these calls, please remember they are done by volunteers and I hope you will be kind to them too.....

What's a rhubarb?

"Get a bunch of rhubarb and strawberries. Throw the rhubarb away and make a strawberry pie..."

Ha...love strawberry pie....brings back memories of 1967 when I lived on the Plaza in Kansas City. My roommate and I always ordered two pieces of strawberry pie and two extra-large Cokes from the place next door to our apt. bld., the Casa Loma, on Ward Parkway. I was looking for a job that January....first one out of college....and every businessman in KC had Super Bowl fever....even when I could get an interview, it went nowhere...You sports fans might like to know that Fred Williamson lived down the hall....The Hammer. Headlines after that Super Bowl..."The Hammer, Hammered."

I agree about not combining rhubarb and strawberries....why do it? You either love rhubarb pie or not......

Raspberry jam! Very interesting....I'm going to try that....

Anyone need some fresh sqeezed OJ?

Picked the trees last night before the freeze....

Corey, Rhubarb is actually a very sour vegetable...have no idea how anyone ever decided to make a pie out of it! But in Kansas, rhubarb pie was common during my childhood.

Corey, Kind of old fashioned, but my aunt used to do a wonderful rhubarb crumble

Here's a pic of the plant with the recipe for the crumble about half way down the page

http://www.justhungry.com/favorites?page=1

Patsi, Do they add lots of sugar or sryup to Rhubarb? Is this what was sold in Hotterville / Green Acres?

Ping Pong

Rhubarb Crumble Pie

About 1kg /2 lb of rhubarb stalks, enough to make about 4-5 cups of cut up rhubarb
1 cup of white sugar
1/2 cup of raw or light brown sugar
125g / 4 oz. butter
3/4 cup of white flour
Preheat the oven to 200°C / 400°F.

Wash and cut up the rhubarb stalks into approximately 2cm / 1 inch pieces. Be careful to cut off any leaf parts - they are poisonous.

Melt the butter, and add the flour and sugar. Mix to make a rather crumbly mixture.

Put the rhubarb in a pie dish. Cover with the crumble mixture. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until the crumble is browned and crispy.

This is best at room temperature, or chilled a bit.

Finally some sanity. KO is on.

Thanks Jamie, I have had Rhubarb and now I Know why i like it..... lots of sugar. Rhubarb looks like Red Celery?

Hey is something going on tonight that means anything?

Live from the Iowa Caucus!!!!!

I'm reporting live from Urbandale, Iowa's Precinct #5 caucus. It's an overflow crowd here. Standing room only! The caucuses have begun!

In 2004, there were 145 people at this caucus. There are 267 seats in the santuary, and people are standing in the aisles and in the back.

Zoey has just started the proceedings with traditional "passing the bucket" for the Polk County Democratic Party.

Next on the agenda is the election of officers.

More as events warrant -- Spike

I'm trying to get pictures posted, but am having problems with the uploads.

Report from Iowa: Spent the day running errands in Des Moines. While at alma mater (Drake), saw one Richardson sign in a dorm room. The student center is open for people came back early to attend the caucus. Drake doesn't come back until Jan. 19th, so I don't think many will come back early. Stopped in Hilal Groceries in the Drake neighborhood to buy some dates. The guy working there who will be caucusing will likely support Obama. The other clerk really wants a democrat, regardless who, to win. Several people asked if I was in town for the caucus. Have I lost my home grown IA look??? The Ron Paul signs that are around are very large. I would not be surprised if he does better than predicted. In Des Moines, I would guess that I have seen more Obama signs than any. Young women working in the cosmetics department at the Walgreens on East University near the fairgrounds will not be caucusing. Several of my Drake buddies are still undecided. Friend from NYC who has never been to IA is loving life and really enjoying reaching out to people in the small towns of Story County (home of Iowa State University in Ames) on behalf of Hillary.

Bri? you doing live chat tonight? (that sounds soooo pornhouse somehow.. lol)

Ping,
It's Hooterville, not Hotterville. But you knew that ;-)

My Mom was an Iowa farm girl, and was the type of cook that could make ANYTHING taste good. The exception, for me, being rhubarb. Too sour. Too bitter. She loved it and grew it in the back yard. I tried to train the dog to pee on it in hopes it would kill the plants, but the dog didn't like rhubarb either and refused to pee on the plants.

Yeah Ping..it's kinda like the qualifying for the Daytona 500..doesnt mean all that much but it sure is good to get behind the wheel again!

thanks spike

can't wait to hear more

and go Zoey! have a great caucus

What are these people seeing in Obama that I'm not getting? He irritates the beejeesus out of me so it has to be something I'm missing or something they are seeing that isn't there.

dnd. priceless !! Smart Dogs

IAgirlinDC and Spike... Good to get some real updates on a very interesting system. I wonder if it will have the same effect in 4 years

Jamie,
"Finally some sanity. KO is on."

Don't you mean "Finally some sanity. The Newshour with Jim Lehrer is on." ;-) Starting out with Brooks and Shields. I would be curious as to what KO does for Oddball during the caucus.

IAgirlinDC,
Great report.

Spike,
Thanks for the update now that the doors are closed!

"In 2004, there were 145 people at this caucus. There are 267 seats in the santuary, and people are standing in the aisles and in the back. "

Wow...Spike! Amazing....and thanks for the info! I have c-span on because I really want to get a first hand look at how these caususes work.

dnd....ROFL! My mom also grew rhubarb....but her pies were always sweet, sweet, sweet. The problem is to get them sweet but not runny....I know, off topic....

Breaking into preference groups. There are 8 delegates to be elected in this precinct.

The official count has just been released. There are 261 Democratic Party members who will be caucusing. That means each candidate must have at least 39 people in their group in order to be viable.

The results of the first alignment will be announced at approximately 7:35 pm.

Spike,
Where are my people .... The Republicans?

Craigster....
You still at the Rents in FL?
Check CQ email

As predicted, there were exactly two Kucinich supporters at this caucus.......

Obama appears to have the largest group, followed closely by Edwards. Clinton has about 1/2 of the Obama supporters. From the looks of it, Biden and Richardson won't be viable after the first alignment. I don't see any Dodd supporters in the room. At this stage, there appears to be about a dozen undecided voters.

More as events warrant -- Spike

very Cool Spike...I love technology!

Ping Pong

C-Span 2

very exciting the turnouts are so large

David Brooks on the Newshour, said of the demmycrats, that the top tier candidates received disproportionately more coverage because they were "celebrity" candidates, and that if the media had covered the second tier equally as well, they would all be competitive.

Big thank you to our caucus spotters. It's nice having a front row seat.

Ooh if those numbers hold, I'll make a ton of play money on my Prediction site.

Ping Pong -- I'm in the Dem Caucus and can't get the Republicans right now...

Official count:

Obama 80
Edwards 68
Clinton 65
Richardson 24
Biden 18
Dlodd 2
Kucinich 2
Undecided 5

Biden's group wasn't viable, and have split pretty evenly into the Obama and Edwards camps. The Clinton people look stunned.

The Richardson people weren't viable. Looks like some are aligning with Edwards. A few went with Clinton. Some went to undecided. The rest appear to be bargaining with various campaigns.
The Clinton people looked stunned.

The Edwards people are actively soliciting Clinton supporters.

The next realignment has started. The horsetrading begins...From the looks of it, this isn't going to take long.

Some remenents of groups still non-viable. Final count should be around 7:50 p.m. CST...

Just heard from one of my students. He's a Guliani supporter who is registered to vote in Pella, IA. Sometime this afternoon, he got an e-mail from the campaign that Guliani didn't have precinct captain in that precinct, and asked him to do it. He was in Omaha at the time. So he drove the 4 hours back to Pella, arriving with about an hour to spare.

One minute to go....

The final counting has begun...Should know results in about 5 minutes or so...

Spike,
Which precinct are you reporting from?

Well, damn...after all the build up today...they are calling it for Huckabee so soon??? That was kind of anti-climactic.

About half of the Democratic precincts reported:

Senator Barack Obama : 33.88%
Senator John Edwards : 31.84%
Senator Hillary Clinton : 31.60%
Governor Bill Richardson : 1.68%
Senator Joe Biden : 0.93%
Senator Chris Dodd : 0.05%
Uncommitted : 0.03%
Precincts Reporting: 889 of 1781

Final counts:

Obama 92
Edwards 90
Clinton 75

That means Obama will be 3 delegates, Edwards will get 3 delegates, and Clinton will get 2 delegates.

Remember, the percentages that will be reported in the media will be the percentage of delegates, not the percentage of people

4 people decided not to align with any candidate...

New excitement! We just lost all the lights in the sanctuary! The pastor can't figure out how to bring them back on (its never happened before -- I hated to tell him it was probably the fact there were 261 Democrats in house of God...

What's your take on this, Craig?

I am at Urbandale #5. Zoey is calling in the delegate count now...

52% of Dem precincts reporting (Edwards edges ahead of Clinton):

Senator Barack Obama : 34.09%
Senator John Edwards : 31.66%
Senator Hillary Clinton : 31.43%
Governor Bill Richardson : 1.75%
Senator Joe Biden : 1.00%
Senator Chris Dodd : 0.04%
Uncommitted : 0.03%
Precincts Reporting: 943 of 1781

I gave up smoking two years ago. I'm taking up heavy drinking

So again what is the importance of Iowa after the 6 PM news Friday?

And in 4 years.... ??

Florida will be the factor

True, Brain... :)

Jamie,
Pass the bottle...

Craig -- these are probably rurally skewed so far. I would guess that Clinton MIGHT edge ahead of Edwards by the end of the night....

I'm not surprised by the second choice results....I think you are either supportive of the Hillary campaign or not....

But I will be very interested in how the media spins the lack of Edwards coverage....

McCain's good friend Lieberman ... gag me with a spoon

This is going to be a cliffhanger on the dem side until Nevada.

NBC NEWS Projects Obama WIns

70% reporting:

Senator Barack Obama : 35.06%
Senator John Edwards : 31.19%
Senator Hillary Clinton : 30.87%
Governor Bill Richardson : 1.78%
Senator Joe Biden : 0.97%
Uncommitted : 0.11%
Senator Chris Dodd : 0.03%
Precincts Reporting: 1262 of 1781

(Percentages are State Delegate Equivalents.)

OK...so now Obama is the winner...now, what will they talk about for the next 2.5 hours???

75% reporting:

Senator Barack Obama : 35.51%
Senator John Edwards : 30.87%
Senator Hillary Clinton : 30.66%
Governor Bill Richardson : 1.82%
Senator Joe Biden : 1.00%
Uncommitted : 0.10%
Senator Chris Dodd : 0.03%
Precincts Reporting: 1330 of 1781

(Percentages are State Delegate Equivalents.)

just one more cowcus........

I'm about to wrap it up from here....I'll try to get the pix uploaded as soon as I can...

Out of the 261 people who attended the caucus, there are 14 people who are staying around for the reading of platform planks and election of precinct representatives to the various state committees....

BTW, Zoey was elected the precinct chair for another 2 years....

I'm on my way downtown for the "victory" parties. Ought to be an interesting scene at the Clinton headquarters...

If I can steal a wi-fi signal, I'll try to report from downtown. Zoey told me she's taking tomorrow morning off work, so I suspect you'll find her on the trail then.

Matthews really approached gag a maggot status tonight. Rachel Maddow should have hauled off and slapped him just on general principal.

I've decided MSNBC has decided that abject loathing is somehow a winning idea.

Spike a major thank you to you and Zoey. You did a great job tonight.

principle

a STANDING OVATION for Trail Spotter Spike -- thanks so much for the live COWCUS blogging, and for reporting the biggest Trailmix news of the night:: our own Zoey continues her reign as Queen of Urbandale

WooHoo!!!!

I think the Den race is basicsally a three-way tie.

But the point has to be made that Edwards has truly held his own against the two mega-stars of the Dem party.... He's had so little coverage, and much that's been disparaging of his so-called anger. I'd like to think that will change now.

Sturg,
"just one more cowcus"

LOL!

And a big thank you to all the ground crew in Iowa.

Why did the Republicans want Obama to win?

85% reporting:

Senator Barack Obama : 36.70%
Senator John Edwards : 30.19%
Senator Hillary Clinton : 30.03%
Governor Bill Richardson : 2.02%
Senator Joe Biden : 0.93%
Uncommitted : 0.11%
Senator Chris Dodd : 0.03%
Precincts Reporting: 1507 of 1781

(Percentages are State Delegate Equivalents.)

Fox reporting that Hillary will make a statement soon.

Before I toddle off to bed...one question....why does Kucinich have problem with Edwards?

We need T-Shirts for everyone

Just One More Cow

Our own little in group for the fearless leader.

IMHO, the Republicans want Obama to win, because they feel he will be easily defeated, in November.

I wish he'd scream once just for old times sake......

91% reporting

Senator Barack Obama : 37.05%
Senator John Edwards : 30.09%
Senator Hillary Clinton : 29.68%
Governor Bill Richardson : 2.14%
Senator Joe Biden : 0.91%
Uncommitted : 0.11%
Senator Chris Dodd : 0.03%
Precincts Reporting: 1615 of 1781

(Percentages are State Delegate Equivalents.)

Edwards is too conservative for Kucinich

Tweety's increasingly harsh, dismissive pronouncements about John Edwards (and about the populist message) indicate that he is afraid and/or out-of-touch with real Americans. And his ridiculous assertions about Senator Clinton also prove that he is unfit for his post.

I'm proud that Senator Edwards achieved significant results, despite the MSM's elaborate iron curtain and the fact that he was outspent by Senators Obama and Clinton.

I believe Senator Edwards -- and all Americans -- won tonight, overthrowing the MSM/corporate stranglehold.

BATTLE FOR 2d PLACE TIGHTENS!

93% reporting:

Senator Barack Obama : 37.26%
Senator John Edwards : 29.97%
Senator Hillary Clinton : 29.55%
Governor Bill Richardson : 2.13%
Senator Joe Biden : 0.94%
Uncommitted : 0.12%
Senator Chris Dodd : 0.03%
Precincts Reporting: 1660 of 1781

(Percentages are State Delegate Equivalents.)

Chet gets into the mood:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cyiq6lewgOk

Did Rudy win Florida tonight?

Benjaminblue

Welcome. We agree about Matthews. He has approached disgusting. I can't believe that any network would still give him airtime.

Oh well. I will still support Edwards. I may sit home if Obama is the candidate.

Interesting evening. I'm pleased with results. No more chatroom?

96% reporting:

Senator Barack Obama : 37.46%
Senator John Edwards : 29.93%
Senator Hillary Clinton : 29.43%
Governor Bill Richardson : 2.11%
Senator Joe Biden : 0.93%
Uncommitted : 0.12%
Senator Chris Dodd : 0.02%
Precincts Reporting: 1708 of 1781

(Percentages are State Delegate Equivalents.)

Edwards is making a great speech

"this march of change"

Dodd droppin out

IN favor of whom?

Hillary ruing the many Iowans who cannot vote in the caucuses; those who work at night, etc.

Think about it -- law enforcement, EMTs, health care providers, pilots, travel and tourism, whole groups of people left out of the loop by Iowa's insane caucusing procedures.

I really think Iowa should lose its first in the nation position. And am saying that as someone delighted with the vote results.

But NH is more representative.

South Carolina is more representative than New Hampshire - a little more diverse.

I caught the Edwards and Clinton speeches and I thought that they were both sub par.

It's bad enough Edwards is using a Chevy truck song for campaign events but he needs to deliver a speech in such a way that he doesn't look like a puppet at the end of a string. When will he realize that the average person is turned off by that folksy drawl and those distracting hand gestures.

The only way J.E. survives to St. Patrick's day is if people stay on the liquor until then.

With regards to Hilary, she needs to be told not to put some cross eyed person on the stage directly behind her. My focus should be on her and not trying to guess if he is staring at the former President or the former Sec. of State... she sounded god awful delivering that speech. I am convinced that she would lose in a head to head with Huckabee. You may not be comfortable with his politics but you can certainly feel more comfortable with the man.

So....what do we take from tonight's results? Anything at all?

Republican Iowa Caucus Results

Mike Huckabee 31,508 34%
Mitt Romney 23,682 25%
John McCain 12,520 13%
Fred Thompson 12,484 13%
Ron Paul 9,132 10%
Rudy Giuliani 3,321 4%
Duncan Hunter 395 0%
Tom Tancredo 3 0%

Precincts: 78% | Updated: 10:40 PM ET | Source: AP

THOMPSON and MCCAIN FIGHT FOR THIRD PLACE

Iowa Republican Caucuses Results
Candidate Votes * %
Mike Huckabee 35,257 34%
Mitt Romney 25,995 25%
Fred Thompson 13,786 13%
John McCain 13,473 13%
Ron Paul 9,992 10%
Rudy Giuliani 3,571 3%
Duncan Hunter 452 0%
Tom Tancredo 3 0%

Precincts: 85% | Updated: 10:45 PM ET | Source: AP

Hi Dog,
It's been along time - I was sick before the holidays then well then sick again all all while trying to get grants in, plan christmas for a whole community, advocate for money from my county council.

Tonight went to our county's Caucus watching party - we had fun we held our own caucus since the Iowa Caucus early returns didn't sound too exciting.

It was Obama, Biden, Kucinich, Hillary, Edwards! Actually Edwards was out on the second round of voting.

Best news of the night was that a great number of Democrats came out to vote - that is Exciting for America and for the furture of Democracy I think.

And that will be true no matter who is elected, but some promise more than others. But making Clinton wrong is more important for you than being truthful.

LOL Bear. But a good point on the "momentum" theme for McCain.

Am delighted Giuliani is imploding; he'd be a horrible president, but am surprised a lackadaisical candidate is virtually tied with McCain, GOP candidate with most foreign policy experience.

Obama approaching stage for address.

Jamie, please. I do not see Obama as being a mistake or in the same class as GWB.

And plz know that I have been avoiding this blog because I am tired of being told I am too easily duped by Chris Matthews, etc. and MSM to see what a great beautiful woman Hillary is.

Hillary is impressive. I just do not support her for president. And I never watch most MSM TV.

Time for Deal or NO Deal. Can't take a supercilious Obama

Dog,

I'm not putting you down. Just as an individual, the more I see of Obama, the more I think he would be not only a bad candidate but a bad president.

Jamie,

You will have to send me your address so I can mail you a copy of Public Enemy's "Fear of a Black Planet"...lol

With Obama's speech, he has clearly demonstrated that he has the best speech writers and the best delivery behind a podium. When Bush was campaigning, you knew he was an idiot. If you read about his background, you knew that he never excelled, always looked for the help of daddy's friends to bail him out. Thankfully none of the Democratic candidates have that same baggage. I think it is wrong to label Obama a "mistake" A casual reader may think there are untoward overtones to that sort of statement.

If hope for the future is the issue of this campaign, clearly Obama will be the big winner. I just had a thought that he is similar to the Congressman that Jimmy Smits played on the West Wings last season...

Call me a cynic though, but do you honestly think that the machine would ever allow Obama to become president? If I am not mistaken, RFK was the last major political figure to be assassinated in this country and I wouldn't be shocked were that to happen in this election year, though I will pray to God that it doesn't.

Other than, obviously, gender, how does a Hillary presidency represent change?

Bear

webthings at comcast dot net

I hope you don't think that this attitude has anything to do with color. Child of the 60s here, I sat on Angela Davis' side of the aisle at her trial in San Jose.

The more I hear of Obama - I mean the more I see him and hear him in person - the more I am impressed with him and am excited about his candidacy.

Strange how different people can be affected differently by the same speech.

Biden out, Dodd too

Jamie,

I don't at all because I know you. I was just pointing out that to a casual observer, someone could come away with that impression.

They would wonder what it is about a successful, self made man who came from humble beginnings, who is preaching a campaign of hope with youthful idealism, that would be such a mistake.

I am jealous that you are a child of the 60's because not only did you get to live through the greatest rock era of all time, but you got to see first hand the eloquent magnetism of JFK, RFK, MLK, Malcolm X and countless others.

Obama may not be the best soldier, but I can't help but think that any soldier he would command in battle would follow him against any foe. I think that impression is what is registering with the public.

wonamini: I think Obama could be a uniter, and represents the future.

Huckabee is an authentic person, with a populist message.

Voters are sick sick sick of the permanent campaign and political establishment.

WRT historic firsts: seeing a black man with a message of hope who made it to office on his own merits would make me about 8 times prouder than electing the former first lady and spear carrier for establishment Democrats.

Obama's election would so redeem us in the eyes of the world. What kind of idiocracy are we, to have reelected GWBush and the opposition party takes impeachment off the table?

People, we need a housecleaning. Voters know that.

Benjamin,

Gender would almost be enough. Unlike virtually every Western nation, the U.S. has never had a woman head of state, but let's go just a bit deeper.

Head of her class a Welsley and valedictorian
Yale law graduate and first time passage on her license

Went on to champion children's health care even though she could have had a corporate partnership

First Lady of Arkansas ... whole lot of stuff there, but look it up.

First lady of the United States for eight years. Lot of stuff there but look it up.

Six years as a senator with a proven across aisle cooperation to pass laws.

And you might as well toss in raising a beautiful daughter and being a wife who wouldn't give up on her marriage ... then there is all the right wing ugliness.

This is a woman in her 60s who has spent 40 years of service to her home and nation in one form or another.

That is not to be tossed aside easily just because some twit like Matthews who doesn't deserve to lick her boot soles likes to slap her down

I agree with you completely dog...

I keep saying that with regards to Edwards, the wrong one is running. She is clearly the savvy part of that marriage and she is a much stronger female candidate than her husband. Even with her illness she would still perform well in this election. If we were blessed with that match up, I would be in poli sci heaven.

Jamie:

I agree with all you say about Hillary's credentials; she has an impressive resume and I was proud to help elect her to the Senate.

I believe, though, that she in tied to the past in a way she can't escape -- she will always be seen as part of the Bill Clinton administration, and will always carry that baggage.

I, frankly, don't understand why so many people hate her, but they do.

And if she is elected, I believe that the extreme polarization of the past four administrations (at least) will only be carried forward.

Bear,

I gotta tell you, I loved Malcom X. Maybe that is the problem. Obama is no Malcome X .

I know where I was when JFK was shot, I know where I was when MLK was shot. I know where I was when RFK was shot.

It could simply be that I knew giants and Obama isn't a giant. Hillary is a giant.

p.s.

Bill Clinton isn't a giant. He just married one.

Jamie,

F$%#$ Tweety,

I still can' figure out how he worked for Tip O'Neil or Jimmy Carter. Craig, perhaps you could give us some background there...lol

I agree that Hilary has credentials but she just lacks the charisma of her husband and because of that, she will always be seen as trying to ride his coat tails. I don't know...

To change the subject...I just found the most ridiculous video on Youtube...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=G0LtUX_6IXY

Jamie,

Obama may not be a giant but he is starting to need new pants.

yo soy Horsedooty!

I may have found an image for our "One More Cow" T-Shirts

http://www.breadwig.com/uploads/illustration/pantelope/breadwig.com.cow01a.gif

To your point Jamie,

I think Hilary is the biblical equivalent of John the Baptist. Unfortunately, that makes her a footnote who got to cleanse in water the son of god, but who ultimately adorned a silver platter...

Hillary has great credentials - not better than Biden or Dodd.

But Obama has GRASSROOTS credentials and experience and faith in that experience and the implementation of grassroots efforts and that is what I like him,

I like Obama BECAUSE of his experience!

Bear,

In that case it had better be John Edwards or we will have a Republican in 2008 election.

Obama gave a great speech a little while ago. Many were clapping, cheering, and no doubt thousands around the country were choking back tears of emotion as this is indeed a watershed night in America.
Hope ...that was his message. I flashed back to Bill Clinton's piece " A Man from Hope." I was inspired that long ago night, also.
Tonight I was not. Obama speaks of change , to applause.
I am cynical. He speaks of ending the war in Iraq, but provides no timetable.
He promises to end our addiction to oil, with no plan.
He speaks of global warming in Bush-ese..."climate change".
He talks of favoring dialog with enemies as well as friends, and yet his statements about Iran leave no doubt he would bomb Iran in a heartbeat. This goes back nearly five years and he has never recanted those words.
Oh, don't get me wrong...if he's the candidate , and he has a leg up on the rest of the crowd, I "hope" he lives up to his word. But CAN he?
Would he be steamrolled by Congress ? Well, I have many questions, but I do have hope, too.
But I have heard way too many flowery political speeches to be moved by another one.
Besides, I just today jumped on Johnny's wagon and he got his ass handed to him.
Anyway, to Sheila and other Crawdads who are joyously celebrating this night of "change" and "hope" (and hot air), I congratulate you and your candidate.

Bill Maher on Letterman right now.

How about this ditty to perk things up here...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=IXEq_-7qkKo

dex...Johnny did not get his ass handed to him. Mitt did.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=CqsR1w0fXoA

I wish Will Ferrell was doing a duet with him

Biden is too valuable to be wasted as a Veep, but he would have been a tough president.
I didn't like his Iraq plan in every detail, but he had a plan, and that's more than most of these Democrats left have.
My point is that even though Biden was not my fave candidate, he's wise, experienced, and he would have been the great president that Imus keeps saying McCain could be.

HARBORW:
Yes indeedy, and I was pleased Mitt Romney and all his money and dirty campaigning and his perfect-every-detail-of-his-life took a beat-down by the unlikely (a short time ago) Huckabee.
I usually just watch the repugnant repuggs slug it out with my arms folded, but I was glad to see Romney take one to the gut.
ABOVE the belt.
I have grave disagreements with about everything Huckabee would load on a platform, but , dammitt...I like to hear him talk!

FINAL DEMOCRATIC TALLY

Senator Barack Obama : 37.58%
Senator John Edwards : 29.75%
Senator Hillary Clinton : 29.47%
Governor Bill Richardson : 2.11%
Senator Joe Biden : 0.93%
Uncommitted : 0.14%
Senator Chris Dodd : 0.02%
Precincts Reporting: 1781 of 1781

(Percentages are State Delegate Equivalents.)

I really didn't like the Obama win so I retreated to the Peter Allen album on my computer.

I saw him perform in his show "Up In One" with Melissa Manchester live in the 80s. There are darn few shows I've ever seen that could equal it.

dex...

I have really mixed emotions tonight. Of course, I wanted Edwards to win, but I feel pride that we Baby Boomers were such a big part of change in this country in our approach to civil rights, and now the torch is being taken up quite admirably by another generation. Obama is not my choice to be our president, but I'm more than proud that Americans (even in one state, but a predominantly white - and red - state) voted for a black man tonight. It does make me feel more hopeful.

Another point that interests me is that both parties chose people who're delivering a populist message, for Obama has taken on more and more of Edwards' rhetoric these past few weeks. It loomed large in his speech tonight. But even the Republicans have chosen - for the moment - a man who is probably a real compassionate conservative (as opposed to the faux ones we have in the current administration).

I'm going to have my crow baked in a little dish.
but I don't think this is over by a long shot but I do
think Edwards is out.

He needed a win or a tie for first to get enough money to keep going.

Iowa Republican Caucuses Results

Mike Huckabee 38,656 34%
Mitt Romney 28,311 25%
Fred Thompson 15,044 13%
John McCain 14,759 13%
Ron Paul 11,216 10%
Rudy Giuliani 3,860 3%
Duncan Hunter 499 0%
Tom Tancredo 5 0%

Precincts: 93% | Updated: 12:36 AM ET | Source: AP

Chris Matthews said tonight that Hillary's "concession speech" (for want of a better term) sounded like "a bunch of focus-group-approved buttons were being pushed." Well, at 9:43 p.m. Eastern Time, my phone (here in NH) rang with a survey that was CLEARLY put together by the Clinton campaign. In addition to all the usual questions about how favorably or unfavorably I view all the candidates, this survey asked several questions that were phrased like this: "If Hillary Clinton were to say blah blah blah blah blah blah, would that make you much more likely, slightly more likely, slightly less likely, or much less likely to vote for her?" The "blah blah blah" phrases were incredibly long and elaborate and each covered several different issues within one statement. But most telling was the question: "Have you seen any of the caucus results from Iowa?"...to which I responded, "I was watching them when you called." So this was a survey that was set to begin AS SOON AS results were projected tonight. Long before Hillary set foot into her "manufactured rally" (to use Andrea Mitchell's term), she/her people had given the thumbs up to get on the horn and see what platitudes would play in New Hampshire.

(Join my Facebook group "Fans of Craig Crawford"!)

Bear

How about a link?

Ron Paul was the surprise of the night!

Time for Tylenol PM, follow-up visit with my surgeon in the morning.

Where was all the discussion of the Thompson
surge...shouldn't that be the story of the night

after all Tweety told us when he thought it would be McCain who hit that number it would be a big story

ron paul beats the plunger and yet the pundit class is still talking about the plunger as if he had a chance.

Yes Craig,

What was your take and how many Marlboros did you choke down tonight?

Also, am I the only person who thought that Buchanan and Maddow were more in tune with their analysis than you would expect? I can't help but think they are the next great MSNBC hour...lol

I'm back home...a long night. By the time I got my paperwork finished and turned in the parties were mostly wrapping up. I missed seeing Wes :(

I never dreamed the turnout would be so large. The power failure was strange but since we were ready for delegate elections, a lot of people just left. I tried to make it really fun for the newcomers so they will want to continue to be involved and engaged.

The odd thing was when I first got to the church, a lot of the Clinton people were already there and I thought they would have a good turn out. All of a sudden a bunch of people showed up and they were all Obama supporters.

The most experienced campaign group was the Edwards people. I recognized many of them as supporters from 2004 and they were very aggressive in going out and trying to pick up additional members. After witnessing how hard they were working I was wishing Edwards could have come a little closer to Obama overall.

I hope you all enjoyed the show tonight. I am off to bed soon. I will try to check in in the morning if I can wake up in time. Otherwise, it will be tomorrow night since I am going to work in the afternoon.

Thanks to all from the Queen of Urbandale :)

Buchanan and Maddow
the next Dietle and Daniels :)

The biggest headline of the night is this...

BREAKING: AP: L.A. police called to Britney Spears’ house over custody dispute. Details to come ...

Also, how much crap will Edwards catch for not congratulating his rivals? Seems a bit petty to me to not do so.

Not to get in the middle of who's better Obama, Edwards or Clinton, but I really don't want to have eight years of hate and stagnation rolled up into four years of a Clinton Presidency.

I liked Bill Clinton, however I don't want to see the same fighting vileness that will engulf both houses of congress if Hillary were to win the Presidency.

Enough is enough. We need a clean sheet in Washington and no matter how smart and experienced Hillary is we won't have it unless we vote out all incumbents and start clean.

Just my two cents worth, for what its worth.

God Bless.

Jamie, try this:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6242424321

My first Facebook group, so hopefully that link will work.

-Claire (who just tried to remove "the Bear" from her nickname without success...don't want to step on the original Bear's toes)

Sorry I missed this with y'all. Been off the grid entirely except for a tad of local Providence news for days.

As soon as I got into my car in my town on the way home to my place, I heard the winners. And ya could have knocked me over with a feather.

I haven't heard any electronic news and ponder what this means.

*stunned*

Craig, good luck with the surgeon. Hope it's good news.

tt

well, foks, the numbers are in and the people are drifting out into the dark night , leaving the Cowcus Bar and Lounge here in Crawfordsville, . USA.

Janitor Tiptoe has been AWOL so it will be up to me to sweep up the peanut shells and empty the ashtrays.

There are still a few stragglers crying in their last beers on the barstools, and a few folks at a table waiting until the ice melts in their bourbons , or until I flip on the bright overhead lights.

Until they leave,
join me in a slideshow of Chicago, summer of 1968...the Democratic Convention is in town...and if you recognize anyone in these photos, the Tribune wants to know...why?..I don't know...

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-071231protests1968-photogallery,1,2503362.photogallery

wow, was about to sign off and saw Zoey's post -- so proud of you rising above your ankle woes to keep democracy alive -- i might not have Obama fever but i do have ZOEY FEVER!!!!

and Claire the Bear, nice report on the phone poll, great stuff -- you're our newest NH Trail Spotter

good night all -- it was a fun evening in our little corner of the internet(s)

One other comment before I hit the hay. I hope we don't see a repeat of MLK or RFK, though I wouldn't put nothing past the Republican Christian Fascists Nazi's.

Thats the only way they would have to stop the Democratic Party from retaking all three branches of government back and restoring our Constitution.

Good night and ...

God Bless.

Thanks, Craig! I had sent you the phone poll info in an email, but then remembered to post it to the group here for many to enjoy.

Happy to be a NH Trail Spotter! I'll be spending from 3pm Friday-7pm Tuesday out and about in Belknap County, so I'll be sure to post any worthwhile impressions.

- Claire (who won't quite know what to do with herself when Wednesday comes, except sleep)

Good night all. I'll catch up with the comments later, but for now: "I'd rather leave while I'm in love" :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9sUmKLmH6g

Jamie, thanks for joining the Fans of CC group! :-)

Checking in before school---Stayed up for some of the results, fell asleep as Obama was declared the winner around 10 PM EST. Felt good to see the guy win it. I hope the country can look at him as a man and not as a man of color. If we are going to go there, I would rather go there now than later.

I knew months ago all these loud mouth Republicans and pundits were deeply overestimating Clinton's appeal. Where's her top side? Who is going to give her a fresh chance???

Feel good about Edwards, but his message, i think was too formulated. I dont think he is out of it by a long shot.

New Hampshire will tell us a lot.

Dodd and Biden are supposedly dropping out.

GOP side- Huckabee wins, but he wont get much more traction until he comes down here. The religious people down here seem to like him a lot. I hope McCain pulls past him. I think McCain is better for the country in general.

Interesting night, C-Listers.
---Aging Hipster

just read through the thread, sorry i missed out---lots of cool comments. My son was Myspacing all night, and reading politico.com updating me on Obama's returns.

Later troops, off to work

How many of you folks get strange looks and/or comments from people who think it's weird to be so connected with politics? I remember when I was young and tried (right as the moral majority came into being) that everyone's rights were in jeopardy... and I talked about the Supreme Court LONG before the news media ever discussed it, and people looked at me like I was stupid to even discuss politics.

Anyway, I am for Hillary, unless she doesn't get the nomination. I think it's time for a woman to lead our country. IF she doesn't make it, I back John Edwards. After that... probably a 3rd party candidate. I'm not really into Oprabama candidate fusion.

Cheerio!