Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

night craig.. night everyone

How about that MO!!

I am proud of my state, even if my candidate lost by 1%.

good morning, Craig

I am sorry about the tornadoes...and the winds of change are upon us, but may not have BO on their breathe....

Did you get my MAD mag pdf?

I bet the tornados that came across the southern part of the state hurt Hillary. They came across around 5:00 pm. right when alot of people were voting after work. Hillary is very popular in the southern part of MO.

Late deciders broke for Clinton.
I guess the Oprapalooza and the Kennedy express just did not do the job.

Uh, how is this projected as a public relations defeat?? I just listened to MSNBC go over how Obama is going to grind Clinton with his money advantage, which is EXACTLY what I thought would happen. Remember, Clinton was supposed to wrap up the nomination with artificial primary night because she'd be too financially formidable to compete against. Oops. I thought this night would be a split and now we're entering the fourth quarter. Expect Obama to start winning crushing victories over the next month or so because he'll have WAY too much money and organization for her.

True believer

And she wiil still win. BO has a ton of money behind him and I believe an elitist vote. I also believe McCain will be McBush and no matter what , a dem will win.

I predict Pennsylvania and Texas will go to HRC. Perhaps weather prediction is not much different than political prediction. We call the weatherman 'liars' here in southern New Mexico. No matter how drunk they are.

I know I will never be selected to be on a jury tomorrow and if they find out I am the Blonde WIno, I am am in deep do-do.

You know it is scarier to vote for someone you don't know as well than it is for someone you have known for a long time, and are familiar with. Even if you think you might like them better.

Do you think that maybe Obama's reluctance to be specific and to reveal himself well enough to become familiar to people hurt him?

Intrade New Mexico Presidential Futures market update:

The probabilty of Obama winning NM is right at 50%. Clinton's probability of winning NM is 45%. However, the money put into the market today favors Obama. The market opened today with Clinton at a 60% probability of a win, while Obama opened at 40%.

Never seen one go this close this long....

I mean promise after promise after promise only goes so far if you aren't laying it out there for people to see the substance.

KGC - Love the "Oprapalooza" line. I think it had to backfire to a certain extent. I have always said that if Obama wins the nomination, I will support him. But even I was getting so sick of the hysteria, I was actually thinking - McCain wouldn't be so bad.
Of course, I dont really mean that. But at some point, all the people falling over themselves to endorse Obama reminds me of that Wendy's commercial where everyone is running and jumping into a giant pit.

Wonder if Ted Kennedy will continue to campaign for Obama? The Clintons might hope that he does, he could be hurting more than helping. I have not seen any exit poll numbers on his influence.

G---

I didn't think his influence was important anyway. Caroline's was the only one of the Kennedy clan that really meant anything.

I think that Bill Clinton watching the superbowl with Bill Richardson was a brilliant move. I think he managed to "get" an endorsement without really getting an endorsement. It had the appearance of one without Richardson having to commit. ------everybody's happy!!!

Clinton says race will be over Feb. 5 - Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-clinton13dec13,0,1986893.story?coll=la-home-center

Whoops !

Good night...I will you updated on the winds of change here in New Mexico.

My carpet looks like a political map.

WOW I am a happy camper tonight. What a speech she gave, now thats the stuff that inspires me.
S he has the experience and the will to deliver.
I think she pressed on against what seemed to be unsurmountable odds and she came out smiling.
How could this happen with the MSNBC offices being turned into campaign offices for her opponent.

True, its not over, but with her sheer grit I have no doubt now she will overcome.
Thanks for listening, sorry I just think its a womans turn and if Obama were a woman I would have no problem voting for him, but he is a Man not a black man just a man.

At least I may get to do a little Trail Spotting since it ain't over yet...somebody may yet come to Ohio to ask for my vote.

Toledo is just an hour away...my best shot to do a live report.

This was quite an evening. Observations
1. CNN had superior coverage
2. MSNBC was an embarrassment as usual
3. Both candidates did well, the fight goes on
4. The Latino vote is certainly a powerful force
5. It will be interesting to see how close the polls were..

My favorite moment of the night was the Mass. win. Ted Kennedy and John Kerry evidently didn't have
much positive effect.

The media isn't even being subtle anymore in their Obama bias. But the neat thing is the people still get to vote! And Clinton won Calif, NY, NJ, and Mass. despite their best efforts.

Craig---

I just saw the map of the breakdown of how Missouri went for clinton and obama. Now I am certain the weather hurt clinton--and for that matter Huckabee because they are both very popular in southern MO in their respective parties.

Those storms began on the western side of Mo about 3:30--4:00pm and crawled across the bottom of the state leaving on the eastern side about the time the polls closed at 7:00 pm.

I know some people were out voting anyway (I was driving some of them) But these storms were nasty---including tornado warning and softball size hail. I have no doubt that plenty of people stayed home.

Bet Clinton and Huckabee would have won squeakers in MO.

I agree HRC did great despite the press. I like your comments Craig, your friends at MSNBC are really losing me as a viewer, they are not objective, except who would have believed it, Pat Buchanan!

Craig did you hear Nora Odonnell say that in response to a comment about a dream ticket with Obama as VP Michelle Obama made a comment about it by saying sarcastically "she'd have to give that some serious consideration". Can you check that out and may write something about its' audacity from the wife of the second coming?

Dexter I agreed completely with your analysis of the night.

It's been fun...Night all...

Yup, the media got it all wrong. I live in California, am a staunch liberal (I'm a criminal defense attorney - that ought to let you know where I'm coming from) and I'm a woman. I have been amazed and surprised at the media coverage concerning the Feb. 5 primary out here. Granted, almost every black person I know voted for Obama (if only there were sisterhood so strong as that) but most everyone else I know - old, young, rich, poor, Latino, and a few black women who shared their preference me on the dl, voted for Hillary. They weren't impresses with Obama's performance and lack of subatance and found his effort to sermonize cloying. They found him young. And as for the issue of Hillary polarizing the Republicans in the upcoming general - does the media not think that Swift Boaters are doing opposition research on Obama at this very moment. Frankly, we all found is a little "briar patchy" to hear Ari Fleischer and others state that they are dying to run against Hillary implying that Obama would be tough to beat. We're too smart for that - my friends in California that is. What's up with the media?
So, that's that from the ground.

Craig:

I believe that a part of Clinton's victory in CA is attributable to (i) early voting, and (ii) the state is too damn big.

Barack could not get around the whole state, especially before this National Primary (which only months ago was supposed to coronate HRC - according to ALL of the media).

He wins on the ground game because he has the best case for this election and an energy you cannot deny.

ELAINE:
That was Oregon Democrat's observations...generally , I think Obama really took a step backward because of unreached expectations.

Sue: the "lack of substance" argument against Barack is the conventional wisdom. It falls away when people get to see him for themselves and take a good look. As well as for anyone who may have the time to read his books.

As far as being young . . . the three youngest US Presidents are:

Theodore Roosevelt
JFK
Bill Clinton

Not bad company...

Sue:

Did OJ do it?

We're gettin' pretty high-brow here, a few lawyers and a professor and a few computer geeks...and then a few of us who might have or did go college but made or are making careers in the trades. I am a UAW member, retired from an industry making clutches for those giant semi trucks

Do you defend folks from all walks of life?

No one said taking down the establishment would be easy.

I was all for Kucinich, then Richardson, then Edwards...it has been hard to see them fall.
I used to be all for HRC, then when she sided with Bush on the war, I said I would never vote for her.
I never have voted for a repugg...what to do? No third party candidates interest me...so I have to decide: don't vote, or vote for BO or HRC.
I would be all for BO but for two issues. One is a statement he made in 2003 about how harsh we should treat Iran.
That story mysteriously disappeared from Tribune archives and Google searches, and BO has never backed away from it. He sounded every bit as hawkish towards Iran as does Lieberman.
The second issue is the war. Against it at first, as soon as he came to the Senate he joined the hawks in voting for every funding measure Bush wanted. He never stood with Feingold and Kennedy and others who voted against the rathole-spending, he did, for years, become a huge hawk on Iraq. Now he says he is a peace candidate. That is a lie, but when Bill Clinton simply reminded people of this, he was called a racist. This is blatantly ridiculous...just look at the votes!! Obama is nothing but a Bush Democrat on Iraq, and Hillary is worse.
But....what to do? I have forced myself to disregard Iraq, because if I don't , I won't be able to vote at all.
Right now I would feel more comfortable with "Clinton, Inc." in the White House.

"No one said taking down the establishment would be easy."

Yeah, that's why Hillary is having such a tough time with the media reporting the unvarnished truth--she's winning.

Dexter - pick up a copy of The Audacity of Hope.

Oh...the Crawfordslist meeting room is now stocked with fresh Krispy Kreme glazed doughnuts.

Too bad the folks observing Lent can't have any! Fat Tuesday is OVER!! I was REALLY PISSED OFF cuz I got to the bakery too late yesterday to get any Paczkis. Those are really ginormous filled round pastries only to be eaten on Fat Tuesday. I had forgotten to phone-in an order. Bollocks!!

Jesus Kresit, EuroTom...what kinda coffee do you drink over there? Powerful stuff, eh?

EuroTom

The two highlights for me were:

The victory in Massachusetts..Ted Kennedy and John Kerry didn't produce as I'm sure they thought they would.

California..solid victory which which provided great annoyance for the MSNBC crowd.

My home state of Minnesota went solidly for BHO which was interesting. Given that the caucuses have brought out more politically active idealists hoping for a "change" I suspect my second home state of Washington will go for Obama.

I said it before and I say it again.
I'm for the ticket:

Clinton/Obama 2006 and yes, IN THAT ORDER :-)

Clinton-Obama..that is my ticket

good night

In the Senate dining room this morning, the esteemed Senators from Massachusetts call over the waiter, and ask what the Special is today.

We are serving crow this morning. How would you like yours cooked?

With 80 percent in, only 79 vote difference in New Mexico. New Mexico is always like this in recent elections.

Well I'm up!

I will say Congrats to all Clinton Supporters. It not over yet, but last night was yours. ;0)

I will also say I am VERY happy and Heartend to see the even thouugh his delegates are fewer, he won more states.

If you really take a look at the spread, Obama really Won a lot of America with his ideas. Its amazing!

RECOMMENDED READING

Thomas B. Edsall Puts out a fine unemotional, objective piece on the breakdown of what happened on Super Tuesday.

""Super Tuesday Fallout: Where The Race Goes From Here"""

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/06/super-tuesday-fallout-wh_n_85249.html

Morning Craig.....Or afternoon maybe?

Hope you have a nice light or soft blanket to sleep with so your leg doesn't suffer under the weight of it.

Do you think we could have a breakdow Commentary? That would be really interesting.

WOW......Missouri

If Barack doesn't get the NOM, he still won Missouri. I mean WOW.

OK, time for a shower. the boss leaves today. I get to come home and "Nest" for a little bit more. Tomorrow I am leaving for Palm Beach again.

I will be back in the long long days. So maybe I'll lose more weight!

Always looking for the brighter side of life!!

Craig Got it Right Again!

You made HUFFPO as a featured Blog Post.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/craig-crawford/media-gets-it-wrong-again_b_85235.html

Congrats Cahoona!

Patsi,

I know he can. I am just trying to pull some highly damaging remarks down again and I would like some help from you too. help all of the rest of us to make the next transition. There will always be a winner.

What I've seen, really concerns me that we are going to get torn apart for something fleeting like a Primary.

I'm not taking sides, just trying to get ALL of you to....while you enjoy your hard earned wins, don't forget that a lot of rather over the line statements can hurt longer than a short lived win.

Obama won mostly red states, which he can't count on winning in the general. Clinton won most of her delegates from traditional blue states.

Reality Check:

* First, no one cares if the media "got it wrong." This assumes that: (a) voters are listening; and (B) that they are swayed by the media. Both assertions are dubious.

*Second, what the media is picking up on is the ENERGY of the Obama people. Obama is attracting huge crowds of young, passionate, idealistic people. Hillary is not.

*Third, Super Tue was a TIE, which is a win for Obama. Clinton is no longer "inevitable."

Well Proffessor Snark!

Come in here and have a picnic! LOL

Heres a surprise.....NM is leaning toward Obama! I'm so shocked!

The Dem race is all about the Clintons. If you like them, and think they would be effective advocates of Democratic principles, then you support them.

If you dislike them, and think that THEY are part of the problem, then you support Obama.

He's the un-Clinton.

Tag Team! You guys are it, I'm out the door!

Nash, I don't think she's been "inevitable" for a couple of months now. On the contrary, I have heard her obit read several times.

And yes, a lot of morons really do believe what the media feeds them. Over the years the misinformation, demonizing and outright lying shaped many opinions. Consider the march to war that people are now trying to hang around Hillary's neck, despite her impassioned speech at the time about the folly of invading until every diplomatic option was used.

There were many reasons to vote either way at that time. I had started thinking Bush was crazy some months earlier, so I was against the vote....HOWEVER -- I still remember thinking that "if" by some stretch, Iraq had a bomb and lobbed it into Israel, everyone who voted against giving Bush war powers would be impeached -- after the media strung them up.

Over the years I've seen "anti-war" turned into "anti-American," "Liberal" turned into "commie," feminist turned into "ball-breaking man hunter....and yes, a piddling $100,000 land deal in Arkansas turned into a scandal of Enron proportions.

" I got mugged, propositioned, approached by by dozens of dealers, shoved by a homeless guy, and tossed out of a restaurant because they thought I was gay."

Jeez! Nash! I love NYC -- never had an ounce of trouble there, and I've spent a lot of time in the city. On the other hand, my car was run off the road here in Nashville by some skinheads who thought I'd cut them off in traffic...go figure!

Craig,

I can't help but think that the problem with the media is that as a group, you guys offer commentary without any regard to the total picture.

Just as in previous contests, you will see that Mrs. Clinton has had a significant benefit from early voting. She did especially well with people who voted well in advance of the primary date.

If you look at people who waited to vote until election day, I am sure you will see the spreads significantly closer.

If you review the comments from you media folk in the past week, you heard the point was raised about early voting, yet when the grand predictions are made, that very important fact is ignored.

Obama can't be faulted for not meeting the expectations of a group who bases them on analysis that is only 50% complete.

We have seen as a trend in this campaign that Obama has done better than expected with well educated voters.

It is therefore NO SHOCK TO ME THAT HE ISN'T DOING AS WELL WITH THE MEDIA SINCE AS A TOTAL GROUP, YOU AREN'T FITTING THAT MOLD...

All you need to know about why I hate New York is that when I visited my mother's cemetery in the Bronx, I observed a woman in a brand new Cadilac stealing flowers from the graves to take outside the gates to resell.

Another reason is that some piece of shit actually stole the two earns we bought for the pedestal to keep flowers...they were there for less than a month. When I tried to file a police report, the cop basically told me to screw, he didn't want to do paperwork.

So F#$@ that city

Okay, Colleen....from now on when I think someone is an idiot I'll quote Bugs Bunny and call them a maroon.

believe that a part of Clinton's victory in CA is attributable to (i) early voting, and (ii) the state is too damn big.

except for the facts: late voters broke for Clinton,.
ooooothe states;s tooooo big...gee did that just happen

and he brought secret weapons Oprah all the Kennedys and the wife of the governor.

And so, after raging that the press has been down on Romney, MOJo started his own spin on last night's voting: Obama's Missouri win was monumental according to him, despite the fact that it was basically a dead heat.

No commentary on two elephants in the room. One, many of the states Obama won big will NEVER go Democratic in November: Georgia, Idaho, Alabama, Kansas.....Two: this caucus factor is very odd to me. In Kansas, people couldn't even figure out how to do it....my homestate, and people were saying it was all bout the party's control. And why, exactly, is Obama winning caucuses? I think it is due to the fact that it's winer and older voters may not be able to get out. Lots of young, aggressive people there....

I am just looking for a Happy Ending.

yo soy Horsedooty!

senor dooty

are you looking for a pony?

People keep suggesting that early voters would have changed their votes....that overlooks that early voters are ofter older voters. They made up their minds and wouldn't have changed.

biggest loser Zogby

All of professional Polls should be fired this year!

Dear Mrs. Clinton,
A win is a win is a win. Carry on!!

One, many of the states Obama won big will NEVER go Democratic in November: Georgia, Idaho, Alabama, Kansas.....

Patsi, I am going to go on a limb and say Hillary doesn't have much of a shot in those states either...

I would like analysis about what states will genuinely be in play for the General Election. I ask this because if it was a McCain/ Obama race, the early narrative would be that they both scored primary wins in states their party doesn't normally carry in the general election. If it were Hillary, I would expect her to carry Arkansas but would she pick up other southern states? I think she would lose Florida to McCain, so what would she need to get instead to make up for that major loss?

thank you, Patsi

bear

http://www.whistlingpastdixie.com/

Katherine,

Thanks for the link...I will order the book online since I doubt I will find it in any bookstore in Fort Worth.

Wonder how Ms. Winfrey is feeling this morning? Apparently, Ugly Betty trumps Oprah.

What is up with MoJo (and others)? He played a clip of Obama's speech & Joe was just in awe. (Again, this is a US presidential race, not Toastmasters.) Why? I just don't get it? What is he saying that is so inspiring? Unify the country under a tent of what?

At least Joe finally had the insight to say that it's experience vs change rather than a race race. I would amend that to being experience & competence vs the untried and, therefore, unknown.

W has a lot of experience being prez & look at the job he's doing. Hil'ry is very capable; Obama doesn't even have the fine motor skills to vote his intent when he actually cares enough to vote something other than "present."

I went to NYC 2 years ago. I never had a problem while I was there. No rude people except the ones who were driving. But , I was walking. I just observed them from the sidewalk. I'm looking at the election like this: Its it better to root for someone to win because you believe in them and want them to win or root for someone to win simply because you can't stand the other candidate? I mean , I root for Ohio St. Notre Dame and Michigan St. to lose every weekend in football , but it's not because I like the teams they are playing against , it's because I hate those 3 teams a lot. And it IS a 2 way street as far as bashing each other's candidates.

Blue,

If you aren't able to detach your political emotions and be impressed with how Obama delivers a speech and captivates and audience, you will never be able to see it. He is an impressive orator. It doesn't hurt that he has a rich sounding voice that does well when he needs to increase his volume.

I agree with a lot of Hillary says but I have some issues with her oratory style. When she tries to get louder she sounds shrill. Whereas Obama has a "poker face" when he speaks to the press, Hillary has her own version of the W smirk that is off putting. I don't think I am the only person who is put off by it, even though I like what I hear from her on most issues.

You don't have to be a smooth talker to get elected President. Just look at who we have right now.

Mike Barnicle just cannot admit he is wrong
and the load is right there with him

hey Mrs Greenspan Tom Daschle is a friggin lobbyist

and Clinton wasn't president when Daschle lost

"Patsi, I am going to go on a limb and say Hillary doesn't have much of a shot in those states either..."

That was my point, Bear. Those are red states and no Dem is gonna "change" that...

Bear....add SC to the list of states which will never go democratic

Sheila, I think you are spot on about Huckabee. His influence and potential pull have been underestimated all along....

I cant see McCain picking Huck for his VP.... i dont think that will happen

"If you aren't able to detach your political emotions and be impressed with how Obama delivers a speech and captivates and audience, you will never be able to see it. He is an impressive orator. It doesn't hurt that he has a rich sounding voice that does well when he needs to increase his volume."

Now that scares me. Is that now what we base the future of our country on? How someone delivers a speech? The "timbre" of the voice? It's that kind of thinking that for me, at least, is troublesome.

Obama gives good speech. Big deal. There's just no there there. Sorry, bear, but I was looking for content.

How ticked off is Romney at Huckabee today? I like Mike.

In 1998, Barnicle was forced to resign from the Boston Globe amid questions about the sources of two of his columns. The first column, dated August 2, 1998, allegedly contained unattributed material from the 1997 book Brain Droppings by George Carlin[1].

Review of previous Barnicle columns by the Globe revealed another possible fabrication in an October 8, 1995 piece. The column recounted the story of two sets of parents with cancer-stricken children. When one of the boys, a black child, died, the parents of the other boy, a white child who had begun to recover, sent the dead child's parents a check for $10,000 USD. When the Globe could not locate the people in the story, Barnicle claimed said he did not obtain the story from any of the parents, but from a nurse, yet did not produce the name of the nurse. When editors could not find a death that matched that of the child's in the piece, Barnicle was asked to resign[2]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Barnicle

Patsi,
Any tornado's in your region? I just saw the news on the weather last night. Not good.

Craig hit another one out of the park. The Hillary campaign consistently is in the business of lowering expectations once they figured out that the "inevitable" thing was working against her. By doing that, and using the machine to get out the vote, she always wins in the MSM.

Patsi,

You need to take a deep breath and count to ten...

If you think ones ability to deliver a speech isn't important than you are being, in my opinion, a bit naive.

One of the major criticisms W will have after he is out of office is that he couldn't deliver a speech without looking like a stuttering idiot. Letterman's daily "Great moments in presidential speeches" did nothing but make W look every bit the idiot we think him to be.

If you are not able to clearly and concisely convey to people what you stand for, whether you are right or wrong on an issue is inconsequential because you will never be able to convince others of that point.

I have posted many the following point before on this blog...

How something is said, the visual behind what is said carries just as much weight as what is actually being said. We live in a short attention span world and those things are often more resounding than the points being made.

Craig.. Well i guess we can say Hillary gave Ted a Big Take That!!

Anyone else pick up on the point that many of Clinton's donors are maxed out while Obama's nickel and dimers aren't?

dnd....no -- no tornados in Music City....but then, I don't get excited at the alerts...I grew up in a Kansas town that was smack in the middle of "tornado alley" -- the end of our roof got clipped off twice. I guess I'm kind of like those folks in the Keys who sit ou opn their patios with cocktails waiting for the hurricane.

PS -- Everybody played down expectations. At least "try" to look at things with an objective eye! :)

Anyone else pick up on the point that many of Clinton's donors are maxed out while Obama's nickel and dimers aren't?

Posted by: Bear | February 6, 2008 8:16 AM

stop listening to morning load

Patsi-------Hitler was able to "move" the German people with his speechs. It can be dangerous!

Thank god super Tuesday has come and gone....

but before I make any political comments......
Patsi.... I am sooooo relieved to see you posting this morning....... I was praying for your safety last night....

yup.... Clinton won the night..... and Obama is nipping at her heels....
it's an exciting time to be a political junkie.....

I watched CNN last night...... their coverage was superb....
I tuned in MSNBC for a few minutes...... just in time to see Tweety trying to twist Martinez's arm in New Jersey to change his super delegate vote pledge from Clinton to Obama if he took the state..... good god..... what an ass!
I don't get how any of you can continue to watch such idiotic coverage at this point.

GO DEMOCRATS!

Bear -- I think Hillary will find donations when she needs them.

Has anyone else considered that Kennedy was asked to endorse Obama by the Clinton campaign?

Consider that if she is the nominee and the pale elephants try to break out the liberal tag, she can say if the liberal wing of her party endorsed her opponent, she is truly the real moderate in the race. Tactically, this is brilliant because McCain will have to run to the right to shore up his party support first.

Bear,

I am one of those small doners and I'm not finished yet. I think it worth it. My conscience won't let me do anything else.

Just opened my eyes so don't know if anyone put this up yet

Marharishi Yogi has died

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02/06/db0603.xml

Nice article Craig!!

I was just doing some research on the media and brainwashing. One of the articles; http://www.geocities.com/northstarzone/TV.html The history of American using brain washing is interesting to those of you who like that sort of thing..........I do!!

I caught Jay Leno last night with his "Jay Walkers" and was reminded that few people even know who the political candidates are by facial recognition. Hard to believe with us here who see them in our sleep. As I watched I was thinking of the report from the Center for Media & Public Affairs with media reporting being 83% positive for OB, and 47% positive for HC. http://www.cmpa.com/

So, if we have around 300 million people in the US, 62 million voted in 2004, (and I understand it will be more in 2008.) My question is how many people really know who they are voting for freely without being brainwashed?

Tom Brokaw has been a voice of reason. The rest of them all all caught up in the movement

Bear....

wow.....
your theory on why Teddy endorsed Obama.....

now THAT is what can be called spin...... LOL!

I do agree with you on your comments on oratory skills....

The big story of the night is how Huckie is preventing Mitt from getting the nomination. It's causing the Right wing radio guys to go nuts.

What happened in WVA is a prime example. Back door politics at it's best.

Obama doesn't have to worry about his flacks doing the wrong things because his nbc campaign staff is able to pivot and spin all on their own.

Every story begins with "This is what Barack has to do ...." nice going chuckie todd

Renee,

That just came to me as I was enjoying a cup of Hot Dunkin Donuts...

now to change the subject...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fGw16YrZxF8

One of the best Beatles songs ever...

BTW, everyone good morning. Where did you all go last night? When I was done tutoring, I checked in to find no one from the blog yesterday listing on that site. Do I need a secret password?? LOL

"Has anyone else considered that Kennedy was asked to endorse Obama by the Clinton campaign?"

ROFL, Bear! You've officially jumped the shark.

But as far as that great orator thing goes....you followed your praise of Obama by saying you thought Hillary's voice was irritating. Sorry she doesn't sound like a preacher.

Our new Sue said

"Obama's performance and lack of subatance and found his effort to sermonize cloying. They found him young."

It's nice to know we are all sisters under the skin. :)

I should have had more faith that California wouldn't fail me... such lovely lovely numbers.

VADaryl,

Was Larry Craig involved in those backdoor politics? lol

Sorry, couldn't resist

Gordo, please ditch the Hitler references please. To keep up the theme of the campaign, you should have said that "Jesse Jackson was the best orator of the 84 and 88 campaign and where did he end up..."

Bear------A big problem (with the Right-wing) for McCain is that he has worked with Ted Kennedy.

mornin' all.

Interesting night, no? Not to be too simplistic about this, but Craig's piece is pretty well spot on IMHO. Looks like this will indeed go to the convention - but don't forget, the allimportant WV Primary is May 13. (LOL, but WV would have won the nomination for Gore in '00 but for the lies of the NRA).

I thought Massachusetts may have been the biggest story of the night - in Kennedyland,Ted and Caroline couldn't deliver. And in Claifornia, Oprah, the Kennedies AND Maria couldn't deliver. Apparently the non-black ethnic vote isn'tconcernedwith what they say - those were the California demos that Hillary won. Talk all you want about the red states Obama won- they won't help in November,and neither he nor Hillary stands much of a chance in them.

Bear, the comment that Hillary can't beat McCain in FLmeans exactly what? Obama couldn't beat Hillary in FL even though neither of them compaigned there and they were both on the ballot. Could Obama deliver FL if Hillary were not on the ballot? Maybe, but I'd put my money on the candidat e that drew more support there when dem voters were given the choice between them, which was Hillary - her appeal to the Hispanic and geriatric groups has been demonstrated to be stronger than his (AZ & CA f''rinstance), and there are a few folks in those groups in FL.

From a personal perspective, the states that surprised me most were the southern states that Obama won, oncluding my home stae of AL - there is without a doubt a tremendous change that has taken place down there. I need to dig into the voting among the demo groups to see how he won them, but nonetheless, it is heartening to an old southern boy to see a black man do as well as he did in the heart of the KKK.

I had to laugh this morning - Little Pogo hears election coverage wince I watch either CNN or MSNBC most of the time. That little 11 year old said "Everybody says they stand for change."

All I can say is that while Obama is a gifted speaker, and does indeed have the ability to inspre folks, he better be ablet o better articulate his positions or he will not win this race, Hillary's offputting smirk notwithstanding. And I'd recommend to his campaign staff that he stay away from the debates - they haven't helped him much against HIllary.

Hillary sounds best the quieter she speaks into the microphone. Anyone who meets her is always impressed with how she is one on one. She needs to do that with an audience is my point. It's a matter of realizing what you do best and then doing it.

Life would be perfect if only there were a "Dewey Bets Truman" version of the L. A. Times to hold up.

Someboddy pass a croissant .. another sacrilege, I don't like Krispy Kream

Patsi,
Glad no tornado's.
"PS -- Everybody played down expectations. At least "try" to look at things with an objective eye! :)"

Well by everybody, if you mean the media, I agree. The Clinton campaign plays the media like a fiddle. I can't count the number of times I saw Hillary saying it was going to be close and that they needed a big turnout to win. That's what she told me in her call to me yesterday in an effort to get me out to caucus for her.

For those that enjoy good satire, P.J. O'Rourke:

http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=9121

Boy those New Mexicans are certainly split evenly

Clinton is currently ahead by 198 votes

I think the state was carried by 500 votes in the last presidential election.

"For those that enjoy good rightwing satire, P.J. O'Rourke:"

fixed your typo

Pogo,

I didn't say that Hillary can't beat McCain in Florida, just that I don't expect her to.

I don't think she would win the Riviera Rednecks and while she does well with Hispanics, Florida has the Cubans who are still bitter about the Elian Gonzalez thing. Furthermore, I think the RNC will overspend to make sure they win there. I agree that I am not sure Obama would do much better there...I don't know so that is why I was asking the question since I am curious about the groups opinion.

With regards to Massachusetts, Clinton's win did not surprise me. What did is that her percentage of the vote was less than expected. If you look at the city by city breakdown, Obama won all the areas that the Kennedy family had at one time a physical presence. He did well in the cities and academic areas.

Hillary did impress me with how well she did in the Portugese communities between the RI border and the Cape. She also did very well in the more rural parts of the state, but as I think about it, that isn't as shocking to me.

Without the Kennedy endorsement, I think she would have gotten over 60% of the vote IMO. Kerry's endorsement was useless though.

Lastly, you can't discount the California endorsements from this past weekend because it was such big news nationally, it was incredible free publicity that transcended the CA borders. To what effect, who knows yets...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=SVUzTZ5dgwQ

Obama voted against radio marti more than once
I don't think he would do well in Florida at all

Lastly, you can't discount the California endorsements from this past weekend because it was such big news nationally, it was incredible free publicity that transcended the CA borders. To what effect, who knows yets...

Well it didn't work in California . so now you are spinning it for the future. Kennedy endorsed Obama two cycles ago and what about John Kerry --apparently his endorsement also worthless.

dnd, WADR, Hillary always wins in the MSM? What MSM are you watching? It's not the same one I am.

Bear,

"If you are not able to clearly and concisely convey to people what you stand for, whether you are right or wrong on an issue is inconsequential because you will never be able to convince others of that point.

I have posted many the following point before on this blog...

How something is said, the visual behind what is said carries just as much weight as what is actually being said. We live in a short attention span world and those things are often more resounding than the points being made."

That is true, cynical, and the root of my problem with Obama. What does he stand for? Change? That's all I hear. So far, the peple that are represented by about 80 electoral votes that are in Clinton's column and aren't in Obama's disagree with that.

Renee, I agree with you aout CNN's coverage - I watched them for all but about 10 minutes of the evening last night and didn't throw anything, including epithets, at the screen even once. I watched them this morning as well, and enjoyed my coffee more than I have in months - I could make a habit of this.

VADaryl - don't make too much of the WV Repug convention - Repugs are few and far between here - only 1200 participated in that contest - and they can't hold a candle to the backdoor politics practiced by Dems here.

What happened to Joe? I hope he didn't get dizzy and fall off his chair, from all his "spin" this morning.

KGC,
""For those that enjoy good satire, P.J. O'Rourke:"

Fixed your typo of fixing my typo. Good satire is good satire regardless of the perspective of the author.

The Cubans are far worse than any Mexican coming across the border with regards to an unwillingness to learn English or assimilate into American culture...

No wonder the Republicans love them...

BTW, the following is video of secret plans from the Obamacampaign...lol

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoID=894123160

The news out of Missouri (or should be poor AP, got suckered again.)
The Saint Louis machine did it again!!!
When I last checked the Saint Louis web site 83% of the returns had come in with the vote going just under 70%, I did a quick estimate of the remaining 17% and had Obama coming in just short of victory. so I went to bed. The Saint Louis folks didn't
Just playing with final numbers The final 17% of the Saint Louis vote came in with 84% voting for Obama.
I'm not saying they voted in alphabetical order or anything..........

For those of us in Missouri this is nothing new. I have come to believe the Saint Louis machine is up for sale to the highest bidder. They did the same thing for Kit Bond several years ago and made CBS look foolish.
I could name more.

I know the idealists out there find this kind of thing terrible but in the long run it is just politics. I'm all infavor of politics. Because the alternative is the gun and I'm too old to be running around dodging bullets

Jack

Bear------I will not go into detail, but there is great worry (in some circles) about Mika's father being an advisor to Obama. He has been described as an unreconstructed "Cold War" warrior with an obsesson about Moscow.

Linda-in-Wisconsin

There were lots of people here, until well after midnight.

Fixed your typo of fixing my typo. Good satire is good satire regardless of the perspective of the author

that's not true. Good satire should not have a political point of view but should poke holes evently
he doesn't meet that test

try Swift

Amazon.com: Age and Guile Beat Youth, Innocence, and a Bad Haircut ...Third, and not really far up there on the scale, but still worth mentioning: in most ways, P. J. O'Rourke is a tremendous boon to the right-wing American.

Gordo,

You owe me a new laptop because I just spit up after reading your comment. The first time I ever hear my father swear in English was when he described Zbignew as a crazy F-in idiot...

I hope to God you are wrong

True, true, the Media should wax less poetic and more pragmatic, but Obama did take the black vote big time away from Hillary amd his white vote is up to 43 percent . Also, I think overall Barak's outcome was phenomenal when you consider that he was largely an unknown a year ago; Senator Clinton has been around for years and she still could not score overwhelmingly. As a matter of fact, although she is staying steady with older women, she could not do better than parity overall. It is a very close horse race yet. I will not praise him too much though!

GORDO You are nuts....But Funny Nuts! LOLOLLOL

6"-12" of snow headed my way today. Hooray.

KGC,
"Good satire should not have a political point of view but should poke holes evently
he doesn't meet that test"

Apparently you didn't read it.

dnd
blah blah blah
he is a rightwing humorist

Bear, if I mistook your questionning Hillary's ability to win FL against McCain as a suggestion that you think Obama can, I apologize. I do agree with you that Hillary could not carry the Redneck Riviera - but neither could Obama - I will go visit CNN's site and look at what happened in that part of the state if they still have that analysis posted, but I'm betting that Huckleberry took it on the Repug side, and for good reason - bible thumping rednecks comprise a huge proporation of the population in the panhandle. And while the results there are of limited (read none) value in the delegate race, the patterns should suggest how the two dems could do there in Nov.

For what it's worth, I think Huckleberry is very close to the end of his run - the states he can get with his religion and southern aw shucksness are just about done now, and I don't hink his appeal will be as strong in the flintier areas of the country. I do think he will be on McCain's short list, though. He needs a strong "base" running mate, and I can't see it being Romney with all the challeges his religion and past positions on conservative issues bring to the table. And Romney ison life support now - with well funded medical care, but the end is ineveitable.

It's just fun to watching Mitt and McCain go at it. While Huckie steals the votes away.

Glad Edwards pulled out

Bear,

I agree that the ability to make a good speech with rhythms and tones that please the ear is a wonderful and useful talent to have. When I first hear Obama speak at the convention, it was a thing of beauty. Lately he just irritates me. All that beautiful sound and forcefulness with empty words.

I've commented before that Hillary should be sent to the Elizabeth Dole School of Oratory. When she is conversational she has a lovely voice (when it isn't cracking from fatigue). When she tries to be oratorical, she sounds screechy. She's getting better, and even more important when she speaks she says something worth hearing.

Why does this race need to be about beer drinking v wine drinking;
old v young;
black v white;
rich v poor;
educated v uneducated;
white v black v hispanic v asian
married v unmarried
etc.
If they ask me to poll after voting I am going to tell them a bunch of lies just to screw with their minds, or tell them to figure it out!!

I would like to know who is coaching Obama. That guy is doing a great job. He is getting better by the day but is he really ready. Soon the media will turn on him and the reps with Hannity and crew will be going after him with all they got. This reminds me of the movie The Candidate with Robert Refford. His character became a good candidate, won the election but at the end he goes into a room and says now what. I am not convinced he is ready yet, but in 4 or 8 years he will be more than ready. Good VP choice or stay where he is. Maybe become a governor so he can run something, instead of just relying on his war vote.

Max,

Most of Obama's victories were in States that will vote for McCain come November. How many pundits are talking about that this morning?

Don't limit your vision here. Don't look at how many RED states, look at how many people want change in those states.

Look at the Mandate given by those people. This race is like no other.

If you really want to be smart in this, start look at your candidate's opposition and their numbers. Then turn it into what it could possibly mean for them in the General.

Whether or not Obama did well in Red States is moot. I saw a Heck of a lot of New Voters for the Democratic Party. People willing to fight maybe????

http://youtube.com/watch?v=vk_NQAWV5Mw&feature=related

Who was it a few days ago who said they had "dust storms" that would be breeding "killer tornados" ? Unfortunately, they were right.

Let's hear it for the Estrogen Mafia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZhmZxPWni0

Jamie,
"Who was it a few days ago who said they had "dust storms" that would be breeding "killer tornados" ? Unfortunately, they were right."

It was Blonde wino.

But it WAS close dnd...at least by states. personally discount the solidly red states because they are meaningless to Dems.

I understand it is all about delegates, congressional districts etc. but I am still curious to know the popular vote totals from last night. How big did Hillary win the popular vote? Has anybody seen the totals?

Sheila

"Don't look at how many RED states, look at how many people want change in those states."

They can want it as much as they like. In a solid RED state, the part of the population that is BLUE isn't big enough to win.

You need to look at the states that are turning PURPLE such as Virginia. If the demographics are about equal then there is a better hope of turning it blue at least for this year.

The reverse is true. All the BLUE states that McCain won last night don't stand a chance of being Republican this year.

As usual, MSNBC(Mika Scarborough Nastily Bash Clintons or Matthews Spews Nothing But Crap)is not reporting the entire story.

BHO may have scored more delegates last night(which they have mentioned at least 50 times this morning), but HRC is actually ahead in the overall delegate count(which, of course, they have failed to mention at least 50 times this morning). :)

I think Obama's crew did much of what the y could, as noted int his Huffington Post piece: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/04/obama-campaign-memo-seeks_n_84877.html

Bear,,

They apparently don't have those nifty county maps CNN was showing last night - here's a link to the FL demo page - you can navigate around from there - maybe you can find it & if you do, drop a link. I don't know FL counties all that well, but Hillary did win Miami-Dade, which is where a lot of the Cuban population is isn't it? I'll do alittle more noodling, but I really found the county maps to be informative. Hillary did win allthe non-black vote ethnic groups in FL, plus the feeble-kind of what I expected. Unexpectedly, she took the 25-29 age group.

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/epolls/#FLDEM

This just in: MediaMatters has anointed Stephanie Miller as a left wing tool:

http://mediamatters.org/items/200802050011?f=s_search

as usual morning load gets it wrong
Obama was ahead in the delegate count going into the super tuesday elections

and now is behind

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_8181209?source=most_emailed

We have to ask why does the media disrespect the latino voter?

Jamie that wasn't my point.

My point is trend only. What CAN the future hold....

Wow, lets broaden a little perspective. Its not just about Clinton winning now. its also about the General and Strategy.

This is what my post to Max was about. Don't limit her to just blue states and don't count out the red. This is a new era with new possibilities. ;0)

Kool Aid 101

Shelia you are once again are asking people not to see that those Red States will be Red come November, but to mischaracterize activist Liberals pushing their candidate in largely Republican States and then see this as a sign from above that the entire State wants a Democrat in the WH.

There is a smarter explanation why Obama won in Red States and an intelligent analysis about what this means comes November, but you want me to believe the dubious explanation. I thought those pushing for Obama were more educated than such a suspension of disbelief would allow?

Clinton wins where the Democrats are and Obama pulls off caucus victories in Red States while hoping Florida and Michigan don't count. If those two count, Obama is far behind. Mainstream Liberals are stepping up and rejecting race baiting, media derangment, pundits and vague religious-like oratory. I am glad to see center so strong and personally, I hope Oprah and Teddy continue to speak out. What they have shown is that a "centrist" Obama who would really unite Republicans and Democrats, is more a LIberal Senator who has united Kos with Huffington and Teddy with Kerry. Maybe Edwards and Gore will jump in, but Hillary's foil against McCain, will be that like him, she braved the fire from the Right and Left.
That is the mark of a moderate, not lifted rhetoric and Kool Aid, nor the purty sound of one's voice. Thank God we are all less shallow than that.

I guess for ratings the media is going to ride the Obama wave as long as they can, then watch them change and go after him big time. Whatever sells that week.

"You need to look at the states that are turning PURPLE such as Virginia. If the demographics are about equal then there is a better hope of turning it blue at least for this year. "
--Jamie

I will be doing my part to turn VA blue, next Tuesday!!

Clinton/hot guy with goatee '08

You want to know who will win the General? Whoever can take PA, OH & FL. VA would be nice, too. If Obama can do that ,he's my candidate - if Hillary can do that, she's my candidate - if they both can do that - I'll take Hillary. I totally agree with Jamie's Purple State comment - that is where the election war will be won IMHO.

Hands up and walking away again. Closed minds......

Imagination.....well.....

I agree that Huckabee's run may be almost over, but I still agree with Sheila that he will remain key to helping get out the evangelicals come November -- if he's not actually on the ticket he'll be promised some job that will keep him out campaigning hard. McCain would be a maroon (oops, Colleen, I almost said moron:):) not to use him. I think Huck's probably already had some carrot dangled....

Sheila

That was my point. In the national, it is the purple states that could move either way. We pretty well know that either Clinton or Obama could pick up the blue states. What we don't know is which one will do best in those purple states that used to be red and are now trending blue. It is their frustration with Bush and their attitudes toward the issues now facing the nation that can swing either way.

At this stage you need to look at the primaries in those states to see whether Obama or Clinton takes them as that is likely to be the candidate who can win once November rolls around.

Yep Patsi and what do you want to bet the carrot is a promise that if he keeps deflecting he will be in contention for VEEP.

I can't wait to see it. If McCain does that for the evangelical, he'll be polarising a lot of the country against the Reps. We've had enough.

"Red States will be Red come November"

Max

Look at Kansas a solid bed rock Red state that has move so far into the purple column that they are starting to look blue. The change over will be slow It took 20 + years for the south to go rep. But it starts to show up on the state wide races.

Jack

Ally,

Here is the CNN breakdown by state with both popular vote and delegate count

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/dates/#20080205

Sheila....
I love ya..... but com' on....
I hate the blue state vs red state stuff too..... but that's the way it is in this country..... it does matter which party a state will win..... that IS our political system.....

I'd bet that the vast majority of people in this country want change.....
the people who want McCain want change too.....

constantly wishing for things to be the way you want them instead of dealing with the world the way it is must cost some people a fortune in Tylenol or Advil....

Lush..... why are you still watching that crap?...... tune into another station if you really want to know what's going on....

Of course Democrats will win Red States with Hillary. A moderate pulling back those Reagan Democrats will do just that. A more Liberal pick will slow this shift despite the students supporting Obama. And the divisiveness the Obama primary has introduced will turn many in the middle off. Most disregard the concrete ball the MSNBC crowd has place on Obama with their bias. It angers voters and especally women. Oprah does nothing to stop this bleeding, she makes it worse. Obama would have fewer victories had not blacks hugely support him. This is a losing strategy and he should have stuck to color-blind speeches instead of raising the flag with his constant rhetoric characeized by breaking the doors of segregation open. He picked the analogies, not Clinton.

Oh Jack! Thanks For Your Support!!!!!!

Its hard to get the limited mind set to broaden it know. BUT its a new era in American Politics with huge possibilities.

I saw Utah's Idaho's numbers with delight.

The best thing is: in the end, there are numbers that declare the winner.

I wish canidates would be required to write their own speeches.

Shelia & Jamie,
Living in a red state that's turning purple, Obama won here. But we have a caucus, with the attendant goofy rules. So independents couldn't caucus unless they changed party affiliation last December. So to my way of thinking, one can't read much into the results here.

ps. to newbies, I live in Colorado.

"We have to ask why does the media disrespect the latino voter?"

Man, I've noticed that too....one guy called in to C-Span this morning and furiously said "White women and..." --hesitation --"... latinos" gave Hillary the California win. He came an inch within saying white women and Mezicans....

'Course, he forgot about those pesky Asians....

Sheila

Utah: Roughly 121,000 Democratic Votes to 280,000 Republican Votes

Idaho: Roughly 20,000 votes in a state of 14 million people. The Republican primary isn't until May.

Declined to states were allowed to vote in the California Democratic primary. Obama still did not win.

RRenee

Are you kidding???? Watching the Mika &Joe Spin Cycle this morning was wildly entertaining for me!!

I actually DVR'd it, while I walked my dog!!

MSM disrespects anyone but their own, well I take that back, they disrespect each other also. They are in a love-feast with Obama, but if they met him on the street they would disrespect him like anyone else, that isn't in their pretensious little condesending world.

Jack,

Red turns Blue with a Sebilius (gag) not an Obama. unless your confusing activist Liberals slanting caucuses with a moderate Democrat actually winning an open vote. Kansas is more likely to vote for a Hillary than an Obama come November because Obama is the more Liberal candidate. Doesn't that make sense? Touting Teddy makes it worse for Obama. Voting against Iran sanctions after a record of speeches to the opposite doesn't help either. All Obama needs is a Kucincich endorsement. NOW chapter of NY must be pleased.

Blue Dogs can win Red States, but Obama a BLue Dog? His mentor was Lieberman and now he courts the anti-war Left. That does not turn Red to Blue.

I guess I'm thinking too broad, but I don't think so. What matters to the Stratsgist is the trend.

So Colorado voted for Obama but the Indies wer not allowed to vote. How many voters were for Both candidates all together in each state as compared to the Reps.

The numbers are staggering in most of the Red states and very promising.

So that equals a potential windfall no matter who is the DEM NOM.

A different era. A change in attitude.

But if you guys want to stay with the limited vision, this is your right too.

Col is a caucus state and the turnout was very small

New Mexico is truly fun. Obama has the popular vote so far, but Clinton has one more delegate. 92% reporting and still no decision and the votes that went to Richardson and Edwards are making the decision.

Obama 63,011 49% 12
Clinton 62,493 48% 13
Edwards 1,927 2% 0
Richardson 1,117 1% 0
Uncommitted 362 0% 0

I have limited vision, naturally. I have worn glasses since I was 3-yrs-old. 8>)

I did my own totals and came up with:
Clinton has 7330262 votes
Obama has 7283167 votes

Patsi

An indisputably gifted orator agrees with you.

Mario Coumo this a.m. on NYC air america radio-- discussing Obama/Hillary.

Obama is campaigning with poetry, but to be effective you need to govern with prose. HIllary does not have that gift, but she does state the particulars.
Cuomo went on to say while he dazzles with his speeches, but must lay out specifics re: how to get out of Iraq, who would be taxed to accomplish the goals stated, etc. Suggests that there should be more debates, not less.

Patsi, Jamie, KGC, Hillary supporters here

As far as last nites results-very disappointed re: CT,it appears that women here (particularly white women)
did not give Hillary a majority of their votes. Since white guys are tacking to Obama now, (with my choice-Edwards out) that may very well be disastrous for Hillary. Also, Patsi, it was the Lamont voters that tried to unseat Lieberman that appear to have given Obama CT. (Lamont also hosted a fund raiser last week in Greenwich with Michelle Obama)

Great post, Craig.

What the hell is in the water at 30 Rock, btw?

I think Connecticut reveals the Soccer Mom for Obama and Waitress Mom for Hillary vote. In my neighborhood (Iowa) I saw it as Stay-at-Home Moms for Obama and Working Moms for Hillary. (Of course by working I mean for wages...being a stay-at-home mom is tons of work too!)

I sure hope some kid working for you wrote the headline; surely you wouldn't have made the mistake of saying "media gets it wrong." when media are plural...and thus it's "media GET it wrong."

New Mexico

Late Late Update: It looks like this one will be a lot closer than the exits indicated. With 98% reporting, Hillary leads by 117 votes out of over 131,000 between the two of them.

Talkingpointsmemo

Lush....
well then go for it!.... ;}

the possibilities of the future are fun to think about..... especially if I extend it out 20 yrs..... I do think the younger generation will change our electoral map.... but not until they become the older generation.....

I am most concerned at what will happen come November 4th...... a short 10 months from now...... I think those that think the Democrat is a sure bet to win the WH are deluding themselves (if you look back at my posts.... I never said the Patriots would have an undefeated season or win the Super Bowl.... I just said they had the edge....)

John McCain will mount a very effective campaign against the Democratic candidate......
I think the Dems had better have a strategy for the immediate future...... and that means campaigning strongly in purple states and in blue states.....

the Dems putting lots of money in states such as Utah or Idaho because maybe in the long range future they might turn blue would be stupid beyond belief at this point.... IMO....

GO DEMOCRATS!

I knew I liked that Cuomo guy.

Coreen

That sounds like the educational divide showing up. I know CT's bedroom communities tend to be very well educated, and the state overall probably beats the national average by quite a bit.

In the middle of doing an analysis of Super Tuesday, MSNBC interrupts the analyst to report the medical results on Heath Ledger. It couldn't wait ten minutes?

Holy Cow!!!!

"Col is a caucus state and the turnout was very small"

Nope, not for a caucus in this state. Good turnout. Particularly with the weather in the southern part of the state.

About 60k Republicans caucused
Romney 60%
McCain 20%
Huckabee 13%
Paul 8%

About 120k Democrats caucused
Obama 66%
Clinton 33%

There is a big difference between having a limited view of potential and a clear view of political reality. Of course, Democrats need to shift the dynamic and win over moderate Republicans. To turn Red to Blue means bipartisanship and reaching out. A moderate Democratic candidate does that better than one who gets further Left Liberal endorsements and has pandered far more to the Left. You seem to think purty words and an appeal to young voters breaks wall between Left and Right. Nope, a record of reaching out, a plank with "some" respect for conservative values and the scars of taking fire from the Right and Left seem to be the rational choice for moderates.

The fact that you don't see this, nor how ugly the primary has gotten as the Obama camp called non-racists Clinton attacks, racist is scary. Calling Hillary Clinton a Republican Lite is NOT how to turn Red States, Blue. Obama's strategy to out-flank Hillary on the Left is proving "poor judgement" and this more than Iraq will be his downfall.

I expect the media to try again to sink Hillary, so it is not over. The odds on Hillary have, however, improved greatly. Tke away media support, Liberal endorsements and Republican attacks...this race would already be over.

Pogo

"I knew I liked that Cuomo guy."

I so wanted that Hamlet of the Dem party to run for President.

Bowen said more than 15 percent of registered Larimer County Democrats turned out for their caucus, a huge number for a caucus..but mot a big number when you compare it to primary states such as California where over 50% of registered Democrats turned out.

Torrid Joe

Media could have been being treated as a collective noun :-)

The media is a unique institution, and the media are prone to mistakes.

Jamie,
""I knew I liked that Cuomo guy."

I so wanted that Hamlet of the Dem party to run for President. "

Me too.

and Sheila....
why are you calling those that disagree with your vision of the future "close-minded".....

I thought you wanted us to go above name calling....

I'm looking at a Democratic strategy to take back the WH..... if my vision differs from yours..... well..... you know what "they" say..... viva la differance!"...

or...media could mean MSNBC!!!! LOLOLOL!!

(I know, I know...I am obsessed with MSNBC) 8 >))

"Bowen said more than 15 percent of registered Larimer County Democrats turned out for their caucus, a huge number for a caucus"

Well if you knew anything about Larimer County, you'd agree that that's a huge turnout.

Renee,

Again. I wasn't talking about OBama......I was threorizing for Clinton and the possibilities in the General.

I was saying its not impossible for RED states to be an adnvatage in the General based on last nights figures.....if you want to blindly say I am calling you guys names....

Sorry if no one gets it. Again I am shuting up. I'll see you around. I'm not going to try and get a discussion going again.

Too crazy/.

jamie, dnd - me three.

Calling MSNBC media is like calling a vulture a swan.

as usual craig is right on why is the media still trying to spin an obama victory....they know the clinton camp conceded the caucus states to obama because most of those states wont be in dem corner in nov...obama has only won 2 significant states his own and conn ..why cant the media just be honest for once..(fat chanch)....by the way she won the most gelagates and has a 70 delagate lead but the media was trying to change the math but math is math ....THE MEDIA LOST LAST NIGHT and thats what im the mpost happy about
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sheila....
don't go huffing away..... unless you have to.... I took a couple days off from this blog too..... I needed it.....

sorry.... but you aren't explaining yourself very well..... no... I don't see how Red states that will remain Red for the general election are going to help put a Democrat back in the WH come this November.....

if you are talking about future elections..... yes.... I see the possibility..... I don't see it for the immediate future.....

once again..... I'm analyzing non-emotionally..... I'm a Virgo.... that's what we do....

GO DEMOCRATS!

Well if you knew anything about Larimer County, you'd agree that that's a huge turnout.

there may not be many democrats around 24% of the total registration but they do turnout in larger numbers in voting.

Sheila, it sure looked like a discussion to me although other than agree with jamie's purple state comment I didn't chime in. Seems like the difference between Obama and Clinton supporters imposed on election strategy - you just see more red going purple/blue and see those as a places to pitch the battle - others see purple going blue as the places to try and win. Yours is a more strategic, longer term view from a higher altitude. Jes cause jamie and MT differ with your view doesn't suggest they don't understand it. I hear what you're saying, I jus think the tactical steps have to be pursued if we want to win in Nov., and while your view may ultimately result in a longer term grip on power by the dems, funneling finite resources into states that are possibilities but would defy history rather than states that are probabilities stands at least a fair chance of yielding 4 or 8 more years of a red white house. I would like to see both the tactical and strategic plans implemented, but I believe that if winning the WH is the aim, the tactical plans have to take precedence.

The only thing I object to on the Republican side is that McCain will probably get the nod.

Can you stand more than eight months of "MY Friends"

Gore or Kerry would have been president if blue states had stayed blue .

It doesn't look like endorsements carry a lot of weight. I think that Richardson & Edwards were smart to just stand back and let Hillary & Obama fight it out. If you endorse and back the loser, well it makes you look like a, well, loser.

On the radio this morning they were discussing how Massachusetts voters basically said screw you to Kennedy, Kerry & Patrick. Pretty bad when the top pols can't deliver their state, especially Massachusetts.

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20040105/cobble

this is a discussion of the red state blue state issue for 2004. Those that do not learn the lessons of history are condemned to repeat them

Thanks Pogo,

Its a completely diferent bunch now. Exactly what I was trying to say and over and over and thank you for allowing me to think I wasn't crazy.

I've always thought strategy. Part of the living in DC and working for a political team for the White House.

I'm not the only one thinking this way, by the way. I guarentee that some one will have seen it too and be planning for General. That is a whole different ball game.

http://thomasgalvin.blogspot.com/2004_08_18_archive.html

In the 2000 election, no swing states went to Al Gore. In fact, Gore lost 9 states that voted twice for Clinton. However, Kerry inherits the 20 states plus Washington, D.C. that make up a very strong base of 260 electoral votes.

One question is whether or not Kerry can hold on to some of his "base" states that are considered tossups in 2004 - Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa and Oregon. Another question is whether or not Bush can hold on to the swing states that he won in the 2000 election.

comparisons of Bush v Clinton
and Clinton v Dole and arguments about what would happen in 2004 and theyassumed turnout would make the difference. It did but Bush won.

"Massachusetts voters basically said screw you to Kennedy, Kerry & Patrick. Pretty bad when the top pols can't deliver their state, especially Massachusetts"

It seems to me that the public while ready to run away from the Republicans as fast as they can, aren't quite ready to move to the far left branch of the Democrats. The economy is in the toilet. The national debt looks like an advertisement for bankruptcy. National security for the country is still really dicey. Healthcare and education are disaster zones. The war in Iraq is still a mess and it will be hard to get out now that Bush has made a godawful mess of the place.

All of those problems call for clear eyed pragmatism. It might not be everything you want, but it is likely to be the best you are going to get. It will be a time of solving problems to lay the foundation for a more hopeful future.

Thank you, Craig Crawford, for being a voice of reason and intelligence amidst the media broohaha. Even Keith Olbermann is lost.

and finally this has post 2004 data and some great new formats for the traditional red/state blue state meme scroll to the bottom to see the new maps.

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/

OK, bear, that hurt, (I really wish CNN posted those maps) but Hillary and Obama split the bigger panhandle counties in FL. She took the other bigger counties in mainland FL. I go back to what I said before - Hillary stands a better chance against McCain than Obama does in FL.

Nice to see a lot of new faces in our cozy, little corner of the world.

Howdy, y'all!

tt

what digby says
http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2008/02/voters-like-these-candidates-by-dday.html

The truth is Democrats are happy with either candidate. Obama needs to push the meme that he is different and only he can get the voters we need to win in November. The satisfaction with either candidate is very high.

She, no prob. I love you, man (well, chef). I'm big on separating tactical from strategic when it comes to the planning process - some folks mangle them together and get all screwed up.

kc, that is a great election maps link, and the Velasquez/Cobble article sounds like it is as applicable today as it was in '04.

To get an idea of how the democrats will do in conservative rural areas I went to the Missouri Sec. of Sate web site.
The link below is to True Believers' home county, Howell county
http://www.sos.mo.gov/enrmaps/county_pie.asp?countyid=23469

HRC was the second in vote totals behind Huckabee

and Obama almost got as many votes as McCain, 200 short. 1347 to 1168.
For a black man to do this well in that part of the country is pretty amazing.
It was in the late 80's I was going down to the bootheel of Missouri and while driving saw a "N***er don't let the sun set on your a**" sign. So it is not an area of liberal enlightenment.
BTW good job True Believer
Jack

kc, that is a great election maps link, and the Velasquez/Cobble article sounds like it is as applicable today as it was in '04.

Posted by: pogo

It's like political alzheimers. There is nothing new in poltics just new faces.
And the youth vote is getting bigger and has been since 2000.
http://www.civicyouth.org/quick/youth_voting.htm

" BUT its a new era in American Politics with huge possibilities. "

Precisely what the people who voted in Ronald Reagan and George Bush said.....

Obama = Gene McCarthy
Clinton = Hubert Humphrey

Thank goodness in 1968, the Dems weren't misled by "media hype."

So, in 2008, Nixon (McCain) wins again.

I see that differntly

Edwards Gene McCarthy
Obama Robert Kennedy

and there is no reason to believe that people won't vote in the fall . You have no evidence to back that statement up

I campaigned for Gene McCarthy in NH in 1968 Obama is no Gene McCarthy

KGC, thank for the links.

nash!!! HUSH, boy!

tt

KGC, *L*

True, IMHO, Obama is no McCarthy.

tt

I wonder if the Clinton campaign has a contingency plan for "Bimbo Eruptions" just like they had in 1992. They had staff members assigned, comments prepared in advance, etc.

Come on, Hillary supporters. You KNOW he's got a girlfriend stashed somewhere. Probably a member of his personal staff.

("personal staff"....get it?)

Still obsessing about Bill Clinton's pants, nash?

Nash
"You KNOW he's got a girlfriend stashed "

I heard Obama has a stash....

KGC is one her toes today. *L*

tt

Patsi: I'm not obsessing but all it would take is one more Monica incident, and Hillary would go down like the Titanic.

(Or is it, one more Titanic incident, and Hillary would go down like Monica?)

I don't know if you all know this...but...if you don't like whats on a particular station...you CAN change the channel. You can choose what newspaper you read. Media has always been biased...you all seem shocked

You know, Jesse Jackson has a girlfriend, too.
-Bill Clinton

Nash

You are so twentieth century.
It is a new world, remember?
Only the old farts at the MSM worry about Bill Clintons dick and they are just wishing they were getting some.
Do you think Chris Matthews has got laid in the last year? Of course not, even crack whores have some standards.

Jack

Nash's anthem

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-Iyn5JAKZQ

Bring it on! We will just get Wendy Vitter up to defend husband's who stray and Mrs. Larry Craig too

to err is human to forgive is devine

nash, bud. your analysis has an Achilles' heel or two. Nixon pledged to get out of Vietnam - McCain has vowed to stay in Iraq. Humphrey was stained by his ties to Johnson and his Vietnam policy and hobbled by his reaction (none) to the rioting at the Dem convention, which collectively branded him a hawk among the very youth that could and should have put him in the WH. Both Clinton and Obama have pledged to get out of Iraq. And Huphrey got the nomination through the convention, without fighting without in the primaries. Oh, and both McCarthy and Humphrey were from that traditional springboard to the presidency -Minnesota.

"Obama is no McCarthy."

He's not Robert Kennedy either. :)

answer
You know, Jesse Jackson has a girlfriend, too.
-Bill Clinton

Question:
What is the martial fidelity of all winners of SC democratic primaries

I guess you would rather promote the rightwing lies
even as a joke

Nash,

Who cares if Bill has someone on the side. He won't be President. They can't impeach him twice. If she throws him out of the house (like the family values guys want her to), she will still be living at 1600,

"Pretty bad when the top pols can't deliver their state, especially Massachusetts. "

Bowmanc,

I know what you're saying, but do you really think that's a bad thing?

Endorsements are what they are, and in the grand scheme of things I'd say they're not much and they shouldn't be. Various media outlets' subtle endorsement of candidates holds much more sway than that of a celebrity or a politician. I'm not saying that's a good thing either. That's just how I see it.

Thanks Jack--

What do you think about the possibility that the weather effected the final outcome in MO. I don't know where you live to see if you experienced it.

But I am just not sure that Obama would have won if it had been good in the evening down here in the south.

You know that weather knocked the voted very well in the southeast part of the state. And yeah there are some Obama supporters there but I am certain there was alot more for HRC.

"you CAN change the channel."

Mediaman,

If CNN doesn't tell the truth, and If MSNBC doesn't tell the truth and if Faux doesn't tell the truth, it's awfully hard to find out what is happening.

You guys don't get it. I don't give a damn about sexual morality. But huge numbers of voters do.

Bill is Hillary's Achilles heel. I'll bet Rove knows who his current girlfriend is.

If he cheated it in the oval office, you can BET he's still doing it now. Self-discipline is not Bill's strong point. And Hillary lets him get away with it.

And, for many, its not the sex, it's the lying that they can't stand.

Kerry is a pain. What is he trying to do prove that if he can lose an election once, he can lose another one.

Cable television rights of way and the broadcast spectrum are owned by the citizens of the US
just because the goopers have done a crap job of taking care of our property doesn't mean we don't ahve a right to complain.

We are not getting our money's worth at all.

EdVB-
that is exactly right- I do not know anyone who voted for someone due to a celebrity or politician endorsement-

The only endorsements that mean anything are those from people you personally know.

In Mass, Obama broke into a sizeable Clinton lead-

Sometimes on this blog people get way too caught up in giving the press and talking heads carte blanche to declare what the facts are.
Endorsements give media attention- while it may not influence votes, it can influence the mood of voters because many do not want to vote for a candidate who does not pose a serious chance to succeed.

Before super tuesday the Obama campaign said the
endorsements by the Kennedy's would make the difference in Mass and Cal. You cannot unspin that message now.

Only voters who have no life will care about Bill's D**k!

Anyone who has trouble meeting their bills, getting a decent job, educating their children, and taking care of their health will be voting for some help. They couldn't care less who is getting laid.

Well all of MSNBC"S blather did not accomplish any more than he probably could have done without them.
Its a Shame they could not just report the news, now they are the news, for being so wrong.
I am saddened by Mrs Obama cocky actions, she seems to say if you don't (give) to us now we won't paly with you anymore. What"s wrong with CLINTON/OBAMA. Too bad she feels that way, her loss, after Hillary"s term she would probably be the next 1st lady.
I was involved in the women"s marches in the 60"s as a lil TELEPHONE OPERATOR for AT&T , FORGIVE ME , I just think its a womans turn.

People were posting on this board about the big suprise coming in Mass. And in upstate NY how no one likes Senator Clinton,.

"I sure hope some kid working for you wrote the headline; surely you wouldn't have made the mistake of saying "media gets it wrong." when media are plural...and thus it's "media GET it wrong." -- Posted by: torridjoe

a deliberate "mistake," torridjoe -- when pluralism is restored i will go back to proper usage

New Mexico is incredible. Clinton has 71 votes less than Obama with 98% reporting and because of precinct location, he has 12 delegates to her 13.

Talk about a squeaker.

and now for something completely different, report on Al Franken's caucus last night:

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/02/05/senatecaucus/?rsssource=1

"Flacks," not "flaks!" Usually we see this error in the reverse way.

anyone listenign to NPR- report on how CA could be in play in Nov. iwith MCCain as nominee- said he might do better than HC due to his pull with independents and O could maybe do better-

Dan Walters is the guy saying it

Craig -- "when pluralism is restored i will go back to proper usage"

Very good! You're in rare form today....

The exit polls in California tell a different story.

There is no evidence to support Walters statements.

"the Media" is sort of like "The Borg." That would make it singular, and as we all know, resisting the power of "The Media" is futile...

"I'm sure mothers around the globe would be thrilled to have their daughters marry a man like Bill Clinton. "

Yes they probably would. Most of the world isn't as hung up on who is doing whom, and in many families mistresses are a fact of life. There are way more reasons for staying married than sex. That's why all that stuff about sticking it through thick and thin is part of the ceremony.

If a woman or her children are being physically abused, she needs to get out, otherwise she has to decide what is intolerable and what isn't.

Hillary simply decided that what was best for her was a thirty year history of respect, friendship and a united family. Who are we to say that that is a bad thing?

I think a tanking economy works to Hillary's advantage. Hark back to the good old days of the Clinton Adminstration, peace & prosperity. If she can sell that connection and the idea that she can recreate it, it could be a powerful arguement to make against hoping for change.

California is not a swing state.

here is a link to the Walters article:
http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/691138.html

KGC

"evidence to support Walters statements."

Walters has never put evidence high on his list of requirements.

You're exactly right Jamie.

The Clintons stayed together to preserve their family. MMMMMM did John McCain do that? At least he supported his wife because she was severely crippled from a horrible car wreck when he divorced her

Obama, however, also had strong pockets of support in some coastal and rural areas: He won in Sacramento, Sonoma, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Humboldt, Mendocino, Mono, Siskiyou, Plumas, Sierra, Yolo, Nevada and Alpine counties.

these are the counties that Obama carried or did well
there is no way in hell that Sonoma County or any other county on this list is going to vote Republican in the fall. The argument just does not hold up especially in the face of high satisfaction levels with either candidate. Obama's campaign would like to say only they are wonderful and everyone loves him but it simply isn't true

No one was choosing between Clinton and Mccain

Independents were chosing between Obama and McCain in the primaries.

Nash....
guess you didn't see Bill Maher on Larry King the other night.....

Maher said that anyone making a fuss about Bill Clinton's sex life didn't have one and were jealous.....

Maher also said that he was for Obama..... but that he respected Clinton and all her haters.... well... it was really about themselves and not her.....

and what is it with all this "you don't get it" on this blog today....

so people disagree......... SO WHAT!

Pogo,

I can't believe you went through the entire Florida map like that. I would highly suggest you bathe your eyes in Visine to restore your proper vision.

Craig, nice to see you are alive and surly today. With regards to your comment on the media and in honor of Jack Nicholson's endorsement of Hillary Clinton, I offer the following

"This town (or the MSM) needs an enema!"

Renee, I don't get why we can't get it today...lol

"WHAT MATTERS

Asked which candidate is most qualified to be commander in chief, regardless of whom they were voting for, Democrats in every state except two (Georgia and Illinois) picked Mrs. Clinton. But asked who would be most likely to unite the country, voters in every state except Tennessee picked Mr. Obama." http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/local/stories/DN-howwin_06pol.ART.State.Edition2.4530f3a.html

This doesn't make sense. Ending the war, changing the economy, universal medical care, etc. Would not all of this unite the country?

"I can understand though why you find it acceptable.
"

Why whatever do you mean? Taking snarky for another walk?

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/candidates/

Currently, CNN is reporting that HRC has 825 delegates to Obama's 732. Hey, I'm no math wiz but even I can see that Hillary currently has more delegates than Obama.

Just an FYI.

Bringing up Clinton's personal life makes all things fair game.

Bear.... LOL!
you are really funny today..... :0)

oh.... and I forgot to put the most important thing on my last post....

so without further ado.....

GO DEMOCRATS!

"About nine out of every 10 Democratic voters believe that Clinton is prepared to be commander-in-chief, while only about two-thirds think Obama is ready for that role. Yet there's not as much animosity between Clinton and Obama supporters as you might expect. More than half of each's voters say they would be satisfied with the other candidate."http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/02/exitpoll.html

The last sentence is very interesting, and it reflects my view. I will not vote for him.

Oh for God's sake ... Serial Adulterer? Give it a rest already.

What does that have to do with Hillary's role as commander-in-chief?

Good grief.

I still think few people will care about Bill. We have heard about Bill's escapades for years and it is old unimportant news. You don't think all these current voters haven't already heard the news. They don't care.

The people that care about Bill Clinton's zipper wouldn't vote for Hillary anyway.

Who cares what they think?

We should also remember that there are a couple of things that Obama's people couldn't change:

most states have a waiting period of a few weeks after registering to vote, so many who were inspired (especially the younger voters) recently by Obama may not have had time to register in time. This happened to my 18 year old son, who will vote in the general but can't vote in our primary next week.

A significant percentage of people in most of the states voted early by absentee voting and I think HRC's share of those was much higher. So though Obama may have won or come close to tying the day vote, like he did in Florida, he couldn't overcome this deficit. So he DID make up a huge amount by even coming within ten points of her, any she only beat him by 17 in NY while he trounced her in Illinois.

So Craig, though you are obviously a HRC supporter, you should include all the contributing facts when you make such arguments!

GO OBAMA!

rr - My "I don't get it" as to why some people find Obama inspirational and how he was gonna be a uniter was a question. Agree or not, I would like to be able to at least understand what people think they see in him.

Go Obama!

"Were McCain to win the GOP nomination, therefore, it could put California in play. The Democratic candidate, either Clinton or Obama, would still be favored but could no longer take the state for granted"

Dan Walters does not say Obama would do better.
He's wrong on any count. California will be blue.

All you have to do is listen to their speeches. Clinton congratulated Obama. He took a swipe at her. She lifted her language, even adding flourishes for the first time. He rambled on in a meandering, list smacking talk that went nowhere. MSNBC sucked it up with a straw. http://www.taylormarsh.com/

And here is some of what will be used against McCain.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/94827

"I would like to be able to at least understand what people think they see in him"

Blue, this is my problem as well. I will vote for the Dem candidate simply because the way the world is, I don't want Republican's in power again for at least the next decade.

But it all honesty, I don't find Obama, for all of his beautiful oratory, particularly ready for the job and with a very sarcastic streak in both him and Michelle that bothers me a great deal.

I thought we were trying to get out of the business of interfering in other people's sex lives.

"A significant percentage of people in most of the states voted early by absentee voting and I think HRC's share of those was much higher."

I thought that might be the case as well. But according to the Tennessean, it was the opposite here in both absentee and early voting.

JOHN KERRY EXPLAINS IT ALL

Just finished listening to my junior senator explain to Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC that Obama basically upset Clinton in Massachusetts yesterday. Talk about delusional nitwits. The joke among MA dems, including Obama supporters, when this JFK-very lite endorsed Sen. Obama was: "Oh no, not that. The veritalble kiss of death." The endorsement by a guy who gets elected for no other reason than he is a dem in a very, true blue state. A ham sandwich could get elected to the US Senate from MA if it were a dem. ham sandwich. Every six years we have elected Kerry because the party is too lazy to come up with a real candidate. So we hold our collective nose and vote for him. We did the same in 2004 in the race for pres. Kerry was the guy who promised voters that every vote would be counted in 2004 and then announced the day after the 2004 election that he was only kidding, or at least Ohio wasn't included in that "promise" Here in MA we knew what that flip-flop was all about. It was about Kerry putting himself first, ahead of the voters and ahead of the country. He was looking to set himself up for another run this year and thought rocking the boat would sink his ship. In the end he swift-boated himself by thinking he was capable of telling a lame joke. And he thinks he can explain/lecture/pontificate to anyone how this democratic nomination will be won. If I were Barack Obama I would run away from this dope as fast as possible.
Clinton won MA yesterday not because of or in spite of any "celebrity" endorsements. She won because she got many more of the votes of pragmatic (as in, get the job done) rank and file democrats than her opponent did.
This Edwards supporter voted for her yesterday because of her ideas and her experiece. It didn't hurt that Clinton "channels" Edwards more credibly than does her opponent.
Note to John Kerry: leave us alone.

Interesting statistics from last night: Obama won all of the caucuses. Thus far, Obama has won all of the caucuses minus Nevada. States holding primary elections the "score" is 10 for Clinton and 8 for Obama.

DND mentioned that he didn't think the Obama caucus win in Colorado was particularly significant. Why is that DND?

BTW, Editor"

flak

noun
1. a slick spokesperson who can turn any criticism to the advantage of their employer [syn: flak catcher]
2. intense adverse criticism; "Clinton directed his fire at the Republican Party"; "the government has come under attack"; "don't give me any flak" [syn: fire]
3. artillery designed to shoot upward at airplanes [syn: antiaircraft]

flack1 /flæk/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[flak] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun Sometimes Disparaging. 1. press agent.
2. publicity.
–verb (used without object) 3. to serve as a press agent or publicist: to flack for a new rock group.
–verb (used with object) 4. to promote; publicize: to flack a new record.

Either is correct in the context Craig used it.

Just before Bill was caught in his lie. His lies are his - hers wasn't a lie.

NEW THREAD

It was all a right wing conspiracy....a conspiracy to find anything, no matter how trivial and absurd, to use against Bill Clinton. And has it ever occured to you that Hillary actually believed Bill?

nannymm----go to new thread---so i can add to your comments on Bill Clinton

I listened to some of Obama's speech last night. I loved his story about his first experience with community organizing. It was dead on true. Been there ,done that and I've got a draw full of T shirts. His story could be my story. I took a 3 week vacation and worked a local neighborhood. Knocked on doors, passed out flyers , talked to people and got to know them on a first name basis. Then we had the organizing meeting. Nobody showed up.
Now up to this point anybody can be an organizer. It is the next step that proves who you are.
There is nothing like the total rejection you feel when you are setting in that empty room with unopen cans of soda and a stack of snacks that no one has touched.

So what do you do?

Do you quit?
Or do you get up the next morning and come up with another idea and keep beating your head against that wall.

The rest Obama' speech had the standard political boiler plate. I don't even remember it. I just remember our seperate but shared moment when we looked out a window, shook our heads and said "WTF do I do now?"

I could have voted for him just for that.

Jack

I cannot stand Barack Obama! I can't stand him!

This media coverage of him handing him the thrown and making him out as some kind of god makes me ill.

I find him to be an arrogant empty suit. He's a preacher with no substance!

MSNBC and their endless adulation for him is enough to make a person throw up!

I'm sick of the media bias. Obama is perfect and winning and blah blah blah and Hillary can do nothing right in their eyes.

Hillary had a clear and substansive victory on super tuesday. His clam of more delegates is in accurate, his claim of more states is laughable (if you realy understand how this all works), and his claim to young voters makes him look like an ass.

Hillary won the young vote in California.

Obama speaks of "our movement". The only movement he's gonna have is a bowel movement.

TV media are all republican or Obama supporters. it's sick to watch this outright bias against Hillary and claiming that it's a bunch of old white women who are pushing her ahead.

They are lying. the facts are out there for anyone who wants to witness them.

I'm sick of the reverse racism too and it is blatant in the media and in the voting booth.

Hillary won super tuesday, she had more votes, she has more delegates.

The media said that who ever wins California will win the night and win the election.

THEY CANNOT TAKE THAT STATEMENT BACK NOW!

Late deciders broke for Clinton.
I guess the Oprapalooza and the Kennedy express just did not do the job.

Posted by: Katherine Graham Cracker | February 6, 2008 12:56 AM

Oh they did their job alright, they made viewers so sick of seeing this mass exodus to the new half black Moses, that it drew voters our of their barcaloungers to the voting booths to have their say.

You know it is scarier to vote for someone you don't know as well than it is for someone you have known for a long time, and are familiar with. Even if you think you might like them better.

Do you think that maybe Obama's reluctance to be specific and to reveal himself well enough to become familiar to people hurt him?

Posted by: truebeliever | February 6, 2008 1:03 AM

Truebeliever,

the info is out there on just who Obama is if you look around for it. The blogs are revealing al lthere is to know about Obama because the cable news media sure as hell won't do it.

http://politicaldiscontent.blogspot.com/2008/02/barack-obama-that-our-media-refuses-to.html

BJ

Do you know how to go to the new thread?

nope i don't see it sorry.. plus i just saw that message

Oh...well, new thread means that Craig has posted a new topic(in case you didn't know that already...when I first came here, I didn't know it).

I ususlly just log out here and then log back in. The new topic will be at the top. {8>{)

Barama's ridiculous recent assertions that Hillary is just as vulnerable to the Republican attack machine as his is, and that he has been fully vetted in this primary battle by surviving Hillary's so-called "research operation" are nuts!

He still hasn't responded to the challenge Craig Crawford issued in his December 14th (2007) Huffington Post article:

"Barack Obama ought to personally assure Democratic voters that he has told all there is to tell about his youthful drug use, and that there is nothing else along these lines that might undermine him as a party nominee. Obama adviser David Axelrod told reporters on Thursday that Obama only used drugs up until age 20, and that he had not sold drugs or shared them with friends. Still, Democrats should insist on firm assurances that there are no surprises that Republicans might surface on election-eve in November if Obama is the party nominee."

Craig is the only political analyst I trust anymore, since virtually all of the Beltway Babblers have become certified Baramaniacs! Let's see more one-on-one debates so Barama can defend his inadequate so-called "universal" health care plan and explain again how his shady real estate deal with Tony Rezko (who goes to trial in late February) was a "bone-headed mistake" that conveniently netted Barama a mansion any corrupt Chicago politician would be proud to call home!

One of Hillary's staffers quoted her as saying that Bill is the most qualified for VP. Isn't that a hoot!

I strongly believe obama's overwhelming win against hillary in caucuses states gives out a clear pattern. Hillary haters!. Republicans registered as democrats to upset hillary in caucuses states. So basically obama won in all republican states. what it say?. Obama has republicans support?. Na. What it says is republican machine is planning this all along and they succeeded. It is easy to beat out Obama than hillary in general election. Obama is half muslim , half drug addict and 100% naive. Only extreme liberals vote for him. No one believe his republican affinity as he is probably lying about it to get republican votes.

Democratic party is full of idiots!. And i blame blacks for their stupidity!. Blacks can't win on their own. By alienating clinton voters spanish people and democratic white people , Obama is not going to win.
Obama needs bill richardson as VP. Hillary planned on having bill richardson as VP , now obama will have BILL richardson as VP.

I still think Mccain/huckabee ticket will crush obama/whoever!

I'm a 52 yo single woman, a cancer survivor, living on a disability pension. I can barely afford to make it month-to-month. I love young people. When I was young, I protested the Vietnam war, mostly because I had brothers who were of draft age. BO's young followers haven't married yet or haven't had to support a family. They've never been afraid of losing their jobs, or gotten gravely ill without health insurance.

BO's great to watch. He has what JFK called "vigor," but this is not the 1960s, when the boomers were young, the economy was strong, and the flag flew over Camelot. As Barack himself says, let's not turn to the past. We've had 8 years of social and economic armaggedon. We have a broken, punishing healthcare system. And women and minorities and their children are suffering in greater numbers than ever. I'm sorry, but a kid just out of Harvard with 10 years of government service (less experience than GWB!) cannot lead this nation--not on this day or at this time. HRC is the only candidate who knows the full scope of the job, what needs to be done, and how to do it. Her shoulders are strong enough to carry the nation forward. I've watched her come into her own power throughout the campaign. She will be different from Bill. She will have her own presidency and we will have a great president.

All free men, wherever they may live....
Let them come to Ohio!

Believe me, Ted Kennedy looked alot better in 1960 than he does now--doesn't strike a youthful pose sitting behind BO.

Alex:

That comment was "100% naive."

:"this man only raises expectations that he cannot meet."

that's the coolest, truest sentence I've read in the last two months, unintential I know lest the wrath of The Obama fall upon you but I dug it deeply.

Ooops, and the fact is that people support Senator Clinton because they think she's got the experience and foreign policy background to deal with the Republican machine in November -- seems to have escaped all these yo-yos.

They are not voting PRIMARILY for her because she's a woman or because she isn't black. Sorry, media.

Keep up the good work Craig!!!! I'm not looking for someone to 'make nice' with the repubs.... which ones? Can anybody name one who talks 'nice' back or who's going to give an inch on anything? I want someone who is willing to rip out their liver and eat it for breakfast. Obama would turn into Jimmy Carter ...been there, done that. No thanks!

It's amazing the free ride that the media has given Mr. Obama. If Hilary had gotten the support of the governor and two senators from MA and then lost, it would have been ongoing fodder about her demise for CNN and other news outlets. As I see it, it is in their best interest to hype and promote Mr. Obama because of the young viewers he brings into their programming. We all know that advertisers love these young viewers. No one seems to be commenting on the media's self interest in promoting Mr. Obama.

By the way, I was Biden supporter, then moved on to Hilary because of her experience and the unfairness of the media's coverage of her campaign.

the media is promoting Mr. Obama because his storylines brings in young viewers who advertisers love.

Hi
Glad to see others hearing the media - such as MSNBC - hear it as biased towards BO.

My favorite was Kieth and Matthews - love them both - but being fools talking about the great age we are in - that people do not vote gender or race or region or religion - and then they go to Lester to learn if demos indeed still matter and Lester starts with - YOU BETCHA THEY DO ... and reels off the color and age patterns and income patterns too

80% of Blacks voting for BO - and talking heads say race is not an issue in 2008? Hell if I were black I would start with - why not BO - and would vote for him as he is a good man and left leaning and Harvard educated.

Gore in FL was close
Kerry in FL was not close
Does anyone but me - a Jew - the difference might have been Lieberman on the ticket? I do not vote for some one because they are Jewish - but I will have a starting afinity that way - slight but there none the less.

Hate to annoy everyone but Bill Clinton said it - In this election few are not voting for some one because of color or religion or gender -- but logicaly and as can be expected some or many are voting FOR people for that reason.

Romney takes Utah - anymore questions?

So while the media trys too hard to be avant garde - the starbucks crowd votes BO and the Dunkin Donuts crowd votes HIllary.

Being from Chicago - would love to see BO not get the nod for DEM candidate - then run and win and become our governor in IL - do a great job for 8 years - then take over the WH from HIll ... 16 years of left leaning moderate liberals - cool beans - a woman - a black - who would have thunk

And why is the Media afraid to point out that white males are avoiding voting for a woman? Is chauvinism the new racism?

Now media stop your gushing over the insurgent and report it straight - or is that a bad word too?

thanks for telling MSNBC the way they are...no one else had the guts to highlight their bias...although I wouldn't walk across the street to meet Hillary let alone vote for her, the General Electric candidate needs to finally be exposed...earlier in the election cycle in late November, BO not only was the recipient of puff interviews on MSNBC programming but was a guest on the Today Show and NBC Nightly News and within about 24 hours then was the surprise star of the opening skit on NBC's Saturday Night Live...in it, he got to be charming and cool while Hillary was dressed as a witch with Bill at a halloween party with Bill making a "bitch" joke about his wife...I suppose when the Rezko trial begins in about two weeks, the shine may soon disappear from BO's apple...maybe we'll find out who the "bitch" really is...by the way, since Rezko's indictment supposedly involves millions of GE's cash and GE is the parent corp of MSNBC and NBC, is there a connection that GE is trying to bury?...I don't suppose anyone will ever ask what Mr. Rezko was investing GE's cash in? political candidates?

NBC = No Barack Criticism!

MSNBC = Make Sure No Barack Criticsim!