Courage Makes A Majority

Stark Choice

I have said it a number of times.  The choice between John McCain and Barack Obama is stark.   There is no way to really be undecided about this race.  Whether your #1 priority is the economy, healthcare or national security, the choice is simple to distiguish.

Just on the subject of Iraq, Barack shows that stark contrast with little effort.

The choice is clear for our future.  Change or more of the same.  I vote for change.

Two Words, Hillary. Are they that hard to say?

I don't want to stay on this topic too long, but really...how hard is it to say, "I'm Sorry."  Hillary Clinton is trying to deal with the RFK assassination comment and this is the only "apology" she can muster.

"I regret that if my referencing that moment of trauma for our entire nation, particularly for the Kennedy family was in any way offensive. I certainly had no intention of that whatsoever. My view is that we have to look to the past and to our leaders who have inspired us and give us a lot to live up to and I'm honored to hold sen. Kennedy's seat in the United States Senate in the state of New York, and have the highest regard for the entire Kennedy family."

Unbelievable.  Why the nuance, Hillary?  I know you can't say "I fucked up" but you could say that you're sorry.  You didn't say you were sorry for what you said, you said you regret if people took it the wrong way or basically that it wasn't your fault.  You didn't even apologize to Senator Obama.  How hard is it?

It reminds me of her nuance around her Iraq war vote, and how she never said she was wrong and that she was sorry.  You know, things like this:

“I made a considered judgment, I didn’t make a speech, I made a decision and it was a decision based on my best assessment on what would be in the interest of our country at that very uncertain time.”

Problem was, she never even read the intelligence estimate.   She could have said she messed up and the vote was wrong, but it always comes down to someone else's mistake that led to her gaffe.  She never takes responsibilty for what happens. 

I'm sorry.  It's really simple.  My six year old says it all the time.  Come to think of it, so does my two year old.  I think a sixty year old senator could muster the courage to do it as well.

Update:  Apparently, the New York Times agrees with me (well, actually it's probably better said that I agree with them since I am a nobody).

But she could, at least, have apologized.  Instead, she issued one of those tedious non-apology apologies in which it sounds like the person who is being offended is somehow at fault: "I regret that if my referencing that moment of trauma for our entire nation, and particularly for the Kennedy family was in any way offensive."

Nothing to See Here...Please Move Along

That, of course, is what the police say at the scene of a fatal accident.  That is what Hillary Clinton's press team is now saying with her gaffe of all gaffes, the invoking of RFK's assassination as a reason for her staying in the race with no hope of winning the nomination.

Unfortunately, that isn't how the press is treating this political event.  I would love to say something eloquent about this episode, but the reality is Keith says it so much better than I ever would.  So I give you Keith.

I will say this.  I, no doubt believe, that Hillary was trying to make the point that primary season can go in to the summer.  I also believe that she was, in no way advocating, for such violence to occur.  This was nothing more than an inartful explanation of her staying in the race.  However, given the uproar around Barack's "bitter/cling" comments during a private fundraiser, no one should be surprised or offended about the uproar here (she made these comments during a editorial board review and they were broadcast live on the Internet via streaming video). 

Senator Clinton, the time has come, everyone know it but you.  Please stop making it worse for everyone, including you.

and in case anyone is wondering.  Here is some video on what just happened to Hillary's VP chances:

How old is John McCain?

Really, for a man in his early seventies, he acts like a fifth grader.  This is rich.  First, John McCain gets criticized by Barack Obama for his opposition to the 21st Centurty GI Bill.  Here is the key quote:

"I respect Sen. John McCain's service to our country. He is one of those heroes of which I speak. But I can't understand why he would line up behind the President in his opposition to this GI Bill. I can't believe why he believes it is too generous to our veterans. I could not disagree with him and the president more on this issue. There are many issues that lend themselves to partisan posturing but giving our veterans the chance to go to college should not be one of them."

It was an appropriate criticism of a man who claims to be pro-veteran because...well, he is a veteran.  So how does he respond.  He argues the merits, right?  Nope. He decides that since he is a vet, he is above criticism on this issue and starts yelling at the clouds.  This is perfect, because it makes him just like Bush, another Republican beyond criticism.

"It is typical, but no less offensive that Sen. Obama uses the Senate floor to take cheap shots at an opponent and easy advantage of an issue he has less than zero understanding of...And I take a backseat to no one in my affection, respect and devotion to veterans. And I will not accept from Sen. Obama, who did not feel it was his responsibility to serve our country in uniform, any lectures on my regard for those who did."

It's a classic ploy, "because you did not stand in my shoes I am beyond reproach by you" attitude.  Except, it's bullshit.  Excuse me, Mr. McCain but your service to this country does not impune you from criticism of your actions.  You chose to side with a very unpopular president and oppose an extremely popular bill (it did pass with over 70 votes in the Senate, as well as a veto proof majority in the house). 

Your quote above is shameful as you try to hide behind the very service you claim to honor.  Your 5 year stay as POW in Vietnam is held in the highest regard by most Americans, including me.  But, it doesn't provide you with a shield from legitimate criticism. 

When the time came for you to stand up to provide our veterans with an avenue to gain a 4-year college degree (housing and books included) after serving six years in the military, you stood against them.  You may have had merit to your argument, but instead of standing by those merits, you decided to play the Veteran card. 

I got news for you, you don't get to determine when it's appropriate to criticize you, the American people do, regardless if they served or not.  I got a little more news for you, there are more ways than one to serve this country and most them don't include putting on a uniform and taking up a weapon.  You can continue to yell at the clouds all you want, but come November, America will have spoken and it will say, in one voice, Yes We Can Change!

Oh, and Barack, bless his heart, hit McCain right back, and called him out for what he really is...a bully.  It is nice to have a Democrat with a spine.

" It's disappointing that Sen. McCain and his campaign used this issue to launch yet another lengthy personal, political attack instead of debating an honest policy difference. He should know that this is not about John McCain or Barack Obama -- it’s about giving our veterans a real chance to afford four years of college without harming retention.  Sen. Webb’s bipartisan bill will do this, and the bill that John McCain supports would not. These endless diatribes and schoolyard taunts from the McCain campaign do nothing to advance the debate about what matters to the American people."

Well done Barack.  Don't worry, we got your back.

It's not the Candidates, It's the Issues

The primary season is finally coming to a close.  After tomorrow, only 2 states and Puerto Rico are left.  That and a whole lot of bitterness and hurt feelings.  I see it alot on the blogs and the news.  Hillary supporters are pissed, and they will not being joining Obama Nation this fall because of perceived "disprespect" to their candidate.

My last post nonwithstanding, Hillary has been a strong candidate, but in my humble opinion, she was a doomed candidate for one reason and one reason alone.  Not because she was a woman; Not because she was divisive persona; Not because she voted for the War; and not even that she was a "more of the same" candidate in a "change" election.  The reason she was doomed is a lack of electoral vision.

What do I mean by that?  She lost Iowa and needed an unscripted human moment to bring her back.  She needed a knock out blow on Super Tuesday and when she failed to get it, she completely wrote off the next 11 contests.  Texas and Ohio was supposed to turn it around.  Didn't happen.  Ditto for Pennsylvania.  Ditto for Didn't Happen.  North Carolina - Game Changer.  Unfortuantely for her, it was for Obama.    At no time did she ever show any vision in her campaign.   

I share this not becuase I need to some home denigrate Hillary's campaign.  I share this because in the end, she is a flawed candidate, and for that matter, so is Barack.   And, in the end, IT DOESN'T MATTER. 

Hillary-supporters:  This election is not about the candidates, its about the issues.  There is nothing principled about enabling a John McCain presidency out of spite.  Yes, there are some Obama supporters that are idiots.  Yes, there are some that are sexist.   Yes, there are some that are voting for him because he is not Hillary.  Yes, there are some that are arrogant.  Yes, there are some that idolize him. 

But they are not the reason that Hillary lost, and the time to stop blaming them for Hillary's loss has come.  Now that it's over, let's remember the state of the country.  The choice is stark.  The choice isn't Obama or McCain.  It's Progress or Regress.

We can either continue a tax policy that benefits the top 2% of the population or one that helps the middle class.

We can either continue the cowboy diplomacy of the past 7 years, or return to a more nuanced, direct diplomacy that returns the country to a decent standing in the international community.

We can either keep the war in Iraq going another 6 years or bring our men and women home in 18 months. 

We can either cede the Supreme Court to conservative ideology for the next 30 years (and kiss Roe v Wade goodbye) or replace Justices Stevens and Ginsburg (and maybe one more) with a reliable progressive jurist.

We can either continue to sacrifice our personal freedoms in the name of National Security, or can restore a reasonable right to privacy and rectify the dispicable treament of habeas corpus.

We can either continue to ignore the plight of the environment or we can turn our attention to the damage we are doing to our ecosystem and put together a plan to stop turning our planet into a toxic swamp.

We can either continue our dependence on foreign oil or have a new energy policy that will create jobs, put the environment first and stablize our nation's security.

We can continue to have an administration veiled in secrecy or have a new administration dedciated to transparency.

I can go on an on, but I won't.  You either vote for more of the same or vote for change.  The last seven years has been so destructive, so damaging, so insane that I can not fathom anyone who cares about this country voting for anyting but change.

This election is not Hillary or Barack.  It's about change.  Let's get changing, because America can not afford another 4 years of George Bush, John McCain. 

Dear Hillary, I have two words for you

and they are not Happy Birthday.   I will give you three guess what they are, and the first two guesses, we'll forget about.  Here's a little hint the first word rhymes with truck and the second word rhymes with a word that means a female sheep.  Oh, enough with the games.  Fuck. You.   Is that clear?

I am so pissed right now, that I don't even care to have my normal decorum when I write.  Normally, I try to be polite, but I am so far passed that I don't believe that a sitting U.S. Senator and former First Lady even deserves a modicum of respect.  So I say it again. Fuck You.

It takes a lot to get me in this kind of tizzy.  I thought that Hillary crossed a line a few weeks ago with her lies about Bosnia and her politicizing the Reverend Wright controversy (and just to be clear, when I say Dear Hillary, Fuck You, I am talking about Hillary Clinton and not my wife Hilary, who spells her name appropriately with one "l"...don't want my lovely wife to get the wrong idea).

Now this crap about people in small towns being bitter about government not helping them.  Oh my god, people who saw plants close 20 years ago and Washington do nothing to help them might be bitter. You must be joking.  Now Hillary thinks she can paint Obama as elitist because he believes people are bitter. An elitist.  A man whose dad left his family when he was two.  A man who grew up poor in a single parent household and later had to live with his grandparents of modest means.  A man who after graduating from Harvard (a miracle that he even got there given his upbringing) decided to work as a community organizer in Chicago in helping people instead of making the big bucks in corporate law.  Yep, that defines elitist.  Are you fucking kidding me?  (I am going to swear a lot tonight because I am THAT mad).   Fuck you, Hillary

Obama however is much more eloquent and restrained than I am.  His Fuck You comes out so much nicer.

Not sure if I have reached the catharsis I was looking for, but it's closing in on 12:30 am and I need to get to bed.  Hopefully, I will wake up tomorrow and Hillary will have quit.  Anyway, once more with gusto....Fuck You, Hillary!

10 Things I Want to Hear Tomorrow from Obama

10 Contests in a row for Barack.  10 blow out wins.  10 opportunities to put some distance between him and Hillary have been realized.   Depending on the source (I tend to like MSNBC's Chuck Todd), Barack has built a 151 pledged delegate lead to date. As a quick aside, my prediction to this point was +154, so only three delegates off.  I apparantly screwed the pooch on Wisconsin where I said Obama would be +22, where he was actually +16.  Given his 17 point win, I clearly over estimated the value of a big victory in that state.  Anyway, my overestimation shouldn't be to much of a penalty overall because I have Hillary +46 for Texas and Ohio, and it doesn't seem like that is very likely.  After March 4th, we will take a closer look at the delegate math again.  But I digress, back to the point.

10.  10 incredible results.  Which leads me to the idea that 10 is an important number, so why not utilize it for my debate wish for tomorrow night.  Hillary and Barack will go toe-to-toe...mano e. mano (or womano) in Ohio for a CNN debate.  Clearly with all the momentum, Barack has to stay above the frey.  Keep calm and look presidential.  Hillary, with her campaign in the balance, will do everything possible to engage Barack, attack him, make him look vulnerable and week, and hope for a major gaffe.  But to those who know me, playing it safe isn't my style.  So heare are the 10 things I hope to hear from Barack Obama in tomorrow's debate.

1. "Hillary, how can you claim to be 'ready on Day 1' for the presidency when you haven't even been able to run a presidential campaign with over $100 million dollars at its disposal, let alone a country. "
2. "Hillary, just what allows you to lay claim to the mantle of Commander of Chief moreso than me? Have you ever served in the Military?"
3. "Hillary, what percentage of your speeches have you written yourself?"
4. "Hillary, you claim to be the 'candidate of solutions', what solutions have you successfully enacted during your time in the Senate?"
5. "Hillary, how can you be the President of the UNITED STATES, when you only think big states like New York, California, Texas and Ohio are important?"
6. "Hillary, how can you be relied on to follow the rule of law, when you show no regard for the rules of the nominating process?"
7. "Hillary, you have criticized me for not firming up my stance on public funding of the general election race, however, you have not mentioned what you would do if you won the nomination.  Will you pledge to accept public funding and forgo fundraising on your own?"
8. "Hillary, have you come to the conclusion that your vote to authorize military force in Iraq was a mistake yet, or do you need more time to come around?"
9. "Hillary, you have said that you will fight this all the way to convention and suggested that superdelegates should feel free to overturn the result of the popular voting/pledged delegate count.  Do you feel it necessary to do or say anything to win this nomination, or if the nation continues to choose me over you in the upcoming contests, will you step aside for the good of the party and the country?"
10. "Hillary, you have said you want to see the voters of Florida and Michigan have a voice at the convention, why won't you agree to a contest were both of our names are on the ballot and both of us get a chance to campaign within the state?  or do you feel the need to insist on a result that did not even have my name on the ballot in Michigan to stack the deck in your favor instead of having a level playing field?"

I know that Barack won't be asking the questions of Hillary, but I think you see my point nonetheless.  I realize that none of this will ever happen, but I really would love to see it happen.

Feeling a Little Negative

I have to say that I really am on pins and needles as we advance through the primary season.  The eight straight contests won by Barack(a) don't have me feeling like this has been wrapped up.  In fact, the more wounded Hillary gets the more dangerous she is.  Now that she has decided to go negative with her campaign, I wonder just how far she will go.

I have two quick observations on this.  If Obama is going to be a strong general election candidate, he must be able to weather the negative ads that will attack him, unfairly, on everything from his voting record, questionable fundraisers, non-conventional stances like the talking to all foreign leaders friend or foe, etc.  So far he has hit back pretty well, but it is only going to intensify as Hillary gets more desparate to score points. 

Second, the more I watch Hillary's campaign tactics, the more I realize that choosing Barack Obama as my preferred candidate is right on the money.  Think about it.  Hillary wants to be President but has been unable to run a smooth campaign strategy despite raising over $130 million last year.  Her campaign has been unable to pivot and change course.  She had no plan B (after Iowa and Super Tuesday).  She really has resorted to saying anything to get elected and is willing to contradict herself without shame (agreed to the rules about FL and MI, but now wants to rules to change because she benefits).    Really, she is lucky that I love my country so much, because if she wins the nomination I will vote for her regardless of her lack of moral compass, because we don't need another republican president.

Tomorrow, I plan on writing a post of the top 10 things I want Obama to say in the next debate.  Let me know if you have any suggestions. 

What began as a whipser

has grown to a chorus...From North to South...East to West.  Check this out and pay close attention to the crowds (it is only about 3 minutes long).  10 to 20 thousand everywhere he goes.

Checking My Math

So since my Delegate Math post, we have had 5 contests: Louisiana, Nebraska, Washington and US Virgin Islands on Saturday; wrapping up with Maine on Sunday.  Let's take a quick minute to see how my predictions panned out.

• Louisiana: My prediction was a 36-20 delegate count for Barack Obama.  The actual results 34-22 based on Barack taking 57% of the vote to Hillary's 36% for a 21 point drubbing.  But the delegates didn't come out as planned. So far -2 on the delegate count.
• Nebraska: My prediction was a 16-8 delegate count for Barack Obama.  The actual results 16-8 based on Barack winning 68% of the caucus delegates to Hillary's 32% for another drubbing this one by 26 points.  Delegate count hit right on the head.  So I am still -2.
• US Virgin Islands: I had no clue on how to call this race, so to be conservative I split the 3 delegates 2-1 for Hillary.  The territory caucus went 90% for Obama, awarding him all 3 delegates.  That makes up the 2 delegates I missed in Lousiana.  Net flat right now.
• Washington: My prediction was a 51-27 delegate count for Barack Obama.  The actual results  gave Obama a 52-26 win with him taking 68% of the caucus delegates compared to Hillary's 31%.  So that pushes my Saturday prediction short 1 delgate.  Obama was +48, I predicted +47.  Not bad.
• Maine: My prediction was a 12-12 split, and this is the one where I screwed the pooch, because Obama continued stomping on Hillary by taking 59% of the caucus delegates to Hillary's 40%, a 19 point descrepancy.  The actual delegate count 15-9.  That moves Obama ahead of my projection +7. 

So overall, pretty good result, 7 ahead of the pace.  Potomac Tuesday is less than 48 hours away and I have Obama +52 (DC +5, Maryland +22, Virginia +25).  Those are big expectations.  Polling looks good with Obama way ahead in all three contests, but we need to see the vote before I can take a breath.   YES WE CAN!