Howard is empowered! Yea First!

12:22 pm EST

NAFTAgate -- the shell game (Clinton mentioned as "take it with a grain of salt" but CTV attributed that to Obama):

http://news.therecord.com/article/318895

'NAFTAgate' began with PM's chief of staff

OTTAWA

If the prime minister is seeking the first link in the chain of events that has rocked the U.S. presidential race, he need look no further than his chief of staff, Ian Brodie, The Canadian Press has learned.

...

Brodie wandered over to speak to Finance Department officials and chatted amiably with journalists -- who appreciated this rare moment of direct access to the top official in Harper's notoriously tight-lipped government.

The former university professor found himself in a room with CTV employees where he was quickly surrounded by a gaggle of reporters while other journalists were within earshot of other colleagues.

At the end of an extended conversation, Brodie was asked about remarks aimed by the Democratic candidates at Ohio's anti-NAFTA voters that carried serious economic implications for Canada.

Since 75 per cent of Canadian exports go to the U.S., Obama and Clinton's musings about reopening the North American free-trade pact had caused some concern.

Brodie downplayed those concerns.

"Quite a few people heard it,'' said one source in the room. "He said someone from (Hillary) Clinton's campaign is telling the embassy to take it with a grain of salt. . . That someone called us and told us not to worry.''

Government officials did not deny the conversation took place.

They said that Brodie sought to allay concerns about the impact of Obama and Clinton's assertion that they would renegotiate NAFTA if elected. But they did say that Brodie had no recollection of discussing any specific candidate -- either Clinton or Obama.

But others said the content of Brodie's remarks was passed on to CTV's Washington bureau and their White House correspondent set out the next day to pursue the story on Clinton's apparent hypocrisy on the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Although CTV correspondent Tom Clark mentioned Clinton in passing, the focus of his story was on assurances from the Obama camp.

He went to air on Feb. 27 with a report that the Democratic front-runner had given advance notice to Canadian diplomats that he was about to engage in some anti-NAFTA rhetoric, but not to take it too seriously.

12:23 PM EST

I hope all those unionized voters in Pennsylvania are paying attention to the news about NAFTAgate.

Another conservative foreign attempt to remove Obama from presidential contention.

12:29 AM EST

Remember how Aussie PM John Harper (now ex PM, thanks to Aussie voters last Nov) tried to influence the U.S. election by saying Al-Qaeda would be happy with a dem nomination and general election win by Obama ?

Well, now the conservative PM to our north -- Stephen Harper -- is in a bit of hot water for one of his staff members being involved with trying to influence the Ohio primary on this past Tuesday:

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN0562494220080306?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews

Top aide to Canada PM sparked NAFTA spat: reports

Thu Mar 6, 2008 9:45am EST

OTTAWA (Reuters) - A major controversy over the sincerity of U.S. Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama's attacks on NAFTA was triggered by the top aide to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, media reports said on Thursday.

Harper has promised an investigation into the leak of a memo on a discussion between Canadian diplomats and a member of Obama's team. The memo said the Obama advisor indicated the criticism of the free trade agreement was primarily political.

...

The Globe and Mail newspaper, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. and Canadian Press said Harper's chief of staff Ian Brodie had initially played down criticism of NAFTA from the Clinton camp.

The organizations said Brodie told reporters from the CTV network last week that someone from the Clinton campaign was "telling the embassy to take it with a grain of salt". CTV probed the remark and then ran a story focusing on Obama.

Harper's chief spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment. CBC quoted her as saying Brodie did not recall mentioning NAFTA during his talk with CTV.

The affair is an embarrassment for Harper's right-leaning Conservative government, which won power in 2006 by promising to restore more morality to politics.

Critics, who accuse Harper of being too close to U.S. President George W. Bush, said the spat would damage relations with Washington if Obama won the presidential election.

A Clinton advisor told reporters on Wednesday that the furor had helped her win primary contests in Texas and Ohio on Tuesday.

...

Response to Clinton Attack:  Ken Starr?

It is absurd that after weeks of badgering the media to ‘vet’ Senator Obama, the Clinton campaign believes that they should be held to an entirely different standard.  We don’t believe that expecting candidates for the presidency to disclose their tax returns somehow constitutes Ken Starr-tactics, but the kind of transparency and accountability that Americans are looking for and that’s been missing in Washington for far too long.  And if Senator Clinton doesn’t think that the Republicans will ask these very same questions, then she’s not as ready to go toe-to-toe with John McCain as she claims

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/hqblog

INTERESTING HISTORY ARTICLE IN TIMES TODAY

Grand Old Protectionists

...Modern free traders, on the other hand, embrace their ideal with a passion that makes Robespierre seem prudent. They allow no room for practicality, nuance or flexibility. They embrace unbridled free trade, even as it helps China become a superpower. They see only bright lines, even when it means bowing to the whims of anti-American bureaucrats at the World Trade Organization. They oppose any trade limitations, even if we must depend on foreign countries to feed ourselves or equip our military. They see nothing but dogma — no matter how many jobs are lost, how high the trade deficit rises or how low the dollar falls....

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/06/opinion/06lighthizer.html?th&emc=th

Thanks Phil for the info about Slate.com. I wasn't aware that it wasn't reliable.

~~~~~~~~

I received an email from the Fla State Dem Party. Looks like all the new primary options are really off the table, at least for now, since what the state party requires would not be met.

Of course, they will still be pushing Dean to let the so-called "earlier primary" (which was only a straw vote) be used to seat Dem delegates. The chairwoman of the party is a Clinton supporter. Need I say more:)

More on NAFTA-gate from the Canadian press.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/s...

But what about Obama's ec. advisor? Did he not make those statements?

Obama spokesman Bill Burton denies the chatter, from supporters and elsewhere, that the campaign is about to roll out a big bloc of superdelegates:

"This is just a rumor. There is no secret stash of superdelegates that we are sitting on waiting to roll out," he says.

Thanks Phil for the info about Slate.com. I wasn't aware that it wasn't reliable.

~~~~~~~~

I received an email from the Fla State Dem Party. Looks like all the new primary options are really off the table, at least for now, since what the state party requires would not be met.

Of course, they will still be pushing Dean to let the so-called "earlier primary" (which was only a straw vote) be used to seat Dem delegates. The chairwoman of the party is a Clinton supporter. Need I say more:)

Thanks Phil for the info about Slate.com. I wasn't aware that it wasn't reliable.

~~~~~~~~

I received an email from the Fla State Dem Party. Looks like all the new primary options are really off the table, at least for now, since what the state party requires would not be met.

Of course, they will still be pushing Dean to let the so-called "earlier primary" (which was only a straw vote) be used to seat Dem delegates. The chairwoman of the party is a Clinton supporter. Need I say more:)

Let the record state that Howard Dean is bending over backwards to give Florida a chance to come into compliance with DNC Rules and have their delegation seated in Denver.

Sorry for the triple posts, not my fault, just that of a very slow blog pickup or whatever. I did nothing to cause it.

Hey folks,

For a variety of reasons from copyright issues to blog etiquette, when referencing an article could you provide a paragraph or two and a link instead of copying and pasting the entire piece.  Thanks.

Danny
Communications

The media persists in repeating the lie that Clinton "won" Texas. just heard a story on my local station that now they were "virtually tied" in delegate count besides (when Obama has a nearly insurmountable lead)

More on NAFTA-gate from the Canadian press.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/s...

But what about Obama's ec. advisor? Did he not make those statements?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That is a classic rove trick. If you are guilty of something charge your opponent with it first and when the truth comes out "they both do it".

Doing a great job, Danny,  keep up the good work - it will take a lot of work and time to build this blog back up to what it once was - you da man.

...“OPEC’s biggest fear is that this is a bubble and that prices will drop by $30 a barrel,” said Roger Diwan, a managing director at PFC Energy, who was in Vienna to attend the meeting. “So they keep tightening supplies and prices keep going up.”


Stick a pin in their bubble...


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FL and MI are truly trying to bypass the DNC and Dean to get their way.    They are ruthless.   He spoke out some yesterday, hope he will do more.

Aha...Dean says FL and MI would not negotiate with the DNC...took it public instead.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/1888

Here is a section of the interview:

Dean said frankly it would split the Democratic party if rules were broken

"He says they have tried to negotiate with the FL and MI parties for a long time and basically been told they are not interested.

He said no private overtures were made, they just started public overtures.

He says the DNC had a plan for how to run the campaigns, everyone including FL and MI voted for it.

Said the problem with FL moving forward was it was incredibly disrespectful to those who followed the rules and kept their word, it also stepped on SC which was the DNC's way of including large numbers of African Americans in the process to select the nominee."

Clintons received money from Rezko co-defendants.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/3...

A thought on tax returns. A diarist at Kos ponders if the tax returns are clean - it would be an Obama smack down. Could be.

Off for exercise.

Regarding the seating of Michigan delegates story... the national media is more focused on the fight to seat Michigan delegates story then the Detroit media. It's just a blip on the radar screen here. I see there's a small online article about on it WXYZ.com but in the Detroit area for over a month, the story's been nothing but Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's, as the Detroit media call it, Sex, Lies, and Text Messages story. And now the focus is on trying to oust Kilpatrick.

They hardly have time to squeeze in the weather forecast because their whole half hour has been consumed with this story. The trial cost the city millions. They didn't even report results of the primaries because of this story.

Here's the gist...

"DETROIT (AP) — Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick exchanged romantic and sexually oriented text messages with a top aide, Christine Beatty, contradicting their denials in court that they had romantic ties, the Detroit Free Press reports. Last summer, Kilpatrick and Beatty testified in a police whistleblower lawsuit and denied any sexual or romantic ties in 2002-03."

Obama (himself) just needs to focus on his message of hope and change and let someone in the bowels of his HQ's be an attack dog if they think they must. McCain is the opponent now.

Who do you think will be the scape goat for the Florida Michigan fiasco?

Who do you think will be the scape goat for the Florida Michigan fiasco

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I don't think there will be one

Stat Man,
The Fla and Mich delegates must not be seated until a revote happens.
I am not interested in a scrapegoat; just in upholding the rules and integrity of the election process (as flawed as the process is).
Fla and mich violated the rules and should not be allowed to participate until they meet the rules. If someone is wrong, it is those who decided to move their primaries up.
The fact that Hillary is tryingto get these delegates shows her lack of integrety. If she wins then she is worse then McCain. Her polices may be better but she lacks the intgerty necessary for the job. In this casse, she is just as bad, if not worse, then Bubba.
Maybe Bill was in Toronto checking out possible interns?

Phil Specht
Thu, 03/06/08

You are an idealistic man. 

Clinton's ally's, including Crist (the enemy of my enemy) will push and push to keep this conflict going.  There does not seem to be a winning solution.  Clinton needs the delagates based on the prior voting (no Obama on the Michigan ballot) to have any prayer.  

I am not being critical of Dean, I am just saying that he will probably get dragged through the mud on this one even if it is not his fault.

Who do you think will be the scape goat for the Florida Michigan fiasco

If there ever is one it will be the Florida Republican-led Legislature which is reportedly not going to allow funding of a repeat of an election we already had.

Gotta say, there are times when I agree with those "fiscally conservative" Repugs.

March 6, 2008 -- IF AL GORE can pull himself away from saving the planet long enough, he might want to consider rescuing the Demo cratic Party from the clutches of utter self-destruction.

Campaigning against an unpopular war in Iraq, a sputtering economy and a disappearing dollar, Democrats cannot lose in November.

But wait! They're Democrats!

"The only reason we ever lose is when we beat ourselves," one nervous Democrat grumbled yesterday as the primary dogfight dragged on.

Hillary Rodham Clinton has made it clear she won't quit and no one expects Barack Obama to exit - and so on to the Denver party convention they go, viciously attacking one another all the way.

Forget the red phone for a national-security crisis. Where is the red phone for a political party trying to destroy itself?

And where is the party leader with the respect, stature, wisdom and influence to answer the crisis phone?

Former President Bill Clinton has a slight conflict of interest, not to mention that his wife's campaign now has him sequestered in a secure, undisclosed location until the election is over.

Virtually powerless Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean is a screaming castrato still regarded suspiciously by the party establishment.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who won her post promising the end the war in Iraq? Still waiting for that to happen.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is in a political pickle.

His top two lieutenants - Chuck Schumer and Dick Durbin - are not just split on this matter. They are Clinton's and Obama's loyal seat mates in the Senate and top campaign supporters on each side. Schumer's for Hillary, Durbin for Obama.

Living together as the Odd Couple in a house on Capitol Hill doesn't ease tensions between Schumer and Durbin, aides say.

If Reid picks one candidate over the other, his leadership team collapses and sets off a terrible power struggle in the Senate.

That leaves Al Gore as the only person with the experience to answer the red phone and force a peaceful end to this civil war.

The inconvenient truth is that the red phone is now ringing and Al Gore hears it. The only question is whether he has the guts to pick it up.

Dean did a great job on the early shows of making it very clear that they are in this situaiton becase FL and MI ignored the rules and that they could have acted long before this to try to comply with the rules.  f'in Florida - they screw we dems every single time.  he also made it clear that Ms Clinton knew what the rules were and appeared to be happy to play by them until Obama blew by her in Iowa - in other words she never expected a challenge in this race so figured she would never need those delegates.  as has been said - she did not plan beyond Feb 5th. 

I HAVE NO RESPECT LEFT FOR HILLARY CLINTON.  she has proven beyond a doubt every suspicion I had about her behaviour and her goals for this election.

The fact which Clinton people don't want people to know is that, even if the  Florida delegation were seated, she would not be able to catch Obama on pledged delegates. That is why we need to continue pressuring the super delegates to vote for the candidate the voters have chosen.

I have heard such nonsense from Clinton supporters, like Stephanie Tubbs, saying that they are the chosen few to decide the election. And Stephanie has one of the biggest mouths in Congress.

We need to have more petitions in addition to the ones already floated around and keep up the pressure right up through the convention.

re: Virtually powerless Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean is a screaming castrato still regarded suspiciously by the party establishment.

ha ha - well and good because that 'party establishment' is in our 'political cross-hairs'.  and that 'powerless' 50 state strategy has gained a huge amount of respect and good will for Howard Dean at the state level - he has a lot more power than some would like to admit....

Jo wrote:

 I HAVE NO RESPECT LEFT FOR HILLARY CLINTON.  she has proven beyond a doubt every suspicion I had about her behaviour and her goals for this election.

Thanks for that. I have to say I never really liked her as a person. Now I can truthfully say I despise her for who she thinks she is (but really isn't), for a arrogance in demanding to have her way like a spoiled 6 year-old kid, for spreading lies about her opponents and those who do not support her.

When is the general public going to see this. Even her facial expressions reflect the arrogance. Just what we don't need in the WH and for a nominee in this election. McCain is not looking arrogant for starters.

one of the interesting things about the Obama blog is that it gets a large volume of comments now - just like we used to here.  it's great to see so much excitment in the party!  I haven't checked Hillary's blog - can you even comment there?  I'm not sure.  guess I''ll go take a peek.

dog wrote "Fla and mich violated the rules and should not be allowed to participate until they meet the rules. If someone is wrong, it is those who decided to move their primaries up."

True, except for one thing:  Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina all violated the DNC Delegate Selection Rules.  The sole distinction is that the Party's Rules and Bylaws Subcommittee met and granted waivers to three of the noncompliant states and penalized the other two.  If any consistent, justifiable rationale was or could be provided for these decisions by the committee, I would simply agree with you that its actions were appropriate.

Hillary Rodham Clinton has made it clear she won't quit and no one expects Barack Obama to exit - and so on to the Denver party convention they go, viciously attacking one another all the way.

I don't expect to see Obama attacking Clinton except on policy. He can well leave his answers to her attacks to the others, both in the administration and the media when they get sick and tired of her whining.

Obama has already said he is going to continue as he has since winning Wisc. laying out the huge differences between himself and McCain. That works better for him and puts him on a higher level than Clinton will be putting herself on. She is trying the make the whole election about her, belittleling anyone who gets in her way -- a tactic that can't hold up for long as voters move up to Obama's level.

correction:

in the administration should read in the campaign.

I guess I'm already in an Obama administraion mode:)

Howard Dean is a *screaming costrato* - that's enough to make me stop reading the article, Stat Man.

Joan - re: Even her facial expressions reflect the arrogance. 

her commentary and facila expressions often resemble the current pResident, ChimpyMcBush.  arrogant, condescending, impatient.... scolding!  she's been enabled by those around her for most of her adult life, much like George.

This is probably a non-starter, but I think Florida and Michigan need to be punished somehow for their rule braking, even if new primaries are held in those two states in June.  Maybe they should take a hit on their total delegate count.  I'd say 50 percent, but I'd settle for something less than that.

re: True, except for one thing:  Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina all violated the DNC Delegate Selection Rules. 

as I recall, they would have violated the rules individually because they all chose dates earlier than recommended by the DNC rules - however when they ALL went early and did not disturb the sequence in which they'd vote, they were given waivers.  they didn't even decide their dates until late last year!  Florida and Michigan have flaunted their violations (and initiated the lawsuit) since last spring or summer and have had a lot of time to come into complience.  they didn't even try to work somerthing out.  I do feel that their voters have gotten a raw deal - but that was decided by their state legislatures, not by the democratic party.  perhaps this will encourage them to throw some of the bums out next election.

This is probably a non-starter, but I think Florida and Michigan need to be punished somehow for their rule braking, even if new primaries are held in those two states in June

Rich,

the point has ALWAYS been that the DNC cannot and will not change the rules in the middle of the game. That would include any punishment which does not exist at present.

Otherwise, I would agree with you.

Two points of interest:

The good news is that Democratic Wyoming caucus is for Democrats only.

The bad news is that no ID is required. A voter simply walks in and votes and can leave unless they want to compete to be a delegate

~~~

The Mississippi primary was closed for a short time then changed to open primary. The reason for that is that there are a lot of very moderate Republicans who would never switch their registration, yet want to support moderate Democrats -- or so they claim.

Still, with nothing to vote for on the Republican side, are we going to see more bored Republicans voting for Clinton again?

The good news is that the former Dem governor  Ray Mabus has endorsed Obama.

2:25 PM EST

The media persists in repeating the lie that Clinton "won" Texas. just heard a story on my local station that now they were "virtually tied" in delegate count besides (when Obama has a nearly insurmountable lead)  

+++

Phil -

It sounds like the clarion call is going out again for a Clinton corination.

Are voters still to vote, paying attention to the fact that they are being force-fed ?  PA voters can't all be Archie Bunker types

many of you have seen this but it's always good for a laugh - try it, you'll like it!

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid271557392?bctid=1377935786

her (Clinton's) commentary and facila expressions often resemble the current pResident, ChimpyMcBush.  arrogant, condescending, impatient.... scolding!  she's been enabled by those around her for most of her adult life, much like George

I agree with that too Jo. Also yes, the Obama blog is very busy and reminiscent of the Dean blog. I read there quite often to get information but have yet to post there. It's kinda like DailyKos in that every comment seems to get lost in the crowd.

2:29 PM EST

Obama has broken the 200 mark for super delegates:

http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/01/superdelegate-list.html

...

CandidateDelegates
(AP)Super
delegatesTotal Obama13602011561Clinton12202411461Edwards12--12Unknown-IA14--14Undeclared0279279Updated 3/6/2008Delegates Needed: 2024  

...

CandidateClintonObamaGov.1011Sen.1315Rep.7270DPL104DNC13699Add-Ons02Total241201Last Updated: 3/6/2008

...

...

rdorgan - from reading Obama's blog it appears they have a strong start in PA - no surprise, it's been like that in most states.  Gov Rendell will work hard for Hillary but I think he's 'taken with a grain of salt' by many of his constituents.  alas, only time will tell.

2:30 PM EST

maybe Tom Brokaw is correct about the 50 SDs --

-- possibly the 50 super delegates are perculating to the surface daily in a timed release ?:

http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/01/superdelegate-list.html

...

Notes: (Previous notes can be found here)
2-22-08 - Added DNC Sonni Nardi (OH) for Obama
- Added Sen. Russ Feingold (WI) for Obama
- Added DNC Connie Borde (DA)* for Obama
- Added DNC Leon Lynch (PA) for Obama
- Added DNC Belinda Biofore (WV) for Clinton
2-24-08 - Removed DNC Lionel Spruill Sr. (VA) from Clinton and returned to uncommitted
2-25-08 - Returned DNC Lionel Spruill Sr. (VA) after deciding the article was too vague to warrant his removal.
- Added DNC Mark Mallory (OH) for Obama
2-26-08 - Sen. Chris Dodd (CT), Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD), DNC Steve Powell (IL) added for Obama
- Added "Shadow Senators" Michael Brown (DC) and Paul Strauss (DC) for Obama
2-27-08 - Added DNC Dennis Mehiel (NY) and DNC Sylvia Tokasz (NY) for Clinton
- Added Sen. Byron Dorgan (ND) for Obama
- Added Rep. John Lewis (GA) for Obama
- Added DNC Marianne Stevens (ME) for Obama
- Moved DNC Senfronia Thompson (TX) from Clinton to Obama
2-28-08 - Changed DNC Ken Curtis (FL) from Maine to Florida after confirmation from the DNC. Superdelegate total is now 794.
- Added Rep. John Barrow (GA) for Obama
- Added DNC Ben Jeffers (LA) for Obama
- Added DNC Renee Gill-Pratt (LA) for Clinton
2-29-08 - Added DNC Brian Melendez (MN) and DNC Donna Cassutt ( MN) for Obama
- Added DNC Renee Pfenning (ND) for Obama
- Added DNC Rep. Hon. Yvonne Davis (TX) for Obama
- Added Sen. Jay Rockefeller (WV) for Obama
3-1-08 - Added DNC Joe Wineke (WI) for Obama. Added Stewart Burkhalter (AL)# as new add-on superdelegate for Obama.
3-3-08 - Changed DNC member Joe Andrew from MD to IN
3-4-08 - Added DNC Carol Fowler (SC) , DNC Mary Long (GA) , DNC Roy LaVerne Brooks (TX) for Obama
3-5-08 - Added DNC Rhine McLin (OH) , DNC Jane Kidd (GA) and DNC Darlena Williams-Burnett (IL) for Obama
3-6-08 - Added DNC Connie Thurman (IN) for Obama.
- Added Sen. Barbara Boxer (CA) for Clinton.
- We added Ian Carleton for Obama back on 2-13 with what we thought was enough for an endorsement.
- Added Rep. Nick Rahall (WV) for Obama

Stay tuned... we'll update this list as we find out more.

...

Jo wrote "when they ALL went early and did not disturb the sequence in which they'd vote, they were given waivers."

The sequence provided by the rules did remain undisturbed.  However, Michigan and Florida lost delegate certification and were blackballed by the candidates' campaigns for doing precisely what Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina did, which was to hold selection contests before the date permitted under the rules. 

In fact, the Michigan Democratic Party had already set its own party caucus date of February 9th in August 2007, but changed the date only after learning of New Hampshire's intent to violate the rules.  In other words, it was New Hampshires' decision to violate Party rules that prompted the MDP to even consider changing its caucus date to one that was not in compliance with the party rules, regardless of the Michigan law requiring state primaries on January 15th. 

Under those circumstances do you consider it just or fair that Michigan was sanctioned and New Hampshire was granted a waiver?  If so, why?

SUSA polling shows the 50 state strategy is paying off.

Alaska: McCain 48-Obama 43; McCain 56-Clinton 34
Idaho: McCain 52-Obama 39; McCain 63-Clinton 27
Indiana: McCain 50-Obama 41; McCain 53-Clinton 36
Kansas: McCain 50-Obama41; McCain 51-Clinton 42
Montana: McCain 47-Obama 39; McCain 53-Clinton 33
Nebraska: McCain 45-Obama 42; McCain 57-Clinton 30
North Dakota: Obama 46-McCain 42; McCain 54-Clinton 35
North Carolina: McCain 47-Obama 45; McCain 49-Obama 41
Oklahoma: McCain 57-Obama 34; McCain 50-Clinton 42
South Carolina: McCain 48-Obama 45; McCain 48-Clinton 42
South Dakota: McCain 47-Obama 43; McCain 52-Clinton 40
Texas: McCain 47-Obama 46; McCain 49-Clinton 42
Utah: McCain 50-Obama 39; McCain 65-Clinton 27
Wyoming: McCain 54-Obama 35; McCain 62-Clinton 28

----------
hat tip - Daily Kos
What's remarkable to me is how Obama has better numbers in TX than Hillary. Oh that's right, he won TX.

Texas caucus totals still not in. The Texas Democratic Party is responsible for tallying up the totals -- the Secretary of State is not involved.

Anybody know where Billy has been hanging out since Tues. nite? Sure hope the Obama people have enough people on the ground there and have someone stalking Bill should he be there messing with the votes or the women counting them.

Obama Raises $55 Million in February

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8V84EL80&show_article=1

New Thread:

http://www.blogforamerica.com/view/24124

Danny
Communications Director

rich wrote "This is probably a non-starter, but I think Florida and Michigan need to be punished somehow for their rule braking, even if new primaries are held in those two states in June."

So you'd like two large states with with tremendous Democratic voting strength to be penalized for formulating a delegate selection plan in complete compliance with the DNC rules, and three smaller states with fair to negligible Democratic representation to get waivers for their contests which did not comply with those same rules.

2:41 PM EST

Jo -

Obama is down in the polls there in PA (always has been when matched up against Hillary).  Possibly Teresa Heinz (who hails from Pittsburg area) will have a positive influence for Obama.  I don't know much about PA but I think it has a less of an Appalachian subset, then does say southeastern OH.

Appalachian areas (ie. TN, western VA, etc.) tend to be "conservative", as do the Archie Bunker types in urban, working-class areas.

This is an opportunity for PA to show to the the rest of the country and the world, whether they are forward-thinking voters who value Hope as a way to get from point A to point B on the economic scale; or backwards, nostalgic-thinking voters who value Fear.

The sequence provided by the rules did remain undisturbed.  However, Michigan and Florida lost delegate certification and were blackballed by the candidates' campaigns for doing precisely what Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina did, which was to hold selection contests before the date permitted under the rules. 

Tom,

I don't believe that is accurate. Iowa, NH, Nev. and SC were all supposed to be before Feb. 5th. I believe these four states were just jockeying among themselves for position and there was no rule to cover that.

I bet March will be even better for Barack's fundraising.

Let me see, hmm the only one on the florida ballot was hillary. how did that happen??

So now she wants it to count. how fair is that?

No Fl and Mi, you had your chance. You did not follow the rules like Virginia did so nooooo!!

And the Rethug governator of FL is telling the DNC they should bend the rules when he was the one who pushed for the early primary. Even the rethugs got whacked on delegates.

So you have been had Florida. And it wasn't Dean who made the rules. You did and you broke them.

And if I am a delegate to the national convention, I will vote that you NOT be seated.

So take your balls and Hillary and go home.

The sequence provided by the rules did remain undisturbed.  However, Michigan and Florida lost delegate certification and were blackballed by the candidates' campaigns for doing precisely what Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina did, which was to hold selection contests before the date permitted under the rules. 

THE RULES WERE PUT IN PLACE OVER A YEAR AGO!! AND VOTED ON BY FLORIDA AND MICHIGAN.

RULES ARE RULES.

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2:51 PM EST

since 3/4/08, an average of 3-a-day SDs are endorsing Obama

if that keeps up for every weekday here on out, that will take 17 weekdays to get to the 50 SDs mark, thus, by March 26 will have arrived at a count that possibly could surpass Hillary's SD count of 241

Joan wrote "I don't believe that is accurate. Iowa, NH, Nev. and SC were all supposed to be before Feb. 5th. I believe these four states were just jockeying among themselves for position and there was no rule to cover that."

Okay, but I'll have to correct you, then.  Here is the rule language:

11. Timing of the Delagate Selection Process

A. No meetings, caucuses, conventions or primaries which constitute the first determining stage in the presidential nomination process (the date of the primary in primary states, and the date of the first tier caucus in caucus states) may be held prior to the first Tuesday in February or after the second Tuesday in June in the calendar year of the national convention. Provided, however, that the Iowa precinct caucuses may be held no earlier than 22 days before the first Tuesday in February; that the Nevada first-tier caucuses may be held no earlier than 17 days before the first Tuesday in February; that the New Hampshire primary may be held no earlier than 14 days before the first Tuesday in February; and that the South Carolina primary may be held no earlier than 7 days before the first Tuesday in February. In no instance may a state which scheduled delegate selection procedures on or between the first Tuesday in February and the second Tuesday in June 1984 move out of compliance with the provisions of this rule.

Tom, re: In fact, the Michigan Democratic Party had already set its own party caucus date of February 9th in August 2007, but changed the date only after learning of New Hampshire's intent to violate the rules.

the dnc chose to have NV and SC be up front with NH and IA LONG before Florida or Michigan chose a date - the other states could follow whenever as long as these 4 were first, in an attempt to be more inclusive of the races/ethnic groups that you just don't find in large numbers in IA and NH .  if either MI or FL had chosen to have their elections AFTER those four states, then they also would have (presumably) gotten a waiver.  what those two states chose to do was go before they had all had a vote.

honestly, Tom - the whole mess suks - it sukked before this election and until they make major changes it will continue to suk.  but I can see why MI and FL are out of complience and I particulary dislike the actions of the democratic (U.S.) reps and senators from Florida saying it is all the dnc's fault when they know damn well all but one of the dem FL legislature voted with the repubs to go early - they keep claiming they had no choice becaue it's 'a republican-controlled legislature' in Florida but you can go to madfloridians journal and read the history - they wanted to cause trouble and now they certainly have.

linda wrote "THE RULES WERE PUT IN PLACE OVER A YEAR AGO!! AND VOTED ON BY FLORIDA AND MICHIGAN. RULES ARE RULES."

We're in total agreement.

Jo wrote "the dnc chose to have NV and SC be up front with NH and IA LONG before Florida or Michigan chose a date - the other states could follow whenever as long as these 4 were first, in an attempt to be more inclusive of the races/ethnic groups that you just don't find in large numbers in IA and NH ."

No question.  As you can see from my comments and the rules language above, my distress stems solely from the fact that 2 of the noncompliant states were penalized, losing delegates and receiving no campaign visits.  The other three noncompliant states were treated like royalty.  When linda writes rules are rules, I would just suggest that however true, they nevertheless are not applied uniformly among states.

I don't believe that is accurate. Iowa, NH, Nev. and SC were all supposed to be before Feb. 5th. I believe these four states were just jockeying among themselves for position and there was no rule to cover that.

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That isn't how it happened. After Michigan and Florida made their move and upset the calendar, it was decided through many conversations with the Chair, Rules, and the State Parties involved to keep the original order, there was no jockeying but many negotiations so that the final moves by Iowa and New Hampshire were within the rules and after it was too late for any further leapfrogging attempted.

So the last acts by Florida and Michigan were in total defiance, whereas those of the other states were in compliance. So there is some justification for a penalty, but the embarassment of their failure ought to be some punishment since they have united 48 states against them if they should try the stunt again

Phil wrote "So the last acts by Florida and Michigan were in total defiance, whereas those of the other states were in compliance."

The record reflects this is totally untrue, which any blogger here can see by simply referring to the rule language. 

63.

rich^kolker
Thu, 03/06/08

even if new primaries are held in those two states in June. Maybe they should take a hit on their total delegate count. I'd say 50 percent, but I'd settle for something less than that.
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This is true, but I heard something about Florida's situation being unique in that the Republican governor was partially to blame for the problem.

Can anyone explain that?

Danny - the new thread isn't frontpaged so the link you provided above is the only easy way to find the new thread - ie; any new posters coming to the front pag will still see the 'oil' thread as the most current thread.

and thank you for all you do, Danny!

Complicating the negotiations was the fact that New Hampshire holds its Primary as a state sponsored event with the Secretary of State setting the rules and date and not beholden to Party Rules. Iowa, Nevada, and South Carolina always followed protocol and were within the Party Rules system even as they were negotiating to change their date to go along with New Hampshire and keep the order the one agreed upon.

Video from the scene showed a frantic crowd of rescue workers carrying bloodied victims into ambulances. Dozens of police officers were scouring the campus and surrounding streets.

Police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said: "They opened fire on innocent youngsters studying. A number of students have been killed.

"We are still searching the building for the possibility of a second terrorist still in the building." Watch the immediate aftermath of the attack »

CNN's Ben Wedeman in Gaza reported celebratory shooting shortly after the attack.

Phil wrote "Complicating the negotiations was the fact that New Hampshire holds its Primary as a state sponsored event with the Secretary of State setting the rules and date and not beholden to Party Rules."

Yes, although it's not clear to me how this differs in any substantive way with the Michigan law passed last August that provided for a state primary on 1/15/08.

Live from New York...Vote Hillary!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adam-mckay/live-from-new-yorkvote_b_90164.html 

...Even Ann Coulter pal and SNL sketch writer Jim Downey has written several sketches portraying Hillary as picked on by the press. Downey is one of the all time great sketch writers but I know he's no Hillary fan. Don't get me wrong, I like Hillary and still think Bill Clinton is one of our great presidents. But it's weird. Weird like....well, Pat Buchanan praising Hillary Clinton. Click here to read more.

Stat Man
Thu, 03/06/08

================

It's a cycle of violence, but one perpetrated by the fact that Gaza is in a state of siege.  Israelis cut off and control all food, water, electricity, exit or entry - it is a virtual prison.   In other words, they don't give  a sovereign Gazan State the right to exist.

At the same time the Israelis spin it to the American public as simply defending themselves against aggression.

Jo*in*Vermont

Thu, 03/06/08

Danny - the new thread isn't frontpaged so the link you provided above is the only easy way to find the new thread - ie; any new posters coming to the front pag will still see the 'oil' thread as the most current thread.

and thank you for all you do, Danny!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Jo*in*Vermont,

I caught it right before I saw your comment and the New Thread: http://www.blogforamerica.com/view/24124 is now on the front page.  Thank you.

Danny
Communications Director