Howard Dean is Number One.

I agree that the primary should be scheduled for a date that complies with DNC delegate selection rules, although the Michigan legislature has not been responsive enough to allow much, if any time, to get this accomplished.  Dean supported this remedy early on in the process.  Among the principals, he is the only player who has remained honest and true to his word since the beginning.

Most of the objections made by the Obama campaign are legitimate.  It's well established that the absence of a valid primary in the first place led to a sizeable number of Democrats crossing over to the Republican contest to, successfully, cause trouble for McCain campaign.  These Democrats won't be permitted to vote in the Democratic caucus, as they would have except for the state's badly bungled primary date selection.  Furthermore, the clerks from the City of Detroit and elsewhere have made it clear that getting ready, staffing polling places, and counting votes will be difficult in the time remaining. 

I would urge him to cooperate with it anyway.  Like volney, I believe that Obama will gain vote share in a head to head competition with Clinton, as compared to a fully illegitimate vote total that Clinton compiled on a ballot without him.  I also think that Clinton can't make up significant ground at this stage of the race, making Obama's agreement as much a gesture towards inclusion than anything else. 

Despite my love of political spectacle, I'm certain it won't be helpful for either candidate if there is a nasty floor fight to seat delegates from Michigan or Florida at the convention.  I'm simply suggesting to the Obama camp to call Clinton on her bluff and accept the results, because they don't threaten to upset his glide path to the nomination in the way that handing this opportunity to Clinton to paint him as an obstructionist possibly does. 

Clinton has grasped at any chance to dismiss caucus victories, latch on to once discounted primary results, and otherwise respond to her survival instincts to grab hold of the nomination at whatever price necessary.  Going along with a Michigan Democratic caucus is a gamble, but it's one Obama should accept, because it would remove a possible objection to the legitimacy of his nomination from Clinton's quiver, and leaves any possible charges of flauting the delegate selection process for her own purposes against Clinton alone.

I will do nothing of the kind

I watch Obama closely and there is nowhere did I hear him say or read that he is in any way opposed to a legitimate vote for these States, or any kind of process in that regard.  It is Hillary who broke the rules, broke her words with the DNC, and is now insinuating lies about Obama's position on it.

Hillary should drop out,  or be put out, by the party for such dirty tricks.

Fred wrote "I watch Obama closely and there is nowhere did I hear him say or read that he is in any way opposed to a legitimate vote for these States, or any kind of process in that regard."

I think this is true by Obama's own statements, but that may be political cover for the statements and actions of his campaign staff, state and national, who I think are clearly balking at any kind of a Democratic Party caucus in Michigan.

As I mentioned, there have legitimate objections made by the campaign to the format.  But I'm nagged by the sense that the downside for Obama of just the possiblity of losing a small handful of Michigan delegates to Clinton, is far outweighed by the advantage of taking action  to help recognize the Michigan delegation, and the legitimate possiblity that he could gain votes in a state where he has not been listed as a candidate before, on a ballot that Democrats believed would be counted.

Linda has reproduced Detroit News and Free Press articles that document opposition to the Democratic caucus in June by Tupac Hunter and Buzz Thomas, both campaign officials in Michigan. Also, Bob Bauer, the campaign's chief counsel, has raised concerns about the private funding, about whether the timing would permit the Justice Department to approve the contest under the Voting Rights Act, and about barring Democrats who voted in the Republican primary, which is a DNC requirement.

Clinton is definitely pulling some shit, but she has deftly set a trap that I would prefer Obama stay clear of. 

 who I think are clearly balking at any kind of a Democratic Party caucus in Michigan.

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just not true

Republican legislators are

they could caucus at the District Conventions like Iowa does and it would cost nothing

Hillary is balking at the idea of a caucus instead of a primary

Well, I think they are.  I pointed out the individuals, I've alluded to their statements, and I've indicated that the reports are in the news articles which Linda linked to and quoted from in an earlier thread.  Why don't you read them if you'd care to discuss this?

New Mexico's Richardson endorses Obama

Hispanic governor says presidential hopeful a 'once-in-a-lifetime leader'

SANTA FE, New Mexico - New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, the nation's only Hispanic governor, is endorsing Sen. Barack Obama for president, calling him a "once-in-a- lifetime leader" who can unite the nation and restore America's international leadership. ...full article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23740104