Evening Wrapup....DNC Rules and Bylaws Meeting....And Other Stuff....

Lanny Davis a Clinton Supporter lost it at the DNC Rules and Bylaws Meeting, read it here.

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Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL) Representing Obama on Florida



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David Bonior reminds everyone that Hillary Clinton said, "Michigan Would Not Count."

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h/t to Bob Johnson on his diary about Larry Johnson and the continual hatred brewed on his website. To have folk talk "assassination" of Barack Obama, should move any federal organization to silence that website for good. And this is a website that is used continually for some Clinton Supporters for "talking points." Additional information here.

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The Clinton Campaign onward to Denver Convention?

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Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) "No State Has the Right to go First Every Election"



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Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) Destroys Harold Ickes Logic on Michigan...h/t JedReport



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Bill Clinton Caught on Tape Stating: "Seat Half The Delegates"



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Donna Brazile, best quote of the day, "My Momma Always Taught Me to Play By the Rules..."



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Obama resigns from Trinity United Church of Christ.



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Florida seated at half strength. Read, here. A blow to Hillary Clinton. Also, from TPM.

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"Beware of Republican Trolls Trying to Split Democrats" a worthy read.

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James Carville thinks Obama can win the General Election.

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Well, Harold Ickes invoked the right to take it to the credentials, meaning Denver. As for the behavior, the Clinton Supporters were screaming and rude through the process screaming, "Denver, Denver". Hillary can try the scorched earth tactic, but I have a feeling it will backfire as we try to bring closure to the primary season and bring our party together. Hillary Clinton, how unified do you want us?



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Michigan Seated at 69/59 for Clinton at 1/2 Strength. Read, here.

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Per, Chuck Todd, MSNBC, "This is Barack Obama's Party Now." And Craig Crawford, "Barack In Charge."

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Hillary Gets Ruled and Bylawed. It is over. While Bill Clinton has an enemies list.

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Net Gain, info here. Or net gain, here. Or, Al G's number, here. And finally, Chuck Todd, MSNBC/NBC...



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Strong Words: Stubbornness or Strategy?

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Watch all 8, yes EIGHT hours of the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee meeting on C-SPAN

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and...Puerto Rico Prediction....Clinton +7......g'night, all....

Nightly Wind Down.....

From my man Al G @ The Field, looks like the Florida Democratic Chair, Former US Rep. Karen Thurman (D-Florida) sent out an email and looks like Florida is ready to move forward in the delegate process and unite the party.

I sincerely hope that this meeting brings closure to a dispute that has gone on for way too long…

It’s time to unite and move full speed ahead toward November to elect a Democratic President.

Time to move to GE mode, for sure.

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Dan Abrams on Obama's Pastor Problem. My take, no problem. No one is talking about this after this weekend.



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Obama going right into the Lion's Den. He will be in St. Paul, MN on Tuesday night at the Xcel Energy Center, the same site of the Republican National Convention in September.

Analysts expect Obama to potentially clinch the nomination by Tuesday night. Others point to aggressive nature of Obama kicking off the Presidential campaign at the site of September's Republican National Convention.

Yes, the primary season is FINALLY OVER, and Obama stands the victor.

It is time to move onto McCain and the Republicans. They have a lot of dirty laundry to throw out there. And start, here.

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If you want to know how the toll of this long primary season has been, read Donna Brazile. Girlfriend is DEFINATELY ready for this to be over!!!

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Mia Farrow lost her nephew in Iraq. And her simple question is "What For?"

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Obama takes a swipe at McCain in Great Falls, MT



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Michelle Obama Talks about the "A" Word. And that is why Hillary Clinton should be disqualified for the VP spot.

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Want more Iraq Talk? Hunter over at Daily Kos has plenty.

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and if you missed Maureen's "A Team" Talk about Obama, take a read here.....night everyone...

Hillary to the Convention??? I hope not.

read al g @ the field and his run down

Hillary Clinton Making Case DIRECTLY to the Superdelegates

Yes, here we are AGAIN.

Hillary Clinton totally BELIEVING that she is the only candidate that will win in November over John McCain. Not withstanding that she also is the only candidate with unfavorables over 50%, or damn near close to.

And what do I think? If the superdelegates do not come out and back Barack Obama after the June 3, 2008 primaries, expect this to go to the Convention. She is that scandalous. Period.

Here is the link to the letter and the memo to the superdelegates.

And here is Al G's outcome of this from The Field.

Copy of the letter below:

Dear ___________,

The stakes in this election are so high: with two wars abroad, our economy in crisis here at home, and so many families struggling across America, the need for new leadership has never been greater.

At this point, we do not yet have a nominee – and when the last votes are cast on June 3, neither Senator Obama nor I will have secured the nomination. It will be up to automatic delegates like you to help choose our party’s nominee, and I would like to tell you why I believe I am the stronger candidate against Senator McCain and would be the best President and Commander in Chief.

Voters in every state have made it clear that they want to be heard and counted as part of this historic race. And as we reach the end of the primary season, more than 17 million people have supported me in my effort to become the Democratic nominee – more people than have ever voted for a potential nominee in the history of our party. In the past two weeks alone, record numbers of voters participated in the West Virginia and Kentucky primaries. And with 40 and 35 point margins of victory, it is clear that even when voters are repeatedly told this race is over, they’re not giving up on me – and I am not giving up on them either.

After seven years of feeling invisible to the Bush administration, Americans are seeking a President who is strong, experienced, and ready to take on our toughest challenges, from serving as Commander in Chief and ending the war in Iraq to turning our economy around. They want a President who shares their core beliefs about our country and its future and “gets” what they go through every day to care for their families, pay the bills and try to put something away for the future.

We simply cannot afford another four – or eight – years in the wilderness. That is why, everywhere I go, people come up to me, grip my hand or arm, and urge me to keep on running. That is why I continue in this race: because I believe I am best prepared to lead this country as President – and best prepared to put together a broad coalition of voters to break the lock Republicans have had on the electoral map and beat Senator McCain in November.

Recent polls and election results show a clear trend: I am ahead in states that have been critical to victory in the past two elections. From Ohio, to Pennsylvania, to West Virginia and beyond, the results of recent primaries in battleground states show that I have strong support from the regions and demographics Democrats need to take back the White House. I am also currently ahead of Senator McCain in Gallup national tracking polls, while Senator Obama is behind him. And nearly all independent analyses show that I am in a stronger position to win the Electoral College, primarily because I lead Senator McCain in Florida and Ohio. I’ve enclosed a detailed analysis of recent electoral and polling information, and I hope you will take some time to review it carefully.

In addition, when the primaries are finished, I expect to lead in the popular vote and in delegates earned through primaries. Ultimately, the point of our primary process is to pick our strongest nominee – the one who would be the best President and Commander in Chief, who has the greatest support from members of our party, and who is most likely to win in November. So I hope you will consider not just the strength of the coalition backing me, but also that more people will have cast their votes for me.

I am in this race for them — for all the men and women I meet who wake up every day and work hard to make a difference for their families. People who deserve a shot at the American dream – the chance to save for college, a home and retirement; to afford quality health care for their families; to fill the gas tank and buy the groceries with a little left over each month.

I am in this race for all the women in their nineties who’ve told me they were born before women could vote, and they want to live to see a woman in the White House. For all the women who are energized for the first time, and voting for the first time. For the little girls – and little boys – whose parents lift them onto their shoulders at our rallies, and whisper in their ears, “See, you can be anything you want to be.” As the first woman ever to be in this position, I believe I have a responsibility to them.

Finally, I am in this race because I believe staying in this race will help unite the Democratic Party. I believe that if Senator Obama and I both make our case – and all Democrats have the chance to make their voices heard – everyone will be more likely to rally around the nominee.

In the end, I am committed to unifying this party. What Senator Obama and I share is so much greater than our differences; and no matter who wins this nomination, I will do everything I can to bring us together and move us forward.

But at this point, neither of us has crossed the finish line. I hope that in the time remaining, you will think hard about which candidate has the best chance to lead our party to victory in November. I hope you will consider the results of the recent primaries and what they tell us about the mindset of voters in the key battleground states. I hope you will think about the broad and winning coalition of voters I have built. And most important, I hope you will think about who is ready to stand on that stage with Senator McCain, fight for the deepest principles of our party, and lead our country forward into this new century.

The "Switcheroo" has started....

Congressman Dennis Cardoza (D-CA) today endorsed Barack Obama, switching from Hillary Clinton.

This is important due to the fact that, per Al G at The Field, he is the first of 40 Clinton delegates, most from California, that have come to the conclusion to back Obama at the convention and end this.

The Field has learned that Cardoza is the first of a group of at least 40 Clinton delegates, many of them from California, that through talking among themselves came to a joint decision that all of them would vote for Obama at the convention. They have informed Senator Clinton that it’s time to unite around Obama, and that they will be coming out, one or two at a time, and announcing their switch between now and the convention if Senator Clinton doesn’t do the same.

Cardoza is one of the leaders of this effort (which includes not only superdelegates, but here’s something that should set off some paranoia in Camp Clinton: there are pledged Clinton delegates in “The Cardoza 40,” too). One Field Hand reports that during a recent Cardoza fundraising event in California the effort was discussed openly in front of other Democrats. Cardoza’s announcement, today, sent the message that the effort is serious and for real.

This is devastating news for Hillary Clinton. But in all realistic terms, it was about to come down to this. The Clintons are angry, expect a lot of back room dealing, expect the knives to come out behind the scenes, it will get ugly.

This is politics. This is something that Barack Obama is trying to change. It is hard to let go of power and don't think for a moment that this is not what it is about "power". The Clintons have held the Democratic Party for over 16 years, it is hard to let go. That is why today and the many days to come we will hear the Obama/Clinton meme, floating all over the television. Remember who is pushing this, the Clinton Supporters not the Obama Supporters.

That says it all for me.


If you have not seen this video, watch it now before it is snatched off of youtube...

Obama Supporters, "Don't Go to Sleep!!"

Yes, everyone is weighing in.

Everyone is tired of this primary process.

The polls are all over the place. And remember; don’t view these polls as gospel. We saw Clinton leading all of 2007 and look where she is at now. Another thing, a lot of people are not paying attention to this, as last year. Folks will not get engaged until after the conventions when the General Election really starts. So, take these polls at a grain of salt at this time.

Moving on.

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There are two diaries on the Daily Kos rec list, by RenaRF and dansac. Both looking at what the Clintons really want and why is Hillary in this, still.

I want to go over a few things. First, Florida and Michigan.

Florida and Michigan broke the rules of the DNC, period. There is no putting lipstick on those pigs, which is what happened. They were told in advance, you schedule your primary in January, and you will pay the penalties by stripping your delegates. Well, the delegates were stripped.

When you look back on it, if these two states would have kept their original dates, their voices would have mattered greatly. Next, you must look at why these states jumped the shark anyway. My feeling is that they thought the threat from the DNC would be empty and they would do nothing. Michigan was strictly political, Governor Granholm is a solid Clinton supporter and she purposely changed Michigan a caucus state, to a primary which cost millions of dollars. What ended up happening is that Obama and many other democrats running at the time removed their name from the ballot and Michigan ended up with a mess. Michiganders should blame Granholm for that one.

What should happen to Florida and Michigan? Cut the delegates in half, split the vote and call it a day. And the Obama Campaign has offered an olive branch to give Clinton more delegates, but the Clinton Campaign snubbed this.

Finally, I would be in Clinton’s corner about her absolute resolve in solving the Michigan and Florida dilemma, if she was sincere. And she is not. Clinton Campaign started to figure out the delegate game close to February 5th when she said it would be over and it was not. A far cry from what she told major news organizations that Florida and Michigan won’t and don’t matter. The thing is that it matters now, as she is trying to make the popular vote argument.

What happens on May 31, 2008 at the DNC Rules and Committee Meeting is about how strong the DNC is and will the DNC abide by their own rules. Lastly, remember the Clintons were influential on changing and putting their people in play at the DNC during the McAuliffe tenure, ironically the same rules that they implemented has come back to bite there, you know what.

What does Hillary Want?

dansac implies the VP spot, and I agree with him. Let us be honest here. Do you think Hillary Clinton want to go back to the senate as just another senate number and no power? She does not. In the senate, seniority counts and she is at the bottom, as Obama. If you were Hillary would you want to go back? I would not, without some kind of elevation of power. So, the VP slot is what she wants. Why not? She and Bill still have part of the national stage, something they loved and craved. But there are problems with this.

As the AP is reporting, Obama is silently looking for potential VP picks. As he should. The sooner, the better. We all know the Clintons have not been vetted post Bill’s presidency and a lot of financial questions have swirled around Bill Clinton, especially in regards to donors to the Clinton Library which the Clintons will not release names or donation amounts.

We also must look at Hillary and her tone and position throughout the Democratic Primary. She is on record stating Obama has not passed the commander in chief test/threshold; she is on record praising McCain, elevating him to her stature as being the ones capable for the presidency. These two statements have disqualified her for any VP slot. We can all just imagine a 527 ad with Clinton using her words against Obama, while on his ticket, and Obama have to defend her words against him to the media. Oy!!! Also, imagine a loop of this flip/flop with her Bosnia lie. And if you don’t know what the Bosnia Lie is, just think “sniper fire”. That is a headache waiting to happen.

From Time Magazine, the calls have started from Clinton Supporters that want to jump ship. Remember, many are elected officials, who are pols and go where the wind blows:

Which is why in recent days, quiet calls have started going out to key supporters of Hillary Clinton who are showing signs of wanting to jump ship. Clinton's emissaries point out that she is no longer attacking Barack Obama, and they promise she won't start again.

Well, we all are glad she has silenced her lips against Obama. Why? Because the finger pointing would be at her and what she has said throughout this campaign against a fellow Democrat. And many for the record are still heated at Clinton for this. That anger is warranted.

Again, the Clintons don’t want to leave the national stage.

In Bill Clinton's view, she has earned nothing short of an offer to be Obama's running mate, according to some who are close to the former President. Bill "is pushing real hard for this to happen," says a friend.

Earned? Earned? Earned to be Obama’s VP? She has disqualified herself in every way possible for being Obama’s VP. If we learned anything through this primary season is that we don’t want any more of the bullshit the Clintons have continued to try to sell.

Some of Clinton's own strategists are doubtful that Obama will offer to make her his running mate - in no small part because that would mean bringing Bill aboard. Her presence on the ticket would also undercut Obama's core message of change and his promise of a new brand of politics. However, advisers say that in the interest of unifying the party, there may well be a good argument for tapping one of the Clintons' high-profile supporters, such as Indiana Senator Evan Bayh or Ohio governor Ted Strickland.

That is plausible and doable. But a tip to the Obama Campaign, not Evan Bayh he is more boring than a box of rocks. JMHO

Obama Supporters now is not the time to be asleep at the wheel. After that crazy, batshit speech of Clinton yesterday comparing the Michigan/Florida fiasco to slavery, women’s suffrage is just too much. Her theatrics are beyond the pale.

I give accolades to the Obama Campaign, who has managed to walk around Clinton, move forward, with the utmost patience. I don’t know what Hillary and Bill Clinton want, but VP slot, we definitely must PASS on them.

[UPDATE]
Per The Field, Hillary Clinton has been told no to the Vice-Presidential postition.

The Field can now confirm, based on multiple sources, something that both campaigns publicly deny: that Senator Clinton has directly told Senator Obama that she wants to be his vice presidential nominee, and that Senator Obama politely but straightforwardly and irrevocably said “no.” Obama is going to pick his own running mate based on his own criteria and vetting process.

Folks, this is a wait and see moment. We will see if that is just so.