Am I the only one who is amazed that in this election the top candidates all constitute groups that have never been elected to the highest office in the United States? No matter how you phrase the poll question, the results will come back the same: majority of people asked will say this country isn't ready to elect an African-American, a Caucasian woman, or a non-physically appealing Caucasian man. So who will be the next leader of the so-called Free World? Is the country ready to put aside its racist, sexist, or elitist biases? Well barring a disaster it will have to choose.
A rather paranoid person told me that Republicans started the rumor that Obama had better chance of defeating McCain, when in fact they knew Republicans would have an easier chance against an African-American.
Another rather paranoid person told me that Romney dropped out so that Huckabee would do well thereby forcing McCain to curb his views in order to win back the Evangelical vote.
While walking through the grocery store the other day I encountered 2 men arguing over whether Rodham-Clinton was "pimping out" not Chelsea but actually Bill Clinton himself!

No matter what the outcome, this election is sure to make history. What remains to be seen is which bias this country is going to let go of first.

Hillary is on the ropes, no doubt. She's been knocked down before, and the thing about her is that she always gets back up and comes back. It builds character. Obama has not had such character building experiences yet, but in a presidential race, one obtains character.

After Reading Bill Krystol yesterday in the NYT, something that I had suspected as become a bit clearer. There are many forces at work to undo Clinton, and I don't just mean Hillary.

For one, Howard Dean's brother is actively engaged in the Obama Campaign organizing caucus goers for him along with MoveOn.org. Its quite a base.

Dean, you will recall from the 2004 campaign was the "Democrat from the Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party". he did not like the influence of the more centrist DLC element of the Party to which Clinton was key. I presume that Dean did not take over the Chairmanship of the Democratic Party to do charity work, but to remake the Party away from the DLC to more of a grass roots left wing party that lives off of money solicited through the internet.

Dean has an agenda to root out the "House of Clinton" as Krystol calls it, from the Democratic Party and remake it. Obama's campaign is an effective vehicle for this purpose.

From the Republican side, it seems a decision has been made to do all that can be done to eliminate Clinton at the primary stage rather than confront her in the general election with the full base of the Democratic party behind her. Krystol's article makes that clear too as he cheers Obama on. In Virginia, exit polling showed that 70% of the Republican who participated in the Democratic Primary voted for Obama. With their primary wrapped up, they are doing all they can to pump up Obama's numbers to help build the momentum to end the Clinton bid. Clinton deprived of her base of support in the African American constituency is vulnerable, to say the least. Only a credible Black candidate could have so completely preempted the field against her in the African American communities.

MSNBC (General Electric) has become a vast unpaid media center for Obama. Strange that a corporate benefactor of the Bush Defense policy would allow its political team to be so overtly lathering over an Obama candidacy and refer to Clinton as some sort of a John who runs a house of prostitution where her daughter is prostituted and pimped out.

So there seems to be a confluence of interests that have magnified the errors of her campaign, benefit from the fact that she is not a natural politician, and attempt to kill the baby in the crib, so to speak. Whether she can revive her bid in Texas, ironically, and Ohio remains to be seen. But the push is on to create the perception now that a vote for her is wasted, though in delegate count she is near the benefactor of Obamamania and neither candidate can win enough delegates before the convention to lock up the nomination. That would only happen if one or the other drops out. If both contest into the convention, things get ugly.

McCain is the heir to the Bush proxie presidency. The Corporate interests that created Bush and used his Administration wish to remain in power through a McCain presidency and beyond.

Obama is as much a creature of the media as anything else. With that much free exposure, hell I could become a rock star. Just as the media built him, they can deconstruct him when the time comes and it will come. He was built up to beat Hillary and will be deconstructed in order for McCain to have a clear path to the White House.

Hillary's high negatives are battle scars from years of fighting the Republicans. She is at 47%. That looks bad, but the fact is that it is as high as it gets, a known factor. This means that she can win 53% of the vote and that wins elections. Obama's negatives are low because he has not been through the grind yet. After he gets worked over by the Republicans, that number will go up, but how high? More than Hillary's 47% or less? We don't know.

Obama is a pretty smart fellow. He has tried to immunize himself from the expected black-ops job that awaits him. Of course, one can never be completely ready for it. He sees how others are attempting to use his campaign as their vehicle to serve their agenda and he doesn't like it. He seems uncomfortable with all of the free media because he well knows, that what the media giveth, the media can just as easily taketh away. He does not want them having a proprietary interest in his campaign. I just hope he can stop it.

I do believe that he has something special that can transform politics in the country. But the odds against him are daunting, to say the least. Hillary is a candidate who is best suited to fight all that is arrayed against a change agent.

Obama is not a fighter, he wants to transform politics as it currently exists rather than fight it. That is easier said than done. It will take more than cheerleading sessions at basketball courts. And inspiring speeches. Speechs are inspiring only when the talking headed punditry say they are. When they stop singing his praises on television, then we will see what Obama is made of.

He will have to sustain all that will be thrown at him. He will have to thrive with poor media, the kind that Hillary gets now.

So when I look at these two, Hillary the fighter, or Obama the transformer, I know that Hillary can fight and can take a blow, fall down, get back up and fight on. But I don't know if Obama can do all that he has set out to do especially when all of the tools that are currently at his disposal here in the Winter and Spring, will be turned against him in the Fall.

I support Obama, but it's really off-putting to see some of his supporters posturing like Los Angeles Raiders fans after a victory. Show some class and reflect the demeanor of the gentleman-warrior who has taken the high road.

I support Obama, but it's really off-putting to see some of his supporters posturing like Los Angeles Raiders fans after a victory. Show some class and reflect the demeanor of the gentleman-warrior who has taken the high road.

Let's Get Real ...

Presidents do not legislate. Presidents Lead. The only way a-n-y President can expect to advance his or her agenda is to build coalitions. Mrs. Clinton is a polarizing figure. If she is elected the American People will suffer. Not because she is a bad person nor unqualified to be electable; The reason is simple: She would not be able to build majorities to pass legislation.

It is ludercris to expect that even if there is a Democratic majority in the House and Senate that agenda can be passed along "Party Lines" alone. There will be Democrats and Republicans on e-v-e-r-y issue who cannot or will not support an issue because of the region and people they represent. A President who burns bridges and villifies and fights Republicans at every turn WILL NOT be/CANNOT BE effective. There will be grid-lock in Washington. Just like it was during the 2nd term of the previous Clinton Administration. While sides are being taken ... It is the American People who lose because of ineffective government.

6-Months ago almost no one gave Obama a "fighters chance" of even being in the running after Feb 5. Somehow ... He managed to:

1-Make a Plan,
2-Surround himself with the right people in the right places doing the right job,
3-Impement his plan,
4-Compete,
5-Challenge the "mighty" Clinton Machine, 6-Overcome double-digit leads Coast to Coast,
7-Win in Blue States, Red States, Among White/Black/Women/Male/Young/Old Voters,
8-Break records fund raising with most contributions coming from a "Grass-Roots" American populas,
9-Run a more organized campaign than either major opponet with "Experience" as their mantra,
10-Win the popular vote,
11-Win more states,
12-Have more and more endorsors everyday, 13-Win the pledged delegate count, and ALL THIS WITH NEEDING MORE SEASONING.

If the way Obama has run/managed his campaign is any indication of his true gifts/talents/ability ... Then the "EXPERIENCE" candidate might need to take a few lessons.

Just My Opinion ...

P.S. if Obama is such a purist against the War in Iraq, why did he campaign for Joe Lieberman in CT? Obama campaigned for one of the biggest pro-war hawks in the senate -- AGAINST the anti-war, Change candidate, Ned Lamont.

Why did he continually vote FOR war funding and war earmarks, etc?

Why hasn't the press/media asked him about these inconsistencies?

And he was happy to have Senator Clinton's inside politics connections and fundraising when he asked her to campaign for him to become a Senator. Why are those strengths when they're on his behalf, but not on her own behalf?

Campaigns are grueling in the best of circumstances! It was the right decision. After such prolonged stress, tension, performance, and sleep deprivation new blood (with deeper experiences and history) is a smart idea -- especially if it pays off. And it was needed in this situation since these folks have been at it for so long -- much longer than Obama in fact.

Makes sense to me. But Clinton will never get beneficial analysis from the media; it's already decided that Obama is the golden boy and Clinton is satan incarnate whether they know details or not.

surprisingly some of the most balanced analysis of Senator Clinton has come from none other than Patrick Buchanan. Unlike everyone of the other rabid, mouth-foaming freudian head cases at NBC and MSNBC.

too bad more in the media don't have as much integrity as Buchanan.

Uh-ho. This is very bad news. Remember, he was the staffer who made the recommendation to pull out of Iowa in May! He made a case that Iowa would consume too much time and money that could be better invested elsewhere

Unfortunately, Clinton's ego trumped his good advice, and well, we all can see what's happening now.

Uh-ho. This is very bad news. Remember, he was the staffer who made the recommendation to pull out of Iowa in May! He made a case that Iowa would consume too much time and money that could be better invested elsewhere

Unfortunately, Clinton's ego trumped his good advice, and well, we all can see what's happening now.

Uh-ho. This is very bad news. Remember, he was the staffer who made the recommendation to pull out of Iowa in May! He made a case that Iowa would consume too much time and money that could be better invested elsewhere

Unfortunately, Clinton's ego trumped his good advice, and well, we all can see what's happening now.

To: leftwithnochoice,

My Dad was laid off. He started a compamy that failed. He started another company at age 50 tha was not a real success, but put food on the table. In high school we ate spaghetti five nights a week, it was a joke in my school.

I worked in a factory, and went to school at night, so did my brother, and so did my sister. Our parents had no money to help us with our education, but we all got our Bachelor degrees at night.

My brother leads a software developemnt team at Microsoft. My sister ran the payroll department for a steel distribution company, and I lead a software team for a drug manufacturer.

There are great opprotunities all around you. There are, and will be setbacks, but your responsibility is to overcome them.

If your "WHY" is strong enough there is nothing that will stop you.

Hillary needs to announce now, that Bill will be the VP!

Then the evening of her inaguration she becomes incapacitated, and Bill gets another fours years. With her pulling the strings in the background just like before.

If she advertises this she/Bill will WIN.

It is about the only way...

I agree.. no more Clintons! I have already voted for and will again vote for Obama. But if she & Bill manage to steal the nomination I will vote for McCain. I don't think that I'm in the minority in feeling this way. I hope the super delagates realize this and don't allow them selves to be pressured into forcing her down our throats. I hope that all this upheaveal in her campaign staff does signal the beginning of the end of her self-centered campaign for personal glory.

Hillary is out after the Texas/Ohio primaries. As will be Huckabee.

As an independent Ohio voter, I will declare democrat this primary and vote for Obama. If Obama is the nominee, he has my vote. If Clinton becomes the dem nominee, I will vote for McCain. Many democrats feel this way because we have had enough of the Clintons: Williams, Foster, Hubbell, McDougal, the women, FALN, the missing files, etc., etc., etc. Her stupidity in bringing Williams in again and having the Vince Foster debacle resurface shows a desperate Hillary looking for a miracle. But, I clearly remember Maggie Williams defiantly making light of our American system with her, "I do not recall that" reply to just about every single question she was asked. No more Clintons!!!!!

It almost makes you want to cry to think how far gone Hope seemed to be.

I really thought mine was dead and buried, but the big O resurrected it in about 2 minutes one night as I watched him speak.

He really understands what is wrong with our politics, and has been for a looooong time.

I heard Hillary speaking tonight in Texas. It did occur to me that she may no longer believe anything she is saying.

She was talking about how we have to ensure that the next generation has the same opportunities "we" had.

Well, I'm still waiting for mine. I'm not talking about handouts, I'm talking about a living wage, a CHANCE to go to college (without living with my mom, who has filed for bankruptcy, lost her house and is living in GA with her sister waiting for the foreclosure and her bankruptcy court date).

These opportunities disappeared a loooong time ago. I just wonder "where has Hillary been?"

When Obama speaks of despair and being shut out, and how the bar keeps moving... I know EXACTLY where he's coming from.

I know because I have lived it, am living it, and will continue to live it. Hopefully, my son will not have to drown in bills, fake smiles, lies, and rhetoric while he bangs his head against the glass ceiling of financial inadequacy.

How can a student get a loan for college without a cosigner? I couldn't. Of course, for the well-connected, this minor detail is no big deal. You just take the papers to mommy or daddy and say, "sign here."

For millions of intelligent, hard-working people, mommy and daddy don't qualify.
So, NOW what do you do?

Well, there's McDonalds, Home Depot, UPS, FedEx, WalMart, on and on and it's all part time, so, no benefits, not enough hours, and ridiculous pay. The better bet is probably the construction field, because you will get 40 hours a week, usually.

Take it from me, that doesn't impress much on a resume, nor when looking to rent a room from some rich college students. I told them I worked in construction, had to wake up at 4:30 in the morning, and they looked at me like I smelled of feces.

So, why not rent an apartment, go to school part time? WELL, apparently, in Arlington, VA, one must earn at least $36,000 a year to rent a 1 bedroom at $850/month...which is a great bargain there.

Good luck with the job and the college and the apartment and all.

Do the math: It's IMPOSSIBLE. Now, add in gas or metro fares, an electric bill, maybe some food, a car insurance, or an internet connection, (don't even THINK about health insurance)and you're drowning in RED,

which means: You will NEVER go to college, no matter how smart you are. So, go dig a ditch, idiot.

THAT'S the opportunity I had. Thanks for the prosperity, Ms. Clinton. Never knew I had it so good. And I feel I was actually one of the lucky ones. This country has been leaving people behind, shutting them out, driving past them, ignoring them, like they're driving through a Human Safari Park, for a looong time. It might be understandable during the Great Depression, but we, as a nation, have WASTED boom times, and, what's worse, a few generations of human beings. And for what? A faster jet? A smarter bomb? An election favor? NOT THIS TIME.

NOT NOW. so sorry!

It will take more than putting Obama in the White House to make our country great again. But it's a Start.

.

Scazmarketing, Hillary, as VP, is the suicide for any leader of any winning ticket. McCain knows it, as all other polticians do. He yielded Bush in 2000, but I do not believe that McCain is ready to commit the suicide such idiotic way, as to invite Hillary as VP. Clinton's machine cracked because Bill Clinton didn't want it to continue, and Hillary wasn't able to pull it out alone.

Oh, if only we could have Barack inspiring us and pulling us together, and Hillary managing the details. Wait, what about Hillary as Chief of Staff to President Obama?

Svreader, fing yourself another boss. I hope that Hillary would be made to pay dearly for what she has done. I-personally suffered a great lot. But if not, she is not going to have any campaigns until 2012, at least.

Steven1970, Richard Durbin is alive, well, and would be re-elected, of course, this November. He is the next of kin for the senate's majority leadership. I can't understand the nature of Hillary's relation inside of the state of New York, but they re-elected her and seem to support her. So in sixteen years or so, if they continue to re-elect her, she might become eligible for the senate majority's leadership.

Watching the Clintons slowly disintegrate is the most pleasure I've had since the Watergate hearings.

P.S. at least Huma knows her 'position' is safe.

The Clinton era ia about to come to a close. Thank God.

'When I am speaking...Hillary is speaking'
Patti 'cake' Doyle

I guess Hillary will not be speaking much anymore...bye bye Patti

Why doesn't Hillary start trading commodities. She used to be pretty good at that. I guess I am being too misogynistic.

I really am stunned by the sexist remarks made about Senator Clinton. Whether you support her or Senator Obama (assuming some of you are democrats or independents writing comments here), the level of double standards and sexist remarks is appalling. Comments about the color of her suit, a few tears (also shed by many male candidates from time to time), an unhappy wife, the wicked witch... Those are not phrases used when dicussing male candidates in either party.

Many of the comments made here are hateful and full of venom. I wish people would look at themselves in the mirror and see the mean spirit they convey. If you have a mother, a wife or a daughter, then show a little respect. Focus on the issues you agree or disagree with but don't resort to making degrading comments about women including ones about Senator Clinton.

Bill.Clay36
Read the article this morning. I don't think the major TV stations or newspapers will have any comment.
Bill Clinton thought he was a diplomatic genius. What a fool he was.

American Idol contestant with modest talent, but demented drive = not pretty.

Earlier point about her campaign being "all about Hillary", sadly, dead on. She appears pathologically devoted to getting her name on that marquee, and its going to be an ugly site watching her fight, sling mud, and deny the 'inevitable'...think Tracy Flick with a bigger vocabulary and firmer grasp of policy micro details. Also, what is in fact up with the gold jackets -- that's just weird.

Thanks to all the Obama voters in the Maryland, Virgina and D.C. primaries from this old Obama supporter.

You have helped immensely in our effort to regain our national sense of purpose and work toward our national promise -- a people united.

Thanks also to the the loyal Democrats who voted for Mrs. Clinton. Her fight is not over, but her choice to make a stand at the Alamo... make prove prophetic.

I too, think that she will withdraw after suffering what will certainly be two more defeats on the 19th and then, at best, breaking even on the 4th -- if she can muster even that meager goal.

By then she will be hopelessly behind and likely to see wholesale loss of pledged super-delegates. I'm sure that she will then withdraw from the race.

According to anonymous comments from one of her major donors...she will not have the support to continue past the 4th, unless she can somehow reverse what now must seem to her as an onrushing locomotive.

Given Obama's widescale incursion into her once secure base of supporters in tonight's contests - only her most loyal demographic following remains steadfast: middle-aged and elderly white women -- it is likely that Obama's victory margins will continue to be huge.

The women who honor and support her (including at least one of my daughters) are truly loyal to Hillary and must be devastated to see the first serious chance of a shattered glass ceiling in the White House go down in defeat after a promising beginning.

Many of us hope that Obama will chose a strong woman governor as a running mate and thereby only delay by two terms the goal we all support. I think that there is a good chance that he will - perhaps Kathleen Sebelius.

Regardless, the voters have spoken in a clear and certain voice. Barack Obama is our frontrunner, and God willing, will easily defeat a valient but outgunned Republican hero in November to become the next President of the United States.

On to Wisconsin and Hawaii.

I think that the stage is set! A very lively contest between Senator McCain and Senator Obama. Barack will have plenty of resources to make his case to America, and if the people listen to him, they will vote for him. I read somewhere that George Will in one of his columns, predicted that Senator Obama would be the first Presidential Candidate in a long time to win over sixty percent of the electorate. I see it coming. For this nation's sake I hope that Barack will prevail and that the wars of his own making will not consume Senator McCain even before he is chastened by the electorate.

Anyone wanna bet that Bill will be living in the Library from now on??????? He's toast!! His speaking career has gone up in smoke......HE'S UNEMPLOYED!!!

Thank you WashPost for allowing us to voice our opinions! Thirty years ago this could not have been. We've been allowed into the halls of not only Congress, but into the homes of other Americans to know their hearts. Frankly my family and I have been waiting for this for over 15 years. The Clintons are finally getting their due. They have shown America a little too much, especially through the likes of Maggie Williams. That was the coup de gras. We remember her lies under oath. We remember the women who were truly traumatized by these 2 individuals, permanently damaged and then blamed. We remember the innocent Travelgate people who forced to leave their jobs for no reason. We remember the friends working at the White House who were yelled at and instructed NOT to speak to Hillary, nor give her eye contact when meeting her in the halls. We remember the Bejing Conf where Hillary and her friends deciding that there would no be male and female identity. It would be from then on "it".
We remember Hillary's efforts on Abortion to make it earier, on demand, at all stages of gestation...no matter the age of the girl...and we could go on and on.
So help this nation if she becomes our President.

Obama is going to have ten campaign dollars for every dollar McCain has.

And he is going to bring a million new voters to the polls. There is a reason nine million more Democrats have voted in the primaries than Republicans...and these included Nebraska, Kansas, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Georgia, *name your Red State*...

All Obama has to do is take that multi-million cash advantage and flood the airwaves with variations of the "Yes I Am" spoofs of "No, We Can't" McCain that are now flooding the web...

Talk over and over about how each American family's tax share of the Iraq war to date is over $16,000.

And best of all is that priceless clip of McCain saying we may be in Iraq 50 years, maybe 100 years, maybe 10,000 years...

As that ad spoof currently says, just show America the graphic that McCain is content with an Iraq exit date of 12,008.

GAME OVER.

If Mr. Obama is the nominee, as seemed to be now, I will switch my vote for Mr. Mc Cain. Why? Because Mr. Obama does not have my trust to lead our country in the war against terror, Al Quaida. To me, Mr. Mc Cain will do an excellent job to defeat Al Quaida, and to protect our country. I had been listening to Mr. Obama's hope message, but I still have a question, "Where is the beef?" I don't think he has the answer.

Yo, "gdail": "Why Baby Why?" is actually an old George Jones song. Webb does a nice version too. But, for my money, the best version ever is by the Moonee Valley Drifters. Oops, but let's not get too far off the thread of this blog. Er, Gobama! Hillary sucks!!

Though there have been many comments here implying that Clinton is 150% ruthless and will do anything to win even if it hurts the DP. I for one predict that she will concede either before or after WI and HI. She just lost 8 states by landslides: 51, 27, 28, 20, 22, 35, 36, 82(Vir. Is). And lost the Latino vote in VI. Her funding is going to dry up very quickly -- and she already was having some cash-flow issues a week or two ago.

It appears HRC's Pennsylvania firewall committed self-immolation today:

Gov. Ed Rendell, Hillary's most "vocal" Penn state supporter, said

"You've got conservative whites here, and I think there are some whites who are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate."

Now, if he had said that his commonwealth has some conservatives that are not ready to vote for a Democrat (either HRC or Obama) on the issues, he would have been accurate. And, if he had inserted the word Republican for conservative, it would have worked. But, by his words he has slammed whites and conservatives, rightfully outraged blacks, done a disservice to his own party, and virtually destroyed Hillary's prospects in Pennsylvania.

Rendell's comments are the denouement to the story of the Clinton's political power.

"THIS IS NOT A POPULARITY CONTEST"

Really? Yes it is?

"Now the Dems will have an inexperienced empty shirt vs. a War hero Senator with years of experience who is no one's "yes man."

Hmm, well it's about time we tried that. Let's see in the Kerry vs. Bush battle, who was the war hero senator and who was the inexperienced empty shirt? In the Gore vs. Bush battle which was which? How about Dole vs. Clinton? Bush 1 vs Clinton?

Now I don't think Obama is an empty shirt and I think a lot of Senator Clinton and Senator Biden and Senator Dodd and Governor Richardson, but we need to WIN THE ELECTION, and inspiring people and getting them to like you are the most important skills in winning elections. Competence and managerial skill are not. Just ask President Dukakis.

So I'm going to go ahead and do at least three victory laps because we won big three times tonight.

:)

ObamaNation...not to be confused with Abomination...

jaywpat- in answer to your question- who is funding Obama-people out in the heartland who like his message-no PAC's. 5300 new donors between 515pm and 1015pm, 410,000 strong and growing.small donations and bring a friend.Yes we can! Do not leave it to the super delegates!

ObamaNation!!!

Here's an excerpt from "gurdjieff66:"

"Anyway, your hero does need our votes, and he'll get mine, but in the meantime, haters, the feeling is mutual: scr*w you, elitist b*stards!!!

Posted by: gurdjieff66 | February 12, 2008 11:04 PM"

Aww.....did we strike a nerve, "Gurd?" The truth hurts, doesn't it? And what I find striking about your post is that you resorted to using swear words, including taking God's name in vain, to make your point.

Somehow, Gurd, my dear, I don't think that anyone is going to pay a darn bit of attention to your swearing......in fact, it makes you look ridiculous. I don't hate Mrs. Clinton, I just don't like how she's conducted herself and the campaign. She can't run the campaign w/o loaning it millions of her own money, some staffers are going w/o being paid, she can't be graceful in losing and hasn't congratulated Senator Obama, can't get past the "pimping" comment, etc, etc...

In others words, it's all about her, isn't it??? In her eyes, anyway, and that's another reason why Hillary keeps on losing. The voters have had enough of her nonsense.

Deal with it and move on.

The Clinton machine is broken. Check-mate. Unfortunately, hind-site is 20/20 and Barack Obama is the one who injected RACE into this primary. Unfortunately, he has the heavy warchest and will be able to stay the long hall, but will independants and conservatives vote for him in November considering comments directed towards Hillary and her daughter Chelsea?

http://www.socoolaz.com/article.cfm?articleID=30116

And what if McCain courts Hillary for VP running mate?

http://www.socoolaz.com/article.cfm?articleID=30115

Please comment on stories as I am very curious as to what options both political parties decide to do at this juncture.

Here's another video that Hillary supporters might enjoy. It contains footage of a celebrity fundraiser, along with some entertainment:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7007109937779036019&q=hillary+uncensored&total=150&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

Hillary will lose the Hispanic/Illegal Alien vote to John McCain. California, Florida, New York have plenty of Hispanic/Illegal Aliens that will support McCain's Amnesty plans. Illegal aliens don't care about Hillary's universal health care plans because they already get all the health care they want for free in hospital emergency rooms. Hillary's support of the failed DREAM Act to reward the children of illegal aliens with college tuition breaks, loans and grants doesn't mean anything to Hispanics because less than 5% ever graduate from high school.

While Billary has sacked her token Hispanic campaign manager, John McCain hired Mexican Juan Hernandez, a former cabinet official in Vicente Fox's administration to assure Mexican illegal alien voters of McCain's commitment to amnesty. Hillary is counting on the Hispanic lettuce pickers and motel toilet cleaners in Texas to stop Obama's march, but she will find herself splitting the illegal alien vote with Obama.

As a Hillary supporter, I thought Obama's victory speech tonight was pretty good. Less preaching, more policy, than before. If he gets nomination, as is likely, I'll feel fine voting for him, and hope my concerns about his electability and job readiness are unfounded.

What I despise are the smug, arrogant, MEAN and NASTY Obama supporters and Hillary haters, like so many of the posters above. I'm know us loyal Hillary voters are so goddam provincial, and uneducated, and old-fashioned and unfashionable and maybe even racist, but even so, WON'T YOUR HERO NEED OUR VOTES TOO? I voted for her because I think she is a brilliant person, tough but also tender, someone who knows politics and policy really well and also wants to make a positive difference in the world. And she's been horribly misunderstood, maligned, and slandered for years by a**holes right and left. Look at this damn video and tell me she's a cold-hearted Lady MacBeth: http://youtube.com/watch?v=v8frN4Rou_s

Anyway, your hero does need our votes, and he'll get mine, but in the meantime, haters, the feeling is mutual: scr*w you, elitist b*stards!!!

I am a fervent Obama supporter, but anyone attacking Hillary on misogynistic grounds needs to go f#ck themselves.

Why would a Constitutional Law professor appoint a former First Lady to the Supreme Court?

She has no relevant experience.

If she has any, what is it??

"How about Hillary for Obama's first Supreme Court appointment?"

Why would a Constitutional Law professor appoint a former First Lady to the Supreme Court?

Once again this evening I found reports that prove my point: that Mrs. Clinton isn't ready to go to the White House, and she can't even lose with grace. Here's a link to an ABC article in which yet again, Hillary failed to congratulate Senator Obama:

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/02/clinton-kicks-o.html

And, here's something very telling from the Drudge Report:

"In the Chesapeake Rout, according to exit polls in Maryland, Obama won:
Latino Voters By Six Points: 53-47
All Religions (Including Catholics)
All Age Groups (Including Seniors)
All Regions
All Education Levels
And Women by TWENTY ONE POINTS.."

And, with friends like this, who needs enemies? Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell was quoted as saying "You've got conservative whites here, and I think there are some whites who are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate."

And, here are some remarks that Gov. Rendell made re. his 2006 re-election campaign:

"I believe, looking at the returns in my election, that had Lynn Swann been the identical candidate that he was -- well-spoken, charismatic, good-looking -- but white instead of black, instead of winning by 22 points, I would have won by 17 or so," he said. "And that (attitude) exists. But on the other hand, that is counterbalanced by Obama's ability to bring new voters into the electoral pool."

Here's the link to MSNBC's article, with the heading "Clinton ally: Some whites 'not ready' for Obama:"

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23134717/

This country is long overdue to elect someone of color, contrary to what Governor Rendell of PA may think. Mrs. Clinton will keep losing if her supporters keep speaking out like Rendell.

The ships are deserting the sinking rat.

Hillary Clinton is a marvelous person.

It will be our loss as a country if we fail to recognize and reward her talent by electing her.

She's much better than Barak.

Even if she is a girl!

Perhaps Chelsea can save this campaign. After all, she did achieve "honor" at Stanford and a "master" degree at Oxford.

Alas, she can't, because that would truly mean Hillary is pimpin' her daughter.

Eveyone here hates Bill Clinton? Wow. The person who has done more and well the only things for the Democratic party in the past 10 years. Well, like they say, "Be careful you may get what you wish for." The Repubs will rip Obama hard. Then we will hear the groans that Bill wasn't so bad. I see a Dukakis job in the future if Barack wins.

Wonderful news but don't count out the Clinton's yet. I expect that Hillary will still get the nomination when the super delegates follow their marching orders or else. The PA governor has already said that Obama will not be able to receive a substanial vote from White people. But Hillary's bigger problem will be whether Black voters will continue to press the button for the Democrat candidate regardless of how the Party has screwed over them?

Hope without experience is not a strategy for victory. Throughout my campaign, I have demonstrated my capacity for leadership and a team effort. While we are making minor arrangements to our team, make no mistake, this Girl will be ready to be president from day one.

I'm hillary clinton and I approved this message.

You guys who are writing off Hillary are being foolish. She will be the Dim candidate regardless of who wins the popular vote and delegate count. You see, they run the DNC, which will swing the superdelegates by whatever corrupt means are necessary to award it to Her Thighness.

And regarding the "heavy Democratic turnout"... Virginia is an open primary state. Lots of Repubs crossing the line to vote for the Dem candidate they +know+ McCain can beat in November.

Now the Dems will have an inexperienced empty shirt vs. a War hero Senator with years of experience who is no one's "yes man."

Hey, Hillary, I thought Patty Solis Doyle left to spend more time with her children. So why did Henry leave then?

One can put a fork in her Campaign It Is Done! The politics of old attacks are over.

How can she lead when she cries so easily?

How can we forget our Democratic Congress was lost for 12 years under the Clintons along with the Senate until President Bush brought it back?

How can we forget the mnay jobs lost by NAFTA and WTO all passed uner Presidnet Clinton?

How can we forget all the Pardon given by Presidnet Clinton the last day in office?

Why go back when we can move forward?

HRC is a great senator for New York, she can live out her days in that office.

Am I wrong or are we falling into a pattern here? Hillary loses a primary and that's the day she puts out what would be really bad news on a slower news day ($5 million dollar loan, campaign manager out, today's loss brings end to deputy manager). Could just be coincidence I guess but I doubt it.

Some of Hillary's supporters got excited by tonites NYT headline "Polls close late in Maryland" but it was close (as opposite of open, not close as in cigar). Funny stuff

Watching Obama and then McCain, one word comes to mind: landslide. Sheesh. The backwards vs. forward/yesterday vs. tomorrow narrative writes itself.

I'm scared by the prospect of an Obama candidacy. Zero experience, and this cult of personality thing is scary. (Seeing the "Yes We Can" music video, I can't help but think of how embarrassed these people will be when they realize he's not the one.) I hope Clinton can bounce back.

I can see why Obama people are being referred to as a cult in the media.

All you have to do is look at these posts. The Hillary people have sane arguments, and the Obama people only spew senseless name-calling.

I understand the classy need to say the campaign managers were good at their job. I get they have to say that...but really?

She had a huge war chest blown!!!!!

She had no ground troops for Super Tuesday and barely a showing here in this region.

She has some of the best congressional record and it has not been worked into her message.

This is 2008 and they are not making use of technology based viral campaigning, YouTube and other methods.

Like rats abandoning a sinking ship...

Hillary's campaign over the last few weeks can be summed up in one word: OWNED!!! >:)

MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Hillary has been vilified for cause!!! She and Bill are no innocents. if you bother to look even a little you will find so much more FACTS documenting how sleazy they are. It isn't hard if you just take your blinders off and look. To paraphrase Wayne's World, 'They are NOT worthy!!!'

The media has given Oblahma a pass from the gitgo - while Hillary has been vilified continually for 20 years.

Males control the media, Congress, Corporate America - and are determined to maintain a male in the White House!

Especially one that's high on hype and low on substance.

A lot of junk gets posted on the Internet, BUT, it can be refuted with facts, that are able to be verified, almost immediately. So, these ignorant people who don't realize or care that the Clinton's are THE most corrupt people to ever inhabit the White House, can be given facts that they can check out if they so desire. The Clinton machine will finally be destroyed by the truth put forth on the Internet. Let me add my salutations too...buh bye Hillary!

I can't say that I'm surprised this has happened, given the fact that her negative campaigning has backfired time and time again. Only problem for Mrs. Clinton is that no matter how often she changes the main players in her campaign, the people will remember all the mudslinging, negative comments and scandals (inc. her $5 million loan to the campaign, unpaid staff, etc, etc.).

She says that she's got more than enough experience for the job, but all these problems says otherwise. The people have spoken, and if I was in Mrs. Clinton's shoes, I'd bow out of the campaign now. If she does, maybe, at best, she could have a Cabinet position.

But there's no way that this country will elect her as President. Mrs. Clinton is too controversial, too polarizing and too full of spite for most voters to want to support her. Senator Obama is on a roll, and no one - not even the Clinton campaign machine - will be able to stop him.

My advice to her would be to step aside and deal with it.

It isn't a matter of who you want to have a beer with and that is a tired arguement that Hillary supporters keep trying to put out there. It is a matter of someone who can offer hope and someone who has proven (over 35 years?) that she is someone not to be trusted or counted on.

Don't get fooled into thinking this is nothing more than another pre-NH scare. THe Clinton camp is really imploding this time around. Staffers and advisers see the writing on the wall...

http://www.political-buzz.com/

If you recall Bush was "elected" because he was such a fun guy, and look at the catastrophic mess he created.

Hillary may not be the exciting speaker that Obama is, but she can pull us out of another Bush mess just like Bill did.

This disaster requires action, intelligence, and experience, not simply a smooth talker.

Have a beer with Obama, but vote for Hillary Clinton.

The bottom line is either Hillary cheats, lies, and plays very dirty (something the Clintons are very good at) or she loses.

Bill Clinton has put the nail in the coffin of his (never very strong) legacy. Good riddance to bad rubbish!!!

JOHN:

YOU HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT HILLARY HAS NO SKELETONS IN HER CLOSET!!!

BEGIN WITH THE BASICS; BILL'S ADMITTED INABILITY TO FATHER A CHILD.

MOVE ON TO THE BILLING RECORDS THAT WERE FOUND IN HER OWN CLOSET, WITH HER OWN FINGERPRINTS ON THEM, BY A FUNCTIONARY.

THEN THERE IS THE LITTLE MATTER OF HER BEING ABLE TO BLACKMAIL THE ENTIRE CONGRESS, AND THE ENTIRE MEDIA, DUE TO HER ILLEGAL REQUISITIONING OF 10,000 FBI FILES.

CHARLES COLSON WENT TO PRISON FOR A SINGLE FBI FILE IN WATERGATE (AND HILLARY WORKED ON WATERGATE, WHAT A TWO-FACED HYPOCRITE) BUT YOUR GAL WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN 10,000 FBI FILES AND SHE NEVER SPENT A SINGLE DAY IN JAIL.

WHY DID MAGGIE WILLIAMS MOVE TO FRANCE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CLINTON'S TERM ENDED?

THEN THE LONG, LONG, LONG, LIST OF HIS/ HER/ AND THEIR CONTRIBUTORS.

YOU MUST BE SMOKING A VERY SPECIAL BRAND!

"JOHN5750"... how desperate have we become when a man utters, "we need hillary"!?!? You're right in that the GOP WILL eat Obamas lunch, though they would have done that to the B1tch too...

I'm reminded of a scene on "Wizard of Oz" where the wicked witch is melting away.... BYE HILLARY... GOOD RIDDANCE!

McCain will eat Osamas..er.. Obamas lunch!

Martin Andersen, Obama won the Hispanic vote in Ilinois (which has the 4th largest Hispanic poplulation in the countr). So his Virginia Hispanic votes were not a first.

Take heart svreader. The total democratic vote was almost twice that of the total Republican vote.

Obama is "Huey Long" He's just this years model...

People: could the Obama supporters please refrain from taking a victory lap? Save your end zone dancing for November when Bush is sent back to his all-hat-no-cattle ranch.

That said, I'd like to make a comment about the resignations of Mike Henry and Patti Solis Doyle... you know, the actual topic of the original blog?

It seems to me their departures were poorly handled. Clinton should have just quietly moved them to "field operations" on the ground in Ohio or Texas and left Maggie Williams "back home" to "coordinate". Or something. Anything but telegraphing the campaign is in trouble. If Clinton really has only 4-5 weeks before she must win Texas and/or Ohio, then why not just tough it out until then without generating bad press for herself?

It seems an unusually bad political move from the Clinton team.

Before this cult of personality goes much further. . . Would somebody please ask where this guy comes from? This is like George Bush . . . somebody from central casting to front for other interests. Who is funding Obama? Who started funding Obama? Why would anyone think after so little time in the Senate (first statewide office) that he could US President? Who assured this man of relativley modest means that he could take the debt of a presidential campaign? Who is pulling the strings? Why do the old guard like him so much?

Note to Hillary - please pack up your carpet bag, grab bubba by his lecherous neck and head on back to the double wide in Arkansas. We really don't want you in New York either.

Its not over yet!!!

Waaa. White men are mean to me, women should always be in the White House! I deserve it! I should be President! I'm a soulless pathetic loser with a failed marriage, nothing to look forward to in life, an empty nest, stupid ideas that have no practical use in the real world, oh! I'm such a LOSER

I hope she can pull a comeback.

For all our sakes.

Hillary just gave a speech on MSNBC in which she never acknowledged that she got beat bad.
http://jtaplin.wordpress.com/2008/02/12/potomac-primary/

I want to thank the hired shills for revealing themselves by commenting in ALL CAPS.

This story ultimately is really all about Super Delegates and whether they will be like the Bush41 Supreme Court in 2000.

An honest question to Hillary supporters- why does she always wear those damned ugly yellow coats that look like something Warren Beatty wore in the Dick Tracy movie? She actually looks very stunning in the electric blue. Does this particular color have a significance? She needs to wear some plum and blue and possibly the right colors of tans and greens and maybe light orange. I question the Hillary strategy of letting Obama win until March 4 in Ohio and Texas. This smacks of the Rudy strategy. Meanwhile, the firing of Mike Henry is another bad sign that there is more upheaval in the Clinton campaign. The Obama steamroller is getting quite a momentum. I don't think she can stop him now. She shot her wad on Super Tuesday. She spent $8 million dollars on the Hallmark show and various people were buying advertising without consulting with each other. Then they found out that they didn't have the money for the expenditures they had committed to. Harold Ickes charged her campaign $800,000 for donor addresses and also sold addresses to the Obama campaign, but at a much lower price, $25,000.It sounds like they got Brownie working for them. That's good. GO OBAMA!

DISPATCHES FROM THE GROUND WAR ...

Sam Stein of The Huffington Post reporting ...

Clinton's Turf Invaded: Obama Wins Latinos, Women, Working Class

The Virginia Democratic primary was supposed to be Sen. Hillary Clinton's best hope for the so-called Potomac Primaries. But a look at exit polls following a significant victory for Sen. Barack Obama shows that the Illinois Democrat's political base is expanding deep into Clinton's turf -- including among Latinos and working class Democrats.

For the first time in this election cycle, Obama won the Latino vote, long thought to be a stronghold of Clinton's, by a margin of 55 to 45. He outdid Clinton among women as well, 58 percent to 42. Obama even captured the majority of those voters who make less than $50,000: 59 percent to 40 percent.

Indeed, in Virginia, Obama had strong performances across the board. He narrowly lost the white vote to Clinton, 48 percent to 51 percent, but won the majority of white men in the state, 55 percent to 43 percent. That group, as recently as the South Carolina primary several weeks ago, also seemed firmly in the Clinton camp.

Obama also maintained what has become the most reliable demographic elements of his electoral base. Ninety percent of blacks supported the Senator, as did 66 percent of those under 40-years-of-age, 66 percent of independents, 70 percent of Republicans who voted in the Democratic primary, and 58 percent of post-graduates. ...

Mike Henry wrote the memo last spring telling Hillary to skip Iowa - I actually thought he succeeded in convincing them to do just that.

You can make many many changes in the Clinton campaign - except one.

You can't change the candidate - maybe they tried that, they tried to make everyone think they were voting for Bill - Hillary left the campaign for a few days. Anyway, Hillary will figure out a way to steal this nomination.

To John 5750:

I DON'T LIKE HRC AND BILL'S LONGTIME ASSOCIATION WITH NORMAN HSU, MARC RICH, JAMES AND SUSAN MACDOUGAL, GENNIFER FLOWERS, PAULA JONES, KATHLEEN WILLEY, MONICA LEWINSKY, AND FALN, JUST TO NAME A FEW.

BY THE WAY, WHY IS THERE A PICTURE OF HRC WITH HER HUSBAND AND REZKO IF HRC HAS SO MUCH MORE EXPERIENCE AND JUDGMENT THAN OBAMA?

You gotta watch out.. this election is not over yet... the Clinton Brothers always have one more trick up their sleeves.

Listening to Hillary's speech in El Paso (not a concession speech of course. She doesn't have enough class to do one of those!!!) she sounds like she is on the verge of tears again. Will she trot that tired old horse out again?

Taking calculated risks and making changes as necessary, even if others question it, is a a true sign of leader. Hillary has my vote and I know of so many others in Texas that can't wait to turn this all around. That is what I like about Hillary! She is willing to make the hard decisions and take quick action.

THE MORE I LOOK INTO OBAMA'S RECORD OR LACK THEREOF THE MORE I LIKE HILLARY.

OBAMA IS ALL TALK AND NO ACTION. HE WAS AFRAID TO VOTE ON SO MANY ISSUES.

I DON'T LIKE HIS LONG-TIME ASSOCIATION WITH REZKO, THE CROOK.

HILLARY HAS AN ACCOMPLISHED RECORD, AND STANDS UP FOR WHAT SHE BELIEVES IN. SHE WORKS HARD FOR THOSE SHE REPRESENTS.

SHE HAS NO SKELETONS IN HER CLOSET. SHE FOUGHT THE GOP SLIME AND WON. SHE WILL KICK THEIR BUTTS AGAIN.

THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR A NOVICE. WE NEED HILLARY'S INTELLIGENCE AND EXPERIENCE.

OBAMA MAY FOOL THE PEOPLE, BUT HE WON'T FOOL THE WASHINGTON POLITICIANS. THEY WILL CHEW HIM UP AND SPIT HIM OUT.

THIS IS NOT A POPULARITY CONTEST, THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS. WE NEED HILLARY.

But it's just not fair!!! Bill promised! It's the only reason why she stood by her man!

buh bye Hillary...

Oh man!!!
I was so going to add this to my Fix Prediction entry's storyline, but it was getting too long! Curse my second-guessing...
"novamatt" hit it on the head, though - Mike Henry is probably one of the best number-crunchers and strategists in the Party, and he helped orchestrate some of the biggest upsets for the Dems in '05 and '06.
The fact that Clinton is doing so poorly in VA tonight even with him in charge probably speaks volumes to her campaign's financial situation and what ground game it was (or more appropriately, wasn't) able to afford there. Seriously, if she can't even break 40% with one of Kaine and Mark Warner's former strategists in charge in VA, how exactly is she supposed to win TX, OH, and PA?

Can't match several of the early comments by others, and won't try.

Hillary Clinton is a smart, knowledgeable, able workhorse made tougher yet by some hard knocks in her life, not all administered by her political opposition. But she does not command the gift of independent thinking and evidence mounts that she is not the kind of leader who can recruit, organize and inspire a winning team. Her healthcare debacle over 8 years in the White House looms larger in the light of more immediate experienceS.

Our country is on the wrong track, headed in the wrong direction. The issue is not who is better equipped to receive the Bush baton and carry it forward from Day One. It is rather who can best articulate a vision of where we want to go, then galvanize and guide the necessary effort to get there.

"Another one bites the dust!" - Queen

This should make the Clintonistas of all stripes pause and take notice. Do you want to further associate yourselves with Hillary Rodham Clinton? The ship "Inevitable" is listing and taking on water. Grab your life jackets and jump! You don't have to go down with the ship or its captain.

This is great for DP party, Obama for President, Clinton majority leader of Senate, a winning team for America!!

Go Obama, Thanks Hilary

Clinton inevitability; a slow disintegration: considering Bills ever increasing race-baiting; and, all of Hillary's recent gaffes, e.g. "I voted FOR IT (referring to the Bankruptcy Bill); but, I was glad to see that it didn't pass."; and, her increasingly frequent crying jags, one has to wonder if excessive use of Botox has affected her mental stability. With the Clinton's Chinese bagmen either having fled the country or in prison, and their cash running low, it's no wonder that her campaign staff is gradually abandoning her; and, concurrently shielding her from reporter and audience unscripted questions. The prospect of Madam Hillary as President; in a word: TERRIFYING. Greg Neubeck

Why am I reminded of the GOP side of the US House of Representatives?

Clinton for Senate!

How about Hillary for Obama's first Supreme Court appointment?

I'm liking the idea as Hillary for Senate Majority Leader - I think she'd be great!!!

Today's Wall Street Journal Op-Ed : "The Clintons' Terror Pardons". page A17...After reading this ask yourselves if the Clintons really, sincerely care about YOU. Or is it that they are more concerned with attaining POWER? This is really disturbing and personally disgusting to me. Read it and draw your own conclusions.

http://www.hillaryproject.com/index.php?/en/story-details/the_clintons_terror_pardons/

If the demographics of Obama's support in Virginia is for real and indicates an overall trend in the country then Hillary is done. This latest "resignation" is further proof things aren't well at all internally for her. It isn't a good sign to be changing high level personnel when the campaign is in a fight for its life.

Well, us Clinton supporters will hang in there...

Mike Henry is leaving to spend more time with Patti Solis Doyle's family.

Mike Henry is one of the good guys. He was Tim Kaine's campaign manager in Virginia, and here it is two and a half years later and I'm still stunned that Henry and Kaine won it. Hope he gets a meaningful role in Obama's campaign in the general, or sooner.

Race trumps sex (notice I didn't say gender)in Democratic politics. Oh well, looks like Hillary is the victim again.
Reminds me of an old Webb Pierce song..."Why Baby Why Baby...Why Baby Why You Make Me Cry Baby Cry Baby...Cry Baby Cry, Cry Baby Cryyyyyy!"

A ship is sinking...

Hillary will be a great "wah wah wah, someone was mean to me because someone turned their back inadvertently to me on the Senate floor so let me shed a tear for political expediency"... um... person...

Hillary will be a great health care adviser to an Obama administration.

And the walls came tumbling down...

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