Disqus - Latest Comments for The Bag of Health and Politics

Re: Is Hillary Clinton trying to ‘Willie Horton’ Barack Obama?

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 22:34:00 -0000

Absolutely. As soon as the Madrassa BS came out, it was obvious that this was all a character attack by the Clintons. Then the kindergarten thing. Then drug dealer smear. Then the fake apology. Then Senator Clinton herself saying, "I've been investigated for 20 years, there's nothing they can throw at me." It's all a below the belt pitch to play on America's fears, specifically unwarranted racial fears. One of the most shameful in American history. I expected better of the Clintons. Thankfully, the country may have tired of this garbage, which means that the only character the Clintons attacked was their own...

Re: Bill Clinton on Charlie Rose about Obama - ‘ Who does he think he is?’

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 18:59:00 -0000

Both Clintons are undermining everything they did with their arrogant, vile, and pathetic campaign. As soon as the second staffer was fired for the Muslim smear chain e-mails, I saw where this was going: straight into the toilet. Ever since then, the Clintons' campaign has been running in a racist manner. As a Democrat, I am embarrassed that 40 years of progress within our party can be undone by their never ending lust for power.

As I white liberal who is disgusted with the racial overtones of their campaign, I will say this: I will not vote for Hillary Clinton under any circumstances this year. If I have to hold my nose, vomit several times while I'm in the voting booth, and vote for Romney, I will.

I long for the days when politicians said, "I had a good run," after leaving the presidency and left leadership to a new generation of people. Both Bush and Clinton undid that, tragically for the country.

Re: Bill Clinton on Charlie Rose about Obama - ‘ Who does he think he is?’

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 20:57:00 -0000

Just for the record Insight Magazine says they got the Madrassa rumor from team Hillary.

It all reeks of a co-ordinated attack to me. It's shameful. If Hillary wanted to do the honorable thing, she'd lose Iowa, gracefully bow out and then run for Senate Majority Leader.

Re: Bill Clinton on Charlie Rose about Obama - ‘ Who does he think he is?’

The Bag of Health and Politics — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:55:00 -0000

You know what I find interesting is that this kind of racist code BS, which was previously pretty effective, isn't working. People across the racial and ethnic spectrum are noticing it. The media picked up on the drug dealer remark. Obviously problems of racism haven't been solved, but it strikes me as progress. Among my family, mostly middle class white Democrats, the issue has come up. People are disgusted with Hillary and have written her off. Many are pondering voting for Nader if she gets the nomination.

As for the post immediately above, I whole heartedly agree. Obama knows how to stand up to this BS without being angry. Hillary's laugh and his response to that was an example of that. The laugh itself was condescending and reflective of a larger theme ("ha ha ha, this guy thinks he can be President. He's black he should be happy being a Senator,") that's coming out of the Clinton campaign. I'm sure Obama felt some, understandable, anger at that moment. It's an anger than blacks must feel every day.

A politician that was less ready for prime time would've interrupted Hillary and berated her for not letting him answer the question. Obama let the sad spectacle continue, and then calmly destroyed Hillary with wit. It was an incredible moment. And should Obama go on to be President of the United States, that will be the moment that people look back on as pivotal in his campaign.

Re: What Diana Ross and Mahogany Can Tell Us About Oprah and Obama

The Bag of Health and Politics — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:09:00 -0000

On health care there are other ways than single payer (which would cost $6,700 per year per person indexed at 2007 dollars). For instance, if you create take all catastrophic cases out of the system--illnesses that cost 6 figure plus sums to treat (cancer, HIV, Crohn's Disease (what I have), Cystic Fibrosis, ALS, MS, Sickle Cell, Hemophelia, and the list goes on).But if you take those illnesses--which account for 60 to 80% of the cost of medical care--out of the system, then you lower the cost of insurance premiums to the point where a mandate is practical. I say roll all the catastrophic cases into the federal employee benefit plan. I think that might be able to get through the Senate, and I think that has the potential to get everyone in America covered within the next 5 years...I wrote about this more extensively on my blog.

Re: Bob Kerrey on Barack Obama — A Modest Translation

The Bag of Health and Politics — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 02:24:00 -0000

Even if she gets the nomination, which I doubt (I think it'll end up being Edwards vs. Obama), there's now way Hillary can get elected. She starts out with 47% of the public saying they'll NEVER vote for her under any circumstances. Now she's run a primary campaign that has pissed off 3/4 of the Democratic base (unions, blacks, and the anti-war crowd). To win Hillary needs 90+% support from all of those groups. At this moment, she has *maybe* 70-75% support.

I won't vote for her under any circumstances. If I have to throw up in the voting booth and vote for Romney I will. He once supported universal health care. And if you're going to have a politician that thinks racist code is OK, you might as well have the real thing, a Republican like Romney.

I could see Hillary losing in a landslide if she gets the nomination. It doesn't help that Bill just said the first thing she'd do is have Bush the First work on restoring our standing in the world. Yeah, that's going to make the anti-war crowd vote for you. At this point, the honorable thing would be for her to drop out after she loses Iowa. The question is: does she have the courage to walk away from power in the name of the republic? To this point, it appears that the answer is no.

Re: Nazis Are Mad They Can’t Bring Their Guns To Jena

The Bag of Health and Politics — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 00:07:00 -0000

The KKK has a base around where I live. They have rallies, and they've taken to targeting local politicians with hate literature (their favorite to pick on is the openly gay City Councilman down the road).

I have come to the conclusion, that it is best to let them do whatever they hell they want to do and not give them any attention by counter demonstrations or denying permits.

Their "speech" is abhorrent, but it is also protected by the First Amendment. When they start making threats on specific people, they absolutely should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Just my take on them. I wish they'd go away.

Re: Bob Kerrey on Barack Obama — A Modest Translation

The Bag of Health and Politics — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 00:16:00 -0000

It won't work in Iowa. That's what is so funny about this whole situation. It's designed to get people to not vote for a candidate because of his race. And in the privacy of the voting booth, that could still work (though I think Maryland's election for US Senate last year proved that is no longer the case.

But in Iowa, that just isn't going to fly. People go to vote with 100 of their neighbors. If they said they were for Obama in the parking lot, but vote for Clinton inside, then the entire town will know they flip flopped and it'd be tantamount to going to the City Council meeting and outing yourself on an embarrassing personal prejudice that you have. In short, it isn't going to happen in a caucus. It's an open, not a secret, ballot that is done by a show of hands.

Once Obama wins one state, the freight train will take off. It'll prove that he can win, get white votes, etc. It'll erase doubts about him...It's why the Clintons are fighting so hard at the moment.

Re: Bob Kerrey on Barack Obama — A Modest Translation

The Bag of Health and Politics — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 11:36:00 -0000

I've been thinking they'd go with JC Watts. But I could see Michael Steele too. I think they would lean towards JC Watts because he has more experience than Steele (who only served as Maryland's Lt. Gov., the Lt. Gov. only has one duty here: sit in an office in Annapolis and wait for the Governor to get a new job or die. But Ehrlich did use him as a top adviser and gave him a few issues to head up).

Re: Bob Kerrey on Barack Obama — A Modest Translation

The Bag of Health and Politics — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 11:41:00 -0000

Also, Bill's best friend Ron Burkle just bought the Enquirer. On successive weeks it runs covers that bash Obama and Edwards. Coincidence? I think now. I can hear Hillary in the general election now. "What's important is to look at the support I have. I have tabloid support."

Re: Just in case you thought Kerrey’s apology MEANT ANYTHING

The Bag of Health and Politics — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 17:45:00 -0000

I agree. It'll be interesting to see if they use that barackosama2008.org address that they may or may not own (it'd take going through the FEC records to figure that out). I kind of hope they do, as that would be way, way, way over the line, and would likely finish off their campaign.

The thing they don't understand is that a Democratic primary is not a general election. A southern strategy has less of a chance of working here. It is really pathetic and shameful what they're pulling. I hope Obama wins. It's clear that he's the better of the two candidates...

Re: Obama Leads Among Black Voters In SC

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 01:12:00 -0000

Obama is a unique politician. He has built a simple trap to snare this BS, and so far it has worked. He is running against the "Karl Rove politics of the past." So if you attack him, you become Karl Rove, and by default Mr. 23%.

The trap works because Obama has framed the debate in the right way. Any good lawyer knows that it's more how you frame the debate than anything else. Clinton got flat footed, and is not contesting this election on her own terms. Obama's framing works even better in the primary because Clinton's, "The 90's, the 90's, the 90's, except oh yeah, don't remember that about the 90's," reminds people that she is the politics of the past.

So far, Obama has handled this extremely well. He's managed to defend himself from the attacks without getting into the gutter with the Clintons. Since they've pretty much thrown everything they have at Obama, I don't see how it would be any worse in a general election. Further, it's easier to stick the Karl Rove label on people of his own party. The Republicans have problems on that front, and aren't likely to go down that path this time...

As for the progressive "bloggers," I think more than a few of them are Clinton sock puppets and spammers.

Re: Obama Leads Among Black Voters In SC

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 10:56:00 -0000

I don't know about who Markos supports, he only says he opposes Clinton. The clear plurality of the people on that site support John Edwards though. Andrew Sullivan clearly does support Obama. Huffington says she supports no one, but is clearly favorable to Obama.

Finally, I don't know if this is sad or uplifting: 8% of Americans now believe Barack Obama is a Muslim. On the one hand, it's a lot lower than the 65% that thought there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq during the 2004 election, on the other hand that should be reserved to the 2% of the public that are the conspiracy theorists.

Re: Just in case you thought Kerrey’s apology MEANT ANYTHING

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:22:00 -0000

Bill Richardson provides a solution to that problem, though I think it is way, way, way overstated. The Republicans have gone so anti-immigrant/racist that the "enemy of my enemy is my friend."

I think there is a lot of common ground on policy between the Latino and African American community.

If Obama wins, I think a bigger problem may be the disillusionment of women within the party. If that's the case, he should be Kathleen Sebelius on the ticket with him.

And of course, there's always Edwards to keep the unions happy.

That would be a tough choice.

Re: Just in case you thought Kerrey’s apology MEANT ANYTHING

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 13:15:00 -0000

Also: clearly Obama is more electable than Hillary. Obama +12 vs. Huckabee, Hillary +2, Obama +6 vs. Rudy, Hillary +1, Obama +18 vs. Romney, Hillary +6.

People are foolish to think that Hillary is electable. She has very real problems with the base of the Democratic party (it started out with unions, it moved on to the anti-war crowd, and now it's blacks). She's alienated these key constituencies within the party. Many people will stay home; many will vote third party; a few will vote Republican; and a few will vote Hillary and hold their nose.

Add that to the fact that 52% of the public has already said they'll never vote for her under any circumstances and add that to the fact that 40% says they'll be motivated to vote if she gets the election--motivated to vote against her, and you see the problems.

Talk to a moderate suburban woman--the swing voter that decides elections--and you'll see the face of the problem. They'll never vote for Hillary for one reason: she didn't dump Bill. These are people that have had problems in their own lives--being with an abuser, an alcoholic/addict, or being cheated on. The most courageous and difficult thing they ever did in their lives was kick the offending man out. They're fiercely proud of that decision, as they should be. They look at Hillary and see someone that didn't have the courage to make tough decisions in her personal life; therefore, they reckon, she won't have the courage to make tough decisions as President. That makes her unpresidential. Even if they want to vote for the Democrat, they'll vote for the Republican because of it. It's why Hillary is so far behind Barack in the trial heats.

Hillary vs. Huckabee=President Bloomberg.

Re: Just in case you thought Kerrey’s apology MEANT ANYTHING

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 23:33:00 -0000

I think presidential campaigns--for all their flaws--show who people really are. This one has shown that Hillary Clinton (and perhaps Bill too) will do anything in order to obtain political power, including violating what they claim to be their deeply held principles, and running racially based smear campaigns against their principal opponent. That much is already known. And that is reason enough to not vote for Hillary this year.

Re: Just in case you thought Kerrey’s apology MEANT ANYTHING

The Bag of Health and Politics — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 02:12:00 -0000

Chris Salizza is a main stream, white journalist. The fact that the Washington Post put that up on their web page will get teh discussion going. That said, I have heard frustration with the overtly racial tone of Hillary's campaign within my family (which is white, liberals, but I've still noticed it).

Whether this will trickle down to other people is unknown. White people are loathe to call each other racist...And some might feel that pointing out what Clinton did to her supporters would be doing such. I don't believe that, but it is the reality of race and politics.

Side note: I've been reading Obama's first book carefully: Obama is slowly becoming the nation's Harold Washington. But I still haven't seen pictures of him in the window...yet.

Re: McCain losing votes to Obama in N.H.

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 15:20:00 -0000

The Bradley effect could happen, but it won't happen in Iowa where that'd be admitting it to the entire neighborhood.

Also, I think from the 2006 (and Obama's 2004 Senate election for that matter) elections that there's evidence that the Bradley effect is on its way out. It seems to me that both liberals and conservatives will vote for a candidate of another race as long as that candidate matches their views.

As for Hillary, you're right. She can't get elected. You can't win with 48% of the vote, and there's no way she can get that now. It isn't because of her gender. It's because she's been around for 16 years, and made a ton of enemies in the process...

Re: Why I Support Barack Obama

The Bag of Health and Politics — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 13:33:00 -0000

I read Dreams From My Father recently as well. I agree it's a fantastic book. Two things I want to mention: one he wrote that himself, before he had legions of ghost writers at his side, and he is a fantastic writer.

Two: I identified with large portions of the book because my father was gone for most of my childhood. Granted, this may be a problem that disproportionately effects blacks, but many others--especially in the 80s when divorce rates peaked--had that experience as well. That entire theme of the book is incredible, and I think it's why many younger people--who experienced that first hand--are attracted to his candidacy.

I have endorsed Bill Richardson. But Barack Obama is my second choice. I think he has shown good judgment and a solid ability to lead. The most important thing he could do is win, and if he does he'll stop the cancer of cynicism that has grown on this country for a generation. Things are a mess; it's going to take more than 8 years to clean it up; but if we want to get started, the first thing we have to do is defeat cynicism. A President Obama--because of the kind of campaign he is running--would do that.

I too fear for his safety, but he does have Secret Service Protection, so I am hopeful that he will be safe. I hope he wins the caucuses, and if not Richardson, I hope he wins the nomination...

Re: Barack Obama for President

The Bag of Health and Politics — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 13:42:00 -0000

Kos appears to be throwing his lot in with Clinton of all people. I don't know what sparked that. It'll be interesting to find out, as we will as time goes on.

You're right about thanking George W. Bush and how his failure has moved the country to the left. Obama is a unique politician. I know a few conservative white evangelicals. They are planning on voting for Obama is the Democratic Primary (they switched registration to do so or live in open primary states). Brining more people into the tent, more people that want to believe in a solidly progressive person that manages to speak in a way which does not threaten them. And that's a bad thing to Kos and the blogosphere? I don't get it...or maybe I do.

On the bright side, Kos and friends were lambasting John Kerry in the run up to the caucus. Kerry won solidly, and their guy (Dean) failed miserably. Perhaps history will repeat itself!

Re: Barack Obama for President

The Bag of Health and Politics — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 15:12:00 -0000

Kos brought himself into it by (falsely) alleging that Obama "slammed Gore."

As for his site 50% support Edwards, 25% support Obama, the rest split among everybody else in various fashion.

Re: Hillary Stealing Obama Campaign Rhetoric

The Bag of Health and Politics — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 15:16:00 -0000

The same thing basically ended Joe Biden's candidacy in 1988. But somehow Hillary gets a pass. I don't get it. But stooping to using the other side's rhetoric is a time honored Clinton tactic, and the most desperate thing the desperate do. I laugh at it. I laugh at most of her inept campaign at this point. And I hope we--the 70% of the party that doesn't want her to be President-have the last laugh in Denver...

Re: Quick News: Clinton to Caucus for Obama! (video)

The Bag of Health and Politics — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 19:20:00 -0000

This is so lame. It must be a pretty good line if she's stealing it from Obama.

For the record, since everybody else is saying it: I am fired up and I'm ready to go!

Re: BARACK OBAMA -THE WINNER OF THE IOWA CAUCUS

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 01:34:00 -0000

MI, WY, FL are irrelevant because they violated the Party's rules and have no delegates. Further, in MI the only two people on the ballot are Hillary Clinton and Dennis Kucinich.

NH and SC matter and will get media attention; perhaps NV, but to a lesser degree.

Heck of a speech. Because I realize it's likely Bill Richardson will no longer be a candidate by February 12th, I'll say it: I'm going to vote for Barack Obama. And I'm going to be proud when I do it...

Re: BARACK OBAMA -THE WINNER OF THE IOWA CAUCUS

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 02:55:00 -0000

Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush* (won in 1980), and George W. Bush all won Iowa and went on to be President.

It wasn't contested when Clinton ran in 1992.

Re: BARACK OBAMA -THE WINNER OF THE IOWA CAUCUS

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 11:21:00 -0000

And only two Presidents have lost a contested Iowa and went on to win the election. (Again, it wasn't contested in 1992 because there was a home state "favorite son," so that doesn't count).

Cater and W won and won the Presidency. Reagan and HW lost and won the Presidency. Hardly a definitive pattern.

Re: Where Were You?

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 11:29:00 -0000

Obama has Secret Service Protection. They do a good job. The nominee gets protected like the President. (Both he and Clinton may already be protected like that).

While it is now doubt a dangerous vocation, I am optimistic that the Secret Service can keep him safe throughout the election.

If Obama gets the nomination--which may be more likely than not at this point--I think he will win the election...especially against Huckabee, who may just pull the Republican race out.

I understand where the doubt is coming from. But the numbers from last year's election indicate that the Bradley/Wilder effect isn't valid any more. Further, if Obama can get young people across America to turn out in the numbers that they turned out in Iowa yesterday, it doesn't matter if some 60 year old stooge says he's going to vote for Obama, but decides not to because of race in the voting booth. That said, I think the effect--while once there--is very much diminished if not altogether gone.

Re: Hillary Hits Obama For Opposing Harsher Prison Sentences

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 02:53:00 -0000

Hillary just struck out for the nomination on the Britney Spears bandwagon. This is an issue that has got zero public attention, unfortunately. It won't cut the way Clinton thinks it'll cut--precisely because of people like Spears. I will write more in the morning.

Re: Post-CNN analysis (videos included)

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 11:17:00 -0000

Britney Spears is very relevant to Clinton's latest line of attack. While I'd rather she go away too, the fact is that she is the face of the backwards drug policies that Clinton defends...

Re: Post-CNN analysis (videos included)

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 11:18:00 -0000

Oops, forgot to say: nice job!

Re: Hillary: You Negroes Better Thank The White Man For Your Rights

The Bag of Health and Politics — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 19:50:00 -0000

She's clearly a racist, and will be remembered as one in history.

Re: Hillary: You Negroes Better Thank The White Man For Your Rights

The Bag of Health and Politics — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 22:10:00 -0000

I think anonymous number 2 might've nailed it. I'll try to restrain myself in the future. This stuff just pisses me off. I will be happy when the era of complete cynicism that Hillary represents ends. I hope that will be tomorrow night. But we'll probably have to wait a few weeks.

Re: Bradley Effect Rears Head In New Hampshire - CLinton Wins

The Bag of Health and Politics — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 23:28:00 -0000

She won on the woman's vote. The men voted the same way they did in Iowa. This suggests the tears thing (which I believe, in the height of cynicism, was staged by a desperate campaign) broke her way. There was a massive shift of women in the last 24 hours, and the tear thing--not the Bradley effect--is the only explanation for that.

It made women identify with her. Here's her problem: she can't do that again every time she gets into a tough spot. She played that card once. The next time she does it, it'll be transparently phony and staged.

Here's the reality: the forces of cynicism weren't going to go down without a fight. Though Hillary Clinton won the primary, 61% of Democrats voted against her. (Memo to Edwards: you made a valiant run, but drop out; you're taking votes from Obama and thereby enabling the "status quo," now).

Also here's the other reality: Clinton may have won the battle, but she may also lose the war. Now she can't skip South Carolina to focus on Super Tuesday. She's obligated to go there and spend big money. If she loses that, New Hampshire will be a footnote going into Super Tuesday, and Obama will once again have the momentum.

The reality is that it's dead even at the quarter pole. Nevada isn't as important as South Carolina, and will garner less media attention. Michigan is totally worthless as Hillary's the only name on the ballot. And Florida doesn't count.

That leaves South Carolina. If Obama wins there, he'll get the nomination. If he doesn't, he probably won't. I will figure out a way to travel there and volunteer for him this week. We have to stand up for our country now. It's time to go win the battle on doorsteps.

Re: Bradley Effect Rears Head In New Hampshire - CLinton Wins

The Bag of Health and Politics — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 00:01:00 -0000

I think the tear thing is separate from the Bradley effect. The Bradley effect is a negative, visceral reaction to the thought of voting for a black candidate.

The tear thing was a positive, supportive response of a gender. It was especially powerful among working Moms that often feel stressed about their professional lives. It spoke to their hearts, and was undoubtedly a powerful moment. The Clintons knew the way the media would portray it, and it worked beautifully. But that card can only be played once. If it's played again, it'll come off as cold, calculating, and cynical. The election will be decided in South Carolina. I think it's a 50/50 chance at the moment.

Re: Reaction to NH Primary: Get the Patron, And Tell Em That It’s On

The Bag of Health and Politics — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:59:00 -0000

The nomination will be decided in South Carolina. If Obama wins there, New Hampshire is an aberration headed into 2-5. If not, Hillary is the nominee.

So while IA and NH do have too much influence, this nomination will be decided by black voters in South Carolina. That is a good thing.

That said, I don't think it's clear that Obama will win SC. The New Hampshire result is enough to raise the saliency of the "false hope," bandwagon again. That may dissuade some blacks from voting for him.

Also, there are two things of note: Obama's gone back to his 2004 Senate primary "Yes we can," theme. And this election is precisely the election he is prepared for. After his Bobby Rush experience, and even trailing among blacks from a time in his Senate race, Obama learned how to appeal to both blacks and whites. He now has to put those skills together to win South Carolina and the nomination.

Further, if Clinton had lost, she would've skipped SC. Now she can't. So while winning appears great, it forces her to play in a state that is inherently favorable to Obama.

Re: Reaction to NH Primary: Get the Patron, And Tell Em That It’s On

The Bag of Health and Politics — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 13:21:00 -0000

I got a detailed report from a friend in South Carolina; this person has been traveling around the state recently and is not affiliated with any campaign. This person says that Obama has good support in the high-country, especially among younger and educated citizens. But that the vast majority are older and less educated. The person also notes that Edwards splits establishment support with Clinton (important; I also believes he splits white votes with Clinton in SC). Finally the person notes that Obama and Clinton have both focused on the midlands and the high country, especially Columbia.

The person says that there are lots of votes in the low country, and that they have disproportionate influence in the low country. The person says that all candidates have ignored the low country vote. That people usually ignore them, but that the most successful state politicians don't. The person mentions that the military vote and the veterans vote are important--even within the Democratic Party--around Charleston. This is the older, and as far as this person can tell, "undecided" vote.

The person also believes that their own personal philosophy of "personal responsibility, service , and action on a person to person level," is what really makes a difference in our society.

From this, it sounds like South Carolina is fertile ground, but the deal isn't closed.

Re: Reaction to NH Primary: Get the Patron, And Tell Em That It’s On

The Bag of Health and Politics — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 13:34:00 -0000

One other note, and an important one that I omitted: the person says that South Carolina is a very polite society where things are not vehemently discussed in the open, and people are cordial.

Obama's personality matches that. The challenge is for his supporters to do so as well. We have a right to be pissed, but I think that we need to realize that you slay the dragon with a smile...

Re: Reaction to NH Primary: Get the Patron, And Tell Em That It’s On

The Bag of Health and Politics — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 14:40:00 -0000

The military vote down state could go to Obama...I think his call for personal responsibility would play well there.

Re: Reaction to NH Primary: Get the Patron, And Tell Em That It’s On

The Bag of Health and Politics — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 16:36:00 -0000

I don't agree with the characterizations of South Carolina's citizens, but I do agree that the deal isn't closed. It'll take organization to get people to vote...Obama will be helped that the colleges will be in session by the time South Carolina votes, and by the fact that the election takes place on a Saturday.

Re: Reaction to NH Primary: Get the Patron, And Tell Em That It’s On

The Bag of Health and Politics — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 17:47:00 -0000

Something I feel the need to reiterate seeing the direction this thread took:

My source described the low country as having these demographics the retired high ranking military officers, established black wealth, and black retirees that moved to Hilton Head...but also the people that clean the hotels and wait tables. In short, it's a relatively diverse socioeconomic population there.

Further, I'll note that many people described as "uneducated" here have high school diplomas, work regular middle class jobs, etc. Even among the people who were poorly educated and may only be slightly literate, the kind of nonsense found on this thread doesn't do anything to help. Those of us that support Obama want undereducated blacks to vote for him. Attacking a group that you want to vote for you is always bad campaign strategy.

Thanks for the compliment about the slaying the dragon with a smile line; the dragon is multi-faceted and incarnates cynicism, despair, and fear of the unknown. An optimistic smile helps with that too. That's why we all must smile and stop blaming people before its lost. Barack's right--yes we can. But we only can if we believe, and if we project that belief to others. I plan on smiling a lot over the next 4 weeks. I hope you will join me in doing so.

Re: Women, White Privilege, And The Bradley Effect

The Bag of Health and Politics — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 19:29:00 -0000

My source in South Carolina read the previous thread. This person was not impressed; they said said, "House Negroes, um no, we're not stuck in some sort of 1940s time warp around here." Remember this is coming from somebody that you want to vote for Obama. I hope people will tone down the bashing of South Carolina blacks. It's counter-productive.

Re: Reaction to NH Primary: Get the Patron, And Tell Em That It’s On

The Bag of Health and Politics — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:29:00 -0000

My source read this thread. This person was not impressed. Keep in mind that you want this person to vote for Obama. These are their words, which I mistakenly posted in another thread:

"House Negroes, um no, we're not stuck in some sort of 1940s time warp around here."

The source also noted the black establishment down state. Retired business people, military officers, etc., in Hilton Head. And said that the down state community is economically diverse.

Again, even giving the appearance of attacking people that you want to be part of a campaign is just bad strategy. Afterwards do whatever you want, but Obama hasn't lost yet. I'm just noting it's extraordinarily bad strategy to bash the most crucial group of swing voters--and yes blacks are the swing voters in this election. For the first time in my life (I'm 28), blacks are the ones with the political power. That alone is amazing.

Re: Reaction to NH Primary: Get the Patron, And Tell Em That It’s On

The Bag of Health and Politics — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:31:00 -0000

A final note:

I think that the uniformed services present in down state South Carolina create at least a black working class, if not a black middle class. And I also think that uniformed service personnel (I live close to a base) are paying extremely close attention to this election.

Re: Rally for Him NOW!

The Bag of Health and Politics — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:46:00 -0000

Though I am white, I generally agree with this article. I also believes that this extends beyond race and partisan affiliation to those of us that care about Civil Rights...

But I also think this is a really good thing in a way: blacks are the swing voters. For the first time in my life (I'm 28), blacks have electoral political power. That is a fascinating dynamic, and should be beneficial for the country.

Re: Rally for Him NOW!

The Bag of Health and Politics — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 11:27:00 -0000

The Exit polls were more or less right; they showed it Obama +1 or Clinton +1, it ended up being Clinton +2. It was the pre-election polls that were wrong.

They were wrong because of this:

Over-sampled the young because of Iowa.

Didn't push people to make a "firm" commitment.

In the end what happened was that many women were thinking about ditching Hillary for Obama. Then she cried, and they decided to stick up for Hillary.

From what I've heard since then, the result had a galvanizing effect on other women, and not in a good way for Hillary. But I think it's best to leave that alone from now on, and focus on the positive.

If Obama can win SC, he has the momentum headed into Super Tuesday and NH is a distant memory. If he can win NV too--which I think is doubtful, but possible now that Edwards decided to not contest it--then I think the Clintons continue to unravel.

It's even. But now the terrain shifts to areas that are better for Obama. I believe Obama has a 60% chance at the nomination and Clinton a 40% chance at it. But I also know that it is a 0% chance unless we send $25 and volunteer for him and get voters to the polls.

Re: Another ‘Isolated’ Racial Insult of Obama

The Bag of Health and Politics — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 13:40:00 -0000

Agreed, it's a pattern. And a former cabinet member to Bill Clinton doesn't just go to the media and randomly spout racist lines. I'm sure he was encouraged to do so. And I'm sure that the Clinton campaign gave its approval. My guess, Mark Penn came up with this line.

Re: Another ‘Isolated’ Racial Insult of Obama

The Bag of Health and Politics — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:22:00 -0000

Clinton can be stopped in Michigan, and here race won't be a factor. Edwards and Obama voters should join forces and vote for Uncommitted for President! If Clinton, the only major name on the ballot, loses out to uncommitted, New Hampshire and the BS self-absorbed media spin for it will be distant history. Uncommitted 2008!

Re: Another ‘Isolated’ Racial Insult of Obama

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:24:00 -0000

Here is a link to the Clyburn article. It is very interesting. I am glad that he spoke out.

I also wonder if he intends to endorse Obama and is planting a seed for the media to repeat in a week or two. This way he can endorse Obama, and talk about his strengths while the largely white media mentions, "He was neutral, but apparently he was irritated by comments from Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton that he felt belittled Civil Rights leaders." They might even talk about the LBJ, kid and fairy tale comments too.

That would be an extremely effective way for Obama's campaign to defend itself while not having its finger prints on anything, just Clyburn at a rally speaking about his strengths.

I hope that happens. And I hope Uncommitted wins Michigan--polls taken before Uncommitted started its formal campaign showed Clinton 45 Uncommitted 30. However, since Clinton pledged not to campaign and Uncommitted is running a strong campaign, that could get a lot closer.

Re: Now, Obama was a ‘ Part-time State Senator?’ HELL NO

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 17:08:00 -0000

National Conference of State Legislatures classifies Illinois Legislators as full-time.

So what she said was also factually wrong.

Obama is said to have called his law firm on his first day in office to say, "Don't pay me, this is a full-time job." He taught law courses part-time as a State Senator; just as Clinton served on Boards of Directors (including Wal-Mart's) in her spare time as First Lady of Arkansas.

Re: Now, Obama was a ‘ Part-time State Senator?’ HELL NO

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 17:51:00 -0000

Now this is disgusting, and over the line. Clyburn needs to endorse now. They crossed the line.

From the The Guardian which quotes a Clinton adviser as saying

If you have a social need, you're with Hillary. If you want Obama to be your imaginary hip black friend and you're young and you have no social needs, then he's cool."

Pathetic. The person who said that--my guess that asshole Mark Penn--is a racist. Absolutely pathetic politics.

Hat tip: Walt Starr on dkos

Re: Black-Brown Tensions

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 18:30:00 -0000

I don't see it daily, but there is a very, very small Latino population where I live. I do believe that this is why the Clinton's are ratcheting up the Dog Cannon (see the Guardian piece that said young people like Obama because they have social needs and want an "imaginary black friend.")

They're trying to make it about race and play on racial divisions to win. There is a word for that--Rovian.

Re: Black-Brown Tensions

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 18:32:00 -0000

Forgot to include the link to the article

Re: Here’s another one for the ‘ Isolated Incidents’ File

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:35:00 -0000

I would say that this one may be the worst yet. It's clearly a pattern. And those of us that are Democrats have to stop it in the primary. If these kind of tactics fail at the ballot box, politicians will stop using them. It's as simple as that.

Re: Here’s another one for the ‘ Isolated Incidents’ File

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 09:33:00 -0000

The only way to stop this shit is to beat it. Politicians stop doing things that lead to defeat. So we have to beat it--beat it in Nevada, beat it in South Carolina, beat it on Super Tuesday.

The good news is that Obama has a very good grass roots donor list. 20,000 donations the day after New Hampshire. He's been raising $1 million a day. Meanwhile, Clinton has burned through $85 million of her campaign's cash (rumor about Obama is $60 million). So he has more money, which means he can compete in more states on Super Tuesday.

We can help to beat this by donating as much as we can, and by volunteering as much as we can. I live in a state that doesn't vote until the 12th, so I imagine I'll be driving over to Delaware to volunteer there. A campaign like this is won door step by door step. I think people should keep noting when the Clintons pull crap like this, but I'm going outside today :).

Re: Here’s another one for the ‘ Isolated Incidents’ File

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 09:49:00 -0000

As for the right tone, I think it's trying to say we want America to be united. There's a way to counter this to make Clinton sound like Karl Rove. Obama succeeded when he was doing that before Iowa. His supporters should follow his lead. I think the only way to get this out of the media's head is a strong debate performance with a very good sound bite on the 15th. It shouldn't be that way, but unfortunately the media thinks in easy to digest sound bites. I'm praying for that to happen.

Re: Help Track Clinton’s Attacks on Obama

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 19:11:00 -0000

Hillary's third term?

Her campaign is down right outrageous. It's manipulative, wrong and disgusting. I will be chairing my local Democrats for McCain committee if she gets the nomination. Say what you want about his views, he wouldn't use these kind of tactics to win.

Also of note: versus McCain:

McCain 49

Clinton 37

(18% of Democrats backing McCain; 7% undecided)

McCain 46

Obama 43

Tell me again, who is more electable? If the Democratic Party wants to find a way to yet again snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, it'll nominate Clinton.

Creating a story and then blaming your opponent for it is what Bush does. That is a disqualification for the office of President.

The good news, she has so irritated unions in Nevada, where they make up 50% of the caucus, that she may lose a state she had a twenty point lead in a month ago.

Clinton knows she can't win. An honorable politician would've run to the end, realizing that they couldn't do anything about it. The dishonorable Clintons decided that they were bigger than the party--of course we knew this when DOMA, welfare reform, NAFTA, the Iraq War, etc, happened--and so they decided to take the rest of the party down with them.

Bill is obsessed with his legacy. He's a fool to not see that any good legacy that he may have despite impeachment is tied up in a President Obama. Instead, he'll be remembered as a narcissistic fool that ruined his own party and cemented divisions through misguided attacks unbecoming of a former President in support of his wife's campaign. His choice. I'll say it now, there have been 43 Presidents. Clinton was the should be ranked 41st, Bush should be ranked 42nd, and Buchanan should be ranked 43rd. However, there's still a chance to go down as the worst in history if this BS keeps up.

Knock it off now. And you want to know what the Republicans are going if it's Clinton/Bayh: put JC Watts on the ticket, and proceed to realign the country in their favor. Good for them.

Re: Help Track Clinton’s Attacks on Obama

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 21:17:00 -0000

When Hillary says Obama's health plan leaves people out that is an attack, for everyone could opt in. However, Obama doesn't favor a mandate--which is a big check to big insurance, as Hillary does. So she misrepresents the truth and says that Obama is in the pocket of big insurance, when the truth is absolutely the other way. Hillary: favorite daughter of big insurance executives...

Re: Oreos And House Negroes: The Clinton Strategy Explained

The Bag of Health and Politics — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:40:00 -0000

I would watch the word in the title. It did Kathleen Kennedy Townsend no good (didn't come directly from her) when it was used against Michael Steele in 2002. Interesting that Congressman Cummings was quoted in the paper. "I don't want to believe it but I'm wondering," or something to that extent. If Cummings is speaking out about it, it's been noticed in Baltimore. I know it's been noticed here in Western Maryland too.

After 2-5, Maryland and Virginia vote. Governor O'Malley has desperately been trying to get people lined up behind Clinton. But he has low approval ratings and people are looking for something they can oppose him on, so it's not as effective as it could be. Maryland has the tendency to back insurgents. In Virginia, Gov. Kaine is with Obama; Webb is officially neutral. Virginia elected Wilder to statewide office twenty years ago. Obama might have an advantage there. He could sweep both 2-12 states...

Re: Advice for Democratic Voters in Michigan

The Bag of Health and Politics — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 17:17:00 -0000

There is a better option, there is a line on the ballot for "Uncommitted." Hillary Clinton losing to None of the Above would be great. Rep. Conyers is going around the state asking people to vote for uncommitted and even took out an ad. Volunteers from both the Edwards and Obama camps have been canvassing for uncommitted. Uncommitted is at around 35% in the polls compared to Hillary's 45. The right choice in Michigan tomorrow is uncommitted.

Re: Hillary Clinton on Meet the Press — Aftermath and Impressions

The Bag of Health and Politics — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 10:58:00 -0000

I take a contrary view. I think Hillary got the lion's share of the blame for this one. One cannot understate the importance of Rep. Clyburn's quote in the New York Times.

The story played out for a day or two. The media banged Hillary over the head with the King comment, the Bob Johnson comment, the fairy tale comment, the boos in New York City and the like. Yesterday's today show where Michael Eric Dyson essentially said this was happening "because the Clintons feel entitled for to the presidency and don't want to have to work for votes," is an example.

Then Obama gets to come in and take the high road. He ends the debate. The issue was raised, but never by him. He gets to oppose some of the more traditional members of the black establishment--something he must do if he is to win. He returns to his "transformative" character, while people are left remembering that there's nothing new about the Clintons.

I understand people are pissed. I am pissed. Everyone should be pissed. But I believe the crass politics of this one played out in Obama's favor. I also believe Hillary backed off because she knew this backfired, and didn't want to do any more damage to her campaign.

Re: Hillary Clinton on Meet the Press — Aftermath and Impressions

The Bag of Health and Politics — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 14:11:00 -0000

If Obama doesn't win the nomination, he shouldn't accept the VP nomination. Clinton will lose without him on the ticket, and he'll be the nominee in waiting after that.

That said, he would be in the position to make a deal, but one that benefits him: one-term and I run with you. That would be one worth considering, but it's also risky. If Clinton screws things up and is unpopular in 4 years, he'll have a hard time winning. That's why I think he should say no to the VP nomination.

Re: Goin’ Crabbing

The Bag of Health and Politics — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 17:00:00 -0000

Wow, that is bad. More evidence that this ploy backfired on them. Good, it should. I live in Red America, and all this did is remind people why they hated the Clintons in the first place. If Obama can win Nevada, if he can do that, then I'll start to feel really good about the nominating process.*

*That said, I don't see how either candidate can get to the magic 2051 delegates because of the absence of Michigan and Florida. I think a brokered convention might end up happening. People will give the CLintons the advantage at that because they're ruthless and Obama is supposedly naive and all. I don't. Obama is from Chicago: the Chicago political machine knows how these things work...My guess is Obama emerges from a brokered convention, though I suppose Al Gore would have a real shot as a compromise candidate.

Re: Goin’ Crabbing

The Bag of Health and Politics — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 17:02:00 -0000

Re: the Jewish comment above. Half my family is Jewish. 80% of them are voting for Obama...largely because of the war in Iraq.

Re: Hillary Clinton on Meet the Press — Aftermath and Impressions

The Bag of Health and Politics — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 09:46:00 -0000

Hillary 53
None of the Above 40

None of the Above WINS Detroit and Flint, the major urban areas of Michigan. Hillary wins on suburban white women.

From Exit Polling. Among African Americans

None of the Above 73

Hillary 25

Tell me how you can win Michigan when 40% of voters went out on a snowy day just to vote AGAINST you. Hillary has major problems. She is unelectable. People are starting to realize that. Obama needs to win Nevada--a tough thing for him to do. If he can, then the wheels start to fall off of Hillary's bus again.

Re: Black Voters in Michigan Prefer Uncommitted over Clinton

The Bag of Health and Politics — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 12:45:00 -0000

When None of the Above gets 40% of the vote, you know you have a problem.

I will point out that None of the Above won Detroit. None of the Above won Flint. None of the Above, I think, won Lansing too. None of the Above also did well in rural areas. Clinton's support was in the white suburbs.

I will say this now: Hillary Clinton is unelectable. She can't broaden her appeal, and she has alienated important components of her own coalition in the primaries.

But the good news is that it appears like her stunts have back fired. They appeared to be cynical ploys to Obama's white supporters, and they infuriated Clinton's own black supporters. The result: Obama's white support held steady, while Clinton's black support tanked and shifted to Obama=both Washington Post and Zogby showing that the election is now a dead heat.

If Obama can win Nevada, the narrative will change. The Clintons have played all the sleaze cards in the deck. The narrative will shift towards this being a backlash against them. And if Obama can give another victory speech, the Clintons won't be able to get the media to shut up so easily. In the end, that is what this was about.

On the night of the caucus in Iowa, Obama was something that Hillary Clinton can never be. People were talking about that speech. It was a bad thing for Clinton, so she started a one-sided bogus feud. The media ate it up. I don't think they will the next time. If Obama can only win on Saturday, I think it might get to a place where Hillary can't recover. I'm praying he can pull Nevada--a difficult state for him--off.

Re: The Double Standard Against Barack Obama’s Church

The Bag of Health and Politics — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 16:53:00 -0000

The Clintons declare a "truce" and then this crap pops up in corporate newspapers like the Investor's Business Journal. Sure...Despicable tactics from then again, but I'm sure it'll only get worse.

I don't really care about Obama's church. Hillary doesn't talk publicly about her faith--which in her Methodist tradition is normal. I don't care about that.

Her husband, would-be co-President Bill Clinton took spiritual advice from Billy Graham, who also gave spiritual advice to both Bushes. I don't particularly agree with much of what Rev. Graham says, but I didn't care about that because somebody's faith is their personal business. Further, just because a pastor says something doesn't mean Obama actually agrees with it. At the churches I've attended--currently not attending one--I disagreed with the Minister, but would still go. The reason: they gave good, thought provoking sermons that made me think.

Likewise, I'm sure that Obama doesn't agree with all of the Rev. Wright's proclamations. A preacher is not God; a preacher is human; and a preacher can be wrong on somethings, or even (like Pat Robertson) most of the time.

In the end, it's not Rev. Wright that's on the ballot. It's Barack Obama that's on the ballot. Barack Obama didn't say what Rev. Wright said in his sermon. And, therefore, I don't much care about what was said in Rev. Wright's sermon. I don't attend his church. I'm sure he provides good moral counseling to members of his church, who are free to regard or disregard his advice. The choice of a spiritual adviser is personal. I don't care who Barack Obama's pastor is. Period.

Re: Attacks on Obama Wiki Update

The Bag of Health and Politics — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 15:50:00 -0000

The full interview here.

Obama handled this interview incredibly well. I now believe that he is the next President of the United States.

Re: The Clintons, Nevada, And Disenfranchisement

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:35:00 -0000

I believe Obama's running Spanish language television and radio ads. His "Yes, we can," slogan has been changed to "Si se perude," (sp?, long time since I've written Spanish). I really don't have a clue about Nevada. I do know that the Clintons didn't come off well with the lawsuit.

The union is running a negative ad against her, which is harsh but truthful in regards to the matter. We'll see how it plays out.

Re: Satire Or Stereotype?

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:03:00 -0000

Magic's right, but the reality is that Barack Obama is the most experienced candidate in the election. This 35 years of experience line is utter bullshit. She's counting 6 years she spent on Wal-Mart's Board of Directors!

Re: Nevada Results; Robocalls; Blacks and Latinos

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 19:41:00 -0000

Contrast the petty bullshit of Bill Clinton--who really has achieved NOTHING of SUBSTANCE in his entire LIFETIME and Barack Obama's speech at Ebenezer Baptist Church this morning.

Bill Clinton knows that he can't move people like that. He knows he was a pathetic, egotistical, and self-obsessed politician whose flaws allowed the rise of this most criminal of administrations. He knows that he's not even close to Barack's ability--except in his own demented fairy tales.

Let's do what this party should've done 10 years ago: kick these losers to the curb.

Re: Report from the Ground in Harlem and NV; Obama Calls Bill Out

The Bag of Health and Politics — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 15:18:00 -0000

John Kerry should be used to go toe to toe with Bill. In fact, John Kerry should challenge Bill to a debate.

Re: A Great Analysis By… Meet The Press??

The Bag of Health and Politics — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 17:29:00 -0000

I agree with Peggy Noonan. Dynasties are a sickness in this country, and they must be stopped at all costs. I would prefer Obama to stop them. But if it's McCain, it's McCain.

A friend asked if there was any way I'd vote for Clinton. There is only one scenario: a public one-term pledge by Hillary and Obama on the ticket with her. I could vote for that ticket. Anything short of that--especially on the one-term pledge front--and I'm with McCain, even if Obama's on the ticket.

Re: Stephanie Tubbs Jones on Tucker Carlson

The Bag of Health and Politics — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 23:02:00 -0000

It's a sad Campaign Chairperson that makes Tucker Carlson look reasonable. That's what I think.

Re: Stephanie Tubbs Jones on Tucker Carlson

The Bag of Health and Politics — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:15:00 -0000

I watched it again. I think she may have been under the influence of alcohol.

Re: Making Obama The Angry Black Man

The Bag of Health and Politics — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:56:00 -0000

Hillary Clinton will do anything to win the nomination. But what she doesn't realize is that she's making the nomination worthless with these kind of tactics. There's no way she can win. She is ensuring McCain's victory in November with this kind of BS. Shame on ABC news for buying into it.

And what did ABC say about Bill Clinton's red faced rants? Did they describe them as angry? Of course not...

Re: Making Obama The Angry Black Man

The Bag of Health and Politics — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:08:00 -0000

I decided to do something about my anger about this. To me, it's clear that reporter Sunlen Miller fabricated the story. I contacted ABC News and asked them to fire Sunlen Miller, as fabrication--the writing of fiction--is one of, if not the, biggest journalistic sin. I hope everyone will do the same.

Re: Making Obama The Angry Black Man

The Bag of Health and Politics — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 19:43:00 -0000

I do believe that Obama could win as an independent. The Republicans are down to Romney, McCain, and maybe Huckabee (none of whom are acceptable to their entire coalition). Hillary is not acceptable to the entire Democratic coalition, and has zero independent appeal. If Obama could put together independents--which he'd likely win against Romney or Huckabee--with enough disaffected Republicans and enough disaffected Democrats, he might just be able to get to 40%, which wins a 3 way race.

As for VP, the only way he should take it is if Clinton pledges one-term before the ticket is announced. Otherwise it's not worth it. We saw what happened to Gore after he waited eight years, and saw them screwing up his chances...

Re: Making Obama The Angry Black Man

The Bag of Health and Politics — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 21:31:00 -0000

If the one-term pledge was made BEFORE the VP announcement, then I could see it working. I agree at running on the ticket with Hillary and facing 8 years in the wilderness as the VP to Hillary with no power, and no way to break inside the inner circle because of Bill. Four years is a different story...

An Obama/Bloomberg Independent run might win. A tough, tough road, and one that ensures he'll never get another shot at the Presidency if he doesn't pull it off, but one that could work. Bloomberg might go for it if he got lots of say in the issues he's interested in.

Re: The Media’s Three-Fifth’s Compromise

The Bag of Health and Politics — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 12:20:00 -0000

Hillary has calculated that she can replace black votes with Latino votes.

This is stupid math:

First non-Cuban Latinos were voting 66-33 for Kerry in 2004, it's not exactly like there's a lot of room to pick off there.

Second, while Latinos may be getting close to even with blacks in terms of population, they do not vote at anywhere near the level blacks do, making them a smaller chunk of the electorate.

Any Democrat needs BOTH Latinos and blacks to win the Presidency.

Hillary, in my estimation, will no get strong support from the black community. This will only be worse if they down play South Carolina is not really counting because of the black vote. I say to her, or any other Democrat in that situation, try to win Ohio without Cleveland. Try to win Pennsylvania without Philadelphia. Try to win Michigan without Detroit. Try to win Illinois without Chicago.

And that is why this is matters. As I wrote on my blog today, I believe the party is irreparably split, and that Clinton will lose in November. The only way she wins in my view is a one-term pledge with Obama on the ticket.

If this keeps, up she's Destroying the Democratic Party By Winning At All Costs

Re: We’re Going to Be on Public Radio International’s "Fair Game" Tonight

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 12:23:00 -0000

I will listen to the program. Since the Clintons are playing the "what about the Republican attacks line," I decided to take that on with the wonderful of fiction this post entitled,
The Aftermath of a Clinton Nomination: Fiction (I hope)"

In my fictional world a split Democratic Party plus a Bill sex tape equals a 50 state landslide for McCain/Watts and losses of both the Senate and House majorities for the Democrats. Sadly, I don't think this is too far fetched. I hope life doesn't imitate art, but I have a bad feeling about it...

Re: We’re Going to Be on Public Radio International’s "Fair Game" Tonight

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:25:00 -0000

Here's a new one for the wiki:

Hillary tells Barack to shut up and go to the back of the bus.

In the New York Times:

''He serves as chair of the most important committee in the United States Congress,'' Clinton said of Rangel. ''He didn't get there by leapfrogging. He got there by lots of hard work.''

I want to know what exactly she means by hard work? Which of her "hard work" makes her ENTITLED to the Presidency. Was it supporting NAFTA? Welfare Reform? Don't Ask Don't Tell? The Defense of Marriage Act? Or her vote for George Bush's War?

If Charlie Rangel has done so much "hard work" then why isn't he the presidential nominee instead of you. After all, he's served in Congress and has the most experience.

You know what Hillary, you can get off my bus. You haven't paid the fare. Should you, a shameless politician who will say anything to win, get the nomination, I'm voting for McCain.

Re: Hillary Clinton Has A Friend You Probably Didn’t Know About

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 17:41:00 -0000

Is it just me, or has she been wearing that same yellow dress for a week now? I hope she's changing her underwear at least...

Re: Criminalizing Children Still A Problem In NYC

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 18:46:00 -0000

Anyone who has ever been inside an inner-city school--in New York, Chicago, DC, Baltimore or elsewhere knows these problems are real. Dilapidated buildings are a monument to the silent bigotry (I'm appropriating a line from Bush) of out of sight, out of mind.

Special education is the worst aspect of the national crime that is our urban education system. I hope it will change. I don't expect it to under President H Clinton. She has already shown that she doesn't care.

And say what you want about Obama and his somewhat plain plans. The image of Obama as President sends a message--a good message--to kids in those schools; a message that 100,000,000 new books cannot send. The image of him losing the Presidency solely because of his race--the image which the Clintons are trying to push on America--only re-enforces the belief, the just belief, that the system is stacked against some. And that some can never be solely because of who they are.

The 650,000 soldiers and one President who died in the Civil War will collectively roll over in their graves if we do what we're on the verge of doing...

Re: Criminalizing Children Still A Problem In NYC

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 02:11:00 -0000

A friend of mine deeply involved with education is a big time proponent of Charter Schools. I oppose them on the simple fact that it makes good education a lottery. That is unconscionable to me.

Here in Maryland we have problems with funding disparities. Montgomery County--the richest jurisdiction in the country--has lavish, well funded schools. Schools in Baltimore are chronically under-funded (a court held the state in contempt a while back on this issue). But schools in rural areas in far-western Maryland--where I live--also have problems.

Funding is based on the property tax. In suburban DC--Montgomery County--million houses, not estates but houses, are common place. It's easy for a county to have a relatively low mill rate and a extremely well funded school system.

Where I live, you're lucky to get $125,000 for your house. This is better than Baltimore--where most of the prime real estate is owned by non-profit hospitals or universities--where they are always facing under-funding. It's also worse just down the road from me in Cumberland--where the nicest homes go for less than $100,000 and an average home is about $40,000.

It is impossible for Washington and Allegany Counties to match the funding levels of Montgomery County. To do so would mean mill rates so high that people would default on their property tax and be foreclosed upon by the government.

I lived in Pennsylvania for a few years. There the situation is even worse because the school districts are Township by Township--causing vast disparities within the same county.

In my opinion, the only solution to these problems is a national property tax and an equal allocation of funding for schools via Congressional District. Then, we could truly have equality in education.

Unfortunately, the 10th Amendment gets in the way of that. Because of that, I think the best solution is statewide property taxes and a formula that doles out funding to jurisdictions on an equal per pupil basis.

Re: The Clintons, Black Folk and America - A Reckoning

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 20:51:00 -0000

South Carolina:

Obama 55

Clinton 25

Edwards 19

Enough said.

But the details:

Blacks:

Obama 81

Clinton 17 (that's Republican levels of black support there).

Whites:

Edwards: 40

Clinton 35

Obama 25

Among whites:

"Were the Clintons attacks on Barack Obama fair or unfair?"

Fair 32%

Unfair 68%

This has backfired on Billary!

Re: The Clintons, Black Folk and America - A Reckoning

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 20:52:00 -0000

Also among whites under 30: Obama 50%.

Re: Debate Open Thread

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 11:17:00 -0000

No I would not vote for her. For many reasons, her campaign's pathetic conduct being the foremost of them.

And I certainly do not want to see, nor would I be swayed by, a Clinton/Obama ticket. Let's face the facts: Clinton would lose to McCain in November. A Clinton/Obama ticket would mean her cronies--people like Mark Penn and Terry McAullife--would say "on background", "Hillary ran a good campaign, but she had a bad Vice Presidential running mate. Having a black on the ticket was too much for the country." They'd undercut Obama's appeal in 2012, and set up another one of their lackeys--probably Evan Bayh--to run.

And on the off chance that the ticket is successful, the situation is even worse. Obama would then be the Vice President--a totally worthless position with Bill Clinton hanging around and making back room deals. Being associated with the corruption that would certainly come with a Clinton Presidency would be bad, bad news for him. And worse, our party is stuck in the politics of the past for eight more years (Clinton would run for re-election in 2012, so even if she loses then it'll be 2016 before we can change our party). I say heck no to that.

So no, I will not vote for Hillary Clinton. And no, I do not want to see a Clinton/Obama ticket.

Re: Debate Open Thread

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 11:29:00 -0000

A broader leader for the nation doesn't seek to stoke racial and religious divisions for political gain. Hillary Clinton did just that. Therefore, anybody who cares about those issues shouldn't vote for her in November...If she wins using these kinds of tactics, then it becomes acceptable, and even Obama won't be able to win in the future...

Re: Debate Open Thread

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:32:00 -0000

I, according to Godwin's law, now declare Barack Obama the winner of the Democratic Nomination. She who uses Nazi analogies first loses by default...

Re: Bill’s ‘Mea Culpa’ Church Tour

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 20:19:00 -0000

Hillary can't win. It's why she started this desperate "dream ticket" nonsense. I will point out that it's really the the nightmare ticket. Only 1 sitting Vice President has been elected President in the last 172 years. Worse, the hinterlands of the Vice Presidency has only created 5 people who went on to be elected President either as a sitting Vice President or as a former one. And 3 of those people were before 1840.

The Vice Presidency is a trap that no one in their right mind should accept. Obama would be a fool to run on the ticket with Hillary. If she loses, her cronies will blame him for it. If she wins, he's an irrelevant Vice President who is overshadowed by the President's spouse.

It's doubtful that Obama will ever have another chance at the Presidency. If you want him to be President, the only option is to vote for him now.

I just made twenty phone calls to California--mostly white and Latino women were on this list. Two were friendly and wouldn't say who they voted for; one was for Clinton and pissed that I called; and two were for Obama. Anecdotal evidence, but I believe this blog post is on to something. Everybody should make twenty calls this weekend!

Re: Huckabee To Mitt: "Why Don’t You Give It Up And Go Back To Boston?"

The Bag of Health and Politics — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 02:47:00 -0000

I think people might be interested in this LA Times article on the Bill "not really an apology begging for votes tour."

Snip

Sounding chastened, Clinton talked about the election as the proverbial embarrassment of riches, saying he had waited his whole life to vote for an African American for president and just as long to vote for a woman.

"I say that to remind us that we have to find a way to choose without division. To disagree without discord. To celebrate the shattering of all these phony categories that have kept Americans apart too long," Clinton told about 500 people at Brookins Community AME Church in Los Angeles. "We respect the choices that you make in this election. And if you can't be for her, we honor that."

Uh huh.

Re: Michelle Obama & Campaigning for Hillary (videos)

The Bag of Health and Politics — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 06:50:00 -0000

I wouldn't have to think about campaigning for Clinton--I won't. She crossed a line which any candidate who wants me to support them should not cross. Billary will learn the word "responsibility" and its definition by the end of this campaign--the only question is whether the lesson will happen today, next week, or in November.

Side note: Obama out-raised Hillary $32 (probably $34 by now) to $13 million in January. Hillary had a gigantic "burn rate" before Iowa. If it's at all close tonight--even if Hillary wins the big states--she's got major problems. She doesn't have enough money to slog this out through PA. Obama can probably raise it with his small donors...

I raised $100 for his campaign. I challenge everybody else to do the same. If 1 million people raised $100 each, Obama would be set through the convention.

Re: HAAAA HAAAA: Hillary "Loans" Self $5M; Obama Gets $6M From The People In 24 Hours

The Bag of Health and Politics — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:15:00 -0000

Hillary's check bounced!!!!

Re: Clean Sweep for Obama Today

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 01:27:00 -0000

We're working hard in western Maryland.

First, Maryland is likely to go to Obama, western Maryland--not so much.

That said, Obama's campaign in Hagerstown: 20+ volunteers. We have gall our lawn signs out (they put most of them in Frederick, but that's to be expected). We have literature, and we're going door to door.

In the middle of our walk, a local activist comes up to us and says he wants to volunteer! When we're having a sidewalk rally two people we've never met before, and who have never been involved in anything, ask if they can stand there with us and have a sign. And they stay out of the blue for 45 minutes.

Granted, there are a few middle fingers, thumbs down, the rare shout of "Hillary!" and a little fringe activity. But that's to be expected in these parts.

But we're doing good here. Better than I thought we would. We'll likely still lose the county, but we're trying and it'll be closer than people expect.

The extent of the Hillary campaign here: 25 untouched lapel stickers in the county party's office and 1,000 print outs of her website on plain white paper. I've seen City Council candidates with far superior literature.

DC will be a landslide. Virginia will be as well, though no where near DC proportions. Maryland will likely be a little bit closer than those two will be. But we're still going to win here. And if we do, it'll be at least 7 of 8, and if Maine goes his way tomorrow, 8 in a row. If this happens, it'll be time for Hillary to drop out--for the good of the party.

Oh, and I'm campaigning through strep throat, so no more updates until election day. I'll be out there, but I need to sleep instead of blog at night.

Re: Clean Sweep for Obama Today

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 17:49:00 -0000

It was 25 degrees outside today with a very strong wind. And we have canvasses tomorrow night and all day Tuesday that I'm helping to oversee. My voice is completely shot, so I decided discretion was the better part of valor and only made 20 phone calls today. I did North Dakota phone calls before Super Tuesday. These phone calls had a better response than that. My voice is totally shot after yesterday afternoon. By taking the day off I think it'll last through Tuesday. I feel fine though. Just that it's recovering from strep.

Tonight, we're organizing to get some semblance of a plan for Hagerstown on election day. We're a bit overwhelmed and having to adjust to the reality of exceeding expectations regarding the number of volunteers (3 times what I was hoping for).

And Barack is coming to Maryland tomorrow. I figure this is the closest he'll come to us, so I'm going to go to the rally. That should be fun. In the afternoon, more canvassing. Same on Tuesday. Most volunteers wanted today off to do things like grocery shop--many are taking Monday and Tuesday off for Barack and will do anything to help us out. Truly a great bunch that pretty much spontaneously arrived with the campaign.

An important thing for the long-term health of the party is to keep these people involved on the local level. The party here has been decimated since 1994. Keeping the people involved in this campaign involved will only help us elect better representatives to town councils, etc. Some may argue that this is the real power of the campaign--even if he wins. It appears to be spawning a movement that will help at the grass roots.

Re: The Return Of Bob "No Facts"

The Bag of Health and Politics — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 20:50:00 -0000

Half of Californians voted by mail. Voting by mail is a stupid system that makes campaign developments somewhat meaningless. Hillary won California on the mail-in voters. People who have bothered to look at the exit polls know that she only won Californians who actually voted on election day by a single point.

Re: Julian Bond Sells Out Democratic Process…for what, exactly?

The Bag of Health and Politics — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:07:00 -0000

Meanwhile in western Maryland, Obama wins Frederick County, the epicenter of Republicanism in Maryland and a county with a small, but persistent and significant Klan presence. So Obama just won a county known as a hot spot of Klan activity. Take that Mr. Bond.

Re: Obama Wins Wisconsin & Hawaii - 10 in a row

The Bag of Health and Politics — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 23:14:00 -0000

At this point, it's not just 9 in a row. When 59-41 (what Wisconsin will be as Milwaukee reports last) is your worst result, it's 9 landslides in a row. 68-32 in Washington, 67-32 in Nebraska, 58-42 in Louisiana, 60-38 in Maryland, 64-35 in Virginia, 75-25 in Washington DC, 59-41 in Maine, and the list goes on.

Obama is not only winning, he's winning by a wide margin. It is nearly to the point where Hillary Clinton cannot finish with more popular votes or delegates than Barack Obama. When that point is reached, Hillary Clinton owes it to the party and the country to stand aside for Barack Obama, the candidate who got the most votes, and the most delegates, from the most states.

Re: Obama Wins Wisconsin & Hawaii - 10 in a row

The Bag of Health and Politics — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 01:18:00 -0000

Don't fall for the petty bull crap and have a debate about this. Obama won Wisconsin by a Maryland like margin because people were sick of the plagiarism crap.

Within the context of Democratic Primary electorate, people hate this stuff. They dislike the media for their failures before the Iraq War, afterwards by cow towing to weapons of mass destraction, and during the swift boating of John Kerry. People like Chris Matthews, Wolf Blitzer, Bill O'Reilly, Lou Dobbs, and Pat Buchanan have zero credibility with the Democratic electorate.

When the media starts to play up the petty, an interesting thing happens. People think that great debates over the inane doesn't help them get health insurance, doesn't help them stop a foreclosure, doesn't help them send their child to college, doesn't help them keep their job from being shipped overseas. And they rebel against the candidate who is pushing the phony story (or at least perceived to be pushing the phony story).

Hillary Clinton lost Wisconsin because her campaign allowed Obama to become a "no" vote on the modern mass media. Barack Obama lost New Hampshire because his campaign allowed Hillary Clinton to become a "no" vote on the mass media. The Clinton campaign--especially Howard Wolfson, who spent hours with reporters and bloggers shilling that the whole affair was really an "important" item--was far more culpable of spreading the inane than the Obama camp--hence Obama won Wisconsin by 18 or 19 percent and Hillary only won New Hampshire by 3%.

The Clintons still haven't learned the lesson of New Hampshire: the petty politics of yesterday doesn't work in 2008. Don't try to beat the Clintons at this game. Just sit back and watch this unfold. I compared it to a Nascar wreck earlier today--an apt comparison: they're both cringe inducing.

Re: O’Reilly’s "Lynching Party"

The Bag of Health and Politics — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:23:00 -0000

The Secret Service should show up at FoxNews headquarters and do an extensive investigation into Bill O. This was a border-line--no wait, over the border--threat.

We'll see how this is handled. There was a gigantic stink over the pimp comment. There should be a louder stink over this. Bill O should be fired. Period. Even Imus didn't use the word "lynch."

Re: Texas Debate Open Thread

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:58:00 -0000

Hillary knows it's pretty much over. Let her bow out with grace. The thing to do is not treat her and her supporters they way they treated Barack and his supporters in this election. Don't get me wrong, she has done serious wrong and is going to have to spend years undoing the damage she's done to her reputation. But the important thing is that Obama is going to win the nomination. I want to be able to go down to DC on inauguration day and see Barack Obama sworn in as President and be proud.

Hillary Clinton knows this won't happen without a united Democratic Party. Uniting at the end is much like shaking hands and going out for pizza after a softball game. Hillary graciously took the first steps last night. I commend her, and I am hopeful it'll continue. (At this precise moment, the best thing she could do for her image and for the Democratic Party is fire Mark Penn, who is peddling a lot of these negative stories about Obama).

Re: State Of The Black Union Open Thread

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 19:20:00 -0000

Can I be the first to suggest running a primary challenger against Stephanie?

Re: Hillary Is Trying To Sabotage Obama In November

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 20:29:00 -0000

She's gone too far now. She can be delusional and think she can win in 2012 if she wants to. Everybody knows that she tanked Gore and Kerry in 2000 and 2004 in extremely underhanded ways. Much of the establishment support for Obama is a reaction against it.

If she ran in 2012, she'd have 4 supporters--herself, Bill, Chelsea, and Mark Penn. Nada after that.

I don't think Obama is going to lose. But if he did, I think it'd be Gore in 2012, or if not him then Sebelius, but no way on Clinton. Anyway, I don't think it matters. Obama is going to be running for re-election in 2012.

Re: Hillary Campaign Circulates Photo Of Obama in "Muslim" Garb

The Bag of Health and Politics — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 15:07:00 -0000

It's time to call a spade a spade Hillary Clinton is, and always has been a racist. We can blame a staffer, but the fact is this was done in her name with her approval. She has a history of making insensitive remarks to boot. She is a vile, disgusting, and pathetic human being, as most racists are.

Re: Hillary Campaign Circulates Photo Of Obama in "Muslim" Garb

The Bag of Health and Politics — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:06:00 -0000

Thanks. It's actually worse than saying "delete this diary."

The Clintonistas at Dailykos are on a campaign to get me banned there. They're troll rating random comments of mine for no apparent reason--heck 16 of them troll rated a tip jar in a thread about Chelsea's ignorant comment about war opponents which made it to the recommended list over there. They took to troll rating all my comments in my latest diary. It's starting to get really annoying.

Re: Sometimes Our Readers Say It So Well

The Bag of Health and Politics — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:42:00 -0000

I entirely agree.

I think that after New Hampshire Hillary has gotten free pass after free pass from the media. Rudy and Mitt pulled the same stunts and were lambasted for it. Hillary, the behavior's been excused. Heck, they're constantly repeating this phrase, "Don't count the Clintons out." It's truly bizarre.

Re: The Shufflin’ Gets Contagious

The Bag of Health and Politics — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:01:00 -0000

Somebody needs to run against Stephanie in 2010.

Re: The Shufflin’ Gets Contagious

The Bag of Health and Politics — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:04:00 -0000

Also, Obama shouldn't engage in a battle with Stephanie. He's so out of her league. Let her stink up the minors while Obama wins the World Series.

Re: Obama Passes ONE MILLION DONOR MARK

The Bag of Health and Politics — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:39:00 -0000

He should reject public financing but cap the donations he allows to his own campaign at $1000.

One million people giving an average of $150=$150 million.

Re: Ohio Debate Open Thread

The Bag of Health and Politics — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:49:00 -0000

Read the Israeli Media and see what they think about this nonsense issue. As a person of Jewish decent, I could care less what Farrakhan says.

I care more about real issues facing average Americans. The elite Beltway Press--people like Russert and Williams make $4 million a year--don't understand real issues because they don't have to face them. Consequently, real issues--like health care and NAFTA--are declared boring, and the media obsesses on the petty--from Hillary's tear to "plagiarism" to photo of Obama in a foreign country to the words of the bigot Farrakhan. It doesn't help me get health insurance, it doesn't help a kid go to college, it doesn't help the family that is a paycheck away from losing their house, it doesn't help the person who saw their job at the steel mill be sent to Juarez and the list goes on. The fact that Obama doesn't play these petty games and actually addresses the real issues facing Americans is precisely why he's winning, and precisely why he'll be the next President of the United States--much to the media's frustration...they're going to lose their tax cuts.

Re: An Open Letter To Republicans In Open Primary States: Vote Obama

The Bag of Health and Politics — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 14:12:00 -0000

Clinton accepted the support of Adelfa Callejo a long-time and prominent bigot in Dallas.

Re: We Are The Ones Song by will.i.am (video)

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 22:48:00 -0000

First, will.i.am's first video was great. Unfortunately, I think this may be one of those situations where people try to replicate their success instead of just letting something great stand. A sequel, reunion tour, or whatever you want to call it, is always less effective. And in politics, it gets to be grating. The first time it was great and people liked it; the second time, people start to get annoyed with it; the third time, people get frustrated and shun things. It's why there are rarely more than three sequels to movies.

As we approach the general election, I think the thing we need to do is back off the gas pedal a bit. Being from Hagerstown, I sometimes watch auto racing on TV. The drivers that go out way too fast always crash or have their cars break down, and end up losing the race. A valid analogy here I think.

I think Obama should go back to the Senate, hold hearings on nuclear proliferation, interview potential VP candidates and stay off of the road for a month (maybe sneak in a week's vacation with his family too). Of course, he should get in front of a camera and respond to McCain if McCain attacks him in any way, and he should probably show up a few days before the Pennsylvania Primary, but backing off is important I think. Let the air out of the balloon, calm down, and absorb what happened.

His campaign should focus on culling lists of volunteers, establishing a local system of county volunteers and precinct captains. It should spend some money to build an infrastructure that can easily be transfered to the DNC. And then it should accept public financing to keep the press happy.

Restart the campaign in earnest in early May in Indianapolis. Have Obama go to SMALL venues. Hold town hall meetings with plant workers, ill patients, doctors and nurses, the unemployed, unions, etc. Make these things 800-1200 person things at maximum. No big rallies until he picks a running mate in late June. Then do the most grueling campaign ever: 50 states in 50 days (you can do 2-3 states a day). Hit Hawaii and Alaska too just to send a message. Enter into the convention with organization, deep support, and momentum. Then spend September and October planted in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Iowa, Missouri and Colorado.

That's how I think Obama could win. But the key is to let the air out of the balloon. Us supporters need to do that too. They're will be temptation to gloat, but remember this is half-time. It should just be a breather.

Re: We Are The Ones Song by will.i.am (video)

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 22:55:00 -0000

There is another thing the campaign could do: refuse donations exceeding $750 or $1,000, and just try to raise all the general election money in small donations. If the campaign thinks it can get 5 million volunteers, that may be the way to go. 5 million people at 50 each=$250 million. Only accepting small donations would let the campaign off the hook with the press.

Re: Obama Power Broker New Face of Black Politics

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 21:06:00 -0000

This is interesting and a good thing all around.

As for Clinton, her true colors came shining through tonight.

Re: Well, well….Hillary takes Barack ‘ at his word’.

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 22:18:00 -0000

Her true colors, shining through.

I liked Obama's response, "I'm a Christian, but I find the question to be insulting to American Muslims because it implies that there's something wrong with their religion."

That's leadership, something Hillary never will grasp.

Re: Obama Power Broker New Face of Black Politics

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 22:23:00 -0000

What I think this shows me (to clarify my post above) is that the first wave of blacks educated at the elite law schools is now coming to power. This is really important because people like Patrick, Obama, and West can be outside of the stereotypical black politician--where a City Council Seat or a seat in the State House of Representatives is the pinnacle of power. Now we're seeing Governors and Senators; Mayors and District Attorneys.

That's really important, in my view. In a sense, what we're witnessing now is the first harvest of integration.

Re: Obama Power Broker New Face of Black Politics

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 22:24:00 -0000

And that harvest will eventually bring real changes in lives of average African Americans. At least, that is what I think. Which is why I think this is all a good thing.

Re: WaPo on Color of Change vs Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones and the CBC

The Bag of Health and Politics — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:59:00 -0000

I think that Obama is clearly the better candidate. We, as Democrats, can continue to bang our heads against the wall in Ohio and continue to lose, or we can go west and win. In Nevada, Iowa and Colorado, Obama wins and Clinton loses; it's tied in Missouri and New Mexico. Put Virginia together with CO, IA and NV, and have Obama win either MO or NM and he wins the whole thing.

Maybe people should consider this when they're voting tomorrow. Obama is right for this election. Many of the elder black leaders say, "Don't worry, Barack will be President some day." This shows they have no understanding of Presidential politics, and think it works like getting to Congress did for them (waiting around until the senior politician retired). Point blank: Obama either wins this year, or he'll never be President. People like Tubbs-Jones should think about that. They may be standing in the way of history.

Re: WaPo on Color of Change vs Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones and the CBC

The Bag of Health and Politics — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 22:19:00 -0000

Let things play out=6 more weeks of the "kitchen sink" approach from Hillary Clinton, and a John McCain victory in November. The reality is Barack Obama CAN and WILL win, unless Hillary Clinton drags this fight into the summer, and destroys the party out of spite. Fair chance of that happening in my view.

By the way, 125 delegate lead is *almost* insurmountable. To win, Hillary Clinton will have to win every remaining state--including Texas, Ohio, Wyoming, Mississippi, Rhode Island and Vermont--with 60%+ of the vote. Sorry, that's not going to happen. If the Super Delegates like Tubbs-Jones void the will of the people and install Hillary Clinton as the nominee, we will not only lose the White House, we will lose our majorities in Congress too. That's reality.

Re: The Race-Baiter Won the Ohio, Rhode Island and Texas Primaries

The Bag of Health and Politics — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 01:21:00 -0000

It's time to vet Hillary. Turns out she's having a LESBIAN affair with a MUSLIM. Do you think that our enemies could perhaps take advantage of Hillary's closeted desires and engage in espionage of the highest order? Do you think that might be a question John McCain will ask?

The good news: Hillary's still not going to win the nomination. The bad news: this drags on for 7 more weeks, and it gets so vicious that Obama is mortally wounded going into November.

It's time to fight fire with fire. Hillary's lesbian affair with a staffer is just the tip of the corrupt iceberg.

Again, I don't really care about these things. Politics should be above this, but if she is going to fight like she did against Obama, then this is "fair game."

Re: The Race-Baiter Won the Ohio, Rhode Island and Texas Primaries

The Bag of Health and Politics — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 03:23:00 -0000

Obama won more delegates in Texas, Ohio will be 54-46 when Cleveland finally tallies their votes in a half an hour. Obama will have kept it within 10 delegates there, he will picked up 5 in Vermont and lost 5 in Rhode Island.

So at the end of the day, Hillary is one delegate closer to Obama--wow, Obama still has a 133 delegate lead.

My personal prediction after some thought: extreme pressure from the party on Hillary to drop out. Good fund-raising numbers from Obama, and a wave of Super Delegates standing behind him. Wins in Wyoming and Mississippi. Hillary drops out Tuesday night--deciding not to burn every bridge she has in the end.

Re: The Morning After - Some Thoughts

The Bag of Health and Politics — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:11:00 -0000

While it's fine to be disappointed, the reality is Obama still leads by 160 delegates. The reality is Hillary has to run the table to have a shot at the nomination. And the reality is Mississippi votes next week; doubtful that Clinton will win there.

Insiders in the Democratic Party are pissed at Clinton. They realize she has no chance of winning, and they fear a 7 week blood bath damaging whomever becomes the nominee. They fear that the blacks will walk out of the party if Obama ends the process with the most delegates but Hillary gets the nomination through a back room deal. And they fear letting John McCain be ignored for 7 weeks will be a disaster in November.

Obama has got many Super Delegates who will soon throw their support to him. He has an astounding fund-raising number he will release. And when these things happen, the pressure is going to be really high on Clinton to drop out.

She cannot drop out at the moment because she won Texas. But Mississippi will give her an excuse to leave. My guess is she takes it. Staying in will be burning every bridge in the party, and dooming a potential 2012 run. She's not going to do that. So we have to endure this for another week, not 7. The VP thing is positioning herself for VP. That's all. She knows she's not going to win.

Re: The Morning After - Some Thoughts

The Bag of Health and Politics — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:05:00 -0000

Continuing a blood bath and attacking Obama racially does NOT set Clinton up for a run in 2012. If Obama is seen to have lost because of Clinton's attacks, you can kiss Clinton's chances good bye in 2012 (see Hubert Humphrey's 1976 campaign after his attacks in 1972).

To remain a credible candidate for 2012, Clinton has to get out before she gets blamed for going extremely nasty on Obama. She already has problems on that front. 6 more weeks of this will make it even more difficult for her.

What is interesting is what Obama thinks. If he thinks he can't win because of what Clinton did, then he should say, "Fine, it's your turn," drop out and watch her go down in flames in November. Then he sets himself up for 2012...

Re: The Latest Clinton Hustle - The Joint Ticket

The Bag of Health and Politics — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 03:23:00 -0000

AMERICANS in:
Alaska, Idaho, Maine, Washington, Utah, Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, North Dakota, Illinois, Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Connecticut, Vermont, Maine, the Virgin Islands, Hawaii, and Wisconsin have very, very clearly states that Barack Obama should be the Democratic Nominee for President.

Re: Howard Dean On The State of the Campaign

The Bag of Health and Politics — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 03:30:00 -0000

First of all, it wasn't silencing 5.5 million citizens. A measly 550,000 showed up to vote in the Michigan primary. And running against None of the Above, Hillary Clinton received a whopping 328,000 votes.

1.6 million showed up in the Florida primary, but most of them were spurred to show up by a property tax referendum, which actually got more votes than the Democratic Presidential race. Of the 1.6 million who voted for President, Hillary Clinton got 800,000 or 50% of the vote. And this was though she was making a big stink about Florida and campaigning in it while Obama didn't. Hardly decisive landslides there.

If you count the Soviet-style Michigan primary where Clinton was the only one with her name on the ballot, all hell will rightly break loose at the convention. If the party wants to count Michigan and Florida, then it needs to hold caucuses in BOTH states. And my guess is that the Obama campaign would win those caucuses, which would be terribly hilarious. Then we'll see the Hillary campaign saying, "No, Michigan and Florida shouldn't really count."

The overwhelming consensus emerging within the Democratic Party is that Hillary Clinton has run a vile and disgusting campaign. The overwhelming consensus is that she has continually race baited. She has done unforgivable things like darkening the shade of Obama's skin, distributing a picture of him dressed in foreign clothing, and hinting that he's a Muslim. She is a pathetic, despicable person, and a bigot at heart. Part of me hopes she gets the nomination, so she can go on to lose 50 states, and be totally destroyed as a leader within the Democratic Party. It couldn't happen to a more deserving person.

Re: If Hillary Gets To Claim Michigan And Florida, Denver Will Burn

The Bag of Health and Politics — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 11:31:00 -0000

I ain't afriad of John McCain==he ain't on the payroll of Saudi Arabia, like Billary is. To the tune of $600,000...add in another $200,000 Billary recieved from the Chinese Communist Party and you see why she won't release her tax returns.

Re: In Response To My Burn Denver Post

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 13:25:00 -0000

I have a suggestion for a non-violent protest that would be symbolic and get attention: if Hillary steals it, in every city in America have a rally. And at that rally burn our voter registration cards! (At all rallies have new voter registration forms and immediately leave the Democratic Party and become an independent). We'd be burning our ties to the Democratic Party, but peacefully.

I want Obama to be President. Riots because he loses will forever damage his ability to win. A peaceful burning of the voter registration cars would make the same statement, and tell Hillary to Fuck Off.

Re: BREAKING: Obama Foreign Policy Advisor Samantha Power Resigns. When Does Mark Penn Get Fired?

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:20:00 -0000

The Obama campaign is knocked off stride. But there's a way to do this that is counter-intuitive: attack the media.

"We've had 16 years now where the media tries to stoke fights like this. On some levels, we can't blame them--it sells papers. But it doesn't do anything to help the working American. Senator Clinton's attacks won't keep a family from losing health insurance, a plant from closing after the company's Board decides that NAFTA makes it more profitable to ship the job to Ohio, or stop somebody's son from being sent to Iraq. We are ultimately servants of the people. We owe it to them to have a real debate about real issues, not the petty politics which is full of weapons of mass detraction and phony feuds. I offer a change, Senator Clinton offers more of the same."

Couch the attacks within the issues. It's difficult, but it can work. And Obama is a talented enough politician to pull that off. It keeps her attacks from working, throws her attacks back at her, and keeps Obama above the fray. The campaign MUST do something like this very soon. Otherwise, they'll end up getting into a disastrous knife fight with Clinton. Give her rope. She always hangs herself when you give her rope. The campaign has forgotten this.

Re: BREAKING: Obama Foreign Policy Advisor Samantha Power Resigns. When Does Mark Penn Get Fired?

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:24:00 -0000

And for the people being delusional about how the Vice Presidency is a path to the Presidency in 8 years, you're a bunch of fools. Two sitting Vice Presidents have been elected to the Presidency after serving a President who was a two-termer: Martin Van Buren in 1836 and George HW Bush in 1988. Both were disastrous one-term Presidents. If Obama is going to be elected President, it'll happen this year. Otherwise, it just isn't going to happen. This IS his moment. He'd be a fool to be Clinton's VP and get tarred with the tens of thousands of scandals she'll cause.

Re: BREAKING: Obama Foreign Policy Advisor Samantha Power Resigns. When Does Mark Penn Get Fired?

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:29:00 -0000

Also, Obama will have the most delegates and the most votes headed into Denver. You can't tell people, "You have to wait for 8 years." People will say, rightly, "Screw it, I'll vote for McCain, he'll screw up, and Obama will be President in 2012." Which is why the only way a Clinton/Obama ticket has a shot of working is if Hillary pledges a single term. Anything else, Obama's alternative and the alternative for his supporters is better...

Re: Ferraro Says Obama is LUCKY He’s Black

The Bag of Health and Politics — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 23:43:00 -0000

Ferraro is an idiot. What she doesn't get is that her and her fellow clueless feminists (thankfully a minority of the feminist movement) are starting to sow a division between women and African Americans. If that division gets entrenched and remains long-term, no woman or African American will be elected to the Presidency this century, if ever. So Ferraro is just preventing her own dream; but that's what stupid and ignorant people do. They don't think through the consequences of their words.

Re: Ferraro Says Obama is LUCKY He’s Black

The Bag of Health and Politics — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 23:57:00 -0000

Who is best? Certainly not the moron who took Condi's word for it and voted to send 4,000+ Americans to their deaths and maim tens of thousands of others. Certainly not the moron who DIDN'T even bother to READ the National Intelligence Estimate before making the most critical decision of her life. Certainly not the moron that voted for a bankruptcy bill that screwed the average American over but "hoped it didn't pass." Certainly not the moron who liked NAFTA, supported it when it was passed, said it was a good thing on balance--until she decided to run for President. Certainly not the moron who thought race baiting was an acceptable tactic. Certainly not the moron who failed to read the writing on the wall and get out of the way of history and instead chose to continue a fruitless quest solely for her own ego. Hillary Clinton--ready to fuck up and screw you over on Day One.

And no, I won't get over what happened in this campaign. You assholes ran a RACIST campaign and betrayed the ideals you claimed to stand for. If Obama goes down, Bill and Hillary Clinton will be viewed by history as the murderers of the dream. It couldn't happen to two more deserving people--total scum bags who care about nothing other than their own power and betrayed their supposed ideals for their endless pursuit of power.

Clinton wins, I'm going to vote for McCain. Then I'll write a book about how Hillary Clinton's pathetic, shameful, vile and racist campaign destroyed the Democratic Party and set the struggle for Civil Rights back 75 years. It'll be one of 5,559 books on that subject.

Hillary stays in and tolerates bullshit like Ferraro, Wolfson, her husband, Mark Penn, Andrew Cuomo, Billy Shaheen, Bob Johnson, anonymous staffers, the Insight Magazine smear, the Machinists' union President and herself (she her despicable performance on 60 Minutes where she tried to insinuate Obama was a Muslim), it is ultimately her responsibility. The buck stops with her. Hillary has tolerated racism in her name, therefore she is fine with racism, which makes her personally a racist. (McCain is less of one, he at least denounced his version of the Machinists' President on the spot).

Hillary Clinton has shown herself to be a fraud; Bill Clinton has shown himself to be a fraud. And no, I won't get over it. They steal the nomination on Super Delegates, I'm doing everything I can to see McCain win. The Clintons don't deserve the respect of anyone who is actually thinking about the issues. Sorry, not going to get over it. But it is appropriate that the Clinton supporters would think that; the Clintons sold out unions, African Americans, and progressives in the 1990s. They are experts in taking people for granted. Payback is a tough thing to deal with; it happened in this election, and it couldn't have happened to a more deserving person than Hillary Clinton.

Re: Obama Wins Mississippi

The Bag of Health and Politics — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 02:42:00 -0000

Obama is now ahead in the popular vote by 700,000. He's now ahead by 160 delegates. Super Delegates were created to cut off wounded candidacies and prevent disasters. It's time for Super Delegates to do their jobs and end this before the party is destroyed. If Obama can take the lead among Super Delegates, Hillary's narrative is gone. My dream: 40 women who happen to be Super Delegates endorsing Obama at once. If that happens, this is over.

Re: Geraldine Ferraro and the Clinton Campaign’s Strategy

The Bag of Health and Politics — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:05:00 -0000

Bill Clinton's legacy will be that of a racist. Hillary Clinton's legacy will be that of a racist. They said the right thing for years, but it turns out they were nothing more than posers.

And it isn't just blacks who will stay home. It's the young people who Obama has brought into the process; it's liberal whites, who Obama has won the support of; and it's the military families who Obama has won big with.

Those people will all stay home for varying reason. McCain vs. Clinton=McCain 77 Clinton 23. And a 50 state landslide. The only question is whether she'll be able to carry the battle ground of the District of Columbia...

Party leaders must act now to end this before the party is destroyed. Super Delegates were created after Ted Kennedy took a wounded and fruitless candidacy to the convention in 1980. Super Delegates have the job of stopping wounded and fruitless candidacies, like that of Senator Clinton.

Re: Geraldine Ferraro and the Clinton Campaign’s Strategy

The Bag of Health and Politics — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:42:00 -0000

The time for a black list has come. With the fresh attacks on Barack Obama's religion, we can NEVER allow these people to work in the Democratic Party again. They are the people who thought racism was a fine campaign tactic. They are the murderers of the dream. Tonight, in his grave, Dr. King is crying.

Re: Keith Olberman Comes Correct On Clinton And Ferraro

The Bag of Health and Politics — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:44:00 -0000

What a courageous and honorable thing to do. Mr. Olbermann, who has been for years anyway, continues to be a true American hero. Olbermann for VP! Obama/Olbermann, the real dream ticket.

Re: Barack Obama: On My Faith And My Church

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 19:56:00 -0000

Hillary does belong to a Church. It's called the fellowship. It is a bizarre outfit.

Re: Another Scary Aspect To the Bigoted Attacks On Obama: Kids Fighting In School

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 14:34:00 -0000

I was in South Central PA yesterday. There was an unrelated anti-war rally, a meeting (with 50 volunteers present) and a door-to-door canvass with 30 volunteers from VA.

I probably talked with 50 voters in PA over the day. Wright wasn't mentioned by a single person. They care about the economy, and they're really worried. They don't care about Wright.

Obama should attack Hillary on the tax returns, the business dealings, and the library. But when he does it, he should be careful to link it to the economy--otherwise it's just going to be another crapfest.

"How can you say you want to reduce gas prices when you're on the payroll of the Saudis?" And "How can you care about jobs being shipped overseas when you're on the payroll of the Chinese Communist Party?" And (my favorite), "How can you advocate forcing Americans to purchase health insurance when your own campaign is a half million behind in its health insurance premiums?" And "How can you say you want everyone to pay their fair share in taxes when you aren't paying them?"

That's what he should do--keep it linked to gas prices and the economy. People will pay attention to it then. As evidenced by the crapfests over tears and plagiarism, people don't care about these media crapfests anymore. Heck, Obama went UP in the polls this morning. Wright was overblown...

Also a tip of the hat to John McCain for saying, "I know Senator Obama, he doesn't share those views," in an interview with Hannity

Re: Trinity UCC’s Palm Sunday Statement

The Bag of Health and Politics — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:28:00 -0000

I was in PA Saturday

People give a rats ass about this. They're worried about the economy. It's not an issue. I'm even conflicted about whether Obama should give a major speech on this. I think it may be stupid, as it just prolongs the media shit fest.

The media still hasn't run this video of McCain's spiritual guide.

This was going to happen. The media is full of a bunch of rich people who laugh at the gridiron dinner. They are clueless as to the struggles of the real American. People are worried about the economy, depressed that they can't take a vacation because of gas prices, upset that they're having to skip meals because of food inflation, and worried that their job is going overseas. Further, they're heart broken by seeing the kid they coached in Little League come back from Iraq without any legs.

Overall, the media is totally out of touch. This issue is completely overblown. I'm in the heart of the Four State region, which includes South Central PA, and I've seen absolutely no evidence of the Wright thing being an issue. Obama has low support here, but for other reasons mainly he's "just another socialist Democrat."

Re: David A. Paterson Sworn In As The 55th Governor of New York

The Bag of Health and Politics — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 01:10:00 -0000

It was probably the fact that Spitzer had thrown people in jail for prostitution before. The hypocrisy never sits well. I think Vitter and Craig are still around because they didn't do things that they personally put people in jail for before.

Re: David A. Paterson Sworn In As The 55th Governor of New York

The Bag of Health and Politics — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 01:11:00 -0000

And congratulations to the new Governor. I wish him success.

Re: Transcript Of Obama Speech: A More Perfect Union (Now With Video) - Update 2

The Bag of Health and Politics — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:24:00 -0000

Anybody who hears that speech and doesn't hear a true Christian is a true moron.

75 million plus patients with chronic illnesses--the cancer and Crohn's survivors who have been in the emergency rooms and seen the suffering and know it is color blind--heard that speech. Nearly all of them will vote for this guy now. I lost it when I heard that line. It is so true. I have seen so much suffering of people who didn't have insurance. The immigrant who had to bring their three year old with severe asthma to the ER because they couldn't afford an inhaler; the elderly black woman who couldn't get to her chemo appointment because she couldn't afford a taxi ride and had too much pride to ask people who were already sitting down to give up their seats on the bus; the white man who can't get afford his $600 a month drugs. I've seen hospital staffs take up collections to help these people out, and treat them with dignity. People giving up a movie or a baseball game on the weekend to help others live.

I've seen it all. Some are gone now. You can accuse me of being a religious nut job if you want, but I am starting to believe that their spirit--the spirit of so many who are for so long ignored--came back today, and was standing in those flags behind the Senator. It was there.

God bless, you Senator. And thank you.

Re: Transcript Of Obama Speech: A More Perfect Union (Now With Video) - Update 2

The Bag of Health and Politics — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:26:00 -0000

As for Pat Buchanan, Obama also called out those who made a career of blaming the immigrant for the troubles of Americans. I'm not surprised Pat didn't like the speech. Pat has made a lot of money off of that, and if Obama's speech resonates, he stands to lose a lot of money...

Re: Transcript Of Obama Speech: A More Perfect Union (Now With Video) - Update 2

The Bag of Health and Politics — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:58:00 -0000

The media will keep up their ratings jihad until the ratings go down. The time has come: boycott cable news until they end the ratings jihad!

Re: Transcript Of Obama Speech: A More Perfect Union (Now With Video) - Update 2

The Bag of Health and Politics — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:05:00 -0000

the speech in its entirety on YouTube.

Re: Derrick Ashong on CNN.com Responds to Obama Speech (also in NYT)

The Bag of Health and Politics — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:07:00 -0000

I am convinced that there will be a black President in my lifetime. It may happen this year--I think it will happen this year. But if it doesn't, it will happen in part because of that speech, in part because of Jesse Jackson (who is getting an unfair rap), in part because of King and the people he led, in part because of African American blood shed in Korea, World War II and World War I, and in part because of the blood--black and white--shed in the Civil War. Like 8 miles from my house at a place called Antietam. There lay people who gave the last full measure to this country. Those graves, which are weathered and no longer have flags and flowers placed by the now happened to allow this.

And Obama's speech was an act of leadership. It's about time we had that. It was, a "this may end my political career, but it's the right thing to do so I'm going to do it," moment. He did the same when he opposed the war.

I know that when an African American rises to the Presidency this will be part of the reason as to why. It should be Obama; I hope it is Obama.

The media doesn't think so. They're ratings driven Jihad says this doesn't matter. But Luke 6:25 says, "Woe to you who is well fed, for you shall know hunger. Woe to you who laughs now, for you shall mourn and weep." This is the verse that started this. Nobody in the media bothered to read it. I think God's playing a joke on them. And I believe that this verse will ring more true than we know in November...

Re: Senator McCain, do you believe abortion is genocidal plot against black Americans?

The Bag of Health and Politics — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 19:46:00 -0000

Thank you! I reported on this last week, but it has got little attention. After I complained about the pushing of the Wright story on his blog, Ben Smith sent me an e-mail which said, "I spiritual advisers to McCain or Clinton made similarly racially charged remarks, I'd run them." I sent him this video after I found it. He has yet to run it. Draw your own conclusions.

Re: Bill Richardson Endorses Obama

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 12:59:00 -0000

Help Bill retire his debt today.

Bill was my first choice. He would've made a fine President. Courageous decisions like this are evidence as to why...

Re: JJP Joins Day Of Blogging For Voter Justice, Asks Hillary To Step Aside

The Bag of Health and Politics — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:06:00 -0000

This time it's Hillary herself blowing the whistle. The Clintons are, as Andrew Sullivan says, truly disgusting.

Re: More Clinton Supporters Would Support McCain Than Obama Supporters. REALLY???

The Bag of Health and Politics — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:56:00 -0000

It's not true. What this is is people trying to manipulate the polls. It wouldn't surprise me if there's been a wink-wink from the Hillary campaign instructing her rabid supporters to vote this way in the polls. Another thing is that with contested primaries like this, the losing side is *ALWAYS* more likely to say that they won't back the winner because of basic psychology.

*THAT SAID* Hillary Clinton is in the process of destroying the party, and our once in a lifetime chance here. If she gets out this week, Obama will have 5 months to unify the party, and these threats will likely go away. The anger will subside, and people will start comparing him to McCain. But if this is dragged on through June, then Obama only has 2 months to unify the party. That is a serious, serious handicap, and one likely to allow McCain to win.

Super Delegates were created to cut off candidacies of spite, like that of Senator Clinton. It's long passed time for them to step in. I believe the only leader they'll listen to is John Lewis. He MUST make a phone call, for our party and our country.

Re: Hillary "Tonya Harding" Clinton Big Dollar Donors Threaten Pelosi & DCCC

The Bag of Health and Politics — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:16:00 -0000

This is the death throes if I've ever seen it. Why the hell would you piss off the Speaker of the House when she controls the future ambitions of the 55 or so undeclared Super Delegate Members of the House. Yeah, that one makes sense.

Note that this leaked. I am positive that Pelosi leaked it herself. Pelosi has really been the only true leader in our party. She has consistently argued behind the scenes for a more positive campaign. She only took it public after she was ignored by the Clinton camp. She has done a phenomenal job keeping the party from totally blowing up.

I wonder what she will do in response to this. I could see this irritating her to the point where she endorses--and brings 30 Congresspeople along for the ride.

We should drop a money bomb for the DCCC. I bet a couple million could be raised with a well coordinated on-line pitch. And if that is done, then it makes it a lot easier for Pelosi to tell these people to go away.

Re: Senator Bob Casey Endorses Barack Obama

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 22:56:00 -0000

Bob Casey is one of the two biggest endorsements in Pennsylvania. The other one isn't Governor Rendell...

Re: More Hillary Deception On Her Iraq Record. Enough!

The Bag of Health and Politics — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:41:00 -0000

Obama visits mother in Pakistan in the 1980s. Huge scandal, according to Ben Smith. Smith has a history with unfair attacks on Obama. I think it's time to write the Politico and demand his resignation/firing.

Re: Open Thread- What’s Up?

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:27:00 -0000

Bill Clinton wants you to know that Obama doesn't steal cars. Is there any doubt that Bill's heart is a deeply dark place?

Re: Obama On Hillary "Annie Oakley" Clinton

The Bag of Health and Politics — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:30:00 -0000

Been in rural PA. Nobody, and I mean nobody gives a shit about this. Actually, I should correct myself, they do care. They are happy to see a politician finally speak the truth. They *ARE* pissed and bitter.

Hillary Clinton, by playing the media game, and handing out "I'm not bitter" buttons has exposed herself to be a total poser. She positioned herself on the side that says the status quo is ok, and that the economy is great. Absolutely stupid from my point of view.

As for why rural Americans are bitter, here's why I, a rural white American, am bitter Damn Right I'm Bitter. We're tired of being screwed over so the wealthy in Washington can have their fancy dinners. We don't want the world, but we do want a little respect, a lot of honesty, and a fraction of real help--like health insurance reform.

Re: Back To Philly

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 07:19:00 -0000

Going pretty well in the rural area of PA just up the road from Hagerstown. It'll be closer than expected in Franklin County. I'll write more about it later. Don't get your hopes up--Obama will lose the state, but it's not going to be a disaster. I think it'll be a near dead heat.

Re: Embedded In Philly: Rally, Canvassing, HQ Insight and Photos

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 23:14:00 -0000

"Put me in coach, I'm ready to play, I can be center field!"

The music is standard rally fare. The country was blasting out in Harrisburg too. I think they played "only in America." Good song, fits with Obama's campaign.

Keep it up with the country!

Uh oh, we found the divisive issue which will ruin the Obama movement: music. Ha ha.

Forgive me, I was out in the rain today. And I've been working extremely hard...South Central PA is better than expected. I needed a laugh. :) Tuesday will be a good day. I trust Pennsylvania.

Re: James Clyburn Speaks Plain Truths About the Clintons and the Black Community

The Bag of Health and Politics — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:57:00 -0000

He shouldn't endorse Obama. His words have more power coming from an undeclared position. I think we all know he voted for Obama though, and will vote for Obama in Denver.

Re: Jeremiah Wright On BIll Moyers

The Bag of Health and Politics — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:30:00 -0000

Wright's problem was not speaking out It was in how he managed it. He managed his PR tour extremely poorly. He should've given his Moyers interview and his NAACP speech and let that be for a few weeks. The networks--hoping to land an interview--would've been kind to him. Instead, he decided to appear on every show, including Glenn Beck. The result: he restarted the media shitfest.

Re: GIVE CLINTON THE DELEGATES FROM FLORIDA? SH—-EET

The Bag of Health and Politics — Wed, 07 May 2008 02:27:00 -0000

dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, did I say dumb? It's a dumb idea to openly state your BATNA before negotiations. Go back to school on that one Mr. Poulffe. Thankfully, Clinton will probably be out of money by 5-31 and money is what greases the backroom skids. (Not in the bribery sense; in the sense of the potential to raise money for office holders and future candidates for office).

Re: Thursday Open Thread- Let it all hang out

The Bag of Health and Politics — Thu, 08 May 2008 09:08:00 -0000

The flag on Barack's plane can't have just 16 stars. It needs to be bigger--and it needs to have 50 stars. Barack's been called up from Triple A. Appearances matter in the big leagues. Hillary's been released by the Democratic Party. A glorious day indeed!

Re: Thursday Open Thread- Let it all hang out

The Bag of Health and Politics — Thu, 08 May 2008 10:42:00 -0000

Kathleen Sebelius would be a hell of a choice. As would Clarie McCaskill be. As would Mary Landreiu and Blanche Lincoln be. As would Debbie Stabnow would be. As Maria Cantwell and Patricia Murray would be. As would Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer be. As Ruth Ann Minner would be. As Nancy Pelosi would be.

If Barack wants to go that route, there are plenty of options. I think the best option is Obama/Pelosi, but they'd all be fine. Landreiu and Sebelius have geographic advantages working for them...

Let us all remember that this is the choice of the nominee alone. Barack won the nomination, he gets to chose the VP nominee. Period. I trust his judgment. I doubt Hillary Clinton will be on the ticket. Not impossible, but doubtful.

Re: Through the Looking Glass……Senator Robert Byrd Endorses Barack Obama

The Bag of Health and Politics — Mon, 19 May 2008 14:26:00 -0000

Those of you arguing that he should've come out sooner are way off-base. First, Byrd's long-time aide, Ann Barth, was in a contested primary for Congress (she won and will face Shelly Moore Capito in November). Byrd had to be neutral because of the local dynamics in that race, among other reasons.

Further, his endorsement would've moved votes in West Virginia--but it would not have moved 41%. Obama may have lost by 29% instead of 38% with Byrd's endorsement. If he endorsed and the election went that way, his endorsement would now be viewed as "irrelevant," by the media.

He endorsed six days after his state voted 70-30 the other way. He probably voted for Obama last Tuesday. It's a valuable endorsement. But Obama still would've lost West Virginia even if Byrd had endorsed two weeks ago. It makes sense--it also gives cover to Kentucky politicians (the Lt. Gov. has endorsed Obama) who are undecided but want to back the Democratic Nominee. Byrd is a fine Senator and a fine man. I, for one, appreciate his leadership in the Senate on issues of Iraq, on issues of funding for West Virginia (which helps Maryland too), and his steadfast defense of the Constitution.

Re: Let’s Make Some Phone Calls to the CBC

The Bag of Health and Politics — Mon, 26 May 2008 01:28:00 -0000

What's cooking in Hillary's kitchen really, really stinks.

Re: The Obamas Leave Trinity

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 01:15:00 -0000

I do not think this was a good political move. I think that the Obama campaign is stuck in a rut. I think that his staff is burnt out, and succumbing to bunker-like thinking. I think he desperately needs very senior staff additions.

I think this comes down to four things which indicate irreconcilable differences with the church:

1. Trinity is a mega church, and as such believes in spreading the "word of the Lord" as far as possible through any means possible. So if that's the case, then if pastor-obsessions (and what this really is is white people--specifically "journalists" like Ben Smith--who have never been exposed to the black church and its function being shocked because that's not the way it's done at the bland Episcopalian Church they go to), then there's massive temptation on the part of the church to create controversy and spread the word.

2. Reverend Wright is bitter. To date, he has remained quiet, but I don't expect that to last the election. I would be upset if I was him to, however I would also not want to give the real enemies--the media who twisted and distorted his words--the satisfaction of "bringing down Obama." If Wright popped up again between now and the election the media--which can't resist the freak show--would go nuts. And there'd be nothing left for Obama to do, which makes it a gigantic problem politically.

3. The fact that Trinity records all their sermons gives the media--and these people truly have no lives--a way to keep talking about Wright. Ultimately with $4 a gallon gas this isn't really an issue people care about. But the media is full of people who make $100,000 a month, so an extra ten bucks in the gas tank means nothing to them. This is about, as it always is with the media, cocktail party conversation. "Oh my God, did you see Father Pfleger?" No one cares, it's minute and irrelevant. But cocktail parties are about the inane.

4. What the media does with those video clips--selectively edit them and run them over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again for 13 weeks has very real effects both on Obama personally and on Trinity. I'd imagine the threats on Obama have increased since Wright; and I know Trinity has received threats. Ultimately this distracts from both party's works, so it's best to go their separate ways.

I can understand that. However, given the Muslim smears, Barack would be wise to find a new church very, very quickly. A Baptist Church which does not allow cameras would be the perfect fit. But that's a personal decision. Still, he should have a new church ASAP.

Re: "This is Barack Obama’s party now."

The Bag of Health and Politics — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 01:27:00 -0000

It is *NOT* over. This is *NOT* about Hillary Clinton getting the Democratic Nomination for President. This *IS* about Hillary Clinton sowing division and rendering Obama unelectable in November. Already large chunks of her coalition are bolting to McCain. I don't think that anything Obama can do to win these people back. I really don't. The Geraldine Ferraros and Maria Pappases of the world are gone.

I think Obama has to figure out how to replace them. A prime target should be disillusioned Evangelicals. These are people who don't like the war, and want a more compassionate government but also oppose abortion. Selecting a pro-life running mate makes sense. Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania would take PA out of play, aid the cause in Ohio and shore up Michigan (Casey and organized labor are staunch allies). And it could help in the deep south, where Obama could win a state or two if he can get somewhere between 27 and 33% of the white vote. The key is to make sure we're bringing more new people into the party than we are losing the old people like Ferraro.

So I say pick a pro-lifer. I say Bob Casey is a solid pick.

Re: The Democratic Nominee for President of the United States of America

The Bag of Health and Politics — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 01:25:00 -0000

It may not be as personal for me as it is for the people here (I'm white). But I'm damn proud of my political party tonight.

If Obama can get the press to cover the speeches as a duel between him and McCain, he has it made. McCain was very foolish for trying to interject himself into the night. His speech was a dud--it was boring, there weren't any people behind him, the background looked like a cheesy rip off of Obama's, WTF is the slogan "Leadership We Can Believe in," talk about mimicking. With that performance, McCain boxed himself into the new-Dole category.

Unfortunately, Obama still has to fight a rear-guard battle against Hillary Clinton, a shameless and classless politician worthy of no respect. What we need to start doing: talking up other potential running mates. Get the media talking about more than one running mate.

Barack's latest supporter--Sen. Jon Tester (D-Montana)--did so when he suggested Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer as a VP pick on TV. That'll get some attention, and it was a gigantic favor to the Obama campaign by Sen. Tester. Talk up Mark Warner, Tim Kaine, Jim Webb, Martin O'Malley, Ed Rendell, Ted Strickland, Kathleen Sebelius, Clarie McCaskill, Bill Richardson, Chris Dodd, Russ Feingold--whomever you want to talk up. *Get other names out there*. The Clintons fear irrelevance the most. It's time to make them one of many, instead of just the one--which commands the spotlight, which they so crave.

The Obama campaign would also be wise to release a list of 50 people they're looking at for VP...A long list like that can't really hurt (as long as you make sure to include everybody who wants to be included on it).

Re: The Official JJP - Let’s Just Enjoy This Moment Post

The Bag of Health and Politics — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:53:00 -0000

What do I think? I think my party nominated the most talented politician to rise in 40 years.

I also think about kids--now anybody can be anything. The black kid getting bullied on the playground can say, "Well, I'm going to be President some day," and not get laughed at. It's something special.

I think about the 23,000 people who were shot 15 miles from my house 140 years ago on a September Day. They were supposedly fighting about "states' rights." Local legend says the Antietam Creek ran red with blood for an entire day. Three weeks later, there was the Emancipation Proclamation.

Yet in some ways this is besides the point. Barack Obama got nominated because he is one gifted politician. He did not get nominated because of the color of his skin, yet one cannot ignore the significance of the moment.

An Obama victory in November would give this country a good President. It would give this country a person with intelligence and a grasp of the details in the oval office. It would give this country a person with enormous talents, which could be used mending fences destroyed by Bush's arrogance. It would also be the fulfillment of an American dream started in 1776.

Still, it's only half-time. Lots can go wrong--lots will go wrong--between now and November. I will work twice as hard in the fall as I did in the Spring. And if we are successful in November--if it happens--I will be over joyed for many reasons. Not the least of which is returning intelligence and decency to the oval office.

Re: The Status of the Electoral Map, June 2008

The Bag of Health and Politics — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 01:30:00 -0000

June polls means nothing. Absolutely nothing. Things can intervene and conditions can change. The election cannot and will not be won now; it can be lost now. And the Obama campaign is working on it with flubs in Detroit and speculation about a "World Tour," which is a ridiculous idea. Obama is running for President of the United States of American hence he needs to be in America. I can see Iraq and Afghanistan. European rallies would to a total disaster. It wouldn't play well among moderate and conservative voters...which Obama needs to win to win the election.

Re: Ask The White Guy

The Bag of Health and Politics — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:49:00 -0000

Well, she's wrong. I mean us whites have groups like country clubs where no African Americans are admitted. We have the United States Senate, which has one black member, we have history 10 out of the 12 months. We have most of the seats in all of the state and federal legislatures in this country. And this isn't even bringing up the fringe groups. /snark

Comments like this woman's make it it clear many individuals still have a long ways to go. But society as a whole is getting better.