Donuts And Politics

This is FANTASTIC! Super-funny.

Its finally here! The end is in sight! On Saturday, the Democratic Party Rules and Bylaws Committee meets to decide the fate of MI/FL delegations to the convention. Unless of course someone (she who shall not be named) appeals the decision to the Credentials Committee at the Convention in August.

From what I have read, it looks like there will definitely NOT be a full delegation being approved from either state. The DNC lawyers penned a memo saying that the committee has to at least cut the size of the delegation in half. Now, it remains to be seen whether or not the committee will give either state any delegates at all. If they do allow some representation (my guess is they will), the question is on what do they base the allocation of delegates. You can look at MI and FL in different ways because Obama’s name was NOT on the MI ballot at all, while it was on the FL ballot.

If I had my way, I wouldn’t seat any of them at all. But, this is politics. At this point, if you cut FL in half and base it on the vote that occurred in January, Hillary only nets about 19 delegates over Obama. If I were him, I’d say fine. Not a big deal. MI should be cut in half and split 50/50 though.   Hillary’s campaign says Obama should receive no delegates. (Do these people have any intellectual honesty or integrity left? They should feel shamed) That is not going to happen. He’s got to receive at least all the uncommitted delegates, at minimum, and the proposal put forward by the MI people says to compromise between that and the 50/50 idea. Again, if I were him, I’d take it. Why not? Its a net gain of 8 or something for HIllary. Doesn’t impede his campaign at all. Plus it basically invalidates the MI popular vote. MI and FL were the only states who did not have record turnout this year. Hmmmm. That should tell you something.

I hope that whatever decision comes out of this meeting, that both campaigns accept it. If Hillary starts up some big hoo-hah about it, I’ll go crazy. She has to accept the decision or be vilified within the party for the rest of her career, that’s how I see it. Then again, she may actually have gone insane already so who knows. I believe you can tune in to the meeting which takes place Saturday morning and probably throughout the day.  

Step one on the way to the Presidency. I am running for Democratic Precinct Delegate here in Grandville (that’s Precinct #3 to be specific). I filed a couple weeks ago (it was free, I just had to get an affadavit notarized) and found out today that there is another person running as well. However, there are two of us and two open delegate slots, so I am basically running unopposed. Obviously, when other possible opponents discovered my name on the list, they were clearly scared off by my famousness, ginormous fundraising ability, and unbelievable name recognition here in the precinct that I have lived in for nine months.

You may ask, as my wife did, what is a precinct delegate and what does one do? Per the Michigan Democratic Party:

• Help Democrats get registered to vote.
• Take information on issues and candidates to the voters in your precinct.
• Identify other Democrats, and recruit new Party members.
• Help turn out the Democratic vote in your neighborhood on Election Day.
• Keep Democratic leaders informed about the issues that concern voters.

They are the campaign leaders for the Democratic Party in their precincts. Precinct delegates should take their official notification to the district or county convention to register with the convention credentials committee. District or county conventions will elect delegates to the state convention held in August or September. These conventions may also debate or adopt resolutions for recommendation to the state convention’s platform committee. The state convention will debate and adopt a platform, nominate candidates for Supreme Court Justices, State Board of Education and university boards, and select presidential electors.

 

Basically, I’m getting myself up off my behind and getting out there to work for change and work for Obama to win this November. SItting here watching Hardball every night and reading the news doesn’t get votes. And its going to be a difficult ride. The goal, and this may be a reach, we’ll see, is to get my precinct to vote for Obama. Just take a look at the recent voting history here and you’ll see how easy this will be:

2004 Presidential Election: Bush 75% (911 votes), Kerry 25% (302)

2006 Governor: DeVos 68% (714), Granholm 31% (324) 

As you can see, its a wee bit on the conservative side. Ah well, we’ll see what we can do, at least narrow the gap somewhat. I am going to a training session next weekend in Lansing put on by Democracy For America where they do lots of training sessions on grassroots organizing, getting out the vote, messaging, etc….should be fun. I’ve never been to anything like it before so I expect to learn alot.

Not kidding, Hillary brought it up today. I may be willing to give her the benefit of the doubt on this one, but what a stupid thing to say.

Hillary Clinton today brought up the assassination of Sen. Robert Kennedy while defending her decision to stay in the race against Barack Obama. ‘My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California. I don’t understand it,’ she said, dismissing calls to drop out.”
Clinton made her comments at a meeting with the Sioux Falls Argus-Leader’s editorial board while campaigning in South Dakota, where she complained that, ‘People have been trying to push me out of this ever since Iowa.’”

Yes, let’s infer that Obama might be assassinated, that’s sure to convince the Superdelegates to support you instead. She says she was only referring to the fact that past primaries did not end until June and she had been thinking about the Kennedys lately. Maybe so, who knows. I don’t think she would purposely make a comparison between Obama’s nomination and an assassination. Or would she? Honestly, any neutral observer has to look at the statements coming out of her mouth and her campaign the last couple weeks and almost feel sorry for her. You have to wonder what fantasy land she is living in right now. Silly arguments about “winning” the popular vote, Soviet-style. Ludicrous claims comparing MI/FL to Zimbabwe and the civil rights movement. Apparently trying (or Bill trying) to force her way onto the ticket as VP. Who really wants this circus and irrationality around for another 4-8 years? Not me. Cue the curtain please. WHERE ARE THOSE SUPERDELEGATES!?!?! DECLARE! DECLARE!

One of the Clintons anyway. This is being reported by The Field:

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

 

If this is true, 1) Thank YOU OBAMA, for saying no; 2) How audacious is that for Clinton to do? She does think she deserves to be President, doesn’t she? 3) This could account for the change in tone coming from teh Clinton camp the last couple days, making such a big too-doo about FL/MI, comparing the situation to the Civil Rights campaign and the mess in Zimbabwe? Are you kidding me? Let’s just remember, these are rules SHE agreed to last year. The hypocrisy knowns no bounds, she’s just making herself look absolutely slimy and self-centered. This conclusion from The New Republic:

She decided to campaign to change the rules only after it became her interest to do so. This gambit by Clinton is simply an attempt to steal the nomination. It’s obviously not going to work, because Democratic superdelegates don’t want to commit suicide. But this episode is very revealing about Clinton’s character. I try not to make moralistic characterological judgments about politicians, because all politicians compromise their ideals in the pursuit of power. There are no angels in this business. Clinton’s gambit, however, truly is breathtaking.

Via the Washington Post today, check this out [my thoughts in brackets]…..

American Airlines will start charging $15 for the first checked bag [they already charge $25 for a second bag]….the fees are an effort to get customers to pay for services they want. [I don't just want the service of you taking my luggage to my destination, I EXPECT IT!]

Its proposed fee for a first checked bag would exempt people who belong to elite levels of its frequent flyer programs, those who bought full-fare tickets and those traveling overseas. [gee thanks]

Talk about completely obscene! I thought charging $25 for the second bag was bad, but almost somewhat reasonable, but charging for ONE BAG?! Consumers are getting completely ripped off by the airline industry. I don’t understand why they don’t just raise the price of a ticket. These little fees here and there ar like death by 1000 paper cuts instead of just adding it into the ticket price.

Obama now has won the majority of the pledged (elected) delegates. The only way Clinton could now win is to basically “steal” the election from the voters by having the Suuuuuperdelegates vote in her favor. Since they have been going to Obama by a rate of about 80% since Feb 4, that seems highly unlikely anyway. Current State of the race:

Delegates: Pledged Super Total Needed
Obama 1,656.5 304.5 1,961 64
Clinton 1,501.5 277.5 1,779 246
Remaining 86 214 300

As you can see, its virtually impossible for Clinton to win and get to the magic number of 2026.

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Somewhere in the range of 75,000 people turned out on Sunday to see Obama in Portland, Oregon. 75,000!! That is simply unheard of for a political rally, during the primary season no less.

The Tennessee GOP, as seems to be their M.O., put out another horrid ad on the web which attacks Michelle Obama on remarks she made that are completely distorted. But, Barack basically told them to meet him out back and he’ll settle it, but don’t you dare attack his wife, punk. He called it “low-class” but I am sure other words would be better to describe it.