"The voters get to decide. I think we should just celebrate this. If we just chill out here and let all the voters have their say, my gut is it's gonna come out all right."...Yes, why can't you Democrats celebrate? If you're having trouble feeling festive, why not listen to the Rush Limbaugh show? He's been celebrating this for weeks.
"I expect a spirited election in the fall, no matter what happens. But we should just let the Dems decide. This is a tough choice for them. They got two candidates, they basically like them both, and they have different strengths. And they have to decide which skilll set is more important, number one, for the country's welfare in the long run, and which one is more likely to be elected. And you know I have my strong convictions, but I might be wrong."...
"The fundamental fact is most voters like them both. They're trying to decide who will make the best president. And I think we just ought to let every state and Puerto Rico vote, let them all vote, and see where we are, and I think it will become clearer than we know, what to do."
Let them all vote... see where we are...
You've got to give old Bill credit for his sheer nerve and political savvy. Count all the votes! There's a theme with deep resonance or Democrats. Why would you want to stop the vote counting before it's reached its full conclusion? That's not something Democrats like.
It will become clearer than we know, what to do...
Bill's found a mellowly presidential new place for himself. The wise old man will is asking for calmness, a fair conclusion to the orderly proceedings. He's asking for optimism: be happy that that there are two good candidates and trust that in the end there will be clarity.
Meanwhile, behind the scenes, he's furiously devising new ways to blear our view of Barack Obama.
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I think Hillary!'s campaign would benefit if Bill didn't say anything. People who love her through thick and thin don't mind Bill, but I note that when Bill becomes an issue, Hillary! takes a hit.
To answer your first question: Are you — assuming you're a Democrat — fretting about the chaos in the Democratic presidential race?
No.
Bobby Knight, basketball coach: In describing the experience of losing, he said, "I think that if rape is inevitable, relax and enjoy it."
Is Althouse suggesting something?
Agree with MM re Bill. As to chaos in the democratic party--lots of time for the campaign to resolve--And I dont think that chaos necessarily hurts the democrats in the general. I don't see either Hillary or Obama supporters going for McCain in a big way.
Note his reference to Puerto Rico. It switched last week from caucuses to primary balloting.
55 delegates, June 1.
Before that happened, Barone seemed to think Puerto Rico would play the deciding role.
This is why Pres. Clinton is so happy.
Although Obama also supported the switch (due partly to the overwhelming number of expected participants) the caucuses there would have favored Obama as they have elsewhere.
"I don't belong to an organized political party. I'm a Democrat."
--Will Rogers
Bill Clinton has greased you, Ann, and either you're too naive to see it, or you're playing along.
See, Bill wants all Democrats to just chill out, and let the people decide.
What he means by that, of course, is that the voters of Florida and Michigan should get another chance to keep the blacks down.
He knows Hillary can't win by sticking to the law and the rules of the Party.
So, she'll just have to steal it in spite of the law and the rules.
That's all this means. It's not the new, mellow Bill. It's the same old "Do Anything To Win" Clinton mentatlity that the rules don't apply to them if by sticking to the rules, they lose.
He sidled right up to you and greased you.
And you didn't even feel it.
Slim--
I don't think you know Ann very well.
"Meanwhile, behind the scenes, he's furiously devising new ways to blear our view of Barack Obama."
Meanwhile, behind the scenes, he's furiously devising new ways to blear our view of Barack Obama.
I did not think about that when I read his comments. I just figured that ole Uncle Festus put both feet in his mouth again. I thought Hillary must have taken him to the woodshed for not mentioning her name- he is "supposed" to be campaigning for her, and her alone.
Bill wants to STOP the party from coming together. I supect they've become concerned that the superdelegates will panic and start declaring their preferences. Right now, that would probably be the candidate with the most delegates---Obama.
So Bill is putting a shot over their bow, letting them know they'll get a tongue lashing if they don't wait for those later states. He's buying time (probably to dig up dirt on superdelegates).
So Bill is putting a shot over their bow, letting them know they'll get a tongue lashing if they don't wait for those later states. He's buying time (probably to dig up dirt on superdelegates).
There is something left out, and his comments may be in response to that. Nancy Pelosi. On a few occasions over the past weeks, she has made comments that have been construed in favor of Obama.
I could not figure out why, as she is supposed to be neutral. Then it hit me. There is no room for two first women in the political kitchen. She is the first woman Speaker of the House. The most powerful woman in politics today. She is not going to be upstaged and over shadowed by an upstart, tyro, Jenny come lately named Clinton(s).
Bill may be making the statement for more cynical reasons, but I agree with the idea that this isn't a crisis. It's merely a close contest.
When people were up in arms during the recounts of 2000, I held the same position. Of course it's easy for me to say being a Libertarian, as I have no horse in this race.
What ticks me off is when commentators treat the public as having a hive mind and say "Democrats, why can't you make up your mind?" I've come across this a couple times. People are making up their minds, it's just they aren't all making the same decision.
You've got to hand it to him. He didn't pick up the handle "slick Willie" for nothing.
"He sidled right up to you and greased you."
Don't worry. I put that dress in a plastic bag for future DNA testing.
...and let all the voters have their say,...
Yes...I think not only is Bill continuing to lay the foundation for a Florida primary and against a Michigan Caucus, but I believe more people have voted for Hillary than for Obama, despite the electoral vote count.
This is the argument the Clintons will make to the superdelagates if all else fails and its close in Florida and Michigan. You see.. because GORE should have been our president because he got more votes than Bush and only won through electoral vote hijinks. Gotta be consistent.
When he says relax and enjoy it what he means is - you have been F****d by Obama.
" ...but I believe more people have voted for Hillary than for Obama, despite the electoral vote count."
Factually incorrect.
Obama has more of any way you want to count it. He has more pledged delegates, won more states, and has so far won the popular vote in states that have held primaries.
None of that will matter, in the end, however, as the Democrat Party has no intention of nominating a black man.
Take a look at the leadership of the party itelf. There's not one black in the House leadership, not one black in the Senate leadership, and not one black in any significant position of leadership at the Democrat National Convention.
Democrats need black voters if they vote in a bloc and for the "chosen" candidate. Democrats will pander to black ministers and pay them hundreds of thousands of dollars for endorsements.
But in every other respect, the Democrat Party is a whites only fountain.
Negros in back, please.
Mark my words: Hillary will be the nominee, no matter how many people vote for Barack Obama.
What he means by that, of course, is that the voters of Florida and Michigan should get another chance to keep the blacks down.
Letting people vote == keeping the blacks down
Obviously, we shouldn't let certain states vote at all in the general election, because they're too likely to swing towards John McCain, and that is keeping the blacks down, which is bad.
Middle Class Guy is right. This is about buying time. Time works for Mrs. C. If someone prevails upon the superdelegates to announce their final decisions by a date certain, like June 5th as the WSJ columnist suggests, Obama wins. But what the Clintons want is for the convention to decide it. They will cut enough deals not to get herself nominated on the first ballot, but to deprive Obama of a first-ballot win. Then everyone will freak out, thinking about 1924. But 1924 won't happen. By the convention, she will have secured a sufficient number of second-ballot commitments from delegates now pledged to Obama on the first ballot in order to win the nomination. Because it is ex-Obama voters who will give her the edge, she will argue that they acted independently in the best interests of the party. She will hope this fact tamps down the outrage of Obama supporters.
All of this presupposes Clinton can use the next few months to grind down Obama's image, a process that is already underway, and that Obama, making rookie mistakes, has contributed to.
Fork time for the Democrats.
Obama arrives at the convention with a popular vote advantage but the superdelegates go Hillary! because Obama makes McGovern and Carter look like statesmen. The epiphany that they are in fact unwanted except for their votes reaches every corner of Black Democrat America, and significant numbers stay home, which loses not only the presidency but a whole slew of Senate and House races.
Hillary arrives at the convention with the nomination in reach, without Florida and Michigan, if she gets the superdelegates that were pledged to her early in the race. However, the most likely situation here is that the eventual convention reality as executed by the DNC will bear no relation to their current rules, so I won't even speculate. I do predict they will move to give Hillary a popular vote advantage, but in such a convoluted and confusing way it leaves nobody but the super delegates satisfied that they have at least a token fig leaf behind which they will attempt to hide from charges of being racist.
Hillary! is coronated, with minimal rioting in Denver, and is crushed in the general because she's not remotely qualified for executive responsibility. Yet again the presidential election will inject a fleeting moment of reality into our political process, which has all the majesty and substance of a WWF championship the other 95% of the time.
I don't know which campaign will do more to shatter the party. Since the Democrats are defined by race and gender victimhood, it's any body's guess. I wouldn't have said this two weeks ago, but I am beginning to believe that Obama has the larger closet full of skeletons, and the Clintons already have it mapped, organized, and packaged for delivery. Neither campaign's faithful will flinch at a "take no prisoners" order at this point.
Watching Obama flail over the Wright revelations (no pun intended) I am struck by Obama's total lack of surprise at the emergence of the issue - but the bewilderment on display now that his carefully planned divestment is flying like a lead duck is telling.
Nor ready for prime time, sir. Not now, and with your philosophy, not ever. You aren't nearly as smart as you think you are.
We will start off 2009 wondering just how far left McCain will go to get good press.
Bill Clinton said: "The voters get to decide."
This isn't true. Unless one of the two remaining candidates sweeps the remaining states with great majorities, the super delegates are the ones who get to decide, not the voters.
We will start off 2009 wondering just how far left McCain will go to get good press.
I would think he'd have to go left to work with the Democratic House and Senate.
I think that is my ideal outcome: 61 D senators and a solid majority in the House, and McCain as President. Watch the Conservative heads explode as he deals. Pass the butter, as they say.
Obama with a Democratic House/Senate wouldn't be the disaster that Bush and the Republican House/Senate was, but why even go there?
Bill Clinton also says that he and Hill were "mugged" by Barack Obama.
For someone as bright as Bill, I doubt that was an accidental slip.
Daryl said...
Bill Clinton also says that he and Hill were "mugged" by Barack Obama.
For someone as bright as Bill, I doubt that was an accidental slip.
He originally meant to say carjacked and raped, but an aide changed it for him to mugging. Less racist.
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