May 20 - May 23 exchanges

Yes. I was a republican then pulling for George Bush (those whiney Dems. It's not my fault voters couldn't understand a butterfly ballot). My first voting experience (absentee, registered in person at an SOS branch for that reason) was on a punch card ballot. Fresh out of Macomb County, of course. I think it was about one month in to Bush's first term that I realized the mistake I had made. Oh well, young and stupid. At least Mich. went for Gore.

- - Fair, May 23, 2008


Do you really remember the recount? You would only have been 19 or 20. David Boies, who argued Gore's side before the Supreme Court, made quite an impression on me.

- - Ing, May 23, 2008


Ha, I didn't hear about her comment. Too funny. Interesting that the hair color was her main issue - - must have been a joke. Hollywood can turn anyone in to anything (change gender, race, height... let alone hair color!).

- - Fair, May 23, 2008


Unfortunately, no HBO. I've heard great things about the movie - the Katherine Harris role being played by Laura Dern? I understand that Ms. Harris's comment was - How can she play me? She's a blond!

Must be a joke, or . . . . maybe not ;->

- - Ing, May 23, 2008


I'm sure the media will turn the DMC rules committee meeting in to a major primary function. Similar to how the media allowed Florida's then-Secretary of State Catharine Harris in 2000 to turn one of the run-of-the-mill vote tallying actions for one of the Miami area counties in to a board room style proclamation.

Speaking of Ms. Harris... do you have HBO? I have my Comcast DVR set to record the Recount movie. I've seen many preview commercials on CNN.

- - Fair, May 23, 2008

I'm not trying to show you up or anything - my knowledge is pretty shallow in some areas ;->

I wonder how the 24 hour news stations will cover the DNC rules committee meeting on May 31st? I'm sure they WILL cover it - especially with all the busloads of Clinton-fanatics - but I don't ever recall national coverage of such a meeting. It will be like waiting for the Supreme Court Decision in Bush v. Gore back in 2000 - remember that? Them thar were some excitin' times (Have you noticed when Clinton slips into "southern dialect" sometimes when she is campaigning down south?)

- - Ing, May 23, 2008


Ha-ha :) How careless of me. I did an Internet search on past presidents and didn't look any more forward than Reagan! I thought I would have known that about him. There I go assuming again.

- - Fair, May 23, 2008


Reagan - He was divorced from Jane Wyman, an actress you probably don't remember (ever see Falconcrest - she starred on that in the '80s, I think - it would have to be reruns for you, I realize).

- - Ing, May 23, 2008


That would make McCain the first elected President with a past divorce, if I am thinking correctly. Not that I care (because I don't - many in my family are divorced), but it would be interesting to me that a Republican from the so-called values party would carry that claim.

- - Fair, May 23, 2008


Just twice -

Carol - 1965 - 1980

Cindy - 1980 to present (but his relationship with her began in 1979

I heard a clarification of McCain's position - A legal agreement could be entered into. This is more like a generic legal agreement, not a socially and civil-law recognized civil union, favored by Obama and (I think) Clinton.

- - Ing, May 23, 2008

I just read how Ellen DeGenreis asked John McCain to walk down her aisle at her wedding. He was noting how he agreed that gays should be allowed to have some sort of recognized relationship for insurance/legal purposes but that he opposes same-sex marriage. He must have turned bright red.

How many times has McCain been married? (He is divorced, if I recall correctly.)

- - Fair, May 23, 2008


This week's Daily/Colbert shows are all reruns from the week that started May 5. So I know the clips you mean. You probably don't watch Chris that much - he really was having fun with Terry, because Terry kept shouting, You say it's over, You want it over, and Chris kept saying, Not me! I want it to go on and on to the convention!

Did you catch the R. Kelley impersonator/Kwame Daily Show piece? That re-ran this week.

Okay - I will try to be charitable toward Hillary, even though she doesn't deserve it. I've been reading a lot of the commentary at www.washingtonpost.com . Hillary is in that feminist pioneer mode, of the generation that always needed to push, push, push, be better, better, better - just to equal or slightly exceed the men in perceived performance. So she just can't stop pushing, campaigning, hearing back from those adoring supporters, You Go Girl! Michigan/Florida is a ridiculous path for her to try to take, but it is the only one she has left!

Oh - when, when, when will I be able to have my celebratory dinner! ;->

- - Ing, May 23, 2008


The Matthews/McAuliffe exchange to which I was referring was this week (saw clips on last night's Daily Show); they were definitely not yucking it up. If you still TiVo the Daily Show, you'll see it this evening. (Was it on Colbert???)

I now believe that waiting until June 3 for the superdelegates, waiting one more day even, will cause damage to the party. For her to claim civil rights issues in Fla. or Mich. is ridiculous. If she would exit the race at this moment the Dem. party would probably seat the delegations anyway. Seating the delegations once Obama is the nominee keeps the republicans from being able to run ads in the two states exclaiming "Democrats don't care about your voice..." or similar (another thing I worried about - in a tight race, every issue matters).

- - Fair, May 23, 2008


You know - there was a lot of speculation - is, continues to be - as to why Hillary is doing what she's doing. Why not get out gracefully, in a classy manner. Well - I guess I should have known better - class act from a Clinton? That's an oxymoron! Perhaps Chelsea could be classy, but mom and pop are way over the line as to knowing how to do anything but go after what is best for them! It's "back" to, Party be damned! I now think, it's always been this way for them.

Have you heard about the Murtha letter? A group of House Reps saying that the superdelegates need to step up as soon as the primaries are over (June 3rd) and declare their allegiance. But I'm now thinking that these remaining undeclared superdelegates are just afraid of the classless but powerful Clintons. Gutless wonders!

I'm *ecstatic* you have finally gotten off the fence with respect to Hillary - if I read you right. Yeah, she's going to have a bus cavalcade go to the May 31 DNC Rules Committee meeting to "protest" the "civil rights" of Michigan and Florida primary votes being disallowed in any way. I don't know how to write this sarcastically enough: CLASS-say!

I watch MSNBC all the time, but more Countdown than Hardball. I don't think I saw the particular exchange you mention - last I saw, Chris Matthews and Terry McAuliffe were yucking it up over the race going on and on and on - to the convention! Terry would like that for obvious reasons, while Chris would like it for the story-telling possibilities.

- - Ing, May 23, 2008


I've lost my ability to tolerate the continued push by Hillary Clinton. I was fine with her campaign as recently as this week as she seemed to be getting the Dems. free media time while bashing McCain and Bush - which was great. I also read a few columns how her continued campaign was making Obama a stronger candidate by seasoning him prior to November. It appeared as if she was simply continuing on to allow all votes to count - or whatever her statement was - because she "doesn't give up on those who don't give up on her" or some such thing.

To head for Florida and, unexpected to me, claim discrimination, an attack on voting rights, and other such ridiculous things is now going to do damage. I hope the superdelegates see this and fall en mass in to the Obama column today or ASAP.

I don't get it. She could have ended her campaign with class, on a high note, and in a way that probably gave her some power post-campaign suspension. She could have also forced Obama, through the party, to do fundraising work to help with her debt.

Did you see the Terry McAuliffe and Chris Matthews exchanges on MSNBC? I only got to see the clips but it was pretty nasty.

You asked yesterday what we will write about after the primary. I think we'll have plenty to write about after the primary. The republicans seem to provide good discussion and who can ignore the ongoing text message scandal in Detroit :) I hope the Obama team or the national party uses an ad that morphs McCain's face in to Bush (similar to the DeVos to Bush commercial used by the Granholm campaign. I loved that spot!).

- - Fair, May 23, 2008


You know, once Obama has the nom sewn up, what shall we post about?

Did you get the Supreme Court idea on your own? There's a very good analysis of this at the www.washingtonpost.com today.

- - Ing, May 21, 2008


Hillary as a Supreme Court justice would probably bring more attention to the court ... the most attention in history. She would be the most media-friendly justice to date, guarantee it.

Ahhhh, Nip-n-Sip. There are no such places out here.

- - Fair, May 21, 2008


I agree - the current lone female on the high court could use some girl talk - ha! Can you imagine?

For a long time we have talked about going back to the Common Grill in Chelsea, so that's my first choice. There's always Red Lobster . . . T. thought: Nip n' Sip (now I've got your mouth watering, don't I) but sitting in the car, even when the food is so good, wasn't exactly what I had in mind.

- - Ing, May 21, 2008


I would love to see someone drive Scalia and Thomas crazy and that would seem to be the perfect role for Ms. Rodham-Clinton :) I'm sure Justice Bader-Ginsburg would like the company.

It may drive tons of conservatives to the polls at the 2012 Presidential election, but still...

Do you and T. have a restaurant selected for the celebratory dinner? I have a feeling it will be sooner than the June 3 PR primary.

- - Fair, May 21, 2008


Agreed! I heard that one for the first time this morning. I genuinely think that would be a great spot for her! Wouldn't she drive Scalia and Thomas crazy?

- - Ing, May 21, 2008


Or, Hillary wants a spot on the U.S. Supreme Court. Someone is bound to retire in the next four and a half years.

- - Fair, May 21, 2008


Yes - past 11pm, which is late for me. And then I woke up at 4am and started watching again. I'm really pretty tired . . .

Obama did well enough - below is my post to the blog (The Long Hello . . .). I hadn't following the Repubs - that is SO funny about Ron Paul - such an earnest little guy . . .

No celebratory dinner plans yet! re Obama :(

- - Ing, May 21, 2008


I was up late watching the results - you? I don't know why I stayed up so late as the results were for the most part what I expected (I thought Obama would win OR by a larger percentage than he did.

Ron Paul on the R ticket in these western/mountain "Romney" states seems to be giving McCain fits. Paul was getting 20 or so percentage points - keeping McCain's votes to about 80% or less.

- - Fair, May 21, 2008


This is from First Read, the polictical blog at MSNBC.MSN.COM: This is PERFECT!

[begin quote]
---Canadian said "You know what I do not understand but would appreciate someone explaining this to me –Sen. Clinton wins in West Virginia by 41% (final total = 67% Clinton and 26% Obama) YET ---the very next day the media is calling for her to step down. WHY?------------------

I'll try using an analogy you might understand, based on your name. Let's say it's the NHL playoffs and Montreal just beat Ottowa 4 games to 0 in a best of 7 series. Yet Ottowa insists on playing out all the remaining games. They manage to win the meaningless game 5 by a score of 5-1 and hold it up as proof that the series isn't over yet. Mathematically, that's the significance of Clinton's win in West Virginia.

David, Charlotte, NC (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 10:05 AM)
[end quote]

- - Ing, May 20, 2008


Yes, but the General Campaign has not even begun yet. Just wait till we have not only Obama, but John Edwards and both Clintons campaigning here!

What do you think about the sad news for Sen. Ted Kennedy - a malignant brain tumor . . .

- - Fair, May 20, 2008


I was checking out the Pollster.com website. In both the McCain-v-Obama and McCain-v-Clinton scenarios, Michigan turns red in November. Boo.

- - Fair, May 20, 2008


Once Obama is definitely the "presumptive" nominee, T. and I are going out to eat to celebrate - maybe to the Common Grill, maybe somewhere closer. I sure hope I don't have to wait much into June - I guess it's all up to Hillary - and a few superdelegates . . .

- - Ing, May 20, 2008


No, I hadn't - good catch! Lots of stuff to analyze there -

- - Ing, May 20, 2008


Have you been to www.pollster.com ? Interesting site.

- - Fair, May 20, 2008


Ms. Ferraro was annoying as Hell! (I think I can say that on a blog.) Yes, you would definitely not be alone in calling her racist - but really, she is just way past her prime.

Dates - May 31 - the DNC Rules Committee - which I heard is heavily-Clinton-influenced - meets to discuss how to seat Michigan and Florida.

June 1 - Puerto Rico

June 3 - Montana and North Dakota

- - Ing, May 20, 2008


You must have been up early to catch Ms. Ferraro on Today. She is interesting. If she thinks Obama is sexist, can I call her a tad racist?

Hillary will run through Montana and North Dakota - Puerto Rico too? I think June 3 is the last of the primaries.

- - Fair, May 20 ,2008


I think it will be extremely interesting, once (WHEN????) Hillary is out, to read the in-depth, investigative reporting on what was happening inside the campaign, what were they thinking, what were they trying to achieve, did they realistically think they could float all these different metrics and somehow convince enough superdelegates to see things their way? I'm sure it will all come out - hopefully, sooner rather than later. I REALLY hope that it doesn't come out as part of a post mortem on why Obama lost!

I think Obama would help her with the money - there are a bunch of convoluted rules about it, how it can be shifted over to her Senate campaign and stuff - I don't think they are that motivated by financial issues - in my opinion, it is all about their story - the Comeback Kids! - don't tell us we are done! We're the Clintons! Don't ever count us out!

- - Ing, May 20, 2008


I don't think the blog is a chore - I still think it is neat how we (mostly you) put that together. I just feel I haven't had any major thoughts to contribute - only regurgitated information heard on the news/read online. Tonight should be interesting - to see the Clinton campaign's next steps. I don't know how they can stay in beyond tonight. Can Hillary win in Montana and North Dakota (can any democrat win in those states)? If she is staying in just to "give everyone a chance," including in Montana and ND, she should just say so and allow Obama to focus on November - - with or without Hillary on the ticket.

I still am wondering if all of her talk of staying in until the end is about fundraising; trying to make up as much of the debt as possible before suspending her campaign. Perhaps Obama declined to help her.

- - Fair, May 20, 2008


Saw your post - great! Is the blog still sort of fun? Is it becoming a chore? Just imagine - if we had a blog that was really in demand, with pageviews up the wazoo, we would feel pressure to be updating it around the clock!

Yes - I read your post this morning, and posted my own - below. You will probably think I am being mean about Hillary - but think - if it were Bill running, would you think so?

Geraldine Ferraro was at it again on the Today show this morning. She just can't let go of her Obama-bashing. She was supposed to be on to discuss Hillary's impact as first viable women candidate - but she couldn't say two words on topic without bringing it back to how sexist Obama is, blah blah blah.

- - Ing, May 20, 2008