Hillary's Mission Accomplished

i feel better about her being on the ticket, if obama selected her, so i guess that says something for her speech. it also left me feeling sad for her and compassionate for her supporters. one thing is clear, there seems to be a real movement now for unity in the democratic party and for sweeping transformation to bring this country back.
other reactions
the skeptical reaction, what's up hillary's sleeve. (she still kept her superdelegates)
hillary could point out that obama is pro-woman
nyt
msnbc
abc
speech transcript
what obama said:

Obviously, I am thrilled and honored to have Senator Clinton's support. But more than that, I honor her today for the valiant and historic campaign she has run. She shattered barriers on behalf of my daughters and women everywhere, who now know that there are no limits to their dreams. And she inspired millions with her strength, courage and unyielding commitment to the cause of working Americans. Our party and our country are stronger because of the work she has done throughout her life, and I'm a better candidate for having had the privilege of competing with her in this campaign. No one knows better than Senator Clinton how desperately America and the American people need change, and I know she will continue to be in the forefront of that battle this fall and for years to come.

Shot! Shot! Shot!

in a dark indiana bar, hillary proves she is not an elitist. presidential candidate hillary clinton drinks a beer and raps with her people. she puts her beer mug down when offered a shot. she cheers the bartender and nonchalantly takes a dainty sip. see it here!

Clinton McCain Caught Red-Handed

both tried to accuse obama of elitism. clinton and mccain both used an anti-obama story was posted on the huffington post yesterday, which was pointing out comments obama made last sunday, to say obama was out of touch. again, this isn't the first time obama has talked about this subject. it's just that some writer happened to write about it.
here's part of what he said:

Obama's comments came at the end of a lengthy answer in which he rejected the notion that voters were passing him over simply for racial reasons, saying instead that his campaign of hope and change was having difficulty in "places where people feel most cynical about government."

"Everybody just ascribes it to 'white working-class . . . don't want to vote for the black guy,' " Obama said at the fundraiser.

"Here's how it is: In a lot of these communities in big industrial states like Ohio and Pennsylvania, people have been beaten down so long. They feel so betrayed by government that when they hear a pitch that is premised on not being cynical about government, then a part of them just doesn't buy it. And when it's delivered by -- it's true that when it's delivered by a 46-year-old black man named Barack Obama, then that adds another layer of skepticism."

but obama called both of them out for what they are, panderers and suck ups, trying to win at the cost of their own integrity. obama has more sense and character than the two of them put together. obama gets the working class worker.

whereas someone like myself gets angry about people who wouldn't vote for someone because he's black, obama is ever patient and understands the thinking behind their ugly thoughts. he never blankets anything in racism.

this episode proved exactly the opposite of what clinton and mccain tried to accomplish. it proves who the real leader is.
video of his response to mccain and clinton during an indiana town hall.

wash post:

But before a raucous crowd in Terre Haute, Ind., Friday night, Obama not only repeated many of the same lines, he expanded on them.

"When I go around and talk to people, there is frustration and there is anger and there is bitterness. And what's worse is when people are expressing their anger, and politicians try to say, 'What are you angry about?' "

"Of course they're bitter. Of course they're frustrated. You would be, too -- in fact, many of you are," Obama said.

He also addressed the same social hot-button issues that Clinton and McCain pointed to as evidence of elitism. "And so people don't vote on economic issues, because they don't expect anybody's going to help them. People are voting on issues like guns, are they going to have the right to bear arms. They vote on issues like gay marriage. They take refuge in their faith and their community and their families and the things they can count on. But they don't believe they can count on Washington."

Obama also returned fire on both his critics. "Here's what's rich: Senator Clinton says, 'I don't think people are bitter in Pennsylvania. I think Barack's being condescending.' John McCain says, 'He's obviously out of touch with people.' Out of touch? John McCain, it took him three tries to figure out the home foreclosure crisis was a problem and to come up with a plan for it, and he's saying I'm out of touch? Senator Clinton voted for a credit-card-sponsored bankruptcy bill that made it harder for people to get out of debt -- after taking money from the financial services companies -- and she says I'm out of touch?

"No, I'm in touch. I know exactly what's going on. . . . People are fed up. They're angry and they're frustrated and they're bitter, and they want to see a change in Washington."

Hillary’s Gift Basket Politics

Hillary’s Loyalty Politics

Philly Counties Turn Democratic

for the first time in a long time, two counties in pennsylvania have gone from republican to democratic.

nyt: The registration deadline was March 24, and tens of thousands of new registrations flooded in, from both new voters and party switchers. Elections officials have been counting them and posting the changes in drips and drabs.
Now, the new tally in Bucks shows 185,413 enrolled Democrats, compared with 181,941 enrolled Republicans.
In Montgomery County, the new tally shows 245,209 Democrats, compared with 238,208 Republicans.

the question is, who are they for, obama or clinton?

The campaigns of Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton undertook intense voter-registration drives in the suburbs, and across Pennsylvania. Signing up new voters was a particular strategy for Mr. Obama, who has also sought to appeal to independents and Republicans.
No one knows for sure which candidate will benefit the most from the surge. Analysts have said new registrants tended to be young people, who tended to support Mr. Obama. But they also say the suburbs are home to many professional women who care deeply about abortion rights and want to vote for a woman.

Superdelegate Amy Klobuchar Endorses Obama

this makes 20 since march 4 for obama and 9 for clinton.

AP: Barack Obama picked up the endorsement of Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar Sunday night, giving him another superdelegate supporter.

In a statement provided to The Associated Press, Klobuchar said Obama "has inspired an enthusiasm and idealism that we have not seen in this country in a long time."

Klobuchar, a freshman Democrat, said Obama speaks "with a different voice, bringing a new perspective and inspiring a real excitement from the American people." She compared him to the late Hubert Humphrey, who served as a senator from Minnesota and as vice president.

Obama carried Minnesota by a large margin over rival Hillary Rodham Clinton last month.

"My endorsement reflects both Barack's strong support in my state and my own independent judgment about his abilities," Klobuchar said.

She cited their work together on issues such as ethics reform and toy safety.

"Barack has been a proven agent for change and advocate for middle-class Americans," Klobuchar said.

bill clinton courted supers yesterday at the california convention.
the clintons' harold ickes' drive to dig up supers

Obama Needs to Choose Own Vice President

as the clintons continue to push the whole obama as vice president thing, trying to create the illusion that clinton is more presidential, that people should vote for her because she'll put obama as no. 2, it's not something i'm falling for and it's part of what makes clinton icky. but i wonder if it's working on those folks who think that a clinton/obama ticket is the "dream ticket." Ha!

first, obama is ahead of clinton by all measures and he's beating her without stooping. step aside clinton.

this is one thing obama needs to counter. tom daschle tried to do it on meet the press yesterday, saying that obama might consider clinton as a veep. for one, obama can do better than that. and two, it just came over wishy washy. (his words looks better in print) obama needs to choose his own vice president.

in fact, i have decided, if clinton wins the nomination, (which means she's likely to have cheated)then i won't vote or i may consider john mccain. i'm not a democrat or an independent or a green party. i support obama. i don't care about the "party," or being loyal to democrats. i'm loyal to obama.

Obama: the Un-Beholden President
Bogus Big States Argument
Obama’s Pennsylvania Strategy
Superdelegates, Superdelegates, Superdelegates
General Election Map and Calculator