I am a foaming at the mouth supporter of Sen. Clinton, a rabid Democrat, and as such, very much a supporter of Sen. Obama as well. That said, when I hear that "nothing has changed" in these last months, it makes me absolutely nuts. It is a fantasy construct that has no basis in either the rules which govern this process, or in any acknowledged history of nominations in the Democratic Party. Folks, bottom line, very much has in fact changed, and Sen. Clinton has a completely legitimate argument to be the nominee of the Democratic Party for the United States of America. As, of course, does the eminently ass-kicking Sen. Barack Obama.
Wow, as I attempt to formulate an interesting entry that would be worth reading, I am completely blown away at MSNBC's completely negative tone towards the Clinton campaign. I mean, did Chris Matthews accuse the Clinton campaign of devious and evil hijinks regarding an apparent lack of African-Americans on camera at Clinton's rally? What in the world was he trying to say? A major and consistent theme in MSNBC's 'news' coverage is the notion of destroying Party unity as this election unfolds. The punditry warns us of impending doom should Sen. Clinton continue to stay in the race, like the electorate is a bratty schoolkid contemplating licking a frozen streetlamp. Yet, tonight, Chris Matthews is flinging around race cards like a meth-addicted Vegas black jack dealer having a nervous breakdown at the table. Oh yea, Chris, unifying! Truly, MSNBC treats the Clintons like convicted pedophiles applying for a job as a neighborhood crossing guard. Reprehensible. I'll tell you one thing. If Sen. Obama ends up as the nominee, there is no way I would think to punish him, and of course myself, for his winning politics by voting for McCain. However, I will carry an eternal axe in constant need of a good grind against every member of the 'news' media I consider to have attempted to disguise advocacy as news. Matthews? Olbermann? Worst of all, by far, Russert? Maybe they can get jobs doing voice overs, or Matthews can shill for some anti-spittle medication, but I will not be relying on them for anything resembling news for the rest of my days...
Where we're we?
Before I get to where we are, a point. Seems this Iowa thing was a bit of a blunder. I mean, Sen. Obama has had some stumbles do to some various issues, but this seems like the first institutional campaign mistake, serious blunder territory, that didn't involve bowling, since we began this nomination. Much like Sen. Clinton was between a rock and a hard place in Indiana, not knowing what kind of speech to give because of a late reporting county, Sen. Obama is now to give a, what, victory speech? We pretty much know he will win Oregon, but will it actually offset the ventilation he is receiving in KY...without KY, if you know what I mean? This is an oops the Obama campaign can thank a fawning media for. So much for a valedictory.
Nothing has changed, huh? In the months since Sen. Obama's post Feb. 5 blitzkrieg through the Potomac and Wisconsin, we have had some important elections, and Sen. Clinton has won most of them. Whether or not Sen. Obama maintains his lead in the pledged delegates, he has certainly failed to win a single contest which could be seen as an affirmation of the three week Obamamania rampage in February. Ohio? Texas? Pa? Sure, he whupped up in NC, but the narrow Indiana loss that same night was not given it's due consideration. As compared to Kerry vote in the '04 general, Indiana had the highest turnout of any contest so far in this entire process. 300,000 more voters, an astonishing 32% increase over Kerry's turnout voted in the state of Indiana, and Sen. Clinton won. Make no mistake, this was not Clinton territory, and in fact it was the first state bordering Illinois that didn't go for Sen. Obama. Does anyone really think Obama would have lost Indiana on Feb. 20? Honestly, I dunno, but I doubt it. The only thing that hasn't changed is the "elected delegate" metric, which frankly, is designed precisely to not be decisive. Go ahead, get suckered by a sycophantic media into praying at the altar of that golden calf. As long as you book your rooms in Denver now, you won't be cursing their misjudgement as you hitchhike to the convention from Pueblo.