As Much Money, As Much Time As I Can Afford

I am just about done with the worrying you anxiety ridden neurotics are engaged in here lately.

It seems everybody has written either in a diary, a front page entry, or in a comment how the math precludes a Hillary Clinton win but so many people still engage in hypotheticals regarding what they would do if she were to win the nomination.

Why?

Why not just stop it?

If the math is so strongly against her that a vast number of superdelegates would have to vote against their own best interest, if it would take a self destructive maneuver by the Democratic party, if really, it's just not going to happen, why engage in heated arguments about how you would vote if it somehow did?
Do y'all not see that you aren't doing you part to live up to the name of the Reality Community™? You're playing games like Russert with his "If 24 Osama bin Ladens were balanced on the head of a pin in Iraq and you had an army of angels would you send them back in even after withdrawing?" Come on! Plan on what you'll do when Barack Obama wins the nomination. Gear up for the events that probability favors rather than the unlikely. I'll start, shall I?

When Barack Obama wins the nomination I plan on donating to celebrate it. We're having a kid in August and bought a house a mere three weeks ago but I've given when I felt moved to and when my wife gives me the "okay, you can do it." I will talk to random people and ask 'em if they're voting. I'll tell them why they should pick our guy and I'll tell them to early vote if they already support him.

I'll go knock on doors or make calls. I'll talk to people at work (although we're just about a 100% Obama shop). I'll talk to my right wing mom who hates McCain because he's anti-Christian and either convince her to stay home or to vote for Obama because he's not anti Christian. I'll get my uncle who is bipolar to the polls if I have to go to Houston and drive him my damn self. He's an Obama fan but I fear his dislike of crowds would keep him away from voting unless I took him.

And I'll talk really nice to the former Clinton supporters I know because they aren't the enemy. I'll applaud them for supporting a Democrat in the primary and tell them how Obama agrees with her in many ways. I'll remind them that we believe in the same things and that our country will be much better off with a Democrat at the helm. I won't be smug about it or engage in any fist pumping or "Booyah"ing. That would be wrong.

Thanks for making it this far. Sorry for appropriating the title from kath25. If it helps, she's from Austin too so the theft is under the jurisdiction of the Austin Police Department. Give 'em a call if you feel so led.

•  Tip jar

  My poll is missing options. Deal.

  by Andy30tx on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 05:29:18 AM PDT

  •  tipped and recommended

    There is some weird psychological stuff getting played out in some of the "Hillary is evil" diaries.

    by desmoinesdem on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 06:24:52 AM PDT

  •  I am totally calling the Constable on you.

    Thanks for your outpouring of support. I very much hope you are correct, and spend early-voting weekend doing carpool duty for your uncle in Houston. :-)

    by kath25 on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 07:18:28 AM PDT

    •  I was hoping you'd read

      and maybe dial 611.

      by Andy30tx on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 07:25:08 AM PDT

      •  What's 611 do?

        I don't know that one.

        by kath25 on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 08:02:53 AM PDT

        •  I'm pretty sure it's the non-emergency number

          instead of 911.

          I just Googled and I was wrong. It's 311. I thought that was just for trash and city utilities but it's the police non-emergency number.

          by Andy30tx on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 08:33:45 AM PDT

•  Why is it that this diary

  makes me feel as if Scrooge just tried to get a wave started at a football game?

  rec'd...for earnestness.

  by Morgan Sandlin on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 05:39:09 AM PDT

  •  Normal walking around on the streets Scrooge?

    Or bunny slippers and bobble hat Scrooge?

    by Andy30tx on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 05:43:49 AM PDT

    •  <g> Definitely the

      'Is the bowl half empty or half full of gruel' Scrooge.

      Though I definitely appreciated the ml measurements. I'm in the UK right now and need the practice. :)

      by Morgan Sandlin on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 05:47:58 AM PDT

    •  Oh goodness, you left that out of your poll!

      I would have chosen "bunny slippers" without any hestitation whatsoever if that had been an option. Shoot.

      by Jennifer Clare on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 05:51:11 AM PDT

      •  I agree...

        The vision of someone pouring out their heartfelt beliefs regarding our present political situation while in bunny slippers seems 'hopeful' in and of itself.

        by Morgan Sandlin on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 06:01:17 AM PDT

•  Andy, I agree somewhat, but there is a purpose

  My head says you are right, that this is over, Hillary has lost, and it's just a matter of time.

  Still. I think there is purpose in the argument over withdrawal, super-delegates, etc.

  1. While it is virtually certain that Obama will have more pledged delegates at the end of the primary season, and my head says the superdelegates would never take the nomination away from him and illegitimately give it to Hillary, my heart is not as convinced. I think that if the party thinks that no one is paying attention, they might try to do exactly that. So point one is to let everyone know that we're watching and aware of what's going on.

  2. While sitting and waiting probably will have the result of Sen. Obama being the nominee, the better result for our party is that Hillary suspends her campaign as soon as possible. We're spending hundreds of millions of dollars needlessly in extending this, and the negativity is hurting our chances in November.

  Just yesterday I noticed that after the Gerry Ferraro dustup, a green light seem to be given to the Republicans. "Well if the Democrats can attack Obama over race, so can we!", so all I heard yesterday was about the Rev. Wright, and how Obama was a black extremist who went to a racist church. I don't think these are unrelated.

  3. If you let misinformation stand, it becomes accepted fact, so all of this discussion of superdelegates and popular vote is designed by the Clinton camp to lay the groundwork for a possible coup to steal the nomination. Best to kill that story now, than later when it's taken root.

  That's it. Nice diary. Thanks for exercising my brain this morning.

  by Travis Stark on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 05:46:11 AM PDT

  •  We are going to have a lot of religious

    discrimination and misinformation to correct over the next week. Definitely prepare yourself. This is an interesting media cycle, no question about that. But at the same time, I like the diarist's can-do, will-do, attitude and spirit!

    by Jennifer Clare on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 05:58:02 AM PDT

    •  You're right.

      His attitude is awesome!

      by Andy30tx on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 06:09:22 AM PDT

•  I feel the same

  Rec'd - for complete agreement with your sentiments.

  by Scientonymous on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 05:46:59 AM PDT

•  This is a really fun diary!

  And even if you, umm, sort of plagiarized kath25's title (so to speak), I'll bet she will be quite forgiving. It's for a common purpose and a good cause, after all. You defnitely have the right spirit going on!

  Guess many us us (me definitely included!) have sort of frayed nerves right now. Thanks for this positive diary!

  by Jennifer Clare on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 05:49:05 AM PDT

  •  I figure we're not pleading with Gravel to quit.

    Why plead with Hillary? I think her chances are about the same. I mean, what if neither candidate gets enough delegates at the convention and the Dems decide we really need a Gravelanche? What then? Will you vote for him? Will you volunteer for him? Will you donate? How much?

    Sigh. Besides, what's the threshold for the Clinton campaign? Will she resign after the 6,025th diary telling her to? The 6,026th?

    Here's to the calming effects of Tim Russert's soothing, eagle-like glare.

    by Andy30tx on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 05:53:43 AM PDT

    •  Dang, you are good!

      Who can get me to guffaw like this first thing in the morning? Here's to a Gravelanche!

      (Ooooh--'cept hasn't he gone Green Party for this cycle? In that case, no, thanks very much.)

      But definitely rec'd just for "the calming effects of Tim Russert's soothing, eagle-like glare." Made my morning!

      by Jennifer Clare on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 06:05:21 AM PDT

  •  I'm going to sue!

    But I promise to donate my winnings to the Barack Obama campaign. ;-)

    by kath25 on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 07:19:45 AM PDT

    •  Maybe we'll settle out of court.

      Interesting loophole to get around the $2300 limit, isn't it?

      by Andy30tx on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 07:26:32 AM PDT

•  The Glass

  is twice as big as it should be.

  by gerard w on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 06:03:34 AM PDT

  •  Stolen n/t

    by Andy30tx on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 06:05:55 AM PDT

•  I can't help it, but...

  ...I get the sinking feeling that teh Clinton camp will either A) Win the nomination at all costs, only to lose to McCain just on sheer hubris alone, or B) They will lose to Obama, only to sabotage his chances in Novememer in order to set up a Clinton run in 2012 as the "See!!!  If you would have made me the nominee in 2008 there wouldn't be a President McCain" candidate.  It sickens me!  Clinton is dead to me now...

  by Ken in MN on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 06:06:32 AM PDT

  •  SEE? This is what I'm talkin' about!

    Stop WORRYING! Go check the oven three times to make sure you turned it off. Or wash your hands twice and open every door knob with the paper towel. STOP WORRYING ABOUT THE NOMINATION! It's fine, man. He'll get it. We'll win in November. Channel the energy more positively. C'mon!

    by Andy30tx on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 06:08:22 AM PDT

    •  I clicked on my automatic remote lock

      for my car seven times now. I am totally confident that it really is, truly, locked. And that the anti-theft system is working. Because the Toyota Corolla is, I will ahev you know, one of the top-5 targeted-to-be-stolen vehicles in the United States.

      And ain't nobody taking my car.

      Okey dokey, I just heard a noise; I'll be back in a sec after I make sure it's locked again.

      by Jennifer Clare on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 06:37:05 AM PDT

      •  Thanks for returning the favor from earlier.

        I loled.

        by Andy30tx on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 07:24:03 AM PDT

  •  Clinton and Obama vote the same way

    more than 90 percent of the time. Don't take my word for it, go look up DemocraticLuntz's diaries comparing their voting records.

    Your need to project evil intentions on everything the Clintons do is bizarre.

    by desmoinesdem on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 06:26:12 AM PDT

    •  My need?

      WTF are you talking about "my need".  I gues I'm supposed to believe you and not my own lying eyes and ears.  Whatever...

      by Ken in MN on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 07:15:34 AM PDT

•  I recommended this diary

  because the behavior described in this diary is indeed bizarre.

  Barring a total meltdown, Obama is very likely to be the nominee. Yet day after day we have to go through this public ritual on DKos, wherein scores of Obama supporters shout from the rooftops that they would never vote for the evil Hillary.

  It isn't helping Obama. In fact, if your goal is to help Obama unite the Democratic party, it is counter-productive.

  Millions of Democrats preferred Hillary, and hearing Obama supporters talk about how evil she is and how they'd rather vote for McCain is a turnoff.

  I supported Edwards and am still in communication with a bunch of Edwards supporters. Even the ones who now favor Obama are appalled by the unhinged behavior of many Obama supporters on this board.

  by desmoinesdem on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 06:23:57 AM PDT

  •  I've got a double-sized cup of coffee available

    for you, if you'd care for some. In any event, no matter how much I pour, you'd get at LEAST a full cup. Sugar and creamer included, if you'd like. I love this dairy; I think we should all lighten up, like, a lot!

    by Jennifer Clare on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 06:32:19 AM PDT

    •  not a coffee drinker

      but I appreciate the sentiment.

      by desmoinesdem on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 09:25:17 AM PDT

  •  Rec'd.

    Some of your comments in other diaries have been less than helpful in my over-inflated opinion but this one is spot on. I think many people suffer from a siege mentality and the enemy can be seen lurking everywhere. Some of the comments coming from the Clinton campaign are slightly harmful but they're no the end of the world. November will see a Democratic President and in all actuality it will be Barack Obama. Worrying it to death is not going to help that come to pass.

    by Andy30tx on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 07:30:01 AM PDT

•  Grassroots

  Just imagine if this thing was a done deal. Obama's grassroots could be working in each state to flip it for Obama.  

  We just want to get to work on the GE.

  by redtex on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 07:00:59 AM PDT

  •  They can start working now!

    It's not like the grass roots is engaging in trench warfare against Hillary in each state. In Texas the Obama campaign could be out in force extolling the virtues of our fine candidate. In fact, it can be seen as part of the primary still since there is a convention on 3/29.

    by Andy30tx on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 07:31:14 AM PDT

    •  Right now

      Down here in Texas, I'm heading out the door. I'm wearing my bright red Obama shirt.  

      I can't see me giving up my shirt.

      by redtex on Fri Mar 14, 2008 at 07:57:33 AM PDT