The Coming Democratic Super Fight
Michael Barone, perhaps the smartest political observer in America, has written an outstanding piece that lays out the "super fight" that may be coming within the Democratic Party over the nomination battle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. As Barone points out, it is delicious irony that the Dems system of proportionally awarding delegates - designed to keep all their constituencies happy - may be about to produce a disastrous outcome in their nomination race:
It's appropriate that our two major political parties are depicted as different animals. Forty days and forty nights out from the Iowa caucuses, the elephant and the donkey seem very different indeed. The Republicans have been split on attitudinal lines, between varying strains of conservatism and moderation.
And their delegate selection rules, based on their notion of fairness, have produced a clear and unambiguous outcome.
The Democrats, in contrast, have been split on demographic lines, between blacks and Latinos, old and young, upscale and downscale. The delegate selection rules, based on their notion of fairness, are heading the party not to a clear outcome but to a conflict in which the losing side is likely to feel profoundly aggrieved.
Winner-take-all is the Republican idea of fairness. The party seeks unity and uniformity, and doesn't encourage dissent. You know the rules in advance, and if you come out ahead you get the big prize. Thus, few Republicans thought it unfair when John McCain got all 58 delegates from Missouri on Super Tuesday after beating Mike Huckabee there 33 percent to 32 percent. (Click "Read More" Below)
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Video of John McCain Interview on "This Week" - 2/17/08
Here is video in three parts of John McCain's interview today, February 17, 2008, on ABC News' "This Week" with George Stephanopoulos:
PART I
PART II
PART III
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Meet the Press Discussion of Who John McCain Will Pick as VP - Video 2/17/08
Here is video of a discussion on Meet the Press today, February 17, 2008, about who might be John McCain's Vice-Presidential choice:
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Pittsburgh Tribune-Review endorses McCain
From the AP
(AP) The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review endorsed Sen. John McCain for president, saying he provided an ''impressive tutorial'' on conservatism's core including small government and a strong defense in a recent speech.
McCain's speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, ''was the speech of a hero leader at the exact moment when America is in dire need of heroes and leaders,'' the paper said in an editorial Sunday.
''Fiercely independent, McCain made no apologies for positions he holds dear but may be at odds with the traditional conservative base,'' the paper said. ''But McCain also offered an impressive tutorial on what the core of conservatism really is small government, fiscal discipline, low taxes, a strong defense and a judiciary that does not legislate from the bench.
''And in the starkest of terms, John McCain reminded those gathered at CPAC and those watching nationwide that the alternative freedom-stripping, purse-robbing and security-endangering Democrats is no alternative at all.''...
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NPR has a great audio piece on Senator McCain's family and their service in the military.
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LA and MI Delegates Move McCain to Over 900 Delegates - AP
The Associated Press is reporting that delegates now committed to John McCain from Michigan and Louisiana have boosted his total delegates to 903, just 288 short of the 1,191 needed to officially gain the GOP Nomination!
Sen. John McCain, the presumed Republican presidential nominee, picked up a total of 50 GOP national convention delegates from Michigan and Louisiana Saturday.
Republicans met in both states to resolve how to divvy up delegates to the national convention in September.
Thirty-two of Louisiana's 47 delegates told The Associated Press they intend to vote for McCain, and three others also are expected to back him.
Likewise, a majority of Michigan's presidential delegates also say they'll back the Arizona senator now that primary winner Mitt Romney is out of the race, although it's still unclear how many will go to the national convention.
As a result, McCain has 903 total delegates nationally, according to an Associated Press tally. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has 245, while Romney's total dropped to 253. A total of 1,191 are needed to secure the nomination.
The McCain campaign said 43 of Louisiana's delegates have signed pledges to vote for McCain.
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John McCain is An Example of Service with Honor - Video
Here is a very moving video about John McCain's example of service with honor during his time as a Prisoner of War in Vietnam. It includes testimonials of some who served as POWS alongside McCain. A man who maintains his honor and devotion under such circumstances is a man who can lead a nation in difficult times.
Online Videos by Veoh.com
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Barack Obama is long on rhetoric and short on details when it comes to issues. It will be necessary for John McCain to fill in some of the blanks about Obama should he become the Democratic Nominee.
One example is Obama's clear anti-2nd Amendment record. Obama is about as liberal as it gets on many issues, but certainly when it comes to gun rights. Obama, while an Illinois State Senator, even voted against a bill that prevented a homeowner from being sued by a criminal for shooting the intruder in his own home! Obama actually thought the homeowner should be able to be charged, when actually the homeowner was the victim! Here is a transcript of Jim Geraghty explaining this on the Glenn Beck Show a while back:
No, I think you hit the nail on the head is that if you listen to a Barack Obama speech, if you are a conservative like I am, there's not a heck of a lot that you disagree with when he talks about telling people, you know, to have the audacity of hope and dreaming and optimism and, you know, our best days are ahead of us. Look, that's all great stuff. It's only when you look down into his record and you look at the policy he's recommending and you realize -- I think my favorite one was that in this Illinois state legislature he preserved the right of burglars to sue someone who shoots them as they break into a person's house. It's a law regarding the Castle doctrine and firearms ownership and Barack Obama felt it was very important if you break into someone's house and they shoot you that you have a right to sue them. This guy, not as moderate as his rhetoric.
Somehow, I think this gem has the makings of quite an effective "contrast" campaign ad this Fall!
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John McCain Says We Will Never Surrender to Terrorists - Video 2/15/08
Here is a local news report from WISN-Milwaukee on John McCain's day of campaigning across Wisconsin on February 15. McCain is shown speaking in Oshkosh, La Crosse, and finishing in Milwaukee. Among other things, McCain says if he is President we will never surrender to terrorists, and he would cut taxes on the American people. He also vowed to fight for every state in the November election, not ceding any state to the Demcrats.
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John McCain to Speak in Appleton, Wisconsin February 18
John McCain will speak in Appleton, Wisconsin on Monday, February 18, on the eve of the Wisconsin Primary:
APPLETON Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign confirmed Saturday that he will campaign in Appleton on Monday.
McCain, R-Ariz., the presumptive Republican nominee for president, will speak at the Outagamie County Republican Party’s Lincoln Day Dinner, which will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel in downtown Appleton.
Jack Voight of Appleton, a former Wisconsin state treasurer who is serving as the local contact, said tickets are $35 each and can be purchased from him through him until 3 p.m. Sunday. Voight said he can be reached at 920-475-0777.
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