PunditGuy

Everyone is buzzing about the statement today from DNC chairman Howard Dean who said on CBS’ “The Early Show” that he wants superdelegates to make a decision on the Democratic nomination by July 1.

Harry Smith asked if after the nominating contests end with the South Dakota and Montana primaries on June 3, “Do you want the superdelegates to have some sort of vote immediately so that you’ll know months in advance of the convention what the outcome is?”

Dean replied: “Well, I think the superdelegates have already been weighing in. I think that there’s 800 of them and 450 of them have already said who they’re for. I’d like the other 350 to say who they’re at some point between now and the first of July so we don’t have to take this into the convention.”

Remember, with Democrats, it’s not what they say that counts. It’s what they intend to say that matters. Shortly after Dr. Dean appeared on TV, an aide came forward with a “clarification”.

An aide explains that July 1 is not a drop-dead deadline: “The point is before the convention, ideally in June.”

Don’t believe any of this. Before the day is out, I expect a statement from the Clinton campaign clarifying even further that Chairman Howard Dean knows not of what he speaks. He’ll be discredited lickety-split. Clinton, as we heard yesterday, has no intention of quitting before the convention. My guess is someone told Dean he had to start taking a leadership role in this whole thing, and he decided to arbitrarily throw out the July 1 pseudo-deadline.

It ain’t gonna happen.

Technorati Tags:
2008 Election, DNC, Hillary Clinton, Howard Dean

Don’t think she’ll do it? Think again. Hillary spoke with Gretta Van Susteren from Fox and said the following about her fight to go all the way to the convention.

CLINTON: Well, you know, you can always go to the convention. That is what credential fights are for. You know, let’s have the Democratic Party go on record against seating the Michigan and Florida delegations three months before the general election? I don’t think that will happen. I think they will be seated. So that is where we are headed if we don’t get this worked out.

VAN SUSTEREN: What about the pledged delegates right now? Are they likely — do you have any position on them sort of moving over in one direction or the other?

CLINTON: Well, you know, delegates are free to exercise their judgment, all delegates, whether you are from a caucus or you are from a primary or your so-called appointed delegate.

It’s one thing to read the words she said, but you must watch the video to really see the anger and determination Clinton has in this. If she’s not the nominee, she’ll make sure everyone goes down. When you think about it, she’s pulling a suicide bomber move on the Democratic Party.

Video, via NewsBusters, here.

Technorati Tags:
2008 Election, DNC, Hillary Clinton

Oh, he’s the change candidate alright…as in…dollars and change.

Obama: “I think that we can have a capital gains rate that is higher than 15 percent. If it–and if it, you know–when I talk to people like Warren Buffet or others and I ask them, you know, what’s–how much of a difference is it going to be if it’s 20 or 25 percent, they say, look, if it’s within that range then it’s not going to distort, I think, economic decision making. On the other hand, what it will also do is first of all help out the federal treasury, which is running a credit card up with the bank of China and other countries. What it will also do, I think, is allow us to make investments in basic scientific research, in infrastructure, in broadband lines, in green energy and will allow us to give us–give some relief to middle class and working class families who have been driving this economy as consumers but have been doing it through credit cards and home equity loans. They’re not going to be able to do that. And if we want the economy to continue to go strong, then we’ve got to make sure that they’re getting a little relief as well”.

After paying for all the new programs and his multi-billion dollar mandated healthcare program, there won’t be any money left over for the (as yet undefined) middle class. This is change? How is this any different than the same tax increase proposals given by Democrat candidates of the past?

Technorati Tags:
2008 Election, Barack Obama, Liberalism, Tax

The school board of South Bend have rejected a request by Hillary Clinton to hold a presidential campaign rally in the Washington High School gym on Friday. South Bend Community School Corp. board President Sheila Bergerson says Clinton’s visit would have interfered with the school day. She says plans called for juniors and seniors to attend the public rally.

School board members denied the request Wednesday night.

Bergerson says she worried that the school corporation would give the impression it was endorsing Clinton.

Clinton will instead be at Mishawaka High School. Apparently they have no problem endorsing her.

Technorati Tags:
Hillary Clinton, Indiana

Let’s just say…I’m less than enthusiastic about this passage from a speech John McCain delivered today to the World Affairs Council in Los Angeles.

One of those responsibilities is to be a good and reliable ally to our fellow democracies. We cannot build an enduring peace based on freedom by ourselves, and we do not want to. We have to strengthen our global alliances as the core of a new global compact — a League of Democracies — that can harness the vast influence of the more than one hundred democratic nations around the world to advance our values and defend our shared interests.

At the heart of this new compact must be mutual respect and trust. Recall the words of our founders in the Declaration of Independence, that we pay “decent respect to the opinions of mankind.” Our great power does not mean we can do whatever we want whenever we want, nor should we assume we have all the wisdom and knowledge necessary to succeed. We need to listen to the views and respect the collective will of our democratic allies. When we believe international action is necessary, whether military, economic, or diplomatic, we will try to persuade our friends that we are right. But we, in return, must be willing to be persuaded by them.

Why does this sound like John Kerry’s “passing the global test”. Remember that? If you don’t, here it is.

“No president, through all of American history, has ever ceded — and nor would I — the right to preempt in any way necessary, to protect the United States of America,” the Democrat told moderator Jim Lehrer during the debate.

“But if and when you do it, you’ve got to do it in a way that passes the, the test, that passes the global test where your countrymen, your people, understand fully why you’re doing what you’re doing, and you can prove to the world that you did it for legitimate reasons.”

This definitely isn’t the John McCain we heard during CPAC. It does sound more like the John McCain for Independents and moderate Democrats. It sounds like the John McCain for Amnesty candidate.

Worried yet?

If we elect this John McCain, Chavez will have nothing to worry about.

Technorati Tags:
Amnesty, John Kerry, John McCain, War, Policy, Pacifist

A blog at the Washington Post asks the following question:< ?p>

Considering her active involvement in her mother’s campaign, is it fair game to ask Chelsea Clinton about the Lewinsky scandal?

The question came up because of what occurred yesterday in Indianapolis. Chelsea was asked by someone in the audience if her mothers credibility was hurt by the Monica Lewinsky matter. She answered flatly, “I don’t think that’s any of your business.”

That’s not a very “Clintonian” response, but some slack can be cut due to her relative Q&A inexperience. The fact is, she could have talked about how the whole thing strengthened her family, brought them closer together, blah blah blah. It would have been a lie of course, but it would have been effective. The media would have played the sound bite again and again. Unfortunately, Chelsea’s response just illustrates how sensitive the whole issue remains for her and her family.

But, back to the question of fairness. The answer of course, it is absolutely fair game to ask Chelsea this question. All the rules changed when the Clinton’s agreed to let her campaign for Hillary. And when you represent the campaign, all questions should be expected, even the most personal ones. She can answer any way she wants. There shouldn’t be any code of conduct amongst the media anymore as it relates to Chelsea. She’s not a child anymore. She’s an adult, a public personality, and a surrogate for the campaign.

Technorati Tags:
Bill Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, Hillary Clinton