Romney out

That's unfortunate. (4.00 / 2)

I was hoping he'd try to take McCain to the convention.

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by: Douglas E. Lindner @ Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 12:07:13 PM CST

all that (0.00 / 0)

money, wasted... still has a lot of debt, break out the check book...

Anyone think he might endorse Huckabee to give McCain a challenge?

I worked/voted for Bill Richardson. Jeanne Shaheen 08! Lynch 08! CSP 08! CDNH!

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by: sdoyle @ Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 12:22:19 PM CST

Good question (0.00 / 0)

I think he'd almost have to, but then again, I think of the rumors that Huckleburry wants the VP spot.  

Obsessed is just a word the lazy use to describe the dedicated.

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by: Justin Credible @ Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 12:44:33 PM CST

[ Parent ]

He'll stay out of it. (4.00 / 2)

Romney seems unlikely to explicitly endorse anybody until Huckabee drops out in a month or so (or it's obvious that he soon will), at which point he'll heartily praise Huckabee and heartily endorse McCain.  He has lingering hopes for 2012, and doesn't want to tick anyone off.

Meanwhile, look for wailing and gnashing of teeth from the right wing as they see themselves forced to root for either the one who won't hate the poor people or the one who won't hate the brown people.

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by: Tim C. @ Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 18:06:36 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Money wasted? (4.00 / 2)

Redistribution of wealth, baby! Woot!

Beachcombings Jewelry

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by: rambler american @ Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 20:19:59 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Freedom's just another word for (4.00 / 1)

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by: Tim C. @ Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 22:36:38 PM CST

[ Parent ]

A "Unified" Republican Party... (0.00 / 0)

A "unified" Republican Party, depending on what the definition of "unified" is, gives them a chance in November -- though still not a very good one.  

Whomever Democrats nominate, and whether both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are on the ticket in some order, we have to be unified too.  Then, by adding millions of Undeclared voters, Independent voters, Never-Voted-Before voters, Hardly-Cared-Before-But-Sure-Do-Now voters, and Concerned-About-Peace-In-The-World Republican voters, Democratic candidates across the board will do well.  

But it would have been so sweet if Mitt Romney had cried all the way to the Republican Convention.  I'm still hoping for my "dream" Republican ticket of John McCain and Mike Huckabee.  The One Hundred Year War - Rewrite The Constitution With My Preacher's Touch ticket.  

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by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 13:13:44 PM CST

McHuck! (0.00 / 0)

"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt   [I'm an advisor to the NHDP Coordinated Campaign]

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by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 15:50:59 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Mike Huckleberry n/t (0.00 / 0)

This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force.

   Dorothy Parker

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by: JonnyBBad @ Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 19:20:21 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I wouldnt underestimate McCain (4.00 / 3)

Or Huckabee for that matter. If the election is about the war or theocratic politics, you are right. But dont think the GOP wont try hard to re-frame the issues.

John McCain,like all of us, is a complex being.

Some of the parts of McCain are incredibly appealing-- spending five years being abused in a North Vietnamese prison and then, joining with the anti-war Kerry to champion normalization of relations with Vietnam. (hint: think Mandela and reconciliation commission). The fact that he was a leader in campaign finance, was one of the first
republicans to accept global warming; went against his party in voting against Bush's tax give away to the rich etc. The fact that he deplored the Swift boating of Kerry. The truly wonderful  story of his ( and his wife's) adoption of a orphan child from a refugee camp in Bangladesh. All this while 527's are demonizing our candidate.

Huckabee has a strong economic populist streak that may just play well in a recession if they can frame the Democrat as the tool of K Street or Wall Street.

McCain is by far the strongest candidate the GOP has given an overwhelmingly bad situation for them. He is capable of winning and we need to be focused if we dont want to see a Scalia/Aliota/ Thomas clone destroy any hope for economic, racial,  sexual orientation and gender equality for the rest of  our lives. ( Which may be shortened considerably by an environmental catastrophe that follows a GOP victory).

"But, in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope." Si se puede. Yes we can.  

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by: Paul Twomey @ Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 16:45:01 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Yes! (4.00 / 3)

McCain is by far the strongest candidate the GOP has given an overwhelmingly bad situation for them.

But the funniest part by far is how the GOP base doesn't realize it.  They have no idea he is their best chance.

One bright spot is that they will be blinded by that incapacity of seeing his electoral advantages relative to the others and that they stay home on election day.

Wonder if Sununu's fired now.

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by: Dean Barker @ Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 18:41:18 PM CST

[ Parent ]

SHHH! Don't tell 'em! n/t (0.00 / 0)

It's time for a change and I need a nap. Or is it the other way around?

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by: GreyMike @ Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 21:02:32 PM CST

[ Parent ]

There is a good chance many will stay home but (4.00 / 1)

that will be determined by how the election is framed and by our choice of a candidate. If we choose Senator Clinton, the demonization is facilitated and so is the Get Out the Vote task of the GOP, because they have the ultimate base energizer.

That alone is not a sufficient reason  to choose Senator Obama but it is a reality that we need to factor in the decision and if HRC is our nominee we better be ready for very ugly trench warfare.

"But, in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope." Si se puede. Yes we can.  

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by: Paul Twomey @ Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 07:07:24 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Just how she likes it. (4.00 / 1)

I'm tired of hating half of the country.

Too bad the Clintons can't figure any other way to get back into power.

The giant finds its gait.

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 07:26:40 AM CST

[ Parent ]

All the more reason we need to make sure we have a Blue Congress. (0.00 / 0)

To circle the wagons in case the worst happens, and to enable some serious progress if the best happens.

It's time for a change and I need a nap. Or is it the other way around?

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by: GreyMike @ Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 18:34:16 PM CST

[ Parent ]

And the desire to keep Congress blue... (4.00 / 1)

...is all the more reason to have someone at the top of the ballot who down-ballot candidates across the nation will be happy to be identified with.

All the red-state Dems who've been endorsing Obama aren't just doing it out of idealism and good taste.  They're also doing it because they want to be reelected, and because they want the Democrats running for Congress or the legislature in their states to be strengthened, not undermined. Kerry -- whatever you may think or have thought about him -- was not a help in this regard.  These Democrats -- who know their constituents far better than you or I -- do not believe that Hillary Clinton would be any help either.  They do believe that Barack Obama will be.

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by: Tim C. @ Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 19:32:05 PM CST

[ Parent ]

How about the rest of the story? (0.00 / 0)

Governors in swing states like Ohio and Pennsylvania have endorsed Hillary.  The Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico endorsed Hillary. Evan Bayh, the senator from the Republican state of Indiana, endorsed Hillary. Silvestri Reyes, Democratic congressman from Texas, endorsed Hillary. Nevada Demcoratic congresswoman Shelley Berkley. Congressman John Lewis, Georgia.
There are a lot more, but I want to watch Lost.  I'lll just finish up by pointing out that Hillary won the red states of Tennessee, Oklahoma, Arizona, and Arkansas, and basically tied in the swing states of New Mexico and Missouri.  

Energy and persistence conquer all things.

Benjamin Franklin

I'm a strategist for the NH Coordinated Campaign

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by: Kathy Sullivan @ Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 20:13:31 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Did anybody else see CPAC booing McCain today? (0.00 / 0)

They must be really mad about Romney getting out.  I think they were still hoping that if they went to a convention, they could get their "dream ticket" after all: Cheney-Voldemort.

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by: Douglas E. Lindner @ Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 19:22:33 PM CST

Faux News (0.00 / 0)

had McCain tagged as D-Ariz. on the screen shot at CPAC...thank you Keith Olberman...you can't make this stuff up

This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force.

   Dorothy Parker

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by: JonnyBBad @ Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 21:15:37 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Could be worse. (4.00 / 1)

I understand that the Richardson "victory party" on the night of the New Hampshire Primary, which I was at (yes, those are always pre-named "victory" party) was played on C-SPAN with the subtitle "Gov. Bill Richardson D-Mexico"

You can't make this stuff up.  Well, actually you could, but you really shouldn't...

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by: Douglas E. Lindner @ Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 22:14:51 PM CST

[ Parent ]

that picture is so, so wrong (4.00 / 2)

MOMA isn't anywhere near Chelsea, it's uptown. Idiots.

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by: michael57 @ Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 21:04:49 PM CST

Maybe she meant DOMA? n/t (0.00 / 0)

The giant finds its gait.

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 21:12:37 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Damnit Jack! Learn to curb your use of four-letter words! I find that one particularly offensive. (0.00 / 0)

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by: Douglas E. Lindner @ Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 21:15:52 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I'm the villian of the forum (4.00 / 3)

Just ask Kathy.

Well first there is Burt Cohen..

Well then probably Tony Schinella...

Ah, Bresler gets troll rated....

Oh ya, Rep. Splaine gets chastised....

Damn, for a sec, I thought I was significant.

The giant finds its gait.

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 21:21:07 PM CST

[ Parent ]

You are significant. (0.00 / 0)

Just try not to use ultra-offensive words like "DOMA".

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by: Douglas E. Lindner @ Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 22:16:01 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Didn't the Clintons allow that to go forward? n/t (0.00 / 0)

The giant finds its gait.

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 23:26:05 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Well one of them signed it, does that count? (0.00 / 0)

I believe it was a compromise to delay Constitutional Amendment proposals.  It should be repealed now, though, since it's pretty clear no Constitutional Amendment on homophobia is going to get 2/3 of Congress and 3/4 of the States..though it would come embarrassingly close.  And by that, I mean, if it gets even one vote, it's an embarrassment to our country.

For now, I believe DOMA serves to prevent the federal government from extending due benefits to legally recognized couples in States such as Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, New Jersey, California, etc.  Even aside from being bigoted and homophobic, it tramples all over the 9th and 10th Amendments, not to mention the 1st.

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by: Douglas E. Lindner @ Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 00:15:16 AM CST

[ Parent ]

The DOMA vote (4.00 / 1)

Representatives Voting "No"
Only one Republican Representative, Gunderson, voted no; so did the Independent, Sanders.

The remainder were Democrats: Abercrombie, Ackerman, Becerra, Beilenson, Berman, Brown (CA), Brown (OH), Collins (MI), Conyers, Coyne, DeFazio, Dellums, Dixon, Engel, Eshoo, Farr, Fattah, Foglietta, Frank (MA), Gejdenson, Gutierrez, Harman, Hastings (FL), Hinchey, Jackson (IL), Kennedy (MA), Kennedy (RI), Lantos, Lewis (GA), Lofgren, Maloney, Markey, Martinez, Matsui, McDermott, McKinney, Meek, Millender-McDonald, Miller (CA), Mink, Moran, Nadler, Olver, Pallone, Payne (NJ), Pelosi, Rangel, Rivers, Roybal-Allard, Sabo, Schroeder, Scott, Serrano, Skaggs, Slaughter, Stark, Stokes, Studds, Torres, Towns, Velazquez, Waters, Waxman, Williams, Woolsey.

Two Democratic Representatives abstained: Jackson-Lee (TX) and Owens.

Representatives not present (22):
Democrats: Brewster, Clay, Fields (LA), Ford, Gibbons, Hall (OH), Johnston, LaFalce, Lincoln, Meehan, Thompson, Thornton, Watt (NC).
Republicans: Dickey, Dunn, Ensign, Flanagan, Greenwood, Longley, McDade, Roberts, Young (FL).

Senators Voting "No"
No Republican Senators voted no. All were Democrats: Akaka (D-HI), Boxer (D-CA), Feingold (D-WI), Feinstein (D-CA), Inouye (D-HI), Kennedy (D-MA), Kerrey (D-NE), Kerry (D-MA), Moseley-Braun (D-IL), Moynihan (D-NY), Pell (D-RI), Robb (D-VA), Simon (D-IL), Wyden (D-OR).

Senate Vote By State:

Alabama: Heflin (D-AL), Yea Shelby (R-AL), Yea
Alaska: Murkowski (R-AK), Yea Stevens (R-AK), Yea
Arizona: Kyl (R-AZ), Yea McCain (R-AZ), Yea
Arkansas: Bumpers (D-AR), Yea Pryor (D-AR), Not Voting
California: Boxer (D-CA), Nay Feinstein (D-CA), Nay
Colorado: Brown (R-CO), Yea Campbell (R-CO), Yea
Connecticut: Dodd (D-CT), Yea Lieberman (D-CT), Yea
Delaware: Biden (D-DE), Yea Roth (R-DE), Yea
Florida: Graham (D-FL), Yea Mack (R-FL), Yea
Georgia: Coverdell (R-GA), Yea Nunn (D-GA), Yea
Hawaii: Akaka (D-HI), Nay Inouye (D-HI), Nay
Idaho: Craig (R-ID), Yea Kempthorne (R-ID), Yea
Illinois: Moseley-Braun (D-IL), Nay Simon (D-IL), Nay
Indiana: Coats (R-IN), Yea Lugar (R-IN), Yea
Iowa: Grassley (R-IA), Yea Harkin (D-IA), Yea
Kansas: Frahm (R-KS), Yea Kassebaum (R-KS), Yea
Kentucky: Ford (D-KY), Yea McConnell (R-KY), Yea
Louisiana: Breaux (D-LA), Yea Johnston (D-LA), Yea
Maine: Cohen (R-ME), Yea Snowe (R-ME), Yea
Maryland: Mikulski (D-MD), Yea Sarbanes (D-MD), Yea
Massachusetts: Kennedy (D-MA), Nay Kerry (D-MA), Nay
Michigan: Abraham (R-MI), Yea Levin (D-MI), Yea
Minnesota: Grams (R-MN), Yea Wellstone (D-MN), Yea
Mississippi: Cochran (R-MS), Yea Lott (R-MS), Yea
Missouri: Ashcroft (R-MO), Yea Bond (R-MO), Yea
Montana: Baucus (D-MT), Yea Burns (R-MT), Yea
Nebraska: Exon (D-NE), Yea Kerrey (D-NE), Nay
Nevada: Bryan (D-NV), Yea Reid (D-NV), Yea
New Hampshire: Gregg (R-NH), Yea Smith (R-NH), Yea
New Jersey: Bradley (D-NJ), Yea Lautenberg (D-NJ), Yea
New Mexico: Bingaman (D-NM), Yea Domenici (R-NM), Yea
New York: D'Amato (R-NY), Yea Moynihan (D-NY), Nay
North Carolina: Faircloth (R-NC), Yea Helms (R-NC), Yea
North Dakota: Conrad (D-ND), Yea Dorgan (D-ND), Yea
Ohio: DeWine (R-OH), Yea Glenn (D-OH), Yea
Oklahoma: Inhofe (R-OK), Yea Nickles (R-OK), Yea
Oregon: Hatfield (R-OR), Yea Wyden (D-OR), Nay
Pennsylvania: Santorum (R-PA), Yea Specter (R-PA), Yea
Rhode Island: Chafee (R-RI), Yea Pell (D-RI), Nay
South Carolina: Hollings (D-SC), Yea Thurmond (R-SC), Yea
South Dakota: Daschle (D-SD), Yea Pressler (R-SD), Yea
Tennessee: Frist (R-TN), Yea Thompson (R-TN), Yea
Texas: Gramm (R-TX), Yea Hutchison (R-TX), Yea
Utah: Bennett (R-UT), Yea Hatch (R-UT), Yea
Vermont: Jeffords (R-VT), Yea Leahy (D-VT), Yea
Virginia: Robb (D-VA), Nay Warner (R-VA), Yea
Washington: Gorton (R-WA), Yea Murray (D-WA), Yea
West Virginia: Byrd (D-WV), Yea Rockefeller (D-WV), Yea
Wisconsin: Feingold (D-WI), Nay Kohl (D-WI), Yea
Wyoming: Simpson (R-WY), Yea Thomas (R-WY), Yea  

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by: Ray Buckley @ Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 03:27:46 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Thank you for finding that. (0.00 / 0)

I'm not too surprised by most of the votes, given the circumstances, but pleasantly surprised the future Speaker's Nay vote.

That said, it's very clear that circa 2008, there arent 38 States that would ratify that abomination of an amendment, so it's time to repeal (even for those who supported the compromise), and I'm amazed there haven't been any serious attempts to do so (that I've heard of, anyway) in the 110th Congress.

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by: Douglas E. Lindner @ Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 15:31:38 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Some compromise? (0.00 / 0)

Even aside from being bigoted and homophobic, it tramples all over the 9th and 10th Amendments, not to mention the 1st.

You won't like this, but I'll say it anyways. Accomodating the "bigoted and homophobic" was understandable, if it significantly pushed the social engineering of America's collective conscience closer to the event horizon of true equality. (In a 1990s context. I think we are now at that event horizon, so homophobia is intolerable.)

Subverting the Constitution breaks down the fabric of our nation in such a way that any deferral of true virtue and ideals are placed at risk of ever yielding reward. No progressive agenda can be instituted, if the framework on which it is built is structurally unsound. That framework is our Constitution.

The Constitution cannot "tinkered" with. Without it, we have no social bearings and compromise becomes surrender.


The giant finds its gait.

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 07:46:43 AM CST

[ Parent ]

You're right, the Constitution can't be tinkered with. That doesn't excuse DOMA. (0.00 / 0)

I'm going to go ahead and assume that a lot of the Dems who voted for it did so because they were in favor of compromise, not in favor of bigotry.  However, I still don't think 3/4 of the States would have ratified that abomination of an amendment ten years ago.

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by: Douglas E. Lindner @ Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 15:25:17 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Comment of the week! lol. (4.00 / 1)

Wonder if Sununu's fired now.

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by: Dean Barker @ Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 21:21:00 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Chelsea/Clinton News (4.00 / 1)

http://www.manhattanmedia.com/...

Chelsea Clinton News

One of the oldest, continuously published weekly newspapers in Manhattan, Chelsea Clinton News has been providing neighborhood information for 65 years. Devoted to the upscale neighborhoods bounded by 14th Street to the south and 59th Street to the north, between Fifth Avenue and the Hudson River, the Chelsea Clinton News keeps its dedicated subscribers up-to-date on the comings and goings that impact upon their communities.

This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force.

   Dorothy Parker

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by: JonnyBBad @ Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 21:51:13 PM CST

[ Parent ]