Which Dem Is Better Able to Beat John McCain?

I find it really interesting that the "conventional wisdom" totally misses the fact that it's absolutely a major issue that Hillary is female. There are a lot more women than men voters and a growing number of males who were raised by single mothers and have virtually no issue seeing a woman "in charge". It's time for Hillary and she'll win handily in a general election.

Clinton or Obama can win this one...especially if they choose the right running mate (Mark Warner) and put Virginia solidly in play.

The problem with Obama is that he's been given a "pass" by the media as well as the Democratic establishment. Recall the backlash when anyone even HINTED that maybe the Repugnicans would use Obama's past drug use against him?

I don't think we've seen the worst on Obama. Whereas Hillary is a known quantity. Yes, she's divisive. But her negatives are already known. Her numbers can only go up...while Obama's can most certainly go down.

I'm voting for Hillary.

I agree with Rob that the chick factor is being overlooked in the general matchup. Against Obama, Hillary's advantage with women is somewhat neutralized, because they're both candidates of (at least demographic) change. But for women wavering between a McCain and a dem, the chick factor could make the difference.

(On the other hand, there can be a 5 point gender gap in any given democratic primary--say 55% of voters are female, 45% male--while in the general election, that overall gap is far smaller. In other words, Democrats are more likely to be women, and visa versa.)

True, 30 to 40something percent of the electorate would never vote for Clinton. (Though one woman did tell NPR that if the vote came down to Clinto vs. Osama bin Laden, she'd have to hold her nose and vote for Clinton). But with McCain as the GOP nominee, the election is likely going to come down to within five points no matter who the Democrat is.

So the real question is, assuming that Hillary motivates the Republican base to come out and vote against her as much as pollsters predict, can she compensate by motivating the democratic base even more. And the interesting thing is, according to pollster Stan Greenberg, is that she does.

The other thing to keep in mind is that while Obama is a far better speech giver than Clinton, she's a better debater, willing to go for the jugular, and with a breathtaking command of policy.

Now, whether or not the electorate will ever start examining policy as a way to inform their decision is anybody's guess.

It's a little too glib to say that Obama inspires, and Clinton informs, but not totally off the mark. Which approach works better will against a "straight shooter" like McCain? Dunno.

Only Hillary will get the right out to vote, despite McCain. Besides, always vote for who you want from who your offered. Otherwise it's a wasted vote.

i think they both match up well against John Kyl

What about the appeal of Obama among younger voters -- his apparent ability to bring new voters to the polls? Jonathan mentions the age spread between Obama and McCain, but IMO it could be a far bigger factor than is being represented here.

Hillary is the best candidate.
and McCaine is a cluster bomb dud.He should have run when he was sane in 2000

I'd give the edge to Obama just like the polls indicate. He offers the country a totally different perspective on the Iraq war, something the country is hungry for. Of course, his lack of experience is his biggest vulnerability, and his desire to talk to leaders of rogue states is not necessarily a plus either. Hillary's negatives are too high and she is a poor orator compared to Obama. And, let's be frank, there are myriad scandals in the Rose Law Firm's past that can be dredged up if need be. She claims to have been vetted, but let's face it; Hillary is a dirty girl. Obama gives Kennedy-esque new life to the Democratic Party that would sway more Independents like myself. I would seriously consider voting for Obama over McCain. I will NEVER cast a vote for Hillary. Take that for what it's worth.

1) As for 'experience', George Bush had plenty of experience' and look what that got us!

2)What about 'mandates'? Yeah, what about them ... what about the 'mandate' that WE THE PEOPLE sent to Congress in November of '06? WE THE PEOPLE don't need more government 'mandates' thrown our way until we can see some movement on the 'mandate' message that We The People sent to Congress. Hillary is all about 'mandating' to We The People, and Obama less so. Pelosi and Reid are spineless, bad jokes.

3) Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton???? Do you REALLY want the Office of the Presidency to be a family affair; a dynasty to be shared by only two families? Truman was the President when I was born. I may be old, but I prefer CHANGE, and YES, even for the sake of 'change', perhaps. To clarify for BushCo types though, I'm not talking about the chump-change that you've been talking about for all but your rich executive lobbyist pals.

4) With Hillary we know precisely what we are getting ... and much of it is distasteful and bad for the majority; bad for the American middle-class and lower incomes. Wal-Mart board member, for instance, campaign donations from Rupert Murdoch, for instance. An advocate of 'Free-Trade' over Fair-Trade', for instance. When pressed about her and her ex-President husband's NAFTA-CAFTA-Anti-American-Labor stances, Hillary waffled because with her finger in the air, as always, Hillary could feel the breeze changing directions, thanks in large part to John Edwards. Hillary voted to let the Shrub invade Iraq, for instance. No question in my mind that Hillary Clinton is Republican-Lite, and a friend of the Corporatocracy. A kept woman. So can she still become President, sure she can ... because lots of Republicans will prefer Hillary over Grandpa McCain ultimately. So, if you have been happy with the status-quo, Clinton is your candidate.

5) It is said that familiarity breeds contempt. We are all too familiar with Ms. Clinton; for many of us, the unknowns of Barack Obama ... any perceived lack of substance they might associate with him ... well, those are preferable - by far, to the contempt that Hillary has bred into so many. So, I say: 'surprise me!' If you really want to know Obama's stance on issues you only have to visit his campaign web-site and do some actual READING. He is as clear and as substantive on the issues as Hillary. The details , the minutia, and the administrivia of any program, any issue, any proposed legislation, will continue to be lobbied and hashed out in Congress. So, I'll take Obama's inspiring presentations over Clinton's studious and 'mandated' ones any day.

6) Back in the 60s, as a 5th grader, in the D.C. suburbs, I got into a playground tussle with a 6th grader over the Kennedy-Nixon debates. Even as a young kid I was willing to resort to literally fighting for what JFK represented, instilled, and inspired. JFK's daughter has endorsed Barack Obama this week. That's good enough for this baby-boomer ... that's good enough for me.

Clinton vs McCain and the "woman" thing. I have a strange feeling today's baby boom women flocking to Clinton will be November's security moms voting for McCain. McCain offers a continuation of George Bush (only more beligerent, if possible). Clinton offers more...well, Clintons. I think when chosing between the two alot of people will chose the devil they know (McCain) over the devil who will twist and contort in any and every direction (the Clintons).

McCain vs Obama is a different story. Obama offers a stark change from the toxic Bush years, and a change from the toxic Clinton years, as well. Its Obama's magic moment. If he doesn't pull it off now, he won't in the future. He excites young voters, independants, Democrats and dissatisfied Republicans. That doesn't happen often. By comparison McCain will look ancient and out of touch.

Obama vs McCain. I say Obama wins by 4 points.

Clinton vs McCain. I say McCain wins by 8 to 10 points.

Mojo has missed the obvious. 'None of the above' seems worlds of appropriate. McCain is "mad as a March hare" and Clinton has all of that Clinton baggage. Her being "female" is mostly irrelevant. Didn't Christine Ferraro break that 'gender barrier' way back when? (Christine Ferraro? Hmmm...) The choices given America by the two 'war parties' is mostly abysmal. There's a "dummy" and a lunatic and a party hack and some crazy religious zealot and that Mormon clown and some guy most of America never heard of and you see? The two 'war parties' give America about nothing. We are screwed!

"We are screwed!"

I will never understand the defeatist victimology.

Man up, we are the country - the people - and we are in charge if we assert ourselves.

That is impossible curled up in a fetal position whining about getting screwed.

We are always screwed by a government gone wild. What else is new. We got here by people thinking the government is in charge.

Like so many surrender monkey's complaining of their loss after the already gave up.

There is nothing wrong with the country that can't be made right. The country has survived two terms of Bush - we can endure anything.

Grow a spine and stand up for what is right. The "we are screwed" is such a submissive weak position - if that is your "position" use some KY or it will continue to be less than pleasurable.

Obama is not the one. OBAMA's Racist Church states: Trinity United Church of Christ
About Us: We are a congregation which is Unashamedly Black … Our roots in the Black religious experience and tradition are deep, lasting and permanent. We are an African people, and remain "true to our native land," the mother continent, the cradle of civilization. God has superintended our pilgrimage through the days of slavery, the days of segregation, and the long night of racism. It is God who gives us the strength and courage to continuously address injustice as a people, and as a congregation. We constantly affirm our trust in God through cultural expression of a Black worship service and ministries which address the Black Community.
Trinity United Church of Christ adopted the Black Value System written by the Manford Byrd Recognition Committee chaired by Vallmer Jordan in 1981. We believe in the following precepts and covenantal statements. These Black Ethics must be taught and exemplified in homes, churches, nurseries and schools, wherever Blacks are gathered. They must reflect on the following concepts:

2. Commitment to the Black Community
3. Commitment to the Black Family
6. Adherence to the Black Work Ethic
8. Disavowal of the Pursuit of "Middleclassness"Disavowal of the Pursuit of “Middleclassness”
Classic methodology on control of captives teaches that captors must keep the captive ignorant educationally, but trained sufficiently well to serve the system. Also, the captors must be able to identify the “talented tenth” of those subjugated, especially those who show promise of providing the kind of leadership that might threaten the captor’s control.
Those so identified as separated from the rest of the people by:
Killing them off directly, and/or fostering a social system that encourages them to kill off one another.
Placing them in concentration camps, and/or structuring an economic environment that induces captive youth to fill the jails and prisons.
Seducing them into a socioeconomic class system which while training them to earn more dollars, hypnotizes them into believing they are better than others and teaches them to think in terms of “we” and “they” instead of “us”…

10. Pledge to Allocate Regularly, a Portion of Personal Resources for Strengthening and Supporting Black Institutions
11. Pledge allegiance to all Black leadership who espouse and embrace the Black Value System
12. Personal commitment to embracement of the Black Value System.

Instead of "Black", put in Mexican or White and you will be called a racist.
Don't vote for Obama the Racist, vote for Senator Clinton, a friend of the California Mexican people.

I knew when I clicked on this Isabella would appear here somewhere. The above is a “cut and paste” from an earlier post. Seems like the Hillary camp has their people working overtime to spam the blogs and they can’t come up with anything creative (or it’s an Obama fan who is trying to make the Hillary people look desperate). Either way, it’s sad.

I do not know one woman who would vote for Hillary. In my community, being cheated on by your husband is the ultimate unforgivable act (let alone being embarrassed in front of the world). I guess some women are use to it. I don’t get it.

RadioBlogger nailed it. 2 families in the White House for 20 to 24 consecutive years??? That does not sound like democracy to me.

Hillary has experience? At what? She has been in the Senate for 2 years longer than Obama? And what did she accomplish there? For the Iraq War, for No Child Left Behind… That is a bunch of BAD experience.

Obama and drugs? BFD. He’s owned up to it and it is a non issue.

In the past, the right wing had non issues like flag burning and gays to get them out of the churches to the voting booth. So far, they don’t have that. The problem is that to them, Hilliary is all that and more. She will boost turnout on the right-wing side just because it’s her. Then again, the Right Wing may try to come up with their own WWJD candidate.

If Hillary is nominated, I’m voting for McCain. I think that a large number of younger swing voters will. She is a lot more of the same and the same has sucked eggs to this point. McCain is a bit of the same where Obama is way far from the outside to even be in the ball park.

I never fully understood how inexperience in foreign policy can be overcome by the sheer will of someone who is "new" and provides a different approach than the status quo. It is appalling that this inexperience is being sifted through the media and spun into somewhat of an advantage.

The foreign policy experience thing is BS. Look at Clinton, Regan and Carter. How much foreign policy experience did they have before becoming president? People who can not articulate any reasonable critique throw it out there as a red hearing and people incapable of critical thought follow it.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN0345866120080205

Hillary better get the water works going pretty quick!

I was all set to vote for Hillary. in a 100' wide room, she and Obama stand millimeters from each other around 25 feet to the right of center. Hillary is 3 millimeters to the left of Obama in having slightly better environmental policies and a significantly better health care policy, despite the fact that neither of the two go anywhere near the correct path of removing profit incentive.

So, I had already pulled the lever for her. Then I noticed that there were still 6 levers for Democratic presidential candidates in NY. I noticed Kucinich was still on the list!! So, I couldn't resist. I voted for Ralph Nader ... um ... I mean Dennis Kucinich.

I had such a hard time deciding between Hillack Clintama and Barlary Obanton that I figured it didn't matter much which of the two really gets the Democratic nod.

I'll vote for either Hillary or Obama in the general election.

However, I hope my one pathetic little vote for Kucinich will give some impetus to the one who gets the nod to nudge just a tad farther to the left. Whatever.

At least I didn't come out of the booth feeling dirty for a change.

Oh, and the best part of voting is NY is the voting machines.

Grab large mechanical lever, pull to the right Kathunk!

Then pull small mechanical levers for candidates. Kathunkita Kathunkita Kathunkita.

Grab large mechanical lever, pull to the left Kathunk!

Try to hack that Diebold!!

The best candidate to beat John McCain is no longer running, even though he is still on the ballots today. I plan to vote for him regardless. Hopefully he will be offered the job of Vice President.

The fact that our current dullard in office is nothing more than a hood ornament for Cheney and the PNAC, I firmly believe a vote for Hilary would be more of the same. Some have called her "Bush Lite", and I think there is a lot of truth to that. She cackles and crows about her “experience”, but she has never worked a day in her life at a menial job making minimum wage. She has suckled at the teat of family, friends, large corporations, law firms, and government her entire adult life. You call that work? I call that privilege...and doesn't it read/sound a whole lot similar to our current potted-plant/president's resume?

I do think that Obama brings to the table a more honest forum, without being as naïve as some portray him to be (Bill Clinton, et al). After 7 years so far of Cheney running roughshod over the Constitution and the concept of the balance of power, there is no way Obama would be worse than the sock puppet we currently have in office. With the support of a Democrat majority in Congress, he could right the course.

As an independent, I HRC is the only way I won't be voting Democrat in this election. She is the most establishment of all the candidates, Republican or Democrat. A Clinton presidency would mean at least 24 (and probably 28) years of Bush\Clinton and enough is enough. My preference is for Obama, but I can live with McCain over Clinton.

Au contraire Cap'n, we are screwed and there are NO victims here. America gets what the two party elite offer to America. Mainstream media 'band-wagons' the offerings and that is as they say, that. So "man up" dawg and cop a clue. What the hell are you going to do? Opinions about the abysmal offerings from the Repukes and the Democraps are merely that, opinion. Give America an offering! Give America a candidate of SUBSTANCE! What? No spine for the hard work? Are you in need of some KY? Tell us what we need/should do there Cap'n Punk!

Isabella, where did you copy and paste this information from? It seems to me too that you are definitely from the Billary Camp. You of all people need to stop what you're doing. From your tone you sound very negative against African Americans. Do you know your history? Barack Obama is your cousin. You both share the same grandmother from Africa. When they enslaved the Africans and sent them to North America, South America, Central America Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, The Dom. Republic and all the little islands in the Carribean. Aren't you from one of these places? You are being used.

Isabella, stop the negativity. Barack Obama is trying to unify all people and make a change. Haven't you been watching Barack's rallies on TV? Save this type of meanness for the Republican Party.

MSO, cut out the Africa crap. I did not come from Africa. I am a proud Mexican woman. We are going to run California, so just get use to it. Obama is nothing but a racist. Don't be fooled. Black men are noted for treating women bad. Haven't you been reading any of Debra Dickerson's blogs?

Vote your heart? Sounds a little too much to Colbert for my taste. Cast a vote with an eye towards November and more importantly January 2009. We desperately need Democratic leadership in the White House, which I believe either Clinton or Obama can deliver, but only Obama has the capacity for tremendous coattails, which would allow hiim to actually move forward on our legislative priorities. If Clinton is the nominee, this may not be possible - she does not bring new voters or independents to the table - voters that could unseat a lot of incumbent Republicans in Congress.

you know, a lot of younger people keep mentioning the whole Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton era, and how everyone under 40 has had a presidential election with one of those two families in it, and you know what? we only have ourselves to blame. stop acting like we were some kind of victim in this. younger people are the people who AREN'T VOTING, so where was your anger and resentment when it mattered before? we does it all of a sudden matter now?

and speaking of the younger voter demographic, a lot of people my age (early 20s) were moved by the desire to get Bush out of office four years ago - everyone I knew voted. and it still didn't work. I wouldn't put a whole lot of clout in the hands of young voters, because when the time came four years ago, most still did diddly squat.

(I'm undecided and still undecided, btw.)

I think there is little doubt that McCain is going to get hammered in the general election. Once he is up against one Dem candidate, he will be face to face with a surge of rejection of 8 years of the ruinous policies of Bush/Cheney. It doesn't matter that he is not one of them--he has supported them repeatedly, most vigorously on the Iraq war which the American people by a large majority want ended yesterday. And by the time the November election is here, it is beginning to look like Americans will have endured a grinding recession that will have slashed jobs, tossed many families out of their homes and into bankruptcy, and added to the 47 million Americans lacking health insurance. All of this in addition to substantial erosion in value of the two key measures of middle class wealth--retirement funds savings and residences.

McCain or any other Republican candidate will be drowned in the economic tsunami headed our way.

Bob,

"McCain is going to get hammered in the general election."

I'd put some yellow caution tape around that claim. I thought the same thing about Bush in 2000 - so much so I voted for Nader. UGH!

On my planet Bush would have never been close. So much for my planet, eh?

Capt/Bob,

Hate to be a cynic/realist, but it doesn't matter who wins in November (for those keeping score at home, my preference would be Obama). With a spineless Congress that kowtows to lobbyists and their money (like the current one in place), anything that is specifically for "We the people..." will not get done.

Isabella - If you are Mexican, then you need to worry about your own country because it is a total mess!
As for the rest of your racist comments, I think that you may be better suited to Franco than Hillary.
And to read Dickerson and say you know something about the black culture is like me saying that I watch George Lopez and know something about Mexicans. Grow up.

Isabella, give it a rest. It is Black History month, have we all forgotten about this? This is the month when we remember ME. By the way Isabella, you are a ******, and a racist, so just shut up.(See Pastor Bob, I did not use the bad words).

My "Dream Team" Democratic Ticket is Gore-Obama.
While they held office OBama would have time to get more experience and then run himself after Gore leaves.
My fantasy is that the final delegates split, the convention is deadlocked and they turn to Gore (NOT LIKELY OR REALISTIC, BUT I STILL LIKE IT). Gore then picks Obama as his running mate.
Then, Bill Clinton can be Secretary of State. Hillary can continue to develop her leadership in the Senate as heir-appearant to Kennedy.
Regardless, some Republican needs to be appointed to the President's cabinet and to other positions to bring people together.
My fear is McCain wins the nomination, selects Huckabee for VP, dies sometime in office, and Huckabee becomes president.

Readers of Mother Jones understand the frustration of this Presidency,however,these open discussions should be about electing the best candidate for the next four years.
It's too simplistic to state the obvious --"we are screwed" . If you are a history student of humanity it's a Cain and Able world.
Unfortunately for McCain, another bubble broke- "the sub-prime market", which is really the underlying immoral credit industry.
Suddenly it's back to the previous BUSH downfall "It's the Economy Stupid".
This time it might prevent the Republicans from retaining their dream of designing a new world order.
The economy will recover, there is simply too much excess money chasing fewer investment opportunities.
What will not change is the threat of radical Islam and the threat of emerging foreign powers to overtake the US.
McCain, with all his warts understands the claim by a former Russian Chess champion about Putin --While the current US foreign policy leaders are playing checkers, others are playing Chess.
The next President has to be seen as a Chess player.

WHEN DR. FRANKENROVE & FAUX NEWS
ARE DONE WITH THE DEMOCRATIC
NOMINE %51 OF AMERICA WILL
BELIVE OBAMAS WILLIE HORTON
WHO CONVERTED TO ISLAM IN PRISON......IF ITS HILLARY
THEN THE,LL SAY SHE SMOKED
CRACK WITH WILLIE HORTON AND IS CARRYING HIS LOVE BABY...
CLINTON & OBAMMA POLL A WHOLE
PERCENTAGE POINT ABOVE POPS MC CAIN ("AMERICA JUST LOVES THE HELL OUT OF OLD MAN REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTS")WOW! LADY KAZAN!!....A WHOLE !%
....AND THIS IS PRE GOP CONVENTON ...PRE ROVE 1 F**KING PERCENT ...MAYBE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WONT LET FOX NEWS
SELECT THEIR NOMINE IN 2012
( REPUBLICANS ONLY RUN THE BOB DOLE CANIDATES IN THE ELECTIONS THEIR SUPPOSED TO LOSE)....WITH THE MOST UNPOPULAR INCUMBENT PRESIDENT IN HISTORY THE 2008
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTON
SHOULD,VE BEEN THE NEXT JONESTOWN.....ALL THAT,LL
BE LEFT TO DO ON NOVEMBER
5TH IS HAVE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OFFICALLY DECLARED BRAIN DEAD.....AND CALL TED KENEDDY TO REMOVE THE FEEDING TUBE!

"Au contraire Cap'n, we are screwed and there are NO victims here. America gets what the two party elite offer to America. Mainstream media 'band-wagons' the offerings and that is as they say, that. So "man up" dawg and cop a clue. What the hell are you going to do? Opinions about the abysmal offerings from the Repukes and the Democraps are merely that, opinion. Give America an offering! Give America a candidate of SUBSTANCE! What? No spine for the hard work? Are you in need of some KY? Tell us what we need/should do there Cap'n Punk!"

Amen!

"we are screwed"

Under what president were we not screwed? All of them - one of them? Maybe not under some future president? Maybe not under some pretend president?

This is our country - the people. We are the bosses over all of the poor politicians but only if we assert our authority.

I, for one, will never surrender.

"we are screwed" Is just pathetic and servile and that mindset surrenders whatever authority you have as a citizen. It is a way to avoid responsibility as a citizen and a member of the human race. It is just so easy to sit back saying “we are screwed” instead of doing something to change your world.

“Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi

I agree that there isn't a big difference between establishment Democrats and Republicans. However, the difference that exists can still be significant. Don't we all think that things in our country would be different now if instead of Bush, Gore had been sworn in as the 43rd President? Back then some of my friends were also saying that there's no difference between the two parties and voted for Nader, which may have tipped the election ever so slightly in favor of Bush. The question that we need to focus on now is which candidate can beat McCain because he is promising to be another G.W. Bush. Anyway, this time we all need to rally around the Democratic candidate whether it's Clinton or Obama and then work to try move the congress to the left. The "conservatives" worked for years to move this country to the right, starting with school boards. The left may need to start over and rebuild via the grassroots, but for now, let's at least get someone as President who is not totally committed to this war, won't gut all of our social programs and who may nominate judges who are a little less sympathetic to the right-wing social positions and to the corporations. So who can win against McCain -- where's Gore when we need him?

"between establishment Democrats and Republicans."

Yes, but remember how things were under Bill Clinton? Now compare that to the last two terms?

I'd take the D's over the R's under any circumstance.

The people that say there is no difference are just frustrated that there is no real good candidate in a system that sucks.

The problem has never been with people that vote - just the ones that stick thier collective heads in the sand.

McCain is a steroid Bush. Enough already.

Obama is NOT ready for this position. He needs to prepare himself. "Change" is a word. Pocket change? What "change"? I haven't heard what his "change" is about.

Clinton is what our country needs RIGHT NOW. Experience, drive, compassion AND 2 for 1.

Our country is in deep, deep trouble and we don't need a war monger nor an upstart. WE NEED HILLARY CLINTON

I agree with your assessment and anything can happen between now and November . Some additional points to
consider :
1. The token amount of the "stimuli"
package doesn't begain to address the
3,000,000 foreclosures happening already in progress .
2. Will Clinton or Obama attack Bush's
bloated $700 billion Pentagon budget
and fight to prevent Medicare and
Medicaid proposed $201 billion cuts ? They both have supported whatever the Pentagon wanted without much questioning .
3 . Soon the Muadi (sp) Army in Iraq will end it's truce and start attacking
our soldiers again , and there is a real
probability of Iraq becoming a regional
conflict from Saudi Arabia to Pakistan
way before November.

Fasten your seatbelt , folks it's going to be a bumpy ride .

Watching the returns and channel surfing last night I saw about a dozens pundits talking about the election returns, of which 4 were Black. Why no Hispanics? Aren't they the same size minority?

Hispanics see this obvious favoritism and bias. They know who their competition is. What the Dems need to recognize is that they better pay attention to this important and deserving group.

Thank God, the Republicans are too stupid to take advantage of the Dems Black bias, what with their English only and border fence nonsense. But that could change....

"Dems Black bias"

Dems are biased because there are black pundits?

You lost me.

Why would anyone vote for Hillary over Obama?

Doesn't the fact that Obama was totally opposed to the Iraq War from its conception give him more credentials than Hillary?................................And really, we need someone other than a Clinton or Bush in the White House. If Hillary is elected History might periodize these past 20 years as the Clinton and Bush dynasties.

NO ONE REMEMBERS THAT THIS IS STILL THE USA. A BLACK OR FEMALE PRESIDENT IN A MISOGYNIST AND RACIST SOCIETY? JUST THINK WHAT YOUR FRIENDS ALONE SAY IN PRIVATE ABOUT THESE TWO. NOTHING HAS CHANGED HERE. MCCAIN IS ALREADY THE PRESIDENT. ELECTORAL POLITICS IS, HAS BEEN, AND WILL BE A DEAD END UNTIL A NEW CONCIOUSNESS ENTERS THE AMERICAN PUBLICS HEAD.

I also remember fighting for JFK as an 8th grader--and I'm a woman! A male classmate forcibly ripped off my Kennedy button and threw it into the gutter of the I.O.O.F. building that was subsequently torn down. Sigh!

Hillary is to be commended for her preparation, her strong command of policy, and her hard work. We women know all about working twice as hard as a man in a similar job to receive less recognition--and pay.

But I'm still voting for Obama. I think that inspiration backed by intelligence, honesty, egalitarianism, altruism, and energy trumps the specter of having a nasty, vindictive manager in the White House. Managers are a dime a dozen. I want a LEADER like Obama who can inspire and work with all sides to improve the lives of hard-working Americans of every class. I'm ready for the fight--I've waited for 48 years!

Under siege by the seemingly unstoppable Sen. Clinton, is Senator Obama's campaign heading toward incoherence?
OBAMA- that guy is barnstorming with Donnie McClurkin, gospel star, pastor to the black elite and crusading homophobe? What on earth is he thinking? Like Bill Clinton in his day, Obama is supposed to be the smartest, most intellectual guy in the bunch but this move is dumb as a rock, transparent as Britney Spears' clothes, cynical and desperate. Times are hard for a former super star whose best case scenario now is to argue sloppy staff work.
The normally restrained commentator, Earl Ofari Hutchinson, has lost it over this move and I can't say I blame him, though I'm too busy being confused to move on to anger. Hutchinson notes:
Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama ripped a page straight from the Bush campaign playbook with his announced upcoming three date barnstorm tour through South Carolina with notorious gay basher, gospel singer Donnie McClurkin. The Grammy winning black gospel singer’s last effort on the political scene was his song and shill for Bush’s reelection at the Republican National Convention in 2004. Obama has hitched his string to McClurkin’s high flying gay bash kite in part out of religious belief (he purports to be somewhat of an evangelical), in bigger part because he’s falling further and further behind Hillary Clinton with the black vote in South Carolina and everywhere else, and in the biggest part of all because he hopes that what worked for Bush’s reelection will work for him. Enter McClurkin. He’s black, he’s popular, and gospel plays big with blacks in South Carolina, especially black evangelicals, and many of them openly and even more of them quietly loathe gays.
Perhaps like this minister who also practices restorative, religious 'therapy' to cure gays who said in defense of McClurkin: "Telling any child that he or she is born gay and cannot change is a death sentence. Gay activists and their blind allies in the mental health, medical and educational professions have blood on their hands for condemning young people to a life mined with such suffering and disease."

Isabella, what's your IQ?
Vote for Hillary, that's democracy, but please don't bitch about it afterwards.
Considering how many Mexican women have been murdered/raped in your country of birth by men, I don't think you can claim that African American men treat their women worse that your Mexican men do. You are a racist...American doesn't need your kind in their country...go back to Mexico.

Just wanted to thank Jonathan for another great, thoughtful piece!

Sandpiper, you are a racist.

Isabella and Maria = the Same Person.
You are so brainwashed! Read and start thinking for yourself.

Now, that Romney is out for the Republican Nomination, Democract's must get a new strategy. The Conservative and Moderate Republicans will do anything to re-gain the White House. I'm thinking about what is good for the party?
How about Obama/Clinton
or
A Clinton/ Obama ticket.
We would sure please all the Democrats

I live in Manhattan and of course Senator Clinton is my Senator. But I am deeply concerned by the fact that I don't know a single independent or republican voter who would vote for Hillary. Not one. I have some progressive friends who would vote for her as the first female, but THEY DON'T REALLY LIKE HER!!!
On the other hand I know dozens of independents and a handful of republicans who have told me that they would like to vote for Obama. His message of change and bi-partisanship resonates with them; they are tired of the bitter divisive feelings that Clinton engenders and want an end to "talk radio" politics. Only Obama could bring that as President.

My concern is that Obama says he knows he is inexperienced and will surround himself with advisers who can help him as president. One can only assume that he is referring to the Washington establishment. So how are we getting anything different if he has the old guard whispering in his ear? And if you really pay attention, Obama gives the impression that he is really an elitist. Hillary has voted considerably more in Senate matters this past year than Obama. Tells me she can stick to business and still get out and campaign. Don't we want someone who pays attention to the business of the country even when there are other things that come up? Obama says that we need this and that and he'll take care of that and this, but he doesn't say how. Didn't George W. Bush say the same things before his first election?

EITHER Obama or Clinton would be able to EASILY defeat ANY Republican this year even if they put up Ronald Reagan's Clone. Fortunately for us Democrats, and Unfortunately for our country, George W. Bush has conducted himself worse than if he were a complete TRAITOR to the cause of Freedom and Democracy. In order for any of our Candidates to win this year, all we have to do is have a candidate who is FREE from any moral disgrace or political entanglement. Oops, that means we need a new candidate because NONE of our guys are complete saints. They all have taken money from Lobbyists and questionable contributors. Bill Clinton has accepted MILLIONS from Dubai Ports and Other Arab contacts who would pose a very severe national security problem for us if they end up controlling our ports. Bill is smart enough to know this lobbying of his verges on treason.

I don't know about Obama, but so far I haven't heard anything too damaging except that he worked for this Rezko guy who is apparently a Slumlord, according to Hillary.

So, WHAT are WE DEMOCRATS supposed TO DO for Real Democracy in America?

goto: http://www.realdemocracyinamerica.com

TO FIND OUT

Any one who runs against George W. Bush and the Republicans will win. It doesn't matter if it is a different face (of an elder statesman), it still the same clown wearing the Republican suit of clothes

Time poll before Super Tuesday:
Obama 48, McCain 41
Clinton 46, McCain 46

Rasmussen poll after Super Tuesday:
Obama 46, McCain 44
McCain 46, Clinton 43

I think that should inform further discussion of this question.

"MCCAIN IS ALREADY THE PRESIDENT. ELECTORAL POLITICS IS, HAS BEEN, AND WILL BE A DEAD END UNTIL A NEW CONCIOUSNESS ENTERS THE AMERICAN PUBLICS HEAD."

Ouch, caps lock, but I requoted it anyway because I find your comment deliciously ironic. That is exactly what happened 2 days ago. MN, CO, KS, ND, ID, AK, UT... look at what happened in these states and try to explain it away.

Even without the pervasive media influence, it's easy to get a feel for who has the artillery to defeat McCain in November. If you travel around the country, as I do for business, and speak with people of different race and party allegiance, there is a palpable public view: Obama inspires people to hope for real progress while Clinton ispires polarization. So many, even some liberals, have a visceral reaction to Clinton. Only occasionally is it passion. More often it is a backlash to her failings and foibles during her husbands two terms. While many would cast a knee-jerk reactionary vote for Clinton's opponent, far more would cast a vote of hope for someone with similar policy postions, a broader background, fewer insider connections and a more honest and transparent vision for where our country can and should go.

A year ago, the pundits gave Sen. Obama little or no chance against the Clinton Machine. It is sophisticated and, when necessary, plays hard ball. Obama, they said, is not seasoned enough, not hardened enough to take on the Machine. They repeatedly pointed out that he had never won a really tough campaign against a serious opponent. So they said.

Since then, several formidable, seasoned, toughened Democratic campaigners have each, in turn, fallen by the wayside. The "Kid," meanwhile, has put together an impressive political operation. He has made impressive use of the Web. He has developed an impressive strategy that is running neck and neck with the heretofore unstoppable, unbeatable Machine. He has been by far and away the most impressive orator of the whole field, Republican as well as Democrat. He is the only one to whom the term "charismatic" can be applied.

And, somehow, the pundits seem to have missed the fact that when the Machine started to go negative his campaign went toe to toe with it and came out ahead of the game. In the process, it all but neutralized President Clinton, one of Sen. Clinton's key political assets. Indeed, Sen. Obama gained serious traction in South Carolina as a result and has maintained its momentum since.

Without taking anything away from Sen. Clinton, it is clear that Sen. Obama is at the very least her equal . Considering the advantages she began with twelve months ago and the disadvantages he has overcome since, one could reasonably argue that the Chicago Kid has more of have what it takes to do the world's toughest job than does the Iron Lady.

It is not about the details of policy, which she is admittedly very good at; not one of her finely crafted policies would survive in Washington for more than a week. It is not about her grasp of the fine points. It is not about her gender or his race, her experience or his youth. It is, as we really should have realized by now, about the competent, wise exercise of leadership. Looking at the record of the last twelve months, Sen. Obama has shown with stunning clarity that he knows how to lead effectively. If any of the current field of candidates is worthy of the highest office in the land, it is Sen. Obama.

Obama's "machine?" Oprah, Ted Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy, John Kerry and a host of other celebrities. Our country is too infatuated with the few who get the spotlight. Just because they can read a script or have the money to buy whomever ... I mean whatever they want, doesn't mean we should follow them blindly.

Either Obama or Clinton would make a good Presidient to clean up the Repulican mess. Both are very intelligent and capable people. Both have specific plans to accomplish what they want to do and nobody, absolutely nobody is 'ready from day 1' to walk in to the Office of President except for an incumbent. The 'experience' issue is a moot point as both have plenty, it's different experience but definitely not worth even arguing over. Both also have 'a plan' to accomplish what they want to do and to say otherwise just shows that you have not done your homework. It's as simple as going to their websites and reading. And believe me, if there were any more 'dirt' to dig up on Obama, the Clinton campaigne has shown that they would not only find it but also use it. This 'media has given him a pass' argument just does not hold water.

That being said, from listening to people around me and reading more blogs and story comments than I care to remember, Barack Obama definitely has the advantage. I prefer him for several reasons but will stick to the point of this article. Here is how I see it:

1) If Hillary were to get the nomination: a)it would unite the Republicans and give them a reason to come out and vote because they hate her so much. It would not be a vote for their candidate as much as it would be an anti-Clinton vote. Ari Fleischer actually said that they have been hoping that Hillary wins as there is so very much more they could attack her on. b) Most independent voters would also cast an anti-Clinton vote or just not vote at all. c) Bill was unable to get the youth vote out in 92 and 96 and Hillary's numbers 12 years later do not support the hope that the youth vote will come out this time.

2) If Barack were to get the nomination: a) I have heard and read of many Republicans saying they did not like any of the GOP candidates running and would vote for Obama if he gets the nomination and/or their preferred GOP candidate doesn't. b) Most independent voters would rather vote for Obama than McCaine but if Hillary were on the ballot, they would definitely vote for McCaine. c) Obama has shown that he can get the youth out to vote. If he can do it for the primaries, he can do it for the general election. Think about when you were in your 20's, would you be excited about voting for either an over 60 year old woman or over 70 year old man? Most of the gains we have seen in the youth vote are due entirely to the candidacy of Barack Obama.

Let me summarize.

If Hillary is the nominee against McCaine: McCaine gets all of the GOP vote, most of the independents and even some Democrats. Most of the youth vote stays home and a good number of Democrats do too.

If Barack is the nominee against McCaine: Obama gets most of the independents, all (or at least more than Hillary) of the Democrats and quite a few Republicans. The youth vote comes out in droves and the Democrats take over the White House and Congress (House and Senate).

I'd vote for Obama any day of the week but have actually played with the idea of voting for McCaine if she gets the nomination. She owes too much to the corporate donors and really does play politics the way that got us where we are today. I'd probably wind up voting for CLinton in the general but wouldn't really expect much by way of change from the old ways from her or any crack down on the abuses and profiteering of big industry.

Thanks, gotta go.

Maria-Isabella-Hector-the trader.
I have Mexican and Mexican-American friends. My fathers family is from Venezuela (I was born in the States). My wife from Colombia. You 3 display ignorance/racism and or ideology based bias. You lump all of a group of men as one(black). We know how bad things can be with some (not all)Mexican men in Mexico. (These problems are more common in 2nd & 3rd world countries ALL around the world encompassing all races/creeds/religions, based in part to economies and less legal protection). If women are treated so well in Mexico, go back. I guess I should lump all Mexicans under prejudicial stereotypes that exist about Mexicans? No, I know better. You should know better also. You are the only racists I see from your uneducated rantings. Or maybe just paid political lackies?

To those of you who say you'll vote for McCain because you don't like Clinton, let me ask you this: can you live with the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, the economy spiraling into recession, the ever increasing deficit, the war in Iraq going on for 100 years, and the very real possibility of bombing Iran? Voting for McCain ensures that you will get no less.

I wouldn't feel good about voting for Hillary. I'm concerned about her corporate ties to WalMart, Rupert Murdock etc. Those big campaign contributors are going to have real influence if she's elected. If you can't see that - you aren't looking. Like the man said, "Just follow the money." I also have a problem with Clinton's apparent inability to admit that her consistent support for the Iraq war has been a mistake. Edwards admitted he made a mistake - why can't Clinton? Finally, this woman instills imense hatred from the right, and I have no doubt but that she would bring conservatives out of the woodwork to vote against her.

On the other hand, Obama has been consistently against the war (good judgement), and doesn't take money from Washington lobbyists. I don't buy the lack-of-experience arguement, just as I don't buy Clinton's 35 years of experience. Edward Kennedy endorsed Obama and how much experience does he have? The experience issue is really a non-issue put forth by the Clinton camp.

My vote will go for Obama if I get another chance to vote for him. It will reluctantly go for Clinton if it must. The bottom line is we desperately need a Democrat.

I'm 55 and liked Bill, so I'm leaning toward Hillary. But I could vote for Barack.

I don't buy the experience issue as a problem. The president doesn't work in a vacuum. There are advisors and there is congress. For me, it takes intelligence and Democratic values, and the ability to inspire or to influence others. I think both can do that when the time comes.

I do wonder whether the male old guard in congress feels discomfort in the idea of having a female commander in chief. And I think perhaps Ted Kennedy sees his brother Bobby in Barack.

Most people vote based on emotional reactions, positive or negative, and perhaps less on the issues than we would like to think. That is why attack ads, although distasteful, often work; and why Howard Dean's scream may have done him in.

So what does this mean for this election?

I too, had reserved my Primary vote for Kucinich-
and still hope to see him tackle big issues and live to
run again- It's just a fact- It's time and long ovderdue
dor a Woman President Hillary
has stepped up. She's got the resume, and she will get my vote- I like Obama and he has has a great future but he needs to get a betrer resume-
and that will take at least 4 more years. Let me caution these young possible voters.in the fluff tv mind bender movement for Obama now, about blind faith in a Presidental canidate, like the blind faith of the
true believers in Bush-look at the issues, look for the substance.

I'm a registered Independent, who remembers the last 5 presidents and their administrations. The problem this time is that both Democrats and Republicans want to continue spending for elaborate programs:amnesty and long-term military presence in Iraq on the Republican side; national healthcare, fixing the economy, and securing our borders on the Democrat side.
They BOTH will continue to toady to Big Business, and pretty much continue in the same vein as Bush did.
I like McCain, but I think he's better off in the Senate than in the Oval Office. I flat can't stand Hillary-she's definitely not a moderate liberal like Bill was; she's way too Socialist for me.
Obama's connection to Renko(?) or whoever it was in Chicago is nothing-other politicians have known and worked with other nefarious characters in their early political careers.
It shows me that he can work with unpopular personalities, such as the head of State of Syria, or Lebanon...

Hillary is the most polarizing figure in politics since... Ralph Nader. And as history will recall, he is directly or indirectly responsible for the downfall of this country.

Gender or not, the Clintons are playing dirty and it's leaving a bad taste in peoples' mouths. I've heard many a Dem say they will NOT vote for Hillary. She will not win against McCain. She will be slaughtered. The number of skeletons in the Clinton closet is going to be overwhelming if she's our candidate. I just heard a Democratic governor say "America will not vote for a black man." Will America vote for a haughty, insincere, unapologetic woman?

Hmmm... If anybody has paid attention to the past two elections, the electronic voting equipment we have been using isn't necessarily color-blind. Seeing as though countless racial minority votes have been misplaced in the last eight years I wonder if this season's technology would happen to "lose" an entire presidential ticket. Meh, just some food for thought. Either way I am glad to see a clear backlash from the American Public... kind of a "we'll show you" mentality. I'd like to see the corporate operated media try to spin this one. January '09 will see either a woman or an African American in the whitehouse.

You had to be male. Are you old enough to remember the Hillary bashing early in the
"It's the ecomony stupid-"
Administration? Bashing Hillary is an old boring
masogonist story. We had hope
for the young men of your generation.

Republicans want Obama to win. Either he's fresh, unvetted meat for the Republican Attack Machine to devour before the election, or in the highly unlikely event that he's elected, he's a figurehead of change who will have to fight tooth and nail against the powers that be to manifest even the most minute facet of his vision, thereby making him a virtual non-threat. His time will come. This is not his time.

I like many others will not vote for Hillary. I beleive most Hillary supporters think there vote is for Bill. Whatever the magic is with Bill, Hillary just doesn't have it. Obama brings a freshness to the table. People are tired of old politics.

MICHELLE OBAMA IS NOT PROUD TO BE AMERICAN BARCK OBAMA REFUSES TO SING OR PUT HIS HAND OVER HIS HEART DURING THE ANTHEM. JOHN MCCAIN GOES TO POW CAMP FOR FIVE YEARS AND LOVS HIS COUNTRY, TALK ABOUT A NO BRAINER, I WILL PROUDLY WATCH JANUARY 20 2009 WHEN HE IS SWORN IN AS PRESIDENT

I don't believe women will vote for a woman just based on gender. And some women may vote for Obama solely based on his charisma and and attractiveness. (unfortunately)

Women are the caretakers of our children, and for those of us with children, we see the dire need for a "clean-up" in washington. McCain and Hillary are associated with the political "status quo" as Washington Insiders for years. And I believe Obama is the only one with the skills to rally his party from the bottom up! We all know that top-down doesn't work. It is not a one-person job and it is about time that America gets re-involved in their local, state and national governments. Knowing that Obama is committed to bringing us along with him, makes me committed to supporting his candidacy. For the first time- I'm getting involved.

If Dems get out and vote for whoever the candidate is, we can beat McCain. The point is that it is time to get the arrogant Repub bastards out of office for a long time. McCain is perceived as a middle of the roader which will make him harder to beat, but if the turnout is as good as it is in the primaries, we will win. Whether it is Hillary or Obama, Dems need to come together as the Repubs do regardless of differences. If we do this, we will win.

Barack Hussein Obama Vs Hillary Clinton
Having spent a good part of my adult life deeply involved in Democratic politics I feel a duty here to speak up about yesterday's debate between Hillary Clinton whom I support and Barack Hussein Obama. From the moment I first heard him speak there has been
a deep fear in my soul that there is something fundamentally wrong about this man, Barack Hussein Obama. Why is it I wonder that the media is so hell bent on making him the candidate for the Democratic parry? Why is it that when I search the internet trying to vet this guy who came out of nowhere into the 2008 Presidential race that what I am able to investigate always leads to the same dead end road? Why is it that his vet papers look fake to me? First thing I did was try to see if there was normal record of his birth, but to no avail, supposedly he was born in KaPi'oloni Medical Center in Hawaii but when attempting to certify this is simply put impossible. Then there are those first 8 years of so of his life spent in Jakarta, and the fact that he went to an Islamic Midrasa in Jakarta, which for me runs up another red flag on the guy. I spent most of my life as a social worker, and I am usually a very good investigator when it comes to people so I find it extremely odd that Barack Hussein Obama didn't attend a regular English speaking school for the beginning of his education. Why would that bother me? Well let me explain something that most people do not know, a child's personality, the grounding of who a child becomes as an adult is formulated by years 0-8, what we refer to as the "formative" years. It is during this time that a child learns who to like, or not like, what to believe in, or not to believe in as well as who the enemy is and who is not the enemy. Having lived in the Far East I can tell you that people who send their children to Midrasa are not teaching them to be tolerant, loving, inclusive or caring of all people. No indeed, they are teaching them exactly the opposite, they are teaching them to hate Jews and westerners, and they also teach them to wear an impenetrable mask that makes them appear innocent of this hatred. Is this a man that I would want to see become the President of the United States? I will answer that with a resounding NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT! This country does not need a President who can not speak forthrightly of their upbringing, we do not need a President who has a questionable past at best, and one that is not forthright and honest in their personal life! Would I vote for Barack Hussein Obama if I were African American instead of Russian Jew American? NO AGAIN! Would you trust this guy with your bank account? Would you trust him with your child's education? Would you trust him to watch over your affairs if you couldn't get a straight answer as to where he came from, and who had the most influence on him in his childhood? NO AND NO AGAIN!
Hillary Clinton may not have Barack Husein Obama's supposed "charisma" but she certainly can be vetted all the way back to her first breathe in life, and that America is the most important issue in this entire campaign, we watched as she was humiliated by her husbands behavior but still brave and true enough to hold her head high and go on with her life! We can look at her records both as a public person and as a political person and see that what she stands for is what serves the people of this country best! She is forthright and honest, true to her words and honest about her faults! Wake up America, Barack Husein Obama is NOT a Kennedy, he is not even a Martin Luther King, he has appeared out of nowhere and become a media ICON, yes the media and their hype is what has raised him to the position he is now in. In character he is weak, he is unabashedly the most media promoted presidential candidate that I have known in 62 years of life, Nixon's failures didn't even get the kind of courting and attention that Barack Hussein OBama has, the war in Iraq pales in comparison to his coverage! This morning I listened as Kinky Friedman mused "Is he the Anti Christ", and I ask that same question of myself, is Barack Huesein Obama the Anti Christ? I can't say for certain but he certainly has a strange and undisclosed childhood, and all my years of working with at risk youth has taught me that until you get to the bottom of who this man was as a child, and where he was schooled, and what his true belief system is, you really don't know the man!
I implore you American Democrats PLEASE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK, remember that politics are cloaked in smoke and mirrors, this Barack Hussein Obama could be a snake in the grass who has worked his magic so well that he becomes the next President of this country. Please believe me when I say, I want to know much more about this man, and I believe that as American Citizens we have the right to some very pertinent answers before we wake up on November 3rd, 2008 to find that we have been duped into believing that Barack Hussein Obama is a saint come to rescue us from our many grief's!
There are far too many questions left unanswered for this person to be who he claims to be, I urge every Democrat who is contemplating voting for Barack Hussein Obama to vet him on your own, and perhaps then you will see that a tried and known commodity is worth much more than an unknown pretender to the throne of America!

Obama has gotten such a free pass from the media that he hasn't even begun to stand the test of a thorough critique. As a result, there's still much that we do not know about him. There's no doubt in my mind that McCain's people are working hard at this hour to exploit this situation. McCain's people would have an easy advantage describing Obama as a drug user. They would then go on describe his vague promise of "change" as a move toward Socialism using Michelle's remarks as backdrop thus scaring the begeeses out of everyone who isn't fully left of center. When they're done I'll be surprised if they don't have Obama looking like the Manchurian Candidate.

On the other hand, Hillary has been given so much criticism by the press that there's simply nothing left to say about her. Her life, personal and public, has been lived in a fishbowl with everything, good, bad and indifferent out in the open. Thanks to the media, what's left to complain about? As a consequence, McCain will be forced to run his campaign on the issues. . . . .Gosh, what a concept!

ISABELLA FERNANDEZ,

With all due respect, If you have intentionally and out of your personal choice decided to post this racist remarks against Sen. Obama, I think you are the most racist and ignorant of all people living in America at this time and age that I've ever seen in my last 4 years of studying in the States. I am an international student and I must admit, I have never seen a racist comment of such an inhuman degree posted on any of the blogs I've read thus far. You cannot be racist if you are a Mexican because they are very good people. You should be totally embarrassed with such an undignified and demonic comment against Sen. Obama. I work with a diverse group of people, studied, and hang around with a very diverse group including Mexican Americans and African Americans and I must honestly admit, that, they are some of the most friendliest and open minded people I've ever met in my life. I think you are being mentally spoiled even to have the gut to post such a very disgusting and degenerating comment against Sen. Obama on this blog or any others that you've been posting thus far. If you are a human being, you would have the decency to respect your leaders. You sound very senseless and frankly, mentally retarded. Perhaps, Sen. Hillary Clinton and her mobs must have totally screwed your brain cells and nervous system. Tell me where you live and I'll come and fix your chronometer. I think it's mulfunctioning very badly. With such a dangerous and obstinate mindset, I doubt that you will live long enough. You are heading for destruction Isabella. And you have to stop this. I will pray for your soul!

Oh, by the way. I forgot to say this: That your racist comments here will never take you far nor make your pursuits in life any better. I'm suprised you are living in such a very diverse nation called the "United States of America." And by the way, in case you don't know, there are irresponsible men from all races alike around the world that mistreat their women. It is not only the Blacks. I'm sorry to say this, but I think you really are mentally sick. Let me know where you are, and I'll come and fix your chronometer. Perhaps, it needs a personal attention in order to heal properly.

Polls schmolls. Consider electoral challenges. Bush proved by winning electorally (even if by usurping) that this is not an American democracy but a carefully crafted Roman democracy - we need popular voting results to determine candidates. Anyway that won't change for now, so it's time to evaluate where McCain's moderate and conservative support was thus far and how his possible contender did in those states. The one thing McCain cannot unravel is that many in working class America remember the economic sigh during the Clinton years. That, I believe will be her greatest edge.

My apologies...continued...Obama will certainly give McCain a run for his money with younger voters and independents. Frankly, for me, there is something I can't place that just doesn't sit right with Obama. I like positive campaigning. I love Christian faith. I like diplomacy over constant strong-arming, but his rhetoric about war decisions is getting old, his voting record looks quite pro-corporate and big government with few exceptions (such as Iraq). Whether we have a light or dark skinned man or woman in office, I need to know where I stand with that individual; and the issue of NAFTA, Canada, and one of his campaign officials makes me quite uneasy - is he riding this tide of change and hope while getting ready to surprise us with a status quo blitz upon obtaining office? I'd rather have someone say they will maintain the status quo and do it then someone who preaches change but votes for the status quo. ~Sigh~ Why is America so incapable of picking up truly new directions from the likes of Gravel, Kucinich, Nader, and even conservative libertarians. Anything to shaken it up and bring the system back to center...

I would like to see a Democratic ticket with Hillary for President and Obama for Vice Pres. We have eight years of Bush/Rove/Cheney mess to clean up and it will take way more than sixteen years to do it. Hillary for eight, then Barack for the next eight. She's the tough leader that's needed to start with, she's a 2-for-1, and Barack is young. We have way too many problems in this country right now to not use both their talents.

If HRC thinks that she is going to have it her way, she is sadly mistaken. This Obama supporter is not voting for HRC. I despise her and her unscrupulous Bubba. I guess the America people like trash like the Clintons. Fortunately, if she is the nominee, the GW/Rove machinery will destroy the Clinton machinery because it will support McCain.

Furthermore, if HRC gets the DEM nomination, I will be voting for Nader or McCain. I cannot put an unscrupulous, unprincipled, and unethical pair in the White House again.

She talks about her foreign policy experience. Did she have a security clearance as First Lady? HRC, please present it. Also, she is the junior 'carpetbagger' US Senator from New York, and a 'rookie' on the Armed Services Committee. Yes, she certainly is a fighter. Lets see if Bubba and HRC can fight the GW/Rove machinery. That machinery will throw the kitchen sink and the house at you. Everything she has gone after Barack about and been negative about, the GW/Rove machinery will go after her many times worse. HRC, you are in for a bumpy ride fighting McCain if you can secure the nomination.

THIS IS MY RESPONSE TO THE DNC FUND RAISING COMMITTE AS FOLLOWS:

Dear Mr. McMahon(Tom):

Please do not ask me for a donation to help HRC secure the DEM nomination. It is pathetic and shameful that the party didn't move the super-delegates to Barack Obama one week ago. If Hildebeast is the nominee, then I will switch to be an independent and vote for Nader or McCain. By the way, Nader will get many millions voters because HRC might become the nominee. I will not accept voting for a dream ticket because she is no better than he is. HRC continues to suffer from illusions of gradeur because she was the First Lady; therefore, she has the air ofsuperiority and arrogance.

I cannot in good conscience vote for such an unscrupulous, unprincipled, and unethical 'carpetbagger' in NY as HRC. I will not vote for her if there is any dream ticket. I will be infuriated if this happens, and I will mobilize my whole family, friends, and neighbors to vote for Nader or McCain. McCain is a much better human being and person than HRC is.

I will punish and protest the DNC by voting for the other candidates if she is the nominee. I cannot and will not vote for that witch and double monster. Now, I called her a double monster. What is the DNC going to do about it. Put me up front of a firing quad and execute me for calling her that.

With HRC as the DEM nominee, she will not only take the party down in a landslide defeat, but she will take so many seats down. Nancy Pelosi and Howard Dean will be looking for new jobs. HRC will take down governorships, congressional seats, legislative seats, etc. Oh, well, if the DNC doesn't care, then I do not care. Also, her buddy, Charlie Rangel will be looking for a new big job. He will become minority leader not majority leader. HILDEBEAST CANNOT BEAT MCCAIN.

She talks up her foreign policy experience, Where is her high-level security clearance from 1993-2001. I would like to see it. She is a 'carpetbagger' junior US Senator in New York who is a junior member on the Armed Services Committee and voted for War Resolutions on IRAQ; then never apologized, and then voted War Resolutions on IRAN last year. No way, Jose can I vote for her.

Besides, the DNC compared with the RNC represents a pack of wimps. The Clinton machinery is no match for the GW/ROVE machinery that McCain will have at his disposal. Now, McCain has 5-6 months to introduce himself to the American public and raise funds while the two DEM candidates slug it out. The DNC will be left with pathetic old people and uneducated blue-collar workers who are yesterday's Americans. The youth and highly-educated and highly-paid and highly-skilled voter pool that Obama attracted will be dissolved because the DNC wants to nominate the 'POLARIZING WITCH.' The DNC wants useless old people and blue-collar suckers in the party because they have nowhere else to go. These two DEM voting blocks have nothing to contribute to a party that looks to the future. Obama gave them their answer, and the DNC wants to give everything to HRC.

It is obvious HRC is weak. She lost the RED STATES and caucuses to a newcomer called OBAMA. She would go into the general election as a weakling. She argues California, New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. But, this argument is invalid and lame because these are already DEM strongholds.

The DEMOCRATIC PARTY needs to be punished with a protest vote, and that is what I am going to do if she is nominated.

Also, HRC talks too much. Senator Obama is cool natured and congenial. He is a consensus builder and she is a destroyer just like she is doing now in this nasty campaign that she created. Let her be the nominee, the DEMs will never see me again in their party. And, the party will have a hard time regrouping.

I will not donate a penny to the DNC as long as I suspect HRC will get the nomination.

Sincerely,

Anna Rosaria Ochoa

**Obama will have no problem beating McCain. Clinton, maybe. My vagina is voting for Barack. Clinton is just too much of the old school of pols. Like McCain.