Indeed Craig. Maybe he's writing his own speeches now.

The idea that negotiation equals appeasement is interesting. In…

Jon Favreau is cute as a little button.

Is this guy the beginning of the millennials, the xkcd generation starting to make their mark? If so, bring them on.

Careful Craig, using "tar" and "Obama" in the same sentence might be racist...

Well, I certainly think you can have a serious debate around Middle East policy without throwing around drivel like this:

"Some seem to believe we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will…

If we're being fussy, douchebag is probably sexist.

Well, if we're being fussy, a douchebag is an appliance for the adminstration of a procedure that is ineffective on the contraceptive front, can interfere with with the natural bacterial culture and self-cleaning of the vagina, or contribute to rritation, bacterial vaginosis,…

as cute as these buttons?

Gah. Bad Nick. That was disturbing.

No, as cute as these buttons.

I think Jon Favreau is cute as a little button

as cute as these buttons?

His speechwriter is apparently some 26-year-old wunderkind called Jon Favreau. (No, not that one.) And a coupla other young whippersnappers.

Thanks — fascinating story. Trivia: he has a Jesuit education.

Thanks, Danielle, I had been idly wondering who wrote those words and how much input the candidate had. And now…

As is the rest of the speech. I'm never quite clear on the divide between Obama's own rhetoric and that of his speechwriters (who are they, anyway?), but it's so good.

It is very good. If that kid doesn't get a good job in the administration writing all the speeches,…

His speechwriter is apparently some 26-year-old wunderkind called Jon Favreau. (No, not that one.) And a coupla other young whippersnappers.

Thanks — fascinating story. Trivia: he has a Jesuit education.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/20/fashion/20speechwriter.html

(Get off my lawn!)

Careful Craig, using "tar" and "Obama" in the same sentence might be racist...

If we're being fussy, douchebag is probably sexist. I think everyone overlooks that because the word has such a music to it.

The road here has been long, and that is partly because we've traveled it with one of the most formidable…

In other news I do have to agree with you (ouch) that yes this is certainly the Democrat's election to lose – having said that they do have a wonderful habit of pulling losses from inevitable victories.…

He seems to be offering his supporters Redemption – we Amerians have sinned and Obama being fresh and new seems to offer that redemption. But it's a message that might not have a broader appeal.

Well, on the QT, Neil, reality-based Republicans aren't quite so sanguine — losing three special…

Obama has succeeded because American's want 'change' ie change from politics-as-usual.

It's certainly a large part of his appeal and many other politicians have marketed themsleves in the same way – the Outsider who'll change Washington.

But "Americans"? – with Obama getting 0.7% more than HRC of the Democrat voter…

No one has been more skeptical than I have about the celebrity factor in politics. (And, in this case, idolatry might be the more accurate construct.) As the pendulum turns and gains speed, however, away from the last eight year…

Obama, an Illinois senator, drew his biggest crowd to date in Portland, estimated by a fire and rescue official at 75,000 people. Oregon also votes on Tuesday.

So, the ends always justify the means?

I'm going to let Meatloaf take that question, Craig.

Ha ha this song is so bad. I watched three drunk and presumably single English girls do a harmony karaoke version the other night. So very, very wrong. What some people do for love…

Doesn't anyone in the states remember Roosevelt's warning about the Military Industrial Complex?

I doubt it, becaise neither Teddy or Franklin were that fussed. Think you're This you're referring to this speech Dwight Eisenhower made just before leaving office in 1961.

As far as I can tell shooting a friend in the face, and then making the friend apologise to him, is about the best thing he's done in eight years.

Every now and then, I still giggle at Jon Stewart's unabashed glee on the first Daily Show after that incident.…

god help us all if McCain becomes President and has that whole dark backroom full of warmongers behind him. Doesn't anyone in the states remember Roosevelt's warning about the Military Industrial Complex?

I have no idea who McCain will choose as his running mate, but I can't imagine it'll help…

Nope. The 22nd amendment only applies to the president.

So, should we all start worrying?
The Democrat's have effectively divided their supporters, I have heard so many times "if Hillary wins I won't vote for her" and vice versa so a Republican in the white house looks likely. god help us…

On a serious note, is there a limit to the number of terms a vice pres can run?

Nope. The 22nd amendment only applies to the president.

Saw McCain on Telly last night. He doesn't look well. Being a POW & 74yrs old I'm concerned as to whom his running mate may be.

Cheney? Rumplesveld? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHGGGGGGGGGGG NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
On a serious note, is there a limit to the number of terms a vice pres can run?

Saw McCain on Telly last night. He doesn't look well.

He's looking a damn sight healthier than Obama or Clinton at the moment. If anything is guaranteed to turn you into an over-caffinated, malnourished and chronically sleep-deprived loon try running in a modern American presidential campaign. On the other hand,…

Bugger, we finally agree on something Neil.

I'll drown my sorrows with extra chardonnay his evening.

West Virginias support for Clinton & their reasoning must stand as an inditement for Clinton, not any wide form of credibility.

Sounds like you need one of those 'No Pamplets' stickers on your letterbox.

John Kerry has jumped to Obama's defence in HuffPo about another outrageous smear

John 'I Got Swiftboated' Kerry has jumped to Obama's defence in HuffPo about another outrageous smear

Nick! You need to try that again with the actual URL in there ...

But isn't Bush a a complete bastard

and

McCain is also running the appeaser line.

It appears the Repubs (GOP) are going all out to smear Obama as 'Anti-Israel' and therefore 'Pro Terrorism'.

John 'I Got Swiftboated' Kerry has jumped to Obama's defence in HuffPo about another outrageous smear:

I've been…

BTW, in one of those delightful moments of libraries immitating life I've just taken delivery of a shiny new copy of Andrew Sullivan's The Conservative Soul. Please restrain your snickers, because it's worth a look.

Book review, please. For PA Radio, then I'll post the text along with the podcast?…

GW Bush, uniting liberals since, well ... ever, really.

It was just the right application of CRC that my sluggish Rage-O-Meter needed to send it flying up to 11.

Apart from the utter unfairness to Obama the whole debate about the Middle East is hard enough without crap like that.

But isn't Bush a a complete bastard.

Hooray, we all agree!

GW Bush, uniting liberals since, well ... ever, really.

But isn't Bush a a complete bastard.

Hooray, we all agree!

But isn't Bush a a complete bastard

I thought Biden's bullshit call was a refreshing response though.

McCain is also running the appeaser line.

It looks like we're back to the politics of fear.

And allowing an invalid primary to stand is relevant to this exactly how?

It's not really invalid as such. The non-seating is a punishment that can and will be appealed. That's what the rules allow. It's also a punishment that went against the rules – the rules were to have…

I guess nowadays we'd dismiss that as the rhetoric of an empty shirt, and say that appealing to the worse demons of people like Aaron Roe & Susan Dzimian is just "how it is" when you've got an election to win.

Well, this year the Republican primary was fought out amongst…

I agree, that is exactly what he's alluding to. It might be an unfair comparison...

So, as the great wheel of fate turns once more: Why the hell did he go there? Dishonest comparisons are unfair.

With the RCP Florida average showing Obama losing to McCain by 9% but Clinton…

...and what else do you think Clinton was alluding to when he accused Obama of engaging in a "Republican strategy"

I agree, that is exactly what he's alluding to. It might be an unfair comparison but it's more than unfair to the voters of Florida for Obama to delay a…

I'm one of those cranks who thinks it's out of line to accuse people of stealing elections, not matter how subtly (or not) the allegation is coded.

Unless they did of course.

I'm amazed at the level of outrage for merely pointing this out.

Neil:

I'm more amazed at how disingenuously tin-eared you can be when it suits. Believe it or not, the 2000 Florida Recount and Bush v. Gore is still a remarkably sore point among partisan Democrats (many of who…

I think he's angling for VP.

Because he did such a great job for the Kerry campaign? If ever there was a disappearing prospective VP it was him.

One of the TalkLeft bloggers and a number of their readers advanced the view that Clinton should get the only delegates from MI, and Obama should get none.

So does Wolfson, by the way, that's the campaign official line. It's only marginally less insane than Huckabee's "I didn't major in…

(but as for Obama – why did he leave his name on the Florida ballot?)

He couldn't withdraw it under Florida law except by withdrawing from every other primary as well.

One of the TalkLeft bloggers and a number of their readers advanced the view that Clinton should get the only delegates from MI, and Obama should get none. That's kinda crazy ...

That indeed would be crazy. I think some of them had a technical issue (they seem to be…

no he didn't. It was a deal with parts of the Michigan party machine he wanted to curry favour with.

That's dubious claim. Fact was, Edwards withdrew his name from the MI ballot too, Kucinich wanted to, and the only serious candidate on the ballot was Clinton — after she'd…

I understand he did so to honour an agreement he made with the DNC.

no he didn't. It was a deal with parts of the Michigan party machine he wanted to curry favour with. Again this doesn't rate highly on my Rage-O-Meter.

Florida is "getting this kind of treatment", as Clinton put it, because it flouted the orders of the DNC and was disciplined.

It was the Florida Republican party that sitched things for the Dems. The Florida Dems were quite prepared to go back to the original dates – the Republicans…

Do you think he took his name off the Michigan ballot out of the goodness of his heart?

I understand he did so to honour an agreement he made with the DNC. What a bastard. And as I've said repeatedly, if I was a "disenfranchised" Florida Democrat I wouldn't be…

I don't have to explain away – what Clinton is saying is true.

And this is why I find these kinds of discussion with you increasingly futile. Clinton knows damn well that a large proportion of the Democratic base believes — and will go to their graves believing — that…

I don't have to explain away – what Clinton is saying is true. Obama doesn't want the vote of Florida counted unless they either beneift him or do him no damage. Either way it's underhand.

Underhand? Neil, you need to spend less time at TalkLeft.

The reason the votes in…

And Neil, how do you explain away Bill Clinton pushing this button:

I don't have to explain away – what Clinton is saying is true. Obama doesn't want the vote of Florida counted unless they either beneift him or do him no damage. Either way it's underhand.

My Rage-O-Meter waddles…

“I never thought it would be the Democratic Party that didn’t want to count votes in Florida,” he said at a rally at the University of Montana. “I thought that was a Republican strategy — or strategery…

...and I do get that Clinton bears absolutely no responsibility for anything done in her name — let alone the words that come out of her own damn mouth — that's politically inconvenient.

provide some of those words and let's see.

I think that the issue surrounding the quite different…

I'm not concerned about McCain but if you are going to continue to make that sort of accusation about Clinton then how about providing some evidence.

Cheese and crackers, Neil, what's the point? I am concerned about McCain (consider that he is actually the Republican Party's nominee for President of…

The race is so close it will be the vagaries of the Dem primary system that will determine the outcome (e.g. she won the popular…

IMHO, both McCain and Clinton are playing up to racial (and racist) anxieties...

I'm not concerned about McCain but if you are going to continue to make that sort of accusation about Clinton then how about providing some evidence.

Media Matters has a frankly astonishing summary of the various whispering…

Pollsters have found it difficult to accurately measure racial attitudes, as some voters are unwilling to acknowledge the role that race plays in their thinking. But some…

But his defenders are just as resolute. Mulligan's is a refuge, they say, in an otherwise hypersensitive world. Here, smoking isn't only allowed, it's expected.

"This place is a diamond in the rough," said Gene McKinley, a Woodstock engineer. "People here are genuine and…

49% of respondents to the poll disagree. Bizarre.

Or: 49% of these people have never taken a single American history class.

What an insensitive asshole. I'd be so sad when someone threw a brick through his shop window, costing him way more than $50.

Thank you, precisely, I was trying to come up with a response to Deborah but the words were eluding me.

Asking in a braindead poll whether printing…

It's racist. Using racism for marketing purposes is racist. Being misogynist for marketing purposes is misogynist. Full stop.

49% of respondents to the poll disagree. Bizarre.

When I protested that most people would find it incredibly offensive, the owner suggested I put my money where my outrage was: "for fifty…

There's an on-line poll that everyone here should go and jump.
To me it's incredible that they even ask the question about whether or not it's racist.

I don't know, is it? The guy doesn't seem to have any major feelings either way, he's clearly after the publicity ('it's my…

To me it's incredible that they even ask the question about whether or not it's racist.

BTW, the T-shirt was produced by the same person who has a billboard up saying "I wish Hillary had married O.J.

See the…

The WaPo has a fascinating, if slightly chilling, story on various expressions of racist sentiment encountered by Obama campaign workers.

Creepy, but colour me saddened but not surprised that there are racist mofos out there. (Just as while I'm dismissive of knee-jerk cries of 'misogyny' whenever Clinton is on the…

That's the freakin Mayor ferchissakes! And he's willing to put it all in a letter and have it published!!

Media Matters has a frankly astonishing summary of the various whispering campaigns directed against Obama by a variety of wingnut commentators and broadcasters.

The WaPo story is interesting, but also reinforces the idea that Obama can't win because America is 'not ready for a Black President'.

I have no doubt that some New Zealanders were not ready for (and have always resented) a female prime minister. Yet here we are.

And I'm sure…

In a letter to the editor published in a local paper, Tunkhannock Borough Mayor Norm Ball explained his support of Hillary…

And the CJR raps the Financial Times for its portrayal of West Virginia.

I get a bit grumpy with the collective madness of the pundocracy but the good news is they are way out of touch with Democrat voters – 64 percent of whom want the race to continue.

59 percent of African-Americans want Hillary to be Obama's running mate. They're not paying…

I do think it's entered the stage where it's destructive for the party, though not 'general election losing destructive', but more 'two sides of the party will find it increasingly difficult to come back together strongly' destructive.

I think the end game could possibly become destructive. Here I think Clinton…

I get a bit grumpy with the collective madness of the pundocracy but the good news is they are way out of touch with Democrat voters – 64 percent of whom want the race to continue.

On the other hand, a Pew survey on the same day found: "A majority…

OK, but why? Why not concede after losing NC, and Indiana being so close? Financially this must be really starting to hurt.

There's a theory that she's negotiating her exit and how much of her campaign's debts will be paid for by Obama, so a few more days may not…

Barring some huge surprises in the upcoming primaries, she won't go further, and might in fact very well concede after Oregon.

OK, but why? Why not concede after losing NC, and Indiana being so close? Financially this must be really starting to hurt.

The statements that I've seen have basically been "I'm going to win". Which might just be statements to rark up the supporters and keep them going, but as far as I can tell basic maths and logic disproves this. I hope there's a better reason not being publicly stated.

Apologies…

But that assumes that her giving up is in the interest of the party.

Yes, I think that's somewhat implicit in the statement.

I don't know whether Hillary or her camp have made any comments on that line – it's possible that they have. If their argument is "it is…

59 percent of African-Americans want Hillary to be Obama's running mate. They're not paying attention…

Yeah, but 'everyone' 'knew' he wasn't going to actually get the nomination so it was fine to let him run. Run Jessie, Run

Ah, so he wasn't a self-obsessed destroyer he was merely allowed to run because he had zero chance. Whereas the message to Hillary is __don't run -…

I'm really am not sure why it is that the rules have all of a sudden been changed for Hillary.

Jessie Jackson fought all the way to the primary with half the delegates of the front runner.

Jackson made two runs – in 1984, and 1988. The world in general,…

Jessie Jackson fought all the way to the convention with half the delegates of the front runner.

Yeah, but 'everyone' 'knew' he wasn't going to actually get the nomination so it was fine to let him run. Run Jessie, Run!
If Clinton had now the same numbers that Jackson had back…

It's a bit weird what ever the reason.

Well, I thought the whole 'inevitability' meme — and the Clinton campaign's failure to strangle it at birth — was more than a bit weird. (And with all due respect, Neil, did anyone seriously argue that Jackson was a serious candidate, let…

Jessie Jackson fought all the way to the convention with half the delegates of the front runner.

If North Carolina Democrats are seething with a pathological hatred of women (misogyny), they've got a damn funny way of showing it.

I'm really am not sure why it is that the rules have all of a sudden been changed for Hillary.

Jessie Jackson fought all the way to the…

This kind of argument, Craig, is the rhetorical equivalent of 'because there are three women executives, sexism in business doesn't exist'.

No it's not, Danielle. It strikes me as fair comment to point out that anyone who wants to frame Clinton's loss in NC — which is hardly a liberal…

If North Carolina Democrats are seething with a pathological hatred of women (misogyny), they've got a damn funny way of showing it.

This kind of argument, Craig, is the rhetorical equivalent of 'because there are three women executives, sexism in business doesn't exist'. Incremental improvement in numbers of women running…

Glad to hear it. It sill doesn't mean I'd take any notice of anything they had to say about the Democratic primary.

Fair enough, and as a rule I'd dismiss out of hand what most liberal commentators and outlets had to say about the Republican primary. Doesn't mean there's not…

Noonan and Will have both been very far from impressed with GOP demagoguery on immigration, for a start.

Glad to hear it. It sill doesn't mean I'd take any notice of anything they had to say about the Democratic primary.

I suppose it's just that the criticism of Clinton has…

It's all in the eye of the beholder I suppose but I don't really have time for right wingers slandering Clinton with the racist tag. It's sort of ironic.

Um, really? I'm tempted to snark back that the beholding has a little more value when the beholder knows what the…

And can I give Peggy Noonan props for being one of the very few voices in the Republican/right commentariat (along with George Will and, most of the time, David Brooks) who've kept it real and sane in their commentary on the Democratic primary.

It's all in the eye of the…

Hillary and Bill are both intelligent, experienced political creatures. They've both been running for something…

I hope someone writes the book on citizen-media creators' role in this election, what the links between the bloggers and the campaigns really are, and to what extent bloggers and posters are campaign surrogates, as opposed to fired-up citizens.

There was a guy on... Wednesday's The Daily Show – on…

Doesn't make me change my mind about Clinton's negative…

Oh, piss off. A rhetorical trope I am very familiar with from both the left and right-wingnuts over on Kiwiblog is using semantic har-splitting as a distraction from their own crass and idiotic rhetoric. You injected a witless term of abuse like 'Feminazi" into the discussion, and I'm telling…

I was also surprised to see you treat…

Why don't you just say "feminazis" and be done with it. Really Craig, your language betrays you.

Um, Malcolm, I don't casually throw around that N-word (or 'fascist' or 'Stalinist') without industrial strength sarcasm tags because it's trite, dishonest, and offensively trivialises the suffering and death of hundreds of millions…

With Democrats actively recruiting conservative candidates, it's no longer good enough for the GOP names to fall back on cultural…

Peggy Noonan put it this way

And can I give Peggy Noonan props for being one of the very few voices in the Republican/right commentariat (along with George Will and, most of the time, David Brooks) who've kept it real and sane in their commentary on the Democratic primary. She's…

Queen of the Fem-Borg.

Why don't you just say "feminazis" and be done with it. Really Craig, your language betrays you.

FWIW, I think Ellen Malcolm's column is fine, except insofar as it ignores the actual tone of the Clinton campaign lately

Which is kinda sorta the point, isn't it? And I really wish an editor would politely suggest to Ms. Malcolm that she should stop using third person plural pronouns…

I was massively sceptical when scoop signed him on a couple of weeks ago but I gotta admit I've been reading his stuff almost every day. It's nice to have another intelligent voice out there in the blogosphere even if it is…

FWIW, I think Ellen Malcolm's column is fine, except insofar as it ignores the actual tone of the Clinton campaign lately. I don't think she's arguing for any special rights.

So, yeah,…

This PowerPoint file is a bit less "so wrong" than the YouTube video but it's still fairly stinging.

I hope someone writes the book on citizen-media creators' role in this election, what the links between the bloggers and the campaigns really are, and to what…

That MSNBC embedded video looks right tasty, too.

Certainly not YouTube, is it?

Clinton will win West Virginia by miles, but Obama is rather pointedly not even bothering to campaign there, and is now…

It's the sort of analysis here, here, and especially here that I think highlights that it's a gender issue.

Thanks, Deborah, I read them all. But I didn't find them convincing. The Feministe post says "misogynist" a lot, but the actual argument barely gets beyond "because I said so".

It…

The discussion is worth watching.

That MSNBC embedded video looks right tasty, too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXZbIGJrDkg

Clinton is as much a perpetrator as a victim

I couldn't possibly comment, but apropos Danyl's 'venom' vid, here's one I also found interesting/amusing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_mcgO3Iva0&feature=related

Perhaps you could attend to my arguments.

Make one where the goalposts stand still for a moment, and I'll do my best. And I've got to admit that the Eric Boehlert column you seemed so taken by is less than impressive.

And the fact is, the media's get-out-now push is…

And don't forget women who critiicise Hillary Clinton are gender traitors,

If that makes me a misogynist, Deborah and Neil – fine.

I've been quite clear all along that there are good reasons for supporting and opposing Clinton, and good reasons for supporting and opposing Obama, outside of race and…

This is venom

It's wrong on sooo many levels, and yet I still laughed anyway.
"I'll make 9/11 look like the Teacups at Disneyland!"

(Less funny are some of the offerings under 'Related Videos'.)

And you know what makes it so much worse — I don't believe for a moment that John McCain or Hillary Clinton are bigots, they're just willing to pander their arses off for a poll point.

I haven't been following McCain's campaign so don't know much about it although I…

Pft. Big Media Matt? Sully? That's not venom. This is venom

And don't forget women who critiicise Hillary Clinton are gender traitors, Neil.

And my oath aren't there a lot of them. Most of whom start out with "I used to support Hillary, but ..."

"I have a much broader base to build a winning coalition on ... Sen. Obama's support among…

Great. The Dems are going to have to stitch together a negotiated settlement to this campaign to ensure the current demographic support divide gets stitched back together. I think Obama understands this. He's been much more gracious to Hillary and her supporters than many of his internet fans.

Well, I'm…

Andrew Sullivan, Mathew Yglesias, Michael Tomasky.......the list of males that have demonised so irrationally is a long one. Their venom is quite disturbing..

And don't forget women who critiicise Hillary Clinton are gender traitors, Neil. That's what happens when you're internalised all that misogyny and fuck over other women to…

I'm tired of arguing about this. I try to remember that I like Obama, and that its the comments of his supporters that I tend to have issues with.

that is so what I feel.

Whether you agree with it or not, Clinton's argument is that she is more electable…

As an unidentified…

Hope the main event is as good.

I rarely read him on politics, because his style is a bit like being trapped in a phone booth with a hyper-active, hyper-articulate, hyper-obsessive drunk

Rob, thats the most wonderful characterisation of Hitchens

The angry, delusional take on a Michigan compromise on the part of the Clinton diehards at TalkLeft is ... weird.

To accuse Obama of "vote stealing" when both candidates agreed the primary there wouldn't count — but Hillary stayed on the ballot — you've got to be pretty far out…

Quite. But why bring gender into it at all, Deborah? How is it even relevant to the argument?

Could I so a simple flip-test here, does Deborah or anyone else think that if situations were reversed and we were talking about McCain – Romney instead of Obama-Clinton, and the GOP…

On the other hand, I see no reason why she shouldn't fight to the wire. Isn't that what a male candidate would do? And be lauded for it?

That's any easy one – how many of the (male) GOP candidates are still scrapping it out against McCain?

Quite. But why…

That's any easy one – how many of the (male) GOP candidates are still scrapping it out against McCain?

Isn't that what a male candidate would do? And be lauded for it?

No.

To accuse Obama of "vote stealing" when both candidates agreed the primary there wouldn't count — but Hillary stayed on the ballot — you've got to be pretty far out there.

And being pretty sure that most of Talk Left's readers are absolutely convinced Bush only became president via massive…

the Clinton diehards

They're certainly dieing hard. Even though I don't want it to be the case, I think it really is game over for Senator Clinton now. On the other hand, I see no reason why she shouldn't fight to the wire. Isn't that what a male candidate would…

Did we notice talk of a Michigan deal?

The angry, delusional take on a Michigan compromise on the part of the Clinton diehards at TalkLeft is ... weird.

To accuse Obama of "vote stealing" when both candidates agreed the primary there wouldn't count — but Hillary stayed on the ballot…

that's why it's called politics.

And on further reflection, I'm getting increasingly pissed off at the Chinatown cop-out every damn time a politician acts like a leaky douche bag. "It's just politics", shrug shoulders, rinse and repeat is just too damn cynical and glib; it implies that 'politics' is an…

John Edwards's campaign manager has just endorsed Obama, and Edwards himself — the last challenger to drop out of the race and an important voice — is appearing on "The Today Show" early tomorrow morning, possibly to finally pick a side.

Edwards has remained studiously quiet…

But you're not serious are you? Not even White Power will say that in front of the media... that's why it's called politics.

Perfectly serious, I prefer my obnoxious bigot (or person who knows better but doesn't really care) straight up, no chaser.

makes her useless as a vp.

Makes her useless as a VP candidate (if you're looking to use the running mate to shore up support).

It doesn't at all impact on her qualities as VP.

You don't pick your vice-president to appeal to your core base. Hilary's sky-high negatives have stayed pretty steady within the overall population of US voters – almost half the country hates her and simply will not…

one of the most hated, polarising figures in American politics

You mean like so hated that a massive 43% of Democrats still prefer her.

it would have been great to see the mad patriarchs in places like Afghanistan forced to deal with that most perfidious of creatures, a woman.

You mean like how they've been dealing with Condaleeza Rice?

Good point. Though possibly there's a qualitative difference between dealing with someone who still…

He might decide to only do one term of course.

People, let's not get ahead of ourselves. He is, quite obviously, going to *lose to McCain*.

some cross-over Governor in the mid-west

I'm going with a southern dude. Or at least someone with a little twang in his voice.

I'm not sure the people who donated to the Obama campaign would be too thrilled to see their cash handed over to their multi-millionaire enemy.

I guess its possible Obama will pick Clinton as VP but I think…

And how long would it last – would she be waiting for him to stuff up or get shot? What if she wanted to run in 2012?

When was the last time a sitting President was challenged for his second term by his VP? The President would have to be…

it would have been great to see the mad patriarchs in places like Afghanistan forced to deal with that most perfidious of creatures, a woman.

You mean like how they've been dealing with Condaleeza Rice?

My dream team would be the other way around (for reasons), but that's highly unlikely now. But one of my reasons for preferring Clinton (by a margin) was that it would have been great to see the…

Both candidates know they will not be the other's VP. They don't actually like eachother, such has been the battle thus far. If Obama nominates Clinton as his VP and if she then accepts it, watch out because Hell will freeze over next.

Obviously, it's difficult to know for sure,…

that seems to me to be the logical way out of this mess (apart from her graciously stepping down!).

She has to step down at some stage, unless she takes it through to a floor fight at the convention, which I think would kill her chances of clearing the cabinet…

I would assume she's lining up the bottom half of the ticket

that seems to me to be the logical way out of this mess (apart from her graciously stepping down!). Although I did read somewhere, that Edwards is also trying for VP

[[http://stuff.co.nz/4518048a12.html|Reuters: Obama open to Clinton as possible…

I guess she figures it'll help her numbers in West Virginia.

It does make you wonder what's she's doing though. She's just hit the tipping point where significant numbers of 'black Americans' will stay at home in November rather than vote for her and there's simply no way…

WTF does she think she's doing?

Apart from treating white blue collar Democrats with unmitigated contempt? Seriously, why not just go all the way there and say "white trash are never going to vote for a nigger, so you might was well conduce to McCain now" – which would at…

WTF does she think she's doing?

The memoirs, if they can be taken at face value, of the last couple of months, will be very interesting in hindsight. Both what she's thinking, and the advice that she's getting.

I struggle to see what she's doing as well. If we assume…

Get this:

"I have a much broader base to build a winning coalition on," she said in an interview with USA TODAY. As evidence, Clinton cited an Associated Press article "that found how Sen.…

Crosby / Textor? Whose little elfs will be coming to a blog land near you soon.

And nothing to do with Cameron finally being in charge of a party that's expending more energy on fighting Labour than feral infighting over shit people just didn't care about? Been funny watching the…

What does David Cameron have that you chaps don't?

Crosby / Textor? Whose little elfs will be coming to a blog land near you soon.

What does David Cameron have that you chaps don't?

10 years out of office?

Hitchens' screed is a spectacular example of sexist commentary directed at Michelle Obama. Gawd, he's a horrible man ...

In a partial defence of Hitchens, or maybe mitigation is a better word....Personally I enjoy his non-political writing, especially on literature. His collection 'Unacknowledged Legislators' is one of my favourite books.…

I would have thought being accepted into Harvard and Princeton would be hardly be evidence of discrimination, quite the opposite in fact.

Did you just say what I think you just said?

it doesn't matter whether I am a transplant from NZ or Mars, the point is valid

No, the…

(or, as I suspect Craig would see it, towards the established conservative tradition)

Indeed — and I don't consider the current theocon wing of the GOP 'conservative' in any way, shape or form — big spending, panty-sniffing statists with Bibles. Fuck 'em.

If nothing else, the GOP should pay very…

He hated them to a degree that was simply deranged.

I don't really think so — yes, Hitchens doesn't pull his punches. But if he was "deranged' where the Clintons are concerned, I don't think he was any less so when it came to Thatcher, Reagan or either Bush.

And…

It isn't evidence of anything on its own. The fact that one person made it doesn't yield evidence about the experience of the group; the fact one person…

And more relevant…

we agree on something. but he's consistantly horrible. he never much liked the Clintons.

He hated them to a degree that was simply deranged. Has he transferred his hostility or simply expanded it?

Gawd, he's a horrible man ...

we agree on something. but he's consistantly horrible. he never much liked the Clintons.

which, given the number of typographical errors the type-written thesis, has already gone on to complaints about Affirmative Action

Irony.

Perhaps not, James. But do you also think its possible that the GOP is going down the toilet — and there are serious indications that the Dems are going to solidify and expand their majorities in House and Senate — because the theo-con hijack of the Republicans is terminal?

There…

(once you add the 'Princeton' thing, which, given the number of typographical errors the type-written thesis, has already gone on to complaints about Affirmative Action)

They're attacking her for her bad typing? Does America have an affirmative typing action programme that they've been keeping secret? Is good typing a requirement…

(I think Hitchen's theory is that Obama didn't ditch Wright earlier because of his wife but his evidence is underwhelming).

We've ruminated on sexist commentary of Hillary in his thread. Hitchens' screed is a spectacular example of sexist commentary directed at Michelle Obama. Gawd, he's a horrible man ...

The goss is that they believe they have a majority on the party's Rules and Bylaws committee and could force through a decision to seat the delegates. Which would not go down well.

Obama's reasoning may be that he'd rather not go into the election with the Democratic Party in…

Why did it take you 20 years to decide you don't like Rev Wrights rantings? Most people could have figured that out in 20 minutes or less.

It's an interesting question, even Orpah saw through Wright after just a few years. Most likely he was a little bit blinded because…

Combination of Rev. Wright + Bill Clinton's crassness seems to have changed that.

You ain't seen nothing yet – wait 'til Obama's the democratic nominee and you'll have…