Hillary vs Obama: What’s Christian Fascist To Do?

Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing click to enlargeSometimes when I walk down to the local redneck corner store, some of the things I hear from the patrons make me cringe. (I really need to STOP supporting the local economy if this is what I have to suffer through) Today was no different. Here is the money quote: I can't believe we have to vote for Hillary to keep the nigger out of the White House. This comes from the same redneck patron I blogged about last year who believes all Arabs need to be killed "Auschwitz style." There was some discussion by the punditry last night wondering since the vote in Iowa was public and New Hampshire was private - is a Hillary win in NH evidence of racism? Well, in some corners of the country that is a true statement. If there is anything we have learned from Bill Clinton's administration, it is that the Religious Right hates Hillary with a blind vengeance. So much for peace and love. I don't think that hatred has disappeared at all. But I am a believer of karma and you know, this election must be killing the hate-mongers. On one hand you have a candidate who is black and the other candidate is Hillary. When both candidates are objects of your hatred, scorn and ridicule, what do you do? How do you decide? Who do you hate most? Say what you will about Hillary and here "emotional episode" I think that strategy worked (and of course, the media rode it like a mule). However, Hillary can't do that again. You can only use the "crying card" once. After that, it gets real old, real quick. In the delegate count (the thing that really matters in the primaries) Obama is still in the lead and Hillary is in a very close second, but Edwards is still in there with a SOLID third place with just 7 delegates away from overcoming Obama. During the live threads on Daily Kos, I saw calls from the Obama supporters demanding Edwards quit NOW. You must be kidding? Why on Earth would Edwards quit now? He may be a king (or queen) maker and he may still win. This election is shaping up to be different. It just might be that all the states will finally have a voice in the election. With the season front-loaded with a lot of primaries and Tsunami Tuesday just weeks away, who knows what will happen. One thing I do know, the pundits are clueless. I do not believe they (cough, Russert, cough) are used to critical thinking.

Weeping Hillary and the Progress of a Nation

Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing click to enlarge Was it the stress? Was it the impending doom? Was it a product of all those acting lessons? Regardless of the primary reason, Hillary got teary-eyed about America and what America has given her. This is something I would expect from Kucinich but not Hillary. I think Ultra K is in touch with his feelings and is secure enough to weep for the nation. Hillary is another matter. The Hillary Machine is a plotting, calculating apparatus and one just can't escape that this may have been an act. I can understand the beatdown she received in Iowa can produce this kind of reaction, but after years and years of seeing Hillary adjust her nuance, I just can't take her or her actions at face value. If the early precinct results from Dixville Notch, NH are any indication, Hillary may have a lot more crying ahead.

Clinton: Spiraling Downward

Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing click to enlargeWhat a mess for the Clinton campaign. Iowa was a total disaster for Hillary and she didn't need to expose herself in that way. A friend of mine over at If This Be Treason laid it out like this: Hillary had nothing to gain but everything to lose in Iowa. If she didn't campaign there and Obama or Edwards won, it could be said that it wasn't a real win since Hillary didn't participate. If she participated and won, it could be said she was the presumptive front-runner and it was no big deal. But if she lost, questions would arise and power would be handed to the winner. If she lost BIG TIME, the exclamation points would add up - the questions would be more painful. And she lost BIG TIME in Iowa. Obama has the momentum, and Edwards also, going into the New Hampshire primary. Hillary does not. You do not receive upward momentum by being a political loser.

John Edwards Clearly Has Lost His Mind

Crossposted from Left Toon Lane & My Left Wing click to enlarge For me, Edwards really stepped up and out at the debate last night and it was mostly due to the fact he took responsibility for his war vote. Obama got off one zinger but zingers only zing ONCE. Edwards has kept a steady pace of "I was wrong on the war" meme and I think that will pay off more in the long run than Obama will get for his "4 and half years is too late to show leadership" sound bite. Here's why. Bush never apologizes for jack shit. Even when it came to Katrina, it was never his fault directly. He always danced around the issue of personal responsibility and muddied the water of an apology better than anyone else I have ever seen. But a politician, especially a PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE that comes clean and admits he was wrong and repeats it at every appropriate opportunity, will seem more the polar opposite of Bush than the rest of the crowd. Biden's rant on Dafur was good and probably his best moment, but alas, it is about 4 and half years too late.