[Readers, the comments section is long and noisy, but interesting. See if, in your judgment, the points the bringiton makes are addressed head-on, or not. And watch for the duellling haikus! —lambert]

[Update below, 11 May 08, bottom of main text - BIO]

Only one thing matters; winning the Presidency in November. Hillary Clinton has proven she is by far the strongest candidate an most likely to achieve that victory. How can she convince the Democratic Party delegates?  Read more 

[Welcome, Avedon readers! — Lambert]

2 Ind. congressmen face tough challenges in Tuesday primary

U.S. Rep. Andre Carson has barely had time to settle into his new office in Washington, but he might not want to get too comfortable.  Read more 

Or
Why Jeremiah Wright is Obama’s Monica

Last night, we saw exactly why Barack Obama has a Jeremiah Wright problem. Just as Bill Clinton “lied” to us about Monica Lewinsky by telling us something that may be true but was clearly meant to deceive us, Obama is hiding behind the closely parsed “specific statement” defense to deflect criticism of his relationship with Pastor Jeremiah Wright.

I didn’t care that Bill Clinton was fellated by Monica Lewinsky. And I don’t care that Barack Obama came to terms with what it really means to be “Black in America” because Jeremiah Wright helped him to understand it. As far as racial issues are concerned, I share Wright’s perspective, and think that what Obama is telling America is pure pandering.  Read more 

Part 4 of Misogyny, Sexism, & the Gender Gap in the 2008 Election

In choosing a nominee, the Democratic Party will not merely be deciding who deserves to win, or who would make the best candidate. It will also be a decision about which poisoned landscape the Party wishes to compete upon —- one in which toxic wildflowers of misogyny and sexism are in full bloom, or one in which the poisonous weed of racism is a constant part of the environment, and needs the merest watering to completely despoil the land.  Read more 

HOW THE GENDER GAP, SEXISM, AND MISOGYNY CHANGE THE OUTCOME IN INDIVIDUAL STATES

The gender gap in presidential elections is a well documented phenomenon. Almost without exception, women vote for Democratic candidates at a higher percentage than do men, while men vote for Republican candidates at a higher percentage than women. Moreover, men’s preference for Republican candidates is more pronounced than women’s preference for Democrats. In the 2004 election, nationally men gave Bush an 11 point lead (Bush 55%, Kerry 44%), while women gave Kerry a mere 3 point lead (Bush 48%, Kerry 51%).

Data from a recent (conducted Feb 26-28, released March 7) 50 state Survey USA (SUSA) poll of registered voters shows more than just a gender gap; it provides evidence that sexism and misogyny can have a profound impact in shaping electoral outcomes. The gender gap is nearly double the size when the matchup is John McCain vs. Hillary Clinton than when it is McCain
and Barack Obama. McCain/Clinton shows a 13.5% gap in registered voters and a 7% gap when it is McCain/Obama.  Read more 

REGIONAL COMPARISONS & BEST AND WORST STATES

The individual state cross tables from the SUSA 50 state general election poll demonstrate how the gender gap determines the winner in a very large number of states. But there is considerable variation between states themselves and within regions. Much of the variation appears to be related to other factors, such as race and racism, and how liberal/conservative a state is.  Read more 

Win if you can, lose if you must, but always cheat. - Jesse Ventura

Republicans vying for the presidency must be real wrestling fans…

In 2000, it was the disaster in Florida and a Supreme Court theft of the White House in Bush v. Gore.

In 2004, it was questionable balloting via Diebold voting machines in Ohio.

Now, in 2007, preemption is the rule: steal the 2008 presidential election by another Republican electoral stunt. There is a proposed initiative in California to divide presidential delegates’ votes in the Electoral College.  Read more 

Saw this while putzing around on the internets this evening: Gore Mulling Third Party Run In ’08:  Read more 

Oh wait, wasn’t that supposed to be the rap on Bill Clinton? George Stephanopoulos was supposed to be the true liberal believer, the progressive conscience of the administration, the last honest kid, or so he conjured himself in his book about his Clinton years.

The particular Sunday Gas Baggery which is emitted each week from ABC is almost worth imbibing to watch the spectacle of Lil’ George displaying his bad conscience. Oh, I know, he’s a journalist now. If only! Okay, maybe like Zelig, he is. Perhaps I’m being hard on the kid, but if anyone can supply me with evidence that George Stephanopoulos shows any sign of ever having believed deeply in anything beyond his own career advancement, about any aspect of politics, governance, or even journalism, I will be happy to reconsider.

Here’s the short version of this particular Sunday: Joe Biden was terrific, Richard Lugar, awful, pathetically so, Rep. Duncan Hunter was awful, but brilliantly so, no pathos there, thank-you, and don’t ever accuse ABC or George of not being receptive to the truest of rightwing believers, the Roundtable was awful in your basic every Sunday sense of being awful. And then there’s the truly awful Green Room, an on-line phenomenon I’ve ignored until this week’s This Week.  Read more 

Gossip says it’ll be McCain and JEB! on the ticket in 08. So I guess now we understand why Mr. “I love it when you insult my family!” has been taking it up the rear for these last eight years.  Read more