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Massachusetts: The Canary in the Coal Mine

The Clinton Team has a message for America after Pennsylvania, and it’s not spin. It’s a serious question every American and every Democrat should be asking: Why didn’t Obama win Pennsylvania?

But after the Obama campaign’s “go-for-broke” Pennsylvania strategy, after their avalanche of negative ads, negative mailers and negative attacks against Sen. Clinton, after their record-breaking spending in the state, a fundamental question must be asked: Why shouldn’t Sen. Obama win?

Good question. Obama can’t win because he’s not a candidate of substance; he’s a candidate of style, and “bitter” blue-collar Dems have enormous economic anxiety, they want a candidate who will address their concerns, and they want a winner.

“Hope” is too vague a promise. In addition to Pennsylvania, there’s another canary in the coal mine.

Superdelegates, listen up: The canary that dropped dead is Obama in Massachusetts: in current match-ups, Obama and McCain are tied there. The Boston Herald’s Michael Graham writes about Obama’s weakness in the Bay State:

[John] Adams noted during the Boston Massacre trial that “Facts are stubborn things.” And it appears that, for the moment, the facts have caught up with Obama here in Massachusetts.

How else to explain the amazing, astounding and unthinkable results of the latest SurveyUSA presidential poll: Republican John McCain is tied with Barack Obama in the Bay State.

The last Republican to win Massachusetts? Ronald Reagan. The last Republican before that? Dwight Eisenhower. Even George McGovern managed to carry Massachusetts in 1972, the one Democratic holdout in Richard Nixon’s 49-state landslide.

Let these facts sink in for a moment. At this date, Obama is tied with McCain in one of the most reliable Democratic states in the country. We’re not talking about swing states here, places like Ohio and Pennsylvania where Obama is under-performing. That’s a whole different concern. We’re talking about a state as blue as the water off Nantucket in August. Now close your eyes and imagine the Republican Convention: grainy black-and-white film of McCain The War Hero, the maverick, the smiling friend of Hispanics. Then GOP operatives roll another video: it’s Obama the liberal, the friend of a terrorist, the elitist in San Fransisco with his chardonnay-drinking friends talking about those poor, bitter white folks who love their guns and God too much to vote for a black man named Barack, and then the garish voice of Rev. Wright screaming “No, no, no, God Damn America!”

Graham continues:

Replace “McGovern” with “MoveOn.org” and you’ve seized the essence of the Obama candidacy. He’s the most liberal U.S. senator, advocating tax increases on the “wealthy” and enjoying the support of Gov. Deval Patrick, Sen. Ted Kennedy, The Boston Globe-Democrat and every 9/11 conspiracy kook in the People’s Republic of Cambridge. He’s got all the players in Massachusetts behind him except the ones who actually vote.

And this is the key line:

While Hillary Clinton soundly beats McCain in Massachusetts in the new SurveyUSA poll, 56 percent to 41 percent, the Obama/McCain number is 48 percent to 46percent, well within the margin of error.

Graham believes the reason for Obama’s weakness is Democrats’ desire to win, “What they want is victory - at virtually any cost.” He suggests that Bay Staters see Obama as too weak to take on McCain. There is some truth to this notion, but when you consider that Obama lost to Hillary in Massachusetts even while he had the entire liberal establishment behind him, it must be something else. What’s happening in Massachusetts is what we’re seeing in Pennsylvania: Obama doesn’t connect with blue-collar voters. It’s not his race or Harvard pedigree; the election of Governor Patrick dispels that idea. It’s the fact that Obama mocks the concerns of working people and his policy proposals are milquetoast next to Hillary’s, particularly in regards to the concerns of blue-collar workers.

Obama talks about “change,” but real voters in the real world want health care and jobs. Obama’s mushy rhetoric reminds many Democrats of the Compassionate Conservative George W. Bush in 2000. Harry Truman once said, “Given the choice between a Republican and someone who acts like a Republican, people will vote for the real Republican all the time.” It’s no wonder then that 32% of Hillary supporters in PA would vote for The War Hero if Obama gets the nomination. Superdelegates, it’s 3 a.m. and your phone is ringing. It’s Massachusetts: the canary is dead.

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Comment by Melissa | 2008-04-23 09:55:30

Gotta love the Bay State! Home of the Revolution! My home state was never very good at taking orders from kings- we dumped the tea in the harbor rather than be forced to unload it in Boston and pay the tax. The good people of MA have more sense than their legislators (I think Teddy and Johnny might be in for a long overdue vacation next cycle)

Comment by Nicole | 2008-04-23 10:11:35

That’s my secret hope…that Ted and John get shown the door.

Comment by workingclass artist | 2008-04-23 10:21:45

Nicole…It is my belief that there will be an epic party housecleaning because of the utter failure of party leadership. The change that baby-O promises is not the change that will come. 2/3 of the traditiona dem. party base has spoken…and what they are saying is loud and clear. Dean et,al. and Pelosi et, al. are shaken cause they know their days are numbered. Baby-O is headed for political oblivion.

Comment by The Gringo's Wife | 2008-04-23 11:13:21

workingclass… the housecleaning is well in the plans already. It appears Hillary is the one to do the dusting and rearranging as Obama is part of the established party at this point. Rather than the candidate of change, Obama will be the candidate of the status quo when it comes to the Senate.

I remind everyone of the battle between Pelosi and Murtha for Speaker of the House. That was a huge power play that divided the party way back then.

It was confirmed for me when Pelosi obviously backed Obama and Murtha came out for Hillary. It was punctuated when, after promising not to do so, Richardson publicly announced his support of Obama before the Ohio primaries. I believe he had to make a choice and thought that Obama was, at that time, more likely to win the nomination. So Richardson to go in cahoots with Pelosi. The chaos in the Democratic party can be blamed on the leadership who itself is divided and few seem to be out for the good of the Country but rather the securing of their own political ambitions and power.

Comment by workingclass artist | 2008-04-23 11:22:46

Well said….Gringo’s wife…This is the kinda shit that happens when the leftish elites dismiss and piss off the base which is largely working class….FRD,Truman and Ol’ Bill were the best at reaching the base….And with each day Hillary is sounding more like those fighters….The working class will not be bullied…Baby-O will lose IN.

 
 
 
 

Comment by Linda | 2008-04-23 10:34:38

Massachusetts has seen this act before…

Axelrod’s last “hope and change” candidate:

Gov. Deval Patrick!

I heard the “Words”, was filled with “Hope”, longed for “Change”, Bought the “package”.

Buyer’s Remorse!! I want my vote back!

Mr. Axelrod,

Fool Me Once, shame on you!
Fool Me Twice, shame on ME!

Comment by Janicen | 2008-04-23 11:01:19

Yep! I read something about this a while back. Apparently, Governor Patrick turned out not to be the one they were waiting for in Massachusetts.

 

Comment by Blue State Girl | 2008-04-23 11:25:12

This is exactly the reason why Obama performs poorly against McCain. Deval Patrick was Axelrod’s beta test. When the strategy worked to elect Patrick in Massachusetts, Axelrod probably figured it could be scaled up to Obama’s national campaign. Unfortunately, statewide political campaigns don’t scale up well as the Obama campaign is now learning.

 
 
 

Comment by Mary Jo Kopechne | 2008-04-23 09:59:58

Excellent piece, Bud, and I LOVE the title.

I hope the SDs read this! They need to think long and hard about living with the results of their votes.

Comment by buckscounty | 2008-04-23 10:04:19

Obamabot Patrick Murphy should reconsider his endorsement, for Hillary won Bucks County by over 30 points.

Comment by sister of ye | 2008-04-23 10:12:15

Funny how Obama’s line is “superdelegates should follow the will of their constituents” - except, somehow, when those voters support Clinton.

Comment by beebop | 2008-04-23 10:20:18

yeah, well, consistency is apparently the hob gobblin of a losing campaign.

 

Comment by Blue State Girl | 2008-04-23 11:29:57

Funny how Obama’s line is “superdelegates should follow the will of their constituents” - except, somehow, when those voters support Clinton.

They’ve dropped that argument because it no longer works for them.

 
 

Comment by Nicole | 2008-04-23 10:16:23

He probably won’t; I imagine there’s more money in Obama’s pot that’s slated for Murphy.

Comment by beebop | 2008-04-23 10:19:09

Maybe traipsing around with Ted Kennedy is not helping BOBO … It didn’t do much in Callyfornia or Massachusetts, now did it?

Comment by workingclass artist | 2008-04-23 10:23:26

Jimmy Carter doesn’t help baby-O either.

 
 
 

Comment by tiffany | 2008-04-23 10:48:21

Murphy received almost $19,000 for supporting Obama

Comment by beebop | 2008-04-23 10:52:02

Wow. Souls go pretty cheaply these days. Imagine how many apartments that might have heated in Chicago?

 

Comment by sonia | 2008-04-23 11:55:56

PLS FIND THE LINK
and e-mail to every big news media

does not matter if they talk about it or not

but if we can bring at least 10 superdelegates like that who got money ,,,

we can post articles,,,,we can make youtube videos oe it

those superdelegates will be embarrased
and others will be careful before jumping to obama,s wagon

 

Comment by helen | 2008-04-24 19:38:44

How much did Wexler of Fla get? I was shocked to see a Fla representive back Obama. So much for his voters i guess he does not think they count either.

 
 
 

Comment by workingclass artist | 2008-04-23 10:26:14

I think they do read this stuff…This blog is pretty notorious….In a good way….

 
 

Comment by militarytracy | 2008-04-23 10:03:18

Excellent writing and Obamas milquetoast policy proposals have turned me off since day one. Now they frighten me.

Comment by Nag | 2008-04-23 10:18:08

Tracy! How are you? Haven’t seen your screen name for a while. I no longer go to the pond, they broke my heart there. I’s good to see that you’ve still got your senses about you… I totally agree with you on Obama.

Comment by militarytracy | 2008-04-23 12:31:01

I’m sorry you have suffered the pond broken heart. The place grows on you and then snap. It’s nice to see you here. I hang at Talkleft a lot. Jeralyn is pro-Clinton and BTD is lukewarm Obama and discussion there makes every attempt to stick with facts and avoid smears. Like when the rev. Wright stuff first broke. Jeralyn wouldn’t allow remarks about it at first until everyone could speak measuredly and civil about it. So it is a good place to discuss some election issues and BTD frequently asks for media balance during this primary while never seeming to get it ;)

 
 
 

Comment by Shainzona | 2008-04-23 10:04:29

Truly unbelievable.

What do the “super” delegates have to say about facts like this? Really….how can they avoid the elephant in the room?

I want to know - don’t we deserve to ask them and have this question answered?

Comment by sandyR | 2008-04-23 11:00:59

And now the “elephant” in the room is becoming the Republican logo elephant. Support for Obama equals a presidency for John McCain. The elephant is in the room only when the Obama is in the room as well. Put Hillary in the room and only happy
dem donkeys abound.

Comment by Shainzona | 2008-04-23 11:11:37

 
 
 

Comment by Nag | 2008-04-23 10:14:31

“Obama doesn’t connect with blue-collar voters.”

Something else happened last night in some of the suburbs of Philly: they went for Hillary when they were supposed to go for Obama. Polls said that the suburbs were Obama’s to loose, and loose he did.

He didn’t do as well as expected in Philly, either, even though he won that area. Something’s happening in the electorate, something’s changed in Obama’s support: it’s cracking.

Bud, your post here is a nail in the coffin of Obama’s presidential bid. It’s already over, he just doesn’t know it yet.

Comment by jwrjr | 2008-04-23 12:17:53

It is hard to connect with someone (blue-collar voters) when you are looking down your nose at them.

 

Comment by Palomino | 2008-04-23 12:31:19

Oh, he knows it! Did you see his face during his speech last night? Did you see how, when he finished, he and Michelle were just sort of wandering around after a few minutes, with no mob to adore them? He knows it.

 

Comment by Uppity | 2008-04-23 21:17:44

Something else happened last night in some of the suburbs of Philly: they went for Hillary when they were supposed to go for Obama

…and badly. In the upscale Bucks County he lost 62-38.

No, time is NOT Barry’s friend.

 
 

Comment by Justin in Boston | 2008-04-23 10:20:08

As a Boston Globe liberal, I have to agree (shockingly) with Graham. Obama has not made any inroads here and while MA is a reliable blue state, we do have our dalliances with the dark side… our last govenor was Mitt Romney, I rest my case.

 
 

Comment by Fred C. Dobbs | 2008-04-23 10:24:54

Hope is not a part of any plan.

Comment by Garlic-Nosed Guitarist | 2008-04-23 10:34:42

Hello Fred,

Kool-aid drinkers seem to thrive on hope. They think “Plans? Plans? We don’t need no stinkin’ plans!” :)

Excuse the morphing of a classic cinematic moment.

Speaking of plans, the Clinton plan is self-evident and in my mind is no longer a long shot. Last night she proved again numb nuts is not electable in the general E.

The Massachusetts canary coal mine argument further bolsters this fact.

Crying towels are available to all trolls for a nominal fee. :)

The wind’s at Hill’s back now and has knocked down BO. And this fact will be everyone’s fault except BO’s per usual.

 

Comment by workingclass artist | 2008-04-23 10:35:14

Oprah’s ratings are down….This baby-O is gonna be poison after she wins IN…I’m just sayin’

Comment by Garlic-Nosed Guitarist | 2008-04-23 10:44:27

Ironically the O’bots were demanding a boycott of ABC after BO’s piss-poor performance at the last debate — and Oprah has some show on ABC. :)

Which ratings? Her daily show or that special show on ABC? Her “O” channel? Well anyway:

So Oprah can blame her support for BO for her ratings plunge — oh wait, she will probably blame everyone but herself (being a BO supporter)! :)

You gotta love this “my dog ate my homework” crowd.

Comment by workingclass artist | 2008-04-23 11:06:10

What I heard is her flagship talk fest…Ellen is way up in the ratings. Her support for HRC has been more subtle and she has been more fair to both candidates. Oprah seems to be snubbing HRC and that pisses off a lot of her viewers who are by and large TYPICAL WHITE WOMEN.
I’m just sayin’…Try to stay away from the OPRAHSPHERE as there is not enough room for me to breathe (OPRAH sucks the air out of rooms)….I only go there when spoofing in my comments…

Comment by Garlic-Nosed Guitarist | 2008-04-23 11:15:56

Thanks for the info and clarification.

I have the “O” channel blocked and see no reason to ever unblock it. Oprah obviously is lacking woefully in the truth discernment area if she backs the inept numb nuts BO.

 
 
 

Comment by mimi | 2008-04-23 11:27:46

I keep saying: a lot of people are going down with the S.S. Titanic Obama… a lot of people!

 
 
 

Comment by sister of ye | 2008-04-23 10:25:39

I doubt any pundits are pointing out that the reason many voters won’t support Obama is that he in effect told them to get lost:

- Babyboomers whose deep reactions to the events of the 1960s and 1970s made them liberals and Democrats

- Women who he’s disrespected with subtle and not-so-subtle mysogyny

- Gays whom he’s insulted several times, starting with Donnie McClurkin

- Non-religious voters and religious voters who feel their faith is a profound but private matter (per Jesus’ own words)

- Unions that he derided as just another special interest group

- Working class people, most notably in his SF remarks

When you tell people that you not only don’t need their votes, but you don’t want them, is it any surprise when you don’t get them?

Comment by sam | 2008-04-23 13:16:07

this is what i say to any obamabot who tries to argue

actually

we are typical white people who are bitter and cling to guns and church

and we are the ones whom obama said ,,,,I CAN GET HILLARY SUPPORTERS BUT HILLARY CAN,T GET MINE,,,,

WE ARE those voters whom u obamabots call,,,,white trash,,low income,,,uneducated,,,,rural area,,,,working folks,,,,old women,,,,,dumb,,,stupid ,,,,,brainless,,,

we heard all that on tv ,,and on pro-obama blogs

so thats why we will never vote for obama

do i hear***you are proud of this for the first time****

do i hear ***god damn america***

wright said ,,,,hillary never been called a n*gg*e*r*
well obama never been called ***b*i*t*c*h*
no media is looking at obama,s wrinkles,,clevage,,ankles,,a*s*s

so pls,,,,,,

clean ur mind ,,think of all the wrong that you obamabots,,,obama,,media,,michelle,,have done to us

Comment by helen | 2008-04-24 19:45:49

I am just going to tell that I am a lifelong democrat, but would vote for Richard Nixon’s dead body before i would vote for Obama

 
 
 

Comment by beebop | 2008-04-23 10:26:10

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

Ad to run in North Carolina opposing Democrats running for governor. Imagine what an ad would look like with real money in the production …. just askin’ not sayin’

Comment by workingclass artist | 2008-04-23 10:31:39

This is exactly how he is gonna hurt the whole ticket….Guess some of these pols he’s payin off are just gonna take the$$ and retire ?

Comment by beebop | 2008-04-23 10:40:47

That doesn’t fit the “denny hastert seat went democratic” line dance ….

 
 

Comment by reality based | 2008-04-23 11:19:40

An even more damaging attack can be found in the comments for that clip:

“Question: What do Obama and Osama have in common?

“Answer: They both have friends that bombed the Pentagon.”

Comment by workingclass artist | 2008-04-23 11:29:14

Mary mother of God !…..Reality based that is a big problem for baby- O and the democrats….All we had as a party is are you better off now than you were 8 yrs ago…..Trashing Clinton/Gore admin. is a big mistake….

 

Comment by may not have to leave party | 2008-04-23 12:05:45

now that is an outstanding comment that would make a terrific anti-obama ad.

hillary’s won’t, and can’t, run such an ad. mccain won’t. 527s will.

 
 
 

Comment by Shainzona | 2008-04-23 10:30:07

I posted this MA information in a comment over at MyDD and look at the response I got back:

“Don’t be silly (none / 0)

There’s no way that Obama is losing Massachusetts. He’s barely been able to campaign there due to it going on Super Tuesday.

One or two rallies and heavy campaigning by Kerry and Kennedy, they’ll be blue in no time.

Remember folks, Obama hasn’t even started in seriously on McCain yet. His numbers are going to go way up as soon as he’s the nominee.”

I just responded back with the fast the HRC hasn’t campaigned in MA, either…and then posted her numbers against McCain. Obama supporters are truly out of their minds!

Comment by John | 2008-04-23 10:40:12

Christ, “one or two rallies and heavy campaigning by Kerry and Kennedy, they’ll be blue in no time?”

Um, Democratic candidates are not supposed to have to hold rallies or have surrogates “campaign heavily” in Massachusetts. Any more than Republican candidates are supposed to wrap up Utah with a rally or two. Kerry, Kennedy etc. are supposed to be campaigning in OTHER states for the Democratic candidate this fall, not Massachusetts.

Clearly, you can’t talk to these people. They are deluded. If Massachusetts is competitive without some “heavy campaigning,” Obama is totally screwed all over the country.

 

Comment by mimi | 2008-04-23 11:23:27

This is what Obama and his supporters seriously believe, that all of Hillary’s BIG BLUE STATES will miraculously go for him. He’s like the guy in high school who thinks all the girls are in love with him.

What’s worse is that the DNC leadership believes the same thing. I don’t think Obama would win MA in Nov. I said this before any poll was taken. I also have news for him here in NY. A lot of upstate Republicans, Independents and borderline Dems along with the latino vote and the Jewish vote is going to make it a lot tougher here than he could have ever imagined.

So, I ask, what’s the point? It looks like he can’t win and if he does win with no clear mandate, how’s he going to change anything?

This is why I’m no longer a Democrat. If I can figure these things out for myself, who the hell needs Party leaders????

Comment by hillarysmygirl | 2008-04-23 13:09:29

I love that, Mimi, you’re exactly right:

He’s like the guy in high school who thinks all the girls are in love with him.

My O-baby supporter friends keep saying that the youth and AA vote will be so tremendous that it will overpower the Republicans…one in particular was very upset last night, she was SURE that O-baby was gonna win! I almost feel sorry for her…almost.

 
 
 

Comment by John | 2008-04-23 10:30:43

The Lionel Show had Kathleen Kennedy Townsend on for Hillary- good for Lionel for bucking Air America’s All Obama All The Time script.

Unfortunately, within minutes he was pulling crap like taking a call from someone in PA who asked why no one ever mentions that Obama is winning the black vote 9-1 and losing the other demographics. Lionel at first pretended to not understand the question because it was nonsensical (his favorite tactic,) then he suggested that the data was faulty (”YOU say he wins ninety percent of the black vote, those are YOUR figures”) and then finally dismissed it with “so what? Those are people who vote 9-1 Democratic anyway…”

Of course, that last sentence is the point Lionel and the Media and the Obamabots refuse to accept or even talk about- Obama is getting black votes in the same proportion that normally vote for Democratic candidates. Meanwhile Hillary is winning blue-collar workers, white men, Latinos, etc. etc– groups that could go either way in November.

Is this so hard to figure out? Obama’s base support is hardcore Democrats who will vote for any Democrat. That translates to maybe 40% in November.

But of course, Lionel “doesnt get it.” Because at Air Obama, his job kind of depends on his inability to get it.

Comment by deke | 2008-04-23 10:47:28

The point is if Obama got 60% of the black vote and has pulling at the same rate overall you could make the argument he was building a coalition. But when he wins one large block in the democratic party by 82% and can only garner 45% of the overall vote there is a fundamental weakness in his candidacy. Most people here see that and it is so oblivous. When will the DNC, media and superdelegates wake up and see the oblivous.

Comment by workingclass artist | 2008-04-23 11:11:13

AA’s are currently 13% of the population….sounds like the DNC has a bad case of discalculia with regards to the fuzzy math on the traditional democratic base. The other 2/3 of the base will leave the party if they continue this demented road to political suicide…

Comment by mimi | 2008-04-23 11:34:07

If they are determined to commit suicide then I have no alternative but to believe that they believe it’s worth it just to get rid of any hold the Clintons have on the Party.

That’s too petty and vindictive for me to align with. So….

Fuck’em!!!

Comment by workingclass artist | 2008-04-23 11:49:47

That’s the thing…Clinton’s did’nt have a hold on the party…It is a myth….The centrist New Democrats were a threat to the Left establishment that had a stranglehold on the party for 25 years. Kennedy has been pissed off at OL’ Bill since th 90’s and it wasn’t because of Monica…It is bullshit spun by the media. Gore was a New Democrat nd would have continued the centrist policies adding his own priority legislation but for the HIJACK OF 2000. So now baby- O in his idiotic quest for POTUS knocks down both Clinton and Gore 2 of our party’s best and Pelosi et, al let him. That’s how stupid and obvious this shit has been. The Clnton/Gore admin. was the most successful since FDR. Nothing compares to it.
The closest would be LBJ passing civil rights and his New Society programs. This is tempered by of course the Vietnam War. Pelosi ad Kennedy and their petty ambitions are destroying the party. I say ENOUGH….

 
 

Comment by Fred C. Dobbs | 2008-04-23 11:57:46

>>> discalculia

Gotta work that word into the beer-fueled discourse with the boys down at the Long Branch.

 
 

Comment by Antigone | 2008-04-23 11:12:04

Their argument is that the Democratic Party cannot win without the black vote which will stay home if the nomination is “stolen” from Obama. I’m of the opinion that those who make that argument don’t really know black people. True, some of the young ones may opt out, but older black voters aren’t going to chance a McCain win. I predict they will vote their interest and turn out for Hillary.

Comment by mimi | 2008-04-23 11:49:14

Antigone,

I agree. I think some won’t vote. Some may even vote for McCain, others may write in Obama’s name. But older blacks, clear thinking blacks will vote Democratic.

I have no proof this will happen, just gut instinct. Of course, it doesn’t help when those extreme left wingnuts who are white keep stoking the flames of violence and discontent. And they are doing exactly that. If you remember correctly, it was Donna Brazile who first advanced the notion of STEALING the nomination from Obama. After that, it was seized upon by Progressives who preach this to blacks everyday.

Brazile should have been fired from her position for that remark. She’s supposed to know the role of the SDs and if she felt so strongly, she should have resigned her position and then spoke on behalf of the Obama campaign. I hope she goes down wtih the S.S. Titanic Obama.

 

Comment by apishapa | 2008-04-23 11:57:02

The Democratic Party cannot win without us old ladies either. Same with working class voters. We are the base of the Democratic Party and right now, we are more likely to opt out if he is nominated.

Young’uns don’t vote in large numbers as a general rule and cannot be depended on to pull out a victory (as proven last night).

Comment by workingclass artist | 2008-04-23 12:09:12

If you devide the traditional demcratic base into thirds, AA would be a third….It’s a big mistake to piss off the other 2/3 of the base or don’t these elitist bastards undertand who became the so- called Reagan Democrats. I was there,they were folks who were sick of the leftist political BS….Reagan was full of shit…but at least he offered hope after the disaster of Jimmy Carter….Hey I think he even ran on the hope slogan or was it Morning in America…

 

Comment by may not have to leave party | 2008-04-23 12:09:20

as an old lady, completely agree. they take us for granted. big mistake.

 
 
 

Comment by John | 2008-04-23 11:44:48

Of course, if Obama was pulling 60% of the AA vote and all of the other demographics were unchanged, he would have lost PA by more than 60-40 and would probably have been knocked out of the race a long time ago anyway. The only thing that is keeping him afloat is the votes of African Americans and upper-class whites. And the DNC.

 
 
 

Comment by scott | 2008-04-23 10:31:21

We keep hearing the DNC saying we need this to end because McCain is running free in the wild and we cant hunt him down until we have a nominee. Yesterday in the Republican Primary in PA their race is already decided and 200,000 republicans voted AGAINST him.
Why isn’t the news taking about that.

 

Comment by ponyrider | 2008-04-23 10:35:13

great post ! the canary is dead. whens the funeral ? what”s that smell ? obama rotting in the polls. pennsylvania told him what they thought of his bullshit. and i hope the rest of the states tell him the same. and then theres always the weathermen issue to put him away…..or rezko.

Comment by beebop | 2008-04-23 10:43:11

No one is even mentioning Gallup where she pulled even and went up one. Can’t wait to see how Pennsylvania’s results impact what people NOW say.

 
 

Comment by neilario | 2008-04-23 10:36:51

Folks as someone from MA who will never vote for BO BELIEVE IT. and it is all about deval patrick - or the dry run for the BO campaign. really deja vu for us. even recycled speeches. Patrick is ineffective and continually out manuveured because he is inexperienced.

MASS will not vote for BO because we have a headstart on what it actually is like to have a BO version 1 governing and it is worhtless. i voted for deval and have buyers remorse.

FYI

Comment by Garlic-Nosed Guitarist | 2008-04-23 10:51:29

I agree with the general sentiment of your remarks.

I am also from Massachusetts. I hope Patrick gets his act together, otherwise we will end up with another Republican governor.

And count me in on NEVER voting for Obama, that is, unless hell decides to finally freeze over.

Cool thing, this dry run and what it is showing us. If we stay focused, we won’t end up having to deal with any buyer’s remorse as Hillary will win. :)

 

Comment by norrismorris | 2008-04-23 12:08:46

Mass is just one instance of leaders who cannot connect with their constituents.Pa voters [many who were newly registered] voted Hillary and not BO as predicted.

After outspending 11 million in a 3 to 1 by O’s campaign, this guy’s body language, the thrust of his head, the photo ops on his stump speech after the debate as he flicked it all off his shoulders with great nonchalance showed all of us how condescending Obama is.

Annie Oakley was wrong, his rigid body language was wrong. His use of the word “cling” in his BITTER speech trolling for bucks from billionaires was wrong. His inability to eat the dreaded waffle with sausage when he wanted an omelet fine herbs as he pushed the unfinished part towards Michelle was wrong. Michelle’s tough edgy positions are

Closing the deal has to do with reaching the hearts and minds of ordinary people who struggle through life and are currently having a terribly hard time. Listening to Golden Boy’s rhetoric makes them tired and suspicious as he does NOT connect with them EMOTIONALLY.

He’s great doing inspirational sermons and using MLK as his mentor, but there is no substance. Just style.

When I am about to lose my house,and can’t buy enough food at the grocery store because my gas used up my budget, what do I need to Hear?

“I will change Washington politics?” This takes a long time if even possible. Better is someone experienced who knows where and how to fight for the ssues and get them through to reality in DC. The way it really is.

Of course, the Dean/Pelosi/Brazile/Kerry/Kennedy/Richardson/et al clique are terrified of being abandoned by the black caucus and black voters.And want the influx of new voters who they are misjudging completely.

If the Florida and MI issues had been addressed properly, and to say the least if BO had ben vetted properly this would have been different.

It is unthinkable to accept the hubris of the Obama campaign’s assertions that Ayers is someone BO barely knows, and it all happened, yadayada when he was 8 yes old.

This is bull. he failed in the Pa debate to deal with serious issues. You wanna be president and you spend 20 years in a curch and you NEVER heard the dreck Wright has spewed on a regular basis? You want us to believe this? You want us to believe you were being stupid when you took money favors for your house as Rezko was under federal investigation, yet nothing stopped you from taking his money? Your words. “I was boneheaded”.

Your answers were convoluted,long winded and evasive.

All the money in the world cannot change this unless you loosen your tie and your mind and stop telling us we are “:typical” white folks with our “built in bias”, or you know what?

We will then behave like “typical white folks” with our built in bias.

And it doesn’t help you at all to lie, lie, mischaracterize Hillary’s health plan as a “garnishee” of salaries as Hillary has made it plain that those who cannot afford this will be included in this plan through gov. assistance.

Your GOP attack ads on her health plan convinced no one. Your plan leaves out at least 15 million people who you don’t consider important, and you offer “They are free to buy it”. And what if they cannot afford to buy your version of health care because its structure will be higher in price and unaffordable to millions of people.

I believe the democrats will become yesterday’s newspapers if they run you as nominee.

You are not tough enough. You’re not real enough. Your baggage isn’t reassuring, and after listening to Susan Rice, another one of your foreign policy wonks today on TV who trashed Hillary’s approach to Iran, you are clueless as to the real dangers lurking in the mideast and how to approach a dangerous world spinning out of control.

The large states representing the electoral college are comprised of millions of hard working lunch bucket guys who are worried sick about their futures. These guys have pride and self respect, and you are clueless about their values and how importantly FDR, Kennedy, and Clinton were able to connect with them on a visceral basis.

They are not college kids or well off college educated professionals who live and eat well. These typical white folks are worried about their next meal and putting enough gas in their cars to get to work if they have a job.

Comment by apishapa | 2008-04-23 14:01:50

Wow. This was a perfect description of my situation.

 
 

Comment by mimi | 2008-04-23 12:25:17

“Folks as someone from MA who will never vote for BO BELIEVE IT. and it is all about deval patrick - or the dry run for the BO campaign. really deja vu for us. even recycled speeches. Patrick is ineffective and continually out manuveured because he is inexperienced.”

Or:

Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me.

This is why when the whole plagiarism meme came out of the Clinton campaign, I felt they had taken the wrong tact. It was not about copying a speech, it was about the fact that Obama was a CLONE of Deval Patrick, another Axelrod creation. He was a second pressing of a very sour grape up there in MA. They should have followed up on how the good voters of MA took a chance on an unknnown, inexperienced candidate and how it really wasn’t working out because he was so inexperienced.

I believe if they had followed that line, then Obama would be out of our lives now.

Comment by Palomino | 2008-04-23 12:46:51

No, they would have been attacked for attacking a fellow Democrat–probably would have been called racists, too. Instead they let the truth reveal itself in the visuals and subliminals, and that was actually a more effective tactic. The “plagiarism” charge–although it would have been nice if it had stuck to BO as it did years ago to Joe Biden–was a decoy, and a smart one. It pointed people to the IMAGE and SOUND of the two Axelrod clones. Once that happened, the press picked up on it and wrote about Deval Patrick’s abysmal approval ratings. Mission accomplished. No more needed to be said.

 
 
 

Comment by jes | 2008-04-23 10:49:01

NC GOP Using Obama And Wright Against Local Dems

The North Carolina Republican Party is attempting to find out whether tying a down-ticket Democrat to Barack Obama can inflict serious damage, with this new ad against both of the Dem candidates for governor that plays the infamous “God damn America” footage of Jeremiah Wright:

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/04/nc_gop_using_obama_and_wright.php

 

Comment by Poor White | 2008-04-23 10:49:58

We need to get NC and IN working for Hillary.

Lets donate and contribute to Hillary.

Hillary 08

Comment by Dawnelle | 2008-04-23 10:56:36

already done (and I live on disability pay) oh well she’s worth it! :-)

Sen. Hillary will be in Asheville tomorrow!! We’re gonna try to get attend but parking is difficult and I don’t get around real well but for HILLARY it’s worth it.

All we can do is try right?

Comment by Dawnelle | 2008-04-23 10:57:00

pardon typos

 
 
 

Comment by No Blood for Hubris | 2008-04-23 10:51:39

Despite endless hyper-hype from Deval Patrick, Kennedy & Kerry, aided and abetted by our fine media whore media, blue blue Massachusetts went 60-40 for Hillary and against Obama: a very dead little early canary.

 

Comment by Dawnelle | 2008-04-23 10:53:22

Poor Barry (the dingo stole my baby)

He’s fast running out of excuses and he’s pretty much lost the Indie vote. That’s what they’ve been banking on all along.

Why hasn’t anyone in the media (that kept PUSHING that mantra) saying anything?

Hey Tim,Keith,Tweety,Rachel,Randi, Markos (you slime) etc!
That crow-on-the-cob is a little hard to chew eh?

PAHAhahaha! no apologies, I needed THAT!
Last NIGHT! MANY, MANY, of us needed LAST NIGHT!!

I notice po po little bimbo Mica couldn’t make it to work today. I wonder if loser Kieth will manage to show up tonight.

Joe and Barnacle were pretty honest this morning. Refreshing.

Comment by Garlic-Nosed Guitarist | 2008-04-23 10:58:46

Joe is one of the few pundits that tries to be fair and will have some integrity left after all is said and done. We blew it last time, we let the MSM help stage a war. We can’t let them stage an election.

Comment by Dawnelle | 2008-04-23 11:03:48

You are absolutely right on all counts!

Joe’s a Floridian (which I am also) so he can’t be ALL bad! ;-)

You are even more correct about the media being at least 50 percent responsible for this mess! I hope JOE stays loyal to his new appreciation of Hillary through OUT this election. (should she be FINALLY chosen as our nominee)

I will have major words for him if he doesn’t. I don’t like when men FAKE it anymore than they like it when WE DO! LOL! I’m not even talking about where MOST of you are going in your minds right now! shame on ya’s! ;-)

Comment by Garlic-Nosed Guitarist | 2008-04-23 11:11:54

I don’t like when men FAKE it anymore than they like it when WE DO! LOL! I’m not even talking about where MOST of you are going in your minds right now! shame on ya