To: Interested Parties
From: Mark Penn, Chief Strategist
Re: Senator Clinton’s NCAA Bracket Picks

Senator Clinton has asked me to announce that while she has already picked the NCAA tournament winner, she will not be able to release her bracket picks until sometime “on or around” April 15.  

As you know, she has been working VERY HARD on behalf of the American people.  She sometimes wakes up in the middle of the night just to put in more time for the struggling members of the middle class in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Kentucky (the rest of the states can go to hell—yes I said it).  So, you’ll all appreciate that she will not have time to release her picks until the middle of April.

We will not be taking any questions on this topic.  However, if you insist, our answer will be to trash our opponent’s bracket.  Oh wait, he picked North Carolina.  Well, that reminds me.  We also love the struggling men and women in the great Tarheel state.

Everything I read and hear suggests we must wait until after the Indiana-North Carolina primaries before we will see an end to the DEM nomination race.  Must we really wait that long?  Isn’t it quite possible that we will see more and more DEM super delegates jump on the Obama bandwagon before then?  I keep reading and hearing Obama backers will never support HRC if she somehow gets the nomination, and vice versa for HRC backers not willing to support Obama.  This is lunacy.  I need for the pundits to start talking up HRC’s exit strategy that can be executed in 2 – 3 weeks.  We need to end this before PA.

What do you think folks?  Shouldn’t we be the ones to yell for this to end?  Or are you enjoying this too much, and just want HRC to keep campaigning no matter the cost?

I see the good old NYT along with it's allies MSNBC/Newsweek have come out with a number of articles again on McCain in an attempt to help polster Obama's ratings again with their "Remember McCain tried to become a Democrat" article hoping to damage McCain with conservatives (won't work) and Newsweek's "McCain Money Woes" followed up with a couple new fluff articles on Obama.  It's becoming laughable.  

Senator Robert Byrd: I’m not particularly religious, however after watching you on C-Span this weekend, all I can say is Bless You.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With all this talk about Hillary Clinton’s schedules from the White House, who cares. We all know a first lady’s experience means nothing.

What we need to see is Hillary’s schedule in the months leading up to her vote on the war. Who did she speak with? Did she have any misgivings? How many meetings did she have with the inspectors? Did she not follow through on all available information to her at the time? What was her reasoning for backing Geo. Bush?

Because from where I’m sitting, both her and John McCain’s judgment was wrong - dead wrong.

Where was their leadership when it was most needed? No where in sight.

Fix the delegate count it says Obama 255 Obama 218

Had Mark Warner, Former Gov. of VA ran for the nomination, he would've won, early, and decisively, and he would've saved us democrats from ourselves.

Every TV producer at the main morning and evening TV shows should have their picture plastered on the Internet and should have to take responsibility for the poison they have poured on the American people the past week.  Wright's comments were legitimate news for the first 2 days.   The fact that these producers have continued to play these tapes over and over again is toxic to our public conversation and the height of journalistic irresponsibility.  They should come out from behind the camera and be called on their decision.

"While Clinton's tried to (sometimes clumsily; see Bosnia) claim foreign policy experience in her days as First Lady, the real benefit she should be figuring out how to get out of the Clinton presidential years is credit on the economy"

It is interesting that you indicate that Senator Clinton was "clumsy" on Bosnia. The words that are eluding you is "lying about".

It is not "clumsy" to indicate that you took sniper fire and the planned welcome ceremony was cancelled when neither statement is true. That is a lie. The media is so comfortable with "the Clintons" shading the truth, they feel the need to assist as well. Incredible.

The latest spin: So yesterday on the Sunday shows, two Clinton surrogates made their latest case to the superdelegates, which is, add up the electoral votes of the states won by Clinton vs. the states won by Obama.
====

I just love that absolutely flawed logic. Just because a person loses to a fellow Democrat in the primary, doesn't mean they will lose the state to a Republican come November.

Superdelegates just aren't that stupid.  They won't fall for that line of BS.

There's a reason Clinton has done well in big states:  it's called the Establishment that has been behind her since day 1.

(Remember, he was at a VFW and there was barely a member of the audience under 60, according to our reporter in the field)?

First Read, didn't you mean your Obama plant, or at least your anti-Hillary agent?

America is "finally" seeing the light, the tide has shifted.Come visit today, hillaryclinton.com . We have been waiting, for your arrival,please sit down and join the conversation.

The swift boaters will skewer Barry sissy boy Obama. You can be sure of that. Dems blew this election again......

Hillary Clinton has been lying about Bosnia.  Why must we always use euphemisms ("clumsy language, dissembling, being creative, etc")?  She did it again last Monday.  

Obamas trying to lay low and let the white liberal elite media recover after the RACIST REV> WRIGHTS remarks and then he magnifies the problem calling mica and his grand mom TYPICAL WHITE WOMEN just like Hilliary a TYPICAL WHITE WOMEN well now at least he has been exposed as the liar he is and just like politics of old he knows how to play the game enjoy the real campaign against Macain destroying Hilliary and Bill should be good practice,lets destroy a war hero now.

She wants to start counting electoral votes now?

It's almost over folks. If Obama cancels out her delegates from Pennsylvania by winning North Carolina, expect to see a significant wave of superdelegate endorsements for Obama.

(Remember, he was at a VFW and there was barely a member of the audience under 60, according to our reporter in the field)?

LOL....
Bill Clinton at a VFW is like me being at a Vietnam Vet meeting....

Yes people, take a chair....
And listen to how Hillary Clinton will destroy the housing industry once and for all!

We love you MSNBC.  Thanks again for having all your pro Obama supporters praising Brack and dumping on Hillary this past weekend.  Special thanks to Chuck Todd, Chris Matthews, Mika, the whole gang from Meet The Press, and MSNBC's never ending Obama supporters from Air America, Huffington Post, The Nation, Newsweek, and the Washington Post.  Thank you for your continued bias in support of the one and only person capable of saving the world - Barack Obama.

Here it is one more time since you love to skip many of the posts submitted especially when they are so supportive of First Read and MSNBC.  

We love you MSNBC.  Thanks again for having all your pro Obama supporters praising Brack and dumping on Hillary this past weekend.  Special thanks to Chuck Todd, Chris Matthews, Mika, the whole gang from Meet The Press, and MSNBC's never ending Obama supporters from Air America, Huffington Post, The Nation, Newsweek, and the Washington Post.  Thank you for your continued bias in support of the one and only person capable of saving the world - Barack Obama.

Chuck, Why are you now reporting the popular vote?

How did you factor in the Caucus states?  Did you count the beauty contest vote in Washington state?  Or did you count the caucus vote that actually meant something?

OBAMA IS UN-ELECTABLE, IT'S THAT SIMPLE. IF NOMINATED, HE WILL LOSE, AND SET BACK THE DEMOCRAT PARTY 50 YEARS.HOWARD DEAN, HAS NO CLUE HOW TO MANAGE THE DNC.

Anything new on Rezko-Gate today?
Why isn't First Read reporting on that?

As rev. Wright says" GOD DAMM AMERICA" if you can take it then vote obama.If you blame AIDS on the american people and our GOV. then vote obama if you think that all white people share a blame for slavery even if you did not live in the country until 64 then vote for obama GO TEAM OBAMA change and hope and no MACARTHYS

One of the things that bothers me the most about Bill Clinton's remark (besides the attack on Obama's patriotism which I find truly offensive) is the stuff about "stuff" intruding on campaigns.  The Clintons are the King and Queen of "stuff" intruding on campaigns, who are they kidding?  They are the king and queen of kitchen sink campaigning, they are the ones that both bring "stuff" in to distract from the issues and then have plenty of "stuff" that can be used against them.

My Republican husband says the Republicans cannot wait to run against Hillary.  Some say they are compiling the 527 ads against Obama now (on Wright) but he says they have had 527 ads against Hillary and the Clintons now for years.  He says had he voted in TX, he would have been one of those Repubs. voting for Hillary so that she could become the nominee and get defeated by McCain in the Fall.  He says the Republicans fear running against Obama more still.  He has family in PA and no, they won't vote for Obama but they won't vote for Hillary more (of course they're Repubs so maybe it doesn't matter at all).

ps, disagree with the Husband, not disavowing him as a person :)

Obama 08

You ask if Obama will stop off in Puerto Rico while he is on vacation. Answer:  He better.

Puerto Rico:  63 delegates, and in the last 2 months changed from caucus to open primary. Why? Because officials there, watching the US mainland, knew PR turnout would likely be huge and primaries logistically accomodate more voters.

Also, Puerto Ricans are BIG on voting.  If a mere 1 million of the 4 million Hispanic population show up for their  FIRST EVER primary, isn't it more than likely that Clinton will take not only most of the
delegates but most of the popular vote substantially closing the gap with Obama?  Don't forget the rather large Puerto Rican population in a state she won handily: NEW YORK.

This is why the Clinton campaign is not going to give up until all States and Territories have their say. It's called democracy and the media hype about 'destroying the democratic party' is just that: hype.  Somebody tell Bill Richardson that the primary season goes until JUNE for a reason. Everybody should have their say regardless of polls and media sway.

Keep going Hillary! Everybody gets to vote and Puerto Rico will be the biggest upset of all!

Is Bill Richardson's endorsement a reason for Superdelegates to vote with their reasoning and not according to who won the State?

http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=1923

In comparing Bill Richardson to Judas for endorsing another candidate, James Carvall identifies the critical problem in the Democratic primary. To whom do we owe our loyalty? Is it to a politician we have had past relations with?

At a time when 4000 American service men and women have been killed in Iraq with no end in sight, when we are facing a recession, when Americans are without health care and loosing their homes, do we not have higher priorities for our loyalty?

Bill Richardson is a super delegate. Will Mr. Carvall's idea of loyalty dictate what is required of the super delegates and ultimately whether America changes course in 2008?

Then by twisted obama logic Richardson should vote for hilliary since his state went for her and for that matter who are Kennedy and Kerry voting for are they going against the will of the people to and lets not forget to stop michagan and Florida from voting good show of fairness obama they sound like idiots with thier newfound respect for rules that apply to them.

I can't remember...what are barry obamas foreign policy credentials? That he once lived in indonesia and he is taking a carribean vacation with his family?

One thing I would like to point out regarding Bill Clinton speaking to VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) members - please remember that these veterans who showed up did so at the request of the Clinton campaign, not necessarily as an endorsement to Hillary. I'm a VFW commander and can tell you that there are many times we'd rather have the candidates make a speech on television rather than force us to drive hundreds of miles to listen to things that might be offensive personally or be meaningless in regard to our best interests.  On a personal level, the fact that Bill Clinton inferred the Black candidate is less patriotic than the White candidates is offensive to me, having fought alongside many Black soldiers in Vietnam.  How can Bill not see that Hillary is in second place?  Considering Bill Clinton doesn't have any military experience, let alone war experience, he can't possibly understand what patriotism means to us!

Hey Chuck - your msnbc political calendar is missing Puerto Rico.  
Any particular reason for that???

Yeah, they don't get to vote in the general, but they do get to pick a nominee.  I think your readers deserve to be able to know that, particularly since PR carries so many delegates: 63

Barack Obama is INEVITABLE

Barack Obama will be your next President


'...One big fact has largely been lost in the recent
coverage of the Democratic presidential race: Hillary
Rodham Clinton has virtually no chance of winning...'

Other than THAT, she's a great candidate !!



From Politico.com:


'...Story behind the story: The Clinton myth
By JIM VANDEHEI & MIKE ALLEN | 3/21/08 1:32 PM EST

Clinton's campaign rests increasingly on a game of
make-believe.

One big fact has largely been lost in the recent
coverage of the Democratic presidential race: Hillary
Rodham Clinton has virtually no chance of winning.

Her own campaign acknowledges there is no way that she
will finish ahead in pledged delegates. That means the
only way she wins is if Democratic superdelegates are
ready to risk a backlash of historic proportions from
the party’s most reliable constituency.

Unless Clinton is able to at least win the primary
popular vote — which also would take nothing less than
an electoral miracle — and use that achievement to
pressure superdelegates, she has only one scenario for
victory. An African-American opponent and his backers
would be told that, even though he won the contest
with voters, the prize is going to someone else.

People who think that scenario is even remotely likely
are living on another planet.

As it happens, many people inside Clinton’s campaign
live right here on Earth. One important Clinton
adviser estimated to Politico privately that she has
no more than a 10 percent chance of winning her race
against Barack Obama, an appraisal that was echoed by
other operatives.

In other words: The notion of the Democratic contest
being a dramatic cliffhanger is a game of
make-believe.
Story Behind the Story

Why news gets covered the way it does

Politico’s top editors draw on their experience at the
nation's largest news organizations to pull back the
curtain on coverage decisions and the media mindset.

   * Obama's pastor: The backstory
   * How the sausage gets made
   * Why reporters get it wrong

The real question is why so many people are playing.
The answer has more to do with media psychology than
with practical politics.

Journalists have become partners with the Clinton
campaign in pretending that the contest is closer than
it really is. Most coverage breathlessly portrays the
race as a down-to-the-wire sprint between two
well-matched candidates, one only slightly better
situated than the other to win in August at the
national convention in Denver.

One reason is fear of embarrassment. In its zeal to
avoid predictive reporting of the sort that
embarrassed journalists in New Hampshire, the media —
including Politico — have tended to avoid zeroing in
on the tough math Clinton faces.

Avoiding predictions based on polls even before voters
cast their ballots is wise policy. But that's not the
same as drawing sober and well-grounded conclusions
about the current state of a race after millions of
voters have registered their preferences.

The antidote to last winter's flawed predictions is
not to promote a misleading narrative based on the
desired but unlikely story line of one candidate.

There are other forces also working to preserve the
notion of a contest that is still up for grabs.

One important, if subliminal, reason is self-interest.
Reporters and editors love a close race — it’s more
fun and it’s good for business.

The media are also enamored of the almost mystical
ability of the Clintons to work their way out of tight
jams, as they have done for 16 years at the national
level. That explains why some reporters are inclined
to believe the Clinton campaign when it talks about
how she’s going to win on the third ballot at the
Democratic National Convention in August.

That’s certainly possible — and, to be clear, we’d
love to see the race last that long — but it’s folly
to write about this as if it is likely.

It’s also hard to overstate the role the talented
Clinton camp plays in shaping the campaign narrative,
first by subtly lowering the bar for the performance
necessary to remain in the race, and then by keeping
the focus on Obama’s relationships with a political
fixer and a controversial pastor in Illinois.

I wonder what's in Hillary Clinton's White
House logs ?

08:00 Look at secret FBI records of my foes
09:00 Secretly promote NAFTA
10:00 Meet with Wal-Mart to help import dangerous toys from China
11:00 Meet with Marc Rich's wife, get campaign
     contributions, plan Marc's pardon
12:00 Lunch with Osama bin Laden, a wonderful man !
02:00 Get illegal contributions from Norman Hsu and
     Johnny Huang
03:00 Dispose of Bill's used condoms
04:00 Try to intimidate Juanita Broddrick from
     filing rape charges against Bill
05:00 Meet with my weird religious cult, the
     Fellowship plan to indoctrinate Washington DC  
     with our evil views


Dear Diary:
What a busy day I've had today  !
I can't wait until I'M PRESIDENT !!

Democratic nomination was Hillary's to lose and she is losing it. How can anyone argue that she is more electable in Nov when she screwed up the primaries. It takes strategy and smarts to win elections... different strategies for primaries and general elections. Hillary has failed in the first test, and is now asking us to trust us with a bigger test in November. Obama is a once in a life time candidate who is winning against odds. And those of you who are calling him racist, you really belong in the other party, please vote for McCain whoever the democratic nominee is. I and an Obama supporter but will vote for Clinton, if she is our nominee.

'Her last name is a solid credential on the economy.'

why? if you look at the truth about the clintons and the economy you would see that the economy was boosted by the policies of the regan administration and the economy was killed by clinton signing nafta into law, that one document was the beginning of the end for decent jobs in the u.s., clinton's economic legacy is the selling out of american workers so a few corporate entities could become filthy rich, people in pennsylvania need to get their head out of the sand, the clinton's are not going to help anyone but the wealthy elite, and never have, clinton raised taxes on blue collar workers for christ sake, bill and hillary are professional spinsters, they are not who they say they are, look at the facts, remember 'wall street loves hillary clinton', because wall street owns hillary

Obama should be run out of this race by the democratic party for standing by and allowing Bill Clinton, a two term president, a party elder loved by our party even if not by the media, Joe McCarthy. It's is ABHORENT and completely UNACCEPTABLE. But Obama gets away with it. Just like he's getting away with 20 years of silent participation in racism.

"...I just love that absolutely flawed logic. Just because a person loses to a fellow Democrat in the primary, doesn't mean they will lose the state to a Republican come November. ..."Ron, TX (Sent Monday, March 24, 2008 10:04 AM)

Look again Ron.
Not only has Hillary won states that have more electoral votes..BUT, Obama himself has only won two (2) states that were blue in 2004.
Whoever the Democratic candidate is will have to change the electoral map if we expect to win in November. All the spin in the world won't change that.
Just as it won't change the fact that Obama probably wouldn't win most of the states he's carried in the primaries because they are RED states.
Hillary would win the states she's carried because they are blue, and because she could and would win those states without crossover voters.
If Hillary's supporters didn't vote for Obama in the general election (and we probably wouldn't) he would need a lot of crossover votes to win the states where most of his support comes from. Republicans are traditionally very disiplined voters, therefore that wouldn't be likely to happen.
Do the math super delegates. An Obama candidacy equates to a November loss.

Had Mark Warner, Former Gov. of VA ran for the nomination, he would've won, early, and decisively, and he would've saved us democrats from ourselves.
**********************
I thought the former governor of VA was John Warner?

The Clinton logic is like the sign coming into a small town:

Population  1500
Elevation   3000
Total       4500

Bravo to Chris Mathews for finally waking up and reporting what is important. Enough with The Clinton Spin and nonsense.
When does MSNBC FIRE Pat Buchanan, Joe Scarborough and Tucker? Those guys can not go a sentence without mentioning rev Wright. Its AMAZING. They are bent on making this an issue even when its past.
Chris Mathews and Keith are the only ones really reporting. Pat needs to go to a retirement home

Good observation about Hillary subtly wanting to appeal to the whites who just aren't ready to talk about race in America yet.  It's the proverbial Elephant in the Living Room, the 800-lb-Gorilla, but let's not talk about it, PLEASE?!?  "ok" says Hil, vote for me, and we'll just sweep all the nastiness under the carpet a little longer, sure, why not?"  Bush is going to leave his war for someone else to solve, and Clinton is going to leave race for future generations to solve.  It's so much easier than admitting a problem exists, and actually trying to DO something about it, isn't it?

I need your help, does anyone remember the name of Obama's book about his past usage of Cocaine ?

I MUST SAY BILL CLINTON DIDNT NOT MAKE A MISTAKE SAYING HILLARY AND MC CAIN WAS VERY PATRITIC AND LEAVE OBAMA OUT OF IT. IT WAS VERY MUCH HOW HE FEELS ABOUT OBAMA. MR CLINTON IS JUST ANOTHER LIEING X PRESIDENT AND WILL MAKE THESE KINDS OF STATEMENTS TO PUT DOUBT ABOUT OBAMAS BEING A PRO AMERICAN.

THE CLINTONS WILL DO WHAT EVER IT TAKES TO WIN THIS ELECTION. BUT PEOPLE SHOULD LOOK AT THE BOSNIA VIDEO AND SEE THERE WAS NO SNIPER FIRE WHEN SHE WAS GREETED AT THE AIRPORT. SHE AS USUAL DONT SEEM TO KNOW THERE ARE VIDEOS OUT THERE SHOWING HER AT THE AIRPORT.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE SHE LIED AGAIN. SEEMS NOTHING LATELY SHOWS HER TELLING THE FULL TRUTHFUL STORY ABOUT THE N. IRELAND AND BOSNIA. WAKE UP AMERICA

AND FOR HER WINS IN OHIO AND TEXAS, SHE MAY HAVE ONE IN OHIO AND THE POPULAR VOTE IN TEXAS SHE DIDNT WIN THE DELICATE COUNT IN TEXAS.

This just in: Obama has announced that he can't disown David Duke anymore than he could disown the white race. The media has declared this is a powerful, moving, brilliant, brave and bold statement. Although he sat silently, weakly by, for 20 years in David Duke's church of the USKKKA, they say this statement by Obama is what is needed right now in this country. We must begin a dialogue on why Daivd Duke is the way he is, why african americans just don't get it, just don't get that crazy ol' uncle David. Thankfully for America Obama has offered to lead us all past the racial divide--just as he has done for the past 20 years.

The first one of the three, Clinton, Obama, or McCain, to get Lieberman to be VP, will have the inside edge...among Interzone Independents. The first to sign Will Smith, will win.

"...There are many older, white voters, while sympathetic to Obama's message on race, don't want to be reminded to take their medicine and the subtle message Clinton may actually have been sending was just that, support Clinton and avoid taking your race medicine. ..."

I didn't know that any of us needed to take "race medicine"
Furthermore, I didn't know it was First Read's place to tell us that we do.
I find this statement to be racist, race baiting, and highly objectionable. Whoever wrote it should be fired immediately.
If anyone else is offended by this please sound off, and please call MSNBC's studios via telephone, as I intend to do.
Whoever wrote that should be terminated.

I don't care what Hillary Clinton says.  She's a liar who lied about her visit to Bosnia so why should we believe a word that comes out of her mouth.

And I'd love to know why Obama's pastor is so important when a candidate lies about her own experience and nothing is said?  She is running for President, Reverand Wright isn't.

I think if Barack doesn't win the nomination and the election it will say something so awful about America that it makes it hard for me to believe this country can ever improve. And I used to be one of the most Pollyanna in the group - I'm in a an interracial marriage with members of every ethnic group in my own family. The unspeakable evil of having the candidate who has suffered the most from racism be attacked for "reverse racism" is the most heinous example of white privilege I have ever witnessed in my 40 years of life. It’s a conscious effort on the part of a group of elites, who know they have the upper hand, to try to take down a candidate and his supporters using the very system that they try to deny even exists. You aren’t allowed to say it’s racism even though everyone knows that’s the real problem – race baiting to convince ignorant racists that they are having their lives ruined by people of color who simply don’t deserve the same standard of living that all Americans deserve. This would be the biggest shame America has ever perpetrated and considering our history that’s saying a lot.

The Wright controversy is legitmate news right up until November. Obama lacks the judgment to be president and his support of hate politics by remaining a member of such a church and strongly supporting such a man, proves that, and is VERY relevant for his job interview. He doesn't have the job until November. America can discuss Obama and his views and actions until then.

I suppose Wright is news as long as the MSNBC boys continue to talk about Bill Clinton's affair and giggle amongst themselves. See above story about PA. today. So in other words...forever.

'...But be sure to focus on this phrase, "all this other stuff" intruding on the campaign and less on the "loves America" line. Wasn't Clinton sending another message to the crowd of older, white male voters? (Remember, he was at a VFW and there was barely a member of the audience under 60...'

It's odd that he's at a VFW post
He is a DRAFT DODGER !!
Bill Clinton is a COWARD who evaded military service during Viet Nam
(just like George Bush and Dick Cheney and Rush Limbaugh)

If Hillary were the nominee we'd have to start talking about a 'SEXUAL PREDATOR' in the White House

Slick Willie is a 'sexual predator' who was accused of 'sexual assault' by Juanita Broddrick and Kathleen Willey
(rape in the case of Juanita Broddrick)

Apparently, he thinks he's cute !
Apparently, we're supposed to be entertained by his latest conquest.

Please see the current mayor of Detroit
He lied about an adulterous, sexual affair
(just like Bill Clinton)
He committed prejury lying about his quickie
(just like Bill Clinton)

Wanna go through THAT nonsense, again ?


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