Another fight for Iowa

fortuna, Houston, TX — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 23:03:54 GMT

Clinton is trying to block us from our conventions here in Texas. Of course there were minor rule violations - NOBODY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING. There was nothing nefarious to it. Let us have our county conventions please without threatening more lawsuits. Enough is enough.

Clinton campaign wants Texas to postpone party conventions

03/15/2008

By PAUL J. WEBER / Associated Press

As final results from the Texas Democratic caucus remain unknown, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign wants signatures from the March 4 contest verified before party conventions are held around the state later this month.

In a letter sent to the state Democratic Party late Friday, the Clinton campaign requests the March 29 count and state Senate district conventions be postponed until the eligibility of an estimated 1 million caucus-goers are double checked.

The Clinton campaign wrote they received more than 2,000 complaints of violations following the historic Texas turnout, which was perhaps the nation's largest caucus ever.

With about 41 percent of precinct caucuses reported, rival Barack Obama was ahead with 56 percent to Clinton's 44 percent.

"It is the Party's responsibility to ensure the integrity of the precinct convention process by making sure that the Rules were followed," the letter states.

The letter came after the Clinton campaign said party officials told them this week it would not verify the eligibility of all caucus-goers before March 29. The county and district caucuses will whittle down the delegates before the state convention in June, when the final delegate count for the Texas caucus will be known.

Texas Democratic Party spokesman Hector Nieto said Saturday the party has not yet had the opportunity to make any decisions on the Clinton campaign's request.

"We're not surprised Senator Clinton's campaign has engaged with their attorney, but right now the TDP remains extremely pleased by the record-breaking turnout," Nieto said.

Nieto said state party officials had not received a similar request from Obama's campaign. A message left to the Obama campaign Saturday was not immediately returned.

Clinton campaign spokeswoman Adrienne Elrod, when asked if a lawsuit would be filed or considered if state party officials did not postpone their conventions, said Saturday that, "We believe that we can work with the party to find a resolution that protects the wishes of every Texas voter and ensures that no one was disenfranchised."

In the letter, the Clinton campaign lists 10 instances in which party rules were violated during precinct caucusing. They include caucuses starting before precinct polling closed, and results being taken from head or hand counts instead of a written roll.

So far, precinct caucuses report electing 23,918 delegates for Obama and 18,620 for Clinton. In the Texas primary also held March 4, Clinton won the popular vote with 51 percent to Obama's 47 percent. That earned her 65 delegates to his 61.

The turnout for the Texas caucuses was more than four times the estimated 220,000 who attended Iowa's first-in-the nation presidential contest.

The turnout stymied a state Democratic party that has had a shadow of its once mighty influence since a Republican takeover of state politics in the 1990s.

Another fight for Iowa

Suzanne, Elkhorn, Wi — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 23:04:03 GMT

Good point Chuck about Hillary's lack of respect for those caucus states may hurt her pledged delegates.

I hope they turn that negativity into more votes for Obama.

If I lived in a causus state, I would be fervently offended by her statements.

Another fight for Iowa

mary lee wagerman atlanta georgia — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 23:09:56 GMT

Hell yeah Obama! Who would ever vote for HRC when she says a caucus is undemocratic. Whatever Hill!!!!!!

Another fight for Iowa

Gregory Peek, Birmingham, Alabama — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 23:12:13 GMT

Nothing in politics happens in a vacuum. In fact, much of politics seems to follow Isaac Newton's third law of motion, essentially that one action automatically results in an equal but oppositely directed reaction. Rev. Wright saw this woven into American history.

Newton's law surely would apply also to Rev. Wright's extremely offensive comments, with Obama likely suffering from association. But if this "guilt by association" is in any way exaggerated, it comes at our peril. We would be the real loosers. Obama is the only candidate able to win against McCain.

McCain's passion for war, like that of Bush, would bring on the full fury of Newton's law. God help us!

Another fight for Iowa

Sue, Elyria, OH — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 23:16:29 GMT

How interesting things appear once the political smoke screen evaporates.
After everything and the kitchen sink are thrown at Obama he is still standing....oh and by the way he is still winning.
The media does not give him enough credit for openly speaking to the American people. The act alone would have frightened me back into my house. Again Obama shows up that it is time to stop the hate and get on with our lives. Please do not let the right and Hillary turn this campaign into a divide among the races in America. We the people in the United States of America want to discuss the issues. Can someone please comment on the earmark proposal Hillary made with Chuck Schumer to put a monument to Vietnam in New York. Whereas this is a Patriotric gesture it cames at a time we the people would prefer to have that million dollars spent on actually moving this country foward. It would be nice if Hillary suggested donating this money to food shelters instead.
BTW I still have not seen Hillary produce her tax records....even 2004, 2005 would be nice, how about her earmark proposals, her white house papers.....yes once the smoke clears the same questions linger.....where does her money come from and what and who do they tie her to?? These are my concerns

Another fight for Iowa

Hopemonger — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 23:17:24 GMT

Rezko vs. Hsu
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2008/03/tale_of_the_tape_norman_hsu_and_tony_rezko.html

Another fight for Iowa

leon houston — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 23:21:16 GMT

democratic activists have once again doomed main stream democrats to another eight years of republican rule and our suffering will continue. no healthcare, no bankruptcy reform of the reform, no middle class help, no relief from gas gouging(I work the refineries, I know the surplus is huge and the profits are obscene) but trillions more for iraq. looking for idealism instead of winning, the dems have put forth the two most flawed candidates in 20 year history. the last dem. this flawed was dukakis and see how that worked out for you. mccain should have been easily beatable with the KEATING 5 savings and loan corruption but no, my beloved party has to sacrifice middle class folks hopes and dreams to be able to say look at us...we are soooo progressive.

the only hope of the middle class is that these two will be so hopelessly flawed that the people will call out for gore or edwards to save the party. a pipe dream I know but at least one can hope.......

Edwards would have coasted to victory and with a wife that has suffered with cancer you can bet that healthcare for the poor and middle class would have been a top priority. he would have thrown so much funding at it we may have seen it beaten in our lifetime..... yes dems be proud of who you have selected while the rest of us continue to fall farther behind ....

Another fight for Iowa

Michelle, IA — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 23:21:35 GMT

In Jan. Clinton took my county.
Clinton 25
Edwards 18
Obama 16

today after the convention we took the county back. All the Edwards people went to Obama, and one Clinton delegate to Obama as well.
The neighboring county was won by Obama in Jan, and stays that way but Obama gaining ALL Edwards delegates and two Clinton delegates.

The Clinton campaign made robo calls over the last week to ALL delegates. Me included. I considered it rude. The Obama campaign had REAL people calling and not pushing, just remininding people to go to the convention.

The person that gave the speech for Clinton bashed Obama and his campaign, she reiterated things that have been proven to be wrong and people know it. She did not talk about why she supported her candidate. The person who gave the speech for Obama was kind, smiling and talked about thier admiration for Clinton. She talked about how people are ready for the fights to be over. And how we need to pull together. Unity is Baracks message and plan.

The choice was clear for a lot of those Edwards supporters.

Another fight for Iowa

S.Gonzalez, Doral, FL — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 23:50:20 GMT

Chuck, you and Keith seem to be the only MSNBC voices of reason in reporting campaign results. Keep it up!

Another fight for Iowa

BKS — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 00:01:44 GMT

If the Clinton camp thinks about it I guess caucases do count.. The numbers anyway

Another fight for Iowa

Ian — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 00:03:00 GMT

Okay. I officially declare that I can not follow the delegate thing anymore and I'm not sure it's going to matter given the superdelegate thing and the popular vote thing and the Michigan thing and the Florida thing. Not to mention the supporter "hit job" of the week thing. Wake me up when the party's completely destroyed.

Another fight for Iowa

Terje, Montgomery, Vermont — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 00:21:14 GMT

Chuck Todd speculates that Clinton may have been hurt by "Clinton campaign's trashing of the caucuses."

That may be, but I would mention another possibility: that the way the Clinton campaign has played games with Michigan and Florida doesn't win her any friends in Iowa either, since they are fierce about maintaining their first in the nation status.

(Of course their is also the simple possibility that with their candidate out of the race, a lot of Edwards supporters decided that Obama was the best remaining candidate and switched their votes to him.)

Another fight for Iowa

Terry Harr — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 00:23:18 GMT

This nomination process is akin to watching grass grow in winter. Make it end.

Another fight for Iowa

Jane Doe, Algonquin, IL — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 00:41:23 GMT

Read on Newsweek that Hillary had robocalls going out to "identify her delegates" with a 30-45 second speech on her virtues. It's one thing that she didn't have precinct captains identifying her delegates on caucus night, but... A 30-45 second speech isn't going to change the mind of anyone who has been following the campaign and cares enough to volunteer to be a delegate. How does this do anything but raise her negatives? Who is advising her campaign? Do they even want her to win?

Another fight for Iowa

twocanpete — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 00:44:57 GMT

http://twocanpete.blogspot.com
Considering some real populist tendencies in Iowa it may be a little hard for HRC to pick any more delegates out of Obama's back pocket.

Another fight for Iowa

David DeCou, Decorah, Iowa — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 01:04:12 GMT

Great news for Senator Obama. It looks like Senator Clinton forgot that us Iowans don't like negative campaigning and I hope all of the caucus states remember that Senator Clinton said that they weren't democratic!

Another fight for Iowa

Frank, Washington DC — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 01:08:06 GMT

So, while everyone was busy trying to gain points on what Rev. Wright said or didn't say, Senator Obama was picking up additional delegates in Iowa. Glad to see that his campaign is keeping their eyes on the prize and are not easily distracted.

Another fight for Iowa

Pat-NY — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 01:22:37 GMT

you couldnt be any more Obama slanted could you?God Bless America.I expected to see nah nah any min.

Another fight for Iowa

Peter Principle, Austin, TX — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 02:33:55 GMT

BTW, 7 is still less than 9? Really? Are you absolutely sure? Have you double checked your figures? Do you have a citation for this?

Gee, thanks ever so much for your brilliant arithemtic insight. Perhpas next you can address the raging controversy over which is more: 6 or 8.

Sheesh...

Another fight for Iowa

gene — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 03:16:26 GMT

When Pastor Wright's remarks about America get the coverage they deserve, some of these Iowa delegates are going to be a little ashamed of themselves. The media has had knowledge of the anti American remarks for months and have been sitting on the story. Now I will give you another tall tale, Obama claims that it has just beem brought to his attention.

Another fight for Iowa

one, Ithaca, NY — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 03:24:11 GMT

I think one might be right in one's wonderment. And may one say one LOVES one's coverage of this election season!

Another fight for Iowa

Gene Tulley, Watertown, NC — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 03:29:40 GMT

Democrats will still be adding up the delegates in 2010. They can't run a primary, how do you expect them to ruin, oops, run a country?

Another fight for Iowa

Lawrence, Waddell, AZ — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 03:39:09 GMT

Guess we're about to hear some double talk, again, out of the Clinton campaign. "The Obama Campaign misquoted our comments about caucuses."

Another fight for Iowa

Lindy, Philadelphia, PA — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 03:44:28 GMT

And so it should! Go caucuses!

You can't make all of the rules to suit yourself!
You can't change all of the rules to suit yourself!

Well, maybe you can, if you're Alice in Wonderland. . .

Let's see - let me re-cap:

1. caucuses aren't as democratic as primaries, and all states should hold primaries, except Nevada
(because Hillary doesn't do as well in caucuses as she does in primaries, except Nevada)

2. Michigan and Florida don't count.
(because Hillary thinks she's got the whole thing wrapped up right from the start)

3. Michigan and Florida do count.
(because Hillary hasn't done very well by now, but won both of those - never mind that hers was the only name on the ballot in Michigan - and never mind that she did campaign in Florida - by holding fundraising events and making statements saying how important it was to seat the Florida delegates, and how she'd make it happen when she was the nominee - having given a pledge not to campaign)

um -

4. little states don't count
(except for New Hampshire and Rhode Island, because Hillary won those)

5. only big states count toward winning the general election
(because Hillary had won a few, but to win Ohio and Texas she had to play some dirty, nasty political tricks - 3:00 A.M. phone call ad and Rezco hype on the eve of the primaries)

6. delegate counts don't matter
(because Hillary doesn't have as many as Obama)

7. super delegate counts do matter, should matter, in fact should matter more than anything else
(because Hillary has more than Obama and needs super delegates to choose her to win)

8. caucus delegate counts don't matter
(because Hillary hasn't won as many caucuses as Obama)

9. count the primaries that everyone agreed wouldn't count because they broke the rules
(because Hillary needs them to count or she can't win)
or . .

10. demand re-votes for the primaries that aren't supposed to count because everyone agreed they wouldn't count because they broke the rules
(because Hillary needs them so she can have a second chance to try to win)

hmmm

11. Obama has to run a positive campaign
(because Hillary wants to be the only one allowed to run a negative campaign, because she has to - to win)

12. Obama has to be a saint
(because if he's not, Hillary will dredge up any little imperfection to destroy him so she can win)

oh, and . .

13. Obama has to be a saint
(because Hillary will cry foul, play victim, maybe cry - NH - if her imperfections are mentioned aloud)

Are you feeling the Wonderland of it all yet?

I'd rather believe in hope than in this Wonderland fairytale.

Another fight for Iowa

Steve Kranz, Cedar Rapids, Iowa — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 04:39:53 GMT

One wonders if Hillary's trashing of the caucuses will hurt her as the process moves forward?
Iowa today responded with an absolute YES. My fellow Clinton convention delegates admitted that the caucus bashing hasn't helped.

Another fight for Iowa

S. Ruff — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 05:11:02 GMT

None of the news source I have read tonight explain how Clinton could have lost one?

Another fight for Iowa

Mary — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 05:16:00 GMT

Isn't it interesting that the only states that "matter" in this race are the ones Hillary can win? She talks about disenfranchising the voters in Michigan and Florida, but she doesn't mind disregarding and debunking the actual votes of the states fairly cast. I wonder if she will recant and say they don't "matter" if and when Senator Obama should those states?!

Another fight for Iowa

judy V Oregon Coast — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 05:47:13 GMT

Many months ago, everyone assumed that Hillary had the nomination in the bag. However, it now appears that the only way she can get the nomination is by borrowing, begging and stealing every delagate she can.

What a shame that she can damage the democratic party in her quest and possible destroy our chances of winning in November. Is this the really what she wishes her Clinton legacy to be in the end?

An ego trip to no where. Winning at any cost could be a price we all have to pay.

Another fight for Iowa

Jack Lebon, Rosemount, Minnesota — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 11:21:10 GMT

PLEASE HILLARY BE A GOOD LOOSER AND DROP OUT!!!!!

Another fight for Iowa

Connie Spence, Harpers Ferry, WV — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 11:25:07 GMT

Again NBC, MSNBC have become the Obama network. I just don't understand why they don't have Matthews, Obermann and Russett carry him around on their shoulders so his feet don't have to touch the ground. They are so anti female it is becoming more obvious as timegoes on. I am so disappointed in them.

Another fight for Iowa

JD, Pittsburgh, PA — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 12:43:08 GMT

Obama should just try to bow out gracefully. The long-term, close, personal relationship with Reverend Wright is a nail in the coffin for the Democrats to claim the White House. There is no place for those sermons that have been blasphemous, hate mongering, and anti-american. It's insulting that Obama says he wasn't aware of the Reverend's comments. If the media finds the "smoking gun" of Obama, his wife and/or children being at one or more of these sermons then it's over for him as people will realize not only his very poor judgement in choosing friends/advisors but that he is lying about it now.

Another fight for Iowa

Owen, Youngstown, Ohio — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 14:08:52 GMT

Sometimes our opinions are just word/comments on this blog. The people of Iowa have spoken. I guess you guys know the rest of the story on how the delegates were allocated.

Everyone in Iowa thinks for Obama to admit all his faults last week he has an ace up his sleeves. I guess he knows that now is the time to ask the Sen. Clinton what her 35 yrs of experience really is. Now is the time to ask questions about what the American public need to know and are going to ask very soon. If we don’t ask these questions, the republican’s will. Every American knows all of the stuff that’s part of Clinton’s experience like: Whitewater, Travel gate, Monica Lewinsky and impeachment, renting out the Lincoln bedroom, the loss of the Rose Law Firm billing records for nearly 2 years until they were miraculously found in the White House living quarters, removing files from Vince Foster’s office following his suicide and before investigators could get there.

Has anyone asked why she hasn’t released her library records or tax returns? What if she's hiding something negative that might cost our party the White House? Most people believe she is hiding something terrible. While you guys are deciding the republicans will consolidate and take the white house again.

Another fight for Iowa

ep-ny — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 14:27:39 GMT

Maybe when they meat they will have heard Obamas pastor and realized what we have here. Maybe Clinton will get a lot more than you count on. She wanted all the voters to be able to vote how terrable of her .wow.Who would want someone that cared if a lot of people were left out . Geesh Obama says dirty tricks again trying to get everyone in on the vote not just his rich folks,God Bless America. We are takeing odds on if this gets posted. Dont let me down now ya hear

Another fight for Iowa

owen — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 14:28:32 GMT

Another fight for Iowa

Stephanie Richards, Victor, NY — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 14:30:25 GMT

Sen. Clinton has continuously and outrightly rejected the state caucus, calling them unfair and undemocratic. How any state could then award her disputed delegates is ludicrous. She's made it obvious that she doesn't care about and discounts their votes. The voters of these states need to listen and take to heart what she has expressed as "the true will of the people". And that it doesn't include them. I am from Iowa and upon moving to New York became a Hillary supporter. NO MORE! She's devisive and condenscending. And by the way, what has she done for Upstate NY other than further her own political career?