I always assumed that the first woman to be the president of this country would be a Baptist Republican oil heiress, so Hillary’s ‘centrism’ delights me because it makes me think my mother in law would vote for her. The only reason John Edwards is in contention and came in 2nd in IA is that he’s a rich white man. No woman, no person of color and no kid from his high school who didn’t ’succeed’ in the terms set by our society as spectacularly as Johnny did could get on the ballot at all saying ‘poverty’ and ‘greed’.

Only Nixon could go to China.

All true, but when have the elected Republicans actually accomplished anything their supporters want. When in majority, the accomplish great things for the corporatists who get them elected, and when in minority they stand for nothing but putting a stop to progress. With an Obama presidency, I fear what would be put on the chopping block, in the name of “compromise”, especially with his pandering to the anti-LGBT vote.

“Ann Richards maybe set my goals too high.”

Amen! I never lived in her state, but just reading about the amazing leader that she was and being able to see how amazing she was under the pressures of the horrible take out the Bush’s smacked down on her, was enough to make her one of my most favorite heroes of all time.

Hillary’s biggest weakness is that her last name is Clinton. Republicans hate the Clintons far more than they hate Democrats or seeing women in a position of power, in general.

And to your point that Clinton risks being unable to rally the support of progressives, frankly, the simple truth is that much of our organizational success as a party in 2006 was thanks entirely to the Dean progressives who have been systematically working to change the party - please look to Joe Liebermann as an example of what happens when the party ignores this movement towards giving more strength to the anti-establishment wing of our party.

Why were last weeks endorsements for Obama so unimportant to your average American and yet key to those of us who are non-DLC Democratic activists? Because he won the endorsement of an establishment candidate, like John Kerry at the same time that he won the endorsement of the guy who tried to take out Liebermann, and the right-hand man of Speaker Pelosi.

Amanda you are dead right when you assert that Clinton doesn’t win the favor of many progressives in our party. But what is more amazing is how Obama can win the favor of people from every wing of the party and independents at the same time. Hell my right-wing conservative neighbor told me yesterday that she really likes Obama. It is truly amazing stuff that has really impressed this Edwards supporter.

Human nature? Negativity is more fun. See P.J. O’Rourke for case studies.

I like Obama in some ways, but I don’t understand how he is going to pay for the things he has promised. Lots of talk, but when requested I could not even get a spreadsheet that shows the math - Yes, none of them would provide me with that, but if he is so sure about how to fix things, show me the math.

I probably don’t need to even mention most of the republicans who are running. The only one who is slightly different is Ron Paul.

What I really want is a candidate who has worked a real job. How can someone who is a millionaire ever really understand or represent people who make $50k a year or less?

Perhaps once again I will vote for “anybody else” because the outcome is going to be the same regardless. Another crook in the white house.

Like: run a checksum on posts from the same poster and if they are identical, delete the last one posted.

I’d be happy to nag them, but I don’t have a blog here.

I’m not a supporter of any of the 3 candidates, so I’m not “trying” to do anything.

The fact that you put this after a quote rebutting that not going to Iraq is lazy suggests that you are most concerned with smearing candidates you don’t favour than anything else. That kind of attitude really isn’t going to help anyone in November.

People don’t need to “assume” how Hilary will act once in office, they can judge on her voting record and policy statements. Presumably you can do the same, or are you supporting her just on identity politics?

How exactly is Edwards lazy and incomptent by the way, if Hilary is the only competent candidate?

Of course, Edwards has pandered to the sexism in the campaign, and Obamas policies are at best naive on many foreign policy issues. That doesn’t mean all their supporters are sexist idiots, any more that Hilarys are, say, racist idiots.

Making vicious attacks on not just the candidate you don’t like, but a third of what will be your candidates base of activists if they get selectected, doesn’t serve the Democrats or your candidates cause well.

Trying to figure out the American public train of thought is a useless endeavor. You can say that the majority of Americans aren’t ready for a moc or woman president, and they can show you to be wrong. They might also show you to be right. But there’s no fricking way of telling until the ballots are counted.

Drew said:

“As for those dastardly college students - perhaps those for whom, as Hillary told our friends at the US Chamber of Commerce, “work is a four letter word” - they’ve been turning out in greater and greater numbers. ”

Not in NH they didn’t.

Actually, they did:

“In total, 22 percent of Democratic caucusgoers were young people, an increase from 17 percent in 2004 and 9 percent in 2000,” according to a study of the recent balloting by the Democratic National Committee provided to U.S. News. “In contrast, only 11 percent of the Republican caucusgoers were young people.” In New Hampshire, the Democratic analysis shows, youth turnout “surged to 37 percent this year, from 18 percent in 2004 and 28 percent in 2000,” says the study.

But keep trashing them - it’s a sure path to victory for your favored candidate.