Monthly Archives: May 2008

(Community Matters)

ABC: Stephanolpoulos said sources tell him the Clinton campaign debt is far higher than the reported $10 million — and could be double or more. Added it doesn’t look like Michigan, Florida will go her way either. Said there are more supers hanging out there for Obama than Clinton, some are trying to give Clinton space to make up her mind before moving to him.

(Community Matters) Thank you but no thank you to Michigan Democratic leaders pitching a compromise for seating their delegates 69 Clinton to 59 Obama.

(Community Matters) Fortunately, the economy doesn’t rely on Steven and my consumerism since we don’t really buy much other than books and wine. However, every great once in a while . . . .

Sony’s new Bravia home theater setup, the DAV-F200.

(Community Matters) With Bill Clinton’s election and adoption of budget balancing economic policies, Democrats gained credibility for fiscal responsibility. Why the heck would Senate Democrats consider moronic fiscal policies like windfall profit taxes? By all means let’s revoke tax breaks and other special interest incentives. And, the Justice Department should be vigilant in protecting Americans from predatory and manipulated pricing. However, the industry’s margins are not out of line with risks. here

(Community Matters) Why the heck compromise with the appointment of a Bush tainted nominee? Why not hold up nominations which would survive this administration until the next elected president? here

(Community Matters) As painful as it’s been – especially these last two months – the primary has been good training for Obama’s general election campaign. He’s handled well the fall out from Rev. Wright, addresses the characterization as an elitist by modifying his campaigning, and impressively answers questions about his relationships with Bill Ayers and Tony Rezko. He’s better prepared to run against the extraordinary GOP machine that will kick in. Let’s not forget, the election and its results literally mean trillions of dollars to special interests. They won’t lose their unbridled access to power, budgets and regulatory control without a fight in which they’ll pour tens, if not hundreds, of millions.

(Community Matters) Hearing that the annual Council of Foundations meeting in Baltimore (ACF’s Ken Gladish and KDK Harman’s Janet Harman in attendance from Austin. I’m sure others) that the Generational Leadership Program has attracted lots of Gen Xers to this annual conference.

Power of young philanthropists? Over 12 million people have signed on to the Save Darfur Campaign, Breast Cancer Awareness and other causes through Facebook Causes. Over 270,000 Kiva.org lenders have invested $28 million in 40k micro-enterprises. Over 70k donors have invested $26 million plus in 1.2 million students in public schools.

(Community Matters) I imagine the first of many. Not un-proud a gay paper is the first to un-endorse here.

Lots of talk about Hillary earning promotion in the Senate and idea of Obama’s campaign picking up her campaign’s $20 million debt. Not sure how she can continue with this level of debt – so many unpaid bills that vendors aren’t likely to extend more credit since the race is over and she just doesn’t seem to know it.

(Community Matters) New York’s Court of Appeals upheld a lower court’s decision that the state must recognize same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions. This means Steven and I are legally recognized as married when we’re in NY, as well as nearly all the other enlightened jurisdictions in the world.

The right president and the right supreme court justices might make this true across states.

(Community Matters) Phillip Klein, American Spectator:

“It has become popular in conservative circles these days to suggest that “you just gotta admire her tenacity,” a sentiment that is advanced at her campaign rallies…

But what is there to admire about this so-called “tenacity”? Clinton began this campaign with a financial edge, the support of a popular former Democratic president, a built-in political apparatus, a consistent lead of more than 20 points in national polls, and more than a hundred superdelegates.

If a candidate starts off with all of those advantages and is too stubborn to drop out of the race, it’s no surprise that she is still hanging on.

There is absolutely nothing admirable about a politician so narcissistic and hungry for power that she is willing to say or do whatever suits her political interests at any given moment. If the Republican Party has declined to the point where conservatives are so worried about defeating a freshman Senator that they are rooting for Clinton to do their dirty work for them, it is simply pathetic,”

Hat Tip: Andrew

(Community Matters)

Wow, even closer than expected in Indiana. N. Carolina a blowout.

8:25 CBS calling Indiana for Clinton. Others waiting, presumably because the urban center s are way underrepresented in the early reporting.

8:00 Obama inclined bloggers are suggesting that he’s catching up in Indiana. I don’t see it. Dicing & slicing the exit polls, looks like she has it by 6 to 8 points – quite a comeback for Obama from Survey USA Clinton +16 just last month & especially given that voters who decided in the last three days picked Clinton. Also, reports that Hillary likely had to loan her campaign more cash to make it through these primaries. Presumably also riding the trade.

Re: North Carolina, he appears to have far exceeded polls saying +8. Looks like a serious double digit win.

Reading CNN’s Indiana exit poll information, what stands out: 51% of men and 53% of women voted for Clinton. Statistically split on who best for the economy and if voters are gun owners; however, when economy rated number one issue (67%), Hillary favored by 53% . If the recession has affected a surveyed voter, they voted for Hillary 53%. Twenty-three percent of the voters were independents and 53% of these voted for Obama. Seventy-one percent of voters surveyed were white and 14% black. Only 3% of blacks voted for Hillary – some data showing 8%; 35% and 48% of white Democrats and Independents, respectively, voted for Obama instead of Hillary. Obama won 62% of surveyed urban voters, 46% and 30% of surveyed suburban and rural voters. Obama winning 61% and 56% of voters 17 – 29 and 30 – 44, though white voters 30yo and older favored Hillary.

7pm: No big surprise. Obama leading handsomely in Indiana urban areas. Hillary flying high in rural areas. Wish there was an interactive map by county with population figures.

6:40: CNN calls N. Carolina for Obama. Disturbing data from Indiana exit polls. The Clinton’s – it’s all about them even over the party, isn’t it.

6pm: Indiana exit polls indicating record turnout and voters 3:1 concerned about the economy. Lots of women and elderly. Could favor Hillary. Average of polls suggested Hillary +5 in Indiana, though ranged as high as +10.

In North Carolina: no exit poll information yet. Average of polls say Obama +8. Reports of Rovian/GOP tactics deployed by Clinton campaign branding Obama a Muslim among rural whites. Well, what have we come to expect from them? Remember her answer to the reporter’s questions about rumors of Obama Islamic ties?

(Community Matters) At the end of the day the biggest news might be that nearly 20% of Republicans still vote for a candidate other than John McCain in the primaries.