Clintons speak in Baltic area

If you watched the news this morning Terry McAuliffe was stating that Clinton has won more popular votes then any other candidate in history. Whether they ever all get counted or not, there are a heck of a lot people out there who gave their opinion with their vote and they aren’t going away quietly.

See a couple of opinions on the fight over the votes and bad feeling in the two democratic camps:

May 27, 2008

Whistling Past the Political Graveyard

http://tomwatson.typepad.com/tom_watson/2008/...

January 07, 2008

The Sexist Media Lynching of Hillary Clinton

http://tomwatson.typepad.com/tom_watson/2008/...

Iowa and New Hampshire have had a dog in this hunt from the beginning. They moved their primaries up as well and weren’t punished by the DNC.

Here is the statement from the Clinton campaign:

Press Release
5/31/2008
Statement from The Clinton Campaign on the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee Meeting

Harold Ickes and Tina Flournoy made the following statement this evening:
Today's results are a victory for the people of Florida who will have a voice in selecting our Party’s nominee and will see its delegates seated at our party’s convention. The decision by the Rules and Bylaws Committee honors the votes that were cast by the people of Florida and allocates the delegates accordingly.

We strongly object to the Committee's decision to undercut its own rules in seating Michigan’s delegates without reflecting the votes of the people of Michigan.

The Committee awarded to Senator Obama not only the delegates won by Uncommitted, but four of the delegates won by Senator Clinton. This decision violates the bedrock principles of our democracy and our Party.

We reserve the right to challenge this decision before the Credentials Committee and appeal for a fair allocation of Michigan’s delegates that actually reflect the votes as they were cast.

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/vi...

The argument wasn’t as much about seating half delegates as the fact that they TOOK AWAY 4 Clinton delegates. In addition, the uncommitted delegates should have been assigned as UNCOMMITTED, not Obama delegates or not at all. This would have meant that a portion of those would in fact have voted for Obama, but not all. I don’t think it’s over yet.

Here are a couple of things that were going on on Saturday in the meeting:

Rules and Bylaws: Watch Carl Levin
by: John Deeth
May 31, 2008 at 07:09 AM

Marc Arbinder, The Atlantic:
"Sen. Carl Levin will be speaking on behalf of Michigan; he wants the entire delegation seated and given full votes, and if he does not get his way, he will likely challenge the RBC's ruling when the credentials committee convenes unless the rules and bylaws committee promises to strip Iowa and New Hampshire of their privileged status in 2012.(emphasis added)
What that means is that the debate about the size of Michigan's delegation will not be settled (Saturday).

What we don't know is whether Hillary Clinton will use Sen. Levin's ornery desire to punish Iowa and New Hampshire as a pretext for continuing her campaign."

http://www.iowaindependent.com/showDiary.do...

Clinton Campaign Backs Off On Full Seating Demand
by: John Deeth
May 30, 2008 at 16:28 PM

In a conference call Friday, Hillary Clinton campaign officials acknowledged for the first time in months that Florida and Michigan broke Democratic Party rules by moving up their primaries, and thus cannot receive more than a half share of delegates.
Also, in a brief, Clinton attorneys wrote: "Rule 20(C)(7) allows the (Rules and Bylaws Committee) to forgive violations when a state party and other relevant Democratic party leaders and elected officials have taken provable, positive steps and acted in good faith to bring the state into compliance with the DNC's Delegate Selection Rules."

The key phrase is "Forgive violations."

John Deeth :: Clinton Campaign Backs Off On Full Seating Demand
Early in the campaign, Clinton and her supporters had said the calendar breaking states wouldn't count. But after she won them, the rhetoric shifted to "count every vote," and the argument changed to a claim that Michigan and Florida had not violated party rules since Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina had moved their dates up as well. Those moves were, of course, a ripple effect which started in response to Michigan and Florida.
Clinton spokesman Harold Ickes said on the call that Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina acted fully within the rules, and specifically disputed the Michigan Democratic Party's claim that the DNC had selectively enforced its rules. He also said the DNC has acted within the rules when it stripped Michigan and Florida of all its delegates.

However, despite that acknowledgment, Ickes continued to argue for seating both Michigan and Florida at full strength, with results based on the too-early primaries, was the only acceptable solution.

This week, DNC attorneys argued that party rules require at least a 50 percent delegate penalty for violating the calendar.

Since the Obama campaign is not likely to object, and the Florida Democratic Party now says it's comfortable with half a vote, this means a half-vote per delegate is the likely outcome of Saturday's DNC Rules and Bylaws meeting. Writing for Daily Kos, Delaware Dem is more concise: "Therefore, Ladies and Gentlemen, the race is officially over. Barack Obama is the nominee."

http://www.iowaindependent.com/showDiary.do...

And so the Daily Kos would like you to believe! It’s not over till it’s over!!!

Clinton is winner in Puerto Rico!

In case anyone is interested in the actual precinct reporting for Puerto Rico went, here is a link:

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/re...

Press Release
6/1/2008
17 County Commissioners Endorse Hillary Clinton for President

Commissioners Represent 15 Counties Across the State
SIOUX FALLS, SD - In a clear display of momentum two days before the primary and on the heels of multiple visits by Hillary, Chelsea and President Clinton, the Clinton campaign in South Dakota today announced the endorsement of 17 county commissioners. These commissioners, who are endorsing Hillary because of her commitment to South Dakota, have been helping the campaign's efforts in their counties and spreading the word about why Hillary Clinton is best prepared to be President.
"I am honored by the continued support that my campaign has received across the state," said Senator Clinton. "As I travel to communities big and small in South Dakota, I have listened to the voices of so many who are ready for a President who will fight for them, return to fiscal responsibility, honor our veterans and invest in alternative energy production right here in South Dakota."
The list of commissioners who have endorsed Hillary is below.

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/vi...

The following can be found on the link below:

Information on voting

A links list of Senators Clinton, McCain and Obama from their websites

Other info with a slant on Senator Clinton.

http://www.topix.com/forum/city/madison-sd/TR...

So carefully crafted, this insertion in our psyche. Used it, now it’s time to say goodbye, move on and become what you are. And what is that?

The Honorary Kennedy
Ted and Caroline anointed Barack Obama as the candidate best qualified to carry on the JFK legacy. But to live up to it, he has to put it in the past.

By Chris Smith Published Jun 1, 2008

http://nymag.com/news/politics/nationalintere...

David Axelrod on Obama and RFK:

[He often likens Obama to Robert F. Kennedy and told The Washington Post, "I thought that if I could help Barack Obama get to Washington, then I would have accomplished something great in my life."[1]]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Axelrod_ (political_consultant)

In case one or two of you South Dakotans or Montanans accidentally wandered onto this stinkpot of a thread this is for you;

No matter what. Get off the computer and vote!! She fought so hard for you to have a say. Your vote is what matters! If you think she is right, but by chance she does lose, your voice will carry weight beyond what happens today! Go Hillary!!!

Here is the latest news:

Short version- no video

Clinton Says She Will Not Concede Tonight
Carolyn Lochhead

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi...

Long version includes video, but not too bad a load to get to the text on dial up.

Clinton not ready to concede race, her campaign chair

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/03/electi...

[There are not enough pledged delegates at stake in Montana and South Dakota to put Obama over the top, but a rush of endorsements by the remaining undeclared "superdelegates" could allow him to claim victory when he takes the stage in Minnesota Tuesday evening.]

This the kind of thing that is dark and dreary. Why would the Obama camp want you to think he has won now? Why can’ he wait until polls are closed? There is no statement from the Clinton Camp that I can find in blogs or anywhere other than this is new spin. The VP slot was discussed weeks ago. No matter what, she needs the opinion by vote. It looks like another attempt to me to dissuade voters.

The AP reportedly put out a poll of probable endorsers, I can’t find it. I don’t think we got a winner yet. In the mean time see below for where I think all this coming from.

Jun 3, 6:04 PM EDT

Clinton says she's open to being Obama's VP

By BETH FOUHY and DEVLIN BARRETT
Associated Press Writers
[Obama effectively sewed up the 2,118 delegates needed to win the nomination Tuesday, based on a tally of pledged delegates, superdelegates who have declared their preference, and another 18 superdelegates who have confirmed their intentions to The Associated Press. It also included five delegates Obama was guaranteed as long as he gained 15 percent of the vote in South Dakota and Montana later in the day]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CLINTO...

Vote!!! Go Hillary!!!