Coming Your Way; The Presidential Primaries

In case you didn’t know where to look... All of the links below are texts and should load well if you are on dial-up.

Here are the issues’ sections of ALL THREE of the candidate’s web sites:

Hillary Clinton

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/

Barack Obama

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/

John McCain

http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/

Here is the April 16th Democratic debate text from the NYTimes (faster to load than ABC’s)

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/16/us/politics... ?

Here is the Democratic debate text Done in February before the Ohio vote. It includes NAFTA, and both candidates discuss it:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/26/us/politics...

Here are two Democratic interview texts Courtesy of PBS, done shortly after the Ohio debate:

Clinton PBS Interview 080227
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/white_house/ja...

Obama PBS interview 080317
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/white_house/ja...

For me Hillary Clinton is the candidate of choice. Perhaps these links will help you to decide.

Montana Voting Information
See:

http://sos.mt.gov/ELB/Voter_Information.asp#a...

April 5, 2008
Hillary's Remarks at the Montana Democratic Party Mansfield-Metcalf Dinner in Butte, MT

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/speech/vie...

It hasn’t worked from the beginning. You can’t make something work when you don’t fund it properly. You can’t make it work when you bleed money out of public schools to feed semi private ones. Adding money now won’t fix the problem.

So Much for No Child Left Behind
School test scores rise as more low-scoring students drop out.
By Margaret Downing
Published: April 10, 2008

http://www.houstonpress.com/2008-04-10/news/s...

Senator Clinton proposes to end “No Child Left Behind”. Here’s what she recommends instead:

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/educatio...

Senator Obama wants to reform the act. Here is what he proposes:

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/education/

I don’t believe that our schools focus should remain solely in that of math and science. While these are important, as is reading and writing, we must return to a more well rounded education. At a time when counties and cities are losing tax base due to the downward spiral of housing, more effort needs to be put into a unified approach.

http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/fed/10facts/...

I’ve worked in the construction industry for years. Every year I find fewer people able to read ever more complicated instructions for the likes of deck coatings, VOC or Non VOC compliant aerosols, or cement plasters. They are unable to imagine shapes and cut them properly out of sheet metal and roofing felt. We aren’t just losing the tech war. We are losing our base.

I read the Iowa Independent and enjoy it’s journalistic effort. One thing thing that they have been very good at following is the delegate math in the presidential race. However, Iowa does have a dog in this hunt. The Independent reflects that desire to remain first National Caucus.
http://www.iowaindependent.com/showDiary.do...
The argument over uncommitted MI voters is furious.
http://www.iowaindependent.com/showDiary.do...
You can see that crossovers are part of the problem.
Add to the fact that states like Iowa are very close to a tie in possible delegates, and places like Guam are currently tied with one uncommitted delegate. It seem perfectly right that this is a serious fight that must be resolved. The DNC rules have not been adequate to the task.
Obama took his name off in Michigan. His claim that Florida votes shouldn’t be counted is specious. Name recognition problems would have applied to him at the beginning of the race, no matter how hard he campaigned. In fact, he did have national add which were distributed across state lines into Florida and were deemed legal.

Will Montana's votes still matter?

By JOHN S. ADAMS Tribune Capitol Bureau • May 24, 2008

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dl...

Women leaders throw support behind Clinton

By Tribune Staff • May 29, 2008

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dl...

Hillary Clinton

Press Release
5/19/2008
New York Farm Advocates Hit Big Sky Country Touting Hillary Clinton’s Rural Record
Rural Development Team to Discuss Clinton's Effective Solutions to Issues Facing Rural Montanans

Billings, MT - Urging Montanans to vote for the presidential candidate who can best expand opportunities for rural Americans, a rural development team set out across Montana on Monday to promote the success of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's (D-NY) rural and agricultural initiatives in New York State.

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

An interesting opinion 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/...

Press Release
5/30/2008
Statement from Hillary Clinton on Investigating Oil Price Manipulation

I am heartened by the news that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is investigating price manipulation in oil markets. However, with oil at record highs and gas at over $4.00 a gallon, we need more immediate, aggressive and comprehensive action to ensure that American consumers are not being ripped off at the pump.
For several months I have raised concerns that speculation and market manipulation were unfairly pushing up the price of oil. Even top CEOs at U.S. oil companies acknowledge that oil prices today cannot be explained by supply and demand alone.
That’s why, in addition to the CFTC investigation, I have called for a broad range of aggressive actions to address price manipulation and help bring down the cost of oil. We need to immediately close the "Enron Loophole," which allows some oil futures traders to avoid common sense regulations and engage in speculation. We must continue to urge the Federal Trade Commission to use its newly granted powers to vigorously investigate and pursue market manipulators who are pushing up the price of oil. And we should finally stand up to OPEC, by challenging their price-setting activities through the WTO and U.S. antitrust law. I will continue to fight for these measures in the coming weeks, and as President will work vigilantly to stamp out price manipulation and speculation and bring down the price of oil.

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

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...

Clinton is projected winner in Puerto Rico based on exit polls!

In case anyone is interested in the actual precinct reporting for Puerto Rico 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...

6/2/2008
Louisiana Democratic Party Chair and Automatic Delegate Chris Whittington Endorses Hillary

Louisiana Democratic State Party Chair and automatic delegate Chris Whittington announced his support for Hillary Clinton today.
"Hillary Clinton has what it takes to turn around our economy and rebuild the middle class," Whittington said. "There is no question that she is the strongest Democrat to go toe-to-toe with John McCain in a general election. It is our responsibility as automatic delegates to choose the candidate we believe best fit to beat Senator McCain. That candidate is Senator Clinton."
Whittington was elected Chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party in January 2006, after serving as the Party’s Legal Counsel, as a member of the Democratic State Central Committee and as a member of the Democratic Party Executive Committee.

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

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.]