Next time, for 2012, can we just get rid of these goddamned superdelegates? Seriously, what are they bringing to the table? Doesn't our system already have enough un-democratic under-democratic elements to it (e.g., everything involving the electoral college, the sanctity of Iowa and New Hampshire always going first)? Leave it to the powers that be in the Democratic Party to make things even more convoluted than they would otherwise be.

I swear, if we ever got a national primary day, the Democratic Party would make it a caucus where some districts in some counties in some states would be weighted heavier than others based on an arithmatic requiring supercomputers.

Now don't eff this up.

I was a small child when Kennedy and Carter fought for the Democratic nomination. For those who were political aware back then, was there this level of animosity between their supporters like there is between Obama's and Clinton's supporters?

Don't laugh at brightstar: It's totally serious! Men in Western countries have it way bad! Just yesterday, my mom and aunt suffocated and stabbed me to death for dating a Catholic. To death, I tell you!

My theory is that the elections of '76, '80 and '84 happened before the constant drumbeat of the 24-hour news cycle, the internet, the rise of fake outrage, the separation of politics from government/governance, and constant demands for public apologies denouncements all came together to strip American politics of reason and proportionality. I mean, its total bullshit, but here I am reading this blog day in and day out.

Although I'm frustrated that the Obama campaign is forced to respond to this kind of nonsense, I like the quick response. Also, I think the talking points effectively turn the issue around to Obama's strengths and McCain's weaknesses.

Now is the time that we try to convince Clinton supporters to vote for Obama, not reaffirm their sadly understandable belief that Obama supporters are total assholes.

"And in case you were starting to indulge feelings of moral superiority, he continues with the chilling revelation, 'I have colleagues in the United States whose patients do this as a Valentine’s present to their husbands.'"

Do the husbands respond in kind by being clumsy and awkward?

"And not only was it the fault of fundraisers, but of Clinton herself. I mean, she hired me! Can you believe it? That was a huge error on her part!"

Obama should agree to McCain's proposal. Obama was a law professor and is a great orator. The more informal setting proposed by McCain would play to Obama's strengths. Plus, the more McCain talks, the more likely he'll have a crazy/senile McCain moment. I get that Obama is the front runner, but I think this is a golden opportunity to show America that McCain is too angry and too old to be president.

It's not a late start if you live in Los Angeles.

We need to increase funding for the National Endowment for the Arts before we literally lose a city!

We need to raise the capital gains tax by 2.8% over the next three years before we literally lose a city!

We need to place the polar bear on the endangered species list before we literally lose a city!

Wouldn't the buggy whip makers have been better off in the long run by getting into the auto parts industry? Wouldn't their employees and owners/shareholders have been better off by such forward thinking?

"I seem to recall it being somewhere around 2004. Conveniently the last year this 527 was really operating. Is there really much a 527 does in the in between years?"

Exactly! What's this Koppelman guy gonna say next? That there have been elections held since 2004? In America? What a joke!

Ah, Goldfarb, my old friend, do you know the Klingon proverb that tells us gotcha blogging is a dish that is best served not stupid?

In theory, voters could just choose to elect someone else next election if attendence means that much to them.

I'm pretty sure that a ban on individuals possessing nuclear weapons would be upheld even under strict scrutiny.

I don't see any. I mean, Larry Craig didn't try to *marry* that dude in the airport bathroom. That would have been beyond the pale. Nope, he just wanted a blowjob and FMA doesn't say anything about blowjobs.

I wonder if there were crabapples like you 16,000 some odd years ago in Lascaux complaining about how all those cave paintings were distracting people from the real problems.

the Chinese aren't exactly stewards of the land. Would we really want to be taking our cues from the Chinese when it comes to the environment? Moreover, if there was an oil spill off the coast of Florida, would the Chinese even care?

Even the GOP's lies are stupid.

Previous posters have commented upon real estate speculation, one arguing that real estate was not hordered during the housing bubble and another that real estate was subject to runaway speculation because high prices can't lead to an increase in the consumption of real estate.

As for hording real estate, while I don't know to what extent it affected real estate prices, there was hording. In the context of real estate, hording occurs when people purchase property for the purpose not to live or work there, but to sell it for a profit.

Regarding the supply of real estate, the dramatic increase in the price of homes surely led to the building of more and more houses in housing developments further and further from city centers. I do liability coverage work for insurers of subcontractors, many of whom worked on those new developments in California and are now being sued by homeowners and developers for alleged construction defects. Lots of homes, lots of lawsuits. The rest of the economy may be tanking, but my boss's practice is booming.