Ms. Walsh, you do realize that you'd just about the only one still talking about Senator Clinton, don't you?

I was afraid of this.

Shia LaBeouf? I've actually seen movies he was in. Had to check IMDB to see who the hell he was. Could anybody pick him out of a crowd? I don't think so.

George Lucas should retire. Hollywood should never let him near a word processor or a camera again.

Spielberg either needs to give up smoking dope, or take it up. I dunno which.

I'd so hoped to enjoy this movie.

I can't read 200+ posts. I walk away from this thread for a couple of hours, and it grows like...well, it's a politically incorrect comparison, so use your imagination (hint: think "Stowe").

One of the things I've seen recently is Ms. Walsh arguing that a) she has integrity as a journalist, she's not biased in favor of HRC, and b) she's worried about Obama and all those nose-in-the-air supporters. She quotes her street creds: blue collar family, lived in Madison (huh, the Third Coast, as we called it when I lived there), Harold Washington's Chicago (I lived in the two Daleys Chicago, myself), etc. Oddly similar to my own background.

She writes about how "concerned" she is re Obama--this is called by some "concern trolling." She writes this: "I believe that two factors have been key i...No. 1 is race, and racism (as well as ethnic divisions that divided the working class apart from race). No. 2 (for me) is the tendency of many on the left to prefer ideological purity to building big-tent coalitions; ... I see far too much evidence of No. 2 in the statements and attitudes of Obama supporters here and elsewhere."

Sorry for the ellipses, but I only have 1000 words. In order for Ms. Walsh to demonstrate No.2, I'd like to see her quote some specifics, aside from screeds in the Daily Worker. I'd also like to see Ms. Walsh explain how Obama won big in Wisconsin and came so close in Indiana if he's not building that big tent.

If Ms. Walsh has *so much* integrity, how come she's willing to give HRC a pass on her race-baiting? Obama speaks the truth regarding the blue collar--perhaps unwise, but it's the truth. Let's come down hard on him like a ton of bricks. HRC race-baits--let's excuse her. That's integrity?

Finally, the only "purity" I've seen on the left in regards to HRC is her two war votes and her willingness to consider obliterating women and children in Iran. If this be "leftist purity," then I say let's make the most of it. Or do those hundreds of thousands of Iraqi dead not bother you, Ms. Walsh? That certainly concerns me.

...until it was to her advantage not to.

From Slate:

It was a different story in October. Back then, Clinton was far and away the national front-runner—by some 20 points in a number of polls. With much less at stake in the matter, she told a New Hampshire public-radio audience, "It's clear, this election [Michigan is] having is not going to count for anything." Clinton was unwilling to take her name off the Michigan primary ballot, as Obama and her other significant rivals did, but like them she agreed not to campaign in Michigan or in Florida before their primaries.

And the Clinton's campaign own statement:

"We believe Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina play a unique and special role in the nominating process. And we believe the DNC's rules and its calendar provide the necessary structure to respect and honor that role. Thus, we will be signing the pledge to adhere to the DNC approved nominating calendar."

Like sniper fire and not playing up racial divisions, this seems to be another very convenient episode of "misinterpretation" of the truth by Clinton--or at least her supporters.

"While I have been an Obama supporter I am increasingly concerned with how many favors the eventual Democratic nominee will owe. Obama was supposed to represent a new type of politics but I'm afraid that, because of the ridiculous nomination process created by the Democrats, President Obama will owe more favors than any president in history. I hope his message, goals and relative independence are not compromised."

Kids, this is a great example of what's called a "concern troll." Under the guise of being "so concerned," the poster actually gets to smear the the person they're "so concerned about."

Note the classic "While I have been an Obama supporter...." Another way to do this is, "While I think highly of Senator Obama...." Cf. Joan Walsh columns for another teachable moment in concern trolling!

The Republicans got their ass kicked in 2006 in Wisconsin. They failed to win the governor's mansion, they lost the Senate, and they got narrowed down quite a bit in the Assembly.

This happened largely because of the youth vote. College kids, especially in Madison, actually do turn out to vote.

These kids are energized this year for Obama, as we saw in the primary. Many old-line Wisconsin Republicans don't care much for McCain; some will hold their nose when they vote, some just won't vote. A surprising number like Obama.

Wisconsin will go for Obama by four to ten points. Wisconsin would be a squeaker for HRC.