Letters posted here are associated with the following Salon Premium Member:

snoman

Published Letters: 192
Editor's Choice: 3

Sunday, June 1, 2008 11:34 AM

Undetermined/Names on the MI ballot is a red herring

Technically, no one _should_ have gotten delegates based on a nonbinding primary. As much as it galls some McCain supporters that the Michigan compromise reflected that the state has some level of Obama support, it galls me that the allocation of Michigan delegates was based in any way, shape, or form with a nonsanctioned contest. Same goes for the Florida "compromise". As arbitrary as it may be to give undecided votes to Obama, it is just as arbitrary to use those contests as guidelines for allocation.

The Michigan compromise isn't completely satisfying to any of the parties involved, but it the best possible solution short of time travel.

Frankly, this is a big gift for Hillary. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what either candidate did in relationship to the Michigan and Florida "primaries" because they weren't sanctioned primaries. Yesterday's RBC meeting gave Hillary a delegate gain that she didn't deserve.

Sunday, June 1, 2008 11:44 AM

@Seasanders

"Obama has somehow managed to convince the Democrats despite his late losses in Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, West Virginia, Rhode Island, Indiana, with some of them being embarrassingly substantial, that he can win in November over Hillary."

He was likely able to do this by his wins in Iowa, South Carolina, Kansas, Vermont, Conneticut, Illinois, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, North Dakota, Wyoming, Utah, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Virgin Islands, North Carolina, Mississippi, Missouri, Wisconsin, Virginia, Maryland, DC, Georgia, Maine, Colorado, Deleware, Minnesota, Louisiana, Nebraska, and Texas. With many more being embarrassingly substantial than the ones he lost.

Somehow people have it in their minds that winning is the best way to prove you are a winner.

Sunday, June 1, 2008 07:47 PM
Original article: Viva Hillary Clinton!

Where do crack smoking allegations come from?

Did Cindy McCain run into a minority at her NA meeting and mistook them for Obama?

It would be good to know she is still doing the steps during this stressful campaign. I'd hate to find out she was embezzling from her own Non-Profit again.

Of course the "Maverick" could just put a loop hole in future legislation allowing senator's spouses immunity from criminal prosection. Kind of like how he made an exception in the legislation barring Senators from paying just First Class fare for private jets that let the planes of spouses or spouses' companies to be used at the First Class. Just a big coinkydink that he ended up benefitting from it last year when his campaign coffers were empty.

Monday, June 2, 2008 04:04 PM
Original article: Obama's delegate roundup

Even at the lowest level it was still 21 Military deaths as of May 21

If the rate held it would be 31 US Military deaths. Thirty One parents burying one of their children. Thirty One lives cut short. There are people that lost spouses. Children that lost parents.

532 Iraqis were also killed in this time period.

Even at its lowest levels, the violence in Iraq has a high cost.

If you find yourself in a hole, the solution isn't to point out that the rate of digging has slowed.

And why not have Supers declare once the polls are closed tomorrow? It wouldn't affect voting and, as Hillary points out, the superdelegates can always change their minds if something game changing comes out of Montana and South Dakota.

Monday, June 2, 2008 05:19 PM

"When it's a bright flash over a city?"

Yeah, because not waiting for a smoking gun in the form of a mushroom cloud worked so well last time.

Friday, June 6, 2008 06:09 AM
Original article: Quote of the day

Never accept a date after Wednesday

Maybe the New York delegation had other plans prior to finding out about a concession speech?

Monday, June 16, 2008 09:14 PM
Original article: Gore endorses Obama

Better now than earlier

Considering the wailing and gnashing of teeth that followed Ted Kennedy's endorsement, it is a good thing that most of the senior Democratic leadership waited for the primaries to be finished before endorsing.

Plus it keeps Obama in the news cycle. Space out the remaining big endorsements and Obama keeps the headlines for weeks if not months.

Finally, there is always the possibility that Gore didn't have a candidate he wanted to endorse over other Democratic candidates.

Thursday, June 19, 2008 09:11 AM

McCain had no intention of sticking to the spirit of public financing

McCain refused to do anything to limit the use of 527s attacking Obama. He is even trying to weasel out of the legal obligation to take public financing that he incurred when he used public financing as collatoral for a loan.

Obama has no reason to believe that any public financing agreement would be done in good faith.

And he isn't wrong about the problems with the current system. If every candidate since Watergate has been using the system why are special interests still so powerful? Maybe even more powerful than prior to public financing.

Finally, the problem with those policy position forms is that, as he pointed out in "The Audacity of Hope", they don't allow for nuanced answers.

Thursday, September 4, 2008 07:51 PM

Was I the only one offended by the 9/11 footage?

Using that footage for political purposes is revolting. I'm physically ill. Republicans don't own that day!

Thursday, September 4, 2008 10:20 PM
Original article: McCain and Palin party down

Heart is upset that they used Barracude w/o permission

What is that, like the hundredth group that McCain has stolen music from?

Monday, October 20, 2008 06:24 PM
Original article: Early voting results

A lot of people can't block out a specific day.

They can't wait hours in line like we have seen in past presidential elections. If people are absolutely sure about their vote I don't see the problem with letting them go early. The reasons for the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November date are archaic, based on what used to be a country dictated by agrarian timetables.

Most Active Letters Threads

367

A key British official reminds us of the forgotten anthrax attack

A vast array of establishment and expert sources do not believe this episode was really resolved.
203

Is Obama's civil liberties record understandable?

Was it unreasonable to expect him to adhere to his commitments regarding the Constitution?
102

How dare you criticize wasteful defense spending!

So you think it's only terrorist-appeasing lefties who are down on Pentagon profligacy? Think again
50

Police to talk to Woods

Early morning crash raises questions, and revives tabloid speculation
47

Have yourself a very merry black Friday

The author of "Scroogenomics" explains why holiday shopping is a drain on the wallet and the holiday spirit

View all »

Letters Help

Currently in Salon