Picko asks:  I'm just curious: what do you think is a fair solution for Michigan and Florida?

Picko, where did I say "fair" solution?  At this point, I doubt there is even a remote possibility of a "fair" solution because that would mean that a proper balance of conflicting interests had been achieved.  That is not in the cards. It's too late for "fair."

The reality is that there is no Constitutional guarantee that the citizens/voters have a "right" to pick presidential nominees. However, because the major parties have concocted a system that has led citizens/voters to believe that picking the parties' presidential candidates is an inalienable right, the party "rulers" should do what is necessary to let every vote count, in primaries and general elections.  Otherwise, voters get pissed off and might not participate in the GE.  I don't like it that my Democratic Party primary vote in Washington State was useless, i.e. not counted.  (Only the caucus counted.)  It was the state party pooh-bahs who made that decision.  I think it was the wrong decision, but it was made at the state level.

The Michigan/Florida debacle had its genesis at the state party level, but the NATIONAL PARTY decided to punish MI/FL for jumping the primary dateline so, in effect, Howard Dean and his minions created the debacle.  They are the ones who should be punished, not the voters, IMO. (I know, I know...that's not going to happen.) 

I realize this is not an apples to apples comparison, but Obama does seem to speak out of both sides of his mouth given that he was adamantly against a re-vote in MI.   Obama in this situational  speech given in early 2007:

“There is no place for politics in this debate – no room for those who feel they can gain a partisan advantage by keeping people away from the polls.’ “There are some issues in this country that are inherently difficult and political. Making sure that every American can cast a ballot shouldn't be one of them. There is no place for politics in this debate--no room for those who feel that they can gain a partisan advantage by keeping people away from the polls.” [Obama Floor Speech on Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2007, S 453, 1/31/07]

Yeah. I thought a re-vote was a viable solution, too. But...er...hmmm...Obama was not in favor of that.

Oh, well.

We get what we deserve.

I don't know for sure about Florida, but it's damned certain that Obama WAS AGAINST a revote in Michigan. There was no serious discussion about a revote in Florida because his name was on the ballot there; in Michigan he VOLUNTARILY removed his name from the ballot. Clinton's team suggested a revote in Michigan. Obama slow-walked on the topic for as long as possible, sending up roadblocks and excuses. Then his campaign nixed the idea.

Sorry, maddiep, but Obama was a fraidy-cat about Michigan. His kind of change is something I can do without.

Well, actually, Dodd, Kucinich and Gravel were on the Michigan ballot, too. The results:

Clinton 328,151 55%

Uncommitted 237,762 40%

Kucinich 21,708 4%

Dodd 3,853 1%

Gravel 2,363 <1%

But, that's all so yesterday!

I hear that the Michigan "officials" have now proposed that the pledged delegates be split 69/59 -- 69 for Clinton and 59 for Obama. They are hoping that the Big Kahunas at the DNC will sprinkle holy water on the proposal.

There is little more tiresome that someone who makes assumptions.

You are tiresome.

(..) I asked her if she was offended by Bill Clinton's use of the phrase 'fairytale' to describe her husband's characterisation of his position on the Iraq war. At first, Obama responded with a curt 'No'. But, after a few seconds, she affected a funny voice. 'I want to rip his eyes out!' she said, clawing at the air with her fingernails. One of her advisers gave her a nervous look. 'Kidding!' Obama said. 'See, this is what gets me into trouble.'

(...)

www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/may/04/barackobama

...by the amount of piling on perpetrated by the Obama supporters.

I wouldn't get too excited about the Childers' win being a bellwether of things to come, or an indicator that the Dems are going to clean up in November.

The 2008 Mississippi Republican presidential primary took place on March 11, 2008. Who knows what the outcome would have been yesterday if the Republican primary had been on the same day as the Dem primary. The earlier Repub primary certainly cut into their ability to get Republican voters to the polls yesterday for a special election.

Childers and Davis will likely face each other again in November to determine who serves out a full two-year term for the seat. That'll be the proof of the pudding. Not yesterday.

There are other issues out there in addition to reproductive rights. Obama's campaign got it's jumpstart on the Iraq War and a promise of change. Change?

Barack Obama voted for Dick Cheney's Energy Bill which was practically written, in secret, by oil, gas, and agricultural lobbyists. This bill undermines Obama's promise to reduce lobbyists' influence in the legislative process.

Obama's vote on the predatory lending bill was wrong, too. In one debate, John Edwards chastised Obama for not voting to limit interest rates on these loans. Obama argued that the limit should actually be lower. But Edwards shot back, saying that by not filing a lower limit amendment and not voting for the bill, Obama essentially supported no limit at all.

In an interview with Chris Matthews, Obama suggested that perhaps "we" could learn something from the Republicans about the merits of less regulation.

NARAL will lose a lot of support for endorsing Obama at this juncture. They should have waited 'til the Lady in the Pantsuit is out of the race.

Democrats are so predictable. They f**k it up all the time.