Politics: United States Democratic Primary

[butterfly]

So, the total number number of delegates needed to win the nomination is 2,025, yes? That's the lowest number for a majority. Obama is currently leading Clinton by 143 delegates, with his total number at 1,631 and hers at 1,488. That's... not insurmountable by any means. Certainly not a good reason for her to curl up and go home.

Pennsylvia's primary is on the twenty-second of this month. Then Indiana and North Carolina on the 6th. West Virginia on the 13th and, finally, the 20th of May, Oregon gets to vote (along with Kentucky). The fact that my primary is so far away is a source of frustration to me.

I like Clinton's health care plan. When she and Obama talk specifics about issues and votes, I tend to find myself agreeing with her more often than with him when they differ (many times, they don't). Of course, in any race between Obama and McCain, Obama would get my vote in a heartbeat, but between him and Clinton... yes, I plan to vote for her.

The world that we live in is not post-racism or post-sexism (or, for that matter, post-classism and it certainly isn't post-homophobia). Either Clinton or Obama as our President will be a major step forward for this country. I'll be proud to call either of them my President.

Comments

[bhadrasvapna.livejournal.com]

I am of two minds when it comes to telling Hillary to quit.

1) she is not electable, never was and never will be. Even if she had managed to take the Democratic nomination, she would never ever ever be President. Sure she may have been able to take the democratic base, but she could not swing the swing voters, even if she went against Bush himself. She has too much baggage. Her husband has too much baggage. The Republicans would have been able to solidify their base against her and pulled in the swing voters. Even against Bush.
(I've made my opinion of her negative qualities on my journal as well as Obama's positive ones, and it is interesting watching her self-destruct)

2) by attacking Obama, we see what is his best quality, his way to deal with attacks. The BS she is pulling in Pennsylvania hasn't made a dent in the polls. Why? Because unlike Kerry, Obama knows how to handle attacks. His sense of humor (I loved whem he said "Shame on you Hillary" with that huge smile) and ability to build on the attacks, like he did with his race speech after the attacks for Re. White show what an excellent President he will make.

Personally, at this point the Clintons are in the same boat Nader is in, their legacy is gone. I proudly stood in the freezing DC air to watch his first Inauguration. She was going to be a first lady in the vein of Eleanor Roosevelt. Now I wouldn't cross the street to shake either's hand. I want my daughters to have good female role models, like Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, who I'm hoping will get the VP slot.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Never ever ever is a strong phrase. She's gone further in the process than any other woman before her has -- even if she doesn't get the nomination, I'll be proud of her for that. If she were truly not electable, she wouldn't have made it out of the gate.

I find Obama's speeches to be very impressive rhetorical arguments. He's a wonderful speaker. I've seen less evidence that he will make a wonderful President.

[bhadrasvapna.livejournal.com]

Yes never, ever is a very strong phrase, but that is just how strongly some feel against her. I will give a rather crude example of the feelings that some have against her. At my husband's duty station, whenever her picture comes on the TV, the reactions are harsh and crude to say the least, yet these same men want to vote for Obama. Even Democrats don't want to vote for her. I know several who would have voted for McCain if she had won the nomination. There is a very strong Hillary sentiment (whether deserved or not is not the issue) that the opposition can use to unite against her.

Lots of never evers have made it out of the gate. Like Mondale, Goldwater, McGovern, Dukakis, and these are people who had their party's nomination. Hillary got as far as she did because of the Clinton machine. Even the man from Hope cannot stand up to someone who offers genuine hope.

The tactics that Hillary has been willing to sink to show that she is not someone I want anywhere near the White House and barely want her in Congress. I started losing respect when she ran for Senate in NY, rather than wait for the Senate seat in Illinois (and guess who has that now. I think that is poetic justice). What she said about her trip to Bosnia has me offended to the point where I can feel where the negativity about her comes from. If you think you were in danger when you weren't (especially when that should be a sweet memory), there is a term for that, psychotic or in her case, opportunist

My in-laws, who have never ever voted Democrat, will this Fall when Obama wins the nomination. My BIL who never wanted to vote is a huge Obama fan. Obama is electable because he wins the swing voters and expands the Democratic base, something Hillary cannot do.

Michelle Obama will be the First Lady that Hillary thought she could be, if for no other reason, then she isn't auditioning for another office and therefore doesn't have to care about public opinion. Talk about a strong female that is a good role model. I would be willing to bet that Obama picks a female VP (Kathleen Sebelius hopefully) to help heal the split.

Someone once said, actually lots of somebodies, that if you want to see what a person is really like, look at their activities before they were in office. Obama's history shows him to be a good man. I've done lots of research into his days at college, both as a student and a teacher. I want that student and teacher in the Highest Office in the land.

Obama is not just a wonderful speaker. He writes his speeches, especially the big ones. These are his ideas and his heart out there. The speeches are so beautiful because his heart is.