Dynasty happens to have more than one connotation including “Members of a family who are distinguished for their success, wealth.” The Clintons are a family and the Clinton Dynasty as a term gets wide play as here on the Washington Post. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/07/clinton_defends_the_clinto… It’s not lame, nor propaganda, nor parroting-but a fact and one worth discussing. As it is on venues from traditional to pop culture: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJNJUrSg_lI

AB-They did lower the delegate requirement, they were going by the RULES that everyone has, and all candidates signed an agreement at the time. If you take two states out of the equation completely and for everyone in the race, and because they jump-started their primaries in violation of clearly stated rules everyone knows, I don’t see how that is unfair to any one candidate. If the DNC Rules Committee that is reviewing the decisions did reinstate Michigan and Florida, given all the numbers, HRC would still be behind. Also, I think it is important to remember the entire point of the primary is to pick the most electable candidate based on facts. And the fact is right now that some of the most prominent superdelegates and HRC supporters are saying it’s over and that the best thing for the party would be to save the time and energy on the general election because the math doesn’t add up that there’s anyway for HRC to win this. Short of divine intervention.

Elizabeth—The NYT Times that endorsed HRC calliing for the superdelegates to decide the election due to her race-baiting, etc is junk? the NYT that endorsed HRC and is reversing its support is suddenly “biased’ news, and not fact? Interesting. The site is ‘filling up”? do you have some metric measurements on cyberspace you’d like to share with us, or the capacity of this site’s mainframe. I’d like to know—I love facts.

Marjorie, “….a solid backing from his own community.” Huh?? You attribute Obama’s being the presumptive nominee to “his own community”? To which community to you refer? The human race? The national community? His community at Harvard Law School that voted him most likely to become US president? Or are you referring to the African American community that represents 13% of our 300 Million population? A NYT electoral map doesn’t make the US general election any more McCains, that some sense of entitlement on Clinton’s part makes the Demo nomination hers. And Senator Obama isn’t leading this 3-way horse race because of support from his “community.” Interesting to know that one glance of the NYT electoral map can resolve an election for you.

Kelly Kelly, I could not have been a more ardent Clinton support, even attending anti-impeachment rallies, etc. The Clintons have done for me what the Republicans with their $82M investigation and the MSM with its non-stop screaming coverage of that horror show couldn’t achieve. They, no one else, turned me dead-set against them. If on the exceedingly slim chance that was VP on the ticket I’d wouldn’t vote…and Obama is smart enough that would turn all the anti-war liberals completely off the process. If others have no problem with supporting the massacre of innocents, the ruination of our treasury and reputation, and the destruction of two other countries, thus far, in an un-Constitutional action—I do. If HRC had no other piece of information—and she did—the floor speech of Senator Robert Byrd was enough to dissuade anyone with a true moral center not to capitulate that ultimate tp political expediency. Others may do as they wish. I’m not going to have blood on my hands, and I don’t imagine the Obamas want it on theirs either. There is no equivocating on the most important question of our time. She got it DEAD WRONG. As Senator Chuck Hegel (GOP) a decorated Vietnam Vet said….it was among the 5 worst blunders in history. So how is it a woman with a laptop can get that and not a Senator/former First Lady? Because she wanted to appease the Israel lobby. And for tens of millions of anti-war ACTIVISTS that’s enough said. She isn’t getting the nomination. And she doesn’t deserve too. Instead of voting their ovaries women should sit back and ask themselves how did they become so divorced with their own humanity to support someone who supported the ultimate preventable tragedy?

Today,James Carville, one of HRC’s hardest fighting, longest-time asscociates advisors/supporters/pitbulls…says it’s over and he suggests HRC or Wes Clark for VP.

Jackie OhOh, “It makes mw want to sell, pack, convert to Euros and move to the south of France right behind Suzanne!” For now I live in the best place next to France—San Francisco-America’s most European city. Don’t despair….the cowboy is relegated to history’s dustbin, and Camelot Part Duex is coming to a TV screen near you. In the meantime, a cheery old French song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0KWyWwVp0E A fun Paris site: http://www.parisperfect.com/ And Plan B: Buy a beret and brush up on those irregular verbs!

Renata-I like dealing in facts and reality. Given the facts, Obama is the presumptive nominee. Given the reality, 1) The DNC will pick up the outrageous tab for HRC’s financially mismanaged campaign and thus drain the war chest that should be used to fight the Republicans, and 2) She will be given choices of a plum position otherwise next thing we know she’ll be McCain’s running mate. And as much as I respect the former Gov’s opinion, Sarko the American will divorce Carla Bruni and marry me before HRC is Obama’s running mate.

Renata—Really appreciate all your posts here, and certainly agree with the above. The nomination is cinched by all measurements and HRC drags it on piling up enormous bills that the DNC/Obama is going to have to pay. Ridiculous. On the other hand she helped create a “Giant Slayer” according to the NYT: “No matter what happens in the fall, if Mr. Obama goes on to win the nomination, he will be remembered as the candidate who beat the Clintons. “He is stronger for having beaten the champion,” says Ed Rogers, a Republican lobbyist and former aide to Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. “Period, case closed.” Clinton-slaying brings with it a level of stature and prestige that, say, John Edwards-slaying or Joe Biden-slaying never could. Some aides to Michael Dukakis were thrilled in December 1987 when Gary Hart re-entered the Democratic primary race after dropping out that May, thinking it would give Mr. Dukakis, the Massachusetts governor, a giant to vanquish (as opposed to “the Seven Dwarfs,” which the Democratic field of that year had been dubbed)” I definitely want a clean break with the past, and can’t wait to hear his acceptance speech. It will be electrifying. Senator Clinton will have time then to reflect on her war authorization, and race baiting. As the guy says, case closed. On to November.

Elizabeth, True there isn’t neutrality in a nomination race, people chose sides—that’s reality. I would say the poll numbers above indicate that it is fairly evenly split, leaning to HRC when I saw the numbers. Race and gender are going to be an issue because the candidates are female and African American—another historical first. That there is racism brought up is one of HRC’s tactics. Even the NYT’s that endorsed her had an editorial last week calling for the superdelegates to decide because SHE is using that as a strategy. Then the major paper that endorses you callls for delegates to decide—that’s an indication of facts on the ground. I say if people don’t understand that politics are heated—they are extremely naive. MEDIA QUOTES ON HRC’S RACE BAITING INCLUDING FROM NY TIME’S EDITORIAL: NY Time Editorial “The Low Road to Victory” April 23, 2008 The Pennsylvania campaign…was even meaner, more vacuous, more desperate, and more filled with pandering than the mean, vacuous, desperate, pander-filled contests that preceded it.Voters are getting tired of it; it is demeaning the political process; and it does not work. It is past time for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton to acknowledge that the negativity, for which she is mostly responsible, does nothing but harm to her, her opponent, her party and the 2008 election. If nothing else, self interest should push her in that direction. Mrs. Clinton did not get the big win in Pennsylvania that she needed to challenge the calculus of the Democratic race. It is getting to be time for the superdelegates to do what the Democrats had in mind when they created superdelegates: settle a bloody race that cannot be won at the ballot box. Mrs. Clinton once had a big lead among the party elders, but has been steadily losing it, in large part because of her negative campaign. If she is ever to have a hope of persuading these most loyal of Democrats to come back to her side, let alone win over the larger body of voters, she has to call off the dogs. _____________________ NY TIMES: “South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn, one of the most influential black leaders in Congress, and a superdelegate, said the Clinton’s racially charged comments over the course of the presidential campaign have “incensed” the black community. and almost unanimously believe the Clintons “are committed to doing everything they possibly can to damage Obama to a point that he could never win.” _____________________________________ From Capitol Hill Blue, the paper of Capitol Hill Hillary Clinton’s racist appeal April 25, 2008 - By DOUG THOMPSON One expects racism from Republicans. The party of the elephant could merge with the just about any white supremacy group and not miss a beat. Hell, most people wouldn’t see any difference. But overt racism from a Democrat is something else, although it should not surprise anyone that Hillary Rodham Clinton would use racism in her anything goes quest for the Democratic Presidential nomination. Hillary Clinton won Pennsylvania because she pandered to the overt racism that exists among blue collar whites…She won because the bulk of her appeal comes from the less-educated, the less-tolerant and the less-intelligent among us. If you’re a stupid, illiterate, gun-totin’ white hick you probably voted for Hillary. And so did your ignorant, baby-popping, big-haired wife as well as that bleached-blond bar maid that you’re seeing on the side. __________________________________________ Eugene Robinson- Prominent Washington Post Writer’s Group reporter “….Clintons took it as a sign of African-Americans’ unconditional fealty, they were mistaken. A new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows that black Democrats nationwide now support Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton for the presidential nomination by nearly 2 to …It’s surprising that the Clinton campaign has been so aggressive in keeping the race issue alive.” Keith Olbermann called Clinton’s actions “unacceptable” and “unbelievable.” Newsweek writer Howard Finneman, appearing on Olbermann’s show, said Clinton has clearly “broadened her kitchen sink” attack strategy to play the RACE CARD and has escalated the level of nastiness in an already dirty campaign.. My generation of black voters is politically savvy and well educated. We couldn’t care less about outdated notions of party loyalty. We are not our grandmothers, and no amount of candidate appearances at black churches is going to influence how we vote. We will certainly not sit back and allow Democratic candidates to engage in Willie Horton-style tactics, even if the tactics are Willie Horton lite. Marjorie Valbrun, Washington Post _________________________________ From the Black Star News 
 The Black Star News excoriated Senator Clinton for her ugly tactics for months. “Senator Hillary Clinton and her husband Bill Clinton have used the most despicable, reprehensible, crude, ugly and dishonest tactics: The Clintons used race-baiting, by appealing to some white peoples’ fears about Black people, to tarnish Senator Barack Obama” Black Star News:
”2,025 delegates are required for nomination and Senator Clinton can’t surpass Obama’s insurmountable lead in delegates of 1,681 to 1,544. 
We have advice for Senator Clinton, Pack it up.”

Lily, The reality of having one of the most heated races in US history, and that it is historical for many reasons, is that it is going to get major play in the media. In the EU and in many parts of the world people are glued to the story too.

Hillary did not in the delegates in Florida and Michigan. The DNC Rules Committee took the states out of play for starting their primaries before Feb 5th. Neither candidate campaigned in the states. The Rules Committee is considering reinstating the states, even so given all of their votes, popular and otherwise, HRC would still be 100 votes behind. Rules are rules and prevent a free for all. It was up to the states to abide by them, they didn’t. Simple as that.

Mary lou, perhaps since the premise of your post is healing divisions in one of the most hotly contested races in US history, you might try another approach than mischaracterizing others reasons for selecting a candidate. Good luck with yours.

Thanks Elizabeth.

Mary lou, I’m not sure what you’re referring to. If you live in one of the two states the DNC Rules Committee removed from the primary because they began before Feb 5, they are now reconsidering reinstating the two states. However it seems unlikely because even with those to states added, and then pumping up the numbers of total delegates needed to secure the nomination, HRC would still be behind 100 votes as of today even presuming her win in WVA, as everyone expects as she is far ahead in the race.