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[Tiger Beer]

NEVADA: Democrats - Edwards, Clinton or Obama?

[Milwaukiedave]

EDITORIAL: Obama best choice for Democrats

Or do they prefer a re-run of 'It came from Little Rock'? As state Democrats prepare to hold their Saturday caucuses, cynical Republicans might well encourage them to choose Sen. Hillary Clinton, figuring her high "negatives" -- the unusual number of Americans who tell pollsters they'd never vote for her under any circumstances -- would virtually guarantee a GOP victory in the fall.

That's why it's a good thing for Democrats that freshman Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has managed to challenge the perception of Sen. Clinton's "inevitability."

The Clinton campaign cites Sen. Clinton's "experience." In fact, she's a one-term-plus-a-year senator whose lackluster legislative record rivals Sen. Obama's. Other than that, the "experience" in question must surely refer to her presence as a witness and enabler during her husband's presidential terms.

Suffice it to say there are dozens of issues that Americans happily dismissed as "water under the bridge" as the Clinton era came to a close, but which would quickly ensnare Sen. Clinton and her party in a presidential race that would soon look like a struggle to escape the La Brea tar pits.

For starters, imagine Sen. Clinton and "co-president" Bill Clinton invited onto a "This is Your Life" talk show where they're joined by Juanita Broaddrick, Kathleen Willey, Paula Jones, Gennifer Flowers and Monica Lewinsky.

And that's before we even get around to a HillaryCare plan that could have sent you to jail for offering to pay your doctor in cash to "get to the head of the line."

Meanwhile, John Edwards' anti-capitalist populism is not in this country's long-term best interests.

Is Barack Obama, then, the ideal Democratic candidate for president? Hardly. His policy recommendations -- when he can be convinced to get any more specific than "I represent change" -- are the opposite of "change." They're old-line, welfare-state solutions that haven't spent enough time in the microwave to appear even superficially appetizing.

Sen. Obama is a relatively young man with relatively little of the kind of real-world experience that prepares a candidate to stand firm against urgent advice to, say, bomb some remote population of defenseless civilians to "send a message," or plunge the economy into a dark night of unforeseen consequences by crippling the free market in the name of "fighting greed."

But Barack Obama is, at least, likeable. He is a good enough orator that there is no need to cringe when he dares to speak off the cuff. He is a good politician, in the non-insulting sense that he knows how to speak to individual Americans and give them the feeling he cares about their concerns.

As Nevada Democrats head to their caucuses Saturday, they might ask themselves whether they really want to spend two months later this year watching a re-run of the horror movie "It Came From Little Rock," with the sound turned up much too loud -- or if they'd rather make it a real contest this fall.

If they prefer the latter, they're better off backing Barack Obama on Saturday.

http://www.lvrj.com/opinion/13832767.html

[Ya-ta Boy]

Judge dismisses Nevada caucus challenge

LAS VEGAS - A union with ties to Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton failed in court Thursday to prevent casino workers from caucusing at special precincts in Nevada.

The ruling by U.S. District Court Judge James Mahan was presumed to be a boost for Clinton rival Barack Obama in the Democratic presidential caucuses Saturday because he has been endorsed by the union representing many of the shift workers who will be able to use the precincts on the Las Vegas strip.

"State Democrats have a First Amendment right to association, to assemble and to set their own rules," Mahan said.

Full story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080117/ap_po/nevada_caucus_lawsuit

The polls say it is a dead heat in Nevada. I'll bet a beer that Obama pulls this one out, along with his expected win in South Carolina.

[Milwaukiedave]

Yep, I haven't had a chance to read any articles. Good news.

[Kuros]

Clinton and Obama will split delegates in NV; although Obama will likely be able to pick an extra delegate off of SC.

Meanwhile, Clinton's party connections more than make up for it in Superdelegate power.

[Czarjorge]

I'm not so sure about that Kuros. If Obama is the clear leader, more than 50 delegates, I'm not sure the Dems would hand Clinton the nomination. It would disenfranchise a lot of voters and could decrease turnout next November.

[Ya-ta Boy]

I'm struggling really hard not to fall into the Clinton camp just to be perverse. There is so much baseless anti-Clinton sentiment on this board that I'm tempted to go Hillary all the way, just to distance myself from the crowd. B-a-a-a-a-a

I will admit that neither she nor Obama have the national/international experience I want, but at least she comes with a co-president as part of the package as long as he can keep his pants zipped (and at his age, that should be less of a problem than it used to be). But at least she does have the advantage of being able to roll over in bed and ask Bill what she should do and get a smart man's answer. Can Ombama say that?

I met Hillary, Bill and Tipper in Strawberry Point in '92 and was impressed with all three. They came over to the rope line to talk to my sister and me (and her two kids) because...Just because. Anyway they stayed to chat because my sister and I are certified teachers. I was impressed with all three. Senator Clinton is a classy lady with brains. She's shorter than presidents traditionally are, with maybe the exception of Jemmy Madison, but that shouldn't matter.

I think she has the character, judgement and the intelligence to serve successfully.

[Czarjorge]

I have to admit some of my dislike of a potential Clinton presidency is her hubby. I don't want a middle ground collaborator this time around. Bill was so good at accomodating the Reps that the only thing they had to attack him on were his many sexual dalliances, something I couldn't care less about.

I'm also disgusted with the Clinton campaign's 'politics as usual' way of doing things. The race bating. The challenges to caucus sites in Nevada. It's all just SSDD.

Maybe Hillsy will stand up to them. Maybe we will get some real change. I just have a hard time believing it. I'll vote for Clinton if she's the Dem candidate, but I would really like to vote for someone that I want to vote for, in this case Obama, rather than against the Rep candidate.

Obama may be lacking in "experience" and the more I'm exposed to him I'm not sure he's the astounding voice of "change" he's touting himself to be, but I really believe he's a better choice than Clinton. Ultimately, it may be up to John Edwards to decide.

[igotthisguitar]

Supreme Court Denies Kucinich Ballot Bid
Fri Jan 18, 2:50 PM ET

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Friday allowed Texas to print presidential primary ballots without Democratic candidate Dennis Kucinich's name.

The court refused to step into a dispute between Kucinich and the Texas Democratic Party over a loyalty oath all candidates must sign to make the ballot.



Kucinich and singer-supporter Willie Nelson objected to the party oath that a presidential candidate must "fully support" the party's eventual nominee. Kucinich crossed out the oath when he filed for a spot on the primary ballot.

A federal judge in Austin ruled against Kucinich last week. U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel ruled the state party has the right to require the oath. Kucinich and Nelson argued it violated Kucinich's First Amendment right to free speech.

Texas said its deadline is Saturday to print absentee ballots so that they can reach overseas voters in time for the March 4 primary.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/scotus_kucinich_texas;_ylt=AgBYH4bhDue1pFpcRwrBZ0cDW7oF

[Kuros]

[Ya-ta Boy]

[Tiger Beer]