New Mexico To Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 2008, photo © 2008 by QuoinMonkey. All rights reserved.
I’m not a very political person. I don’t follow politics, and haven’t since my more radical days in the 1970’s. But this year has been different. I’ve been energized and inspired by the candidates on both sides of the fence. People seem more engaged, less polarized. And I’ve been keeping an open mind.
The fuel continues to be fired in the comments on ybonesy’s post, Do You Do Politics? There is a lively conversation going on there. I don’t remember many discussions of politics in my childhood. But my mother reminded me (Comment 79) that she was very involved in politics and even met Rosalynn Carter.
My friend Teri commented (Comment 58) about going to see John Edwards speak in St. Paul last Tuesday at the Carpenter’s Union Hall. She was on stage with Edwards; she shook his hand. I was fired up to see what he would do next. The following morning in New Orleans, he announced he was ending his race for the Presidency. His supporters and campaign managers in Minnesota were stunned. Where will they turn next?
I’ve been thinking about voting in the Minnesota caucus next Tuesday – but, wait, how do I do that? I discovered I knew next to nothing about the way the primaries work, or even about the caucus process in my own home state of Minnesota. I had to do some digging to learn about why Minnesota does a caucus and not a primary. We tried once in the 50’s and once in 1994 to adopt a primary system. Both were unsuccessful.
It turns out that voters and politicians feel they have more control over the small town feel of a caucus. WCCO covered these issues in one of their news segments, Good Question when Jason DeRusha asked, Why Do We Do Caucus?
In another of their segments, In The Know, Don Shelby discovered that people are most unhappy in their mid-forties. Well, guess what the median voter’s age in this country is? You can listen to Don’s answer at WCCO – In The Know – Get Don Out Of This Rut.
Happy or not, I plan to vote in Minnesota’s open caucus on Tuesday. To vote for a presidential candidate, I can show up in my precinct at a certain time and cast my vote. To find out where to vote, you can go to Minnesota Caucus Finder at WCCO’s Minnesota Caucus Resource page.
At the national level, things get even more complicated. The Democratic nominee for president needs to capture a majority of 4,050 delegate votes (on the Republican side, it’s a majority of the 2,348 delegate votes).
For Democrats, state primaries and caucuses select 3,254 pledged delegates, who are obligated to vote for the candidate their state has chosen. An additional 796 unpledged delegates — consisting mostly of party leaders and elected officials — are free to vote for any candidate.
On February 5th, Super Tuesday, Democrats are voting in 22 states with 2075 delegates at stake (Republicans in 21 states with 1081 delegates). New York, California, Illinois and New Jersey are among the biggest states holding Democratic primaries.
SUPER TUESDAY STATES – FEBRUARY 5TH
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Alabama (Primary) – 60 delegates
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Alaska (Caucus) – 18 delegates
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Arizona (Primary) – 67 delegates
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Arkansas (Primary) – 47 delegates
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California (Primary) – 441 delegates
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Colorado (Caucus) – 71 delegates
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Connecticut (Primary) – 60 delegates
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Delaware (Primary) – 23 delegates
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Georgia (Primary) – 103 delegates
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Idaho (Caucus) – 23 delegates
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Illinois (Primary) – 185 delegates
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Kansas (Caucus) – 41 delegates
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Massachusetts (Primary) – 121 delegates
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Minnesota (Caucus) – 88 delegates
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Missouri (Primary) – 88 delegates
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New Jersey (Primary) – 127 delegates
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New Mexico (Caucus) – 38 delegates
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New York (Primary) – 281 delegates
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North Dakota (Caucus) – 21 delegates
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Oklahoma (Primary) – 47 delegates
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Tennessee (Primary) – 85 delegates
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Utah (Primary) – 29 delegates
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Democrats Abroad (Primary) – 11 delegates
But it’s not over after Super Tuesday. The last Democratic primary is June 3rd with Puerto Rico (the last Republican, July 12th in Nebraska). And there are many delegate-rich states to go. Here are a few of the Democratic states:
Tuesday, March 4th:
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Ohio (Primary) – 161 delegates
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Rhode Island (Primary) – 32 delegates
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Texas (Primary) – 228 delegates
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Vermont (Primary) – 23 delegates
Tuesday, April 22nd:
- Pennsylvania (Primary) – 188 delegates
Tuesday, May 6th:
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Indiana (Primary) – 84 delegates
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North Carolina (Primary) – 134 delegates
The New York Times has an excellent breakdown of the primary schedule at:
So you have a better understanding of the primaries. Do you know why young voters are targeted for a big turnout? Or what a Millennial is? Do you know why Missouri is considered a purple state?
Are you confused about where the candidates stand on issues that are important to you? You’re not alone.
I found a couple of helpful tools:
NPR (National Public Radio) 2008 Election Issues: Candidate Positions – the page has an over overview, then if you click the link under each issue, it breaks the candidates down by detail
MPR (Minnesota Public Radio) – Select A Candidate – this survey works the other way around. You choose the answer to each question, based on what you believe about the issue. At the end, you click and it tells you which candidate falls the closest to your own beliefs. You might be surprised!
Last night over dinner at Taste of Saigon with my friend, Teri, we talked for 4 hours over dishes of shrimp lo mein, and broccoli and beef. At first, we caught up on our writing projects, writers, and our date to see Louise Erdrich at the Minneapolis Central Library in February. But as the night wore on, we began discussing politics. We were both genuinely interested in what each other had to say.
She asked me if I knew who I was going to vote for on Tuesday. I said I was still keeping an open mind, and though I was leaning a certain way, I really didn’t know.
That was until I got home and watched Clinton and Obama on the last debate before Super Tuesday. I asked Liz to tape it for me. And even though I was exhausted when I got home, I sat and watched carefully as Hillary and Barack debated the issues.
After that, everything changed. I am solidly in Hillary’s camp. She squarely faced off with well thought out details of how she is going to implement her plans on healthcare, Iraq, and immigration. And though she and Barack seem aligned in their Democratic mission and vision, I don’t trust Obama to do what he says he will do. He has Vision, but no plan. And when he responded to Clinton in the debate, he reiterated the details of her proposals, rather than telling me his own.
For me, Hillary offers exquisite leadership qualities and Vision along with a detailed plan to back it all up. I think she will get the job done. She’s an inspiring role model for young girls and women, an example of what it’s possible to achieve, against all odds. I’ve done my research. I’ve looked at their records. I’m voting for Hillary.
All that said, I love the way Obama is rallying young voters and those who feel they need inspiration. He has a certain charisma about him. And his views are so close to Hillary’s, that if he does win the Democratic Presidential nomination, he’s got my vote.
My blogging partner, ybonesy, is taking her daughter to an Obama gathering in New Mexico as I write (his appearance at the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis tomorrow is sold out). I’m inspired that she has the same passion for her candidate as I do for mine. And it makes our blog a richer place to visit.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve learned a lot about the way politics work in this country’s national elections. If there are others as in the dark as I was, I hope this is helpful.
And though I now know who I would like to vote for (unless some strange unforeseen event changes my mind), I’m absolutely sincere when I say this: it doesn’t matter to me who you vote for. Just get out and vote. From New Mexico to Minnesota, Georgia to Pennsylvania, every vote counts.
-posted on red Ravine, Friday, February 1st, 2008, 3 days before Super Tuesday
Obama is the face and future of both the Democratic Party and America. We need to move forward, not backward. Many people believe that voting for Hillary will be like going back to 1994 and the Bill days, but it won’t. This is 2008 we need to be looking forward to how we can improve, not just return to the status quo. As more people begin to realize this, more people lean towards Obama. By the way, the republicans thought Bush Jr. would be much like Bush Sr. I bet they are regretting making that bet now…look forward to a new brighter path, vote OBAMA!
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I learned more in this blog than in my entire 11th grade year of Civics class. Thank-you for all the research and work to pull this together. It is stunning to see the differences in the number of delegates. No wonder everyone drools for California!
Wouldn’t it be nice to know who the candidates would choose for running mates? That would make a difference in how I vote next Tuesday.
Do you know where last night’s Obama/Clinton debate can be heard? Perhaps if I google NPR I will find something.
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Sinclair, I learned a lot preparing this post. I’m glad it was helpful to someone!
Here’s a link to watch the video on CNN. I think it’s the whole video but I haven’t watched it here. I just found this link:
Videos: Clinton, Obama air their differences (LINK)
Here’s a link to the transcript (but I recommend watching them)
Transcript of Thursday’s Democratic presidential debate (LINK)
BTW, I really enjoyed their exchanges in this debate. They were warm toward each other, both showing democratic qualities and no bickering. I’m sure they planned all that. But, for me, it was refreshing!
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Sinclair, I don’t think that’s the whole debate – just CNN’s take on it. Not sure yet where to see the entire thing. I’ll post a link if I see one. Maybe you can post a link if you find one as well.
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Perfect! I will watch this weekend.
Also, I am a great lover of maps. Loved the shots. The old-fashioned looking map. That kind of map reminds me of the roll-down ones that hang in schoolrooms with big windows and wooden floors.
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Hilary and Obama share the same essential plans which is why they sound the same. But their vision and personalities diverge. Hilary is an excellent political bureaucrat. That does not a leader make. And their voting record diverges on issues like Iraq that belie some of her “plans.” It does boil down to whom do you trust more. And we are talking about a pack of politicians, who in general are not the most trustworthy group of individuals.
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Marshall, I see you’ve made up your mind! Thanks for stopping by.
TIV, I guess in the end it does come down to who you trust more to get the job done. And, just speaking for me, who energizes and inspires me. I know many who think Barack would make a better leader. But they often speak in the future tense about those qualities. I’ve already seen that Hillary is a good leader. She doesn’t have to prove that to me.
I have wavered quite a bit between the two of them. But when I studied the issues over the last few days, she fits more with my Vision for this country. Seriously though, I mean it when I say I can live with either one. I think they each have their strengths.
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Hi QM. Thanks for all the research on this topic. I find it fascinating especially the way some states caucus and others have primary votes. The whole caucus thing is amazing to me.
I got some great shots at the Obama event today. It was an economic summit, not a rally, and so he delved into issues. There was a panel there, too. It was intimate, deep, and informative. I’ll try to do a hopefully not too one-sided post about it this weekend.
One of the things thats bothered me about Democrats this year is that their passions for one candidate over another has led to quite a bit of bashing. This seems to be the case, in particular, with respect to Hillary. I like Hillary, and I don’t like to hear people bash her. She’s an incredibly smart person, and savvy of the current system.
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ybonesy, I’m so glad you got to attend the Obama event today. Will be looking forward to reading your post. It’s hard not to be one-sided, and I hope I wasn’t too much so in this post.
I agree, the negativity and bashing is not conducive to deeper study of the issues at hand. It’s not the way I like to live my life. I don’t subscribe or participate in that kind of rhetoric. But some people seem to need someone to blame. Perhaps those who are threatened by Hillary have some deeper work of their own to do.
Hey, I just watched the evening news and Cokie Roberts was interviewing a few women on their feelings about the possibility of the first woman president. Very different takes from each woman there. But they all showed respect for Hillary and what she has accomplished.
BTW, Cokie mentioned that when her mother was born (she’s still alive) women could not vote. It’s kind of astounding to me that there are still women alive who were born without the right to vote.
I just heard that Hillary is going to be in Minnesota on Sunday. I need to find out more details.
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For any Minnesotans who want to vote in the caucus Tuesday, WCCO has a Caucus Finder on their Minnesota Caucus Resource Page. You can learn all about the MN caucus there. I also found another link to compare more issues on each candidate. The links are below.
Minnesota Caucus Resource Page (LINK)
MN Caucus Finder (LINK)
Campaign ’08 Candidate Tracker (LINK)
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Sinclair, regarding the map photos, thanks! I’m a big fan of maps, too.
This map is actually a puzzle, a Milton Bradley/Rand McNally/Hasbro design. I couldn’t resist getting it for Liz for her birthday. We are dreaming about our next vacations (wherever they will be, not sure yet!).
The puzzle has all these little symbols on it that way maps used to do…circles with symbols for mining, oil, farming…you get my drift. Anyway, what can I say? I’m a sucker for the old vintage designs. I liked the wild colors, too.
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QuoinMonkey…first, thanks for responding to my comment…I appreciate the engagement. Yes, you are right, I have made up my mind. However, I do not believe that Obama has anything left to prove. When I say the future, I mean I believe he is the best individual to profoundly transform the political tar pit that is Washington. I am a member the U.S. Army (yes I am a liberal democrat and in the military…lol). I look at the President of the United States as an Officer rather than and NCO, indeed he/she will be the commander and chief. As an officer/or as a president, ones duty is not to get down and “solve the economic crisis” or “reform health-care” by oneself; it is to give others the vision, tools, and motivation necessary to work together and solve the problems. Lets be honest, Neither Obama or Hillary can set down with a calculator, pen, and pad, then crunch a few numbers and solve the economic problems. She would have to get hundreds of congressmen/congresswomen, senators, and the American people to follow up on her vision, and the overall democratic vision that her and Obama both, more than less, share. I truly believe that Obama can be more successful at this. I live in Kansas, I talk to plenty of conservatives each day and I even listen to Rush Limbaugh (know your enemies!), the conservative wing has already vowed to turn down anything Hillary proposes. Right or Wrong, they hate her with a passion and will resist her to the end. I Know Obama will be more successful and building a diverse coalition to solve Americas problems…Thanks for listening, I look forward to your response…
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Hey marshall, ybonesy here. I’m QM’s blogging partner.
Good to hear more about your background and your rationale for supporting your candidate. I work in large company, and I, too, liken the major differences between the two as one having great managerial skill, the other great leadership skill. I want the leader. I want him to hire great managers, but I want someone who can transcend apathy, divisiveness, politics, and status quo systems.
I’ve also been watching endorsements closely. I just got word an hour ago that moveon.org just endorsed Obama (LINK). That’s huge. That tells me a lot about the subtlies in philosophy. Also, two unions that had endorsed Edwards have endorsed Obama.
But the thing that also worries me about Clinton is how much vitriol so many people have toward her. I know Democrats who will be conflicted, who might not vote for her if she wins. That’s scary. I sometimes worry that some of this backlash has to do with fears about a woman in that role. I’m not saying you’re fearful of that; I just wonder why and how some people can hate her so much.
Our governor, who ran for president, hasn’t endorsed anyone. I suspect the reason is because he’s fishing for a Veep invitation. He’s very old-style, very status quo. Now that Edwards is out of the race, I hope he gets the Veep invite. I’m really tired of old-style politics.
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QM, it’s pretty amazing how few delegates NM has. Such a big state geographically, so few people though.
BTW, Clinton will be here tomorrow. Her husband was here yesterday, I think. They just announced her visit. These things are so spur-of-the-moment. I just found out last night about Obama’s appearance. I might go see her. I mean, my mind is made up, but I also put a lot of weight on the historical significance of this election. I guess that comes from growing up and hearing my father and mother talk about significant historical figures — and memories of them — in their lives.
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QM, as we were waiting in line today, someone asked if we’d taken the survey that allows us to select answers and see how close we are to the answers the candidates selected. I’m so glad you included the link to that survey!
I took the test: I was closest to my candidate (21), and after that, your candidate (19).
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I too an apolitical and have not decided who I will vote for during our primary. I will do my homework and see which candidate best represents my vision for the future as well as who has the best chance to get the job done.
What excites me most is that either democratic candidate winning will represent a large step forward for our country where we have always elected a white male as President.
QM, Do you remember when our step-father ran for township supervisor and we had that family picture taken for his handout?
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R3, which photo is that? Do I have on a red velvet dress and flipped up hair (ala Marlo Thomas)? Is it the one Mom had hanging in the living room for so long? If so, I didn’t know it was for a political event at all. Or I wasn’t paying attention. 8)
ybonesy, I’m glad you took the test. I, too, came out closest to my candidate. I can’t remember my scores now. Your candidate was second. And they weren’t far apart. (I guess we are voting for the right people).
Marshall, thanks for your response. It is good to hear more about your background. I was going to say, that’s the second time I’ve heard that today, about Obama being a better leader because of his abiliities to bring different kinds of people of together. I’m really not disputing his ability to do that at all. I see him as a uniter as well.
I guess the area where I differ is that I see Hillary as a uniter (and, for me, she is). I see her with a strong vision for the country. And she’s very loyal, something I value.
I’m going to go out on a limb here and venture to say that people who hate someone as much as you are describing, are, in my best estimate, not going to come to the table for anyone, including Barack.
But, you know, I’m not thinking of who/how many people are going to come to the table, but what’s going to happen with the people who *do* come to the table.
I also want to say, I don’t dislike Obama; I think he’d be okay as a president. He just doesn’t inspire me the way Hillary does. And I’m looking for more experience. That’s just me.
ybonesy, I do think many are threatened by Hillary because she is a woman, whether they admit it or not. As much as everyone tries to keep the gender card under the table, it’s naive for people to not know that it’s an issue.
And I think if Hillary does win, Democrats who would venture to vote on the Republican side as a backlash against Clinton (based on her personality), really need to do some soul searching. If conservative values are a better fit for them, I’m thinking Obama is probably not their best candidate either.
The hate thing really has me stumped. I just can’t really understand that kind of hate. I’ve never felt that.
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QM,
Thanks for the post…it will be one I turn to for help in understanding the whole messy process of politics. You are to be commended for all the research and putting it in language we can all understand!
I know more people who are becoming engaged in this election because it is going to be a turning point, historically, no matter who gets elected!!
I have a hunch the Democrats are going to choose Clinton WITH Obama as Veep, at their convention!
The thing that worries me the most is…can anyone imagine Bill just sitting back, doing and saying nothing?!?! I don’t think so.
It irks me that our country still hangs on to the “electoral college.” No matter how I vote, all Wyoming’s votes will go to the Republican candidates. (sigh)
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oliverowl, I saw some analysis on the VP thing tonight and it’s hard to imagine either candidate choosing the other for VP. I wonder if that’s something they are even thinking about (?).
I don’t really totally understand the electoral college. It’s supposed to help less populated states, isn’t it? But then it seems to kind of backfire because they tend to be more Republican. I don’t quite get how all that works. Isn’t that how Gore lost in 2000?
While I was writing this, I saw Al Franken on a political ad being endorsed by one of his old teachers. Sometimes when I see his face, I can’t help but think of Stuart Smalley. 8) I sure don’t know how any of them afford those ads.
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I just got home from the preview show for tomorrow night’s “Prairie Home Companion.” One of the comedic skits was about the current candidates, something the host Garrison Keillor never shies away from. Though he is a Democrat, the skit poked fun equally at all those running. It was good for the audience to have a belly-laugh about it. I mean, it’s all terribly serious, but it was still great to laugh.
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Teri, it sounds good to have a laugh about it. Was the preview show at the Fitzgerald? And what is a preview show? In all the years I’ve lived here, I can’t remember ever going to a PHC show.
Every year, I hear rumors that he’s going to stop doing it. I’d better go one of these days. I think I mentioned this, but Mrs. Juarez actually flew here just to see Garrison and a PHC. That’s how big it is in certain circles in the rest of the country.
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QM,
I want to believe all the candidates (regardless of party) are good people who love this country and are ready and willing to dedicate themselves to make it a better place for all of us. But all this bickering amongst each other and the party lines never gets anything done. There’s still homeless walking the streets. There’s still children that go hungry and Seniors who don’t get the care they need and deserve. There’s no reason a Country of people as blessed as this one should have (or allow) that to be true… regardless of their political leanings.
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Heather, yeah, that’s the truth. I do think we all hope our choices are the ones that are best for the country and offer solutions that ultimately address the issues you raise. But so much energy gets wasted in the process. If this really is the democratic process, it might be the best one we have – until someone comes up with something better. But is sure makes you wonder sometimes.
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QM,
Yes, the preview show is at the Fitz, always on Friday nights. He has been having them for three or four years before most or all of the Saturday radio shows. He started doing them because when he hosted from St. Paul, the tickets sold out in a heartbeat and so many people couldn’t go.
I’ve been to both, and there is hardly any difference between the preview and the real McCoy. The tickets are nearly 50% less, the show 30 minutes longer.
If you listen to the show tonight, you’ll recognize the skit I was referring to in a heartbeat. Listen for the man who plays Bill Clinton. Really funny.
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I have to disagree that there is more candidate bashing among the democrats this year than any other year. The republicans are at it as well, we just may not be paying as much attention. And Hilary gives as good as she gets, often worse when she teams up with her bull-dog Bill who together have attacked Obama. This tag-teaming in particular has drawn a lot of Hilary-bashing. People are rightfully afraid he would be co-president. Politics has never just been about nice people having rational conversations. It always gets down and dirty. Some people love that about politics, some people hate it, but to call people who criticize Hilary as having “issues to resolve” is in itself a kind of attack, don’t you think? People have opinions, period. That should be respected rather than psychoanalyst, in my opinion. As a therapist, I would never think of doing that to another voter say, for Huckabee.
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QM, you are to be commended for the research that you put together in this post. I must say that I was quite surprised by some of the links & especially the amount of delegates assigned to each state. Also, the ideals behind the caucuses & even the entire electoral college seem so obsolete in this day & age.
I am glad however that people have taken such an interest in this election. I worry about the future of our country & I know the decisions we make now will affect generations to come. I will admit that I am a Clinton supporter. I am not ashamed of that fact. I am not opposed to Obama & would like to see the two of them as running mates! (I would consider that to be the Dream Team!) But realistically I doubt that will happen. We’ll see…
I did not get to see the debate between the two of them. Only the CNN short version. At first I thought Hillary looked like a Bobble Head when Obama spoke. And then I listened when she spoke & knew I had made the right decision for me. How nice to see a truly civil debate between the candidates for a change! Let’s face it, Hillary took a lot of flack in earlier debates & that is because she was leading in the polls. Of course that would make her a target for other candidates to attack.
I do not make my decision based on endorsements by others. To do so would be to betray myself of my right to choose.
There have been so many interesting comments on this post & I respect everyone who commented & am proud to be able to voice my opinion as well. I look forward to YB’s post on Obama. D
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It’s weird, I usually have a strong sense of who I think should be elected, but right now, I still have no idea who to vote for on Tuesday. :0
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I find the whole individual decision-making process something that is fascinating in and of itself. How some people make decisions intuitively, based on gut. How others wait until all possible information is available and then make decisions. I was always interested in work style and personality typing tools, like DISC, Meyers-Briggs, and another called Human Dynamics that I found to be especially useful. We are all so different. Jim and I make our decisions via completely different processes, although the end decision (in terms of politics) is almost always the same or very close.
I have to say, I am conflict averse when it comes to politics. I don’t thrive on the tension and “down and dirty-ness” of politics. I have a friend who loves it, who thrives in it. I found myself feeling really bad for the Dems when Hillary and Barack were fighting. (On the other hand, when the Republicans fight, I don’t mind because it makes them look so bad.)
Yesterday the man behind me in the auditorium talked to his friends for about an hour as to why he hated Hillary. He talked about just wishing someone would give her an elbow in the face and pop her, and so on. I found his words to be horrid. That’s the kind of vitriol I can’t take, TIV. I’m not a psychoanalyst, but man, I just can’t take talk about violence against women. I don’t care who the woman is — I sense deeper issues whenever I hear those kind of words.
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QM, I just got off the phone with my Dad. As I have previously stated in another post by YB, he was very politically active in the past & I have always respected him & his opinions, although we have not always been on the same page in our views. I talked with him about this post & we got on the subject of people such as Rush Limbaugh & others who have such biased views when it comes to politics. My Dad has the perfect answer when someone who follows such individual’s views brings them up in conversation. His reply is simply “I do not need someone to think for me as I am able to think for myself.” He also will not allow himself to argue or agree with anyone who wants to discuss politics with him. D
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Great to read everyone’s responses. As ybonesy says, following people’s decision making processes and learning from them is the appeal for me. I’m really not into the down and dirty either. I think having an opinion is one thing – bashing is something else entirely. And abdicating any kind of physical violence against anyone (male or female, Democrat or Republican) around a political decision – well, yeah, I think they need to get some help.
When two of the Democrats were at each other in the debate before last, I tuned out and started looking more at Edwards. He didn’t subscribe to that kind of politics. And I liked that about him. In the last debate, suddenly, the two candidates left were best friends, united for the Democratic party. That was strange. And, yeah, I guess that’s just politics.
I’m mostly interested in learning about people’s processes. I appreciate what people have to say.
diddy, your dad seems like a wise man.
LB, I don’t think you are alone! I know many who are undecided still as well.
BTW, on a lighter note, Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania at Gobbler’s Knob saw his shadow today which means 6 more weeks of winter! Liz and I were laughing this morning because 40,000 people showed up there to watch the groundhog emerge – that’s twice as many as are showing up at the Target Center for Obama. I’m considering voting for Punxsutawney Phil.
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Teri, I forgot I wanted to respond to PHC. You know, now that you describe it, I had heard of the Prairie Home Companion Previews on Friday but have never been. Maybe I’ll add that my list of things I want to do this year. I at least need to be able to say I saw it live once during the time I’ve lived in Minnesota! I’ll see if it works out for me to listen to that political skit tonight on the radio.
It’s kind of crazy, but we tend to do that kind of thing more when we’re visiting other cities or on vacation. There is so much going on right here in the Twin Cities, that it would take me forever to see everything! I need to prioritize.
You really get out there and take advantage of everything this area has to offer. Liz is like that, too. She’s always got her eyes and ears open for something new to do. It’s a great way to support our community.
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That’s unbelievable, QM, that so many people are into the groundhog! Hey, maybe you can start a write-in campaign for him 8) .
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As a resident f PA, I can assure you that “Phil” draws a lot of attention, although there are many other communities that hold their own ceremonies involving other groundhogs. This year there is some controversy, as some saw their shadow’s & others did not! Go figure! Even our State Lottery has a groundhog as their spokesman, “Gus” the 2nd most famous groundhog in Pennsylvania! My vote would be for Gus (the underhog) & his slogan would be “Keep on scratchin’!” D
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[…] -related to posts, haiku (one-a-day) and The Politics Of Primary Season 2008 (A Presidential Primer) […]
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I took the online “Select a Candidate” quiz. I took it three times, playing around with how extreme I wanted to voice my opinions: VERY important, SOMEWHAT important, NOT AT ALL important.
It made a difference every time in who came up as “My Candidate.”
The really great thing for me is that the quiz helped me further define what matters to me. There are many issues flying around, and I thought I had to give them all equal consideration. But in the end, I found out that someone’s position on the environment, the death penalty, and Iraq are my priorities.
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I didn’t try changing those, Sinclair, although I did only make VERY important the issues of the Environment and Iraq.
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Sinclair, I actually found that test very helpful in defining the issues that were most important to me. What I liked about it is that you couldn’t just whiz through it. The answers were complex, so you had to think about each one before responding. It’s good to know that the subtle differences of each answer were figured in.
I think it’s a helpful approach – to forget about the outside appearances and personalities of each candidate long enough to stop and define/revisit what issues are important to you. Then go back and consider what your gut is saying around all the information. It’s helpful (whether you’ve made up your mind or not) to have more information.
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Another quick link that’s on the NY Times Primary 2008 calendar page (left sidebar):
Issues: Where The Candidates Stand (LINK)
It’s got tabs so you can click and quickly compare issues. But so far, the MPR Select A Candidate seems like the only tool that includes all the issues. For instance, the NY Times leaves out the Death Penalty which is very important to some voters.
More tools. 8)
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For all who might like to know, here’s Hillary Clinton’s schedule for Minneapolis, Minnesota tomorrow:
4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Senator Hillary Clinton will be speaking at “Solutions for the American Economy” event/rally at Augsburg College. Doors open at 2 p.m.
Augsburg College
Melby Hall
725 23rd Ave.
South Minneapolis, MN 55455
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Great post, QM! But I have to comment to YB for a moment.
I’m one of those Democrats (by tradition, anyway) who may not vote for Hillary if she’s nominated. And it’s not due to gender. I came into this campaign season very excited, because there were several Democrats that I thought I could comfortably cast a vote for: Obama, Clinton, Kucinich, Richardson, and maybe even Gravel. I disagree that there should be a healthcare mandate in the absence of a single-payer system, and I don’t much care for Hillary’s support of DOMA, but it was the Clinton campaign, itself, that made me lose any trust that I might once (and a few months ago would) have placed in Hillary.
Now, if she gets the nomination (and especially if McCain gets the GOP nod), I’m forced to weigh the trust issue, in addition to voting records and what the candidates say they will do. I don’t want to see her elbowed in the face, but yeah, I’m angry that I have to second-guess what Hillary says.
The California debate eased that anger, a bit, but American politics still needs a serious makeover.
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I am very independent…usually right in the middle of both sides. 🙂
I have to say I never been so interested as this time, and it is due to one person…OBAMA. Though my entire family will probably pitch a fit.
Sometimes you have to go with the connection you feel, and I feel that he is genuine…I don’t feel that with the others. No other canidate has ever brought tears to my eyes..I feel hopeful for all of us. I listened to his wife in an interview and I think she will be a wonderful asset too..without the baggage.
I respect everyone’s decision.
Thank you for all the information..that was a lot of work. Please know you are most appreciated.
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I’m glad you posted this, Quoinmonkey. I’m afraid, as an outsider, I find your political system needlessly complicated… but I think I understand it a little more now.
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sam, I wish you could have seen Hillary like I did. If she comes to your neck of the woods between now and Tues (not so unlikely, given the breakneck speed at which these candidates are moving around), at least go see her. It’s important to give yourself that extra information when things are as up in the air as they are with respect to trust. (Not that I’m trying to sway you — just that she has a good chance of winning, and I’d hate to see someone who’s running on a platform of “this war is great and I plan to continue it” get your vote.)
gypsy-heart, it’s really cool that you’ve been energized by this election. For me, the dynamic of the entire election has been key. Not just any one candidate, but the whole kit and caboodle. Is that you spell that? Last night I heard from a friend who was at the Clinton rally say that her in-laws, who haven’t voted Democrat since JFK, are also inspired by Obama. Whatever one’s preferences are, it is a phenomenon to behold.
Hey pmousse, when I first read through this post about the political system, I thought, Whew, I sure am glad ours in NM is a primary and not caucus. And then I learned that our voting hours were noon to 7p, which, for caucuses it seems that one of the hallmarks is this reduced polling hours. Then I came back to the post and saw that NM has a caucus, not a primary. Bizarre. We haven’t had it but one other time as a caucus, per my understanding from a newspaper article this morning. I don’t quite like it. I prefer the longer hours at the polls and more polling places. But oh well, it is what it is.
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[…] to posts, The Politics Of Primary Season 2008 (A Presidential Primer) and Do You Do […]
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QM & I are waiting for Hillary in Minneapolis as I type. There is electricity in the air! The place is packed yet all is flowing smoothly as the Minnesota nice prevails. Saw Walter Mondale as he received a standing ovation from the crowd. Mark Dayton was greeting people as they stood in twenty degree cold. Go Hillary!
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Cool that you can give us a blow-by-blow, skyWire. One of the benefits of having an event at a college!!
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I am waiting with great anticipation to read your post after you hear Hillary, skyWire. I know QM is set on Hillary (don’t know about you), but it will be great to hear from people who are planning on casting their vote for her.
Is it hard to see? Good seats?
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I’ve been gone all day and am just getting home from seeing Hillary Clinton at Augsburg in Minneapolis. Tonight I felt proud of our political process in this country. I’ve never participated in the political process the way I am this year. I look forward to the caucus Tuesday, something else I haven’t done before.
I’m kind of tired tonight and am logging off. It’s been a long day. But I feel very excited to see what’s going to happen with the elections. Healthcare, poverty, education are the most important things to me. I think all the Democratic candidates are going to struggle cleaning up the mess that is this war. None of them has an advantage in that area to me. So close is close enough.
But, honestly, I might be talked out on all this for a bit. It became even clearer to me tonight that I’m voting for the right candidate. And I feel good about the way I came to my decision – weighing many options, choosing the person I think will do the best job. I know everyone feels the same way about their own choices. And that’s what makes the process so great.
ybonesy, I haven’t had time to read your post yet today. It looks like you put a great deal of effort into it. And I will wait until tomorrow when I can give it my full attention. Thanks for posting your own experiences around the process.
Teri, we had great seats. And Skywire was able to make the comment from her cell phone where she can access the web. Hillary was warm, detailed, decisive, inspiring. All ages were there, almost equal men and women. I think all the criticism of her has only made her stronger. Overall, it was a fantastic experience.
I don’t know if I’ll do a post on it. Maybe a few photos. I have to see how much energy I have. Skywire videotaped the whole thing. I can’t wait to watch it. Night all.
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Goodnight to you as well, QM. I was excited to see skywire’s comment as you waited in anticipation! I for one, tuned into the Super Bowl! Way to go Giants! I am a huge Steeler fan, but I msut admit that I was all for the Giants in this one. Great game! I look forward to your comments about your experience tonight! Pleasant dreams…D
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You’re probably long fast asleep by now, QM, but just wishing you a good one. We sure have talked a lot about politics given that we kind of had never talked about politics before, eh?
Looking forward to your photos. I was so high in the bleachers, I just couldn’t get a good shot on zoom without shaking my hands.
Hey, your caucus hours are not long, so I’m going to be interested in how that goes. Anyhoo, glad it was a good experience. Night.
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ybonesy, you got that right. To be honest, I’ll be glad when we get back to normal: back to books, authors, writing, and art. As I commented in your post today (LINK), I find politics exhausting. And I am finding myself wanting to go inside and take some time to reflect.
I might look at the photos we took at the Clinton rally later tonight. I’m still not sure if I’ll post them. I’ll see what kind of energy I have. Otherwise, I’m taking a break today, as someone (I think amuirin) mentioned she did over the weekend. I want to sit with everything in my belly for a while. Just sit. I’m not checking any media sources today. I’m tired of all the spin. I’m resting.
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The day after Super Tuesday: I am so relieved Minnesota is done. It’s been great, and now I’m very happy to pass the torch on to those yet to vote. I went to my caucus for two hours last night, lots of impassioned talking/yelling. Several young Americans going to the podium, announcing their plans to run for State House. Grassroots kinds of efforts about education, green living, making our community livable. Truly beautiful.
But I’m glad, glad, glad we’re done for now.
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I felt the same way, Teri, although NM is (once again, like last big national election) not able to call the race due to issues in voting. Sheesh.
Wow, impassioned yelling during the voting? I hope it was all good.
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ybonesy,
When I woke up this morning, I heard the election judges in New Mexico had stopped counting votes at 5 in the morning and had gone home to bed. I thought of you instantly. I’m sorry to hear of another delay. Sheesh is right.
A caucus is a WAY different experience than a primary. You don’t stand quietly in a line waiting your turn to go into a voting booth. We were in an auditorium and there are all kinds of issues brought to the table, delegates are selected, people announce their intent to run in a year or two for this or that, local political types stop by and the people vote on the spot how much time they get to speak (usually it was one minute and then a big timer would sound). If any rules were broken people would stand up and make speeches about the integrity of a caucus. Then other people would make speeches about their speeches, and everyone would start cheering for changing America, and on and on it went. Very Red-Blooded-Democracy. Lots of people banging their fist on the podium. Sort of fun and crazy and passionate.
Minnesotans tend toward stoic, so a bit off the grid for us.
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Teri & ybonesy, I’ve been working on a writing project with an aggressive deadline and haven’t had much time for anything else the last few days. But I wanted to follow up a little on your comments.
I voted in the MN caucus in a first ring neighborhood outside of Minneapolis; it was mobbed. There is only a small window of time to caucus in Minnesota. We were caught in a traffic jam in the parking lot for at least 10 minutes. After we did get inside, it was completely packed (but as par for MN, the lines were orderly!).
Lines were divided by precincts and both Democrats and Republicans voted in the same place (but different rooms). It was so odd, because I kept running into my neighbors, people I knew, and could see which line they were voting in. There were some surprises there, too.
A caucus feels much different than a primary. The poor volunteers were totally unprepared for the turnout. I admire their fortitude. But I have to say, it was so mobbed and confusing that I could have gotten in line several times and voted again and no one would have been the wiser. No one checked for ID, license, anything to see if I lived where or was who I said I was. It was crazy. And it makes you wonder at the caucus outcomes.
All that said, I’m happy to have participated in the process in my state. To have done my homework and shown up all the way around to support my candidate. The process was eye-opening. After Super Tuesday, I can see that the Democratic party is deeply divided and fractured. If I didn’t know better, I’d say it was right where the conservatives want us. But as ybonesy said, I have hope that the Democrats will come together and unify toward what is best for the country.
I didn’t watch any of the returns yesterday and I only checked online stats once in the morning. It felt so good to step away and out of all the spin. I am sending good energy to the rest of the country as they go into their primaries. And turning it all over to a Higher Power (another recovery principle), something way bigger than me!
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Ours was a caucus, too, and what seemed different from a primary were: a) shorter hours to vote (noon – 7p instead of 7a – 7p), b) only one place to vote instead of the usual three or four, c) not as much privacy. But they still checked our names and had us sign. It was about as orderly as it could be given that it was so crowded. In fact, ours was probably one of the better organized in the metro area.
But I took my mom to vote at her voting spot, and that one was a mess. Parking was terrible. People had to stand in line in the cold. And then the news station reported on several other places that were horrid. 3-4 hour waits. People leaving. Provisional ballots totally questioned. People being asked to bring in their sample ballots to use those. Most polling places running out of ballots and people having to wait. I couldn’t understand how the local folks who were in charge of all this couldn’t have predicted a high turn-out. There were record turn-outs in the four states that had held early voting, and how NM still thought turn-out would be low? Sheesh.
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QM, I find the MN caucus process to be interesting & especially what you wrote about the different rooms! I know that can be surprising! In PA we have a primary, however, Repulicans & Democrats vote at the same precinct as well. The lines are divided by alphabet & move along just fine. When it is your turn, the volunteers have you sign your name in a book that has all of the registered voters listed. We have a computerized, touch screen system which involves the Democratics to insert a card designed for the them & the same goes for the Republicans. There is a very elderly man who volunteers at our precinct. We always seem to be in his line. It is his job inform the lady next to him which card to hand to you. He is very hard of hearing & the entire room of people can hear him announce whether you are a Democrat or Replubican!J & I get quite a chuckle out of that as we are usually in the minorty! I hope this man is there again this year! D
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diddy, I think the primaries are much more orderly and organized than a caucus. And now there are several people trying to get primaries re-instated in MN. So far, in other years, they have not been successful. I just hope people in caucus states who still have to vote, get there early!
ybonesy, I think the urban areas are much more prepared and organized for high turnouts, even with the caucus. They seem to have known what to expect. The rings right outside of the cities here seemed less prepared for huge turnouts.
The whole process was just fascinating to learn about. People seemed so excited and happy to be voting, no matter who they were voting for. I think that part was exhilarating.
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Hey, I came back to post the schedule for the Democratic Primaries that are happening (or have happened) after Super Tuesday in the Comments. (For all the details and a schedule of the Republican Primaries, you can click on the NY Times links in the body of the post).
I know we have some readers in states who are coming up over the next few months. I have stopped following all the spin. I listen to NPR and MPR once in a while. But even that has gotten kind of old for me.
I’ve tried to turn it all over to a larger power and hope that the Democrats can unite in the end. I also wanted to post this schedule here so I can find it easily. I try to send good energy and prayers to states on the day of their Primaries. Not so my candidate will win – but in unity for the good of all.
ybonesy and I were talking at our last meeting about how much we learned by posting the 2 or 3 political posts we posted on red Ravine. Though we tried to be as diplomatic as possible, I sometimes found them draining. But it was also so good to hear what people have to say, to feel their passion. And to learn to still come together in the end. I’m glad ybonesy and I can really listen to what each other has to say. I feel it’s a gift.
Saturday, February 9
Louisiana (Primary) – 66 delegates
Nebraska (Caucus) – 31 delegates
Washington (Caucus) – 97 delegates
Virgin Islands (Other) – 9 delegates
Sunday, February 10
Maine (Caucus) – 34 delegates
Tuesday, February 12
District of Columbia (Primary) – 37 delegates
Maryland (Primary) – 99 delegates
Virginia (Primary) – 101 delegates
Tuesday, February 19
Hawaii (Caucus) – 29 delegates
Wisconsin (Primary) – 92 delegates
Tuesday, March 4
Ohio (Primary) – 161 delegates
Rhode Island (Primary) – 32 delegates
Texas (Primary) – 228 delegates
Vermont (Primary) – 23 delegates
Saturday, March 8
Wyoming (Caucus) – 18 delegates
Tuesday, March 11
Mississippi (Primary) – 40 delegates
Tuesday, April 22
Pennsylvania (Primary) – 188 delegates
Saturday, May 3
Guam (Other) – 9 delegates
Tuesday, May 6
Indiana (Primary) – 84 delegates
North Carolina (Primary) – 134 delegates
Tuesday, May 13
West Virginia (Primary) – 39 delegates
Tuesday, May 20
Kentucky (Primary) – 60 delegates
Oregon (Primary) – 65 delegates
Tuesday, June 3
Montana (Primary) – 24 delegates
South Dakota (Primary) – 23 delegates
Saturday, June 7
Puerto Rico (Caucus) – 63 delegates
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QM, thanks for the update! I also find the process to be a little exhausting, but it looks like Texas, Ohio & Pennsylvania could be deciding factors indeed. It has been a close one & I will support either Obama of Hillary in the end. D
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diddy, I’ll definitely be watching to see how Pennsylvania weighs in. I’m curious. It’s a state known for its politics. The Keystone State! It is exhausting, isn’t it. Especially since you have to wait until mid-April to vote. It kind of keeps everything in forefront for all the states that have not voted yet. I wish you well with the process.
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Well, QM, it’s over. Jim’s sister dropped by yesterday morning right before Clinton’s speech saying she was suspending her campaign and endorsing Obama. We watched it, and Jim’s sis and I got pretty teary.
It was such an incredible primary. I know there was a lot of acrimony between supporters of one versus the other candidate, but what really struck me was how much these two understood this was a campaign, they fought hard, sometimes that fighting took a negative tone, but in the end they closed ranks and united.
I don’t know what will happen yet, but I have a great admiration for Hillary Clinton. I never came to be against her. When she was winning big and could have taken the nomination, I was OK with that. She wasn’t my top choice, but she was a close second, and I wasn’t about to become a basher or a hater.
Anyway, onward, to the General Elections and the White House!
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[…] irony wasn’t lost on me. Since ybonesy did her Obama piece on red Ravine last February, and I posted one of the only political pieces you’ll probably ever see from me, a lot has happened. Hillary has long been out of the race; Obama chose his running mate […]
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[…] by with less than 500 votes. In 2004, Bush won by only 6,000 votes. And in the 2008 Democratic primaries, it took a week before the winner was declared. (Hillary won by about 1,700 […]
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[…] -related to posts: Out With The Old, In With The Old (Recycled Fashion Goes To Washington, DC), If You Can’t Say Something Nice…, Why It Won’t Matter To You That I’m Voting For Obama, The Politics Of Primary Season 2008 (A Presidential Primer) […]
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