Hillary Supporters unite....no bashing please! only smiles

[punkin]

Yeah - I do find that kind of disturbing. I enjoy and support Hillary - but she can make mistakes......

and has made some doozies....

 

[JARNJ3]

I would post this on the liberal thread - but it would be met with "they knew the rules....." arguments ........

Dean's 50 state strategy is really a 48 state strategy.

Times poll: Dems want primary results to count

Howard Dean and Barack Obama may insist Florida’s Democratic presidential primary was meaningless, but a new poll shows Florida Democrats aren’t buying it, and one in four may not back their party's nominee in November if Florida winds up with no voice in the nomination.

Not only do Florida Democrats say that the Democratic presidential contenders’ boycott of their primary had little effect, but an overwhelming plurality want the officially meaningless results to count, a new St. Petersburg Times/Bay News 9 poll finds.

A record 1.75-million Florida Democrats voted in the Jan. 29 primary, which Hillary Rodham Clinton won by 17 percentage points, but as punishment for holding the primary earlier than allowed by the national party, no delegates were at stake. Now, as a nomination stalemate looms, the candidates and state and national party leaders are struggling to figure out how and if America’s biggest swing state can have a voice in the Democratic nomination.

"If there’s one thing that this survey says is you have to acknowledge the Jan. 29 primary on some level," said pollster Tom Eldon. "You really can’t say the Florida primary was a non-event to voters. It was a non-event to Howard Dean according to the rules of the DNC.”

Twice as many Clinton supporters -- 56 percent -- want the Florida primary to count as do Obama supporters -- 27 percent. Still, even among Obama supporters, the idea of counting that primary is slightly more popular than holding a new election or dividing Florida’s delegates evenly between the two candidates.

“We’ve been not counted so often and especially in this state that has felt for so many years that our vote doesn’t count, to not count our votes again would be so detrimental -- especially for our youth," said Tallahassee resident Molly Gosline, 45, executive director of a nonprofit group and a Clinton supporter.

But Carly Loiseau, a 29-year-old nurse and Obama supporter in Wesley Chapel, didn’t bother voting in January because she knew Florida had no delegates and said it would be unfair to count the election now.
"I blame the state of Florida, the Democratic party. They knew the rules and they could have followed the rules like the rest of the country, but they chose not to," said Loiseau, a nurse.
Other key findings in the poll:

* Obama has gained strength in Florida, and today lags Clinton among Florida Democrats 46 percent to 37 percent, with Clinton leading by 33 percentage points among white Democrats and 20 points among Hispanics. Obama leads among African-Americans, 74 percent to 12 percent.

* Florida Democrats point the finger of blame for the primary debacle in several directions: 28 percent blame Republican leaders in the Legislature, 25 percent blame Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, and 20 percent blame the Florida Democratic party.

* More than three out of four Florida Democrats say it’s “very important” that Florida’s delegates count toward the nomination, and one in four said they would be less likely to support the ultimate Democratic nominee if Florida’s delegates don’t count.

* The state party’s decision to scrap a do-over primary by mail looks wise with fewer than 1 in 10 Democrats saying they considered that the best way to resolve the issue and only one in four saying they would trust a mail-in election to show the will of the people.

The telephone survey of 600 registered Democrats and frequent Florida voters was conducted March 15-17 for the St. Petersburg Times, Bay News 9 and the Miami Herald. The poll was done by Schroth, Eldon & Associates, whose clients primarily are Democrats. The margin of error was plus or minus 4 percentage points.

The poll suggests most Florida Democrats viewed the Jan. 29 primary as a legitimate election.
For instance, only 15 percent of those surveyed said their main interest in voting was the Amendment 1 tax reform initiative, while 43 percent said the Democratic primary was the big draw and 40 percent said both were equally important to them. Likewise, 56 percent of those surveyed said the lack of Florida campaigning by the major candidates had "no effect at all" and 16 percent said it had a "major effect" on their choices.

 

[JARNJ3]

This is good news:

Murtha backing Hillary Clinton

BY MIKE FAHER
The Tribune-Democrat

U.S. Rep. John Murtha on Tuesday announced his endorsement of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, saying she is “best qualified to lead our nation.”

The Johnstown Democrat’s announcement comes as both Clinton and Democratic front-runner Barack Obama set up shop in Pennsylvania in preparation for the state’s important April 22 primary.

“I’ve known Sen. Clinton for 15 years,” Murtha said in a statement released by his campaign committee.

“I know that she continually reaches out for opinions and ideas, not just from our nation’s leaders, but from all Americans.”

Murtha is one of the most powerful Democrats in the House, and his endorsement could carry weight in the 12th Congressional District, where he has served for 34 years.

His backing carries added importance this year because he is a “superdelegate” – a party official who is free to support any candidate at the Democratic National Convention in August.

Because the race between Clinton and Obama is so close, some speculate that superdelegates may play an important role in deciding the party’s nominee.

Clinton said in a release Tuesday night that she is pleased with Murtha’s endorsement.

“I am honored to have the support of a leader as strong, well-respected and experienced as Congressman John Murtha,” Clinton said. “I have known John for years, and he is a fighter and a man of principle who has unmatched credibility on matters vital to our national security.”

Last month, Murtha said he would not choose sides in the race and pledged to be “very careful in my evaluation of both candidates.”

In Tuesday’s statement, Murtha offered a glowing endorsement of Clinton.

“In 10 months, President Bush will leave office. Our country is worse off today than when he took office over seven years ago,” Murtha said. “Senator Clinton is the candidate that will forge a consensus on health care, education, the economy and the war in Iraq.”

 

[DISUNC]

Yeah - I do find that kind of disturbing. I enjoy and support Hillary - but she can make mistakes......

and has made some doozies....

Yup she can!

But we realise that Hillary is Human, and we being rational....We realize that humans make mistakes. Just hopefully not like the doozies the current adnin has done.

There are some Obama supporters on this board who just cant see his mistakes.....AT ALL

Whew it was a brutal night on the DIS!!!!!! I wonder if this how Obama is going to Unite us all. He cant even unite his own party! Unless like some of his supporters THEY WILL FORCE HIS MESSAGE AS THEY SEE FIT!

 

[DISUNC]

The poll suggests most Florida Democrats viewed the Jan. 29 primary as a legitimate election.

Of course they did. The Florida democrat Primary had the largest turout of Democrats ever in Florida history. Almost 2 million Floridians voted.

THAT IS WHAT IS NORMALLY CALLED A MANDATE!

 

[DISUNC]

This is good news:

Murtha backing Hillary Clinton

Thats good that a elected official is signing on. I believe she will get most, if not all the SD's that dont have consituients to concern themselves with.

 

[KikiFan]

So I listened to Obama's speech today and I must say it was a very good speech. That man is an incredible speaker. There was a lot of truth in his speech, and they were definitely things that we've never heard a politician address.

When it comes to addressing the race issue I give him a thumbs up. But when it comes to the Wright issue I still don't feel comfortable. But the truth is, I honestly don't know if there is an answer that will explain how someone can sit in that pew and listen to that garbage for 20 years. It's just unimaginable to me. But then I've left my favorite church because I had issue with a pastor.

While I think he was spot on about racism, I can't say I think it was all that brave. After the debaucle of Pastor Wright, this was pretty much the only card left for him to play imo.

As great as that speech was, I'm not sure it really changed anyone's mind. I'm sure a lot of the Obama supporters on DIS will just dismiss my opinion since I wasn't voting for him - but at some point the man has to do more the just preach to the choir. He's got to be able to change people's minds - and votes. Because as die hard as his supporters are, there aren't enough of them to win the election.

As a die-hard dem, someone who desperately want to vote for a dem. I should be an easy sell. But he still hasn't convinced me. In fact, I get further way the longer this goes on. So what are the odds he's going to change anyone elses mind?

 

[MyManGoofy!]

Yup she can!

But we realise that Hillary is Human, and we being rational....We realize that humans make mistakes. Just hopefully not like the doozies the current adnin has done.

There are some Obama supporters on this board who just cant see his mistakes.....AT ALL

Whew it was a brutal night on the DIS!!!!!! I wonder if this how Obama is going to Unite us all. He cant even unite his own party! Unless like some of his supporters THEY WILL FORCE HIS MESSAGE AS THEY SEE FIT!

We also realize that we are voting for a candidate for political office - not a candidate for sainthood. I think it would be far easier to accept some things about Obama if he was not held up by so many to be some kind of messiah.

Of course they did. The Florida democrat Primary had the largest turout of Democrats ever in Florida history. Almost 2 million Floridians voted.

THAT IS WHAT IS NORMALLY CALLED A MANDATE!

Just to be clear - almost 1.7 million DEMOCRATS voted in the primary - not just FL voters. In my group of friends and acquaintances - I do not know of anyone that did not go vote. And they were a range of Clinton - Obama - Edwards and even a Kucinich fan! I believe that I read it was record turn out for both side R and D. So I am not sure who these people are that are saying they did not get a fair chance to vote.

And this is another thing - I do not see anyone but Hillary fighting for my vote here (or for those in Michigan for that matter). Why is Obama so willing to just shrug and say "oh well - your party leaders screwed up. Sucks for you. Can't change the rules now"?

 

[Fitswimmer]

Let's talk about THIS speech for a while!

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/speech/view/?id=6553

The mistakes in Iraq are not the responsibility of our men and women in uniform but of their Commander-in-Chief. From the decision to rush to war without allowing the weapons inspectors to finish their work or waiting for diplomacy to run its course. To the failure to send enough troops and provide proper equipment for them. To the denial of the existence of a rising insurgency and the failure to adjust the military strategy. To the continued support for a government unwilling to make the necessary political compromises. The command decisions were rooted in politics and ideology, heedless of sound strategy and common sense.

I will start by facing the conditions on the ground in Iraq as they are, not as we hope or wish them to be. President Bush points to the reduction in violence in Iraq last year and claims the surge is working. Now, I applaud any decrease in violence. That is always good news. But the point of the surge was to give the Iraqis the time and space for political reconciliation. Yet today, the Iraqi government has failed to provide basic services for its citizens. They have yet to pass legislation ensuring the equitable distribution of oil revenues, yet even to pass a law setting the date of provincial elections. Corruption and dysfunction is rampant, and last week General Petraeus himself conceded that no one, in either the U.S. government or the Iraqi government, feels that there has been sufficient progress by any means in the area of national reconciliation.
So by the middle of this summer when the additional surge forces have been sent home, we'll be right back at square one with 130,000 or more troops on the ground in Iraq. That President Bush seems to want to keep as many troops there after the surge as before and says that doing otherwise would endanger our progress is a clear admission that the surge has not accomplished its goals. Meanwhile, as we continue to police Iraq’s civil war, the threats to our national security, our economy, and our standing in the world continue to mount.

 

[punkin]

And this is another thing - I do not see anyone but Hillary fighting for my vote here (or for those in Michigan for that matter). Why is Obama so willing to just shrug and say "oh well - your party leaders screwed up. Sucks for you. Can't change the rules now"?

Because it is good for him politically. Why else?

 

[Fitswimmer]

Nobody interested in talking about Hillary's speech? I thought this was a place for people who support her to talk about positive things about her campaign?

I thought it was an excellent speech and deserves more attention than it's getting...

 

[punkin]

Nobody interested in talking about Hillary's speech? I thought this was a place for people who support her to talk about positive things about her campaign?

I thought it was an excellent speech and deserves more attention than it's getting...

Agreed.

 

[MyManGoofy!]

Nobody interested in talking about Hillary's speech? I thought this was a place for people who support her to talk about positive things about her campaign?

I thought it was an excellent speech and deserves more attention than it's getting...

Sorry - I was going through my pictures to decide which one I was going to post on the Disneyland pic of the day thread.

Plus - I am super tired today. Probably should not be trying to write out any kind of coherent response but I will try.

Yes - I thought she gave an excellent speech. She usually does. It is sad how this Obama issue seems to be the only thing getting the bulk of the press because I really want to know how we are going to be bring our troops home and when. What we are going to do about the falling dollar and our failing economy and so many other issues.

However, it has come up and as much as we would like it to go away - it is not going to. Oh - it will for those of us that would rather talk about the real issues and get back to work on those. But for those that can and will swing the election vote - this issue has swung many votes right back to the GOP.

I am really bummed about this. Obama will most like be our nominee. I fear that he has lost a large percentage of the cross-over vote. But that is not all. Prior this - the McCain support has been tepid at best. I really felt that there would be a good percentage of GOP voters that would just sit this one out. Not anymore.

And as much as I would like to say that Obama stepping down or even pairing up with Hillary on the ticket would help save the Dems chances - I don't think it would change the final outcome.

 

[MerryPoppins]

I have Diet Pepsi?

That'll work!

Yes, I agree. Hillary's speech was a good one.

 

[robinb]

Hillary's speech was right on the money. It we for them to step up before we step down we're going to be there for a VERY long time.

 

[crazyforgoofy]

Nobody interested in talking about Hillary's speech? I thought this was a place for people who support her to talk about positive things about her campaign?

I thought it was an excellent speech and deserves more attention than it's getting...

I liked her speech very much!

 

[NewJersey]

I thought it was very good as well. Looking forward to hearing Obama's when I get home.

 

[Fitswimmer]

I liked her speech very much!

I also wanted to say that I think Hillary has handled the Obama Pastor thing with a lot of class. She could have piled on, and used it for her own gain-but she chose to stay on message.

 

[NewJersey]

I also wanted to say that I think Hillary has handled the Obama Pastor thing with a lot of class. She could have piled on, and used it for her own gain-but she chose to stay on message.

Agreed - I thought she has handled it very well by staying completely out of it.

 

[JARNJ3]

So is it too good to be true? Hillary catching up in NC?

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/RCP_PDF/PPP_NC_Release_031908.pdf