Too Progressive

 Okay, this is really getting rather old!

Primary after primary so far this election year we’ve seen one thing remain constant: Democrats coming out to vote in droves and localities subsequently running out of ballots.  Specifically Democratic ballots.  I for one am sick of it.  You’d think after this was the dominating story in the first 20 damn states to hold an election this year that states following on later dates would see to it that enough ballots were on hand. It continues to happen, though.  It happened in Virginia on February 12 (most notably in Chesterfield county), it happened in Texas and Ohio, and I’m just going to go out on a limb and say that Democratic voters (specifically some minorities) will continue to be disenfranchised throughout the primary season and in to the general election.

More than 20 speakers took turns beating up on Chesterfield County election officials for three hours today at a State Board of Elections meeting at the General Assembly Building.

Chesterfield’s Electoral Board Members and its registrar declined an opportunity to speak at the start of the 10 a.m. meeting and listened until 1 p.m. as they were criticized for bungling the Feb. 12 primary election.

Some speakers, including two from the NAACP and two from the Democratic Party, said a shortage of Democratic ballots at nine polling places and long lines throughout the county led to disenfranchised voters, most of whom were minorities.

“I’ve looked at the precincts that have had problems in terms of long lines and running out of ballots — they are disproportionately comprised of black voters. This is an embarrassment,” said David S. Turetsky, a Washington attorney who served as an observer on primary day for the Democratic Party.

He accused Registrar Lawrence C. Haake III of ignoring problems.

“It was denial, it was arrogance and it was hubris,” Turetsky said.

This is completely unacceptable.  It’s not as if Virginia was the first state to vote this primary season.  It’s not as if we didn’t know that Democrats have been coming out in droves and it might be a good idea to keep some extra ballots on hand.  Democrats and Republicans alike ought to be outraged that this sort of thing continues to happen in election after election and state after state.

[Cross posted on Raising Kaine]

Hillary Clinton just doesn’t get it. Democrats are overwhelmingly rejecting negative campaign attacks between herself and opponent Barack Obama as evidenced in the last debate between the two where she was actually booed when the crowd perceived her to be attacking Obama. Then, on a campaign stop today in Ohio with Democratic Governor Ted Strickland, she lashed out at Obama in perhaps one of the most desperate (and sad) attempts to remain relevant this campaign season.

“Shame on you, Barack Obama. It is time you ran a campaign consistent with your messages in public — that’s what I expect from you,” Clinton said angrily, waving the mailings in the air.

“Meet me in Ohio, and let’s have a debate about your tactics,” she added.

Uh, Hillary, Obama never claimed he wouldn’t tell the truth. Your health care plan will in fact punish people who don’t purchase health care. And who do you think can’t afford to purchase health care to avoid government penalties you would impose?

Hillary went on to say:

“Enough about the speeches, and the big rallies, and then using tactics right out of Karl Rove’s playbook. This is wrong and every Democrat should be outraged,” Clinton said.

Since when is there something wrong with giving a speech or being an eloquent speaker? Since when is there anything wrong with holding huge rallies? I mean, have you ever seen a candidate fill 20,000 seat arenas to the capacity in large cities across the country? Since when have we ever had a candidate assemble such a diverse and energized coalition of voters so early in a Presidential election season? This is an exciting time to be a Democrat and Hillary Clinton trying to “divide and conquer” Democratic voters is a carbon copy of a page out of Karl Rove’s playbook.

All of this just days after she expressed how honored she was to be running against Barack Obama at the Democratic debate in Houston on February 21:

“No matter what happens in this contest…and I am honored, I am honored to be here with Barack Obama, I am absolutely honored, and you know…whatever happens, we’re gonna be fine, you know we have strong support from our families and our friends. I just hope that we’ll be able to say the same thing about the American people; and that’s what this election should be about.”

[Cross posted at Raising Kaine and Daily Kos.]

UPDATE:

That’s what I’ve been told by several people “in the know.” Really, I guess it makes sense from all sides too. Hillary and Obama both get a fair shot at the delegates, and Florida & Michigan get to be represented at the convention. Perhaps most importantly, though, is this solution will prevent the Republicans from swaying voters in those states by saying the Democrats “disenfranchised” them by taking away their delegates.

Thoughts?

Checkout this email I got earlier today from the Clinton campaign claiming victory in Florida. Notice also how they fail to mention that Florida was stripped of it’s delegates by the DNC for violating party rules and moving it’s primary up. Also, no mention of the fact that all of the Democratic contenders pledged not to do any sort of campaigning in Florida during the primary season. HAHA!

Subject: Victory in Florida
From: Hillary Clinton
Date: Wed, Jan 30, 2008 8:38 am

Dear Terry,

I know I told you our campaign journey would be filled with high-stakes twists and turns. But I never knew it would be quite as dramatic as this. And last night we celebrated another big moment in this campaign with our resounding victory in Florida.

Now we face the biggest day of the campaign on Tuesday, with 22 races across the country. And no one can predict the outcome.

In a race this close, whatever you and I do now can make the difference. Every campaign stop, every voter we talk to, and every dollar you give can be the difference on Tuesday. Only our online supporters like you can act decisively enough to make sure the excitement and energy of this victory carries through on February 5.

Love always,
The Democrats

and Co-signed,
The Republicans

Anyway, so we elect them (the Democrats) to Congress and what do they do? Exactly what we told them not to, of course!!!! In case you’re wondering, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both voted against the measure, but only after it was already assured that it would pass. Hm, I wonder if Walnuts! McCain actually voted this time.

Bowing to President Bush, the Democratic-controlled Congress grudgingly approved fresh billions for the Iraq war Thursday night, minus the troop withdrawal timeline that drew his earlier veto.

“The Iraqi government needs to show real progress in return for America’s continued support and sacrifice,” said the commander in chief, and he warned that August could prove to be a bloody month for U.S. troops in Baghdad’s murderous neighborhoods.

Five months in power on Capitol Hill, Democrats in both houses coupled their concession to the president with pledges to challenge his policies anew. “This debate will go on,” vowed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and if anything, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (news, bio, voting record) of Nevada was more emphatic.

“Senate Democrats will not stop our efforts to change the course of this war until either enough Republicans join with us to reject President Bush’s failed policy or we get a new president,” he said.

Earlier: Keith Olbermann slams Bush, and the Democratic leaders

UPDATE: Looks like crazy McCain did vote, voting “yea” of course. I’ll post the full roll call when it becomes available.

Keith Olbermann’s special comment regarding the “compromise” between George Bush and Democratic party leaders to continue funding the war in Iraq entirely on George Bush’s terms: