OPEN THREAD: Talk about Super Tuesday 2008

And here in New Mexico we still don't have a vote count. If Lisa's lawsuit-lawsuit-lawsuit prediction comes true anywhere it will be here. You would not believe the incompetence involved in leaving the vote still uncounted here. Both Dem candidates have their people here making noises about inaccuracy and people not being able to vote who wanted to vote.

http://www.webteacher.ws/
http://first50.wordpress.com/

Ms Fisher,
http://www.mercurynews.com/pattyfisher/ci_8180160?...

I wanted to thank you for the courage and integrity that it took to vote for Obama over Hillary. In return as a 49 year old white angry progressive male I promise I will vote for the first women to run ... all things being equal ... even If I don't agree with her on all the issues. Your dilemma of who to vote for as a women is one probably shared by many women (and will be in the coming weeks), and so your ability to rise above an important, but more narrower interest, is not only a testament to the appeal of Obama's message, but a testament to your qualities, as well as the qualities of the other women who support him .... Thank you all.

In the Hillary/ Obama match up, my take is that for Obama it is more about all of us ... not just him, and for Hillary it is too much about her (and the dead weight she has on her ring finger). Were Hillary to make it into the White House they would bring all the pain of their synergy back into the mix. I am not interested in 4 more years of national therapy for Hillary and Bill. I wish them well (and lots of help), but I am sorry ... not on my dime this time. Despite whatever good intentions she might have (and I have a lot of questions about that), I believe her presidency would be a failed one or at best just slow down slightly the disintegration and rot that has been eating away at our political culture for what seems like forever.

This is a transformative moment and Obama is very much a work in progress. Right now we have to ask ourselves does he have the skill set, qualities and openness to move the project called America forward... I believe that he has proved that he does. So we support him and in doing so support ourselves. Then, when and if he is elected, we go back to our focused issues pushing this "work in progress" to consider and adopt some of our concerns ... but I believe that we will not need to do so in such a narrow or defensive way with a Obama administration. My reading is that Obama wouldn't have it any other way.

So get ready to push for more females in influential positions in an Obama administration and I will get ready to push for Kucinich to be put in charge of the new Department of Peace (a guy can dream can't he?) and who knows ... Obama may turn out to be our first female President .... In a Toni Morrison kind of way.

Good luck to us all

Smedley Butler

P.S. If you have not seen an interview or talk by Michelle Obama I urge you to do so. She is perhaps even more impressive than her husband. Her influence will be strongly felt in any Obama Administration
http://women.barackobama.com/page/content/WFOhome

Marcelle Walsh
Fl

Denise...

I thank you for your comments......actually, in the context of Obama being a "breath of fresh air after Bush".......I failed to think of things this way.......and you are right!

However, so many people get caught up in this without looking at the substance of the person. The fact that he raised 3 million dollars "online: today tells me that money can "buy" ! Where will all of this take us?

Let's hope people can see that you don't always get what you pay for.

Thanks for listening!

I'm on your side Marcelle.

I have not been moved by Obama's platform or his speaking ability or any of the research I've done on him. (And there are others in this particular thread who feel the same way.)

I do, however, understand why many many people are moved by Obama. After years and years of Bush.... Obama seems to be a breath of fresh air for many.

This could very well be the biggest vote of all of our lives and I trust my BlogHer sisters to vote with their heads, as well as their hearts. They're bright women - even when they don't agree with me (or you). I have faith that they'll see the light. ;-)

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings ( http://www.flamingohouse.net )

Marcelle Walsh
Fl

I just joined this site and I cannot believe you people! I am a 70 year old widow, a retired psychiatric social worker, and someone who is very proud to have been a registered Democrate since first voting for Kennedy in 1960.
We are looking for a Commander in Chief, not an "orator". This country has never been in sadder shape and we need to elect someone who will stand by us and lead us out of the depths of despair. Whether it be the economy, health care reform, immigration, the War in Iraq, and maintaining diplomatic relations with world powers, Hillary is our gal! She is smart, experienced, totally dedicated, and possesses the ability to facilitate the "change" that must occur. Recapturing our place in the world does not depend on "charism", but an ability to listen, choose the right staff, and give all that one has to "getting the job done". Open your eyes.......this is the most turbulent of times making your choice for "this" President of the United States the most important decision you will make in your life.

I posted here ( http://averagejane.blogs.com/average_jane/2008/02/... ) about my experience voting yesterday. It was very inspiring.

CNN is reporting ( http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/02/06/ro... ) that they are considering whether to make a big ad buy or drop out. The comments are pretty consistent: "Goodbye, Mitt!"

Kim
BlogHer Contributing Editor ( http://www.blogher.com/blog/kim-pearson )|Professor Kim ( http://professorkim.blogspot.com )|

And here it is almost 4 hours later and I'm still thrilled about last night. I'm still stunned by some of Obama's wins. I sat here last night, watching them call states for him and it didn't really dawn on me until I was tabulating them for my blog. I was just blown away that in some states, Obama "from nowhere" could go from a 28 point deficit 2.5 months ago, to winning by 25%. To beat the Clinton's and their entrenched and extensive noise machine. Despite their race-baiting, and lies about Sen. Obama's present votes and other smear, he won in states that he wasn't projected to win. All 8 of Clinton's states she was expected to win even before Iowa. She still had to spend a lot of money and time in those states. And just looking at the map and the number of votes, Obama could beat any of the GOP candidates. Clinton would be like John Kerry and get the coasts. Yes, it's was a very good night.

"I am so perfect so divine so ethereal so surreal. I cannot be comprehended except by my permission. I mean...I...can fly like a bird in the sky." Ego Trippin' by Nikki Giovanni
Visit me at faboo mama ( http://faboomama.wordpress.com/ )

I participated in the Super Caucus at Lyons Middle/High School in Boulder County, Colorado last night with my husband and my two little ones. Although the excitement was contagious initially, the logistics of a 2.5 hour process with two little ones left me feeling drained and discouraged.

Did anyone else feel like it was hard for them to participate? I'd love to hear your comments here: http://chezartz.com/?p=187

Julie Artz
Mama to Gabriel (9/04) and Lily (5/06)
ChezArtz.com - My personal blog
GreenArtz.com - Gardening for Food & Fun in the Foothills
ToysNaturally.com - My blog for natural toy reviews and more!

Sure, the media's been harder on Hillary, just like I believe it's been harder on McCain. I think this has more to do with the fact that they're both higher-profile and have been in the public's eye longer than, say, an Obama or a Romney.

I'm pretty sure all bets will be off after Obama's wins yesterday. He'll be receiving media scrutiny from all sides because people can no longer argue that he's not a viable threat!

Julie Artz
Mama to Gabriel (9/04) and Lily (5/06)
ChezArtz.com - My personal blog
GreenArtz.com - Gardening for Food & Fun in the Foothills
ToysNaturally.com - My blog for natural toy reviews and more!

Yeah - I don't feel that either, Laurie. I cannot believe how many of the folks I tend to run with politically, particularly in the blogs, not only are big on him, but they are downright as bad as Chris Matthews when writing about Hillary.

Jill
Writes Like She Talks ( http://www.writeslikeshetalks.com )

Woke up this morning to find that the 26 delegates from NM are not quite settled yet. NM is too close to call at 6 AM Mountain time.

From KOAT-TV:
"With 181 of 184 precincts reporting, Hillary Clinton led early Wednesday morning with 65,845 votes, a mere 117-vote lead against Barack Obama's tally of 65,728 votes. Four precincts and 16,871 provisional ballots remain uncounted."

It was insane here last night, with the caucus sites running out of ballots and people writing their votes of slips of paper with the promise from officials that votes would be counted so long as they were legible.

http://www.webteacher.ws/
http://first50.wordpress.com/

Big wins in states like Idaho, North Dakota, Kansas, Alaska...

MSNBC projecting 841 delegates for Obama overall vs. 837 for Clinton. He's won 13 states vs. her 8. (Don't think they've projected NM yet.) This is a GREAT night for Obama supporters!

The Land of Moo ( http://marilynm.vox.com/ )

Co-Founder of Bloggers for Darfur ( http://bloggersfordarfur.blogspot.com )

Saw this come across the Google/Twitter Super Tuesday map:

How I Fell For Hillary, Literally" ( http://burningprairie.com/ )

Short answer...No. Long answer...No way. :-)

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
CatherineBlogs ( http://www.catherineblogs.com/ ), The Political Voices of Women ( http://politicsanew.com/ ), Care2 Election Blog ( http://www.care2.com/politics/features/ )

captivated by him. It seems that everyone's mesmerized, in my opinion. The news channels cut McCain's speech to go to Obama. Poor McCain.

My state likes John McCain and Hillary Clinton! Everyone seems excited that no one has to stay up late for the results here.

I want to be. I want to feel what other people seem to, but I don't. Don't dislike him, but also don't find him a rockstar by any stretch. He is far too vague and repetitive for me. Be future-oriented if you want, in fact, please do, but I've heard far too many generalities. Not all "change" is good. (And I say that even as I despise the Bush Administration with every ounce of my being.)

Laurie
LaurieWrites ( http://lauriewrites.typepad.com )

Another state I expected Clinton to carry.

"I am so perfect so divine so ethereal so surreal. I cannot be comprehended except by my permission. I mean...I...can fly like a bird in the sky." Ego Trippin' by Nikki Giovanni
Visit me at faboo mama ( http://faboomama.wordpress.com/ )

given what I just saw at the Romney Party in Boston ( http://womenandwork.org/2008/02/05/women-and-mitt-... )- full of wealthy white people from suburbs not unlike wealthy New Jersey.
"To be a Romney supporter in Massachusetts, at this Super Tuesday event, I'd wager you're not hurting financially. Odds are, you may have gone to Harvard Business School with Mitt, or worked with him at Bain. Yet when Mitt gave his speech, to a room full of blonde heads (he has many attractive staffers in Tory Burch and cute jeans: they don't look like Republicans, at least the Republicans the media likes to show us. I call them "Mittlets." They look blue state, not red) and expensive suits, the SINGLE BIGGEST APPLAUSE LINE WAS WHEN MITT CONDEMNED "ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION" and promised to end it. I ask you: what do these people have to worry about immigrants? Do they dislike brown people that much? Ann Romney echoed the call to end illegal immigration, more applause. I don't get it. What are these people scared of?"

Clever!! Good shot, Maria!

No matter who you voted for today, no one can deny that Barack Obama is a rock star! Just listen to his speech. It's so darn captivating, that you want to jump up to his podium, grab him by the neck, and give the man a hug! Or throw a bra or something. So crazy how inspirational his speeches are...

...the videos have been edited and uploaded-look for a post on the blogher home page shortly.

Politics & News Contributing Editor
Queen of Spain ( http://queenofspainblog.com/ )

Besides editing a bunch of Obama rally videos, it is the conversations I have had with folks. Most everyone I talked to today was undecided but fully intended to vote.

I was undecided until I hit the ballot box. I don't want to say who I voted for because I have seen good friends go toe to toe with "Are you crazy?"

I don't want to vote for a man or a woman. I want to vote for a president. I feel like I'm the only one that does want that.

History be dammed. After the last joker I want to install the foundation of a great president.

I'm tired but I'm greedy. He better do well, it will give me time to finish uploading the rest of stuff.

Gena - Out On The Stoop ( http://outonthestoop.blogspot.com )

Via Bryant Park Project (NPR) on Twitter - Alameda County (my county) staying open until 9:00 pm (1 hour extra) and anyone in line by 9:00 can vote until 9:30 pm.

http://twitter.com/bpp/statuses/682428302

Also, I posted about my voting experience today with photos and interviews and observations of voters.

http://mariax.vox.com/library/post/rocking-the-vot...

Here's one example -- According the New York Times' electoral map ( http://politics.nytimes.com/election-guide/2008/re... ), Obama won four counties in New Jersey: Mercer, Hunterdon, Union and Essex. Now Mercer, Union and Essex counties were pretty predictable. The city of Trenton is in Mercer County, as is Princeton University, where Michelle Obama and her brother went to college. Newark is in Essex County, and Union also has a large working class, black and Hispanic population. But Hunterdon County? Less than 3 percent of the population is black ( http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/34/34019.h... ), and homeownership, education and income levels are substantially higher than for the state as a whole. Why was Obama able to edge Clinton out in Hunterdon, when Clinton beat him soundly in some of the other affluent counties just to the north and west.

Kim
BlogHer Contributing Editor ( http://www.blogher.com/blog/kim-pearson )|Professor Kim ( http://professorkim.blogspot.com )|

I couldn't understand why conservatives are not all shouting with joy over McCain either (other than campaign finance reform, which I am fairly sure no average person thinks about that much, and immigration), but Dana, your response was the perfect explanation. Thanks for sharing your views.

Suzanne Reisman ( http://www.blogher.com/member/suzanne ), Contributing Editor - Feminism & Gender ( http://www.blogher.com/topic/feminism-gender )
Campaign for Unshaved Snatch (CUSS)& Other Rants ( http://cussandotherrants.com/ )

A funny. By JennyDecki, from the All Posts tab in Politics & News:

Super Musings on Super Tuesday ( http://www.blogher.com/super-musings-super-tuesday... )

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder ( http://www.blogher.com/member/lisa-stone )
Surfette ( http://surfette.typepad.com )

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder ( http://www.blogher.com/member/lisa-stone )
Surfette ( http://surfette.typepad.com )

Thanks for the tip, faboo mama. This one wraps it up well:

The Coming DTS Meltdown In LA County ( http://calitics.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=94F419... )

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder ( http://www.blogher.com/member/lisa-stone )
Surfette ( http://surfette.typepad.com )

I thought I had seen MSNBC call Utah for Obama. Then over at Booman Tribune, he said, "Something's wrong or either people in Utah really like white guys." I refreshed and Edwards was up 39%, Clinton 1% and Obama 0%.

WHAT?

Now it seems that Clinton is up 45%. I'm going to assume it was a glitch.

"I am so perfect so divine so ethereal so surreal. I cannot be comprehended except by my permission. I mean...I...can fly like a bird in the sky." Ego Trippin' by Nikki Giovanni
Visit me at faboo mama ( http://faboomama.wordpress.com/ )

http://www.npr.org/news/specials/election2008/2008... ( http://www.npr.org/news/specials/election2008/2008... )

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder ( http://www.blogher.com/member/lisa-stone )
Surfette ( http://surfette.typepad.com )

Have been on the forefront of this (check Calitics) and it's heartening to see Degadillo stepping up on this.

"I am so perfect so divine so ethereal so surreal. I cannot be comprehended except by my permission. I mean...I...can fly like a bird in the sky." Ego Trippin' by Nikki Giovanni
Visit me at faboo mama ( http://faboomama.wordpress.com/ )

I hope I can make this work... Shoes seen on a voter named Eurydice (I hope I got that right)

Man after my own heart, at least in this instance. Check out this story from LAObserved.com:

elgadillo wants investigation of ballot ( http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2008/02/delgadil... )

"City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo stepped into the controversy over the unique-to-Los Angeles requirement that independent voters who want to be counted in the Democratic primary be sure to color in the 'Democratic' bubble on the ballot. They also fill in a bubble for their choice of candidate, of course. His statement:

I have heard numerous reports from voters throughout the City of Los Angeles which point to wide-spread voter confusion over Los Angeles County’s so-called ‘double-bubble’ Decline-to-State non-partisan voter ballot. We understand this ballot is unique to the County of Los Angeles.

In light of these reports, I am calling upon Secretary of State Debra Bowen and L.A. County Registrar Dean Logan to review the county’s unique and potentially confusing ballot design.

It would be unfortunate if non-partisan voters, confused by the county’s unique “double bubble” ballot design, did not have their vote counted."

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder ( http://www.blogher.com/member/lisa-stone )
Surfette ( http://surfette.typepad.com )

There are only a few things about John McCain that I like, but so many more that I dislike. After watching the debate at the Reagan Library, I was put off by his back and forth attack against Romney, claiming that Mitt supported a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq -- McCain took Romney's words out of context and tried to use this "trickery" to make him look better.

His refusal to give a straight answer about his opposition for the Bush tax cuts disturbed me. I don't why it was so difficult for him to admit he opposed them initially.

I'm still miffed about McCain/Kennedy and the H-5A plan that American companies could hire foreign workers if they could prove there were no Americans that could perform those jobs. After that proposal, I'm not certain that McCain can really lower unemployment rates if he's so willing to allow illegals to work in this country. Sure, he wants to build a fence and enforce border control -- and I applaud him for that. But the method to his madness seems very backwards. I don't trust him with this just yet.

McCain claims he was a Reagan Revolution foot soldier, but I have doubts about his ability to uplift our economy. He doesn't seem to concerned with the mortgage crisis. He has only said that government action is needed but hasn't given any details.

I'm not fully convinced that troop surges are the answer in Iraq. I dread the day my brother is called back to active duty for another term in the Middle East.
With a flailing economy, how can we afford this war? And if we are really making progress, I'd like to see the results. I'd like to read about this progress instead of seeing another name on the list of those who have been killed. I supported going to battle to end terrorism, but I think we're beyond that point. This war has turned into something else and I'm starting to wonder why McCain would be "prepared to have troops in Iraq for 100 years". I can't comprehend that statement. I have so many unanswered questions.

I like McCain's health care reform plan. Lowering costs, ending frivolous lawsuits, putting the power in the hands of the people -- these are things I agree with. I'm also happy that he supports overturning Roe v. Wade.

Obama won N. Dakota...I expected that to go to Clinton despite polls.

"I am so perfect so divine so ethereal so surreal. I cannot be comprehended except by my permission. I mean...I...can fly like a bird in the sky." Ego Trippin' by Nikki Giovanni
Visit me at faboo mama ( http://faboomama.wordpress.com/ )

And they had someone on who said that there's no way that there'd be a McCain Huckabee ticket.

Agreed re: the Bible Belt part.

Jill
Writes Like She Talks ( http://www.writeslikeshetalks.com )

I'm in Boston at the Romney Headquarters on Super Tuesday. I've been asking women in the crowd why they support Romney. Overwhelmingly: his values. I interviewed an older woman who said "Mitt is the only one she can trust- and his family sets an example. He is the only one" A young woman with a baby said she agrees with his values and his wonderful family.

I am very cynical about Romney, but I admit, it was nice to hear family values and commitment to family echoed. The cynic in me of course thought this was some kind of code word for "Mormon," but perhaps not.

(I did see a gaggle of young women staffers and approached them for a comment- I said, "I'm looking for young women who support Romney. They said, well most of the young women for Romney are staffers...." Indeed).

Mary Katharine Ham gets it right here ( http://www.blogher.com/super-tuesday-top-guns )

For those of you who haven't voted yet-(or voted early, or your delegates are not being sent)
http://www.blogher.com/invite-after-party

Politics & News Contributing Editor
Queen of Spain ( http://queenofspainblog.com/ )

Again, no surprised. I'd be surprised if Huckabee won like Vermont or Illinois, KWIM? I expect Huckabee to carry the Bible belt. It will be more interesting to see how he does in the west.

"I am so perfect so divine so ethereal so surreal. I cannot be comprehended except by my permission. I mean...I...can fly like a bird in the sky." Ego Trippin' by Nikki Giovanni
Visit me at faboo mama ( http://faboomama.wordpress.com/ )

Everyone's glued to their computers watching results....

I'll say it: they kind of freak me out.

What do others think?? VP material? Could he and McCain really beat Clinton or Obama??

Oy

Jill
Writes Like She Talks ( http://www.writeslikeshetalks.com )

So far, most of the wins of all the candidates, are expected. Of course Romney was going to win MA because he was Gov. there. I admit to being a little surprised at how well McCain did in the NE, but I'll assume it's because people up there may actually believe he's a "maverick" for whatever reason.

"I am so perfect so divine so ethereal so surreal. I cannot be comprehended except by my permission. I mean...I...can fly like a bird in the sky." Ego Trippin' by Nikki Giovanni
Visit me at faboo mama ( http://faboomama.wordpress.com/ )

Just heard my county (Alameda) is projecting a 70% turnout. And Stanford campus has "historic" turnout [showing lines out the door].

I just love this!

He won Massachusetts- but no one seems all that excited about it!

Media are cranky because they're here until at least 3am for California deadlines!

I've been following this great discussion thread all day! I'm off to vote for Hillary as soon as my husband gets home. (Three sick, sleeping kids makes for last-minute polling-place visits.)

The Circus is in town! ( http://www.threekidcircus.com )

I hear they are encouraging people to bring in their sample ballots.

And, I found out recently that somehow I'm decline to state so I'll find out shortly and report back.

Also I just interviewed a voter at the polling place near my home (which, strangely, is not my polling place). I'm going to try and get some more with pictures and put up a post.

Again, a limited headline:

GOP: Huckabee Wins Alabama, Arkansas ( http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?story... )

NPR projects: Mike Huckabee has won in Alabama and Arkansas, where he was formerly governor. John McCain wins in Illinois, New Jersey and Connecticut. Mitt Romney wins in Massachusetts.

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder ( http://www.blogher.com/member/lisa-stone )
Surfette ( http://surfette.typepad.com )