Oregon has a law allowing assisted suicides. Yesterday, the Register-Guard conducted an interview with Hillary and asked her views on the topic;

Q: What’s your attitude toward Oregon’s assisted suicide law?

A: I believe it’s within the province of the states to make that decision. I commend Oregon on this count, as well, because whether I agree with it or not or think it’s a good idea or not, the fact that Oregon is breaking new ground and providing valuable information as to what does and doesn’t work when it comes to end-of-life questions, I think, is very beneficial.

Q: Would you have voted for it if you were a resident of the state?

A: I don’t know the answer to that. I have a great deal of sympathy for people who are in difficult end-of-life situations. I’ve gone to friends who have been in great pain and suffering at the end of their lives. I’ve never been personally confronted with it but I know it’s a terribly difficult decision that should never be forced upon anyone. So with appropriate safeguards and informed decision-making, I think it’s an appropriate right to have.

In March, the Medford Mail-Tribune asked Obama his views: (More...)

By Big Tent Democrat

"I want to send a message to Florida."

- Donna Brazile, 8-25-08 DNC Meeting

Here is the video of the 8-25-07 DNC meeting where Florida was stripped of its delegates. I will watch it now and add my analysis to this post.

The DNC Staff recommended that the rule the Florida delegate selection plan to be not in compliance. The DNC Staff did NOT recommend a punishment.

Florida, through its Dem Party Chair Karen Thurman, then presented its case for why it was in compliance. More . . .

The weather's too nice in Denver to stay indoors. For those of you online, if you've got something to say, here's a place. As always, please keep it civil.

By Big Tent Democrat

Speaking for me only

I watched Howard Dean's appearance on CBS's Face The Nation. He did a fine job I thought. Then I saw his appearance on ABC's This Week. He blew it there.

First and foremost, Dean decided to comment on the importance of the popular votes. After saying "we must listen to the voters," Howard Dean then decided to mash up this point by dismissing the importance of the popular vote. Interestingly, I do not think Dean meant to do that. I think he meant to say this is a delegate race (and Dean NEVER treated the pledged delegate count as particularly meaningful). Dean wants the delegates to decide, as they will. But the Super Delegates can, should, and I believe, WILL look at the popular vote as an important, maybe even decisive, factor. I do not think Howard Dean has any objection to that. More . . .

By Big Tent Democrat

Katie Bird at RiverDaughter reminds us of what the Hillary Clinton camp said about Michigan in October 2007 when she decided to keep her name on the ballot (along with Chris Dodd, Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel):

Mrs. Clinton’s advisers said it would be foolish to rebuff an important swing state, especially since doing so could alienate Democratic-leaning independents who could be favoring her. But she is also taking a risk that staying in Michigan will not hurt her in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. Those states, all sanctioned by the Democratic National Committee to vote first, forced the Democratic candidates to sign a pledge not to campaign in Michigan and Florida. Clinton advisers said that even though she was staying in the Michigan race, she would not campaign there.

(Emphasis supplied.) BTW, the removal from the MI ballot was an Obama campaign stunt (done to gain advantage in Iowa and discredit the Michigan contest) created after the 4 state pledge was forced upon the candidates. It was, in the words of the Obama campaign, an "additional commitment," and not required by the 4 state pledge.

By Big Tent Democrat

Speaking for me only

I just ran across this story about how Donna Brazile continues her seeming drive to beat Speaker Pelosi for the "most divisive Dem" prize:

By Big Tent Democrat

Speaking for me only

I am an avowed supporter of free trade agreements like NAFTA. But I am not a rube. I realize that demagoguing against free trade is now standard issue Dem politics, but that does not mean it is right. Today The NYTimes explains why:

By Big Tent Democrat

Speaking for me only

Via andgarden, here and here should explain my obsession with solving the FL/MI problem, preferably with revotes.

Those 44 electoral votes will likely decide the election in November. At the very least, a revote in Michigan is essential.

By Big Tent Democrat

Democratic FL state representative Ted Deutch (a Clinton supporter) recites the case against the DNC's handling of the FL/MI situations:

. . . It's clear that Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Michigan and Florida all violated the same rule and should be treated the same. But that's not what happened. While the rules designate a 50 percent delegate reduction, the DNC imposed the death penalty - a 100 percent reduction - on Florida and Michigan. Amazingly, the other "rule-breakers" got no penalty at all.

The DNC has chosen to waive the rules when it believes that it suits the DNC's purposes. If the DNC insists on treating Florida differently, then it should be reminded that its own rules establish a 50 percent penalty rather than the death penalty given to Florida Democrats. . . . Rather than continue this divisive debate, the DNC should simply return to the rules that it drafted.

Read the whole thing.

What did you think? Actors playing Hillary and Bill discuss their tax returns and making money and whether Hillary will step aside.

"So, at this point I think it would be in the best interest of the party if I stepped aside for the Obama campaign. That's not going to happen. I am not jumping out of this until after the inauguration. Even then I won't be gracious."

It wasn't particularly funny or memorable. Host Christopher Walken's opening was much better and funnier, although it had nothing to do with politics. He is such a good actor.

Here's Hillary Clinton in Oregon today:

Hillary Clinton delivered an impassioned defense of her continued candidacy in Eugene, Oregon — telling a young Obama supporter who asked whether she really wanted to help the Democratic party or was merely being “self serving” that the race “is not a coronation. It is a contest.”

“Election are about choices. You’re supposed to present your case and you’re supposed to critique the other case. That’s what you do in an election,” she said. “This country is worth fighting for, and I’m going to fight for it.” The crowd erupted in a standing ovation.

She also addressed hope and change: [More...]

Charlton Helston has died.

It was 48 years ago yesterday that Ben Hur swept the Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor. Mr. Heston was a long-time political activist:

In his earlier years, Heston was a liberal Democrat, campaigning for Presidential candidates Adlai Stevenson in 1956 and John F. Kennedy in 1960. A civil rights activist, he accompanied Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights march held in Washington, D.C. in 1963, even going so far as to wear a sign that read "All Men Are Created Equal". Heston later claimed it a point of pride that he helped in the civil rights cause "long before Hollywood found it fashionable", as he often says in his speeches. Heston had also planned to campaign for Lyndon Johnson, but was unable to do so when filming on Major Dundee went over schedule.

More...