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Obama To Sort Of Declare Victory Tonight?

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:11:01 PM EST
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I am really interested in how Obama deals with this expectation that he will sort of declare victory but not declare it. ESPECIALLY if he will mention Florida and Michigan.

I also love watching the Obama News Network (NBC) acting as if this is the biggest bestest night ever for the Obama campaign. They are so funny because now they are being so defensive that everyone knows they are the Obama News Network.

Talk about what you like. I am not live blogging any speeches. Never have and never will.

Ok, one thought, it is just weird that he is in Iowa, not Oregon. I do not get it. He could have done the speech right at 11 pm EST and been on all the local news shows. It is sort of a dis of Oregon isn't it?

By Big Tent Democrat

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< Obama, CNN, NBC Do Not Count Florida and Michigan | Oregon Results Thread: Obama Wins >

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    • Display: Sort:
    Obama To Sort Of Declare Victory Tonight? | 264 comments (264 topical)
    But it's now 1627 (5.00 / 6) (#1)
    by Coldblue on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:13:01 PM EST
    haven't you heard? That is the new metric.

    I think this campaign started in 1627 (5.00 / 3) (#6)
    by ruffian on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:16:29 PM EST
    Whenever I hear that number it sounds like a date from my 8th grade history class.  Did the pilgrims land that year or something?

    [ Parent ]
    Very good! Plimoth Rock, 1620 (5.00 / 1) (#136)
    by Cream City on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:41:37 PM EST
    and the recreation of the village there is dated to 1627.  Had to put in the farm fields first, maybe?

    [ Parent ]
    Wow (5.00 / 0) (#206)
    by ruffian on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:57:46 PM EST
    Sister Loretta Ann would be proud of me!

    [ Parent ]
    Boycott NBC/MSNBC tonight! (5.00 / 4) (#14)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:18:37 PM EST
    A number of pro-Hillary blogs are calling for a boycott of NBC/MSNBC and their affiliates tonight - to protest their heinous coverage of Clinton.

    It's still not too late to change channels if you want - BO is talking NOW.

    [ Parent ]

    Heh (none / 0) (#15)
    by Steve M on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:19:38 PM EST
    NBC has the Stanley Cup Finals.  Unthinkable!

    [ Parent ]
    Right now? (none / 0) (#18)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:20:42 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    I mean (none / 0) (#79)
    by Steve M on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:31:36 PM EST
    that I couldn't possibly consider boycotting NBC.

    MSNBC, on the other hand, never graces our household.

    [ Parent ]

    So awkward. Watching it on Fox. (5.00 / 4) (#2)
    by catfish on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:15:05 PM EST
    He gets spanked, then declares victory.

    I am frankly not interested (5.00 / 9) (#3)
    by andgarden on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:15:08 PM EST
    The next interesting moment of this campaign is almost certain to be on May 31st in the rules committee. If it seems worthwhile, I might go liveblog the event myself, seeing as I'll be here in DC.

    I might be interested when obama kinda sorta (5.00 / 2) (#78)
    by PssttCmere08 on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:31:26 PM EST
    tells us he is leaving the race.

    [ Parent ]
    PROTEST ON MAY 31ST (5.00 / 1) (#209)
    by nell on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:58:05 PM EST
    Since it has come up, in case any of you are in DC or able to come up to DC, there is a "Count our Votes" protest being organized for May 31st at the Rules committee meeting. It is an open meeting, so the DNC is required to release the location of the event, though they have not yet done so, despite great pressure.

    From an email I got:
    "...Count Every Vote rally at the DNC's Rules & Bylaws Committee meeting in Washington, D.C. on May 31st at 7:00 a.m, at which we will call for the DNC to seat all Florida and Michigan delegates at the Democratic National Convention."

    The website for the group is here:
    http://www.floridademandsrepresentation.org/

    [ Parent ]

    Please do live blog it (none / 0) (#176)
    by bjorn on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:50:22 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    That would be wonderful! (none / 0) (#181)
    by eleanora on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:52:27 PM EST
    I hope you'll post it here so we can follow along. I'm praying hard every day that the committee members do the right thing and remember that we Democrats have always stood for counting. every. vote.

    [ Parent ]
    Sez he has nice-looking wife. OK gross! (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by catfish on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:16:20 PM EST
    Yes his wife is lovely-looking. But not appropriate given he's trying to win over women. Ugh. He needs a clue.

    No way he said that (5.00 / 4) (#12)
    by ruffian on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:17:56 PM EST
    I can't make myself watch, but I am enjoying the commentary.

    dDd he call her sweetie?

    [ Parent ]

    Well all admire her courage, he says. (5.00 / 3) (#32)
    by catfish on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:24:02 PM EST
    Immediately after she spanked him in KY. "We all admire her courage"

    There's something so wrong about what he's saying. I know he should say this but it's very condescending. He needs me on his staff.

    [ Parent ]

    You know his preacher voice? Too loud. (none / 0) (#20)
    by catfish on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:21:31 PM EST
    He he's dropping the 'g's and deliverin a sermon. Gag!

    [ Parent ]
    Really??? (5.00 / 2) (#24)
    by Edgar08 on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:22:51 PM EST
    LOL.  Sorry.

    What a moron.

    Sure.  This'll be deleted.  It's what I think.  I hate that preacher voice.  Less religion in Politics, please.

    [ Parent ]

    It's definitely a grand speech. (5.00 / 2) (#45)
    by catfish on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:25:48 PM EST
    About what I am not sure. Lots of amens from the audience.

    [ Parent ]
    Obama supporters (5.00 / 3) (#27)
    by Stellaaa on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:23:10 PM EST
    do not applaud for Hillary, ef them all.  

    [ Parent ]
    Yes (none / 0) (#93)
    by CCinNC on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:34:19 PM EST
    they did.

    [ Parent ]
    After supporting Dems all these years (5.00 / 3) (#40)
    by ruffian on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:25:19 PM EST
    partly because we keep religion out of politics, you can imagine how much I would like having a nominee that sounds like a preacher.


    [ Parent ]
    I lasted 2 seconds. I can't stand that (5.00 / 5) (#119)
    by Joan in VA on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:39:18 PM EST
    come to Jesus style. Like nails on the chalkboard.

    [ Parent ]
    Wow, That Mattered (5.00 / 1) (#213)
    by Athena on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:58:50 PM EST
    Did I miss the part where he thanked John Edwards for the help in Kentucky?

    [ Parent ]
    Elmer Gantry (5.00 / 1) (#254)
    by Lisa on Tue May 20, 2008 at 10:14:32 PM EST
    John Judis spoke about the g's here:

    Sometimes, voters will think a candidate cares about them because they think he is "one of them." Bill Clinton, of course, was a genius at this. He could be the candidate of Hope, Ark., and Yale Law School. Other Democrats have succeeded because they have come off as a father (or mother) figure, who, although from the upper class, still cares about the average American. Obama's manner, tenor and diction are Harvard Law, and when he starts dropping his 'g's,' he sounds strained. And Obama is too young, and lacks the stature, to appear as a Franklin Roosevelt-style father figure.

    http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/359670_obama20.html

    [ Parent ]

    Just demanded unity. (none / 0) (#39)
    by catfish on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:24:54 PM EST
    We need it. Didn't ask for unity, demanded it.

    [ Parent ]
    Not a gracious, grateful, or (5.00 / 5) (#126)
    by JavaCityPal on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:40:39 PM EST
    compassionate bone in his body.

    Not asking for unity, claiming it will just happen.

    He doesn't have a clue how offensive his behavior has been. He can't be sitting at the negotiating table for anything on behalf of this country.


    [ Parent ]

    Exactly---Bush Jr. (5.00 / 5) (#162)
    by MarkL on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:47:30 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    No, she isn't lovely looking. (5.00 / 1) (#47)
    by Angel on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:25:55 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    you ain't lying ethel....I think it is because she (5.00 / 2) (#95)
    by PssttCmere08 on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:34:31 PM EST
    isn't very pretty inside and it shows.

    [ Parent ]
    Both of your comments (5.00 / 1) (#106)
    by flyerhawk on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:36:30 PM EST
    are pretty ugly.

    [ Parent ]
    Yepper. (none / 0) (#105)
    by Angel on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:36:08 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    Cmon (5.00 / 1) (#145)
    by Steve M on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:43:00 PM EST
    I'm no Michelle Obama fan, but attacking the appearance of a candidate's wife isn't appropriate.

    [ Parent ]
    we sweeties love it when you say (5.00 / 1) (#197)
    by Lisa on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:55:11 PM EST
    we are decorative

    [ Parent ]
    He said that? (5.00 / 1) (#251)
    by Shainzona on Tue May 20, 2008 at 10:12:13 PM EST
    Really?

    [ Parent ]
    He was commenting (1.00 / 0) (#81)
    by CCinNC on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:31:51 PM EST
    on his family, not just his wife.

    [ Parent ]
    Don't care. Nothing is attractive about Obama (1.00 / 0) (#97)
    by Angel on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:35:22 PM EST
    or his family.

    [ Parent ]
    Aww, the kids are cute (5.00 / 1) (#153)
    by angie on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:45:19 PM EST
    but Michelle does have an unfortunate under-bite.

    [ Parent ]
    Major TMJ jaw. Ouch! (none / 0) (#252)
    by Shainzona on Tue May 20, 2008 at 10:13:08 PM EST
    She's not a happy lady!

    [ Parent ]
    wow (5.00 / 1) (#164)
    by asadotzler on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:47:36 PM EST
    I commented below on how sad it is that this once so positive and valuable site with great blog posts and great comments has changed.

    Your comment is a perfect example.

    I'd encourage you to go back a year or three or five and read a few days worth of posts here and then come back and re-evaluate your comments to see if you think they fit in with maintaining this site as a valuable resource for honest and forthright discussion of crime and justice in the U.S.

    [ Parent ]

    Agreed (1.00 / 0) (#231)
    by CCinNC on Tue May 20, 2008 at 10:05:14 PM EST
    I've also been a reader (and mostly lurker) for years.  I don't know this place anymore.  I just went to Daily Kos and read the top 2 posts including all of the comments from #1 and the first several dozen from #2.  Using the words of a commenter here, many of these comments ARE "over the top."

    [ Parent ]
    It is a crime that Obama and the media have (1.00 / 1) (#242)
    by Angel on Tue May 20, 2008 at 10:09:39 PM EST
    hijacked the Democratic Nomination for President in 2008.  So suck on it.

    [ Parent ]
    I will say this: (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by andgarden on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:16:37 PM EST
    Obama is still smart to try and lock up Iowa now.

    he won't win there... (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by Salo on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:24:04 PM EST
    ...I suspect.

    The last polling I saw there indicates his lead is down to 2%.

    I think it'll switch red just like Missouri does every year.

    I am most interested in the polling in New England and Colorado at this point.

    [ Parent ]

    Agreed. (5.00 / 1) (#173)
    by masslib on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:50:03 PM EST
    And he looks like a baffoon giving this speech.  He's lost what...400k votes to Hill in the last 8 days from two small states?  Bizarre.

    [ Parent ]
    Give Missouri a little more credit (5.00 / 1) (#214)
    by standingup on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:59:19 PM EST
    We did go for Bill in '92 and '96.  It is not the voters but the candidates the Democrats nominate that are the problem.  Of course, I expect MO will go for McCain this year.

    [ Parent ]
    I Swear (none / 0) (#257)
    by creeper on Tue May 20, 2008 at 10:16:48 PM EST
    if we'd known about Rev. Wright at the time of our caucuses there is no way in hell Iowa would have gone for Barack Obama.  

    [ Parent ]
    Oh please. That is getting so old. Backfiring. (5.00 / 4) (#8)
    by catfish on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:17:08 PM EST
    His negatives are hardening because of this. I voted for Clinton. Am I a racist?

    I am not sure when (5.00 / 1) (#117)
    by kpatton1 on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:38:35 PM EST
    Being pro-Hillary turned into being anti-Obama.

    I'll just let you know that neither of them was my first choice to be the nominee, but regardless of who comes out on top in the end, I am without a doubt voting for them in November.

    [ Parent ]

    Simple answers to simple questions (3.00 / 6) (#120)
    by lambertstrether on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:39:38 PM EST
    I voted for Clinton. Am I a racist?

    Yes.

    [ Parent ]

    Admin - troll comment above. (none / 0) (#130)
    by catfish on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:41:18 PM EST
    I started out thinking we really needed to elect a black man. I decided Hillary was by far the better candidate.

    You call people racist, you turn them off. You lose in November.

    [ Parent ]

    That's Lambert and it's snark. (5.00 / 2) (#210)
    by Teresa on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:58:07 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    Sorry Lambert didn't know it was you. (none / 0) (#243)
    by catfish on Tue May 20, 2008 at 10:09:51 PM EST
    Too funny.

    [ Parent ]
    No, one with a proven track record of (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by Teresa on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:17:19 PM EST
    caring about their needs. Why can't you get that?

    Pompous!! (5.00 / 2) (#10)
    by Stellaaa on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:17:20 PM EST


    What's that Orwell quote about reality (5.00 / 7) (#11)
    by lorelynn on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:17:50 PM EST
    and fantasy eventually meeting up on a battlefield somewhere? I'm just flummoxed by how half the Democratic party is acting - like it's outrageous that we count all the states. It's not like Obama will be able to unite the party behind him if everyone knows that Clinton would have gotten the nomination if Florida and Michigan were included. And I'm not saying that resolution is a foregone conclusion. But if Michigan and Florida are definitive, then they must be counted.

    All this magical thinking that we can just pretend that there votes don't matter to the conclusion and that it won't matter to them if we count them.

    Obama should never have taken himself off that ballot. So stupid.

    We all know (5.00 / 5) (#16)
    by Edgar08 on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:19:49 PM EST
    Why he did that, and no one on the Obama team thinks it was stupid.


    [ Parent ]
    Not stupid (none / 0) (#239)
    by dws3665 on Tue May 20, 2008 at 10:07:35 PM EST
    Creative!

    [ Parent ]
    April (5.00 / 5) (#17)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:19:52 PM EST
    You are suspended and I suggest you find another web site to comment at. You will be banned when Jeralyn comes back.

    All of your comment will be deleted and whomever responds to her will aLSO be suspended.

    Master Media Manipulators (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by Robert Oak on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:21:18 PM EST
    I'm very aware of these techniques in magically 1001+ newspapers all come out with the same "articles",  pretty much at the same time, so what the story release is how Obama is planning his general election team.

    I'm sorry but Alexrod puts Karl Rove to shame in my view and I've thought that for a very long time.

    Well, he just did it. (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by andgarden on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:22:16 PM EST
    He claimed a pledged delegate lead.

    Not really (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:23:55 PM EST
    A real soft pedal I thought. Axelrod really dialed it back.

    [ Parent ]
    He absolutely said (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by andgarden on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:25:35 PM EST
    that he has a majority of the pledged delegates. But you're right that this is not much a victory speech.

    [ Parent ]
    Isn't there a belief (none / 0) (#261)
    by JavaCityPal on Tue May 20, 2008 at 10:25:25 PM EST
    That politics is all about "perception"?

    There was not any doubt that he was moving away from the primary and staying in pre-GE against McCain until the convention makes it official.

    [ Parent ]

    Nice preemption in the last week or so (5.00 / 2) (#70)
    by ruffian on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:29:12 PM EST
    by the Clinton team to force that.  Starting with Clinton herself in the WV speech last week.  She put them on notice, and she was not playing games.

    [ Parent ]
    Within reach (5.00 / 2) (#25)
    by americanincanada on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:22:57 PM EST
    That's how he phrased it.

    I don't think this is going to go over well..not at all. he is presenting himself as the nomine as if this is over.

    Why would he choose tonight to give this (5.00 / 2) (#26)
    by Teresa on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:23:01 PM EST
    speech? After getting drilled, it makes no sense to me.

    Ah, here comes the be nice to Hillary part.

    Total and Complete Juxtaposition (5.00 / 5) (#37)
    by Edgar08 on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:24:48 PM EST
    Diametically opposed words with actions.

    Upstage her victory to tell people to be nice to her.

    [ Parent ]

    The 'Nice Offensive' (5.00 / 2) (#74)
    by ruffian on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:30:45 PM EST
    as lambert calls it.

    [ Parent ]
    "Offensively nice," rather (5.00 / 3) (#150)
    by lambertstrether on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:45:03 PM EST
    Screw 'em. It's just "Code Green" (stark reality mode) in the Pocket Guide.

    It means we've got leverage. Now to increase it.

    [ Parent ]

    Sorry for the misquote! (none / 0) (#224)
    by ruffian on Tue May 20, 2008 at 10:02:24 PM EST
    We'll see how much more  leverage we get with the OR results.

    [ Parent ]
    To knock Hillary off the TV campaign coverage (5.00 / 6) (#167)
    by bridget on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:48:05 PM EST
    cause she just won really really big In KY
    and he wants people to forget about it -

    But the reality is that Hillary trounced Obama big time.

    Congrats Hillary!

    [ Parent ]

    When the MCM is trying to knock her off the news (none / 0) (#236)
    by jawbone on Tue May 20, 2008 at 10:06:22 PM EST
    as well, it doesn't take much for them to focus on anything her opponent says or does.

    Yesterday, the host of WNYC's morning talk program said it seemed the press had "forgotten" about her enormous WV victory. I told the radio that they had not forgotten, they had deep sixed it. Didn't fit their narrative.

    [ Parent ]

    I suspect (none / 0) (#35)
    by flyerhawk on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:24:23 PM EST
    the Obama campaign will be announcing a bunch of SDs this week and that they feel this is the last "major" speech of the primary.

    [ Parent ]
    deja vu (5.00 / 1) (#58)
    by diplomatic on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:27:49 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    The last major speech of the primary? (5.00 / 2) (#69)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:29:12 PM EST
    No big speech after Montana and South Dakota? That would be a big mistake.

    [ Parent ]
    This speech (5.00 / 7) (#75)
    by americanincanada on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:31:09 PM EST
    This speech is a mistake.

    [ Parent ]
    There may be others (3.00 / 0) (#89)
    by flyerhawk on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:33:42 PM EST
    and I am sure both he and Hillary will give speeches then and after PR.  

    But I believe they think they are ready to give the death blow to the Clinton campaign.  Whether they do that or not remains to be seen.

    [ Parent ]

    Why can't they learn (5.00 / 4) (#137)
    by Step Beyond on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:41:41 PM EST
    that every time they try to declare the race over, it doesn't play well?

    People hate those in the lead declaring their victory when clearly the race isn't over. It's why each time the meme for Clinton to quit has been put forth they have had to back peddle over it.

    [ Parent ]

    To Declare "Mission accomplished" when (none / 0) (#182)
    by bridget on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:52:48 PM EST
    it has not been accomplished yet

    can backfire in a big embarrassing way.

    [ Parent ]

    Nice! (none / 0) (#149)
    by Joan in VA on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:44:59 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    what happened to Obama's "unity" pony? (none / 0) (#193)
    by Josey on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:54:31 PM EST
    Obamites aren't touting it anymore.
    Did they finally figure out - that too was an Obama farce?

    [ Parent ]
    I Suspect (none / 0) (#64)
    by Spike on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:28:31 PM EST
    It's the first "major" speech of the general election, commending Clinton and attacking McCain in a crucial swing state.

    [ Parent ]
    Flop sweat: needs to rally his needy NEW Dems (none / 0) (#250)
    by Ellie on Tue May 20, 2008 at 10:12:06 PM EST
    IMO, he's not directing this at Lib/Dem Middle Class parents, though this imperious message of how to parent is another condescending moment.

    He's playing on the neediness of the vaunted multitudes of "New" yoots (and the pennies and future dollars) he promised to bring to Dems. It's a way of re-p!ssing them off about "older" Dem voters like, perhaps, boomer parents who didn't create a Leave it To Beaver environment for them. (Single women moms, Step-monsters, and the whole panoply of "divisive" "ambitious" women who get disproportionately blamed for society's ills and individuals' failures and insecurities.)  

    Methinks they're losing interest, their support isn't solid, and they'll be gone once they take down Bad Monster Lady and it's summertime.

    Me-also-thinks they're not up for a solid GE showing, esp. in dollars and cents (as well as cents) and Donna Brazile's fantasies of ushering in all those Dumpling Dems will vanish and she'll have to wear that Outraged Smelt expression for years to come.

    [ Parent ]

    Does anybody have an opinion (5.00 / 0) (#28)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:23:17 PM EST
    as to why Obama doesn't bring out the family more often? The kids are really cute.

    BO just mis-pronounced Louisville: he called it Looeyville vs. Lu-ville. TONE DEAF I tell ya.

    All kids are cute (5.00 / 1) (#102)
    by JavaCityPal on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:35:44 PM EST
    He said his were at the beginning of the speech.

    FOX has Brit Hume calling it a "peculiar" speech.

    Funny, but MSNBC, and CNN cable channels were unavailable in my area when he started speaking.


    [ Parent ]

    The kids have probably been in school. (none / 0) (#73)
    by Maria Garcia on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:30:30 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    He is now eulogizing Hillary (5.00 / 7) (#29)
    by americanincanada on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:23:36 PM EST
    This is terrible.

    Women are going to hate this. I hate it.

    His opponent is now John McCain. He (5.00 / 2) (#42)
    by Teresa on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:25:30 PM EST
    just put her out to pasture. Shouldn't he win first? I don't mind him bashing McCain, but he could have said our opponent.

    [ Parent ]
    not believable (5.00 / 12) (#48)
    by diplomatic on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:26:06 PM EST
    Obama is just a little too smug and transparent with his political calculations.  My dislike for him is only increasing.

    [ Parent ]
    If you're watching at all (5.00 / 7) (#108)
    by kempis on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:36:32 PM EST
    you're doing better than I am. I'm afraid I give Obama the same treatment I give Bush: a middle finger and a press of the remote. Lordy, I hope I calm down by November.

    [ Parent ]
    can only watch in spurts (5.00 / 3) (#138)
    by diplomatic on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:41:57 PM EST
    click, click back, click... I cannot imagine listening to the preacher voice for 4 years.  Grates on me even more than Bush.

    [ Parent ]
    I am like you. Turn him off or I would probably.. (5.00 / 2) (#187)
    by alexei on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:53:38 PM EST
    break my TV!  I treat him like I do GW - tune him out; otherwise, my hubby might divorce me because of what I might do.

    [ Parent ]
    Diplomatic (none / 0) (#200)
    by vigkat on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:55:47 PM EST
    I owe you one.  That was supposed to be a "5" recommendation.  

    [ Parent ]
    never mind (5.00 / 1) (#216)
    by vigkat on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:59:33 PM EST
    I fixed it.

    [ Parent ]
    Yes.. (5.00 / 8) (#56)
    by JustJennifer on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:27:43 PM EST
    I know he thinks he is being a dignified winner but his talk of Clinton like she is about to be put out to pasture was just wrong.  Yeah she has shattered barriers but she will continue to do so.  Her career is not over buddy!  But thanks for the pandering.  I am not buying the unity pony.

    [ Parent ]
    This speech will create more division... (5.00 / 5) (#30)
    by citizen53 on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:23:53 PM EST
    than unity.

    Why? (none / 0) (#41)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:25:29 PM EST
    I thought the win idea was really really soft pedaled.

    going after McCain is perfectly fine. I think he did ok but the question of what the hell he is doing in Iowa is still hanging there.

    [ Parent ]

    With the Kentucky checkmark for Hillary (5.00 / 1) (#55)
    by andgarden on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:27:21 PM EST
    right below him. Strange indeed.

    BTW, uncovered story of the night: how much of his COH did he burn through this month to win Guam?

    [ Parent ]

    The whole point is to obliterate (5.00 / 4) (#169)
    by gyrfalcon on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:48:21 PM EST
    the Kentucky numbers on the TV.  He's preempting her overwhelming win again, and very successfully.  It's annoying as hell, but it's smart politics if you're desperately hanging onto the narrative that you're the winner.

    [ Parent ]
    Pledged delegates won since Wisconsin (5.00 / 1) (#212)
    by Cream City on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:58:17 PM EST
    for the last three months, through Kentucky:

    Obama       409
    CLINTON     431

    He probably ought to have waited to do this victory dance about pledged delegates until after Oregon numbers came in, huh?

    [ Parent ]

    Well (5.00 / 4) (#60)
    by Edgar08 on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:28:07 PM EST
    We'll have to see what happens.

    If the divide wasn't already as large as it could get, I think this whole thing will make it worse.


    [ Parent ]

    well everyone has a right to perceive it (5.00 / 0) (#66)
    by diplomatic on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:28:51 PM EST
    however they want.

    If his speech was off-putting to some of us, then that's the way the cookie crumbled.

    [ Parent ]

    I suggest that Clinton supporters (5.00 / 8) (#77)
    by citizen53 on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:31:23 PM EST
    will not take well to his declaration of victory.

    Instead of reaching out, he is pushing people away.  

    This is not unifying.  It's bad enough to deal with his supporters in the blogosphere, but when he talks about how Clinton has helped all women, that strikes a sour note to me.

    [ Parent ]

    victory dance (5.00 / 6) (#82)
    by Salo on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:31:57 PM EST
    on the third quarter...even if he's being polite about it.

    Cup of tea and a biscuit, Hillary?  Oh didn't you do well in Kentucky.  He's declaring victory clearly and writing the epitaph of the campaign.

    five dollar donations my blooming arse.

    [ Parent ]

    He's in Iowa to divert attention from (5.00 / 6) (#123)
    by kempis on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:40:18 PM EST
    yet another huge win--a 35 pointer following a 41 pointed last week.

    He's trying to keep the "inevitability" train chugging on the tracks.

    He doesn't want the pundits talking too long about what his huge losses in KY and WV may mean.

    So they've trumped up a silly "over the halfway mark of the delegate count minus MI and FL!" occasion totally as a diversionary tactic.

    [ Parent ]

    It's the continual use of the past tense talking (5.00 / 3) (#144)
    by jawbone on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:42:56 PM EST
    Clinton which is offputting to those of use who haven't accepted Obama's "math."

    The reporters were talking about that past tense tonight on NPR.

    [ Parent ]

    In a big nomination victory speech (5.00 / 4) (#159)
    by Raven15 on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:47:12 PM EST
    ...you choose a location that symbolizes your success and allows you to talk about the campaign as a whole; you commend your opponent on her campaign; and you say it's time to move on to the next task--the general election. He did all of this, with plenty of rhetorical flourishes.

    There was nothing "soft-pedaled" about this, except the preview planted in the press.

    Another Obama I'm-not-doing-exactly-what-I-am-doing-moment. Orwellian, indeed.

     

    [ Parent ]

    The only thing lacking was an aircraft carrier and (none / 0) (#222)
    by derridog on Tue May 20, 2008 at 10:00:44 PM EST
    a big "Mission Accomplished" sign.

    [ Parent ]
    I agree about being weird the speech isnt (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by athyrio on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:24:19 PM EST
    in Oregon, to thank them for a nice victory...He sure isn't too loyal to his voters is he?? I think he is worried he is slipping in Iowa....IMO...

    He can't be seen with those (5.00 / 2) (#143)
    by ruffian on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:42:50 PM EST
    liberal tree-hugging Oregonians anymore now that he is starting the GE fight. They got their rock concert the other day, they need to be happy with that and get under the bus where they belong.

    [ Parent ]
    Seems kind of like (none / 0) (#139)
    by Practically Lactating on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:42:11 PM EST
    his brief political career, focusing on a new stepping stone immediately after each victory rather than on doing good work for the ones that brung him (voters).

    This type of behavior seems a bit of a pattern, as I am sure Rev. Wright could tell us.

    [ Parent ]

    Ok, this is snarky (5.00 / 4) (#36)
    by Stellaaa on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:24:37 PM EST
    but the lighting is not right.  What will the Kos people say.  

    I can't believe it. (5.00 / 2) (#44)
    by vicndabx on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:25:38 PM EST
    These guys are really pushing the we have the most points at the start of the third quarter narrative.  Is it me or doesn't he sound like a VP candidate, rallying the troops around someone else?

    Well, he's campaigning (5.00 / 2) (#46)
    by Benjamin3 on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:25:51 PM EST
    against John McCain and George Bush.  I think what he needs to do is learn how to campaign FOR Obama.

    Halperin (5.00 / 2) (#49)
    by pantsuit chic on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:26:10 PM EST
    This is what Mark Halperin has to say about TEH SPEECH...

    ONE OF THE BEST-WRITTEN SPEECHES OF THE CAMPAIGN.

    Can we discuss how gross the coverage is going to be tomorrow?

    He is dleivering the populist message (none / 0) (#57)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:27:47 PM EST
    better. this is the right speech to give.

    I think the set up was totally wrong and it steps on what could have been a heck of a good populist speech.

    I m bored now though so you guys need to report on it as I am going to do something else for a few minutes.

    [ Parent ]

    BTD this is not populism (5.00 / 4) (#72)
    by Stellaaa on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:30:26 PM EST
    too much verbiage.  He is not being bold and making the points that matter.  Throwing the kitchen sink.  

    [ Parent ]
    I think BTD is perturbed (5.00 / 3) (#83)
    by Edgar08 on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:32:03 PM EST
    The Democratic Party is imploding.


    [ Parent ]
    or that some of his theories are collapsing (5.00 / 2) (#96)
    by diplomatic on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:35:18 PM EST
    but acceptance is a gradual process.

    [ Parent ]
    If that were the case (none / 0) (#179)
    by cawaltz on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:51:46 PM EST
    I think BTD would let us know. He doesn't appear shy when it comes to stating his opinions.

    [ Parent ]
    We've moved into a different territory (5.00 / 1) (#195)
    by Edgar08 on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:54:40 PM EST
    Where BTD's desire to beat McCain will take precedence over his consistency and honesty.

    [ Parent ]
    IMO If people aren't brutally honest (none / 0) (#225)
    by cawaltz on Tue May 20, 2008 at 10:02:40 PM EST
    and Obama's team isn't responsive then I don't think all the blogging candy coating in the world will help him. Not that it appears the TEAM is adept at switching gears from what I have seen anyways. Everytime I turn around Team Obama appears to be building a bigger ditch.

    [ Parent ]
    Fine line (5.00 / 2) (#234)
    by Edgar08 on Tue May 20, 2008 at 10:05:35 PM EST
    At some point even BTD has to turn into a cheerleader.  I'm sure he knows this.

    [ Parent ]
    crying on your sleeve? (5.00 / 1) (#103)
    by Salo on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:35:46 PM EST
    he ll come on in the same old way and be beaten in the same old way

    [ Parent ]
    Boy, that Axelrod speechwriter should (none / 0) (#223)
    by derridog on Tue May 20, 2008 at 10:01:50 PM EST
    get a big raise!

    [ Parent ]
    What a farce (5.00 / 2) (#50)
    by JavaCityPal on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:26:28 PM EST
    This "old" timer, her parents, and old timer siblings are not "inspired for the first time in a long time". Not by him, anyway. How arrogant!!

    He does speak like a tent preacher. I can't hear what he says where he keeps raising and lower the tone of his voice.

    He certainly is dismissing her.

    Every effort is being made to include all the demographics that he is polling and showing so badly with in the primaries in his speech.

    Now he's campaigning for the GE. Just because he didn't come right out and say he WON, he is campaigning against McCain and Senator Clinton got a dismissive accolade for how she fought the good fight.

     

    Resistance is futile (5.00 / 2) (#51)
    by nellre on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:26:44 PM EST
    We will be absorbed.

    Not

    No more praises of Hillary by Obama (5.00 / 2) (#52)
    by TalkRight on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:26:49 PM EST
    can blind the fact that his campaign was sexist and he NOW wakes up and acknowledges that Hillary has done good for her daughters..

    He has lost our votes.. sorry.. but that is true.. Unless he ask forgiveness from Ferraro.. I will never vote for Obama.

    I. WILL. NEVER. VOTE. FOR . OBAMA. (5.00 / 7) (#53)
    by Angel on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:27:03 PM EST


    It does serve (5.00 / 2) (#76)
    by vigkat on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:31:19 PM EST
    to strengthen one's resolve.  I can feel it hardening. This speech makes no sense within this context. None.

    [ Parent ]
    No offense (none / 0) (#134)
    by kpatton1 on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:41:31 PM EST
    But if you agree with the majority of what Hillary stands for, how can you even think that letting the Republicans hold on to the white house will be beneficial for the country over the next four years?

    [ Parent ]
    when your own party men behave in the most (5.00 / 5) (#166)
    by TalkRight on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:47:55 PM EST
    vicious, divisive, sexist and race baiting campaign .. its difficult to vote for them and reward the bad behavior.. read my lips.. I.Will.Never.Vote.For.OBAMA


    [ Parent ]
    What you said (5.00 / 1) (#211)
    by Regency on Tue May 20, 2008 at 09:58:08 PM EST
    Times everyone woman I know.

    [ Parent ]
    Comments like these are divisive (3.00 / 2) (#232)
    by kpatton1 on Tue May 20, 2008 at 10:05:26 PM EST
    "vicious, divisive, sexist and race baiting campaign"

    I would 100% disagree that any of these things describe Obama's campaign in any way.  His campaign might not have been perfect, but at the same time neither was any candidate's.

    The media and supporters of both candidates, on the other hand, is a different story.  But I don't think