Barack sleeps?

Uh oh, the adults have film crews too . . .

The Line Is Busy

Hillary Clinton’s new ad is out, and you guessed it, the phone is ringing at 3:00 a.m.

And. yes, we’ve seen this one before. I won’t call it plagiarism, more like a clumsy sample by an aspiring hip-hop artist.

Here’s the original, for Mondale.

If Hillary makes it to the White House, though, I’m more worried about the calls coming from inside the house! Scary!

Lawsuit Over Texas Caucus?

A rather confusing story coming out of Texas today. Apparently the Clinton team is considering “challenging the process” of the state caucuses. Remember, Texas has a split system with 126 delegates selected in a primary, then an additional 67 chosen at a caucus the evening of March 4th.

Glenn Smith over at the Burnt Orange Report has a good write-up on this–he speculates that this is Team HRC’s attempt to neutralize Obama’s penchant for crushing her in caucuses.

Let’s hope it’s just jitters and rumors. The list of reasons this would be bad for the process, for both campaigns, and especially for the Clinton camp are too many to name.

What happens the night of March 4?

If Clinton fails to win one big state (Texas, which she is losing or Ohio, gap closing quickly) on March 4 then she quits. But why not plod on to Pennsylvania six weeks later and in the meantime try to convince the super “automatic” delegates to endorse her? Well, because there is no tomorrow after March 4. Why? Because when nobody was watching Pennsylvania closed the gap and her once 20+ point margin is now down to 6. If she loses one or both on March it will be gone and there are no other options, no other firewalls, no other votes to get.

For the Hardcores

There’s this. Marc Ambiner has his take . . . for what it’s worth. The comments are instructive.

MSNBC . . . behold . . . the 1990s!

We have cameras! We have intertubes! We have talkingheads!

But, out of focus, slow, and tired, that’s what I saw from them.

Candidates did fine, didn’t change a thing.

It’s over…now to my personal hero and yours…Chris Matthews excellent insights

Chris Matthews: “Why did we talk about healthcare for so long? It doesn’t even exist? Its brigadoon. Boring. Maah.

Also, did she say the media was against her because she was always asked questions first? She’s crazy.”

“Obama doesn’t know how to debate. He doesn’t know how to fight.”

David Gregory: “Clinton appeared to lose her temper. Didn’t like the format or the questions. What you see time and time again is coolness. His unflappability. The question on Farrakhan is a microcosm for the debate. Hillary wanted him to be more pointed. So he conceded it and diffused the situation. Was able to deflect it.”

blagh blagh blagh. pundits are the unathletic frat boys of the journalism world.

Final Quote and excellent insight: Tim Russert “Sometimes they have good responses and sometimes they don’t.”

Russert is a genius. He needs to keep his lil brother Chris Matthews in check.

newsfox out, good night.

Battle of Cleveland: Analysis

To me, and I have to be honest, I missed the first 25 minutes, it was a draw just like Texas. Both had their points. Both had their zingers. I think in this format there’s little you can now do to distinguish between them.

Why?

They are SO close on policy.

They are SO kind to each other.

They are MILD in this format.

I liked it better when they had LESS time to talk, and Denny K. was talking about alien robots or whatever, and they had to MAKE the POINT hard.

What do you think???

Closing

Obama: People don’t want a hand out, they want a hand up.

We’ve got to change how business is done in Washington.

Williams: What is the fundamental question Senator Clinton must answer in order to prove her worthiness as the nominee?

Obama: Now, Brian, I think Clinton would be a good nominee. I think I would be better, that’s why I am running. I dont’ think Clinton has to answer a question on why she is qualified. I am more capable b/c I can reach across divisions and have a track record that brings a unique bias in favor of government accountability.

Williams: Is there something he needs to answer as to his worthiness?

Clinton: I intend to do everything I can to win. I am change, because I am a woman. Either one of us will make history. Who can actually change the country? My experience gives me an understanding and an insight to make the changes we all know we have to see. I want to help people. We need a fighter back in the White House. We need a fighter for the middle class.

Clinton Iraq: Analysis

Why did she go here? Why dredge up that ill-fated vote? Does she think she can NOW convince people she is sorry for this vote?

Her campaign gave this issue up before Christmas–they buried it, because they know it’s Obama’s best route not only to the nomination, but also to the White House. Judgment trumps experience. He was right, she was wrong, Johnny Mac was wrong–simple.

Big strategic error, unless there’s something here I am missing . . .