Howling Latina

Although Obama Nation doesn't mind impugning racism to every little criticism of The Chosen One, heaven forbid that a Democrat try to point out that "riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down" isn't exactly the most salient "qualification to be president" when discussing McSame's worthiness to be president.

Obama the Wonderful has rebuked a four-star general 'cause with all his executive experience, heaven knows Barky knows what's best about what it takes to lead.

"As he's said many times before, Senator Obama honors and respects Senator MCain's service, and, of course, he rejects yesterday's statement by General
Clark."

General Clark is one of the best military minds not only in the Democratic party but in the entire country. This is the man who was valedictorian at West Point, has a master's degree in military science, was a Rhodes Scholar to Oxford and was the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Like the Big Bad Wolf, the howler has to note, "What huge unmitigated balls you have, Barky." For Virginia bloggers, this is equivalent to Webb noting that McSame is not fit to be commander in chief and then having Barky whack Webb with a two by four for his troubles.

Is everyone feeling the love yet%$##&*@!@)*&...??? If not, don't worry; you're not alone. Vote Vet totally agrees with Clark and totally disagrees with Obama. Talk Left explains with a link and petition:

General Clark,

We the undersigned thank you for speaking up forcefully and honestly about what it takes to lead this nation, and the kind of judgment we must look for. You were right to say that Senator McCain has not shown good judgment, despite his extraordinary service to America. Just in the past few years:

- Senator McCain's service and experience, both as a POW and as a Senator apparently hasn't infused him with a dose of good judgment.

- Senator McCain's experience hasn't led him to realize that the war in Iraq and it's continuance has empowered and emboldened Iran, and destabilized the region.

- Senator McCain's experience hasn't caused him to recognize that we're losing ground in Afghanistan, and Osama bin Laden is still out there, plotting.

- Senator McCain's experience didn't lead him to support the 21st Century GI Bill -- he opposed it. It didn't even make him feel the need to get back to Washington to vote on this -- one of the most important veterans' bills this Congress. He twice skipped votes on the GI Bill, to fundraise.

Apparently Obama is trying to woo the George Bush wing of the Republican party. Say it ain't so...but...he's attacking Move On, too. Pretty soon the blogger boyz are gonna start feeling like more like that poor sap Joe Anthony who started a "barackobama homepage."

Well, that's what they all get for meddling in the Democratic presidential primary and endorsing an empty suit without doing their due diligence. Of course, they should've seen it coming from miles away; back when the Senate condemned MoveOn for their Petreaus ad, Obama the Wonderful voted for it and Hillary the bitch didn't.

Here's a link for your viewing pleasure. A little snark from Maureen Dowd but definitely toned down squib by several decibels...

Obama supporters love to tout the latest poll numbers that comport with their view that an Obama win is inevitable; the guy is electoral magic; can't touch him. Except...unless he attracts more of Hillary's supporters, he will lose in the fall. A careful read of poll numbers clearly confirm the howler's view.

To illustrate, explain and support, the howler refers to a recent CQ Politics article that writes Obama-favoring polls have oversampled Democratic voters.

Why the difference? Were the Newsweek and L.A. Times biased in favor of Obama? Do the Rasmussen and Gallup pollsters favor McCain? Or maybe the public is wildly changing its views, daily.

[...]

Richard Morin, a senior editor at the Pew Research Center [said in] an interview with CQ Politics...the discrepancy is probably a result of the Newsweek and L.A. Times/Bloomberg polls over-representing Democrats.

“When I look at those results, I know something is going on,” said Morin.

“The first place that I look when I see these discrepancies, I look for the percentage of Republicans, Democrats and Independents in the sample. We know that the best predictor of how someone is going to vote is their party ID.

So much for favorable polling data.

In a political climate that favors Democrats by bunches, Obama is statistically tied with McSame. We know Obama likes to play with certain cards and stack the deck against his opponents. When quoting worthless quotes, it looks like Obama fans like to play with cards too; and nothing like stacking a Solitaire deck and shouting, yippee, I won!

Oh and by the bye, only 53 percent of Hillary supporters are backing Barky.

H/T Tennessee Guerilla Women.

As people who read Howling Latina know, she swore an oath in blood that she would never watch Keith Olbermann and she would never read Huffington Post after their endless attacks on Hillary during the Democratic presidential campaign.

Unfortunately tonight as the howler was eating a late dinner and watching Campbell Brown on CNN, lo and behold the joyless she-devil, she-demon harpy harridan, Arianna Huffy camp across the screen as some sort of expert on the Democratic party to talk about whether Obama can woo Hillary supporters.

The howler had to be excused and barely missed the kitchen floor as she barfed most of her dinner of Lean Cuisine and Schlitz beer.

Now why would anyone ask that vicious hag anything about unifying the Democratic party when she is one the biggest reasons Hillary supporters are pissed off at Obama and his zoid disciples?

Well, according to Huffy, women are just going through the grieving process; they're not really mad; no need to worry. Roe is on the line and we'll mindlessly come back to the unity fold and vote for The Chosen One in November.

Perhaps folks like Huff, Olby, Kos and others should've thought about Roe before they relentlessly spewed their vile against Hillary during the primaries. Don't seem to recall anyone too concerned about female reproductive rights at the time.

As to Hillary and Bill's hurt feelings; get over it, Huffy opines. It's no longer Bill Clinton's party. Lightning is going strike, hell is going to freeze over and Obama is going to win. And of course Huffy's already shopping for her Prada and Lacroix Inaguration ball gowns. Why the social opportunities for Arianna are going to be endless.

Listening to the religious batwings in the Republican party threaten McSame with defeat unless he toes their zealot line and then listening to Huffy's segment about the fleeting anguish of Hillary supporters that won't last long is almost enough to make a PUMA like the howler vote for McSame; in four years, Hillary can then run and win back the Democratic party and White House as is her right.

Howling Latina has been struck by a bolt of outrage once again. Something Barky said; something unimaginable.

After the Supreme Court ruled that states can't execute someone who has not done any killing, well, Barack Obama chimed in to the media and expressed his disapproval with the ruling.

That's right. It seems the United States is not killing enough people.

My Way reports that "Obama told reporters Wednesday that he thinks the rape of a child, ages six or eight, is a heinous crime. He said if a state makes a decision, then the death penalty is potentially applicable."

Yep, he's on the record against the "court's blanket prohibition."

Now ain't that special. Please tell me again why the howler should vote for this man???

Eugene Robinson of The Washington Post wrote the biggest piece of drivel the howler had ever seen. She had to read the article twice just to make sure Mr. Robinson was saying what she thought he might be saying; and indeed he was.

Here's the quick cliff note version of the article, titled, "Race in the Sunlight." How very clever; the title almost sounds like the play by Lorraine Hansberry, "A Raising in the Sun." You know the poor negro family who tries to buy a house in a white neighborhood in Chicago but is rebuffed by mean whitey.

WOW! Michelle Obama is originally from South Side Chicago; and darm if that's not where Obama did all his activism right out of college, too. Goodness, what a delicious koinkidink, for sure.

Anyhow, back to the Robinson nonsense. Obama the wonderful has had just about enough of all the racial crap that he's sure is coming his way very soon and he's not going to take it. Yep, he's decided to take a few preemptive steps; don't wanna mention it but kinna reminds me of someone or something.

No more nice Guy for Mr. New Polics. Make my day, punk and you'll live to see the day when I tell the world you're a bigot. Now, never mind that you've never actually said anything remotely racist. I know what it's on your mind. I know what you're thinking.

On Friday, speaking at a fundraiser in Jacksonville, Obama made what can only be described as a preemptive strike. "It is going to be very difficult for Republicans to run on their stewardship of the economy or their outstanding foreign policy," he said. "We know what kind of campaign they're going to run. They're going to try to make you afraid. They're going to try to make you afraid of me. 'He's young and inexperienced, and he's got a funny name. And did I mention he's black?' " He went on to predict that Republicans would say that "he's got a feisty wife" as a way of attacking Michelle Obama. "We know the strategy because they've already shown their cards," he said. "Ultimately, I think the American people recognize that old stuff hasn't moved us forward. That old stuff just divides us."

Okie-doky, Gene; we get it. Obama and Michelle are black and they want the world to know it.

He has served notice that he doesn't intend to be Swift-boated on race the way John Kerry was on his war record -- and that he will hit back even when attacks are more atmospheric than concrete.

Someone once said,"Play the race card at your peril." Oh yeah, that person was the howler; but it was still brilliant.

Folks there is absolutely no evidence that McSame or his supporters are bigots. Hate to break it to Obamazoids, but not every person who thinks Obama is unqualified to be president is a low-down dirty dog racist.

The Washington Post reports the IRS has finally agreed to raise the lousy gas mileage allowance by a lousy 8 cents, from 50.5 to 58.5.

Now let's see, just within the last year or so, gasoline prices have gone up by 80 percent or more; and people who use their cars in business get to deduct a pitiful additional 4 percent.

Guess that represents Bush & McSame's energy plan. Wait a minute, Obama voted for Bush's energy give away in '05 and McSame didn't.

Guzzle up, drivers and get ready for the big screw either way.

Hillary fulfilled a pledge made long, long ago to a young teen.

Tennessee Guerilla Woman reports that "Hillary Rodham Clinton kept [a] promise to her 'honorary niece' Aleatha Williams and spoke at her high school graduation at Pelham Preparatory Academy in the Bronx."

When Williams graduated from middle school, Hillary promised to attend her high school graduation. And we guess when Hillary makes a promise, she keeps it; you know, like that pesky wedding vow everyone accused her of upholding for political gain.

Hmmm, and what about FISA, Obama?? Sure hope it doesn't go the same way as your presidential public campaign financing promise. TGW has a short video of Hillary looking gorgeous, as usual.

No, it's not because of our gene pool; or our periodic bouts of depression. There are quite a few excellent reasons for our anger, actually.

There is an awesome article about the reasons, but it's too late in the evening for me to do it justice. So if you truly want to find out what motivates PUMAs, read the linked article by Rebecca Traister of Salon; you will be enlightened.

The only thing the howler would like to add is this: We're also mad because the better qualified candidate lost; and we're mad because Obama might lose a historic opportunity to win the White House and have a veto proof majority in the Senate. No biggie, right?

H/T The Confluence.

The Washington Post's top editor is saying good bye. Leonard Downie, the paper's executive editor has decided to retire and really spend more time with his family, the Post writes.

Equal to Matthews and Olby as candidates to replace Tim Russert, Howling Latina sure hopes the Post doesn't pick Fred Hiatt as the new executive editor. The Post likes to promote from within but this is the idiot who supported going into Iraq and like Joe Liebermann, still defends his decision.

Does anyone remember this?!? Well, unlike doctrinal Hiatt, Downie refuses to vote; he feels it might infringe on his objectivity in sort sort of way. No such problem for Downie. He's a partisan Zionist who doesn't believe Israel can do any wrong; any military intrusion by the West in the Middle East is always justifiable.

PUMAs, you know what the howler is talking about. Courtesy of Alegre's Corner, the A-list of all the supers.

Be respectful but go to work.

Why are Dems including Howard Dean, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and Obama surrogates allowing Republicans to frame the high gas prices as anything but the fault of misleading, misguided and mismanaged Bush policies?

As good as Sen. Joe Biden usually is at Sunday gabfests, the howler had the sinking feeling as she watched "Meet the Press" this morning that Mr. Rule-of-law-oh-and- I'm-not-gay Lindsey Graham was eating Biden's lunch for breakfast on the subject.

Every time a Dem official or progressive pundit speaks, they need to hammer away at the amnesia of forgetful audiences and remind them that EVERYTHING wrong with this country is the fault of Bush and his supine brethren in Congress. And that includes the war in Iraq; the huge budget deficits; the cost of fuel; the tanking real estate marketplace; failing schools; disdain of America by the world. EVERYTHING!

Minds are being made up about Obama in relationship to party brand ALA Kerry in '04, Dukakis in '88 and Mondale in '84.

Dems remain silent at their peril; and it would really piss off the howler if the new politics of hope and change ends up costing Dems the Senate.

Here is a summary of the most recent McCain-Obama polls, courtesy of Pollster.com. Yeah, Obama is ahead in the national polls - but just ever so slightly. And let's not forget how John Kerry was ahead in '04 until he wasn't.

Where is the post-Hillary surge? Where is the bounce?? Where is the beef??? Where is Barky's electoral game-switching might????

McCain still leads in Florida, Arkansas, Missouri as well as the key state no Democrat has ever won the White House without -- good ol' W. Virginia.

And what about Georgia? Forget about it; even with Barr in the race, McSame still leads.

Oh and about blessed Colorado, the news ain't too good, either. McCain's polls are rising while Obama's are plummeting.

SusanUnPC of No Quarter has a very interesting post summarizing Barack Obama's feeble record when it comes to supporting issues that are important to progressives -- and especially when measured against Mountain Mama.

Susan begins by scolding Obama's lame response to the latest Dem cave-in for trying to have it both ways: agreeing with Dem activists that giving telecomunication companies immunity for breaking the law is bad, very bad; and of course he's going to do everything within his power to stop the freight train from rolling. On the other hand, if he fails, well by golly, he did everything humanly possible, bladdy-bladdy-blah.

You can’t say we didn’t warn them that he always does what is politically expedient and really doesn’t give a rat’s ass about “policy” stuff. You can’t say we didn’t tell them, over and over, that when true grit is required — when mettle and moxie are essential — that Hillary Clinton has, well … Larry Johnson once wrote that
“Hillary has Balls.”

Now Howling Latina is just as upset about this latest bit of cave-in as the next person, but she can actually see the point of compromise supporters. If the frigging president of the United States gives a company a letter unequivocally asserting that what he's asking them to do is legal, short of asking them to go out and torture someone, you know, like Rummy, Cheney and the fun bunch at the White House did, well, she can see how executives would give deference to the country's chief executive.

Nevertheless, this latest bit of political ambivalence by Obama just reinforces the striking difference between Hillary and The Anointed One; one vacillates, whines and ducks; the other one fights.

Remember when wonky Sen. Hillary Clinton showed up on the Senate floor and voted against Sen. Kyl’s resolution to condemn MoveOn — even though MoveOn worked hard against her nomination — but their new “pet rock” Barack ducked the hot-button issue by not voting?

Remember when wonky Hillary grilled General George Casey on his failure to know about critical troop equipment shortages and then voted against his appointment to be Chief of Staff for the Army, but that Barack voted for Casey?

Remember when wonky Hillary stood up and was counted on another hot-button vote on declaring Iraq’s Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization — but Barack, who was IN the Senate building (you guessed it) ducked the vote?

Hell, and let's not forget the treacherous Bush-Cheney perk-fest energy bill that wonky Hillary rejected and Obama supported, either. Just like Susan writes, "You may not always agree with her, but at least Hillary Clinton sticks her neck out on key issues, and has the in-depth policy knowledge to back up her votes."

And apropos to comments on this blog about Hillary using the racism card, looks like Obama is calling every Florida McCain supporter a racist, too. It's what he does when he's behind and behind he is -- according to Rasmussen.

The New York Post via Tennessee Guerilla Women writes that Tweety and Olby are lusting after Tim Russert's old job at "Meet the Press."

TIM Russert’s body wasn’t even cold in the ground before MSNBC anchors Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann started jockeying for his job, sources claim. According to our spy, “Chris, with his loud voice, was going over a pitch for Tim’s job. He was saying, ‘You know, Tim’s thing was this, and my thing is that.’ It was unbelievably tacky.” . . . Meanwhile, Matthews’ MSNBC cable cohort Olbermann, who was also at the memorial, is “threatening to quit if he isn’t installed as Russert’s replacement,” another insider said.

Wah, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.

Any regular reader of the howler knows that she's a staunch believer in the law of cosmic just deserts.

Like TG offers, it was only a few short months ago when Olby went into a full blown tirade, foaming at the mouth with smoke coming out of his expansive ears because according to him the mere mention by Hillary on the duration of Democratic primaries in the same breath as Bobby Kennedy absolutely proved that she was "hoping and praying for the assassination of her opponent."

Now the body ain't even cold. Why can you not hear the universe having a hearty laugh with Tim Russert about the audacity of hypocrisy?!?

Either Barack Obama is running out of friends or his friends are running out of cash. Either way, $$$ is just not trickling in as fast and furious for Barky as before.

Go figure...he did win the Democratic presidential nominee, right, where's the cash bounce??

The Boston Globe reports that in May, poor Obama barely raised more cash than John McSame. Obama raised $22 million and McCain raised $21.5 million.

Hmmm, looks like Barack might just need a few deep pockets from Hillary's campaign, after all. You know, like, oh, Bob Johnson.

Well, to hell with Obama; the howler takes the same unity attitude as her commenters when thinking about Hillary's campaign debt. Obama has stayed in the race too long and needs to drop out.

AOL has a self-directed straw poll asking folks to either vote for John McSame or Barky Obama; and the results are ugly.

With nearly 2600 votes in, McCain leads Obama by 28 points.

Not too worry, though. The latest poll, Gallup shows Obama leading McSame by a whoppingly insignificant 2 points, 46 percent to 44 percent. No need to show respect to Hillary or her millions of supporters; we're just gonna make nice, make nice and pretend that we like it.

Dear gawd only knows what the electoral map looked like in the same poll. Oops, hang onto those delegates, Hillary. Remember, you earned them all by your little ol' self without any help from Obama and his BOYZZ.

Political Punch of ABC News writes that all is not well in Hillaryland as evidenced by what's been going on behind the scene.

The campaign of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, held a high-level finance meeting in Chi-town yesterday with top fundraisers, and there was nary a mention in the big meeting of any effort to retire Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign debt, which exceeds $22 million, including more than $11 million in personal loans she made to her campaign.

With Barack Obama's endless source of $$$ via the Web, you'd think the guy might wanna fork over a little dough for a sister in need -- you know, to show solidarity.

It didn’t go unnoticed in Hillaryland, for instance, that the first fundraising solicitation Obama sent out was not for Clinton but instead one to benefit the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

To many Clinton supporters, Obama could easily send an email to his 1.4 million grassroots supporters asking them to help unify the part to retire Clinton's debt. Obama fundraisers could bundle some cash together; former Clinton staffers could be brought on board. Some big Clinton fundraisers are waiting for Obama's team to make a move to help Clinton retire her debt before they write a check for one cent to the presumptive Democratic nominee.

Nah. Perish the thought; ain't no one gonna help that bitch; she's still holding on to her delegates. Well hang in there, Hillary. In a year where the Dem presidential nominee should be creaming McSame, every recent poll shows Obama barely winning.

No uptick; no surge; even with Michelle's new makeover, no nothing.

Greg Sargent via Talk Left reports that Hillary Clinton will soon be speaking out on how the media treated her historic campaign.

Sargent writes that in a conference call Hillary "suggested that she would soon be making public statements about the media coverage of the campaign, as well as the ways 'women were discussed.'"

Speaking of the campaign, Hillary noted that "there were a lot of other aspects to it that people are asking about. A lot of real concerns about some of the ways we were portrayed in the media and the way women were discussed." "I will be doing more on that as we go forward," Hillary
said.

Howling Latina can't help but believe that a few he-boyz at MSNBC are going to be taken to the woodshed; and she also believes that their disgraceful performance during the Democratic presidential campaign toward the first viable female candidate may very well have stunted their professional career for the foreseeable future.

In other words, Chris Matthews tingly leg, Shuster's pimping and Olbermann's special comment sealed the nail on their coffin of hope to do any real journalism, oh, like on "Meet the Press."

Update: Howling Latina will not be able to link to stories or post images until Tuesday 'cause she's visiting relatives and can't figure how to work their less than user-friendly computer.

Barack Obama recently lashed out at Sen. John McSame for his deafening silence as Republicans trashed his poor little rock (i.e., Michelle).

Courtesy of Pagan Power, the howler picked up a story initially reported by CBN News that Obama was "deeply disappointed that John McCain has not spoken out against the attacks leveled against his wife."

[T]he fact that people have tried to make her a target, based essentially on a couple of comments in which she was critical of what's happening to our American dream and the enormous difficulties that people are experiencing -- the difficulties that she hears directly as she is traveling across the country, I think is really distressing. And you know I've said publicly before, and I'll say it again - I think families are off limits. I would never consider making Cindy McCain a campaign issue, and if I saw people doing that - I would speak out against it. And the fact that I haven't seen that from John McCain I think is a deep disappointment."

Oh yea of two-faced sanctimony. Where was thou when Shuster of MSNBC likened Chelsey to a whore being pimped, as PP discerningly reminds us...???

And how about when Jesse Jackson, Jr. trashed Bill Clinton and branded him a racist...??? Or when Jim Clyburn "sharply criticized" Hillary's hubby for what he decried as "bizarre incensing behavior" right before the all-important South Carolina primary that changed the trajectory of the Democratic presidential race???

Cry me a river and then quit whining to the media.

Lest we forget that McSame has a few friends in the media as well, McCain fired back with his own little family campaign memoir to counter Obama's disappointment with his own.

“Senator McCain agrees with Senator Obama that spouses should not be an issue in this campaign, and he has stated that position frequently. Unfortunately, when the DNC was attacking Mrs. McCain, Senator Obama was not strong enough to stand up and speak out against the outrageous charges leveled at her by his party chair, Howard Dean. Obama’s silence speaks volumes, and it’s unfortunate that he would single out others for a standard he himself has failed to live up to.”

We knew it was coming and it's here. The biggest sell-out since oh, the bankruptcy bill for starters.

The Washington Post reports that a settlement on the wiretapping bill has been reached.

The White House and Congress today reached a deal on the most comprehensive overhaul of the nation's intelligence surveillance laws in 30 years. It would provide potential retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies that previously cooperated with the Bush administration's warrantless wiretapping program and extend government surveillance powers.

Please tell the howler how Dems are different from Republicans, especially when they behave exactly alike!?!?

When $$$ hits the pavement, $$$ talks and we get screwed. Let's see what our presumptive Democratic presidential nominee has to say on the subject. A loud silence is unacceptable.

Update: Never mind about Obama; we already have his answer via Talk Left -- a supersized bag of nothingness.

It seems the howler's enthusiastic support of Hillary Clinton and her critical posts about Obama has lost her a few links in the Virginia blogosphere.

For the record, business is swell. Howling Latina has more visitors each day than she ever had before; she's only sorry that some folks take this nasty primary business so hard. And until the last delegate has voted Obama over the top, she'll keep pointing out Obama's weak points and to hell with her former friends.

Meanwhile, Bell Curve Andrew Sullivan is still spewing the biggest lie of all. Hillary ran the absolutely most divisive and racist race -- ever. No link, go find it on your own.

See you in September -- or maybe not.

Just as Michelle Obama was appearing on "The View" with a brand new attitude, two female supporters of her hubby were being slapped in the face at a rally by his thugs, er, campaign volunteers.

That's right, the media is all a-buzz with news that two women who showed up with a group at an Obama rally were initially invited by Obama campaign volunteers to sit behind the podium and then were abruptly disinvited.

AOL explains:

[Hebba] Aref, a 25-year-old lawyer, said a member of her group was told by a volunteer that she could not invite Aref because of "a sensitive political climate."

[...]

Aref said the volunteers told members of both parties in separate discussions that women wearing hijabs, the traditional Muslim head scarves, weren't included in the invitation and couldn't sit behind the [sacred] podium.

Well, as one can imagine the story's giant legs prompted an Obama campaign official to immediately denounce the rudderless volunteers but...there's still one tiny little problem.

Aref wants to hear the apology directly from Mr. Obama.

"He needs to take the matter seriously and send a strong message against any kind of discrimination," Aref said.

Of course, we all remember the immortal battle cry of a staffer during a Michelle jamboree, "Get some more white folks up front, damn it!"

Now it seems women with headscarves need not apply. Way, way too ethnic for staffers and Obama's brand spanking new image.

Just a few days ago, The New York Times reports, Obama's "campaign...barred cameras from a large gathering of African-American civic leaders Mr. Obama attended."

Ditto in providing the "names of religious figures with whom Mr. Obama met in Chicago" who were later told to sneak out the back door as they left.

Well, so much for the "promises of openness." Yep, kinna hard to hear Obama's message of "unity among races" for folks like Aref who had this to say on the subject:

As he's saying it, I'm thinking, 'Well, wait a minute, I was obviously ... profiled and discriminated against an hour ago.'"

Who may be asking themselves, WTF? Here's the answer to some of your questions via Savage Politics.

It's a little early and yet...Howling Latina is getting tired of blogging about Obama and thought it might be nice to chime in on the Virginia race for the Democratic nomination for governor.

Brian Moran or Creigh Deeds in a face-off.

For non-Virginians, Creigh Deeds was the Democratic candidate for attorney general in '05 who lost by 323 votes and is running for the Democratic nomination for governor.

The other candidate is Brian Moran who has served in the Virginia Assembly since 1996. Brian's older brother is Jim Moran who was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1991; previously, Jim was mayor of Alexandria.

Now in thinking of the Deeds-Moran face-off, the howler can't help but also think of Leslie Byrne and her losing campaign as the Democratic lieutenant governor nominee in '05; and then her recent loss to Gerry Connolly as the Dem nominee to replace Tom Davis in Congress.

Always oh so close...but no cigar.

It seems to her that if Dems want to keep the governor's mansion in the Dem column, it's a no-brainer. Moran has immediate name recognition in pivotal Northern Virginia with a family brand worth at least 323 votes.

The only item most Northern Virginians remember about Deeds is how he ultimately lost his statewide election of a few years ago as Gov. Tim Kaine was whipping up on Jerry Kilgore by almost 200000 votes.

Let's face it, folks. Alleghany may be important but the votes are in Northern Virginia. Besides, when the choice is between a true progressive and just a Dem, the howler's heart always goes to the true progressive.

It is the howler's understanding that by Hillary suspending her candidacy (as opposed to withdrawing), her delegates are still bound to her on the first ballot.

Well, it seems Dr. Dean, in the interest of party unity, has summarily decided to change tradition and thwart the will of Democratic presidential primary voters by discouraging any votes for Hillary on the initial ballot.

Party unity, my ass. Courtesy of Pagan Power, we learn that no matter what Obamatrons say today, "history and precedent favor placing Hillary’s name on the first ballot."

If Dean and his puny 167.5 delegates got onto the ballot (in 2004), then the person with the most votes in Democratic primary history certainly deserves equal treatment. Anything less isn’t fair or right. And it sure isn’t party unity.

Yep,, and Ted Kennedy, another Obama supporter, "had the right to contest the nomination when he was 1000 delegates behind Carter" in 1976.

But so what if Hillary has 1640 pledged delegates...? Who is counting delegates when at this late stage in the process Obama has clearly won the nomination as everyone knows...???

Or maybe not...And that could be a problem for Dr. Dean and others.

Yet one more nail in the casket of collective guilt. No doubt about it. For the last six months or so, coverage and intent was sexist; and like Obama, it seems MSNBC thinks all they have to do is whistle in the right pitch and like a bitch in heat, all will be forgiven and Hillary supporters will come a-running.

Tennessee Guerilla Women links to a post about lame attempts by MSNBC executives to tame the roaring bitches.

Phil Griffin, the guy in charge of MSNBC, actually tried to get misogynist Keith Olbermann to tone down his hating and lying about Hillary Rodham Clinton themed shows. But Keith had one of his famous tantrums and said he would not hear of it. Too bad you didn’t listen Keith, because many of us have since discovered that you are worse than Bill O’Reilly, and MSNBC is nothing more than Fox News, Left.

Well, sure hope Olbermann wasn't trying to work his way to the top of the food chain at NBC News with his O'Reilly-like rants.

TGW goes on to quote The New Yorker:

At MSNBC, Phil Griffin was worried, and with good reason. The average Countdown” viewer is fifty-nine years old, and forty-five per cent of the viewers are women, presumably Democratic—a fair description of a Hillary Clinton supporter. Griffin believed that Olbermann was beginning to alienate his core audience, and asked him to ease up a bit on Clinton, and possibly even make some conciliatory gesture to the Clinton camp. Olbermann was offended by the suggestion. “I can’t do that!” he says, recalling that conversation. “Me doing a commentary against my own opinion is pandering. Black and white. And I’m not going to do it. Would I pull back a little bit, or think long and hard about whether or not I want to knowingly alienate part of the audience? Yeah. And I did. I mean, I held fire on Senator Clinton for quite a while after she began to really scare me, with some of these tactics.”. . .

But, just as Obama must work to win Clinton supporters for the fall campaign, Phil Griffin has to repair a fractured audience base, a portion of which saw sexism in his network’s Clinton coverage and vowed to boycott MSNBC. Griffin knows that some of that anger is aimed at his star anchor. “It was, like, you meet a guy and you fall in love with him, and he’s funny and he’s clever and he’s witty, and he’s all these great things,” Griffin said of the relationship between Olbermann and the Clinton supporters among his viewers. “And then you commit yourself to him, and he turns out to be a jerk and difficult and brutal. And that is how the Hillary viewers see him. It’s true. But I do think they’re going to come back. There’s nowhere else to go.”

Hmmm, where have Hillary supporters heard those words before...?

In the meantime, Howling Latina can't help but ponder what might've been if Olby had learned to zip his yap during the Democratic primaries. His respectable cable ratings are for all naught; he's forever stuck in Cableland playing second fiddle to Chris Matthews' leg. No matter how hard Olby tries to mutate into Edwin R. Murrow, his little shenanigans during prime time proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he's a nasty partisan without a lick of conscience and sense.

Ditto for Shuster and Matthews.

So...in finding a moderator for "Meet the Press," it sure looks like NBC will have to look to other news stations to find a replacement; their own anchors have been fully sullied by the stench of their own making in tearing Hillary Clinton's historic campaign to partisan shreds.

More bad news for Obama. The latest Washington Post-ABC News poll reveals that independents are currently split between the GOP presumptive nominee Sen. John McSame and the presumptive Democratic nominee, Barack Obama.

That's right, after the DNC caved in and awarded Obama the nomination based on the rulez, no bounce. Just the sad truth, which the howler predicted time and again as the media and blogger boyz were busy anointing Obama.

In the first Washington Post-ABC News poll since the Democratic nomination contest ended, Obama and McCain are even among political independents, a shift toward the presumptive Republican nominee over the past month. On the issues, independents see McCain as more credible on fighting terrorism and are split evenly on who is the stronger leader and better on the Iraq war. But on other key attributes and issues -- including the economy -- Obama has advantages among independents.

Something tells the howler that after November 4, a whole slew of Democrats are going to wish they hadn't been so dismissive of Mountain Mama and her army of soothsaying supporters.

In the meantime, read the polls and cry yourselves a river of tears. You've got no one to blame but your little ol' selves.

No doubt about it; here's proof, courtesy of Talk Left.

The howler stopped watching "Countdown" when Olbermann began foaming at the mouth like a wild dog with rabies just before his last gasping breath on earth.

Olbermann's coverage of Hillary Clinton lost him every ounce of credibility he might've had. Howling Latina will never, ever, ever watch his show again. And that's a promise anyone can take to the bank and cash for new PUMA money.

Of course, now that Hillary has suspended her campaign, Dr. Howard Dean of DNC infamy is shocked, shocked to find gambling goin' on.

Meanwhile, Huffington Post is trying real hard to take it back allowing folks like Rachel Sklar to call a spade a spade and a sexist a pig.

Update: Oops, the howler drank too many wine coolers while vacationing at Virginia Beach. Although Olbermann may be a racist pig, too, we only know for sure that he's a misogynist blowhard.

Psss, guess what?? Sen. McSame is a-courtin' Clinton supporters. But not too worry, Hillary is too polarizing to be Barack Obama's vice presidential nominee and her supporters will fall in line in November and vote for The Chosen One.

Don't believe the howler? Well, just go ahead and read an article from Foon Rhee of The Boston Globe and then watch a fun video; see if you're not convinced. All is well in Obama Nation. No need to change course.

Hmmm, where have we heard that before...?

Sylvia Plath wrote, "I'm not being cruel, I'm only being honest."

Several trolls (and yes, the howler labels commenters who visit her site dressed as staunch Democrats when in fact they're Obamazoids -- Dems who refuse to acknowledge Obama has problems attracting a whole slew of Hillary supporters and as a result will likely lose to McCain in the fall) are in full blown denial and still disrespecting an entire faction within the Democratic Party.

With comments such as the one from Richmond Democrat telling Dems like the howler in Bushspeak language to make their day, bring it on, stick it where the sun don't shine, and so forth, what's a Hillary supporter to do but follow her heart and join the PUMA movement.

Indeed, off topic but right on time, looks like little ol' John Kerry is having some difficulties in his home state of the Obama Nation kind.

Stay tuned for more...

Howling Latina is weighing her options for the upcoming election. Sen. McSame or Barky.

Now, if she were to express the sentiment that in order for her to vote for Obama he would have to pick Hillary as his running mate, she can just imagine the vitriol and outrage directed at her brazen presumptiveness.

Personally, the howler would prefer for Hillary to stay by the sidelines and allow natural consequences to befall the DNC and Obamazoids. It would be just deserts of the poetic justice kind in karmic distribution of the universe.

On the other hand, it seems Hillary really wants the vice presidency; she cares about the Democratic party and knows that without her on the ticket all will be lost. At least four more years of Republican rule; no universal health care; no troops home; just more of the same with GOPers obstructing anything Dems try to do in Congress.

But in order for Obama to have a chance in November, he needs to begin the healing process and win over Hillary supporters. First, he might want to follow the advice of Bonnie Erbe of U.S. News & World Report. Give us a full-blown apology:

Nothing short of a lengthy, detailed mea culpa by the DNC and by Obama himself, directed to Clinton supporters for the sexist name-calling and personal, nasty characterizations Clinton was alone forced to endure, will do. Even that may not persuade these voters to consider supporting the party this fall. The DNC, Democratic Party leaders in Congress, and Obama should have been at her side, calling her treatment by the media (and even by some Obama supporters) unacceptable.

According to most polls, something in the range of 20 to 25 percent of her 18 million supporters say they'll vote for Senator McCain in November. That's 4.5 million votes—too many to take for granted. Yet taking them for granted is just what the party and Obama are doing. When CNN's Candy Crowley asked Obama how he would appeal to disaffected Clinton voters, he missed the mark entirely, giving a standard set of policy proposals.

And secondly, Obama might want to show the apology means something more than mere words. Select Hillary for the number two spot.

That's right, if Obama and his merry band of followers want to win in November, there's only choice. Obama/Clinton or bust. Hell hath no fury as an army of female activists who witness their heroine spurned for no reason than sheer idiocy, vindictiveness and hubris.

For all those who are in full blown denial, here's a little link of reality, courtesy of Talk Left.

John McCain is going after the Jewish vote. He's attracting some major Democratic donors, including one who gave $80,000. to the DNC in 2000. Why? Israel.

“In Florida there are a lot of people not happy with Obama’s stance with regards to Israel and regards to Cuba. We’re starting to see some significant people come over. “Democrats who are traditional large Democratic givers are coming over to our side."

....Jewish support is especially important in Florida, a crucial swing state where Obama trails McCain in recent polls. Jewish voters make up about 5 percent of the electorate in that state. Florida’s Jewish community is also a lucrative source of political fundraising.

Indeed, and to round out all the good news today, here's another whack at Obama by way of more helpful headlines.

It seems Gov. Ted Strickland of Ohio, the person who could bring Ohio to the Dem column made it "crystal clear" that he would not accept the vice presidency if Obama were to offer it to him.

When asked during an interview on NPR, Strickland said, "Absolutely not...If drafted, I will not run; if nominated, I will not accept; and if elected, I will not serve."

Very Shermanesque of him, "parroting the phrasing coined by Civil War Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman when he was in the mix as a Republican presidential candidate in 1884."

Oops...back to the drawing board, boyz. WTF do we do now #%$^&*@!!!???

In a hard-fought campaign in the 11th Congressional District situated in Northern Virginia, County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerry Connolly beat Leslie Byrne in the Democratic primary.

Guess Gerry was right when he claimed to be a winner even before the first voter went to the polls.

Since Byrne was a Hillary supporter, the howler especially liked her. On the other hand, Connolly did know how to throw a good party for loyal Democratic activists.

Hmmm, now let's just see how long it takes for the very same trolls who visit this site to spew their venom at the howler for not moving on to wrap their loving arms around Gerry.

Just saying...

Quick post to link to yet another nonsensical article, this one from CBS News about Hillary's historical campaign.

More links and worthless media analysis later.

Yesterday, Sen. Hillary Clinton suspended her historical race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Yes, and Olbermann, Matthews, Russert and Shuster can finally stop their incessant wailing and gnashing of teeth; the gal with the winning smile is leaving town for a while.

Let's see how Golden Child does against Sen. John McSame without Hillary in the race. Eighteen million cracks at that glass ceiling may still tumble the rock foundation of sexism; and hopefully, the ensuing explosion will wake-up the supers from their self-imposed slumber as they realize that only Hillary can win in November.

Here's Hillary's poignant, elegant and gracious speech to her heartbroken supporters: H/T Real Clear Politics

Thank you very, very much. Well, this isn't exactly the party I'd planned, but I sure like the company.

(APPLAUSE) And I want to start today by saying how grateful I am to all of you, to everyone who poured your hearts and your hopes into this campaign, who drove for miles and lined the streets waving homemade signs, who scrimped and saved to raise money, who knocked on doors and made calls, who talked, sometimes argued with your friends and neighbors...

(APPLAUSE)

... who e-mailed and contributed online, who invested so much in our common enterprise, to the moms and dads who came to our events, who lifted their little girls and little boys on their shoulders and whispered in their ears, "See, you can be anything you want to be." (APPLAUSE)

To the young people...

(APPLAUSE)

... like 13-year-old Anne Riddell (ph) from Mayfield, Ohio, who had been saving for two years to go to Disney World and decided to use her savings instead to travel to Pennsylvania with her mom and volunteer there, as well.

To the veterans, to the childhood friends, to New Yorkers and Arkansans...

(APPLAUSE)

... who traveled across the country, telling anyone who would listen why you supported me. And to all of those women in their 80s and their 90s...

(APPLAUSE)

... born before women could vote, who cast their votes for our campaign. I've told you before about Florence Stein (ph) of South Dakota who was 88 years old and insisted that her daughter bring an absentee ballot to her hospice bedside. Her daughter and a friend put an American flag behind her bed and helped her fill out the ballot.

She passed away soon after and, under state law, her ballot didn't count, but her daughter later told a reporter, "My dad's an ornery, old cowboy, and he didn't like it when he heard Mom's vote wouldn't be counted. I don't think he had voted in 20 years, but he voted in place of my mom."

(APPLAUSE)

So to all those who voted for me and to whom I pledged my utmost, my commitment to you and to the progress we seek is yielding.

You have inspired and touched me with the stories of the joys and sorrows that make up the fabric of our lives. And you have humbled me with your commitment to our country. Eighteen million of you, from all walks of life...

(APPLAUSE)

... women and men, young and old, Latino and Asian, African- American and Caucasian...

(APPLAUSE)

... rich, poor, and middle-class, gay and straight, you have stood with me.

(APPLAUSE)

And I will continue to stand strong with you every time, every place, in every way that I can. The dreams we share are worth fighting for.

Remember, we fought for the single mom with the young daughter, juggling work and school, who told me, "I'm doing it all to better myself for her."

We fought for the woman who grabbed my hand and asked me, "What are you going to do to make sure I have health care?" and began to cry, because even though she works three jobs, she can't afford insurance.

We fought for the young man in the Marine Corps t-shirt who waited months for medical care and said, "Take care of my buddies over there, and then will you please take care of me?"

(APPLAUSE)

We fought for all those who've lost jobs and health care, who can't afford gas or groceries or college, who have felt invisible to their president these last seven years.

I entered this race because I have an old-fashioned conviction that public service is about helping people solve their problems and live their dreams. I've had every opportunity and blessing in my own life, and I want the same for all Americans.

And until that day comes, you'll always find me on the front lines of democracy, fighting for the future.

(APPLAUSE)

The way to continue our fight now, to accomplish the goals for which we stand is to take our energy, our passion, our strength, and do all we can to help elect Barack Obama, the next president of the United States.

(APPLAUSE)

Today, as I suspend my campaign, I congratulate him on the victory he has won and the extraordinary race he has run. I endorse him and throw my full support behind him.

(APPLAUSE)

And I ask all of you to join me in working as hard for Barack Obama as you have for me.

(APPLAUSE)

I have served in the Senate with him for four years. I have been in this campaign with him for 16 months. I have stood on the stage and gone toe-to-toe with him in 22 debates. I've had a front-row seat to his candidacy, and I have seen his strength and determination, his grace and his grit.

In his own life, Barack Obama has lived the American dream, as a community organizer, in the State Senate, as a United States
senator. He has dedicated himself to ensuring the dream is realized. And in this campaign, he has inspired so many to become involved in the democratic process and invested in our common future.

Now, when I started this race, I intended to win back the White House and make sure we have a president who puts our country back on the path to peace, prosperity and progress. And that's exactly what we're going to do, by ensuring that Barack Obama walks through the doors of the Oval Office on January 20, 2009.

(APPLAUSE)

Now, I understand -- I understand that we all know this has been a tough fight, but the Democratic Party is a family. And now it's time to restore the ties that bind us together and to come together around the ideals we share, the values we cherish, and the country we love.

We may have started on separate journeys, but today our paths have merged. And we're all heading toward the same estination, united and more ready than ever to win in November and to turn our country around, because so much is at stake.

We all want an economy that sustains the American dream, the opportunity to work hard and have that work rewarded, to save for college, a home and retirement, to afford that gas and those groceries, and still have a little left over at the end of the month, an economy that lifts all of our people and ensures that our prosperity is broadly distributed and shared.

We all want a health care system that is universal, high-quality and affordable...

(APPLAUSE)

... so that parents don't have to choose between care for themselves or their children or be stuck in dead-end jobs simply to keep their insurance.

This isn't just an issue for me. It is a passion and a cause, and it is a fight I will continue until every single American is insured,no exceptions and no excuses.

(APPLAUSE)

We all want an America defined by deep and meaningful quality, from civil rights to labor rights, from women's rights to gay rights...

(APPLAUSE)

... from ending discrimination to promoting unionization, to providing help for the most important job there is: caring for our families.

And we all want to restore America's standing in the world, to end the war in Iraq, and once again lead by the power of our values...

(APPLAUSE)

... and to join with our allies to confront our shared challenges, from poverty and genocide to terrorism and global warming.
You know, I've been involved in politics and public life in one way or another for four decades. And during those...

(APPLAUSE)

During those 40 years, our country has voted 10 times for president. Democrats won only three of those times, and the man who won two of those elections is with us today.

(APPLAUSE)

We made tremendous progress during the '90s under a Democratic president, with a flourishing economy and our leadership for peace and security respected around the world.
Just think how much more progress we could have made over the past 40 years if we'd had a Democratic president. Think about the lost opportunities of these past seven years on the environment and the economy, on health care and civil rights, on education, foreign policy and the Supreme Court.

Imagine how far...

(APPLAUSE)

... we could have come, how much we could have achieved if we had just had a Democrat in the White House.

(APPLAUSE)

We cannot let this moment slip away. We have come too far and accomplished too much.

Now, the journey ahead will not be easy. Some will say we can't do it, that it's too hard, we're just not up to the task. But for as long as America has existed, it has been the American way to reject can't-do claims and to choose instead to stretch the boundaries of the possible through hard work, determination, and a pioneering spirit.

It is this belief, this optimism that Senator Obama and I share and that has inspired so many millions of our supporters to make their voices heard. So today I am standing with Senator Obama to say: Yes, we can!

(APPLAUSE)

And that together we will work -- we'll have to work hard to achieve universal health care. But on the day we live in an America where no child, no man, and no woman is without health insurance, we will live in a stronger America. That's why we need to help elect Barack Obama our president.

(APPLAUSE)

We'll have to work hard to get back to fiscal responsibility and a strong middle class. But on the day we live in an America whose middle class is thriving and growing again, where all Americans, no matter where they live or where their ancestors came from, can earn a decent living, we will live in a stronger America. And that is why we must help elect Barack Obama our president.

(APPLAUSE)

We'll have to work hard to foster the innovation that will make us energy independent and lift the threat of global warming from our children's future. But on the day we live in an America fueled by renewable energy, we will live in a stronger America. And
that is why we have to help elect Barack Obama our president.

(APPLAUSE)

We'll have to work hard to bring our troops home from Iraq and get them the support they've earned by their service. But on the day we live in an America that's as loyal to our troops as they have been to us, we will live in a stronger America. And that is why we must help elect Barack Obama our president.

(APPLAUSE)

This election is a turning-point election.

And it is critical that we all understand what our choice really is. Will we go forward together, or will we stall and slip backwards?
Now, think how much progress we've already made. When we first started, people everywhere asked the same questions. Could a woman really serve as commander-in-chief? Well, I think we answered that one.

(APPLAUSE)

Could an African-American really be our president? And Senator Obama has answered that one.

(APPLAUSE)

Together, Senator Obama and I achieved milestones essential to our progress as a nation, part of our perpetual duty to form a more perfect union.

Now, on a personal note, when I was asked what it means to be a woman running for president, I always gave the same answer, that I was proud to be running as a woman, but I was running because I thought I'd be the best president.

But...

(APPLAUSE)

But I am a woman and, like millions of women, I know there are still barriers and biases out there, often unconscious, and I want to build an America that respects and embraces the potential of every last one of us.

(APPLAUSE)

I ran as a daughter who benefited from opportunities my mother never dreamed of. I ran as a mother who worries about my daughter's future and a mother who wants to leave all children brighter tomorrows.

To build that future I see, we must make sure that women and men alike understand the struggles of their grandmothers and their mothers, and that women enjoy equal opportunities, equal pay, and equal respect.

(APPLAUSE)

Let us...

(APPLAUSE)

Let us resolve and work toward achieving very simple propositions: There are no acceptable limits, and there are no acceptable prejudices in the 21st century in our country.

(APPLAUSE)

You can be so proud that, from now on, it will be unremarkable for a woman to win primary state victories...

(APPLAUSE)

... unremarkable to have a woman in a close race to be our nominee, unremarkable to think that a woman can be the president of the United States. And that is truly remarkable, my friends.

(APPLAUSE)

To those who are disappointed that we couldn't go all of the way, especially the young people who put so much into this campaign, it would break my heart if, in falling short of my goal, I in any way discouraged any of you from pursuing yours.

Always aim high, work hard, and care deeply about what you believe in. And, when you stumble, keep faith. And, when you're knocked down, get right back up and never listen to anyone who says you can't or shouldn't go on.

(APPLAUSE)

As we gather here today in this historic, magnificent building, the 50th woman to leave this Earth is orbiting overhead.

If we can blast 50 women into space, we will someday launch a woman into the White House.

(APPLAUSE)

Although we weren't able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it's got about 18 million cracks in it...

(APPLAUSE)

... and the light is shining through like never before, filling us all with the hope and the sure knowledge that the path will be a little easier next time.

That has always been the history of progress in America. Think of the suffragists who gathered at Seneca Falls in 1848 and those who kept fighting until women could cast their votes.

Think of the abolitionists who struggled and died to see the end of slavery. Think of the civil rights heroes and foot soldiers who marched, protested, and risked their lives to bring about the end of segregation and Jim Crow.

(APPLAUSE)

Because of them, I grew up taking for granted that women could vote and, because of them, my daughter grew up taking for granted that children of all colors could go to school together.
Because of them, Barack Obama and I could wage a hard-fought campaign for the Democratic nomination.

Because of them and because of you, children today will grow up taking for granted that an African-American or a woman can, yes, become the president of the United States. And so...

(APPLAUSE)

... when that day arrives, and a woman takes the oath of office as our president, we will all stand taller, proud of the values of our nation, proud that every little girl can dream big and that her dreams can come true in America.

And all of you will know that, because of your passion and hard work, you helped pave the way for that day. So I want to say to my supporters: When you hear people saying or think to yourself, "If only, or, "What if," I say, please, don't go there. Every moment wasted looking back keeps us from moving forward.

(APPLAUSE)

Life is too short, time is too precious, and the stakes are too high to dwell on what might have been. We have to work together for what still can be. And that is why I will work my heart out to make sure that Senator Obama is our next president.

(APPLAUSE)

And I hope and pray that all of you will join me in that effort.

(APPLAUSE)

To my supporters and colleagues in Congress, to the governors and mayors, elected officials who stood with me in good times and bad, thank you for your strength and leadership.

To my friends in our labor unions who stood strong every step of the way, I thank you and pledge my support to you.

To my friends from every stage of my life, your love and ongoing commitment sustained me every single day.

To my family, especially Bill and Chelsea and my mother, you mean the world to me, and I thank you for all you have done.

(APPLAUSE)

And to my extraordinary staff, volunteers and supporters...

(APPLAUSE)

... thank you for working those long, hard hours. Thank you for dropping everything, leaving work or school, traveling to places that you've never been, sometimes for months on end. And thanks to your families, as well, because your sacrifice was theirs, too. All of you were there for me every step of the way.

Now, being human, we are imperfect. That's why we need each other, to catch each other when we falter, to encourage each other when we lose heart. Some may lead, some may follow, but none of us can go it alone.

The changes we're working for are changes that we can only accomplish together. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are rights that belong to us as individuals. But our lives, our freedom, our happiness are best enjoyed, best protected, and best advanced when we do work together.

That is what we will do now, as we join forces with Senator Obama and his campaign. We will make history together, as we write the next chapter in America's story. We will stand united for the values we hold dear, for the vision of progress we share, and for the country we love.

There is nothing more American than that.And looking out at you today, I have never felt so blessed. The challenges that I have faced in this campaign...

(APPLAUSE)

... are nothing compared to those that millions of Americans face every day in their own lives.

So today I'm going to count my blessings and keep on going. I'm going to keep doing what I was doing long before the cameras ever showed up and what I'll be doing long after they're gone: working to give every American the same opportunities I had and working to ensure that every child has the chance to grow up and achieve his or her God- given potential.

I will do it with a heart filled with gratitude, with a deep and dividing love for our country, and with nothing but optimism and confidence for the days ahead.

This is now our time to do all that we can to make sure that, in this election, we add another Democratic president to that very small list of the last 40 years and that we take back our country and once again move with progress and commitment to the future.

Thank you all. And God bless you, and God bless America.

(APPLAUSE)

Hillary Rodham Clinton, a U.S. Senator from New York, is a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald is ready to chat, according to Think Progress.

[I]n the Rezko trial, two witnesses said that Rezko told them not to worry about the criminal investigation, because the Republicans—Rove and Kjellander—would get rid of Fitzgerald. Hastert would install a friendly federal puppy who wouldn’t bother the Combine, according to the testimony. “The federal
prosecutor will no longer be the same federal prosecutor,” testified Elie Maloof, a Rezko associate who is now a cooperating witness.

[…]

“If I owe a response [about the p[ush] to remove him from his job], I owe it to Congress, first,” Fitzgerald said when asked about all this after the verdict.

Oh, dear fortuna, let it be right before the November election...

* Obama’s campaign was far more divisive than Hillary’s

* Obama’s campaign was far dirtier than Hillary’s

* Obama’s campaign was far more dishonest than Hillary’s

* Obama’s campaign was far less progressive than Hillary’s

* Obama’s campaign was far more leveraged on party insiders than Hillary’s

* Obama’s supporters drank far more Kool-Aid than Hillary’s

* Obama’s supporters drove Hillary supporters from virtually every blog, and not the other way around

The Sacramento Bee reports that most legal immigrants were once "illegals." You know, like Alberto Gonzales's grandpa.

More than half of California's immigrants who received their "green cards" denoting legality had already lived in the U.S. illegally, a new study by the Public Policy Institute of California found.

What's true about California - which has the nation's largest immigrant population - is also largely true about immigrants living in other states, PPIC researcher Laura Hill concluded after studying the data.

There goes that hoisted petard about legal immigrant outrage when "illegals" are permitted to stay in the country and eventually allowed to become U.S. citizens.

Hell, the only reason Mel Martinez, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and the rest of their GOP cronies in Florida aren't considered "illegals" is because of the kindness of President John F. Kennedy who launched Pedro Pan, a program that allowed Cuban children entry into the United States during the 60s.

And that's the thanks Dems get...