Around 5:45 this morning, I groggily turned on my computer, and realized that insanity was about to rain down on Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and each of us. With Hillary Clinton’s wins in Ohio and Texas, there is little question that the race for President is coming to Pennsylvania. (As noted by just about everybody.) This is the first time we have had a say in the Democratic primary in many of our lifetimes. And, frankly, largely because we didn’t do what Mark Cohen wanted, and move up our primary like everyone else, the focus on PA- the last major state remaining, will be bizarrely intense.
We are the new Iowa. And so, to mark this occasion, and to simply deal with the reality of what is coming, we will be spending some time on YPP looking at the national race. Frankly, the time we spend on it will be directly proportional to how much time everyone out there wants to spend on it.
In the grand scheme of things, Pennsylvania’s delegates will not matter that much, because I suspect they will be fairly close, and Obama will still be ahead in pledges delegates when it is over. In all likelihood, an Obama win ends the race. A Clinton win and who knows what happens.
We will be feeling this out as we go along, but the first thing I think would be useful is for interested people to write posts- not comments, but, everyone their own posts- on why they support Clinton or Obama. What about Obama, for example, made Seth Williams pack up his kids, and drive to Springfield, Illinois, to see Obama start this journey? Or, what made Tony Payton spend his limited time off in cold New Hampshire, volunteering? Conversely, what does it feel like for a veteran of the women’s movement to see a woman with a legitimate chance at being President? I would like to see how many personal stories we can collect from Philadelphia progressives about their thought process going through this choice.
The same basic ground rules will follow for YPP as they always do… the more positive you are, the more persuasive you can be. But, over the next six weeks, the first thing I would like to do is to here from as many people as possible as to who they are supporting, and why. (And, if they are undecided, why, too.)
As always, this is still a local, Philly and PA focused site. So, in that vein, what do you see happening for our City, and its entrenched problems, under your candidate? Are there specific policies or political stands you can point to?
Additionally, I would like to figure out how volunteers from each campaign can have their own ‘space’ within YPP to let others know what they can do to get involved with each campaign. For now, if you are working for a campaign, please put in the topic of your post “Obama Volunteer” or “Clinton Volunteer.” I will put links up on the side of the page, so that those who want to get involved with each campaign can see what is going on. Maybe this will amount to nothing- but I know Seth Williams for example, will have lots of opportunities for Obama supporters to get involved.
I hope this race will be run somewhat positively, and if I see one of those 3AM ads here, I will throw up a little. But, bottom line, national politics here we come, if you all are so inclined. Please, please, please, be decent to each other.
In the end, this is unlike any local race for 99.99% of us, because we don’t know these people, we don’t have loyalties, they are not our neighbors. In a way, this is really a time for everyone to be free and unfettered in who they choose. Idealistic, even.
What do you think? And, would you be willing to reach out to others in our various communities and see if they will share who they are supporting, and why?
Dan, you beat me to it
I couldn't agree more that the main result of yesterday's vote was to guarantee that PA's voters will have a voice in a Presidential nominee for the first time since 1976. PA has more delegates at stake than any other remaining primary state. I've read suggestions that, even after the Ohio + Texas wins, it will be difficult for Clinton to win the nomination. Fair enough, except that the very popular governor of PA happens to be among Clinton's supporters nationally. A big Clinton win in PA could potentially make her the nominee, despite Obama's big win streak.
I've said this before + I'll say it again: Hilary Clinton would make a fine President- easily better than GWB (although that's lower than a limbo bar), and certainly better than John "Bomb, Bomb Iran" McCain as well. That being said, Barack Obama clearly has the potential to be not just a fine President, but a great one. People talk about Clinton's smarts, and there's no question about those. But can anyone seriously suggest that Obama is an intellectual lightweight in comparison?
Dan mentions the '3AM' ad. Well, in the biggest '3 AM red phone' test of Clinton's Senate career- the Iraq vote- Clinton got it *wrong,* while Obama opposed the disastrous and blatantly illegal attack from the start.
Finally, let's compare the Clinton, Obama, + McCain campaigns. If you'd told someone a year ago that John McCain was going to be the Republican Presidential nominee, s/he would have laughed you out of the room. Now, due both to his opponents' self-immolation + a very impressive + disciplined campaign, McCain has become the nominee. Compare this to Hilary Clinton's campaign. Clinton's campaign trajectory has been precisely the opposite of McCain's. Where McCain went from laughingstock to nominee, Clinton has managed to parlay her seemingly inevitable nomination into a long shot win. And Barack Obama? He has run a campaign which has been as impressive as McCain's, if not more so.
Let's fast forward to the General Election campaign. If you're a Democrat, do you *really* want to see a matchup between the worst campaign in the primaries against the best, or do you want to see the two best campaigns go against each other? In other words, do you want to see Clinton go into the general campaign hobbled by her own problematic campaign against a Republican nominee who is both beloved by the media (in stark contrast with their clear disdain for Clinton), and has a very potent campaign machine? Or, would you rather see Obama's passionate army of campaign volunteers + workers go face to face with one of the chief supporters of the disastrous war which Obama opposed all along?
I don't think it's close. Bear in mind: you can oppose Clinton (or Obama) on the merits w/o demonizing them; that's what I have done here. For the first time in 32 years, the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will have our voices heard in the primary elections. Let's not waste the chance.
Obama '08,
-Z
The Best Possible Result for the Pennsylvania Democratic Paarty
My duty as a state legislator is to represent everyone, Republicans as well as Democrats, supporters of John Edwards, Bill Richardson, Chris Dodd, and Joe Biden as well as supporters of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. An earlier primary election would have given Pennsylvania voters a fuller choice of candidates than the Democratic choice between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, and the Republican choice between nominee John McCain, protest candidate Ron Paul, and withdrawn candidate Mike Huckabee.
But this outcome is the best possible result for the Democratic Party and supporters of Barack Obama, of which, as an Obama delegate candidate in the First Congressional District, I am one. Canvassing in New Hampshire at the beginning of January, I found that many, many ordinary Democratic voters were far better informed than many Democratic Party leaders here. There is nothing like an intense primary to build up voter information, commitment, and activism over the long run. And while the choice between Obama and Clinton hardly represents the full spectrum of opinion here (before his withdrawal, John Edwards received a good number of favorable mentions here), it is a very clear choice between a frequently used strategy of seeking to co-opt and modify Republican positions and a strategy of mobilizing Democrats behind issues of wide public appeal, even if they are initially scorned by Washington insiders.
I look forward to many political gains for the Democratic Party over the years as a result of this primary. The Democratic Primary turnout will be far higher than the Republican turnout, and this will be good news for November.
In Texas, almost as many people voted for Clinton or Obama in the primary as voted for Kerry in 2004. With enough resources from both campaigns, a similar result could be achieved here.
Texas and the Dems
The stat that I heard is that is that more people caucused for Clinton or Obama than voted for McCain in the primary.
Again, we have to seize this opportunity to grow the party, nation-wide. More Democrats, more state reps, more state senators, more Democratic governors, more states in play for the Presidency. I think Obama is the candidate who best does that, but the whole party needs to capitalize on the moment.
I agree, but...
...what exactly do you propose the whole party do to capitalize the moment?
Dang you, Ray! Asking hard
Dang you, Ray! Asking hard questions!
I'll give it a think and say more when I've got something other than "put Obama on the top of the ticket!" or "keep Dean in charge and keep funneling money and organizational prowess to states you might not win right away."
SAD THAT MEDIA REFUSES TO COVER CLINTON FRAUD TRIAL
The Clinton’s are named defendants in a Civil Fraud Case connected to Campaign Finance irregularities and have not disclosed the appeal of the case. There will be a trial date set at a hearing on April 25th, just 3 days after the key Pennsylvania Primary for the Fraud Case Paul v. Clinton in the Los Angeles Superior Court. Plaintiff says he will call Gov Rendell will be a witness in the case. He probably should not be raising funds for Michigan until he has answered questions about this 2000 Clinton Fundraiser. From what I understand, this case began when prior to Sen. Clinton’s 2000 New York Senate campaign and also raised donations for Pres. Clinton’s Library.
We don’t know the Clinton’s side of the story because they have not disclosed this. But Peter Paul tells his side of the story on Video.
Just Google: “Hillary Uncensored”
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7007109937779036019
Los Angeles Superior Court of Appeals: http://www.lasuperiorcourt.org
Then click on Civil Case Summaries and enter case number to see case history.
Case Number: BC304174
Los Angeles Superior Court Public Information Office at (213) 974-5227.
The GOP has utilized the services of a 527 Citizen’s United to produce a 90 Minute Movie they are already showing to defeat her in the Fall if she wins the nomination. The GOP uses her Fraud Case in their movie as one of many reasons she should not be President.
This is the Movie that the Citizens United has created for the GOP to for the fall.
1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_PEHskBuQg
2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5_SfPvtY-s
3) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rog6WBL7jog
4) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqlYlTxnUdE
5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9hXf5yckbY
6) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKftVPA85jI
7) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCQOgTKtNhA
8) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRHPrjf4h6g
9) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm-5MrOrqPE
ZZZZZZZZZZZZ.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZ.
I'm not worried about the Pres race
Virtually anyone who contributes here I'm sure is smart enough to know the difference a Democrat (regardless which) in the White House could make for turning aorund the damage the last 8 years have done to this nation.
I'm more interested in a topic that will bring out local feelings - how thousands of newly energized and freshly registered Democrats will impact some of our more high profile local races.
-Sean
MrLuigi, my cat, actually only types half as badly as I do.
what's in it for Philadelphia?
I'd like to respond to Dan's challenge--sort of.
As I have watched this race unfold nationally, it has gotten further and further away from a discussion on issues. Frankly, and maybe I am not paying enough attention, but it seems like Clinton and Obama are very close, if not exactly the same on a number of key issues. I think it is fair to say that the horse race has been much more focused on their personality and style differences.
That said, if we are gonna have a convo about Clinto v. Obama in PA, can we try to return to (at least this blog's roots) the issues that matter to us as Pennsylvanians and Philadelphians?
I'd start it of by mentioning that PA has one of the fastest growing rates of uninsured people, we have one of the worst K-12 education systems, and w ehave suffered major job loss and wage loss as we become more and more deindutrialized. Those trends have played out locally: Philadelphia has suffered tremendous wage loss, we still have not found a post-industrial economic center, and 1/3 of our population lives in poverty. Let's not forget about gun violence and the rise of crime.
What can a President--any president--do to address these and other problems?
What can Clinton and Obama, specifically do, to address our city and state's problems and where do they differ?
Let's see . . .
For me . . .
And end to an ill-considered and expensive war, restoring or expanding something like COPS to help the urban first responders - the real benchmark of "Homeland Security", education programs that doesn't just talk about accountability but pays for it, a real national healthcare agenda, a whole new revamp of HUD that doesn't just build new affordable housing but takes what we have learned from about smart inclusive development to help break down de facto economic segregation in this country, an investment in education for a greener, post-industrial approach to economic development at a national level.
Wow, once you get started its hard to stop. Maybe somebody else should pitch in.
-Sean
MrLuigi, my cat, actually only types half as badly as I do.
I'm that other 0.01%
Barack Obama was a professor of mine for two seminars in law school. I've written about it here, and once I'm done with that thing in Commonwealth Court that Dan would rather we not talk about here, I'm happy to discuss more.
Ha. Actually, I was going
Ha. Actually, I was going to put you in the post as the other .01%, and I forgot.
I think we would all be interested in hearing about it more.
Sure.
Let me do what I have to do on Friday, first.
From a fellow alumnus*
That "I only got a B in the course" punchline is classic Chicago. What a ridiculous, wonderful school.
(not of the law school -- I was in an MA program there and left to come to Penn)
Chicago
Great school, ja, as long as you don't buy their economics.
-Z
Dan, I disagree that:
Dan, I disagree that:
Local allegiances/ alliances will play a role in how people line up. Tip O’Neill had a point: all politics is local.
Also, some of us have organizational ties which will influence our choice and in some cases constrain us from taking public positions.