Pictures of the Day 3/10: The Deciders

Superdelegates could play a huge role in deciding the Democratic nomination. Most superdelegates are elected officials, governors, congressmen, etc. However, others are somewhat less distinguished. Certain members of College Democrats and Young Democrats for America also hold the title of "Superdelegate," and thanks to Gawker.com we've got some of their embarrassing Facebook pictures.

Yikes: NY Gov. Named in Prostitution Ring, may Resign

New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, whose campaign I once worked on, may be at the center of a sex scandal. The New York Times reports that Governor Spitzer, who championed ethics as Attorney General and vowed to reform state government, could be named in the sting of a high class prostitute ring.

The ring served clients in New York, Washington, Miami, Paris and London, and charged anywhere from $1000 - $5500/ hour.

This event is the exclamation point on a disappointing run for Spitzer. He's squabbled with Republican leadership in the state house, and had petty controversies over the use of state troopers.

Spitzer also proposed the bill to give driver's licenses to New York's illegal immigrants, which NY Sen. Hillary Clinton half-heatedly defended during a Democratic debate, leading to her slide in the polls. The idea died after polls showed it had the support of only 24% of New Yorkers.

After being elected with nearly 70% of the vote in to his first term in 2006, Spizter will almost certainly face a fierce competition against New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2010. To beat the popular mayor, Spizter needed a couple of signature legislative accomplishments, but a scandal like this could render such triumphs moot.

However, the impending scandal may not mark the end of his promising political future. There's an old saying in politics that the only ways to commit sure-fire career suicide is to get caught with a dead woman or a live man. But for Spitzer, who is married with three children, that may not be his biggest concern right now.

**Update** ABC reports that Governor Spitzer is resigning from office to settle matters with his family.

Quote of the Day: Obama

"With all due respect...I don't know how somebody who's in second place is offering the Vice Presidency to somebody who's in first place."

~Senator Barack Obama, commenting on Senator Clinton's offer of the Vice Presidency on her ticket.

It's sad to think that either of the Democratic candidates are only roughly a quarter of the country's top choice for president... I say we let the South secede from the union so the winning candidate is at least 50% of the population's favorite. And maybe then ESPN2 will start broadcasting real sports again instead of Nascar 24/7.

Letterman: Top 10 Ralph Nader Campaign Slogans

I tried my hand at this topic last week. Here's Letterman's...

Top 10 Ralph Nader Campaign Solgans

10. Fund universal health care by making Wesley Snipes pay his taxes

9. Give the presidency a rumpled, Walter Matthau quality

8. The freezing over of Hell should solve our global warming crisis

7. Get those people off that island in "Lost"

6. Send Gary Busey in to annoy and confuse our enemies

5. Can fill out a pantsuit better than Hillary

4. Will hover in polls between 1% and "Statistically Insignificant"

3. Force Starbucks to identify their sizes "Small," "Medium," and "Large" -- am I right people?

2. Will not sleep with lobbyists, or for that matter anyone else

1. Get Bush re-elected like in 2000

Newsflash: McCain Angry, Times Reporter Pretentious

This is an exchange John McCain had with a Times reporter on whether or not McCain had a conversation with John Kerry in 2004 about being Kerry's VP nominee. McCain said he would never have taken the spot because of their differing views, although the two are friends. However, he denied such a covseration ever took place in back in '04.

I'm sorry, but to me this reporter comes off terribly. Who cares if they ever had a conversation, or if McCain didn't disclose it when asked? The reporter is engaged in the ultimate form of "gotcha- journalism." It's a non-issue, and she's trying to catch him in a non- lie. And then to top it all off, she asks "Why are you so angry?" in that annoying and disrespectful tone. It's this type of journalism that can prevent politicians from answering questions honestly.

Quote of the Day: 3/7/2008

"How do we know Bush wasn't behind 9/11? Because it worked."

~Bill Maher, just barely making it for this day, on Bush's involvement (or lack of thereof, rather) in the terrorist attack.

Pictures of the Day 3/7

The pollster group Survey USA conducted a lengthy poll of 600 likely voters in each of the 50 states to arrive at the first electoral college predictions for 2008. Both results put a Democrat in the White House, but the contenders get there in very different ways...

What? Him Worry?

During a press conference earlier this week, our president was asked about forecasts of $4/gallon gasoline. Oil is at $106/ barrel (it was $26 when he took office) and the national avg. for gas is $3.16/ gallon (it was $1.30 when he took office) and those prices are rising. Meanwhile, the dollar continues to fall to record lows, and wages are not keeping up with the inflated prices of energy or food.

So what would the president tell stuggling Americans, faced with the prospect of gas that's gone up three- fold since he took office? "That's interesting, I hadn't heard that." It's unreal.

There's no good video of his response up on YouTube yet, so you'll have to check it out for yourself here. When you watch, notice how the president acts so flippant through these press conferences, joking and poking fun at reporters. Then, when the reporter asks a serious question, the president thinks he's misinformed or exaggerating, and gets sarcastic, before changing tone when he realizes that he's in the wrong and sounding insensitive.

Below is a video of some astute commentary on MSNBC.

Dean on Board

DNC Chair Howard Dean has come out in favor of a re-vote in Florida and Michigan. The states held primaries in early January, but without Obama and John Edwards on the ballot in Michigan and with only Hillary campaigning in Florida. The DNC warned the states their delegates would not be seated if their primaries were held so early, and have stuck to it.

Now, with the contest's razor thin margin, re-votes could go a long way toward deciding the nomination. Clinton won on the first go-around in both states, and demographics, blue collar workers in Michigan and older voters in Florida, favor the NY Senator.

Asked to comment on whether the re-votes would take place, an excited Dean said: "We're gonna go to Michigan and then we're gonna go to Florida... heeeeeya!"

(sorry, I couldn't resist).

In Defense of Superdelegates

They exist for a reason.

Hillary's recent wins changed the race for the Democratic nomination. In the aftermath, Obama's delegate lead, essentially unchanged, stands around 100. He and his supporters argue that even with Clinton's comeback it's highly improbable that she will overtake him, or secure the all- important 2025th delegate. So, because Obama will have won more elected delegates, their argument goes, he should be the nominee.

But if Obama fails to reach 2025, a real possibility, it shouldn't be so automatic.

There's a reason for the delegate floor: if the party is so divided that no candidate can get a simple majority (2025/4049) then there's no mandate, and the party has other factors to consider. Factors like electability, and right now that factor surprisingly favors the Hill.

Her case--

Hillary Clinton won New York, California, Texas, Ohio, New Jersey, Florida and Michigan (although the latter two were basically uncontested). The point stands: she's won the biggest and most important states. She's likely to win Pennsylvania, which, along with Michigan, is essential for Democrats in November. Florida decided 2000 and Ohio 2004, those states lean Republican and if Obama can't beat Hillary Clinton there, how is he going to beat John McCain?

The Party has to think about that, and the consideration is in play because Obama cannot close the deal. That's why we're still here. The past few weeks, when the Clinton campaign "threw the kitchen sink" at him, Obama failed the test. Well, a picture of him in African garb is nothing compared to what Republicans have waiting.

Hillary, meanwhile, has had every possible insult and charge leveled at her over the past 17 years, we've heard it all, and she's still here.

His case--

The party doesn't want bigwigs to override the voice of the people, especially at the risk of alienating the record number of first time voters and contributors who have given the party a big advantage. Exit polls consistently show that Hillary does better with traditional Democrats, and those first- timers (who could turn their back on the party forever) side with Obama.

That assumes that Superdelegates will have robbed Obama of something he earned. Some will say that a 20 delegate win is still a win, just ask Al Gore. A 20 delegate lead after 4049 have been handed out entitles you to nothing. That's not new. The system is set up to get a nominee chosen by a majority of the party, not a plurality.

Similarly, the Electoral College, under the Constitution, mandates a candidate win 270/ 538 electors, and if no candidate does the election is in the hands of the House of Representatives.

It's not new, and it's not unfair. If a majority cannot agree, a consensus must be found elsewhere, somehow.

Quote of the Day 3/2

"My husband didn't wrap up the nomination until June"

~Senator Hillary Clinton, on when would be a good time to bow out of the primary process on 60 Minutes.

Two Ringing Phones: Dueling Ads

Hillary Clinton's campaign debuted this ad focusing on her experience, written by top pollster Marc Penn.


The Obama campaign released this response in "record time" focusing on his judgment.

America's Fastest Growing Game!

Me: Time to play America's fastest growing game: Good News/ Bad News! Our contestant this week is Hillary Clinton! Okay, Hill-dog, thanks for being here, are you ready to play?

HRC: Ready now, Chris, and ready on day one---

Me: (cutting her off) Sure you are! Here's how you play, first we give you a piece of good news and then you have to guess the bad news that follows. Got it?

HRC: Yes, I know this game well. I've spent my life, the last 35 years preparing for this momen---

Me: Right. Here's the good news: Your campaign announced yesterday that it raised $35 million in February alone, it's best month ever. Now, what's the bad news?

HRC: Well, the bad news, Chris, is that millions of Americans still can't afford decent health care and that we're shipping our job---

(buzzer sounds)

Me: Ohhhhh, sorry Hill-Clizzle. The bad news is that your opponent broke all fundraising records by taking in $50 million for his campaign. More bad news, he raised $7 the day after Super Tuesday alone, and has raised $87m (according to projections) so far this year. So thanks for playing, Hill-meister, you looked good for a while there, but in the end just couldn't get it done. But you won't go home empty handed, tell her her parting gift, Johnny...

Johnny: Don't worry, Hill-bag, you get four more years in the United States Senate!!!

HRC: (sobs quitely)

SAM Thanks YOU!

I'm headed home tomorrow morning for Spring Break, and won't be able to post as much over the next few days. So this puts a cap on the month of February, which has been easily the busiest in SAM's history for hits and posts.

A big thanks to everyone who supports the site by reading, posting and/ or commenting. Please, if you like SAM Online, tell your friends and spread the word. And if you'd like to become a SAM blogger, just email sammagonline@gmail.com. Hopefully some of the other bloggers will pick up the slack for the next week.

Kosovo (Revisited?)

The first major conflict of the 20th Century began in the Balkans, and the final major conflict of said century was - surprise - in the Balkans. Whether it's the Black Hand's assassination of a Hapsburg son, or the ethnic cleansing of minorities, this rich, culturally diverse region of Europe has seen more than its share of strife. This all makes the recent Declaration of Independence of Kosovo all the more remarkable in that it was without a single shot fired or blood shed. Despite the 120,000-plus Serbs living in Kosovo who fiercely oppose the move, and the warnings of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kosovo has been backed by the West without having to earn it with any major military victory.

Of course, this being the Balkans, how long can this serenity last? Just last week, angry Serbs, in the Serbian capital of Belgrade, nearly burned down the U.S. Embassy, a la Iran, 1979. And who knows just how far President Putin is willing to take his objection over Kosovo's independence, despite the end of his term as President. The NATO campaigns of the 1990s against Serbia led to this particular moment, and Russia may find it hard to forget that the West took military action in what it considers its sphere of influence over Russia's own reservations.

Will Kosovo's independence be short lived? That answer depends largely on how fervently the European Union and the United States defends it. So far, the signs are encouraging. According to the Financial Times, the EU special envoy has taken a firm stance against further partitioning along ethnic lines. This is due in part to the large Serbian minority in Kosovo that is against the independent move. This decision by the envoy helps further entrench Kosovo's position by getting the institutions to look past superficial divisions like race, religion and ethnicity. Though those characteristics are real and people live by them daily, a democracy cannot stand long when ideas are opposed (or proposed) based largely on those measurements.

Also, this is an important test for the next President of the U.S., be it Senators Obama, McCain or Clinton. For the last six decades, each President has been able to breathe a sigh of relief at the end of his term that China has never pushed the issue regarding Taiwan, whom the U.S. has always insisted on defending. Though that issue is not entirely settled, for now both sides seem to agree to disagree. But will the Serbians live with a second humiliating setback in as many generations? To what lengths is the new President, essentially the leader of NATO, going to go to defend Kosovo? And what of Russia? To what lengths will they go to ensure we leave what they consider to be their backyard? All questions that may have to be answered before those of Iraq and Afghanistan are. It is, indeed, a brave new world. Thanks W.

NY Times: The Politics of Trade in OH

The New York Times has a very interesting article on the Democratic presidential candidates exchange of barbs on trade while campaigning in Ohio. The author likens the Democrats approach to the issue to the Republicans handling of abortion:

In campaign after campaign for more than 30 years now, Republicans have been denouncing Roe v. Wade. Yet even though they have held the White House for most of that time — and made 12 of the last 14 Supreme Court appointments — abortion remains legal.

This straddling has served Republicans well. They have been able to win over voters who care about abortion above all else without alienating swing voters, most of whom, polls show, think it should be legal at least some of the time. Talking tough and governing gently helped the party build a majority.

Meanwhile, the Democratic candidates denounce NAFTA in a way that would make Lou Dobbs proud, yet neither is prepared to change it, or the country's trade policies, drastically.

Based on what they’re saying, you’d have to conclude that they believe that Nafta and other trade agreements have caused Ohio’s huge economic problems.

“She says speeches don’t put food on the table,” Mr. Obama said in Youngstown. “You know what? Nafta didn’t put food on the table, either.” Later, he went further, claiming that Ohio’s workers have “watched job after job after job disappear because of bad trade deals like Nafta.”

Mrs. Clinton’s advisers, meanwhile, have been putting out the word that she tried to persuade her husband not to support Nafta — which liberalized trade with Mexico and Canada — when he was running for president... “I’m not just going to talk about what’s wrong with Nafta [...]I’m going to fix it and I have a four-point plan to do exactly that.”

But when you read this plan, or Mr. Obama’s trade agenda, you discover none of it is particularly radical. Neither candidate calls for a repeal of Nafta, or anything close to it. Both instead want to tinker with the bureaucratic innards of the agreement.

Guilty by Compliment

In last night's presidential debate, Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama answered questions from a wide, yet dispersed, range of topics. From NAFTA and Iraq to campaign tactics, none was more ridiculous, or insulting, than the NBC moderator's questions to Mr. Obama about The Nation of Islam's Louis Farrakhan.

The Minister endorsed Mr. Obama, despite never being solicited "formally or informally", according to the Illinois senator last night. Still, Mr. Obama was asked to comment on the endorsement, as though Minister Farrakhan's orthodoxy goes to the heart of the campaign's message. I mean, if Mr. Farrakhan, known for unapologetically making anti-semitic remarks, endorsed Barack Obama, then clearly, Mr. Obama must be...anti semitic?

The answer is a resounding no, yet Mr. Obama's "denouncement" wasn't enough for Mrs. Clinton, who needed a "rejection" of the endorsement. Mrs. Clinton, feeling the heat to perform like the Giants' front four, didn't miss the opportunity to paint Mr. Obama as a member of the Nation, with his bow tie and bean pie. His retort was clever and profound, "rejecting and denouncing" Minister Farrakhan's anti-semitic remarks.

However, the true crime belongs to the moderators for asking Mr. Obama to comment on Minister Farrakhan's endorsement. We can sympathize with Clinton attacking Obama, for she's behind in the polls and in need of major wins next week. But for the moderators to link Obama to Farrakhan is a disgusting reach. Yes, both men are Black. Yes, both men are from Chicago. So, obviously, yes, both men are of the same ideology.

It seems this is part of a trite narrative of Black politicians who seek national office. Some how, they have to be placed in a corner as "the Black candidate". There's a reason the word viable is thrown around with reference to Mr. Obama, and not towards Senator John McCain or Governor Mitt Romney. Thus, if a known controversial, Black minister is endorsing Mr. Obama, the possibility of Mr. Obama accepting it has to be relatively high, right?

In 2000, no one ever asked then-Governor George W. Bush if he ever solicited the endorsement of Ross Perot, nor if he accepted it. The media also doesn't bring up the extreme right wing of the Conservative movement that tends to be quite bigoted, and supportive of the Republican party. Still, Mr. Obama must address the endorsement of Minister Louis Farrakhan, and in doing so, must reassure Americans of his support for Israel, of America's imperative support for the Jewish state and of his work with Jews. All good, but can't it be taken for granted that a left of center politician is not in a cabal with the Nation, despite its endorsement? Like Mr. Obama said last night, he's not going to complain if someone thinks he's right for the country.

Picture of the Day 2/27

The (now) former Mayor of a small Oregon town holds up a picture of herself that she posted on her MySpace page. The picture led to the town recalling 42 year old in a close vote of 142- 139. Carmen Gronquist isn't too upset though: "My reaction is that the democratic process took place, and that is a good process that we have in the United States, and it's fair," she said.

And, at the very least, I'm sure she has a bunch of new friends on MySpace.

Don't Mess with SAM

Two SAM bloggers participated in the first round of Notre Dame's annual "Bengal Bouts" boxing tournament last night. With over 200 fighters, the event is the largest charity boxing tournament in the world.

In the 189 lbs. weight class, Chris Hapak easily scored a unanimous decision. Here's the write- up from the Notre Dame Observer:

Chris Hapak def. Thomas Smith
Hapak dominated Smith and beat the freshman by unanimous decision. Hapak was relentless, beating up on Smith from the moment the bell sounded. The freshman was unable to defend himself as he faced a barrage of jabs and swings. Smith improved as the fight went on but just couldn't stand up to the law student's onslaught.

In a closer match, my roommate, Chris "Don't call me Chris Meehan" Sheehan defeated his freshman opponent in a split decision in the 157 lbs. division. Sheehan impressed the crowd, and showed why the ladies love him so.

Next up for the bloggers is the second round on Thursday night.