Here's to You, Eugene Robinson

His mouth's open, cue Buchanan!

Am I the only one who has noticed that every time the insightful Eugene Robinson opens his mouth to talk on MSNBC, somebody (usually the bullying Pat Buchanan) immediately interrupts him, talking over him?

The Texas Prius

So far, the mainstream media, when discussing the so-called "Junior Tuesday" March 4 states (Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont), has missed a big story: The Texas primary isn't just a primary, it's a primary-caucus hybrid.

Or as I'm going to call it, The Texas Prius (primary + caucus = prius).


"You got your primary in my caucus." "You got your caucus in my primary."

Why is this a big story? Because the Clinton camp is already spinning away any gains Barack Obama may make in the post-Super Tuesday February states by staking their claims on the big three of Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania. On the surface, Camp Clinton has a point as these are all delegate-rich states where Hillary Clinton currently leads in the polls.

But by their own admission when discounting Obama's victories today in Washington and Nebraska, Senator Obama tends to do better in caucus states. So if the pattern holds up, any lead Senator Clinton may have in the polls (and hasn't she led in every state's polls a month before they vote?) could be offset by his support in the caucus portion of The Texas Prius.

Now might be a good time to explain how The Texas Prius works. If only I understood it. But here are a few links to people who understand it far better than I do:

Burnt Orange Report

Texans for Obama

The Field

This is what I understand. Out of the 193 pledged delegates up for grabs in Texas, 126 are determined by the primary vote and 67 are decided based on the caucus vote. That means almost a third of Texas' pledged delegates will be picked in a caucus setting.

What's more, anybody who's caucusing is essentially voting twice. That's right, TWICE! Because in order to vote in the caucus, you have to first vote in the primary.

So, if Obama's ground support is as strong in Texas as it has been elsewhere (he's taken nine caucuses to her three - if you count American Samoa, her razor-thin victory in New Mexico, and his one delegate lead in Nevada as wins for Senator Clinton), Clinton may make up less ground in the pledged delegate race than she appears to be banking on.

And if Barack Obama himself spends a week or more doing his brand of retail politics all around the state, it's entirely possible he'll take more delegates than her (even if he gets slightly less of the popular vote in the primary).

Metaphor Off 2008!

"People who speak in metaphors should shampoo my crotch."

A commenter on Politico's Ben Smith's blog brings up an interesting point:

Everyone is up in arms about David Shuster's comment but nobody talked about the disturbing comments coming out of NOW NY State such as "gangbang" etc.

The comments she is talking about are these from Marcia Pappas, President NOW - New York State:

...Then there was that movie where Jodie Foster portrayed the true story of woman who was ganged raped in a bar while others looked on and encouraged the realization. Still others pretended the rape didn't happen. In short, gang raping of women is commonplace in our culture both physically and metaphorically.

This past week, we witnessed just such a phenomenon involving men who are afraid of a powerful woman. Hillary Clinton, in her quest for her Presidential nomination, has in fact endured infantile taunting and wildly inappropriate commentary. Indeed we have witnessed almost comical attacks by John Edwards who in turn sided with Barak Obama as both snickered at Clinton's "breakdown," which consisted of a very short dewy-eyed moment. Now John Kerry, who should certainly know better after his own "swiftboating," has joined the playground gang.

Oh yeah, the title of that press release was "Psychological Gang Bang of Hillary is Proof We Need a Woman President."


If only there were an inflammatory metaphor for what Marcia Pappas did to metaphors...

As far as I know, neither the national NOW president, nor Hillary Clinton has condemned this extreme metaphor. National NOW President Kim Gandy did respond to another controversial press release from Pappas, which had declared Ted Kennedy's endorsement of Barack Obama "the ultimate betrayal." But nothing about her accusing John Edwards, Barack Obama and John Kerry of "psychological gang banging."

I don't remember Howard Wolfson calling those comments "beneath contempt" or "disgusting."

This doesn't excuse David Shuster's inapt metaphor. But if you're going to blast one demeaning, inappropriately sexualized metaphor, how about a little consistency?

Forgive and Forget

"Remember when I called your teenage daughter ugly?"

Um, if Senator Clinton refuses to debate on MSNBC because of a nasty comment made about her daughter, does that mean she'll refuse to debate her "very close" friend John McCain in the general election?

After all, the presumptive Republican nominee made an even nastier, premeditated joke at Chelsea Clinton's expense, back when The First Daughter was only 18:

Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly?

Because her father is Janet Reno.

At least he didn't use a questionable metaphor.

Nothing says "I care" like stalking

Of all the disturbing things I've read about "super delegates," this may be the most frightening:

Clinton has tapped longtime advisor and operative Harold Ickes, who is quickly compiling dossiers on all uncommitted super delegates -- mapping out the lobbyists, fundraisers and friends who can make a personal appeal on Clinton's behalf.

...

The strategy worked with one DNC member from California, Rachel Binah, a retired bed-and-breakfast operator in rural Mendocino County, who had been determined to stay uncommitted after her first choice, Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, dropped out of the race.

But then the phone started ringing -- first from the head of the powerful EMILY's List political action committee; then from Chelsea Clinton, the senator's daughter; and then from the senator herself. And Clinton knew that Binah cared most about the environment and about funding research for Alzheimer's, the disease that took her father.

"I was very moved about the fact she knew so much about me and about what was of concern to me," Binah said.

I don't know why some retired bed-and-breakfast operator's vote is worth roughly 10,000 times more than mine. Especially such a simple-minded one who's so easily swayed by one candidate stalking her and then pandering to her. Now, if Senator Clinton were running for president of Rachel Binah, I could see how someone having access to Google would be a valid reason to cast your 10,000 votes for them. But if you're choosing your party's nominee for President of the United States of America, maybe you should decide based on some other factors.


"I'm 10,000 times more important than you. And twice as manipulatable."

Oh, and Ms. Binah, I know you care about the environment and Alzheimer's, too. How about voting for me?