H/t Election 08

Update: Well, Vermont listened, which is weird because Google Analytics tells me I don’t have any readers there. But now the question is: will this thing ever end? I’m going to have to take a break soon after the next couple of smaller primaries…that Hillary barely seems to be contesting, which seems weird and wrong to me — it’s like she’s using a modified version of Rudy Giuiliani’s strategy, only Hillary fans think it could actually work while others, who are decidely not, say it can’t.

That’s actually what the internal battle among the Democrats is largely about, a 50-state strategy versus a big-state m.o. — actually one major reason for my Obama support is my dislike of the kind of top-down, Beltway-centric disdainful politics and people that Senator Clinton has surrounded herself with, and my support for a more grassroots, or to use Markos Moulitsas’s apt phrase, “people-powered,” approach.

I also note that part of that top-down strategy I oppose seems to be big Google Ads buys, as I see on the right side of my front page right now. How ironic.

So, what movies are playing?

*****

Also a calm from the voice of reason (even if took him forever to stop leaning the other way and come out, mildly, for my guy), Orange County’s own resident nationwide pundit, Kevin Drum. I think I agree. I’d be more certain if things weren’t so freaking…excuse me, “fraking”….scary right now.

****

Were you wondering how the nationwide popular vote was tallying up so far? I was.

DNC-Sanctioned Contests
Obama 12,920,961
Clinton 12,322,695

Including Florida
Obama 13,497,175
Clinton 13,193,681

Including Florida And Michigan
Clinton 13,521,832
Obama 13,497,175

Short version, Obama is still ahead — even if you include Florida where there was no campaign, and Michigan where there was no campaign and Obama was not on the ballot. That won’t change for awhile, though it obviously could, if her momentum continues. I suppose if Wyoming and Mississippi are disappointing for Obama and then Pennsylvania is not just a win but a big blow-out, that could happen by the end of April.

I know that the popular vote doesn’t have any particular official weight to it, but if I were a superdelegate, I’d be looking at the results of my home state and the national results extremely closely. Ultimately, I really and truly hope that if the supers end up determining this race (or there’s some other type of mishigoss, maybe <shudder> at the convention), it had better reflect the popular vote or we’re all in a lot of trouble, and that obviously goes for either candidate.

THIS TIME I’M REALLY THROUGH UPDATING, BUT…: Remember “NAFTA-gate”, well, according to an article in Canada’s Globe and Mail, it was based on an offhand remark (and is, therefore, of course, complete hearsay) that got taken out of context and was in any case 100% reversed in terms of which party made the “Canadian wink,” to wit

The conversation turned to the pledges to renegotiate the North American free-trade agreement made by the two Democratic contenders, Mr. Obama and New York Senator Hillary Clinton.

Mr. Brodie, apparently seeking to play down the potential impact on Canada, told the reporters the threat was not serious, and that someone from Ms. Clinton’s campaign had even contacted Canadian diplomats to tell them not to worry because the NAFTA threats were mostly political posturing.

The emphasis is obviously mine, but the point couldn’t be clearer.

And a huge, big time h/t to Kos for spotting this final end to this possibly crucial non-story that might have helped swing an election or two. There’s a lot of idiocy on many of the diaries over at DailyKos these days, but the “front page” remains highly worthwhile. (and the diaries should improve once the primaries are over).