Pass The Popcorn, We're Watching The Democrats

(updated and moved to the top--for the last time)

It's hard to imagine that 2008 will be a good year for Republicans, so I may as well get what little political enjoyment out of it that I can while the gittin's good--and boy, is it good right now.

In this first article, from Byron York at National Review Online, we wonder where the Democratic outrage about Obama undercounts in New York is.

The New York Times reported finding 80 election districts in the city, some in Harlem, in which "Mr. Obama supposedly did not receive even one vote, including cases where he ran a respectable race in a nearby district." Recounts revealed that Obama had, in fact, received lots of votes.

So where are the cries of disenfranchisement, or at least attempted disenfranchisement? Where are the conspiracy theories? The outrage? And for that matter, where are the cries of outrage that many Democratic party officials appear determined to deny the states of Florida and Michigan representation at the Democratic National Convention?

Rand Simberg points out that the Bill Clinton you're seeing during this election cycle, the one playing the race card against a fellow Democrat, is the same Bill Clinton Republicans were telling you about in 1992.

Sorry, he's exactly the same person you used to (foolishly and myopically) respect and admire. He's the same person he's been his entire political career, going all the way back to the seventies in Arkansas. Anyone who has followed his career, or read non-hagiographic biographies of him knows this. The only thing that's changed is that you've found a new empty vessel (Barack Obama) into which to pour your emotional political longings, and he's attacked it, so now you see the Bill Clinton that the rest of us have seen all along...

Denver may make Chicago in 1968 look like a Sunday-school picnic....

When it comes to the Clintons, it's always about them, and they always come first, and the national Democrats are finally starting to realize it, sixteen years later.

I think I'll continually update this post, and move it up to the top of the blog each time I do. As I said, I may as well get some enjoyment out of this year's election.

Update #1, 2/18/08: This didn't take long, as this update occurs on the same day as the original post.

Sen. Barack Obama said Monday that he doesn't think it's a big deal that he borrowed lines from his friend Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, although he probably should have given him credit...

Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson accused Obama of plagiarizing Patrick, and that's particularly troubling since Obama's appeal is based in large part on his rhetorical skills.

On the radio this morning I heard a clip from Patrick's speech, and then the clip from Obama's speech. Obama doesn't deny the obvious, he just says it's no big deal.

I think we need more butter.

Update #2, 2/19/08: Got any red licorice? Clinton isn't congratulating Obama.

Three times may make a trend: for the third primary/caucus night in a row, Hillary Clinton has taken the stage at a post-election rally and failed to mention her losses, or congratulate her winning opponent, Barack Obama.

Update #3, 2/23/08: To paraphrase Monty Python, "She's not dead yet."

A visibly angry Sen. Hillary Clinton lashed out Saturday at Sen. Barack Obama over campaign literature that she said he knows is "blatantly false."

It's kind of hard to feel sorry for her, considering how many "blatantly false" things she's said about President Bush.

"Shame on you, Barack Obama," she said...

With Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland nodding in agreement behind her, Clinton accused Obama of emulating the tactics of Karl Rove, President Bush's former political director who is reviled by Democrats.

Oh, that's rich!!! I'm gonna need a refill on that popcorn--or should I upgrade to kettle corn? Salty and sweet at the same time....

Update #4, 2/23/08: The snack bar's gonna like me today.

It seems that Obama is not going to attend a State of the Black Union forum, and organizer Tavis Smiley isn't pleased with that. Others aren't pleased at Smiley for voicing his dissatisfaction.

"I think it's a missed opportunity on Mr. Obama's part," Smiley told CNN. "Now, I am not interested in demonizing him for his choice, but I do disagree with it."

But Smiley's criticism has also prompted many people to come to Obama's defense. The talk show host told The Washington Post he has been inundated with angry e-mails and even death threats.

"I have family in Indianapolis. They are harassing my momma, harassing my brother. It's getting to be crazy," Smiley told the newspaper.

At least Mrs. Rodham Clinton will be there.

Update #5, 2/24/08: Mrs. Rodham Clinton just can't pass up an opportunity to attack the President, can she? In this instance she gets a two-fer--one on the President, one on a fellow liberal.

Ralph Nader is entering the presidential race as an independent, he announced Sunday, saying it is time for a "Jeffersonian revolution..."

Calling Nader's move "very unfortunate," Sen. Hillary Clinton told reporters, "I remember when he ran before. It didn't turn out very well for anybody -- especially our country."

"This time I hope it doesn't hurt anyone. I can't think of anybody that would vote for Sen. McCain who would vote for Ralph Nader," she said...

"Obviously, it is not helpful to whoever our Democratic nominee is. But, you know, it is a free country."

That's right, Mrs. Rodham Clinton, it is a free country. And people like me despise and work against people like you precisely because we want to keep it that way.

Update #6, 2/25/08: "Shame on you, Barack Obama." Several commentators have noted how Mrs. Rodham Clinton went from smooching Obama's butt at the last debate (I'm so proud to be on this stage with Barack Obama) just a few days ago to attacking and mocking him:

“Now, I could stand up here and say, ‘Let’s just get everybody together. Let’s get unified,'" Clinton said to laughter of the crowd.

"The skies will open, the light will come down, celestial choirs will be singing and everyone will know we should do the right thing and the world will be perfect,” she said dryly as the crowd erupted.

“Maybe I’ve just lived a little long, but I have no illusions about how hard this is going to be," Clinton continued. "You are not going to wave a magic wand to make special interests disappear."

She's also accused Obama of sending out campaign literature that distorts her views--while at the same time, Drudge reports that Clinton's campaign is the source of the "Obama in al-Qaeda/Muslim attire" picture.

This almost isn't any fun anymore. Either someone needs to restock my red licorice, or someone has to report on what Obama the Radical Socialist is really saying. Everyone's piling on Mrs. Rodham Clinton now, and it's not so entertaining. I crave some diversity.

Update #7, 2/26/08: Ask and I shall receive, sorta.

Reporters covering Obama can no longer move freely among the thousands of zealous supporters at his events — unless the reporter receives a staff escort through the security gates. (In one city, that meant using a port-o-potty outside because the route to the indoor plumbing ran through the crowd.)

And the traveling press corps has been shut out of monitoring Obama's satellite interviews with local media outlets, which is a normal practice on Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign.

On top of that, the traveling media has been tussling with Obama aides to keep conversations with the candidate on his campaign plane on the record.

Wow, Obama's campaign is secretive, disciplined, and scripted. Where have we heard such "accusations" before? More evidence of a "Rovian influence", perhaps?

I need a root beer.

Update the last, 2/27/08: This has been fun, but I need more than snack bar food if I'm going to survive. Besides, man cannot live on Junior Mints alone....

Anyway, here's a leftie call for a little more scrutiny of Saint Barack.

After several weeks of swooning, news reports are finally being filed about the gap between Senator Barack Obama's promises of a pure, soul-cleansing "new" politics and the calculated, deeply dishonest conduct of his actually-existing campaign.

This was certainly more enjoyable than I Am Legend, but this post is done.