Buck Naked Politics Political Round-Up: March 29-April 4

The battle for the Democratic nomination just gets crazier and crazier.  Progressives are turning against progressives; in fact, I find myself occasionally thinking, "No wonder the right winger hate those bastards!"  And that's not good.  But we have met the enemy and they really are us.  Who knew?

Mar. 29
James Carville compared Bill Richardson to Judas on good Friday and the detractors of Hillary Clinton naturally---as I predicted they would---tried to pin this on Hillary.  (Shut up some more, Keith Obamaman).  Carville responded in The New York times by reiterating that he meant every word that he said.  Heh.  The whole 'surrogate' thing is so effing stupid anyway.  Anyway:  yet another excellent illustration of how the 'Clinton rules' are way different from the 'Obama rules.'

Mar. 30
Obama said it was okay with him if Hillary insists on staying in the race.   I was glad he said what he said---he called her a 'fierce and formidable opponent'---but D Cupples suspects him of a lack of sincerity.  Not for the first time.

In other news, D Cupples was impressed that Hillary managed to gain grudging approval from long-time Clinton enemy Richard Mellon Scaife.  Her point, by the way, wasn't that Scaife's endorsement should cheer up Dems, but that it proves Hill's ability, and willingness, to reach out to traditional opponents. 

Apr. 1
The 11th Circuit dismissed a case brought by a Florida Dem against the Democratic National Committee.  The problem was that he filed it before the primary had even taken place so he didn't have standing to sue.  But did they hint that the us-disenfranchising  DNC bastards might well be on the hook now?  Oh, I do hope.

The Liberal Journal---a blog we've always liked--- wanted the pro-Hillary blogs (we're one) to get a grip:  what's with the repeated references to right-wingers who are slightly aghast (if also amused) at the hatchet job our fellow progressives are doing on our fellow Democrat Hillary.  I invited TLJ to consider why this is happening.

D Cupples suggested that all these superdelegates who are debating whether they should just put an end to Hillary's aspirations by just going ahead and throwing their support behind Obama step back and consider the consequences.  After all, Hillary's got quite a lot of supporters out there who are prepared to resent a primary-level replay of the 2000 election.  And while I'll vote for Obama if he's foisted on me without my primary vote counting, we have reason to know that there are a lot of Hillary supporters out there who aren't prepared to be so forgiving. 

Mr. Doesn't-Take-Money-from-Lobbyists has actually accepted quite a bit of money from persons not unconnected to the oil industry.  It's all in the packaging, I guess. 

Apr. 3
Hillary discussed her economic plan on Mad Money.  Damn, she's just so impressive.  Why, why, why, why, why, why----?

Howard Dean:  a man with a (long, long overdue) plan?  Will some, all, or none of my state's delegates be seated at the convention and will it matter by that time whether they are or they aren't?   Who the hell knows anymore?

Obama's Adventures in Blue Collar Land.  I found it rather endearing, actually.  Never mind the bowling balls, give that man a (pricey European) beer! 

Apr. 3
Poet Maya Angelou, one of my heroines of old and Oprah's mentor, writes a beautiful and moving tribute to Hillary. "Rise, Hillary.  Rise."  Indeed.

Though Edwards isn't interested in endorsing either candidate, Elizabeth endorsed Hillary's health care plan.

Air America's Randi Rhodes did a stand-up routine in which she referred to two distinguished female Democrats as....just read the piece, all right?  While it will disgust you, you will be cheered to know that Air America finally drew the line.  Meanwhile, Obama supporters argued for one rule for Imus, another for anyone who attacks Hillary.