Apparently not.

Well I am peon here who doesn't amount to a hill of beans in the world of orange so I won't be missed, and where I travel on the internet won't make a bit of difference in the scheme of things.

So be it. I would rather be where folks care about electing democrats.

Win some. Lose some.

President Obama will be president to all of the people and he won't be perfect and he won't be a leftie and he won't always do what i want. But he will throw those dirty lousy republicans and their filthy self-centered policies out of office.

It will be a new day, a new beginning with a whole lot of f'ing hope.

I thought that this site was about electing democrats. Apparently. Not.

I am outa here.

Bob Novak said today in his column that he talked to ten Clinton superdelegates and that they all think that Obama will win.

Game over.

Over the past week, I talked to 10 superdelegates (including two U.S. senators) who are committed to Clinton. Each claimed that he would stick with her, but none could see how she could be nominated.

We are just playing this out so the all powerful, Clinton machine can save face for as long as feasibly possible...I wish the adults in the democratic party would put an end to everyone's misery.

What if Obama votes yes to authorize additional funding for the war effort?  What happens then?  

Last night at a family dinner with friends we were discussing the differences between myspace and facebook.  Many parents don't know much about either.  I was suprised that my son, who uses myspace, didn't know anything about facebook.  Apparently it is used more by the older kids.

Anyway, my experience on my.barackobama.org made me practically the expert in the room on social networking sites.  When I announced that I had joined groups on obama's facebook site, my son said "Who is Barack Obama?"

Well I couldn't believe it, given the time and attention I have dedicated to the Obama campaign over the past several weeks, I had apparently forgotten to mention my new found political love to my children.

So what should I tell my 14 year old son about Barack Obama?

Welcome to my top ten reasons to support Obama.  

At 2pm EST there are 76,000 donors to the Obama campaign and counting. Who knows how many more will join over the next 34 hours?  As we countdown to the March 31st first quarter fundraising deadline, Obama supporters are not only donating money but they gathering in living rooms across America on Saturday afternoon to meet and greet each other.  

And after a week of marginal press, there are two fantastic articles in the Nation and the Chicago Tribune that are worth a read.

And polls continue to look good as Obama climbs to and maintains 30 percent in many national primary polls.  This is going to be a very good weekend.
Update: 3:22pm est 77,000 donors
Update: 4:39pm est 77,784 people who have donated
Update: 5:07pm est 78,017 donors
Update: 6:18pm est 78,365 donors
Update: 8:33pm est 78,892 donors
Update: 11:20pm est 79,397 people who donated money to Obama

I know that most people here hate Tweety Bird aka Chris Matthews but nevertheless you really should read this transcript of his show last night.

He nails the VP to the cross and lays out what most likely transpired in the days before, during, and immediately after the outing of Valarie Plame.

They theorize that for the most part Bush had no idea what Cheney was up to and VP wanted to keep it that way.

Its a full hour of Libby coverage on the 7pm show of Harball:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/...

This Mason Dixon Poll has both O'Malley and Erhlich at 45%.  That is the lowest number O'Malley has had in months.  Ehrlich can't get past 45-47%, but he does have some momentum.

Cardin is still leading by 3%. Cardin 47% and Steele 44%.

9% undecided in both races.

They polled 24% african american, 33% republicans, and all were registered voters (not likely voters).

I am at a loss to explain this.  There has been no gaff or extraordinary effort on either side.

Tradesports which I have never followed before this election cycle is finally catching up with the polls.  They had O'Malley at 85-90% to win and he has dropped 25 percentage points over the last several days.  BUT O'Malley still has much better odds than Ehrlich.  If I am reading it right : 60% O'Malley and 40% Ehrlich.

O'Malley or Ehrlich

Cardin or Steele

Duck or Bartlett

Any local races that you would like to predict?

Any upsets or surprises?

What will the Maryland after-election story be?

Will we know the results Tuesday night?

Will the MD general election be as troubled as the primary?

ALL MARYLANDERS SHOULD CALL THE FOLLOWING FOUR CONGRESSMEN

HOYER

RUPPERSBERGER

WYNN

CUMMINGS

AND ASK THAT THEY DONATE THEIR 'SAFE SEAT' CASH ON HAND TO ANDREW DUCK.

Together we can get another Maryland Democrat elected to Congress.

Links and phone numbers below:

What is most interesting to me is not that the poll finds the senate race in a dead heat or that O'Malley is ahead by 6 points.

What I find interesting is looking at the cross tabs and seeing what groups are supporting what candidates.  How are blacks polling? Whites? Independants? Young people? etc.

It seems to me it might have helped if they had spoken up earlier.  Nevertheless this is where we are, having a very uncomfortable and public discussion about race and politics four weeks before the general.  

Worried about a lack of diversity atop the Democratic statewide ticket this fall, Maryland's African-American state senators recently met privately with Martin O'Malley and Benjamin L. Cardin to plan ways of boosting support among black voters.

The private Sept. 27 meetings - including one with Maryland Democratic Party Chairman Terry Lierman - were called for shortly after the Sept. 12 primary by the state's 10 black senators, who call themselves the Committee of 10. Many say they are frustrated that both leading black candidates, Simms and Kweisi Mfume, lost in the Democratic primaries for attorney general and U.S. Senate, respectively.

Bottom line: Although Cardin and O'Malley have comfortable leads in the polls, they are based on assumptions that one in five Maryland voters will be black.  

If black voter turnout drops by 10% or 15% it hurts democratic candidates. (For O'Malley even more than Cardin.)  And it is probably the only way team rethug: ehrlich or steele can win.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/...

This column by Dan Rodericks,  a liberal columnist in today's Baltimore Sun provides one answer.  

Why would black democrats support Steele?

In Maryland's U.S. Senate race, a new SurveyUSA poll finds Ben Cardin (D) and Michael Steele (R) in a statistical tie, with Steele holding a 48% to 47% edge that's well within the survey's margin of error.

Key finding: Steele, who is black, gets 54% of white vote and 33% of the black vote, more than twice the support among blacks than fellow Republican Gov. Robert Ehrlich (R) in his race for governor.

Meanwhile, in the gubernatorial race, Martin O'Malley (D) leads Ehrlich by 7 points, 51% to 44%

I have said before that I think Steele will lose.  As a 20 year Maryland voter, it would be earth shattering news if we elected a GOP Senator.  I can't imagine it.

However, this poll shows that Cardin is going to have a tough time with African American voters and the Maryland Dem Party has lost its traditional hold on the African American vote.  

I am not so young so I may not make this event but have fun if you go....

I got this in my in box today from Mfume's campaign:

Mfume for U.S. Senate Young Professionals Happy Hour

Thursday, November 3, 2005

6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Location:  Mirrors Restaurant

33 New York Avenue, NE, Washington, DC  20002-3325

$20 Donation

Please join Mr. Mfume for happy hour and hear his message for change in the United States Senate.  There will be drink and appetizer specials.

The end of this month marks an important deadline in my campaign for Senate.  That is why I am reaching out for your help at this very critical time.

On June 30th, all Senate candidates must file detailed financial reports with the Federal Election Commission (FEC).  These reports show the amount raised and how much "cash-on-hand" is in the bank.

The FEC reports are public information and they are scrutinized by political operatives and the press to evaluate a candidate's strength or weakness.

This deadline is a crucial test of strength for my campaign.  It is incredibly important for me to raise the maximum amount possible in the next few days.

A good FEC report will generate tremendous media coverage for my campaign and would create a groundswell of support for my campaign...but a weak one could sink it.

Please give using this link http://www.mfumeforsenate.com/donations.htm to ensure that your contribution makes it to me in time to be counted in this crucial FEC report.

This is the question that may unfortunately dog progressives and the left wing of the Democratic Party for years to come.  

The McGovern legacy haunts us today even though most of us were only twinkles in me mother's eyes.  The right has so thoroughly convinced us that knee jerk liberals are unelectable and if by chance they were elected their mere presence in the halls of great legislatures would humiliate Americans in general for time eternal.  I mean isn't that what they are saying about Howard Dean--kinda of like: you aren't serious, he could never be a--fill n the blank.

Well folks its bullshit.

Howard Dean could be any fill in the blank you can imagine, and so could a lot of other progressive folk.  It is time to back true progressive candidates with your money, your vote and your vocal support.  It is a risk worth taking.  The payoff will be fantastic.