The Dooryard

Like a vampire, Hillary rises from the dead

This couldn't be going any better. Hillary Clinton last night won primaries in Ohio and Texas, reviving her sagging campaign after losing 11 straight states (oh, she also won Rhode Island). While Obama still leads in the all-important delegate count, her wins here are incredibly important. She now has an important claim to use with the superdelegates: She has won California, New York, Texas and Ohio (plus Florida and Michigan, if you want to count it), meaning she's won all of the eight most populous states except Obama's home state of Illinois. Going into Pennsylvania, she's also won the major states that surround it: New York, New Jersey and Ohio.

Keep watching kids, this is going to get really ugly. With Clinton's wins, she isn't going away until the convention. There will be hard-fought battles over the superdelegates, and there will be a war over seating Florida and Michigan (and in a recent CNN poll, over 50% of the people think they should be - despite the agreement between Clinton and Obama that they wouldn't be).

Members of the media overwhelmingly donating to the Dems

I haven't been paying much attention to the election, since I can't even cast a vote for another four months or so. I heard some rumblings about Hillary Clinton's "plantgate" (shocker) and Giuliani picking up Pat Robertson's endorsement (an actual shocker). But I stumbled across this on The Huffington Post (a little vomit in my mouth): A great service that tells you who has donated money to what candidates.

On the off chance that you still don't believe that the media is biased, try these numbers on for size:

• Of all the people whose job description is "journalist," 96.7% gave to Democrats; the other 3.3% gave to Republicans.
• Of all the people whose job description is "writer," 87.3% gave to Democrats; the other 12.7% to the GOP.
• There has long been a claim that, while the writers are liberal, the people with power are conservative Republicans. Not so. Of all the "editors," 84.2% gave to Democrats, and 67.1% of "publishers" gave to Democrats.

I also tried a few job descriptions of other kinds of people of interest to my life:

• 82.7% of all "plumbers" gave to the GOP.
• 50.1% of all "athletes" gave to the GOP.
• 52.4% of all "dentists" gave to a Democrat.

Scooter Libby no Martha Stewart

Been on the Cape since Friday. Love it. I ran into Andy Towle last night, who was as lovely as ever. I do enjoy him. More on him, ipods and Provincetown later.

Anyhow, he asked me what I thought of Bush's commuting Scooter Libby's sentence. I've run into several people this weekend asking me to defend Bush for this or that. But the thing is, I'm just not a big fan of George Bush. I haven't been for a few years. This one, though, is pretty defensible. To me. Presidents pardon people all the time, wiping the crime they've been found guilty of off their record entirely. Bush didn't do that. He said that Libby would not have to serve jail time; though the quarter-million-dollar fine and two years or probation stand. I also like that he did it now, while he still has 18 months as president, instead of waiting until he's hours from being a civilian again.

Hillary Clinton, of course, attacked Bush for it, saying that it was done to protect Bush's legacy. Even if that was the case (Bush said he did it because it was a trumped-up - though just - charge and the penalty was harsh), so what? Her husband pardoned 140 criminals and waited until he had one foot out the White House door to do it. And you know what? If she is president, she'll pardon criminals too.

Totalitarian socialist establishment lies, chapter 742

The liberal establishment must be stopped at all costs. They are liars, cheaters and swindlers. And this is the latest example. Liberals in the media, like Chris Matthews and the despicable John Aravosis, have completely twisted something that Ann Coulter said to make it look like she wants John Edwards assassinated. Of course, that is NOT what she said. The little clip that these totalitarian liberals are playing of Coulter is a complete misrepresentation of what she said. Of course, they don't care what the truth is; they only care about control and spreading their hate-mongering. Thank God for people like Bill O'Reilly who talked to Coulter about what she said and played THE WHOLE CLIP for their audiences (above; her comment is at 2:45).

Thank you Ann for not comparing gays to John Edwards!!!

Edwards, Aravosis, Matthews, and the rest of the divisive totalitarian liberals who showed only a 10-second misrepresentation of Coulter in order to spread more hate and misunderstanding should be ashamed of themselves.

Yet another reason to be scared to death of the liberal establishment.

Please support someone other than Edwards

I've had enough of John Edwards and his little act. There are some good, qualified people running for president in both parties. Edwards is not one of them. He is a politician's politician. He is a lawyer who made tons of money from preying on people's sympathies and lack of good sense. He is neither good nor qualified. Please don't support him.

He is an opportunist like none other; and that includes Hillary Clinton! Thanks to Ann Coulter, he now has a section of his Web site dedicated to the eeeeevil right wing, featuring comments by Ann Coulter. Of course, he's giving her a platform, using his wife to keep Ann in front of the cameras, and using Ann to raise money for his campaign. Please don't give a penny to this man. He stands for nothing.

There are other worthy candidates out there. No matter where you are on the political spectrum, someone better represents you than John Edwards. No matter what issues you feel strongly about, one of the top candidates actually cares more about them than John Edwards. He is a heartless lawyer, a slick salesman, and I beg you to support Hillary Clinton before giving a penny to this man's quest to live in the White House.

"So what do you really think of him?"

"I got a crush on Obama"

Now this is great political humor. It's not offensive, doesn't lie, doesn't distort. It's just a great, fun video with a cute chick and a handsome articulate politician. I actually think the song itself is pretty good. With a little more production value, this thing could hit the pop stations! Very cute and clever.

Obama Girl's Web site

The important issues

An interesting poll from CNN. They asked likely Republican primary voters in New Hampshire what their first, second and third most important issues are heading into the election. Statistically, 0% said "gay marriage" was No. 1, and only 3% put it second or third. Those were probably the GAY Republicans who are PRO gay marriage; my guess is it would actually get more importance amongst Democrats for that reason.

I'm most encouraged by this because this kind of thing frees up politicians to take positions on both sides of the issue. With it really a non-issue, the candidates can move toward what they REALLY think.

How I would, at this point in time, rank the issues offered in the poll (and its rankings in the poll in parens):

1) Economy (3)
2) Terrorism (8)
3) Homeland security (5)
4) Budget deficit (12)
5) Environmental Concerns (Oddly, wasn't offered)
6) Employment/jobs (18)
7) Illegal Immigration (2)
8) Taxes (10)
9) War in Iraq (1)
10) Gay marriage (17)
11) Foreign policy (7)
12) Education (9)
13) Health care (4)
14) Social Security (15)
15) Electing a Republican (16)
16) Medicare/prescription drugs (14)
17) Gun control (11)
18) Morality (13)
19) Abortion (6)

18-year-old Republican coming out

Good for Tyler Whitney. The 18-year-old who works for presidential candidate Tom Tancredo has been slowly coming out of the closet of late, according to a publication in Michigan called PrideSource. According to the site, Whitney "has been telling other conservative activists for about a month of his coming out journey."

Bay Buchanan, an advisor to Tancredo's campaign, said exactly what most conservatives would say: "A person's sexual preference is a personal matter and has nothing to do with the campaign."

Unfortunately, some of the divisive gay mafia are already out to get Whitney because he dares disagree with them politically; they are trying to make his coming out seem salacious because he's a proud Republican. Imagine that: The gay left making it appear scandalous that someone is coming out of the closet. Oh, I'm shocked.

But I say good for him. He obviously understands the truly welcoming nature of most conservatives, and he isn't afraid to be himself. It's a breath of fresh air in a Republican Party that has way too many closeted members (as do the Democrats, but the perception of the two is certainly very different).

Hannity: the good and the not-so-good

I often enjoy watching Sean Hannity of Fox's Hannity & Colmes and listening to his podcasts. Almost every walk to work goes by faster listening to Hannity chat with Dick Morris, Rudy Giulianni and others. But I must say, he does often sink to hyperbole and misdirection when discussing topics and it bothers me.

The latest is the immigration reform bill. He is dead against it. Keeps talking about the death of American and Mexicans coming here to raid our entitlement programs. What bothers me, though, is his constant painting of this bill as the result of a "smoke-filled back-room meeting" between U.S. Senators who have lost their way. As though only Sean Hannity can decide what is in the heart of men. "The Republicans have been swindled," he says, as though Ted Kennedy cast some powerful spell over the Republicans who are supporting the bill. It's the nonsensical misdirection like this that gives guys like Hannity and O'Reilly a bad name. I just wish they'd stick to the facts and their beliefs rather than sinking to the tactics of the divisives.

Immigration bill deserves support

When I first heard about the proposed federal immigration bill, I was watching Fox News. I can't remember who it was on there, but I heard lots of "amnesty for criminals," and I immediately had a negative view of it.

Then I read what was in the bill: A dramatic increase in border security, a 12-year path to citizenship, and fines for people who came here illegally. The people who want to become citizens have a long road to hoe to get it.

So why the cry of amnesty? Because the Pat Buchanans of the world, whose all-or-nothing social conservatism has as many destructive elements as those on the far left, simply don't want Mexicans coming here en masse, and because they are hung up on the notion that these people came here illegally when they first crossed the border. I have the same concern about their illegal actions. But, we don't just kick out everyone who has committed a crime. Each crime has its appropriate punishment, from fines for speeding to jail time for theft to the death penalty for murder. Coming across a country's border illegally? While I'd love to see a massive fine, the $5,000-plus laid out by the bill seems appropriate and would raise tens of billions of dollars.

 

On the other side, many Hispanics, illegal immigrants, and other apologists for illegal immigrants are angry because the bill makes it too hard to get citizenship, and because the bill makes what an individual can add to America more important than their family. God forbid a nation should look out for its own best interest and try to attract skilled workers.

I think everyone involved with the bill, from Ted Kennedy to President Bush, should be commended for the bill. At a time when America is being torn apart by partisan politics it is encouraging to see people on both sides of the aisle come together, compromise, and make things happen.