SEIU launches $75 million universal health care
campaign.

post from Think Progress on 04 February 2008 03:20:00 PM. © Think Progress

TNR’s Jonathan Cohn reports that SEIU announced today it will be launching a $75 million election-year campaign for universal coverage. According to the union’s press release, the effort will feature paid advertising to “draw sharp distinctions between the Republican and Democratic presidential nominees’ approach to health care, and what those differences will mean to working families.”

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e-campaign/

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Obama instills optimism, confidence

post from Everyday Citizen on 04 February 2008 03:15:06 PM. © Everyday Citizen

Much has been written about the candidates in tomorrow's caucuses and primaries, and we still are[...]

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http://www.everydaycitizen.com/2008/02/obama_instills_optimism_confid.html

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Bailout

post from Eschaton on 04 February 2008 03:15:00 PM. © Eschaton

CNBC's Gasparino is reporting that a consortium of banks my step in to bail out the municipal bond business of bond insurer Ambac. Not sure precisely how they'd split off the muni business from the shitpile business, but in any case that won't do much for the owners of big shitpile.

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http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/bRuz/~3/229106481/2008_02_03_archive.html

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Pasquotank County beaten up by NRA for lumping
gun owners and sex offenders together :-)

post from AMERICAblog: A great nation deserves the truth on 04 February 2008 03:05:00 PM. © AMERICAblog: A great nation deserves the truth

Big Endorsements Come Out For Barack Obama

post from Crooks and Liars on 04 February 2008 03:01:35 PM. © Crooks and Liars

USA Today: California first lady Maria Shriver endorsed Barack Obama for president on Sunday, calling him inspirational and a natural leader. “I thought, if Barack Obama was a state, he’d be California,” Shriver said, addressing thousands of people at a rally headlined by talk show host Oprah Winfrey. “Diverse, open, smart, independent, bucks tradition. Innovative. Inspirational. [...]

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ma/

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First Monday: Supreme Injustices Against Civil
Liberties And Equality

post from Firedoglake on 04 February 2008 03:00:28 PM. © Firedoglake

Civil rights law tends to be discussed in terms of racial equality and discrimination, because that is the context in which most people have studied the fight for lifting the less powerful to a more equal footing. We have come a long way from the days[...]

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http://firedoglake.com/2008/02/04/first-monday-supreme-injustices-against-civil-l
iberties-and-equality/

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Campaign Heaven, Campaign Hell

post from Eschaton on 04 February 2008 02:56:00 PM. © Eschaton

Markos:

Then...

Absolutely nothing for six weeks until Pennsylvania on April 22. Shit. Atrios and Booman may actually have a say this primary. How scary is that? And those 188 delegates will loom large. In fact, this is the only contest of significance (not including Guam) for an entire two months. It'll be huge.

I was discussing this with a friend last night. While we've been assuming that our little primary votes won't be especially important, due to the calendar if it actually does drag on that long the national campaigns will essentially pack up and move to PA for a month or so.

That'll be really weird.

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Brzezinski falsely asserted that McCain "stood
by" his views on immigration

post from Media Matters for America on 04 February 2008 02:49:48 PM. © Media Matters for America

On the February 4 edition of MSNBC'sMorning Joe, co-host Mika Brzezinski said of Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), "[F]orthe most part, he really does stick to his views even if they'reunpopular," adding that McCain's "views on immigration were unpopular,and he stood by them even at the peril of his campaign." In fact,McCain hasreversed his position on a key element of the immigration debate:He oncecalled for comprehensive reform that addressed the creation of aguest-worker program, a path to[...]

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Is Obama's mo' enough

From Pollster.com:

You can see the numbers headed in Obama's direction, with the blacker dots representing more recent polls, the lighter ones older polls. With Bill Clinton neutralized and all the big free media breaks falling into Obama's lap (like the "Yes We Can" viral video and the surprise Maria Shriver endorsement), Hillary's best hope at this point appears to ride out the clock.

For Obama, his task for Tuesday is simply to survive. He needs to finish within 200 delegates of Clinton to keep it close, because the rest of the month is tailor made for Obama -- Louisiana primary and Nebraska and Washington caucuses on Saturday, February 9th, Maine caucuses on Sunday February 10, the Beltway Primary on February 12 -- DC, Maryland, and Virginia, and Hawaii and Wisconsin the next Tuesday, February 19. Of those states, only Maine might prove kind to Hillary (though we haven't had any polling since October of last year, when Hillary had a commanding 46-10 lead). The rest -- 563 delegates' worth of contests, will favor Obama heavily.

So Hillary's task is to defeat Obama decisively on Tuesday. If she can't manage that, then her plan B is to survive February to fight in March. On Tuesday the 4th, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas and Vermont go to the polls. Vermont appears the most competitive right now, though that will change with a couple of weeks to campaign in these states. Winning Ohio, in particular will be important for propaganda purposes.

Tiny Wyoming will go on Saturday March 8, with its 18 delegates perhaps actually mattering. Mississippi, with its 40 delegates, should be Obama territory on the 11th. Then...

Absolutely nothing for six weeks until Pennsylvania on April 22. Shit. Atrios and Booman may actually have a say this primary. How scary is that? And those 188 delegates will loom large. In fact, this is the only contest of significance (not including Guam) for an entire two months. It'll be huge.

After that, another two weeks pass until Tuesday May 6, when 218 delegates are at stake in Indiana and North Carolina. A week later, 39 delegates will be decided in West Virginia, a week after that on the 20th, Kentucky and Oregon, and that closes out May. Given the demographics of NC (heavily African American, lots of creative class thanks to the Research Triangle), that'll be Obama territory. Oregon Democrats are heavily "creative class", so lean that one toward Obama. Beats me about West Virginia and Kentucky, though West Virginia was competitive for Obama the last time it was polled in April of 2007, back when he wasn't competitive anywhere (he trailed 37-22, with Edwards getting 19), so that bodes well. Meanwhile, Kentucky has never been polled for the presidential contest, so who knows.

So what's left? Two weeks later, on June 3, Montana and South Dakota select 47 total delegates, and then that Saturday, Puerto Rico closes things out with its 63 delegates up for grabs.

So how will this shake out? Beats me. But task one is for Obama to survive this Tuesday. If he does, task two is for Hillary to survive this month. If she does, then they both have to survive the mini-Super Tuesday on March 4th. If they do, this thing goes to Pennsylvania. Or to North Carolina.

Or to the convention.

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http://feeds.dailykos.com/~r/dailykos/index/~3/229090057/2906

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Fearguth’s Great Snark Hunt

According to one veteran of the sex industry, the GOPconventions are ?a lot better for the sex workers. Weget a lot more business when the Republicans are in town.Most Democrats, on the other hand, would rather blog.?

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http://www.reachm.com/amstreet/archives/2008/02/04/fearguths-great-snark-hunt-60/

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