Will Defection of Hillary Voters Hurt Obama?

I'm on record as saying that whining Hillary supporters who vow never to vote for Barack Obama are guilty of cutting off their noses to spite their faces. Indeed, many have gone so far as to say they'd vote for John McCain if their "inevitable candidate" is denied the nomination. I've tried to convince these people that such sentiments amount to lunacy, that to prefer a third Bush term to Obama is the height of hubris and self-flogging.

I've worried that, should enough Hillary supporters jump ship, Obama could conceivably be denied in the general election, an historical disaster that could possibly foreshadow the eventual demise of our once great nation.

After some reflection, however, I'm not so worried anymore. My guess is that the percentage of self-avowed "Evangelical Christians" and "Core Conservatives" who stay at home rather than vote for McCain will far outstrip the percentage of stubborn Hillary supporters who defect to McCain. Republicans appear to be apathetic and lethargic this time around, and, as I have noted before, turnout will be the real story of the general election.

And why shouldn't Republicans be dispirited? The era of Republican rule has reached an ignominious and inglorious end: the economy in shambles, a result of "free market economics" run amok; an unpopular and disastrous war and occupation, based upon lies and with no end in sight; no real action on their "core" issues of gays, guns and abortion; the mortgage meltdown as a direct result of Republican-supported deregulation. The Republicans have had their chance, and it has been empirically proven their way doesn't work. Republicans are depressed, as well they should be. They've been repudiated by history, and they'll stay home in droves this time.

Obama and Hillary, on the other hand, have inspired record numbers of voters, including the elusive "younger voters," to vote during this primary season. Independents and even Republicans have crossed over to vote for both of them in large numbers. Despite the internecine battle between the two candidates, the Democrats remain inspired and invigorated.

So when you read these polls about Hillary supporters voting for McCain, or McCain gaining an advantage over "likely voters" in a contest against Obama, remember these polls are merely snapshots in time. Most of the Hillary supporters will come to their senses, and many of these so-called "likely Republican voters" won't be seen at the ballot box. Come November, folks will be thronging to the polls to vote for Democrats in numbers never seen before, while countless numbers of core Republican voters will be sitting this one out in shame.

Ho, Hum, Lakers Qualify For Postseason

Has any professional sports franchise matched the L.A. Lakers record of success? In downing the Mavericks last night, the Lakers have now qualified for post season play a remarkable 55 times in 60 years. Including their Minnesota years they have won 16 league championships (better than once every four years) and 33 division championships (more than half).

I know, it seems as if every team in the NBA gets a playoff invite every year. But try telling that to the Clippers, the sad-sack co-tenant at the Staples Center. The Clippers only make it to the playoffs once in a blue moon, or when pigs fly, or whatever hackneyed cliche you want to use. Around here, however, the Lakers not making the playoffs qualifies as a "Man Bites Dog" story.

A couple of years ago, when Mitch Kupchak unceremoniously dumped Big Shaq for some blankets and trinkets, the locals were ready to go after Mitch with torches and pitchforks. Turns out Mitch actually knew what he was doing. Now the Lakers have the best player in the game -- still in his prime -- a smart, young big man in Pau Gasol and one of the best up-and-coming stars in the league in Andrew Bynum. Can you believe that, when Bynum finally gets back, Lamar Odom will be the third option on this team?

Yes, for Lakers fans, the salad days aren't just here again -- they've never left.

Hillary More Prepared to Be Commander in Chief

Just look at some of the statements of past presidents:
Richard Nixon: "I am not a crook."
Ronald Reagan: "To the best of my knowledge, our government was not involved in this Iran-Contra business."
George H.W. Bush: "Read my lips: no new taxes."
Bill Clinton: "I did not have sex with that woman."
George W. Bush: err, time and space doesn't permit me to list all the half-truths, disseminations and flat-out lies emanating from the mouth of our most esteemed leader.

Presidents lying through their teeth to the American people has been so commonplace the last thirty years it almost seems a prerequisite for the job. In this light, Hillary's claims about being under sniper fire during her visit to Bosnia several years ago take on new meaning: she's merely a president in training, and a better trained and more believable liar than Obama, for sure.

McCain Says Sunni, Shiia "Best Friends"

During his fact-finding mission to Iraq, John McCain was quoted that it was "common knowledge" that Sunni members of Al Qaeda routinely travel to Shiia Iran for training.

In a related story, scientists announced the stunning discovery that insects in fact like windshields and that elephant seals are secretly in love with killer whales.

Meanwhile, historians of ancient Rome have unearthed conclusive evidence that the Christians in fact loved the lions.

Five Years Later

So today marks the fifth anniversary of our invasion of Iraq. Five years after we invaded -- for no apparent reason -- a sovereign nation that posed no threat to us whatsoever, we still find ourselves mired in the midst of a civil war of our own making. Five years later, and Iraq is no closer to any sort of political solution than it was the day we took down Saddam Hussein, the day our incompetent president declared "mission accomplished."

During those five years, nearly 4,000 American men and women have lost their lives in this futile, unnecessary war. Almost 300,000 of our citizens have applied for medical benefits as a result of injuries, both physical and mental, incurred during this war and occupation. As many as a million Iraqi citizens have lost their lives, and many millions more have become refugees as a result of our actions. Far from making the world "safe from terrorism" (in the words of George W. Bush), our occupation instead functions as a prime recruitment tool for those who would most like to do us harm.

As staggering as have been the human costs of this monumental foreign policy blunder, the economic costs to our nation are just as harmful. Because of this war, we have squandered the future of our children and grandchildren. Indeed, the national debt rung up -- by a self-described "conservative" administration -- is larger that the accumulated debt of all previous administrations combined. Seven years ago our nation's government operated with a surplus and boasted of a booming economy that was the envy of the world. Today, be are mired in a severe recession that threatens to become a full-blown depression, while our overwhelming and untenable national debt leaves us with few options.

So this is the legacy of George W. Bush and his war: we are now a broken country. Our military is broken, our economy is broken, the dollar is in the dumpster, and the Middle East is in shambles. And yet he and his minions have the audacity to declare this disaster, even today, was the right thing to do. That his policies have somehow made us safer, despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary. That the costs, both human and monetary, are worth the price. On this fifth anniversary of the worst foreign policy disaster in our nation's history, in the end I can only offer this: shame on you, George Bush. Shame on those who would continue to enable you. And shame on us for allowing you to do this to our nation.

An Inspiring Politician

I was seven years old when Bobby Kennedy ran for president, back in 1968. I can remember, to this day, my Mom listening to Kennedy speak, and weeping. When I asked her why she was crying, why she was sad, she said "I'm not sad, I'm happy. This man is going to be a great president. He inspires me. He inspires us all. He makes me believe we not only can, but will be a greater America."

Until today, I've never truly understood her feelings that day. I wasn't old enough to have comprehended the hope and promise inherent in Bobby Kennedy's speeches. I wasn't old enough to have heard Martin Luther King tell us "I have a dream," nor did I get to hear John F. Kennedy tell us "Ask not what your country do for you, ask what you can do for your country," other than as quaint sound bytes that only reminded me of an America that at one time was not only inspiring, but boasted of inspiring leaders.

Today, in this time, we again have a leader who inspires, whose words today actually had me weeping in my car as I was on my way to work. Barack Obama is that man, and this, I believe, is his time.

And it wasn't just his message today, however powerful it was. It was his manner. This man, so capable of delivering powerful, soaring oratory, was somber and humble this morning, befitting his subject manner.

Barack Obama is the man of the moment, who again fills us with the promise of a greater America, an America that, in his words, is a "more perfect union." He is an inspiration to me. And those are words I would never have thought I could write.

More Random Thoughts On the Day's News

Eliot Spitzer knew the Republicans were out to get him. He knew he had a target on his back. Anyone who even remotely knows of the attorney firing scandal knows the Bush administration has thoroughly and utterly politicized the Department of Justice, and that DOJ officials would do anything to get any prominent Democrat they could. Given these facts, one is left with one simple question: what the hell was Eliot Spitzer thinking?

So the Fed moved yesterday to bolster financial markets by agreeing to swap mortgage-backed securities for Treasury Notes to the tune of $200 billion, a move most experts agree will only stave of a full-fledged recession for a few months. Maybe I'm just cynical, but doesn't this just seem like an expensive election-year ploy to protect Republicans?

Some Democratic party officials have begun clamoring to have the disputed Michigan and Florida delegations seated at the party convention after all. What kind of message would this send? That playing by the rules is optional? Seating these delegations would effectively neuter the Democratic Party's ability to set a fair and sane primary season next time around. If Florida and Michigan get seated, I expect California to move its next presidential primary up to, say, December. That's December 2009.

Memo to advertisers: quit trying to ruin Easter for my little boy. The past week has seen my wife and I scrambling for the remote whenever an ad comes on extolling Target or Walmart as the best place to get goodies for my son's Easter Basket. Listen, jerks, at my house that's the Easter Bunny's job. What's next, an ad at Christmastime telling me to get my Santa presents at Toys 'r' Us? They only get to enjoy the magic of Easter and Christmas for a few years as it is -- don't blow it for them with your crass commercialism.