#NeverTrump movement believes they have the votes needed to unbind delegates and allow them to "vote their conscience" and nominate somebody other than Donald Trump. Update!

#NeverTrump delegates to force floor vote at #RNCinCLE: https://t.co/7PBuWYmxRO pic.twitter.com/a3LjNJo9FJ

— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) July 18, 2016

Courtesy of the Daily Beast:

Delegates to the Republican National Convention opposed to Donald Trump as their party’s presumptive nominee may have enough signatures to force a full floor vote on whether to “unbind” all of the delegates, allowing them to vote their conscience. According to Politico, the contingent has received a majority of signatures from nine states and territories. The threshold is seven. Former New Hampshire Sen. Gordon Humphrey has reportedly handed the signatures to the convention’s secretary. The floor vote is unlikely to be successful—however, it will bring even more attention to the disgruntled factions of the Republican Party opposed to Trump.

I have been watching this group scramble around the convention floor all morning trying to get their paperwork to the proper officials before the deadline.

Apparently they have accomplished that so we will wait to see what happens.

Update: Here is more courtesy of Fox News:

Anti-Trump Republicans launched a last-ditch bid on Monday to deny the New York businessman the party’s nomination by trying to force a state-by-state vote at the Cleveland convention on the rules that bind delegates to back Donald Trump. 

The effort stands little chance of succeeding, but could pose a major disruption to the proceedings just as party officials were trying to smooth over divisions. The Trump camp is said to be "livid" at the revived push. 

"This is a big headache," one official told Fox News. 

I told you this week would be entertaining!

Update 2: in the meantime the #DumpTrump movement takes to the streets in protest.

March to #DumpTrump is hundreds deep in dt #Cleveland #ResistRNC #RNCinCLE pic.twitter.com/RhtCw8mNnw

— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) July 18, 2016

More popcorn?

Twitter response to the rules vote on the convention floor.

First the GOP abandoned “character counts.”
Now the GOP abandons “Rule of Law.”
All to serve the oompaloompa.

— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) July 18, 2016

As delegates revolt at #RNCinCLE, I picture @HillaryClinton sitting in an office somewhere like pic.twitter.com/kQAbKhSunR

— Emily Cahn (@CahnEmily) July 18, 2016

Oh, this is too good: the official #RNCinCLE photo is being taken with big holes where the CO and IA delegations should be.

— Nathaniel Rakich (@baseballot) July 18, 2016

And remember folks this is only DAY ONE.

Bernie Sanders is now asking for money to help his supporters get to the Democratic convention.

"Airfare, I'm just asking for airfare dammit!"

Courtesy of the Washington Post:  

Sen. Bernie Sanders's presidential campaign sent its supporters an urgent call for donations Tuesday, saying it was up to them whether pledged delegates could afford trips to Philadelphia. 

"Here's the thing: Our delegates are not wealthy campaign contributors," wrote campaign manager Jeff Weaver in the email. "They're not party insiders or establishment elites. They're working folks, and it's not easy for many of them to fly to Philly and stay in hotels for a week. ... It's easy for the political establishment to navigate this and know whom to call to find the right way in. That, or they're wealthy enough to pay for themselves."

Oh yeah, let me dig deep into my savings to help undermine the Democrats at their own convention and give Donald Trump even more help during this election cycle.

No thanks, I'm with her.

The Post also has a story that takes Sanders to task over that condescending interview he did with Jake Tapper this weekend:

That's a stunning answer from Sanders. What he's saying -- if you read between the lines -- is that the ball is in Clinton's court when it comes to winning his endorsement. Not only does he think she needs to come to him, but he also believes she still has to prove that she is "prepared to stand with them [the American people], as they work longer hours for low wages, as they cannot afford health care, as their kids can't afford to go to college." 

Now seems like a good time to revisit the fact that Clinton has already effectively won the Democratic nomination over Sanders, not the other way around. It's good to remind yourself of that fact because from reading Sanders's quote above, you would assume he won.

Boy isn't that the truth?

Slate magazine also has a story on Sanders titled simply, "Bernie Blew It."

The article ends with this paragraph: 

As it stands, the Vermont senator has almost vanished from the news cycle, overshadowed by Clinton’s growing lead, overall Democratic unity, global events, and the never-ending emissions of Donald Trump. He’ll still matter to the shape and direction of the Democratic National Convention, but he could have had a larger, more visible role. Bernie Sanders had his shot, and he threw it away.

Now invariably this is where the butthurt Bernie-bots start asking me why I won't stop writing about Sanders and let him slink off the national stage in peace.

And my response to that is to say that I will be happy to never write about Sanders again just as soon as he endorses Clinton, officially ends his loser campaign, and actually slinks off the national stage.

Bernie Sanders supporters have violent meltdown at Nevada conventions forcing security to shut it down.

Convention ended w/security shutting it down, Bernie folks rushed stage, yelling obscenities, throwing chairs. Unity Now! On to Philly 2/2

— Jon Ralston (@RalstonReports) May 15, 2016

Courtesy of MSNBC:  

On the surface, the results from the state Democratic convention in Nevada may not seem especially noteworthy. Hillary Clinton defeated Bernie Sanders in the state’s caucuses in February, and her supporters prevailed at Saturday’s party gathering where delegates to the national convention were chosen. None of this has much of an effect on the overall race. 

At least, that’s the way it may look on paper. When activists gathered in Las Vegas on Saturday, however, Sanders supporters hoped to take advantage of Nevada’s complex process to give him the statewide edge in the delegate count, despite coming in second in February balloting. 

The Washington Post explains what led up to the explosion of anger:


Prior to the state convention, some Sanders supporters began an effort to shift the convention rules in a way that they viewed as more favorable to their candidate. One of those changes, the Las Vegas Sun reported, was a process for verifying voice votes; another took issue with the state party chairwoman, Roberta Lange, heading up the convention. Supporters at the event circulated petitions to the same end. The scene was set. 

The first report from the credentials committee on Saturday morning indicated that Clinton had a slight edge in delegates. Sanders fans voted against that report, per Jon Ralston, and then demanded a recount – but this was simply a preliminary figure…. That was when the vote to approve the rules as written – Roberta’s Rules versus Robert’s Rules, as some Sanders backers dubbed them – was conducted by voice vote. The motion, seconded by a Sanders supporter, passed – which is when the room, in Ralston’s phrasing, “erupts.” 

You can see that eruption for yourself right here.

And things actually got worse from there:

Some Sanders supporters upset with Saturday's proceedings protested against state party chairwoman, Roberta Lange, outside the Nevada State Democratic Party headquarters on Sunday. Her cellphone number was posted on social media and officials said Lange had received hundreds of phone calls and text messages, including death threats.

Some Sanders' supporters are now talking about a third party emerging to challenge the Democrats:  

A third party will emerge from the anger, frustration, and animosity felt by millions of Bernie Sanders supporters, who believe Bernie stands for ideals, while Clinton represents the vapid allure of political power.It’s impossible for establishment Democrats to understand the level of emotion involved in helping elect Bernie Sanders in 2016. 

Battling a political machine that earns millions in speaking fees from Wall Street and lobbyist ties, Vermont’s Senator has raised enough money to compete and win. Also, the groundwork for a new political party is rooted in the manner establishment Democrats have treated loyal constituents.

So essentially everything we gleefully predicted might happen to the Republican party if they nominated Donald Trump is instead happening within the Democratic party.

I have little doubt that the GOP convention will come off relatively smoothly.

As for the Democratic convention......well has anybody seen the beginning of "Saving Private Ryan?"

This should be our time. The Republicans have one of the most deeply flawed candidates in history, while the Democrats are on the cusp of nominating one of the most qualified individuals ever to run for office.

But instead once again Democrats are on the verge of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

Does everybody finally understand why I have been calling for Bernie Sanders to drop out of this race? Is it finally getting through?

He cannot win, period.

But he can, and IS, creating the kind of chaos and mayhem that destroys political parties and their candidates. Both at the top of the ticket, and down ballot.

Nevada Democratic convention erupts as Bernie Sanders supporters demand recount.

@SenSanders Demanding a recount! NV convention getting ugly pic.twitter.com/24Fg0t8V0Z

— Jennie Helena (@helena_jennie) May 14, 2016

Courtesy of The Hill: 

Tensions were high at the Democratic convention in Nevada Saturday, with Bernie Sanders supporters demanding delegate recounts, booing Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and causing other disruptions, according to local media reports. 

Sanders supporters were angry over a voice vote that adopted a set of temporary convention rules as the permanent rules, according to the Las Vegas Sun. 

And supporters also reacted angrily to the count of delegates attending the convention, which put Clinton at an advantage. 

There were also reports that a female Clinton supporter was knocked unconscious by a Bernie Sanders supporter, but the video posted is lacking in detail.

Apparetnly things were not much calmer up here in Alaska:

Internal strife rocked the Alaska Democratic Party on Friday as it headed into its three-day state convention, with some members of the party that heavily favor Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton protesting the convention by planning an alternative event Saturday night. 

“Alaska voters are an independent people and they don’t want to be told what to do,” said Ed Cullinane, a member of the state central committee from an Anchorage House district. 

The anti-convention event at the Egan Civic and Convention Center comes because Florida congresswoman and Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz plans to give the keynote speech at the convention in Anchorage Saturday, Cullinane said. 

Alaskan Democrats gave Sanders 81.6 percent of their support in the March caucus. Many believe Wasserman Schultz has limited debates and unfairly allocated resources to give Clinton a boost, he said. 

“A lot of us feel that Debbie Wasserman Schultz has displayed very unethical behavior,” he said.

They do realize that holding their own unsanctioned anti-convention does not really help them to elect delegates right?

Is anybody else getting a weird Ron Paul deja vu out all of this?

Explaining "Bernie-math."

My favorite line:

"Then you add ten momentum points for every state he won in a row, multiply that by how much birds like him."

I totally feel that first guy's pain. I have been trying to explain this same thing for weeks right here on IM. All I've manged to do so far is piss a whole lot of people off.

Donald Trump supporters seem to think they can threaten their way to the presidency.

Courtesy of Politico:  

Since Donald Trump came up empty in his quest for delegates at the Republican state assembly in Colorado Springs nearly two weeks ago, his angry supporters have responded to Trump’s own claims of a “rigged” nomination process by lashing out at Republican National Committee delegates that they believe won’t support Trump at the party’s convention — including House. 

The mild-mannered chairman estimates he’s gotten between 4,000 and 5,000 calls on his cell phone. Many, he says, have ended with productive conversations. He’s referred the more threatening, violent calls to police. His cell phone is still buzzing this week, as he attends the RNC quarterly meetings in Florida, and he’s not the only one. 

In hotel hallways and across dinner tables, many party leaders attending this week’s meetings shared similar stories. One party chair says a Trump supporter recently got in his face and promised “bloodshed” if he didn’t win the GOP nomination. An Indiana delegate who criticized Trump received a note warning against “traditional burial” that ended with, “We are watching you.” 

The threats come months ahead of a possible contested convention, where Trump is all-but certain to enter with a plurality of delegates bound to him on the first ballot, but he could lose support on subsequent ballots as rules will allow delegates to vote however they choose. And although the harassers are typically anonymous, many party leaders on the receiving end of these threats hold Trump himself at least partly responsible, viewing the intimidation efforts as a natural and obvious outgrowth of the candidate’s incendiary rhetoric. 

Earlier I reported on this happening in Colorado, but now it seems to be spreading.

That certainly does not bode well for the Republican party, but it can be extremely helpful to the Democrats in the general if the GOP remains a house divided.

And once again this is why it is so important for the Democrats to get their ducks all in a row so that they can show unity in response to a party in  the political equivalent of free fall.

Sarah Palin suddenly cancels appearance in Wyoming to support Donald Trump.

Courtesy of Politico: 

Sarah Palin will not be appearing as a surrogate for Donald Trump at the Wyoming Republican Party convention this weekend, the state's GOP announced on Thursday. 

According to a release on the Republican Party of Wyoming’s website, the Trump campaign said she would not be attending. It provided no explanation for the last-minute cancellation. 

“The Donald Trump campaign has informed the Wyoming Republican Party that Sarah Palin, the scheduled surrogate speaker for the presidential candidate, will not be attending the State GOP Convention,” the release says. “Former Governor Palin was scheduled to speak to the convention delegates Saturday morning between 10-11am along with presidential candidate Ted Cruz and John Kasich surrogate Governor Butch Otter of Idaho.” 

“The Trump campaign has not indicated whether another one of Trump’s surrogates will be in Casper this Saturday morning,” it continues. 

So what are our choices here?

Another Palin pregnancy?

Another Palin arrest?

Or did Donald Trump finally realize that he loses in every place that Palin shows up to support him?

Palin also gave an interview the other day in which she said this:  

Palin said voters know better than to be fooled by party leaders. 

"How dare they?" Palin asked, denouncing "arrogant political operatives who underestimate the wisdom of the people." 

If party leaders try to intervene at the July convention, "we will rise up and say our vote does count, our activism does count," she said. 

Palin said she is not convinced by pledges from party leaders that the GOP nominee will be chosen from among those running for president. 

"There are some snakes in there," she said of party leaders. "I've had to deal with the political machinery my whole career." 

Palin said she plans to attend the convention in Cleveland, but she conceded that she may have to "invite myself to the party." 

"I can't see any of them inviting me," she said of party leaders. "I think they are afraid of what I would say."

Yeah I can see why Trump might not want her making appearances on his behalf. 

Another win for Bernie Sanders in Wyoming yesterday, but does it really help?

Courtesy of USA Today:  

Sen. Bernie Sanders won Wyoming’s Democratic caucus Saturday as he looks to narrow Hillary Clinton’s sizable lead in delegates needed to clinch the Democratic Party’s nomination. 

A victory in the Cowboy State marks Sanders' eighth in the past nine contests before a critical showdown April 19 in New York. With only 14 delegates at stake, the results won’t mean much in the grand delegate scheme, and Sanders has performed well in similar Western, rural states like Nebraska. While Sanders won the popular vote at the Wyoming caucus 56% to Clinton's 44%, they each received seven delegates.

This makes the seventh victory in a row for Sanders.

However as USA Today pointed out he and Hillary split the delegates evenly, and in fact Hillary had already secured Wyoming's four super delegates, so in the end it only counts as a victory as far as momentum is concerned.

However if Sanders were to pull off a victory in New York, whose primary is scheduled for April 19th along with Connecticut and Delaware, that might prove more than a little unsettling for the Clinton camp.

Right now that appears unlikely, but even a close second could result in a serious loss of confidence for Hillary and her supporters.

Idaho Republican convention collapses due to infighting and acrimony among the delegates. Boy do I love good news on a Monday!

Seriously what is going on here?

Courtesy of Raw Story:  

The Idaho state GOP convention collapsed on Saturday as the presiding Republican U.S. congressman called a halt to the proceedings amid infighting and walk-outs by delegates. 

Saying the party had hit “rock bottom,” 1st District Idaho Congressman Raul Labrador adjourned the convention without electing a chairman, establishing a platform or completing any of its scheduled business, according to the Spokesman-Review. 

“This is as low as the party can go,” said Labrador. “We have hit bottom. I think the party has no choice but to go up from here.” 

The three-day convention dissolved into acrimony as various factions representing the Tea Party and the libertarian wing battled over unseating delegates. 

According to the Huffington Post, all 15 delegates from Bannock County were successfully deposed, with a move to remove delegates from Ada and Twin Falls counties in the works before Labrador gaveled the proceedings to a close. 

State Sen. Chuck Winder (R-Boise) criticized the attempts disqualify entire delegations from the three counties. 

“It was basically the ultra-, ultra-conservative, tea party-libertarian type people basically flexing their muscle in the way the thing was organized,” said Winder. “It’s a real shame that a convention comes to that stage, where there really wasn’t any real floor leadership, there wasn’t any fairness in the process, either in the credentials committee or on the floor. It was all predetermined. It’s kind of ‘who’s going to have the power,’ rather than working together.”

This same scenario is playing out, in one form or another, all over the country. 

The Tea Party, who got a taste of power and liked, are determined to either take over the Republican party or tear it apart.

We saw this same thing happen up here in Alaska, and currently the establishment Republicans maintain a tenuous hold on leadership, but things remain shaky.

Which is great news for our Democratic Senator and will undoubtedly mean the same for Democrats in other red states where this infighting is taking place.

Wendy Davis welcomes the GOP delegates to Fort Worth. Oh this is good.

Click image to play video

Oh man that's going to ruffle a few Republican feathers.

I have to say that I really like Wendy's style.

And I hope Texas gets it act together and puts this lady into the Governor's mansion. Because then we will REALLY see some feathers get ruffled!

Especially since the Texas Republicans are rapidly devolving into  a bunch of slack jawed, knuckle dragging, cultural cavemen (and women.)

At least according to the first draft of their 2014 platform:  

Homosexuality: Delegates have stripped language from the party’s plank on homosexuality that says: “we affirm that the practice of homosexuality tears at the fabric of society and contributes to the breakdown of the family unit. Homosexual behavior is contrary to the fundamental, unchanging truths that have been ordained by God.” However, delegates have inserted language that supports therapy or treatment to “escape from the homosexual lifestyle.” 

“We recognize the legitimacy and value of counseling which offers reparative therapy and treatment to patients who are seeking escape from the homosexual lifestyle. No laws or executive orders shall be imposed to limit or restrict access to this type of therapy.” 

Note: This change drew some ire during testimony Thursday morning, with at least one delegate imploring the committee to return to the platform language about homosexuality tearing at the fabric of society. 

Abortion: 

This language looks new: “Until our final goal of total constitutional rights for the unborn child is achieved, we support laws that restrict and regulate abortion including, but not limited to: 

1. parental and informed consent; 
2. prohibition of abortion for gender selection; 
3. prohibition of abortion due to the results of genetic diagnosis 
4. licensing, liability, and malpractice insurance for abortionists and abortion facilities;
5. prohibition of financial kickbacks for abortion referrals; 
6. prohibition of partial birth late-term abortions 
7. the prohibition of the manufacturing and sale of abortifacients (e.g. morning after pill);
8. new causes of action for so called “wrongful birth” or “wrongful life”; 
9. enactment of any other laws which will advance the right to life for unborn children; 
10. health insurance coverage for abortion services and abortifacients under Texas law should be considered supplemental coverage and billed to the beneficiary; 
11. and repeal of judicial bypass. 

Fracking dollars for counties: 

Delegates putting together the draft platform also threw counties a bone: 

“Counties with oil and gas production should receive a portion of the production taxes the state collects so that the road system can be maintained for the dual purpose of accommodating the needs of the industry and providing adequate public safety.” 

Benghazi 

And then there’s this: 

“We call upon the United States House of Representatives to appoint a select committee and a special prosecutor in order to subpoena testimony to fully investigate all aspects of the Benghazi debacle, including, but not limited to, the reason Ambassador Stevens was in Benghazi; the denied assistance before and during the attack, the accounts of personnel who participated in the defense of the Embassy Annex, and the apparent attempt by the White House to deceive the American public with a concocted story about a spontaneous reaction to a YouTube video. We call for bringing those responsible to justice.”

Embracing reparative therapy, which the psychiatric community has condemned has harmful to gay people, adopting draconian abortion standards, and doubling down on Benghazi?

Oh yeah, Texas needs Wendy Davis alright. Desperately!

So THIS is how the Republican party deals with its Teabagger problem!

So apparently somebody LITERALLY bribed a bus driver to keep delegates opposed to the rules change from being inside the convention hall when the vote was taken. For those wondering how far the Republican establishment will go to retain power, I think you have your answer.

And the fact that the outcome of the "vote" was already pre-written onto the teleprompter is incredible.

Look I COMPLETELY understand the GOP's desire to get their party back out of the hands of these Teabagger idiots, but I think that by doing it THIS way they may have caused a far bigger problem than they temporarily solved.

And as a Democrat, I find that pretty awesome.

Personally I will be surprised if the Republican party survives in its current form for the next twenty years.

The problem facing us in the upcoming election. And a possible solution from an unlikely source.

This may be a comic, but there is nothing comical about the very real problem facing us in the 2012 elections.

If this were a level playing field the Democrats would mop the floor with the Republicans, but there will be NOTHING fair about how this election pans out.

The Republicans are like the kid who starts running and then yells "GO," or ties your shoelaces together when you're not looking, or "accidentally" trips you at the starting line. In their eyes winning is all that counts and "everything is fair in love, and war."  And OH how they "love" the "war" of politics.

That is why it is of paramount importance for the Obama supporters to get out the vote, and not JUST get it out, but get it out in HUGE numbers. History has shown that the GOP cannot steal an election if there are too many votes on the other side to fudge.

However there might be a little help coming the Democrats way, because as it turns out there seems to be a very aggressive fly in the Republican ointment.

Ron Paul.

He has yet to win a primary. All his other fellow long-shots have dropped out (or will by the end of the day). The Republican National Committee is calling former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney the “presumptive nominee.” 

Yet at state conventions around the country, Paul supporters are increasing the candidate’s support by taking over state party committees and educating fellow Paul fans in arcane rules. 

While at many conventions Romney backers are split between numerous would-be delegates, Paul supporters are showing up in droves and voting with discipline for a delegate slate. 

With a plurality of delegates from five states, Paul supporters could nominate him from the convention floor — the goal of at least some Paul supporters.

It appears that the Ron Paul people are about to give the Republicans a taste of their own bitter medicine, and are actively attempting to undermine the selection of Mitt Romney as the GOP nominee by hook or by crook.  And make no mistake they will NOT be dissuaded, because apparently they see themselves as the saviors of the Republican party.

At least according to this e-mail.

After we take over the Alaska convention, we will be able to nominate Dr. Paul from the floor at the Republican National Convention. We will have a floor fight at the national convention and when it's all said and done, Dr. Paul will be the nominee. Despite what the Republican Party wants us to believe, this election is not about beating Obama. This election is about cleansing the Republican Party. The poor excuse for Americans that support Santorum, Gingrich, and Romney need to be run out of the Republican Party. Once we have cleansed the Republican Party and President Paul is elected, we will end America’s wars of aggression, we will put an end to American imperialism, and we will end the Fed!

So while the Republicans are actively trying to disenfranchise minority voters, Diebold away votes from Obama, and undermine Democracy yet again in his upcoming election, they are also simultaneous struggling to maintain control of their own party and fighting off an insurgency of Ron Paul supporters.

Wow! And we thought the last election cycle was a train wreck!

Hillary supporter who threatened to vote for McCain may lose delegate status. I just love karma.

A Democratic National Convention delegate pledged to Hillary Rodham Clinton says she hopes to fight off an attempt by Wisconsin Democrats to take away her credentials because of her past statement that she would vote for John McCain if Clinton wasn't the nominee.

"Keeping national delegate status is very important to me," Debra Bartoshevich said Thursday. "I believe that Hillary is the better candidate of all of them."

I hate to break it to Ms. Bartoshevich but Hillary is not the candidate. Obama is.

Bartoshevich told the newspaper she felt Clinton was being treated unfairly and she questioned Obama's experience. She also said she had signed up with "Citizens for McCain," encouraged by her sister, who has served in Iraq and backs the Republican.

That report came out just as Wisconsin Democrats were gathering for their state convention in Stevens Point on June 13, and the convention quickly approved a resolution to challenge Bartoshevich's status as a delegate to the Democratic convention in Denver in August.

"It's extremely important that we send a message that Democrats in the state of Wisconsin will never support somebody who supports John McCain for president," Wineke said at the time, to cheers from the hundreds of party activists.

The message here kids is that politics is a serious business and if you want to participate you are going to have to stop throwing a fucking tantrum, accept that your candidate lost, and vote with your party. Or else you are no longer part of the party.

Yet another woman doing her best to undermine the woman's movement by acting like a spoiled child.

Is the DNC Rules and Bylaws meeting today simply a dog and pony show? Has the decision already been made?

Two sources, including a high-ranking official with the Florida delegation, have confirmed that the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee reached an agreement last night and will seat the state's entire delegation but give each delegate half a vote. The result would be a net gain of 19 delegates for Sen. Hillary Clinton, though no word yet on how the superdelegates from the state will be allocated. It is, the official says, a compromise that Sen. Barack Obama will be willing to make. "There will be theater but not much fight."

Well it looks like. At least in Florida's case.

Now how about Michigan?

Circumstances, however, are looking very much different concerning the battle over how to handle Michigan's delegation. As of Saturday morning, no compromise had been reached. The idea of splitting the state's delegation 50-50 has been discussed but Clinton's camp, one source said, was not agreeing to the arrangement. In addition, reports are circulating around the DNC meeting that Sen. Carl Levin, who will be speaking on behalf of Michigan, will press for the seating of the state's full delegation, with full votes for each.

Well that is just bullshit. No way can these delegates be given full votes. I mean Obama was not even on the damn ballot!

You know I would to mention that it is the Republicans who constantly change the rules to steal elections. Not Democrats!

If you want a Presidential candidate with integrity and trustworthiness then you certainly do not want Hillary Clinton.

Hillary is fine with the DNC rule to keep Michigan and Florida from seating their delegates at the convention for breaking the rules, right up until she needs them to steal the nomination, and then has no problem doing a complete 180 and demanding that they be seated.

In an attempt to get their delegates seated Michigan has created an unfair plan that gives Clinton 69 and Obama 59 delegates. Guess who vetoed it?

Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday rejected a compromise plan to seat Michigan's delegates to the national convention that would give 69 delegates to Clinton and 59 to Barack Obama.

"This proposal does not honor the 600,000 votes that were cast in Michigan's January primary. Those votes must be counted," Clinton spokesman Isaac Baker said.

The Michigan Democratic Party had approved the plan and intended to submit it to the Democratic National Committee meeting on May 31. Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer said in a statement that the plan was a "good step toward a solution that unites Democrats and ensures that our state will not face a McCain presidency."

Clinton's campaign has maintained that the delegation should be allocated according to the vote in the Jan. 15 primary (73/55) but Obama's campaign had argued the delegation should be split between the two candidates (64/64) because he was not on the ballot. Clinton won that contest with 55 percent of the vote but most of the other major party candidates, including Obama, had removed their names from the ballot because the state violated national party rules.

For reasons that I have never completely understood, having a candidate come to your state and kiss your babies and eat your food seems to make the people of that state more likely to vote for them.

So Barack Obama follows the rules of his party's nomination process and skips Michigan because he is told they are not allowed to participate in this election cycle. But Hillary ignores the rules and does whatever the hell she pleases by kissing their babies and eating their food, and now she wants to be rewarded for not honoring the wishes of her party by being given the states delegates on a silver platter to rescue her crumbling campaign.

And not only that she is unwilling to compromise on anything that does not give her enough delegates to steal the nomination away from Obama.

I am so past being tired of this woman I cannot even see straight.

Did Hillary's Philadelphia victory only earn her one delegate?

I have no idea if this is accurate or not.

I was under the impression that she won ten delegates.

Which is also not terribly impressive.

I found this on AmericaBlog.

John,

My mom was a delegate in Dallas this past weekend. She arrived at 7AM and didn't get to leave until 8PM. She said that it appeared the Clinton delegates were trying to drag things out so long that people would have to leave. She thought they challenged about 3,000 delegates and each of them had to go through the credentialing committee.

One of the Clinton delegates from her group challenged the validity of entire precincts. One of the precincts she challenged was almost entirely African American. Towards the end, after this group was credentialed they came by and shook their fists at the Clinton delegate and chanted "we're still here" in her face. My mom said it was a little tense.

She also said that it was sad to see all of the elderly there having to sit in stadium seats for 13 hours. She didn't know of anyone leaving without an alternate to replace them though. A very pregnant woman in her group had to lie on the concrete floor at times.

I don't know why this didn't make bigger news. She said it was obvious to everyone there what was going on and she thought Clinton had made many enemies from inside the democratic party that day.

LisaPoulsbo, WA

This was written to John Aravosis who is the founder of AmericaBlog.

I am going to continue to post about just how mean spirited and aggressive the Clinton campaign has become and how poorly they treat their fellow Democrats whenever I find evidence of that fact.

Personally I am tired of this shit, and I refuse to entertain the thought that this horrible woman will be our next President.

Ohio voting machines are seized in criminal investigation.

At the request of election officials, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation has seized voting machines for forensic analysis and has launched a criminal investigation into the Franklin County Board of Elections.

Well this is an interesting turn of events.

I wonder if this will have any impact on the delegates that Hillary "won" in Ohio.

A lot of us thought that her win there seemed a little hard to believe.

There is nothing that the Hillary campaign will not stoop to in order to steal this election.

Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign intends to go after delegates whom Barack Obama has already won in the caucuses and primaries if she needs them to win the nomination.

This strategy was confirmed to me by a high-ranking Clinton official on Monday. And I am not talking about superdelegates, those 795 party big shots who are not pledged to anybody. I am talking about getting pledged delegates to switch sides.

Clinton spokesman Phil Singer told me Monday he assumes the Obama campaign is going after delegates pledged to Clinton, though a senior Obama aide told me he knew of no such strategy.

But one neutral Democratic operative said to me: “If you are Hillary Clinton, you know you can’t get the nomination just with superdelegates without splitting the party. You have to go after the pledged delegates.”

I would like to comment on this story but I suddenly feel dirty and I feel I need a shower.

This kind of Rovian politics is exactly what the majority of Americans are sick and tired of dealing with. We want to rise above this sort of thing.

Disgusting.