Clinton's Ace in the Hole

Here's an interesting read: "Hillary Clinton's Superdelegate 'Firewall'" courtesy of Sean Gonsalves at Alternet. In short, don't think that just because Barack Obama is ahead in the primaries that he will necessarily win the Democratic Party nomination for President of the United States. Hillary Clinton might get the nomination, partly through the efforts of superdelegates voting for her at the party convention at the end of August this year, and the irony here is how essentially undemocratic the idea really is. Normal delegates are supposed to be locked into their votes - there isn't really anything stopping them from being able to vote for whoever they want to, but the whole point of primary elections is to get a certain number of pledged votes at the convention (through the delegates) for the presidential contender. It is very bad form for normal delegates to vote for anyone other than who they are pledged to, which is why most delegates don't do that. Superdelegates, on the other hand, are officially unpledged; that is, they can vote any damn way they please. Essentially, this is a political machine; this encourages candidates to kiss the asses of those prominent Democrats whose support they need, and ensures that nobody gets nominated that the elite party leadership does not approve of (as happened with Jimmy Carter in 1976). This is where Clinton has the advantage; many superdelegates are politicians (including former President Bill Clinton, former Vice President Al Gore, and former President Jimmy Carter) with some of whom she has established relationships. So, Hillary Clinton has a major advantage because of her political experience at the federal level. Obama unfortunately does not have this advantage, being a first term senator who has been involved in politics at the federal level for many less years than Clinton has.

I'm not saying that I buy into the idea of a Clinton nomination as inevitable, which I'm sure the mainstream media is going to start hyping up again, once the superdelegate issue really starts to take off in the nightly televised newscasts. Still, Obama is going to have to win really big in the upcoming primaries to have a true advantage at the convention. Those of you supporting Obama are going to have to step it up to counter the Clinton advantage with the superdelegates.

More links from the Great Migration

First, something old, but still relevant. Props to Chaoslillith and Dailykos for this link.

Description: Not all environmental news is doom and gloom. There's some encouraging stuff out there, which seems like a little bit that won't affect the larger problem but added together gives me a sense of hope. At least, people are being creative in how they approach the larger problem of global warming: planting of nitrogenous fixers in the soil in place of using expensive synthetic fertilizers, for example (seriously, stop hating on clover. It is not a weed.). There's also the "cow power" initiative in rural areas (way to re-enfranchise rural citizens!), negotiating deals with citizens to slow down deforestation, and symbolic black out periods* (to highlight the importance of shutting out all the lights when you aren't using them, no brainer.). And finally, the competition to find better ways to build sustainably.

Also, lots of big cats. I love big cats.


Next, my way of paying tribute to John Edwards. He was a contender and now he isn't, and that sucks. I don't think Obama and Clinton are necessarily the best possible candidates on the Democratic side -- I think that honor should have gone to someone like Edwards, Biden, or Dodd -- but they are a whole hell of a lot better than anyone (without exception) on the Republican side. This is an article by ABC news, from back in January, about John Edwards commenting on Bill O'Reilly's offer to house homeless veterans sleeping under bridges.

Description (for those who are irony-impaired, note the sarcasm): Awesome! Billy O'Reilly is so cooooool! Not only is he really creative -- like he can create his own reality on the fly without any so-called "obvious" contradictions causing potentially destructive paradoxes in the so-called "real world" -- but he's actually a really nice guy to boot! Like, who knew he really cared that much about poor people and homeless veterans like this? So cool.

Like, I think we should all help out in his new cause. I see homeless dudes out and about in Center City all the time. It breaks my heart to see them begging for spare change, and mostly being ignored by everyone else, especially during the really cold days. Shit, doesn't look like anyone else has been able to solve the problem, why not let that really awesome, cool, nice Billy O'Reilly help out? If you see any of these poor unfortunates in your travels, call up Billy on his LIVE radio show between noon and 2 PM Eastern Time, and tell him about this person! Let's all work together to make a difference!

This is still, sadly, relevant. Lay aside your prejudices about poor people and homelessness for a while, and help a brother (or a sister) out, if you see him (or her) in such a situation.

Last, but not least, I'm going to pimp the high stylings of a certain Mr. Georgie Bonds.

Georgie Bonds is a popular entertainer, blues singer and songwriter. Georgie Bonds performs live blues concerts throughout the United States and Europe. Listen to Georgie Bonds' first CD Sometimes I Wonder.

If you've never heard this guy perform live, then you have no idea what you are missing. He does have a CD out, but IMHO, while it's good, it pales compared to his live act. Next time you see his name posted outside the local bar, go in and listen!

Alright, that's it from me. If you live in Philadelphia, you know about a certain Ms. Marty Moss Coane. Well, today, she is interviewing a certain Ms. Valerie Plame Wilson on her radio show. Check it out live or through her podcast later! Over and out.

Governor Rendell and the big showdown!

Cool, looks like Governor Ed Rendell (D-PA) is going to make a personal appeal to the state legislature regarding a gun control bill. It just shows how passionate he is about saving lives, and not caving in to the idiot gun lobby. Best of luck, Governor Rendell! I pray for the day when reasonable gun control legislation is signed into law and enforced. Don't take this to mean that I want to outlaw handguns altogether, but I think something has to be done about all the gun murders and woundings that have been happening this year, especially in Philadelphia. And, no, I don't think locking up every poor black man just for being black is the answer either.

Union action by nurses in West Virginia

Just wanted to post a quick update, to highlight this article I found while browsing Alternet. If any nurses from the Kentucky and West Virginia Nurses Associations/United American Nurses are reading this, I just want you to know that I support you in your union action against Appalachian Regional Heath Care, and hope you come to a peaceful solution sooner rather than later.

I support you, not just as a fellow nurse, but also as someone who believes that effective collective bargaining is one of the most effective ways for workers in all industries to negotiate better working conditions for themselves. This is especially true in this era of ever growing trans-national mega corporations, with greater and greater financial resources at their disposal to squelch any such actions. Individuals may not stand a chance against the army of lawyers and politicians arrayed against them by these corporations, but unions have a much better chance of effecting real and lasting change for their members and their members' families.

All that, and I find it distasteful that someone would go and torch someone's car just for helping others speak up for their rights. I hope your insurance covers this damage.

Best of luck to the striking nurses, and a big raspberry to whoever would stoop as low as to set someone's car on fire over this.