The Political Chase

Uniter 2.0

In 2000, George Bush promised Americans he would be a Uniter, not a Divider. That obviously did not work out so well. Today, John McCain promised to be a Uniter.

Buyer beware.

DNC Convention Rule for Pledged Delegates

This is the rule for Democratic pledged delegates according to the Democratic National Committee Delegate Selection Rules for the 2008 Democratic National Convention (p. 18):

"Delegates elected to the national convention pledged to a presidential candidate shall in all good conscience reflect the sentiments of those who elected them."

As I said in my post earlier about Hillary Clinton’s plan to poach Barack Obama’s elected delegates, pledged (elected in the primary) delegates are not legally bound, but it is anything but ambiguous that the delegate should vote for the candidate that were originally selected for.

Nowhere does it say delegates may be deceitfully switched to accommodate a presidential candidate’s craven strategy (until they get caught) to circumvent a failing presidential campaign.

Obama Camp Blasts Team Clinton Over Delegates

David Plouffe, Barack Obama’s campaign manager, blasted Hillary Clinton’s campaign this morning over Team Clinton’s plan to hijack pledged delegates.

As it becomes increasingly clear that Senator Clinton may not be able to secure the nomination by winning the support of actual voters, the Clinton campaign has once again floated a strategy that would essentially say that the preference of Democratic voters is a mere obstacle to their win-at-all-costs strategy.

Voters are already rejecting the Clinton campaign’s say-or-do-anything-to-win tactics, and this is the latest example that it’s time to turn the page on this type of politics that could severely harm our party’s chances to win the general election."

First Read reports an incensed Obama camp followed up with an additional conference call with reporters.

Obama Campaign Manager David Plouffe and surrogate David Wilhelm, who headed Bill Clinton’s 1992 campaign, had some choice words for the other side. They called this a “disturbing pattern” and “grasping at straws;” that this is another example of a “say-or-do-anything-to-win tactic;” that the Clinton campaign is hoping this is a “rabbit they can pull out of the hat to win;” that the latest tactic “suggests there’s trickery that can be engaged in” to win. They said they “think that will be rejected” by voters and party leaders.

Plouffe acknowledged that, “Technically, it is true that delegates could switch. Our point here is this is part of a pattern. Rather than try to focus on pledged delegates and winning, they’re focused on these alternative routes,” which “could cause huge dissention in the party.”

They added that, “Sometimes nominations are not worth having….One of those times would be at the cost of ripping the party apart.”

They also combated the Clinton electability argument to superdelegates that she’s best to beat McCain. They cited leads in polls against McCain and that because Clinton "denigrates Red states,” candidates down ballot “would be in real harm.”

Hillary’s ‘Night Shift’: A Great Moment in Campaign Pandering

On par with Letterman’s Great Moments in Presidential Speeches, Hillary’s new ad in Ohio focusing on shift-workers is A Great Moment in Campaign Pandering.

Watch it.

Hillary is obviously attempting to appeal to the working class, but let’s get real here. Working to (or through) all hours of the night as a professional, is not remotely close to “working the night shift.” One must work the night shift to be able to comprehend the toll and burden of such work.

I’ve done both, so I’m not hypothesizing here. While my time spent working night shift was short, relatively speaking, the memories have not faded. Many years ago, my first job after college required working third shift. And I can’t count how many times as a professional, with “regular” hours, I’ve worked 24 to 48 hours straight.

Hillary’s ad sounds good, but I seriously question her ability to relate to working the night shift. She’s trying to pick up John Edwards’ cause, but it falls short.

Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Warrantless Wiretapping Case

(Update below)

The Supreme Court refused today to hear an appeal filed by the ACLU and others challenging the Bush administration’s warrantless wiretapping program.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday turned down a legal challenge to the warrantless domestic spying program President George W. Bush created after the September 11 attacks.

The American Civil Liberties Union had asked the justices to hear the case after a lower court ruled the ACLU, other groups and individuals that sued the government had no legal right to do so because they could not prove they had been affected by the program.

The civil liberties group also asked the nation’s highest court to make clear that Bush does not have the power under the U.S. Constitution to engage in intelligence surveillance within the United States that Congress has expressly prohibited.

Hardly the most welcome news nor is it surprising. George Bush will not let Congress review any documents related to the administration’s wiretapping program, therefore it is easy to see why the ACLU et al. may have not had sufficient evidence to prove they had been affected. Of course, that is broad speculation on my part because I have not read the complaint.

There are many other lawsuits is one lawsuit pending against the administration for its breaking of FISA-related laws, and this does not prevent them from being pursued on their respective merits, however it may make it harder for the plaintiffs to prevail against the administration. See update below.

Suffice it say, Bush is reaping the benefits he undoubtedly expected when he appointed Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito. And they’re relatively young, hence Bush Justice will be with us for decades to come.

Update:  It was my understanding there were multiple complaints brought against the administration by various plaintiffs, but that is inaccurate according to Glenn Greenwald. (Emphasis in original.)

This decision does mean, however, that EFF’s pending lawsuits in San Francisco against AT&T, Verizon and the other telecoms are now the sole remaining vehicle for finding out what the Bush administration actually did when spying on Americans for years without warrants, and as importantly, is the last hope for obtaining a judicial ruling as to whether the President broke the law and violated the Constitution when doing so.

Report: Clinton Camp Denies Delegate Hijacking Plan

The Clinton Camp denies an earlier report that they intend to hijack Obama’s pledged delegates.

From TPM:

Hillary spokesperson Phil Singer is adamantly denying a report this morning in The Politico quoting an anonymous campaign official suggesting that the Clinton campaign will pursue Obama’s pledged delegates. Singer sends me this:

We have not, are not and will not pursue the pledged delegates of Barack Obama. It’s now time for the Obama campaign to be clear about their intentions.

So, they deny Politico’s direct quote and try to turn it around on the Obama campaign? Somebody’s lying, and I don’t believe for a minute Politico would stoop so low as to publish a fabricated direct quote. I don’t always agree with Politico’s spin, but lying just to create a story? Nope.

Clinton Plans to Steal Obama Pledged Delegates

What does a campaign do when it cannot win delegates legitimately in the Democratic primaries and caucuses? John Edwards graciously dropped out. According to a Politico report, Hillary Clinton intends to steal delegates Barack Obama has legitimately won. These are not the 796 super delegates that have been discussed extensively and are not committed to a specific candidate. These are the delegates that were apportioned to Barack Obama based on the votes he received in primaries and caucuses.

No delegate is legally bound to vote for a specific candidate — it’s all part of our electoral system — but the pledged delegates are expected, in simple terms, to vote for the candidate they have been pledged to by the voters.

A senior Clinton official told Politico:

“I swear it is not happening now, but as we get closer to the convention, if it is a stalemate, everybody will be going after everybody’s delegates. All the rules will be going out the window.”

This is an incredibly stupid political strategy and proof that Hillary Clinton is a morally bankrupt candidate. To intentionally launch an effort to rob the people of its democratic vote is reprehensible and unconscionable. Assuming Clinton is successful, it will shatter the Democratic Party and break what little confidence American’s may have that democracy exists in our country today.

It is unfortunate that Politico was not able to break this story before today’s primary election in Wisconsin. Most voters will not have sufficient opportunity to learn of Hillary Clinton’s morally and ethically corrupt plans before voting today.

Musharraf Defeated in Pakistan

From the New York Times:

Pakistanis dealt a crushing defeat to President Pervez Musharraf in parliamentary elections on Monday, in what government and opposition politicians said was a firm rejection of his policies since 2001 and those of his close ally, the United States.

Almost all the leading figures in the Pakistan Muslim League-Q, the party that has governed for the last five years under Mr. Musharraf, lost their seats, including the leader of the party, the former speaker of Parliament and six ministers.

Official results are expected Tuesday, but early returns indicated that the vote would usher in a prime minister from one of the opposition parties, and opened the prospect of a Parliament that would move to undo many of Mr. Musharraf’s policies and that may even try to remove him.

Early results showed equal gains for the Pakistan Peoples Party, whose leader, Benazir Bhutto, was assassinated on Dec. 27, and the Pakistan Muslim League-N, the faction led by Nawaz Sharif, like Ms. Bhutto a former prime minister. Each party may be in a position to form the next government.

The results were interpreted here as a repudiation of Mr. Musharraf as well as the Bush administration, which has staunchly backed him for more than six years as its best bet in the campaign against the Islamic militants in Pakistan. American officials will have little choice now but to seek alternative allies from among the new political forces emerging from the vote.

(Emphasis added.)