http://apnews.myway.com//article/20080104/D8TV0TJG0.html

Obama won big. Hillary came in 3rd. Richardson was a distant 4th.

i wasn't a bit surprised about Huckabee. that guy is a silver tongued devil.

Nice post count, biff (it's 666 right now, in case that changes before you see this)

I'm pretty pumped by the results of the Iowa caucuses. Obama's speech was really good. I still don't know who I like the best, but I have no problem with Obama.

I don't know what to make of Huckabee...

ooh, i'm evil. (well, i WAS evil)

well you know, i love Bill Richardson. Obama's ok though. maybe he can get Bill to be his running mate. an african american/hispanic ticket would be tough to beat.

i'm not a big Hillary fan, but i do love her husband. i felt kinda bad for her coming in 3rd.

i don't like Edwards at all. i don't know why i don't like him. i just don't.

Huckabee used to be the Governor of my state. i disagree with him on just about everything, BUT he did reinstate the Arkansas Challenge scholarship program, & Nathan gets it, so hey. he also reinstated Governor's School, where Nathan went. he got the whole thing for free, even meals. it was 6 weeks in the summer at Hendrix College, & he loved it.

but yeah, he's insane. he's a real down homey type of guy though, & when you see him speak he's very convincing.

BUT he would be no problem for Obaba to whoop. (i don't think)

ps...

yesterday after i posted on this thread & then got off to get ready for town it occured to me...

you're old enough to vote this time!!!

Cronny.

don't forget that if you'll be away at college, you'll need to request an absentee ballot a month or 2 before the election cuz it takes a while to get it. check with your local County Clerk's office.

if you'll still be living at home, then nevermind.

I know! I wish I could vote in the Primary, too

I'll probably go to school in California, so I won't need an absentee ballot.

I feel about Hillary the way you feel about Edwards. I actually don't have a problem with Edwards. I'd be okay with most of the Democratic candidates. I think Huckabee's pretty beatable, too

New Hampshire Primary tonight

i am so glad i know somebody else who gets off on this stuff!

Finally a win for Hillary.

yeah, all the predictors were totally shocked!

we got us a race now.

Yeah, I don't know how I feel about her win. McCain I think is the most electable republican, so for that reason I'm nervous.

Of the "second tier," Richardson is on top, but that's kind of like being the most successful independent band in the States (or the world's tallest midget). Makes him a good candidate for a running mate though, is my point.

McCain kinda creeps me out. i used to like him years ago cuz i thought he had integrity, but then he sucked up to Bush so many times i changed my mind.

i don't know if Bill would take the job. VPs don't really do anything. i think he would make an excellent Secretary Of State though...

(& you know, he & Hillary go way back)

i was actually kinda glad she won. i don't know why. Obama is ok, but i don't think he has enough experience.

i'll vote for whoever the Democratic nominee is though, cuz i want our troops out of Iraq.

yeah, Mitt gives me the creeps too. plus, i feel like he's trying to buy the Republican nomination with all his own personal money. i don't trust somebody who's never been poor. they know nothing about what it's like to struggle.

my son tells me all the same stuff about McCain, but i still don't trust him anymore. i admire him for his toughness, & for surviving the prison camps in Viet Nam. i just lost my trust. it made me sad too, cuz i figured he was the one republican i could always trust. AND he would keep the Iraq war going for who knows how long. i don't want that.

i want the Clinton years back too!!! it was a golden time for America. i don't care about the Monica thing. i figure i'd rather have a president who screwed one willing intern than a president who would screw a whole *unwilling?* country like Bush did.

the only thing Bill did that i didn't like was NAFTA. that was a bad idea. it cost a lot of people their jobs, my own husband included. i think he regrets it now. if not, he should.

but i'd take Richardson over Hillary any day. (in my ideal world) he could get her for a running mate or something. (pipe dream, i know)

i agree with your Obama theory. maybe that was the thing i couldn't put my finger on. also, i don't want Oprah Winfrey picking my president for me.

Yeah I think Oprah's endorsement could backfire in the end.

You probably saw this already, biff, but:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080110/ap_po/...WhtCLacifsE1vAI

I saw that on the Yahoo home page -- I thought it was really a shame. Now I really hope that whoever ends up being the Democratic candidate will pick him as their running mate or part of their cabinet.

i came here first, so i didn't know yet.

oh well, i always knew he was too good to be President.

i just got this from Bill...

Dear Lisa,

It is with great pride, understanding and acceptance that I am ending my campaign for President of the United States. It was my hope that all of you would first hear this news from me and not a news organization. But unfortunately, as with too many things in our world today, it's the ending of something that garners the most intense interest and speculation.

I knew from the beginning that this would be an uphill climb. When I entered the campaign, it was clear that we, as Democrats, had the most talented field of candidates in my lifetime running to change the direction of our country. And in the end, one of them will.

Despite overwhelming financial and political odds, I am proud of the campaign we waged and the influence we had on the issues that matter most to the future of this country.

A year ago, we were the only major campaign calling for the removal of all of our troops within a year's time from Iraq. We were the only campaign calling for a complete reform of education in this country, including the scrapping of No Child Left Behind. And we were the campaign with the most aggressive clean energy plan and the most ambitious standards for reducing global warming.

Now, all of the remaining candidates are coming to our point of view. I am confident that the next President of the United States will implement much of what we've been urging for the last twelve months, and our nation and world will be the better for it.

There are so many of you who gave so much to this campaign. For that, I will be forever grateful. Running for president has been, at times, humbling and at other times, exhilarating. I have grown and learned a great deal from the experience, and I am a better person for it.

Also, because of your close friendship and support throughout the ups and downs of what is a very grueling and demanding process, I have never felt alone.

Running for president brings out the best in everyone who graces the stage, and I have learned much from the other candidates running. They have all brought great talents and abilities to the campaign.

Senator Biden's passion and intellect are remarkable.

Senator Dodd is the epitome of selfless dedication to public service and the Democratic Party.

Senator Edwards is a singular voice for the most downtrodden and forgotten among us.

Senator Obama is a bright light of hope and optimism at a time of great national unease, yet he is also grounded in thoughtful wisdom beyond his years.

Senator Clinton's poise in the face of adversity is matched only by her lifetime of achievement and deep understanding of the challenges we face.

Representative Kucinich is a man of great decency and dedication who will faithfully soldier on no matter how great the odds.

And all of us in the Democratic Party owe Senator Mike Gravel our appreciation for his leadership during the national turmoil of Vietnam.

I am honored to have shared the stage with each of these Democrats. And I am enormously grateful to all of my supporters who chose to stand with me despite so many other candidates of accomplishment and potential.

Now that my time in this national campaign has come to an end, I would urge those who supported my candidacy to take a long and thoughtful look at the remaining Democrats. They are all strong contenders who each, in their own way, would bring desperately needed change to our country. All I ask is that you make your own independent choice with the same care and dedication to this country that you honored me with during this campaign. At this time, I will not endorse any candidate.

Now I am returning to a job that I love, serving a state that I cherish and doing the work of the people I was elected to serve. As I have always said, I am the luckiest man I know. I am married to my high school sweetheart. I live in a place called the Land of Enchantment. I have the best job in the world. And I just got to run for president of the United States.

It doesn't get any better than that.

With my deepest appreciation for all that you have done,

Bill



what a classy guy.

Yeah. (I just checked my e-mail and I got the same message, bless his heart.)

I like what he said about Edwards. I had that thought when I saw his concession speech on Tuesday.

notice how he didn't endorse anybody, so he could leave the VP door open?

just sayin.

Did you see him on Olberman? He was great.

no. i never get to watch that show.

he was on CNN a lot. i think John Roberts liked him.

i saw him on CNN yesterday morning, & Kieran (sp? i gotta find out how to spell her name) couldn't pin him down on the VP question. that is a very good sign. also, he said something nice about every single person running on the Dem side, & just about every one of the Republicans too.

always the diplomat.

Michigan tonight

Then we get Nevada just four days later!

CNN's website is projecting Romney and Clinton.

what was the deal there with the Democrats? cuz it's like only the republicans were voting or something...

Well...that's what it says on CNN.com

I did think it was only th Republicans as well.

Apparently Michigan doesn't count?...

no y'all are right, Hillary won, but none of the Dems campaigned there. i just never quite got why they didn't have to. odd, since i'm such a news junkie, but somehow i missed that part.

ok, i just heard this on CNN...

all the Democrats, except for Hillary, boycotted the Michigan primary, because they moved it up. she didn't win in a landslide though, & like 68% of MI African Americans voted "undecided".

hmmmm....

If you end up with a president Huckabee be prepared to be invaded by everyone. Sounds like a winney the pooh character.

Somebody shoulda made Al Gore run.

Al is too famous to run for president. besides... he already lost once. he didn't even carry his own state of Tennessee.

(yeah, i know he won the popular vote, but he gave up pretty easy when the whole controversy kicked in)

Obama sounds a lot like Osama...

i wouldn't mind if Huckabee got the nomination... cuz i think he'd be pretty easy to beat.

Woahhh did Obama win South Carolina or what?

yes he did!

i have a feeling that he'll be the nominee...

i could vote for him. he's not my first choice, & i'm not gonna vote in the primary since Bill is out of it, but any of the remaining dems would be 1000X better than what we've had to put up with for the last 7 years.

I don't feel strongly about anyone right now, but I think Edwards is my top choice. I think he's got a shot if Obama and Hillary keep up their cat fight.

i don't think Edwards has a chance.

Yeah it's definitely a long-shot

well, that shouldn't keep you from supporting him. you've never been much of a 'follow the crowd' type as far as i can tell. i don't think you should start now.

just as an aside... if John McCain were to win this whole thing, i think having to listen to his creepy laugh for 4 years would drive me insane.

Bush's smarmy laugh is bad enough. i think whoever wins should have a normal laugh.

well, it's a 2 & 2 race now. Edwards & Giuliani both dropped out.

Yeah, I heard that on the news last night.

there are actually more than 2 republicans, but the rest are snowballs in Hell.

i never thought i'd say this, but Hillary is starting to look like a snowball in Hell.

& CNN has a real Obama bias. maybe it's because they have so many African American anchors & reporters.

of course, i put it on Fox at 2:00 for Shepard, so that negates any liberal bias that might get into my head.... but luckily, i keep it on CNN most of the rest of the time. i especially like John Roberts on American Morning.

news junkie = me.

as long as we don't get stuck with another Republican...

OMG! Bill Richardson endorsed Obama!!!

During the last year, I have shared with you my vision and hopes for this nation as we look to repair the damage of the last seven years. And you have shared your support, your ideas and your encouragement to my campaign. We have been through a lot together and that is why I wanted to tell you that, after careful and thoughtful deliberation, I have made a decision to endorse Barack Obama for President.

We are blessed to have two great American leaders and great Democrats running for President. My affection and admiration for Hillary Clinton and President Bill Clinton will never waver. It is time, however, for Democrats to stop fighting amongst ourselves and to prepare for the tough fight we will face against John McCain in the fall. The 1990's were a decade of peace and prosperity because of the competent and enlightened leadership of the Clinton administration, but it is now time for a new generation of leadership to lead America forward. Barack Obama will be a historic and a great President, who can bring us the change we so desperately need by bringing us together as a nation here at home and with our allies abroad.

Earlier this week, Senator Barack Obama gave an historic speech. that addressed the issue of race with the eloquence, sincerity, and optimism we have come to expect of him. He inspired us by reminding us of the awesome potential residing in our own responsibility. He asked us to rise above our racially divided past, and to seize the opportunity to carry forward the work of many patriots of all races, who struggled and died to bring us together.

As a Hispanic, I was particularly touched by his words. I have been troubled by the demonization of immigrants--specifically Hispanics-- by too many in this country. Hate crimes against Hispanics are rising as a direct result and now, in tough economic times, people look for scapegoats and I fear that people will continue to exploit our racial differences--and place blame on others not like them . We all know the real culprit -- the disastrous economic policies of the Bush Administration!

Senator Obama has started a discussion in this country long overdue and rejects the politics of pitting race against race. He understands clearly that only by bringing people together, only by bridging our differences can we all succeed together as Americans.

His words are those of a courageous, thoughtful and inspiring leader, who understands that a house divided against itself cannot stand. And, after nearly eight years of George W. Bush, we desperately need such a leader.

To reverse the disastrous policies of the last seven years, rebuild our economy, address the housing and mortgage crisis, bring our troops home from Iraq and restore America's international standing, we need a President who can bring us together as a nation so we can confront our urgent challenges at home and abroad.

During the past year, I got to know Senator Obama as we campaigned against each other for the Presidency, and I felt a kinship with him because we both grew up between words, in a sense, living both abroad and here in America. In part because of these experiences, Barack and I share a deep sense of our nation's special responsibilities in the world.

So, once again, thank you for all you have done for me and my campaign. I wanted to make sure you understood my reasons for my endorsement of Senator Obama. I know that you, no matter what your choice, will do so with the best interests of this nation, in your heart.

Sincerely,

Bill Richardson


so... who do you think Obama will choose for a running mate?

& ps... Bill's beard is super cute!

I got that e-mail yesterday.

I think it would be sweet if Obama picked Bill as his running mate. I wouldn't mind John Edwards, either.

i don't want Edwards. he already lost once.

(no offense on any Edwards fans out there)

i was really surprised when Bill did this. oh well, that's politics for ya.