Some Repug on C-Span...

[skids]

...was saying the Republicans are glad the Democratic primary is going on so long. McCain spokesman. Ohio House Rep I think, or maybe statehouse.

He said it was allowing McCain to define himself.

Nice theory. Here's mine:

He's a lying sack of crap.

Now, you cannot just believe the opposite of everything any Repug says. You have to use your best judgement as to which ones are spreading Rovian lies and reverse psychology, and which ones are boobs and didn't get the memo and are spilling the beans, or belong to a faction and are out of step with the noise machine. My feeling about this guy was that he was laying down sucker bait.

On this subject, I think the Republicans see the Democratic Primary snowballing into a 50 state rampage of Democratic community organizing. They cannot have that. Nor do they like having to shoot at a moving target.

So if you are wondering why Huckabee hasn't dropped yet -- think grassroots.

If you are wondering why we have disrupters on here trying to make things miserable -- think grassroots.

If you are wondering why some DLCers are now turning coat and saying Hillary should quit -- think grassroots.

I know, people, you are all anxious to "get this over with" and hoping it's only hours till all the shouting stops. Even some of our best Democratic bloggers are. Heck even the Obama campaign is supposedly hoping for a "knockout blow." Stop a moment and think grassroots. Consider the possibility that there is a FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt, a.k.a. concern trolling) campaign that plays off your natural instincts for conflict avoidance.

Fear that the Democratic Party will "tear itself apart." Uncertainty that some dirt might explode on the nominee. Doubt that this is all worth it.

But go read some posts from the ground organizers. Yes, some people will be further turned off by negative campaigning. At the same time, though, we have actual working relationships forming with new blood on the local level. When the chips are down, no matter how "turned off to politics" some people have become, they are going to look at McCain, see Bush term #3, and say "no way, this has to stop, the least I can do is go vote." That'll happen regardless. What won't happen without a healthy race is the formation of working local progressive party apparatus in, oh let's say Pennsylvania for one.

Even with her unfortunate dirt flinging, and even with disrupters flinging dirt on her behalf so she'll take flak for it, Hillary staying in through to the convention would be a good thing. She won't win it, but I hate to break it to the Obama campaign, we need to "back door draft" them into putting boots on the ground in the last remaining states full force -- not just the minimal effort, even if they are exhausted.

Suck it up people. You can make it all the way through. No need to quit early.

Find the positive people, and do something positive with them. The rest, pass on by.

[Skittles]

1. of course they are lying

the way I see it, the longer the primary goes on the more people feel their votes count - this is the first time since I've been in Texas I have actually received phone calls regarding the candidates during the primary. The more people interested in the primary = more people turnout for the general election

[skids]

2. Heck, I hope they revote FL...

...though I have to admit I don't think FL can hold a fair GE yet and though it should be contested, any electoral strategy should be planning to win without it.

[roseBudd]

3. The Ds are spending a million a day, McCain is sitting tight

[skids]

4. Well, he'd better. Considering he's broke.

We ain't. And we won't be come the GE.

[roseBudd]

5. Yes but the concern is the public financing trap they are trying to set for obama is dangerous for

us because there is a belief that the outside groups are going to outspend our outside groups.

The rich have a lot to fear from Hillary or Obama

[skids]

6. That has nothing to do with primary season.

Even if Obama/McCain went public financing, it would be for the next two quarters at the earliest.

And I don't think we are in danger of a funding shortage for either.