Chris Dodd endorsed Barack Obama’s candidacy Tuesday. The Connecticut senator became the first former candidate in this year’s Democratic campaign to endorse a rival. He urged Democrats to unify behind Obama and warned against bitter party-dividing attacks.
“It is now the time to come together as a Democratic party,” Dodd said at a morning press conference, adding a few moments later, “I don’t want a campaign that is only divisive here. And there is a danger of it becoming that.”
Now, you may be going, “Who the hell is Chris Dodd? Is that the guy from ‘American Idol.’” No, he’s not Daughtry. In fact, if Dodd were as popular as the rocker he might have fared better in this campaign. However, while the public may not care who Dodd is supp0rting, his opinion may pull some weight with the Democratic delegates.
[Dodd] has considerable potential influence within the party’s political establishment to make the case that other party leaders need to throw their weight behind Obama to bring the contest to a close. A 27-year veteran of the Senate and a leader of the party’s liberal wing, he came within one vote of becoming of the Senate Democratic Leader in 1994 and served as general chairman of the party during the mid-1990s.
Dodd may not be a dud afterall! At least not to Obama’s camp. Sen. Hillary Clinton on the other hand–not so happy. Although Dodd deflected questions from reporters asking if he is suggesting Clinton withdraw from the race. Instead he veiled his yes by slyly stating that Bill and Hill:
“have made significant contributions to our country,” Dodd said.. “And I believe very deeply and sincerely this morning that Hillary Clinton will continue to make a significant contribution to our nation in the years to come. But it is now the hour to come together.”
If only I could have listened in on the uncomfortable conversation between Dodd and Clinton Monday night when he told her he decided use his influence to Xerox some more delegate votes for Obama. Aw…kward.
The Houston Chronicle published this hilarious political cartoon by Nick Anderson in today’s paper:
Looks like people are thrilled to see that Ralph Nader has decided to run for president. See more of Anderson’s 2008 election cartoons here…or join the Nader nuts here.
While Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama duke it out for primary election wins in Ohio and Texas, one congressman who dropped out of the Democratic presidential race will be fighting for his seat on Capitol Hill.
Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) now faces a common problem: primary challenges built largely around the notion that his long-shot presidential bid and celebrity status have put him out of touch with voters back home. He will be wetting himself until the reckoning election on March 4, when Ohio holds its primary.
Kucinich admitted his House seat was in trouble when he abandoned his presidential bid in late January according to the Wall Street Journal. He told his hometown paper, “I want to continue to serve in Congress.” Read: This is the only way I can get back to The Hill, please don’t forget about me in the upcoming election.
So nervous is the Democratic House representative that Kucinich agreed to debate his four opponents– a rare concession for a safe incumbent. Check out his urgent appeal message here.
Long shot presidential candidate Ron Paul regularly pulls in large crowds of supporters, but it looks like they don’t rally for him at the polls. Case in point? Paul’s UT Campus rally last Saturday.
According to the Daily Texan, around 4,000 students and supporters stood in front of the UT Tower Saturday to hear him speak. But at the on-campus Early Vote location at the Flawn Academic Center–within eyesight of the enormous orange wave of coeds in “Hook ‘em, Horns” t-shirts–only 54 people voted for the Texas congressman that day.
Here’s a graph from Burnt Orange Report showing the disparity of voters to supporters:
So he only gets around 50 votes per 4,000 people. Yes, it is only 1.25 percent, but last time I checked 1 is more than none. I am sure that is the exact same logic the Paul maniacs follow… Looks like the number of YouTube hits you get is not directly proportional to the number of votes you will carry. Who knew?
Get your sniper rifles ready, Democrats! Today is they day we all find out if old man and consumer advocate Ralph Nader will join in the presidential race and save America from corporate cronies. Join me as I detail what Nader reveals on ”Meet the Press” as it happens. Well, at least what I catch when I’m not distracted by his wonky eye. Does anyone else think his face melting?
8:00 AM Cue dramatic music as Russert gives the run-down of today’s stories. He sounds like a robot. Nader, polls, McCain banging interns! It’s going to be a good show.
8:01 AM Russert cuts to the chase and asks Nader will he run for president.
8:02 AM Nader’s wonky eye is explaining all the problems in the country in an attempt to put things in a “context.” I think he misunderstood the question.
8:03 AM Nader basically says the other candidates suck. Corporations suck. Everybody sucks.
8:04 AM Will he just say yes already!?!? Nope, talking about slavery now…Wait, I think he just said he’s running for president–at least in that context?
8:05 AM Russert accuses Nader of blowing the presidential election in 2000 and bringing Bush and 9/11 on America.
8:06 AM Quit picking on us little green guys, says Nader. “Get over it!”
Nader is one step closer to officially announcing his third party presidential campaign. The consumer advocate will appear on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday where he also launched his his 2004 presidential run on the show according to AP.
Nader’s appearance on “Meet the Press” was announced today in an e-mail message from Nader’s exploratory campaign. The message from “The Nader Team” urges supporters to tell friends and family to watch the show and requests online contributions.
“In 2000, many think Ralph Nader’s presidential candidacy helped George Bush win the White House. He ran again unsuccessfully in 2004. Will he make another run in 2008? Find out Sunday in an exclusive interview with Ralph Nader.”
Like a zombie, Nader’s presidential aspirations just won’t die (unless you cut off his head, anyway–the zombie’s head not the Nader’s). Awesome. I will be live blogging the interview bright and early 9 a.m. ET. (Hopefully.) Make it good, Russert; elicit some Naderisms from the third party prince.
Americans are constantly being told what they do, think and feel believe. Last night I think someone told me on CNN that my gender and race all but render me helpless if I am a Democrat and have to choose between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
Pundits, scientists, commentators and busy-bodies have been polling and guessing (wrongly) how we are voting in this country since election season began. I thought it was time to speak to the one type of person whom no one seems to be asking about the presidential race: a voter!
Kwame Thomison is a recent Cornell University graduate. He earned a B.A. in Information Science with a concentration in law. He also has no affiliation with any particular party, like, apparently, around one-third of the country is–at least, that’s what the pundits told me.
Check out the audio from the interview, below. We talk about his take on the impact of third-party and independent presidential candidates this year and how student governments in colleges mimic the democratic electoral process we hold so dear in America.
…In reality they will likely post your home address and phone numbers on their blogs if you mess with their leader. A teacher and Live Journal user “Makkabee” made the mistake of writing a post on his personal blog about an inspired math lesson he used to help his students learn about line graphs. And poor Makkabee soon incurred the wrath of the Ron Paul Nation.
In the offending post, the teacher wrote about how he “talked about the [presidential] candidates rising or falling, and extending the lines on their graphs, I’d end with “and Ron Paul stayed flat” and add another segment to his straight line near the zero marker.”
Apparently the kids loved it, but Paul supporters did not. So they defended the outcast GOP candidate with all the might their love for him and the Internet can muster. According to a post Makkabee wrote the next day, his real name, phone number and address were on Ron Paul Forums all over cyberspace. Paul-heads are so good, they should be hired by the CIA to locate Al-Qaida cells.
Yikes. Let’s just hope they stick to virtual harassment. Although, Makkabee claims they “reported on his planned movements.” Hmmm. Did I ever mention that I was kidding whenever I talked smack about Paul on this blog? Please, don’t take my lunch money.
Read Makkabee’s egregiously offensive post after the jump.
Still not satisfied with your presidential options? Here are some of the more amusing independent and third-party candidates you can wastecast a vote for in November. There’s a “vampire,” a marijuana proponent, and a wholistic healer. God bless America!
“Average Joe” Schriner: An average Joe for president. Shriner wants us to “…imagine that!” The common man with common sense and uncommon solutions wants you to give him your vote once again. According to his website, Average Joe ran in 2000 and 2004 too. At least that’s what I gathered from the 0 and 4 crossed out before the 8 in a stroke of graphic genius on his site’s banner. Here’s what Joe wants you to know:
“I jog through the streets of Cleveland, Ohio, in a pair of gray sweats. My favorite spot to eat is the “Old-Fashion Hot Dogs” place around the corner (chili-dogs a buck and a quarter). What’s more, I cut my own lawn. Oh, and I’m running for president.”
Isn’t it great when presidential candidates make their campaign an afterthought?
Jonathon “The Impaler” Sharkey: The Impaler, as his fans affectionately refer to him, is the founding member, and 50 percent of the total membership, of the Vampyres, Witches and Pagans Party. The Federal Election Commission actually recognizes the party. There is nothing I could possibly say about Sharkey that is better than what he writes about himself on his MySpace page.
“I am asking for everyone to please forget about my religious beliefs. Yes, I am a satanic vampyre (sic), and a Hecate witch…That is not what I am running on…It’s very simple. If you want to live in peace and have child molesters, rapists, killers, drug dealers, and terrorists impaled, instead of getting off easy then vote for me. It’s that simple…I will bring Americans peace of mind.”
Somehow this looks more ominous written in all caps on his site. Oh, and his mentioning that if you “attack someone I love, killing you will be as easy as breathing to me. I will make Rambo look like Mother Teresa,” disturbs me a little. Sounds like a good campaign slogan, though: “I will make Rambo look like Mother Teresa.” He’s got my vote!
Temperance lecturer, landscape painter, and Minister Gene Amondson wants to add U.S. president to his list of occupations. He is the Prohibition Party’s presidential candidate.
This will be Amondson’s second presidential run.He campaigned under the Prohibition Party with the same one-plank platform–no booze–in 2004.For some reason, the Prohibition Party thinks alcohol is the biggest issue this country faces.Health care?Negligible.Iraq War?Who cares?Alcohol?Grab your torch and pitchforks!Yup, they want to bring back the golden age of 1929.Are they drunk? No. And this bad-ass photo from his website makes me think Amondson means business:
Amondson seems like a guy with a sense of humor.He picketed outside Anheuser-Busch in St. Louis holding a wine bottle and dressed as the Grim Reaper.Clearly, the Amondson is targeting the youth vote. He reprised this role for the “Daily Show” in 2004 when the program did a segment on the Prohibition Party during the presidential elections.Check it out here.The clip is almost as funny as it would be if he actually won.What a sobering thought…(Try reading that comment while you’re drunk.You will find it more amusing.)
