Blatant Reality

Since Clinton is basically defeated (even if she will not admit it), her supporters are now shopping for a new candidate. And where are they going? Well, at least some are finding a home with the GOP.

Wow, what a sad day it is when liberal Clinton supporters are deciding rather to support the Republican candidate than a Democrat.

Now the only thing I haven’t figured out is for what side it’s a sad day. I mean, if unarguably liberal Clinton supporters can relate more with “conservative” McCain than ultra-liberal Obama, what does that say about McCain’s conservatism?

I know we (the GOP) need all the help we can come November but the implications of this probably won’t do anything to reassure conservatives.

Hat Tip Gateway Pundit

If you can remember the South Carolina primary way back in January, you will remember that Clinton experienced a very decisive loss that arguably helped to propel Obama to the forefront. I mean, Clinton lost to Obama 55%-27%.

However, Clinton’s win in West Virginia is on par (if not more impressive) than Obama’s South Carolina win. Her win by over 40% in West Virginia this late in the game just shows how disappointed Democrats are with Obama, the supposed nominee.

I highly doubt she will be leaving anytime soon. However, there are some who believe that she will drop out after the May 20th primaries (she’s way ahead in Kentucky but behind in Oregon). The argument for this is that after another big win in Kentucky, she can gracefully exit and set herself up nicely for a vice presidential bid or another strong presidential bid down the road.

I hope she stays in. The longer she does, the less I have to focus on the fact that we have McCain as our “conservative” candidate.

With everyone attacking McCain about his stand on immigration, I was hoping that I could look at his ratings from interests groups and compare them with Clinton’s and Obama’s. I honestly wanted to find that McCain was ranked better from the “no amnesty” interest groups then his Democratic opponents, but this just wasn’t the case.

Quite honestly, it really shocked me to find out that Hillary and Barack had received better scores (2005-2006) from Americans for Better Immigration (McCain: 18, Clinton: 26, Obama: 28) and the Federation for American Immigration Reform (McCain: 15, Clinton: 50, Obama: 43). Just to give you a little perspective, Senator Jim DeMint, who was a strong opponent to last summer’s comprehensive immigration reform, received a rating of 79 from both during the same year (this year he received a 92 from ABI).

Even though McCain received a 100 from the English First group last year, don’t get your hopes. The year before he only received a 25. This is still better than Hillary and Barack’s zeros for both year, but one is to expect McCain to act tough on immigration during the presidential primary. Don’t expect him to keep his 100 percent too much longer since the primary is over.

I am by no means saying that you should vote for either Hillary or Barack in the coming election. All I am saying is that we, as conservatives, are going to have to watch McCain closely when it comes to anything that deals with immigration.

I much rather have to deal with McCain on his few faults than Hillary or Barack with their innumerable faults.

With a weird turn of events, a new poll conducted by the Associated Press has Clinton leading McCain in a head to head poll with Barack in a virtual tie with him.

Clinton, who won the Pennsylvania primary last week, has gained ground this month in a hypothetical head-to-head match up with the GOP nominee-in-waiting; she now leads McCain, 50 percent to 41 percent, while Obama remains virtually tied with McCain, 46 percent to 44 percent.

Well, this is surely a very interesting twist. This news will definitely add some credibility to Clinton’s campaign staying in the race.

Contrary to what all is being said about guns after Obama’s whole ‘Bittergate’ deal, they still want to take your guns. As Hillary has been trying to prove that she supports gun rights, all you have to do is just look at the numbers and you will be able to see the whole story. Looking at the grades they have received from pro gun-orientated interest groups, you can clearly see that Hillary has failed miserably since the beginning. Barack, on the other hand, did receive more favorable scores from the most recent assessment but judging by his comments in the last week, I’m sure the next assessment won’t be as favorable.

The scary thing about this is that McCain didn’t receive scores that were a lot better.

As always, Frank J. from IMAO has some interesting comments concerning what is being called ‘Bittergate’, Obama’s condescending comments about middle America. Here are two I find particularly interesting:

* Having nothing else left, Hillary sure is seizing on this controversy and portraying herself as Annie Oakley. Of course, she has a history of supporting repressive gun control, but that’s why conservatives trust her more. We know the only fundamental issue she holds dear is that she should have power; she’ll move on any other issue if necessary.

 

* Doesn’t the Tuzla comments seem endearing in comparison? While Obama’s speech was about looking down on us and our values, Hillary was lying to try and fit in with us, bless her little heart.

Frank hit the nail on the head. I used to be with the whole “Anyone but Hillary” crowd but a couple months ago I saw the light. Worst comes to worse and a Democrat gets elected to office, I at least want one who I know what to expect. Hillary has been on the scene so long that we all know exactly what she wants. Barack on the other hand is a wild card that could do anything from dismantling the military to establishing Wright as the leader of a new state sponsored religion.

The Associated Press ran an article to day confirming what most Republicans and bloggers had predicted: a long, drawn-out battle between Hillary and Barack would help the Republican nominee.

Republican Sen. John McCain has erased Sen. Barack Obama’s 10-point advantage in a head-to-head matchup, leaving him essentially tied with both Democratic candidates in an Associated Press-Ipsos national poll released Thursday.

 

The survey showed the extended Democratic primary campaign creating divisions among supporters of Obama and rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and suggests a tight race for the presidency in November no matter which Democrat becomes the nominee.

 

McCain is benefiting from a bounce since he clinched the GOP nomination a month ago. The four-term Arizona senator has moved up in matchups with each of the Democratic candidates, particularly Obama.

 

An AP-Ipsos poll taken in late February had Obama leading McCain 51-41 percent. The current survey, conducted April 7-9, had them at 45 percent each. McCain leads Obama among men, whites, Southerners, married women and independents.

 

Clinton led McCain, 48-43 percent, in February. The latest survey showed the New York senator with 48 percent support to McCain’s 45 percent. Factoring in the poll’s margin of error of 3.1 percentage points, Clinton and McCain are statistically tied.

Seems like Rush’s plan is working.

I don’t know if you knew this, but Rocky Balboa lost in the end of the first Rocky film. If this is news to you, don’t feel bad because it seems that Hillary Clinton didn’t know this either. If she had, she probably wouldn’t have compared herself to Rocky in that movie.

Addressing a meeting of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Tuesday, the former first lady and New York senator said she, like Rocky, wasn’t a quitter.

 

Recalling a famous scene on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Clinton said to end her presidential campaign now would be as if “Rocky Balboa had gotten halfway up those art museum steps and said, ‘Well, I guess that’s about far enough.’”

 

“Let me tell you something, when it comes to finishing a fight, Rocky and I have a lot in common. I never quit. I never give up. And neither do the American people,” Clinton said.

Even if she was aware of this fact, I doubt she knew just how dead on her comparison might turn out to be. For those of you who haven’t watched this movie or have forgotten it, let me explain a bit. First off, Rocky’s opponent in this film was black (remind you of someone?). Second, at the end of the fight, neither Rocky nor his opponent was the clear winner so it came down to a vote between the judges (Superdelegates anyone?). Third, the judges eventually decide the Rocky’s opponent is the winner (can you feel the tides turn?). And lastly, Rocky and his opponent give each other a hug at the end of the fight (close enough…).

Now, if you think I’m reading too much into this, I don’t think I am. If she didn’t see all these other comparisons, let alone the fact that she is comparing herself to a loser, she needs a new speech writer. People are a lot smarter than we look and definitely when it comes to pop culture.

This is a warning to all politicians: be wary when referencing popular culture items such a movies. Don’t compare yourself to a character unless you want all their attributes and story associated with you.

With Hillary’s support fading fast around the country, tonight’s debate between her and Obama should be a good one. Lets hope things get a little nasty between them.

UPDATE (9:00pm ET):

The talking heads think that if Clinton shows any vulnerability, Obama should finish her off tonight. I like to think that they weren’t speaking metaphorically. That would be very interesting to see.

UPDATE (9:03pm ET):

Obama has a very serious look on while Clinton just has one of her goofy smiles on. I take this to mean that Obama is ready to put the smack down on and Clinton is really, really nervous

UPDATE (9:10pm ET):

Clinton just accused Obama of using incorrect information then denied releasing the photo of Barack in native garb. Obama responds that Clinton has sent out a lot of mass mailings with false information about him. There is no civility tonight folks, none whatsoever.

UPDATE (9:11pm ET):

Haha…Hillary just said that the health care issue goes to the “heart” of America. Then she said it again. She’s so witty…

UPDATE (9:17pm ET):

Hillary won’t let the issue of Health care go away and she is already getting all up and arms about. Obama is just sitting there smiling and trying to get a chance to speak. The Moderators really need to step in and just move the issues along. This is really like beating a dead horse; these issues have been talked about ad naseum. Basically, both of them want universal health care and thats that.

UPDATE (9:22pm ET):

About dang time, they finally are talking about NAFTA. Basically, Hillary hates NAFTA and thinks that we need a “trade time out” to fix it. Obama said that he wants these kinds of trade agreements to not only be good for Wall Street but also Main Street. Thats the same line he has been saying for a very long time. He needs to come up with some new lines.

UPDATE (9:29pm ET):

Tim Russert brought up the fact that Clinton supported NAFTA for several years. He then asked if she would tell Mexico and Canada that we will get out of NAFTA in 6 months if she is elected president. She got really offensive about this and said that she wants to renegotiate NAFTA, not abolish it. She will threaten to opt out of NAFTA to get things rolling.

When asked the same question, Obama did a major cop-out by saying that he agrees almost completely with Clinton.

UPDATE (9:34pm ET):

Tim Russert asks another tough question about how she promised new jobs in New York in 2000 when in fact they have lost a lot of jobs. He compared this to the fact that she has promised creating 5 million new jobs in the US if she is elected president. The best part of her answer was she blamed Al Gore losing as the reason she wasn’t able to create jobs in New York. I wonder who she will blame when she doesn’t create 5 million new jobs if she is elected president.

UPDATE (9:39pm ET):

Just a note: This debate has basically become a time for Hillary to bash Barack and him respond to all of her attacks.

UPDATE (9:49pm ET):

Tim Russert just asked what they would do if the Iraqi president asked them to leave because he didn’t want any help from a country who doesn’t want to protect them at our current levels. Obama says yes, we would have to leave and Hillary said yes also.

Russert then follows up with the question about what they would to if Iraq is then taken over by Al Qaeda. Hillary dodges the question by saying that he is speaking in too many hypotheticals. Obama also dodges the question by focusing on Afghanistan. However, he does state that he, as a president, reserves the right to protect Americans at home and abroad.

UPDATE (9:51pm ET):

Its a break and here are some other Live-blogs you might want to check out.

Vodka Pundit

Michelle Malkin

Ann Althouse

Gateway Pundit

UPDATE (9:58pm ET):

Clinton claims that her personal attacks on Obama are just her having some “fun” because it is “high time [she] had some fun on this campaign.” Ha, what a joke.

UPDATE (10:07pm ET):

Tim asked why Clinton won’t release her tax returns. She answered by saying that she won’t release her returns until after she is the nominee because she “is a little busy” now.

UPDATE (10:10pm ET):

Obama won’t reject the support of a Muslim cleric (leader of the Nation of Islam) who is very anti-semantic. Obama then quickly interrupted Tim’s listing off that cleric’s faults. He seems very nervous about this subject.

UPDATE (10:15pm ET):

Hmmm…Obama said that he can’t stand antisemitism yet one of his advisers is a little iffy on this subject. Read Powerline’s take on this here, here, here, and here.

UPDATE (10:23pm ET):

I like to imagine that every time the questioning transfers to Tim Russert, both Obama and Clinton have a mental “Oh s***” moment. He has not been pulling any punches tonight and his questions have been slaughtering the candidates.

UPDATE (10:28pm ET):

Clinton wants to take her vote back about the Iraq war. Obama wishes that he would have taken more action in the Terri Schiavo (sp) debate back a couple years back.

UPDATE (10:35pm ET):

Fundamental question Clinton must answer to prove her worthiness (according to Obama): She is already qualified but Obama feels he is better. Both would be better than McCain. The reason he thinks he is better because he can bring the country together in a unique way across religious, racial, and cultural divides. H

Fundamental question Obama must answer to prove his worthiness (according to Clinton): He is qualified just like me. She is thrilled to be running as the first woman president of the United States. She feels that either one can change history. However, she wants to ask which one of them will be better to make the changes that we all need to see.

I really wish Clinton would have been allowed to answer this question first. I bet she might have asked a real nasty question. Then again, she might have had enough sense to play it safe, but I guess we will never know.

UPDATE (10:43pm ET):

So who do I think won this debate? I believe Obama won this one once again. He might not have “finished her off” like one of the talking heads suggested he should but he at least didn’t go down to the level Hillary was at. What was this level? Well, as I stated before, Hillary basically attacked Obama all night and had to use his time to reply to her attacks. Very rarely did he launch a very drastic attack on her (the health care issue at the very beginning being one of the few exceptions).

Congrats Obama, you seemed to leave this debate fairly unscathed while letting Hillary continue to portray herself as a cornered animal. You shouldn’t have a problem come next Tuesday.

Once again, Bill let the old “if you elect me…” line slip. If he continues to say these types on things, the whole “Billary” fear is just going to continue to grow. Oh well, I really could care less. I’m just glad that I got the chance to hear him make this kind of slip first hand. Regretfully, I didn’t have my personal camera with me so I didn’t get it on tape.