Apparently the pre-spinning has begun as to why Texas doesn't count. Probably not a good sign for Clinton's fortunes in the Lone Star State.
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Texas Doesn't Count
26 Feb 2008 04:28 pm
Comments (19)
Probably not a good sign for Clinton's fortunes in the Lone Star State.
But she is going to win anyway!!!
Come on, Matt.
Don't waver or flip-flop.
The American people (and Obama voters in particular) hate that in our politicians and pundits.
Back on the Clinton horse, please.
I agree with Alex. Chait did not read close enough. Bill Clinton said this as part of a GOTV strategy. He was not trying to say it didn't count, just the opposite. He's been giving a version of this speech, saying: You have to vote twice in Texas.
I'm an Obama fan, and I've certainly poked fun at the Clintons' floundering these last couple weeks. But there isn't a legitimate point here, it's just poor reading comprehension.
I eagerly await September, when Hillary will still be spinning that the Democratic National Convention didn't count, either. I just don't understand what they think they gain by so transparently insulting the intelligence of the people in their own party.
Forget the idea of this Obama/Clinton "dream ticket." Personally, I would have to question Obama's judgment if he chose a running mate who has, as a strategic campaign maneuver, alienated virtually everyone in her wake.
I think both this post and Chait's misrepresent what Bill Clinton is trying to do.
The link through in Chait's piece does *not* lay the groundwork for a 'doesn't count' meme.
Rather this:
"If you vote early or you vote on March the 4th in the popular election, 65 percent of the delegates will be selected to the national convention. But 35 percent of the delegates for the national convention will be selected Tuesday night, March 4, at 8000 Percent Convention all across this state," Clinton told the crowd in Killeen this morning, adding, "The doors open at 7 and they close at 7:15. It would be tragic if Hillary were to win this election in the daytime and somebody were to come in at night and take it away."
lays the groundwork for 'stolen election' meme.
It would be tragic if Hillary were to win this election in the daytime and somebody were to come in at night and take it away
I think that qualifies as laying the groundwork for an eventual "doesn't count" defense.
Kolohe's right: there's going to be a real push from the Clinton camp to have the real winner of the Texas vote declared from the primary's popular vote numbers, and not factor either the caucuses or the delegate count.
Here's Hillary saying Texas doesn't count
We have to try to carry both of those states. I’d love to carry Texas, but it’s usually not in the electoral calculation for the Democratic nominee. Florida and Michigan are. Therefore, the people of those two states disregarded adamantly the DNC’s decision that they would not seat the delegates.
I still maintain that Bill Clinton was trying to rally a crowd to show up at the convention (thus validating the point that Texas really, really matters). Hillary's comments are closer to the point, but I still can't imagine her continuing for more than a couple days after Texas if she loses.
If she doesn't concede and withdraw within twenty-four hours, there will be a hue and cry from every pundit in the land followed by the intervention of a grim-faced group of party elders, who will sit Bill and Hillary down and say: it's over.
I think Clinton would have a point if she wins the primary handily bet gets fewer delegates because of the strange weighting of the districts and the post-primary caucus.
Texas voters would have preferred her, but a strange system denied the voters their preference. Seems undemocratic to me. It is a very effective response to Obama's argument that the superdelegates should honor the preferences of the voters. If the pledged delegates do not reflect the popular vote, there is no reason to feel honor bound to stick by the pledged delegate count.
Shorter Bill Clinton: 'It's not fair if we lose our margin in the 4th quarter, even though the rules say the 4th quarter counts and we agreed to the rules in advance. Also, the endurance and focus of our opponent in this contest is unfair. The stupid haters in the press keep harping on the lack of fitness and focus on Team Clinton....why don't they ever talk about our 3 point field goal percentage? That's something! Yet all the stupid press wants to focus on is the scoreboard. Is it our damn fault that we turn the ball over more, take silly shots, and don't play defense? NO. It's that boring Team Obama. Playing hard on every possession, making free throws, taking smart shots, not turning the ball over. He's running the Princeton offense and we all know that's not black enough. Hillary's game is 40 Minutes of Hell. Sooo-eeey! Sorry, I love them Hogs. Oh well. Now on to victory people of Texas! Except, of course, if we lose. Then we was robbed.'
"It would be tragic if Hillary were to win this election in the daytime and somebody were to come in at night and take it away." This word "tragic." And these words "take it away." I do not think they mean what Bill thinks they mean. As always, it's all about them. Obama's playing chess; Clinton's playing Calvinball.
"It would be tragic if Hillary were to win this election in the daytime and somebody were to come in at night and take it away." This word "tragic." And these words "take it away." I do not think they mean what Bill thinks they mean. As always, it's all about them. Obama's playing chess; Clinton's playing Calvinball.
This is a bogus story--in fact, a good example of the press dissing the Clintons. The article is about Bill Clinton campaigning in west Texas. In the article, he says nothing at all about how Texas "doesn't count." Yet, that's how NR wants to spin it.
The Clintons are right about the press--in this case the blogosphere--wanting Hillary to lose. When it doesn't have a story, it just makes one up.
THIS IS EXCELLENT NEWS!!!! FOR HILLARY!!!
I have now read the linked article three times, and I have yet to see anything that could lead one to fairly conclude that the Clintons believe that Texas "doesn't count." Did the article change after Yglesias linked to it?
I have now read the linked article three times, and I have yet to see anything that could lead one to fairly conclude that the Clintons believe that Texas "doesn't count." Did the article change after Yglesias linked to it?
I don't think anyone is saying that now. What they're saying is that the Clinton campaign is setting the stage for that kind of claim, *if* they lose the Texas primary/caucus.
Whether or not that's what they are doing, I don't know.
Bill is actually giving bad advice.
"The doors open at 7 and they close at 7:15." is totally wrong.
The primary doors close at 7. The caucus doors open at 7:15. At 7:15, the caucus isn't ending..., it is just starting.
It would be tragic if Hillary were to win this election in the daytime and somebody were to come in at night and take it away.
You mean like a negro prowler?
Comments closed March 11, 2008.
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Heads in the Sand
As the importance of Texas and Ohio becomes clearer by the day, Hillary Clinton's campaign obviously sees the former president's rock star status (especially among the Hispanic community) as one of their strongest assets. The usually verbose Clinton has been talking for just 10 or 15 minutes at many events, focusing heavily on the importance of early voting and participating in both the primary and the caucus.
Clinton has become extremely detailed in his plea for voter turnout.
"If you vote early or you vote on March the 4th in the popular election, 65 percent of the delegates will be selected to the national convention. But 35 percent of the delegates for the national convention will be selected Tuesday night, March 4, at 8000 Percent Convention all across this state," Clinton told the crowd in Killeen this morning, adding, "The doors open at 7 and they close at 7:15. It would be tragic if Hillary were to win this election in the daytime and somebody were to come in at night and take it away."
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An interesting definition of pre-election spin and "doesn't count".
Posted by Alex | February 26, 2008 5:01 PM