l i s a l a p e e r y . c o m

So Hillary Clinton wants to hold a re-vote in Michigan, where Barack Obama's name wasn't on the ballot and nobody voted for him. Obama has said that splitting the votes between the two candidates evenly is the most fair resolution, while Clinton pushed forward trying to get a re-vote. Clinton's argument is that by not having a re-vote, Obama is saying Michigan voters have no voice and their votes don't count.

Don't get sucked in! Obama didn't set the rules, the Democratic National Convention did. The DNC said any elections before Feb. 5th won't count, and the state held their elections on January 15th. If the voters have a problem with the process, it needs to be addressed with the state legislators. Mrs. Clinton needs to fault the right people and stop confusing the electorate. She needs to stop using the tactics employed by her opponents on the right, stop grasping at straws, and either fight with a fair campaign or dropout, in my never to be humble opinion.

If you're totally confused about the issue, check out this article.

They now include not recycling and other bad deeds with environmental and social ramifications. Here it is.

Voters may re-vote in Michigan and Florida; Howard Dean is apparently pushing for another vote sans all the original candidates, but the Democratic National Committee is not paying for it.

Back in January Florida and Michigan held primary elections, but they were not on the Democratic National Committee's calendar. Presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton did not campaign in either state, and Obama was not listed on the MI ballot. No delegates were awarded to either candidate. Now that Clinton [somehow] won OH & TX  this past Tuesday, there's chatter of another vote in both states.

Both states changed the dates they would hold their primaries, which violates the DNC rules. As a result, the DNC stripped the candidates' right to pick up delegates. Understandable. You broke the rules so you don't get to play. Very democratic. 

The problem? In January there were more candidates! John Edwards and Dennis Kucinich would have a lot to squawk about if there were another vote since they too lost an opportunity to pick up delegates. Voters would have something to protest over for the fact that they lost an opportunity  to vote for the candidates they believe in most. Not democratic.

So far, DNC chairman Howard Dean (yah!) is standing his ground, saying everyone knew the rules. Only Clinton's campaign is calling for a re-vote.

This mess underlines why I am an Obama faithful. We're only in the primary season and the Clinton camp is like a three-year-old throwing a fit because they can't have the toy they want. Misleading attack ads got her ahead in OH and TX, Now she's trying to increase her lead by breaking the rules. Sets things up nicely for another Republican White House. It also shows us what to expect from her as president - a tyrant type who does whatever she wants regardless of rules or the good of the country. What makes Clinton as President any different than what we've had the last 8 years?

Winningest coach turns critic as ESPN has just hired Bobby Knight as an analyst during the college basketball playoffs. I'll be watching. Should be fun. College b-ball has been lacking without Mr. Knight, who gave us some gems for quotes, like this one: "When my time on earth is gone, and my activities here are passed, I want them to bury me upside down, so my critics can kiss my ass."

On the OH, TX primary I dropped the ball. I should have been blogging to get out the Barack Obama vote and probably recruiting voters too, but I was lax. What I don't get is this: the Dems I know in OH and TX claimed to support Obama. The conservatives I know in both places support Ron Paul. So how did neither win? Just a curious thing. Hopefully, Obama will pull through ultimately. So if you haven't voted yet, and you're voting the Democratic ticket, vote for Obama. I'll opine on why in a bit.

Now I understand that several right-wing radio talk-show hosts were calling for everyone to vote for Hillary Clinton, but I have a hard time believing people did. Not enough to create the "landslide" victories she had in the two states. For a Republican to vote for a Democrat in a primary election means that the voter who switches forgoes the right to select their representatives for the other elected seats; county commissioners, judges, clerks of courts, sheriffs, prosecutors, ... if you voted yesterday you know the list. Local officials have a lot more impact on everyday living than the president, and it's difficult to believe that one would pass all of that up to vote for one person whom they despise.

Cleveland mayors have turned coat and proven my last post wrong. Four local mayors switched parties. Read about it here.