Obama Wild Card?

Speculation is rampant that Waco, Texas Congressman, moderate Chet Edwards, is Barack Obama's selection for his Vice Presidential running mate.

The most notable thing about Edwards is that he is President Bush's Congressman.

"The Not Ready for Prime Time Mayor, Villaraigosa"

With the caravan of local politicos leaving Spring Street for "Demfest in Denver", one may wonder what role will Mayor Villaraigosa play in the coronation of the "Presumptive Teleprompter President", Barack Obama.

That answer according to LA Weekly reporter Patrick Range McDonald is "little" and "no face time in prime time".

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, according to the LA Times, may be the "Latino point man" for Barack Obama's presidential campaign, but when he arrives in Denver late this week for the Democratic National Convention, he will not have a prominent TV slot as a speaker.

According to the most recent "calendar of events" for the California Democratic Party, Villaraigosa will have to settle for attending delegation breakfasts and caucus meetings just like the rest of the Golden State's politicians, with no scheduled face time on CNN, Fox News, ABC, CBS, and all of the other TV networks.

Instead, Colorado senator Ken Salazar--who, by the way, had a major beef with fundamentalist Christian leader Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family (Salazar publicly called Dobson the "anti-Christ" a few years ago, but then apologized for the remark), and may make things a little weird for Obama since he's trying to win over God fearing voters--and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson will take up the Latino reach out effort and address a national audience.

Villaraigosa will be, however, a "featured" guest at a Thursday, August 28, breakfast honoring California mayors. Another mayor taking a few bows at the event will be Gavin Newsom of San Francisco, Villaraigosa's possible rival for a run for governor in 2010. It should make for a morning of heavy politics in Denver.

Letting this sink in, the Latino mayor of America's second largest city will be denied the usage of the teleprompter in prime time at his political party's convention? Shocking for some, surprise for most, I think not.........

Show Me The Money!

Okay, let me get this straight:

Hillary Clinton wages one of the toughest primary battles in recent history and even after the numbers begin to show the Writing on the Wall, The Inevitable Outcome, The Way Things Are... homegirl still won't do the right thing and step aside -- nah, instead she racks up millions more in debt, and now she wants Obama supporters to help her pay it off?

Is she on crack?

The New York Times reports today that a top Obama donor sent an e-mail to other Obama donors practically begging them to help Clinton out of the financial hole she has dug herself into (an estimated $12 million, plus another $11 million of personal money she lent her campaign). Apparently, the Obama faithful are having a hard time reconciling this concept.

The Times was unable to print some of the responses, but managed to find these few comments that weren't expletive laced:

“Why would I help pay off debts that Hillary amassed simply to keep damaging Senator Obama?”

“Gas prices are up, the markets are in turmoil, my kid’s fall tuition bill is coming soon. Writing checks to politicians I don’t like is not at the top of my list.”

“Not a penny for that woman. Or her husband. Or — god forbid — Mark Penn,”

Of course, in any family where there are money issues, sooner or later the finer nuances of each member's character and personality begin to become more transparent as money becomes the issue. Hillary, it seems, might not be as grateful as she should for whatever money the Obama people are able to raise for her. Again, from the Times:

Mr. Obama has asked his top donors to help raise money for her debt, and so far they have come up with less than $100,000 (though more in pledges), Clinton campaign officials said — a “paltry sum,” in the words of one.

While no other presidential candidate has ever amassed so much personal and campaign debt en route to losing the nomination as has Mrs. Clinton, both Clinton and Obama donors say the larger problem for Democrats is that if the Obama camp is seen as unhelpful, Mrs. Clinton, her husband and their supporters could prove something less than a force for unity.

Among the complaints from Obama campaign officials is that Mrs. Clinton’s expectation for help has been a moving target; in other words, it is unclear how much money from Obama supporters will be enough to satisfy the Clintons. Even Clinton officials and donors were at a loss to specify a number, saying only that Mrs. Clinton was helping Mr. Obama with the understanding that he would do more for her.

Clinton donors and campaign officials say they remain surprised — and, among some, offended [offended? really? now that's rich! --vd]— that Mr. Obama has refused to ask his entire list of donors, more than 1.5 million people, to send $5, $10 or more to chip away at Mrs. Clinton’s debt. (Obama officials said they did not want to distract their donors for the main task at hand, raising money to defeat Mr. McCain.)

As much as I'd love to help ya out, Hill -- I've promised my fiancial support (such as it is; a fin here, a fin there) to help get the party candidate into the White House. And like many of the small-time donors you'd like to help bail you out... we're broke as a joke and we've had to get by and find ways to pay off our own debts. I think it's time you learned to do the same.

Gore Endorses Obama

Former Vice President Al Gore has received a Nobel Peace prize, starred in the Academy Award-winning documentary and also won the popular vote in the 2000 Presidential election. He is much beloved in the Democratic Party as well as others concerned about climate change and the environment. Today he endorsed the presumptive Democratic nominee, Barack Obama.

AP Reports that Obama Clinches the Nomination

This may qualify for a Captain Obvious Award among those following the race and still trying to get through a certain Vanity Fair article, but the Associated Press is reporting that Obama has the delegates to claim victory in the Democratic presidential nomination race.

Barack Obama effectively clinched the Democratic presidential nomination Tuesday after a grueling marathon, based on an Associated Press tally . . . based on public declarations from delegates as well as from another 15 who have confirmed their intentions to the AP. It also included 11 delegates Obama was guaranteed as long as he gained 30 percent of the vote in South Dakota and Montana later in the day. It takes 2,118 delegates to clinch the nomination. - David Espo and Stephen Ohlemacher, Associated Press Writers

National "BLUE MUD BOWL" continues in Indiana and North Carolina

The national version of the "BLUE MUD BOWL" continues on the ground in Indiana and North Carolina.

Leave it to Matt Drudge to find this picture of a parade float in Europe. On the subject of getting bit on the rear, Republicans are turning out in masses to vote Democrat. Pundits are giving grudging credit to Rush Limbaugh's "Operation Chaos", a brilliant ploy to get Republicans to vote Democrat to extend this "BLUE MUD BOWL" to the Democratic Convention in Denver.

But no update on the national version of the "BLUE MUD BOWL" would not be complete without an update on the efforts of Ace Smith and Mike "Drivin MEAT" Trujillo. The "OLD GRAY HAG ON SPRING STREET" had a feature on Ace in Saturday's fishwrap that "WWG" opined on yesterday. "Drivin MEAT" Trujillo is leading the field operations in North Carolina, lining up the buses, vans, and new identities of voters, just like home.

****Limbaugh refers to Mayor Villaraigosa as a "SHOESHINE BOY"****
Statement on Limbaugh's comments expected from Mayor's office. This may require an exclusive thread.