What do you think the chances are of a Clinton/Obama or Obama/Hillary ticket? Or do you think the front runner would choose Edwards, or another, as VP?

is, at best, grim...I do not see either of the frontrunners on the Democratic side picking the other as a veep. If I was in the Obama camp, I would look long and hard at Richardson to solidify the Hispanic vote. As for Hillary...well...I do not see her choice of a vice-president having a significant effect on her chances. But that is my own particular hangup. Edwards will most definitely be in the discussion, but I do not know if he would want to play second fiddle again. Missed you last evening, btw. Keep the faith.

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

for your insight. I would love to see an Obama/Edwards ticket myself. It will be interesting to see what happens in the months to come!

Family duties kept us away last night. We were looking forward to getting away, but the little ones wouldn't allow it, unfortunately. Look for us at the rally though!

Does anyone else suspect that Mitt Romney is kind of like Flipper and Lassie, so that there are several guys, each, perhaps, donning a Mitt mask, and filling in?

But I suspect that a Huckabee nomination will essentialy close the deal for a democratic takeover of the White House, as it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a candidate to get through the White House doors carrying the Fair Tax package.

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"The Muddles"

as to why it should be Romney who drops out..as of this AM, Romney has almost 50% more delegates than Huckabee. I don't see Huck with much of a chance in the general election, other than a few Southern States. What say you?

Yeah, Romney looks like toast, which is sweet since his demise is yet another repudiation for Limbaugh and Hannity, who tried to turn him into the "true conservative" standard-bearer. (When will these guys learn they are just political circus clowns, as opposed to self-appointed "new media opinion leaders"?) It's also kind of too bad because I think Romney is a moderate technocrat at heart who would run to the center given a chance.

Big question is whether McCain will feel compelled to pick Huckster as his veep. He'll be under huge pressure to do so. Problem is, Huckster would cost the ticket a lot of independents and any chance at a significant democrat crossover vote in November. Charlie Christ could deliver Florida, a pivotal state, but the imagery of two white-haired white guys is not so good...What the GOP needs is its own Obama.

I'm still skeptical Obama can prevail, Jeff. Billary is the Terminator. But I'm scratching my head at the stubborn Clinton loyalty of so many Dems. If she/he/it wins out, I think a LOT of the younger and more independent-minded Dems voting for Obama in the primaries will bail in November, especially if the GOP ticket is moderate.

I've been reading a lot this morning on exactly who is voting for Hillary Clinton. There are a few surprises.

First of all, she is rock-solid in "traditional" Democratic communities, i.e. big cities.

She has enormous support among 40+ white women, and that demographic turns out to vote in large numbers. The big surprise is her showing in first-through-third generation "ethnic" families, Irish/Italian/Hispanic households. She's got them sewn up.

Obama does well in states with considerable African-American numbers and somewhat surprisingly, in states with NO African-American populations. Where Obama has excelled at is getting Independents to vote for him and also the riskiest demographic, 18-25 year olds to vote for him.

I don't know if Obama can win it all, but I support the guy and I think he can beat McCain head-to-head becaue they both rely on Independents.

I'm still praying for Huckabee vs. Obama, though.
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The Question They Will NOT Answer:How Much Jail Time?

Even though I'm sure there is some truth to your assertion that Fayette isn't as republican as indicated in the past, I know that many republicans voted the democratic ticket in the primary to make sure Hillary didn't get the nomination. It's a common practice, and the numbers will correct themselves in the general election.

Oh, I'm aware that in the past Republicans crossed party lines to vote against the Democrat they liked the least (see:Cynthia McKinney).

I don't think that hypothesis holds true this year because crossover voting typically is done when there is no Republican primary battle. This year we saw one of the biggest Republican primary battles in history as McCain, Huckabee and that Mormon guy duked it out.

Besides, I'd estimate around 10% of the Republicans in this county would rather slit their wrists than vote for a black man.
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The Question They Will NOT Answer:How Much Jail Time?

The fact that obama is black doesn't have anything to do with why some people fear him. The minister of his church in Chicago has sermon topics that are very inflammatory: "Death to White America", if obama listens to that filth every sun. that can't be good. I voted for the hilderbeast, and in Nov. I'll vote for McCain.

Sniffles, I'm with you. I am somewhat surprised at the # of Democratic votes in Fayette County and pleased too! Let's be generous in our thinking and say Fayette is 70% Republican. That means the other 30% is unrepresented on our county commission. Let's say we had district voting. I would suggest 1 and only 1 district might elect a democrat. If so then the split would be 80/20 and closer to the county breakdown.

However we're not likely to get a fair shot since those in the majority (60-70%)prefer to hold 100% of the power. Can you imagine the US Senate or Congress being 100% controlled by either party. They are elected by "district voting" just on a larger scale. Same with our state reps and state senators.

Even with district voting I doubt a Democrat would be elected but at least they would have a chance. I believe that if Fayette had district voting eventually most would like it. Then we would each have a county commissioner that would be somewhat accountable to their constituency rather than 5 at large who, too often, don't feel they're accountable to anyone.

Voting for a Republican and being Republican are two different things. Running as a Republican and being a Republican are also two different things. In Fayette County, it is political suicide to run as a Democrat, which means that the first dishonest act of many of our elected officials has been to run as a Republican. Bud Ballard, our now deceased clerk of Superior Court and an honest man, refused to cross over and was the latest Fayette Democract office holder to be run out of office.

But even if everybody (who is not politically suicidal) now runs as a Republican in Fayette County, we'd still be better off with District Voting, because our county commissioners would be more accountable, as kreedham rightfully states. District Voting is not necessarily about electing a Democrat: it is about getting elected officials who are closer to the people and more responsive to their needs.

You have a valid point on the running as a republican or voting republican in Fayette and a lesser degree in the state. I suspect if you didn't know most of our local elected officials and asked them to list their opinions on several matters you might not know they were R's. In Fayette they run as R's cause that have to do so to win.

As far as partisan politics I often wonder why elections for sheriff, coroner and others are not non-partisan. Those running could still call themselves republicans if they wish but it isn't relevant to their office. If they were non partisan then all voters could have a say in their election (primary wise). Now you only get to vote on them in the general election (if you vote in the democratic primary) and most likely their unopposed. In the 2006 primary, I a democrat, voted in the Republican primary so I could have a say as the only contested Democrats were for Lt. Governor and Governor.

for district voting in the not too distant future. The pressure will continue to grow, because the current system borders on the unconstitutional. It would behoove the county commissioners to make the move now, while they retain some degree of control of the direction, rather than wait until some sort of decision is forced upon them by the legislature or the courts. Keep the faith.

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

Today's legal ads in Fayette County's official legal organ (Fayette Daily News & Today in Peachtree City) include a Notice of Intention to Introduce Local Legislation from Rep. Virgil Fludd, dated Jan. 30, 2008, showing that a bill will be introduced in the current session of the General Assembly to provide for district voting in Fayette County and for changes in district boundaries.

The issue is not dead.

reading those goat entrails really works. And now for my next trick, watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat. Keep the faith.

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

We can get the 77th District changed in order to represent Fayette County rather than Clayton.
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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

I certainly have no problem with Fayette County state legislative districts being self contained within the county. But that will not likely change before the next census in 2010 and if Fayette is still growing and Clayton declining in population it's certainly possible that that district will include more of Fayette County then it does now.

I think I have the same situation as I recently moved to Brooks and I believe my State Rep is from Griffin. Don't really like that either!

And like it says below, their population has ZERO to do with the Fayette County Commission.

when discussed in relationship to Fayette County refers to the apportionment of county commission seats. Currently there are three commissioners elected from posts and two elected at large, but they are all voted on by the entire county. The proposed plan would have have five commissioners, each elected by the voters of their particular districts. Keep the faith.

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

"kree" and I were not talking about the "county commission".
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Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

I'm not saying, I just saying. Keep the faith.

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

If the rest of the country doesn't fumble this. If you think Hillary has a better chance than Obama at winning the general election, you're nuts.

I voted. Georgia voted. Why are these morons in New York and California voting for Hillary??

In fairness, Hillary has a very good reputation as a Senator in New York....not surprisingly, her adopted home state is supporting her.

The California results are another thing entirely. Hillary Clinton got something like 70% of the Hispanic vote in Nevada a few weeks back and the news guys are saying she is getting a phenomenal 85% of Hispanic vote in California. That's a truly scary number, if true!!
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The Question They Will NOT Answer:How Much Jail Time?

But I just don't see the most liberal Senator we've seen in years winning a National Election.

Time will tell.