Redstate

Posted at 1:25pm on May 9, 2008 Meet Democratic Super-delegate Steven Ybarra.

A man who knows what he wants.

By Moe Lane

And a man ready to name his price:

DNC Superdelegate Puts His Vote Up For Sale
Steven Ybarra Wants $20 Million For His Vote

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CBS13) ― In this tight battle for the Democratic nomination we've heard a lot about the candidates courting superdelegates.

But, one superdelegate is courting the candidates. He says he'll sell his vote for a price. A very high price: $20 million.

Steven Ybarra of Sacramento says that eight-figure price is peanuts for the presidency.

This is not going to be an attack on Mr. Ybarra, by the way: he's just an example. The real problem for the Democrats are the super-delegates who are being quiet about their special needs.

Read on.

Posted in 2008 | Barack Obama | Hillary Clinton | superdelegates | The Best Democratic Primary EVER — Comments (11)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 12:45pm on Apr. 16, 2008 McGovern and Dukakis save the Democratic Party!

Yeah, those two losers are the Elder Statesment the Dems have needed.

By Mark Kilmer

As Hillary clings to her lifelong dreams of being President, Obama has to hit back and the entire Democratic Party looks foolish and, well… bitter. (They are too enlightened to embrace religion or to own guns, though.) I am one of those who "lamented" that it would take a vaunted Dem leader to bail to end this nonsense, and the only Dem who fit the bill was Bill. Well, Clinton has his own interests after which to look this time.

I could have been wrong. Two of that party's elder statesmen have embraced Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen's scheme for a superdelegate convention before the Denver convention, at which the superdelegates would decide the winner before the elected delegates vote. (Sure, it could be construed as elitist, but I'm sure Barry O. would have it no other way.) The two Dem heavyweights, the superstars of their party? Try George McGovern and Mike Dukakis, general election blowout losers in '72 and '88 respectively.

This is not a joke.

Read On…

Posted in 2008 | dukakis | mcgovern | saviors | superdelegates — Comments (6)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 2:26pm on Apr. 3, 2008 Hillary Superdelegate Watch : Jon Corzine latest to talk of bolting

Do the Clintons shoot deserters?

By Mark Kilmer

It became a choice for the Dems between a candidate few outside the cabal wanted and a candidate few knew, and the Dems are going to nominate Obama. Clearing a path to bail is devout Clintonista and New Jersey Governor Jon Corzone, who told CNBC's Squawk Box that he can switch his SUPERDELEGATE support from Hillary to Barry if she does not win the popular vote when all is done and said in the Dem circus.

Gov. Jon Corzine, a Clinton superdelegate, just said on CNBC's Squawk Box that he reserves the right to change his vote from Hillary Clinton if she doesn't have the popular vote.

VID:

Washington Senator and Clinton supporter Maria Cantwell announced that she'd dump Clinton for Barry for similar reasons.

Read On…

Posted in 2008 | Democrats | superdelegates — Comments (13)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 2:25am on Mar. 26, 2008 More Superdelegate Math

By Neil Stevens

As the unpledged Party Leader and Elected Official delegates to the Democratic National Convention weigh their solemn duty to decide who will be the 2008 Democratic Presidential nominee, arguably their chief job is to choose the candidate who is best equipped to win. No Democrat who has to run on the ballot (most PLEOs are elected officials) has a need to see another George McGovern.

So following is the kind of math the delegates are most likely looking at as the Democratic nomination process wears on:

Read on...

Posted in Democrats | Rooting For Injuries | superdelegates | The Best Democratic Primary EVER | The Great Netroots Betrayal — Comments (5)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 12:01pm on Mar. 12, 2008 Kryptonite Fells Clinton Superdelegate

The Taped Crusader Loses His Franchise

By Dan McLaughlin

NY Governor Eliot Spitzer's resignation costs Hillary a superdelegate, and he won't be replaced, according to this morning's Wall Street Journal:

The scandal-tainted governor and his lieutenant governor, David Paterson, who is a Democratic National Committee member, are among the roughly 800 superdelegates who will also cast ballots at the August nominating convention. Both support Sen. Clinton. The DNC confirmed yesterday that New York would lose Mr. Spitzer's superdelegate slot if he resigns.

New York succession laws would provide for Mr. Paterson to assume the role of governor until the term expires in 2010. Here's the rub: Succession law also provides for the president of the state Senate to become lieutenant governor. That man is Joseph Bruno, a Republican and a political enemy of Mr. Spitzer. It is safe to say that Mr. Bruno won't be casting a ballot at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

Wonderful way to pick a nominee, isn't it?

Posted in 2008 | Eliot Spitzer | Hillary Clinton | Spitzmas | superdelegates — Comments (16)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 4:49pm on Feb. 14, 2008 Iowa's Tom Harkin is a fat, fat cat

Wants to be rid of superdelegates... next time.

By Mark Kilmer

Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, a Dem, is livid about the notion of superdelegates to his party's convention.

"I am convinced this idea of superdelegates has to be done away with," Harkin said in a conference call with Iowa reporters. "It gives these superdelegates too much power to decide things at the end and it should not be that way."

Harkin, who is a Dem superdelegate, has not yet chosen between Hillary and Obama, although one would think, given Harkin's outrage, he would support the winner of his State's Presidential caucuses: Barack Obama. But no, Harkin wants to do away with superdelegates in the future, not while he can override the choice of his party voters to select the nominee he and his fellow fatcats in the smoke-filled Dem back rooms think should be the party's pick.

"You shouldn’t change (the rules) in the middle of the game," said Harkin.

So if the Dem voters make what he believes to be a dangerous choice, he can join the Dem movers-and-shakers and push Hillary over the top.

Indeed, Tom Harkin is a fat cat.
Four terms in the Senate, can't find his hat.
Or his shoes, for that matter. Imagine that.
That Tom Harkin is a fat, fat cat.

Posted in Democrats | superdelegates — Comments (18)/ Email this page » / Read More »