Congratulations, Hillary!

Watch a Woman Older Than Her Right to Vote

Pledge Arizona's Delegates to Hillary Clinton

Put that coffee down, Bernie

Watched your big special live streaming event last night and here's all I have to say: Put that coffee down, Bernie! Coffee's for closers only.

Making History

Hillary Clinton made history yesterday by becoming the first woman to become the presumptive nominee of a major party in the U.S. Hell, she's been making history all her life. Congratulations, Secretary Clinton!

And to think, it only took 96 years for this to happen after women won the right to vote and 227 years after the first presidential race.

Notes for the Haters: 1) Obama was declared the presumptive nominee in 2008 when he reached the magic number on June 3rd -- months before the convention -- which he was only able to do with the aid of superdelegates. He wasn't declared the presumptive nominee until after the last primary election only because it took him that long to clinch it.  2) Despite what Bernie Sanders has to say about superdelegates now, back in 2008 he endorsed Obama two days after Obama had clinched the nomination acknowledging that Obama was then the presumptive nominee.

Some surely unsolicited advice

Dear Bernie, 

What you need to do now is to not drop out. Stay in until the end by all means. BUT, agree -- in exchange for more power in determining the platform and whatever else you can get -- to go back to expounding on the issues instead of attacking Hillary personally. 

I'm sure you don't want to hear this, but you started losing women voters when you started saying Hillary was "not qualified." Hillary won female voters in NY by a whopping 61% to 39% -- a 22% margin and far higher than in previous primaries. 

You want your issues to win? Then make it about that instead of about her.

Sincerely,

Me

I'll be on KDKA Radio Tonight with John McIntire at 8:15 PM ... Oops! No, I won't.

UPDATE: Strike all that. John just found out that he will be holding some kind of fundraiser on the air tonight. Maybe next week.


I'll be on John McIntire's Show on KDKA Radio Tonight in the 8 p.m. hour. We'll be talking about my being still undecided in the Democratic presidential primary.

First up will be Dana Milbank of The Washington Post ( https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/bernie-sanders-is-no-revolutionary/2016/02/08/19a15618-cea3-11e5-88cd-753e80cd29ad_story.html ). Then, me around 8:15 PM.

Tune into Newsradio 1020 KDKA or listen online @: http://player.radio.com/listen/station/newsradio-1020-kdka/

Hear the PA Democratic Candidates for United States Senate at Forum on Sunday

More at Facebook event page here

In case you're interested, full ACDC Endorsement List is here

First, a few notes on the Allegheny County Democratic Committee endorsement vote which was held yesterday.

Certainly the ACDC stamp of approval no longer holds the sway it once did. Candidates can win their elections without it and some no longer even seek the endorsement (see Mayor Bill Peduto).

The biggest headline to come out of the vote was the nod to Mark Patrick Flaherty over sitting incumbent Chelsa Wagner for Allegheny County Controller. Flaherty was Wagner's predecessor, and, because this is Allegheny County/Pittsburgh, Flaherty is the son of a former county commissioner and nephew of a former Pittsburgh mayor, while Wagner is the daughter of a former longtime chairman of the 19th Ward and niece of a former state auditor general. Meh.

And, while I'm no big fan of Wagner's, did the vote against her have to come on International Women's Day? Which just points to the fact that out of the 34 people ACDC endorsed, only eight were women.

This also leads to the following note from Kris Rust posted on Facebook by his husband, Pittsburgh Magisterial District Judge Hugh McGough, who did not win endorsement for Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas:

This weekend, the Allegheny County Labor Council and the Allegheny County Democratic Committee endorsed a slate of three straight, white men from the Pittsburgh suburbs as judicial candidates for the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, passing over distinguished women and minority candidates, including Hugh (yes, LGBT people comprise a minority group). 

The integrity and legitimacy of our government and our courts depends upon them reflecting the diversity of our citizenry. Yet, two-thirds of the judges on the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas are straight, white men. While we are grateful to all of the folks who have supported Hugh throughout this endorsement process, I am disappointed that the majority of Labor Council and Democratic Committee members fail to recognize the value and importance of superlative credentials and diversity on the bench. Now I am ready to “rage against the machine!”

(If you'd like to help Hugh McGough's campaign--and I hope you do--his website is here.)

Another person who I would have liked to have been endorsed is Natalia Rudiak (though I have to admit that I don't know if she sought the endorsement). Rudiak is running for Pittsburgh City Controller and the only negative thing I can say about her is I would miss her on City Council. Her campaign website is here and her kickoff party is tomorrow.

Lastly, I hope that no one reading this takes the slate cards mailed out too much to heart. It's a real shame, but I'm guessing that too many people do rely on them, especially when voting for judges.

(Endorsement list is after the fold.)

Same as it ever was

Well, I have been studying the Republican Party for over 12 years at close hand in the Capital of the United States. And by this time, I have discovered where the Republicans stand on most of the major issues.

Since they won't tell you themselves, I am going to tell you.

They approve of the American farmer-but they are willing to help him go broke.

They stand four-square for the American home--but not for housing.

They are strong for labor--but they are stronger for restricting labor's rights.

They favor a minimum wage--the smaller the minimum the better.

They indorse educational opportunity for all--but they won't spend money for teachers or for schools.

They think modern medical care and hospitals are fine--for people who can afford them.

They approve of social security benefits-so much so that they took them away from almost a million people.

They believe in international trade--so much so that they crippled our reciprocal trade program, and killed our International Wheat Agreement.

They favor the admission of displaced persons--but only within shameful racial and religious limitations.

They consider electric power a great blessing-but only when the private power companies get their rake-off.

They say TVA is wonderful--but we ought never to try it again.

They condemn "cruelly high prices"--but fight to the death every effort to bring them down.

They think the American standard of living is a fine thing--so long as it doesn't spread to all the people.

And they admire the Government of the United States so much that they would like to buy it.

- President Harry S. Truman, October 13, 1948

The difference

The difference between shouting, "I love women" and showing you love women (and children, and men, and gays, and the poor, and the middle class, and vets, and the elderly, and all races...and everyone) is the difference between the two parties.

If farmers and blacksmiths could win independence from an empire…if immigrants could leave behind everything they knew for a better life on our shores…if women could be dragged to jail for seeking the vote…if a generation could defeat a depression, and define greatness for all time…if a young preacher could lift us to the mountaintop with his righteous dream…and if proud Americans can be who they are and boldly stand at the altar with who they love…then surely, surely we can give everyone in this country a fair chance at that great American Dream.  

Because in the end, more than anything else, that is the story of this country – the story of unwavering hope grounded in unyielding struggle.

yep

Via The Onion:

Obama: Debt Ceiling Deal Required Tough Concessions By Both Democrats And Democrats Alike
.

Sestak Rally in Pittsburgh

Yes, Mr. Potter, it's really happening.


Via the Sestak Campaign:

Joining his supporters this Saturday, May 15 at 1PM, Joe will thank them for their dedication to unseating longtime Republican Arlen Specter, and ask them to carry on their instrumental grassroots movement through Primary Day.

EVENT DETAILS

WHAT: Pittsburgh for Sestak Rally
WHO: Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Joe Sestak
WHEN: Saturday, May 15 at 1 PM
WHERE: Leslie Park, 46th Street & Butler Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201

Snowpocalypse Now Edition (Updated 2x)

Downtown Pittsburgh
Predictions by the local TV stations for Snowpocalypse 2010! are all over the map (no pun intended):

WPXI: 3 - 6 inches

WTAE: 4 - 7 inches

KDKA: 8 - 12 inches

No idea how much the storm may effect DemFest 2010 -- this year's State Democratic Party meeting -- which is scheduled for today and tomorrow in Lancaster, PA.

But if you're in the mood to both battle the elements and battle the elements lobby on behalf of Single Payer, here's the info you need:

WHERE: Lancaster Host and Resort.
2300 Lincoln Hwy E
Lancaster, PA 17602-1114

WHEN: February 5, 2010, 12:00pm - February 6, 2010, 3:00pm

To Lobby for Single Payer: Go to Lancaster County Democratic Committee’s table. Logistics meeting in the restaurant near the lobby bar Friday evening. Or look for folks with “HealthCare4ALLPA” buttons as well as “Support the Single-Payer Resolution” buttons. Or contact Jerry Policoff @ 717-682-4434.

www.progressives4pennsylvania.com

www.healthcare4ALLPA.org

UPDATE: From my sister who lives in Maryland and works in DC:

The local schools didn't even bother to open this morning. The Arlington County government is warning residents to get ready to "shelter in place" for up to 5 days. Metro has already announced that they'll be closing the above-ground stations tonight or tomorrow...

Not a snowflake to be seen yet!

UPDATE 2:. Official weather report here.

And Now A Word...

From Jon Stewart:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Democratic Super Majority
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Ron Paul Interview

Sums things up pretty well.