[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

A few days before Tuesday's presidential primaries, I wrote a piece that I have come to regret. It's central thesis, that the presidential nominating contest is over and has been for quite some time, I stand by. Senator Hillary Clinton's only path to the White House at this stage would outrage a lot of voters, and I just don't see the party elders allowing that to happen. But I don't stand by my words.

While preaching unity for the party, my word choices were inherently divisive. I saw a fire in a crowded theatre, and while my mind tried to douse the flames with water, my words used gasoline. I apologize to Senator Clinton and her supporters. There's a fine line between criticism and insult, and some of my word choices clearly crossed that line. The post in question is deleted and hopefully in the dustbin of history, and as we finally wind down this process, unite behind our candidate, and proceed onward for the general election, I can only guarantee that my attention will be focused on Senator John McCain and our downballot prospects.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Let the tidal wave begin! Fresh this morning, former Senator Hillary Clinton backer George McGovern, who was the Democratic nominee for president in 1972, has now endorsed Senator Barack Obama.

Said McGovern, "Hillary, of course, will make the decision as to if and when she ends her campaign. But I hope that she reaches that decision soon so that we can concentrate on a unified party capable of winning the White House next November."

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Under the collective denial mentality that has hijacked media-types and political observers since the February 5th contests, Senator Barack Obama's decisive 56-42 win in North Carolina juxtaposed with Senator Hillary Clinton's narrow 51-49 win in Indiana shows Senator Obama has successfully rebounded from the Rev. Wright controversy and whatever other manufactured non-policy outrages that he's been forced to address. After all, Obama increased his popular vote lead by about 250,000 votes, and more importantly, his 95 new pledged delegates put him 12 delegates further ahead of Clinton. To borrow a catchphrase from former Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman, Obama's got O-mentum. However, while O-mentum may play a role on the margins, the reality is this contest is already over, and these outcomes were largely predetermined.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Congresswoman Jackie Speier. I just love writing that!

Anyway ... Apparently Speier made quite the entrance after being sworn into Congress yesterday, opening with a scathing attack on the war in Iraq that caused Republicans to boo and was enough to make California Congressman Darrell "Crybaby" Issa to bolt from the floor of the U.S. House.

You gotta like that.

On the political front, Speier also made news. As a member of Congress, she automatically becomes a new Superdelegate.

Speier long ago endorsed Senator Hillary Clinton. But according to the San Francisco Chronicle, she indicated yesterday that she hasn't indicated which way she'll vote at the convention.

My gut tells me Speier sticks with Hillary. Speier knows how tough it is to be a woman in politics, and, in many ways, is cut from the same cloth as Hillary Clinton. We'll see what happens by the time the Denver convention rolls around, but it's difficult to believe Speier will throw Hillary overboard anytime soon.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

(Cross-posted on Calitics).

At the risk of severely dating myself, I've been involved in Democratic politics for close to 30 years now. I've stuffed countless envelopes, walked precincts, served in the legislatures of two different states as an elected official and staff, and have been the right-hand man for a Governor, a legislative leader, and two Members of Congress (and, of course, a member of the Calitics community from the get-go). But oddly enough, I've never been a delegate to the "Big Show" -- the Democratic National Convention.

By Tuesday's deadline, more than 2,500 Democrats had joined me and signed up for the coveted 241 delegate slots available for a ticket to this year's Democratic jamboree in Denver. Here in Sacramento's Fifth Congressional District, 39 men and women are competing for two slots won by Sen. Barack Obama; some 21 have filed for the two delegates awarded to Senator Hillary Clinton. 

by sacguy [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

At the risk of severely dating myself, I've been involved in Democratic politics for close to 30 years now. I've stuffed countless envelopes, walked precincts, served in the legislatures of two different states as an elected official and staff, and have been the right-hand man for a Governor, a legislative leader, and two Members of Congress (and, of course, a member of the Calitics community from the get-go). But oddly enough, I've never been a delegate to the "Big Show" -- the Democratic National Convention.

By Tuesday's deadline, more than 2,500 Democrats had joined me and signed up for the coveted 241 delegate slots available for a ticket to this year's Democratic jamboree in Denver. Here in Sacramento's Fifth Congressional District, 39 men and women are competing for two slots won by Sen. Barack Obama; some 21 have filed for the two delegates awarded to Senator Hillary Clinton http://www.cadem.org/site/apps/kb/cs/contactsearch.asp?c=jrLZK2PyHmF&b=3919701&raw=.  I'm told that's more than double the number from the 2004 election.

Looking up and down the list, the candidates range from office volunteers to party stalwarts to Assemblymembers. That's a reflection of the enthusiasm at all levels -- from the netroots to establishment party hacks -- for both candidates.  

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Both Senator Hillary Clinton and President Bill Clinton will be coming back to the Golden State in the next few weeks.
 
President Clinton is scheduled to address the California State Democratic Convention which is being held in San Jose on Sunday, March 30th. Approximate time is 10:30 a.m.
 
Senator Hillary Clinton will be back in the California on April 2nd. They'll be a Reception with Senator Clinton in Menlo Park at 6 p.m. at the Quadrus Conference Center. The cost of the event is $500 per person. For more information or to RSVP, contact Stefanie Roumelioutes or Sabra Foley at 415-402-0303 or go to www.hillaryclinton.com/menlopark
 
She'll then have a breakfast fundraiser at 8:30 a.m. the next day at the Merchants Exchange Building in the Julia Morgan Ballroom in San Francisco. The cost of the event is $250 per person. For details, go to www.hillaryclinton.com/sanfrancisco
 
There will be a public event too: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and Special Surprise Guests will host an evening of LIVE Conversation and Celebration. That begins at 7:00pm, Wilshire Theater Beverly Hills, 8440 Wilshire Blvd. Details: www.HillaryClinton.com/wilshire