Read: McCain will be the Republican nominee like I've been saying all along. If we nominate Hillary, we are SCREWED. The only way we can win is to go with a candidate who can appeal to independents and even moderate Republicans, that person is obviously Obama. Betting on Hillary now is like betting on a three legged dog at a dog race.

I agree with both above that Hilary is more vulnerable to McCain than Obama would be in the general, especially if you look at the debate last night where Obama took a few opportunities to challenge McCain (and the business dig on Romney) whereas Clinton I felt missed those opportunities to do the same.

Here's the one way I can think of that McCain doesn't cinch it Tuesday: Huckabee wins all the states where he's competitive (as might be abetted, in this scenario, by Romney scarcely trying in those places); Romney manages to win a few states beyond MA, UT, and CO (CA in particular would be key, if he could somehow pull it off); and though McCain wakes up on Wednesday with more delegates than anybody else, he's still nowhere close to the nomination. At that point Huckabee realizes that he's got no cash and most of his good states are already behind him, and he drops out. That leaves Romney to go one-on-one with McCain, blowing out his bank account on convincing Republicans that McCain can't be trusted, or what have you. In that admittedly unlikely scenario, Romney would still be breathing. Barely.

I don't see how McCain can win against either of the Democrats. Now, he's preaching to the choir, cut taxes to raise revenues, endless wars, etc., etc. In the general election, these arguments will not stand up to scrutiny, all we need to do is believe in our message and get it out there, every day.

Choose either of two excellent Democratic choices, it's ours to lose.

Given the voter's tendency to to muck with the 'will of the polls' this primary, perhaps we should wait until actual votes have been cast and counted before discussing doomsday scenarios here.

Besides, I tend to agree with the guest comment that the WH is ours to lose regardless of the opponent.

I am really amazed that clinton people just don't see it.

I suspect that very often that's because they don't trust Obama to successfully contend with the GOP's mudslinging. I am not sure he can, either, even though on the whole I prefer him.

I'm afraid of what the Republicans would do to Obama.

Fear of what the Republicans would do is exactly what has gotten the Democratic Party into its sorry state.

Guest on Romney:

"Really? Romney ahead in Utah? He probably won't need an ad by there with all the prophets campaigning for him."

That comment adds nothing to this discussion and is very insensitive, especially in light of the fact that the funeral of LDS Church president Gordon B. Hinckley is tomorrow.

I know, I know, it's a free country and you can say anything you want to. But that doesn't mean that you should.

"I'm afraid of what the Republicans would do to Obama."

Obama will swamp them with independents. He brought in RURAL areas of Nevada. Obama can use John McCain's claim that we might be in Iraq for 100 or 1000 years with great effect. Hillary would always have hanging around her neck a version of "I voted for the war before I gave carefully worded speeches against it."

Ann Coulter would disagree with you. Look, you may be an Obama guy and good for you for it, but the electabilty argument is bogus.
Richard

I'm afraid of what the Republicans would do to Obama.

Technically, That makes you a coward. No offense.

prophets and Jesus coming to America...well, it just seems frigging insane to me
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During a trip to Tijuana, I was surprised to see a Chinese restaurant -- until I realized that it made as much sense for there to be one in Mexico as in California.
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Likewise, how is it more reasonable for prophets and Jesus to come to the mid-East than to America? Were not people in America also God's children in need of His word and His Son's ministry?

I'm very concerned the the GOP has a safe candidate for the general and Dems have to choose between two risky ones.

The GOP is going to keep the White House and I have to blame the rock star candidacy of Obama. Edwards should have been the alternative to Hillary but he was pushed out.

The Clinton's didn't attempt to "triangulate" (read compromise) until after the 94 election. Perhaps it was the progressive attempts change health care and accept gays in the military that brought on fag Newton. You think Obama's progressive positions won't result in the same outcome?

Guest:

Prophet's funeral or not, and regardless of your opinion of the LDS church... your comment displayed the utmost ignorance and fallaciousness.

No officials of the Mormon church, whatever you've read or heard, campaign for any candidate in any election race. I live in Utah and the only comments made within the church relate to the increased attention that the church is receiving due to Romney's campaign. Romney is rarely even mentioned by name.

Our governor, a prominent Mormon, commented long ago that he supports McCain, not Romney.

Romney is wildly popular in Utah because A) he is a Republican and B) he's a Mormon. No other push is necessary, especially when you consider that most Utahns are about as politically aware as the rest of the country. So while someone in another state elects someone because they'd like to have a beer with him, a Utahn may choose Romney because they want to share a crappy casserole with him. Or whatever.

Regarding your comments on Mormonism itself... if you're a Christian, I don't know why the concept of prophets is so bizarre to you. I mean, the Bible is the story of God's dealing with his people thru prophets, for thousands of years. So whether you believe in the Mormon prophet or not, the concept of prophets shouldn't be so foreign.

If you're NOT a Christian, then I don't know why Mormons are any more odd to you than other Christians. We all believe in prophets, just different ones in different eras (and a lot of the same ones, e.g., those in the Bible).

Jesus in the Americas... again, if you're a Christian, I don't see why Jesus being able to go to the Americas seems odd. Is he not capable? Does he not have the power? If you're not a Christian, then... again, in your view, Mormons shouldn't be any more crazy than other Christians.

As far as racism... by the strict definition, yes, I guess the church practiced racism. Black men could not obtain the priesthood, so there was an official racial divide. That's over. A few church members couldn't handle it and even left the church over it, but the vast majority are fine with it. Church leaders who made the decision speak of it with joy. And I re-enjoyed a comment from the prophet Gordon B. Hinckley that they ran on the news coverage of his death, during one of his talks to the men of the church: "No man who makes disparaging remarks concerning those of another race can consider himself a true disciple of Christ."

So however much you may dislike the church's history with regards to black people, it is overwhelmingly clear that nowadays, there is no racism in the church. It's just not there. The great, great majority consider all human beings to be children of God.

Yeah, Mitt's "who let the dogs out?" comment was stupid. I'm always quick to point out that he is in no way an official representative of the church.

In short (after saying it in long), your comments have been ignorant and false. The first half of your crack was fine; I mean, does the GOP race in Utah even really need to be polled? Romney has had it in the bag since he declared, and he doesn't have to do anything (I don't think I've seen any of his ads here). But his popularity here has nothing to do with any official church endorsement.

Tee Gee,
I never implied that there was any official endorsement of Mitt in Utah. I merely implied that if the large majority of people there are crazy enough to believe in Mormonism, then, in their fervor for such superstitious hokum, they'll probably support Mitt.

"Jesus in the Americas... again, if you're a Christian, I don't see why Jesus being able to go to the Americas seems odd. Is he not capable? Does he not have the power?"

No, I am not a Christian. And two thousand years of history tells me that a carpenter from the Middle East who was executed at the age of thirty-three, probably did not come to America to shoot the shit with ancient Native Americans and teach them about underwear.

Anyhow, because I am a liberal I do believe strongly in religious freedom, freedom of expression, and freedom of speech. So do whatever the hell you want. I just don't want someone who believes in such incredible nonsense to be the president of this country. Thanks.

Tee Gee,
I never implied that the prophets who are out campaigning for Mitt in Utah are doing so in an official capacity for the Mormon church. So, I absolutely did not imply or directly say that there was any official endorsement of Mitt by the church.

Anyhow, Mitt's Mormon faith is not the reason I would not vote for him. I will not vote for anyone who seems to me to be a religious extremist, including Mitt, Mike Huckabee, Joe LIEberman, Al Sharpton, Osama Bin Laden, or anyone.

The point is moot, anyhow, because Republicans seem to have chosen that incredible nitwit John McCain over Mitt.

A Call for Reason:

How best to know who is in the country illegally; give them a driver’s license?
My name is Franklin and I am a registered Floridian independent voter who voted Gore in 2000 and Bush in 2004.

The case against Mitt Romney:

I am surprised Romney does not walk with a limp. Having taken so many contrary positions, it must hurt a little. If it is said Kerry has no convictions, how then does one qualifies Romney? Who here can show one major conservative issue that Romney has not flopped and flipped over? Please make your case with reliable sources. Example: http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3453214 and http://www.ontheissues.org/Governor/Mitt_Romney_Abortion.htm and http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/09/AR2006120900837.html Mitt Romney is not honest with himself, and therefore will not be honest with us.

The case against Mike Huckabee:

It is clear he has not the intelligence and is in desperate need of a lesson and education on U.S. history, focusing on the Civil War http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkR9VWUEQxM

The case for/against John McCain:

McCain has demonstrated that he does have convictions. He has taken unpopular positions at times without regard for political consequences; it takes an honest person to challenge and defend that which he/she believes to be right. But he wants to stay in Iraq for another 100 years. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf7HYoh9YMM and he wants to bomb Iran. http://www.news.com/2100-1025_3-6178173.html America cannot afford another unreasonable and unnecessary costly war. Although being born in the Panama Canal Zone, which is outside the United States of America, would not be an issue, McCain is also getting close to 100 years old.

The case against Hilarious Clinton:

Clearly, we know, yes we, know that Bill Clinton will be in charge in the White House. This is a scary thought for me, many relatives and friends. Clinton has zero self control. Hillary is plastic, scripted, and does not believe what she says. Let’s not forget she is extremely corrupt. http://prorev.com/wwindex.htm and http://www.judicialwatch.org/hillarywatch.shtml . She refuses to release the records pertaining to years at the white house in which she bases her 65 years experience. I wonder what she is hiding…

Barack Obama:

Obama has been in elected office longer than Clinton, but Clinton has been in Washington longer. Obama is clean and uncorrupt. It is important that we elect one who is not indebted to favor. Regarding Iraq, Obama perceived the danger in an unauthorized war that has left many young men and women including those with whom I graduated high school in the year 2000, dead and many more maimed. The truth is we should not wait to be attacked before we attack, but we ought to know our enemy. For the love of God, do some readings my fellow Americans http://www.dni.gov/press_releases/20071203_release.pdf On health care, Obama does not believe we should fine or arrest those who cannot afford mandated health care system contrary to Clinton and Romney. Obama believes we should keep an eye if not both on China. China is expanding militarily and is currently manipulating its currency which has tremendous impact on our economy. Energy is a major issue plaguing our economy today. Obama believes in alternative means such as clean coal, solar and possibly nuclear. http://www.barackobama.com/index.php Obama will be respected all around the world, especially in the Middle East where they need to see a different representation of politics. I am a Christian and yes we can. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXyqcx-mYY

Franklin T