"Where are all those superdelegates who were waiting in the wings to come out for Obama after March 4? If it's so impossible for Hillary Clinton to win, why aren't they ending this thing right now?"
Answer: Harold Ickes has been blackmailing the superdelegates, threatening them with all sorts of crap if they go to Obama. You think the superdelegates aren't being threatened by Ickes and co.? The bigger question is: why is that since Super Tuesday Hillary Clinton has pick up about 3 superdelegates and lost 6, while Obama has picked up about 50. That seems to be the real question. Bill Richardson jumping to Obama was, possibly, the beginning of the end for Clinton. It signaled that the big-time superdelegates now see the coast clear. They don't think Obama will have no problems in the fall, but they see a continuation of this race as dividing the party unnecessarily. And that's why Carville called Richardson Judas. Hillary is Jesus, after all.
"Where are all those superdelegates who were waiting in the wings to come out for Obama after March 4? If it's so impossible for Hillary Clinton to win, why aren't they ending this thing right now?" A better question is, "why are we still even voting if HRC said she'd have this all wrapped up a month earlier, on February 5th.?" HRC says "It'll be over by February 5th": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WsPmZ1zD eA
That's just laughable.
Threatening the supers? With what?
Prostitutes in their closets? Give me a break.
If all these supers really wanted Obama, and could endorse him en masse the campaign would be OVER. Obama would clinch it over night. Hillary would be done. So what can the Clinton camp threaten the supers with if she won't be the nominee?
You are only in a position to threaten them if you are going to win it and can deny possible positions of power in a new administration, or fundraising help. This is just nonsense. If they wanted Obama they could endorse now, end it and be on the good graces of the chosen nominee.
And somehow Harold Ickes has all this blackmail power huh? He must have been like Hoover, storing up data on everyone.
C'mon, conspiracy theories are ridiculous. Sometimes the simplest explanation is the easiest one, and that is that the party leaders are torn on this as well. I don't think any Democratic leader wants to anger one block or another. I mean, there's a good risk that blue collar/rural votes, votes that should be with us, might be more in play than one would think with Obama than HRC. Similarly, if it's HRC vs. Obama, there's the argued risk that the youth and African American vote will leave.
As for Richardson, I think it was an intriguing choice, although relative to making the decision come any quicker, I doubt it. Are superdelegates going to come out en masse before Pennsylvania, and risk making themselves look foolish if HRC wins big? Doubtful.
If superdelegates come out, I expect it to be post-Pennsylvania, although personally, at this point, I think the best bet is that everyone is going to wait for post-Puerto Rico.
the people being threatened are the Congressional Black Caucus leaders who support HRC They are running independents against anyone who wont come to Team Obama John Lewis was harassed mercilessly and he was beaten marching with Dr King Rep E Miller of OH made it thru his challenge and now another BO supporter is preparing to run against him Sheila Jackson Lee is being threatened and a challenger pout up against her as well
it is basically join us or get out of the way youre history, the hexl with the lifetime of work for the AA community you arent good enough if you wont go Obama THAT is threatening
Wow! What a shockingly unattributably series of accusations!
P.S. Let's play a logic game!
IF: Superdelegates can support whomever they want. AND IF: Democratic members of congress are superdelegates. THEN: Members of congress can support whomever they want.
BUT ALSO
IF: Congressmembers are elected by their constituants; AND IF: Congressmembers like being in office; THEN: Congressmembers try to please their constituants.
BUT YET:
IF: Members of congress (black caucus as well) can support whomever they want. AND IF: Congressmembers try to please their constituants THEN: Congressmembers can still support whomever they want. Listening to their constituents is always a choice with frequent elections to be evaluated.
Fun!
I've talked personally with a superdelegate who endorsed Obama who cited Ickes "strongarm" tactics as a reason for "shutting him up" and endorsing before he might have done so otherwise.
