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Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey endorses Obama. Why yes, Pennsylvania is holding the next democratic primary.
As if that wasn't enough, there's this: Senator Leahy calls for Clinton to Drop Out. Said Leahy: Leahy said he was fretting about the impact of the protracted Democratic race.
"I am very concerned," he said. "John McCain, who has been making one gaffe after another, is getting a free ride on it because Senator Obama and Senator Clinton have to fight with each other. I think that her criticism is hurting him more than anything John McCain has said. I think that's unfortunate."
Actually, Senator, that's her plan. But since it is becoming obvious to everyone that if Hillary can't have the nomination she will do what she can to scuttle Obama's chances in November (so she can run again in 2012, presumably), expect more calls to be made for her to drop out. And I mean sooner, rather than later.
Clinton tactics turn off some superdelegates. MSNBC's First Read reports that some superdelegates are fed up with Hillary's slash and burn campaign tactics. No one is necessarily saying that she should drop out now, but it sounds like there are more than a few who are thinking about taking a tough stand should Hill and her team continue to smear and attack Obama. Namely: The Clinton campaign has been actively wooing these delegates, believing a plurality represents the strongest, and increasingly the only, way for her to win the nomination. But one undeclared delegate, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the recent tactics are turning her and other superdelegates off.
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Several said they were angered by comments from James Carville, who called Bill Richardson "Judas" for backing Obama after serving in the Clinton White House. One delegate said Richardson's rationale for supporting Obama, and his implicit frustration at the Clintons' heavy-handed approach to garnering his support, was echoed among superdelegates.
Others said they were frustrated by recent reports that Clinton embellished her description of landing in Bosnia as First Lady, and said it suggested she would do anything to win. "I don't remember what movie I saw two weeks ago; I don't necessarily remember what I had for dinner last night," one superdelegate said. "But I would remember having to duck and run from sniper fire."
No doubt Hillary was confused about what happened during her Bosnia visit, because her head was still swimming after negotiating peace in Northern Ireland and forcing the Family Medical Leave Act and SCHIP through congress (cough). That said, I agree with those (including, sigh, Maureen Dowd) who believe that Hillary has decided that it must be her or no one. That is, if she can't be queen of the universe, then she and her surrogates will bloody up Obama so that McCain gets in and Hillary has another shot at the nomination nod in 2012. I think this scenario is crazy (who would vote for her then?), but when you consider her recent claims, it would be consistent. So, what can be done to stop this pointless bloodletting? Some superdelegates are working on it:
The delegates said there is little the party or its leaders can do to prevent the current back and forth. But some said they were increasingly in touch with Clinton campaign officials to say their support is in jeopardy.
"Uncommitted delegates can come out and say, 'If you don't stop this now, we won't vote for you,'" one uncommitted superdelegate said.
Well, that's done. Had my mammogram and sonogram today and the results are normal. Nice to get that visit out of the way. It's not too bad, except that the room where the mammograms are taken is very cold (so that the equipment feels comfortable), as is the little bit o' metal where you are supposed to rest your breast as the plexiglass breast-squasher comes bearing down. Long and short, same old. I have cysts, of course, but since they are just fluid and are pre-nothing (i.e., they just are, they aren't precursors or signs of something scary), color me pleased. And this year, unlike years past, I don't have to schedule a follow-up aspiration. Woo-hoo! Of course, I may need to aspirate one or two later this year, but still, no aspiration this time. Not that aspiration is a big deal, but it's one less office visit and that's cool. So my breasts and I will be joining my friend John for a celebratory lunch.
And a note to women reading this post: mammograms aren't fun, but they aren't terrible either. If your doctor recommends that you have them, please get them regularly. Because I am cystic I go every year, which is fine by me because I see this as the best preventive step I could possibly take (the sonogram is even better than the mammogram in examining breast tissue). So if you have been putting it off, go and schedule your mammogram now...and treat the girls out to a nice lunch afterwards.
