And the Republicans are salivating.

Yes, Emily. You've got that right! It's 3 in the morning and I just turned on the TV and, again, Sen Clinton is being criticized. I don't think I've heard one positive thing from a reporter in months. If you added up all the negative articles about every candidate, including Edwards and the Republicans, the numbers don't even come close to the negative press against her. Anyway, in FL we had a record turnout because of a very important tax amendment. Then when Clinton won by a huge margin, Obama said it didn't count. IMHO had the 212 delegates in FL been counted, she would have raised more money. (Who runs Florida? First Bush and then Crist, Bush's former Attorney General) As I wrote in another blog...feels like 2000 all over again. I don't totally dislike Obama however. I would definitely choose him over McCain now that Romney is out of the race.

BTW, speaking of Romney, doesn't MA have mandated healthcare? I doubt if it means poor people will be forced to skip meals the way so many are interpreting it. It goes a lot deeper than that. After all, isn't Medicare mandated heathcare? It comes out of your check every week too. Then people purchase supplements if they want additional coverage to offset the deductibles and copays or they join an HMO. People are so used to it that nobody thinks about it as "garnished" wages. (although she never said that) There are many options avail as there would be if there was a national health plan for people under 65. Maybe she would offer a cafeteria plan. People jump when an honest candidate speaks the words they don't want to hear. Mandatory often means if you don't buy it, you might pay a penalty in the future should you choose to join unless you have some other kind of coverage. It would take too long to get into detail, but right now that's the way it is with Medicare B & the drug plan. Income is also considered and people who cannot afford plans can apply for Medicaid.

Jarasan, I can tell you about several people who turned down health care coverage at work when it was affordable. Maybe they wanted to use the extra money toward a new TV or to go on vacation. Then they complained when they got sick and couldn't use the company health plan. I am only guessing, but to me, that's what mandatory means. I worked for a P&C company for a short time and people would walk in AFTER they had an accident. By the way, in many states auto insurance is Mandatory. Why are people afraid of that word?

I'm glad you see that Emily.

The Repubs. are salivating? Which ones? The Huckabees, McCainees, Romneys', Ron Paulys, Duncan Hunterees, Thompsonees', Giulianees? The Repubs. are all PO'd at each other, they are in disarray, the huckster beat out McCaniac this weekend. Thank You for the comments. I think they are drooling awash in confusion.

I predicted right. 3/3!

Jarasan,

You're right on the money. Everyone except the severely hypnotized are clued-in to the Clinton game. It's startling when you can see the contrast between Obama and Clinton, one running a positive campaign, and the other using the same dirty tricks and non-issues as before.

Eliminating the Clintons from the field will be a breath of fresh air to America. Maybe they'll go crawl under a rock someplace (if we're all lucky).

I'm not saying that I agree with Obama, but I do admire his ability to run a relatively clean campaign. I think when Emily said that Republicans are salivating, she means that she believes the McCain campaign will take the Obama campaign to school in the general election. That may be true, but it may not be. Emily and co. need to realize that Hillary was thought of just months ago to be unstoppable, and that Obama was a lightweight who didn't stand a chance.

It is hard for people to break free from assumptions that we take to heart as truths. We become personally identified with -- and deeply committed to -- our assumptions. It is interesting to watch a political party (Democrats, in this case) come to terms with that and slowly break free from the Clinton's grasp.

I think Hillary is all but finished, unless she and Bill can somehow work the internal political machine in a way that rigs the election in Ohio and Texas. I'm talking about some kind of dirty politics that makes the ignorant of their party think that they must vote for Hillary. Maybe they'll have some 3rd party put out the word that Obama will send illegals back to Mexico, or something like that. Just wait ... you'll see something like that emerge. That's the "October Surprise" that the Clintons normally spring on Republicans before the general election, but now they're desperate and will probably try it on Obama.

On the Republican side, I do not think it is in quite a disarray as some would think. There is a coming-to-terms with McCain being the candidate, and I think that will happen sooner than most people think.   Already he swept the Potomac primary, which mathematically eliminates Huckabee from contention. McCain will continue slowly getting in the good graces of the conservatives, until he has a strong, solid base. Then we'll have President McCain. Wait and see.