Not surprisingly, Hillary is beginning to lose her appeal to women voters. According to McClatchy, "Pa. women ditching Hillary."

LEVITTOWN, Pa. - Like many women over 50, Paula Houwen was eager to vote for Hillary Clinton for president.

“I was impressed when she was first lady. She wasn’t the country’s trophy wife,” the 56-year-old suburban Philadelphia pharmacist recalled.

Today, though, Houwen’s no longer a Clinton fan.

We know why:

I remember having a similar thought ten or so years ago when Bill Clinton was being excoriated for his Oral Office issues: "Finally! People are talking about sex openly, and thereby helping to dilute the 'eeeew' factor about sex our culture has retained from our puritanical forefathers." Of course, the blue dress and the wagging finger and the definition of "is" and a follow up impeachment put THAT issue back in the box--but for just a moment, I hoped we might be addressing a deeply relevant and important issue of our time.

Listening to Obama on CNN and MSNBC I find myself thinking: "Finally, someone has opened up the discussion about race in this country that MUST be had if we are to move through it. And what's more, we are ALSO talking about religion and politics!"

And that's when it hit me: Could this have been Obama's plan all the while?

Let's look at this more closely.

I am posting this excellent diary on behalf of the author: SilverMonkey.

Proper Expectations and The Real Delegate Math
by TheSilverMonkey, Sun Mar 09, 2008 at 06:10:45 AM EST

      Main Stream Media has been grossly exaggerating Hillary Clinton's position in the race for the democratic nomination. They have oft been quoted as saying that the magic number is 2024 and that neither Hillary Clinton nor Barack Obama can reach this number without the aid of superdelegates (or automatic delegates, depending on which way you're spinning). This argument is flawed in two respects.

Let us go, shall we, over to the promised page....

Here we go, the fight is starting to get really UGLY, and we can presume that it will only get uglier as Clinton becomes more desperate, and as McCain's sleaziness continues to leak out.  One can only hope that Obama will calmy refute or "clarify" the outrageous claims against him, but, otherwise STAY ON MESSAGE and most important of all, STAY ABOVE THE FRAY.

So, I thought I would take a moment and put out a short "wish list" if you will, of the kinds of things I'd like to hear Obama say.

Join me, if you'd like, and let's talk about what those things might be...

Wow! I had no idea that Democrats could be so contentious and mean to one another--I thought the "Democratic circular firing squad" was just a right wing myth. Alas, here we are in a close democratic race for the nominee and I've read so much hyperbole here I find myself having to hold back my retorts and focus on getting back to "rational."

I've heard women say they are going to vote for Hillary because they are women, I've heard women say they are going to vote for McCain if they don't get their woman nominee....(edited)

I would absolutely vote for Hillary if she were to become the nominee--not because of anything about "her" per se, but because I have to put my faith in the Democratic nominee, no matter whom it is.

Having said that....

Nothin' quite like a cocktail
then go shoot some tame quail.
But the booze just made his aim fail,
and with any luck, he'll rot in jail.

(ever the optimist--what can I say?)

Please contribute yours; here, there and everywhere! It's a great way to keep the glue on this.

Also, notice how little atention is being paid to the fact that Cheney was on a weekend retreat with "another woman"?

All good relationships require regular "housecleaning." My issues with Randi Rhodes had been piling up for some time now, and I found myself having to address them. Of course, because I'd let the issues fester, my letter begins with some argueably harsh words--but I think she, being a big girl and all, can take it.

My letter to Randi is on the flip. I'd be interested to know if anyone else shares any of my views.

Sadly, Ohio's Election Reform state issues 2-5 all failed miserably.  Mind you, Kenneth Blackwell is still Secretary of State--and his fraudulent/unethical/unfair running of the '04 elections is well documented.

You can see the "results" here:
http://www.sos.state.oh.us/...

BTW, I just heard Mark Crispin Miller tonight on his book, "Fooled Again, How the Right Stole the 2004 Election & Why They'll Steal the Next One Too (Unless We Stop Them)"  Haven't yet read the book, but he sounds like the only reasonable person yet on the subject of election theft.

I'd love to know if any one has any hard news on the Ohio vote...