Technorati Tags: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, 2008 Election,

Here are the additional delegates that the SD Democratic Central Committee selected today for the National Convention in Denver.

• Unpledged At Large Delegate—Mark Anderson, Sioux Falls
• Elected Obama Delegate—Juanita Lentz, Watertown
• Elected Clinton Delegate—Cecilia Fire Thunder, Bennett County
• Clinton At Large Delegate—Bill Nibbelink, Flandreau
• Clinton At Large Delegate—Kay Solberg, Watertwon
• Obama At Large Delegate—Martin Yeung, Rapid City
• Clinton At Large Alternate—Liz Himmel-Roberts, Hartford

Congratulations! Enjoy Denver.

Wow.

That's about all I can say. In a heated exchange at tonight's S.D. Democratic Executive Board meeting in Oacoma, Hillary Clinton delegate Malcolm Chapman said--and State Chair Jack Billion confirmed--that the Clinton campaign offered a major fundraiser to the state party in exchange for two superdelegate votes.

Chapman noted that he had almost "cut the deal" with the Clinton campaign. Billion said the price was "too high." He also said non-office holding superdelegates like him had to give a lot of consideration to Sen. Tom Daschle's, Sen. Tim Johnson's, and Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin's position on the race as they are major financial benefactors to the local party.

I'll post more as I learn more.

Technorati Tags: Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Malcolm Chapman, Jack Billion, superdelegates, South Dakota

Let’s see. Let’s play a little game of “Is John McCain the Next Bob Dole?” (home edition):

• War hero. Check.
• Grumpy. Check.
• Republican. Check.
• Senator. Check.
• From a state that doesn’t play a major role in Presidential Elections. Check.
  
• Good sense of humor. Check.
• Once described as independent minded. Check.
• Old. Check.
• His time for national prominence has come and gone. Check.
• Close ties to a Bush. Check.
  
• Married a yonger, hottie wife. Check.
• Hikes up his pants and yells at kids to get off his yard. Check.
• Loses big in the popular vote and Electoral College in run for Presidency against a younger, hipper Democrat? Check.

Yes, John McCain is the new Bob Dole.

(Hat tip to Sibby Online for the idea.)

Technorati Tags: Bob Dole, John McCain

And as a child of a petroleum pipeliner and a former petroleum pipeline summer employee, I have at least a small understanding of the oil and refining businesses.

I don't think petroleum or petroleum companies are inherently evil. If you like to drive, you need gas. And we all can't have backyard refineries.


However, just like Sen. John McCain's gas tax holiday idea for this summer vacation season, Pres. George W. Bush's idea to drill off shore and in the Alaskan Arctic are just short-term ideas that pander but don't provide long-term solutions.

From the Wall Street Journal:

President Bush called on Congress to lift a ban on offshore oil and gas drilling that has been in place since 1981, saying lagging domestic production has contributed to sharply higher gasoline prices. He also urged Democratic lawmakers to drop their opposition to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and proposed streamlining the permit process for building new refining capacity in the U.S.

Separately, the White House said Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman will be attending a one-day meeting of oil producers in Saudi Arabia.

For more information, see:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121379512215184123.html?mod=djemalertNEWS

Oil will continue to be part of the energy equation for the foreseeable future. But the sooner the United States embarks on meaningful government funded research and development on biofuels, hydrogen, solar, wind, and other "green" energy solutions, we will continue to be held hostage by exorbitant fuel prices, multi-national corporations, unfriendly foreign governments--and our own laziness and lack of will.

Had we actually taken Pres. Jimmy Carter's warnings to heart about energy independence in the late 1970s (Yes, I know it's not cool to mention anything positive about Pres. Carter), frankly, we wouldn't be in the current fix.

But while 30 years ago would have been the best time to plant the energy independence "tree," the next best time is now. But Pres. Bush--ironically, considering his name--is not interested in planting "trees."

That will have to wait for a Pres. Barack Obama.

Technorati Tags: energy, fuel prices, offshore drilling, ANWR, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, oil

How shall I put this.

Barely Political’s “The Incredible McCain Girl” video works on several different levels.

It’s both funny—and kind of hot.

Oh, and it looks like there will be a sequel, as The Incredible McCain Girl will likely rumble with The Obama Girl in a Godzilla v. King Kong sort of way. Only with really attractive young women in place of huge lizards and apes.

Technorati Tags: The Incredible McCain Girl, Obama Girl, Barack Obama, John McCain, 2008 election, Barely Political

Hey Al, nothing like getting out ahead of the power curve and being a trend setter!

I received the following email earlier today:

Dear Todd,

A few hours from now I will step on stage in Detroit, Michigan to announce my support for Senator Barack Obama. From now through Election Day, I intend to do whatever I can to make sure he is elected President of the United States...

Thank you for joining me,

Al Gore

Technorati Tags: Barack Obama, Al Gore, 2008 election, lockbox