I think it's unrealistic to expect Hillary Clinton to win PA by the 15% margin she needs just to stay afloat. The Ohio polls before the primary showed that Obama had narrowed the gap to a small number, but Hillary ended up winning by double digits. I think Obama will lose by about 8%, but that's going to be enough to curb any damage to his pledged delegates.


Pizzaboy:
As Kramer said to the car salesman, "It's good to have you back, Stan."

Thanks Goombah, you too, Klyd.

You guys should be proud of me, I won the condo election down there!

I'm the new condo board President of Del Boca Vista---Phase II.

The Boca Breeze tried to kill me about my alleged New York mob connections, but I won a close one.

Pinko, commie rag.

Sorry if I offended anyone with my post. I just wanted to point out how close the tax cuts and cost of the war have been, I wasn't poking a shot at anyone. And I agree with most of you who are saying $100,000 isn't enough to make ends meet. Prices of everything are so high now.

We want our percentge.

Hillary has won big states by big margins. Extrapolate that to the general election and the electoral votes that accrue. Now, can Obama capture those electoral votes?

That may be the key inquiry of the general election.

Embarrassing moment when Sir Elton John endorsed Hillary the other night. They were both wearing the same pantsuit.

Although I can see why she'd want the support of a sexually confused, ex-junkie who wasn't even born in this country. She's obviously appealing to the heartland.

PB:

I didn't realize Hillary wanted your support or that you wore pantsuits.

Olivant made a funny.

Yeah, the same Elton John who then claimed American was "misogynistic" because many won't back Hillary?

Besides, she's part of the same Administration that threw Gays under the bus when they promised to allow them openly into the military in 1993, only to do a reach-around with the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

Let's see, Gays, Blacks...what other groups has Billary thrown at the curb as well?

The National Constitution Center is the perfect setting for a presidential debate. It is a fascinating place.

Obama's comments about small town people clinging to their guns and religion has apparently hit a nerve in Pennsylvania, which has more registered hunters than any state. Hillary's recent ads feature several Pennsylvanians ( a young black woman, a young white blue collar couple, a middle aged man and an older woman) expressing that the remark was insulting, elitist, and out of touch with the common people. They then comment how Hillary is more in touch with their needs.

Look for the comment to be used like a dagger tonight.

While the remarks tend to sting those, who were already against Obama anyway and may not have a decisive effect on the primary, it will certainly be played up by McCain in PA if Obama becomes the nominee.

The truth is, while he may have chosen his words unwisely, I think that his point has some validity. People ARE bitter and fed up with life as we know it. When you can't afford the three basics - food, housing and energy - you tend to get bitter and frustrated. I certainly know lots of people that are.

When people are distressed, they may cling to sources of comfort like religion. There is quite a difference between clinging to something and adhering and taking part in something. Children cling to their parents when frightened; otherwise, they adhere to them. Same with religion (I don't know if such accrues to guns).

Still tough, I've enjoyed Obama's discomfort since I am a Clinton supporter. It's an object lesson for him. If he is elected President, it is better that he now learn to parse his words in light of the fact that as President his words can have world-wide effect.

Especially when he is making a corkscrew landing and running from the plane to avoid sniper fire.

Did I hear her right last night that she's not gonna raise taxes on the middle class but raise taxes on those people who make $250k or more?

Does that mean she is willing to raise taxes on herself and the rest of those congressmen and senators? Why do I find that hard to believe?

Presidents have no Constitutional authority to raise or lower any federal taxes. Only the US Congress can do such.

Well I guess the middle class wil get taxed then.

There will be increased taxes no matter which party is elected this fall. How in the hell are we supposed to pay for all of the out-of-control spending of Bush & the Shooter during the past 8 years?

What Clinton was proposing sounds like repealing the big tax breaks Bush gave to the wealthiest of this country. Even though she is not getting the nomination, I see nothing wrong with such a plan. Those making $250,000 or more per year should be taxed more, not less.

She would make a good Republican President, yeah?

She's too conservative.

I watched a little of the Hillary - Barack "debate" last night, but soon became weary of the questioning, spinning, posturing, etc. Unfortunately the candidates are too concerned with tip-toeing around words so as not to say the wrong thing. It appears more and more that the media elects (or tries to) our President.

What was George Snufelupagus doing there....former Clinton butt boy? I'm sure he was fair . These media events are more about the mediators asking tough questions or peeling the onion to strike a tender spot.

Nah, she has the mediocre decision-making skills downpat.

No wonder Olivant likes her.

I agree with you 100% Goombah, but I can't see the house and senate voting themselves a tax increase. Maybe I'm missing something here.

I am so sick of hearing about taxing those with six figure incomes. Did you know that 60% of the population pays 6/10 of the income tax and that the top 1% earners pay 40%? When I hear that they want to start taxing property based on income, I want to sell my house and run away.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, what your money buys you varies tremendously in this country. When my gas and electric bill approached $800 per month, and it costs me and my husband about $150 per WEEK for the gas to commute back and forth to work (not to mention tolls), and my recently reassessed home is running me $1200 per MONTH in property taxes, why should anyone get one more dollar?? My husband and I work hard for every penny we make, so I don't want to hear about anybody raising taxes.

I know that Goombah is probably right and taxes will have to be raised to pay for the enormous debt that has been run up, I shudder at the idea of how much more this is going to cost us.

Depending on what source you use, the interest and principle on the national debt consume 9-12% of the annual federal budget.

As SB pointed out, rich people pay a hell of alot of taxes. The Clintons paid $30 million in taxes on $109 million in income over 7 years.

I have to agree with SB. I am tired of of hearing anyone talk about raising taxes. However what is wrong with cutting spending not raising taxes to pay for debt. Smarter people than I have shown that raising taxes does not decrease the debt. If congress has more money to balance the budget, it won't because it gets caught up in all the wasteful spending the can do with the extra hard earned dollars of yours and mine.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120761416279896669.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries

I for one am tired of politicians telling me how much of my money I can keep out of fairness to others. Especially when these poliicians make millions of dollars. I don't care if I make 30K or 300K. If Congress raises the taxes on those Americans that have the capital to actually create jobs and make people earners, they will take their money else where. Mean while the middle class will be stuck paying for all the "fair" social programs by working 40-50 hours a week and handing over 30% of their income. There is only one word for this, BULLSHIT.

During Reagan's last years, the top rate was about 28%. By the end of Clinton's term it was back up to 39%. Only Congress can increase or decrease tax rates.

The problem is not taxation it is spending. IMHO everyone gets a tax credit on $50,000 a year a person. In other words no one making less than 50K pays anything. A family of 4 making 250K a year ays nothing.

After that threshold, the tax should be 2% for every 50K a year. No deductions, no write offs, no Sllozzo tricks. This
would be capped at 10% of total income for all Americans or dependents making up to 2 million a year.

Anyone making over two million a year pays 10% of each dollar he/ she makes over that amount. A percentage of this money would be allocated toward social cecurity and medicare, and hopefully a national health plan. Some other per centage should be alllocated to pay the national debt.

Until the country is debt free, by constitutional amendment there should be no new spending programs (by new I am not including defense, repairs to infrastructure...but instead no new programs) without a 2/3 vots of both houses of Congress.

Its simple, it spares the middle and upper middle class, and anyone making more than 2 million a year can go pisss and moan about paying 10%.

Estate Tax should exempt all real estate, and there should be a 15% tax on all other assets where an estate is more than 20 million dollars.

A little pre-Pennyslvania primary humor:

Obama attack ad (not real)

In the past couple of weeks I've driven throughout most of central and eastern PA, and if candiddates were selected by the sheer number of signs along the highways and streets, today's election winner by a landslide will be Ron Paul.

I didn't vote yet. I will get home from work around 7pm tonight and I have to pick up my son from practice, so I imagine we'll get to the polls around 7:30 PM.

We vote in the community room of a Baptist Church less than a mile from our home. They provide free baked goods and drinks for all the voters. I imagine all of the best stuff will be gone by the time I get there.