There may be no more aptly named politician than Harold Icky (sic). Icky’s role in the Rules and Bylaws Committee reminds me of James Baker in 2000: There is nothing by winning at any cost. Both give lawyers a bad name. Review: Both Michigan and Florida violated rules they previously agreed to. All the candidates agreed not to campaign in either state; Clinton’s was the only name on the Michigan ballot (and she won!). To insist it is undemocratic to hold candidates and states to the rules is unworthy of a candidate.

While Obama has studied both Raygun and the early Bill Clinton (when he was cool), Clinton’s playbook appears written by BushCo.

I have deep sympathy for Hillary Clinton and for her supporters. I agree that Clinton has been mistreated by the press and the public. One ironic effect is that people are once again talking about sexism. It wasn’t long ago that many people said feminism had become irrelevant. Not true. (One of the many things that cost McDuhbya my respect was his easy, laughing acceptance of his supporters calling Hillary a bitch. He should have repudiated that immediately.) Every -ism flourishes in a society as fragmented as ours has become, where divisions are fostered and exploited by those who need to maintain power.

A good aspect to this long campaign is that Obama has been tested and survived. Some of the dirt that the Swiftboat Republicans are going to sling is already out. Obama has remained cool and smart about many things, though I wish he had tried harder in some of the places Clinton was sure to win — especially West Virginia — rather than run out the clock.

I think we are all tired of close contests. I hope tomorrow the citizens of Montana and South Dakota vote overwhelmingly for Obama to help seal the deal. However, I have the uneasy feeling nothing will seal this deal and that Hillary the Warrior will never surrender and, when she’s finally forced to, her supporters will never forgive nor forget. Just how angry and vengeful does a Democrat have to be to vote for McDuhbya? Would you burn down your house because your brother got your dessert?

Honestly, I’m not sure Clinton could beat McCain. She galvanizes the very Republicans who are lukewarm about McBush. Both represent the Washington establishment; neither really stands for Change (gender not withstanding). peace, mjh