About Progressive Ideals and Principles

(I posted this on GD-P)

There has been much talk on the far left about needing to live up "Progressive ideal and principles" if Bernie fails to secure the nomination.

I believe that we can all agree on is that the worst thing that could happen for progressives and the people we seek to protect in this country is for the Republicans to take over the White House, both Houses of Congress and the Supreme Court.

What is clear to me is that the best way to keep the Republicans from taking over and doing harm to the country is for all of us to vote for the Democratic nominee, regardless of who becomes the Democratic nominee. While sitting home or voting third party might not do any harm, it does absolutely no good. And don't give me that loyal test crap, this isn't a call for for a loyalty test - you can vote for whomever the hell your choose - but it is a call to good ole common sense. There is no better way to defeat the Trump or Cruz than to vote for the Democratic nominee. Period, end of story.

If you have progressive ideals and principles you will do everything in your power to keep Trump or Cruz from becoming President. And if you don't do everything possible to prevent that from happening, I would regard you as a selfish coward who convinces him/herself that you are doing the right thing, but are all the while are allowing harm to come to those who can least defend themselves. People who would do that are selfish and have no progressive ideals and principles at all. They are not even honest with themselves.

About Progressive ideals and principles

There has been much talk on the far left about needing to live up "Progressive ideal and principles" if Bernie fails to secure the nomination.

I believe that we can all agree on is that the worst thing that could happen for progressives and the people we seek to protect in this country is for the Republicans to take over the White House, both Houses of Congress and the Supreme Court.

What is clear to me is that the best way to keep the Republicans from taking over and doing harm to the country is for all of us to vote for the Democratic nominee, regardless of who becomes the Democratic nominee. While sitting home or voting third party might not do any harm, it does absolutely no good. And don't give me that loyal test crap, this isn't a call for for a loyalty test - you can vote for whomever the hell your choose - but it is a call to good ole common sense. There is no better way to defeat the Trump or Cruz than to vote for the Democratic nominee. Period, end of story.

If you have progressive ideals and principles you will do everything in your power to keep Trump or Cruz from becoming President. And if you don't do everything possible to prevent that from happening, I would regard you as a selfish coward who convinces him/herself that you are doing the right thing, but are all the while are allowing harm to come to those who can least defend themselves. People who would do that are selfish and have no progressive ideals and principles at all. I don't see how they can call themselves progressives; they are not even honest with themselves.

Polls for Remaining March Primaries and Caucuses

The 6 remaining state primaries and caucuses scheduled for the remainder March are actually more favorable for Sanders than past groups nomination contests. Of those 6 states, there are polls available for 4 of them. I couldn't find any polls for Washington and Hawaii.

3/22/16:

In Idaho, Sanders has a 2% lead .

In Utah Clinton has a 8.5% lead.

In Arizona Clinton has a 30% lead.

3/26/16:

In Alaska Clinton has a 3% lead.

Washington - no poll

Hawaii - no poll

So if the polls are reasonably accurate Sanders has an opportunity to win two states and maybe an out side chance of coming close or even winning a third. However, there is no indication that he will win any of those states with the margins necessary to start to close Clinton's large lead in pledged delegates. In fact with Arizona (which has more delegates available than Idaho, Utah and Alaska combined) in the mix there is every indication that Sanders will fall even further behind.

Of course the unknowns are Hawaii and Washington. Hopefully we will get some good poling data in the next few days.

Remaining March Primaries and Caucuses Looking Better for Sanders

The 6 remaining state primaries and caucuses scheduled for the remainder March are actually more favorable for Sanders than past groups nomination contests. Of those 6 states, there are polls available for 4 of them. I couldn't find any polls for Washington and Hawaii.

3/22/16:

In Idaho, Sanders has a 2% lead.

In Utah Clinton has a 8.5% lead.

In Arizona Clinton has a 30% lead.

3/26/16:

In Alaska Clinton has a 3% lead.

Washington - no poll

Hawaii - no poll

So if the polls are reasonably accurate Sanders has an opportunity to win two states and maybe an out side chance of coming close or even winning a third. However, there is no indication that he will win any of those states with the margins necessary to start to close Clinton's large lead in pledged delegates. In fact with Arizona (which has more delegates available than Idaho, Utah and Alaska combined) in the mix there is every indication that Sanders will fall even further behind.

Of course the unknowns are Hawaii and Washington. Hopefully we will get some good polling data in the next few days.

Life is good!

Hillary almost has the Democratic nomination in the bag.

The Republicans are tearing each other apart trying to unsuccessfully to stop Trump while Trump does something every day to insult someone else and prove he is totally non Presidential.

Skinner has finally done something about the abuses of the alerting and jury systems so I don't have to worry that one of my totally innocent posts is going to get me kicked off of DU.

On the political side of my life, it doesn't get any better than this.

Some people don't like dealing with math and facts - but I do

Here is the math - plain and simple:

Total delegates (pledged and super) = 4763

Delegates needed to win (half the delegates, rounded up) = 2382

Delegates "won" (pledged delegates won - super delegates promised) =
Clinton 1606 + Sanders 813 = 2419

Delegates still available (pledged and super) =
total delegates - delegates "won" = 4763 - 2419 = 2344

Clinton delegates "won" (pledged and super) = 1606

Clinton delegates still needed to cinch nomination =
Delegate needed to win - Clinton delegates "won" = 2383 - 1606 = 776

Clinton - percentage or remaining delegates required to cinch nomination =
Delegate needed to cinch / delegates remaining = 776/2344 = 33.1%

Sanders delegates "won" (pledged and super) = 813

Sanders delegates still needed to cinch nomination =
Delegate needed to win - Sanders delegates "won" = 2383 - 813 = 1570

Sanders - percentage or remaining delegates required to cinch nomination =
Delegate needed to cinch / delegates remaining = 1570/2344 = 66.9%

Some people don't like dealing with math and facts - but I do

Here is the math - plain and simple:

Total delegates (pledged and super) = 4763

Delegates needed to win (half the delegates, rounded up) = 2382

Delegates "won" (pledged delegates won - super delegates promised) =
Clinton 1606 + Sanders 813 = 2419

Delegates still available (pledged and super) =
total delegates - delegates "won" = 4763 - 2419 = 2344

Clinton delegates "won" (pledged and super) = 1606

Clinton delegates still needed to cinch nomination =
Delegate needed to win - Clinton delegates "won" = 2383 - 1606 = 776

Clinton - percentage or remaining delegates required to cinch nomination =
Delegate needed to cinch / delegates remaining = 776/2344 = 33.1%

Sanders delegates "won" (pledged and super) = 813

Sanders delegates still needed to cinch nomination =
Delegate needed to win - Sanders delegates "won" = 2383 - 813 = 1570

Sanders - percentage or remaining delegates required to cinch nomination =
Delegate needed to cinch / delegates remaining = 1570/2344 = 66.9%

Do great victories come in three's?

If so, after Hillary's fantastic day and Skinner changing the jury and suspension rules, we are due yet another fantastic victory soon.

Hillary wins in Missouri - it's a sweep!!!!!! (maybe)

Hillary now ahead for the first time in Missouri