And the Primaries continue, as they are likely to do until the very end (the DNC).  Clinton brutalizes Obama 67% to 26%.  Of course, Obama is still well ahead in delegates, and has a lead in super-delegates as well. 

What is of note of this primary as told in the New York Times is that 8 out of 10 people polled said race was a factor in their choice, showing that in some parts of the country it is still hard for people to accept a black man in the top position in the country, and easier to accept a white woman.  Also of note is John Edwards who is no longer even in the race still getting 7% of the vote.  A white man not participating gets about a quarter of the votes of a black man who many are considering the nominee with the rest of this just being a technicality.

So while the race factor in all of this is a touch disheartening, in reality, this Primary changes very little in the grand scheme of things… other than it continues on still…

Popularity: 1% [?]

AP- During a speech in Oregon Obama mentioned the states he has already visited on the Campaign trail. Hawaii and Alaska were excluded because his campaign managers said no, however he has gone to “57″ and will be visiting one more.

Ms. Missives response: All politicians say stupid things… like this quote from Hillary Clinton during a campaign stop in West Virginia, “All the kitchen table issues that everybody talks to me about are ones that the next president can actually do something about, if he actually cares about it.”

Doesn’t SHE want to be the next President?

Anyway, back to Obama. How harsh should we react to his “57 states” miscount?

Here are some reactions from the right and pro-Clinton blogosphere. I’ll ask those with weak stomachs to please look away:

TheCleverCynic.com:
“Just when the democrats probably thought that things couldn’t get any worse in the Democratic contest for the 2008 Presidential nomination, Barack Obama totally loses any shred of credibility he might have gained during his campaign…if any.”

newsbusters.org:
“Old Media’s treatment of the story thus far indicates a strong likelihood that Obama’s arguably dumber gaffe has not found its way into the primary web sites or print editions of most newspapers, and that it never will.”

hollywoodgrind.com:
“What excuses are Obama supporters going to make for him now?”

harshopinion.com:
“Here’s the problem.
There are supposedly 57 Islamic States!
Read that again. 57 Islamic States!
Slip of the tongue? Why did he mix up THOSE TWO NUMBERS?”

www.funnybonevideos.com:
“Slip of the tongue while on the stump? Could be, but then again, given this guy’s track record of late (i.e. the whole fiasco with the Rev. Wright, etc.) it may be exactly what he thinks, that the U.S. has at least 57 states.”

Give me a break.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Who knew? There are no people who deserve our respect and care more than the families and friends of the deceased, regardless of the cause of their demise, and many would argue that’s it’s an even truer case to the families and friends of those who died while in service to their country. But for some unlucky number- the utmost care was not taken to ensure the proper somber note when our fallen brothers and sisters were cremated-

The U.S. military has, since 2001, cremated some of the remains of U.S. service members killed in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere in a Delaware facility that also cremates pets, a practice that ended Friday when the Pentagon banned the arrangement.

The facility, in an industrial park near Dover Air Force Base, has cremated about 200 service members, manager David Bose said Friday night. It uses separate crematories a few feet apart to cremate humans and animals, he added.

According to reports no one is sure how many service members were cremated at the Friends Forever Pet Cremation Service, and there’s no evidence that would show any service member having been cremated in the animal crematory, however, the real issue stemmed not from which crematory was used, but from the feelings of shock and dismay caused in those who went to oversee the procedure, saying farewell to their loved ones.

The revelation came to light when an Army officer who works at the Pentagon traveled to Delaware on Thursday to attend the cremation of a military comrade.

Offended to discover that the facility was labeled as a pet crematory, the officer sent an e-mail late Thursday to superiors at the Pentagon that included a photograph of the signage.

It soon rocketed to the attention of (Defense Secretary Robert) Gates, who directed David Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, to conduct “a comprehensive review of existing DOD policies and practices governing the cremation and handling of remains of U.S. service members,” (Pentagon press secretary Geoff) Morrell said.

As a result, in 2001 Air Force officials contracted with two local funeral homes to perform cremations, including with Torbert Funeral Chapels and Crematories, which oversees the facility managed by Bose, and another crematory that is located with a funeral home.

Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne directed Friday that the service “cease using the off-site crematory, use only crematory facilities that are co-located with licensed funeral homes, and have a military presence during the off-base process at the funeral-home facilities,” Morrell said.

Why it would’ve taken this 6-7 years for all of this to become an issue is debatable- is it really so bad that they were being cremated at this facility, given that they were cremated in proper human crematories with no signs of foul play, and if so… why did no one say anything until now? Was this just one man’s over-reaction? Or is it as deeply disrespectful as it sounds to find out that the very people we’re supposed to be honoring and holding in the highest regards are being cared for after death in a facility called Friends Forever Pet Cremation Service?

In my opinion the military should have known better than to outsource to this facility, when obviously as they’re using now- there were more traditional and fitting arrangements that could’ve been made. Odds are, when this service began, it was cheaper and easier than going to a traditional funeral home facility. But this is one place where surely Uncle Sam can afford not to be a miser.

Popularity: 3% [?]

George Stephanopoulos speculates that Clinton is staying in the race in order to place a stronger bid for the vice president spot. hmmm…. that gets the brain cogs working:

Is Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., staying in the race to get the vice presidential slot?

George thinks so.

CHARLES GIBSON: George, she puts on a brave face in public. What’s going on behind the scenes?

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, I think it’s fair to say … that everyone’s waiting for a signal from her on how to go forward. Today, the signal was very clear — we’re staying in — [according to] the Clinton campaign. And it’s based on the hope that anything can happen. And that every Democrat deserves a vote. That’s the principal they’re running on right now. The arguments against, inside right now, are you may be spending a lot more money in [a] futile effort. You may also be dividing the party the longer you go on. You heard (California Sen.) Dianne Feinstein say that as well, but the math just doesn’t work.

Popularity: 2% [?]

As Clinton and Obama continue pandering to crowds in hopes of winning the Indiana primaries, a small revelation has come to light. Well, not really a big surprise… Republicans dig Obama over Clinton.

At Clinton’s rally here, the state’s top Democrat and her main backer, Sen. Evan Bayh, seemed to be lowering expectations, telling the Sun-Times that Clinton started way behind rival Barack Obama, “he has outspent her 2-1, and he has won every other state that borders Illinois. I think it’s very close — it could go either way.”

A surprising number of registered Republicans — who can pull Democratic ballots on Election Day — came to both events.

“We were with eight Republicans last night and six of them are voting for Obama,” said retired firefighter Dan O’Neill, 63.

“I like how family oriented he is,” said Caroline Harlan, a 26-year-old Republican. Obama had his wife and daughters with him all weekend.

Exit polls show most Republicans who have crossed over to vote Democratic in this primary voted for Obama, responding to his message of reaching out to work across party lines. That bodes well for Obama in this Republican state.

“She’ll win the Democrats,” Bayh said. “The others, I’m not so sure.”

At the Clinton event, registered Republican Sally Anepper, 53, was deciding whether to vote for Clinton or McCain, but not Obama.

“His pastor’s anti-American comments really bothered me,” she said.

As hard as he has tried to move past Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s bombastic comments, Obama spent the first 20 minutes on “Meet the Press” Sunday giving the same answers to the same questions about why he gave Wright the benefit of the doubt for so long.

So basically, folks who are listening to Obama himself are more likely to vote for him than those who listen to others either once affiliated with him, or reports about him. Which could be quite disastrous for his campaign when considering everything that has been going against him; Rezko scandals, Rev. Wright’s comments, and all the still lingering suspicions of some (somehow they’re still out there- believe me, I’ve met some of them) that Obama is a Muslim.

In her Sunday-morning appearance on ABC, Clinton was asked to name a single economist who supports her plan for a summer gas-tax holiday, which Obama continued to blast Sunday as a “gimmick” that would save drivers little and torpedo road repair projects.

“I’m not going to put in my lot with economists,” Clinton said.

“Who understands what you’re going through?” she asked the crowd at Indiana Tech. “People drive a lot of long distances in Indiana. I’ve driven a lot of long distances in Indiana. I think between my husband, my daughter and me, we’ve made 95 stops in Indiana. We believe Indiana matters.”

Obama and his wife have made 28 stops in Indiana.

Clinton said she watched as a pick-up truck driver spent $63 to fill just half a tank of gas.

Clinton has the Midwest cred in her past, and that could work in her favor in Indiana.

With both candidates neck and neck at this point… I’m sorry. I really can’t pretend to be anything but put off by this entire long lasting ridiculous fiasco that does nothing but continue to highlight the glaring deficiencies of all the parties involved, and I can’t wait until the primaries are over, and even the election itself, so I can stop being inundated with all of this nonsense, and we can finally find out what direction our country is going to go in with the leadership of the next Commander in Chief.

Popularity: 3% [?]