Why should Hillary Clinton drop out of the presidential race when she just beat the bag out of Barack Obama in West Virginia by greater than a 2-1 margin? It's not like West Virginia is one of her home states, or even borders one of her home states. With all that media pressure to conform to the Obamania, West Virginians did what they failed to do a century-and-a-half ago: rebel.

That the presumptive Democratic nominee can only muster a quarter of the vote in the Democratic primary in a state that Democrats must win in November speaks volumes, even if the media has muted the sound, about the trouble Barack Obama faces. Yes, it's a Democratic year--but so was 2000 and 2004. The Democrats then found a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. This is a talent, as their candidate selection shows, that they haven't lost.

Obama is a left-winger in an increasingly left-wing party. America, even if frustrated with George Bush and Iraq, is a fundamentally conservative nation. As much as liberal primary voters wish to believe that politicians who believe what they believe should be president, the fact is that Americans have not voted for a true liberal for president in my lifetime. From Mondale to Dukakis to Kerry, Americans have rejected quite a few. Liberal primary voters don't get the hint.

Here's my simplistic lay of the land: a third of the country votes Democrat, a third votes Republican, and a third could go either way. Envision that continuum, with the Democrat third taking up the left side of the line. Within that third, Obama and Clinton fight over the left half that disproportionately vote in Democratic primaries. Within that half of that third, Barack Obama's supporters occupy the left half and Hillary Clinton's supporters occupy the right half. In other words, it's basically the most leftward tenth of the electorate that is propelling Obama's candidacy. Leaving all these confusing fractions aside, the presumptive Democratic nominee represents the Far Left. This is why he gets clubbed in places like West Virginia but wins overwhelmingly in Madison, Berkeley, and Amherst.

The Republicans, on the other hand, have nominated a candidate with the general election in mind. John McCain appeals to independents and even some Democrats. He infuriates conservative Republicans, who, McCain correctly reasons, will probably have no place to go in November. The prospect of a liberal boogeyman is an even greater motivation for Republicans to rush to the polls than a conservative standard bearer would be. Rather than pick a candidate way to the right on that imaginary continuum, Republicans selected a candidate in the middle.

Of course, where one sits on the ideological spectrum is but one factor in handicapping a presidential race. Aside from Democrats benefitting from Bush fatigue, they benefit from a charismatic nominee whose youth juxtaposes nicely with the Republican candidate's elderly status. Republicans can perpetually hope that Democratic primaries continue to reward the McGovernite-Dukakoid wing of the party, otherwise known as the loser wing. But one of these elections that out-of-the-mainstream liberal will slip into the White House. Republicans, be careful what you wish for.

I'm even more inspired to adopt Juan McCaino as my candidate since I've heard his solutions on the unproven theory of man made Global Warming. I think it’s great that he wants government to take control of the “problem”. In particular, I think his Cap and Trade plan is really going to help business and the economy.

Well, at least Jorge Bush is going out with a bang: running to the Saudis to beg for oil. But this makes perfect sense. Especially when we have reserves in ANWR that dwarf Saudi Arabia’s reserves but we can’t develop them.

At least the Democrats are getting a real liberal. I'd be quite happy if a liberal blog could write a similar post about the Republicans.

Well, at least Jorge Bush is going out with a bang.

Actually, George is threatening to veto everything in sight out of some new found fiscal responsibility. Given that he's signed more spending into law than any other president, it doesn't make much sense. But I like it, nonetheless.

Too little too late for Jorge. He allowed rampant profligate Democrat-like spending, muffed a war, nominated and heavily sponsored a liberal lightweight for the Supreme Court and was complicit in one of the worse plans on illegal immigration imaginable. Other than that, I loved the guy. Problem is, whoever becomes our next President will make Bush look like Lincoln.

To date, Hillary has won some of the most important primaries proving that she's still a viable Democrat candidate. But her party continues to call for her to get out. As Carville said, if Hillary gave one of her testicles to Obama, they'd both have two. I'm impressed with her demonstration of tenacity and leadership. So, if the dumb Dems knew about Obama what they know now, would it be he that they would be trying to expunge?