Edwards Drops Out

In a STUNNING development, John Edwards will get out of race today. He is doing this becasue he knows he cannot win and wants to help SOMEONE win next week. The ProConPundit's best guess is that he will endorse Obama. It would make no sense for him to endorse the Clinton's given his consistent, harsh criticism of them. His withdrawal will help the Clinton's among southern white voters but will help Obama in California, New Jersey and even New York.

Where does the Edwards vote go? Three points:

1. Edwards will want it ot go to Obama.

2. Edwards votes are generally anti-Clinton.

3. Wild card: Edwards support mostly among lower income white voters. Hillary has been doing better with them than Obama.

If the Edwards vote breaks out mostly to Obama, that should be enough to put him over the top next Tuesday. This development leaves the first one-on-one debate Thursday between Obama and the Clinton's.

The timing of this withdrawal negates the conventional wisdom that Edwards was staying in the race to be the kingmaker in a photo finish between Obama and Clinton delegates. There is either a deal in place. Or, the health of Elizabeth Edwards has been the factor.

More later.

McCain and the Clinton’s Win Florida
Nancy Reagan To Host Giuliani Endorsement at
Gipper’s Grave & Library

John McCain won Florida by 5 % in a GOP only primary. His victory may be attributed to the late breaking endorsements of Florida Gov. Charles Crist and Sen. Mel Martinez. He was conciliatory to Mitt Romney, saying, "The margin of my victory is not enough that I should brag about or enough for you to despair." He spoke words of eloquence to Rudy Giuliani, who will drop out and endorse him tomorrow, thanking him for his leadership and for putting his heart and soul into this race. and kindness to Mike Huckabee. Tim Russert has rightly asserted that McCain is dangling the vice-presidency in front of Huckabee, "Don't leave me now,

Hucky, I need you."

McCain's victory was both narrow and decisive. He won without independents or Democrats. He won all over Florida and, as a warrior, was voted for in large measure by people who consider the economy the largest issue. He is definitely on his way but he has to close the deal with hard core conservatives who don’t like him. This will be made easier by endorsements and establishment Republicans falling into line behind him. Romney is not to be discounted, at all. He is formidable and self financed. He is helped by entertainers like Limbaugh, Buchanan and Scarborough who hate McCain. The next week will be rough. McCain is helped to have Giuliani on his side and Huckabee’s VP run.

Even though the Democratic Party will not accept the Florida delegates and the candidates did not campaign there, Hillary and Bill Clinton beat Obama by 20% in Florida. That is significant. Obama needs help to close the deal in the next week. The "unofficial" Democratic primary is not a done deal. Those delegates will continue their fight to be seated and counted at the Democratic convention. It may matter if the count is close. Florida all over again. Stay tuned.

Fasten Your Seat Belts...

The Next Week Will Be a Wild Ride

It so ironic that Rudy Giuliani has been fighting his entire life, fighting tough at all times and fighting dirty when necessary or for the fun of it, and in the fight of his life time, he lost by playing it clean. He beat everyone he ever seat out to beat, including cancer and a couple of wives (emotionally) but he lost the GOP primary by running too slow and nicer than ever. Whatever you think of him, and the ProConPundit loved him as a New York’s mayor but never thought he had the muster to be president, hats off to an American leader–and legend.

Rudy represents a lot of ethnic Americans who were traditionally Democrats but felt "left" out or left behind. He brought a lot of good positions to this race and the prospect that a Republican need night be a right winger. Good for him for giving it a whirl. He will now endorse John McCain and probably do McCain some good on Super Tuesday in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Delaware. Also, Illinois which will be heavy for Obama on the Democratic side next week, would have likely gone for Rudy on the GOP side but will now line up in the McCain column, bank on it.

Thompson helped McCain narrowly beat Huckabee in South Carolina and Huckabee helped McCain narrowly beat Romney in Florida. Huckabee will continue his race for VP and, praise Jesus, the bible man will take votes away from Romney on February 5.

The next week will be ugly. Romney vs. McCain and Clinton vs. Obama is not going to be pretty for the next week. And I wish I could call it or have some sense of how it will finish. I don’t. My gut tells me that, ultimately, McCain will be the GOP nominee and the Clinton’s will be the Democratic nominees. Incidentally, that was conventional wisdom a year and a half ago.

It should all fall into place on Tuesday, February 5 when these states vote: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah. If not, it may all get decided on March 4 by Texas and Ohio.

ProConPundit to Gore and Carter:

You can call me, Al–and Jimmy

C’mon guys. The gig is up. John Kerry and the Kennedy Clan have fessed up. They hate the Clintons. No one hates than more than you do, Al and Jimmy. Hillary and Bill are still up 10 points nationally to Obama. One week from tonight on Super Tuesday, the race will likely be resolved. Carter and Gore are conspicuous by their silence. Even Al Sharpton has stepped up, proving that even a broken clock is right twice a day. He acknowledged himself as one of the most outspoken people in America and then said, "Bill Clinton needs to shut up."

Al and Jimmy, now is your moment–step up. Obama needs to pick up 10 points in the next week or else your nemesis’ will be on stage for the next eight years. Put your Nobel peace prizes down and win one for the–Gipper? Well, not the Gipper, but you get the point. C’mon guys–you know what needs to be done.

ProConPundit to Ted Kennedy:
Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?


My conservative friends may hate me for this, but I love Ted Kennedy. I’ve had my differences with him and I am much more moderate, middle of the right, and yes, certainly, much more conservative than Ted Kennedy. The first vote I ever cast was for him...in 1980 when he ran against Jimmy Carter. I've always believed that his brothers became heroes, and saints and statues in death while Ted had to live in reality. Their foibles were ignored or glamorized while his were front and center. Whatever you think of liberals, whatever you think of Ted Kennedy, I have always given him credit for being an incredibly wealthy man who has spent his life fighting for people less fortunate than himself. Minimum wage, health care, union workers, veterans, and the disabled have all been people Kennedy has been willing to be ridiculed over giving a damn about.

The ProConPundit is flabbergasted and ebullient at the, forgive the phrase, PROFILES IN COURAGE that are the Kennedy’s, Ted, Patrick, and the ever-delightful Caroline, in endorsing Barack Obama. Some of you may think that this fits in with my common theme of being against the Clinton’s. Its more than that. The Clinton’s have been breaking rules, crossing limits of decency, lying, and getting away with it for longer than I want to take the time to recall. Their disgusting interjection of race in the Democratic primary finally went too far: the far left and the most prominent American political family (sorry Clinton’s and Bushes) have said enough is enough.

Piling on various other injuries and insults, Bill Clinton dismissed Obama’s South Carolina victory by saying that Jesse Jackson won there also. He could have said John Edwards won there four years ago and hasn’t won so much as a door prize since. But no, he reached back 20 years to compare Obama’s candidacy to that of Jesse Jackson. Most Americans regard Jesse Jackson as a joke. All Americans know that he never, ever remotely in serious contention for his party’s nomination. Whatever you think of Obama, and I have serious doubts about his experience given the state of our union, I think he’s a bright man and a serious candidate and that the Clinton’s have behaved shamefully.

The Clinton’s are still playing the tired old dirty tricks of the past. Our country needs the kind of leader we elected in 1932 with FDR and in 1980 with Ronald Reagan. Both times we were in great need of hope and unity and competence. I am not sure if we have an FDR or Reagan type in the offing this year. One thing is for sure: The Clinton’s cannot deliver unity. In fact, the Clinton’s are the CATALYSTS of the lack of unity we now know as Americans. Huh?

The Clinton’s are not the cause of our disunity but they were the catalysts for it. Please consider these facts: In 1980, Ronald Reagan was elected president with 51% of the vote compared to Jimmy Carter’s 41% in a 3 way race. In 1984, Reagan was re-elected with 58% of the vote. In 1988, Bush I won with 54%. In 1992, in a three way race, Bush I and Perot had 58% of the vote to Clinton’s 43%. Bill Clinton became president with 58% of the American people voting against him. Clinton’s re-election in 1996 is always spun as a landslide. He had 49.2 % of the vote. Bill Clinton always had more people voting against him than for him. Between the Clinton’s rocky, inexperienced, corrupt beginnings, there remained a significant number of Americans who were against him, so much so that the Gingrich revolution was able to turn the congress to the GOP 2 years later. The Clinton years were seemingly prosperous years for America for various reasons, some to his credit, some not. He never was able to unify our country. When his weak, impotent vice-president sought election in 2000, we ended up with the most divided election ever and things have never been right since. The Bush years have not helped us come together and George W. deserves his fair share of blame for not doing better.

Elect McCain, elect Romney, elect Obama. Elect anyone but the Clinton’s. Watch their operatives on TV: Paul Begala, James Carville, Ann Lewis–they are all horrible. They lie, twist, manipulate. We deserve better as a country and its about time.

Whatever you think of the politics of the Kennedy’s, they love our country very much and have sacrificed dearly at the hands of assassins. People are very hesitant to cross the Clinton’s. For America’s most prominent family to rebuke the Clinton’s, Caroline said no president in her lifetime has inspired her the way people say her dad inspired them, is huge. It sends a signal far and wide to other Democrats. The Clinton’s are over. Its all over but the shoutin.

Good luck to Rudy tomorrow in Florida. He’s never been my choice but I like him.

ProConPundit to McCain:
Don’t Go Breaking My Heart

You never have to worry about John McCain when he is down and out, abused, dismissed, forgotten, written off. He will rise up out of the ashes every time. Its when McCain is on top that he will blow it. Don’t do it, Mac. I’ve been lovin you way too long to have you blow it now. I was with you in 2000 and before, and have been with you ever since. When everyone had you written off, I said–Mac will be back. I have been at the bus stop for 8 years waiting for the Straight Talk Express to pick me up. It’s here, I’m on it, and we are so, so close–to making it–or blowing it. Mac: Stop talking about 100 years in Iraq and MORE wars.

This election season is FANTASTIC. Its fluid and I am genuinely amazed at how fast things change. We go along thinking one thing is paramount and then the Dow plunges 400 points and our priorities change. I really admire and respect John McCain. Hell, I love the man. Needless to say, I want him to be our next president. He’s got to make the case and close the deal. Its now apparent that it’s a 2 person race between he and Romney. Giuliani himself said today that the winner the Florida primary tomorrow will be the GOP nominee. Not necessarily. McCain or Romney will win narrowly. The victory will be slim, the perception will give greater momentum going into Super Tuesday–in one week. Whoever wins Super Tuesday will be the nominee. My money is still on McCain, no hedge. I am in touch with the fact that it may be Romney. I don’t like him. I think he’s a phoney. The fact that he is a hugely successful business person who has some experience in fiscal/business turn around will be great experience should he be the nominee. Should he be the nominee, the ProConPundit will have to return to my previous condemnation and vow to not support him. In the meantime, Mac–give it your best, make the case, close the deal, and for God’s sake–Don’t Go Breaking My Heart!

Two Legendary Chicago Pols Die

Eugene Sawyer, (pictured bottom), Chicago’s second African American mayor, died Saturday night at the age of 73. Sawyer was a longtime Democratic machine Alderman in the Chicago City Council when we was elected mayor in 1987 following the sudden death of Harold Washington, Chicago’s first African American mayor. Following Chicago rules at the death of a mayor, the city council elects a successor until the next election. In a legendary, tumultuous, riveting all-night Chicago city council meeting that the ProConPundit watched on live TV, Sawyer narrowly won. He won building a coalition of old-school African Americans and white ethnic alderman. He beat Ald. Tim Evans who had the backing of Latino, progressive white and most African American aldermen. Sawyer's inauguration occurred in a restaurant parking at 4:01 AM on December 2, 1987.

He was an affable guy who did a decent job. He was much more low-key than Harold Washington. He was not as beloved by the black community and much more accepted by the white community than Washington. Although his tenure was largely uneventful and he was largely considered a chair warmer, he did manage to get more cooperation from the fractioned city council. When he sought election in his own right in 1989 he lost to then-States Attorney Richard M. Daley. Most of the white aldermen who got him elected in 1987 turned their backs on him for Daley, while the blacks who were against him in 1987 went with Evans who also ran in 1989. Sawyer was treated poorly by blacks who thought he was an Uncle Tom whites who turned their back on him.

John Stroger, (pictured top), a political ally of Sawyer’s, Daley's past and present and a REAL HEAVY WEIGHT in Chicago politics died Friday after a very long illness. Stroger was an ally of the late Mayor Richard J. Daley and rose through the ranks of Chicago politics. He was a longtime Chicago alderman, associated with the Daley machine and old school African Americans.

He was the first African American to serve as president of the Cook County Board, the second largest county government in the US. He was credited with bringing a lot of patronage jobs to the African American community and was a generally beloved figure among African Americans and well liked by all. He was the only person, to my knowledge, who ever named a hospital after himself.

He had a stroke in 2006 which prevent him from continuing or seeking re-election. The extent of his illness was kept secret for months until the Daley’s, the Stroger's and the other machine pols could engineer Stroger’s son, Todd, a dim bulb, to take over for him. Todd Stroger is the current President of the Cook County Board.

News you may really not care about...Two legendary black funeral homes in Chicago are handling these funerals. A.A. Raynor & Sons is handling the Stroger funeral while A.R. Leak & Sons is handling Sawyer’s. Both are south side funeral homes that do huge amounts of business. Raynor's historically has buried the elite in Chicago's African American community, as well as thousands of others each year. Leak was for decades the largest black funeral firm in Chicago. They may no longer hold that title, but they are the choice of plain folks Chicagoans thousands of times a year. Nice touch by Sawyer's family.