The Weekly Wrangle

Time for the post-primacaucus round-up from the friendly blogs of the Texas Progressive Alliance, compiled by Vince from Capitol Annex.

Refinish69 joins John McClelland, Democratic nominee for Texas House District 64, in asking "Where's Myra"? And it seems that Shrub has a new title to add to his list -- Torturer-in-Chief doesn't seem like one most people would want, but then Shrub is a fool.

Eye On Williamson wraps up Tuesday's primary. Dembones points out that Obama won Williamson County and SD 5, as well as the unprecedented turnout for the caucuses. WCNews has initial impressions and more impressions from the primary.

Off the Kuff has been busy poring through the data from Tuesday's primary, with posts about the blueing of Harris County, and a series on Republican crossover votes.

The Texas Cloverleaf begs the question: who the hell is Mark Thompson? Is another dead dancer in our midst, or did voter apathy give us another odd run-off?

Where is Myra? State Rep Crownover is missing, and the Leaf wants you to watch a video to help locate her.

PDiddie at Brains and Eggs wrote the advance story of Election Day in his precinct with "Today's agenda", and the postscript in "244".

McBlogger had an exciting and mostly hateful primary week. Things kicked off with Mayor McSleaze's recap of the primary itself, while McBlogger took the time to bitchslap John McCain for taking an endorsement from some weird-o preacher in San Antonio and chastise adults for following the lead of a child. McBlogger finishes up the week with a plea for relief from a devastating force, Rachael Ray.

BossKitty at BlueBloggin asks Democrats to unite and explore Make It So! A Clinton-Obama ticket?

WhosPlayin thanks his city's staff for the help in Tuesday's primaries, and wonders why the big deal about the use of the "M" word.

John Coby at Bay Area Houston ponders When Hope turns into Whine.

Vince at Capitol Annex starts taking a look at the March 4 primary, with the first of many Primary Postmortem posts.

Sunday Funnies (Talking Straight)

The primary reason Clinton supporters who say they won't vote for Obama will vote for Obama in November:

"Do you think the Democrats will win the Presidency this year?"

Granted: Kossacks have always been anti-Hillary, and most of Mrs. Clinton's supporters can't spell 'blog' much less read one, but this poll is still astounding:

	Yes
31%	1130 votes
	Only if Hillary Clinton is the nominee
2%	87 votes
	Only if Barack Obama is the nominee
51%	1851 votes
	Only if they run on the same ticket
1%	50 votes
	Only if somebody other than one of them is picked in Denver
1%	33 votes
	No
5%	178 votes
	I do not know
6%	226 votes
	I do not care
1%	27 votes
	Other
1%	18 votes

| 3600 votes

Which extreme minority do you think I voted in?

And how did you vote? And why?

Obama-Clinton '08

I'm kinda sorta maybe thinking it could possibly even be okay with me if the order were reversed. Yes, this a significant evolution of my position.

Bottom line: With just 600 delegates up for grabs and front-runner Obama 658 short of the 2,025 needed for victory, it is mathematically impossible for either candidate to clinch the nomination before the process is scheduled to end with Puerto Rico's June 7 caucuses.

Obama remains in the overall delegate lead, 1,567 to 1,462, according to Associated Press estimates.

With neither candidate able to wrap up the nomination during the primary season, Clinton and Obama must try to seal the deal by courting the 350 still-uncommitted superdelegates, including 14 from Texas.

I have to presume that the Supers will not stampede together in either direction.

A potential wild card is the continuing battle inside the Democratic National Committee over the seating of delegates from Florida and Michigan, two states whose convention votes have been taken away because they scheduled January primaries in violation of party rules.

But governors of both states are talking about arranging for a June re-vote if private funding can be arranged to cover the costs. For very different reasons, the idea unites Clinton and GOP leaders.

Republicans see these "do-overs" as an opportunity to drain Democratic resources and create additional tension between the two foes. Clinton's strategists eye an opportunity to erase Obama's edge.

This report indicates that Governors Crist of Florida and Manholm of Michigan are demanding a pardon from the DNC, while Howard Dean -- apparently he will be making the breakfast television rounds this morning to explain -- indicates that it's up to the Credentials Committee at the national convention to decide it, or the two states must re-vote. By June 10.

The sooner the Clinton and Obama camps come to an agreement on something and stop fighting, the better off everybody is going to be. It doesn't matter to me at the moment what it is they come to an agreement on: delegate counts in FL and MI, a unity ticket, something. Anything.

Can it happen? And how long will it be before it does, if it does? Can Hillary suppress her ego and be vice-president a second time? Or will she demand that Barack wait his turn and hold the bucket of warm spit? How much blood needs to be spilled? Can the bad blood remaining be leached out in time to beat George W. McCain in November?

Betting windows are open ...