As of last Wednesday, I have officially been blogging here on the frontpage of MyDD for a year. I can't believe a year has passed already, it feels like it's been a part of my life for far longer, especially since for the duration I've been covering the presidential election, which, let's face it, seems as though it's been going on for years. First I just really quickly wanted to thank Jerome for plucking me out of relative obscurity and entrusting me with the keys to his kingdom, Jonathan for so immediately and generously welcoming me into the space he's inhabited so ably for a few years now and of course I wanted to thank the readers not only for turning us into something a bit different for a few months there, but also for helping bankroll my and Jonathan's adventures as we got a front row seat on history.

On January 3rd I was at my parents' house in Connecticut watching Barack declare victory on TV and I had planned to head up to New Hampshire the next day to get a glimpse of the candidates in action on the ground. I was looking at Hillary Clinton's upcoming schedule and discovered she, Bill and Chelsea would be at a rally first thing in the morning and I decided I had to go, so I left at what had to be 11:30pm to embark on the 3 hour drive up to Boston to stay with a friend. From there I would drive early the next day to the Clinton event.

I arrived in snowy New Hampshire, having google mapped the address, which was a small airplane hangar near the Massachusetts border. Not really knowing quite what to do or where to go once at the venue, I waited in line with the other folks gathered there to see Hillary, but a few thoughts went through my head, not the least of which were "damn it's cold," and "man, this line isn't moving." But then I turned to my right and saw that fateful sign on a side door to the hangar: "Media." Hmm. I walked over, pushed it open and discovered a table manned by a friendly volunteer and covered with sign-up sheets. I told her I was media (it was true, after all), she asked me who I'm with, I told her MyDD, she asked for press credentials, I said I was a blogger so we don't really have credentials and she just asked me to sign in and for a look at my driver's license. She then handed me a press pass and I was golden. I would replicate that process over and over at both Hillary and Barack events alike from January through June, from New Hampshire to Nevada to California to Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and finally Puerto Rico. It was quite a ride, one that I haven't really taken the time to fully contemplate, although I hope I've done the events and my experiences justice as I've written about them. I realize I was a little light on the photos, although I did get more savvy about posting video and photos late in the process, but it doesn't mean I wasn't taking them. Below is a slideshow of my journey this year, which I wanted to share with you guys. Thanks again.

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Throughout the past few months, I've been doing a lot of reading up on the Florida/Michigan/DNC debacle, and I've yet to find a better piece--ANYWHERE--on what's really happened, from a historical and "close-look" focal point than that written by Wayne Barrett; someone who's widely considered to be one of the best investigative reporters of our era. (FYI: This is the guy who's nailed Giuliani countless times in unauthorized biographies and feature stories.) He's a fellow at Hunter College, and he's been widely lauded by the press and both Clinton and Obama supporters of note in year's past, as well.

So, I'm taking the liberty--considering the day's events--of providing a link right here, to: "Could the Republicans Pick the Democratic Nominee?--The Untold Story of How the GOP Rigged Florida and Michigan." Two months ago, when it first appeared on HuffPo, it caused quite a furor in the blogosphere. It still has my vote as the best piece that's been written about the Democratic Primary in 2008 (to date).

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One simple question: What would the candidates and the media say and do if Hillary and Barack were both white men?

The obvious answer: They'd fight it out all the way to the Convention, and the media wouldn't be saying a damn thing about it.

Instead, what we have is the instant gratification, MTV generation demanding, along with the media's support, that we settle this thing now. This may be "conventional wisdom," but it doesn't take into account the basic reality that one or the other side's supporters--now ranting about rules and a divisive party--will be so disaffected, they will turn from supporting the party to either voting for McSame or not voting, at all. This is reality, as obvious and mundane as it may now appear.

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How in Hillaryland does Obama pass the CIC threshold?  I have been thinking about this.  Maybe if Obama when he goes overseas can have teas with Irish diplomats, or maybe he could travel with Sinbad and dance at a USO show in Iraq or maybe in Bosnia.  Maybe there is some kind of magic formula they he can drink to reach the threshold.  What is this magic criterion to reach the magic threshold of being CIC.  Maybe it is who has the most military advisors line up in front of an American flag, or maybe Obama should start wearing that flag pin.  This could net him 100 pts or more to that magic threshold.

Somebody needs to ask Hillary what was the magic moment that put her over that CIC threshold?  Did she run the White House when Bill was out carousing?  Was that the experience she is talking about?  LOL.

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Does Hillary Clinton have a soul, or has she already sold it to big corporations?  We all know that the Clintons are beholden to big business, but does anybody really know by how much?  Did Hillary and Bill Clinton promise big donors to the Clinton Library big favors if Hillary becomes president?  I think that the Clintons are for the Clintons and democrats last.  I mean look at what Bill Clinton did while leaving the White House.  Did he care about the democrats or did he just care about himself and his donor base.  Bill Clinton made all these pardons before he left office knowing that these pardons would help him and Hillary in the future.  Bill Clinton was looking out for the Clintons.  If Bill Clinton really cared about the Democratic Party, he would have not made these controversial pardons.  He obviously did not care about how this would affect a Gore presidential bid.

So, I ask all of you does Hillary have a soul?

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