Sometimes the Punchlines Write Themselves

Ann Althouse blames the lack of bookstore patronage on Barack Obama.

Despite shrines to Obama, the bookstore was nearly deserted

Wisconsin residents are unemployed and don't have money to buy books. In December, 25,000 have lost jobs. The unemployment rating is the highest since 1986. In Althouse's mind, the lack of shoppers at Borders is somehow Obama's fault.

John McCain Wisconsin Speech

John McCain gives a victory speech that would be still Bill Kristol's beating heart.

Attacks Barack Obama's rhetorical skills

Uses the word Islamofascism.

Calls liberalism a failed idea.

McCain really hates Obama. This 2006 attack McCain fired at Obama is really mean-spirited.

"I understand how important the opportunity to lead your party's efforts to exploit this issue must seem to a freshman senator, and I hold no hard feelings over your earlier disingenuousness."

Going negative didn't help Hillary. McCain may dislike Obama so much that he wants to hit low. That plays to Obama strength of optimisim and a change from partisan politics.

Interesting Wisconsin Primary Fact

Georgia10 notices that Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton received more independent votes than the entire Republican field. That favors Democrats heavily for the general election.

Barack Obama 272,488 56%
Hillary Clinton 205,572 43%
All Republicans 185,786

John "The Maverick" McCain is billing himself as the most electable Republican. I haven't seen anything that has made me believe that. I'm not convinced that Huckabee as a VP nominee will greatly help McCain with the base. People vote for the President. Not Vice-President. If that was the case, Spiro Agnew and Dan Quayle would have never set foot in the White House. John Edwards' appeal did not rub off on John Kerry.

McCain's problems with the base are serious. The fact that he is pulling less independents, in open primaries, than Hillary or Obama leads to the possibility to the biggest Democratic vicory in my lifetime. If Dubya didn't screw things up so badly, Jeb Bush would be the nominee. Jeb is smarter and would run a better campaign than any member of the current Republican field. Thank George W. Bush for screwing his younger brother out of the presidency.

Barack Obama Wisconsin Victory Speech

9:38 The crowd noise sounds like a rock concert. I can barely hear Barack Obama.

9:39 Obama is thanking his Winconsin campaign people.

9:40 Obama thanks his union supporters.

9:41 Obama asks Houston residents to attend the caucas. The crowd starts chanting.

9:42 "We just heard tonight that we won in Wisconsin." The crowd freaks out.

9:46 "Washington is the place where good ideas go to die."

9:47 "We're here because we believe change is possible."

Obama takes a shot against NAFTA and outsourcing. The crowd is eating it up.

9:48 Obama talks about how predatory lenders doubled to mortgage of a woman with two blind children.

9:49 Obama mentions a mother that gave him a braclet to remember her son killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq.

9:50 Obama hysterically mentions his kindergarden paper the Clinton campaign attempted to use against him.

9:51 "People are working harder for less."

9:52 "Despite the slogan, our children are being left behind."

"We can not wait."

9:53 "Change in America does not happen from the top down, but from the bottom up."

9:54 Obama talks about ending racial and political divisions to take on the special interests. Obama means lobbyists.

9:56 The crowd starts chanting, "Yes, we can."

9:57 This is one of Obama's best speeches. He knows he is in the driver's seat.

9:58 Obama talks about health insurance. I still like Edwards's plan better.

Obama's promises to deliver universal health care by the end of his first term.

10:00 Keep in mind, Obama is holding this rally in Texas. I haven't seen John McCain get this response in any red state.

10:01 Obama promises to raise minimum wage.

10:03 Obama pushes for early child education and higher pay for teachers. Obama wants higher standards, but not "teaching to the test."

10:06 Obama talks about immigration. He supports upholding laws and giving immigrants a chance to become Americans.

10:09 "No more homeless veterans. No more begging for benefits."

10:10 Obama proposes to end the Iraq war in 2009.

10:11 "I want to end the politics of fear."

10:12 Obama quote JFK on foreign policy.

10:12 Obama talks about Darfur and HIV in Africa.

10:15 Obama talks about bringing Republicans to his side. Good luck with that.

10:16 Obama says he looks forward to debating John McCain. It's interesting that CSPAN cut off Hillary's speech to cover Obama. Hillary is becoming an also-ran.

10:18 "Hope is not blind optimism."

10:19 Obama talks against the "scapegoating" of immigrants and gay people.

10:21 Obama says hope played a role in WWII, ending slavery, civil rights and the founding of America.

10:23: "Houston, this is our moment. This is our time."

Hillary Clinton Wisconsin Concession Speech

9:32 Hillary takes a shot at Obama saying action matters more than words.

9:33 Hillary talks about her small donors and gives a shout out to HillaryClinton.com. This is painful to listen to.

9:34 Hillary talks about her experience. How did Joe Biden listen to a barely second term Senator say she has more experince than him?

9:35 Hillary says she's ready to end the war in Iraq and Cowboy diplomancy. I hope that's true.

9:36 "I'm running to solve our problems!"

Hillary proposes $30 billion in assistance to stop foreclosures.

Update: here are video highlights of Hillary Clinton's speech in Youngstown, Ohio.

Obama and McCain Wisconsin Primary

Barack Obama will speak shortly. McCain has already thanked his supporters.

"I will fight every moment of every day of this campaign to make sure Americans are not deceived by an eloquent and empty call for change," McCain said, alluding to Sen. Obama.

McCain continued his remarks on Obama, calling the Illinois senator's platform the "confused leadership of an inexperienced candidate" and "holiday from history."
"My friends I am not the youngest candidate, but I am the most experienced."
In a line we'll sure hear more of in the coming weeks: "I know how the world works."

Fox News exit poll show Obama beating Hillary Clinton in nearly every demographic.

Women: Obama 51%, Clinton 49%

Families with income under 50,000: Obama 51%, Clinton 49%

Independents: Obama 63%, Clinton 34%

Seniors: Clinton 60%, Obama 39%

Top quality — experience: Clinton 95%, Obama 5%

Union households: Clinton 50%, Obama 49%

Obama is breaking Hillary's hold on women voters. Hillary only won seniors. That isn't enough.