There are FIVE stages of defeat.

There is in all of us a curiosity about losing.  Regardless of your political affiliation, fundraisers, or
that little TM next to your name, there still has to be some doubt or shadow of uncertainty.  There are five stages involved in losing, and some allow time to proceed into each stage and come to a peaceful resolve.

(h/t L.A. Times "Top Of The Ticket" blog 6/5/08)

I've been aware of the coming Democratic delegate caucuses here in California for some time, since I will be the official "showrunner" at my local district's event (that's a fancy term for the guy who introduces the candidates and lets them give a short stump speech).  I was told last week that there were a total of 24 candidates in my district who were running.  Some of them even went so far as to campaign in advance via various means of communication: blogs, mailing lists, Facebook, et al.  A few had some impressive credentials and connections to the Obama campaign that reflect the call to volunteerism and people-powered politics.

Since around 3 a.m. this morning (when I was up changing my crying newborn's diaper), I've witnessed an unprecedented media onslaught about the significance of...3 a.m.  I've never considered it a crucial moment in time, but based on the way it's been framed lately, we all must be at our most vulnerable when the clock strikes 0300 hours.

I guess the figurative logic here is that the majority of those who don't work graveyard shift or suffer from chronic insomnia are sound asleep at this time of day, in a secure state of slumber.  Our innate sense of endangerment isn't active, unless our sleep is disrupted by something: a nightmare, a loud noise, a strange impulse....

So says Tom Scholz (the guy on the far right).  

Who is he?  Scholz is the founder and MIT grad turned lead guitarist for 70's rock giants Boston.  Turns out that Mike Huckabee's band, Capital Offense (inspired by the death penalty apparently), does a cover of their biggest hit, 1976's "More Than A Feeling", as part of their set.  Scholz ain't digging it, and in a recent letter, objects to its use to promote a presidential candidate.  This is despite the fact that former Boston guitarist Barry Goudreau has played said hit along with Huckabee's band at campaign appearances.  

It's also worthy to note that Goudreau and Scholz had some professional clashes and Goudreau was eventually fired from Boston amidst Scholz's legal battles with their record label.  Now they're on opposite sides of the political fence, with Goudreau supporting Huckabee and Scholz in favor of Barack Obama.  A key quote from Scholz's letter is below:

Looks like the great town of Austin is Obama Country.  Added to the list of local supporters of Barack's campaign (Senator Kirk Watson (SD-14) and Rep. Mark Strama) is the town's mayor, Will Wynn (love how that sounds: "will win").  He emphasizes a need for a step forward on energy-based initiatives in his endorsement:

...if I told you that "Dancing Nancies" is one of the best songs of the 90's?  Well, hey that's just my opinion.  

Now all of us DMB junkies can collectively say "Yes we can!" since Dave Matthews has thrown his support behind Barack Obama per a letter posted today on his namesake band's website:

Alex Payne's wonderfully hilarious 1999 film Election did a smashing job of juxtaposing teenage peer acceptance with the vanity behind both scholastic and electoral politics. At its center is Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon), an overambitious and forceful candidate for student body president at an Omaha high school. Even though the creation of the character goes back about a decade, the ironic similarities between Flick and present-day Hillary Clinton are indeed striking. I thought that to myself for the past several months, dismissing it as just an odd coincidence. But stuck within my psyche are both Hillary's media presence and the broad strokes of humor and satire throughout Election.

And it turns out I'm not the only one who sees the common thread with a sense of clarity.

Just found this on YouTube, from Sen. Dick Durbin, in response to tonight's State Of The Union address.  

First impression: Short and to the point, and on message.  Thank you, Senator.  

Second impression:  Thank God that he had a faster teleprompter than Gov. Sebelius did earlier. (ha ha)