I know what you're thinking: Oh, God, another blog about gas.

However, I have been disappointed by all the ideological arguments about this topic, with very little in the way of data, facts, or reason.  I am not an economist, but I am a financial analyst who shares responsibility for managing a $750 million portfolio at a private, non-profit foundation.  So crunching economic data is not unfamiliar to me.  My purpose in this piece is not to advocate for or against the tax, although I may let an opinion out here and there.

Rather, I would like to present you with some data, so that you can put these rampant talking points into the context of real facts.  Please be warned: this is a long, substantive document.  It will be boring to anyone who insists only on spin and drama.

Guam is voting.

Right Now.

It's already May 3rd over there folks.  Spooky, I know.  Polls will close at 8 p.m., 6 a.m. eastern time, U.S.

There are eight pledged delegates, and five supers, at stake in this crucial but.. distant.. contest.  According to CBS news, turnout is expected to be: 3,000. The pledged delegates get a half-vote each, while the supers get a full vote, for a total of nine votes up for grabs.

Hmph.

I have no idea who is favored (nor does any journalist seem to care), but it is a caucus process, so I guess I'll predict Obama 75%.  Anyone else want to make predictions of Guam?  Please post any information you may have, and sorry for the short and rather uninformative diary.  I just thought we ought to talk about it.

Update: Full results are expected by noon eastern time. Rumor has it there are five people total counting the ballots. Based on our own poll, the internal MyDD prediction is: Barack Obama 56.4, Hillary Clinton 43.6

A week ago, I wrote about a 13-page detailed plan, called The Oregon Compact, that Hillary prepared specifically for the state of Oregon.  In my original diary, I said:

As the old adage goes, "Fail to plan, plan to fail."

I encourage fellow Democrats to start expecting more from our politicians.  Don't fall prey to petty bickering and small thinking.  Instead, insist that your candidates back their rhetoric with real, substantive plans.

I am proud of Hillary for putting pen to paper and giving people specific, substantive policy points - let's have a debate about real issues and not just petty politics.  I was sure the Obama campaign would appreciate this, but here was their initial response:

Sen. Obama looks forward to spreading his message of change to the voters of Oregon. We will review and consider the best ways to do that.

It didn't sound very promising.  But a week has passed and, true to their word, the Obama campaign has prepared a document titled "BARACK OBAMA: CHANGE OREGON CAN BELIEVE IN."  So how do the plans stack up?

Just a short diary for those who missed it, story picked up by Politico's Michael Calderone:

Hillary Clinton will appear in a live town hall meeting Sunday on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos."

Just two days before the primaries, ABC's town hall event will be broadcast live from Indiana, and also include viewer questions from North Carolina. "This Week" host Stephanopoulos is moderating.

ABC News has also extended offers to both Sen. Barack Obama and John McCain, according to a network spokesperson.

Folks, here we are again.

Yesterday was a rough day for our opponent.  Hillary is surging in all polls, particularly North Carolina.  And Barack's just had another public-relations disaster of his own making.  So, we know what that means, right?

Time for distraction.

And, since we're headed into the Deep South:

The issue of race is bound to come up.

Even Barack's supporters have begun to question Rev. Jeremiah Wright's recent decision to create a new round of media maelstrom.  Speaking to the National Press Club this morning, here is what the Reverend had to say:

The headline reads on RCP: "Wright Says Obama Only Criticized Him to Get Elected"

Newsweek has the story hot-off the campaign trail in Indiana:

Clinton took the debate dispute to a new level, challenging Obama to face off with her in a debate without a moderator, Lincoln-Douglas style.

"Just the two of us, going for 90 minutes, asking and answering questions, we'll set whatever rules seem fair," Clinton said while campaigning in South Bend.

As the old addage goes, "Fail to plan, plan to fail."

I encourage fellow Democrats to start expecting more from our politicians.  Don't fall prey to petty bickering and small thinking.  Instead, insist that your candidates back their rhetoric with real, substantive plans.

Barack Obama continues to wage his "campaign about campaigning", focusing on excuses for avoiding future debates and the notion that only certain votes count.  But some Obama supporters have asked a legitimate question: Isn't "Solutions for America" just another catch-phrase, like "Change we can Believe In"?