What does tptb mean? I do not believe that I have ever seen this acronym.

Thanks.

Thanks for skimming.

And yes, it is too much reading for many readers. O'Malley needs to find a way to fit his entire economic plan on the palm of his hand, a la Sarah Palin. Where, in a campaign dominated by endless 30 second attack ads, will there be room for nuanced debate?

I do not know if you saw the Frank Luntz post where a likely GOP voter was quoted as saying that she believed Trump because the saying on his hat matched his speech. Very sad, but unfortunately typical of many voters.

Thank you for the acronym update.

THANK GOODNESS! It's pretty damn clear 'likely GOP voters' are fools, but silly me/us expect better from DEMS!!!

TOO DAMN bad that a well-prepared candidate with great plans can't break through, but this was and is repug's plan: DUMB them down, VOILA! And it's gotten to DU!!!

Thanks for your time, guill.

TOO BAD DUers are ducking instead of informing themselves! I spend NO TIME reading the shrapnel-evoking stuff; LOTS more important things to do.

Husband & I are still thinking about moving to Maryland when we can finally get a down payment… it's simply because of how progressive it is.

Hogan is an issue.

I have watched this man since he became governor— and I was living in NY at the time!

Moved to georgia and now am in NoVA, I have watched him and I think he damn good at what he does.

I like him and I like all of you. I try to respond but miss a lot and I don't want it to sound like I am just being nice because I really can't talk about him with much knowledge. He is good and those of you who support him are doing your level best.

I supported Kucinich twice. I remember how that feels, the camera stopping at his shoulder the questions about the stupid things that were said about him personally. I think a lot of us know and feel really good about him but are so engrossed in what we are doing it seems like no one cares he is there. I don't think that is true.

for great debate on DU, except there appears to be little interest in anything beyond brief memes, snark, and bouncing whatever those irritating things are. M O'M gets less attention than the men who are desperately seeking extramarital affairs.

I think the primaries are an interesting time to learn about new candidates, and explore the policies and priorities we would like to see adopted by our eventual nominee. I rather suspect there are many DUers who would join such a conversation except that the vitriol has become too off-putting.

You know you have a great candidate, but that doesn't help much when no one is paying him any attention.

would be a great debate here, and the primaries are a good time, and as seems clear, the DEM ptb don't want discussion and debate, and DUers go along with it.

They are working the grassroots hard.

DU is a great peace to discuss, but this is not where the game is happening. I love DU but DU is not where the game is right now.

However, DU world has little or nothing to do with the real world.

We have to take the debate into the real world.