TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT

... until the Kentucky/West Virginia primaries become The Night.

I won't even pretend to have any intelligent idea of what the vote will be. I know what I want, what I pray for -- that's for Hillary to win both Indiana and North Carolina, unlikely as that may seem.

Let's watch it unfold.

Okay, first thought on the coverage. Chris Matthews is trying desperately to paint Hillary as an "Ivy League" elitist. Clinton advisor Lisa Caputo is shutting him down charmingly. Keith Olbermann (with Chris laughing in the background) is openly mocking (along with Obama supporter Tom Daschle) what he repeatedly refers to as Hillary "changing the math." It's oh so silly how she keeps insisting that the Florida and Michigan votes count. She's just delusional, and Tom Brokaw has heard from Clinton people that Hillary and Bill intend to take this all the way to the convention, no matter what. Well, that settles it. The Clintons are out to destroy the Democratic Party. I can't stand it any more.

To CNN. Ridiculous setup. Lou Dobbs is moderating a panel consisting of two Obama partisans and two Republicans. Fair and balanced, yep.

LIES AND THE LYING LIARS

" Hillary's top NC surrogate bashes gays in front of her this morning, she does nothing."

This is a reference to remarks made by North Carolina governor Easley, who just yesterday endorsed Hillary's candidacy for president. What, you ask, did he SAY?

After touring a bio-manufacturing training center, Gov. Easley, First Lady of North Carolina Mary Easley and Clinton held a ceremony at NC State University. The Governor formally expressed his support saying that there was "nothing I love more than a strong powerful woman." Easley concluded his remarks saying Clinton -- "makes Rocky Balboa look like a pansy".

This is getting to be more ridiculous by the minute. I use the words pansy, weenie, wuss all the time to describe a weakling, male or female, and it never even occurred to me that anyone would read an anti-gay message into it. Aravosis really needs to consider which is worse, a former Edwards supporter implying that Hillary is more of a fighter than Rocky and in the course of it using the word "pansy," which few use as slang for "gay" but many use to describe weakness; or a conscious decision by Obama himself, the actual candidate, to give an unabashedly gay-bashing gospel singer cum preacher like Donnie McClurkin a platform to air his hateful opinions by inviting him to open an Obama rally.

And "top surrogate"? Since when did Easley join Hillary's campaign staff?

It's not even close unless you're determined to lie about Hillary in every way possible in order to discredit her and crown Obama. The blogger boyz have proven to be willing to do just that.

UPDATE: Oh, for heaven's sake. The usually semi-reasonable Atrios joins in.

NORTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR TO ENDORSE HILLARY

This is good news for Hillary's chances in North Carolina.

A former state attorney general, Easley has focused largely on education programs during his eight-year tenure. He's called on both of the presidential candidates to talk more about he issue.

"Gov. Easley understands that education and a good economy are intertwined, and he understands that more than anyone else in the country," Hendrickson said.

Two week ago, Easley wrote a note to Obama imploring the Illinois senator to take part in a debate that would have taken place Sunday in Raleigh. Obama declined, saying he wasn't sure it would fit with his schedule, and the state Democratic Party later abandoned the debate plans.

Easley is a moderate Democrat, a popular two-term governor. The only thing better, in North Carolina, would be an endorsement from John Edwards.

What with this endorsement and the fallout from the Wright media blitz, not to mention his own missteps in the Chris Wallace interview yesterday, Obama may want to reconsider his debate boycott.