It's just like an old western with a train gaining speed as it heads down a narrow stretch of track. And, just as the train reaches the point where it can't possibly stop in time, we're told the bridge ahead is out.

This is where the democratic primary is heading. Thanks to Paul Kane at the Washington Post, we have some numbers for the context of this argument.

"There are 3,253 pledged delegates, those doled out based on actual voting in primaries and caucuses. And you need 2,025 to win the nomination. To date, about 55% of those 3,253 delegates have been pledged in the voting process -- with Clinton and Obama roughly splitting them at about 900 delegates a piece. That means there are now only about 1,400 delegates left up for grabs in the remaining states and territories voting.

So, do the math. If they both have about 900 pledged delegates so far, they need to win more than 1,100 of the remaining 1,400 delegates to win the nomination through actual voting. Ain't gonna happen, barring a stunning scandal or some new crazy revelation. So, they'll keep fighting this thing out, each accumulating their chunk of delegates, one of them holding a slight edge and both finishing the voting process with 1,600 or so delegates. "

The democratic party created this nightmare as a way of avoiding this nightmare. So far so good huh? Not really.

Once again, our political system has found a way to remove the power of the every day voter in determining who are elected officials are, just as the electoral college does in the general election. Super delegates! What an atrocity. Last I checked I am as much a citizen of the US as any "high ranking" democrat. Why should my vote count as one and Bill Clinton's (or any other super delegate, he's just one that comes to mind) be representative of tens of thousands of people?

The mixed outcome, is that the new system is failing so hopefully it will be changed or nixed. In the meantime, however, the most important election in my lifetime may very well be lost due to this bumbling.

This is my first blog on the Courage Campaign and I believe exemplifies my general balance between progressive ideals and centrist realities.

Here's why I support the propositions.

1. No one measure (a source of revenue or budget cut) is going to deplete the ENTIRE 14+ Billion dollar deficit for this state. But every measure that helps needs to be considered.

2.We are not adding new casinos, allowing different kinds of gaming, etc. We are simply voting to add an additional 17,000 slot machines. Why should people go to Vegas or Reno when they ca stay here in CA.

3. Granted the employment laws are lacking, HOWEVER, these casinos are employing hundreds, if not thousands of lower income, working class California citizens and improving the lives of people living not only on the reservations but also in surrounding poor communities

4. The San Diego wildfires. Those helicopters used to fight those fires were donated by the local tribes we are voting on. $1 Million in firefighting equipment including multiple helicopters and cash were given freely with no strings attached to San Diego to support firefighting efforts.

I understand our progressive inkling to have issues with things like greed, wealth accumulation, lack of clear labor standards. But, do we want some money put into the state budget or would we prefer care for seniors, care for uninsured children, HIV/AIDS services and public parks all cut?

I'll take the gamble on the lacking labor laws that still employ California residents who othewise wouldn't have work and smaller cuts in spending on vital programs.