Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:
Switching Sides
Some top Democrats — including people inside the Hillary Clinton campaign — say many super delegates will not hesitate to ditch Clinton for Barack Obama if her political problems persist.
Associated Press political reporter Ron Fournier writes that many Democrats still hold grudges over past actions from the Clintons including labor leaders and social activists angry over Bill Clinton's support of the North American Free Trade Agreement and welfare reform... senators upset that they had to defend the president in the Monica Lewinsky scandal ... friends of Al Gore who say the Clinton scandals cost him the 2000 election ... and so on.
Democratic strategist Jim Duffy says — "If Obama continues to win... we'll see people running from her campaign like rats on a ship."
About Face
The Berkeley City Council ended a marathon session early this morning by voting against sending a letter to Marine Corps recruiters — calling them "uninvited and unwelcome intruders." The action reverses a decision two weeks ago that sparked a fierce backlash and threats of funding cuts from both the federal and state governments.
The council's new statement says it opposes what it calls "the recruitment of our young people into this war" — but respects and supports the Armed Forces — and recognizes the recruiters' right to be in Berkeley.
Council members refused to apologize — or rescind their earlier call for people to avoid cooperating with the Marine recruiters.
One council member says that is a mistake — "To err is human but to really screw up it takes the Berkeley City Council. We failed our city. We embarrassed our city."
Crossed Up
The controversial president of The College of William & Mary — Gene Nichol — has resigned after being told his contract would not be renewed. Nichol ordered the removal of the cross from the school's historic Wren Chapel last year — a move that sparked protests. One donor even rescinded $12 million in pledges. Nichol also refused to ban an on-campus performance last week by porn actors, strippers, and other sex workers.
Nichol complained in his resignation e-mail that he had been targeted by an untruthful and vicious campaign on the Internet and in the media.
Silver Lining
British scientists say that global warming could end up saving thousands of lives over the next few years. A government study reported that while a massive heat wave could cause 6,000 deaths, that number pales in comparison to the number of deaths each year due to cold weather — about 20,000.
The recent warmer conditions have already resulted in a three percent decline in cold weather mortality in Great Britain.
— FOX News Channel's Martin Hill contributed to this report.
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