good evening everyone. hope you had a great weekend.. We are focusing on politics tonite of course.. but we will also take you live to Burma, where the death toll from the cyclone is now believed to be more than 15,000. Truly horrific.

Hey Anderson,

Weekends are good. Too short though.

It’s getting really ugly out there in the democratic race. How is the party going to unite after this primary?

Anderson, you are a fab reporter.

Please discuss the conflict of interest that the Bill Clinton Foundation will create if illary is elected. WSJ and other papers have written editorials about it. Hillary has said she will not be influenced by donors. I find the TV news has not discussed this issue.
Thanks
Dr. Masood
Central Valley, NY

Good evening Anderson and bloggees….

Happy Primary Eve!!!!!! Hope everyone had a lovely weekend

Anderson your picture is back…..hooray

15,000 human beings died. It seems a shame, that we are all arguing over such little things, like a primary election, when such a loss of life has happened. My thoughts are with the people of Burma.

Cinco de Mayo everyone!

If Obama gets the nomination, the democratic party is in big trouble. Obama seems to be forgetting about the swift vote in November. Remember what happen to John Kerry, Walter Mondale, and Michael Dukasis and Obama will join them too. And we will see John McCain if Obama is swift voted out.

This needs to stop. The media is constantly making Hillary out to be a victim she is not. The media continues this nonsense. Hillary needs to step down NOW!

Hi Anderson, Erica and bloggers.
Thanks for calling it Burma instead of Myanmar.

Hello Anderson, Bloggers, and Erica…..
I have great weekend, Thanks……. I agree with Kathy too. I couldn’t wait until tomorrow night.

Anderson, while I understand that this political race is important, I feel there are more pressing issues going on. What about the war??? I don’t even remember the last time you talked about Iraq or Afganistan on the program. And what about NOLA??? It’s been a while since you’ve really mentioned that as well.

Oh by the way Good Evening Anderson

Hi, Anderson! I’m really looking forward to the show tonight. I’m curious about this whole gas tax holiday issue, however. How do the people voting for Clinton expect that she will even get this holiday pushed through Congress??? Obama has it right - this is totally a gimmick just to make people think Clinton is on their side.

Reggie : come again??? the media is constantly making her out to be quite villainous. they never said on nice thing until it SNL started to make fun of the unfair media coverage.

It boggles my mind that people thing Obama is elitist……I just don’t get it.

Hilliary should be the next president. Think about it… no one ever gets all the promises - but one thing she will get done is the health program. And if the US is ready for a woman in the white house then she would do right by us.

good evening anderson and blogger.

my heart go out too the burma peoples just hope that aids they need get they fast. with no trouble from the army .

jojo

sydney

Mr. Obama is very arrogant when he says we need to break our addiction to oil as if the American people have a choice. It’s the failed policies of Congress and the President and their failure to act to protect the people that have us desparately looking for someone who can lead us out of this quagmire. While Obama smirks at the $30 savings, he fails to calculate the savings to truckers which leads to savings in food prices and other critical needs. Yes, it’s short term to suspend the gas tax, but it’s at least symbolic and points to the need for balancing who bears the burdens our country carries today due to the long-term failure of our government to show up for us. Shame on all three of them for allowing us to land in this position.

Hi Anderson like your show however all of the others in my house feel that you always start with Mr Obama before any of the primaries Why is that? Hey I cant help it I live in a house of all females

I am supporting Obama but I think he will have to strongly consider putting Hillary on the ticket.

@David: If Obama gets the nomination the Republicans will not be as “gentle” as Clinton has been. He will be forced to face the difficult questions and be forced to come up with some real answers.

I feel that Senator Obama will win NC by a larger spread than the polls are indicating and I hope this holds true in Indiana to the extent that he wins by a narrow margin. This should be enough to put the final nails in the coffin of Senator Clintons campaign.

Vote or die? That is very punk rock

If big oil pays the taxes on gas this summer, you win. They will keep transportation construction and jobs at full strength. Big oil will lower prices because that will lower their tax burden. Lower prices for truckers = lower prices on goods. Obama says it’s just a $30 savings, but, he’s not adding $ saved on goods thanx to lower transportation prices.

It’s a better plan than McCains and Obama doesn’t offer anything.

I want hillary to win both if anything because of the fascinating nature of this race. IF she were to win both, everything would change. I think a lot of voters are aware of the fact that it would be a major comeback for her, and that seems to always work in her favor.

I believe that Bill Clinton actually increased the gas tax by 5 cent — it’s nice of them to give ppl a 6 month break

Anderson,
I agree with you…… Burma is very poor people, that is really horrible places to live there, durning cylone storm….. My hearts go to Burma people around 10,000 people died diffcult times.

its time for democrats to come to gather . Go Mr. Obama, Help use restore America as a leader of democracy.

Today was a very good day, I got to hear bill clinton speak on behalf of hilliary and shake his hand. I thought it was great that he came to our town that would never other wise be noticed. My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Burma. I agree it is truly horrific.

Just how is Hillary going to keep the promise of the gas tax holiday by Memorial Day?

Hillary says everyone will have healthcare, ‘no one will be without’. How will it be funded? Will the federal gov’t fund it, or will the states be forced to fund it?

Hillary is absolutely relentless. In a way I kind of like that. Everytime I start to like her again, her campaign does something idiotic though.

Anderson,
how can you in good conscience lead off the broadcast tonight with the Obama/Clinton usual campaign stories when we are just learning that more than 15000 people may have died in the cyclone in Burma? Your show is one of the best news shows out there, but just because Burma is far away doesn’t take away from its catastrophic proportions. Coverage is essential especially when International aid organizations are going to need every penny of public support they can get to help out the victims.

What is this about a gas tax break, per Hillary. She isn’t the president and she has no authority to do anything bout this now. She is so deceptive and trys to make people see things as she wish they would see them. Unless Congress or (UGH)Bush decides to do something quick, I don’t think there will be anything different for this summer. Why are we wasting time on this now?

Denise-what part of NC are you from? I was at the Hillary thing in Greenville today.

Hillary will continue fight because people want her to stay in a race.
Hillary will win! She has real solutions to restore economy, bring jobs, fix or cancel NAFTA, and secure our country. I trust Hillary at 3 AM to make that vital decision whatever it is.
And please stop derogatory comments.

Good Evening All!

I am frankly tired of hearing the candidates talk about the economy. Neither are experts. Lets hear from their campaign experts about the economy. the ones, if elected, will be in charge of setting policy. Interview those people. They are who I want to hear from.

Jo Ann I agree with you you the republican machine will tear Obama to shreds and Hillaary will tell the Democratic Party I told you so… Hillary is the best to go up againat the republican machine and John McCain.. Of course I am a Hillary supporter..

I don’t understand how Hilary can be promising a gas tax break THIS summer. Does she even have the ability to deliver on that promise. Today is May 5th…

@Chuck in Alabama: Obama is calling the gas tax holiday a gimmick, but maybe it is a gimmick to oppose it. If it would get as far as Bush and he vetoes it the Republicans will have to take responsibility. Maybe that was Clinton’s plan all along.

This gas tax holiday is pandering if you are an Obama or a Clinton supporter..It wil not pass Congress and will never be approved of by Bush..plus, as Obama admits, they tried it in Illinois and it didn’t work.

After watching the first segment. It seems to me that Hillary has tweeked her image to be more like Oboma because that has been what was working and her so called experience wasn’t. Especially afet getting caught in her lie about being under sniper fire.

Micheal I from elizabeth city.

I think it will be a real toss up tomorrow. We won’t know until the polls close.

i think one of the difficult things people forget, is that Obama only has to win 40% of the superdelegates and pledged delegates from here on out….thats a VERY large uphill battle for Hillary

Joe Klein, bless you! We Hillary fans have known that Hillary is a “hot candidate” and it is about time the media realizes it too.

Hillary has been confident these last weeks. Obama just seems flat to me.

Gas tax holiday won’t work. The oil companies will just rasie the price again anyway.

David,
I agree with you too. I’m support Hillary Clinton too.:) Thanks.

Joe, you are “hot” too tonight. Thank you for all that enthusiasm about Hillary.

Chuck in Alabama. You’re right, no one is considering what the impact will be of no gas tax on truckers who burn much more than the average driver.

I’m hoping tomorrow is a real “game changer”. It seems like the exact same thing was said about the Pennsylvania primary.

You are wrong Roland Martin. The gas tax holiday worked in IN when it was imposed.

John King…….what’s happening at the magic wall tonight?????

If enough people demand a gas-tax holiday, Congress will have little room to deny them. I think it’s a good idea-Of course, I am a middle-class person who thinks $30 extra for groceries is a good thing. How many people have gone a few miles out of the way to save a nickel per gallon? I know I have, especially now. She has a plan to fund it and it’s better than nothing, even if only a gesture.

Hillary all the way!

Maybe it’s only $30 on average, but what about truck drivers? What about folks with 27 gallon tanks?

I don’t really care about a tax break on gas, I want to know how to stop oil prices from spiking. It hit an all time high today-$120 a barrel!

Anderson, will you be going to Burma?

I’m anxious to hear about Burma. This is the first news about it that I’ve been able to catch today.

I hear that many GOP types are voting for Obama because they know he cannot win in Nov. It is interesting that no one is checking to see who is voting for who…..good thing the super delegates are waiting.

Have we just written off FL and MI voters? There has been virtually no news on how they will settle that one. If it turns out that Obama and Clinton are close enoughat the end for those states to make a difference, watch out.

If the oil comapanies are paying the taxes, they’ll lower the price to save themselves money. Less tax for us and lower price, both a good thing for us.

John King is the Magic Man

I think women have always voted for what’s important to them and the country. To label us as anything else, is not giving women credit for being informed and caring about this country.

Joe K.
I agree with Bili…… you’re right! Hillary Clinton is best candidate president!

@David: I am an Independent and I don’t know who I would choose if it is betwen Clinton and McCain, but I would never vote for Obama. There are too many questions there and no accomplishments. He hasn’t even been able to work across the aisle, yet he calls himself a unifier.

Oops!!! You know it is late at night. I mean North Carolina!

Gotta love that map!

Go John King at least he shows how it is in terms of race and demographics in each of states with his magic map

I say vote John King for president :)

John King is right about the rural western half of NC. He knows his stuff, and his magic board is sweet.

Good evening all! Running a little late today…I’ve been viewing the program in the background. I don’t like when Obama is referred to as an elitist…Go Obama!

I have learned more about the US thanks to John King and that magic wall

Mike, I’ve heard just the opposite, that McCain supporters are voting for Hillary in the primary because they think they can beat her.

Anderson,
Will you go to Burma for coverage this week?? I hope……. I agree with Karen…….
I love John King use a magic wall of Indiana.

Many female voters want Anderson Cooper.

@Mike: That is a good point. I would be interested in knowing that information as well. You would think that would be something all the campaigns would want to know.

The Democratic Party keeps nominating ultra liberals, and keeps on loosing becuse of it. Obama would be the most liberal candidate since McGovern. If I’m not mistaken, he lost in 49 states.

Chuck in Alabama
Do you really think the oil companies will lower their prices to save tax?

How terrible! My heart goes out to the families in Burma. God bless them…

Chuck in Alabma: I think they would be more likely to raise the prices to cover their new expence…

This is the first time I actually feel my vote in a primary counts for something.

I thought Barack did a great job on all the TV interviews today

I don’t believe that journalist are allowed in to Burma. I think the one CNN has there now is not being named for safety reasons.

What do they want Anderson Cooper for?

Nighty-nite, all!
Happy Election Tuesday!

EJ,
I agree with you too. I vote Anderson Cooper!!!!!!

I love listening to John King too! He’s very good!

of course the oil companies SHOULD pay but there is no way that is going to happen and Hillary Clinton has no authority right now to make that kind of promise

Kathy, They’ll do it to “show us” that they are working “for us” but , the reality will be that they are saving themselves $$$.

The oil companies aren’t going to give up a single cent, they are voraciously greedy and don’t care a thing about the little people.

Seems pretty clear to me that Barack appeals to specific groups of voters and Hillary appeasls to others. Barack supporters have had no trouble bragging about his appeal beyond his initial base. Why can’t they credit Hillary when her appeal broadens too?

Hey, I like Tanya Acker! Hope to see her again as a guest.

$10 Billion. Hey that’s about 50 bridges to nowhere.

@ Claire - Dan Rivers has been reporting from Burma. He has been doing an amazing job and I think he is stationed in that part of the world

Henry, I agree with you. We Indianans can make a difference this year.

Somehow, bowling and drinking are not qualifications I seek in a president.
As for the gas tax, well, even a bandaid is thoughtful at this point.

Barack Obama is the right choice for the future of America.

I’m tired of politicians trying to lead us into the past. With all due respect, this is no longer the 90’s. We have to move forward.

Hes a leader let him lead.

Megan, Hillary has said time and again that this will not happen withoug voters contacting congress and letting congress know we want it to happen.

Speaking as a lifetime Republican that switched to the Democratic party this year, I hope we can turn NC blue for the general election!

Chanda May 5th, 2008 10:16 pm ET
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
i was wondering what are the polls saying, how many are undecided in nc and in

Ed Rollins is forgetting something pretty important. No matter what a “maverick” candidate Republicans offer, people are still not really happy to have a Republican in the White House again.

Megan, Hillary has said time and agin that this will not happen without voters contacting congress and letting congress know we want it to happen. She’s never said SHE was going to make this happen.

All those arguements are Obama spin. By the way, Obama voted 3 times for a gas tax holiday in Illinois.

I haven’t heard anyone speak favorably about this Gas Tax. I would love to hear a panel of economists debate this concept. It’s getting confusing now. I know every little penny helps but realistically will it? Afterall, everyone is griping about the stimulus checks not really doing much either.

The country has changed, and is changing. Barack Obama is the enbodiment of this change. It will be great if he can win, against all odds mind you…

How can these storms kill so many? Were they completely blindsided? I mean, 15000 is a HUGE number. It’s really sad.

Enough politics. PLEASE highlight what is going on with those poor people who have lost everything in the cyclone! That should not have taken a back seat tonight.

Megan in Toronto, are gas prices as bad north of the border?

Oil companies are making RECORD BREAKING PROFITS, we are paying RECORD BREAKING PRICES for gasoline !!

Oil/gas prices have been on the steady rise since the Iraq war began.

Thanks Bush!!

and that’s what I am seeing about Obama now…

I have to agree with Ed on that last round. If the nominee is Obama, I don’t see him taking very many red states.

I am looking into going to burma. as many of you know, it is the first country i ever reported from, and i have been following the situation there very closely for many years. logistically i may not be able to go, but i hope very much i can.

This whole election spins me right round baby, right round, like a record, baby, right round

Hillary Clinton is going to win big tomorrow. Indiana do the right thing! Vote for the only candidate with solutions!!!!

Barak should just run as an independent. I think he could beat them both and we need a third party anyway.

Megan O,
You’re right about that……. Dan Rivers already in Burma, he is best reporter tonight…….

correction: Obama DID vote for gas tax holiday for IL. Wait— he’s AGAINST it now?! Oh brother !

Gas in Toronto last time I checked was $1.20 Canadian

Michael. A large percentage of Myanmar is less than 10 feet above sea level. When these storms hit, the surge goes miles and miles inland. Thousands of poor farm families die because this area is also the rice growing agricultural area.

So if women voters want specifics and solutions, what do men want? Inquiring minds want to know both sides here…equal opportunity and all.

It seems like the generational gap remains huge — even among genders

Fay remember their are a lot of regular employees that count on jobs to raise there famiilies that work at these oil refineries

As of today Gas Prices - National $3.613 per gallon
East Coast $3.610 per gallon
Diesel Prices - National $4.149 per gallon
East Coast $4.194 per gallon

I hope you get to go Anderson.

@Angel Manners: lol that was great, except you are reminding me of how old i am.

Anderson, It seems that you would be able to provide excellent insight into the politics surrounding the Burma situation…

I wish we could see the Channel One video you sent in on Burma anderson, I loved your book and would really enjoy seeing some of that old work of yours.

Ok, I accept ….. Anderson, I understand………

xtina, He’s admitted voting for a gas tax holiday and after it failed miserably he now thinks it’s a bad idea. Seems like the right way to learn from your mistakes.

Anderson, I hope you get to go to Burma. Good luck.

I guess I’ll have to go to Canada both for prescription drugs and gas.

Count MI & FL!

This was the wrong election to have problems with the Michigan and Florida vote

Megan, that’s per liter right? Should be about $4.80/Gal

All these pundits, and yet, the superdelegates aren’t all swarming to the Obama camp. There’s something out there that’s having an effect on their decision…

@Megan, thats 1.20 a litre (to compare we pay about $5.00 a gallon)

Christy, the next spot available for John king would be Speaker of the House. lol! Anyway, John King said in a previous live blog that he wanted to be the “Amabassador of a warm country”- Bahamas maybe? hehe!

You Spin me Round was not that long ago. It was the ’80s. Oh wait, that WAS a long time ago

$1.20 Canadian

that’s per Litre right… and about four litres make a gallon, right???

Yeah Xtina,

He did vote for a gas tax holiday in Ill and saw that it didn’t produce any real savings. As a matter of fact, it take money away from the state budget and job creating areas.

Anderson’s reporting from the field is always some of his best work. I hope he’s able to get to Burma and give us another look at what’s happening.

Anderson,
I am praying for you and going to Burma for coverage and your safety…..:) Good luck!

Anderson — what were you going to ask? Can you post it here?

Right on, Roland! What are the Superdelegates waiting for?

Did Roland just say the superdelegates shouldn’t wait for the voters to speak, they should just decide it now? So much for Democracy.

Gas tax????? Same old story.Clinton has a short term plan which will allow for a long term plan.

Obama critizes Clinton’s plan because Obama has no plan????

Go figure!

Hillary won’t win NC.

1 US gallon = 3.78541178 litres

@ Miles - we do litres in Canada…..I just checked and across Toronto right at this moment it ranges from $1.17 to $1.23

See what I mean about America & ignorance…the country’s name is Myanmar….lol….no longer Burma people!

After tommorrow , the bulk of delegates have been picked up for this primary , I think the super delegates should come out, the sooner the better

Those countries in that area are so low to sea level that any storm surge kills thousands if not millions.

Trisha: I refuse to call it Myanmar because it is a name that was forced on the people by the ruling junta.
I don’t say Bombay for similar reasons, either.

Miles,
I think so…. that is possible……….. $4.80 lite per gallon.

Steve, Maybe next time the Democratic Party should just forget about primaries and just do it all with superdelegates. Much cleaner. None of those messy voters interfering.

-Trisha
The U.S. doesn’t support the name Myanmar due to the political turmoil and continues to officially call the country Burma.
It’s not ignorance, it’s politics and policy.

@Tracey, Boston….Yes, that’s right and we pay more in Provincial tax and gst tax and road tax…so we could really use a GAS TAX holiday
too. But at least our dollar is basically at par so we shop in USA
sometimes too. We are near MI border.

Anderson, I hope you get the chance to go to Burma. It is such a tragedy that the junta did not warn the people in time. They could have prevented so many deaths.

it’s not often the federal gov’t offers us tax money back - why don’t we just take it

The amazing power of nature. Unbelievable, 15000 gone…just gone

Isn’t Myanmar a military state??? Where Burma was not…

Think if Myanmar as cuba after Castro

It was changed to Myanmar by the current military junta. People still call it Burma since they don’t recognize the current leadership as valid. Still calling it Burma shows insight not ignorance.

15,000 lives lost is just too isande to fathom.

We got less then 2 minutes about Burma…….what is up with that. Not cool 360

15,000 dead–just unbelievable, such a tragedy.

Mynamar was a name placed on that country by a oppresive regime …, Ill stick with Burma

Hillary will win both tomorrow! My prediction!

Seems odd that prices are higher out west when all that oil is coming out of Alaska.

Good night all!

Great advice, Anderson. We’re going to check out the information on where to contribute to the Burma relief agencies….

Well, its been real, its been good. Its been real good guys. Hope everyone has a safe day tomorrow, have a good night.

Good night Anderson and all! I look forward to tomorrow’s election coverage.

Oh no, naked college kids. I will cover my eyes! Looking forward to the primaries tomorrow. Hope Anderson gets his wish and can report in Burma. Nite all.

Really good program as usual. Have a good night, Anderson, Erica, and all! And, I wish you, Anderson, would be able to go to Burma…

Thank you Anderson for the opportunity to blog with you tonight - this is my first time!
It was fun!!
Hopefully we’ll be seeing you from Burma.

Safe journeys.

Yikes,AC. I hope it’s not one of my kid’s colleges! Great show tonight and can’t wait until tomorrow. I hope it is a nail biter! Night all!

half naked ambition? lol

Goodnight Anderson, Randi!

Good night all…Tomorrow will be the deal breaker or the drama will be going into overtime…We’ll see. Happy election eve.

Night All. Thanks for the adult debate and conversation.

Always so sad when Mother Nature is so cruel as in Bruma now. Makes one realize just how fragile life and home are.

If you do the conversion from metric to US gallons and convert the dollar from Canadian to US, gas in Canadian is approximately $4.75 US dollars per US gallon!