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Rule Are Rules, Except When They Are Not

By Big Tent Democrat

What a fine mess Donna Brazile and Howard Dean have created. BTW, she should be removed from commenting on CNN about this primary campaign given the fact she is part of the story, and an ugly part.

Jerome Armstrong has the details:

Speaking as someone who sent Howard Dean to the DNC to decentralize the power of that committee to the states, it was a terrible leadership for him to have allowed the Rules & Bylaws Committee to tangle the presidential nominating selection process by selectively attempting to strip two states of their delegates, while continuing to ignore the fact that Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina broke those same rules.

What's that? Yes, read the rules. . . . Yes, you read that right; under Rule 20.C.1.a., Florida, Iowa, Michigan, New Hampshire, and South Carolina would have all lost their super delegates and had their pledged delegates reduced by half since they all violated Rule 11.A.

However, Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina weren't punished fairly. In fact, they weren't punished at all. And what about Florida & Michigan? Well, we all know what happened to them.

MORE . . .

NOTE - Comments are now closed

Instead of strictly adhering to Rule 20.C.1.a. and reducing their pledged delegates by 50%, the DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee decided to take it a step further. The DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee exercised the authority granted to them by Rules 20.C.5. and 20.C.6. which allowed them to "impose sanctions the Committee deems appropriate."

And what were those sanctions the Committee deemed appropriate? Stripping two of the largest states in the union of their votes at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

That sort of ruling, my friends, is why it'd be worth whatever it takes to get Donna Brazile to remove herself from being in a position of authority within the Democratic Party.

Now, as I understand it, the DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee has not taken up the move by IA, SC, and NH in the their meetings; that the way it played out was, those states waited until after the DNC meetings on the matter, where they ruled against FL & MI, to make their move. The best case you could make, in their defense, is that it is still pending. But it seems pretty obvious, from looking at the reporting at the time, that their moves were just as self-interested and non-conforming. . .

Howard Dean and Donna Brazile have done great damage to the Party with their shenanigans. Their "rules are are rules, except when they are not" approach will damage the Dem Party in the General Election, whoever is the nominee. Can this be fixed? I do not know. But let's discuss this issue fairly.

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  • Display: Sort:
    My new rule: Threats to leave the party (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by Cream City on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 10:51:09 AM EST
    made by party leaders at this point mean swinging that door wide open and booting 'em out so fast they won't know what him.  

    Others may need an example, and I can't think of someone I'd more want to see less of than Brazille.  Never could stand her on tv, even before her petty threat.  Party leaders are supposed to unite the followers, not divide them with such bitter b.s.

    Going (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by tek on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 10:51:10 AM EST
    to keep saying, the Democratic leadership crafted this election to take it away from Hillary and give it to their Chosen One, Obama.

    I cannot feel good about the DNC after this blatant manipulation of the election process.

    Starting to agree with your theory. (none / 0) (#12)
    by oculus on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 10:52:45 AM EST
    actually (none / 0) (#26)
    by Jgarza on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 10:58:45 AM EST
    the opposite is true and it back fired.  

    Parent
    Riiight (none / 0) (#31)
    by BDB on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:01:35 AM EST
    Because Donna Brazile and Howard Dean are such big Clinton supporters.  

    Parent
    Me Neither (none / 0) (#30)
    by BDB on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:01:06 AM EST
    DNC Contact Info:

    Mailing Address:
    Democratic National Committee
    430 S. Capitol St. SE
    Washington, DC 20003

    Main Phone Number:
    202-863-8000
    (For questions about contributions, please call 877-336-7200)

    And I'm also complaining about caucuses, pledged delegate allocation that is crap, and Donna Brazile.  

    Parent

    So (none / 0) (#81)
    by flyerhawk on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:50:53 AM EST
    Not only are the Republicans out to get Hillary, not only is the media out to get Hillary, now the Democrats are out to get Hillary?

    Who exactly is left?

    Why does everyone hate Hillary so much?

    Parent

    Flyerhawk (none / 0) (#120)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:32:00 PM EST
    You are on dangerous ground.

    Cool your jets.

    Parent

    He is right though (none / 0) (#211)
    by SandyK on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 02:30:40 PM EST
    Discipline in the ranks is dismal. All running around after tasty morsels, and not keeping the eye on the prize.

    Attacking Donna isn't worth the effort, it takes the resources that is needed to PROMOTE Hillary. Not attack the party, it's delegates and everything else with it. That's how elections are foiled, as the chickens are running all over pecking, forgetting that the feed is exactly where it has always been.

    Sooner or later Hillary has to differentiate between herself and Obama. Not play nice and try to sap his votes -- their his votes not on policies and all, they're there as if he's a rock star on tour (and they won't be around in November anyway).

    Parent

    If You Want More Evidence of What a Giant Mess (5.00 / 2) (#24)
    by BDB on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 10:58:16 AM EST
    Check out this chart on democratic participation in the caucuses.  Obama dominates the ones with low turnout.  Clinton won and was close in the two with decent turnout.

    How is this a representative system?  

    Again, I cannot blame the states who want to move their primaries forward to put pressure on the DNC to quit sucking up to Iowa and NH.  And, how convenient that that big-mo win for Obama in SC wasn't stripped of delegates before the victory like Clinton's Florida and Michigan strongholds.  Gee, a paranoid person might think there's some sort of conspiracy at work at the upper reaches of the DNC.

    And I had no idea Donna Brazile was in a decision-making position at the DNC and is commenting publicly on what should happen and threatening to quit the party if certain things aren't done certain ways?  That's an outrage.


    She was close? (none / 0) (#33)
    by Jgarza on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:03:41 AM EST
    in which ones?  loosing by 9 points in Iowa is close? how about Maine 19 points, they even have absentee ballots? or Washington state 37 point lead. All had huge turnout and she lost be significant margins.

    Parent
    I Thought I Was Clear (5.00 / 3) (#40)
    by BDB on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:16:19 AM EST
    The more democrats who turn out at caucuses, the closer they are.  The two where the highest percentage of Dems turned out was Iowa, where the great Obama certainly won, I'm not denying that, and Nevada.  The turnout in those other caucus states is embarrassingly low in terms of total democratic voters.

    Put another way, I'm still angry that Washington Democrats will get 1 pledged delegate for every 2,500 caucus participants and California will get one for every 10,800 voters.  The reason?  Caucuses suppress the number of democrats who compete in them.

    The caucus system is a travesty and makes the pledged delegate allocation, which was already a travesty (see Iowa, see Nevada) even worse.

    This is no way to pick a nominee.

    Parent

    It's also (none / 0) (#133)
    by andrewwm on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:41:50 PM EST
    because Clinton decided not to contest the caucus states on 2/5 and afterward. She contested them early on (lots of organizers in IA and NV) and they were close.

    Instead, she spent all her money on...well, no one's sure, but the news reports make it sound like it wasn't well spent.

    Caucuses are designed to give the person with the most money and institutional support an advantage. Everyone thought that would be Clinton (including her), but oops, turns out Obama played a better strategy by getting his team on the ground in the caucus states way before and in much greater numbers than she did.

    Simply, he worked hard for it and she didn't, ergo he won.

    Parent

    Not huge turnout compared to the GE (none / 0) (#35)
    by MarkL on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:07:05 AM EST
    .. that's Eriposte's point.

    Parent
    Turnout (none / 0) (#194)
    by auntmo on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 02:08:55 PM EST
    Yes....many of  the  caucuses  he won have  small turnouts.  

    When I read  Eriposte's  explanation,  and  realized  that   Alaska  caucus  only  had  9,000 voters  present,   North Dakota  only  18,000 (Obama's wins, among others),  but  the  Nevada  caucus  pulled   120,000  (Clinton win),   it   finally  hit home  how  Obama's  small caucus  wins  can not  match  Clinton's  huge  base  state  wins  or  her  large  caucus  wins.  

    It  DOES  speak to   the  basic   unfairness  of    the  caucus  system....and why  BTD is  correct  that  SD's  will look at  bigger issues  like   popular  vote    and  large  state  primary  wins  with a million  and  a half  Democrats  voting.  

    Parent

    I have to admit (5.00 / 1) (#76)
    by Lena on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:47:41 AM EST
    that I just unsubscribed from the DNC's mailing list. They're flaming idiots. Not to mention incompetent.

    If a lifelong Democrat like me does that, I'd say they have a problem on their hands. In the space where they ask why I'm unsubscribing, I put "I'm a resident of Florida."

    Floridians (none / 0) (#198)
    by auntmo on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 02:11:38 PM EST
    Just  want to let you know, Lena, that  I unsubscribed  to  DNC  list, too;  told  them   Democrats  don't  disenfranchise  ANY voters, on principle,  especially  Floridians.  

    So   there ya  go.   :)

    Parent

    Both came to Florida for (5.00 / 1) (#87)
    by Cream City on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:59:10 AM EST
    private fundraising events, which were allowed.

    That has been agreed here.  So if you have actual evidence that either one held public events before the polls closed, those were not allowed -- but then you provide the evidence.  Otherwise, these are just your thoughts, not facts worth discussing.

    Rules damn rules (5.00 / 2) (#89)
    by Grey on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:59:29 AM EST
    The DNC has made a huge mess not only with regard to MI and FL, but with the superdelegates, too, when you have the likes of Brazile saying she'll leave the party (only the DNC, it turns out) if the SD end up deciding this thing.

    Does Donna Brazile seriously expect anyone to believe that she's having a sudden attack of conscience about the superdelegates?  What, did she just notice that they have played a role in the nomination process since 1980?  Or that it's with their help that Mondale became the nominee of the party?  Please.

    Rules are rules; if she hated them so much, she could have done something about them before they came into play.  And as Jerome correctly points out, the DNC has already ignored one set of rules in order to kiss ass.

    Well done, guys.

    it's just a complete (5.00 / 1) (#90)
    by chicago dyke on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:59:35 AM EST
    disaster from start to finish, and i'm almost glad that it's happening, so more people can understand how profoundly undemocratic this process really is. shadowy, unelected party hacks shouldn't be determining who gets to vote and who doesn't. the whole idea is just offensive to me. i'm with the 'national, month long, rotating order primary' camp. let's end this nonsense in which some people count more than others and just have a straight up vote with all the candidates on the ballot everywhere.

    i was flat out disenfranchised by people in "my" party and no, i'm not going to 'get over it.' whoever it is in the fall is going to have to work very hard to motivate me. why should i play a rigged game? that's for suckers. i don't do it at the card table, why then should i care about this wholly avoidable disaster made by big egos and Village career jockeying?

    The FL hypocrisy (5.00 / 2) (#158)
    by Polkan on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:00:11 PM EST
    To the poster who said that FL democrats not voting in the general (if FL is not seated) are not real democrats:

    I'm a registered Democrat. I live in FL. I voted. And if this party doesn't have the guts to recognize my vote now, then it doesn't deserve my vote in november. I'm staying home, this is not a party I thought I was a member of.

    I think Obama must explain why he would rather spend fall money or disenfrachise 1.5MIO voters over a date squabble in a close election than follow his rhetoric about unity.


    Not sure your staying home is good enough (none / 0) (#217)
    by Salt on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 03:04:12 PM EST
    you did nothing wrong your vote should count period their should be no other option none.

    Parent
    DNC claims they gave "a waiver" (5.00 / 0) (#226)
    by BluestBlue on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 04:47:03 PM EST
    BTD,

    I called Howard Dean at the DNC (202-863-8000) to complain and they said I was wrong no rules were violated by IA,NH,SC. saying "I work with these rules day in and day out... blah blah blah"

    When I argued from your post of Jerome's post, the story changed... then they said they gave them "a waiver" so no rules were broken.

    Basically telling me "you're wrong, and if you prove you're not wrong, we'll just say we waived the rules in that instance".

    I told them fine. Lie to me if you want, but you won't get another penny from me, I'm donating directly to Hillary.

    And I know I'm not the only one sending back their email appeals with comments like don't send me emails until you play fair and speak out against the media bias & misogyny... and if you want to see my vote and money in the future you better act quickly.

    Howard Dean needs to get himself visible and talking about these issues or he is going to lose a whole lot of women, Floridians, Michiganders, and others who feel the DNC does not support them.

    I encourage anyone else feeling left out of the election, seeing bias in the DNC's behavior, or misogyny in the media to let the DNC know. The DNC is supposed to stand up for Democrats. It isn't supporting one candidate over the other, it is a matter of applying the rules fairly within the party and protecting all the Democratic candidates against unfair bias by the media!

    DNC (202-863-8000) Ask for Chairman Howard Dean

    The entire (none / 0) (#1)
    by hvs on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 10:43:28 AM EST
    system needs to be changed to a series of big, regional events or randomized.

    But HRC supporters can't seriously argue for the seating of MI and FL's delegates now. Those were the rules before the start of the primary season. Her "victories" their didn't represent a fair match, obviously.

    Obama was for it before (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by Cream City on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 10:46:25 AM EST
    he was against it -- telling FL he was for seating its delegates . . . until  he lost FL.  Even though he was on the ballot, too -- even with his unfair advantage of advertising, holding a press conference, etc., against the pledge he signed.

    So your singling out of HRC's stance is done . . . why?

    Parent

    link? (none / 0) (#19)
    by Jgarza on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 10:56:27 AM EST
    Surely you jest. (none / 0) (#23)
    by oculus on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 10:58:16 AM EST
    Sky is blue (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by blogtopus on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:24:46 AM EST
    Link?

    Parent
    It is amazing how little the OFB knows about (none / 0) (#93)
    by LatinoVoter on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:00:51 PM EST
    Obama and what he says.

    Obama Vows To 'Do What's Right'

    Parent

    It is the often distorted quote (none / 0) (#78)
    by flyerhawk on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:48:58 AM EST
    by Obama that if he is the presumptive nominee he would fight to seat the delegates.  Some Hillary supporters wish to paint this as he is reneging on a promise because they choose to drop the word presumptive.  

    Parent
    So Obama is not principled (5.00 / 1) (#94)
    by Cream City on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:04:26 PM EST
    That's what your hair-splitting -- and his? -- tells me.  He only fights for principles if they help him win.  Then they're not principles to him; they're tactics.

    Not a surprise, as he is a politician.  But he presents himself as above all that -- and that hubris, that hypocrisy, is why he won't get my vote.

    Parent

    What principles? (none / 0) (#196)
    by SandyK on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 02:10:24 PM EST
    Obama has yet to show he has anything to backup his "change" and "hope". Nice speeches are fine, but if their not backuped with policies, they're e-m-p-t-y promises.

    Hillary needs to get tough now and tell the country that she's ready to roll on January 20th with a solid plan, not the alternative -- give more speeches and be a DO NOTHING.

    Action, not words.

    Parent

    Obama not principled (none / 0) (#204)
    by auntmo on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 02:16:18 PM EST
    And  that   fact  will not be lost on  Florida  voters, Cream.   They  HEARD  him  say  he'd reinstate  ("do  the right thing),  and  are now watching him  renege  on it  because he lost.  

    The  Democratic Party  can't  win the GE  without  Florida.    

    Obama's   own  choices   may  cause  a  Dem defeat  in November.  

    That's  not "unity."

    Parent

    Here; not so hard to find (none / 0) (#213)
    by ahazydelirium on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 02:41:44 PM EST
    Well, so much for a Dem win (5.00 / 3) (#14)
    by blogtopus on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 10:53:34 AM EST
    it's a catch 22: If Obama doesn't win enough delegates to survive seating FL and MI delegates before his confirmation, he is going to tick off a LOT of swing voters in those states. It could effectively end his GE campaign, and even if I don't agree with the man, I don't want that either.

    Obama needs to agree to seating FL and MI or he can kiss those states goodbye. The fact that seating them might mean he loses the nomination is the decision he needs to make. The damage is done, what will/can he do to fix it? Hillary can't do anything about it other than just drop out of the race, and that's going to lead to a lot of voters feeling cheated/bullied as well.

    So the question is: Does Obama have the momentum to win enough delegates so he can ignore FL and MI should they get seated before the final count? Can he win a contested state that isn't his home? We'll see.

    You shouldn't blame Hillary for this mess; she didn't even campaign in FL, and Obama and Edwards chose to take their names off in MI. The only people who can be accused of wrongdoing is the DNC for disenfranchising swaths of voters.

    Parent

    That (none / 0) (#29)
    by tek on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 10:59:46 AM EST
    is exactly right. The DNC has a great deal to answer for:

    Snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory,

    Because they are so worried about maintaining their personal power over the good of the country. I've been telling Dick Durbin that for 4 years, he could care less.

    Parent

    Is a FL or MI Democrat (none / 0) (#32)
    by magster on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:02:49 AM EST
    really going to vote for McCain solely to punish the DNC?  

    Changing course on Iraq, Global Warming, Economy, Torture, etc.

    v.

    Punishing DNC

    Anyone Democrat who votes for option B isn't a Democrat in the non-Lieberman sense of the label.

    Parent

    More likely that they just stay home (5.00 / 1) (#39)
    by Cream City on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:11:31 AM EST
    High turnout is always key for Dems.

    Discouraging voters from even coming to the polls means a GOP win in many of our swing states -- and also can really cut short any coattails for Congressional races.

    I keep hearing the "they won't vote McCain" mantra and wonder if that's coming from solid blue states?  They must not see the world as we do in states like mine -- the blue state closest to turning red in 2004.  And the "Midwestern nice" ethos is very operative here, where non-political-junkie types just stay home when it gets too messy in families and among friends, when it gets too hard to figure out who's right and who's wrong in internecine squabbles like this.  

    We also have a huge work ethic in the Midwest, we're dealing with a hellacious winter cutting into our time in days too short anyway -- so why miss work and/or family time to get more stressed by this?  That is what could hurt Dems the most.

    Parent

    Maybe not but (none / 0) (#36)
    by Florida Resident on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:07:13 AM EST
    they may stay home.

    Parent
    I know my wife felt a bit offended (none / 0) (#37)
    by Florida Resident on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:09:55 AM EST
    every time she heard her vote was worthless.  I really hope she still votes Democrat no matter who wins but I don't know.

    Parent
    In this election (none / 0) (#205)
    by SandyK on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 02:16:47 PM EST
    that either/or tactic won't work. Because even Dems will cross to McInsane if they feel their vote is AGAIN stripped from them.

    This if Florida, folks. Remember 2000 and 2004?

    If the Democrat party can't get their act together, that state will slowly bleed Red. It won't matter if Clinton or Obama is the nominee, they're see red and vote Red, instead.

    A lot of protest and "less of two evil" votes in this election...A LOT!

    Parent

    Hey, Michiganders -- here's an idea (none / 0) (#208)
    by Cream City on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 02:22:17 PM EST
    especially if we have any Yoopers here, without even a Great Lake between you and Wisconsin:

    We have same-day registration again in November, only six months' residency needed -- with proof such as a drivers' license.  So there's time to drive over, ferry over, etc., and establish residency by just getting a drivers' license here.  And then come on back in November, a lovely fall drive then. . . .

    And tell the DNC what you're doing -- and see what happens to its presumption that it can win Michigan without you.  It still probably will, but --  Wisconsin was the closest state in 2004, so we can use your help in staying blue.

    Parent

    Times Online (none / 0) (#43)
    by tek on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:24:24 AM EST
    Has anyone seen the article in TimesOnline that states the entire Democratic "Establishment" is going to come out in support of Obama if Clinton continues her campaign and gets anymore wins? Nancy Pelosi is going to start the stampede, saying that the party will not turn its back on such a new exciting candidate (BO) who is bringing new voters to the party.

    Smells to high heaven.

    Parent

    Haven't seen that (none / 0) (#46)
    by blogtopus on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:26:36 AM EST
    But if they do they've got a new underdog story on their hands and that can bring a huge group of people together more than anything. That can only make Hillary work harder.

    Parent
    Read It (none / 0) (#69)
    by BDB on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:41:07 AM EST
    I'm not that worried.  What it says is that if things start to get nasty, the big Dems will step in.  Not surprised by that and I don't think they can do it before March 4th without having a riot on their hands

    I do think Obama has been trying to lean on Supers about how new and transformational he is and how all his bright young things will turn against them if they back Clinton.  But that will only go so far if Clinton starts winning again, particularly in big states.  If she holds her own in Wisconsin and sweeps March 4th, the race has very different optics.

    And one thing the paper also noted was

    There is a more sinister demographic fact that is causing a collective shudder to pass down the Democratic leadership. Mr Obama is consistently trailing Mrs Clinton among white voters and, in the South, white men.

    The Clintons would not dare play such a card, even if they wanted to, particularly after the racially charged ructions of South Carolina last month.

    Now, I agree that the Clintons won't play such a card, but I don't think they'll have to.  Super Delegates can read polling data.

    It sounded to me that the article acknowledged that both Clinton and Obama have hurdles to overcome in winning over enough Super Delegates.

    Parent

    Link? or is this (none / 0) (#72)
    by IndependantThinker on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:44:51 AM EST
    just internet blog rumor stuff.

    Parent
    Here's the closest I could find: (none / 0) (#83)
    by oculus on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:54:33 AM EST
    WILLIAM CRISTOL OP ED

    But it doesn't say anything about Pelosi thinking about new voters in the Dem. party.

    Parent

    tek (none / 0) (#206)
    by auntmo on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 02:20:07 PM EST
    Haven't seen the  article, but  I suggest  Nancy Pelosi  study  what  happened  in New  Hampshire  when  the  public thought   Clinton was  being  too  harshly  battered.  

    Parent
    Not new voters who'll stay (none / 0) (#207)
    by SandyK on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 02:21:27 PM EST
    kids don't vote when it counts. If 1 in 4 stays around to vote every or every odd year for local elections even, it's a miracle.

    Which is why parties cater to the ones that come to even the lackluster elections.

    National elections are the result of local elections. If the voters don't care to be interested in local affairs, the powers-that-be have no reason to even care about this new vote -- it doesn't help them.

    Parent

    New voters (none / 0) (#222)
    by auntmo on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 03:28:05 PM EST
    Any   reason  to  believe  the rumor  that  the  Obama  campaign    literally  bused  in  college  kids  to the  Iowa  caucus?  

    Anybody know if  that's   true?

    Parent

    The rules called for a 50% strip (none / 0) (#10)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 10:51:36 AM EST
    as the GOP did.

    That was the rule breaking by the DNC.

    Parent

    Thanks -- reread again, got that now (none / 0) (#22)
    by Cream City on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 10:57:19 AM EST
    and this makes the Rules Committee's action even more arbitrary and egregious.  Anyone know who is the chair, who are the members?

    Parent
    All Convention Standing Committees (none / 0) (#154)
    by ding7777 on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:56:53 PM EST
    here is a pdf file of all standing committees (pdf)

    Parent
    and how influential was Dean in their selection? (none / 0) (#173)
    by lily15 on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:11:15 PM EST
    there (none / 0) (#13)
    by tek on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 10:53:31 AM EST
    not their.

    Parent
    Dang you! (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by blogtopus on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 10:55:32 AM EST
    You just destroyed your entire argument. :-P

    Parent
    So another solution is to also strip (none / 0) (#2)
    by Cream City on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 10:43:38 AM EST
    Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina of their delegates at the convention.

    Aren't two of those three among red states, anyway?  Unlike Michigan and maybe Florida, and maybe they'd feel not so isolated and unfairly treated then.

    Great idea; but then could we also (none / 0) (#3)
    by oculus on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 10:45:42 AM EST
    doa Groundhog Day rewind on Bill Clinton's Jesse Jackson remark.  Maybe HRC would have done better w/o that.  

    Parent
    This split (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by tek on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 10:56:48 AM EST
    is your brain, this is your brain on Obamamania: Look at the video and transcript, Bill Clinton NEVER made any racist remarks about Jesse Jackson, he never even brought Jackson up, the reporter did. Yet, the myth is so strong due to media support that Bill Clinton had to apologize for something he never even said.

    Seriously, is that the kind of society we want in our country?

    Parent

    OOps (none / 0) (#21)
    by tek on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 10:57:18 AM EST
    The system inserted "split" in the title.

    Parent
    BTD's post convinced me. (none / 0) (#28)
    by oculus on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 10:59:42 AM EST
    I know; frankly, I feel much more wary (none / 0) (#34)
    by Cream City on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:04:20 AM EST
    myself of discussing race these days -- and it's part of my job.  Just makes it more stressful . . . but that's why teachers get the big bucks, huh? :-)

    Parent
    Jesse Jackson (none / 0) (#209)
    by auntmo on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 02:23:28 PM EST
    HIMSELF   came  out and  said    he didn't see  anything  racist  in   Clinton's  remark.

    But  the media  and the Obama campaign were still playing  that   card  to   trash   the  Clintons.

    And  playing  it  FALSELY.

    Parent

    I'm (none / 0) (#11)
    by tek on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 10:52:37 AM EST
    for it. At least it would be one fair thing in a really nasty election.

    It'll be a miracle if we don't have a dissolution of the parties and maybe the country before this thing is over.

    Parent

    what where Iowa's NH and SC violations? (none / 0) (#5)
    by Florida Resident on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 10:46:33 AM EST


    Holding primaries before 2/5 (nt) (none / 0) (#6)
    by Cream City on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 10:47:41 AM EST
    Muchas Gracias (none / 0) (#9)
    by Florida Resident on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 10:51:25 AM EST
    How come the MSM has not made an issue of this?  Snark>

    Parent
    Ah... (none / 0) (#63)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:38:42 AM EST
    ...those crafty Iowans!

    Parent
    So did Nevada (none / 0) (#165)
    by ding7777 on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:06:12 PM EST
    And remember it was the Party chairs of these 4 states who dreamed up the "Pledge" and challenged the candidates with signing it.

    And without the Pledge, Obama would not have his 2 biggest excuses - no campaigning and ballot removal

    Parent

    Recently I've thought of myself as a Dean Democrat (none / 0) (#15)
    by katiebird on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 10:53:41 AM EST
    For the last 4 years or so, I've thought of myself as a Dean Democrat.  But I was astonished and appalled when I first heard the news about this set of rules.  I remember Marcos saying something like, don't worry -- this isn't going to fly:  the delegations will be seated.

    But as a survivor of other bitter primary battles, I had my doubts that it wouldn't be an issue.  Even where the primaries aren't close, emotions run high between the candidate's supporters.

    And a lot of us like rules. But rules have to be created responsibly.  We can tell those people who voted in good faith that their votes are meaningless -- but can we then expect their votes in November?

    this is really interesting since (none / 0) (#16)
    by Florida Resident on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 10:53:52 AM EST
    that should cut some of the the rules talk I keep hearing about Fl and Mi

    A fine kettle of fish (none / 0) (#17)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 10:54:11 AM EST

    However, the 40+ state Obama victory will paper over the issue.  

    Huh? (none / 0) (#25)
    by Marvin42 on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 10:58:41 AM EST
    Sorry what does that have to do with anything?

    Parent
    It may or may not work out this way, (none / 0) (#57)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:34:20 AM EST

    but big defeats provide the environment where fixing these kinds of issues much more so than big victories.  i.e. big victors tend to think that the system may not be perfect, but was good enough.  After all it elected them!

    However, this is such a soup sandwich that that dynamic may not operate.

    Parent

    Yeah but the Obama campaign (none / 0) (#27)
    by Florida Resident on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 10:59:35 AM EST
    has always said it was a matter of Delegates that is why there is so much arguing about super delegates.

    Whew.......what a mess (none / 0) (#38)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:10:01 AM EST
    Glad it isn't my mess.  First we have a president voted in by the supreme court and then we get a presidential nominee voted in by a........um..... by a mess?  

    It's an unfortunate mess (none / 0) (#42)
    by AF on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:19:39 AM EST
    But complaining that the rules are being bent for Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina is silly.  They have always been allowed to go first.  

    This is not "rules are rules except when they're not."  This is "the rules suck, but rules are rules."  

    Luckily, the super-delegates are going to get us out of this by congealing around one candidate, giving him or her a margin of victory, and then seating FL and MI.

    No they BROKE the rules (5.00 / 2) (#50)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:30:15 AM EST
    Yet again, RULES ARE RULES, except when they are not.

    Did you even READ the post?

    My gripe is not even so much with punishing FL and MI, my gripe is with NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES regarding the punishment.

    Parent

    The rules provided for discretion in punishment (none / 0) (#74)
    by AF on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:46:47 AM EST
    and the DNC exercised that discretion.  Bad decision.  Within the rules.

    Most importantly, this decision was made when nobody knew whom it would favor.  Now everybody knows that seating FL and MI would benefit Hillary.  So even if the rules are bad or the process of making them was questionable, they HAVE been the rules since well before the beginning of the primary season.  Saying that exceptions were made last summer is just a way of muddying the waters and preemptively justifying changing the rules to Hillary's benefit.

    Parent

    a set up (none / 0) (#107)
    by lily15 on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:23:06 PM EST
    Nobody knew that Fla. and Michigan would favor Clinton?  Are you joking? Considering Brazile is a big Obama supporter, I believe she was in on this from the beginning.  More and more, this is looking like a set up to skew the election.  But nobody was paying attention. It makes no sense to take all, as opposed to 50%, of the delegates away.  Too much looks deliberate and under the radar.  

    Clearly, this also blindsided Clinton.  She completely missed the strategy underfoot.  But who would have known there was a grand strategy?  Brazil is clearly part of this.  And Howard Dean has been a disaster.  Why alienate two big states because of tiny Iowa and New Hampshire.  Iowa has gone Republican in the past..so why cater to them?  None of it makes sense.  Putting Ohio first makes sense..because of its demographics...

    Remember also Obama promised not to run in 2008.  Clinton campaigned for him for the Senate. This was set up...including the election of Howard Dean..these rules don't make sense...and don't help the party...

    Parent

    Well, as Bill Clinton might say, (none / 0) (#111)
    by AF on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:26:22 PM EST
    Jesse Jackson won MI in 1988.

    Parent
    They disregarded their rule (none / 0) (#117)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:31:04 PM EST
    and made up an ad hoc punishment while leaving untouched three states that also broke the rules.

    Bad decision does not even begin to cover it.

    Parent

    It was a terrible, horrible, despicable decision (none / 0) (#145)
    by AF on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:48:06 PM EST
    But it has the advantage of being made when nobody knew whose would benefit.  Any change now would not have that advantage.  From the point of view of fairness to the candidates, that is absolutely decisive.

    Parent
    Abuse of Discretion (none / 0) (#227)
    by xspowr on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 06:36:09 PM EST
    Abuse of Discretion

    Hi all. Been lurking here for quite awhile, and figured I may as well put my two cents in for once! In the interests of full disclosure, I am an Edwards supporter who moved to HRC, but the following points flow from my being a lawyer rather than a partisan in this race.

    As the issue of seating the MI and FL delegations becomes an increasingly larger one, some posters opposed to seating the delegates have raised the following argument based on the DNC rules (which have been quoted at length here and on other blogs): to wit, that the rules committee of the DNC had the "discretion" to apply the so-called nuclear option to FL and MI and exclude ALL of their delegates, rather than the 50% option discussed in the rules.  This "discretion" argument is correct as far as it goes, but it's only halfway to the correct conclusion, as discussed below.

    To begin with, those who argue that the rules provide for this discretion by the rules committee of the DNC are correct; parsed correctly, the rules do NOT expressly or exclusively require the imposition of the 50%  penalty.  The committee may craft any remedy it deems suitable under the circumstances.  Again, however, the argument does not stop there, and any argument relying solely on the discretionary power of the rules committee will get you to the wrong conclusion, because that is the wrong issue.  The argument is NOT over whether the committee has such discretion, but rather over how that discretion was exercised.

     "Discretion" rules are common in many legal and quasi-legal contexts, whether state statutes, administrative regulations, association bylaws, party rules, etc.  For purposes of my argument, such "discretion" provisions are very common in court rules, i.e., those rules that determine the boundaries of a trial court's decision-making power. For example, a trial court has the "discretion" to admit or exclude evidence at trial based on the rules of evidence themselves and the decisional law interpreting those rules.  As long as the court observes the objective criteria set forth in that controlling law, and applies that criteria equally and fairly to both parties, the trial court can basically make any ruling or apply any remedy it sees fit without fear of being reversed on appeal.

    This court-rule analogy is, I believe, useful in the MI/FL context.  In essence, the rules committee of the DNC was acting in a quasi-judicial capacity (i.e., acting like a trial court) in making its decision.  The committee considered the particular facts and arguments presented by FL and MI, applied the DNC rules that applied to those facts, and reached a decision; in this case, the rules committee relied on the "discretion" clause as authority for it's decision to exercise the nuclear option rather than any other remedy it had available.

    Now, to extend the analogy, we have reached the appellate portion of the case. That is, those factions favoring the seating of the MI and FL delegates are now asking to have the decision of the rules committee re-examined, and either affirmed or reversed.  In essence, the credentials committee will be playing the role of the appellate court with respect to the rules committee.

    So (and this is where those folks who make the unalloyed "discretion" argument go off the rails), the relevant question is what standard of review is applied to determine whether the lower court's decision should be affirmed or rejected? In law, where the trial court's decision below was rendered under a discretionary standard (such as in the evidence example above), the standard of review is the so-called "abuse of discretion" standard--in other words, assuming the trial court had the discretion to render the decision it reached, did it ABUSE that discretion?  If so, that decision must be reversed or modified in some way.

    The rule of thumb for the "abuse of discretion" standard is quite simple: if the trial court reached its decision on an "arbitrary and capricious" basis (i.e., a basis not rooted in objective criteria fairly and equally applied to all the concerned parties), then the court "abused" its discretion, and the decision below is invalid.

    With respect to the seating of the MI and FL delegates, the following facts cannot be reasonably disputed:

    1.    FIVE states were in violation of the DNC rules for moving their primary/caucus to a date earlier than that provided for by said rules: IA, NH, SC, FL, and MI.

    2.    The rules committee elected to penalize only TWO states out of those five.

    3.    The basis for this decision (conspiracy theories aside), was to give primacy to the remaining three states based solely on tradition and political expediency, not by reference to the express written rules of the DNC (the objective "controlling law" in this case).

    4.    In deciding upon a penalty, the rules committee elected to impose the most severe sanction possible, rather than the 50% penalty clearly favored, but not mandated, by the rules (and, by way of comparison, the penalty favored and actually imposed by the RNC with respect to its own "rogue" states).  Further, this sanction was imposed without consideration of less draconian penalties that may have preserved some degree of voter representation for those states at the convention.

    Clearly, the rules committee could exercise "discretion" in deciding whether to exclude FL and MI delegates.  This point is not in contention.  The relevant question is whether the rules committee ABUSED that discretion.  Based on the undisputed facts set forth above, an objective observer would have to conclude that the committee abused its discretion in this instance.

    First, the objective criteria for determining whether an infraction of the rules had been committed (i.e., a clearly established earliest date for holding primaries and cacuses) was NOT applied fairly and equally to all parties concerned.  Instead, the rules committee applied that criteria only to MI and FL, not to the other offending states.  This alone renders the decision of the rules committee "arbitrary and capricious" and therefore an abuse of the discretion provided for in the DNC rules.

    Second, the nuclear option employed against MI and FL was not the least restrictive remedy available to the committee for penalizing those states.  In other words, the rules committee had several other remedies that would have worked equally well to penalize MI and FL (and one that was clearly favored in the rules, albeit not mandated).  For example, the committee could have simply stripped those states of superdelegates only, leaving the actual popular vote/pledged delegate count intact.  Instead, without stating any objective reason for doing so, the rules committee exercised the nuclear option, which deprived MI and FL of ALL representation at the convention. Looked at from a dispassionate, rules-based approach, this remedy was clearly arbitrary and capricious, and therefore an abuse of the committee's discretion.

    Obviously, much of this court-based analogy breaks down when looking at the DNC as a political body with political motivations and objectives.  However, for those folks making a rules-based argument, including those who argue that the rules committee had the "discretion" to completely exclude MI and FL, any serious reading of the undisputed facts must conclude that this discretion was abused by the committee.  If you are going to argue that a decision is valid based on the permissible discretion of a neutral arbiter, intellectual honesty requires you to find a decision invalid where such discretion has been abused.  For this reason, the appeal to the "discretion" rule to defend the exclusion of MI and FL does not hold up to scrutiny.

    Parent

    This whole system is an undemocratic joke (none / 0) (#47)
    by doyenne49 on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:26:53 AM EST
    Scrap the caucuses entirely, eliminate the superdelegates, and have a national primary held over one month in March all across the country.

    Look (none / 0) (#48)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:28:29 AM EST
    You are not telling the truth Vic Ajax and we delete such comments.

    Specifically, Hillary broke no pledges regarding MI and FL.

    The rest of your comment is basically wrong, but not a falsehood directed at a candidate.

    You can repost that portion.

    Thank you (none / 0) (#60)
    by Lena on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:36:46 AM EST
    It's a tough enough issue to argue without introducing false "facts."

    Parent
    breaking a pledge? (none / 0) (#178)
    by A DC Wonk on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:17:11 PM EST
    I don't know if she broke a pledge vis-a-vis Michigan, but I do know this:

    In support of the DNC, way back then, both Edwards and Obama had their names removed from the Michigan ballot.  Clinton did not.

    You can't seriously argue, then, that results from Michigan should count, while also arguing that you favor allowing "the people" to choose.  The people had no real choice in Michigan.  (I would note that, despite this, Clinton beat "uncommitted" by 55% to 40%).

    Furthermore, the DNC approved the other "exceptions" (NH, SC, etc.) way back in December, but didn't approve MI and FL.  This wasn't an after-the-fact thing, this was before-hand.  

    So, despite claims that "rules are rules except when they're not", the real fact of the matter is that the present situation were the rules as of last December.

    And, again, all the major candidates -- except Clinton -- took their name off the Michigan ballot.

    To argue to include Michigan is really disengenuous.

    Parent

    I argue what I argue (none / 0) (#185)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:39:57 PM EST
    Clinton did not pledge to take her name off the ballot and Clinton, Dodd, Kucinich and Gravel were on the MI ballot.

    Your comment is rather a nonsequitor.

    Parent

    Correct (none / 0) (#210)
    by auntmo on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 02:28:58 PM EST
    There  WAS  no pledge  to  keep or  remove  names  from   ballot.

    Obama  and  Edwards  CHOSE  to remove from Michigan  ballot  to   "suck up" to NH & Iowa.

    Parent

    Now if only I could (none / 0) (#49)
    by BDB on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:29:35 AM EST
    get an apology from Obama over Jesse Jackson Jr's comments about Hillary not crying for Katrina?  

    How about one (none / 0) (#140)
    by andrewwm on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:45:09 PM EST
    from Robert Johnson regarding Obama not doing anything useful in his youth because he was doing...well...you know. Never saw anyone apologize for that, and that was on the same stage as Clinton.

    Parent
    Robert Johnson, who made the (none / 0) (#155)
    by oculus on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:58:11 PM EST
    statements, did apologize for making them.

    Parent
    Yes he did (5.00 / 1) (#214)
    by auntmo on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 02:54:45 PM EST
    But  Jesse Jackson Jr  has  yet  to do so.    

    Is  the  Obama    campaign   hiding him now?

    He  IS  the co-chairman  of  Obama's  campaign.

    Parent

    It's the spirit of the law now (none / 0) (#51)
    by Florida Resident on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:30:18 AM EST
    so why strip of all the delegates and not 50%.  I think it's dangerous specially in Fl where your marging of victory is if any very small.  Also when did Hillary campaign in Fl I live here and she did not.  Another thing the primary date was set by the Republican legislature in Tallahassee and as I asked before who was going to pay for the primaries if they were held on another date?  The DNC?

    Your comment is accurate (none / 0) (#55)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:33:06 AM EST
    I deleted the comments with the falsehoods.

    Parent
    Yet again falsehoods (none / 0) (#53)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:32:17 AM EST
    jdj, you are not allowed to write falsehoods about ANY of the candidates.

    This goes for EVERYONE.

    Comment deleted.

    I thought she agreed with the rulings? (none / 0) (#54)
    by jdj on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:33:04 AM EST
    Did Hillary not agree with the FL/MI rulings last year?

    She pledged to not campaign (none / 0) (#56)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:33:49 AM EST
    in MI and FL.

    She honored that pledge.

    Stop with the falsehoods.

    Parent

    no ads or events? (none / 0) (#58)
    by jdj on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:35:55 AM EST
    I thought Hillary did both ads and an event in FL, was that incorrect?

    Parent
    Yes, it is inaccurate. Obama (5.00 / 1) (#65)
    by oculus on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:38:51 AM EST
    ads reached FL.  

    Parent
    That is incorrect. (5.00 / 1) (#70)
    by echinopsia on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:41:19 AM EST
    Obama had ads and did a press conference in FL, both against the rules. His TV ads were on cable and therefore (he claimed) he could not get them blocked in FL. He also did fundraisers (not against the rules).

    Hillary did fundraisers and appeared after the polls closed. Not against the rules.

    Parent

    I saw a lot of Obama ads (none / 0) (#61)
    by Florida Resident on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:36:55 AM EST
    national buy (none / 0) (#66)
    by jdj on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:39:21 AM EST
    From a national buy.

    Parent
    National Buy doesn't explain it (5.00 / 3) (#149)
    by Marvin42 on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:50:52 PM EST
    Every national buy has options of local blackouts for various reasons, specially on cable channels. I have seen this excuse thrown about over and over, and that a national buy was "more cost effective." Great, all you have to do it tell the network or cable channel "black out Florida" and they will.

    Its a very thin cover to advertise and get away with it. So its kind of ironic that Obama supporters accuse the Clinton camp of cheating.

    Parent

    And if Clinton had done a national buy (none / 0) (#68)
    by Cream City on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:41:02 AM EST
    rather than the local ads carefully done to abide by the pledge, as he could have done -- you would be irate at Clinton.  So why not admit Obama did wrong?

    Parent
    and no she came after she won.. (none / 0) (#62)
    by Florida Resident on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:38:26 AM EST
    You are incorrect (none / 0) (#64)
    by Lena on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:38:45 AM EST
    No matter how much that may be repeated on places like dailykos, she neither campigned here nor had ads here.

    Obama ran one ad on CNN in Florida after a debate though.

    Parent

    No, she did not (none / 0) (#67)
    by Cream City on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:39:51 AM EST
    but he did ads and a press conference, both breaking the pledge.  There are all sorts of excuses from his camp as to why -- but he did, and that's that.

    This has been discussed, there are no denials from Obama -- unless you have evidence otherwise to support your thoughts with facts?  Links?

    Parent

    Compeltely incorrect (none / 0) (#73)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:46:30 AM EST
    Technically, one could argue Obama violated the pledge, but I think that is silly talk too.

    Parent
    Yes, his violations were minor -- but (none / 0) (#92)
    by Cream City on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:00:49 PM EST
    how is there any other way to violate a pledge but "technically"?  (This must be some lawyerly point I don't get.  I'm trying to figure out how one could "figuratively" violate a pledge that one signed.)

    Parent
    Neither example of alleged violations (none / 0) (#99)
    by flyerhawk on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:16:12 PM EST
    meets the criteria of actual violation.

    From the rules...

                              "Campaigning" for purposes of this section includes,
    but is not limited to, purchasing print, internet, or electronic advertising that
    reaches a significant percentage of the voters in the aforementioned state; hiring
    campaign workers; opening an office; making public appearances; holding news
    conferences; coordinating volunteer activities; sending mail,

    He didn't purchase ads in Florida and there isn't a reasonable interpretation to suggest he did.  

    The "news conference" in question was some reporters lurking outside a fundraiser he was holding.  It was unscheduled and impromptu.  Unless we consider all interviews to be news conferences this doesn't have much merit.

    Parent

    Fly, these excuses don't fly (5.00 / 1) (#106)
    by Cream City on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:23:06 PM EST
    and worse, only tell me that we'd have another administration like the current one that parses everything every which way -- but can't hide that it breaks the rules and tells lies.  

    More of the What Obama Really Meant mantras, less substance by the day.  Yawn.

    Parent

    There ya go (none / 0) (#126)
    by flyerhawk on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:36:14 PM EST
    When all else fails compare Obama to the Bush Administration.  Well done.

    Parent
    As a certain someone frequently (none / 0) (#103)
    by oculus on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:21:44 PM EST
    asks:  can you not read?

    purchasing print, internet, or electronic advertising that
    reaches a significant percentage of the voters in the aforementioned state

    Rule on its face does not require the ad be purchased in FL.  Did the ad purchased by Obama not reach a significant percentage of the FL voters?  

    Parent

    I agree in spirit (none / 0) (#105)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:22:38 PM EST
    But the buying of national ads necessarily involves buying ads in Florida so I could make a technical case that he did.

    And his press conference was clearly a violation, presumably inadvertent.

    But that is not the point. the point is the allegations that Hillary violated the pledge are utterly false and Obama supporters continue to try and spread that falsehood.

    That is not allowed here, if you were considering it.

    Parent

    I agree (none / 0) (#125)
    by flyerhawk on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:35:09 PM EST
    I think it is petty to argue about Hillary violating the rules as well.  She didn't as the rules did not stipulate that her name could not be on the ballot.

    Parent
    But do we really know this? (none / 0) (#177)
    by lily15 on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:15:58 PM EST
    Do we know the details of the ad buy and compare it to other ad buys?  At any rate, the one with a disproportionate financial advantage would be able to make national buys of this sort.

    Again, we don't know the definition of a national ad buy and how flexible or inflexible it was.  Usually when you are a big advertiser, there is flexibility.So I think this "national" excuse was a cover.  And we have no evidence to suggest not only that it was a hard and fast rule, but what other states he "had" to run ads in.

    Parent

    Having bought ads in national media (5.00 / 0) (#179)
    by Florida Resident on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:20:47 PM EST
    for Unions I worked with.  You can specify if you want an area or market blacked out of the Ad.  It all depends how you work with your publicity agency.

    Parent
    BTD (none / 0) (#215)
    by auntmo on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 02:59:36 PM EST
    But    wasn't  it  that  very press  conference  where    he  told  Florida  voters  he  would  support  their  reinstatement  at  the  convention?  

    So...in  effect...he   was  campaiging  by  sending  a  message  directly  to  Floridians.

    (Which promise  he  broke, by the  way)

    Parent

    The pledge (none / 0) (#104)
    by AF on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:22:13 PM EST
    was not to "campaign or participate."  Obama ran a national cable ad -- with the prior approval of the early state parties.  It was not technically a violation.  It was arguably a violation.  Similarly, Hillary's pre-announced victory speech was arguably a violation.  

    At the end of the day, both campaigns came close enough to honoring the pledge.  The point is that with the pledge in place, the numbers cannot be taken at face value.  

    Again, I believe the super-delegates are going to get us out of this by agreeing on the candidate who has the best claim to have won the primaries, giving him or her the nomination, and then seating FL and MI.

    Parent

    hahaha. What you have on Clinton is that (none / 0) (#119)
    by LatinoVoter on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:31:55 PM EST
    it was announced that she would give a victory speech. LOL. And no mention of Obama breaking the pledge by talking to the press while in Florida the day after he signed a pledge stating he wouldn't do it. LOL.

    Parent
    Not the approval of the DNC (none / 0) (#202)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 02:13:46 PM EST
    My word, talka bout your spin.

    I do not care about those ads myself, but the disingenuousness here is absurd.

    Parent

    Obama was given a pass (none / 0) (#128)
    by lily15 on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:37:17 PM EST
    The question is why and by whom.  In Michigan, I am now convinced Obama took his name off the ballot to ensure there could never be an argument that they count..as what is happening in Florida. It was a deliberate and knowing decision....a strategy that was aided and abetted by the DNC.  The same with South Carolina having so much clout at a critical period...It is just looking weird...especially Florida, where the Republican legislature moved it up...and especially taking away 100% of delegates...

    Parent
    SC and Nevada scheduled so early (none / 0) (#136)
    by Cream City on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:43:11 PM EST
    by Dean/DNC, with Nevada -- being Reid's -- expected to go as DNC wanted them to do, building momentum.  

    The caucus was set in the west to balance the primary in SC, and one expected to draw well with AAs, one with Latinos/as to bring them back to the Dems.  But Latinos/as in Nevada and women didn't do as they were told.  And that makes Brazille very, very mad.  (She looks angry all the time, anyway!)

    Parent

    Obama Is The One Who Had Ads Running In FL (none / 0) (#132)
    by MO Blue on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:41:04 PM EST
    Clinton and Edwards did not run any ads in that state.

    Parent
    Back Home they say (none / 0) (#59)
    by Florida Resident on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:36:08 AM EST
    "Predicar La moral en calsonsillos" which means preaching morals in your underwear.  I think the DNC better look at themselves very hard and decide if the really represent the interest of their constituents.  Talking about rules is easy but apparently following them is not.

    All Obama ads (none / 0) (#71)
    by Florida Resident on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:43:30 AM EST
    that aired in Fl if were National ads.  I don't think either campaign ran specific ads in FL.  But I do know that a lot of Obama followers have tried to make it look like she ran ads in Fl.  

    But the national ad argument (none / 0) (#134)
    by lily15 on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:42:08 PM EST
    is perfectly crafted to fit Obama's strategy...isn't that strange?  And wasn't a national buy something Obama could do more easily because of money?  Has anyone determined how many states ran how many commmercials?  There is something clandestine about this...just as Obama getting the OK to run national ads that happened to violate the no campaigning pledge...

    Parent
    TX it is then (none / 0) (#85)
    by jdj on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:58:57 AM EST
    It is getting a bit crazy in the forums. People on all sides want to see their canidate come out on top.

    I hope that Obama takes TX, as I think that would seal it for him no matter what. He would have the room to seat FL/MI and still lead in delegates and overall votes. It just stays muddy if he does not.

    Texas (none / 0) (#216)
    by auntmo on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 03:03:53 PM EST
    Obama  won't  take  Texas.    Clinton  ahead   10-12  points;   large  Hispanic   numbers.

    Parent
    Why do we not have direct elections? (none / 0) (#86)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:59:09 AM EST
    You know, democracy and all that?

    Because we're not one big state (none / 0) (#169)
    by Polkan on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:09:05 PM EST
    and the constitution provides for proportional representation via Electoral College and similar tools to avoid coercion by majority. I think we need to have state primaries and pledged delegates.

    Parent
    Please note (none / 0) (#91)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 11:59:48 AM EST
    I am no longer explaining deletions.

    Insults, false statements about EITHER candidate and off topic comments are being summarily deleted.

    I am tired of people ignoring the commenting rules. You no longer deserve the consideration of explanations.

    I have had it.

    BTD (none / 0) (#218)
    by auntmo on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 03:05:20 PM EST
    Dang....I  came  late  to the board.  

    Musta  been an  "interesting" morning.  

    Go  get  em,  BTD.    :)

    Parent

    The rule in question (none / 0) (#96)
    by flyerhawk on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:08:00 PM EST
    Sorry, BTD, bu Jerome is wrong.  Rule 20.c.1.a

    Violation of timing: In the event the Delegate Selection Plan of a state party
    provides or permits a meeting, caucus, convention or primary which constitutes
    the first determining stage in the presidential nominating process to be held prior
    to or after the dates for the state as provided in Rule 11 of these rules, or in the
    event a state holds such a meeting, caucus, convention or primary prior to or after
    such dates, the number of pledged delegates elected in each category allocated to
    the state pursuant to the Call for the National Convention shall be reduced by
    fifty (50%) percent, and the number of alternates shall also be reduced by fifty
    (50%) percent. In addition, none of the members of the Democratic National
    Committee and no other unpledged delegate allocated pursuant to Rule 8.A. from
    that state shall be permitted to vote as members of the state's delegation. In
    determining the actual number of delegates or alternates by which the state's
    delegation is to be reduced, any fraction below .5 shall be rounded down to the
    nearest whole number, and any fraction of .5 or greater shall be rounded up to the
    next nearest whole number.

    Rule 11.a

    No meetings, caucuses, conventions or primaries which constitute the first determining stage in
    the presidential nomination process (the date of the primary in primary states, and the date of the
    first tier caucus in caucus states) may be held prior to the first Tuesday in February or after the
    second Tuesday in June in the calendar year of the national convention. Provided, however, that
    the Iowa precinct caucuses may be held no earlier than 22 days before the first Tuesday in
    February; that the Nevada first-tier caucuses may be held no earlier than 17 days before the
    first Tuesday in February; that the New Hampshire primary may be held no earlier than 14
    days before the first Tuesday in February; and that the South Carolina primary may be held
    no earlier than 7 days before the first Tuesday in February. In no instance may a state which
    scheduled delegate selection procedures on or between the first Tuesday in February and the
    second Tuesday in June 1984 move out of compliance with the provisions of this rule.

    So the rules are rules. Period.

    and let's take a look at Rule 21

           STATE LEGISLATIVE CHANGES
    A.      Subject to Rule 18.C. of these Rules, wherever any part of any section contained in these rules
            conflicts with existing state laws, the state party shall take provable positive steps to achieve
            legislative changes to bring the state law into compliance with the provisions of these rules.
    Page 22
         2008 Delegate Selection Rules for the Democratic National Convention
    B  Provable positive steps shall be taken in a timely fashion and shall include: the drafting of
       corrective legislation; public endorsement by the state party of such legislation; efforts to educate
       the public on the need for such legislation; active support for the legislation by the state party
       lobbying state legislators, other public officials, Party officials and Party members; and
       encouraging consideration of the legislation by the appropriate legislative committees and bodies.
    C. A state party may be required by a vote of the DNC Executive Committee upon a
       recommendation of the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee to adopt and implement an alternative
       Party-run delegate selection system which does not conflict with these rules, regardless of any
       provable positive steps the state may have taken.

    Did either state party make an effort to correct the problem?

    Your argument is not discernible (none / 0) (#101)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:19:44 PM EST
    Are you saying that all the rules became inapplicable BECAUSE the Florida Democratic Party did not issue a press release?

    Or do you not know that FLORIDA LAW compelled the Florida primary?

    Parent

    From what I am reading (none / 0) (#110)
    by flyerhawk on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:26:22 PM EST
    the state party's had to show some sort of good faith effort to correct the problem.  Basically the rules say that you can't just point your finger at the State legislature and claim innocence.  The state party organizations must actively work to change the laws.  They must show provable steps they have taken to correct the problem.  

    21.C is interesting...

    A state party may be required by a vote of the DNC Executive Committee upon a
    recommendation of the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee to adopt and implement an alternative
    Party-run delegate selection system which does not conflict with these rules, regardless of any
    provable positive steps the state may have taken.

    So the DNC can FORCE them to have alternative systems.  It doesn't say anything about retroactive changing the rules, however.

    If you are interested I got the rules from This link

    Parent

    So I am right (none / 0) (#114)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:28:31 PM EST
    you hang your hat on the lack of a press release.

    the GOOP controls the Fla legislature and Governorship.

    There was nothing they could do.

    And that hardly explains why the 50% rule was jettisoned.

    I like to try and take you seriously. But at this point, your contortions make it difficult frankly.

    Parent

    More ad hominem (none / 0) (#122)
    by flyerhawk on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:33:41 PM EST
    I provide the ACTUAL text of the rules and you say that you can't take ME seriously?

    I am not hanging my hat on anything.  I am simply saying what the RULES were.  

    Please tell me what I have stated that is hard to take seriously?  Do you think I created the rules?  

    Parent

    Jerome provided the actual text of the rules (none / 0) (#130)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:38:54 PM EST
    You are contorting even now, claiming that is an ad hom.

    Get a hold of yourself and present a coherent argument, or go do something else.

    Tell me why the rules support your interpretation. I just explained why the FL Dem Party has no say in when the primary was. You know you can not refute that so now you whine.

    either make an argument or move on.

    Parent

    As for the Democrats (none / 0) (#142)
    by flyerhawk on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:46:48 PM EST
    in Florida being innocent....

    Nobody realized it, but the storm began gathering in late March 2006. New Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, a Miami Republican, visited Washington-based Florida reporters and touted a plan to boost Florida's influence in picking presidential nominees by moving the primary earlier than March.

    "With all due respect to New Hampshire and Iowa, nowhere are you going to be on a national stage like Florida," Rubio said at the time. "You're going to get questions about Israel, Latin America, immigration. It's the old South, it's Latin, it's Midwestern, it's rural and urban."

    Rubio already had Democrats on board.

    "Florida Democrats are all for it," Mark Bubriski, spokesman for the Florida Democratic Party, said at the time.

    The head of the Democratic Party was in favor of violating the rules.  Yet it is Howard Dean who was at fault.

    Parent

    Yes it is (none / 0) (#186)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:42:21 PM EST
    That the FL Dem Party wanted this since 2006 does not excuse what Dean and Brazile did by violating their own rules of punishment.

    you have no answer for that.

    And you will not care about the consequences.

    Parent

    Who are you kidding? (none / 0) (#156)
    by lily15 on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:58:17 PM EST
    You just keep repeating over and over your mantra.  You never respond to BTD's specific points. Never.  You return to the talking points.  It is clear there is something very wrong here.  Why is Florida being punished disproportionately when the Florida Democratic Party had no control?  Was it a knowing strategy to benefit Obama who knew he would have a problem in Florida?  And the 50% rule surely should apply to Florida?  Especially under these circumstances.  It is more logical that this was a deliberate attempt to lessen the damage to Obama of a Florida victory. And that is downright treacherous.  And speaking of the date...why was it so bad? It was after South Carolina where they knew Clinton would lose.   They knew Obama would have an advantage in February (he had significantly more money to organize and I assume he had plotted the demographics--and I further assume this was their strategy all along)

    Finally all these rules  were for the express purpose of making Super Tuesday more meaningful...yet it was not, even though Clinton won all the big states except Ill.  Again, maybe this played into  Obama strategy.  Super Tuesday was not national primary day...so why should Michigan and Florida be penalized at all? These primaries were all over the place anyway.  None of it makes sense except as an adjunct to an Obama insurgent strategy. Especially now that Donna Brazile has revealed who she really is.

    Parent

    Not to mention that there was a very (none / 0) (#124)
    by Florida Resident on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:34:12 PM EST
    important state constitutional amendment on the ballot which meant that a lot of people were going to the polls for that and then when you consider the ballot had the primary part on one side and the amendment issue of the other.  Besides is not the Florida Democratic Committee being punished here is the Florida Democrats.

    Parent
    The ballot initiative clearly suggests (5.00 / 0) (#160)
    by lily15 on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:01:52 PM EST
    that holding the primary on another date would have been impractical...unless the DNC was trying to pressure Florida to hold a caucus.  Strange that this idea was discussed about Florida and Michigan...that they should hold a caucus now...of course knowing that it benefits Obama.

    Parent
    CW in 2007 (none / 0) (#167)
    by andrewwm on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:06:41 PM EST
    Was that caucuses benefitted the candidate with the most money and institutional support - i.e. Clinton. So if the DNC was pressuring them then, it certainly wasn't to help Obama.

    Parent
    Not enough facts to know that yet. (none / 0) (#189)
    by lily15 on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:48:40 PM EST
    Certainly, going first with Ohio would seem to be the most reasonable choice.  Keeping the old status quo with Iowa and New Hampshire didn't necessarily benefit the institutional candidate at all...quite the opposite.

    Parent
    Don't get me wrong (none / 0) (#129)
    by flyerhawk on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:38:05 PM EST
    I can sympathize with the Florida voters.  It certainly appears that they got snookered by the state GOP.  

    Michigan, otoh, I have very little sympathy for. It was a brazen attempt for more political power for elected Democrats in Michigan.

    Parent

    And why shouldn't MIchigan, (5.00 / 0) (#166)
    by lily15 on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:06:22 PM EST
    suffering the terrible effects of recession, not be allowed to have more influence?  They are a big and meaningful state.  And their electorate can influence the general election.  It makes perfect sense that they disagreed with the DNC.  Now that we see what the DNC was doing, most of us disagree with the DNC.  Michigan realized sooner that something was rotten. And they tried to call attention to the problem.  But few others saw it coming.

    Parent
    That's an issue for the DNC central committee to (none / 0) (#172)
    by andrewwm on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:10:37 PM EST
    decide. In the abstract, sure, they should have some influence. But every state can make the same argument. 44 other states followed the rules like they were supposed to, despite them also wanting to have an important influence. Allowing MI and FL to break the rules with impunity and gain additional benefits would be a big middle finger to those that did follow the rules.

    Parent
    Rules? (none / 0) (#188)
    by lily15 on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:45:49 PM EST
    It had become sacrosanct to give Iowa and New Hampshire disproportionate influence...even though times had changed.  Caucuses do not represent all Democratic voters. But more importantly, in our current 24/7 news cycle, information is disseminated differently from the past and must be accounted for in the selection process. There is no uniformity. Caucuses, primaries...a lot had to do with money not representation...primaries are expensive.  I can understand if these rules were to promote uniformity in the nomination process or consistency or better yet, expanding the electorate and giving all Democrats a voice....but they weren't.  They were just a hodge podge of different rules...and few people understand the distinctions...and those distinctions were blurred by the media...so in fact the DNC was picking and choosing  which hodge podge got more credibility instead of  strengthening the credibility of the entire nominating system. And in doing so, they were able to tilt the process.  But there is no rhyme or reason, let alone rules that point to consistency or fairness.  

    Parent
    That's a reasonable critique (none / 0) (#191)
    by andrewwm on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:55:36 PM EST
    I completely agree that the system as it stands now could use some serious reform, and hopefully they'll look at doing that at the convention this fall.

    But it's not a good reason to allow states to go free-for-all in deciding who gets to go first. As I said before, if the DNC doesn't maintain order here, it will never be able to.

    We'll have primaries in November and states continually one-upping each other to go first. If you thought this is a mess, wait till 2016.

    Parent

    They got damaged by the DNC (none / 0) (#131)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:39:46 PM EST
    Why is it that you can not bring yourself to say that?

    Parent
    It's a collective action/reputation problem (none / 0) (#159)
    by andrewwm on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:01:24 PM EST
    If the DNC doesn't hold the line here, then what's going to happen next time around? We'll be having primaries in September as states rush past each other desperate to be the first or an important one. It would be total chaos.

    The only power the DNC has is to strip delegates - they can't force states to pick what days they have primaries or caucuses. If the state party had been reluctant partners or there had been otherwise mitigating circumstances (esp wrt to FL), then I could see the normal .5 penalty.

    But the states took the route of reckless disregard for the agreed-upon rules in a way that benefitted themselves and hurt everyone else that actually followed the rules. The penalty fits the crime.

    Parent

    Excuse me (none / 0) (#200)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 02:11:54 PM EST
    50% stripping like the GOP did.

    You always avoid this obvious point.

    Parent

    and again the rank and file (none / 0) (#139)
    by Florida Resident on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:44:17 PM EST
    gets the shaft for what elected officials do.  But then isn't that what senate did to all Americans yesterday by going along with the administration.  Oh well we should be used to it.

    Parent
    Take it up with your elected officials in FL (none / 0) (#168)
    by andrewwm on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:08:43 PM EST
    FL state Democratic party are nominally electable positions too. The people doing the screwing weren't the ones that set up the rules way in advance, warned the potential perpetrators way in advance of the potential penalty, and then gave them second chances to fix their mistakes.

    Parent
    A press release would have been a start (none / 0) (#148)
    by andrewwm on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:50:11 PM EST
    There are pretty well defined rules for what constitute affirmative steps. The Dems in the legislature and the party were actively encouraging the state to move forward, which in a court of law would definitely undermine "affirmative steps" arguments.

    Parent
    What Irks me (none / 0) (#97)
    by Florida Resident on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:08:36 PM EST
    is that there are so many sanctimonious people out there that want us to believe that if you don't think like they do you are some kind of evil person.  I use to think this was a right wing thing but lately I quit reading a lot of so called progressive blogs because I get the same feeling from them.

    Florida Resident (none / 0) (#219)
    by auntmo on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 03:12:59 PM EST
    Agree.   TPM  and   DailyKos  sound  like  freepers  now.   It's  disgusting.

    Parent
    I dunno (none / 0) (#98)
    by brainwave on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:12:10 PM EST
    Here's the diary by andrewalker08 that started this storm in a teapot. Here's his beef:

    Rule 11.A specifically set the date for the primaries & caucuses for those three states as "no earlier than 22 days before the first Tuesday in February" (Iowa), "no earlier than 14 days before the first Tuesday in February" (New Hampshire), and "no earlier than 7 days before the first Tuesday in February" (South Carolina).

    Iowa held their caucuses on January 3rd.  That's more than 22 days before the first Tuesday in February.  New Hampshire held their primary on January 8th.  That's more than 17 days before the first Tuesday in February.  And South Carolina held their primary on January 26th.  That's more than 7 days before the first Tuesday in February.

    Under Rule 11.A., five states were in violation of the Democratic National Committee's Delegate Selection Rules, and as such, all five states should have been punished under Rule 20.C.1.a.

    This completely ignores two points: First, the order of events: As I recall, IA, NH, and SC only moved up their contests in response to the move by FL and MI, to protect their status. And secondly, that status was already enshrined by the same rule that Jerome and andrewalker08 now argue should have been applied against the early states. The rule specifically allows IA, NH, and SC to go before every other state. In that sense, FL and MI broke the rule, and then IA, NH, and SC moved to protect their status guaranteed under the rule before the committee stepped in and punished FL and MI. Should the committee have insisted that IA, NH, and SC revert back to their original dates? Would that even have been practical, seeing how FL and MI were determined to let their schedule stand?

    The short of this is, it seems completely fair under the rule in question to me that the committee punished FL and MI but not the other three states. Now, this is not to say that the rule itself is good - but that's another matter. Also, I'm not sure I understand why the 50%-of-delegates clause wasn't enacted.

    you bury the lead (none / 0) (#100)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:17:26 PM EST
    WHY was the 50% rule not followed? Why did Brazile insist on breaking her own rule of punishment?

    Why make this disaster we now have.

    Dean and Brazile are the out and out villains here and she STILL goes out there running off her mouth about SDs.

    If nothing else, I want her to get the blame for this.

    Parent

    I recall reading (none / 0) (#102)
    by flyerhawk on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:20:56 PM EST
    that Mcaullife put something in place to specifically punish intentional violations of the rules.  He punished some state in 2004 and forced them to have emergency caucuses.

    Parent
    I recall reading the rules (none / 0) (#109)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:24:55 PM EST
    that called for a 50% stripping.

    Are you now reduced to vaguely recalling something McAuliffe did when he was DNC chairman?

    Howard Dean has been DNC Chair since 2005.

    Parent

    No need for the attitude (none / 0) (#118)
    by flyerhawk on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:31:15 PM EST
    I simply said I recall someone last week referencing  Mcaullife.

    I don't know why they chose to strip all of their delegates.

    Parent

    Because Donna pushed for them (none / 0) (#121)
    by LatinoVoter on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:33:37 PM EST
    to be stripped of all their delegates.

    Parent
    Got link? (none / 0) (#146)
    by flyerhawk on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:48:40 PM EST
    I am no fan of Brazille but I would like to see actual evidence of that.

    Parent
    No need for the nonsense (none / 0) (#127)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:36:34 PM EST
    Your comment was absurd.

    I treated it as such.

    Parent

    Hey, wait. Isn't the preferred (none / 0) (#112)
    by oculus on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:27:05 PM EST
    spelling "lede"?

    Parent
    Yep, in noozroom lingo (none / 0) (#115)
    by Cream City on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:29:08 PM EST
    and with no more to say to that, I'll just say. . . .
    - 30 -

    Parent
    Agreed! There are no Donna Rules -- (none / 0) (#113)
    by Cream City on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:27:38 PM EST
    but there are Dean Rules.  He did a lot for the following, so he gets to go gracefully, in due time.

    She has done nothing but lose Dem campaigns, she is trashing the party now, so she goes -- now, and with as little grace as possible.  Make her an example.

    Dems never will get discipline in our ranks -- but discipline within our leadership, at least, is necessary.


    Parent

    I totally agree about Brazile (none / 0) (#190)
    by lily15 on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:51:49 PM EST
    And look at her status at CNN as well. Begala and Carville must be called Clinton supporters, while Brazile gets away with non partisanship? Now why is that?  So she can influence more people with her non partisan, have no horse in this race crap? Isn't her behavior rather flagrant?

    Parent
    CNN (none / 0) (#221)
    by auntmo on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 03:17:59 PM EST
    Good  question....how DOES  she  get  to be   a  "commentator"  as  an  Obama  supporter,  but   Carville  and  Begala  don't, as  Clinton  supporters?    

    Parent
    The problem as I see it is (none / 0) (#108)
    by Florida Resident on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:23:27 PM EST
    that if I commit a crime and you come behind me and commit the same crime it is still a crime.  If I violate a rule and the rules have the mechanisms in place to punish or correct my violation and you go ahead and take a similar action to mine you violated the rules.  So if the rules are the rules they have to be for every one.  They should just have stayed at their respective dates and allowed the DNC to take action against the violating states.  They did not, and now you say they have an excuse cause Fl and Mi jumped off the bridge first.  I don't buy that argument

    Parent
    Your analogy misses one crucial point (none / 0) (#153)
    by brainwave on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:54:47 PM EST
    IA, NH, and SC didn't merely do the same thing FL and MI had done - that isn't the point. The point is, the rule in question was set up specifically to protect the status of IA, NH, and SC.

    Parent
    And they would have been protected (none / 0) (#161)
    by Florida Resident on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:02:00 PM EST
    even without them moving up their dates.  To me it was a sort gotcha move on their part.  Still the rules are the rules and btw it was not to protect them it was done to stop them from trying to move days earlier and earlier other wise they would not have made super tuesday the line to stretch from.  They were just allowed to grandfather in when the rule was passed.  After all Iowa is a caucus cause there was a rule that said NH would be the first primary if I remember well.

    Parent
    What is Dean's present and past (none / 0) (#123)
    by oculus on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:33:46 PM EST
    relationship with BIll and/or Hillary Clinton?  Who supported him to lead the DNC?  

    I Keep hearing Willie Brown's voice .... (none / 0) (#135)
    by katiebird on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:42:37 PM EST
    "Give me back my Delegation"

    Brown won notoriety two years earlier at the Democratic National Convention as a co-chairman of the California delegation pledged to George McGovern. Brown electrified the convention with a speech demanding that it turn aside a challenge to McGovern's California delegates.

    "Give me back my delegation!" Brown thundered.

    "It carried the day," McGovern said in a 1993 interview.

    It carried the day, but McGovern lost the election battle.  

    I wonder where things will lead this year?

    Senator McGovern just talked about that (none / 0) (#141)
    by Cream City on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:45:29 PM EST
    similarity to '72 last night in Milwaukee (campaigning for his grandson, starting a political career worth watching).  It's in an article on jsonline.com today.  (Btw, the Senator endorsed Clinton.)

    Parent
    Now THAT'S good news! (none / 0) (#144)
    by katiebird on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:47:13 PM EST
    Wow -- thanks for sharing that.

    Parent
    Getcher popcorn ready, folks -- (none / 0) (#143)
    by Cream City on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:47:10 PM EST
    for the response from BTD, already burned down to a short fuse today with such stuff as this. . . .

    Yeah but in this case the ref (none / 0) (#147)
    by Florida Resident on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:48:54 PM EST
    had already blown the whistle.  In other words the DNC had already said that if FL and MI moved their dates they would be punished what was the loss to NH Iowa and SC had they kept the original dates.  The football analogy does not apply here.  Unless you want to call a personal foul.

    The ref is allowed discretion (none / 0) (#152)
    by andrewwm on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:54:31 PM EST
    (to extend a bad analogy) as to what is an intentional foul and unintentional. They used their discretion. That's the rules.

    Parent
    They did not follow their rules (none / 0) (#183)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:34:29 PM EST
    The rules were set (none / 0) (#151)
    by flyerhawk on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:53:55 PM EST
    before the primaries started so could you explain how it is unfair to Hillary?

    From my perspective -- it's unfair to the voters (5.00 / 0) (#157)
    by katiebird on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 12:58:48 PM EST
    I don't care which candidate gains what -- I say we've GOT to seat the delegates.  Or waste a lot of time in the Fall trying to explain why to people who couldn't care less about Party Rules.

    For most people, votes should count.  And it seems to me that people from Florida would be particularly sensitive to that.

    Parent

    Ok but what will happen in 2016? (none / 0) (#164)
    by andrewwm on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:04:23 PM EST
    Every state will say, gee FL and MI counted even though they flagrantly and openly violated the rules. Suddenly every state will be rushing to have their primaries in November, because they'll figure the DNC will cave, just like it did last time.

    At some point, you've got to draw a line in the sand.

    Parent

    Well for one maybe they should consider (5.00 / 0) (#170)
    by Florida Resident on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:09:49 PM EST
    punishing -50% like the rules would have permitted.

    Parent
    50% was a guideline (none / 0) (#174)
    by andrewwm on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:11:59 PM EST
    Final judgement always rested with the rules committee. In this case, they judged that the rule breaking was flagrant enough for more serious penalties.

    Parent
    Actually the rule states Shall (none / 0) (#180)
    by Florida Resident on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:24:37 PM EST
    that doesn't sound like a guideline.  And anyway as I stated in another comment the rank and file is the one being punished here not the FDC I don't think the rank and file is at fault here.

    Parent
    A guideline? (none / 0) (#182)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:33:12 PM EST
    It wasa RULE!

    Rules are rules except when they are not.

    My gawd.

    Parent

    The Rules (20.6) (none / 0) (#187)
    by andrewwm on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:42:35 PM EST

    6. Nothing in these rules shall prevent the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee from  
      imposing sanctions the Committee deems appropriate with respect to a state  
      which the Committee determines has failed or refused to comply with these rules,  
      where the failure or refusal of the state party is not subject to subsections (1), (2)  
      or (3) of this section C. Possible sanctions include, but are not limited to:    
      reduction of the state's delegation; pursuant to Rule 21.C., recommending the  
      establishment of a committee to propose and implement a process which will  
      result in the selection of a delegation from the affected state which shall (i) be  
      broadly representative, (ii) reflect the state's division of presidential preference  
      and uncommitted status and (iii) involve as broad participation as is practicable  
      under the circumstances; reducing, in part or in whole, the number of the state's  
      temporary and permanent members to the Standing Committees; reducing, in part  
      or in whole, the number of guests, VIP and other passes/tickets to the National  
      Convention and related functions; assignment of location of the state's delegates  
      and alternates in the Convention hall; and assignment of the state's housing and  
      other convention related facilities.


    Parent
    But the rule was for a 50% stripping (none / 0) (#195)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 02:09:30 PM EST
    And even this rule does not seem to contemplate a total stripping -

    "Possible sanctions include, but are not limited to:    
      reduction of the state's delegation"

    REDUCTION.

    The DNC broke its own rules.

    Parent

    Include but not limited to (none / 0) (#203)
    by andrewwm on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 02:14:10 PM EST
    I think that's pretty clear that they can go beyond the recommended penalties. I don't know how you could make it more clear actually.

    At any rate, the relevant issue isn't even addressed in this section. The DNC never approved the delegate selection plan in the first place, so it never got to this point. MI and FL never had an approved delegate selection plan, so no place at the table. They can appeal to the credentials committee asking for their plan to be approved.

    Parent

    Why? How about opening up other alternatives (none / 0) (#171)
    by katiebird on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:10:13 PM EST
    Why?  How about opening up other alternatives than FIRST (always) Iowa & New Hampshire.

    Why?  Do you really think voting order something those 2 states should control?

    Couldn't we have a genuine National Primary -- or a series of Regional Primaries?

    Lines in the sand drawn for the sole purpose of protecting Iowa & New Hampshire Are Not Going to hold much longer no matter what the DNC thinks.

    It's just not up to them.

    Parent

    Those issues are decided by the DNC central (none / 0) (#176)
    by andrewwm on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:14:19 PM EST
    committee. They're working to try and add more balance to the groups of states that get to go first. I personally think you're right that the DNC ought to mix it up even more, and after this election it probably will.

    But if the DNC loses its authority over when states go now, it won't ever get it back. Then it's total free-for-all.

    Parent

    Why and when? And who (none / 0) (#162)
    by oculus on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:02:02 PM EST
    supported his becoming head of the DNC?

    P.S.  I don't view this as a Clinton blog.  There are quite a few Clinton supporters who comment here after leaving DK due to pile on and treatment they considered unfair and unfounded.  

    Geek I Was A Firm Supporter Of Dean In 04 (none / 0) (#175)
    by MO Blue on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:13:07 PM EST
    Being a firm supporter of someone does not mean you have to support each and every action that person takes.

    The way MI and FL was handled was stupid. It not only muddies the waters of the 08 primaries but jeopardizes turnout in those states. States the Democratic Party need to win the WH.

    What's Damaging (none / 0) (#181)
    by SandyK on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:24:43 PM EST
    is that the Democrat party has such rules in the first place. It's disenfranchising in the least.

    Like with all punishments either it's fairly distributed on all for the same violation, or none. Some of the punished can't be special, while the others equal. Punishing the largest states like that, disenfranchises a huge swath of the voting population -- one of the dumbest moves a party so determined to be voter representative after 2000, can do.

    They will have to seat the MI and FL delegates. It looks awful if they don't, and if I was a Dem, I'd be bolting that a political body has that much power to basically strip a citizen of their vote (especially since the state delegates ARE the voters representatives at the convention).

    It's criminal that they even considered such a thing. Look at the mess it has even created!

    Last Comment on this Thread by me (none / 0) (#184)
    by Florida Resident on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 01:35:37 PM EST
    I will be voting for whoever wins the Democratic nomination.  I think the Alternative would be a disaster for this Country.  I may have my preference as to who that nominee should be but since I am not a registered Democrat I don't think I should be part of the Decision to me that's the party's internal problem.  But I will say this my wife is a registered Democrat and she is mighty PO'd with the DNC over this issue.  I just hope she votes.

    The problem with "Rules are rules except (none / 0) (#192)
    by AF on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 02:01:32 PM EST
    when they're not" is that it contains a false and misleading implication.  The familiar "rules are rules" argument is that FL and MI shouldn't be seated because that's what the rules were at the beginning of the primaries.  "Rules are rules except when they're not" is supposed to be a rejoinder to that argument. But it is not a legitimate rejoinder because there's a crucial difference between changing the rules before the primaries and changing the rules to benefit one candidate.

    Your stating falsehoods (none / 0) (#193)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 02:06:11 PM EST
    At the beginning of the primaries, the rules SHOULD have dictated a 50% stripping of the delegates of FL, MI, IA, NH and S. Ca.

    You want to avoid this but that is the fact.

    Parent

    I am not stating falsehoods (none / 0) (#197)
    by AF on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 02:11:33 PM EST
    I agree that at the beginning of the primaries, the DNC exercised its discretion to disregard its own rules and should not have done.  I am not trying to avoid this fact.  It sucks.

    However, since it happened before the primaries, it is not a rejoinder to the "rules are rules" argument for not changing the rules in the middle of the primaries.  

    Parent

    Wrong (none / 0) (#199)
    by andrewwm on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 02:11:53 PM EST
    The DNC rules say that all delegate selection plans have to be approved by the DNC. The DNC never approved the Florida or Michigan delegate selection plans, so they therefore have no place at the table.

    The 50% punishment was only for states that violated the rules after the delegate selection plans approved.

    That's why it's up to the credential committee now, because FL and MI came up with their own delegate selection plan, and can appeal to them asking for their plan to be approved.

    Parent

    How about change the rules to give voters a voice? (none / 0) (#201)
    by katiebird on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 02:12:56 PM EST
    I just don't see how we run in MI & FL after sending them home from the convention.  And if we're going to seat them anyway -- why not just say it now, rather than anger them?

    I know -- we can't "seat them now"  -- that's done at the convention.  But if Obama (and maybe the other candidates who've dropped out) ask that they be seated, it would be pretty much a done deal.

    For the Good of The Party, it should be done.

    PS -- I think it's too late for that 50% decision.

    Parent

    The rules allow (none / 0) (#212)
    by Salt on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 02:37:07 PM EST
    for the delegates to be seated it has happened before it is part of the process, no one in the Dem party should ever advocate disenfranchising any voter not for any reason ever, I am sure even Obama agrees so do not presume to speak for him if he were to become the nominee Mich is a must win state and Fla is a want to win for sure.  The voters did nothing wrong.

    Parent
    yes and it should stop (none / 0) (#220)
    by Salt on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 03:16:17 PM EST
    white women are 41 percent of the electorate the largest of any demographic, so stop tinkling on their parade, if they swing to McCain because of a group grievance McCain is President its really that simple so knock it off will ya it's unbecoming as well on the donkeys butt.  I only refer to white female as this is the under represented voice in the discussion, the NAACP is involved for the minoritys challenege to the DNC.

    In 2004 that would be 49,806,807.79
    voters your ticking off with this bashing.


    BTD (none / 0) (#223)
    by auntmo on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 03:30:19 PM EST
    Great  thread,  BTD!!!    Thanks  for bringing  this  to our  attention.  

    Bottom line:  Brazille's  gotta  resign.  

    Brazille must resign (none / 0) (#224)
    by allimom99 on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 03:52:01 PM EST
    YES! The sooner the better. The party brass have NO BUSINESS openly supporting a candidate before the voters decide. The Democratic Party is once again preparing to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. There are no do-overs! They must realize they disenfranchise these two major states at their peril.  

    Second the motion. (none / 0) (#225)
    by Stellaaa on Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 04:18:49 PM EST