Since Florida's legislature recently passed a bill setting January 29 as the date for their Primaries, and it was signed by the Governor, the Democrats in Florida have had a problem. The National party was unhappy with the earlier votes ,which would tend to divert attention from solidly Democratic primaries to the tough contest in the Republican-controlled state of Florida.
Now they are stating that unless Florida changes its laws (which are unlikely - the Legislature is controlled by Republicans), the Florida delegation to the Democratic Convention will not be seated and their votes will not be counted.
Hardball politics, for sure, but it seems likely to blow up in their faces rather than change the positions of Floridians who really don't think much of the national Democratic Party anyway.
I predict this is one where the Dems will quietly back down after a session of blustering and empty threats. Entertaining, really. Sort of like an episode of "Meercat Manor".
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tripleblack
"You can never be free until you let yourself go."
I think the linked story says it all. Florida, pulled up their primary to have say in who wins the party nomination before less populated states with less $ contributions make the choice. Its the same story in California and Texas.
All I get from the story is a feeling that the DNC is irritated because they see Florida democrats as an internal threat to the way the nominee has typically been chosen by the 13 original states and the corn belt.
I think the linked story says it all. Florida, pulled up their primary to have say in who wins the party nomination before less populated states with less $ contributions make the choice. Its the same story in California and Texas.
All I get from the story is a feeling that the DNC is irritated because they see Florida democrats as an internal threat to the way the nominee has typically been chosen by the 13 original states and the corn belt.
Iowa and New Hampshire would still be duking it out for first blood (and that caucus system in Iowa is interesting).
Personally, I think every State should grab the earliest possible date, and make the whole process go faster! These things drag on far too long the way we've been doing it.
Florida (and South Carolina, of course) seeking to get their share of political attention (and influence) are within their rights to hold their primary elections as they see fit - and the Democratic Party can choose to exclude their delegates and leave the choice of candidates to the other, more tractable states...
But it would be political suicide to do that.
So its all just some wierd episode of influence peddling within the Democrat Party. It DOES look pretty ugly, from the standpoint of a loyal Floridian Democrat, of course.
It will sure hold down the Democratic turnout in Florida's privaries, if they happen to stick to their guns!
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tripleblack
"You can never be free until you let yourself go."
Yeah, what's up with moving the primaries around? They didn't do that back in Gerry Mander's day, did they? I first heard of it, when der governator started pushing to move California's primary election date.
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Its all about positioning closer to the "door". Its apparent that more and more the primary system has become truncated, with those who hold their primaries later than the first few weeks given little attention by the candidates. They also have much less power to frame the party platform and the debateof new ideas than the often tiny-but-early primary states.
Think about it. How often have strong candidates "stumbled" in the oddly insular primaries in tiny New Hampshire and Iowa, and immediately been cast forth from the process. Its as though the later primaries in huge states like California, Florida or New York mean little - simply because there is dead air time between the primary news from the first primaries and the primary voting in the larger (but later) states.
Moving a major state's primary to coincide with, say, New Hampshire would cast a chilling shadow over that state's accustomed primary supremacy...
Watch the primaries this year closely. Much will be made of any changes that move populous states closer to the timing of the likes of New Hampshire and Iowa.
Gosh. Imagine a successful nominee NOT annointed by about 650 New Hampshirites! Imagine the gnashing of teeth!
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tripleblack
"You can never be free until you let yourself go."
no.. was hubbub for a while but like most propositions in governments won't come into play until the last minute.. (we don't need the voters calling the politicians with their voice now do we)
no.. was hubbub for a while but like most propositions in governments won't come into play until the last minute.. (we don't need the voters calling the politicians with their voice now do we)
Keep an eye pealed in the local papers about this one, Vortex. Its potentially a BIGGIE.
Especially if the Dems get a backbone and decide to actually follow through on their threat. The backlash in Florida would be like a tsunami.
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tripleblack
"You can never be free until you let yourself go."
The Florida Dems are sticking to their January date, and the DNC is saying they will "strip" Florida of its 210 delegate badges (stinkin' badges!!!) if they do.
Michigan, another small, unimportant state to the DNC (not), is also planning to flaunt the DNC rules against states other than Iowa, South Carolina, Nevada, and New Hampshire holding primarier before Feb. 5...
What makes these 5 states "special" I do not know.
Michigan and Florida would leave a major hole in the convention, and the backlash from this might well be the little extra foolishness needed to push them fully over into the Republican column.
I still won't believe the DNC is this stupid until they actually hold that convention without Florida (and Michigan).
Its a political IQ test, and these guys are not looking like geniuses right now...
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tripleblack
"You can never be free until you let yourself go."
The National Democratic Party is showing clear signs of insanity - they are stripping the 4th largest concentration of Democrat voters of representation at their Convention.
So the powerful Florida Democratic party is suing them, stating the obvious - its probably illegal and certainly the wrong thing to do...
That is, unless you are NOT a Democrat, and the prospect of the DNC foregoing the usually generous Florida donations (not to mention the very much in play Florida electoral votes) makes you smile.
I've held a low opinion of these guys for a very long time, but this mass-stupidity outbreak is truly amazing.
Lemming-like, the Democrats may self-destruct over nothing more important than the timing of a few primaries! Michigan is also doing the same thing, and perhaps facing a similar fate.
I really don't recognize the MoveOn.Democrats anymore.
Zell Miller had it right in this book, "A National Party No More".
PS: With Florida moving up their Primary, South Carolina (already earlier than they used to be) are talking about moving their Primary forward to BEFORE Florida.
Maybe the DNC will strip South Carolina, Florida AND Michigan of their delegates at the Convention. Look at the bright side: It will allow them to pick a smaller convention center if they toss out 25% of their delegates!
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tripleblack
"You can never be free until you let yourself go."
Florida Democrats: Your Votes Don't Count 
