The Long Version
Wayne Barrett at the Huffington Post covers the DNC’s screw up in a very long post.
He tells you the same thing I’ve been telling everyone for months, including the other states breaking the rules, but not being punished.
The only thing he doesn’t cover, because he isn’t familiar with Florida ballot rules is that, if the Florida delegation doesn’t get a meaningful role in selecting the Democratic candidate, that candidate will not be on the Florida ballot, so McCain wins 27 electoral votes by default without spending any campaign cash. I would remind people who think I’m kidding, that all of the Democratic candidates appeared on the Florida ballot because they weren’t allowed to withdraw their names. The state law controls the names on the ballot. A “50/50” split or seating after the candidate is selected is not going to conform to the law.
There is no time to run another election in Florida, even if people wanted to, because there is no time for a required 30-day comment period, and then running the election prior to the DNC’s June deadline.
Even if they allow the Florida delegation to vote and they manage to get on the ballot, they won’t get my vote. I expect to be attacked by the enemy, but I won’t forgive an attack by “friends”. Thanks to the actions of the DNC, we are living with a terrible amendment to the Florida constitution and the Republicans are adding more to the November ballot. The Democratic Party can’t undo the damage they have done to the state and it’s residents. The rest of the nation is not likely to forgive them any time soon when John McCain becomes President because of DNC stupidity. Florida was winnable, but the DNC didn’t care.
2 comments
FWIW, from this corner, Bryan, you are forgiven your Democratic non-vote in advance. In your circumstance, I would probably do exactly the same thing. There is no excuse for what the DNC has done in Florida and Michigan. (Yes, I understand the situation is different in those two states. Still…)
I shall vote for the Democratic nominee in November because I am long since pledged to do so. Indeed, when I voted in the primary and afterward caucused for a candidate, I almost certainly swore an oath to do so, though the process was so familiar to me from past years that I don’t remember for certain. I am content with that. It is my extended finger in the eye of the Bushists, and the GOP for allowing itself to become the juggernaut the Bushists ride as they roll over the American people.
But after November, I do not know what I will do next. An active Democrat… and by active, I mean a block-walking, phone-banking, money-contributing Democrat… for at least four and possibly as many as six presidential election cycles, I am rendered a whole lot less committed than I have been, largely by the incomprehensible stupidity of the DNC, especially in the situation in Florida and Michigan. IMHO, the Hillary/Obama, Obama/Hillary stupidity pales in comparison to the DNC’s (figurative) bible-thumping about the rules for the timing of primaries. If the Democratic Party wants my loyalty, my efforts and yes, my money, after November, they will have to earn it anew.
The latest bit among bloggers is to go viral with a video prepared by the Florida GOP the “shows” that Florida Democrats weren’t serious about abiding by DNC rules.
No one mentions that the GOP has 65% of the seats in both houses of the state legislature. No one linked to the audio of what happened to Dan Gelber when he tried to introduce the change in the Florida house.
They they don’t give a damn about Florida voters, so they shouldn’t be surprised that many Florida voters have ceased to give a damn about the Democratic Party.