Never mind that Republicans--with so little to cheer--get to watch the competing Democrats who would be president hurl their millions against each other like waves crashing on the shore.
It is generally agreed that something should be done, now, to allow Florida and Michigan Democrats to revote in a primary or caucus. Hillary and Barack could allow either 50-50 assignment of delegates in these contested states, as a kind of settlement, but it would not avoid a brokered June convention.
As fast as the Tylenol is disappearing from Democratic shelves, there are two pieces of uncertainty that argue for an even quicker resolution to the controversy.
Waiting for outcome of the June party convention would make great political theater and television ratings. But Democrats cannot withstand such a tight national microscope on power brokering by party nomenclature who lost the White House to Bush in two consecutive elections. The clearer this picture, the more Democrats will turn off their TV's or be turned on by Ralph Nader.
To be sure; I meet more Republicans disgusted with their own party, than not. These angry constituents are closing their wallets to the next round of color-coded terror threats and fear mongering on national security. Still, the problem for Democrats is that every day without a Democratic candidate confers a day's advantage to the McCain ground troops throughout the states.
Michigan appears close to resolving its revote or caucus issue. The big question is Florida. Again.
Republican Governor Charlie Crist magnanimously agreed, yesterday, to state supervision of a Florida Democratic revote if Democrats pay for it. Fair enough. Various reports total the cost of a mail-in revote of the primary, in the tens of millions.
Since the state Democratic party in Florida has no money, would the national party spring for the costs or loan the money to state Democrats?
I doubt it. That would simply set a precedent for other states to do the same: moving primary dates like a game of revenge, or, being dragged along by Republican majorities in the state legislature-- the case in Florida.
Perhaps internet voting could be deployed, at a much lower expense. Could a secure technology be mustered quickly enough? To me, this is the most attractive option.
Unions or Democratic sugar daddies could be enlisted to shoulder the expense, but the inevitable complaints of quid pro quo's would tar the winner if not to November, then for years to come.
Would the state's Democratic voters agree to shoulder the cost of a revote?
Most Florida Democrats would agree that a revote should occur but would also be angry that they are tapped for the cost. That is the way it is in the United States, today, across the board: give us what we want, but don't make us pay for it.
It is the theme of the 2008 presidential election: the economy.
US voters, Democrats and Republicans, were swept up by the lies and fraud undergirding the biggest asset bubble in US economic history; housing and construction and the various forms of toxic debt that enriched a few at the expense of American power and security.
Give us what we want, but don't make us pay for it.
It happened in local city and county commissions, in zoning councils, in the rush to abandon regulation in state capitols and in Washington, and it was led by Republicans for a simple reason: they weren't bogged down by the complicated math including social justice, health care, education and the environment.
But I harbor no illusions: five years from now, the corner the next US president is painted into may be even tighter than the corner the Republicans are painted into, now.
And one way or another, the world will still be paying for Florida.
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8 comments:
It is generally agreed that something should be done, now, to allow Florida and Michigan Democrats to revote in a primary or caucus
Generally agreed by whom? The Clinton campaign (which agreed to the rules upfront) doesn't want a revote, because they think they're entitled to play Calvinball and grab the delegates. The Obama campaign doesn't want a revote because they played by the rules, and are winning under those rules.
The national DNC hasn't endorsed a revote - Dean has only stated that, under the rules, the states are allowed to do it.
The Florida Democratic Party wants a revote, because they screwed up, and they know it.
Charlie Crist is just doing what he can as a loyal McCain supporter to cause mischief for the Democratic Party.
The media is agitating for it, because it helps ratings.
I've seen no indication that Florida Democratic voters want to either ignore the rules and seat the delegates, or spend millions on a revote. This Democratic voter certainly does not.
Conventional Wisdom, while always conventional, is seldom wise.
Charlie Crist wants a revote because it will help the Republicans. How dumb can the democrats be?
Gimleteye: You said: "Most Florida Democrats would agree that a revote should occur"
I am not so sure of that. Hillary supporters like the vote we had and would rather we use those results.
If we have a re-vote the TV would be blanketed with campaign ads and I find that particulary annoying to my viewing pleasure.
Why is it always Florida that causes trouble?
There will be a re-vote. People were told that the initial vote would not count so what was the purpose of them voting?. Many voters would say they stayed home because of this. Unfortunately, the State of Florida should pay for this as Christ was told the rules and still did what he wanted. Anyways, lets re-vote and send thay Kenyan mutt home.
To last anon:
Kenyan mutt...Dude that is funny!!!
You do have the facts wrong, this is not Crist's fault...How can you blame him for this---the Legislature (R's and D's)voted and approved moving up the Primary to Jan 29. It is evident that the problem here is with democrats.
This is better for the Republicans than "swift boat" and the Dems did it to themselves, with a little help from the FL Republican legislature!
Does it really make a difference if Dems revote? I think not. The candidate will be selected by super delegates.
I am tired of the non-sense. I don't want to vote again. I went and voted once already...and if the others didn't too bad.
This is where the cheating begins. Hillary does not have enough to win, so lets change the rules in the fourth quarter of the superbowl with every one in the world watching, so she can win.
Florida is known for institutionalized cheating, particulary with the new no-trace virtual voting scheme. If cheating is needed, we must go to Florida!
Dean needs to close the discussion down. The Bushes and the Clintons have controlled the Whitehouse for more than 30 years. They are together. We need change. Hillary won't win, it is a set-up for McCain. This is the traditional way the Republicans win. And the Clintons are doing everything they can to deliver the election to the Republican component of the power elite.
Let's see exactly how they do it. . .
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