The question is not "should" FL and MI vote again, but will we? I'm a Florida voter and am not apprised of the situation in Michigan, but I can tell you, as of right now, Florida has no intention of holding another election. I received an email from the Democratic party just today reiterating that fact. We have voted, we have chosen our delegates, and we fully expect and demand that the DNC formally acknowledge our vote immediately and seat our delegates. The media can analyze this situation all day long but the citizens of Florida know where we stand. If you'd like to take part in our efforts to fight our unjust disenfranchisement, please go to http://seatourdelegates.com and sign the petition.

This is really not about Obama. He just happens to be at the right time and the right place and has benefitted greatly from an outpouring of bringing the country back to its promise.

I couldn't agree more. I remember I happened to be in La Paz, Mexico on the day that Bush was re-inaugurated...I remember comforting myself that there was peace at least in the name of the city where I was standing. But many of us were so disgusted with our fellow citizens that day. My best friend hasn't ever gotten over it. She couldn't believe that Bush, after being so bad for four years, could actually win. There could have been voter tampering. I'm not positive what happened.

But what appeals to me about Obama is his grassroots outreach, and his inclusiveness. I think we need a movement that's bigger than a Clinton Restoration, that much is clear. But also bigger than Obama. I hope that this is what's happening. I hope that neither of these two thinks of this contest as (only) ego...when there are life and death issues on the line.

About a possible lawsuit: I heard Geraldine Ferraro on the News Hour tonight. She is a former vice presidential candidate and a lawyer. She said Michigan did not have as good a chance to sue as Florida. She said that this was because Michigan Democrats were instrumental in moving up their candidates but that Florida Democrats had nothing to do with the way the Republican governor moved up their primary. She said Florida should absolutely sue.

You said: Black people in Florida (among others) were told not to vote because their vote wouldn't count....so they didn't.

I keep hearing this but I haven't seen it substantiated. Perhaps you can help me.

1. Who told them not to vote?

2. By what authority?

3. Why specifically black people? What about others?

4. Was this forcible? Who had the power to deny them and how?

5. Why did they obey?

At least one FL lawsuit has been thrown out in court; FL Sen Bill Nelson's lawsuit will be heard in mid march, I believe.

[Judge]Lazzara wrote, "The Supreme Court has consistently recognized that national political parties have a constitutionally protected right to manage and conduct their own internal affairs, including the enforcement of delegate-selection rules and the decision as to which state delegates it will recognize

http://www.tbo.com/news/politics/MGBXM6ENF7F.html

@KultFree

but I can tell you, as of right now, Florida has no intention of holding another election. I received an email from the Democratic party just today reiterating that fact. We have voted, we have chosen our delegates, and we fully expect and demand that the DNC formally acknowledge our vote immediately and seat our delegates.

So the FL dems and the DNC are still in a pissing match, the FL voters are hosed and the prior supreme court descisions imply that the FL dems are toast. Meanwhile the rest of the party looks on in horror. Good Show.

I'm sure you can find more facts about this as easily as I can. I didn't claim that black people were specifically targeted in this instance, but rather that they may be suffering more if they missed a historic opportunity to vote for a person of the same race. Women were told not to vote as well, or told that their votes would not count, so they might have missed a historic opportunity as well--but I was thinking of the black people disenfranchised and turned away in huge numbers, thrown off the voting rolls for being criminals or future criminals in the year 2000.

In fact, if you want to be specific, lower income people in Florida may be the disenfranchised ones since there was a property bill on the ballot, and those who showed up to vote on the property bill voted for President as well (or this is what accounts for a larger than normal amount of people voting in an election where their vote was supposed to "not count." You can look this up as easily as I can.

I think a do-over is fair, but it concerns me that Clinton has said no to a do-over. Maybe she will change her mind in the end. But the Florida Democratic Party also seems to be saying no. To not even consider letting others vote seems unfair. Maybe it depends on one's temperament. If I thought that my vote wouldn't count, I probably wouldn't have taken time out of my busy day to vote. Well, since I'm a political junkie I might have...but usually if someone tells me my vote won't count, I believe them and act accordingly. Call me a rule follower.

But I'm also concerned that if the Democratic Party changes its mind, there will be a backlash. Maybe not a big one, but even a few disgusted voters turning to Nader in protest could cost them the election. Finding a fair solution is going to be a challenge I suppose. I haven't read down in the posts if you wrote earlier today--are you against a do-over?

Just wondering. Also, what would you think of a joint ticket....I'm just starting to wonder about this since both of them have or seem to have such devoted supporters....