Letters to the Editor
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I don't know about anyone else, but...
...I'm getting bored with it all. Its become an embarrassing circus all around. None of this is making the Democrats look very attractive for the general election. Its getting to the point where all the Republicans have to do is stand by and shake their heads.
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Admirable, but not specific
How do they propose giving those voters a voice? That has really been the crux of the issue all along. Personally, I think Obama should concede Florida as an act of good will and Michigan should re-vote. I would not argue with Florida re-voting, but I don't really think it is necessary, and as Slackie has argued elsewhere, it would make Obama look really good if he said so too. It also highlights that Michigan is quite a different situation and gives him a bargaining chip to request a re-vote there. If Clinton sincerely wants to re-enfranchise voters rather than just winning, she can't really refuse that offer.
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Hillary Clinton was not unopposed in the Michigan primary....
That's not exactly true, Alex, that Hillary Clinton was unopposed.
On December 10, 2007, the Michigan Democratic Party issued a press release stating that the Democratic primary ballot would contain six choices: Hillary Clinton, Christopher Dodd, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, Uncommitted, and Write-in. The press release also urged supporters of Biden, Edwards, Obama and Richardson to vote “uncommitted” instead of writing in their candidates’ names. (Kucinich had uncussessfully tried to get his name off the ballot.)
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Who took their rights in the first place?
Michigan and Florida knew the rules and the consequences when they moved up their primaries. They did this in an attempt to be bigger players in the selection of candidates and now they (and Hillary) are out and about whining about their voices not being heard. It's ironic that having a later primary seems to matter a lot more in the current Democratic primary cycle, but in the end they're asking for all punishment for rule breaking to be lifted because the punishment they knew about in advance is just too harsh for them.
I'm sorry for the people of those states who feel their voices are being ignored this year, but the blame rests with their state officials who broke the rules and moved up their primaries. Would those two governors like to issue blanket pardons for all the other rule/law breakers in their states? I think that's doubtful.
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How many times will Florida get a pass for screwing up our electoral process?
It's really simple, guys. The rules and penalties for refusing to the follow those rules were in black and white before your state decided to violate them and move your primary date.
I don't see why there's even a debate about this. Why is this so complicated? It's not like any of this was sprung on you at the last second (though that's what you're trying to do now).
Go ahead and protest. Just remember: this is your state's mess, and when the DNC loses the general election because of all the money and good will spent on getting this fixed, it will be on your shoulders.
AGAIN.
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Not Necessary?
Not necessary to give Florida an actual vote? We got denied what the other states have all had - rallies, town meetings, etc. Chances to actually see and listen to the candidates.
Also, many people decided to just skip the whole thing, feeling that their vote didn't really matter. It was not an actual campaign, with ads, calls the whole business, so many people who had not been following the national news closely more than likely went with name familiarity.
The familiar name was Clinton, and if actual time and attention was spent on the ground in the state, her "victory" might have been with less of a margin, if at all. It wasn't a fair test, through no fault of Florida votes, and needs to be re-run if anything is going to be counted at all.
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Re: Hillary Clinton was not unopposed in the Michigan primary....
You're right, MICKI, it's not exactly true. Chris Dodd had dropped out by the time Michigan voted, but Mike Gravel and Dennis Kucinich remained in the race, and I suppose that does technically count as opposition. I shouldn't have been so categorical, I'll change the post.
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Who really favors disnefranchizing voters?
Granholm is a well-known Clinton supporter and Crist is a Republican. Of course, they both favor more pledged delegates for Clinton. Granholm knew the rules when she maneuvered to move up the Michigan primary. She was also instrumental in leaving Hillary Clinton on the ballot. Finally, she and Clinton do not want a do-over caucus because they fear Obama would win and a do-over primary is too expensive and difficult to organize.
Because Clinton cannot possibly win the pledged delegate race (even with a Michigan and Florida do-over), she can only win by winning over a super-majority of superdelegates. For all of her concerns about disenfranchisement of Michiganders and Floridians, she simultaneously and hypocritically argues that that voters in "small" states do not count. Perhaps, we should just bar all the pledged delegates from the Democratic convention and have only the super-delegates vote. That is in reality what she is pushing for and seating Michigan and Flordia is just a red herring. It is clear who really wants to disenfranchise voters, and it is not Obama or the DNC, it is, quite naturally, the candidate who has gotten less votes.
Finally, Obama supporters whining about the super delegates are equally off base. Just as the rules about Florida and Michigan were clear, so were the rules about super delegates. They can and are supposed to vote for whomever they please. They do not have to follow the will of the "voters."
Both sides should just shut up and play by the rules and see who wins. If the rules are dumb (and I think they are) they should be changed, but they cannot be changed in the middle of the game.
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It's like telling your kid not to do something or they don't get dessert.
Then they do it anyway and cry when those penalties are carried out.
Sorry. You knew ahead of time what was going to happen when you decided to move your primary dates.
Now you want your dessert for breaking the rules?
This is a mess, and it could very likely cost us the general election, no matter who our nominee is.
Thanks again, Florida. You've proven to America once again that you can't be trusted to hold an election on your own.