The Democratic National Committee on Saturday threatened to strip the Florida Democratic Party of its presidential delegates, after Florida moved up its primary to January, the Associated Press reports:
Florida Democrats would forfeit their votes in selecting a presidential nominee unless they delay their state election by at least a week, the national party said in a stern action Saturday meant to discourage others from leapfrogging ahead to earlier dates. The Florida party has 30 days to submit an alternative to its planned Jan. 29 primary or lose its 210 delegates to the nominating convention in Denver next summer.
At Wake Up America, Susan Duclos sees the DNC move as part of a "death wish," demonstrating the Democratic Party's "self-destructive tendencies":
Now, I will be the first to admit this race of primaries is ridiculous, but since it seems to be happening with or without the Democratic National Committee's blessing, penalizing the Florida delegates is absurd.
At Open Left, Chris Bowers explains the likely consequence of the DNC's move:
Florida will have a delegation seated at the 2008 Democratic convention. However, that delegation will not be determined by the January 29th Florida "primary," at least until the nominee is already decided. Only ... when the nominee becomes a foregone conclusion, without the assistance of anyone from Florida included in their ongoing delegate counts, will the delegates from Florida be reinstated through the credentials committee in some manner.
In other words, Florida Democrats will vote on Jan. 29 -- but their votes won't have any real influence in deciding the nomination.
Allahpundit is also on the story at Hot Air, but most blogs hadn't picked up the news as of 6 p.m. Saturday -- most political bloggers don't do much posting on Saturday afternoon, especially in August.
Expect an avalanche of blog commentary (via Memeorandum) on this story by Sunday evening.
-- Robert Stacy McCain, assistant national editor, The Washington Times
UPDATE 7 p.m.
As predicted, the blog commentary avalanche ensues with Purple Avenger at Ace of Spades HQ and Ed Morrisey of Captain's Quarters now weighing in.
-- RSM
Comments (15)
Good piece. Sometimes you just have to wonder what people are thinking. Thanks for the link!
Posted by Susan Duclos aka Spree | August 25, 2007 7:29 PM
"Get a rope"
Posted by Hawk | August 25, 2007 7:47 PM
I read Spree's (Wake Up America) post and thought the same.
I then wrote this:
The Not So Distant Drum Beat Of Obscurity
The Democratic Party leadership is so obsessed with hatred and tomfoolery, that they have begun their plummet into the abyss of irrelevancy.
It is both sad and funny.
Posted by Snooper | August 25, 2007 7:48 PM
More than a year until the election.
How meaningful are primaries anyway?
Dem nominee was chosen as soon as she announced candidacy
So i\s anyone supposed to care about this Florida thing?
Posted by Jeff | August 26, 2007 12:51 AM
The question needs to be asked. Which of the presidential candidates is running the DNC and why does that person think the Florida delegation will set the precedence against them? There is more to this than Florida stealing the other states thunder.
Posted by Larry Stone | August 26, 2007 2:57 AM
Perhaps Florida should learn how to run a fair election before they decide to run it first.
Posted by NCC1701 | August 26, 2007 3:53 AM
Is the Democratic Party leadership completely out of their minds? This high handed "Our way or the freeway" attitude is self destructive and cannot be tolerated by the rank and file membership. It appears the first order of business is to immediately dismiss those individuals who are responsible for these "threats". If FL wants to move their primary up LET THEM DO IT!
Posted by Joe Sixpac | August 26, 2007 3:56 AM
Why does "tradition" allow New Hampshire and a few others to enjoy special rights? If Feb 5 is the rule, it should apply equally to all 50 states INCLUDING NEW HAMPSHIRE AND IOWA. Or conversely, let every state do whatever they want. If they want to hold their primary two years ahead, let them do it! A third fair alternative would be to hold a lottery to see which four states get to go first every four years. But to continue to let New Hampshire and Iowa be privileged characters? No way!! I thought America stood for freedom and equality. Apparantly that's not true when it comes to presidential primary preference.
Posted by Lenny Hendricks | August 26, 2007 11:39 AM
This situation in Florida is a violation to the rules. To all citizen that believing in the Democratic Government, this is a betrayed to the Democracy in America by the REPUBLICAN majority in the 50 States, is a and IDIAL by Karl Rover, another game of the Rig Wing to manipulate the voters in this country and win in 2008
Posted by Alfonso Cardenas | August 26, 2007 12:20 PM
Perhaps Florida should learn how to run a fair election before they decide to run it first.
So you are blaming the DEMOCRATS in Florida for the alleged 'unfairness' of previous elections?
The fact of the matter is that after whining piteously after 2000 that they were not allowed to 'count every vote' in Florida, the national Dems have said they don't give a rat's ass if ANY of the dem votes in Florida are counted.
That's the message they are sending, and the people of Florida (especially the dems) are going to hear it loud and clear.
Posted by George Hanshaw | August 26, 2007 2:26 PM
Remembering Shakespeare ~
Much to do about nothing.
Posted by Tom | August 26, 2007 3:25 PM
Remembering Shakespeare ~
Much to do about nothing.
Posted by Tom | August 26, 2007 3:25 PM
Alfonso Cardenas,
So, the DNC is just a proxy for the republicans and is under control of Karl Rove? I bet Howard Dean, the chairman of the DNC, would be surprised to learn that!
Posted by Ray | August 26, 2007 3:52 PM
This is beyond belief. All you Democrats need to realize that the majority of the people you vote for, particularly at the national level, care nothing about you. It's all about THEIR power. All they have to do is trick you long enough to get you to vote for them. And you seem to fall for it every time.
What have they done since the last election? - Nothing. What have they been spending time on? - over 300 investigations into those rascally Republicans. Democrats controlled this country for nearly 40 years with the promises of ending poverty - trillions of dollars have been spent and yet the Dem leadership still wants more money to end POVERTY. If they haven't been able to succeed in 40 years, what sensible person could think they need one more chance?
As long as you keep mindlessly voting for these narcissistic power hunger oafs, you will continue to get what you deserve - a bunch of self-serving elitists who care nothing about you and want to keep you in a dependent class by throwing you a few bones every now and then. Until you wake up and start taking personal responsibility and start making your choices based on the facts and not on emotion and fear, you, the Democrat voter will get exactly what you deserve every time you cast a vote for the likes of Slick Willie, Her Thighness, Howard Dean, Harry Reid, Barbara Boxer, Diane (Follow-Her-Husband's-Money) Feinstein, Ted (bridge-crasher) Kennedy, Chris (waitress-sandwich) Dodd, Osama-bama, and their ilk. Oops forgot The Most Powerful Woman in America - Pelosi!
Posted by Mike from Tennessee | August 27, 2007 9:48 AM
Have all the primaries on the same date, then no one can complain about who has an unfair advantage.
Posted by joe mccullough | August 27, 2007 10:14 AM