Only three primaries, one legal-like meeting, and one protest left remains in this epic battle!!!
On Saturday, the DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee will meet to discuss the Florida and Michigan situations. There have been many proposals as how to seat the delegates from the two delinquent states, from awarding the full delegate and popular vote totals for Senator Clinton and giving Senator Obama his totals from Florida but not Michigan (thank you Grand Inquisitor of Democracy Lanny Davis); to awarding the full vote in both and giving Senator Obama the uncommitted delegates in Michigan, which leaves us the problem with illegitimate elections though we expect that in the US; to counting the full vote in Florida and providing a 69 - 59 delegate split in Michigan sans popular vote, which carries an assumption of an illegitimate election but does not state it explicitly and makes little sense; to cutting the delegations in half but hopefully not the people themselves; to allowing Harrogate to decide the outcome after a pick-up game of hoops-- he better choose Obama first, or maybe his assistant, Reggie Love; or Oxymoron reforming the listening room to hear oral arguments and then contemplating this mess over The Beatles White Album, (the only record I ever heard in the listening room....)
MSNBC has a good review of the possible scenarios. I would argue the fight is not over the delegate totals but rather the popular vote. Even if Senator Clinton receives her delegate "result" from the original "vote" then she is still far, far behind. However, if she can claim the vote totals (through illegitimate elections) then she can make her case to the Super Delegates on the basis of winning the popular vote (minus Obama votes from caucus states and Michigan or any one else she sees fit). Look for the delegate to be seated (no surprise there) and be awarded 50% of their original strength. American Idol, er, MSNBC Political Analyst Chuck Todd (Viva Chuck Todd) reports that the rumor of the day is that the popular vote in Florida would count & their delegate total would be cut in half while Michigan's delegates would split 50-50 and the popular vote would be excluded, making the nomination mark 2,118. Great only half or three fourths the illegitimacy.... way to go Democrats!!! And if they campaigns & the DNC reach a deal here, who trusts both parties to keep to their word.
The irony would be if these states planned to hold their primaries in June then they would have been seated in full, would carry enormous influence over the process, and would have received bonus delegates----It's just like bonus democracy!!! Hat's off for the states that wait.
Even better than the fight inside will be the protests outside--- Brooks Brothers Riot anyone? Outside the main event, Clinton supporters, such as Women Count PAC, will be protesting in an attempt to get the original vote seated as is (see their blackmail poster here). During the protest, Clinton fundraiser Elizabeth Bagley, Reps. Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio and Corrine Brown of Florida, and Kim Gandy, president of the National Organization for Women, will address the protesters. However, in keeping with Senator Clinton's campaign slogans, the speakers will not give speeches or engage in rhetoric; they will only provide solutions or act. It will be as if a bunch of philosophers walked into a room, contemplated, and reached "the truth" without discussion. Performance art for everyone. (For a list of non-speakers, er, I mean speakers, click here.)
If there were ever a time for a dastardly act by the Republicans, Saturday would be the opportune time. All the networks plan on covering this spectacle. Why riot just at the convention when you can riot in DC and the convention.
On a totally, related and unrelated note, we finally watched HBO's Recount. After watching the movie, I walked away with three conclusions: (1) Political parties possess way to much influence in the electoral process and the judiciary offers little sanctuary; (2) Kevin's Spacey's character, Ron Klain, showed that the real travesty was that a political party could purge over 20,000 voters from participating in the election without anyone knowing, making the election result predictable and tainted; (3) this is why you cannot solve a problem with an election after the election. Once the vote is in and the winner has a chance to define the situation, fairness becomes an after thought.
These lessons apply to the 2008 primary as well.
Oh Well. Viva Chuck Todd
4 comments:
"[A] political party could purge over 20,000 voters from participating in the election without anyone knowing, making the election result predictable and tainted."
This would be a big shocker!
Come on, Solon! This comment was for you.
Taint. Shocker...!?
Remember this conversation? (It takes me back to M and PW's old kitchen. I can still taste the beers.)
While I knew about the latter, I didn't know that it had a name. Not until our conversation, which centered on a particularly sophisticated episode of the Daily Show.
Every time I include the word in one of my posts, I think of you and only you.
It is always intentional and I love your responses...
I had a feeling that you put it there for me.
And I should've known that you caught my reference. But it's been a while...
I miss you guys. I mean, I miss y'all. (I almost forgot where I was.)
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