Myths abound in the latest Florida vote-count fight. For starters, this is not the fault of state Democratic leaders. The Republican-controlled state legislature, directed by its GOP governor Charlie Crist, created this situation.
Sure, Florida Democrats did not vigorously oppose the Republican plan to move up Florida’s primary on the calendar, defying the rules in both parties. Instead, they negotiated a deal to ensure a paper trail in all future balloting.
And for their efforts in leveraging a position of weakness to gain something helpful for future elections, Florida Democrats get hammered by a Democratic National Committee intent on diminishing the state’s influence in naming a presidential nominee.
Why did national Democrats fear Florida so much? It is, after all, the nation’s largest swing state.
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43 Responses to Why Are Democrats Afraid of Florida?
Crowd Favs
- Imus Blasts “Poor Mitt” [VIDEO] (72)
ct: I don’t particularly care for Romney but the media has gone totally overboard in their response to his poor people comment. It reminds me of how they responded when Dr. Dean did his little yeehaw to his supporters during...
+6Katherine Graham Cracker: Dr. Dooty Thanks but not enough now. All the people involved in the conspiracy to dump Planned Parenthood need to be fired And the Democrats need to give them a taste of their own medicine — open an...
+6
- Mitt’s Florida Romp (45)
RebelliousRenee: Tony… the other day you said you might be shallow. You tolerate Grace everyday. Never once have you posted that you ran to a client’s tv before she could get there and turn on MSNBC just to fry her ass....
+5sturgeone: my poor old ancient black other-mother has shuffled off the old mortal coil. sad day on the island for many whose lives she graced with her own. the bright spot? she died rich, in a shotgun shack built in 1934.
+4patd: rr, well said. tony is truly a mensch, a good man and a compassionate independent.
+3
- Should Dems Go Negative? [Current TV] (56)
craigcrawford: Some of y’all just don’t get it. What Gingrich is doing, with his 200 TV spots vs. Romney’s 13,000 in Florida, is not reaching even 10 percent of the November voters. Right now, they see Mitt as...
+5
- Imus Blasts “Poor Mitt” [VIDEO] (72)
Woo hoo! First!
Good morning everyone! Craig — I just loved those videos! Very creative of you. I especially loved the song, “We’re All in This Together” and the “Don’t Look Down” shot of the Bush statue coming down, Baghdad-style. Thank you for making them for us to enjoy.
Yesterday we were fooling around with a western theme and naming politicans to play the roles. I suggested Carter as the oily character that ties Hillary to the tracks.. (he is telling her she has to get out).
WELLL. Ha Ha .. this morning No quarter has a picture of Hillary tied to the tracks and an acticle about Halperin and sexism..
Sorry I can’t do a simple copy & paste with the new windows 7. It only works a 10th of the time..
It is about half way down the page. Thought it a funny coincidence..
Julie
For those of you who like to follow the internecine affairs of the DNC in minute detail, here is the roster of the RBC which will be meeting this Saturday to determine the fate of Florida and Michigan delegations. You can’t tell the players without a scorecard.
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/dnc-rules-and-bylaws-committee-2008-05-27.html
Good morning Julie! I caught that a little bit when I skimmed through yesterday’s chatter. I didn’t know the origins of it, though. Thanks for filling it in.
Well, well, well. Looks like Scott McClelland didn’t just throw under the bus. Scottie climbed into the driver’s seat of the bus, drove it over Bush’s body and then threw it in reverse and backed over him for good measure.
Switch Candidate
Kevin Rodriguez -- Virgin Island switched from BO
to Hillary
Georgia delegate -- Verna ? Delegate for Hillary..
Julie
In response to your post, Craig,
The answer to your question “why did national Democrats fear Florida so much?” I’m not a conspiracy theorist , but I believe the answer is because
the DNC and Washington insiders desperately wanted Obama to win the primary and they suspected he would lose Florida by big margins early in the season.
So, what better way to help insure their candidate would win the primary than to nuke Florida by setting up a convoluted method of disenfranchising the entire state. It seems to have worked beautifully. Trouble is, in the general
election, the neoliberals, the New Democratic Party, will have a bit more
trouble ignoring a major swing state like Florida. And Obama will probably again lose the state, big time. According to recent polls, Hillary Clinton actually beats McCain in Florida. But, rather than go with Senator Clinton,
a much better candidate against McCain, the far left wing of the Party are
intent on running Obama.
Wow Halperin sure is getting it from the ladies on his misognistic statements.. I agree that the misognist statements toward Hillary have been too much -- too many.. Dissing the ladies is not a good thing to do. The democratic party has stood by and not said a word. Especially the Obama patron-Nancy Pelosi.. and Howard Dean. Making the ladies mad sure is not going to get their votes fellows..
Julie
Will Scott McClelland ever get another political job in his lifetime?
Scott who?
Will little Scottie McClellan ever get another political job? Oh, people have bounced back from far worse. He’ll probably do pretty well.
I did not think I would say this, but the fight over how to deal with the Florida delegates is totally shaking my faith in the national party. The Dems should have this general election in a cakewalk, but it almost looks as if they’re trying to find a way to lose it yet again. They know how to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory better than the Boston Red Sox in 1986.
prof marcia…
“The answer to your question “why did national Democrats fear Florida so much?” I’m not a conspiracy theorist , but I believe the answer is because
the DNC and Washington insiders desperately wanted Obama to win the primary and they suspected he would lose Florida by big margins early in the season.
So, what better way to help insure their candidate would win the primary than to nuke Florida by setting up a convoluted method of disenfranchising the entire state. It seems to have worked beautifully.”
If that’s the case then why didn’t Hillary fight this in November and December when she was telling everyone the race would be over February 5th instead of telling everyone that Florida and Michigan didn’t matter and the votes wouldn’t count?
It’s obvious that there are a lot of Republican Shills over here who really want to go against Hillary because they know they can beat her.
Why else all the innuendo’s and constant tearing down of a Democrat?
I know those who have been hear for a long time and I also know that they truly believe in Hillary so I have no problem their support of their candidate.
I do have trouble believing most of the new commenter’s who are constantly spreading discord by sometimes outrageous insinuations.
Tell me prof marcia, do you believe its okay to torture people in our custody? And what kink of tragedy or miracle are you hoping for so Hillary gets the nomination. An RFK type?
Sorry prof, your argument stinks.
God Bless.
Round
Like a circle in a spiral
Like a wheel within a wheel
Never ending or beginning
On an ever-spinning reel
Super Delegates: Vote Obama or Else
“Obamatons are making not so subtle threats against the Super Delegateselect Obama or there will be blood in the streets. Leading supporters of Obama are the messengers of doom.
Leave it to Baracks folks to threaten race riots. Intimidation through the threat of violence, even race violence, is one of Obamas insidious weapons in stampeding super delegates like a herd.”
http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/05/27/super-delegates-vote-obama-or-else/
bush taking one for the team…….not like it’s going to lower his ratings…….rove told scotty to write the book…..both as a sop to the sap scott and also as a distancing from mccain………dont forget what these pipples is, how they work, and that everything they do is geared to the long run of a thousand year gop rule……..
A ring is round, it never ends
The democrat party is losing many many friends.
BHO will never win florida
GORDO…
And what do you call the Clinton Big Money supporters threatening to not donate money anymore to the Democrats if Pelosi don’t support Hillary?
Your a Republican Shill GORDO and everyone here knows it.
It’s really obvious by all your comments that you would be happy if anything were to happen to Obama.
Julie Young 73…
Obama don’t need to win Florida to win the election. Dem’s haven’t won Florida in the majority of Presidential Elections so why would you expect them to win it this year?
God Bless your GOP employer, shehe will need it.
Activists Prepare to ‘Recreate ’68′ at DNC
“All Things Considered, May 23, 2008 · Activists are preparing for the Democratic National Convention in Denver this summer. Groups from around the country have coalesced under the name “Recreate ’68″ a reference to the year protestors clashed with police at the party’s convention in Chicago.”
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90781881
Julie,
Please do not mention Nancy Pelosi or whatever her name is. As a man I am disappointed by Howard Dean, but more in Nancy Pelosi and Donna Brazile. Even is she (they) doesn´t (don´t) like HRC, she (they) never ever ONCE stood up for her when the media and certain industries attacked her (being HRC) in particular and women in general.
Pelosi / Brazile are another fine example of how some women, fear competition from other (brighter) females…
Gordo,
I feel U.
Sorry prof, your argument stinks.
God Bless.
Posted by: anon-paranoid
Get in line or get out of the way folks.
Re-create 68
DO IT IN DENVER!
http://www.recreate68.org/album1_dnc_001.htm
i wouldnt go to denver unless you paid me……a lot.
Craig, the Democrats in Washington didn’t want a resolution to voting machines (allowing for a paper trail) because it doesn’t give them something to complain about. They are more concerned with having battles to fight than actually solving problems.
C’mon, you know I’m right! : )
mornin’all.
sturg -- LOL at your 7:32.. btw, I had an inspirational drive in this morning that concluded with Terry Kath’s solo from 25 or 6 to 4. Damn could that man play a guitar!
AP & GORDO -- don’t you have jobs to go to or something? Sheesh, such vitriol so early in the morning.
ProfMarcia, the Dem rules existed before FL moved its primary, so that part of your argument is a little weak to the extent your suggesting that the rules were aimed at FL in particular -- although that was the intent of the rules in the abstract -- to soften the voices of the voters in all the big states, FL included to insure for some ridiculously misguided reason that god only knows so that NH & IA (total electoral votes -- 11) could continue to be the mice that roar.
you’re
Patsi -- you left AP out.
Read this morning where the DNC’s lawyers have opined that the most the rules committee can give the errant states is 50-pct of their delegates.
In the case of Florida, at least, I suggest the approach should be a revisitation of that state’s pleas for a waiver that had been previously denied. Clearly the state’s party was caught between a rock and the hard place.
Michigan? Give Mr Obama the uncommitted votes and Mrs Clinton the votes that were cast in her name. Once again, grant an after-the-fact waiver.
The granting of waivers obviates the need for penalties.
Once again, voters from South Carolina should email Mr & Mrs Fowler (both are rules committee members) with their druthers. You can get to them via the state committee.
“The most trusted leaders of the Democratic party … ought to be ashamed of themselves for supporting Barack Obama. With use of the internet, a fifth grader could connect the dots to show a picture of a guy who was picked up in college and carried up the political ladder by a corrupt gang of influence peddlers.
John McCain is just drooling waiting for Obama to become the nominee so that he can come out with the trail of dirt that the Democratic party is too afraid to reveal this late in the game. If nominated, Obama will not survive a month when faced with the Republican attack machine.”
http://www.opednews.com/articles/genera_none_080328_barck_obama___the_wi.htm
Anon-paranoid,
Even from the beginning, your response to my post is way off base when you
write that I am a new poster.
I’m not a new poster. I’ve been commenting on Trail Mix for several
weeks. You don’t pay much attention, do ya?
Secondly, your cliche of an argument taken from the talking points
of Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews is rather stale isn’t it?
Your vague generalities like “she was telling everyone” which you use
twice is laughable. How do you know what Senator Clinton was telling people?
You Obama followers get awfully riled up whenever the topic of your
guy’s disenfranchising of millions of American voters is raised. Settle
down. You will have to learn to live with the ugly truth that the Obama
posse would not allow new primaries to be held in Florida and Michigan
because Obama was afraid he’d lose. Period. Now Camp Obama doesn’t want the votes counted in Florida according to the original votes cast. Again,
because Obama lost in a landslide.
Why should millions of voters be punished for mistakes both Rep and Den
Party officials made? No one but Obama and his supporters think that Florida
voters should be kicked to the curb.
This all sounds all too familiar, doesn’t it? Or have you forgotten Bush v
Gore 2000? If anyone is playing a dasturdly Bush-Republican trick, it’s Obama and his group of Darth Axelrods. Sorry if the truth hurts, Anon-paranoid.
When your post trails off into comments about torture and RFK, then I know you definitely aren’t making any sense. Your name does you justice.
You are paranoid.
Anyway, my comments were in response to Craig Crawford’s post. You might do well to read it before replying to further bloggers on this topic.
Good Morning All
Sturgeone, I love The Thomas Crown Affair and anything Michel Le Grande ever wrote
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vB76C3IQ0eQ&feature=related
Patsi,
There are lots of others to speak with … just try ignoring the one who contributes only vapid vitriol without any semblance of sanity.
Hi Jason,
Your post is great. I agree completely. Pelosi and Dean are huge
Obama supporters who’ve been trying to shut down Hillary’s campaign
for months.
And Donna Brazile is an Obama supporter pretending to be nonpartisan.
Hey
Good Morning
Gordo
If there is tape
It will come out now
not Oct.
Why?
Now ,
Hillary gets the blame
creates huge split,
Democrats more foolish than usual.
If Oct.
McCain gets the blame
big backlash
McCain goes down.
So put your money on
There is no tape
Friends don’t let friends vote a straight ticket
Vote divided government
Vote McCain
Well folks, you can battle today, and have fun at it -- as for me, I’m hitting the road to go spend the day in a dusty record room in the home of the original Mother’s day celebration looking for a needle in a haystack.
Have fun, and I’ll see ya later.
Prof Marcia
Brazile has been stating for quite a while, that she “will vote for whomever is in the lead with pledged delegates’ so she is totally in the Obama camp just not officially declared.
if you should chance to sit down in the haystack, youre sure to find the needle……..
Infighting threatens Democratic Party -- Gene Lyons
“The political tragedy of 2008 would be if, in making history, the Democratic party tore itself apart. The potential exists for a schism between two of the partys most loyal and enduring constituencies: African Americans, and blue-collar white voters in what was once the nations industrial heartland along the Ohio River.
Beginning in 1964, when the Democratic solid South dissolved, … every successful Democratic presidential candidate has had to carry both Ohio and Pennsylvania, even when Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton picked up Southern states. Its not only offensive to scorn working-class Clinton supporters as NASCAR man, uneducated, low-information whites, rubes, fools and hate-mongers, its political suicide.”
http://www.nwanews.com/story.php?paper=adg§ion=Editorial&storyid=227034
“you left AP out.”
exactly…..
GORDO,
Your posts are always enlightening.
The tragedy is that the Democratic party has already torn itself apart this
year. The schism is already huge between African-Americans, the DNC and
the neolibs of the elite Democratic party vs working class white voters, centrist Dems and white women over 40.
Jamie (or anyone else who might know): Do you have a link to that Obama press conference after he won the Senate race where he says he needs more experience to run for President? (Like a full term as Senator?) I lost my bookmarks and can’t find it. I have a friend who is lobbying SDs from Washington state and wanted to use some of the text. Any help you can provide is appreciated!
prof marcia…
And I have been commenting since late 2005 or early 2006.
I have not seen any post condemning the Republicans from any of the new posters.
In fact the biggest comments from all the new commenter’s is to vote Republican if Hillary don’t get the nomination.
Those who have been regulars for years firmly believe in Hillary and they show their support like I would expect them too.
It’s only those who have shown up since CQ started hosting Craig’s site that have constantly suggested either voting for McInsane or leaving crap like GORDO.
The Republican’s lost half there delegates and there not complaining. I have already said many times that the delegates from Florida should be seated, however they should also lose half of them like the Republicans did.
I will look for the video of Senator Clinton stating that the votes of Michigan and Florida won’t count later today after I get home from work and post it again like it’s been posted before here.
And if you don’t believe that it was highly offensive to suggest that Hillary was staying in the race in case something horrible might happen to Senator Obama like what happened to RFK than you just don’t get it.
I was around when JFK, RFK, MLK and Malcolm X were the victims of Political Assassination and to use the death of RFK using the word Assassinated is beyond the pale.
And if you really are worried about a Democrat winning the White House and hoping that GWB doesn’t do what a great many of us worry about {Bombing Iran and starting World War III} since he’s not all there, than I just can’t believe that there are Democrats out there who are really Democrats and not Dino’s like Lieberman.
Where is all the outrage about the Republicans from you who call yourself s Democrats?
There is more outrage over Obama being the nominee then what our country has been through under GWB and a Republican controlled House and Senate until 2006 when the Democrats retook the House and could have gained control in the Senate if not for Charles Schumer’s scheme to get Lieberman back in after the Democrats in Connecticut rejected him.
Since it appears that destroying Obama is more important to you than our changing our country and restoring our Constitution go ahead like many of the new commenter’s have said they would do and vote for McInsane.