Comments on: Why The Florida Vote Needs To Count http://susiemadrak.com/2008/03/13/07/57/why-the-florida-vote-needs-to-count/ Keeping a jaundiced eye on the corporate media. Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:22:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Aaron Pratt http://susiemadrak.com/2008/03/13/07/57/why-the-florida-vote-needs-to-count/#comment-138424 Aaron Pratt Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:28:59 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/03/13/07/57/why-the-florida-vote-needs-to-count/#comment-138424 The Clinton campaign can't resist their instictual urges to change the rules in the middle of the game. Not only do the ends justify the means, the ends simply don't matter to them. It's all about gaming the outcome, and adjusting the truth to match the argument. I have to assume when all the Democratic candidates signed on to the agreement that they would not count delegates from Florida and Michigan that Clinton had her fingers crossed. The Clinton campaign can’t resist their instictual urges to change the rules in the middle of the game. Not only do the ends justify the means, the ends simply don’t matter to them. It’s all about gaming the outcome, and adjusting the truth to match the argument. I have to assume when all the Democratic candidates signed on to the agreement that they would not count delegates from Florida and Michigan that Clinton had her fingers crossed.

]]> By: grascarp http://susiemadrak.com/2008/03/13/07/57/why-the-florida-vote-needs-to-count/#comment-138400 grascarp Thu, 13 Mar 2008 23:24:23 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/03/13/07/57/why-the-florida-vote-needs-to-count/#comment-138400 If they allow a revote in Florida, those Florida Democratic voters suddenly have incredible influence over who will become the party's nominee. Dr. Dean seemed to have disenfranchised Florida's registered Democrats because the DNC wanted to limit early voting to the traditional early primary states. The Republicans in the Florida Legislature out maneuvered the DNC by moving up the election date and Howard Dean responded by dismissing the votes of Floridians in his party. Prior to the 29 January Florida Primary , Democrats in that state were told their vote wouldn't count and that Florida's delegates wouldn't be seated at the convention. Turnout was limited and Dr. Dean strutted around like a banty rooster declaring that the rules would not be changed. Now, we learn the rules might be changed to allow a revote in Florida. Once again the Florida voters have been used by senior officials to contort the election process and most people seem to think it's a swell idea. Sen. Clinton's supporters have no problem with a revote in Florida because their candidate can use a complex change in the rules to obtain the nomination. A revote in Florida seems like pre-convention shennigans employed to further the chances of the Clinton machine. If they allow a revote in Florida, those Florida Democratic voters suddenly have incredible influence over who will become the party’s nominee.

Dr. Dean seemed to have disenfranchised Florida’s registered Democrats because the DNC wanted to limit early voting to the traditional early primary states. The Republicans in the Florida Legislature out maneuvered the DNC by moving up the election date and Howard Dean responded by dismissing the votes of Floridians in his party.

Prior to the 29 January Florida Primary , Democrats in that state were told their vote wouldn’t count and that Florida’s delegates wouldn’t be seated at the convention. Turnout was limited and Dr. Dean strutted around like a banty rooster declaring that the rules would not be changed.

Now, we learn the rules might be changed to allow a revote in Florida. Once again the Florida voters have been used by senior officials to contort the election process and most people seem to think it’s a swell idea. Sen. Clinton’s supporters have no problem with a revote in Florida because their candidate can use a complex change in the rules to obtain the nomination. A revote in Florida seems like pre-convention shennigans employed to further the chances of the Clinton machine.

]]> By: mbw http://susiemadrak.com/2008/03/13/07/57/why-the-florida-vote-needs-to-count/#comment-138383 mbw Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:49:47 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/03/13/07/57/why-the-florida-vote-needs-to-count/#comment-138383 Jeremey Ring was a first-term state senator (elected 2007) who seems to have very little understanding of the actual workings of the Democratic Party, his only prior political experience on Kerry's campaign. The National Convention is so much more than a party, and the delegates are elected to represent those 18 million Floridians (or at least the Democratic portion of them.) I wonder if he views his job in Tallahassee as merely attending a party too. Ironically, he was an Obama supporter who withdrew his endorsement after Obama criticized the primary move. Jeremey Ring was a first-term state senator (elected 2007) who seems to have very little understanding of the actual workings of the Democratic Party, his only prior political experience on Kerry’s campaign. The National Convention is so much more than a party, and the delegates are elected to represent those 18 million Floridians (or at least the Democratic portion of them.) I wonder if he views his job in Tallahassee as merely attending a party too.

Ironically, he was an Obama supporter who withdrew his endorsement after Obama criticized the primary move.

]]> By: Kevin http://susiemadrak.com/2008/03/13/07/57/why-the-florida-vote-needs-to-count/#comment-138378 Kevin Thu, 13 Mar 2008 16:52:17 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/03/13/07/57/why-the-florida-vote-needs-to-count/#comment-138378 Can't leave this out.... From a post on Democrats.org: "I don't think anybody made us aware of that until the very end of the process," said Marco Rubio, the Republican state House speaker. And Jeremy Ring, a Democratic state senator from Broward County and co-sponsor of the legislation, defended it. "If the choice is Florida is relevant and has no delegates versus being irrelevant and having delegates, I'd choose being relevant with no delegates," Ring said. "We did this so 18 million Floridians could take part in the presidential primaries, not so a few hundred people can go to a party in Denver." I, personally, don't think Marco is being honest about all this, but that last line of this excerpt is the greatest. AND he's from Broward County, no less!! Can’t leave this out….

From a post on Democrats.org:

“I don’t think anybody made us aware of that until the very end of the process,” said Marco Rubio, the Republican state House speaker.

And Jeremy Ring, a Democratic state senator from Broward County and co-sponsor of the legislation, defended it.

“If the choice is Florida is relevant and has no delegates versus being irrelevant and having delegates, I’d choose being relevant with no delegates,” Ring said. “We did this so 18 million Floridians could take part in the presidential primaries, not so a few hundred people can go to a party in Denver.”

I, personally, don’t think Marco is being honest about all this, but that last line of this excerpt is the greatest. AND he’s from Broward County, no less!!

]]> By: mbw http://susiemadrak.com/2008/03/13/07/57/why-the-florida-vote-needs-to-count/#comment-138369 mbw Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:16:58 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/03/13/07/57/why-the-florida-vote-needs-to-count/#comment-138369 Michael, that's from a website set up before the January 29th primary. And I admit that I was distracted (too much getting ready to apply to law school in order to protect the vote, and not enough actual protecting of the vote) but there are those of us who are not Obama/Clinton partisans (Edwards/Gore here) who want the vote counted because it's the right thing to do. When I say counted, btw, I accept a revote. I just don't ever want to see Democrats disenfranchise voters, especially in Florida. Michael, that’s from a website set up before the January 29th primary.

And I admit that I was distracted (too much getting ready to apply to law school in order to protect the vote, and not enough actual protecting of the vote) but there are those of us who are not Obama/Clinton partisans (Edwards/Gore here) who want the vote counted because it’s the right thing to do. When I say counted, btw, I accept a revote. I just don’t ever want to see Democrats disenfranchise voters, especially in Florida.

]]> By: Michael Bloom http://susiemadrak.com/2008/03/13/07/57/why-the-florida-vote-needs-to-count/#comment-138366 Michael Bloom Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:33:42 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/03/13/07/57/why-the-florida-vote-needs-to-count/#comment-138366 Why is this admittedly exculpatory information only coming out now? Or have I not been reading enough blogs, ha ha? Why is this admittedly exculpatory information only coming out now? Or have I not been reading enough blogs, ha ha?

]]> By: Tim H. http://susiemadrak.com/2008/03/13/07/57/why-the-florida-vote-needs-to-count/#comment-138363 Tim H. Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:23:04 +0000 http://susiemadrak.com/2008/03/13/07/57/why-the-florida-vote-needs-to-count/#comment-138363 Florida should just do the damn revote and get it out of the way. Florida should just do the damn revote and get it out of the way.

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