Sunday, June 01, 2008

Only Democrats Can Come Up With Something Like This

Yesterday, the Democrat party "rules" committee came up with a neat plan that seats the entire delegations from Florida and Michigan at their convention in Denver later this summer http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/01/us/politics/01rules.html?ex=1370059200&en=3e00cc58a95bd341&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink. Oh, but they get one half (1/2) a vote each.
HUH?
And, it only gets better.
For the Michigan delegation, the "rules" committee has found a way to divine votes.
Since Sen. Clinton won the state, the only other name on the ballot was Uncommitted. Uncommitted got a total of 40% of the vote to Sen. Clinton's 55%. But, they came to a conclusion that all those voting for Sen. Barack were voting for him! And, he gets 59 delegates to Sen. Clinton's 69 delegates. Sorry, those are half (1/2) votes!
Again, HUH?
How can these people come up with a stupid rule in the first place that threatened whole states that held their primaries "early"? And, why did this "rules" committee suddenly change said "rules" to seat these delegations all of the sudden? And how do these "rules" committee members know how "Uncommitted" in Michigan will vote at the Democrat National convention?
Take the stupid rule first. It is all about Iowa and New Hampshire. Nobody in either the Democrat or Republican party wants to shake the applecart of Iowa being the first caucus state and New Hampshire being the first primary state. I can remember a time that these two states were first and first voted in March! But, no more. All these "big" states think these two small states have way too much influence in the process and they want a hand in the nominating process. Both Florida and Michigan made sure that their respective primaries were after the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary. And, because these states kept pushing back, Iowa and New Hampshire kept pushing theirs back. In reality, all four should have been penalized for holding their caucus and primaries "early"! But, no one could deny Iowa and or New Hampshire their place in the sun. So, it was an arbitrary rule and, in this case, the Republicans had a better idea before any of this would happen. Just seat half the delegations of states that broke their "rule" on primary dates. Thus, all the candidates campaigned in said states and there was no problem.
The reason the "rules" committee changed course is simple. By putting in all delegates with a half (1/2) vote, they can say that in the end they followed the course that the Republicans had followed in the first place. You do not take two states the size and stature of Florida and Michigan and tell them their votes do not count. And, in the end all the posturing by the Sen. Clinton and Sen. Barack camps was pointless.
What is most appalling and disgusting is how Michigan voters who participated are now being treated. If a Michigan Democrat voted for Sen. Clinton, no problem. But, if one voted for Uncommitted, somehow these "rules" committee people believe that you intended to vote for Sen. Barack. Really?! Maybe you wanted to send some delegates as Uncommitted. Since outside of Sen. Clinton that was the only other name on the ballot, if one placed that vote, I think that these delegates should not be awarded to Sen. Barack but go to the convention as Uncommitted. They would be in the catbird seat as they will be able to see which way the wind was blowing and vote accordingly. To award these delegates to Sen. Barack, who took his name off the ballot and did no campaigning there, it is a crime. Dare I write this, but I am in agreement with Sen. Clinton's people on this issue.
Really, the fundamental reason these "rules" committee people had to do something is the spectre of the 2000 presidential election.
Then, the cry was "Count every vote!" And, kind of like voting for Uncommitted in Michigan, it did not matter that you did not vote for then Vice-President Al Gore. If it was close, it should have counted. And, what the Democrats were trying to do was steal the election from then Gov. George W. Bush. It is a game that they had perfected over the years and in many parts of the United States.
So, the Sen. Barack people must have gotten to these "rules" committee people and come up with a scam that gives him delegates that he did nothing to earn.
What this episode shows is how silly "rules" are in the primary process. And, only Democrats change the rules in the middle of the game when it does not work out for them.
Hence, the winner of this debacle is Republican presumptive nominee, Sen. John "F--- You" McCain. He looks above they fray and presidential. And, I can not but think that Sen. Clinton wants to tell Sen. Barack a big "F--- You!" as Sen. McCain did to Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX).
So, the lesson boys and girls is this.
Only the Democrats can come up with something like this!

1 comment:

Pat Jenkins said...

the democratic party changes rules on the fly as easily as the nhl 64. whatever they need to do to suit them for the moment becomes a new rule..