DNC Madness

[toasty]

Just when you thought the situation on the Democrats' side couldn't possibly be more confusing, the DNC has evidently determined that notwithstanding that Michigan and Florida's delegates have been stripped and not allowed at the convention as of right now, the Michigan and Florida delegates who are members of the various standing committees will be allowed to participate in those committees.

That includes the credentialing committee, the very committee that determines whether or not FL and MI's delegates get seated at the full convention. Golly, wonder how they'll vote?

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0408/9350.html

This news evidently came as a surprise to both campaigns, no doubt because it is completely bass-ackwards.

C'mon DNC, get your shit together. This is borderline embarrassing.

[Jenks]

Re: DNC Madness

like i said, if anyone can fuck this election up, it's the democrats.

[CactusBeats]

Re: DNC Madness

like i said, if anyone can fuck this election up, it's the democrats.

Agreed. But if I understand this correctly, those committees that have Florida and Michigan delegates are comprised of delegates from more states than just FL & MI - right? My point being that even though we can assume the participating delegates from FL & MI will likely vote to seat all of FL & MI's delegates, their votes are just one or two or a few out of many. Point taken about this being backwards, but it doesn't sound to me like this vitrually guarantees the re-seating of FL & MI's delegates?

Whew, I hope that made sense to someone out there.

[toasty]

Re: DNC Madness

Point taken about this being backwards, but it doesn't sound to me like this vitrually guarantees the re-seating of FL & MI's delegates?

You're right, it probably won't be outcome determinative (although in an election where every single vote counts, who knows) -- I think the Politico story even indicates that it is unlikely to result in FL/MI being seated. I just think it highlights the need for the DNC to do two things:

1. Do whatever they need to do to reach consensus on a nominee in advance of the convention and thereby avoid a convention fight
2. Once they have a nominee, rework their nominating rules and put some fucking thought into it this time. Every bizarre, quirky, and/or outright stupid idiosyncrasy of the Dems' process has been highlighted this cycle.

[CactusBeats]

Re: DNC Madness

I don't think there is as much wrong withthe Democratic party's process as everyone seems to think. I would argue that it is much more "democratic" than the winner-take-all primaries the Repubicans run in most states. In fact, it would seem to me that the superdelegates were implemented to help determine a situation just like this. There are two outcomes here no one counted on. First Howard Dean's decision to unseat FL & MI, and second, a Republican nominee that has a high degree of appeal to independents.

The Republicans sacrificed some of their base early on, knowing that they would have time to think about their dissatisfaction for many months until the election. These dissatisfied Republicans could either sit it out and watch a Democrat be elected, or vote for the least unfavorable candidate (McCain for sure) and win the White House again. I strongly believe most will choose the latter.

A caveat. No one specifically planned on a close Democratic primary for 2008 in particular. Although, it could never be ruled out. In fact, you could say it was planned on, at some point, by the instituting of the superdelegate rule. Reality is always stranger than fiction, and there is plenty of reality left to go in this election. It really isn't time to start freaking out about the Democrat's chances now. A lot will still happen before November.

The Democrat's biggest danger here is labelling this "a disaster" and coming to a consensus that if it isn't decided upon by some arbitrary date before the convention, that all is lost to the Republicans. But if that is the consensus that it seems many Democrats seem WILLING to adopt, as I am hearing here, then I am as sure as you seem to be that they can all make it come true and guarantee a loss in November by sometime in June. Just because they closed their minds to any other option with these stupid conditions (must have it set by June) that they set themselves, not the Republicans. So yes, in a way, I do agree that the Democrats are losing it themselves, but I don't think it's quite for the same reason as you are attributing it to.

I don't think the close race is what will cause the loss. I think it's the willingness to decide upfront (like giving up before the contest) that this close race gives McCain the advantage, thus making it a self-fulfilling prophecy. If that is all the gumption that Democratic voters have in the primary, let alone in the genral election, I think they deserve to lose to McCain.