
Is anyone at the wheel over at the Democratic National Party headquarters? One might wonder, given his stupendous bungling of both the Florida and Michigan primaries, is it time for Howard Dean to step aside for the sake of his party?
Dean is proving to be as shaky a party chairman as he was a presidential candidate. He has shown no inclination or ability to resolve the two major issues which bedevil Democrats and threaten to turn what was supposed to be a banner year into disastrous one.
Michigan and Florida voters speak out ...
Did Hillary supporter Rake Morgan have it right way back in September?
Perhaps the funniest video ever ...
I never tire of this ...
WWGD? (What would Gollum do?)
Dr. Dean has not demonstrated much leadership for the demoratic party. While I realize that November is still a long way off--in many ways it is beginning to look as if it will not be a democratic "slam-dunk" as so many pundits predicted.
Large blocks of democratic voters are going to be very disappointed no matter which candidate wins the nomination, and if it is won in a manner which "smells bad" enough democrats may stay away from the polls alltogether come Nov.
Sen. McCain may win simply because the democrats are too disarrayed to compete effectively.
Bungling?
The rules were made, Florida and Michigan chose to move their primaries in violation of the rules, knowing the penalty.
You are correct that FL and MI did violate the rules, but does the punishment fit the "crime" and will Dean's lack of pro-active leadership on this issue cause Democratic disillusionment in two very key swing states in November?
It's not as if the punishment was decided after the fact. FL and MI knew what would happen if they moved their primaries. In FL at least, the fault is largely with the republicans who attached moving the primary to a bill requiring paper trails on voting machines. If anything, it is the Repubs who played politics here--they knew what moving the Dem primary would mean to the Dems and did what they could to make it happen.
But Dean has seen this train wreck coming since September. He has done nothing to fix the problem. He can try blaming the Republicans, but the fact is that the party's hardline on this issue is only going to end up hurting rank and file Democratic voters, and could hurt the party in November.
...and could hurt the party...
I think it is all right to put this in the present continuous tense. The reason I think of for the DNC not really considering how bad an election dis-enfranchisement in Florida (ferchrisake!) is they truly didn't believe this was ever going to be a close nomination. I re-iterate Disappointed in Georgia's point; at this rate, the Democratic party may pluck defeat from the jaws of victory.
I agree with you SB, and I say this as a Republican: this "should have" been the year, at least politically speaking, where the Democrats enjoyed a landslide victory. And, they may yet. But, the mind-boggling notion that the Democratic Party would want to even have a hint of disenfranchising Florida voters is, well, mind-boggling! It is mind-bogglingly mind-boggling!
And, you're right, most of the Dem Party poo-bahs thought they had it all figured out concerning the election of Evita Milhous Rodham. But, somehing funny happened on the way to the Coronation, and Her Majesty is not amused!
OMG!!! Somebody on Newsvine agrees with me about something!!!!! Finally, i knew it would happen one day!!!!
Spooky will you be my friend??
Seriously though--i am not sure that "disenfranchising" is even the right word to use in this case. this is a Democratic party primary----that is the same thing as being denied the right to vote for president in an election is it?
No one not allowing them to vote---the democratic party has rules which stripped the delegates to their party convention----the Democratic party is a private organization which can set its own rules and agenda--and the members of that party should feel free to change the rules as they see fit.
I see it as a "de facto" disenfranchisement. The Party Bosses could have fixed this months ago, they knew it was going to happen, and they've allowed it to fester into a big mess, and it's only going to get worse. I live 30 miles from Florida, and folks there are not just angry, they are MAD! ( Of course, you being a Georgian, you're not too far from FL yourself. )
I have spent more years in FL that anyother state.
And I am pretty much OK with the Democratic Party making any rules that they want for their party---same goes for the Republicans. I dont hear the republican candidates screaming about the unfairness of winner take all delegate---but one could make the argument that that system "disenfranchises" all the voters who voted for another candidate and wont be represented by delegates at the convention either . . . .
That's a fair point ... actually, I'm perfectly peachy with the way the Dems are conducting their nomination process. ( Being a Republican, I am amazed and amused at this fiasco. ) They have the right to do it, but will it be right for them in the end?
you a republican. .. . . I never would have guessed . . . . :))
I'm a rare bird here on the Vine ... a conservative. It's sort of like being the Snow Leopard at the San Antonio Zoo or the albino alligator at the New Orleans Aquarium.
Of course, I am so subtle, no one can guess my true political leanings.
I guess I can handle one republican on my friends list. . . .
The honor is mine! Like Austin Powers says, "I won't bite ... hard! Groovy!"
I suppose I will have to use small words and explain the jokes twice though. . . .
Yes. Lots of pictures help too. Or, as we say down here in the south, "Pitchers."
We should have a go at a good solipisism someday----might be fun----or I can tie you in knots re:gay marriage again. . . . .
how about it---a genuine academic debate article--as if a journal article
Hey, remember who you're talking to here ... Mr. Coloring Book.
Well, seriously, what do you propose? I'm just a lowly Bachelor's Degree academic ... I'm not exactly Dr. Bombadil here. If you dazzle me too much with your intellect, I may decide to go have some pizza!
A respectful and researched argument on a topic which is of interest to both of us and to The Vine
But instead of a series of one line or one paragraphs present a column length piece each. We e-mail each other the drafts and both preparere rebuttals to key points.
The goal is not so much to WIN the debate but to thoroughly examine the positions for both sides and set an example for the way it ought to be done. Less invective.
FirstThings or Theology Today are two current journals which present issues in this way in a great way. I have written for first things from the protestant point of view on discussions of the inerrancy of scripture and women in the ministry.
More education and less invective.
McCain Clinton or Obama discussion thread Tom please forgive me linking this to your thread but I think it may be an example of a workable format.
Thanks for the link, SB, I'll check it out.
DGA, can you send me any links to what you've written, or tell me where to look? Thanks!
You're in Easy Mode. If you prefer, you can use XHTML Mode instead. |