Kiss Democratic presidential FL campaigning goodbye?

It wasn't even close. The rules and bylaws committee voted to strip Florida of 100 percent of its presidential delegates unless within 30 days the party makes the Jan. 29 primary election non-binding and sets some other system for allocating delegates after Feb. 5. Karen Thurman, Jon Ausman and Terrie Brady gave it a good try, begging for mercy, blaming the Republicans, etc., but the committee didn't buy. Only Floridian Allan Katz voted on Florida's side.

We particularly appreciated  Ausman's plea, which practically begged a violin backtrack: "We're asking you for mercy, not judgement. ... It's like a family when you have a black sheep of the family. What do Republicans do? They cast them out, they throw them out. ... What do the Democrats do? We bring them in. We try to reform, we try to make them better. We try to make it collegial and build consensus. that's mercy."

Thurman tried valiantly to argue that Democrats tried to stop the Jan. 29 date, and that lawmakers even made a motion to move the date to Feb. 5 but in the end they could not vote against paper trails. It didn't help their case. The DNC members had handouts that included quotes by House Minority leader Dan Gelber brushing off Howard Dean, and the following transcript of Steve Geller making the motion to move the primary to Feb. 5:

Geller: "...So the Democratic leader and the Democratic leader pro tem are jointly making this motion, which we will duly show them later, that we tried not to have the election on, um, before (Feb. 5).

President: "And so Sen. Geller are you urging a negative vote or would you like us to pass this vote?"

Geller: "Oh no sir. We really, really want this. Don't we senator? (sarcasm and audible laughter in chamber).

Comments

Wow, here's the 5th blog in 6 days on the Democratic crap.

Where's the blog on Alexander throwing in the towel?

I have said it before, and I will say it again: Democrats will find a way to lose in 2008.

This appears to be step one - alienating your own voting base in one of the most electorally important states in the country.

Nice one Dean.

Another great reporting job by Adam Smith (sic).

It official Democrats don't want your vote to count!

Kiss off nearly half the registered voters in America's most famous swing state. Howard Dean just doesn't want to win in 2008, does he?

Good luck trying to win South Carolina in the general election. After all, that's who the DNC is protecting with this limb hit decision.

Where's the release from the RPOF? Make no mistake. This is not an official press release from the RPOF. I am a Democrat but, If I were at the RPOF right now, this is the release I'd send out today:

Democrat Party to Florida Voters: Drop Dead

Tallahassee: The liberal leaders of the national Democrat Party sent a message to it's Florida members: Drop dead. Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer today issued a welcome to all disenfranchised Florida Democrats to make the switch and join the Republican Party, a party that will make sure their voices are heard in the 2008 election.

"The Democrat Party has voted to leave millions of Florida voters behind," said Greer. "Well, to all the Democrats who feel disillusioned that the Democrat national leadership doesn't reflect their values, Charlie Crist and other Republican leaders encourage you to explore joining the party of Lincoln. If you are in line with our values of smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom, we welcome you with open arms."

Greer listed a number of former Democrat leaders who are now influential members of the Republican Party of Florida including:

State Sen. Durrell Peaden
Former State Senate President John McKay

etc. etc. etc.

Gop Chair Jim Greer today issued a welcome to Florida Democrats to make the switch and join the Republican Party:
"If you are in line with our values of stealing from charity like Angelo Capelli, stealing from government like Sherry McInvale,offering $20 to give oral sex like Bob Allen,and propositioning underage pages like Mark Foley,we welcome you to the Republican Party with open arms."
Gee, where do we sign up?

Republicans may be stripping florida of its delegates too. Honestly the Democrats won't win Florida, and right now they don't need Florida, seeing Ohio and Western States may go democratic.

3:28 why bother switching? The Democrats are already in the Party that values the drunk-driver-manslaughterer Ted Kennedy, the former Klansman (Byrd) and the convicted felon (Sen. Gary Siplin). And many similar types...

Does anyone out there seriously believe the Democrats (or the Republicans, for that matter) would fail to nominate the winner of the primary? Period??

[Guiliani wins]

The Democratic primary will be essentially a straw poll.

Romney should enter it. He is good at winning straw polls.

This will make the Repubican race a mess. Folks will switch over and vote for a liberal Republican

This is unbeleivably good news for Rudy Guiliani!!!!!

GIULIANI WINS THE REPUBLICAN FLORIDA PRIMARY HOOK, LINE AND SINKER!!!

ALL THE DEMS OR INDEDPENDENTS WHO WANT TO VOTE IN THE PRIMARY WILL REGISTER REPUBLICAN AND VOTE FOR RUDY!!!

So much for "Let's count every vote."

Hypocrites

Why, Howard, why? This rules are rules BS is worthy of Katherine Harris wheb she didn't want to doublecheck Florida's vote.

Smooth move Gelber and Geller.

Democrats can't run the congress, they can't run local government, and they can even run their own party.

Why would anyone want to trust these clowns with the Whitehouse?

Credibility Gap:

Didn't a Democrat State Senator sponsor the bill moving Florida's presidential primary to an earlier date?

[Z]

We particularly appreciated Ausman's plea, which practically begged a violin backtrack: "We're asking you for mercy, not judgement...It's like a family when you have a black sheep of the family. What do Republicans do? They cast them out, they throw them out....What do the Democrats do? We bring them in. We try to reform we try to make them better. We try to make it collegial and build consensus. that's mercy."

Two words. Joe Lieberman.

Gelber and Geller. The smartest guys in Tallahassee. More like tweedle dumb and tweedle dumber. The use of the transcripts was a nice touch.
The person who always blogs the long sarcastic laughing posts is needed right about.

[IJ Arne]

I can just see Howard Dean dressed as a butler holding out the silver platter with this turkey!

FL Dems need to really come out in force for their candidates now! We will not back down.

This just shows how big a disaster Jim Greer is. Anyone who has taken politics 101 would have dropped a release.

Sometimes it's just best to let the other side cut their own throat without commenting.

[Gene Smith]

By having a primary on Januery 29th, Florida Democrats are going to have a major voice in detern=mining the nominee of our party. This has not happened since the Democratic Party held a straw poll at the 1992 FDP Convention.

So, straw poll or no, florida Dems get to have a real say in the naming of our nominee. And guess what? come Democratic National convention time, since the Dem nominee will then control the credentials committee, Florida will have a full slate of delegates at the convention.

Florida will also have their daggers out for soon to be one term Chairman Howard Dean. And not a moment too soon.

Greer isn't talking because the national GOP is going to sanction Fla Repubs too.

[zenator]

The Dems selected an intemperate leader in Howard Dean, a bullheaded zealot wth a well documented lack of judgment.

When the Florida dems (Gelber, Geller et al) decided to challenge the primary regime, they did so because they had nothing to lose. The primary system put in place by Dean et al already ensured that the votes in Florida did not, for all practical purposes, count in determining the Dem nominee.

So, in one sense, nothing has changed. Yet, in another sense, the first shot has now been fired. Florida is now in open rebellion against the national Dem party and the eastern establishment that has ruled that party for almost 100 years. Whether this event is of minor or great moment, no one knows for sure.

I suspect that, like the Boston Tea Party, this event will grow in importance as time passes. In the end, either the big states will get their way or the Dem party will be torn asunder.

[agatha]

I'm an independent and I resent what the national Dems are doing. I will vote either Republican or Libertarian.

Zenator, you must admit that Steve Geller and Dan Gelber's actions/comments were ill-advised. Rules are rules, and Governor Dean quite clearly stated them before a vote was taken in the Florida Legislature.

One can't help but think that had Geller and Gelber at least given the appearence of attempting to block the primary date move, they most probably could have avoided the sanctions today. Instead, they left Dean, who has 49 other states to think about, with little choice. Florida Democrats should no doubt be angry with their National Chairman today, but they should reserve some of their venom for Messrs. Geller and Gelber.

The irony of this is sickening and can ALL be blamed on Scott Maddox. Maddox, the man who stole from the party, was the first person to endorse Howard Dean for DNC Chair--all in the hopes that Dean would turn around and use national money to try to win the Governor's race. Maddox then does his usual BS and screws up the entire party in the process, and now we have Howard Dean. Thanks Maddox--thanks for ruining the party when you were there, ruining it now by forcing Dean on us, and ruining it for another 20 years. The RPOF should name an award for the Democrat that best sets the party back every year--and name it the "Scott Maddox" award.

Elected Dems around the state should call all donors in their area and ask them not to give another dime to the national party.

7:28 The primary date legislation was contained in the bill that created paper trails. And ensuring that every vote is counted by creating a paper trail was much more important that making Howard Dean happy so the Dems were right to vote for the bill.

[dixiedude]

My god Karen.....Haven't seen you in awhile......You're not looking very good.....Not a great picture of you.....we're not getting any younger you know!!!!!

7:28- Dean was out to get Florida regardless of whether Gelber or Geller had said nice things about him or voted against that bill. The Chair is politically tone deaf.

7:50, go back and read the transcripts as provided by the DNC. Gelber and Geller weren't just voting for paper trails, they were voting for the earlier primary and they made sure they spit in Dean's eye when they did it.

Dean can kiss my a--. And as for a man who has done everything he can to air our laundry and promote division, Ausman can kiss my a-- too.

I am a Democrat, I am proud of it and will remain loyal to my fight of bringing this party together and acting on the political convictions of a party that is the true representation of liberty and freedom rather the the temper-tantrums of short-sighted people.

Message to the old guard of the Democratic Party:

We are no longer a party that represents the whinings of a few activists. We have work to do and your bickering and divisiveness is bogging us down. Your time is over. Step aside.

Well I was going to vote for the Democrat, but not anymore. This is bull. As far as I'm concerned, the Dems are done.

10:29
Are you more disgusted with Dems over this or with Repubs like Bob Allen, Sherry McInvale, Angelo Cappelli, Mark Foley, etc.?

Well... all the disenfranchised Dems can come join us disenfranchised Republicans and vote for a man with integrity who pays attention and votes according to this thing you might remember... The Constitution. Ron Paul 2008!

Voting for Ron Paul isn't about being a Republican or a Democrat... it is about being an American.

All you Dems, please ask Charlie to fix this for you!!!

10:56: I'm more disgusted with the Dems because who becomes president matters and what they did today was tell me that because of the Legislature (D's and R's) my vote for president shouldn't count.

By the way, for everything they've been accused of doing, Bob Allen, Sherry McInvale and Angelo Cappelli never entered into a war of choice (Iraq) that has cost thousands of lives.

How about we vote on the 29th but not officially count the votes until Feb. 5?

[zenator]

7:28 PM

Actually, I blame Howard Dean and the DNC for opening Pandora's box in the first place. What set all this off was the DNC's decision arbitrarily to advance the primary dates of Nevada and South Carolina, and the heavy handed way they went about implementing that decision.

I must confess that events such as these are what makes the study of politics so interesting.

Howard Dean is turning off a lot of Democrats. I just don't get it, when they want chinga, they come to Florida, in the general election, they come to Florida but in the primary we mean nothing!! This is absurb!

[Boca Grande]

All those felon votes down the drain.

[Dave Cutler]

To 433p, there will be no party switching from this loyal Democrat "just to be able to vote in a primary." Whatever the Florida Democrats come up with that is okayed by the DNC is what I will follow, regarless if I'm happy with it.

Whoever is the Democratic nominee for President is who will get my vote, which will count, November 2008

[Disgusted-with-the-DNC (and with the ineffectual FDP too!)]

To Gene Smith and any other Dem apologists on this blog:

The message that Howard Dean's DNP sent to Floridians is the same one that Washington Republicans once sent to NYC: "Drop Dead!"

The clear subtext of the DNC decision is: "We Don't Care Who You Support."

That's not exactly a powerful motivator for Florida Democrats to come out and vote on January 29th, which minimizes the influence Floridians will have in determining our Party's nominee.

Oh, I forgot. They still want our money. They just don't give a damn about our votes !!!!

[endofourtime]

7:50, there is a difference between paper trails and paper ballots. Paper ballots are what get counted as votes. Paper trails are worthless printed representations of supposed votes, which are electronic in the machines and can be flipped en masse with a mouse click. We have paper BALLOTS. Now, we have to dump the hackable Republican scanners and count by hand. Also, Smith is right, no matter what happens, Florida can't be ignored. If we lead, the rest will follow.

GREAT NEWS! THIS MEANS THE DEMS WON'T COME OUT TO VOTE, WHICH MEANS THE PROPERTY TAX AMENDMENT WILL PASS.

THANK YOU DNC

This is a no-brainer.

The Florida Democratic Party pays for a Special Election Primary on February 5 or later (whatever date Howard Dean wants it to be so that it counts), and the Dems get their delegates back.

Absentee Ballots would be mailed to the 4.2 million Democrats in Florida.

Oregon has been doing 100% vote-by-mail since 2000 and it works fine.

The only question is how to pay for it.

Since under Florida law, contributions to state political parties are unlimited, a deep-pocketed Democrat such as George Soros or Oprah Winfrey could write a check for $5M (or whatever it would cost), and the Florida Democratic Party in turn pays for the
Special Election Primary.

Done deal.

The Florida Democratic Party get their delegates back, Howard Dean and the DNC is happy, and the the big check writer is an instant hero. A win-win-win.

So start dialing, Dems. You only have 30 days.

How about Irv Slossberg 8:30?

[Disguted-with-the-DNC]

Get real, 8:30 am ...

Wattya mean, the FL Dem Party PAYS for a Special Election Primary on Feb 5.

Last year, they ... and their supporters ... couldn't pony up enough cash to generate some positive excitement and get their Gubernatorial candidate, Jim Davis (remember him ??), on the air until the closing wks of the race, when the outcome was already a foregone conclusion.

We've got a similar scenario occurring this campaign season. With the Democratic Primary declared meaningless, Dem Primary voters will sit home ... Republican-favored ballot initiatives will pass ... and Dem candidates will lose a golden opportunity to earn free media in one of the handful of key battleground states in the country.

I can't envision a more disastrous outcome for Democrats both locally and nationally. Congratulations, DNC ... it's hard to come up with a more disastrous scenario than you concocted this time! C'mon Howard ... just give us one of your famous screams so we have something truly regugnant to remember.