Ulterior Democratic motives?

WASHINGTON - As the Democratic rules committee slowly progresses - nothing on Fl yet - it's maybe worth pondering the assorted and sometimes contradictory motivations and interests of the players. Sitting on the rules committee is only one Floridian - Allan Katz, who happens to be a close ally of Howard Dean. That may partly explain why he's always been receptive to Florida making the Jan. 29 primary non-binding and holding later caucuses. Sitting next to him is Harold Ickes, the pal of Hillary Clinton, who would be the main beneficiary of Florida keeping all its delegates and voting early. Across the table is Michigan Democratic chairman Mark Brewer, who comes from a state that also may bust the calendar window and surely would get socked with the same penalties as Florida if they do.

Waiting to argue on Florida's behalf is former FL Democratic chairwoman Terrie Brady, a teachers union leader who is particularly focused on the Jan. 29 property tax amendment that could force big cuts in education funding. The unions want to do nothing to undercut Democratic turnout on Jan. 29, like making the presidential race non-binding.

Then there's Florida Sen. Bill Nelson, who's not at the meeting but has been raging about the DNC's penalties in recent days. Nelson will ultimately make a Democratic endorsement (Hillary is our guess). Nelson's never had a big political machine in Florida, so Would a Florida caucus undercut the importance of his endorsement?

UPDATE: Florida discussion starts about 11:20. Karen Thurman hasn't shown up yet.

...Scratch that. She just walked in late and out of breath.

Comments

we are sunk if terrie brady argues our case.

[csbrudy]

12:22, Why are we sunk if Brady argues "for" us? And if we had a caucus instead, wouldn't the votes get counted by Democratic hands and not Republican (easily hackable)machines?

[zenator]

This issue high lights the impact of the two party system in the USA, where the voter has only one of two meaningful voting options-- vote Repub or Dem.

The present controversy takes the form of a power struggle between the States and the Dem party. Although the Party presently appears to hold the cards, I imagine that a major state, such as Florida, could quickly redress the imbalance, such as passing a law prohibiting the national Dem party from fund raising in Florida, unless and until it honors Florida's primary date selection.

[UF Alumni]

can't we just ban the Democratic Party from Florida all together?

12:56...I'm a UF alumnus. You don't speak for me.

[Michelle]

UF Alumnus,

No, because if you did, we'd have a one-party state.

Just like Soviet Russia. Is that what you want to be--a commie?

[endofourtime]

UF Alumni: Ban the Democrats? Then we can put the last remaining square yard of wetland into a museum before building a condo on it. Yessir, come to Florida, land of unlimited dredge and fill. Wouldn't the Everglades make a nice parking lot? Oh, yeah, and we can let Bush's FEMA do a New Orleans on us this hurricane season, then let's quadruple our insurance premiums this year. And lets not forget another 9/11 false flag incident so Bush's buddies can make another fortune draining the treasury to this time bomb Iran. Go, Republicans, hold that moronic line.

Posted by: zenator | August 25, 2007 at 12:29 PM:

"I imagine that a major state, such as Florida, could quickly redress the imbalance, such as passing a law prohibiting the national Dem party from fund raising in Florida, unless and until it honors Florida's primary date selection."

Wrong. Florida cannot do that.

Effective the day after the 2002 elections, McCain-Feingold kicked in. With that, the National parties were only allowed to raise only 100% federal funds.

A state, including Florida, may not regulate nor restrict Federal fundraising. No way, no how.

Florida can pass all the laws it wants to regarding DNC fundraising in Florida. Because the DNC engages in only federal fundraising, those laws would have no force or effect, anymore than the 8 year term limit restriction on Federal office holders, which is STILL part of the state constitution, has any force or effect.

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.

[zenator]

9:51
right you are.