Democrats blowing it in Florida

So says ace Democratic pollster Dave Beattie, who knows the Florida landscape   as well as anyone: "...Florida is a winnable battleground state that is coming off a great election year for Democrats. In 2006, Sen. Bill Nelson reached the magic 60 percent in his reelection bid. Eight new Democrats were elected to the state House, the largest pickup since 1972. Longtime Republican Rep. Clay Shaw lost reelection, and Democrats picked up the longtime GOP-held seat of disgraced Rep. Mark Foley. And Democrat Alex Sink won the post of chief financial officer, making her the first new Democrat to win statewide office since 1994, when Nelson became insurance commissioner.

"But the DNC is all but conceding Florida in the presidential race with the delegate and campaign bans. This draconian punishment is the ultimate slap in the face to Democrats who were disenfranchised in 2000."

Comments

[Liberal Democrats blow it because they don't like free speech.]

Unbridled Judicial Arrogance
By Ralph R. Reiland
Published 11/7/2007 12:07:19 AM
"It is our attitude toward free thought and free expression that will determine our fate," warned United States Supreme Court Associate Justice William O. Douglas. "There must be no limit on the range of temperate discussion, no limits on thought. No subject must be taboo. No censor must preside at our assemblies."

Similarly, United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Hugo L. Black stated the following regarding the central importance of free expression: "The Press was protected so that it could bare the secrets of the government and inform the people. Only a free and unrestrained press can effectively expose deception in government. And paramount among the responsibilities of a free press is the duty to prevent any part of the government from deceiving the people."

Unfortunately, that caliber of thinking and degree of commitment to our liberty and constitutional rights is not what we're seeing at the very top level of the Pennsylvania judiciary.

Here's how, for instance, Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Ronald Castille, set to become Chief Justice of the state's highest court when Ralph Cappy retires at the end of this year, responded to Duquesne University law professor Ken Gormley in declining an invitation to appear at a Duquesne reception and tribute for U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Alito:

At the present time I feel it would be inappropriate to lend the prestige of this Court to this event by my attendance as long as one of your cohorts in the teaching profession at Duquesne Law School continues his unfounded, slanderous, and libelous attacks on the integrity of this Court. His latest attacks appear in the Beaver County Times dated February 22, 2007 in an article where the professor is quoted as stating that the seven Justices of this Court are "even more corrupt than the Legislature" and stating that the judicial compensation opinion was a "judicial swindle."

The "cohort" being accused of illegal speech by Justice Castille is Duquesne University Law School professor Bruce Ledewitz, an outspoken critic of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's ruling that upheld the judicial pay hike section of the illegal pay-jacking scam that was passed in an unconstitutional fashion by the Harrisburg politicians in their 2 a.m. raid on the state treasury in July 2005.

Additionally in his March 2007 letter to Professor Gormley, Justice Castille threatened punishment for Professor Ledewitz:
While these statements may be the personal opinion of your colleague, they are charges that an attorney cannot make against the Supreme Court and its members without subjecting that attorney to possible sanctions by the Disciplinary Board. The charges appear to me to be clear violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct and therefore worthy of the Board's attention.

The Disciplinary Board is empowered to suspend law licenses and disbar attorneys. Conveniently, the 16 members of the Disciplinary Board are appointed by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Clearly, Justice Castille is no Hugo Black. "Without deviation, without exception, without any ifs, buts, or whereases, freedom of speech," wrote United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Hugo L. Black, "means that you shall not do something to people either for the views they express, or the words they speak or write."

Sworn to uphold the law, Castille might benefit from re-reading this section of the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776, unambiguous in declaring the right of the inhabitants of the state to free expression: "That the people have a right to freedom of speech, and of writing, and publishing their sentiments; therefore, the freedom of the press ought not to be retrained."

Castille concluded his letter to Duquesne by suggesting that professor Ledewitz be banished: "It is disgraceful that Duquesne Law School continues to provide the professor a forum to make these charges."

One wonders if Justice Castille finds it also "disgraceful" that Superior Court Judge Joan Orie Melvin has renounced the pay-jacking and given the money back to the state. Or if Castille sees Pennsylvania Supreme Court Judge Tom Saylor's sole dissenting vote against the pay-jacking as "disgraceful."

No, what's disgraceful here is not Duquesne University, Ledewitz, Melvin or Saylor. The true disgrace is the unconstitutional pay grab, the unchecked greed and corruption of our "public servants," the threats to our freedom, and the arrogance, indecency, and incompetency of those who seek to banish anyone who has the integrity and courage to tell the truth.

Ralph R. Reiland is an associate professor of economics at Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh.

I wouldn't worry about it too much, Dave. People will not change their basic political positions over this issue. That's just wishful thinking by the GOP. They're toast and they know it.

Well said, Dave Beattie.

Democrats are always blowing something...

[politicalspectator]

Apparently blowing it isn't the only thing the Dems like to do. The GOP is gonna give them a sound spanking in 2008...but apparently Karen and Howard are into that kind of thing.

i thought that was Bob Allen and Larry Craig

"The Press was protected so that it could bare the secrets of the government and inform the people. Only a free and unrestrained press can effectively expose deception in government. And paramount among the responsibilities of a free press is the duty to prevent any part of the government from deceiving the people."

well said. here's something they cannot say....when Foley was going down, they KNEW they were losing the seat, they KNEW it was going dem, so they put one of their own in there...put some "donkey clothing" on him...can you guess this congresscritters name?

Unfortunately, that caliber of thinking and degree of commitment to our liberty and constitutional rights is not what we're seeing at the very top level of the Pennsylvania judiciary.

seems like they're blowing it in DC too. Pelosi must be the WORST Speaker ever. 0 control. They set her up and knock her down time and time again. You'd expect that if she were a Freshman, but she's beein in the game for the better part of 2 decades

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/republicans-keep-cheney-impeachment-bill-alive-2007-11-06.html

Pelosi and Reid = Worst Congressional Leadership ever

10:45 -- Ya think the (apparently hypocritical) attitude by the DNC doesn't piss off and disenfranchise democratic voters in this state.

Well.... I've voted Democrat for a number of years. If the Repubs come up with a decent choice, why do I want to put a Democratic Party in leadership that apparently doesn't give a crap about my state?

11:34 If the GOP could field a decent choice, and not some spawn of corporate greed - but then they wouldn't be the GOP any more. Meanwhile, I'm not going to let ego get in the way of voting my principles - even if it means voting for what has always been the lesser of two evils.

11:43 sorry I don't see the dividing lines of evil vs good quite as clear as you. I personally have hated that Karl Rove type tactic.

My core principles are simple -- family and community -- those happen to be in Florida.

The only time I haven't voted Dem in a Presidential campaign was Reagan vs Carter. Could happen again if I see a Howard Dean led candidate turning their nose on my family and community.

[Issywise]

Some things are more important than who wins any particular election.

Democracy is about vote counting: letting the voice of the people decide.

All the other interest used by the DNC to justify voiding of Florida Democrat's vote are minor compared to the democratic interest in basing candidate selection on the will of the people. Scheduling, discipline within a party and any other interest you can conjure up and argue for are minor interests compared to the importance of the process registering the choice of the people.

Void my vote--or go along with it and then seek my vote later, and you are my enemy. Void my vote--or go along with it, and you prove that we differ on values so basic and so important that I can never consider you worthy of holding office again.

Electoral politics is not just a competition in a democracy--where the goal is only to gain and hold power: In a democracy, voting is the essential link between the governed and the governors--it is the means by which we "instruct" our leaders--as James Madison said it. For party "leaders" decide not to count some votes is a horrible historical passage--an event that must have consequences so that the reprobates who function in our two party system are retaught respect for the people---first and foremost.

That would be the most important and healthiest result of this election cycle.

A year ago, I could not have imagined a scenario where I'd vote for a Republican to follow our current presidential failure, but when every Democratic candidate cooperates with the voiding of my vote, where do they expect it to go?

When nearly every local and state Democratic elected leader sits on his hands in acceptance of the DNC's actions--hoping it will blow over without them having to stand up and stand for something, why do they think I should support them next November?

I heard one local leader say that when the candidate is chosen, he or she will "reinstate" Florida's vote---meaning, after our votes can't matter, then the party will pretend they do.

To hell with them all.

Florida should not hold primaries unless the parties agree to honor every vote and honor it fully. Next Spring, Florida's legislature and Governor Christ should enact laws that require that Florida Schedule its 2012 primary before Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. I am damn tired of not mattering in the candidate selection process. When my elected representatives tried to do something about my primary vote not mattering, Howard Dean canceled my vote. If nothing else, Florida can make damn sure that the "traditional" states that matter are never again more important than they deserve by virtue of their size.

[Issywise]

Some things are more important than who wins any particular election.

Democracy is about vote counting: letting the voice of the people decide.

All the other interest used by the DNC to justify voiding of Florida Democrat's vote are minor compared to the democratic interest in basing candidate selection on the will of the people. Scheduling, discipline within a party and any other interest you can conjure up and argue for are minor interests compared to the importance of the process registering the choice of the people.

Void my vote--or go along with it and then seek my vote later, and you are my enemy. Void my vote--or go along with it, and you prove that we differ on values so basic and so important that I can never consider you worthy of holding office again.

Electoral politics is not just a competition in a democracy--where the goal is only to gain and hold power: In a democracy, voting is the essential link between the governed and the governors--it is the means by which we "instruct" our leaders--as James Madison said it. For party "leaders" decide not to count some votes is a horrible historical passage--an event that must have consequences so that the reprobates who function in our two party system are retaught respect for the people---first and foremost.

That would be the most important and healthiest result of this election cycle.

A year ago, I could not have imagined a scenario where I'd vote for a Republican to follow our current presidential failure, but when every Democratic candidate cooperates with the voiding of my vote, where do they expect it to go?

When nearly every local and state Democratic elected leader sits on his hands in acceptance of the DNC's actions--hoping it will blow over without them having to stand up and stand for something, why do they think I should support them next November?

I heard one local leader say that when the candidate is chosen, he or she will "reinstate" Florida's vote---meaning, after our votes can't matter, then the party will pretend they do.

To hell with them all.

Florida should not hold primaries unless the parties agree to honor every vote and honor it fully. Next Spring, Florida's legislature and Governor Christ should enact laws that require that Florida Schedule its 2012 primary before Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. I am damn tired of not mattering in the candidate selection process. When my elected representatives tried to do something about my primary vote not mattering, Howard Dean canceled my vote. If nothing else, Florida can make damn sure that the "traditional" states that matter are never again more important than they deserve by virtue of their size.

[zenator]

The reason that a pollster, like Beattie, is concerned is simple. Once voters develop a favorable or unfavorable view of a particular party, candidate, or issue it is difficult and very expensive to later change that impression.

The Dem prohibition against campaigning in Florida results in a sort of Dem double whammy. On the one hand, it creates a negative impression of the Dem party and its candidates, particularly among independents. On the other hand,it permits Repubs, without opposition, to create a favorable impression.

Meanwhile back in the rest of the early primary states, Hillary is suddenly dropping in the polls and looking increasingly vulnerable. If this trend continues over the next several weeks, the Dem primary may get very interesting.

If your main issue in the election is when florida gets to hold its primary, then your vote was probably up for grabs anyway, especially if you believe it's just the Democrats harming the state. Reminds me of the Republicans who post here about Crist. In this arena, they represent 95 percent of Republicans. In the real world, with the governor's approval among Republicans at 82 percent, they apparently mean nothing.

If you think about it, its kind of like an early tri-mester abortion, except its the DNC aborting the entire constituency of Florida Democrats. Its the DNC just excercising their "Choice." Good for them after all its THEIR party - isn't it. We don't need to bring more democrats into this vile and troubled display of democratic presidential primary politics. They must think about what "CHOICE" best suits its own short term wishes. So, slap, slap, slap, slap and slap away DNC - its your CHOICE. We can call it Planned Primary. Go Hillary!

Dave Beattie looks like he's "blown" a thing or two himself... but hey, $20 is $20!

[politicalspectator]

I was blown by a Democrat once...

i am continually stunned by what a bunch of whiners people in this state. we are targeted in the general election. Many states are not targeted in either the primary or the general. what's the big deal? We could have gone Feb 5. We could have gone Feb 16th and been the last stand for wither Hillary or Obama, whomever was in second, but we were too stupid and arrogant.

i just don't get it.

I will not be voting for any Democrats snubbing our great state. No vote for you: Obama, Hillary, Edwards

3:51 we want a say in who the general election candidate is, something
Florida, to date, has not had...

Great analogy 1:58 the DNC aborts Florida Democrats, how poetic is that.

[Susan S]

Anyone who would vote for the morally bankrupt, fiscally irresponsible, corrupt Republicans over Democrats because of this silly primary stuff is beyond ignorant (or much more likely, not really a Democrat at all.)

[Susan S. Translated]

Get back in line or we'll take your names and put you on the list for the reeducation camps.