DNC rules maestro: No regrets on FL

  Jim Roosevelt, co-chairman of the DNC's rules and bylaws committee, tells us there's no date in mind yet for the next Rules and Bylaws Committee and that if he and co-chair Alexis Herman agree the RBC should hear Jon Ausman's challenge to get Fl delegates reinstated, it could be weeks before a meeting is set.

So are they stalling for time so that the  Clinton and Obama campaign can come up with a mutually agreed upon solution that complies with the rules? "I'd love it if that happened, but I am not planning to wait around for that to happen,''  said Roosevelt, who has not yet reviewed the staff recommendation thoroughly on Ausman's challenges.

We couldn't resist asking if, knowing what he knows now - namely that it's taken waaay longer than Super Tuesday to get a nominee picked and FL and Michigan resolved- he regrets the RBC stripping away all of Florida's delegates, instead of just half.

"No second thoughts, no second-guessing. Obviously I think everybody in politics had a different set of assumptions at that time. But it's also true that if the rules aren't followed .... we'll have primaries and caucuses on Halloween next (cycle),'' responded Roosevelt, noting that he was taken aback recently to see Sen. Bill Nelson on TV talking about this issue and stressing that rules must be followed.

Buzz also wondered if he thought Florida Democrats damaged their case before the committee by insisting they were helpless victims of the meanie Republicans in the legislature. Roosevelt just noted that the committee was unconvinced that Florida Democrats tried their darndest to comply with the rules.

Comments

The whole point here is that all it takes for Democrats to recognize Florida is a vote of the DNC rules committee.

What a bunch of hypocritical blow hards always talking about votes not being counted and making sure that every vote counts.

Remember that one of the ideas that Democrats considered for a remedy in 2000 was to try to have the courts ignore Florida entirely.

Here we go again...

it really just shows that 14 years as the minority party has not taught them how to get their act together. Even when the R's hand them the election.

Rule Amendment Number 1:

Do not allow a Republican Consultant to run your State Party!

[UF Student]

All the DNC has to do it give Florida 50% of its delegates. Maybe it's too easy of an answer? Maybe it's too obvious of an answer? The RNC did it and averted every single problem, but I guess Dems don't get it.

What the Democratic party is hoping for is a truly undemocratic resolution--"allowing" the votes, but only in such a way that they don't matter.

If the candidate is selected by other people, then Florida can count, because it won't matter any longer.

It is all upside down: in democracy, the voters are supposed to choose the candidates, the candidates aren't supposed to be negotiating over which voters to count.

We need laws and then we need to schedule the 2012 primary ASAP for the week before the earlier of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

The presidential candidate selection process should be build around counting votes, not some party operative's idea of what's best for the voters.

Great job Karen Thurman! What did you say we have a hotel now. Wow! a hotel for who??

not to worry HRC will be long gone by August and you all will look back on this and laugh.

Rule Amendment Number 1:

Do not allow a Republican Consultant to run your State Party!