The Tragedy of the Democratic Party

Real Clear Politics ^ | March 7, 2008 | Thomas Lifson, Richard Baehr

[Signalman]

Super delegates will determine the next nominee of the Democrats, and a happy ending for the Party looks unlikely. Mathematically, the Democratic Party is nearly locked in to Barack Obama entering the convention with a significant delegate lead. Taking the nomination away from him via the super delegate mechanism would alienate the Party's African-American base and potentially turn off a swath of the younger generation enthusiasts for Obama's multi-cultural charisma.

Yet there are signs that the Obama bubble may be bursting, his support peaking, while serious press scrutiny is beginning to fire buyer's remorse in certain quarters. The potentially seriously embarrassing Rezko trial gathers steam in a Chicago federal court and will build as the weeks unfold. The Party may very well find itself nominating the weaker candidate in Denver, even as Hillary Clinton's popular support within the Party rises.

[BigEdLB]

Well, the Dems want to be like Europe, and look at how they apportion their parliaments... I think they are well on their way

[stockstrader]

Great--let them have their "ELOQUENT BUT EMPTY" candidate this November. In fact, that's a great bumper sticker "EBE Obama, '08".

Barack 'whose middle name must not be spoken' Obama is, however, and absolutely incredible speaker. Very few people can speak for almost an hour,,,,and SAY ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!! He truly is a gifted politician.

[Graybeard58]

But Denver promises to be the greatest political media spectacle since the Democrats' Chicago convention in 1968.

I hope, I hope, I hope!

[NaughtiusMaximus]

Popping corn in garbage can quantities.

Urging all hippies to go to Denver to ensure that their voices are heard.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

I predict that after this election cycle the Democrats will re-work the rules to get rid of the Super Delegates and have more states adopt winner take all rules. Having winner take all states usually assures that you have a nominee during the primary season. No convention battles and no party bosses deciding the nominee.

[Lancey Howard]

[Cicero]

Tragic? I think the proper genre is comic.

Or at least it would be if we had a viable alternative running on the Republican line. I could care less about how the Dem Party self-destructs, but I don’t want to see our country dragged down in the debacle.

Come on, McCain. Pick a real conservative for your VP, and maybe we can vote for you.

[RJS1950]

The tragedy is that the democrat party was not outlawed in 1865 like the Nazis were in Germany after WWII.

[Flintlock]

Yeah—but look at the RINO mess WE have on our side of the aisle!
Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrfffffffff!

[FrdmLvr]

Super delegates will determine the next nominee of the Democrats, and a happy ending for the Party looks unlikely.

There is a God.

[Go Gordon]

I predict that after this election cycle the Democrats will re-work the rules to get rid of the Super Delegates and have more states adopt winner take all rules. Having winner take all states usually assures that you have a nominee during the primary season. No convention battles and no party bosses deciding the nominee.

Yeah, the party bosses are gonna make new rules so that party bosses have less power.

[kabar]

I would prefer a proportional allocation of delegates so we don’t have a repeat of a McCain nomination where he became the presumptive nominee of the party with just 31% of the primary vote.

[Robbin]

I would prefer a proportional allocation of delegates so we don’t have a repeat of a McCain nomination where he became the presumptive nominee of the party with just 31% of the primary vote.

I agree! The other change it to not have one or two states go early. We should go in blocks of 10 or more so one tiny liberal spot like NH can't decide who our front runner is.
And once and for all restrict the republican primary to REPUBLICANS. Of course I’ve joined the Reagan coalition now.

[BillyBoy]

It looks like the Dems are in disarray and this thing is going to drag on for a long time now, even if Howard Dean somehow manages to get the two camps to agree to a compromise before Colorado. Either way they're still going to spend zillions beating each other up in big states like Pennsyvania, money they could have used to go after McCain.

Does the anti-Rush crowd here on FR still think Rush somehow "elected Hillary" by stopping the RAT coorination this week?

I still don't see why RAT infighting is bad for us. Face it guys -- RUSH WAS RIGHT.

[trisham]

Face it guys -- RUSH WAS RIGHT.

*************

He was, and I love it!

[Old Teufel Hunden]

“Yeah, the party bosses are gonna make new rules so that party bosses have less power.”

The party bosses are already talking about how they don’t want this responsibility. They’re already waffling and if the Democratic convention looks like the 68 version (which is what I think is going to happen) it does not help them. Besides, if they just ratify what the voters want (Obama will have the lead in delegates no matter what) then what good is it? If they go for Hillary, they’re going to have a riot on their hands. This has only been around for 20 years (1988). It’s not like this SuperDelegate thing has been around forever.

[Zionist Conspirator]

The tragedy is that the democrat party was not outlawed in 1865 like the Nazis were in Germany after WWII.

Amen!