Posted on 03/09/2008 9:31:36 PM PDT by kingattax
WASHINGTON - A consensus began to emerge Sunday that the best way to give Florida's Democrats a voice in electing a candidate for president lies with the U.S. Postal Service.
The Democratic National Committee stripped Florida and Michigan of all their convention delegates — a total of 313 — for holding their primaries too early, making both contests meaningless. New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton won both states, but no delegates. Her rival, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, did not appear on Michigan's ballot.
But the disqualification of Florida and Michigan has created a headache for the Democratic party due to the unexpected closeness of the race between Obama and Clinton. Officials from both states are trying to figure out how best to resolve the issue before the national convention in August.
DNC Chairman Howard Dean said a mail-in primary is "actually a very good process."
"Every voter gets a ballot in the mail," the former Vermont governor said on CBS's "Face the Nation." "It's comprehensive, you get to vote if you're in Iraq or in a nursing home. It's not a bad way to do this."
As for who pays, Dean said, "That is a problem," reiterating that the party needs its money for the general election campaign against Republican John McCain.
He also ruled out the state of Florida, where Republican Gov. Charlie Crist has nixed the idea. Dean suggested the state Democratic party might foot the bill. Florida's political parties, unlike the DNC, can accept unlimited contributions.
Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., supports the mail-in solution, comparing it to an absentee ballot process. He also pinned his hopes on the state party to pay for it.
"Since Governor Dean has said he's not going to do it in the DNC, the Florida Democratic Party's going to have to go out and raise the money," he said. "We're looking at about $6 million."
Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., appeared to be amenable to a mail-in solution for his state, though with less enthusiasm.
Speaking on ABC's "This Week," Levin said doing the election again would be against state law. "That can't be changed, and that can't be paid for," he said. Levin also said caucuses would be difficult, with 500 potential sites.
"The one possibility would be some kind of a mail-in caucus," he said. "But there's some real problems with that, too. Not just cost, but the security issue. How do you make sure that hundreds of thousands, perhaps a million or more ballots can be properly counted and that duplicate ballots can be avoided?"
Obama currently has more delegates than Clinton, but that could be eclipsed if Clinton were to win a large enough portion of Florida and Michigan's delegates.
Obama currently has more delegates than Clinton, but that could be eclipsed if Clinton were to win steal a large enough portion of Florida and Michigan's delegates. --- fixed
To paraphrase Winston Churchill, this is a farce within a joke within a fiasco.
Who do you want to vote for?
(pick one)
Hillary Clinton
Hillary Clinton
Hillary Clinton
[Mona Charen]
"I was just on the John Batchelor radio program. He says that Chuck Todd, NBC News political director, has heard from Hillary's people that she would accept the number two spot on the ticket."
03/09 09:38 PM
If the people vote, I’m not so sure Hillary will win either FL or MI.
They better send me a ballot.
I already voted in the Republican primary but I wanted to vote in the Democrat one. But as the DNC said it wasn’t going to count I voted in the Republican primary so my vote would count
So, is the DNC going to disenfranchise me? Are they not going to “count all the votes”? Are they not going to let people vote who want to vote?
Oh yes, this could get good. :)
That’s a death sentence for Obama... and talk radio... and Free Republic... and white conservatives...
A president Obama better sleep with one eye open and hire a food taster.
Only way to solve this is have the United Nations supervise our elections, obviously we are unable to do so properly /sarc.
STEALING, something the Clintons are very experienced at, this election by SuperDelegate votes, could cost them dearly in the November vote.....
Absolutely. If he chooses sHillary for his VP, Obama had better be up to date on his life insurance, and stay away from parks. She won’t want to just be VP for too long.
He had also better make sure that sHillary is on any aircraft he flies on (Ron Brown can attest to this).
There could be a whole new level of Arkancide.
Won’t happen IMHO, Obama has a solid case. The DNC made a ruling, he abided by it she didn’t. If such is tried anarchy will prevail for this election process. SHE wants such . SHE will destroy everything and everyone in her path to the presidency. She is dangerous. IMO more dangerous than any terrorist. those two despise each other yet pander too the peons a POTUS/VPOTUS possibility. Pipe dream if either gets the nod. Obama needs to stay the course and let her defeat herself.
Then and ONLY then should the GOP go after him, his socialist / communist ideals and plans and trash him proper ! Not that I personally cotton to such but “HIS” racism , profiling of his islamakazi nations (islam) connections and past, his big mouthed wife who, if not kept in check on a short leash, will lose it for him tomorrow.
He is too easy to beat , the MSM / RUSH wants Hillary in this as they are playing the ratings game vs any sincere concern for America, it’s working citizens and it’s future physical and fiscal security.
Doom on the handlers trying to elect anything Clintonista or Socialist Democrat !
Stay Safe , Hope yer well !
“That’s a death sentence for Obama... and talk radio... and Free Republic... and white conservatives...”
Black have been on the run since before time.
“That’s a death sentence for Obama... and talk radio... and Free Republic... and white conservatives...”
Black have been on the run since before time.
Keep away you jackals, I meant Black conservatives;)
I'm glad you clarified that!
>Absolutely. If he chooses sHillary for his VP, Obama had better be up to date on his life insurance, and stay away from parks. She won’t want to just be VP for too long.
I’d say he would be safe for slightly more than 2 years. Then, she can be POTUS for slightly less than 10 years because she will not have served two full terms when the 2016 elections roll around. I think that’s how the amendment works.
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