We are all progressive bloggers on this site and as such that makes us savvy and intelligent followers of our political process. That is why we need not stretch our brains too thin to get them wrapped around hidden agenda the core intent of Republican Florida Gov. Crist interference into the Democratic Presidential Nominating process. What is disturbing is the lack of savvy and intelligent understanding of Democratic Michigan Governor Granholm's participation in Crist's scheme. On the surface their jointly declared call for a do-over primary sounds only fair. The shoe drops however when Crist clarifies that his state will not pay for the new primary!
politics64 :: A cost effective do-over fix for Michigan and Florida: But they must act fast!
It begs the question of, Well Governor, if not you than who should pay? The Democrats of course! But is that not very costly? About eighteen million for Florida and twelve million for Michigan!
It is no secret that the collective donations to the DNC, DSCC and DCCC have eclipsed their Republican counterparts by several factors! How interesting that the Republican Florida Governor has been so kind and concerned over the rights of his states millions of Democratic voters to have their voices heard at the August DNC Convention in Denver, CO. What better way to drain off thirty million dollars of joint Democratic campaign committee cash advantage than to publicly humiliate them into having to spend it on a do-over or risk civil war within their primary candidate supporters ranks or alienation of Michigan and Florida general election voters. I can hear those pro McCain Michigan/Florida TV spots now! "The Democratic Party is so opposed to the best interests of our state that they would not allow our votes to count at their Presidential Convention, not even after our Governor invited them to reschedule another primary! Only one party and one candidate really values you! McCain for President 2008!
Now of course these two Governors and their legislatures scheduled their initial primaries, against both DNC and RNC rules. Both national committees informed them that if they proceed there would be consequences. The Republicans decided they will only seat half of the states delegates, the Democrats decided that none would be seated. Then there is also the truth that both states voters knew in advance their votes would not count but showed up in huge numbers regardless. How do we punish those states voters for the arrogance/stupidity of their state governments?
The answer is, we don't but how can we seat them in the fairest and most cost effective manner? To use formulas like making them all uncommitted delegates, proportioning them by the initial primary results, by allocating them to reflect the actual nationwide primary vote or earned delegate percentages or even turning the two states into less expensive caucuses all have patently unfair results to both Clinton and Obama. No, the only fair thing to do is a do-over primary. But, who will pay for it? The national parties and the taxpayers of the two states should not pay an extra penny! So how do we get this done at no extra cost? By having both states correct their initial error of jumping ahead by moving back their scheduled August state and local primaries to June 10. This date is the drop dead deadline to end the primary season. It will only shorten their state primary by two months and by combining both events in one it will result in no additional expense to the taxpayers of those states who should not shoulder an additional financial burden to correct their state officials callous decision to ignore the rules.
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