Mail-In Revotes Gain Momentum

Prominent Democrats Back
Idea for Resolving Dispute
Over Florida, Michigan
By SUDEEP REDDY

Some prominent Democrats are converging on the prospect of mail-in elections to resolve a dispute over the fate of delegates from Florida and Michigan, who were disqualified by the party last year.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, speaking on Sunday talk shows, called mail-in voting -- in which every registered Democrat, including those overseas, receives a ballot by mail -- "a very good process." But Mr. Dean said it is up to the states' Democrats to formulate a plan that both campaigns would support.

The national party last year disqualified delegates from Florida and Michigan to punish the states for moving up their nominating contests before Feb. 5 to have a greater influence on the nomination race. Sen. Hillary Clinton won both states, but Sen. Barack Obama and the other candidates had removed their names from the Michigan ballot. None of the Democratic candidates campaigned in Florida.

The Clinton campaign maintains that the results of the original contests should count, but both campaigns have said they will defer to a decision by the states and the national party.

Even if a consensus emerges, the answer to a key question -- who would pay for mail revotes -- remains up in the air. The states have said taxpayers won't foot the bill. And Mr. Dean insisted the national party would be saving its money to defeat the presumptive Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain.

"The first thing we're going to do is follow the rules," he said

Mail-In Revotes Gain Momentum - WSJ.com

"The first thing we're going to do is follow the rules,"Howard Dean.. but the RULES ARE THE PROBLEM...

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"Destiny must be shaped and not left to mere chance."..Spencer Collins

The rules aren't the problem. Florida and Michigan's ability to follow them are the problem. The party has the right to set whatever rules it wants. Hell, they don't even have to use the 'primary' process to select a candidate. They could change their rules to where the oldest first born child of the most recently deceased president not to have served within the past twenty years could select the nominee.

But if Florida and Michigan want their votes to count, then a revote is absolutely needed.

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Basic elementary school stuff here.
Me and my little friends are playing cards. It's Johnny's turn to deal and to "call" the rules of the game. He says, " Sixes and two's are wild; Jacks or better to open."
Then about two thirds of the way through (and with a big pot at stake), Sally complains I have been dealt most of the wild cards and she wants "do overs".
I got news for ya. Not only am I not playing cards with Sally again, but she's fixin' to get her a$$ kicked.

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________________________________________
Salty

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And that's the exact attitude that created this mess...

If that's what the Democratic Party truly feels, then they are not working WITH the states, but AGAINST them...

"My way or the highway" seems to be the attitude, but remember...This whole thing started because the dates certain states get to hold their primaries is unfair to others...Florida and Michigan tried to correct that unfairness...

Niiiice....

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"You get the respect that you give" - cnredd

But the Rules are the problem..why? because in the past,the DNC has made exceptions in the middle of the game! Michigan and Florida were counting on those exceptions! If they are going to make rules then they should follow them "without" exception.

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"Destiny must be shaped and not left to mere chance."..Spencer Collins

And you can be disgruntled about the times before, but don't be pissy now when the party is following the rules without exception. There has to be a starting point. People have been pushing for their special exceptions for far too long. Now Florida and Michigan have to deal with that.

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Well I'm sure you will defend them like a good partisan no matter what they do. The DNC said the delegates would not be seated but they made exceptions in the past no? It's those "exceptions" that Michigan and Florida Democrats were counting on when they moved up the date! Also,you are badly missing the point,they are NOT starting to follow the rules,they are now making yet another exception. They are giving Michigan and Florida a second chance with a primary they are willing to recognize.Some of us see the humor and stupidity in this mess and some of us don't..

Who should fund this circus? Howard Dean said it won't be funded by the DNC

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"Destiny must be shaped and not left to mere chance."..Spencer Collins

Well I'm fine if they don't seat them. I think that the rules were pretty clear and if you don't play by the rules you take the risk of getting disqualified. It's like speeding. The majority of the time you wont get caught, and even if you do the majority of the time you can get off, but there will always be those who have to pay speeding tickets for breaking the rules, no matter how many of the rest of us slip by.

I think that if we agree to hold a revote, something not totally crazy in my opinion because it would be the only fair way to seat the delegates (if we are going to seat them), then the states should pay for it. It was the states that violated the rules and thus their burden.

I'm merely following legal principle here.

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There is no way for Michigan to pay for it,our state,once one of the most highly paid worker states is outta cash. Carl Levin also said NO WAY..not only that,it would have to be approved by the legislators and that ain't gonna happen in this political climate.It's a mess,I can see no "truly" fair way to solve it. The DNC could sell special lottery tickets to finance the Michigan and Florida primaries but then Democrats would be accused of gambling and racketeering..

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"Destiny must be shaped and not left to mere chance."..Spencer Collins