The DNC has decide to strip all of Florida's delegates to the 2008 Convention if they follow through with holding their primary on January 29th. Why would the Party that cliams to be the party of inclusion want to allow Florida, who's population is one that mirrors the country as a whole? They dont because they want the nominee to be picked by Iowa and New Hampshire. When you want inclusion I think of Iowa and New Hampshire first, of course. When will the parties wake up and realize this system is broken. Something must be done that breaks the strangle hold these states have on our electoral system. Who cares if since the 70's they have been first. If your car is breaking down, you dont just keep driving it you either fix it or replace it with something that works.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0807/Florida_primary_found_noncompliant.html
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Comments: 18
You are too smart for this sort of sad, strained rhetoric. Why do you bother with this?
I agree with you to the extent of, "Why just Florida?" I am not clear on whether it is the law or policy that dictates that Iowa and New Hampshire (?) must move up their primaries dates if Florida does, but if that is the reason why should Florida Democrates have to be the pay the penalties.
Myself, I favor a national primary day to put an end to this nonsense of trying to be first once and for all. I also favor a primary run-off day to eliminate a minority candidate being the winner. Same for general elections if there are more than 2 major candidates and neither gets a majority.
Joe,
The Electoral College concept was established well before either blacks or women could vote so it doesn't make much sense to say it was instituted to prevent them from getting control of the process.
hmm, as to party of inclusion, to a certain extent yes. Both parties are. Parties by definition are made of people with at least some of the same beliefs or desires.
More the pity, neither does a good job of representing the nation and the fragmentation of the groups; racial, social/economic, religious etc do the country no good. Especially when the parties take certain groups for granted and ignore their desires...
I couldn't care if Florida or California or Hawaii had the first primary. To me I would like to see five different states have primaries two weeks apart. For example: say NH on Feb1, Washington Feb15, Florida Mar 2, New Mexico Mar 17 and Michigan April 1.
That way the whole country is represented and then I would like to see larger primaries with multiple states.
I blame Iowa and New Hampshire, as well as the parties. The parties should stand up to these states as they are not reflective of america as a whole and should not always be first. I completly agree with what you have said about the choices that we get.