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Just 25 days ago, the whole political world was obsessed with the DNC RBC meeting to discuss the Florida and Michigan situations. Today, it was a little calmer as the RBC met by conference call.
There were two challenges brought before the RBC today. The challenge from Texas was originally thought to be a significant challenge to the Texas primary/caucus two-step. But it turned out to be a challenge to 1 Obama delegate due to irregularities at the Senate District Caucus. This challenge was referred to the Credentials Committee.
The second challenge is more interesting. From Wisconsin, it's a challenge to Clinton delegate Debra Bartoshevich. Bartoshevich has said she will vote for McCain, which should disqualify her from being a delegate. This challenge was also referred to the Credentials Committee. Expect her to change her tune or lose her seat.
Finally, the delegate slates for 9 states, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island and Virginia, were not compliant with gender equality rules.
One more thought. Looking back on the May 31 RBC meeting, it is amazing to realize that the race was over 5 days later, when word filtered out that Clinton was dropping out. In retrospect, it seems clear that the important thing coming out of the meeting was a decision, any decision, and it didn't matter what the decision was. Taking Florida and Michigan off-the-table was key to paving the way for Clinton dropping out, removing any excuse for her to stay in the race in order to make sure the two state delegations were seated.
Update: Colorado has too many male delegates:
The head of Colorado's Democratic Party has a problem to solve today - undoing a mistake that saw one too many men elected as delegates to the national convention in Denver.
Party rules require that every state's delegation be split evenly among men and women. But Colorado, with 70 total delegates, currently has 36 men and 34 women.
That means that Pat Waak, chairwoman of the state Democratic Party, has the unenviable task of removing a male delegate and making him an alternate, then choosing one of the alternates to fill the spot.
In the end, an alternate may be replaced as well because that group also must be balanced by gender.
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Yamaka · 872 weeks ago
What RBC did that day was a very poor decision: it rewarded the Villains and punished the Victims. Villains were the SDs of Michigan and FL. Victims were the voters who favored Sen Clinton by 55%. The anti-women elements in the Party prevailed, even by ignoring the Doctrine of Fair Representation: they also removed the 4 PD from her because the MI State Party, the people who committed the Original Sin in the first place, said so. Very shameful, indeed. The whole world watched the sorry spectacle of how undemocratic the Democratic Party has become!
Revenge and Retribution is coming fast in Nov 2008.
Jack · 872 weeks ago
I do believe that most of the members of the RBC considered the decision a reasonable compromise. Keep in mind that at least half of the RBC were Clinton supporters and they weren't about to lie down and accept anything less than what they considered fair.
So I do believe that the process was fair to Clinton. But even if you don't, keep in mind that the Republicans have not exactly been known for fair play lately.
Allyn Chevalier · 872 weeks ago
In Michigan it was the the Party, and in Florida in was the Republicans, who set the dates. Gadzooks, get it right!
Yamaka · 871 weeks ago
Alan · 872 weeks ago
Matt 75p · 872 weeks ago
Alan · 871 weeks ago
Matt 75p · 871 weeks ago
DocJess 71p · 872 weeks ago
While I have opinions about what happened and why, I believe the important thing to recognize is that the members of the committee had tried to do the right thing last year in their process for determining who could and could not hold primaries prior to 5 February. They ended up faced with a situation NOT because of the outcomes of the Michigan and Florida primaries, but because the Obama-Clinton race was so close. They needed to thread a decision which was as just as possible not only to those who voted, and those who didn't, but also to the process itself. Had they just said "take the numbers" -- there would be chaos in 2012.
I saw many of the members from a vantage point of 5 - 10 feet away, and no one looked liked they were there to 'stick it' to anyone, nor advance a specific agenda. Those faces, in a detail you can't really see on TV, showed concern for the candidates, the voters, the party, the future.
You may not agree with their decision, by thinking it did not go far enough in either direction. Objectively, they "split the baby". They did the best they could, and I don't know that you can ask more of people.
DC · 872 weeks ago
Have one voting day for the entire Country on a Saturday. Say the 2nd Saturday in July.
Scrap the entire system of Delegates (Pledged & Super)
No Caucuses.
Primary’s only.
Popular votes wins.
Have the Convention in August to celebrate the winner.
This way all of the states are equal and we’ll truly have a one person on vote system.
As for the General Election scrap the Electoral College and move to a popular vote winner. I realize this would take a Constitutional change but I think it’s long overdue.
Scott · 872 weeks ago