Our state chair sent out a pump us up letter about the primary.

[madfloridian]

I had a post ready and wasn't going to post it in the spirit of trying to be unified here in our state. But the email irritated me so much that I will. I will say what I thought about last Saturday.

It was out of line for the party to have James Carville speak at the Palm Beach JJ Dinner. Sure, it was their right, but it was showing approval of his actions and it was thumbing their noses at Howard Dean even more. The party has a perfect right to invite whomever they want to speak. But the way they did it sent a message.

James Carville headlined the Palm Beach Dem Party's JJ fundraiser

During his remarks, Carville said either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama will win the White House next year. Carville also said the country's dissatisfaction with President Bush will allow Democrats to widen their majority in Congress

Isn't it amazing he did that here in our state? He dissed John Edwards by omission, must have hurt Kucinich's feeling as he was there also. And the article doesn't even mention Nancy Pelosi who was there also.

Carville was ok with them although he signed a letter with his wife calling Scooter Libby an honorable man...

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0605071libby12.html

He was ok with them although he called for the party chairman to be fired...a little odd since the state is now publicly dissing the chairman and the national party as well.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/838

Today I talked with a few more people about how they felt about Carville speaking and the primary pitting the state against the national party. It did not even seem odd to them. I did not argue about it, just asked and then backed off. No need to argue with minds that are closed except to just see what they want to know.

We either have a national party or we don't have one...unless there is a different one now with different initials. x(

Here is part of the email, and it sounds like they are going ahead with it. They will not permit themselves to be disenfranchised again.

Hillary and Kucinich have said they will for sure campaign here, and I am sure the others will also. There has been a pretty concentrated media blitz on Edwards...not favorable.

Dear Florida Democrats,

You spoke…

…and your Party listened.

As Chair of your Party, I am proud to officially announce that Florida’s Democratic Presidential Preference Primary will be held on January 29, 2008, in accordance with a new state law and the will of Florida’s Democratic voters.

Although Democratic National Committee (DNC) rules can penalize states (except for Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina) that hold 2008 primaries prior to February 5, the Florida Democratic Party’s leadership determined that holding a process outside the state-run January 29th election would be detrimental to the voters of this state.

We did not come to this decision on our own.

Over the past few months, the Party discussed the issue with the DNC, Democratic Presidential candidates, Democratic leaders in Florida, and committed Florida Democrats like you. We read your emails and letters, and, in the end, a clear consensus emerged.

Florida Democrats made it clear that a date other than January 29th would potentially disenfranchise voters and inhibit preparations for a winning 2008 campaign – a campaign that will deliver the state’s 27 crucial electoral votes on November 4, 2008 to the Democratic Presidential nominee.

Also, we all know the importance of November, but the January 29 elections will affect the people of Florida as well, with important municipal races on the ballot in many cities, and a statewide property tax constitutional amendment that threatens county budgets and local jobs.

As the Florida Democratic Party, we cannot and will not support disenfranchisement that could occur if our primary were held on a date other than January 29, 2008. Our state has seen far too much of this in the past.

Also, we agree with many of you who wrote and e-mailed us with concerns that holding a separate, later election would take our eyes off the prize and adversely affect the progress made toward winning the state for the Democratic nominee in 2008. Like you’ve said, there’s just too much at stake.

Because of these reasons, the Florida Democratic Party has respectfully requested that the DNC not enact penalties on our state or Democratic Presidential candidates by diluting the Florida delegation’s voting strength. The Delegation Selection Plan we submitted to the DNC is available online at Florida Democratic website until July 20

We will keep you posted as the discussions with the DNC continue.

Thank you for your trust.

Congresswoman Karen L. Thurman
Chair, Florida Democratic Party

The linked document is 32 pages long and in pdf format. It does not look like an alternate plan which can be presented in August to the DNC.

[NoodleBoy]

1. contentiousness with the national party is one thing--but inviting Carville is ten steps further

that's not just having a disagreement with the DNC, that's just being contrarian-- instead of just letting the differences remain, aligning with someone who's been very critical of Dean's handling of the DNC and who wouldn't blink an eye at returning to the old (non-winning) way of Democratic campaigning is really asking for it.

I wouldn't be suprised if Carville thinks he's angling to be DNC chair. God help us should that happen. I thought it was so damn funny when he compared Bush's handling of the Iraq war to Dean's handling of the DNC. Yeah, Dean was so bad with the DNC that the Republicans strengthened their Congressional majority in 2006 and Democrats were fearful for their lives.

[madfloridian]

2. Yes, well said. Having Carville was really pushing it..

The party leaders used to insult DFA members right to their faces, and I have posted about that before.

Not a good thing for them to have done.

[Kagemusha]

3. As much as I question the wisdom in this, the Iowa/NH cartel gets old.

I wish something could be done about that which isn't going to tear the party apart.

[madfloridian]

4. Well, the DNC included NV and SC this time.

That gives diversity.

[SCDem]

7. SC Democrats are upset

SC pushed hard for the first in South primary - And the SCDP has been great in organizing and even totally funded by themselves the 2004 primary. The State Republicans organized theirs horribly.

[madfloridian]

9. I don't blame SC for being upset. Florida is being a bully.

Here is the video of Dean in NH saying that Florida broke the thing.

http://www.victorynh.com/video-gallery-dean.htm

[madfloridian]

5. Sounds like candidates have all agreed to go along.

http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2007/06/florida_democra.html

"Florida Democrats are pressing forward with their party's Jan. 29 presidential primary, despite the continued threats of sanctions from Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean.

The state party has begun the 30-day period for public comment on its delegate selection and affirmative action plan, which can be found at the party's website. Party Chairman Karen Thurman said in an email Monday night that "a clear consensus" exists among presidential hopefuls, elected Democrats and rank-and-file activists to make the Jan. 29 vote count.

She added that with the presence of the homestead exemption referendum on the same ballot (an issue many leading Democrats oppose), "We cannot and will not support disenfranchisement that would occur if our primary were held on a date other than Jan. 29."

Kind of sad to see this happen, especially with Carville there on the same week-end they took the vote to make it clear they accept the primary date.

[MaineDem]

6. I am disappointed by this

I honestly hope the DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee does not accept this Plan and that Florida incurs the penalties set forth for this sort of infraction.

If nothing is done to penalize Florida I see all states jumping the Feb 5 gun. Why shouldn't they?

[madfloridian]

8. Dean and other spokespersons for the DNC have said no delegates.

This is a play of sorts against the party. I have all kinds of suspicions and no proof at all. Just those uh oh feelings that things are being done for a motive other than on the surface.

[AtomicKitten]

10. Oh, it must be Tuesday.

like clockwork

:boring:

[wyldwolf]

12. imagine

MF and blm at the same party.

[madfloridian]

11. Still upset about this.

Not feeling any better about it.

Guess they don't care what I think, though. The party leaders here were dead set against an early primary last time. The nerve of us newly active folks to want to have a voice...though those were not their exact words.

Surely is odd this has to be done this primary. But not the other one.

Not very happy.

And Carville should not have been chosen as a speaker at this time of all times....a little sensitivity would have been nice.

[madfloridian]

13. Good luck today, Governor Dean. My state breaks the rules and blames you.

He meets with the Florida delegation today. The state broke the rules, and they are damning him for it. And our Democrats like Jeremy Ring started it and led the way.

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/06/21/State/State_Democrats_to_pl.shtml

Bill Nelson, why didn't you take stands on the Iraq invasion and the bankruptcy bill and Terri Schiavo....like you are against the big bad chairman?

You are a most mentally lazy man, sir.

[beachmom]

14. And states like mine -- Virginia -- who follow the rules get screwed in the process.

My vote will only be token in worth by the time it rolls around.