SPTimes Buzz Blog Reporting on Dem Rules Committee Meeting today on Florida delegates

[flpoljunkie]

August 25, 2007

Ulterior Democratic motives?

WASHINGTON - As the Democratic rules committee slowly progresses - nothing on Fl yet - it's maybe worth pondering the assorted and sometimes contradictory motivations and interests of the players. Sitting on the rules committee is only one Floridian - Allan Katz, who happens to be a close ally of Howard Dean. That may partly explain why he's always been receptive to Florida making the Jan. 29 primary non-binding and holding later caucuses. Sitting next to him is Harold Ickes, the pal of Hillary Clinton, who would be the main beneficiary of Florida keeping all its delegates and voting early. Across the table is Michigan Democratic chairman Mark Brewer, who comes from a state that also may bust the calendar window and surely would get socked with the same penalties as Florida if they do.

Waiting to argue on Florida's behalf is former FL Democratic chairwoman Terrie Brady, a teachers union leader who is particularly focused on the Jan. 29 property tax amendment that could force big cuts in education funding. The unions want to do nothing to undercut Democratic turnout on Jan. 29, like making the presidential race non-binding.

Then there's Florida Sen. Bill Nelson, who's not at the meeting but has been raging about the DNC's penalties in recent days. Nelson will ultimately make a Democratic endorsement (Hillary is our guess). Nelson's never had a big political machine in Florida, so Would a Florida caucus undercut the importance of his endorsement?

UPDATE: Florida discussion starts about 11:20. Karen Thurman hasn't shown up yet.

...Scratch that. She just walked in late and out of breath.

http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2007/08/ulterior-democr.html

[flpoljunkie]

1. More from the Buzz: Kiss Democratic presidential FL campaigning goodbye?

August 25, 2007

Kiss Democratic presidential FL campaigning goodbye?

It wasn't even close. The rules and bylaws committee voted to strip Florida of 100% of its presidential delegates unless in 30 days the party makes the Jan. 29 primary election non-binding and sets some other system for allocating delegates after Feb. 5. Karen Thurman, Jon Ausman and Terrie Brady gave it a good try, begging for mercy, blaming the Republicans, etc, but the committee didn't buy. Only Floridian Allan Katz voted on FL's side. More to come.

August 25, 2007

http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2007/08/kiss-democratic.html