Florida Re-Vote Unlikely

[pbca]

I guess it'll just be Michigan and Florida will sit out.

Primary do-over by mail is unlikely
An idea done in by time, cost, and complex political calculations on all sides
By Jeremy Wallace H-T POLITICAL WRITER

Plans for a mail-only redo of the Democratic primary in Florida are mostly dead, a key advocate of the idea said Friday.

While there is a growing push for Florida Democrats to hold a new election between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton,, there is no funding for the idea and even if there were, there would not be enough time to pull it off.

"I think it's pretty much dead," said Rep. Keith Fitzgerald, D-Sarasota, who has been one of the Legislature's biggest proponents of holding elections via mail.

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20080308/NEWS/803080384/1146

[rwheeler31]

1. Good

[gristy]

32. Yes - good. Took the word right out my mouth.

[DJ13]

2. GOOD

Now Dean DOES have the authority as DNC chairman to reapportion the existing Florida delegates since they are contested, so he should just move their counts to a 50/50 split between Obama and Clinton and call it a done deal.

[joshcryer]

3. Under what bylaw?

[ossman]

4. Can't we get rid of the schlong of America? FLA.. where all the nuts roll downhill.

[Az_lefty]

7. he he he....

good one.

[BeyondGeography]

5. It was a totally dopey idea anyway

[joshcryer]

10. Yeah, 'cause Obama and Hillary were both for seating FL and MI.

Why revote when both candidates are for seating them?

Oh, wait, Obama changed his mind when they mattered.

If something isn't done the delegates will show up at the DNC and be kicked out by Dean or Obama's delegation, and it'll be a really bad mess.

[BeyondGeography]

15. Try thinking straight for a change

==But as much as he likes the idea, Fitzgerald cringes at the idea of testing it for the first time in a statewide race that could determine the next leader of the free world. Fitzgerald said the idea really has to be tested out on a more limited scale to work out potential bugs and assure voters that it can really work.

In Oregon, the mail ballot program was tested for about 15 years before the state used all-mail balloting in the 2000 presidential election.

Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent said logistically it would be impossible for the county to handle sending 76,000 ballots to all of the county's registered votes and tally them in less than 90 days, while also conducting four other elections between now and May 6.==

[joshcryer]

19. The Democratic party in FL has been more about seating them than anything else.

Mainly because Dean, Pelosi, Hillary, and Obama were for it before, but Obama changed his mind, and Dean seems to be wishy washy about the idea.

So it doesn't surprise me they'd find the logistics coming out this way.

[IsItJustMe]

33. For some reason, the Republican Govenor of Florida was real interested in having a re-do.

[Beregond2]

6. Re-do

Just what I've been saying all along: too expensive, and not enough time. A lot of drama for nothing.

[MadBadger]

8. Too bad, lets try to get a revote in Michigan

[JVS]

24. It's not a revote, it's called a valid contest.

[MadBadger]

26. Fine, lets have that happen. I think Obama wins in a valid Michigan contest

Michigan is a state I think could be right up his alley. You have detroit which is 80% African American. Then you have two 40,000+ universities in Michigan and MSU. I think Obama would win A Valid Michigan Contest 55-45

[JVS]

28. Yeah. Good.

Just making sure that we "frame the issue" correctly :-)

[TAWS]

9. Time to Split Florida's delegates 50/50 and have them seated n/t

[BringBigDogBack]

11. agree, Taws

[IsItJustMe]

34. I second that.

[Joe the Revelator]

12. There goes Hillary's last chance

[MadBadger]

13. We should push for a new vote in Michigan (Though we actually have no power)

Obama will win in Michigan in a revote.

[BzaDem]

16. Yup, you only don't want a revote in Florida because you think Clinton will win. Disgusting.

[MadBadger]

20. Did I say I didnt want a revote In Florida? I want either a revote or it to not count at all

Take your shit somewhere else.

[IsItJustMe]

35. Are you paying for it? Let's do it!!!

[Selatius]

14. There SHOULD BE a revote. However...

The dumb fucks in the legislature who caused this mess should pay for it out by deducting the cost of a new election from their annual salary. The taxpayers already paid for the first election. Now they should pay for a re-vote.

Edited for spelling.

[FARAFIELD]

17. I have the say

The Hillary people are acting like asses on this one. Obama didnt campaign as promised in either. Hillary left her name on (cynical move) in Michigan. But the fact is that people went to the polls knowing it didnt count, cant base an election on that. The governers are asses as well, yelping for them to count, the moved them ahead. I havent heard one newsman talk about that if they had left it where they were they would have been the only game in town. Florida I can see screwing it up. But what was up with LEVIN and Granholm up there. I say whats the point of having a party if states break rules and then we dont hold them accountable. I say you cant count either as is (for the reasons above). So why count them at all. I remember saying months ago, that Dean wouldnt back down and he hasnt and so there you have it.

[Selatius]

21. I agree with Dean's position, but if Florida did a re-vote, I'd oppose if taxpayers paid for it.

The legislators themselves should pay for it. Florida voters got disenfranchised by their own legislators. If worse comes to pass, let them at least not get their wallets burned as well.

[Cali_Democrat]

18. Let me get this straight

They don't want to do a re-vote by mail because it would be about 5 million and nobody wants to pay for it? I've heard that a new regular primary could cost $20 million. Obviously nobody will want to pay for that either. What about a caucus?

They have to do something because those delegates will not be seated as is no matter how much Hillary cries about it.

[madfloridian]

22. Beat it again so it will stay dead. This stuff is crazy.

Florida needs to shut up and sit down.

[Obamaniac]

23. Well then Hillary is officially fucked!

Because those states won't count.

Obama will have a lead in the pledged delegates, and thus will control all the convention committees.

The court will rule in favor of the DNC, given precedent.

A re-vote was really Hillary's only chance. She's officially screwed.

[joshcryer]

27. Nah, FL (and possibly MI) will send their "non-counting" delegates to the DNC.

Dean wouldn't want that, that's for damn sure.

[MadBadger]

29. They wont seat the delegates

[MadBadger]

30. They wont seat the delegates

[Medusa]

25. They broke the rules

them's the breaks.

[madfloridian]

31. Here's why...Hillary does not want do-overs. Her statement.

Not only does she not want do-overs, but she spins the usual stuff that the GOP made Florida do it. No, they did not.

From instigator to victim. It was a Dem who introduced the early primary bill in Florida.
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/1829

http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/campaign-2008/2008/03/06/exclusive-interview-clinton-looks-ahead-to-mississippi.html

'On a "do-over" in Florida and Michigan, which held nominating contests that
broke Democratic Party rules

"I would not accept a caucus. I think that would be a great disservice to the
2 million people who turned out and voted. I think that they want their
votes counted. And you know a lot of people would be disenfranchised because
of the timing and whatever the particular rules were. This is really going
to be a serious challenge for the Democratic Party because the voters in
Michigan and Florida are the ones being hurt, and certainly with respect to
Florida the Democrats were dragged into doing what they did by a Republican
governor and a Republican Legislature. They didn't have any choice
whatsoever. And I don't think that there should be any do-over or any kind
of a second run in Florida. I think Florida should be seated.'"

[Alhena]

36. Good- we Democrats need to start firing our ammo at Republicans

[against all enemies]

37. Follow the rules next time. By the way would the original dates for voting

made for interest in MI and FLA?

[madfloridian]

38. They would have been power brokers...

Now they are just wishing.