Dean to Super Delegates: "Decide now"

[99th_Monkey]

Dean to superdelegates: 'I need a decision now'
RAW STORY
Published: Friday April 18, 2008 :bounce: :toast:

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean wants things to wrap up: this morning, on CNN's Wolf Blitzer, he said of the party's superdelegates: "I need them to say who they’re for starting now.”

“We cannot give up two or three months of active campaigning and healing time,” the Democratic National Committee Chairman told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer. “We’ve got to know who our nominee is.”

After facing criticism for a mostly hands-off leadership style during much of the primary season, Dean has been steadily raising the rhetorical pressure on superdelegates. He said Thursday that roughly 65 percent of them have made their preference plain, but that more than 300 have yet to make up their minds.

The national party chair, who has remained neutral throughout the primary process, said again it’s his job to make sure both candidates feel they are treated fairly – but not to tell either of them when to end their run.
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Dean_to_superdelegates_I_need_decision_0418.html

Watch video here:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/18/dean-i-need-a-decision-now/

[Saturday]

1. Dear Howard Dean, The votes are still being counted. nt

[DJ13]

5. What difference does that make as far as super delegates?

Hillary had nearly 200 super delegates endorse her before the primaries even began when they considered her "inevitable".

Maybe the remaining super delegates now consider Obama "inevitable"?

[rock]

16. The super dels may want to know where their

constituency stands.

[99th_Monkey]

6. I think ABC's so-called "debate" may have pushed Dean to show some leadership

You know as well as I that the Supers are going to decide this thing, so WHY drag this shit-storm out as long as possible?

[mac2]

26. Pelosi couldn't wait in 2004 either for all the votes to be

counted and re-counted. She gave the election to Bush.

[NJmaverick]

2. I am betting they will make their move right after the PA election

by the end of next week, this thing will be over.

[2rth2pwr]

3. Howie, keep the Obama bias to a minimum.

[99th_Monkey]

7. I agree with him. If Hillary thinks she's got enough Supers, then let them show themselves..

otherwise the Supers need to pop the Clinton's bubble of denial and delusional rationale for staying in the race.

[2rth2pwr]

10. Delegates to Dean: Make Us

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/horseraceblog/2008/04/delegates_to_dean_make_us_1.html

Unfortunately for the party, Dean is in no position to tell the superdelegates when to decide. The reason? The chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee carries with it very little political power - certainly not enough to sway superdelegates....

...The key word is "help." The consensus among political scientists is that the national parties do not impose some kind of "party will." My research has found that this consensus, while essentially true, is overstated. The national parties do exercise some political power over candidates. However, it is only a modest amount....

...Relevant to the issue of the Democratic nomination, there is no formal mechanism for Dean to exercise power over superdelegates. Nor, for that matter, is this a power the DNC chairman has ever typically had. He has not been a party strongman. As noted above, in the days when there were party strongmen, the state parties ruled the roost. They supplied the smoke for the smoke-filled rooms.

Dean, of course, might have some informal power - perhaps thanks to the "50 State Strategy," which has tried to rehabilitate atrophied state parties. Some superdelegates might owe him a favor or two. However, I doubt that this would imply influence over the congressional superdelegates. Furthermore, Dean is a bit of a lame duck. His term is up next year. If the Democrats win the election in November, what we will likely see at the DNC is an adjustment to fit the needs and preferences of the President. This is typical. For instance, David Wilhelm, Clinton's campaign manager, became DNC chair in 1993.

[99th_Monkey]

14. However much sway Dean may have or not have, I'm glad he's using it. ~nt~

[mac2]

22. For whose benefit?

Let the delegates decide at the convention then there won't be any question as whole arm twisted who.

[99th_Monkey]

29. For the benefit of the Democratic Party and the country. Duh?

Dean's NOT telling the Supers "Vote for Obama now" ... as you seem to be implying.

He IS saying "decide now, for whichever one, just do it now"

[mac2]

31. Won't be arm twisting of who pushed who for their own agenda.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

8. How is that an Obama bias?

Obama leads in pledged delegates. Clinton needs the supers.

[underpants]

18. I don't think there is any doubt that Dean and the Clintons (DLC) don't get along

but I haven't SEEN him do anything that has shown bias to Obama.

BTW-spare me the howling about Mich and Fla they screwed themselves over

[The Magistrate]

4. Chairman Dean Is Correct, Sir

He generally has been during his tenure as Party chief.

[EFerrari]

9. You like him, don't you, Your Honor?

Confess!

[The Magistrate]

11. No Confession Required, Ma'am: It Is No Secret

I did worry somewhat at the start, but he has performed excellently, and it is clear he was the best choice for the job.

"When the facts change I change my opinions: what, Sir, do you do?"

[EFerrari]

13. LOL! I have to remember those wise words.

He's done very well. Who would have ever imagined that Howard Dean would be the one to keep the party on track after his insurgency?

It's been such a pleasure to watch.

[cali]

30. I can understand that.

As a Vermonter, I didn't worry about how he'd perform. I already knew he was a work horse, and not interested in anything but the party. I had gripes with him as governor- I'm further to the left than he is, but I had a good idea of who he really is.

[mac2]

12. Hey Dean stop trying to cut the process short so you can

control the voters at the convention. Let the party members do it. That's what the covention is about. It's also for deciding on our platform or have you already set that too?

[99th_Monkey]

15. Super Delegates are "party members" too aren't they? Was Edwards "cutting the process short"

when he withdrew for the good of the party and the nation?

The Supers can do the math and see the handwriting on the wall as well as anyone, unless they
are swilling the Clinton Koolaid of denial about her failed campaign for the nomination.

[mac2]

20. Yes....and after I gave him money.

It was all planned I'm sure.

[mac2]

21. A Super Delegate is a party member with the power of more votes.

It is not one vote per person in the case of Super Delegates. It's not "democratic" but back room politics.

“Super delegates” get a vote at the convention, and make up 20% of the vote." There are 800 of them.

http://www.rklau.com/tins/archives/2008/01/31/superdelegatesorg-learn-about-the-dnc-super-delegates.php

[99th_Monkey]

28. Supers have a responsibility to the party and to their country

to act in the best interests of both. Call it back-room politics all you want, which is ironic when you remember that
back-room politics is the ONLY strategy Hill's got left to win the nomination anyway, what with her being behind Obama
by every conceivable measure.

[PM7nj]

17. Ok... are they deciding?

He said NOW... sorry, I'm impatient.

[99th_Monkey]

19. drip, drip, drip...

day by day yes... seems like most every day I see on DU where Obama picks up 2-3 more.

I guess after that ABC debacle, Dean is becoming more and more impatient by the day too..

so he's trying to pry open the floodgates to end the Dem circular firing squad primary.

[mac2]

23. Is that his motive? You could have fooled me.

[Bensthename]

24. I have been waiting for that announcement. It's about time.

[mac2]

25. Can't wait until the other states vote?

Guess you are in a hurry for what reason?

[Bensthename]

27. To start building general election funds and rebond the dem party.

Taking this till August is not a winning dem tkt,.

[Algorem]

32. YEEEEAARRRGH!!!!

[ImpeechBush]

33. Doesn't this disenfranchise the voters yet again?

First, there is a superdelegate structure which is allowed to completely reverse the decision of the voters. Then MI and FL get tossed out. Now, before all the primaries are finished they are going to take it out of the hands of the voters.

Regardless of who wins the nomination this seems rather.. uh.. undemocratic. Maybe it was set up this way for all the right reasons but it puts the actual voter in the capacity of advisor, not decider. And if the superdelegates decide before all the votes are in, regardless how they decide, what about those of us waiting to vote? Is there any point in voting at all?