Month: March 2008

Florida’s Non-Primary — Incompetence, Capitulation, Both?

Buck Banks

National Journal’s Charlie Cook rarely pulls punches in his “On Politics” column, but in last week’s piece, he really lambasted the Florida Democratic Party “leadership” for incompetence and alleged that Barack Obama was manipulating the situation to his advantage.

It is truly astonishing that a state and one of its major parties have opted to declare the political equivalent of Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Cook pointed out that in the past five years 16 congressional districts nationwide had unexpected vacancies to fill due to resignation, death or incarceration, and they all managed to mount special elections, often with primaries, to fill those House seats. But not Florida. Since it was stripped of its delegates last fall, the Florida Democratic Party has wrung its hands and kvetched about its mistreatment, but has done little to develop a viable plan for a re-vote, except for a half-assed suggestion of a mail-in primary that was dead on arrival.

Meanwhile, unlike California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, and Virginia — states that have held hurry-up special elections in recent years because of House vacancies — Florida can’t seem to find a way to conduct a statewide election between now and the scheduled end of the nomination season. That is in early June, 70-odd days from today and about half a year after Florida knew it needed a Plan B if it didn’t want its Democratic delegation to be shut out of the national convention.

Florida Democrats lamely blame their Republican governor and GOP-controlled state Legislature for this mess, but to most observers their opposition to the nonsanctioned January date seemed to be posturing more than anything else, and it still doesn’t explain why nothing constructive has happened since then. What we’ve seen is a monumental failure of leadership on the part of state Democratic Chairman Karen Thurman and other party officials. For those who don’t buy the incompetence argument, the alternative view is that the state party officials simply capitulated to the Obama campaign, which didn’t want a re-vote lest it give Hillary Rodham Clinton a chance to close the delegate gap. Either way, Florida’s Democratic voters deserve better than what they’ve gotten.

Florida could have opted for an ordinary primary, a caucus, a “firehouse” primary, or even a vote-by-mail primary. Instead, the Sunshine State decided to punt. Barack Obama, who lost both Florida and Michigan, has chimed in to suggest that he and Clinton just split the states’ delegates down the middle, an idea that raises the question of why we bother to hold elections at all.

It is truly astonishing that a state and one of its major parties have opted to declare the political equivalent of Chapter 11 bankruptcy, claiming they are incapable of fulfilling their electoral and democratic obligations.

I know Trish and I do go on a bit about the travails of the FlaDems, and some commenters are getting a little restive with the topic. But it really is disappointing that it got screwed up again for the third presdiential race in a row.

When I saw Obama speak in Miami last August, I actually got kind of jazzed by what appeared to be a very active, energized and well-organized Democratic Party. It made me feel, well, hopeful for the Dems.

However, apparently the energy and organization went no higher up the party hierarchy than the South Florida region. Indeed, the local party has made some significant inroads in getting Dems elected at the city and county government levels.

Meanwhile, state Democratic Party Chair Karen Thurman and her gang have managed to create a state-level microcosm of what the bitter Clinton-Obama race is doing to the party nationally — rendering the Democratic Party irrelevant in the presidential election.

Quote du Jour

Buck Banks

One of the best of the good things in life is victory and particularly moral victory. But to demand victory without an antagonist is to demand something with no meaning. If, then, goodness is to exist, there must at least be an antagonist to overcome.

— Sir William Temple (1881-1944), Archbishop of Canterbury

DNC’s Brazile to Clinton: End This Thing by June 10

Trish

Democratic party strategist and super delegate Donna Brazile sent a message to Hillary Clinton on ABC’s This Week: Your campaign ends with the primaries. Here’s a transcript from the Roundtable segment, with Brazile, George Will, Paul Krugman, and Robert Reich.

Donna Brazile: I think we have an exit strategy in the Democratic party to end the primary season on June 10th and sometime before, I think, before —

George Stephanopoulous: Why June 10th?

Brazile: “The problem is simple. Sen. Clinton was supposed to win this. She was supposed to have finished up the contest on Feb. 5th. They had no post Super Tuesday strategy. There’s no reason to demonize and to disgrace the Democratic party to prolong this race longer than June.”

D.B. Well that’s the end of the primary season based on the rules, and after all, this is about the rules…This notion of bringing this fight on to the convention is not a wise idea and I think whoever is coming up with this new strategy is not looking at the math again…Do the math. This is not healthy.

…G.S. You’re saying the credentials committee, unless there is some dramatic change, some dramatic Obama collapse, that Sen. Clinton can’t win at the credentials committee.

…D.B. You know the problem? The problem is simple. Sen. Clinton was supposed to win this. She was supposed to have finished up the contest on Feb. 5th. They had no post Super Tuesday strategy. They ran out of money. She came back from behind, she won Flori—, I mean she won Texas,* she won Ohio. There’s no reason to demonize and to disgrace the Democratic party to prolong this race longer than June.

…G.S. Here’s the fundamental problem for the Clinton campaign. There is just, there’s no reasonable possibility that by June 10th, she is going to be ahead in the pledged delegates and I believe, and I want to put this question to Donna — I just think the majority of super delegates who are remaining out there simply can’t in their gut vote to overturn the super delegates,** given the Florida [in 2000] history.

D.B. That’s true. I mean, that’s just the gospel truth. On the other hand…nobody’s telling her to get out. I would like to see her —

Paul Krugman: [Laughs]

D.B. But the party itself is not saying, you know, “Get out.” The party is not saying get out. I have stood behind Sen. Clinton’s efforts to restart her campaign, change her voice, get herself back in groove. But it ends in June. I think this notion that we go on to August is a bad idea.

* Editor’s Note: Texas is not a Clinton win.

** It appeared George meant to say “overturn the voters.”

Is Karl Rove on Hillary Clinton’s Payroll?

Trish

Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinbush?

Hey Hillary, Karl Rove called. He wants his cheesy, 1984 mind control backdrops back.

Or maybe he doesn’t. Karl’s been largely MIA since he “stepped down” from the Bush White House all those blessed months ago. Sure, every now and then he crops up with an idiotic comment or two, just to make it look like he’s still on the Republican team. But is his unseen hand showing itself in Hillary Clinton’s campaign?

Where’s Karl? Maybe this week, we have an answer.

There is no doubt that Sen. Clinton was paying attention during all those stacatto, disjointed Bush speeches/photo ops we’ve endured over the past seven years. That she’s taking a page from the Rove playbook with what her campaign calls its “Solutions for the American Economy” town hall tour is evident from the graphics.

This isn’t the first time lately that Hillary has looked Rovian. When she answered questions about her version of her Bosnia visit with a non sequitur about Obama’s pastor, she was resorting to the politics of personal destruction given to us by Rove. Her “3 a.m. phone call” ad featured the terrorism bogeyman voice-over Rove perfected for W.

The obvious question is, is Rove being ripped off, or is he on the payroll? It’s doubtful McCain, who was the subject of a Rove/Bush lying smear campaign in 2000 would hire Karl. You gotta take the work where you can find it, especially in the bankrupt Bush economy. Maybe Hillary was hiring.

Poll: Bush’s Job Approval at 28% – What Is in the Kool-Aid Republicans Drink?

Jon Ponder

Here is more confirmation, not that any is needed, that over a quarter of Americans are dangerously delusional. A new poll from the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press has George Bush’s job approval rating at 28 percent, which is remarkably — no, stupendously — high by any rational measure.

Bush has been polling around 30 percent for months. Statistically speaking, all of these Bush lovers are Republicans. Seven years on, it is still a giant mystery what these people see in him.

Good news, though. Fewer people are identifying themselves as Republicans, according to Pew:

In [the poll taken in January and February], 36 percent identify themselves as Democrats, and just 27 percent as Republicans.

The share of voters who call themselves Republicans has declined by six points since 2004, and represents, on an annualized basis, the lowest percentage of self-identified Republican voters in 16 years of polling by the Center.

The Democratic Party has also built a substantial edge among independent voters. Of the 37 percent who claim no party identification, 15 percent lean Democratic, 10 percent lean Republican, and 12 percent have no leaning either way.

And with all of this, John McCain still gets support from a little over half the electorate in most national polls.

Turn Off the Light for Earth Hour

Trish

We like easy ways to do good things for the planet and it doesn’t get much easier than this.

On March 29, 2008 at 8 p.m., join millions of people around the world in making a statement about climate change by turning off your lights for Earth Hour…

Last year’s Earth Hour, which only took place in one city — Sydney — had the same impact as taking 48,000 cars off the road for the same hour

Earth Hour was created by World Wildlife Fund in Sydney, Australia in 2007, and in one year has grown from an event in one city to a global movement. In 2008, millions of people, businesses, governments and civic organizations in nearly 200 cities around the globe will turn out for Earth Hour. More than 100 cities across North America will participate, including the US flagships–Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix and San Francisco and Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.

We invite everyone throughout North America and around the world to turn off the lights for an hour starting at 8 p.m. (your own local time)–whether at home or at work, with friends and family or solo, in a big city or a small town.

Before you dismiss this idea, know that last year’s Earth Hour, which only took place in one city — Sydney — had the same impact as taking 48,000 cars off the road for the same hour. Tell me that doesn’t add up.

Some of the places in this country already on board to participate are:

  • Atlanta — Coca Cola Headquarters and the Georgia Aquarium (largest in the world)
  • Chicago — Sears Tower, John Hancock Building, Soldier Field (Chicago Bears stadium), Boeing Headquarters Building, Merchandise Mart, Drake Hotel, Chicago City Hall, C N A Building, Blue Cross/Blue Shield Building, Chicago Theater Marquees, Hard Rock Cafe marquee at Wrigley Field (home of the Chicago Cubs)
  • San Francisco — San Francisco Golden Gate and Bay Bridges, San Francisco Town Hall, Hewlett-Packard Company headquarters (Palo Alto)
  • Phoenix — City government buildings

If you’re doing something creative with your time in the dark (that’s not X-rated), the folks at Earth Hour are providing information on how to make your event a success.

Update: Now I know why actions like these are important. I went whole-hog and refrained from the computer, TV, and even radio, sticking to the spirit of the thing, which was to not use any power (I decided even my wind-up emergency radio with the built-in flashlight would be cheating). Time passes very slowly when all you can do is sit in the dark and reflect on why you’re sitting in the dark. I decided it must be what fasting for a cause is like. It focuses your thoughts on the reason you’re uncomfortable. Even though I finally gave up and walked the dog for the last half-hour, I still spent the whole time thinking about global warming and about the impact that using each of my appliances, and my car, has. This morning, I’m still thinking about it.

So I would say this was a good thing. You think you know this stuff, and on an intellectual level you do, but actually going through the exercise is valuable. If you missed Earth Hour, take one of your own. Tell yourself you will refrain from using electricity for one hour. Your mind will automatically focus on why and the contemplation will be illuminating. Pun intended.

Baghad ‘Green Zone’ Under Attack By Insurgent Rocketfire

Jon Ponder


Surge: At least two U.S. officials have been killed in the ongoing rocket attacks by insurgents on the Green Zone in Baghdad. Two Iraqi guards were also killed at the Iraqi vice president’s office inside the zone:

Extremists lobbed more rockets or mortars against the U.S.-protected Green Zone Friday in Baghdad, with some falling short and killing two guards outside the Iraqi vice president’s office.

Lubna al-Hashemi, the daughter of Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, said at least five other guards were injured when rockets or mortars hit the courtyard outside her father’s offices.

She said her father was praying at the time and was not in the offices.

A thick cloud of smoke was seen over the zone Friday shortly after the first rounds hit.

The bombardment of the Green Zone has prompted the State Dept. to issue a warning to U.S. embassy personnel:

“Due to the continuing threat of indirect fire in the International Zone, all personnel are advised to remain under hard cover at all times,” [the warning] says. “Personnel should only move outside of hard cover for essential reasons.”

“Essential outdoor movements should be sharply limited in duration,” the memo says, adding that personal protective equipment “is mandatory for all outside movements.”

“We strongly recommend personnel do not sleep in their trailers,” it goes on to say, offering space inside the Saddam Hussein-era palace that is the embassy’s temporary home as well as room at an as-yet uncompleted new embassy compound and a limited supply of cots.

Dr. Dean: Dem Supporters’ Squabbling Risks Demoralizing the Base

Jon Ponder

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean says infighting between supporters of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama threatens the party’s chances for winning the White House in November:
“Let the media and the Republicans and the talking heads on cable television attack and carry on, fulminate at the mouth. The supporters should keep their mouths shut about this stuff on both sides because that is harmful to the potential victory of a Democrat.”
— Howard Dean

“You do not want to demoralize the base of the Democratic Party by having the Democrats attack each other,” he said Thursday during the interview in his office at Democratic National Committee headquarters. “Let the media and the Republicans and the talking heads on cable television attack and carry on, fulminate at the mouth. The supporters should keep their mouths shut about this stuff on both sides because that is harmful to the potential victory of a Democrat.”

Dean says he has a plan for resolving the superdelegate conundrum:

Dean wouldn’t talk in detail about what the plan is, but it likely involves encouraging superdelegates to pick a candidate shortly after the voting ends. He said he will not encourage any delegate to vote one way or another.

“I am going to stand up for the rules, and I know I’m doing the right thing most of the time because I’ve got both Clinton people and Obama people mad at me,” he said.

For instance, while Obama’s campaign has been encouraging superdelegates to support the candidate with the most pledged delegates — which almost certainly will be Obama — Dean says the rules don’t require that and superdelegates are free to chose who they want.

On the other side, Clinton has been arguing lately that even pledged delegates — awarded to a candidate based on the outcome of state contests — aren’t bound to vote for that candidate at the convention. Dean called that “a very technical argument.”

“You aren’t going to get pledged delegates to move unless something really shocking happens,” he said. And he thinks it unlikely the superdelegates would support a candidate who did not have the most pledged delegates.

And he commented on the Florida and Michigan controversies:

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