My Soapbox
About the Author
My views and opinions as an American citizen and a lifelong Democrat
Let's not get distracted by "Republican Barbie" who offers no new ideas on how to fix the economy. John McCain doesn't have a clue and neither did George Bush. Remember what Americans care about more than the war or anything else. It's the economy stupid! Obama and Biden both need to talk about concrete things they plan to do to stimulate the economy and rebuild our crumbling infrastructure while creating jobs right here that can't be exported or given to low wage foreign workers.
Stay ON MESSAGE! What's important? It's the ECONOMY stupid! Remember that and we WILL win in November!
Stay ON MESSAGE! What's important? It's the ECONOMY stupid! Remember that and we WILL win in November!
...Well, that's what he'd do if he had any integrity at all. You can't VOLUNTARILY take your name off a ballot, then expect to win 40% of the delegates, and several of your opponents too...
...Unless you are of course...Barack Obama, the affirmative action candidate.
DNC to Obama: "No future president Obama, you don't have to actually WIN, we'll give you the delegates anyway! We just hate Hillary so much, we'll nominate anyone but her!" This is the biggest steaming pile of 400lb Gorilla crap I have ever seen. Obama has absolutely NO legitimacy at all.
What the hell are we doing here people? I thought we stood for equality for ALL, not some outdated sense that we have to make up for past inequality by denying others their rights. I'm talking about awarding any delegates from Michigan to Obama. I heard all the stupid arguments about how people would have voted for him. That doesn't change the fact that he took his own name off the ballot. He removed himself from the process, why would he now want a share of those delegates he shunned? We know there was no reason or requirement for him to remove his name. So why did he do it? His lack of judgement in this was bad political strategy, not a show of solidarity with the DNC. Why now should he be rewarded with 59 legitimate delegates that he did not earn? The answer is shamefully obvious. Barack Obama is being judged by a different standard. He is being nominated on a "curve", because he can't win this race legitimately. The DNC, and the far left are making excuses for him, giving him delegates he didn't win, in races he wasn't in. Taking legitimate delegates away from candidates who earned them. The media is in on it too and they demonize Hillary every chance they get and keep telling her to drop out, even though they never seem to tell Ron Paul the same. The DNC is sending a message loud and clear that THEY want Obama regardless of how half of the party feels about it. They said loud and clear today how they will do it, by breaking their own RULES. I can't support this decision guys and if I have to vote McCain to stop you I will. We no longer stand for anything and this is political suicide. If the only way we can nominate a black candidate is by affirmative action...does he really deserve it? I don't think so and I know a lot of black people who would agree with me.
Rather than staying home or voting for McShit, I have decided to request a paper ballot and write Hillary's name in as my candidate of choice. Come November. No way Obama is getting my vote if he is handed an illegitimate win, or awarded delegates in an election whre he took his name off the ballot.
This whole primary STINKS in my book. The DNC has been taken over by clueless idiots who actually BELIEVE that all these Republicans support Obama for real. Wow how sad and deluded you are if you really believe that Republicans would fall head over heals for a Left wing, Marxist leaning, reverse racist, black candidate. I mean what planet did you grow up on? Republicans backing the most Liberal Democratic candidate since Jimmy Carter? ROFL Are you kidding me?
Wake up Obama supporters before it's too late! Hillary is the one Republicans DON'T WANT to run against McCain, not the left wing Marxist Obama. McCain is going to eat him alive.
This whole primary STINKS in my book. The DNC has been taken over by clueless idiots who actually BELIEVE that all these Republicans support Obama for real. Wow how sad and deluded you are if you really believe that Republicans would fall head over heals for a Left wing, Marxist leaning, reverse racist, black candidate. I mean what planet did you grow up on? Republicans backing the most Liberal Democratic candidate since Jimmy Carter? ROFL Are you kidding me?
Wake up Obama supporters before it's too late! Hillary is the one Republicans DON'T WANT to run against McCain, not the left wing Marxist Obama. McCain is going to eat him alive.
This a really simple hypothetical question that I pose to my fellow Democrats, as well as Independants and any lurking Republicans. This isn't about any candidate, so you don't even have to state who you are for or against. This is a question about YOU, the American voter. You, the responsible citizen who cares enough about his country to take the time to get involved and participate in the process, no matter what side of the aisle you're on. My question is this:
How would you feel if for no fault of your own, you were being denied a voice in that process? ie; You registered, showed up and voted on voting day like you always had before. But this time, after the election was over, your vote, your voice, your time and efforts where ignored and you were made to feel like you had no right to vote at all.
How would you feel?
This is a simple question and has nothing to do with any candidate, so please no soapboxing or grandstanding about anyone's pros or cons. Simple question, simple answrs please. How would you feel?
How would you feel if for no fault of your own, you were being denied a voice in that process? ie; You registered, showed up and voted on voting day like you always had before. But this time, after the election was over, your vote, your voice, your time and efforts where ignored and you were made to feel like you had no right to vote at all.
How would you feel?
This is a simple question and has nothing to do with any candidate, so please no soapboxing or grandstanding about anyone's pros or cons. Simple question, simple answrs please. How would you feel?
I found this on a Socialist site of all places but it's 100% on the money with the facts...a must read.
"Rule 11.A. of the Delegate Selection Rules for the 2008 Democratic National Convention states the following:
11. TIMING OF THE DELEGATE SELECTION PROCESS
A. No meetings, caucuses, conventions or primaries which constitute the first determining stage in the presidential nomination process (the date of the primary in primary states, and the date of the first tier caucus in caucus states) may be held prior to the first Tuesday in February or after the second Tuesday in June in the calendar year of the national convention. Provided, however, that the Iowa precinct caucuses may be held no earlier than 22 days before the first Tuesday in February; that the Nevada first-tier caucuses may be held no earlier than 17 days before the first Tuesday in February; that the New Hampshire primary may be held no earlier than 14 days before the first Tuesday in February; and that the South Carolina primary may be held no earlier than 7 days before the first Tuesday in February. In no instance may a state which scheduled delegate selection procedures on or between the first Tuesday in February and the second Tuesday in June 1984 move out of compliance with the provisions of this rule.
We already know that Florida and Michigan violated Rule 11.A. by moving their primaries to a date before the first Tuesday in February. There is no argument there, but what about Iowa, New Hampshire, and yes, South Carolina too.
Rule 11.A specifically set the date for the primaries & caucuses for those three states as "no earlier than 22 days before the first Tuesday in February" (Iowa), "no earlier than 14 days before the first Tuesday in February" (New Hampshire), and "no earlier than 7 days before the first Tuesday in February" (South Carolina).
Iowa held their caucuses on January 3rd. That's more than 22 days before the first Tuesday in February. New Hampshire held their primary on January 8th. That's more than 17 days before the first Tuesday in February. And South Carolina held their primary on January 26th. That's more than 7 days before the first Tuesday in February.
Under Rule 11.A., five states were in violation of the Democratic National Committee's Delegate Selection Rules, and as such, all five states should have been punished under Rule 20.C.1.a.
Violation of timing: In the event the Delegate Selection Plan of a state party provides or permits a meeting, caucus, convention or primary which constitutes the first determining stage in the presidential nominating process to be held prior to or after the dates for the state as provided in Rule 11 of these rules, or in the event a state holds such a meeting, caucus, convention or primary prior to or after such dates, the number of pledged delegates elected in each category allocated to the state pursuant to the Call for the National Convention shall be reduced by fifty (50%) percent, and the number of alternates shall also be reduced by fifty (50%) percent.
In addition, none of the members of the Democratic National Committee and no other unpledged delegate allocated pursuant to Rule 8.A. from that state shall be permitted to vote as members of the state's delegation. In determining the actual number of delegates or alternates by which the state's delegation is to be reduced, any fraction below .5 shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number, and any fraction of .5 or greater shall be rounded up to the next nearest whole number.
Yes, you read that right; under Rule 20.C.1.a., Florida, Iowa, Michigan, New Hampshire, and South Carolina would have all lost their super delegates and had their pledged delegates reduced by half since they all violated Rule 11.A.
However, Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina weren't punished fairly. In fact, they weren't punished at all. And what about Florida & Michigan? Well, we all know what happened to them.
Instead of strictly adhering to Rule 20.C.1.a. and reducing their pledged delegates by 50%, the DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee decided to take it a step further. The DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee exercised the authority granted to them by Rules 20.C.5. and 20.C.6. which allowed them to "impose sanctions the Committee deems appropriate." And what were those sanctions the Committee deemed appropriate? Stripping two of the largest states in the union of all their votes at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
Ladies & Gentlemen, this is what happens when the rules aren't applied equally and fairly. And as I said before, this mess is a result of the DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee not applying the rules equally and fairly.
So, the next time someone starts talking about the rules, might I suggest two courses of action:
1.) Read the damn rules first!
-and-
2.) Let them know that the rules were bent to allow for Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina to keep their preferred first-in-the-nation status."
http://power-2-people.blogspot.com/2008/02/dnc-primary-rulesdisenfranchisement-of.html Read More »
"Rule 11.A. of the Delegate Selection Rules for the 2008 Democratic National Convention states the following:
11. TIMING OF THE DELEGATE SELECTION PROCESS
A. No meetings, caucuses, conventions or primaries which constitute the first determining stage in the presidential nomination process (the date of the primary in primary states, and the date of the first tier caucus in caucus states) may be held prior to the first Tuesday in February or after the second Tuesday in June in the calendar year of the national convention. Provided, however, that the Iowa precinct caucuses may be held no earlier than 22 days before the first Tuesday in February; that the Nevada first-tier caucuses may be held no earlier than 17 days before the first Tuesday in February; that the New Hampshire primary may be held no earlier than 14 days before the first Tuesday in February; and that the South Carolina primary may be held no earlier than 7 days before the first Tuesday in February. In no instance may a state which scheduled delegate selection procedures on or between the first Tuesday in February and the second Tuesday in June 1984 move out of compliance with the provisions of this rule.
We already know that Florida and Michigan violated Rule 11.A. by moving their primaries to a date before the first Tuesday in February. There is no argument there, but what about Iowa, New Hampshire, and yes, South Carolina too.
Rule 11.A specifically set the date for the primaries & caucuses for those three states as "no earlier than 22 days before the first Tuesday in February" (Iowa), "no earlier than 14 days before the first Tuesday in February" (New Hampshire), and "no earlier than 7 days before the first Tuesday in February" (South Carolina).
Iowa held their caucuses on January 3rd. That's more than 22 days before the first Tuesday in February. New Hampshire held their primary on January 8th. That's more than 17 days before the first Tuesday in February. And South Carolina held their primary on January 26th. That's more than 7 days before the first Tuesday in February.
Under Rule 11.A., five states were in violation of the Democratic National Committee's Delegate Selection Rules, and as such, all five states should have been punished under Rule 20.C.1.a.
Violation of timing: In the event the Delegate Selection Plan of a state party provides or permits a meeting, caucus, convention or primary which constitutes the first determining stage in the presidential nominating process to be held prior to or after the dates for the state as provided in Rule 11 of these rules, or in the event a state holds such a meeting, caucus, convention or primary prior to or after such dates, the number of pledged delegates elected in each category allocated to the state pursuant to the Call for the National Convention shall be reduced by fifty (50%) percent, and the number of alternates shall also be reduced by fifty (50%) percent.
In addition, none of the members of the Democratic National Committee and no other unpledged delegate allocated pursuant to Rule 8.A. from that state shall be permitted to vote as members of the state's delegation. In determining the actual number of delegates or alternates by which the state's delegation is to be reduced, any fraction below .5 shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number, and any fraction of .5 or greater shall be rounded up to the next nearest whole number.
Yes, you read that right; under Rule 20.C.1.a., Florida, Iowa, Michigan, New Hampshire, and South Carolina would have all lost their super delegates and had their pledged delegates reduced by half since they all violated Rule 11.A.
However, Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina weren't punished fairly. In fact, they weren't punished at all. And what about Florida & Michigan? Well, we all know what happened to them.
Instead of strictly adhering to Rule 20.C.1.a. and reducing their pledged delegates by 50%, the DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee decided to take it a step further. The DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee exercised the authority granted to them by Rules 20.C.5. and 20.C.6. which allowed them to "impose sanctions the Committee deems appropriate." And what were those sanctions the Committee deemed appropriate? Stripping two of the largest states in the union of all their votes at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
Ladies & Gentlemen, this is what happens when the rules aren't applied equally and fairly. And as I said before, this mess is a result of the DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee not applying the rules equally and fairly.
So, the next time someone starts talking about the rules, might I suggest two courses of action:
1.) Read the damn rules first!
-and-
2.) Let them know that the rules were bent to allow for Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina to keep their preferred first-in-the-nation status."
http://power-2-people.blogspot.com/2008/02/dnc-primary-rulesdisenfranchisement-of.html Read More »
Frankly I was sickened today when I saw Tom Daschle on CNN calling for Hillary to drop out and suggesting the Michigan and Florida's delegates be divided 50/50 between Hillary and Obama... Uhm excuse me Mr. EX Speaker, but shouldn't people's votes count as they cast them, and not how you'd like them to be???
You people in the DNC rules committee better wake up and do the right thing here and not the convenient thing to get your favorite candidate nominated. We all know that the rules committee is dominated by Obama supporters, so there is no possible way that the meeting on the 31st will be fair.
Florida was a fair election and should be awarded to Hillary in proper proportion to her win. Michigan was also a fair election that Obama took his name off of the ballot in! I'm sorry but him taking his name off that ballot meant he did not care about the votes or the voters of Michigan. Neither campaigned in Florida, but it was still the highest voter turnout ever and she won fair and square. So based on that she has more of the popular vote than Obama does and more delegates. She should get all of Michigan's and her fair share of Florida. Anything less is simply handing an unearned nomination to Obama, and that is something I simply can not and will not support.
After 7 years of Bush breaking the law I am not going to turn around and support us doing the same thing to "install" the "feel good" black candidate because young voters think it would be cool, or liberal elites think it's the right thing to do. What have we become if we do this? Throw away the smarter, more electable candidate, in favor of Mr. Charisma with no experience and a "Vision" of America he has yet to share with us?
Wake up Democrats before this party implodes and we lose the White House again! Hillary is on a roll and sore losers like Richardson and Edwards back another man rather than admit a woman beat them. Why is it okay for our party to be this misogynist? And why do Obama supporters always try to paint Democrats who don't support Obama as racist? I don't like where our party is heading with all this "New energy" that Obama supposedly brings. Feels more like a cult that government to me, but that's just my humble opinion.
You people in the DNC rules committee better wake up and do the right thing here and not the convenient thing to get your favorite candidate nominated. We all know that the rules committee is dominated by Obama supporters, so there is no possible way that the meeting on the 31st will be fair.
Florida was a fair election and should be awarded to Hillary in proper proportion to her win. Michigan was also a fair election that Obama took his name off of the ballot in! I'm sorry but him taking his name off that ballot meant he did not care about the votes or the voters of Michigan. Neither campaigned in Florida, but it was still the highest voter turnout ever and she won fair and square. So based on that she has more of the popular vote than Obama does and more delegates. She should get all of Michigan's and her fair share of Florida. Anything less is simply handing an unearned nomination to Obama, and that is something I simply can not and will not support.
After 7 years of Bush breaking the law I am not going to turn around and support us doing the same thing to "install" the "feel good" black candidate because young voters think it would be cool, or liberal elites think it's the right thing to do. What have we become if we do this? Throw away the smarter, more electable candidate, in favor of Mr. Charisma with no experience and a "Vision" of America he has yet to share with us?
Wake up Democrats before this party implodes and we lose the White House again! Hillary is on a roll and sore losers like Richardson and Edwards back another man rather than admit a woman beat them. Why is it okay for our party to be this misogynist? And why do Obama supporters always try to paint Democrats who don't support Obama as racist? I don't like where our party is heading with all this "New energy" that Obama supposedly brings. Feels more like a cult that government to me, but that's just my humble opinion.
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