Left Flank

I'm for compromise, because it often offers warring cliques just what each really wants, but for tactical reasons often remain stubborn. But, the Democratic Party has run from any principled stand for its own rules. It already has committed the tactical mistake of not opposing Florida's and Michigan's decisions to move up their primaries. So, it is both stupid and unprincipled.

It's time for new political blood. Fuck the Democrats and Republicans! America needs electoral reform, including a fair primary system, proportional representation, and an end to gerrymandering, as well as campaign finance reform...and new parties.

Florida Democratic Party chairperson, Rep. Karen Thurman tries admirably to put the blame on the Florida GOP, but there will be no June primary redux (but it looks like Michigan Dems will revote) to save Senator Hillary Clinton.

Last week, the Florida Democratic Party laid out the only existing way that we can comply with DNC Rules – a statewide revote run by the Party – and asked for input.

Thousands of people responded. We spent the weekend reviewing your messages, and while your reasons vary widely, the consensus is clear: Florida doesn't want to vote again.

So we won't.

A party-run primary or caucus has been ruled out, and it's simply not possible for the state to hold another election, even if the Party were to pay for it. Republican Speaker of the Florida House Marco Rubio refuses to even consider that option. Florida is finally moving to paper ballots, which is a good thing, but it means that at least 15 counties do not have the capacity to handle a major election before the June 10th DNC primary deadline.

This doesn't mean that Democrats are giving up on Florida voters. It means that a solution will have to come from the DNC Rules & Bylaws Committee, which is scheduled to meet again in April.

Thank you, Rep. Thurman.

The Florida (and the National) Democratic Party doesn't deserve these election returns!

The Economist, as usual, finds the silver lining in my embarrassment:

Electability also depends on whom the Democrats choose. That took a twist on Tuesday. The Democratic Party organisation had earlier decided to punish Florida for holding its primary too early, by giving warning that its nominating delegates would not be allowed to sit at the national convention. All candidates promised not to run or campaign there. But late in the day Mrs Clinton declared that she did want Florida's vote to count and visited the state, where polls showed her ahead. Perhaps she wanted to divert attention away from Mr Obama's vivid victory in South Carolina on Saturday. In any case, she handily «won» Florida with 50% of the vote to Mr Obama's 33%, and in post-vote interviews claimed it as a satisfying victory. Just another twist in the most entertaining election season in recent memory.

(Oh, and John McCain won.)

Even more entertaining would be the spectacle of state legislators and party officials panhandling under overpasses for the campaign funds and the write-in votes they should never, ever receive again!