DNC and Primary Problems
The Democratic Primary is starting to wind down. It is, I think, starting to become fairly obvious that Obama wins by the slightest nudge over Clinton in the actual delegates that are sort of tied to actual votes, excepting possibly Clinton and those very close in her camp. Now granted there is nothing that is binding on the Democratic National Convention to actually vote the way the states have been “seated.” What do I mean?
Well, when they get to the convention, however unlikely it is, the delegates that are seated for Obama, could still, and without binding in most states vote for Clinton. Now granted, that is very unlikely to occur. Beyond that of course, there are this super delegates that are not bound in any way at all. And if I am remembering what I am hearing correctly with the numbers, that is huge number of delegates that are not bound at all and won’t even feel guilty for voting however they should choose.
So a couple of issues come up with this process though. First, Clinton won some really big states both early and later, but because those states had a percentage allotments on the delegates the delegate counts were not really that different between the two candidates. I don’t have the actual numbers, but I know a couple of places that had winner takes all that went to Obama by slim margins – which helped both in delegate count and in momentum.
Second is the pandering that goes on with the super delegates. What kinds of promises do you think are taking place in those hallway meetings to senators, representatives, and governors across the country and in the capital? It is a natural thing to figure that if not out right corruption in the process, that at the very least there are some shady deals being struck.
Now for once, my state, Kentucky – actually had a vote in the presidential primary that mattered. I don’t think there has been one since 1980 that had that being the case, though I could have forgotten one between now and then. It was a nice thing to feel like our opinion on the matter actually mattered.
And, just imagine if you will, if by some twist of fate occurred and Clinton was able to get enough super delegates to decide that her election bid was the right choice and she got the nomination out of the DNC. Do you think that the race riots and such that I have read about from the 1960′s were bad? I suspect they would be nothing compared to the riots that would follow going into the convention Obama had the higher number seated regular delegates and Clinton got the nomination anyway.
Add to all this mess that if lived in Florida or Michigan I would be extremely pissed off and feeling terribly dis-enfranchised by the whole of the process. The DNC says they couldn’t move the date up on their primary or it would not be recognized. I say to the DNC bugger off. The taxpayers of those two states paid for those elections, not the DNC, so they can have those elections at any date they choose too. Personally if I were of those two states, I would tell the DNC, and ultimately the democratic candidate to bugger off by voting in November for some other party period. And further, I would, if I were the state sue the DNC for the 1/2 the amount spent to run the elections they chose not to use. So now, they are going to do some split worked out mathematically 1/2 way between where both candidates wanted the votes to go, via percentages.
DNC, for next go around you need to get you head out of your behind end and get things started off more correctly. The playing field needs to be equal across the whole of the US and everyone needs to be heard. Further, the rules need to have a few major flaws corrected. I offer the following suggestions personally:
- Since all states would prefer to be heard, and we really have enjoyed feeling like we are important perhaps the biggest thing I would suggest is that there be ONE primary super day, sometime in the early spring for the entire country for both parties. This way every state would get equal exposure to the candidates and it would start out as a truly national campaign, which is how it should be.
- Given that the above is very unlikely to happen, instead of trying to dictate to states when they can hold their primaries in relation to other states – let them choose whatever date they would like. The states (taxpayers, who are citizens there in) are after all footing the bill. And besides why do we so value the opinions of Iowa and New Hampshire – two of the smaller states via population and in my opinion a bit far from representing a good cross-section of the country.
- I would prefer to see a winner take the whole states delegates, and their be no wiggle room on this. It makes each state truly have an impact. Imagine with the system we have now if three people were in dead heats, no one would get a clear majority of delegates – it would be UGLY. Each state should be allocated delegates based on population information, much as representatives are, obviously.
- Maybe winner takes all wouldn’t work or be as accepted as some division. If that is out, then the divisions have to truly follow the state, where representation is equal by roughly the population (percentage) that lives in that area of the state. And non of this drawing weird districts and such to make things happen the way someone wants them too. Squares, or as near and is feasible, that gives the same rough number of people in each area across the state.
- All delegates are tied to a specific region in a specific state – period. None of this super delegate crap that could go one way or another and just invites potential problems and cries of unfair no matter how things go. Personally I felt a big sting despite going mostly republic when a super delegate from Kentucky announced, prior to our primary, for support of Obama. And this was followed with a HUGE victory by Clinton in the actual popular vote from the state.
- Lastly, dear DNC – if you don’t like the way things are being done by the states holding the primaries, the hold them yourself and pick up the tab for such yourself as well.
One last note, Republicans – you should take notes as well. It is only by grace that you are not in the situation yourself. If you had asked me prior to the primary season I would have bet the Republican party still trying to choose this late instead of the democratic party.
I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.
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