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Rumor Patrol: Michigan On The Verge

07 Mar 2008 08:45 am

Rumor: Michigan's On The Verge of Announcing A Revote By Caucus

Originator: Michigan Democrats

Truth: Eh. There are many discussions yet to be had, many folks who have to sign off, many disputes yet to be settled, and $10M yet to be found. Will it be a caucus or a firehouse primary? And nothing has been drafted yet.

Comments (27)

Perhaps HRC will pay for it? I Wonder how much money she made over the last 7 years?

Fair enough, but the right sort of announcement would help put enormous pressure on the various relevant parties to work out a solution to any practical difficulties.

Better yet, cancel the Michigan caucus and all the rest of the Democratic caucuses because it appears Hillary Clinton has become a republican and will be running with John McCain against Barack Obama.

Perhaps obama can use some of his mountians of cash he has to pay for it? Of course he has spending about 4 to 1 so the mountians might be foothills. If obama would release his tax information we could find how much money he got from rezko.

What is a firehouse primary? Is it any different than a regular old primary?

Plus, Hillary won't support a caucus. They are un-democratic. But a primary where only her name is on the ballot? That works for her.

The career goal of Michigan's governor is to serve in Hillary's White House before she goes onto a Senate career.

Something HRC friendly will happen.

"Plus, Hillary won't support a caucus. They are un-democratic. But a primary where only her name is on the ballot? That works for her.

Posted by neilrlca"

obama calculated that taking his name off the MI ballot would help him in Iowa and NH. Removing his name was his judgment, his decision. Now he has to manup and face the consequences of his actions. That’s what should happen.

What is a firehouse primary? Is it any different than a regular old primary?

Is there a difference between firehouse chili and regular old chili?

Duh.

Now he has to manup and face the consequences

hadenough, you seem like the type who enjoys "maning up" in men's restrooms, Larry Craig style.

obama calculated that taking his name off the MI ballot would help him in Iowa and NH. Removing his name was his judgment, his decision. Now he has to manup and face the consequences of his actions. That’s what should happen.

Hilariously, I guess every single other Democrat except Hill and Mike Gravel made that same calculation. Talk about zero-sum! Or ... gosh, maybe there's something else to it.

This whole Florida/Michigan thing is giving me a headache. I expect this kind of dysfunctionality out of Florida, but Michigan? Really? Her?

And didn't Hillary make the same calculation when she agreed to abide by the DNC's rulings on FLA & Mich? Didn't she make some pandering quote about the historic importance of Iowa & NH when talking about this at the time? Doesn't she have to "man up" to her decisions?

Actually, hadenough enjoys manning up in male restrooms Hillary-style.

hadenough, Obama, Edwards and others took their names off the ballot because they, like Hillary, signed a pledge not to participate in the MI primary.

Hillary broke that pledge by keeping her name on the ballot, figuring she wouldn't have to pay a price for it and would be able to get those delegates.

So right from the beginning she showed the world that her word is worthless.

hadenough enjoys manning up in male restrooms Hillary-style

No rude jokes about Hillary urinating while standing up, please.

"hadenough enjoys manning up in male restrooms Hillary-style

No rude jokes about Hillary urinating while standing up, please.

Posted by Caruso"

obamavangelists new kind a moronousity on full display.

"And didn't Hillary make the same calculation when she agreed to abide by the DNC's rulings on FLA & Mich? Didn't she make some pandering quote about the historic importance of Iowa & NH when talking about this at the time? Doesn't she have to "man up" to her decisions?

Posted by neilrlca"

I agree absolutely. Except for part where you pretend Hillary was panding when we all obama obama's handlers decided to play politics with millions of dems votes. Hillary won MI and FL. obamatons can't stand it. Obama’s failed political calculation means his only ‘hope’ is that millions of FL and MI will be disenfranchised. Nice huh.

Did anyone else notice a significant rise in hadenough's posting right around the time Fred Agbot stopped?

Methinks a conspiracy I shall find...

Methinks a conspiracy I shall find...

Jeff: While I enjoy a good conspiracy just as much as the next dude, Fred Agbot was at least funny, could spell, and had a bit of subtlety that I enjoyed. This bonehead, hadenough, possesses none of that unfortunately. He's about as amusing as my Outlook crashing this morning.

Excellent points all, Jay. I guess I was hoping that hadenough was a brilliant, multi-week story arc from the mind that brought us Fred Agbot, but probably not.

Too bad, the comments were more fun when Fred Agbot was posting.

Can anyone explain what Marc means by "firehouse primary"? My understanding was that firehouse primaries were caucuses -- is there a difference that's of significance here?

I am assuming Marc meant a firehouse caucus, which is basically just an inexpensive way to run the equivalent of a primary, as opposed to an actual caucus.

"Hillary broke that pledge by keeping her name on the ballot, figuring she wouldn't have to pay a price for it and would be able to get those delegates."

More Obama spin. Hillary didn't break any pledge. Obama decided to do some grandstanding at the cost of disenfranchising voters in MI. Hillary didn't. The FL and MI delegates should be seated. The votes were real, the elections were fair and the people have spoken. There's no need to waste money on new primaries. We already have the results.

Tom, could you please explain why all Democrats (except Hillary and Mike Gravel) decided to "grandstand" at the "cost" of "disenfranchising" Michigan voters?

I'm just saying, when you're on one side, and, like, fifteen other people are on the other, sometimes you've got to look and think, "Huh, maybe they're not the ones with the problem."

A firehouse primary has fewer locations and shorter hours. Also, if there is a redo, most likely Michigan will use internet voting as it did last cycle.

The pledge Hillary signed was actually at the behest of the four designated early primary states. In relevant part, it read:

"I _______________, Democratic Candidate for President, pledge I shall not campaign or participate in any state which schedules a presidential election primary or caucus before Feb. 5, 2008, except for the states of Iowa,
Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina . . . ."

It is that "participate" part which applies to Clinton leaving her name on the Michigan ballot, and generally to her trying to claim any pledged delegates from Michigan and Florida.

Incidentally, at the time her campaign also stated:

"We believe Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina play a unique and special role in the nominating process.

And we believe the DNC’s rules and its calendar provide the necessary structure to respect and honor that role.

Thus, we will be signing the pledge to adhere to the DNC approved nominating calendar."

But in what I am sure is a complete coincidence, right after the last of the four early states (SC) voted, and right before Florida held its contest, Clinton apparently thought about the issue a bit more and came to the conclusion that the DNC's rules were not appropriate, and she started arguing that the delegates she received in those contests (contests in which she had pledged not to participate) should be seated at the convention.

Again, though, I am sure that the fact that she only came to these conclusions after all four of the early states had already voted and right before Florida voted was purely coincidental.

I hope the Clintons have some good lawyers ready. If they're going to take her votes away, she shouldn't settle for anything less than a full primary. Obama knows damn well he can't win Michigan when the DNC actually makes it easy for people to get to the polls.