The Michigan Plan

Michigan Democrats seem to be on the verge of a breakthrough, and Florida Democrats are stuck in the mud. Why the disparity?

Simple internal politics. Had Sen. Bill Nelson consulted more widely with House Democrats and Democratic activists in Florida, he might not have encountered the near fatal opposition to a mail-in primary that has set itself in his path today. Meanwhile, after an initial burst of publicity, Michigan Democrats pulled in all their powerful actors -- Gov. Granholm -- the Dingells, the UAW, the NEA, the state party, the Kilpatricks -- and worked their differences out behind the scenes.

Comments

Before they rush to settlement, they ought to consider my plan. It's better.

It's cheap, and it's fair, and it's decisive.

Apportion the delegates from both states according to the number of delegates each candidate wins in all of the other remaining primaries. They also have their super delegates.

Posted by Bunker | March 14, 2008 11:42 AM

There is a real simple solution: Make all the delegates from these two states "uncommitted" right up to the actual convention.

Then seat the delegates this way: All the OBammBamm delegates on one side, and all the Hillbilly delegates on the other side. The "uncommitted" and uncommitted "super delegates" and Michigan / Florida delegates can be placed in the middle of the convention floor.

The first item of business for the seated delegates (pledged / committed super delegates) will be whether the convention will adopt "Jim Crow" rules, and have each side run their own candidates for the election. If so, then the Michigan and Florida delegates are irrelevant and once that motion passes, they should be free to go wherever.

Alternatively, the convention can decide on "open season" for all delegates, including pledged ones and super delegates, and see if anyone (including the Michigan and Florida delegates) want to change their minds.

Then see who wins.

Imagine it as a giant caucus.

My guess: If the pledged delegates and committed super delegates were allowed to change their mind, it will result in an OBammBamm landslide.

The reason is the only, and biggest issue at the convention will be who can win the election.

By the time of the convention, detailed polling data on the two candidates appeal to ALL voters (not just Primary voters) will be widely circulated.

Who cares who won the Primary if the winner is unlikely to win the election?

Posted by D | March 14, 2008 11:50 AM

Bunker:

Great plan, dripping with common sense and fairness.

Except it will not fly as Hillbilly wants to have her cake and eat it too. Who does Howard Dean think he is to impose on President Elect Hillbilly rules?

Her first item of business after the inauguration will be to have Dean exiled to be Ambassador of Afghanistan (or wherever he stands the most chance of not coming back, ever).

Then she will install Chelsea to be Party Chairman, and retroactively change the rules. At the same time, all references, photos, etc. of OBammBamm will be expunged from the record, including Photoshopping him out of all photos, removing him from all videos, etc., removing this black mark on her record.

Hillbilly will run a tighter WH than GW. Don't think she will be so foolish as to have her emails and text messages on a WH or DNC server. She will make everyone use coded messages passed only by word of mouth. A paperless administration that leaves no trace for Congress to find.

Posted by D | March 14, 2008 11:58 AM

This was what Clinton and Obama were talking about on the Senate floor yesterday, I bet.

I like the idea of solving FL and MI with two deals that are tied together. For FL, where at least everyone was on the ballot, let that vote stand but each delegate gets half of vote. For MI, where there was not a real election, redo as a relatively inexpensive caucus where delegates each get a full vote. The FL solution favors Clinton and the MI solution favors Obama, so it's a win-win.

And, superdelegates in both states get no votes --- to punish the leaders who actually got us into this mess.

Posted by paul | March 14, 2008 12:35 PM

There is no way Obama should agree to any deal that gives Hillary any advantage in delegates from either of the previous votes in these 2 states. Neither Michigan's nor Florida's election was legitimate. Pure and simple.

And it is folly to think that somehow FL was more valid than MI simply because all names were on the ballot. Without the candidates campaigning, how can the people decide? Also, how many people stayed home...in essence, were disenfranchised...because they were told the vote would not count?

This is still much ado about nothing. I live in FL and no one outside of the political class cares or even understands much about this situation. People are too concerned about rising gas prices, the housing meltdown, Iraq, etc.

As for Sen Nelson, he is a big joke. He is just a figurehead, and no one can name any one big thing he has done for our state.

Posted by cm | March 14, 2008 12:48 PM

I fully agree with cm. Those states knew that their primary votes
were illegal, and would not count, but decided to go ahead any-
way. They are not disenfranchised; they still get to vote in the
general election. I remember the good old before primaries. We
are becoming pathetic. The democratic party even considering
Mrs. Clinton for the ticket is reprehensible. We all know that she
is a multiple felon, who for some reason was never brought up
on charges. We've had enough.

Posted by Malcolm MacLeod | March 15, 2008 12:19 AM

My husband and I did not vote in Michigan because it was not going to count and all the candidates names were not on the Ballot. The candidates did agree not to have their name on the Ballot in Michigan because they didn't follow the rules. Well, I guess Hillary forgot her promise and threw her name in there anyhow. The only way I feel disenfranchised is being screwed out of the tax money used for this non-primary election and then for the Democratic party to have the gall to be sending me mail asking for donations for the Democratic nominees. I replied to them that I send my donations directly to Senator Obamas campaign. If the super delegates decide to give the nomination to Hillary Clinton, we will be voting for John McCain. We are White Folks who feel that Obama is the only one that can bring this country together.

Posted by Blanche | March 23, 2008 5:11 PM