The RNC took a step toward calendar reform yesterday, but it’s the equivalent of moving up the first rung of an eleven rung latter, which each run progressively separated by more spaces.
Meeting in New Mexico, its rules committee passed what's come to be called The Ohio Plan.
Briefly, it would cement the status of the four early states, then allow a bunch of small states to go, then, in March, rotate through the larger states regionally.
The bigger states – California, New York and New Jersey, Florida and Michigan, will almost certainly oppose this plan, as it will dilute their power; conservatives in the party might support it, as the smaller states are more likely to hold convention or caucus-type contests to the benefit of conservatives; moderates and liberals will oppose it.
If there is a compromise between the current calendar and the Ohio plan, it’s what RNC officials are calling “Calendar Plus.”
Everything stays the same… except that the “window” for the rest of the states to hold their primaries opens in March, not February.
From here, the Ohio Plan will be voted on by the Committee of the Whole -- that is, the members of the Republican National Committee in August at their pre-convention meeting in Minneapolis. Amendments will be offered; an entirely new plan could result.
But even if the Ohio Plan passes muster with the RNC, it still must be approved by the rules committee of the Republican National Convention and then by the delegates to the convention itself. (Who said that only Democrats have convoluted rules?)
Republicans who're participating in this debate believe that the current calendar -- which penalizes states holding contests before Feb. 5 by taking away half of their delegations -- might well be the system that Republicans who run in 2012 will follow.
The examples of Florida and Michigan are telling. Though half of its delegates were taken away, its January 15 primary played a major role in the process. Michigan has no incentive to change the rules. And by winning in Florida, John McCain essentially secured the Republican nomination.
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The new Repubican calendar will have 10 months, 100 weeks a year, 10 days a week, and 10 hours a day.
That way, everyone can be decimated.
Posted by D | April 3, 2008 6:25 PM