Michigan Does It Again
Whenever there is trouble or embarrassment at a state level, it seems that these days Michigan is in the middle of it.
I have been watching this story with a bit of disbelief for a while now.
Michigan's Democratic Party will be having their primary on January 15th of '08. There is a little problem with that. The DNC has decided that Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada all should have their primary votes before anyone else does. As a result several big name Democrats, with the notable exception of Hillary and all the minor candidates, have not had their names put on the ballot. Also the DNC has decided not to seat any delegates from Michigan in the convention.
The State Democratic Party does expect the situation to last and that the delegates will eventually be seated and I tend to agree with them on this point.
I also agree with their grievance that has led to the early primary.
Michigan officials defended their early primary, saying it helps provide geographic, racial and economic diversity early in the primary calendar. They also complained that other states that were allowed to hold early votes were receiving preferential treatment.
Michigan is tired of being ignored.
The whole thing is silly.
Personally, I would rather see all primaries and caucuses for both parties held quickly in a short time frame so that the citizens of all states could have a shot at all candidates. The main problem is that the nomination could be unsettled when the convention begins but I really don't see that as a problem, but possibly an improvement. It would make the convention no longer a coronation but a time of deliberation and decision making, which it was originally intended to be.
For the record, Florida has done the same thing.
I have been watching this story with a bit of disbelief for a while now.
Michigan's Democratic Party will be having their primary on January 15th of '08. There is a little problem with that. The DNC has decided that Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada all should have their primary votes before anyone else does. As a result several big name Democrats, with the notable exception of Hillary and all the minor candidates, have not had their names put on the ballot. Also the DNC has decided not to seat any delegates from Michigan in the convention.
The State Democratic Party does expect the situation to last and that the delegates will eventually be seated and I tend to agree with them on this point.
I also agree with their grievance that has led to the early primary.
Michigan officials defended their early primary, saying it helps provide geographic, racial and economic diversity early in the primary calendar. They also complained that other states that were allowed to hold early votes were receiving preferential treatment.
Michigan is tired of being ignored.
The whole thing is silly.
Personally, I would rather see all primaries and caucuses for both parties held quickly in a short time frame so that the citizens of all states could have a shot at all candidates. The main problem is that the nomination could be unsettled when the convention begins but I really don't see that as a problem, but possibly an improvement. It would make the convention no longer a coronation but a time of deliberation and decision making, which it was originally intended to be.
For the record, Florida has done the same thing.
posted by shoprat at 6:22 PM
2 Comments:
Easy fix, "National Primary Day" on the 3rd Saturday of March. Everyone votes at once, everyone's vote for a candidate for their party counts.
It would be interesting to see how the dynamics would change if everyone voted on the same day.
All the squabbling is pretty ridiculous.
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