Why NC and NV, not FL and MI? The truth be told...
Some highlights of the 2008 Rules:
The Party recognizes the need early in the nominating process to broaden participation to reflect the Party’s rich racial, regional, and economic diversity by including 2 additional states. Twelve states applied to conduct early primaries and caucuses. We believe that shows the energy and excitement for opening up the process.
The addition of 2 states early in the process will also open up the dialogue to engage a broader range of people to talk about a wider variety of issues. This will enable the Democratic Party to choose the strongest candidate to be our Presidential nominee.
Translation: It's time for states with significant non-white populations to matter for once. In other words, boxed in by IA and NH first-in-nation laws, but wanting to address the unfairness of minimizing the meaning of states with hard-working Americans who might not be white, they picked two of a bunch of states that applied for waivers.
Under this reasoning, it makes sense to give anyone other than MI and FL an early vote. MI, at least, has an overwhelmingly white population. Florida certainly has a number of Hispanic voters, but it's another East Coast state, and the West is becoming increasingly important to Democratic hopes--at least as much as NH, which as gone red as often as not.
I don't expect a lot of recommends. I'm just sayin' that just about everyone on TMP is missing a significant part of the point in the MI/FL fiasco.
Perhaps I'm being unfairly harsh about TMP denizens. Virtually everyone is missing this point.
And we call ourselves liberals.
May 31, 2008 5:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
The DNC set its calendar for Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and SOUTH CAROLINA to go to the head of the line.
It was understood that part of the calendaring process would account not just for racial diversity, but geographic, economic diversity as well.
May 31, 2008 6:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Damn, I'm an awful idjit. Thanks.
May 31, 2008 6:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well they still manage to discriminate against industrial states, technically advanced states, populous states, states strong in higher education, states strong on military (industry or bases), states with large health care systems, states strong in research.
So instead all of our early debates are sitting in diners telling people how we'll bring back agricultural jobs and leaving $100 tips. Oh sorry, and how much we support casinos. And once we finish a year with those 4 states, we can skedaddle around 26 states for a week and explain what we're going to do about supporting technological growth, medical research, bolstering higher education, strengthening defense, etc.
June 1, 2008 1:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
So the DNC values the laws of IA & NH more than the laws of FL & MI? After all, they're all state laws.
For that matter, the DNC granted IA, NV, NH & SC the privilege of holding primaries/caucuses before February 5th, but still according to a specific rules (ex, NH couldn't vote before January 14th). When IA, NH & SC ignored those rules, the DNC waived Hugs & Kisses.
May 31, 2008 7:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
They applied for those waivers, and got them, only after Michigan and Florida signaled they would flout the rules and jump the queue, even at the risk of their delegate status.
Michigan had actually applied for one of those early spots, and been voted down. Florida never even bothered to apply.
I'm all for a more orderly primary calendar, with states of different sizes and regions more reasonably spaced (and fewer on Super Tuesday).
But to do that, the party has to have enforceable rules that individual states respect.
Which is why Florida and Michigan deservedly were penalized.
Let's hope the problem gets solved for good over the next four years.
May 31, 2008 8:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
New Hampshire got the voucher long after it moved its election, and jumped in front of Nevada in the process. Nevada should have been pissed.
I write more: Your Cheatin' Heart
June 1, 2008 1:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, yes, IA and NH do matter more. Not for any real reason, but just because they always have. Which means that no one can take a stand in trying to sort out a FAIR (ie, different every year) order of primaries - least of all if you're running for president. So of course Clinton and Obama and Edwards and everyone else said they respect the right of IA and NH to have their first-in-the-nation primaries, while we all know that it's a bunch of crap.
June 1, 2008 12:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here's another more detailed explanation:
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/
I know this debate is over, but the crying isn't, so you might as well have something reasonable to say besides accusing Hillary of cheating. My point is that, as one of the committee members just said, this isn't about Obama or Hillary.
No matter what Constantinople says.
May 31, 2008 8:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maryland has more African Americans per capita than South Carolina, and it's a hell of a lot more likely to go Blue this fall.
May 31, 2008 8:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
"More geographical diversity" was also a consideration according to the RBC chairwoman - hence the western and southern states of Nevada South Carolina.
May 31, 2008 9:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
They needed a Western state with Hispanic voters, but not a big one or it could throw the numbers too early in the process.
May 31, 2008 9:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hillary supporters, please go here:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/05/an-honest-question-for-clinton.php
May 31, 2008 10:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why don't you give it up; you guys already lost. At this point, all the finger-pointing and ranting and raving is quite inconsequential given recent events. So, just bite the bullet on this one and unite with your fellow Democrats to take on John McCain.
June 1, 2008 6:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/06/the-understandable-anger-at-th.php#comments
Read it, let go of some of your self-righteousness, and have a little compassion. Or maybe just think about it. Pretty please?
June 1, 2008 1:53 PM | Reply | Permalink