Political Insider

Howard Dean is doing what a DNC head should and can do: enforce the rules while laying out all the options for the states. If Dean came out and said "we're doing a do-over" he would face a rebellion because the DNC committee who decided on these rules last year would feel overruled. As the head of the DNC and its leader, he cannot take a stand for any side by saying "yes we'll have a revote" or "no revote under any circumstances." That might be taking control, but it's not being a leader. The only impartial way for him to lead is to lay out all of the options for the two states. It is up to the partisans of each side to agitate for their own solutions, and it is up to Dean to make sure that whatever the states do (after being lobbied by both sides) that they stay within the rules of the game.

Then what do you make of this headline?

"Dean urges do-over voting in Fla., Mich"
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080306/ap_on_el_pr/primary_scramble

Sometimes the best leadership is to get out of the way and let the process take its course. I give the benefit of the doubt to Howard Dean. He's by far the best chairman we've had in my lifetime.

I imagine that Al Gore has no power in the party, nor would he want the job as arbiter of this. I agree that Dean's handling it just as well as it can be done.

Some just find him vexing because he's nobody's trained monkey.

The DNC chairman is very wise not to reward the Michigan Democratic Party (or Clinton as a result) for breaking the same party rules they agreed to a year and a half ago. I live in Michigan, and as far as I'm concerned the primary was a sham and a waste money. It didn't garner the attention the MDP promised it would and made Michigan a non-player in the presidential primary (unless, of course, they can convince the credentials committee at the convention to seat them -- a big "if"). It was quite plainly ill-conceived -- through no fault of Michigan voters..

Dean has advocated for a new caucus in Michigan, but refuses to have the DNC pay for it. I don't blame him a bit. The MDP made their bed -- now they need to lie in it: hold a new caucus and pay for it themselves, or pray Obama doesn't gain control of the credentials committee. In my opinion, a new caucus is the only fair solution and Michigan should pay for it.

This Country must stand for something. We cannot let anyone take our Democracy from us be it the Clintons or anyone else. They must follow the Rules and not change game in middle. They know this. They cannot be allowed to Cheat the System for their own aggrandisement.

And, Hillary did not read the National Intelligence Report and she voted Yes on a Stupid War/Mistate instead of having the intelligence and Judgment to say No, as other Senators did, we must not invade Iraq who did not bomb us on 911 but instead finish the job in Afghanistan. That makes her inelligible for the top job as commander-in-chief. Just because she surronds herself with a bunch of generals does not make her qualified or anyone else. They love to stage phony events for the perception to make us think something that is not is.

I see that this is the Obama fan club page....

This is madness, the DNC, and Dean, created this complete goatf#@! last year when they voted these impossible sanctions. My Monstrous Senator cannot be allowed to seize the nomination with two rump delegations, but did anyone for a moment seriously believe that Florida and Michigan, in some form, wouldn't be seated? Now we have the Mother of All Credentials Fights. J.H.C.

I have never ever said this before, but the Rethuglicans did it right, they sanctioned the delegation for half their delegates but they have delegations going, there is no impossible situation where they hold an election and *everybody* comes--but no delegates are elected. This is madness.

As Donna Brazile said, "Who opened the gates of hell?"

Obviously Florida and Michigan have to be seated. We can not have a Democratic National Convention and seat only 48 states. Florida should stand as is because both Clinton and Obama were on the ballot and niether campaigned. In my mind that makes it a fair fight. Let's keep in mind the reason for cutting them off in the first place...they went early and that positioned them to have undue influence in the primary process. By having no campaign there, and keeping them out of the process to this point, the party has blunted any advantage the State might have gained by going early.

Michigan is another story. A redo is in order. A CLOSED Primary paid for by Michigan. The State broke the rules, knowingly, and should pay the price of the re-run. Good rank and file Democrats in Michigan should not be punished because the leadership screwed it up; nor should thier votes be diluted by independents and republicans who are in it to muck it up!

As for super delegates: Dean is correct. They are representative of Democrats every where. They need to focus on one thing and one thing only: Who will beat the Republican in November! That is all that really matters.