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You missed the point, Mario. February primaries are not the issue, nor the problem. The DNC does not have an issue with the February primaries. The issue is the states who are trying to leapfrog earlier then the "Early Four" primaries named by the Democratic Party to promote diversity: Iowa in the Midwest, New Hampshire in the Northeast, South Carolina in the South, and Nevada in the West. This was the approved plan everyone voted for last year.
Now, Michigan wants to move up earlier than February 5th, as has Florida.
This is quite different from how you portray the "snowball" and Governor Richardson's stand.
I think that Mr. Buchanan has missed the point, state law not the Democrat Party of Florida established the Florida State Primary, and the Florida State Law affects both the Democrat and the Republican Primaries. According to Mr. Buchanan’s flawed reasoning only the DNC’s position and agenda is of importance i.e. “This was the approved plan everyone voted for last year” so did the Republicans vote or approve this plan, I think not. A state should not be governed by a single political party’s whishes.
Second I think a good argument could be made that the DNC’s action is a violation of the 10th Amendment to the US Constitution. It is up to the States and not the DNC of the Federal Government to set their primary schedules.
I would like to point out that Gov. Richardson proposed and supported the establishment of the Democrat Caucus for President which takes place at the end of Jan or early Feb that all but guts the states Presidential primary and state primary that is in June.
Personally I would like to see all states move their primaries to later in the year, like early summer, and reduce the campaign time.
Party Primaries are nowhere in the US Constitution and are a mechanism of political parties so they have every right to control when they occur. The state governments are just the ones who carry out the primary elections.
The bigger states are getting greedy, they already control the general election, especially swing states like Florida.
In that case JD if the DNC wants Florida to have their primary at a different time then the DNC can pay for it, state wide. If the DNC has the arrogance to think that they have veto power over the Florida State Legislature and the State Gov. then it is violation of the US Constitution 10th Amendment where it clearly states that it is up to the state on how it governs itself and when they send their money.
primaries belong to the parties, not the states. each party can set its own primary schedule. of course the republicans "did not vote" on this plan, they set up their own primaries and the dates don't have to match the primary of another party. wake up rory.
also, what is the point of the original post to begin with? richardson's western primary comes after nh & ia and now he is advocating that nh & ia remain first- where is the inconsistency? you can schedule a western primary for early feb without "usurping" ia & nh, as has been done. as the other fellow points out, the current scheduling controversy involves michigan & florida, not the western states. clear thinking baby.
I think all primaries should be held on the same date.
Problem solved.
I personally belive a primary lottery system should be set up where states are picked random every election as to what orer they will go in. Everyone starts on an equal footing.
or
Do regional primaries alternating who goes first every election.
IF all primaries are the same day the candidates with the most money will win as it would be primarily advertising campaigning. With states spread out (through a lottery with predetermined unchangeble dates)candidates can actually see people.
JD I think that your idea of a lottery system is better than any other that I have heard of.
31 Aug 2007 This just in
Michigan leaped to the head of the presidential primary lineup Thursday, setting a Jan. 15 election that could become the biggest primary in state history and a key battleground for the Republican and Democratic nominations.
Sorry Sam the Parties do not set the schedule, individual state legislatures establish by law when their primary will be.
Commenting by HaloScan
