Howard Dean: Florida and Michigan Delegations Will Be Seated
Howard Dean appeared on the Daily Show and said definitively that the Michigan and Florida delegations will be seated. (H/t Scott Jacobs.) The video is here and embedded below.
Representative quotes:
STEWART: If I were designing a plan to submarine your chances, and again, you don’t have to follow my advice here, I would take the state that was, let’s say crucial to the Republican election chances — lets, let’s call it Florida — and I would find a way to insult them. Maybe not seat them at the convention, that sort of thing. Then I would pick a Rust Belt state, maybe a Michigan, and say to them the same. Now you’ve got two states that are angry with you. Do you think that would be a good way?
DEAN: Well, we’re actually going to seat them at the convention.
STEWART: What?! This is news! Are you really going to do that?
DEAN: We’re going to find a way to seat them at the convention.
START: Are you really going to?
DEAN: Yeah.
STEWART: How — how can you do that when their results don’t count?
DEAN: Well, it’s a little hard, but we’re gonna do it.
. . . .
It’s gonna be quite a juggling act, but we’re gonna do it. You cannot have a Democratic convention without Florida and Michigan.
Stewart also asked Dean why Michigan and Florida don’t have to follow the rules. Dean replied: “They do. That’s why they lost their delegates.”
I don’t get it either.
Finally, Dean argued that the Democrats’ system is “still more democratic than the [system used by the] Republicans” — you know, the system where the voters choose all the delegates. Stewart let him get away with that one.
Watch it all, if you can stand it.
I just have to say this – I’m shocked (not really) that Dean gets away with saying the voters pick all the delegates. It is false by simple examination. Who voted each of the super delegates in?
Yeah, I can see why a straight-vote caucus might worry dems… You could end up witha real whack job…
But the ignorance of people about what Super Delegates are and what they do is just astounding…
Scott Jacobs (d3a6ec) — 5/3/2008 @ 12:37 pmOnly the stef’s and Levi’s will understand what Dean is saying…It is just too logical for the rest of us.
Another Drew (8018ee) — 5/3/2008 @ 12:47 pmStewart also asked Dean why Michigan and Florida don’t have to follow the rules. Dean replied: “They do. That’s why they lost their delegates.”
I don’t get it either.
I think I do. And why I’m voting Republican. Iran nukes Israel. The Democrats say “We’re going to nuke Iran”. A few months later they say, “We’re not going to nuke Iran”. They are asked, “But didn’t you say you were going to protect Israel”. They say “Yes, we did, that’s why we nuked Iran”.
Didn’t George Orwell describe this kind of thinking in some book they made us read in high school?
nk (1e7806) — 5/3/2008 @ 12:49 pmP.S. Who remembers the part about halving the chocolate ration is actually doubling the chocolate ration better than me?
nk (1e7806) — 5/3/2008 @ 12:51 pmWell, it is doubling, in that by halving it, twice as many people can enjoy it (I think, maybe).
Another Drew (8018ee) — 5/3/2008 @ 12:57 pmI wondered how the Dems were going to deal with the Fl & Mich problem… good to know that they are as predictably irrational as usual. I count it a good thing it doesn’t make sense to me…its somehow affirming…and comforting.
Dana (ff758b) — 5/3/2008 @ 1:02 pmUnfortunately, I get it. It’s going to go something like this….
It doesn’t matter what happens from here on out, because the party chiefs have already decided to have Obama win.
Since it doesn’t matter what happens from here on out anyway, they are going to let Florida and Michigan stand up during the convention and say…
“Mr. Chairman…the great state of (Michigan/Florida) casts all of its….for the next president of one world utopia…er….the United States….SENATOR BARACK OBAMA.
The fact that it’s all a sham anyway, makes it pretty irrelevant that they were officially seated, unseated, …this democrat primary election is being run Chicago style. The votes don’t matter, the fix is in. Somebody call Tony Rezco.
cfbleachers (4040c7) — 5/3/2008 @ 1:10 pmLet’s parse words: what does it mean to be “seated”?
They get to sit in chairs?
STEWART: How — how can you do that when their results don’t count?
DEAN: Well, it’s a little hard, but we’re gonna do it.
Notice Dean didn’t say the results would count.
Daryl Herbert (4ecd4c) — 5/3/2008 @ 1:12 pm“Who voted each of the super delegates in?”
I thought the superdelegates were elected officials. Either in public office (senators) or in party offices.
stef (46c091) — 5/3/2008 @ 1:24 pmWell, she got you there Scott.
Another Drew (8018ee) — 5/3/2008 @ 1:34 pm#9 only in your little alternative reality would anyone consider that the superdelegates actually reflected the current choices of the various dem primaries. It is like the old clintonian parsing of what the meaning of “is” is. Sure they were elected at some point but not in this primary cycle. How big are the $$ payoffs and promises by the cash-rich Obamtard functionaries to the “super duper delegates?
I’m hoping there are more of “us” voting than the clueless ideologues or blind bozos who see a young “black” man being chosen as somehow making them feel good about long past wrongs to minorities. Geez, I don’t know how many loons who read his books were all agush over Hussein’s “brilliance”. It’s all right there- his path to where he is now, embracing black supremasist theology and how the nasty and very greedy whiteys are screwing the blacks.
And of course the mainstream media is love. Matthews uses Barack’s image and voice as a substitute for Viagra.
madmax333 (9b02f9) — 5/3/2008 @ 1:36 pmLet us hope that Barry Hussein is wiped out in a general election and that his coattails drag down many of the supers down ballot from him. Nice to have 90+ % voting bloc in your camp due to identity politics. White racism, my asp.
Were they elected to choose the presidential candidate?
Patterico (4bda0b) — 5/3/2008 @ 1:48 pm“Ah, the Florida delegation. You’ll be sitting in that bus parked over there. Your seats are reserved for you inside. . .yes, the seats in the back marked ‘Non-Voting.’ Enjoy the convention!” ]:-)
M. Scott Eiland (b66190) — 5/3/2008 @ 1:53 pm“Were they elected to choose the presidential candidate?”
The superdelegate rules were set in the 1980s.
stef (10527e) — 5/3/2008 @ 1:58 pmNancy Pelosi has already said that Florida and Michigan will not be dispositive. The only way they get to sit is if they won’t change who the nominee is.
In other words, their votes don’t count! If Barack can wrap this up and win it, THEN Florida and Michigan will be allowed to join the party. They get to be pretend voters, so that voters from FL/MI won’t be bitter about the whole experience.
Democrats: not so Democratic.
Daryl Herbert (4ecd4c) — 5/3/2008 @ 2:00 pmThe superdelegate rules were set in the 1980s.
Move to strike as nonresponsive.
Patterico (4bda0b) — 5/3/2008 @ 2:00 pm“Were they elected to choose the presidential candidate?”
The superdelegate rules were set in the 1980s.
“Were they elected to choose the presidential candidate?”
Buick LeSabres come in metallic silver and bronze.
nk (1e7806) — 5/3/2008 @ 2:02 pmthey’re gonna seat the delegates in proportion to the popular vote in the other states where adversarial campaigning actually took place, and barack will be that closer to the magic 2025. the issue will be the apportionment, not the seating.
assistant devil's advocate (393fee) — 5/3/2008 @ 2:05 pm“Were they elected to choose the presidential candidate?”
The Triceratops lived during the Cretaceous period.
Patterico (4bda0b) — 5/3/2008 @ 2:13 pmWere they elected to choose the presidential candidate?
The Gibson Explorer and Flying V were colossal flops when first released in 1958, but where would classic rock in the 1970s have without those two guitars?
Paul (266a05) — 5/3/2008 @ 2:20 pmPatterico’s adrenalin levels are obviously still at in-trial levels. Hope you enjoyed your week off 🙂
The word here (speaking as a Floridian) is that the delegates will be seated and allowed to vote on everything except the presidential nomination–that is, to vote on all the appetizers and desserts but not the entree.
kishnevi (7a9e8b) — 5/3/2008 @ 2:24 pmDean makes perfect sense, for a Democrat.
Peg C. (b50956) — 5/3/2008 @ 2:38 pmWere they elected to choose the presidential candidate?
In 1926, the Southern Pine Association published Beautifying the Home Grounds.
Paul (266a05) — 5/3/2008 @ 2:56 pm#21 How do the super delgates from Florida actually feel about the situation of the Fla. popular vote not counting. I’m sure my own eestemed rep. Bobby Wexler is down with exclusion of voting of fla. delegates since he was providing cover here in Palm Beach for Obama’s duplicitous claims of being pro-Israel. We all know Obama’s inner circle consists of pro-Zionist blacks and people who want a Pali state in Israel proper, hopefully sans another Jewish Holocaust. Surely the Islamofascists would be happy enough running the country and would show mercy to Hebrews? Jajaja
madmax333 (9b02f9) — 5/3/2008 @ 2:57 pmWere they elected to choose the presidential candidate?
The Miller Legend 302 uses up to 50% less fuel and produces 1/4 of the noise with an 1800 RPM generator.
Paul (266a05) — 5/3/2008 @ 3:07 pmFrom Wiki on Superdelegates:
Not that I would expect stef to do *gasp* research before posting.
Stashiu3 (460dc1) — 5/3/2008 @ 3:07 pmWere they elected to choose the presidential candidate?
The PGA Tournament used to be match play.
Paul (266a05) — 5/3/2008 @ 3:17 pmWere they elected to choose the presidential candidate?
The area of Mauritania is 398,000 square miles.
Paul (266a05) — 5/3/2008 @ 3:22 pm“Not that I would expect stef to do *gasp* research before posting.”
I said I thought they held elected positions. Like just these: “delegates seated based on other positions they hold, who are formally described (in Rule 9.A) as “unpledged party leader and elected official delegates”[1] (unpledged PLEO delegates); an”
But it looks like it includes former position holders.
stef (3cd17c) — 5/3/2008 @ 3:24 pmWere they elected to choose the presidential candidate?
In 1986, film director Frank Capra won the National Medal of Arts.
Paul (266a05) — 5/3/2008 @ 3:26 pmI said I thought they held elected positions. Like just these: “delegates seated based on other positions they hold, who are formally described (in Rule 9.A) as “unpledged party leader and elected official delegates”[1] (unpledged PLEO delegates); an”
Not quite. You wrote in #9:
Paul (266a05) — 5/3/2008 @ 3:30 pmOne more:
Were they elected to choose the presidential candidate?
Common Cinquefoil grows in fields and dry woods.
Paul (266a05) — 5/3/2008 @ 3:35 pmAnd, the difference between a duck is?
Another Drew (758608) — 5/3/2008 @ 3:52 pm“Stewart let him get away with that one.”
Obviously Stewart has no idea how the Republicans work.
PatAZ (56a0a8) — 5/3/2008 @ 3:59 pm“Not quite. You wrote in #9:”
right. I thought the party leaders were elected within the party.
stef (9ae93b) — 5/3/2008 @ 4:00 pmWere they elected to choose the presidential candidate?
“I love…lamp!”
KobeClan (bf911b) — 5/3/2008 @ 4:04 pmWhatever you thought, stef, was wrong as usual.
SPQR (26be8b) — 5/3/2008 @ 4:07 pmI thought the party leaders were elected within the party.
Superdelegates are party leaders?
Paul (266a05) — 5/3/2008 @ 5:42 pmDean’s lost a good deal of weight over the last four years. At first, I thought he was Anderson Cooper. He’s still a horse’s ass, however.
JVW (835f28) — 5/3/2008 @ 5:49 pmThe non-elected superdelegates include union leaders, Democratic Party organizers, etc. The local paper had an article on some superdelegates. One was a twenty something chosen for her skills in organizing “The Young Democrats” or somesuch group.
The Democrats’ nominating system is designed to let everyone’s voice be heard, not to select a candidate.
MartyH (fd100c) — 5/3/2008 @ 5:56 pmAP reports that in Guam, Obama beat Clinton by 7 votes. That’s seven voter votes, not seven delegate votes. (out of about 4900 votes cast).
BTW, some of Guam’s superdelegates are elected in the caucuses, but not all of them.
Now, if you will excuse me, I want to check on popcorn futures.
kishnevi (a117ab) — 5/3/2008 @ 6:08 pmHoward Dean and the DNC couldn’t organize a two car funeral as they say down South. And I’ll be dagnabbed if they haven’t found a way to organize a funeral for two candidate’s campaigns, no matter who gets the nomination and the chance to run in the general.
Mike Myers (31af82) — 5/3/2008 @ 6:33 pmThe Michigan deal doesn’t seem right either way, if they matter or not.
The Party Leadership here are total whores for the Clintons.
The ballot consisted of
( ) Hillary
( ) Other
If you did a write-in it was discounted.
The “Other” category were free to vote how they wanted and some/all of them could vote for Hillary. Considering how loyal to Hillary the leadership was a good portion would probably go with her.
Huge scam.
jpm100 (b48b29) — 5/3/2008 @ 6:35 pmThe Democrats’ nominating system is designed to let everyone’s voice be heard, not to select a candidate.
Which is remarkably similar to their governing philosophy (viz. the Clinton Administration and the Pelosi/Reid Congress): let everyone’s voice be heard, but don’t actually address any of the problems.
JVW (835f28) — 5/3/2008 @ 6:52 pmThe Clinton model was that to talk about a problem, dealt with the problem. Actual results were immaterial.
Another Drew (8018ee) — 5/3/2008 @ 6:54 pmtake it up the arse, take some more meds, take some more meth, we don’t care but just go away. oh yet another pointless blog has spoken.
alogicbit (54032d) — 5/3/2008 @ 6:59 pmc’mon… think like grown ups. The Michigan and Florida delegations will be seated and participate in the convention. The representation they bring is to be worked out in a judicious manner (likely a 50-50 split or proportioned according to final delegate totals before adding them). Their inclusion will neither favor a particular candidate nor will it be determinitive in any sense. The key is to allow them to participate – not to allow Clinton to get an unfair edge. Christ, you guys think like kids.
I’ve always admired Howard Dean’s intelligence and morality but he is a downright boob when it comes to simply getting the point across… which is the real reason he was never the nominee, not the scream.
And all of you who think it sounds smart to criticize the Democratic party’s ability to organize: it doesn’t. “They” are “us” and “we” don’t need “you”.
Now let’s get back to making Mr. Obama our next president, shall we!
Kevin (02ffc4) — 5/3/2008 @ 7:05 pmWe know that’s what the deal is going to be like, and Dean is a bit inarticulate in getting the point across but he’s being deliberately so, because he knows that such is not really “seating” the delegations as each was chosen by the primaries in question.
SPQR (26be8b) — 5/3/2008 @ 7:15 pm#21 kishnevi:
He was “obvously” engaged in what Beldar calls trial lawyering. 😉
EW1(SG) (84e813) — 5/3/2008 @ 7:33 pmHate to be late:
Lord Nazh (899dce) — 5/3/2008 @ 9:01 pmWere they elected to choose the presidential candidate?
63% of all statistics are made up.
That’s only true 40% of the time.
Shad (36f787) — 5/3/2008 @ 9:55 pmForgive me for resorting to crude language, but…
Fuck Florida, fuck Michigan, fuck the Democratic Party, and fuck the American political system that will force me to vote for Clinton or Obama to avoid the even bigger hack that is John McCain.
And for what it’s worth, you guys still treat stef (who has yet to lose her temper, as far as I’ve seen) like shit for no reason. If her comment was unclear, ask her for a clarification, but don’t act like a bunch of giggling school girls and bounce the same lame-ass joke around the thread for a 50 comments at a whack. Jeez…
Leviticus (6eaf54) — 5/4/2008 @ 1:01 pmAnd for what it’s worth, you guys still treat stef (who has yet to lose her temper, as far as I’ve seen) like shit for no reason. If her comment was unclear, ask her for a clarification, but don’t act like a bunch of giggling school girls and bounce the same lame-ass joke around the thread for a 50 comments at a whack.
Leviticus, why do you regularly defend people that constantly engage in dishonest, weaselish, trollish behavior? There’s a huge difference between an unclear answer and one completely irrelevant to the question asked.
Aphrael is a lefty commenter that to my knowledge never gets ridiculed. It’s because he (she?) presents honest, well-thought out positions without snark, name-calling or profanity. I wish many more lefty commenters (and some on the right also) would follow his example.
Paul (266a05) — 5/4/2008 @ 1:31 pmNow to your first point, Leviticus:
Fuck Florida, fuck Michigan, fuck the Democratic Party, and fuck the American political system that will force me to vote for Clinton or Obama to avoid the even bigger hack that is John McCain.
I hear you, man. I’m not a big fan of McCain (I wil NEVER forgive him for Campaign Finance, among other things) but there is no way I’m voting for either Clinton or Obama. The selection is worse than 1976.
Paul (266a05) — 5/4/2008 @ 1:41 pmHow could anyone seriously consider voting for a party that can’t even administer itself?
paul from fl (f9bb98) — 5/5/2008 @ 4:57 am(winces) The best choice this time around is McCain.
Sad, but true.
I could never vote for Obama or CLinton, and if I end up voting for McCain, it’ll be because I’m drunk and unable to feel the shame…
Scott Jacobs (d3a6ec) — 5/5/2008 @ 5:22 amThey will be seated, but not counted? I think a great general election strategy is to piss off your base in 2 of the most important electoral states on the map for a Dem.
JD (75f5c3) — 5/5/2008 @ 5:31 amJD, I’m not sure that it will make much difference in terms of attitude toward the DNC.
They simply will not take this election away from Sen. Obama…they can’t. And the people who are turned on by Obama will still vote for him, those turned off by him will not.
cfbleachers (4040c7) — 5/5/2008 @ 7:01 amAs is traditional, the Dems/leftists/etc want to play a game and then rewrite the rules afterwards that will select them the desired outcome. More fools they who try to play a game by the rules written when the game began.
It’s just that here we get to see the leftists doing it to each other instead of to the rest of us.
luagha (5cbe06) — 5/5/2008 @ 11:16 am