They Are NOT the Rules

As Captain Barbossa played by Geoffrey Rush said in 'Pirates of the Caribbean' (regarding the pirate's code), "They're not so much rules as guidelines".

It bears repeating because it's mostly ignored in MSM news reporting.  When DNC officials and their delusion enablers repeatedly tell us that "rules are rules" with regard to Florida and Michigan, they're obscuring the truth, which is that they're not so much rules as DNC leadership failure.

The DNC told all states that there was a firm earliest date for primaries, then said there would be "special" early dates for IA, NH and SC.  The result was that there were not TWO states with early primaries, but FIVE, as IA, NH and SC went even earlier than their "special" early dates.  Since early states were all supposed to lose half their delegates as a consequence, how is it then reasonable that FL and MI got DOUBLE consequences, and IA, NH and SC got ZERO?  To quote another movie line, from 'Roger Rabbit', "The whole thing stinks like yesterday's diapers".

Of course as usual, all we hear reported in MSM news is that rules are rules.  It never ceases to amaze me how the critical thinking ability of MSM reporting amounts to waiting until someone else thinks of the question later.  Probably sometime around a year from now, someone will write a retrospective piece, earning an award for journalism, about how reporters once again failed to ask the simple question when it mattered - 'uh...btw...about those rules?'  Maybe it'll even become a best selling book, reviewed in depth on C-Span 'Book Notes'.

The DNC can say all it wants to that the campaigns in FL and MI were handicapped because of the early primary issue, and therefore that the voting result such as it is today is not a true representation; but the truth is that the campaigns would not have been handicapped in the first place, except that the DNC rules were enforced in a blatantly selective manner.  Rules are not really so much rules as lame excuses, when the enforcement consequences are this selective.

Unfortunately for us regular Democratic registered voters, in the general election, next year's retrospective best selling book might just be pre-empted by this whole subject as a talking point for the RNC, as a way to accuse Democrats of being un-democratic.



Display:


I think we've already beaten this issue (2.00 / 3)

into the ground.


Even John McCain lusts after teh engels.
by sricki on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:23:17 PM EST

Re: I think we've already beaten this issue (2.00 / 4)

In fact, we have beaten the ground itself underneath this issue into some lower, Platonic ideal, ground.

And then we sowed that ground full of dead horses.

And salt.



This is not so much an issue any more as it is a kind of existential dead horse jerky.


by Ray Radlein on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:36:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I think we've already beaten this issue (2.00 / 1)

LOL, that's hilarious. "Existential dead horse jerky" may be my new favorite phrase.


Even John McCain lusts after teh engels.
by sricki on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:41:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

agreed. (none / 0)

but with the upcoming rules meeting, i would state that its a a timely diary.


"Democracy! Bah! When I hear that I reach for my feather Boa!" Allen Ginsberg
by canadian gal on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:43:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: They Are NOT the Rules (2.00 / 5)

"I shall not campaign or participate in any state which schedules a presidential primary election or caucus before Feb. 5, 2008, except for the states of Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina."

If you ask for and recieve prior permission, you can move your primaries. If you ask for prior permission, are denied that permission, and have the concequenses of going ahead without permission explicitly laid out before you, and choose to go ahead without permission anyway, you get punished.

It's the difference between borrowing something and stealing - in one case you have permission, in the other you don't.


John McCain
by Mandoliniment on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:33:02 PM EST

Clinton Campaign Statement on the Four State Pledg (2.00 / 3)

"
9/1/2007
Clinton Campaign Statement on the Four State Pledge

The following is a statement by Clinton Campaign Manager Patti Solis Doyle.

"We believe Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina play a unique and special role in the nominating process.

And we believe the DNC's rules and its calendar provide the necessary structure to respect and honor that role.

Thus, we will be signing the pledge to adhere to the DNC approved nominating calendar."
"

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/relea se/view/?id=3134


by Virginia Liberal on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:39:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

This will all be settled soon, and (2.00 / 1)

I predict in advance, that if the party doesn't give Hillary delegates based exactly upon the illegitimate votes in the two states, which it almost certainly will not, then Hillary supporters will cry foul and be up in arms. Call me psychic.


John McCain supports privatizing Social Security.
by Travis Stark on Wed May 14, 2008 at 12:52:26 PM EST

Re: This will all be settled soon, and (2.00 / 1)

They'll be seated in some way that makes them not matter. Clears the air with the public, delivers the message to the state leadership.

but yes, no matter what happens there will be carping.


John McCain
by Mandoliniment on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:05:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Hillary the Great Uniter (2.00 / 1)

The way she keeps moving the goal posts is so fantastic.

YOu got to love the way she is running on Obama's unelectibility.

What a great gal.

Thanks for dividing the party.


overthrow the government~participate
by missliberties on Wed May 14, 2008 at 01:08:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]


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