The “Disenfranchised” Who Didn’t Vote at All

I’m a Michigan college student. I voted uncomitted in the Michigan primary for Obama.
I know alot of people who didn’t vote because we were informed Michigan was stripped of their delegate.
My mother, father, and several distant relatives did not vote. We’re a strong pro-Obama family.
I would like a 50/50 split. 69/59 split is okay I guess. She would net 5 delegate. Not much of a big difference to Obama’s lead.

I’m loving that the democrats are now looking like the party of disenfrachisement of voters.
Come November, when McCain easily beats Obama, we don’t want to hear the democrats in their usual whiny spin about how the GOP disenfranchised people. It’s always false, and it work this time. Especially since they’re screwing over 2 states.

KIM i dont understand how you can support someone who ran in 1996 with the blessings of a marxist party,who has consistently associated since high school with marxist antiamericans.who has bent over backward for special interests and coviently had long time lobbyists quit there posistions with the lobbying firms for now so he could claim he is clean when he is not.

I am a registered Michigan Democrat. No, I did not vote in January for the following reasons:
1.)The candidate that I support was not on the ballot
2.)Writing in my candidate would have entirely nullified my vote.
3.) Voting for “uncommitted” seemed farcical, since I believe that voting involves declaring WHO you support.
4.) It was the overwhelming opinion of most Michigan Dems that because only one candidate was on the ballot, there would be either a second primary that would count, or, by the end of the primary/caucus season, one candidate would already have a clear majority of elected delegates, and thus, render it unnecessary to re-do the primary. It was believed that the “uncommitted” elected delegates would then support whoever the nominee was.
5.) Dems in MI who support Obama have been frustrated by our state party. Gov. Jennifer Granholm is a huge Hillary supporter because she can’t run for re-election next year due to term limits. Everyone believes that she has been aiming for a job in a Clinton administration, particularly, since both MI senators are Dems and not looking to retire anytime soon.
6.) The other frustrating thing for MI Obama supporters is that Former Gov. Jim Blanchard is also Bill Clinton’s former ambassador to Canada (one of the most sought after ambassadorships for many reasons). It’s well known that he wants to see the Clintons back in the WH in order to land a job – he has not done particularly well since leaving office & Bill’s administration.
Lastly, the unions are quite strong in MI and Edwards would have been their 1st choice. The large blue-collar vote here wants the prosperity of the 1990′s back (which is associated w/Bill) and is suspicious of Obama’s attitudes toward the auto industry. However, the contempt for both Clintons is so palpable in the blue-collar community, that they are likely to vote for McCain regardless of who the Dem nominee ends up being.

Breaking news, Obama resigns church membership…. oh no.. is he going to a mosque now?

I cant find the source for Obama quitting his church.
Anyone have a source? I would like to time stamp it as its the end of Obama as a credible candidate.

And yet Obama blocked the revote.

I also want to mention that personally I place most of the blame on Gov. Granholm for this mess, (although they probably should have been penalized 50% originally) and I think that she has been getting a free pass for her role in this.

Forida was record turnout!!!!

@cgeast: You are spreading a half-truth. The “revote” was blocked because it would not allow all Democrats and Independents to vote. A caucus was blocked by our governor because she is a huge Clinton supporter and needs a job when her term-limited job here ends.

MI guy.
Michigan is a primary state. You redo a primary, not caucus.
The idiots who pulled a ‘rush limbaugh’ and voted for a republican who they would never support in a general election is wrong, and they dont deserve a revote.
Obama blocked the revote.

This is absurd. Everyone had the right to cast votes. Record numbers did just that.
Disenfranchisement is not counting those votes.

cgeast – No, YOU are wrong. It was the Michigan Republican-led legislature that refused to re-do the primary. Why? Because primaries cost a few million dollars with the cost borne by the state govt; because caucuses are paid by the political party, not the state; and because the Republican-majority of the legislature was more than willing to let the Democrats drag this battle out while canabalizing themselves.

yet Obama blocked the revotes.

Kileen.
WRONG. Clinton supporters fronted the money for the revote in Michigan. It wouldnt cost anyone a cent.
Obama blocked the revote.

cgeast – No, you are mistaken, again.
There were serious legal and ethical issues about allowing Hillary Clinton’s supporters to PAY FOR A PRIMARY. Do I even need to explain to why that would an issue?!?
Furthermore, even if the MI Democratic party had agreed to allow outsiders to finance re-doing the primary (which the Obama camp WAS amenable to, as long as it was after the other scheduled primaries!), it was STILL THE MICHIGAN REPUBLICAN-LED LEGISLATURE THAT WOULD HAVE HAD TO APPROVE ANY PRIMARY RE-DO. THE REPUBS MADE IT CLEAR THAT SINCE THEIR PARTY FOUND A RESOLUTION TO THE ISSUE WITHOUT RE-DOING THE PRIMARIES, THAT THE DEMS SHOULD DO THE SAME.

Why does either candidate deserve any delegates from a shame of a primary like Michigan?

If Obama supporters actually thought he was a sure thing they would not be clogging the blogs trying to alternately schmooz and demean HRC supporters.
They would instead be relishing their already announced victory and just chillin’.
Yet here they are? Why?
Because they know Obama has actually won nothing. All they have is hope.
We are here because we take nothing for granted, that anything is still possible, That Hillary is the only choice to win the GE, and that we Hillary Clinton supporters hold the absolute key to this election.
Without us, especially if multitudes vote for McCain because he is the best alternative to Obama, the DNC goes down in flames for the third straight time.
I welcome the Democratic Party implosion. Perhaps what arises from the rubble will be a truly Democratic Party, worthy of the Democracy element in its name

First Vote say unity but no to Florida and Michigan getting full reinstatement.
You’ve sent a clear message to America, no more democracy coming from the Democratic Party! I do not live in Florida or Michigan but I will NOT VOTE Democratic come this next Election. All Americans get to vote equally or not at all. The people did not break the rules! Do you know what you can do with your rules?

Obama did not block the revotes
Facts should matter
In Florida – where I live – the facts are the Dem state Sen appvd the Jan 29th date and it was introduced by dem state sen Jeremy Ring — this is the unassailable fact (Sen Nelson’s twist today non with standing)
There was never going to be a revote because the voting machines were gone Jan 30th and still not back.
There was never going to be a mail in vote because it is against the Fl State Constitution to have a mail in vote count for a nomination
So the only chance for a revote was a caucus and the Clinton campaign blocked that idea
So vote as you wish in your own state but in OUR state this is the fact
We live in a society who accepts the rule of law

Killeen.
Lie much?
Show me the SOURCE where we can see the DNC instructing the candidates to take their name off the ballot.
put up or shut up.

On Dec. 10, 2007 the Mich Democratic Party’s Chairman, Mark Brewer, issued the following instructions to Dem voters urging them to vote in the MI primary:
LANSING – Today the Michigan Democratic Party released a voter guide to help voters understand the January 15, 2008 Democratic Presidential Primary.
“We want every eligible Democratic voter in Michigan to vote in the January 15, 2008 Democratic Presidential Primary,” said MDP Chair Mark Brewer. “This guide gives voters the details of the Primary and all of their voting rights so that every Michigan Democrat can participate in helping choose the 2008 Democratic presidential candidate. The guide is available on our website and we encourage voters to circulate it.”
Read the guide on the Internet here>
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Voter Guide On The January 15, 2008
Michigan Democratic Presidential Primary
1. Voters will vote at their regular polling places between 7 A.M. and 8 P.M.
2. Voters can vote by absentee ballot if they meet one of the requirements – out of town, age 60 or older, disability, etc.
3. The deadline to register to vote is 30 days before January 15, 2008 or December 17, 2007.
4. In order to vote at a polling place, a voter must show a photo ID or sign a statement that they do not have a photo ID with them. Absentee voters do not have to produce a photo ID.
5. Voters will be asked whether they want a Democratic or Republican ballot, and a record will be made of which ballot they take.
6. The voter’s choice of candidate will be secret as in all public elections.
7. The Democratic ballot will have 6 choices:
Hillary Clinton
Christopher Dodd
Mike Gravel
Dennis Kucinich
Uncommitted
Write-in
8. A vote for “uncommitted” is a vote to send delegates to the Democratic National Convention who are not committed or pledged to any candidate. Those delegates can vote for any candidate they choose at the Convention.
9. Supporters of Joe Biden, John Edwards, Barack Obama and Bill Richardson are urged to vote “uncommitted” instead of writing in their candidates’ names because write-in votes for those candidates will not be counted.
NOTE: Dodd ended his campaign 12 days prior to the MI primary; I was technically wrong in saying that only one Dem candidate was on the ballot for the primary, however, Gravel & Kucinich were never major contenders and were no longer even included in the debates by that point in time.

Obama Lawyer Questions Wisdom of Michigan Revote
By Shailagh Murray Washington Post March 19, 2008
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign has raised questions about a possible June 3 revote in Michigan, although the Democratic National Committee seems fine with the idea.
“We have recently been asked whether the legislation as proposed by Michigan would fit within the framework of the National Party’s Delegate Selection Rules,” DNC officials said in a statement. “Our review of this legislation indicates that it would, in fact, fit within the framework of the Rules.”
But Obama lawyer Robert F. Bauer raised several potential problems in a campaign memo released this morning, noting that the primary would be “unprecedented in conception and proposed structure,” as no other states has ever “re-run an election in circumstances like these.”
Like Florida, Michigan violated Democratic Party rules by moving up its primary date to the early weeks of the nominating process. The candidates declined to campaign in both states, and in Michigan, Obama went even further by removing his name from the ballot.
Searching for ways to close the delegate and popular-vote gap with Obama, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has actively sought revotes in both Michigan and Florida, although Sunshine State Democrats already have concluded that a second primary is unworkable. The Obama campaign has long held the position that it would abide by whatever party leaders decide — although it would prefer a solution that seats Michigan and Florida delegates at the Democratic National Convention without requiring voters to return to the polls.
Michigan state leaders are now awaiting Obama’s okay. Clinton is campaigning in Michigan today, seeking to pressure her rival to make a move.
But Bauer raised a series of legal concerns, including:
Voter Disqualification: Voters who participated in the Republican primary in January could not vote in the June election under the current proposal, including Democrats and independents.
Voter Protections: The new primary would be subject to pre-clearance under the federal Voting Rights Act, and Bauer noted the Justice Department may not be able to conduct a timely review. He also questioned whether military ballots could be distributed and collected in time.
Private Financing: Michigan’s plan to raise private funding to pay for the new primary may or may not be legal under federal election law, Bauer argued, raising possible liability issues for both candidates.
The Clinton campaign refuted each of Bauer’s points in its own lengthy memo, asserting, “We must either honor the original vote or hold a state-run primary that doesn’t leave the taxpayers footing the bill.”

SENATOR OBAMA DID BLOCK THE REVOTE IN MICHIGAN. THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN HAD EVERYTHING WORKED OUT BUT THE OBAMA SUPPORTERS IN MICHIGAN BLOCKED THE REVOTE.
OBAMA SUPPORTERS BLOCKED THE REVOTE
OBAMA SUPPORTERS BLOCKED THE REVOTE
OBAMA SUPPORTERS BLOCKED THE REVOTE
OBAMA SUPPORTERS BLOCKED THE REVOTE
OBAMA WOULD HAVE LOST AGAIN

Pledge delegate cannot change their votes, but pressure for superdelegates, they can change their votes, especially with Obama’s mask starts to reveal! Rev.Wright, Rezko, father pfleger!

Good for you, Sally.
We are proud of you for being 100% honest, and not voting in your very legal primary.
All votes counted in the Fl. primary, only delegates were at issue!

The question now for Hillary, after the DNC ruling:
“Will you be a divider or uniter for your beloved party?”
Your call.

I cam here hoping somebody would shine a light on why MI and Florida held their primaries in January in the first place, knowing this is against party rules.
It seems the only people here are Hilary and Obama supporters who are not even smart enough to ask this question. They just want their candidate to be on top no matter what. I guess I’ve waisted my time.

paganmist
And that’s why Obama sent his lawyers to Michigan to stop the re-vote?

Now the question is: Will Clinton voters take their principles elsewhere or will they join the Obama (aka Soetoro) bandwagon.

OBAMA WINS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP …
… for saying ‘uh’ more often in a half-hour than anyone else in the history of this planet.

I’m pretty sure that the disenfranchised that Ms. Brazille was so concerned about will be heard loud and clear in Nov. along with every other American that believes in democracy.
The white house will be Republican for another four years. Way to go Dems! you did it again.

HILLARY FANS, GIVE IT UP.
The elite insiders have spoken and they’ve named their puppet. That’s the end of that. So, what’s your plan B?

Dr. Hubert,
I agree completely with your sentiments. Well said, well said.
========================================
Obama and BitterGate, we shall not forget!
========================================

I am ashamed to say that I voted for Hilary in the FL primary. My husband told me I would regret it. I hate it when he’s right. I just sent $50 to Barack Obama’s campaign.
Those Clinton supporters should be ashamed of themselves. She is acting like a childish brat who can’t accept that someone more talented has won the game. She’s willing to destroy the party if they won’t pick her. NEWSFLASH…it ISN’T all about YOU, Hillary, it’s about America.

Jake Tapper makes a good point about the voters who didn’t vote because they were told their votes don’t count. Perhaps Florida and Michigan BOTH should have a new primary election, keeping the DNC OUT of the process.
It still bothers me that the boys in the Star Chamber are saying that voters in Florida and Michigan are only HALF as important as the rest of the country. What gives these party bosses the right to disenfranchise ANYONE… even halfway?!
How can it be called a “compromise” when an American’s voting rights are diminished?

rst… excuse me, but wasn’t it Obama who withdrew from Michigan? Not Clinton.

Rhys – I didn’t say she withdrew, just that she herself said “what they’re doing in Michigan doesn’t count for anything”. For her to assert differently now seems hypocritical and unprincipled… surely the Clinton supporters can see that?

One other thing. If Hillary supporters want to vote for McCain, that is your right. Just don’t keep bellyaching about the economy, health care, perpetual war in the Middle east, the influence of lobbyist, the erosion of the middle class, etc., etc. If you liked Bush, believe me, you will LOVE McCain. He has nothing to lose. He’s already going to be 72 years old!

rst… I see your point, but why should Hillary have wasted any campaign time or money in a state where her main opponent wasn’t even on the ballot? It really was a worthless primary, which is why I have said Michigan should have a re-vote WITH Obama and Clinton BOTH on the ballot! If Obama wins Michigan, so be it; at least it would be FAIR.

Now that this is over and Obama is about to wrap things up I wonder what many of you Hillary lovers will do with yourselves. I guess you can always just keep blinding walking about claiming Hillary still has a chance.

I am not angry with Obama supporters. For centuries, humans have been manipulated by “snake oil salesmen” whose charisma can sell ANYTHING. I don’t accuse Obama of asking his followers to drink poison or anything stupid like that, but he has mesmerized people into believing he can “change” everything that needs changing. How many Obama “believers” can actually say they know exactly what he plans to do? He can “talk the talk” but can he “walk the walk”? I don’t think so. It takes more than charisma to be an effective President.

Hillary voted for all was all for the rules. Then she cried and stomped her feet when she needed them changed.

No one is shoving Obama down your throat-BUT a vote for McCain is a vote for the “draft” and against a woman’s right to choose.
THINK HARD- then vote Obama

NanD…
If Obama wins FAIRLY, I can live with that. But give EVERY state a REAL primary election and do away with “smoke-filled room” politics! This sort of “decision-making” should have ended in the 1930′s.
America’s politics are NOT supposed to be run from a Star Chamber!

oldwhiteguy
Actually, it was a couple of democratic senators who suggested we resume the draft. Then, there’s you codeword ‘right to choose’ for partial birth abortions where the brains are sucked out of a child’s brain before he draws his first breath.

Why BO didn’t want a revote in those two states?
That would have settled the issue in a clear manner.
What is in his head?
The same way it’s hard to understand the reactions of his supporters.
I read the comments posted by them in the blog after the article written by Ferraro about investigating sexism and racism in this campaign (NY Times), if you are a Hillary supporter you would feel cured from wanting to have anything to do with them at all. Just pure ruthless hatred.

Ashton…
thanks for the “feedback”, but there was nothing ‘coded’. McCain can’t stay in Iraq,100 years, let alone going to war with Iran without the draft.
And say what you will about abortion-its a woman’s choice, and politicians can’t deny that.

I am one of the “disenfranchised” Michigan voters who didn’t vote because I was told the primary would not count. No great solution exists at this point. But, after sitting through the RBC Hearings in person all day and into the evening, I am pleased with the resolution.

They shouldnt have seated the delegates at all… The elections were not true or fair elections.
You can not tell people it doesnt matter and then later change the rules and say it counts the rules where the election doesnt mater so they do not show a true example of the will of the people.
That would never happen here the rules said the election dont count.. So they should not count.
Are you living in America or Russia ?
The Only way the party should have been seated is if they where split 50/50 so in reality then the election had didnt count with regards to giving anyone any benifit.
Just my two cents.

well, i did not get a chance to watch
this proceeding in the first run.
so i am watching on cspan now the rerun.
i am beginning to not like the feel of all of this.
this party this and party that.
crowded room, charts etc.
cheering,and booing.
i am going to get some popcorn and watch the movie REDS with warren b. and diane k.
because after hearing the out come
IT IS ALL JUST A BUNCH OF BOL-SHEVIK!

J, so what about the disinfranchised people who didn’t vote because BOTH our respective candidates said they wouldn’t?? If you guys REALLY cared about the voters you’d follow the rules.

The Oracle, why would I vote for someone who is unqualified? Nader 08, LOL to you.

Tina, we’ll see how much you’re laughing when McCain takes away womens rights. So much for feminism. Lol.

Finally the Horror movie is coming to an end, I almost ran out of popcorn. Can’t wait for Pt.2 to start in Nov.
Hey guys book your tickets now. See ya

The DNC broke their OWN rules today by deciding to award votes to a candidate (Obama) who received NONE.
Michigan needs to have a revote on August 4th when they have a statewide election already on the ballot, it takes place well before the DNC convention on August 24th. It’s the perfect solution. It’s the fair solution since Obama was not on the ballot in Michigan. It would give legitimacy to the end result.
Florida needs to be counted as it stands with a penalty (according to the DNC “rules” Obama should penalized for breaking the rules) to Obama who broke the rules and campaigned there with ads all over the states. In fairness, Hillary broke no rules in Florida.
Count all the votes. Any compromise is unacceptable because you are still disenfranching voters. I stood with Rep. John Conyers in 2004 demanding that ALL the votes be counted and now John Conyers is actively working with the Obama campaign to disenfranchise the voters of Michigan. It’s disgusting. Obama should be ashamed. The Democratic party,no matter who you support should be outraged that ANY voter is disenfranchised.
The entire primary process needs an overhaul. The caucuses should be eliminated. The calendar should be changed. The process is too long and too expensive. The process is unfair state to state.
Keep fighting Hillary, you can prevail.
This great nation is worth fighting for. Country first, party second.

DEAR FELLOW DEMOCRATS;
THE BAD REPUBLICANS ARE FLOATING AROUND TO DIVIDE AND CONKER……. DON’T FALL FOR THERE TRICKS……. THEY TRICKED US INTO A WAR THAT HAS CAUSED US THOUSANDS OF OUR BEST AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN…….. LETS PUT AN END TO THIS BS AND UNITE NOW…….. IN ANY RACE WE HAVE A WINNER AND A LOSER. BUT DEMOCRATS ARE ON THE SAME TEAM…….HELLO…..JUST THINK OF THE OLYMPICS RACE WHERE TWO OR MORE OF THE US RUNNERS ARE IN THE SAME RACE, WE DONT CARE WHICH ONE WINS AS LONG AS IT IS AMERICA THAT WINS.
they are really after the hillary supporters because john mcsame needs help. Just look at the mess the republ. have put us in. economy,housing,markets,poorly handled wars. want more of the same vote for mccain.

MSM has already set women’s rights back. I like to call MSNBC the caveman network.

Dems loose with Obama.
Dems wins with Clinton.
It’s that simple.

Roxanne,
You mean like Michelle Obama??

I don’t want is Obama as much as you don’t want Clinton.

I think half you people could care less about either Hillary or Barack and are only here to cause further tensions in the Democratic Party which ever side you on Hillary or Obama will be much better presidents than John McSame.
Prochoice =Hillary and Barack
NoChoice= John McSame
the next president will get to appoint to judges to the beanch.. It only takes one more vote to overturn Roe V Wade…
Something McCain has promised to do.
Time to let the next three states to vote and then unite behind the winner!
Democrats 08

Kate
But Obama is a real loser.

I am a woman and I WILL NOT PROTEST AT DENVER.
Clinton lost fair and square AND THOUGH I SUPPORTED HER, I AM NOT A CLINTON CULT MEMBER AND…
I WILL NOT COMMIT DEM. PARTY MASS SUICIDE WITH CLINTON.
NO TO MCCAIN.

justsaying roxanne who are you guys suporting I cant tell anymore ?

Obama, obama, obama. YES WE CAN

but obama, obama
no he wont

MrUSA,
Go ahead and vote for your Obama hero…just as Germany during struggling times and a bad economy voted for their leader over 65 years ago. A man who promised change..A man who gave them hope. A man who almost distroyed a race. A man who put the world at war. Dont talk about Rep. starting a war as if the Dem didnt agree with it. You can say Bush didnt tell them everything. YOu can say Bush lied. But both Dem and Rep were lied to by Bush. So chill on blaming the Rep. I am neither Rep. or Dem. I am for the one I believe will be best for this country..McCain was not my first choice but Obama was never a choice. Hillary never impressed me either. Yet Im not blinded with bitterness of how this country is now. Logic states simple. One does not belong to a organization for 20 years and not believe in what is being said or done. One does not contribute money to a cause they do not believe in. You state Obama has 11 years of service against Hillary’s 6. Look at how is first got in to office. Obama is not this great savor to this country. He is not this great hope for this promis of change. Red Flags fly above Obama and saidly he plays on people like you who are bitter, and who are blind and are mesmerized to his speaches like so many did so long ago.
Wake up. Get educated to his church and what they have tought over the years…then tell me that Obama is this great man you make him out to be. YOu think Bush is bad..wait and see the changes Obama will bring if elected to office.
We soldiers might not always agree with decision that our Chief makes. However, we do our duty. We support and do our jobs. Mr. USA were you ever in the armed forces? Unless you have, please dont make this war to be about lies. We fight for freedom of those who are appressed…we fight for those who have attact us. We fight to protect our nation against freedom fighters with there high and mighty hate for this country. I have been shot at…I have been distrught as I have seen my fellow soldier get blown to little pieces. I hate to think Obama would pull out our troops, just to figure out that it was not time and our soldiers get sent back to redo what was started.
I know how we got into this war…but I also know it is not over oil and not for a wasted cause. My father faught in WWII to save us from a man full of promises who killed millions. I faught for our country to help save another country from a dictator. My son fights now for us to protect us from another 9/11. Lets face it we all wanted to destroy the nation who attact us then…We wanted our revenge..Well we are getting it. With war comes sarafice and yes death of soldiers. Don’t shame them with words of a war of lies..or war made from deceit.

I caucaused for Clinton in Iowa. It was a cold winter night and I still went out despite my having a flu.
By the time Clinton got to W. Virgina, she was a beer guzzling, gun totting Republican Annie Oakley.
SO DON’T WORRY KATE. DEMS WILL UNITE – SOME OF US ARE AGHAST AT HILLARY’S RADICAL METARMORPHOSIS.

they are really after hillary’ supporters because they know the dnc, msm- did hillary and her supporters wrong.
and you know what,
they have us.
now if you want to blame someone
blame that YEEHI-ing Howard Dean
and that grinning nancy pelosi

I’m so grateful to cgeast and others on here for being so much more knowledgable about what is going on in my state than I am. It is truly wondrous to have these geniuses around to talk down to the people whose votes they wanted to count.
I really am starting to believe that many of the so-called HRC supporters here are Republicans posing as supporters. The only thing gained by her continued fight is the end of her political career – seems to me that’s what the Republicans want.

MIguy, its not that. They’re just masking their hopes for a Clinton Presidency behind counting votes. If they REALLY cared about ya’ll, they’d have been doing all this BEFORE Clinton was losing. And you notice how none of them seem to care about the disinfranchised who DIDN’T vote.

OPxyCon: Now thats rich. So it doesn’t bother you in the least that Clinton doesn’t care?? Really?? You can’t see that shes doing this cuz she needs the votes?? So let me get this straight, the ONE person that followed the rules should be punished?? Because thats what you’re saying. Please answer….

I guess rules don’t count when your an ex-President’s wife.

Any HRC supporters to answer those questions??? *eyes blinking*

Posted by: Madge | Jun 1, 2008 12:34:48 AM
sorry, dem of 36 years, never voted rep…check dnc records.
will not vote for racist, un-american, uninformed candidate in bho

The only more corrupt politicians than Senator Barack Obama are in jail.
AMERICA IS IN TROUBLE. Giving him delegates in Michigan is his new version of politics. His name was not on the ballot and he deserved no delegates. He violated the rules in Florida and Michigan. CORRUPT ELECTION. I and my family and friends will be voting for Senator McCain, a real American.

Mary,
Read what they Australia person wrote make alot of sense:
“They shouldnt have seated the delegates at all… The elections were not true or fair elections.
You can not tell people it doesnt matter and then later change the rules and say it counts the rules where the election doesnt mater so they do not show a true example of the will of the people.
That would never happen here the rules said the election dont count.. So they should not count.
Are you living in America or Russia ?
The Only way the party should have been seated is if they where split 50/50 so in reality then the election had didnt count with regards to giving anyone any benifit.
Just my two cents.”
&
“You voted in an election that Hillary Clinton said herself wouldnt count right ?
You wanted to be heard and you where around the world.. I heard he in Australia the Million of people in FL voted in an election, that was a beauty contest again Clinton used those words herself.
We over here had great respect for everyone in FL for taking part in an election that didnt count.
That now has been soured the DNC should only have split the election 50/50 so it gave no one any benifit.
Now those extra delegates gave to Hillary Clinton make what was a truely honourable protest of the people of FL a masive joke.
I liked Hillary Clinton I think your media has been mean to her. I dont think Barack has done anything wrong to her and do find it upseting that people blame him for what the media or some preist says even though Clinton was my choice.
I do as an Allied nation hope the democratic party does unite behind whoever wins the nomination as the world cant afford another republican government!”
Dont you think ?

Obama’s campaign will be studied for a long time by both friends and foes.
It was a classic David v. Goliath and boy didn’t he bring down the “inevitable.”
Instead of ranting and raving, Clinton should HUMBLE HERSELF AND TAKE NOTES.

Anon, Americans who can’t make peace with Obama’s mixed heritage are the most closeted you have ever met.
They are the type missing out on the New America…have hardly socialised beyond their kitchen gardens.

Thanks for informing as Ablanche ’08 but no need to -
we know you really are Republican anyway but was too ashamed to admit it in light of Bush’s high negativity ratings.

jpt have you seen this ?

Republicans have put up with slanted biased media for years.
we have Fox and talk radio while Democrats pretty have the major networks, newspapers, magazines etc. “Count all the votes” has a familiar ring to it no”? By the way, allthe Bush/Gore votes were counted a couple of times and Bush did win. But Republicans have had to sit and listen to Bush stole the election” for years. Perhaps this Democrat hoopla will make Democrats sit back, take a good hard look and finally see what’s been heaped on republicans. But I won’t hold my breath for that.

Bush won the electorals and in a study done by the accounting firm of BDO Seidman in 2001, Bush would have widened his 537 vote victory to a 1,665 margin if the Supreme court had been allowed to continue Bush won Florida-period. And yes, I watched “Recount” and found it to be much slanted to the left. Now it’s time for the Dems to resort to name calling, don’t you always?

Kathy you need to stop watching fox and join the real world there is no left and right when your talking about people… We are one people we are one nation! Stop being devided by BS.. Bush stole the election and its been the biggest mistake in Americas history.. Bush will always been known as our worst President and your grandchildren will be paying for this war long after we are gone!

rt,
I was supported Hillary and now am supporting Barack Obama he won fair and square. We all must unite to make sure McSame dos not see the seat of power.
There is to much at stake to play games this time!
The democrats are going to win in 08

If we’re gonna take into account voters who didn’t bother to vote, lets also take into account caucus goers who would have attended state Caucus’ but had to work, couldn’t get a sitter, had no transportation, were bullied out of the caucus halls, couldn’t understand the rules, couldn’t be there on time, etc. The DNC gave Obama delegates based on “exit polls” (delegates he didn’t earn from voters), so lets guess about the participants at the Caucus’ in states that can’t even give us a number of attendees. Lets just guess at those. The DNC is really messed up. This all was gamed well before the nomination process began. Again, the rules said that a candidate that campaigns, get zero delegates. The Obama camp ran ads in Florida up to the day before our primary. In Michigan, there were flyers distributed by Obama, Richardson, Edwards to get people to vote “uncommitted”. Those rules were ignored.

Anon, you wrote: “Barack Obama is more all-American than George Washington who was British.”
But without George Washington, Barack Obama (and the rest of us) would be British!

Paul, you wrote: “You can say Bush lied. But both Dem and Rep were lied to by Bush.”
Actually it was Saddam Hussein who lied. Saddam wanted his neighbors to continue to believe that he had WMDs. I would very much like to know how it was Bush’s lie that caused Congress to authorize regime change in Iraq back in 1998? While debating that resolution, many Democrats stood on the floor of the House and Senate and warned of the threat (and in some cases “imminent threat”) that Saddam Hussein posed with his WMDs.

The primaries are over. A loss is a loss and Hillary has lost.
Rules are rules. Let’s move on.
Obama ’08.

As a floridian that DID vote, I think the votes should not have been counted based on the fact that the DNC said it wouldn’t seat the delegates. It is not right to change the rules at the end of the game. Both candidates agreed to not seat those two states delegates because they broke the rules. It is really as simple as that. They were told their delegates would not be seated if they moved up their primary, they chose to do it anyway. Therefore, they should have suffered the penalty. I knew when I went to the polls that my vote wouldn’t count, I only went to show my daughter the voting process and explain it to her. I was already aware that our votes wouldn’t count and I was okay with that because everything has rules and life has consequences for breaking them. So for the record, this floridian voter did not feel disenfranchised and not having the votes counted would not have swayed me from voting in November.

James Danley
On Sept. 18, 2002, CIA director George Tenet briefed President Bush in the Oval Office on top-secret intelligence that Saddam Hussein did not have weapons of mass destruction, according to two former senior CIA officers. Bush dismissed as worthless this information from the Iraqi foreign minister, a member of Saddam’s inner circle, although it turned out to be accurate in every detail. Tenet never brought it up again.
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/09/06/3646/

I’m a Floridian and that study is a joke. They complicate the issue by comparing Dem and Repub turnout (do they adjust after each candidate drops). And they include states with differing primary systems. And they add to the mix the 2004 results.
I posted a diary on this at MyDD with the math showing that it doesn’t make sense.
From that diary (this is closed primary states):
Average Dem Turnout 40.74%
Median Dem Turnout 41.75%
Florida Dem Turnout 42.30%
Average Repub Turnout 34.84%
Median Repub Turnout 36.08%
Florida Repub Turnout 50.96%
So while the Florida Dem turnout was slightly better than average, the Florida Repub turnout was much better than average. In fact, the only state that had a higher Repub turnout was Arizona, McCain’s state.
…
They believe 2.85 million Florida Democratic voters should have turned out to vote. That’s a lot of voters. In fact that is a 68.89% voter turnout.
Let’s look at that with the other closed primary states.
Average Dem Turnout 40.74%
Median Dem Turnout 41.75%
Actual Florida Dem Turnout 42.30%
Projected Florida Dem Turnout based on Repub Turnout 68.89%
That would put Florida way ahead of every other closed primary state. The next closest would be Connecticut with 51.09%. Does this seem reasonable? For a primary?

I am extremely disappointed with Mr. Obama. I wanted to like him, but even more important, at this point I don’t trust him. I believe he is what was once described as a “social climber” whose raw ambition causes him to talk down to Americans with his flowery speech, and who has a track record of being more interested in identifying with the “in crowd” (Exelon, oil companies, watered down legislation for cronies, unethical campaign practices in 1996, using lobbyists until a month ago while pretending not to, etc., than he is with improving the safety and quality of life for ALL Americans. I am truly afraid for the country because I believe he is insincere and extremely self centered. I do not identify him with FDR or JFK who both went out on big limbs to care for their country. I am so disappointed.
Now we are stuck with a clever politician who has a track record of deviousness and deceit and whose ego knows no boundaries. The truth is, I don’t want to vote at all at this point, and that is the saddest place to be in that I can think of. I wonder how many others feel this way. There is no good candidate running for office.

Bob4USA,
History will only repeat itself if Hillary Clinton keeps tearing Obama done if she keep up with this there will be no where else to cast the blame..
Its time to move forward with Obama and Unite behind him as you said it will be the poor and middle class that will suffer if we dont !
obama 08 12

Kate. You obviously didn’t understand my post. Obama did not win any major swing states and did not win the popular vote just like fellow Democrat McGovern in 1972. Republican Nixon won 49 states in the G/E 520 electoral votes McGovern won 1 state 17 elctoral votes. If Obama is the nominee the same embarrassing loss will happen again. McCain will win by similar numbers.

Kate, you still haven’t answered my question:
How is it that President Bush lied about Saddam Hussein having WMDs? You have admitted that Saddam Hussein had WMDs. But then you sighted a briefing that George Tenent gave that said there were no WMDs as your proof that President Bush lied.
Actually it wasn’t until AFTER we went into Iraq that we proved that Saddam Hussein no longer had WMDs. That was all the UN Security Council had demanded since 1991 — one of the several conditions for the 1991 Gulf War cease fire to which Saddam Hussein agreed, but never complied. Had we not invaded Iraq, Saddam Hussein would still be in power; his neighbors would still think he had WMDs; he would still be raking in billions of dollars through the oil-for-food fiasco; hundreds of thousands of Iraqis would have been tortured, raped and killed; and many more Palestinian families would have received up to $25,000 as a reward for a member of their family killing innocent Israelis in suicide bombings.

Why have all of my comments been removed. They were reasonable, well written, contained references, and without profanity.