On the same side as NEWT?
This is definitely the first time, and may be the last that you ever see this happen. From Newt Gingrich (WSJ Online)
You might think that as a Republican I don’t have a dog in this fight, but I do. All of us do. A tainted or “stolen” Democratic nomination has the potential to delegitimize the election itself and its outcome. And tainted victories produce hobbled administrations. Much as I might have agreed with the outcome of the 2000 general election, the rancor and vitriol it produced created divisions among Americans where none naturally existed before, irreparably damaging the Bush administration.
I agree with the first statement, though I would say to the second that I believe the Bush administration would have damaged itself whether or not the outcome of 2000 was tainted.
I’m not going to start ranting about how insane it was for the DNC to disenfranchise two large (and key) states in the first place without analyzing what might have happened if neither candidate gained a majority of the delegates. I’m not going to start ranting about how incredibly underhanded it was for one of the candidates to cross their fingers behind their back while the rest of the field removed their names from the ballots in those states, didn’t fundraise and didn’t campaign in them in the days leading up to their “primary”. I’m not going to start ranting about how insane it is that this primary season is going to boil down to superdelegates and disenfranchised voters. No, no, I’m not gonna do it because others have done it better and I know if you see the word “Superdelegate” at the top of another blog post you’ll slap me silly. (Or not…the comments are soooo quiet here.)
The January beauty contests in Michigan and Florida cannot have any bearing on the choice of nominee. But Michigan and Florida voters absolutely must have an impact. Whether it’s by caucus or do-over, someone needs to figure out how to get this done. Also, given the outcome in New Mexico where uncounted ballots went home with election officials for the night with no accountability or trackable chain of custody, I’d recommend that the administration of the do-overs NOT be left to the Democratic committees in those states.
Okay, maybe just a little paragraph about Superdelegates because I love the sound of my own voice in this echo chamber. I asked myself this question: If you were an elected official or a supporter or fundraiser for an elected official or whatever your connect to the political landscape, would you really commit political suicide by defying the common will of the people in a situation where you’re not considering a nutjob over a sane person? My answer to myself: C’mon…these folks are political animals. They want to stay around and play another day and they’re not going to throw it one way or the other.
Special note to Wolf Blitzer: Leave Chelsea Alone. I like her. She’s a good daughter, doing good for her mom. Quit thinking of ways to say that she’s getting special treatment.
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