Political Punch

Does anyone know Obama's position on reparations for slavery? I'm particularly curious since he's not a descendant of slaves himself.

The general election mirrors the primaries. Why are Democrats holding Caucuses where Union bosses can bully their members around? Why is Hillary agreeing to the Caucus in Michigan? These events are clearly geared towards Obama's victory.

I think Caucuses are undemocratic and should be scrapped. Nobody needs to know who is voting for whom.

michigan wants caucuses because they're cheaper. but they heavily favor obama and everyone knows it. in texas, his supporters were not just psychologically but also physically bullying hillary supporters, and taking over caucus sites and mysteriously "losing" the sign in sheets of hillary supporters. they also ran over a bunch of headstones in a cemetery next to a church where caucuses were being held - disgraceful!

Ron,
Can Floridians revote the 2000 General Election? I wish. Then the world might be different now. At least, we might not see $3.60 per gallon of gas. 4000 of dead US soldiers might still alive.

The people against caucuses have obviously never been to one. I'm an Iowan, and I love the caucus process. It starts with everyone in your community meeting in the local school gym. The chairman stands up and askes for a representative for each candidate to give a stump speech for their candidate. It's a great way to learn about the lesser known candidates (who the heck was Duncan Hunter, etc.) Then you take the straw poll by dividing up into your smaller districts, writing your candidate of choice on a slip of paper, and having the caucus leaders do a vote count. I would hope that everyone would have learned more about the candidates before showing up (most Iowans take the process seriously), but if you're clueless you have ample opportunities to ask questions of other caucus goers/candidate reps and have a better chance of making an informed decision. The caucus system has positives and can work well, especially in states like MI which have a long history of running them.

I thought he was so smart, like with the war ....he could have kept his name on the ballot too

Everyone agreed to the rules until the Clintons decided they didn't suit their interests. I'm sick of her claims of unfairness. If she had a bitch she should have stated it well before now.

I'm beginning to lose any respect for her with the tactics of win at all costs. The more her desperation degenerates into abnormal behavior, the more apparent becomes the difference between the candidates.

Laws are laws and rules are rules. All Democrats remember how Florida was stolen by Bush and his hired guns. Is Hillary planning a sequel which would destroy the party's chances for years?

I am tired of hearing about Disenfranchising Florida voters. Lets look at the facts.

We were told the vote did not count, So alot of people did not even bother to waste their time voting.

Florida is pretty much the only state that had more Republican votes in the Primary then Democratic, this proves that alot of people didnt bother to vote.

Counting the election results in Florida would be wrong without a revote. At least in a revote all the people that previously voted could go back and do it again and the people who didnt bother to go vote in the "beauty Contest" could go and cast their vote. Fair for all.

A revote would allow for the candidates to actually campaign and let the voters know where the candidates stand. (Not everyone watches cable news)

Truth be told though is this election is over. There is no way the Clintons can catch up and if the Super delegates go against the public then let me be the First to welcome President McCain to the party, and I hope no Democrats want that, except apparently Hillary lately.

How people can even begin to lump Florida and Michigan primaries together is beyond me. In Michigan(and I am a Michigander), there was a Soviet style "primary". Michiganders had a choice of voting for Clinton or voting for "uncommitted" which meant the delegate COULD vote for Clinton because they were unpledged. Furthermore, the average citizens of Democratic persuasion in Michigan were given absolutely no choice in moving the Primary to 1/15/08. I am absolutely furious with our Governor and many of the "super delegates" who advocated this plan. The DNC did NOT disenfranchise Michigan, these idiots advocating the January 15th primary did. A lot of us did not vote because MICHIGAN disenfranchised us. Don't blame the DNC, and certainly don't seat this unrepresentative delegation at the Democratic convention. THAT would be the injustice!

Anyone who claims HRC "won" Michigan is a FOOL or a SCOUNDREL. Folks, this is not the Soviet Union, with one candidate on the ballot! Just quit arguing this - it completely discredits you.

Primary or Caucus, doesn't matter, MI will go for Obama. If anything, HRC should favor a caucus re-vote because those "don't count". Except Nevada, of course.

hey, now i know why obama *wins* caucuses. i voted in both parts of the texas two-step. and i want to tell you that obama brownshirts were intimidating older women voters and people with families (pretty much anyone who they thought might not be for their guy) I hope the Michiganders who dare to caucus for Clinton are ready to run the gauntlet. I recommend everyone bring cameras and recording devices because the atmosphere is truly hostile and intimidating.

Which is not to even mention that 3 million people voted in Texas and the caucus sites were not equipped to handle 1 percent of the volume (about 40,000 votes counted so far and that is 41% of the caucus votes recorded) Caucuses are not democratic, no one should have to suffer being bullied and treated badly in order to vote. That is why the private ballot was created anyway. It is much easier to control the process when you make people declare their choice in the face of intimidation.

the clintons=cheats. let her cheat her way to the nom. she will not get my vote.

A caucus can work. That's the way the Michigan Democratic party made its choice in 2004 and in previous years. (I've previously attended some of them). The caucus in 2004 included mail in and online voting so I presume the set up would be similar. I could get behind that idea.

Since both candidates Hillary Clinton and Obama have their names on the ballot, redo the Florida primary is unfair and unconstitutional. We should respect the voice and decision of voters based on our institution.

Florida is very different. Unlike what many would like people to believe it was not the Democratic Party that moved up the date but rather the state legislature and Governor which are Republican. Moreover, the pledge by the candidates was not to campaign there which they all followed (except for Obama's national TV ad buy and BOTH doing fundraisers there) but both Obama and Hillary had their names on the ballot in Florida so supporters of Obama had the ability to vote for him if they chose to. Having a re-vote could be somewhat unfair as circumstances have changed, monies have been raised and spent, and things have been said by all parties that could change the outcome. That said it is important that we figure out a way not to disenfranchise Florida voters which the Obama team and the DNC (Howard Dean) seem content on doing.

What will the legistics be?
How will the Michigan voters know how to participate in a Caucus? They have no experience.
Michigan voters only know elections, they don't know fighting with others to be able to vote.
How can a caucus be a fair representation of what Voters want.
It just isn't democratic.

The Black Knight in Shining Armor was
double checked by the Queen by toppling
down his Two Ivory Towers in Ohio and Texas. He wants to continue playing believing that he crashed her in 12
battle grounds.

Senator Obama has nothing to lose. If he wins the nomination or not, he comes out
the winner in his landmark rivalry against the Clintons.

However, in the ultimate end, his is his name to be remembered. Powerless. A symbol of symbols with the vibrancy of a dead coconut tree.

I'd say a Michigan caucus is about the most fair solution.

As far as Florida goes, democrats down there should be used to being disenfranchised so they'll get over it.

You should not punish the people of Florida and Michigan for something the admistration did. The people had no voice in changing the election date and a caucus does not represent the entire state, if the states are willing to pay for another election I say let them do it so all the people can be heard in those states.

s.b post: "
a mail in vote, paid for by the party, makes more sense."
I think it's an excellent idea and a fair process. I would like to contribute some money if the party leader listen to us. I'm think to quit the DEM once Hillary is out.