One Florida lawsuit down, two to go. Activist suit against DNC dismissed in Tampa.

[madfloridian]

One Florida lawsuit down, two to go. Activist suit against DNC dismissed in Tampa.

Activist’s suit against Dems dismissed

TAMPA — A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit on Friday filed by a Tampa Democratic activist against the national and state Democratic parties over the national party’s decision to strip Florida of its delegates for next year’s presidential nominating convention.

Seeking to penalize Florida for moving up its primary election to Jan. 29, the Democratic National Committee’s rules committee voted in August to take away Florida’s 210 votes in the convention in Denver next summer.

Political consultant Victor DiMaio, who serves on the Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee, claimed in his lawsuit that the action violated his constitutional rights.

The lawsuit had named the DNC and the Florida Democratic Party as defendants.

And the two other lawsuits, one filed and one being talked about.

Bill Nelson, Alcee Hastings to file suit against the DNC

Well, they actually filed it today to much fanfare. They even got a segment on CNN. But the segment was fair and presented both sides. Nelson and Hastings are getting all kinds of attention on this....I guess they hope to boost approval.

IA, NH, NV, SC may get sued by Florida for "conspiracy to intimidate the presidential candidates"

Geller's lawsuit could be the third filed in the case. He said it will allege a "conspiracy to intimidate the presidential candidates" by the Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina Democratic parties that disenfranchises minority voters in Hillsborough County.

Steve Geller actually has not filed it yet, and perhaps he won't. He has gotten some ridicule for this. Can't imagine why.


Jim Morin of the Miami Herald

[flyarm]

1. surprise, surprise...not!!,,thanks for posting and thanks for keeping so many up to date!!

i have two homes.. and am out of Fl right now..so thanks so much for all the updates madfloridian !!

fly

[Debi]

2. I hope they all get resolved this quickly

So the DNC doesn't have to waste $$ on defending bs lawsuits AND can get back to the business of getting Democrats elected.

[madfloridian]

3. I agree

I watched Nelson and Hastings on CNN today...they looked so self-satisfied. I actually now despise them both. They do not have the interests of the Florida party at heart, they have their own interests.

[PurityOfEssence]

4. I couldn't agree more

This is a supreme act of selfishness. It's going back on one's word to an organization to which one belongs and it's just plain dirty pool. The very act is a full-frontal "fuck you" to the rest of the country and every candidate except Clinton and perhaps Obama.

The gall of them playing victim as they welch on their deal and then attempt to muscle the party is simply amazing.

[madfloridian]

5. Yes, selfishness is a good word to use.

They are trying to build their reputation up on the back of a good man who is trying to rebuild the party. I will not forget.

[AZ Criminal JD]

11. And Iowa and New Hampshire don't ???

[madfloridian]

12. You need to stop showing so much contempt for the first 4 states.

It is getting really bad. I can get upset at my own state when they act this way, but you are insulting the states of IA and NH all over this board.

[AZ Criminal JD]

13. You need to examine why you hate Florida so much

I believe I read in an earlier post that you came from New York. If that is true then why did you come to Florida if you dislike it so much? I wouldn't live in an area where I disliked everyone.

[madfloridian]

14. No, I am a native Floridian, and you are confusing me with someone else.

I have contempt for my own state, and that is one thing. Their actions justify it.

The first four states have rights as well, and you are constantly going after them.

There is a big difference.

[AZ Criminal JD]

16. Misread, sorry.

I am only going after two states -- Iowa and New Hampshire, not four. Those two states have had their place in the sun for long enough. It is time to move-on and democratize the primary selection process.

[AZ Criminal JD]

10. And your energy wasting ethanol promoted

Which is the priority of Iowa Democrats. It is certainly not selecting the best candidate for our Party.

[Debi]

17. You don't say anything productive -

and your attitude has nothing to do with selecting the nominee. You just hate Iowa and New Hampshire.

(If you hate Ethanol so much why aren't you complaining about Illinois position on Feb 5th and the amount of delegates Illinois will be selecting? After all, Illinois has more E-85 pumps than Iowa - you knew that, right? I would think you'd want the states that use Ethanol more than others to be the states who are the target of your ire. Or you just have an irrational hatred of two states and an unreasonable prejudice toward those two states.)

I can't imagine responding to any more of your Iowa-New Hampshire hate filled posts, there is no chance of progress with you. You'll only spew hate for the two first states and not want to discuss anything of any consequence. (Since you've already stated something to that affect in your post to madfloridian).

[madfloridian]

6. Speaking of Florida Dems..Steny Hoyer main speaker at convention.

And they are making it their goal to keep his as majority leader.

Here is part of the mail tonight:

"I'm proud to announce that my old friend, Steny Hoyer, the Majority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, will deliver the keynote address at the Florida Democratic Party's 2007 State Convention Victory '08 dinner."

..."Congressman Hoyer, the second highest-ranking Democrat in the House, has built a reputation as a skilled legislator and a strong consensus builder. In the past few months, he helped score major victories for the American people, including the first raise of the federal minimum wage in over a decade, a 50% cut to student loan rates to make college more affordable, and the toughest Congressional ethics regulations in history. His current priorities include fighting to bring new accountability to the war in Iraq and overturning the President's veto of children's health insurance."

..."In 2008, we're going to pick up more seats, and Steny's here to help us raise the funds necessary to inform Floridians about the differences between Republicans and Democrats."

.." Florida Democrats are going to make sure that Steny Hoyer remains Leader of the Majority."

Fine with me, Karen. I am no longer a part of it anyway.

[slipslidingaway]

7. Thank you, the updates are appreciated. n/t

[madfloridian]

8. You are welcome.

I hope Nelson's lawsuit is dismissed as well. Otherwise it will have to go to the Supreme Court as it already ruled in favor of the DNC.

[Thrasybulus]

9. Madfloridian, I'd like your opinion-pro or con

on this attempt to get Gore on the ballot in Florida.
Details at this diary http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/10/4/81943/3550

[madfloridian]

15. I don't know the ins and outs of getting on the ballot...

but I would do what I could to get Gore on there. I remember those dark days here during 2000 recount. And the only people around me were Republicans. We felt all alone.

[Thrasybulus]

18. Mad, if you want a chance to vote Gore

in Florida and bring one good thing out of this mess, just send an email and request that Karen Thurman put Gore on the ballot. She has the authority. [e-mail]

But don't take my word for it, call the FDP Monday morning and ask them, just get their name. And maybe you can diary the subject and get the word out.

You aren't going to the Florida Dem Convention at the end of the month are you?