How about some love for FL and MI Duers....

[CoffeeCat]

Can you imagine, your state Democratic leaders failing you so egregiously--that you were not able
to participate in your own Democratic primary?

You watch the news, listen to the debates and care about politics--and you have to sit on the bench
this year---because the powers that be screwed up.

When we discuss the political situation in Florida and Michigan--it sometimes feels like we're
talking past the voters. It must be incredibly difficult for them to be at the epicenter
of a political firestorm--and watch others argue aggressively about these "states"--which
discounts the ordeal that individual Michigan and Florida voters are experiencing.

Regardless of how you feel or what you believe about what is happening and what will happen in
Michigan in Florida---can we reserve this thread to solely acknowledge that our DU friends
in Florida and Michigan have been robbed---and that we're terribly sorry, and that they
deserve to much better?

So, to our friends in the "Sunshine State" and our comrades in the "Wolverine State",
please know that we care about you and that we're here for you!

:hugs:

[skipos]

1. Hillary's newfound appreciation for us

means squat to me.

[CoffeeCat]

4. I agree with you...

...the sad truth is...fair campaigns and elections did not happen in Florida or Michigan--because
the candidates and the voters were/are operating under the assumption that their votes (and delegates)
would not count.

Politics aside, all of you deserve some acknowledgment that the reality is very sad.

[skipos]

9. Despite the mass confusion about write ins,

uncommitted still did much better than I had hoped. Uncommitted won my county too.

I know Hillary thinks that pretending to care abour Florida and Michigan is going to help her, but I am not so sure about that. Everyone I have talked to around here thinks it is totally phony, even the few Hillary supporters I know (they used nicer words than "phony" of course).

I really think she and Bill are on their way to permanently pissing off some dedicated Dems. How much it will hurt her chances in the primaries or the general election, I don't know.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. My "leaders" fail me on such a regular basis that it's moot

whether I voted for them, or not.

Does "Know how ya feel" get it done for ya?

[hayu_lol]

3. Because of posturing and bravado by the Democratic Parties of...

both Michigan and Florida, the voters of those states--through no fault of their own--will not see their delegates seated at the convention. Millions of voters from both states are affected.

The only answer is to seat both delegations and find another way to penalize the officials who caused this needless ruckus.

[whatdoyouthink]

7. And you Penalize

Both Obama and Edwards in doing so

After all they took there names off Michigan, and in Florida - not campaigning Only Hillary is - so not fair for them - your beef is with the Bone heads - that did (planed) this

Now If we Split them 3 ways - I would say think more then fair

[CoffeeCat]

8. This is why I say that I feel bad for you...

...because there is no possible way that those delegates should be seated.

The candidates and the voters were operating under the fact that the delegates would not
be seated. Obama and Edwards weren't on the Michigan ballot.

The voters didn't get to know any of the candidates or hear their policies--in either
state--because everyone was operating under the assumption that the delegates would
not be seated.

Voters also--did not come out to vote as they would have--if they thought their
delegates would count. They were told that the delegates would not count.

No fair election took place.

That's what is sad...that the voters in Michigan and Florida did not have fair elections.
Many, many people did not come out to vote in those states--because they were told it
wouldn't matter.

Counting those delegates would be counting points in an election that was not representative
or fair.

That's what's sad...that this happened to the good people of these states.

[PassingFair]

10. Forget that.

Don't seat us.

Our primary wasn't fair.

This from Michigan.

Our legislators got what they deserved.

They deserve this black eye.

We voters are PISSED, but they DON'T CARE.

We are being FORCE-FED Hillary Clinton.
THAT is what it was about here in Michigan
as far as our elected leaders were concerned.

:puke:

[southern_dem]

5. I feel very sorry for the people of MI and FL

they were robbed by incompetent state leaders.

[lyonn]

13. yup, what were the State leaders thinking?

Was it to diss Howard Dean's reign in the DNC? Was Dean not playing nice with the DLC?

[Bluerthanblue]

6. It isn't fair that you don't get to have your say- I don't understand

how people can tolerate these kind of weird loop-holes, and unbalanced primaries.

The 'state' isn't being 'reprimanded' individual voters are- voters who had little if any say in their state's primary date decision. There should have been a better solution.

And, beyond that- a person living in a state with an all or nothing delegate rule or with a "caucus" instead of a ballot vote, does not get the same opportunity to have their vote counted.

Of, by and for the people, should mean exactly that-

I do feel for those caught in this ridiculous mess-

:grouphug:

peace~

[fadedrose]

11. Thank you, wiping tears :)

[Kucinich4America]

12. I'm truly sorry that the DLC fucked up your state's primary.

But that doesn't mean Hillary gets a free win because nobody else is on the ballot.

[kdmorris]

14. Thank you

I do appreciate the love!

That being said, it really irritates me that Hillary Clinton is NOW saying she wants to seat the delegates, after everyone else was off the ballot in Michigan and there's only 1 day left to campaign in Florida. Given the options here and the underhandedness of the "I want to seat the delegates" (now that they are ASSURED to be mostly for her), I would rather they don't even bother to seat them at this point. It's unfair either way, but it's MORE fair if they are not seated at this point. How many people in Michigan WOULD have voted for someone other than Clinton if they had been given a choice?