Florida Democratic leaders get their pout on publicly.

[madfloridian]

You really have to read it to believe it. They sound whiny, and some Democratic leaders I used to respect have in effect lost their dignity supporting their candidate and defending the indefensible.

Steve Geller is very outspoken, more so than most. He threatened the DNC recently with "mutually assured destruction." He also has a lawsuit filed against the DNC, still pending.



Here are some of the words from Florida Democratic leaders who simply need to hush and sit down and accept what happened.

Many South Florida Democrats still unhappy about delegates

"There is still broad anger," said Florida Senate Minority Leader Steve Geller, D- Cooper City. Like many others, he spent the 24 hours after the Rules and Bylaws Committee decision talking about it via phone and e-mail.

..."Geller, a superdelegate who has not endorsed either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama, said giving Florida only half its delegate strength is offensive. "Does that mean they only want us to turn out half as many Democrats as usual, or, when they come down here to raise money, they want us to raise only half as much money as we normally raise? It's just completely unacceptable.

Alcee Hastings, Clinton co-chair, calls the DNC "stupid".

Very classy, Alcee. Very classy.

U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D- Miramar, a Clinton backer who also represents parts of both counties, said he'd support whomever his party nominates. But he called the Democratic National Committee "stupid" for its delegate decision and said he wouldn't attend the convention in Denver.

A congressman calling his own party stupid. How low we have sunk.

But wait, let's hear from Clinton's other co-chair, Debbie Wasserman Schultz. She is the one who thinks paying too much attention to rules is "unproductive."

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, a national co-chairwoman of the Clinton campaign, said she's already received e-mails from unhappy constituents.

"There's some pretty deep dissatisfaction," she said. "The party's decision just created a bigger obstacle for us to climb in order to make sure that we can motivate these voters."

Getting them to vote will require a "Herculean effort," according to Wasserman Schultz.

This anger has been encouraged, and the Clinton surrogates here have used tactics and words to make it worse.

And of course leave it to Geller to get that same old threat into the mix. He said "some Democrats would either skip the election or vote for Republican John McCain because of the primary and delegate situation."

He further said "I don't think it's a possibility. I think it's a certainty."

There should be consequences for Democratic leaders like this.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

1. .

[Crunchy Frog]

8. Yes, that's exactly what these Florida Democrats are doing. A very apt analogy.

[roguevalley]

52. they should be tarred and feathered for allowing their state to be

dragged through the mud over an election thing again.

[NJmaverick]

2. I wonder why more people are not pointing out this is the same punishment

Florida received from the GOP.

[madfloridian]

3. They already did that. Before....now they have to keep the anger going.

.

[Aloha Spirit]

4. Wow people that I already hate. Coincidence.

[leftofcool]

5. It's always so nice to hear Dems say they hate other Dems

I love the unity

[madfloridian]

6. How about Hastings saying the party is "stupid." Very mature, huh?

.

[leftofcool]

13. Did he say the "party" or the DNC

The DNC is not the entire Democratic Party

[madfloridian]

16. Oh, how pathetic for you to even say that. I forgot how bad things were here

at DU. Forgive me for expecting more.

[PVnRT]

18. That poster also opposses teacher's unions

So, draw whatever conclusions you like.

[LakeSamish706]

7. It will be on the heads of these people if we lose to McCain in November....

If they are willing to exist with another 4 to 8 years of a Bush style Administration, so be it.

[MercutioATC]

9. Geller is an asshole.

He mocks the DNC...on tape...and then cries that FL shouldn't be held responsible for its decisions.


I hope this bloated pusbag is voted out of office.


(yes, that's some of the strongest, most vulgar language I've used at DU)

[Freddie Stubbs]

26. Geller is term limited and will be leaving office at the end of the year

His brother Joe, the Mayor of North Bay Village, is running for the State House in an open seat.

[Dr.Phool]

43. Geller is a complete big-mouthed asshole.

If these clowns, Bozo's, and whatever had any clue how the voters of Florida saw them, they'd run away with the circus.

As for Debbie Lieberman-Shultz. You want to know how to motivate voters in November? How about doing your fucking job?!! You know, like helping out Democrats who have a chance of defeating your fascist cuban-american, Republican "friends" in Congress. Same for you Alcee. And Karen Thurman.

I had dinner with good friend of mine last week-end, Suzan Franks, who is running for the Florida Senate(3). I asked her why in the world she would even want to associate herself with these people. She served on the School Board in Nashua, New Hampshire, where she founded the state Kindergarten program. Served as a County Alderman, and 3 terms in the New Hampshire House. I told her that she's definitely over-qualified to hang around with these clowns.

[FredScuttle]

10. Ah, fightin' words from Alcee Hastings, the impeached federal judge

[grantcart]

11. Well why stop here Stevie and Debbie go all out and appeal the unanamous decision

and be sure to stomp your feet and hold your breath.



Madfloridian, can you show us some of the responses from Democrats in Florida who liked the compromise? There must be some that think these guys are nuts.

[madfloridian]

15. There is one in the article, but I was past my copyright paragraphs.

But there is really nothing good said that I hear locally, nothing at all.

Check it out and post it or I will. Alcee Hastings should be ashamed for using the word stupid.

[madfloridian]

19. Here is one "sanguine" Obama supporter quoted.

"Supporters of Obama, the front runner for the nomination, are more sanguine.

"It was really important for the future of the party that the rule of law apply here rather than passion or demands or a lot of yelling," said Obama delegate Mark Alan Siegel, president of the Democratic Club of Boca Raton.

The Democrats got into this situation after the state moved its primary to Jan. 29, earlier than national party rules allowed. The national party initially stripped the state's delegates, a sanction cut in half Saturday.

Siegel doesn't think the kind of sentiment seen by Geller, Skidmore and Wasserman Schultz is widespread. "Will there be one or two people who are angry? Yeah, there might be. I don't think it will have a material effect. More important is Senator Obama getting down here and introducing himself to people."

From the Sun Sentinel link in the OP

[grantcart]

21. thanks

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

46. Mark Alan Siegel, American.

[the_real_38]

12. The gentleman makes some good points ....

... very good ones, indeed. Florida has proven crucial in the last couple of GOP wins. Now the party faces the prospect of alienating other Democrats in this populous state. I don't care at all for how this was handled, and it will leave a stain on this whole nomination process, I fear.

The whole situation does remind me a bit of the recount fiasco in 2000. Of course, that might just be because both took place in Florida. Oh well, what can be done?

[madfloridian]

14. So Florida should always get their way? Is that what you are saying?

Because the party leaders stamp their feet and go on TV and say they will vote for McCain???

[mohc]

17. In spite of the fact I actually live in Florida

this line of reasoning is just about the worst argument I have heard on the Florida-Michigan situation. I was puzzled on Friday when I initially heard the Clinton campaign admitted they had no rules-based argument for seating the delegations. From my perspective it sounded like they conceded the entire argument, and that something had to be amiss. Sure enough, what they were arguing is that while Florida and Michigan had indeed broken the rules and received sanctions for those violations, they should be seated because Florida and Michigan are too important. So if the states that had broken the rules were Alaska and Wyoming, small reliably Republican states, it would have been ok to let the sanctions stand? If one is fighting for the principle of listening to the will of the people, one can not only do so where it is politically expedient, its just a disgusting argument.

All the Florida leaders had to do if they were really concerned about Florida going Republican because of the sanctions is apologize to the voters for screwing them over and asking them not to hold against the nominee. But their pride has prevented them from admitting any responsibility, and they have been the driving force behind voter resentment towards the party and its nominee.

[SoonerPride]

20. To placate florida, I say we DOUBLE their delegate count. No, let's TRIPLE IT.

Instead of cutting it in half, maybe if we TRIPLE their importance then they'll be happy.

Conversely, they could shut up and stop throwing a temper tantrum like my four year old niece.

Florida got ALL their delegates seated. AS IS.

Their votes were cut in half. Just like the Republicans punished Florida. 1/2 votes.

And yet they STILL whine?

WHY?

What the hell is their problem?

[Occam Bandage]

28. Er, the Republicans also stripped half their delegates. They just didn't bitch about it.

[madfloridian]

22. Hastings said the DNC had "a right to be stupid”

"Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Mirimar, stated in his own release that the national party had a “right to be stupid” in initially barring all 211 Florida delegates from the August convention in Denver. However, he was willing to accept the committee’s ruling on Saturday.

“It is with reluctance and disappointment that I accept the DNC’s decision today,” Hastings stated. “I do so not because I agree with the decision but because it is time for us to move on and focus on winning in November.”

Hastings, who has supported Clinton, added that as a protest of the results, he will not attend the convention."

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/jun/02/mahoney-hastings... -/

I guess that is better than just coming out and saying they were stupid. He actually said it was their right to be stupid.

That just makes everything so much better.

[Blue_Roses]

23. Do you think some of the "pouting" is because of favors from

Bill Clinton and now it's "payback" time...so to speak? Like this one for example:

BORDERS, William Arthur, Jr. Washington, D.C. Conspiracy to corruptly solicit and accept money in return for influencing the official acts of a federal district court judge (Alcee L. Hastings), and to defraud the United States in connection with the performance of lawful government functions; corruptly influencing, obstructing, impeding and endeavoring to influence, obstruct and impede the due administration of justice, and aiding and abetting therein; traveling interstate with intent to commit bribery

http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pardonchartlst.htm

[madfloridian]

24. Wasserman Schultz mentioned in First Read's "the end game"

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/06/02/10951...

"From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro
*** The end game: With Florida and Michigan now resolved, and with the magic number now at 2,118 delegates, the focus is all about the end game -- for Clinton and Obama. Let’s start first with Hillary, who still has a mathematical shot at the nomination, but it’s the longest of longshots: To clinch the Democratic nomination, she needs to win about 87% of the remaining delegates. Given those odds, how does she end this thing? While there are plenty of hints today from some of her top supporters (like Ed Rendell and Debbie Wasserman Schultz) that Clinton won’t take this to the convention, it’s also clear that she and her campaign aren’t leaving without a fight. Examples: 1) Harold Ickes declaring that Clinton reserves her right to take that fight to the convention over four Michigan delegates; 2) the campaign implicitly linking Obama with George McGovern by stating that the last time the Democrats didn’t give the nomination to the candidate who won the most votes was in 1972; 3) Clinton demonstrating that superdelegates can change their mind by introducing one such super who has switched from Clinton to Obama and then back to Clinton; and 4) her victory speech yesterday from Puerto Rico, in which she said in the end: “Let’s keep fighting. Let’s keep fighting. Let's keep fighting. Let's keep fighting.” Clinton certainly has the opportunity to make bygones be bygones -- as well as quell the resentment brewing among some of her ardent female supporters -- but when does she do this? And what does she say? For yet another hint at what Clinton's week is going to look like, Terry McAuliffe announced on Morning Joe that Clinton will be giving her Tuesday night victory speech in her elective office home state: New York."

I can not find any statement by Debbie WS in the news yet. Still looking.

[sfam]

25. Coddle me! I DEMAND it!!!!

This is getting absurd. Hillary has the committee STACKED, and they voted to withhold all delegates.

[madfloridian]

27. Corrine Brown compare the 1/2 vote to "slavery."

http://wokv.com/localnews/2008/06/brown-calls-half-vote...

"An out-spoken critic of the Democratic National Committee's decision to strip Florida delegates after lawmakers moved up the presidential primary, Jacksonville Congresswoman and Superdelegate Corrine Brown is blasting a compromise to reseat the Sunshine State's delegation."

"It sounds a little like slavery to me," Brown tells WOKV. "One half, three-fourths, that's not right."

Brown joined Senator Bill Nelson in filing a lawsuit against the DNC, arguing voting rights were being denied by DNC Chairman Howard Dean. She vows to keep on fighting to restore every Florida delegate's vote.

"It's unacceptable that you're going to punish me for something the Republican-controlled legislature has done."

Brown spoke to WOKV from Puerto Rico, where she remains on the campaign trail for Sen. Hillary Clinton."

[ieoeja]

29. I don't understand this:

"some Democrats would either skip the election or vote for Republican John McCain because of the primary and delegate situation."

Since the Republicans are using the exact same punishment, why would they vote for them instead?

Is it because the Florida Republicans have not spent the entire election telling people not to vote Republican, while the Florida Democrats *have* spent the entire election doing just that?

[madfloridian]

30. Good point.

I think you are right.

[Me.]

31. Is This The Same Alcee Hastings Who Is Ethically Challenged

to the point where even the dems couldn't give him a committee chair even though he had the seniority for it. I believe it was the intelligence committee which makes the point even more succinctly.

[Barack_America]

32. How does bitching and whining about the decision motivate voters?

If they're so concerned about turning out Democrats and feel this decision will make it more difficult, then they should stop complaining and get to work. There's not a moment to waste!

That is, of course, if motivating Florida Democrats is their MAIN concern, as they claim.

[madfloridian]

33. It doesn't. It is meant to do the opposite.

.

[Barack_America]

34. And very obviously so...

Which hopefully will have repercussions on these politicians come their next primary challenge.

They are actively working against the Democratic party, and I hope that more FL Democrats take note of that, as you have.

[Dr.Phool]

48. I think Lieberman-Shultz has her eye on the Senate in 2010.

We'll definitely find a primary opponent for her.

[madfloridian]

60. She and Nelson have used this campaign to make big names for themselves.

But many don't think it is a good name.

[madfloridian]

35. Meanwhile the Democratic leaders are coddling the Clintons in every way...

Never saw anything like it.

[AtomicKitten]

36. Their poor sport attitude is detrimental to the party as a whole.

They set a poor example for their constituents and that begs for a primary challenge in their respective races. That's how we fine tune the party, one by one, until we get the people in government who actually work for the greater good rather than their own personal crusades.

K&R

[Ganja Ninja]

37. Putting aside this whole flap this time around.

I think FL & MI have a very good point to make about NH, IA & SC. The only one of those states that even comes close to reflecting the American population overall is SC.

I'd like to see FL, MI and about a half dozen states get together and make sure that next time those states are not the first states to vote in the primaries. And if those states have to be sanctioned next time then so be it.

[madfloridian]

38. They did not have to throw the party into turmoil to bring change.

They have filed 4 lawsuits against Dean and the DNC.

They are being totally divisive in this state, and no one has the courage to step up and say enough.

We have lost friends and fellow Democrats over this debacle.

There is no excuse for this. It has nothing to do with anything but power. I think it was all connected.

[psychmommy]

42. mad i was wondering

what happens to the lawsuits now that the situation has been settled? i went to the fl dem website it sounded real positive and rallying the troops for november. what do they have to whine about now? it is over. fl is like the bad step kid. you gotta love them but, damn they're a pain in the ass.

[madfloridian]

45. DiMaio claims he will keep on with his....so does Geller.

They should drop them now.

[Demeter]

39. Did You Catch the New Book on "The Family"?

Evidently one of Florida's most busy-body senators is big on that--and it all ties in with Hillary's prayer group of conservative GOP women and the like. The Powers that Be, they might be called--perverting Christianity for power.

This would also explain why Michigan--lots of Fundie nuts out here. Hell, Romney was born here and his father was governor.

I'm buying stock in tinfoil. These people give me the creeps.

[madfloridian]

41. That would be Bill Nelson...whose wife Grace is on the board of directors.

Of The Family, the Foundation, or what they call it.

[IllinoisBirdWatcher]

40. Well we expected it from Debbie the Whiner Wasserman

She can't be bothered to support Democrats in her own area because it might offend her Republican friends.

But she is rumored as someone to run the DCCC? Someone has to be kidding.

Opps, she will probably get it. After all, she is from Florida, and we all know Florida should have special permission for everything.

The best outcome from Saturday's decision was to know that her vote counts 1/2 of elected officials from the 48 states which followed party rules. IMHO, 1/2 is still about 1/2 too much.

Keep Whining, Debbie. You do it so well.

[Lochloosa]

44. We will always have a Repug government in Florida

with these idiots running our party.

[Divine Discontent]

47. I hope there's someone with class to run against this geller CHARACTER...

his video comments that predated the disaster are etched in my memory, even his nearly falling on the floor when he goes to sit down. I wish he would have, because they all have landed on their asses.

What a bunch of embarrassments. Thurman sounded pretty decent in a recent email sent out, what did you think of it?

Anyhow, once the steam exits the Big Clinton Engine that could, but didn't - then this mess will end and true Dems will rally round the Dem nominee - frankly, I don't worry about the racists, neocons, or Hillary-to-the-end backers (like Harriet Christian from Manhattan, NY) who say he's going to lose - he will bring out millions who've never voted before, and 4/5 will be Dems...

New Obama Items Weekly!
www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable

[madfloridian]

49. He has to step down because of term limits

Thank goodness. But he is thinking of what else he can run for.

[Divine Discontent]

59. sounds like 'that' type for sure...

the type that just goes around looking for gov't jobs to smooze into...

thanks for the info!

[canucksawbones]

50. Alcee Hastings

well that's one less vote for Hillary at the convention since he won't attend.

[liberaltrucker]

51. Please tell us Debbie Dubya isn't your rep.

[madfloridian]

53. Nope, thank God for little favors.

[liberaltrucker]

56. Wheew!

[wileedog]

54. Please Florida, if you never do anything every electorally right again...

vote these asshats out on their buts as soon as possible.

You owe us that much at least for all we go through for you guys.

[anonymous171]

55. I wish we could sell FL back to Spain.

[liberaltrucker]

57. A bit harsh, doncha think?

I happen to love Panama City, Vero Beach, Orlando, and many other
places too numerous to mention in one post. I'd HATE needing a
passport to visit. I'm from Alabama-talk about electoral fuckups!

[ZinZen]

58. If they are so unhappy with the Dem party

maybe they should join the Joe Lieberman (egotistical brat) party.

[Dr.Phool]

61. You've obviously had no experience with the Florida Democratic Party.

I've had plenty, and I'd rather bypass them completely than get involved in any more of their bullshit. And I was a DEC member for 4 years.