St Pete Times has credentialed as a convention blogger the Dem who is suing the DNC

[madfloridian]

I have never had anything anger me so much as to read the other day that a Democrat named Victor Dimaio had his lawsuit against the DNC reinstated. This lawsuit was first filed in August of 2007, dismissed, refiled in October 07, dismissed, refiled in April 2008, found for the DNC, then refiled again in June 2008.

Florida lawsuit against DNC refiled on August 14.

One lawsuit by a Florida state senator, Steve Geller, was just dropped. He dropped it because Barack Obama agreed to seat the delegates from Florida with a full vote. More on the case is here.

But the case against the DNC by Victor DiMaio of Tampa has been refiled, reinstated for the umpteenth time. I lost track. It was reinstated on August 14, according to this to this website

I wrote a lot about this case because the person who filed it and his lawyer actually were amused when they talked to the media about its basis. It was that ridiculous to them.

But it was reinstated.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008
DiMaio v. Democratic National Committee:Michael Steinberg Argues Constitutionality of DNC Rules Before Federal Appeals Court. The Democratic National Committee is violating the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment by allowing only four states to hold caucuses or primaries before the first Tuesday in February, a Florida attorney argued March 17, 2008 before a federal appeals court.
Tampa Bay Blue

Michael Steinberg, the lawyer, is/was the chairman of the Democratic party in Hillsborough County...the Tampa area.

They are, believe it or not, suing the DNC because they jokingly, grinningly, say that it is discriminating against white people in Florida.

Suing the DNC because two more diverse states got to go first, thus discriminating the white people in Florida.

South Carolina and Nevada were allowed to hold their primaries before February 5th because the high percentage of blacks and Hispanics in those states helped compensate for the pasty complexion of Iowa and New Hampshire.

That's the basis for an amended legal filing planned by Tampa Democratic activist, Victor Dimaio and attorney Michael Steinberg who are suing to have Florida's entire Democratic delegation seated at the National Convention in Denver this summer. DiMaio's original lawsuit claimed the DNC's punishment of Florida violated the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment, but that suit was kicked back by the federal appeals court in Atlanta. Steinberg had a brainstorm when he read discovery papers in a similar lawsuit filed by Senator Bill Nelson that showed the DNC put South Carolina and Nevada's primary dates ahead of 46 other states to give minorities more of a voice in the nominating process. Since the DNC receives federal money to hold their convention, the party is subject to federal civil rights law.

What an interesting turn of the worm. Sometime next week, we may have democrats suing democrats for carrying out a very democratic policy of advancing minorities. Steinberg and DiMaio acknowledge with a grin that their reverse racism accusation will ruffle feathers, but hope the conservative judiciary will be delighted to strike a blow against affirmative action and rule in their favor. Their only objective, they claim, is to see all of Florida's delegates seated based on the January 31st primary election.

And now he gets to go to convention as a credentialed blogger for the St. Pete Times. I have looked and looked for his blog, because it must be very good. Perhaps he uses an alias. I simply can not find anything.

From the Florida Progressive Coalition blog:

Short and sweet statement.

What a surprise

In their continuing efforts to stir up controversy and divisiveness in the Florida Democratic Party, the St. Pete Times has given blogger credentials for the Denver convention to Victor DiMaio. Remember Vic? He’s the Tampa political consultant who sued the party over the primary.....

...Categories: General Information
Tags: Florida Democrats

There is just something so wrong with this. Sending a blogger who has been suing the DNC since last year, who has just had his suit reinstated, to the national convention for the party he is suing.

There is just so much wrong in Florida. There is no way to address it. There is no way to heal from the ugly divisive primary as long as stuff like this is going on.

[psychmommy]

1. he's not a real dem.

i can't wait for his stupid lawsuit to get kicked back to him again. what a loser.

[madfloridian]

2. Unfortunately...

he is a registered Democrat. Florida Democrats are not like other Democrats.

He is the 3rd who has sued the DNC and Dean, including Bill Nelson. They have turned it into a sport.

[Dr.Phool]

3. Steinberg beat me out of the last 9th district male delegate slot in 2004.

He brought in 50 people on a bus to vote. I lost by four.

[madfloridian]

5. Only 4 is very good.

But Florida is not ready for real change if we wait for the leaders.

I am glad the Obama campaign is so well organized here. I got a call the other night about some state and county party stuff, and they need to get their acts together.

Sounds like the Obama volunteers are just working despite the party leaders who fought Dean all the way, fought rules, just fought.

[populistdriven]

4. These turncoat Democrats should be out registering voters in Florida.

Apathy is everywhere in this state. It is sad.

[madfloridian]

6. To cheer you up....here's some good stuff.

Plouffe hails FL ground troops

[The Backlash Cometh]

23. There's a whole way of life here with the Dem and Repubs.

They overlook certain indiscretions from connected Republicans and the Republicans do the same to the Dems who have some power. And they both share in screwing the rest of us over.

[anonymous171]

7. Florida "democrats" are worse than blue dogs.

Except for Wexler, he's awesome.

[WilliamPitt]

8. Ah. Florida.

*sigh*

[madfloridian]

9. You just said it all.

There is nothing left to say.

[JeffR]

11. I was miserable when I left Florida for the "progressive paradise" of Georgia.

Recent history has made me feel better and better about it.

I began to feel like a really smart American when I moved out of the country entirely, of course. Sad, but there it is.

[WilliamPitt]

13. My father

was chair of the Dem party in Alabama. Before and up to the '04 election. Tough gig.

They use Democrats for target practice in certain regions of that state. I've spent, all told, probably two full years there off and on. It's better than it used to be, as I'm sure Georgia is, too. Amazing how quickly people learn not to be so stupid when their own stupidity fucks them over (See: Saxby Chambliss).

[JeffR]

14. Hell of a tough gig, for sure.

We used to like driving to Alabama for the day just to make us feel better about getting back to Georgia.

We'll see how it goes with Shambles come November. I have hopes, though I'm pretty sure my absentee ballots routinely get tossed in a trashcan as soon as they see I vote straight Dem.

[Celebration]

21. Well, just try Tennessee--we have the infamous TINKER

Who ran the Ku Klux Klan ads against Cohen (my district, LOL).

Who says the Democratic Party isn't inclusive?

[madfloridian]

34. Tinker's ads against Cohen were outrageous.

And to think the Ford family supported her.

[Celebration]

22. duplicate n/t

[WilliamPitt]

12. One thing's for sure. You, my friend, have more than earned your way into Heaven.

Even if you don't believe in God.

[JeffR]

15. I have to second that!

In between the shit of being a progressive in Florida and some of the shit that's been dished out here during primary season, mad deserves a spot in the pantheon of heroic activists.

[madfloridian]

16. That was very special...

coming from you and I appreciate it.

[WilliamPitt]

17. Special for me, too.

And about goddam time.

[madfloridian]

18. Right you are.

[JeffR]

10. Even a dimbulb conservative judge with a rudimentary grasp of law

will toss this, later if not sooner.

Oh, and the St. Pete Times sucks ass.

[madfloridian]

28. But it was just reinstated. Read this page.

http://moritzlaw.osu.edu/electionlaw/litigation/DiMaiov...

It is a very long page.

The lawsuit in one form or the other has been going on since August of last year. So if no judge has really said enough is enough...then it will still get traction.

My opinion is that it could affect our nominee's status if a judge rules in DiMaio's favor.

[Sancho]

19. Months ago I suggested a potential major danger of these lawsuits...

if I were a GOP judge/court and I really wanted to cause trouble, I'd wait until the convention and declare the primary process "unconstitutional". That is a a real possibility with the crazy courts (remember Gore v. Bush?!?!). It has always been a problem since the DNC opened the legal door by selecting some states to go first using diversity as a criteria.

Several legal eagles in Florida academia have discussed that issue for over a year (including a Sunday show with Susan McManus on TV early in 2008).

I couldn't find a blog either, so maybe the St. Pete Times expects DiMaio to post on other blogs (Troxler's?).

[madfloridian]

26. I have asked that question over and over here...and been called divisive

Of course a judge's ruling would cast a shadow over the nominee. I just don't know how big a shadow.

This is serious.

[Sancho]

27. I was hoping that the lawsuits were behind us...

it really distracts from the nomination if we're reading about some judge's decision. That alone is bad.

Not to mention that it is embarrassing for Florida to be stupid again.

(I met Bob Hackworth yesterday - not a bad guy, but it will be almost impossible to unseat Young.)

[davidpdx]

20. The only reason this guy should be invited to the convention

is if there is going to be a public flogging. And I'm talking about the bend over with his pants down hitting him on his butt live on TV.

[Irishonly]

24. It makes you sick to your stomach

Do these people want McCain to win to give Hillary another shot in 2012? With all of the ugliness in 2000 and what was pulled on the democrats you would think they would be doing everything they could to turn Florida blue. I don't get Florida which is painting with too broad of a brush. I know there are good democrats there-like you but sometimes it seems like most of the state is bat shit crazy.

Didn't Hillary have a majority of the rules committee as her supporters? Obama has asked that the delegates receive full status but they still choose to keep up the fight. The constant attacking of Dr. Dean is horrible and I just don't understand them. Is fifteen minutes of fame worth making the whole state look stupid?

[ourbluenation]

25. Florida. Florida. Florida. n/t

[bertman]

29. Madflo, I hope you're eating right and getting your exercise. There's a lot of stuff that's making

you MAD AS HELL and it needs to have a physical outlet. Just sayin'. We need you here.

These Florida DINO's are despicable. But who would've thunk it with the likes of Debbie Wasserman Schultz "leading" the party?


After reading this it occurred to me that Obama may have made a huge mistake by deciding to let Florida's delegation have full votes. Why won't the Dems just follow the frickin' rules as they were written? Not only does this introduce another avenue for a big delegate headache, it may also set some kind of precedent by Obama basically saying the rules did not apply to Florida.

I'm not a lawyer so I may be way off track here, but sometimes the small things return to bite you on the ass.

[madfloridian]

30. Well, I just was reading about Hillary's conference call yesterday

with her supporters. I did not post it here, but why is she having conference calls about planning events at the convention.

It does concern me some.

I handle my anger toward my state by keeping on writing about it, and not letting it get shoved under the rug.

Unfortunately Wasserman Schultz will most likely be rewarded for her behavior by the TPTB.

[Dr.Phool]

31. The St. Pete "Crimes" strikes again. Reprints lies in obituary.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/article777102.ece

I'm fucking furious, as is John Russell. They chose the obituary for Ginny-Brown-Waite's husband to repeat lies they told about John Russell in 2006.

I was with John the night of the supposed "incidents", and they did not happen. The only witness, in front of a crowd of over 400 people, was the Chair of the Citrus County Republican Party.

And to think that this paper used to employ Ron Suskind.

Anybody who thinks this paper is liberal or progressive has rocks in their head.

I canceled my subscription (again) today and sent letters to the publisher, reporter, and editorial page editor. Not meant for publication.

I'll post more in my journal later.

[madfloridian]

32. It has new ownership now, doesn't it? Changed about a year or so ago.

Give me a link to your journal when you write it up.

[Dr.Phool]

33. The Poynter Institute still owns it.

They changed Editors about 3 years ago. They've been going downhill fast since then. They all got a good piece of my mind today.

The original reporter, Elena Lesley, who wrote the smear columns is now in Cambodia with the Phnom Penh Post. She used to be the editor for Protest Warrior at Brown University. I hope she gets bitten by a cobra.

The new dweeb idiot is John Frank.

[madfloridian]

35. Why the hell aren't FL Democrats telling him to back off?

I am sick and tired of this crap.

[Dr.Phool]

36. Pretty obvious.

He's been acting in concert with the Nelson's, Thurman's, and Lieberman-Schultze's. The FDP was complicit from Day 1 and they still are.

[madfloridian]

37. Most likely.

Geller finally dropped his lawsuit. Bill Nelson never appealed his loss. But they were all for them, all of them.

[L0oniX]

38. I haven't bought a St. Pete Times paper for over 10 years for good reason.

They are a bunch of asscarrots.

[Dr.Phool]

39. Your ears wouldn't want to hear what I've been telling them.

I'll never buy another one.