Pelosi says it is not Florida's fault at all. So if the speaker says it I must be wrong.

[madfloridian]

Here is what Nancy Pelosi said today about the Florida problem. She says it was not their fault, they deserve empathy. She says the delegates will be seated.

If the speaker says it in public, then nothing I say on forums matters at all.

Pelosi says not Florida's fault

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said today the ultimate decision about whether Florida’s delegates will be seated at the Democratic National Convention will be up to the party’s presidential nominee, and she hinted what most Floridians have been saying: No nominee would refuse to seat Florida’s delegates.

“Let’s just talk reality. That will be determined by the presidential nominee,” Pelosi told reporters at a luncheon sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor.

..."Pelosi, who as Speaker will be honorary chairman of the convention, said the Democratic National Committee is the ruling authority now over choosing delegations, but the ultimate authority is the convention itself and the presidential nominee."

..." Pelosi also said the imbroglio over the primary isn’t the fault of Florida Democrats, who are the ones being sanctioned.

“Let’s be clear about what happened in Florida. The Republican legislature changed the date of the election there and also put a tax issue on the ballot that the Democrats just could not walk away from,” she said. “It wasn’t Florida Democrats who said they wanted to push earlier.”

The only problem with that is that the Florida Democrats were right on board with it since at least March of 2006, by their own admission.

"Florida Democrats are all for it," Mark Bubriski, spokesman for the Florida Democratic Party, said at the time.

Nobody realized it, but the storm began gathering in late March 2006. New Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, a Miami Republican, visited Washington-based Florida reporters and touted a plan to boost Florida's influence in picking presidential nominees by moving the primary earlier than March.

"With all due respect to New Hampshire and Iowa, nowhere are you going to be on a national stage like Florida," Rubio said at the time. "You're going to get questions about Israel, Latin America, immigration. It's the old South, it's Latin, it's Midwestern, it's rural and urban."

Rubio already had Democrats on board.

"Florida Democrats are all for it," Mark Bubriski, spokesman for the Florida Democratic Party, said at the time.

But one can not keep fighting when the Speaker of the House says your state was not at fault, can one?

I feel more discouraged than ever. I watched the coverage of his visits here today, I read the print coverage. That kind of coverage, almost ridicule, is not deserved.

It was allowed by my state party, in fact it was encouraged by them from the start. That kind of media can not be fought. And I don't think I can work any longer with a state party that allows lies to become reality.

[madfloridian]

1. To clarify, I don't care whether delegates are seated or not.

I simply can no longer tolerate the way it went down here. I just can not bear to see the propaganda and spin.

[William769]

32. For someone who doesn't care you damn sure post a lot about it.

Is it faux outrage or faux woe is me?

[yewberry]

2. Are you fucking kidding me?

Pelosi is siding with the FDP bullies here?

Nice. I'm completely disgusted.


edit:
SF, CA number [phone]
DC number [phone]

I'm calling tomorrow, for all the good it'll do.

[sendero]

31. I've said it before and I'll say it again..

... FUCK Florida, FUCK their stupid "we had to vote" Dems, fuck the whole fucking state which is at the epicenter of everything that is wrong with electoral politics in this country. Just FUCK THEM.

[fedupfisherman]

3. So she is claiming Florida Democrats had no say in the primary decision?

[madfloridian]

9. That's what she says.

I know better, but it does not matter. She has the media access, I don't.

Florida pulled off a tremendous propaganda coup against the DNC and Dean.

[fedupfisherman]

10. Why isn't Dean firing back?

Or is the media stacked against him?

[madfloridian]

11. I imagine the damage is done, and the ridicule is complete.

There are many who know the truth, but they are not the ones with the media access.

[ChiciB1]

18. Pretty Sad... And I'm Not Sure What I Think Of Pelosi Anymore Either!

I myself worked very hard for a very long time, but now think so much time was wasted! I didn't WANT to feel this way, but I think "ordinary people" don't matter that much anymore!

I got an email about a month ago inviting me to join the newly formed local Democratic Club. I answered and submitted my name, then I got a reply. It said, thank you for submitting your name to join, we are reviewing your submission and will get back to you when we complete the process. Then it gave me a link to their site and I NEVER heard from them again!

Has anyone else ever had this happen to them? I mean I thought you could join a Democratic Party just by showing up, but not this one I guess! Wonder what they found offensive about me?

Must be my blogging on DU because I don't run in the streets screaming and hollering and I haven't killed anyone lately, so this must be it!

AHHH, Florida!!!

[AuntPatsy]

19. God if your close to giving up that honestly worrys me about the future of not only this country

but the future of even an illusion that the leaders of the dem party are able to be the saving grace for this country.

Perhaps it is time for the people of this country to take back what is rightfully theirs.

[madfloridian]

20. Just here.

Not nationally. Just can't do the work we were doing here. Been emailing and calling. Expressing our opinions.

[AuntPatsy]

22. then I feel better, to lose such valuable people such as you would be a crying shame for the dem

party.

[madfloridian]

24. That was nice, thanks.

Just very discouraged in the state activities. In fact we did some stuff for DFA today for candidates they are supporting in prmaries, and we donate monthly to the DNC.

Florida needs to find its way out of vicious circle it is in right now.

Karen needs to regain control of the party and take it out of Bill Nelson's hands.

[AuntPatsy]

26. Just writing the truth, I hope she does regain control, I read your post to stay abreast

because though I don't live in Florida, I do feel that what is going on there is very important not only for Floridians.

[Romulox]

35. Where the HELL is Howard Dean in all of this?

As a Michigan voter, I am shocked and just a bit insulted that Governor Dean hasn't bothered to direct any comments at Michigan voters throughout all of this--to explain the DNC's position and to explain how the Michigan voter is still important in the process...

<crickets>

Complete lack of leadership on his part. :eyes:

[madfloridian]

14. Here is more about the vote...115 to 1.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com:80/madfloridian/1459

Here is the money quote:

"House Republicans and Democrats passed the earlier primary bill (HB 537) by a 115-1 vote - a challenge to the national parties that are wielding threats in an attempt to prevent a nationwide race for earlier and earlier primaries."

I thought I would feel better today, but I don't.

So much harm has been done because a state and its leaders did not tell the truth.

[iamjoy]

16. Well This Florida Democrat Didn't

I had no say in when our primary was scheduled.
Personally, I'm glad Speaker Pelosi is speaking up for me. I don't give a fig about the Democrats who influenced or supported moving the primary date, but the actual voters had no say in the matter. And yet, we're the ones being sanctioned.

You can tell me the FDP has poisoned the well, but how can you spin it any other way than that the voters (you know, the ordinary people Democrats are supposed to care about) are being punished by the DNC for a decision made by their legislature and state party?

[madfloridian]

17. I was going to post all the stuff I have written...

on this stuff from the beginning....then I reread your post, saw your mind was made up. And I decided not to bother.

I just posted that they SAID they were all for it since 2006.

I think I could post more proof and it would not matter.

[cobalt1999]

21. This Floridian has read all your stuff.

It made no difference in my attitude or opinion because it's all your personal spin on the situation (and you complain about propaganda, yet use it on all your posts) I'm glad Nancy is sticking up for us.

[iamjoy]

23. I've Read A Lot Of Your Stuff

I don't need more proof. That would be like presenting more proof that the defendent is guilty of robbery after the conviction. We're past that and debating whether the sentence was appropriate. The impression I have so far as that you would think it would be perfectly okay to throw the criminal's kids in prison if he had known in advance that was a potential consequence of his crime.

Okay, so its all the fault of the FDP. They wanted the early primary all along and then decided to play victim. When that didn't work, they got aggressive against the DNC.

So, tell me why MY vote shouldn't count? If it is, let's just say, a brokered convention - tell me why I shouldn't have a chance to have a representative/delegate on the floor? Tell me why it is okay that I have no representative from my state helping to determine our party platform? And it isn't just me - it is my husband, my parents, my neighbors.

How is it FAIR that we lose our voice because of a stupid, selfish and shortsighted decision with which we had NOTHING to do?

Stop pointing out how wrong the FDP was, and start thinking about the voters of Florida for a change. What your informative posts have done is attempt to shift our anger from the DNC to the FDP.

[madfloridian]

25. You are saying you would rather be mad at the DNC than the FDP

and that my posts shifted your anger. :think:

Good.

[iamjoy]

29. Not All Of It

I now know this mess is not all the DNC's fault (although I still think the primary rules are stupid).

However, they made the final decision. They made the final decision on collective punishment.

To give another analogy - it is like Sargeant Gunny Hartman and "Gomer Pyle." When Sarge collectively punished all the men for "Pyle's" screwing up it made the men mad at "Pyle" but didn't exactly lead to any love for Sarge.

Now, this is hardly a situation where we can rely on blanket parties and guns. One prominent fundraiser in Florida said we should boycott the DNC (withhold donations). Well, I refuse to donate to the DNC, the Presidential Candidates who are ignoring Florida AND the FDP. I will donate to individual, local candidates not involved in the mess and other groups who fund progressive candidates.

In other words - a pox on both their houses.

[madfloridian]

4. We stayed on board to get Democrats elected in 04.

Though we were Democrats we were inactive mostly during a period.

We got excited about politics again in 03, and we worked our butts off.

Now I see it really was for naught after all.

[sandnsea]

5. Well this is interesting

So Hillary basically gives Michigan the go, and Nancy gives Florida the go - on the same day? Is that right? A double fuck-off to Howard??

[madfloridian]

6. That is one way to phrase it.

Looks that way to me.

[sandnsea]

7. Disappointing

I had hoped for better from Nancy. But if anybody knows old school party politics, it's Nancy. I guess she thinks the election is a done deal and it's time to make nice so everybody can happily go through the motions.

[JeffR]

8. The speaker needs to get her head out of her rear on this issue

and I say that with all due respect.

[madfloridian]

12. Karen Thurman, chair, and Alex Sink, state CFO...did not show today

though they were scheduled hostesses.

Dean told them he was standing up for the 45 other states who were following the rules. But that does not seem to matter to my state.

You would think other states would be supportive, but they don't even seem to care.

[mohc]

13. Do not the delegates have to be seated and counted...

before we declare a nominee? I suppose if its a landslide victory and the FL delegates would have no impact on the outcome, the obvious nominee could choose to seat them, but that does not exactly sound like the relevance FL is shouting about to me. What if by some strange confluence of events, one candidate has 50%+ of the delegates without FL, and a different candidate has 50%+ of the delegates with FL (we could also throw MI into the mix). What then? Unlikely as it may be, prematurely declaring that the delegates MUST be seated seems a bit rash.

[madfloridian]

15. My husband just saw on the news that Thurman did not meet with Dean.

He thought she was a hostess for the fundraiser yesterday, as she is listed as one.

He just got furious when he saw that on the news. I thought he already knew.

It feels like all the life is gone from email lists here and from groups that cared.

[tyedyeto]

27. What she is saying is that Florida's primary doesn't matter to whoever is the Democratic nominee

But the nominee will accept that Florida delegates will give their votes to whover is the National nominee.

Right or wrong?

[madfloridian]

28. I was not disagreeing with that.

I think she does not realize Florida worked with the GOP to get the early primary through.

I am quite sure all the delegates will count for someone one way or the other.

That was not my disagreement. She seems misinformed on what happened here.

[flpoljunkie]

30. She could be misinformed, if she's getting her information from Bill Nelson.

[Freddie Stubbs]

33. "No nominee would refuse to seat Florida’s delegates"

Does anyone doubt this?

[madfloridian]

34. Did you see me question that part? No, you did not.

I am saying she is either taking sides openly, or she is misinformed, about the role of Florida.

I think that is two of you not reading what I wrote.

Gee, thanks.

[Vidar]

36. From long experience at this point, I presume Pelosi is wrong until somone shows

me otherwise.

[madfloridian]

37. Leaders are clueless about the people in the Democratic party.

They get their info from each other.

Pelosi said the Florida Democrats deserve empathy—“I think they wanted to comply with the rules,” she said.

We know who had to have told her that.

[madfloridian]

38. And this event would probably by justified as well by her and other Dem leaders.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/1578

Because they do it all the time.

Telling a candidate he will be stopped at the door at a county fundraiser....over the line to me.