The Perfect Storm, or After Bush, How Could the Dems Screw This Up?

[NightWatcher]

(a rant that is developing into an editorial)

The Democrats took a majority, albeit a very slim one, after the election of 2006 on a platform of ending the illegal war in Iraq and holding the President's uncontrolled power orgy in check. After the election and the election of the first female Speaker of the House, the perfect storm started brewing. "Impeachment is off the table" were the words of Nancy Pelosi and the actions of her and others like John Conyers, Chairmen of the House Judiciary Committee who refused to start investigations into impeachable offenses committed by the Bush White House, left many feeling like the Dems who promised to stop the war and change the direction of the country, thinking that the Dems were not going to lift a damn finger to change or repair our broken country. We were told by the Big Dems that we should just be cool and "Wait til 08".

So we sat as we watched the war drag on and the powers of the President continue to go on unchecked, but at least we had the hopes that in 2008 we would take the White House back. The Primary season began almost a year earlier than in years past. We were eager to get a Democratic President back in the White House.

The early and middle stages of the primaries went on as per usual, but as the season was getting into the nitty- gritty, we saw the Democratic Machine push a popular candidate, Dennis Kucinich, out of nationally televised debates. The screams of the democratic masses quickly fell silent as supporters started to migrate to other candidates who were sold to us as being more 'electable'. After another month, the Democratic race was down to three candidates.

Two states, Florida and Michigan went against the National Democratic Party's wishes and scheduled primaries before the February 5th. The National Party then punished Florida and Michigan by saying that their primary results would not be counted towards the nomination in the summer. Many candidates refused to have their names on the ballot in one or both of those two states. Hillary was the only major candidate who's name appeared on both the ballots. Many stayed home in Michigan because they had been told that their votes would not count After the tally was taken, surprise HIllary Clinton had won 55% followed by 40% for Uncommitted, and 4% for Kucinich. Barack Obama and John Edwards, names were not on the ballot in Michigan. In Florida Hillary took 50% of the vote followed by 33% and John Edwards finished with 14%.

After a few early primaries and before the highly touted "Super-Duper Tuesday" one of the popular candidates, John Edwards, quickly and quietly stepped aside without a good reason given. His supporters felt let down and slowly started to migrate towards one of the two remaining candidates.

Then more than a month and a half after the Florida and Michigan primaries, pressure began mounting to have the Florida and Michigan delegates seated in the summer's national convention. This would appear on its face to be severely unfair to the voters who were told that their votes would not be counted and stayed home. Aside from the voters who were shafted, Barack Obama and John Edwards were not on the ballot because they believed that the vote would not be counted, but now someone wants it counted.

After the first 32 states have held their respective primaries or caucuses, a virtual tie exists between the top two candidates, Obama and Clinton. Now the issue of Superdelegates arrises and the question of why some party members get votes that count more than 10,000 regular citizens.

A feeling is growing in the guts of many that there is something screwy going on with this election. I am starting to feel very uneasy about the Democratic Party as a whole as I fear that we might find a way to lose another election after the disasters of 2000 and 2004 that we promised would never happen again.

...to be continued as the story developes

[Firespirit]

1. I'm in awe of it as well

The Congress managed to do in one year (six months, really) what it took Bush six years to accomplish -- drive their ratings into the dirt -- and do it better.

There is now a very real chance that the candidate will be selected in an undemocratic way, and will lose the election.

It truly is astounding.

[gateley]

2. K&R!