Party chair: ‘Michigan will likely not have caucus’

[goldcanyonaz]

<snip>

In recent weeks, national party officials have suggested Michigan now hold a caucus instead (throwing out the results of the January’s primary).

Brewer said he doubts Michigan will have a caucus. “I doubt it. The Obama and Clinton campaigns have to agree. It takes one year to prepare for a caucus. It takes money,” Brewer said. “It is not a viable option.”

Brewer added he has no doubt Michigan’s delegation will be seated at the national convention, despite moving the state primary up.

Brewer said the party’s presidential nominee may not be determined until the national convention, something that hasn’t happened since 1952.

“In the end, I feel this race could be close,” Brewer said. “We will be there for the end. We will be seated.”

http://www.dailypress.net/page/content.detail/id/501329.html?nav=5003

[Occam Bandage]

1. This guy needs to lose his job and fast. A re-do would be

a fantastic compromise that would leave the HRC and Obama camps happy--and I say this believing that HRC would win those caucuses. But a re-do would be an admission of failure, and so the state party refuses to go along with it. Sad.

[yellowcanine]

2. This is crap - what is this "can't" business. Because you don't want to doesn't mean you can't.

Michigan Dems should toss this guy and get someone who CAN.

[displacedtexan]

3. I know Mark Brewer personally.

He and I still email each other, even though we haven't worked together
since 2004.

He's a bulldog, and he'll fight to the bitter end to seat MI's delegates.

[yellowcanine]

5. "bulldog" or "pig-headed"? One state should not be wagging the tail.

The DNC set up an orderly process designed to give everyone a voice in the process. It is actually working fairly well. The only flies in the ointment are Michigan and Florida. They need to get in line with the national party, not the other way around. This can still be worked out, but not if state chairs insist on being "bulldogs".

[Windy]

6. despite the FACT that many here sat out the election as we were told our vote WOULD NOT COUNT!

This was an organized effort to ensure a Clinton win. It is obvious.

[Yael]

10. And this, boys and girls, is what is commonly referred to as THE POINT

:hi:

[Yael]

4. "It takes up to a year to plan a caucus"

I call foul on that.

Give me 20 motivated people and a map and we can knock it out in 2 months.

It won't be ornate -- but it could be done.

[pampango]

7. It is much more difficult, though, if you really don't want a "redo".

Then they become impossibly difficult. Plus if you part of the reason behind the screwup in the first place, it behooves you to try to get delegates seated resulting from the "screwed up" primary. You look a lot less guilty that way. :)

[Yael]

8. Yes, the first step is always admitting that you screwed up

Once you are past that hurdle, get the maps out and make it happen.

Overcoming ego is a huge obstacle, indeed.

[yellowcanine]

9. Exactly. It is a matter of attitude. "Can" vs "Can't" It doesn't have to cost much either.

Use all volunteers, do it on a Saturday, keep it open for at least 12 hours so everyone has a decent chance of participating.

[Yael]

11. I would take vacation and travel there on my own dime to help

and I bet a lot of people would join me.

They have no excuse, IMO.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

24. 12 hours of caucusing? I'd rather be waterboarded

or at least tased. Yikes!

There are issues that would have to be decided, then appealed, etc, possibly to high federal courts.

Who can caucus? Only those who voted in the Dem primary? Only those who didn't vote in the Rep primary? Everybody, including those who voted in the Rep primary? The rules will take a long time to hammer out.

12 hours on a Saturday? It doesn't take 12 hours. Saturday is the Sabbath, and I don't know whether that would exclude orthodox Jews from the process. If it only takes 3 hours, which 3? I'd like 6am to 9am, because I'm an old fart. I think younger people would like 5pm to 8pm so they can head to post-caucus parties (I'd have liked that, back then). So, I'd guess early hours favor Hillary, late hours favor Barack. We'd have to let the court decide, then appeal it.

It almost seems simpler to just have another primary, with one secret ballot, and allow absentee votes (or not, again, take it to court)

My solution: just exclude the MI delegates, take our beating in November.

[yellowcanine]

25. The Republican Primary counted. Those people had their say. Exclude them. Allow everyone else.

I said 12 hours just to make sure everyone had a chance to vote. Ok make it a primary. 8am to 8pm. Orthodox Jews can vote after the sun goes down. Sabbath is over then.

[atreides1]

15. Have you checked into it

Have you actually done all of the research into what Brewer is saying? Unless you know what the rules are and what requirements have to be met I'd say you're talking out of school.

Even with volunteers you have to consider the logistics required, you have to make sure that people are at the appointed places on time and that they have all of the materials on hand.

I admire your dedication and your "can do" spirit, but reality has to play a part as well.

And I'm not from Michigan, I don't know Mr. Brewer, and I personally feel that the DNC over reacted to what Michigan and Florida did!

Perhaps it may be time to change the way that these primaries are done by developing a regional system, and every 4 years a different region starts.

Example: Region 1 could be the first 13 states, and you could include all of the US territories and DC. That would divide the country into 4 regions.

[Yael]

21. I am saying that no matter the rules, with the DNC leading and 20 full time people

working for 2 months, there is NO WAY that this won't happen.

Unless you are telling me that Michigan doesn't have phone lines, internet access, running water, electricity and Kinkos.

[madfloridian]

12. Florida and Michigan will not have a caucus...

The Hillary supporters will never let that happen. Here is an example of how they are organizing in FL.

http://www.tampaforhillary.com/2008/02/12/hillary-won-florida-dont-let-them-steal-it-away/

[Yael]

19. LOL!!

Your link is bad, but the message is pure comedic gold:

Not Found
Sorry, but you are looking for something that isn't here.

:rofl:

[BenDavid]

13. If Dean tries to force Flordia or Michigan to hold a caucus so

the delegates can be seated you will see one hell of a fight and the Clinton campaign will never allow a caucus to be held in either state, and I agree......vote

[yellowcanine]

20. "the Clinton campaign will never allow a caucus to be held in either state...."

Therein lies the problem. The Clinton campaign should not be calling the shots. This should be a decision made between the DNC and the state that is involved. Florida and Michigan screwed up by deciding to buck the planned schedule. Who can now argue against the premise that the DNC pretty much got it right? We have a competitive primary and even the later voting states will feel that they matter. The flies in the ointment are Florida and Michigan. They should not be the tail wagging the dog. There is still time to fix it if the Florida and Michigan parties are willing to say let's fix this before the convention.

[VolcanoJen]

23. Why the hell should this be up to the Clintons?

Aren't there also down-ticket candidates who were just as disenfranchised by the low turnout??

[stahbrett]

14. They need to just split the delegates 50/50 and be done with it

The elections were a farce - no campaigning in Florida, and only Clinton was on the ballot in Michigan.

It seems impractical/illegal to hold another primary, and even a caucus seems out of the realm of what's likely.

So just split the delegates 50/50 (flip a coin if there is an odd number), and be done with it.

[Adelante]

16. Michigan Dems better start worrying about their own asses

Unless they resolve this unfair election, I bet they will be voted out of office when their time comes around.

[Little Star]

17. Good for Mr. Brewster for standing up for the people of MI. k/r

[yellowcanine]

22. Hmm, I doubt the people of MI will be singing his praises if MI delegates do not get a vote.

What about the many people who did not vote in the primary thinking it did not count? They are disenfranchised if Mr. Brewster gets his way. OTOH the people who did vote can vote again if given the chance. Which is more democratic?

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

18. Brewer is a Superdelegate.

Yank him out of that chair!
http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/01/superdelegates-who-havent-endorsed.html

[HeraldSquare212]

26. Caucus: undemocratic. One candidate on the ballot: democratic.

Sort of like Kazakhstan, where the President always wins with 90-some odd percentage of the vote; Bill called the President a great democrat.

[backscatter712]

27. Then they don't get delegates.

Sorry, but the "races" that were held don't even come close to what would have happened if the voters weren't told their delegates wouldn't be seated, or if the candidates weren't prevented from doing real campaigning in those states.

Real caucuses, held with full campaigns from both Clinton and Obama, or they don't count.