TAMPA Dissension and bitterness surfaced among Florida Democrats on Sunday in the wake of pledges to boycott the state’s primary campaign by the leading presidential candidates.

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Clinton said the party rules provide “the necessary structure” to honor the early states’ “unique and special role in the nominating process.”

In a statement agreeing to the pledge, Edwards said the small, early states “need to be first because … these are places where voters get to look the candidate in the eye and measure their policies, ideas, and integrity.”

Those two statements really say it all.  They tell us all exactly HOW the democrats view Florida, as well as their opinion on how important our state is (or in their eyes, isn’t)
Newsflash:  FLORIDA played pivotal roles in both of the last elections.  Not the ‘four small, early states’.  AlGore knows just how unique and special a role they played compared to OUR state.
Just ask him.

As for Edwards, well I have news for him too.  WE THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA take a hard look at candidates’ ideas, integrity, and policies, as well.  And as for ‘integrity’, what happened to ‘every vote must count’ ?  If your policies include ignoring Florida, well believe me, I expect Floridians will take notice.  Your very statements are insulting to anyone with two brain cells to rub together.

As for the Republicans, all I can say is that they had better take a long hard look at how this affects the Democrats -because as a conservative Republican myself, I certainly won’t reward any candidate who thinks like these prominant Democrat ones are thinking.

Nighbiker, you’re voting Republican no matter what.

It’s people like me that are in play. I voted for Bush 43 in 2000, Bush 41 in 88, and Reagan in 80. There is no way that I’m going to vote Republican just because the Florida Democrat Central Committee is a bunch of idiots. I’ll vote for who I believe is the best candidate, regardless of what I think about the Party squabbles.

This whole rush to be first in the primaries is silly anyway. What possible difference is it to larger eastern states what Iowa or New Hampshire do? Those states aren’t exactly trend setters. The only relation there is that they voted for the eventual winning nominee is coincidental.

The Democrat voter of Florida needs to find new leadership. The current set of Florida Democrat Party leaders are becoming more irrelevant each election. With all of the challenges this state is facing, is that all these yahoos can get done?

Everyone is in play.  You can bet your bottom dollar that if the RNC plays like the DNC is playing, then THEY won’t be able to count on MY support -not monetarily, and POSSIBLY not vote-wise either.  Never have I voted a straight ticket -and I don’t see that changing in any way shape or form, and while its true that the DNCs’ stupidity isn’t going to have a direct effect on me, I’m still watching them, and keeping a close eye on the ‘other side’ as well.
No way would I support a candidate who dismisses a states’ voters just so they can ‘punish’ the state -which is precisely what the major Democrat candidates are doing -hell, they even say it -not in so many words, but thats exactly what they’re doing.

Actually Florida’s entire law making body can take the blame for this. I really don’t know how Florida thinks it can legislate itself a an early spot in the nations primary schedule. These things need to be hashed out among the political parties. Was this the only legislation these guys passed?

Don’t kid yourself, whoever in the democratic party that thinks they will do well in FL will fight to have the FL delegation votes count. It’s too big with too many voters.  If they ignore the state they will shoot themselves in the foot, this isn’t like trying to ignore North Dakota, there are too many voters, and as a swing state it won’t be ignored by the Dems.

It’s clear to me that the Democrats have already written off Florida.  This gives the Democratic candidates a chance to avoid pandering to the locals (and incurring the accompanying bills) with a high-minded excuse.  Oh well, if at first you don’t secede…

It will be interesting what the Demo Party does when Michigan moves their primary up to January 15, and that’s almost a done deal.  If they don’t count all states equally it makes a huge statement about the democrat party.

33 years as a democrat and that changed a few Saturdays ago when they (Democrat Party) announced that they have no intentions of counting my vote in the Florida Primary.

They want our political donations, but don’t wan’t our representation.  I hope voters remember this in November 2008.  As I said in a related thread, “If they don’t count our vote in January, they should not count on it in November.”

It would be better, I think, if all states were required to have their primary on the same day or same set of days.  The way it WAS was fine back when communications weren’t so quick, but now that they are instantaneous, its a bit of a problem.  Why should four small (pupulationwise) states be able to dictate the direction of things?  There is no constitutional reason for it, and unlike in decades past, those states are NOT the centers of population.  We shouldn’t play second fiddle to anyone anymore than they want to play second fiddle to us.

Nightbiker - 05 September 2007 06:23 PM

It would be better, I think, if all states were required to have their primary on the same day or same set of days.  The way it WAS was fine back when communications weren’t so quick, but now that they are instantaneous, its a bit of a problem.  Why should four small (pupulationwise) states be able to dictate the direction of things?  There is no constitutional reason for it, and unlike in decades past, those states are NOT the centers of population.  We shouldn’t play second fiddle to anyone anymore than they want to play second fiddle to us.

You are right there is something to be said about We The People and not We The Four states. Our election process will change if we want it too. We need to vote in politicians that want to work for us. and our views.  Change can be a good thing. Look everything that has changed up to now. Why not our election process?

the first time i heard about this i said to the wife, why are people complaining about being able to vote early, in this day and age they should be glad they are allowed to vote at all.

Dave