Primary Bill Nelson

by: lassallean

Tue Sep 01, 2009 at 14:39:17 PM EDT

I think we should raise a credible threat of a well-funded primary against Bill Nelson.  As a committee chairman, he killed an amendment offered by Barbara Boxer and Russ Feingold that would have cut-off funding to any CIA project that involves the use of black sites and enhanced interrogation techniques.

 Now, Bill Nelson is one of the junta of conservative Democrats that is waffling (i.e. blocking) a real public option in the health care bill.  We should stand with the Congressional Progressive Caucas and demand a strong public option.  There is no reason why the Democrats can't go this alone and pass a health care bill with teeth.  Bill Nelson should stand with the majority of the party and be part of the solution instead of part of the problem.

We should watch Bill Nelson closely.  If he does not come out in support of a strong public option, I am willing to give whatever financial and organizational support I can to a progressive primary challenger.  Senator Nelson should be forced to make a decision:  stand with the majority of the Democratic Party and support the public option without reservation, or be prepared to fight a well-funded, grassroots challenge from a progressive. 

A Virtual Election: How Democrats Campaigned Without The Candidates

by: quinnelk

Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 17:24:24 PM EST

It is a unique event in American history, where technology and people power are being used to determine not only who Floridians favor as the Democratic nominee, but today's primary also will play a key role in determining the next president of the United States.

Last year, the Democratic presidential contenders signed a pledge not to campaign in Florida before the primary to punish Florida for violating Democratic National Committee rules and moving the vote in advance of the February 5 barrier set up in 2006.

Dem. Primary Candidate Campaign Finances

by: Florida DFA

Sat Jan 26, 2008 at 12:10:38 PM EST

So...rather than go off on a tangent about meaningful campaign finance reform, as opposed to the 'lobbyist shakedown' and media censorship tactics of politicians like Tom Delay, John McCain (sadly, the McCain-Feingold bill), and others in the past, we'll 'try' to do a brief dissection of their financing information. For those that are interested, links to sources with full information about their financing are provided so you can get a better idea of what is being referred to. So here goes...

Mary is in labor and the republicans fear the Gender Card

by: NewHampster

Tue Jan 15, 2008 at 17:44:31 PM EST

Yes, I'm here to tell you (oh no it's not PC), that this race is about gender.  If you don't want to hear my analysis then please go elsewhere rather than shooting me for something you haven't even read.  I mean, why read when you can just blast away at the nasty, woman supporting hillbot who is playing that gender card thing?

Frankenoid at dKos did a hilarious great job giving us the inside scoop on Mary's labor woes.

But Mary Mother of Jesus and Virgin Wife of Joseph is not who the republican's fear.

They fear the lowly, Mary Magdalene.

They know that the day a woman is nominated for President millions upon millions upon millions of Marys will register to vote for the first time in their lives.  

Rove: Florida Looms Large

by: Tally

Thu Jan 10, 2008 at 08:00:45 AM EST

The money quote:

Despite Sen. Harry Reid's son serving as her Nevada chairman, Clinton's likely to lose that state's caucuses on Jan. 19. Then comes South Carolina on Jan. 26, where half the Democratic voters are likely to be African-American and Mr. Obama the probable victor. That means Florida on the 29th looms very large. The outcome of the contest in the Sunshine State is likely to have a disproportionate impact on the 23 contests on Super Tuesday.

Clinton's backdealings lock up delegates

by: Maytak

Wed Jan 09, 2008 at 11:55:43 AM EST

Though Hillary Clinton won New Hampshire, her back door dealings have already seem to have secured her a position in the White House, barely trying.

Just like the general election where the electoral college is the only vote that matters, the primaries have a similar system that parallels the electoral college in process. It's call the delegates and superdelegates.
Here's an explanation of what they are and how they're selected. They aren't voted for at all:

And here is the list of delegates who have already committed to a candidate even BEFORE the primaries:

Clinton's campaign co-chair is Terry McAuliffe, who works and is very influential in the DNC. He was able to lock all of the DNC for Hillary anyways. So why is she campaigning at all?

Stakes are too high, caucus today!

by: Maytak

Tue Nov 27, 2007 at 10:56:46 AM EST

The stakes are high in the next election and we can’t sit idly. Join the National Presidential Caucus (NPC) effort to confront the heavily compressed primary schedule we’re facing today. NPC is hosting a National Caucus Day on Dec. 7^th and we’d love if you’d join us in organizing caucuses in your area!

www.nationalcaucus.com

To encourage voters to form opinions before the early primary states and the media determine who the leading candidates will be, NPC is asking people like you to host caucuses in their communities.

As of right now, there are no caucuses in Florida and to make this work, we need at least one caucus per state. 

Here’s how it works:
-Post a caucus on the website
-Meet offline on December 7^th to talk about issues and candidates that matter TO YOU
-Post your results on our website with all the other caucuses from across the nation

Hosting a caucus is as simple as getting some friends, family, or whomever you want together. It's really easy to do!

What if every state's caucus and primary were weighted equally? I don't know about you, but I'd call that democracy. 

The Reality of the Primary Fight

by: quinnelk

Sun Sep 02, 2007 at 16:23:15 PM EDT

Florida Primary date move, My take on it

by: Florida4Richardson

Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 13:43:07 PM EDT

"If the DNC "strips Florida of all or some of its delegates to the national convention -- we would ask the appropriate legal offices to determine whether this could violate any state or federal laws governing and protecting individual voting rights," said the letter, signed by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and U.S. Reps. Alcee Hastings, Kendrick Meek, Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Kathy Castor."http://www.orlandose...

If the National parties do not start respecting Florida in the primaries we should reconsider our winner take also electoral votes in the general election.  Our demographics make us a battle ground state in every election.  Yet by the time Florida's old primary date arrives the parties nominees may as well be already confirmed.  California has a ballet measure to split their votes. "California awards its cache of 55 electoral votes to the statewide winner in presidential elections — the largest single prize in the nation. But a prominent Republican lawyer wants to put a proposal on the ballot that would award the statewide winner only two electoral votes. The rest would be distributed to the winning candidate in each of the state's congressional districts. In effect, that would create 53 races, each with one electoral vote up for grabs." http://www.foxnews.c...

Cont...

AFI CIO Debate Aug 7 2007

by: Florida4Richardson

Wed Aug 08, 2007 at 13:55:20 PM EDT

The most notible thing I think about this debate was that the format sucked every candidate wanted to respond to the question or responce to the prior candidate.  The format did not allow real debate.  The high point was when the moderator lost control and we had about 3-4 minutes of back and forth on the question of Pakistan.  In those few minutes Barak Obama looked better then any debate I have seen to date.  I would have to give this debate to Kursinich though because he was the only candidate who seemed comfortable with this format. The Big loser of this debate was Mike Gravel whose staff screwed up and did not get him invited.

Has Obama cut his own political throat?

by: Florida4Richardson

Sun Aug 05, 2007 at 13:54:29 PM EDT

Michelle Obama and WAL-MART

by: truthteller2007

Wed Jul 04, 2007 at 16:46:20 PM EDT

Belated: Sometimes We Can Make a Point

by: Derek Newton

Fri Mar 23, 2007 at 16:11:49 PM EDT

The Sun-Sentinel version is here

Not that it changed anything. After this was published the House voted to move our primary to next January. The vote was 100something to one.

Anyway, just wanted to make sure people know that by speaking up we can, occasionally, reach a wide audience.

Post: Machek likely to turn back challenge

by: MachekforHouse78

Wed Sep 06, 2006 at 09:28:29 AM EDT

House District 78: Machek likely to turn back challenge
By Dwayne Robinson

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

State Rep. Richard A. Machek was on track to defeat his Democratic rival in Tuesday's primary election, his first such challenge in six years.

Machek, whose House District 78 sprawls north from Palm Beach to Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties, appeared to have a solid lead, but with Palm Beach County's supervisor of elections not releasing the number of precincts counted, it was difficult to call the race.

"The returns are going mighty slow," Machek, 68, said. "I think I probably won in Okeechobee and St. Lucie County, but I don't know what the problem is in Palm Beach County. We're in the 21st century, and you'd think things would happen much sooner."

More at:

http://www.palmbeach...

Impress Everyone

by: Derek Newton

Sun Sep 03, 2006 at 13:00:48 PM EDT

After the jump are 10 hot primary campaigns. Pick the winners before the polls open on Tuesday and impress us all with your insight and skill.

Each race is numbered and there's a tie-breaker at the end. Format your answers with the number of the race (1-10) and your pick. I'll post my answers in the comments.

This is intended ONLY for fun and amusement. There's no prize other than improved ego. Good luck!