Some Democratic Primary history---McGovern-Frasier Commission and Hunt Commission

[Tanuki]

Many posting are relatively new to the party, or aren't old enough to have lived through some of this, or have forgotten...So here is a bit of information about how we came to have a system consisting largely of primaries instead of caucuses or even "smoke filled rooms," when and why superdelegates became a "thing", and more...



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McGovern%E2%80%93Fraser_Commission

and

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunt_Commission

[Ichingcarpenter]

1. Down goes Frasier

[ieoeja]

2. Funny political story with a very small Ali tie-in.

Ed Kelly turned down an coaching position to run youth programs for the Chicago parks system. He personally sponsored Golden Glove events in the city which is where he got to know a then young Ali.

He was also involved in politics. To the point where he became known as the "northside mayor". The first Daley let local ward politicians run their own wards in return for them supporting him on citywide issues, like getting re-elected mayor. Kelly's nickname came from him leading the loyal opposition to Daley. North siders did not care for the first Daley's bigotry. And they didn't care for the second Daley's neolib economics.

The second Daley finally decided Kelly had to go. So he got someone to run against Kelly in the next election. Someone in his circle even went so far as to send south side muscle up north on election day to intimidate Kelly supporters. As the day progressed north side emergency rooms began filling up with large, muscular guys from the south side.


Moral of the story: don't send bullies to pick a fight with a man who for decades sponsored Golden Glove boxing events.


You would think Ali campaigning for the guy might have served as a reminder.