The Credentials Committee "Dean 25" could decide Clinton's fate (includes info on the individual 25)

[DeepModem Mom]

Politico: The Dean 25 could decide Clinton's fate
By AVI ZENILMAN | 4/18/08

If, as Hillary Rodham Clinton has suggested, her campaign takes the fight to seat the Florida and Michigan delegations all the way to the Democratic National Convention this summer, the fate of her challenge is all but certain to hinge on 25 individuals appointed to the Credentials Committee by party Chairman Howard Dean.

The Credentials Committee, which also includes 161 members selected from the states based on primary and caucus results, is the 186-member body that will help determine whether to seat the two rogue delegations.

Since it appears virtually impossible for Clinton to win enough of the 161 members to vote out a “majority report” supporting her position — and it is unlikely that Barack Obama will win enough of them, either — the Dean 25 are in a position to hold the balance of power on a procedural matter that could play a pivotal role in deciding the Democratic presidential nomination.

Though these 25 appointees are often assumed to be handpicked Dean loyalists who will take their cues from him on the issue of seating Florida and Michigan, a Politico analysis has found that is far from certain. Many of the 25 are already publicly supporting either Clinton or Obama — and some are barely acquainted with Dean....

What follows is Politico’s guide to the Dean 25, based on interviews with appointees and additional reporting....

http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=60BC4CC7-3048-5C12-007C617E6C969A9E

[saracat]

1. Well. well, as suspected more of these are for Obama amd yet more can be suspected of being. As

tj hough Deran hasn't an agenda. Feh. he onl;y appointed barely enough Clinton supporters to "defend his position. What a joke. And my money is the alleged undecided are for Obama as well. This is a disgrace and an attempt to maipulate the sytem while pretending to be neutral. I guess the fact that Dean put Obama as one of the "dean Dozen" now shows his loyalty and lack of neutrality. Dean is self concerned and power hungry as ever MacAukliffe was.

[blm]

2. The difference is significant since Dean's DNC will be working for Obama 2008 and in 2003-4

McAuliffe was already working for Hillary2008.

[saracat]

3. oooh such a real difference. NOT. Dean was already working for Obama in 2004.

for 2008. Why do you think he was in the "Dean Dozen"? Why did this nobody of a state Senator get to make a keynote speech? Double standards again and for the record I can't stand McAuliffe. It just amazes me how so many now espouse the methods they once hated in others.Same old same old. Politics as usual. Bleh!

[blm]

4. Every Dem was helping Obama in 2004 - he was the Dem senate candidate.

Come on sara - why pretend McAuliffe was doing his job when we all know he didn't WANT Kerry to win and wouldn't lift a finger to strengthen the party infrastructure in states where he had left it to collapse.