So the controversery with the early primaries: Michigan & Florida

[ShaneGR]

Where does it end? If the state parties can't follow the rules, who's gonna be the first to hold a December primary in 2011? What about November a full year away from the General Election? I understand states want to be an important part of the process, but when does it stop? The DNC really needs to step in and fix this problem before the convention.

[flyarm]

1. well in fla i can tell you the problem started and was done deliberately by the DLC!

[ShaneGR]

6. How so, the DNC chose to move the primary??

The Florida legislature did, the DNC already had their rules in place, so not sure how thats "deliberate".

[cyclezealot]

2. The problem isn't always who is first

It's that New Hampshire thinks it has a birthright to be first. There is nothing special about NH Democrats. It's mostly a red state. We demand a system where a couple small red states don't always get the ball rolling for small state interests. Even tho a national primary with free media time for all , is the best possible system

[bain_sidhe]

3. So the controversery with the early primaries: Iowa & New Hampshire

It stops when they stop hogging the "first" spot.

I'm from Michigan. This state has big, big problems, and we want the candidates to pay attention to them. We're not the only one--Ohio and Michigan keep trading places for who has the worst unemployment, the most forclosures, the biggest job losses... but our "problems" can't even get a Democratic candidate to fucking show up within the state, while Iowans are busy complaining that a candidate didn't show up in their county.

I'm fucking sick of it, and I'm fucking pissed about it.

**edit: tyop**

[Romulox]

4. I feel exactly the same way. Thanks for this post. nt

[bain_sidhe]

5. It's not even that MIchigan would have to go first

Just *somebody* other than the "me-firster" states. I wasn't too bothered about it in 2000 - everybody pretty much expected Gore to win the nomination anyway. I was seriously annoyed by it in 2004, though (my candidate was Wes Clark), and my anger crystalized this time when I read a story about how Iowans were feeling "dissed" by Hillary because she's only made 60 visits there. They were upset because she expected them to drive from the next county over to see her.

jebus frakking cristo! I'd be happy if she'd showed up within an hours' drive! And I'd LOVE to get the chance to actually MEET a candidate, rather than watch them deliver a speech from a stage, while I sit in the middle of a vast auditorium and strain to actually get a *glimpse* of the candidate around the head of the tall guy in front of me (and why is it always a tall guy, or a woman with a beehive hairdo in front of me???).

Anyway. I just get madder and madder, the more I read about the Iowans and New Hampshirites and their precious sensibilities. "Retail politics" my ass. It's the mentality of a two year old, "look at ME! Talk to ME! I have to be the MOST IMPORTANT PERSON EVER IN THE WHOLE HISTORY OF THE WORLD or I hate you."

[cyclezealot]

7. Historically why has NH been first

Their state taxes were so low , with the Fire Departments underfunded. They wanted the revenue. New Hampshire has traditionally been the Mississippi of the northeast. Presidential campaigns are a huge bonus to restaurants, etc. / To hell with them. Even if Michigan's primary/caucus were Feb 5 .They'd still fly over Mich on the way to Calif. which holds it's primary the same day. Besides why would Hillary want to spend much time in Mich. It's Nafta's whipping boy and you'd think she'd rather avoid it's failures.