VPR: "Dean supports rotating regional presidential primaries"

[madfloridian]

From an interview today, audio at the link, about 20 minutes.

Dean supports rotating regional presidential primaries

"(Host) Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean says he'd like to see his party adopt a system of rotating regional presidential primaries beginning in 2012.

Dean says the approach would give most states an opportunity to have a greater influence on the selection of presidential nominees.


(Dean) "I think the thing to do is to move some of the other primaries back and then rotate them through so in the future every state can count on having some significant input into who the presidential nominee is."

Vermont will be holding its presidential primary on Town Meeting Day in the beginning of March. Dean says the primary could attract some attention if no presidential candidate is able to win 3 of the first 4 primary contests:

(Dean) "I think if it's not done in the first four primaries then I think probably the voters will wait until March to decide who it is. So, you may see some folks head up here, as for example Jimmy Carter did 1980 and Dick Gephardt did in 1988."

The DNC has told Democrats in Florida and Michigan that their delegates to the national convention won't be seated if these states go ahead with plans to hold primaries in January."

The interview became slightly combative. The interviewer asked him in rather terse terms why he was sanctioning Florida.

"Dean says he's not issuing threats - he's merely sticking to the rules of the Party:

Dean: "The rules say that (which were agreed to by Florida) that Florida would go on the fifth of February. They chose not to do that so they get sanctioned- that's not a surprise. I'm not carrying out a threat, it's not ‘us against Florida'. The rules are very clear: once you set the primary schedule, once everybody agrees to it, it has to stay intact because every state of course feels that they're the most important state."

I listened to it, and Dean really took issue with the interviewer using the word "chaos" to describe the primaries. Dean said he only getting gripes from Michigan and Florida, and the other states understand he is trying to respect their rights as well.

I got the impression the rules would be enforced across the board.

Actually he has often talked of rotating regional primaries, but no one noticed.

There was more to the interview, but a lot of stuff he couldn't talk about...like the other candidates or issues.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

1. Well that's pretty basic good sense. (so it's probably not goin' anywhere)

[madfloridian]

3. Yep, has possibilities.

:hi:

[XemaSab]

2. I've been saying that for years

Small states that would be good to rotate through are Oregon, New Mexico, and South Carolina, in addition to Iowa and New Hampshire.

I think picking a few small states to go first (all on the same day), then a few more small states a month or so later, then having a national primary 6 weeks after that wouldn't be a bad way to go about it.

It would retain the small-town feeling of Iowa and New Hampshire while allowing states with different demographics in different parts of the country to have a say. A candidate with a lot of money could afford a lot of ads in the early states, yes, but as far as I know, there's no substitute for on-the-ground stumping. It would be hard for a candidate to compete in all the early states, so strategy would come into play, and the likelihood of a candidate winning all the first states would be small.

If say, 5 states went first, even a candidate that only "won" one state but nevertheless came in second in all the other states would still be viable. Or a candidate that won three or four states would have to still make an effort to win the second tier of states.

Following the first round, the second tier of states would then be wooed, and that coupled with the showing in the first tier would inform the decision making for the second tier.

After 8 or 10 states had had their say in the matter, all the other states could go in an uber-Tuesday, where there wouldn't be states left out of the process.

[madfloridian]

7. I had heard him in the past give a more detailed answer..

and like you say it retained the small states' abilities to make a difference. I can't find it now.

[IndianaGreen]

4. Is Dean going to sanction Iowa for moving up its caucus?

What about New Hampshire when it moves its primary to December?

Hypocrite!

[madfloridian]

5. It would not matter to you....no matter what happened it would be wrong.

Next I guess you will call me a "good german" again.

I have no idea, but my personal opinion is that my sympathies lie with the early states.

No matter what I have posted here for years, even if you agreed you would disagree because I posted it.

Did you even listen to the audio before you pounced on me again?????

[madfloridian]

6. I looked it up so you would not have to.

Here is the part where Tom Harkin says they would not move up the date with a waiver from the party. That is the way it should be done. Good for them for working with the national party.

Harkin says Dems in Iowa will try to move primary, but will seek party waiver.

MUSCATINE, Iowa — Iowa Democrats will likely move up the party’s presidential caucus date, following rescheduling last week by state Republicans, to preserve Iowa’s first-in-the-nation status, Sen. Tom Harkin said Saturday.

“It looks as though we’re going to go Jan. 3,” Harkin told a group of about 100 Democrats gathered for a Muscatine County party fundraiser at Muscatine Community College on Saturday.

Harkin, D-Iowa, said he spoke with Gov. Chet Culver and Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Scott Brennan, and believes Iowa Democrats will seek a waiver from the Democratic National Committee to reschedule the Jan. 14 caucus in light of Michigan’s decision to hold its primary Jan. 15. Harkin said Democrats would not reschedule without a waiver, in order to preserve its good standing with DNC leaders.

Also I found where they did move the date after consultation. They expect to get a waiver next month. That I agree with. They were in the pre-window following the rules, and two states butted.

More:

Breaking: Iowa Democratic State Central Committee Adopts Jan. 3 Caucus Date

The Iowa Democratic Party’s State Central Committee has finished its conference call and voted to accept Chair Scott Brennan’s recommendation of a January 3, 2008, date for its precinct caucuses, sources tell Iowa Independent.

“This date maintains the important common-sense principle of beginning the delegate selection process in the same calendar year as the election for which we are selecting delegates,” said state party chair Scott Brennan in a statement. “But the overarching principle is to retain the importance of the caucuses. Holding the caucuses on the same day as the Republican Party of Iowa shows solidarity and unity in working to protect Iowa’s First-in-the-Nation status, an important argument in the years to come.”

Although the Democratic National Committee has not officially granted Iowa Democrats a waiver allowing for January 3 Caucuses without any penalty on the number of delegates Iowa is assigned at the national convention, it is expected to do so next month.

The January 3 date was chosen in consultation with DNC Chair Howard Dean along with officials in New Hampshire, sources tell Iowa Independent. New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner is expected to set his state’s primary date as January 8, preserving the traditional order of primary states for the 2008 election.

Florida rammed ahead and blamed Dean and then are suing him...at least two lawsuits maybe more.

Your use of the word hypocrite truly was out of line, and it angered me....because you do this a lot when I post. I don't know why, nor do I care.

I looked it up. You're welcome.

[Renew Deal]

13. BTW, it's absurd that the Iowa Caucus is January 3.

It's way too close to the new year. Many people are on vacation that week. It's also the dead of winter. Not that Jan. 14 is better, but it's not pinned to a holiday.

[madfloridian]

18. Well, not my fault. Their fault.

It is Michigan who butted ahead of them. Florida butted up to be on the same day as SC...

The rules were made, and I don't blame Dean if he does not sanction Iowa. Someone butted.

You are right, it is way way too early.

[Renew Deal]

20. I'm not blaming you at all.

I hope Michigan and Florida get some sense and move their primary.

[madfloridian]

21. They won't.. It's a done deal.

And the lawsuits filed in Florida will continue.

[bigwillq]

8. I am for having just one primary

In March or April...every state votes on the same day. Winner take all style.
In 2004 by the time my state's (CT) primary was held, Kerry was inevitable. I still voted for Dean though.

[Alexander]

9. 100% with Dean on this one.

[maxanne]

10. Dean can't run away from it

He did create the chaos this primary has become.

[Renew Deal]

12. How did he create it?

[madfloridian]

15. That is not the truth at all. Florida Dems helped the GOP push it through

Vote was 115 to 1 for moving the primary. Here is only a small portion of what I have written.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/1607

You sound so sure you probably won't read any of it, and that's ok. Florida lied and blamed Dean.

[maxanne]

16. the chaos began

before Florida got involved, Madfloridian.

[madfloridian]

19. Tell me how.

Show me some links.

[Renew Deal]

11. Dean is correct.

I don't know what the best way to do the primaries is, but it needs to change. The process needs to start later in the year and with more diversity. Why is it that some states never have a chance to pick the nominee? Also, it's not right that around 15 states get to vote on Feb. 5. This process automatically excludes every small profile candidate. The current process requires massive amounts of money. It's just wrong.

[maxanne]

14. who are the states

you believe are choosing the nominee?

I don't remember President Buchanan or President McCain - both candidates who won the NH primary.

The current tinkering with the system ensures that massive ammounts of money are required. In this way, the big money candidates can avoid spending any real time in any of the states, and just let their money speak for them. That's what Obama and Clinton are doing in NH. No need for retail politicking - just big events, where no one can ask tough questions. In Clinton's case, big events where no one is allowed to bring in their own signs - the only signs allowed are Clinton signs. Shades of Busholini.


The only way to eliminate the money is through public funding of campaigns. As long as we continue to elect corporate funded candidates, we won't have public funding.

[Renew Deal]

22. Iowa, NH, and every state that gets to vote until super Tuesday.

States that vote after Super Tuesday haven't mattered in a very long time.

[bunnies]

17. NH will have its primary first anyway...

whether or not it counts. I cant see our govt changing the state constitution to pacify the DNC. The republicans stripped half our delegates... and Bill Gardner told them to shove it. I imagine the same thing would happen if the Dems did the same (or worse).

[The Wielding Truth]

23. This is best solution for fair primaries.

[madfloridian]

24. At T Rex's blog, blogger admits Florida broke the rules to get change.

http://quinnell.us/index.php/all/2007/11/12/see_what_florida_accomplished

I am glad to see it said out loud, but look at the two lawsuits against Dean, maybe one against the first four states.

Look at the estrangement many of us are feeling from our state party.

I wonder if it was worth it, Florida.