Democracy Is Hidden In Plain Sight

By DANIEL RUTH

Published: Jun 5, 2007

As bold, decisive, visionary moves go, this latest flummoxocity on the part of the Democrats falls somewhere between King Arthur's flaccid assault on the Castle Arrrghh in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" and Uday and Qusay's escape plan.

This was supposed to vault Florida to its rightful place at the top of the presidential primary food chain.

Instead of being back in electoral steerage with a balloting date late in the political season, when the party's presidential nominee would be all but determined, the Florida Legislature wised up during its recently completed session and bumped the primary date to a more influential Jan. 29.

Finally, both Florida Democratic and Republican voters, representing a more diverse cross-section of the country in one of the most vital presidential electoral states, would assert their will in determining their respective nominees.

'Federalist Papers'

National party elders threatened candidates who campaigned in Florida with a loss of delegates, which state Republicans shrugged off with a "whatever."

But the Democrats, who never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity, are now flirting with turning their presidential primary into a banana republic debacle that makes Hugo Chavez look like a walking "Federalist Papers."

At the moment, state Democratic Party Chairwoman Karen Thurman is holding talks with national Chairman Howard Dean on how to resolve the ballot brouhaha. Party spokesman Mark Bubriski said an agreement is expected this summer.

However, one plan under active consideration would call for a meaningless nonbinding beauty queen vote Jan. 29 with the actual delegates determined at a later date by party caucus.

A simple question for Thurman and Dean - are you two chuckleheads certifiably insane?

Could any two politicians be any more politically tone deaf than Idi Amin by considering holding an election in Florida where the votes cast will be predetermined as completely meaningless?!?!?

Wadded Bloomers

Or put another way, simply because Howard Dean got his bloomers in a wad over the Florida Legislature flexing its political clout, the chairman of the national party would disenfranchise more than 4.2 million registered Democrats from expressing their choice for a presidential nominee.

Say, there's a Yankee Doodle moment for you.

Suppose, Hillary Rodham Clinton won the faux Florida primary vote Jan. 29, only to lose the delegates to say, Barack Obama after the caucuses convene?

Once again, Florida, long derided for its seeming ineptitude when it comes to counting votes, would be cast as the state that can't even fix an election right.

As well, what is the incentive for Florida Democrats to even bother to take the time to vote Jan. 29 if they know their voice, their decision, their preference is going to be treated with less respect than a hanging chad?

Even more amazing is the notion that it will take a better part of the summer for the state and national parties to resolve this dispute.

All summer long to figure out how to do the right thing, to commit first-degree democracy? Sigh.

Daniel Ruth's column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.