Beautiful Choir

It was visitor's day at the lunatic asylum. All the patients were standing out in the courtyard and singing, "Ave Maria", and singing it beautifully. Oddly, each of them was holding a red apple in one hand and tapping it rhythmically with a pencil.

A visitor listened in wonderment to the performance and then approached the conductor. "I am a retired choir director," he said. "This is one of the best choirs I have ever heard."

"Yes, I'm very proud of them," said the conductor.

"You should take them on tour," said the visitor, "what are they called?"

"In the beginning this was a big problem. One inmate wanted to call them the "Big Apple with Little Brown Seeds Singing Sons of Siam". But I said it was too long and, anyway, none of them were from Siam. Then, another thought "The Pencil Leads" was a good name but the others disagreed because they had no one to write to."

"Well," the visitor asked, "What name did they finally agree on?"

"Surely that's obvious," replied the conductor. "They all agreed to call themselves"...

...are you ready for this?...

"THE MORON TAPANAPPLE CHOIR"

Has the DNC Already Made a Decision On Nominee?

I wonder, I just read this on Newsmax.com:

Party Chairman Howard Dean says he wants a new vote in those states but he won't use party money to pay for it. That benefits Obama, because Clinton would have likely won those states in a re-vote. If Dean and the Obama can keep the current slate of Florida and Michigan delegates off the convention floor, Clinton's position is further undermined.

Of course "those states" are Florida and Michigan and refer to the January 29th primaries that were held contrary to the wishes of the DNC. It looks to me like the DNC has decided that Obama is the Candidate of Choice and Hillary has been kicked to the curb.

The DNC threw a hissy fit because Florida and Michigan didn't cave to their demands to change the primary to a date after Super Tuesday. So they took their marbles (delegates) and went home. Now Howard wants a re-vote. What he really wants is a do-over. A do-over is when the outcome isn't what you wanted. A re-vote indicates something is wrong with the vote. Nothing is wrong with the vote. Florida and Michigan voters cast their votes even though the DNC said they wouldn't count toward the delegate totals.

Now apparently, Howard and the DNC want those delegates to go to Obama to keep Hillary out of the running for the nomination. Howard thinks a do-over would change the result and Obama would get the delegates that Hillary won on January 29th.

Here's my suggestion: Either the DNC pays for a do-over or accepts that they shot themselves in the foot and award the delegates accordingly. But, if they do that, their CoC may have a harder road to travel to the nomination. With the Florida and Michigan delegates added to Hillary's column, she pulls ahead of Obama in delegate count. Howard apparently doesn't want that. He doesn't want Hillary leading in delegates. Why? Is he afraid of Hillary? Afraid of a woman? So enamored of a black candidate that he kicks the woman candidate to the curb? Does he ::gasp:: think that a man would be better as President than a woman? Oh, my! I think I might swoon!

If I were a Democrat in either Florida or Michigan, I would be incensed that the DNC thought so little of my vote. Isn't the DNC the party that made such a stink about "every vote" counting just a few years ago? Apparently every vote except those in Florida and Michigan. This is the party of progress? Of change? Maybe it is. The game changes, so the DNC changes the rules - rules they made, by the way. The DNC wants the votes to count, but only the way they want them to go. And on someone else's dime.

I hope Florida and Michigan both tell Howard and the DNC to take their do-over and put it where the Sun don't shine.

Hillary Is Right

I can't believe I wrote those words. I actually agree with Hillary on something. What we agree on is whether there should be another primary held in Florida. Hillary knows that she would pull in front of Obama with the delegate she would get from wins in Florida and Michigan. I say the election has already been held and the vote and delegate count should stand.

This all stems from the DNC getting their panties in a wad because Florida and Michigan decided to hold their primaries before Super Tuesday. The DNC decided that since neither Florida nor Michigan would back down and change their primary date, votes cast would not be counted and delegates would not be given to the winner.

If I were a Democrat in either state I would be outraged that the DNC declared my vote to be worthless. How dare the DNC make that decision? Is this not the party who said in 2000 that "every vote counts"? Or is it that every vote counts only when the DNC thinks it should? Which is is, Howard? Every vote counts, or only when you say?

It would cost millions to hold another primary in these states. Does the DNC plan to foot the bill? I doubt it, the cost will fall to the citizens of those states, and not just the Democratic voters, but all citizens - Republicans and other parties as well. Even those who did not vote at all would have to pony up to defray the costs. Here's an idea: Charge the voter as they pick up their ballot. A buck a vote. How many would pay? I wouldn't or wait....maybe I would. I'd ask for a receipt for my buck and then forward it on to the DNC and ask for reimbursement. Then hold my breath until I was repaid.

Obama is in favor of another vote and I can't blame him. He stands to pick up a lot of votes that he didn't get the first time around. Votes for candidates who have since dropped out of the race are up for grabs. People like to back a winner and now that Obama is the front-runner, some votes that went to Hillary would now go to Obama.

It appears the DNC didn't think ahead when they decided to punish Florida and Michigan. I say too bad, so sad. The votes that have already been cast in Florida and Michigan should either count or not. Do-overs are fine in kids games. This isn't a kid's game. It's a grown up, adult game and the DNC needs to be grown up about this.

Now, what road will the DNC take? The high road and admit they were just being spiteful in denying the thousands of Florida and Michigan Democrats their votes and, in the end, the candidates their delegates? Will the DNC back down and say the primiary votes will count after all and the delegates awarded as if it were January 30th and the elections held the day before? (Ooops! Sorry, just kidding!) Or will the DNC decide to look like spoiled brats and insist on a do-over?

Obama has to rely on the superdelegates (their special power is the ability to be pawns in this election), and Hillary can't overcome Obama without Florida and Michigan.

::sigh:: Once again, Florida is in the middle of an election melodrama.