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DNC Winter Meeting: New Rules on Scheduling Primaries

by: Hopeful

Thu Feb 01, 2007 at 10:08:16 PM EST

I spent today at the 2007 DNC Winter Meeting. In the spirit of openness, the DNC has kindly invited bloggers to cover the meeting. The big event is tomorrow, when the Presidential candidates each give speeches. Blue Jersey will have Jay and Jack there to capture every detail - and perhaps record some podcasts. There were relatively few events scheduled today. Today I attended the Resolutions Committee, the Rules and Bylaws Committee, and the Rural Caucus. On the other hand, I skipped the big party with an open bar. I'll post about each of meetings, but I'd like to start with the new rules on scheduling primaries that were adopted unanimously by the Rules and Bylaws committee, since they're of great importance to New Jersey.

The rules for 2008 seek to give incentives for states to schedule their primaries later in the season. The key is that these are incentives only, so that if New Jersey moves up to February 5 we will not lose any delegates. Since our original date was in June, we would receive a 10% bonus for remaining there. (This is a reward for "good behavior.") By the way, if we moved back to June from an earlier date, we would have gotten a 30% bonus. (Somehow the Prodigal Son comes to mind.)

The co-chair started by joking that this could be a very brief meeting, or a very long one. Indeed, I noticed quite a few people with Iowa and New Hampshire on their badges in the audience, but their states were never mentioned. As it turned out this discussion was brief and not contentious at all. Matters were a bit different on a resolution related to young delegates, which I'll describe later.

I should also note that the written proposal considered a long-term solution for 2012 and beyond, although it was not clear to me whether that was approved in this meeting, since nothing was said about it. I imagine it could be changed anyway. That system gives slightly larger bonuses for moving back with respect to 2004, and penalties for moving forward from 2008. This suggests that the best move for New Jersey is go to February 5 in 2008, since we would not face any future penalties. If we schedule a late February primary in 2008, then we'd face penalties if we moved up more in 2012,.

Hopeful :: DNC Winter Meeting: New Rules on Scheduling Primaries

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DNC Winter Meeting: New Rules on Scheduling Primaries | 11 comments

YOU WHAT??!! (0.00 / 0)

You skipped the big party with the open bar?!

Some blogger you are. ;-)

The nom de plume has a long and distinguished history.

by: Tandalayo Scheisskopf @ Thu Feb 01, 2007 at 21:27:29 PM CST

by: you @ soon

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at least (0.00 / 0)

In khakis, Blue Jersey tee shirt, and blue button-down shirt I stuck out among the politicians wearing expensive dark suits.

I have to think of a witty signature about Frank LoBiondo

by: Hopeful @ Thu Feb 01, 2007 at 21:36:39 PM CST

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by: you @ soon

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Yeah... (0.00 / 0)

They would have gotten all mad. There you were, all casual and comfortable and there they were, with a ligature around their necks and their boxers starting to ride up and give them The Mother of All Wedgies.

You were right: It would have come to no good end. ;-)

The nom de plume has a long and distinguished history.

by: Tandalayo Scheisskopf @ Fri Feb 02, 2007 at 02:04:23 AM CST

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One more thing: (0.00 / 0)

As a blogger, you should know that those big political bashes with the open bars? Gold. Blogging gold. About three drinks in, the dish and the gossip starts and it's yoiks and away for good blogging intel poop.

Them folks get a few down their necks and they gossip worse than a mah jongg club.

The nom de plume has a long and distinguished history.

by: Tandalayo Scheisskopf @ Fri Feb 02, 2007 at 02:07:53 AM CST

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heh heh heh ... (0.00 / 0)

Iowa and New Hampshire delegates lurking in the corners of the room with bats and brass knuckles...

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.

by: Rosi Efthim @ Thu Feb 01, 2007 at 21:45:03 PM CST

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and Nevada handing out fliers (0.00 / 0)

Nevada was handing out fliers to remind people about their new early Caucus! I hope they do get people to pay attention.

I have to think of a witty signature about Frank LoBiondo

by: Hopeful @ Thu Feb 01, 2007 at 21:54:30 PM CST

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NJ should consider a caucus instead of a primary (0.00 / 0)

If NJ moves its Presidential primary election to February 5, it will not have any impact on the traditional June primary election date for all other offices. Caucuses are much cheaper, since they don't require the use of voting machines or nearly as much paid staff.

And despite the way that Gephardt and Kucinich were able to muck up the outcome of the Iowa caucuses in 2004, I think that caucuses are actually more small-d democratic than primaries, because participation is limited to the small percentage of registered voters who are willing to set aside an hour or two of their life one evening to actively participate in the democratic process, rather than be shoveled into a polling booth via a systematic voter identification and GOTV process.

Considering how wired the Democratic and Republican machines are in this state, I doubt that they would ever go for a caucus over a primary, but anyone who still believes in the democratic process should seriously consider it.

by: rachael'sdad @ Fri Feb 02, 2007 at 01:44:13 AM CST

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Caucuses instead of primaries? (0.00 / 0)

Maybe--but please, not in Bergen County!

Besides, primaries are valuable for getting voters aware of the issues, identifying our supporters, involving volunteers, discovering allies, and learning who the bad guys are. We need to do these things!

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." (Teddy Roosevelt)

by: DottieG @ Fri Feb 02, 2007 at 02:24:49 AM CST

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of course (0.00 / 0)

I was only advocating for an Iowa-style caucus for the Presidential election since it is going to be on a different day than the 2008 primary elections for all other offices.

Primaries are essential and invaluable for every office other than President, where for the reasons already stated, an Iowa-style caucus might be superior.

by: rachael'sdad @ Fri Feb 02, 2007 at 06:59:20 AM CST

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grass is greener in reverse (0.00 / 0)

I don't want to come across as defending Bergen County, but it's not like our home counties (Middlesex and Union) are small-d democratic utopias.

Before John Lynch went to jail, he ruled Middlesex County just as ruthlessly as Ferriero rules Bergen. Let's just hope that Ferriero joins Lynch in a federal prison sometime in the near future.

Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't the Union County Democratic Chair ignore the will of the majority of the Plainfield Democratic Committee in 2005 when she threw the previous Mayor off of the line in favor of the current Mayor?

And anyone who was privvy to the Maryanne Connelly fiasco during the 2000 Congressional elections in the 7th District knows all too well that Charlotte DeFillippo is no saint.

This is why any organization's County Committee Project needs to focus just as much on making blue counties true blue as it does on making red counties purple.

by: rachael'sdad @ Fri Feb 02, 2007 at 07:14:16 AM CST

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