This is correct, but how many Democrat brokered conventions have there been in the past several election cycles?
Given that brokered conventions were likely a rarity "back in the day", I could see offering Super delegate slots as simply a way for elected officials to participate in the process in an ex officio manner. In addition (cynical pO157 here) to offer party leaders free travel and lodging for a party that comes 'round every 4 years.
I consider myself a slightly above average person when it comes to political knowledge, yet I did not realize that so many slots were apportioned to supers until this go-round. Imagine how much of a shock it will be to the rest of the hoi polloi if Obama gets the majority of the state delegates but Hillary pulls it out in the end.
That would be delicious. (So delicious.)
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Re: Disgust
Mon Feb 11, 2008 at 03:41:54 PM EST
5.00 (interesting, interesting)
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Imagine how much of a shock it will be to the rest of the hoi polloi if Obama gets the majority of the state delegates but Hillary pulls it out in the end.
That would be delicious. (So delicious.)
Want an even more beautiful scenario? Obama gets a very narrow majority of delegates (state and super), but not a majority of the popular vote because Clinton won most of the states with large cities. Then Clinton sues to get Florida's delegates recognized, as we see the 2000 presidential election played out again as farce wholly within the DNC.
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Re: Disgust
Mon Feb 11, 2008 at 08:07:15 PM EST
4.00 (funny, funny)
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Given the way the dems divy up delegates instead of going whole state by state and the way Obama has been gaining popular steam while Hillary seems to remain the choice of the party establishment, it seems more likely that Obama could land the popular vote while Hillary takes the lead with the super delegates. It would be truly interesting to see how that would play out. You've got to give the nod to Hillary's experience and connections in a brokered situation--at least Vince Foster would ;-)
It is easy to buy small plaster models of what you think life is like.
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Re: Disgust
Mon Feb 11, 2008 at 03:27:10 PM EST
4.00 (interesting)
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While the democrats adopted the urban immigrants through the 20th century, they were an openly corrupt organization during the turn of the century political machine days, so I'm sure the super delegates were there to make sure the party got its way. Have some also been added over the years purely for the perks as well? I'm sure...I heard that Dean offered to pick one in April should a brokered convention look like a certainty to which Obama and Clinton each laughed.
It is easy to buy small plaster models of what you think life is like.
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Re: Disgust
Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 04:29:04 PM EST
5.00 (interesting, informative)
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Super delegates were created after the 1980 convention, at which Ted Kennedy and Jimmy Carter fought over who'd get the nomination. It's not a carry over from the bad old days, but an effort to swing contested conventions more toward the Will Of The People.
