Now that NH Sec of State Bill Gardner has set the primary starting line (filing begins two weeks from today, Oct. 15), it’s time to count our blessings and be glad we aren’t in Florida.
Gotta love the rampant surrealism of Florida as a thorn in everyone’s side this primary season. Just ask Barack Obama, who went panning for campaign gold in the Sunshine state Sunday night -- and ended up looking if not foolish, then certainly like a politician masquerading as a thief in the night and exchanging shouts with a reporter (It seems that because Florida is primary blacklisted, candidates can fund raise but not campaign, not talk to supporters or, it seems, talk to pesky reporters doing their job. See story by Adam Smith of the St. Pete Times. It’s a restrained hoot.)
Florida, oh Florida, land of the Butterfly ballot and other unique quirks that make it a land all its own. The latest Florida step into the comic spotlight is a reminder that we have it so smooth and easy here in first-in-the-galaxy primary land. As of today, Florida Dems are essentially unwilling captains of a pirate primary ship and one where Democratic voters could potentially not have their votes count. Call it Deja Vu 2000 all over again -- this time the blue meanies are not the fluently and proudly corrupt Republican-dominated Florida legislative and executive junta that screwed them in 2000 (who can forget the dynamic duo team of Jeb Bush and Katherine Harris?). This time it’s D.C. Dems -- the national party trying to do its part to keep intact a outdated primary system from flying apart at the seems -- screwing loyal Florida Dems in a state the Dems need come general election time.
This is a saga with infinite b-grade comedy material that turns irony green with envy. The national Dems are punishing the Florida Dems because those Republican wise guys and gals in the legislature moved the primary date early so Florida could screw South Carolina and become the first primary in the South. Got it? Now hold your breath for more self-inflicted stench. More or less, the Florida Dems have no choice but to hold their primary when the legislature says -- for their trouble, they are being punished by the national party which is cutting off its nose and chopping apart its face in a bold attempt to spite itself. To add insult to injury, the Republicans are playing good samaritan and telling Dems to register as Republicans so they can make their primary votes count. It’s enough to make a Florida Dem laugh and cry and wonder if anyone really cares about them.
And here in first-in-the-galaxy primary land, we have it made. That so many states end up looking primary foolish trying to replace us with their own illusions of self-importance, only makes the comedy all the more entertaining — and instill a little doubt that maybe our time is running out. The pirates could be coming for us.
Daily Link
In my daily link, Walter Shapiro of Salon smartly dissects the collective punditboro contempt for John Edwards -- and completely ignores his considerable powers on the campaign trail which I have seen as well. It’s easy to obsess about $400 haircuts and ignore his progressive and increasingly populist message which raises serious questions about the status quo stench in D.C.
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