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DEL.ICIO.USComing up next: The new rules for the 2012 presidential campaign
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Stateline.org reports that both Republicans and Democrats are looking to slow down the presidential nomination process in 2012.
Republicans are expected to vote on their plan in Minneapolis. Democratic changes would come further down the road.
Says Stateline.org:
While all sides agreed that this year’s historic run for the White House energized voters, as evidenced by record voter registration and primary turnout, many are concerned that this cycle’s very early start was unfair to candidates and state officials who actually administer the primary contests — and in the end, to voters.
“The formal primary process teeters on the brink of chaos,” said Don Means, director of the Open Caucus Institute, a nonprofit, nonpartisan group that advocates a change in the nominating process.
Presidential candidates were forced to start campaigning at Thanksgiving, giving what critics say was an unfair advantage to highly funded candidates with name recognition. States had to scramble to get ballots ready and train poll workers. And many voters didn’t really get a chance to get to know the various contenders, because by March, the field of candidates was essentially narrowed to U.S. Sen. John McCain for the GOP and Obama and U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton for the Democrats.
The goal of the commission that the DNC and the Obama campaign are forming is to ensure that no primary or caucus is held before the first Tuesday in March 2012, except for approved “pre-window states,” such as Iowa and New Hampshire, whose contests would fall in February 2012….
Here’s what’s happening on the Republican side:
“I believe we are closer to getting some kind of meaningful reform than ever before,” said David Norcross, who chairs the Republican National Committee’s Rules Committee. His panel on Aug. 27 will take up a proposal called “the Ohio plan” that would continue to give Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada the opening shots, but then voters in three groups of states would then follow later on a rotating basis. The “Ohio plan” originally would have had the country’s smallest states go first, but Norcross said that idea could be dropped because of opposition by larger states such as California and Michigan.
The RNC panel also will consider the “Texas plan” that divides the country into four groups based on a balance of convention delegates, electoral votes and the proportion of “red” and “blue” states and another proposal that Norcross called a “do-nothing” plan that essentially promises only to hold the primaries no early than the first Tuesday in March.
Comments
By Robby
August 25, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this
Sweet Jesus Thank You Hallelujah! I mean having a frikken two year campaign for the White House is utterly ridiculous. The only reason it started as early as it did this go around was because of the Democrats and their Bush Derangement Syndrome.
By Hellinahandbasket
August 25, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this
Whether you like FOX news or not it is abhorrent that anyone would attempt to censor them or any other news organization simply because they disagree with some or all of their programs. Here is the DNC supposedly the bastions and protectors of free speech and their minions are physically and verbally attacking a new organization because they don’t ‘like’ what they report. The thing that really gets me and makes me wonder what the DNC and their ilk is up to is that FOX news although conservative in most ways is the ONLY conservative show out there where as there are numerous liberal slanted ones (CNN,MSNBC,ABC etc.) so I wonder what are liberals so worried about with FOX do they really think they are so powerful that we need to fear them? And how wrong is it to censor someone? How would we all feel if others tried to censor us and our views? FOX like any other organization has a right to report what it wants and try to get an interview with who ever it wants. As a life long liberal Democrat I am appalled that my brethren for one are so afraid of FOX or any one else like that but too that they would resort to violence to silence others that have as much right to a voice in this nation as we do. I keep hearing how Fox lies, well dear ones I hate to inform you but ALL news shows lie, ALL news shows throw a little entertainment into them to gain ratings…its the business! Those that accosted the Fox reporter and camera man ought to be ashamed of themselves, this is a nation of free speech and personally I welcome all views conservative and liberal as that is what makes my ‘side’ so special…we usually have a history of tolerance and open mindedness but of late there are too many that want to silence everyone who is not of their same mindset and that defeats what the DNC has and should still be standing for !
By Copyleft
August 25, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this
Might help if you explained what the heck you’re referring to, HiaHB.
By Hellinahandbasket
August 25, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this
Well, ‘COPYLEFT’ if you had been watching the news or purusing the internet for information you would know. I suspect though you are one of those who don’t really want the truth on any subject so you stick to one information source or listen to some celebrity tell you how to think and vote. My suggestion is get educated on a number of subjects, seek the truth on all issues otherwise we are facing another 4 years of someone who has the same politics as Bush. I don’t want that but too I don’t want my fellow Liberal Democrats stepping on the rights of others either based simply on whether I agree with them or not.
By dittohead
August 25, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this
network TV.vate For the Dems, with Obama losing in 2008, Hillary will run unchallenged in 2012. (The Dems know they have a losing ticket) Hillary will walk a tight-rope in her speech, every word counts, consoling her crying supporters, paying her dues to the party by endoring Obama & laying the groundwork for 2012. Her speech will several purposes. She will own network TV. No one dare challenge HRC….
By dittohead
August 25, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this
network TV.vate For the Dems, with Obama losing in 2008, Hillary will run unchallenged in 2012. (The Dems know they have a losing ticket) Hillary will walk a tight-rope in her speech, every word counts, consoling her crying supporters, paying her dues to the party by endoring Obama & laying the groundwork for 2012. Her speech will several purposes. She will own network TV. No one dare challenge HRC….
By dittohead
August 25, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this
network TV.vate For the Dems, with Obama losing in 2008, Hillary will run unchallenged in 2012. (The Dems know they have a losing ticket) Hillary will walk a tight-rope in her speech, every word counts, consoling her crying supporters, paying her dues to the party by endoring Obama & laying the groundwork for 2012. Her speech will several purposes. She will own network TV. No one dare challenge HRC….
By Dr. Dru
August 25, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this
Dittohead, admit it: you were aroused when you awoke from this dream you had this morning, weren’t you? A strong woman putting you in your place. Yes! Sadly, as usual, your fantasy does not play out in the real world.
By Copyleft
August 25, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this
HiaHB, you might have taken that question as an opportunity to actually, y’know, EXPLAIN what you’re talking about.
A link, for example. Or a name.
By Steve
August 26, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this
It doesn’t matter. Until everyone votes on the same day the primaries are a sham.