How Does McAuliffe's Plan (Shortened Primary Season) Look As Of Tonight ??

[WillyT]

I know it's still too early to tell how all this is gonna all play out, but man, my head is spinning, and not a whole bunch got (is gettin) settled tonight, so far. And I fear the next couple of weeks are gonna be even worse!!!

TM's hope was for a QUICK frontrunner, who would have the spring and summer to get ready for Shrub.

Not sure it's going as planned so far.

But who the hell knows? Most everybody has been wrong about most everthing most of the time so far, LOL!!!

:shrug:

Maybe it's the wine :toast: !

[mlawson]

1. I have a problem with it: It's like a close basketball game.

When the team that happens to be ahead when the buzzer sounds, wins. What if our candidates are having 'bubbles' of popularity, and this short season catches the one who is popular at that moment?? But then by July, when the delegates are committed, that person is no longer popular, but we are stuck with him??? And Des are all wondering, "What were we thinking???"

[Turkw]

2. I don't like it, too much is set on very few states, if we want a short

race, bunch up more states. California and Florida don't get a say and we are very importaint states. At the same time, smaller states add up, so they count also. I don't have a problem with a short race, but let's get more state's involved

[tishaLA]

3. Like most things TM advocates

It's dumb. We need a more open primary season, not a more closed one. It is better to allow candidates to get sea legs, to allow them to expand their message, to allow more groups of voters from different regions to see the candidates up close, to allow people to stumble and have the chance to pick themselves up again. Shortening it like this is even more artificial than it usually is.

I don't like it.

[DrFunkenstein]

4. More Time For Fundraising, Digging Trenches, Etc.

It may be moving too quickly from state to state, but having a clear nominee early is a good thing.

[TheDonkey]

5. Much better than previous primary races

It's going quickly. He said by March 7th we will have the canidate I believe that. WE need as MUCH time possible to beat spaceshrub.

It spaced it out nicely in the south this time to compensate with IO and HM (which went before in the old model anyway).

[Feanorcurufinwe]

6. Well it's not over yet, but the race is tigtening already.

So I say, so far, so good.

[krkaufman]

7. Personally, I think McAuliffe's strategy is crap

My brother forwarded to me this commentary from 'The Nation', dated January 2002, discussing McAuliffe's strategy to remove democracy from the Democratic Party. I think it summarizes the issue pretty well.

http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml%3Fi=20020121&s=nichols
comment | Posted January 3, 2002
Primary Predicament
by John Nichols

As for how I feel, at present, I'd say the author was right-on in terms of how the new process precludes grassroots candidates from effectively contesting for the nomination.

I feel more violated by this than I did by the Republicans stealing the election in 2000; I expect it from them. But, with the DNC/DLC stacking the desk against non-establishment candidates and pissing on democracy, I'll be leaving the Democratic Party.

[WillyT]

8. Yep, It Does Look Like Grassroots Movements Have No Place In...

the two party system.

That guarantees that we'll never get true reform, or even any real change.

Nobody thinks big anymore; again with the 'soft bigotry of low expectations'.

:shrug:

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

9. Good article. Thanks.

[krkaufman]

11. No prob

No problem.

We may need to first take back the Democratic Party before we make any ground. Dean/Clark/Kucinich for DNC Chairman (whichever one doesn't win the Presidency, that is).

Message Over Money...!!!

[WillyT]

10. Puttin On My Jammies Kick !!!

:kick:

[frustrated_lefty]

12. McAuliffe's Plan

Well, it looks like it always did.

The republicans control the Senate, they control the House, all they have to gain is the Judiciary. They have the executive branch. McAuliffe has done a poor job.

His "plan." More of the same.

[WillyT]

13. Any Other Thoughts ???

1) Is it (shortened primary season) working as planned???

2) Is it a good idea?

3) What are its implications for grassroots/populist movements???

4) What changes would you make to address your concerns?

:shrug:

[rucky]

14. The media's still gung-ho about coverage