It’s Happening: Democratic Party Officials to Vote on Eliminating Superdelegates

[Playinghardball]

Maine Democrats are taking the first step towards eliminating the massively unpopular superdelegates at this weekend’s state convention with a move that could result in an all-out brawl between the Clinton and Sanders presidential campaigns, according to Bangor Daily News.

Portland state Representative Diane Russell has introduced an amendment that would require superdelegates to be distributed in proportion to the state’s caucus results. As of now, superdelegates are permitted to go against the will of their voters and allot their points to whomever they please.

This proposal comes in the wake of public outcry after Sanders received nearly double the votes of Hillary Clinton in the state’s caucus (64%-35%), but only 1 of the 5 available superdelegates. Clinton has secured three of the other Maine superdelegate endorsements, with one still remaining undeclared.

“If you’re representing the state of Maine as a superdelegate, you should be going the way of the voters,” said National Committeeman Troy Jackson, the only Maine superdelegate to vote for Sanders. “The voters of the Democratic Party told us very much who they wanted.”

Rep. Russell agrees. “We have a system of government where you have one person, one vote, by and large,” she said. “The primary system is not when that happens. And I think that we need to start moving toward a system that’s more fair, that’s more democratic, and more reflective of the popular vote.”


While this amendment will include a “strong suggestion” that this year’s superdelegates vote in accordance with the caucus results, it won’t become binding until 2020.

Russell hasn’t officially said that she supports an immediate change “because it could put Maine out of compliance with rules set by the Democratic National Committee.”

However, the passage of this amendment could be enough to spark a floor fight between supporters of Sanders and Clinton in a contested national convention. Ironically, Clinton’s maligned superdelegate support may soon prove to become her greatest political vulnerability.

The vote on Russell’s amendment will occur this weekend.

http://usuncut.com/news/maine-dem-superdelegates/

[merrily]

1. Yep. I edited my Sea Changes in U.S. Politics post today to include that.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1280109865

What revolution?

[Playinghardball]

3. Hi Gorgeous

How have you been?

I've managed to get three of my posts hidden by the sycophants...

How about you?

[merrily]

4. Hi. LOL! How do you know I'm gorgeous?

You're right of course. I'm a drop dead gorgeous 22 year old.

I just wasn't sure how you knew.



No hides lately. I've had two hides here. Once because I omitted a sarcasm emote, thinking that including one would insult the intelligence of DUers and one when I told someone to fuck off because I thought it worth a hide--and I am one of his biggest fans now.

Then again, my ignore list is pretty big.

[Playinghardball]

5. I have my sources...

Yet, they didn't mention anything about you being only 22....gotta give them a talkin' to...

There are a few that I'd like to tell to fuck off..they remind me of rabid 'Old Yeller'.....LOL

[merrily]

6. There was probably a good reason they never mentioned that I was 22, though

I can't imagine what it might be.

[Playinghardball]

9. I might have misunderstood them...

Maybe they said 52 and I heard 22...

nah.....

[merrily]

10. You sure they didn't say 34 and you heard 22? It could happen.

Not likely, but anything's possible, or so "they" say.

[Playinghardball]

11. Maybe...

But I doubt it..I have excellent hearing for an 'old fart'....LOL

[HooptieWagon]

2. Super delegates no longer needed to suppress grassroots activists.

There are voting machines to do it now.

[merrily]

7. "Grass roots activists" is code for liberal.

Supposedly, McGovern was the impetus for super delegates, but the institution of super delegates did not get enough votes until Reagan. All the memes since 1972 have had to do with demonizing liberals.

[Bob41213]

8. It's a start

[TalkingDog]

12. Logged in just to Rec. and OH SNAP this.

Oh. Snap.