A Solution for the MI/FLA primary fiasco

Ok, we know that it is very important not to disenfranchise any of our states...let alone two that could be very important swing states. We have to find a way to seat delegates from both of these states. At the same time we also know that all the states but two followed the rules...and that a punishment was set out....

more after the fold..

As a parent I know that you can't set a punishment and then not follow through with it. I also know that a punishment can be altered along the line and, if done right, does not negate the original punishment, nor the reason for the punishment. Florida and Michigan broke the rules (we can argue the rules later)and needed to be punished. And so far been punished. Now what can we do to keep some punishment while still getting the people of the states to have representation?

(punishment analogy...your kid, a junior in high school, drives his car while drinking...a major bad...underage drinking and driving...you punish him by taking away his car till he is 19...it has been a year and he is starting his senior year and has been a good kid, hard working at school, good grades, an after school job...so you give him back his car, but only to go to school and to go to his after school job...so you have modified his punishment, but he is still being punished)

Michigan is easy....Re-vote...A new primary (it will be called a caucus, but it will be a primary style single secret ballot voting...like New Mexico...called a caucus because it is paid for by the party, not the state, but still secret ballot type election. Have both names on the ballot and make it for the day after Puerto Rico votes...this way you can also say that Puerto Rico (which isn't a state) isn't electing our candidate. So Michigan re-votes the day after Puerto Rico and gets to have it's delegates at the convention. Super-delegates....mmmm, maybe yes, maybe no...depends on if Dean wants to punish the party even with a re-vote....that is up to Dean.

The other option for Michigan is to not re-vote and keep it's punishment unchanged...this is not the preferred option. If any state should get a vote in this election year it is Michigan, a state that has been hit so hard economically. So please Michigan, RE-VOTE.

Florida is a bit tougher and it can have three options. The first is to do nothing and let the punishment stand...again, the worst option of the three.

The second option is to, like Michigan, to re-vote on the day after Puerto Rico. The have the delegates fall where they may.

The third option is, if Florida decides not to re-vote, but Dean wants to modify the punishment so Florida gets some representation, is to:
Take away the super-delegates (after all it is the power people of Florida that went against the rules and endangered the Florida citizens it's votes) and then also do what the Republicans did; cut the delegates in half (well not phsyically, that would be a very extreme punishment...no, cut the delegate number in half). Then give Clinton her larger portion of those delegates and give Obama his smaller portion of those delegates. Not exactly fair to either side, but Florida will get delegates to the convention, the super delegates get the punishment more than the citizens on the streets and the number of delegates going to each candidate is less, so less "harming" from what is looked at as a questionable primary.

Personally I would like to see both states re-vote...if not that, I would love Michigan to re-vote and Florida to get a modified punishment...barring that, sadly I see trouble ahead if both states have the punishment either stand or if it is revoked...

g

ps this thread is labeled "A Solution", not "The Solution".

still something must be done... but something must be done right...something being done is easy...done right is much harded