Florida guy, as you of all folks would understand.

Obama burst on the scene with high hopes for Change.  His inspiring oratory assured us that we, as in The People, can rise above politics as usual, rise up out of the mud and do things better. This message drove thousands to rally for him, to the stunned amazement of the Old Guard in both parties. That Old Guard found it had to help Hillary Clinton to restrain the Obama momentum, and the method they used to do so consisted of old-style personal attacks and mud slinging (what else is new?). As always, it worked, compelling the Obama campaign to divert precious time and resources to respond effectively to the ferocity of the smears, and that turned what had been an almost revolutionary grassroots challenge to The Establishment into a more prosaic he said-she-said down in the mud political mess.  

Naturally, many observers' eyes glazed: "here we go again." Because states like Michigan and, yes, Florida, stampeded into demanding earlier and earlier primaries, the campaign season has been extended to, well, Forever, and the very idea of many months more of the same old garbage is nauseating. Now it seems that Obama's momentum and message have been diverted and diluted, and we are back to the comfortable (to The Establishment) same ol' same ol' politics.    

Mission Accomplished

Most people thought that the Dems would be settled early, and that 5 man race for the GOP would be lasting until the Convention.

I would say relawson, that your vote doesn't "count" because the Florida GOP made it not count. It was not because of Clinton, or Obama, or even Howard Dean who decided that Florida shouldn't have a vote, it was the Republican-Controlled Legislator and the Republican Governor who willfully broke the rules, not caring if 50% of their population had no vote in the primary.

If I were a Floridian, I would turn that anger and frustration about the Primary and focus on voting out the people who agreed to disenfranchise 50% of their state population.

Just a thought

Aaron C.  

First, the public was misinformed.  We didn't believe the DNC would punish voters here - because of the obvious negative consequence it will have.

Second, the DNC could have responded in a less draconian way.  Had they done exactly what the Republicans did - which is count half the votes - we wouldn't be in this situation.  We would get our slap on the hand, and you wouldn't find yourself in limbo.

I've said for over six months now - before anyone even knew we had a crises coming - that a crises was coming.  I was dismissed.  Look at all of my posts - look at the date that I first brought up this issue.  I was raising the alarm when the problem was manageable.

What will Obama supporters be saying when Hillary makes the argument in court that Floridians had a vote and that the delegates should be seated.  Never mind that she is the only one doing much campaigning here - Bill all over the place.

At some point party leadership must also accept responsibility.  The action by the DNC was not a sign of leadership.  It was a sign of short sightedness.  Howard Dean should go for this.  It was that big of a mistake.