Could 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals decide Florida voters' fates?

A 3-judge panel at the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals got an earful yesterday about the Florida Presidential Primary. DNC general counsel went up against Victor DiMaio, described by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution as a Tampa political consultant. DiMaio alleges a violation of his constitutional rights because the DNC tossed Florida's Democratic Primary votes. I've been beating a dead donkey for months about this. In my opinion, this situation could've been easily avoided early on. The DNC should have had the foresight to see what might happen--two immensely popular candidates with fans loyal enough to split a popular liberal Website like Daily Kos in two, with "Clintonites" threatening a boycott. I really just want to look Howard Dean in the eyes and ask him, "Do you not understand politics?"

Dean and company can cite "party rules" all they want to. They can win. It'll be a hollow victory. Because you cannot be the party of the people and deprive the people of their vote. In doing so you manifest exactly what you accused the GOP of (the GOP having felt the same way after Kennedy was elected and so forth and so on).

A smart politician looks ahead. We've seen some low quality smart where this situation is concerned. A man who supports Sen. Hillary Clinton said last week, "I'll never vote again if they cheat her outa' our votes."

Dean would do well to remember 1.7 million Florida Democrats took the time to cast a vote. And he would do well to look in the mirror and call himself short-sighted. The GOP resolved this same issue months in advance of the primary, before the first vote was cast. Florida Republicans settled for 50% of the votes with little complaint.

If a party wants to run a country as large as the United States of America, I reckon you better be able to run your own party first. And to remember the U.S. Constitution has historically favored the voter.

A friend who's a Democrat complained that moving the primary was "purely political."

I just looked at her and said, "Your point being?"

Because elections are all about politics, and the real fun hasn't even started yet.

As my esteemed grandmother used to tell me, "A stitch in time saves nine."

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