Ten Floridas / Ten Ohios

Dianne Feinstein was hosting a party for California Delegation after Monday’s Convention festivities. Our host couldn’t make it. Sadly, she broke her ankle last week and will not be attending the convention.

It was a desert party, and I hadn’t eaten dinner. I met a few folks, drank some wine that tasted corked (not that I didn't appreciate it), and then took off to find the closest restaurant before kitchens closed.

A gentlemen sat down next to me at the bar. He was working the security for the Convention. He told me he had not made up his mind who he was voting for yet. We struck up a conversation. He told me he lives in Colorado Springs and his son plays high school football. About five minutes into our conversation, I realized something: “You know what? Your vote is worth fifty times more than my vote. I have to work on you a little bit.”

And I did.

And it was fun. He was really receptive. Maybe it was the fact that I used some fundraising dollars to buy him beer.

I’m hearing a lot of talk out here about Colorado, Minnesota, Virginia, Indiana, North Carolina, Georgia, Montana, Nevada and - of course - Ohio and Florida. Battle ground states. Purple states. Must win states.

This system is total garbage. The President represents each citizen. Therefore, each citizens’ vote should count the same. Under the electoral “points” system, it doesn’t.

It’s an old system that dates back to the framing of our Constitution - it’s old and it’s failing us. Kind of like aspects of the 2nd Amendment (Yes, I said it). Remind me again, did the original Constitution say anything about women having the right to vote? And what did (or didn't) it say about the slavery of human beings?

"Congress shall make all laws necessary and proper"
Do you hear that? It's a heartbeat. The Constitution is a living document. Living things grow and change.

AND

I’m enjoying the hell out of this Convention, but in the twenty first century, this practice of “pledged” delegates and “super” delegates has no place in a democracy that claims to be the greatest on earth.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I wonder, though, whether or not the delegates are still in place for the sole purpose of convening at the convention, which helps the party 1.) present a platform the millions of viewers at home will tune in to watch the only event where the entire party is in one place and 2.)keep the party in line. I don't suppose using the one man, one vote system is effective in ensuring party power.

Dan's Top Postings From Denver I

1. Signs, signs everywhere there's signs The best story to come out of Denver was in the airport on the way home.
2. Yes we can. Yes we will” On the floor of Investco Field.
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4. “Two full days in nine hours and Snapfish pictures and storyline of Gavin Newsom's "Manifest Hope" Party in Denver
5. Numbers Notes from the Convention Center and information on two important voting blocks: Young voters and Hispanic voters.

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1. "Lincoln" Dan sounds off on how the 21st Century Republican Party is no longer the party of Lincoln. To avoid further casual, conservative revisionism, he poses a unique contest of vigilance: winner gets to select something for him to break.
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5. “Can Rock and Roll Save the World? Let's see... This one isn’t a rant. It’s a plan.