D.C. Primary: Dean still in, DC slapped.

[mb7588a]

Because I go to school in D.C. and would like to see the students, workers and residents of the district be properly represented, I tend to agree with the City Council for moving the primary to Jan. 13th, before IA and NH. A Feb. 14th caucus will chose the delegates.

The Council voted for this primary date because they wanted to put the issue of D.C. voting rights on the platforms of the democratic candidates. According to http://www.dcvote.org, "75% of Washington area adults are employed, the second-highest percentage in the country (Denver is first). Of the employed, 14 percent work for the federal government and 10 percent work for a state or local government or a public school system." There are several solutions to D.C. voting rights, retrocession to Maryland, D.C. statehood, constitutional amendment, congressional legislation. Also, a very strong 14th amendment argument can made.

I am particularly fond of the "No Taxation Without Representation" license plates. Bush had those removed from limousine. His are blank. Lame.

However, DNC rules state that no primaries before Iowa and New Hampshire will be recognized.

This primary is already irrelevant because all the other major candidates, except Dean, have dropped out: Clark, Edwards, Gephardt, Kerry and Lieberman. This is probably directly related to 11 of the 13 Council members endorsing Dean. For what reason is he still in this primary? Is he jeopardizing his delegates' seats at the convention?

Articles about it here:
http://www.theeagleonline.com/news/563475.html
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/2003-11-07-dems-dc-primary_x.htm

Read letters by Clark, Edwards, Gephardt, Kerry, Lieberman:
http://www.dcwatch.com/election2004/031106.htm