Washington, D.C. (Right Commentary) - Trotsky said, “None of us desires or is able to dispute the will of the party. The party in the last analysis is always right, because the party is the single historical instrument given to the proletariat for the solution of its basic problems. I have already said that in front of one’s own party nothing could be easier than to acknowledge a mistake, nothing easier than to say: “All my criticisms, my statements, my warnings, my protests – the whole thing was simply a mistake.” I cannot say that, however, comrades, because I do not think it. I know that one must not be right against the party. One call be right only with the party, and through the party, for history has no other road for being in the right. The English have a saying: “My country – right or wrong.” With far more historical justification we may say: my party – in certain concrete cases – right or wrong … And if the party adopts a decision which one or another of us thinks unjust, he will say: just or unjust it is my party, and I shall support the consequences of the decision to the end.”

This posting will be a bit more irrevrant than most, but I’m totally dumbfounded. I am completely stunned and amazed by Howard Dean’s statements today on CBS. Super Delegates - chose by July 1 or else…

Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean, hoping to avoid a divisive fight on the convention floor, weighed in on the Clinton-Obama battle Friday by calling on all party Super Delegates to declare whom they support by July 1.

Dean, appearing on CBS’ “Early Show” this morning, was asked about the prospects of a vote among the superdelegates before the convention, an idea floated as a way to settle the still undecided Democratic race.

“Well, I think the superdelegates have already been weighing in. I think there’s 800 of them and 450 of them have already said who they’re for,” Dean said. “I’d like the other 350 to say who they’re on between now and the first of July so we don’t have to take this into the convention.”

Dean was not asked to elaborate on his remarks during the interview.

If I was a Democrat - I guess I might be wondering the following at the moment:

• If the political process doesn’t matter - because the Super Delegates will chose my nominee - then why bother voting at all (especially in the General election).
• If I’m a Super delegate - and Howard Dean says “make up your minds before July 1″ - even though the nomination convention isn’t until August - then what does it matter what the rule’s say, the “convention” is really being held July 1.
• If I’m a “swing voter” - and I’m watching all this - I have to ask myself, how can either of these candidates unite the Country if they can’t even unite their own PARY?
• If I live in Florida or Michigan - I’m wondering if my vote will even count!

When you consider everything, it is quite remarkable how the party that echoes “Change, Hope, Dream, A New America” can hardly seem to even get its house in order and gain consensus around a candidate. The Democratic Party, in January, looked pretty invincible… as a Republican I was pretty despondent. But as they say in politics - tomorrow is an eternity. We’ve had a lot of “tomorrows” since January.

In January, all of the pundits (myself included to an extent) were saying that the Republican Party would be a brokered convention because you had a three way dogfight in the polls between Gov. Romney, Mayor Guiliani, and Gov. Huckabee. Romney was rising, Rudy was falling like Meteor (Ron Paul was getting more delegates than Rudy), and Huckabee, with his brand of southern-charm and guitar-playing, was on fire at the ballot box. McCain - the guy who ultimately wins the votes for the nomination - doesn’t even appear on the radar screen. It was to be a brokered convention “for sure” given that mix of candidates - and the candidates themselves seemed certain that they would face Sen. Clinton as the nominee.

Then Sen. Obama won Iowa. Gov. Huckabee won Iowa. And then the whole world changed…

The media went into a frenzy - now ANYONE could win - brokered conventions for everyone!. The media, in a fevered pitch, predicted nothing short of electoral armageddon.

Then Sen. Clinton won New Hampshire - and she was back! (A difficult statement at best). She had “Big O” and “Big Mo” - so said the media. Meanwhile, the Republicans bickered amongst themselves and Sen. McCain wins New Hampshire.

Republican elites and the Republican blogs, talk shows, media, all go into “Chernobyl” mode and have a complete meltdown, stating, in essence “McCain can’t do it again.” Ann Coulter goes so far as to threaten to support Hillary over McCain if he becomes the nominee…

Let’s talk about what happened in our Party for a moment, because I think its just as chaotic and divided for a period as the Democratic nomination process was:

Gov. Romney, being whammied by both McCain and Huckabee, begins printing money like the Federal Reserve buying out Bear Sterns - allegedly he spends 25 million dollars of his own money to secure the nomination - ultimately to no avail. Romney’s campaign didn’t fail for a lack of resources - in the end - people just didn’t vote for the guy.

The excitement of Fred Thompson’s campaign goes from the level of watching Secretary Warren Christopher give a speech - to watching paint dry. Despite the hullabaloo of the “Fredgasm” and “Fred! Fred! He’s our Man… if he’s not Reagan no one is!” no one votes for the guy! He meets his end in a snoozing finish in South Carolina. Neilsen’s ratings for Fred’s departure are so low - Neilsen’s people wonder if the machines are broken.

Then my guy - Rudy - belly flops onto the Florida beach like a Sperm Whale being dropped from a skyscraper - THUD! (So much for the “big states” strategy). Rudy wound up being the New England Patriots of politics - absolutely certain to win - right up until the game started.

Finally, through all that chaos, McCain finally builds steam - Gov. Romney drops out - and Huckabee fights an ultimately futile effort to secure the nomination.

The entire politico of the Republican party suffers a screaming tantrum - Rush goes crazy on his radio show and starts bashing McCain. Most conservative talk radio has a collective “hissy fit” about McCain. Only Chris Core (WMAL, Washington) and Jason Lewis (KTLK, Minneapolis) brave against this tide saying, “He’s the nominee - can you really vote for Hillary or Obama in good conscience?”

… resigned to defeat - the “conservatives” decide they will have to live with McCain.

McCain officially prevails in March - when he finally gets “over the hump” on Mini-Tuesday.

At no time - what so ever - did the Republican party say “Hey! We need a candidate and we need it now… PICK ONE!” Granted, the Republican party works differently than the Democratic Party in selecting delegates and in how the nomination rules are crafted - but even if no Candidate had reached the delegates necessary (which would have been possible - but not likely even if Romney had stayed in and continued to draw votes from McCain) - don’t I believe that the RNC would have demanded candidates drop out and pledge their votes to the “front runner.”

Moreover, as the media tells it - the guy who won was actually the guy the people in the party hated the most! This is an interesting little twist since, under Republican nomination rules, by definition the one who wins the most delegates has to get the most votes! (This is not the case in the Democratic party, especially in states that apportion committee delegates based upon Congressional district size versus population apportionment).

I really couldn’t ever see Sen. Martinez saying, “We must all gather around Sen. McCain now - he’s the only one who could win.”

So just what are the Democrats afraid of? The reality is that Democracy is incredibly messy at times. They are faced with a situation where the party is deeply divided between two Democratic traditions - one representing the old guard (Clinton) and one representing the new frontier (Obama). In many ways, it is a repeat of the Humphrey/McCarthy convention of 1968.

In 1968, Eugene McCarthy and Robert Kennedy, sought the Democratic nomination. It was won by Vice President Hubert Humphrey, who competed in no primaries. More than one third of the delegates to the riotous convention in Chicago had been selected in 1967, months before President Lyndon Johnson decided to retire.

McGovern was named chairman of a commission to reform the nomination process, which put the party on a path to the proliferation of caucuses and primaries allocating delegates proportionally rather than winner-take-all. McGovern is largely responsible for the situation that is occurring now - with both candidates deadlocked in 60/40 55/45 type splits - making it difficult - perhaps impossible - for either to pull solidly in the lead.

In 1972, McGovern became the first winner under the democratized process he helped to create. Then he was buried Nixon vs. McGovern. McGovern’s performance was so bad - he won only two states - a feat that would later only be repeated by Walter Mondale.

The whole point of the 1970 reforms was to put in this “stop gap” measure to ensure a guy like Humphrey couldn’t be the nominee. The Super Delegates were supposed to moderate between the “Carters” of the party, but ensure that a guy like Humphrey - someone who didn’t even really gather the votes of the party - wouldn’t wind up being the nominee either.

Apparently none of this seems to matter to Howard Dean or the DNC. Instead, they strip two of their largest delegate states of their delegates because they dared to challenge the party’s will and try to be “relevant” in the mix of states. By doing so - they disenfranchised millions of democratic loyalists and new democratic party voters.

Speaker Pelosi and Mr. Dean have also been pressuring super delegates to make up their minds now - so they can “end” the debate between Sen(s). Obama and Clinton.

Then the Clinton campaign staff begin talking about Florida and Michigan “redo votes,” thereby disenfranchising the rest of the United States that had voted, and making Michigan and Florida potentially the most powerful states in the nominating contest - that fails (or at least it seems to have failed). Howard Dean is open to the idea - as is most of the Democratic elite - but ultimately neither state looks like they’re going to host the “re-vote.”

Then the coup-de-grace, Dean publicly tells the Super’s - get your act together or else.

Let me sum it up for all of you once more and then I’ll conclude -

Republicans: McCain - the guy who no one thought had a chance - wins the nomination in fair, free, and open elections. The Republicans went from a brokered convention being assured to a nominee by March.

Democrats: Party puts up two powerful candidates, who obliterate the rest of the field by February, and then begin to slug it out to the nomination, are deadlocked. To break the deadlock - the Party begins twisting the arms of its unelected constituents demanding they solve the electoral crisis, or alternatively, re-enfranchise two states they sought to exclude - thereby - disenfranchising the entire rest of the caucus and primaries in the other states.

I suppose my argument is this - give Democracy a chance! Let the people vote, then hold a convention, and let the delegates vote at the Convention! That’s what the democratic process is about. This is what conventions are for! Sen(s). Clinton and Obama have proved themselves to be able fundraisers - so raising money isn’t going to be the problem. Moreover, we haven’t even heard about Sen. McCain since the media is so galvanized with the Democratic race - thus - keeping the Republicans out of view. Why are they so afraid of continuing to slug it out in the “race for ideas” - arguing about “hope, change, a new tomorrow.”

I mean - I think most people who watch the NBA would love the “dream team” to play basketball all year round… why doesn’t the Democratic Leadership want the race to play out to its logical conclusion - according to several polls, the rank and file want to see that happen.

Mr. Dean - what’s the big hurry to end the race?

None of us desires or is able to dispute the will of the party. The party in the last analysis is always right, because the party is the single historical instrument given to the proletariat for the solution of its basic problems.

Amen Comrade!