To those saying that Clinton wants democracy because she counts Florida votes, do you really think that everyone is so stupid to believe your trash?? Don't we remember how Bill Clinton tried to suppress Casino votes just last month? They do everything and anything to get power. They are a "monster" of a kind, called "Clintonism."

Every vote counts! It is apparent Obama despite the fact that he(Obama) withdrew his name together with John Edwards,Obama got a lukewarm support.The situation in Florida is not so much of a difference.That is the fundamental reason to re-do the Primaries in both States.Senator from Michigan is great American and a decent fair leader in both the senate and Michigan.This however will be tantamount to supporting what happened in Florida in 2000 elctions.Cool heads and transparent will win the day for the voters in both States.As a Clinton supporter,I think she is the better of the two. Go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hillary! Go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rules are rules. Don't seat them. If they want their votes counted, let the states pay for the re-vote. If they can't afford a primary, do a "fire-house" caucus. Don't reward these states that broke the rules.

The instant Michigan found itself aligned with the imbecilic and cursed Floridians, they should have known it was a huge mistake, and had the sense to reconsider.

No one should be at all surprised that Florida is at the center of this sad tale. If the voters of that unfortunate state were permanently disenfranchised, it would be a service to the nation. They've proven themselves incapable of mastering even the simple butterfly ballot.

Good riddance.

They better not seat the delegates!! Many many people in Michigan didn't even vote in that primary. They figured why bother!! It is NOT a fair vote!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If Florida has a do-over by mail, Michigan needs one too. It is unfair to let Florida go ahead with its hispanic and retiree populations, while suppressing African Americans' votes in Michaigan. Clinton's supporters Bill Nelson and Michigan governor failed their voters by violeting the rules. The do-over must not be selective.

SEAT THE DELEGATES DEAN OR RESIGN!!! YOU HAD NO BUSINESS PUNISHING THE DEMOCRATS IN FLORIDA THEY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH MOVING UP THE PRIMARIES THE REPUBS DID, AND YOU PENALIZED THEM, HOW THE HELL DO YOU JUSTIFY THIS, WHEN YOU ALLOWED SC, NH, IO TO MOVE UP THEIR DATES AGAINST THE DNC RULES.

STOP DISENFRANCHISING MILLIONS OF VOTERS!! STOP MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO WIN THE GENERAL. SEAT THE DELEGATES OR RESIGN, DEAN YOU HAVE BEEN A HORRIBLE CHAIR!

50/50 split is the only fair, no-cost way to get the delagetes to the convention. The delagates have to be seated, but the states that violate the rule need to be punished in some way so they do not effect the election outcome. Neither candidate will be totally happy (especially one), but they still have 10 contest to go to show their worth to the voters.

Unfortunately this 50/50 split should heve been done before the end of 2007. The DNC really screwed this one up big time.

Samantha Power's -The Real American Hero.
She knows democrats will be fooled again and again by billarys playing the colour card in texas and ohio. sometimes black & sometimes white

I live in Florida and have voted mainly democratic for 30 years. I think I will vote republican this year. They at least seated half the delegates.

Is it true that Obama made a deal with Iowa to remove his name from
the MI ballot to help Iowa keep its first in the nation status? He did win Iowa. Why wasn't his name removed from the FL ballot? Is it really about following rules or was it strategic planning? The games people
play…. It's politics. It's all in the game.
Both names were on the ballot in FL and Obama was well known by this time. There was plenty of free favorable media, Kennedy Family
propaganda, Obama commercials in FL and fuel added to the fire by national black radio. It's amazing Hillary got any votes at all. More independents registered as republicans to help save McCain. Guess who they're supporting in November. Split MI 50-50.

WHAT KIND OF FREE SPEECH IS THIS? YOU WANT COMMENTS AND PEOPLE GIVING THEIR OPINIONS. MY OPINION IS YOU OUGHT TO LEARN HOW TO RUN THE MEDIA WITHOUT SO MUCH BIAS. YOU JUST ABOUT RUINED THIS WHOLE RACE WITH YOUR SLAMS ABOUT THE CLINTONS.YOU ARE ALL OBAMA LOVERS.

It was the REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE AND REPUBLICAN GOV. CHARLIE CRIST WHO VOTED TO CHANGE OUR PRIMARY DATE.
Two million Florida Democrats did NOT change the date.
Michigan Democratics changed their date. So don't hang voiding our
votes on us. HELLO Gov. DEAN and the DNC, are you listening?
You send us EMAILS asking for MONEY and SUPPORT yet deny us
our votes for the primary. SHAME ON YOU FOR YOUR LACK OF
ETHICS. I'm going to go watch "Hanging Chads" in the general
Election.

This race is making me sick….because the Democrats will loose all chances of the White House. To the Democratic Party, you'd better get the Clinton machine in check….this isn't a popularity contest and there is serious business to attend to that can't be solved with the likes of Hillary Clinton…Are you going to allow them to continue to act in this manner and loose the White House? It should have been manditory for all candidates to reveal their personal finances before the primaries and you can't just leave out two huge states from voting…thats unconstitutional!!! I know Obama can do this, but with the Clinton machine mucking everything up, they may need a new candidate like Al Gore. Pull it together Democratic Party………..Only Obama can beat John McCain………what is there to think about?

As I understand it the switch to an ealier date in both Michigan and Florida was the responsibilty of the state legislatures with the governor signing on as an okay. I wonder what the political affiliation was of those who voted both for and against the switch. Plus the governors? It wasn't the public who selected the new date.

where did my comment go?

Another policy that fail the citizens. In Florida, Obama had aired TV ads. There is always a winner and a looser. To eliminate the voices in that state is undemocratic in the utmost form regardless of which Party does it!

The DNC is the one at fault so don't punish the citizens.

In MI, they should split the delegates.

It is so reprehensible that the Democrats are made to look unfair in this situation that has been created by Florida's Republican governor and apparently an seems to uninformed Michigan governor.Sen. Clinton seems determined to win at whatever costs she has to pay. I wonder if the "shoe were on the other foot" if she would be so anxious to have these two states renege on their actions. I think this is deplorable for the voters ,but it is also deplorable for the other candidates.Redo the process in both states and allow both candidates to actively participate.

I would go further than Levin. He said a change in course would require approval by both candidates.

To be more fair, a change of course would not only require approval of "both" candidates, but also of all democratic candidates - even the ones who dropped out of the race.

On top of that, this is our election - the people of the United States. Shouldn't we have a say in this matter too?

Where do these other people get off thinking they can just go change the rules however suits them whenever it is convenient?

We are getting really sick of our elections being manipulated every time. If it isn't the Supreme Court picking a president, it's party bosses and "super" delegates.

Get your hands out of our elections. We want fair elections and we want them now.

To Be Fair:

I agree 100%

I’ve been thinking about the Florida and Michigan delegate situation and how it impacts the democratic nomination. Admittedly, in spite of my age, I am new to politics and don’t really understand a lot of the details. But this much I do understand. The nominee needs to win ½ of the total delegates in order to clinch the nomination. I also understand that Florida and Michigan broke the rules and were penalized for that.

I know there is some concern about disenfranchised voters, and there is discussion about having some “do-overs”, but money is an issue. From my perspective, those votes shouldn’t count. It doesn’t make any sense to punish somebody and then take the punishment away because of an unexpected need. Doing so would defeat the purpose of the punishment and I think it would make the judgment and credibility of the DNC questionable.

But here is a thought. Since Florida and Michigan currently don’t have any delegates, doesn’t that make the total number at the convention less than 4047? And if the total number at the convention is less than 4047, shouldn’t the halfway point be less than 2024? If it is as simple as that, why can’t the DNC simply remove Florida and Michigan from the totals and keep the mathematics the same? I’m not sure how many delegates both states should have had, but that number should be subtracted from the total, and the new total should be divided by 2 and that should be the new number to clinch by.

Obama, you are raising so much more money than clinton, why dont you pay half, and she can pay half, this way, you've made the first step.

Clinton can't match you anyway…

It's almost a kiss of death. If she doesn't respond, the I guess the voters of both states know where they stand.

This campaign appear to be about power and money, in favor of the few good old boy and girls. It also appears that the people in general will have no choice but to accept whatever happens. it,s sad to think that if this kind of politics continue, we will eventually have caos among the people as seen in some other countries.

Are we still the leaders of the free world???????????????????.

Instead of calling her a Monster, the advisor should have said Hillary is a Distorter, Smearer, or Pathetic Selfish Egomaniac who HAS been "acting" monstrous in her desperate attempt to win the democratic nomination. That would have been much more accurate than Monster. And by the way, I am a lifelong Democrat who voted for Bill twice. Obama is the real deal people.

Why dont they just split the votes 50/50 in both states and then the delegates can be seated.. This is crazy..

I will offer $25.00 for a re-vote. Who else is with me?

This is a no-win situation and I blame the DNC to a great extent. We could go back to the beginning. Why is Iowa first? Why is New Hampshire the first primary? Why are these states given such a position to begin with? The entire primary set up is wrong. When the DNC tried to make it fairer by having a black primary (South Carolina) and a Latino primary (Nevada), it seemed fair at the time but in the end it back fired as well. The entire system is in default. Just like the splitting of delegates. No one wants to mention this, but if the Democrats had a "winner take all," Hillary would be the nominee and we would not be having this discussion. So, maybe that is the solution. But the Democrats in Florida and Michigan will "remember in November," and if they are not seated as they voted, then McCain will be President and all of this argument will be pointless.

THE DNC CANNOT REFUSE THE SEATING OF THE DELEGATIONS FROM MICHIGAN AND FLORIDA.. A RE-DO OF THE PRIMARIES IN THOSE STATES IS TOO EXPENSIVE AND MAYBE TOO LATE.
SOME SOLUTION WOULD HAVE TO BE MADE BY THE CONVENTION DELEGATES…CERTAINLY NOT BY HOWARD DEAN
OR THE DNC.

Hear this " sniviling, whining, anti-hope Hillaryites" if you cheaters try and seat those MI and FL delegates "as is" you're actions will rip the party apart. Fair minded Americans will never stand for this scam and to even suggest such a thing is all the proof one needs to know your candidate is a monster who will stop at nothing in her lust for power. Do you really expect the other half of the Democratic party to sit back and watch you "steal" this election?? We watched this sort of thing with Bush in 2000 and we will NOT let it happen again.

I am excited about politics for the first time in my life. Here is how I see it. Michigan and Florida politicians messed up. What bothers me is that the people have to suffer because of them. I am not afraid of a fight. I believe in my candidate and I believe in the people of Michigan and Florida to vote with their hearts on which candidate can motivate congress and the legislature to work together in a common cause and fix our problems. They say, "it is to costly to hold new elections in Florida and Michigan". I am from California and I will happily offer my first $25.00 donation for a re-do. If we multiply that by every Obama doanator and Hillary donator and we have just paid for the re-do with more to spare. All we need is a Florida, Michigan bank account to send it to. I believe that we Americans can share the load. Obama will still win, I believe. I am asking the govenors of both these states to set it up.

So Hillary wants to steal votes that her own party agreed would not count and uses the term 'Disinfranchise' that the Dems invented to cry about the Republicans in the past. How the worm doth turn. This is not a surprise when you sum up Hillary's campaign to date. Lets see…Hillary faults Obama for saying that he can get out of Iraq in sixteen months whilst forgetting that she claimed she could get out in six. Hillary acused Obama of being two faced about NAFTA just before the Ohio vote only to find out after the vote that she was the NAFTA two faced candidate. Hillary cries on TV just hours after being accused o f being haed hearted. Hillary cries about the press picking on her just before the debate so that they would be afraid to be tough on her. Hillary staff releases photo's of Obama in Arab clothes. Hillary staff releases photo of Obama with skin darkened by retouching. cries. How much Hillary can we stand?

Obama did an interview with William March and Elaine Silvestrini of The Tampa Tribune on Sept. 30th '07 where he vowed to do everything in his power to seat the FL delegates despite national party sanctions. He changed his position after he lost the Florida primary. If these states have re-does I can’t imagine many votes cast for the candidate that wanted their voices silenced.

MICHIGAN AND FLORIDA AS STATES OF THE UNION AND ITS CITIZENS HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO VOTE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION NOT WITHSTANDING THE DNC'S REUSAL TO SEAT THEIR DELEGATES. THE DNC HAS NOT THE POWER
OF CONGRESS OR THE PRESIDENCY TO DISENFRANCHISE
ANY STATE'S VOTERS FOR, EVEN THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS DO NOT HAVE THAT POWER. HOW ABOUT IF THE SUPREME COURT WERE TO WIEGH IN ON THE PROBLEM?

Hey Yes…

Once a candidates name goes on the ballot in the state of Florida, it cannot be removed. Didn't you notice the other candidates who dropped out prior to Florida still were on the ballot?

And nobody abandoned the voters in Michigan or Florida. No one could campaign there.

How can anybody in their right mind think that if we deprive the Michigan and Florida voters the right to make a selection on the Democratic nominee that we could win the general election. They are either nit wits or closet Republicans and that goes for Senator Levin too.

Obama won't win especially in Florida where they all had their names on the ballot. Imagine telling the people of Florida that the last time they voted, they didn't know what they were doing because they didn't see Obama. This will make even more people vote for Hillary and now that we know his true position on NAFTA Michigan will double their votes for Clinton It's over for sen Obama, From the purchase of his home with Rezko and all this double talk on important issues has awakened the american people.

Once again, the C.linton N.ews N.etwork has proven to be the very shame that it is. There is nothing "objective" about its coverage of this presidential campaign. Even when it "pretends" to be showing Obama in a fair portrayal, it always finds a duplicitious way to blount the impact of any effect that the story could possibly effect upon its viewers. It's a total disgrace how partial one network can be "while" pretending to be a fair outlet of political news coverage.

They shouldn't be seated.

For the life of me I can not see what the big issue with this is. Rocket science this isn't. The DNC stated the rules for the primaries before the primaries and well as the penalties for violating the rules. Everyone knew what to expect. Florida and Michigan broke the rules and now are subjected to the penalties. Seems pretty cut and dry to me. Now Sen Clinton and her supporters want the votes to count and the delegates seated at the convention, obviously because that eliminates Sen Obama's significant delegate lead. Sen Clinton and her supporters say not counting the votes and delegates will disenfranchise the voters of those states and in the interest of democracy the voters’ voices should be heard. My question is, would democracy been served if the primaries had been held in accordance with the DNC rules?? If the voters of those states become disenfranchised, they should be disenfranchised with their state lawmakers who willingly chose to schedule their primaries prior to the specified date knowing what the penalty would be. This situation should really make democratic voters question the integrity and morals of a candidate who would even suggest disregarding the established party rules especially when they are behind in delegates. It seems that some believe if you ain't cheatin you ain't tryin and that they will do or say anything to win the democratic nomination. I suggest Sen Clinton have a talk with Gov Huckabee so he can tell her that is much more honorable to lose an election (or nomination) than to lose your morals and integrity trying to win. Shame on you Sen Clinton!??!

CNN DOES NOT WANT THE TRUTH SAID ABOUT THIS REVOTE.

WHERE IS MY ANSWER TO THIS…..

Guess it was a "typo" that left Hillary's name, and only HIllary's name, on the ballot.. I've got a bridge for sale.

is there a possibility that if FL and MI voters were allowed to vote as all of the other states did or will, might there be a drifeent outcome. ex. the dem. canadates that did drop out might have not dropped out , due to the driffent results in dividing the votes?

Uh, it would seem Levin HAS chosen a candidate, since everyone knows Clinton will win both states in a re-vote…

NO VOTEY NO SEATY!

Instead of writing and complaining on CNN Ticker that your votes in FL and MI do not count, write your boneheaded legislature YOU voted to run your states. this money should not come from the DNC,maybe Christ and Grishold should forfeit their govenor salaries and put it too funding a re-vote if thats what they want. Had Obama won and not Hillary(im a Obama supporter) I would still say re-vote. Fairness across the board,not when your treading water to stay afloat. All blame should be directed to them,infact I will right now write to both Govenors and thank them for all the craziness they caused.

Spending $10 Million to try to secure a Clinton nomination is simply outrageous. Even if she was to win the State, this will not secure her the nomination. The citizens of this state (both Democrats and Republican) should be vocally opposed to this callous expenditure. This money can be better used for othes projects that will benefits the citizens of Michigan. I find appalling for Clinton to support this option. This is a clear indication that Monster is looking to feed of it's prey. Shameful

Clinton is trying to destroy obama chances in the General election to come back and run in four years herself.

The Clintons has strategized about their way back to the White house before they left there the first time. that is why they moved to new york, that is why she stayed with bill it is all that she seems to live for . They just didnt exspect Obama to get as far as he did.

If she have to give the election to McCaine she will destroy the Dem. Party to get what she thinks belongs to her.

It is time the people of the US retire the disengenuous Clintons from politics. They are too devisive and she should know that the kind of support Barack is getting she cannot match it especially from the young people.

There are more Bushes to come but the country and the world needs a break from these two power hungry families.

So we punish the voters of Michigan for the actions of the party elite. Sounds like the poltics of hope to me. I think they should revote, then suspend the Michigan superdelegates. The suspension would hurt Hillary in the delegate column, but at least then the DNC would be punishing the people responsible for the mess.

Hillary 08

Interesting.

Florida and Michigan move their primaries up to January in order to have more influence on the nomination process. They did this knowing they would lose their delegations. They made the choice of going early to get early headlines. They've already made their influence.

Now they want their influence again on the back end of the process at the time it turns out is most critical in the process.

In other words, they want double influence.

That's not fair.

Why can Michigan not just run a caucus as they stated they planned they will do later on this election cycle? Michigan has the right to run the vote as they seem please. A caucus is an effective way to run an election.

Hillary needs to stop acting like a spoiled child and pushing that it is her way or the highway. The election is up to the American people to decide, not Hillary Clinton. Hillary is not the queen of the Democrat party and she should not disenfranchise voters to attempt to steal and election.

the only fair and practical way is to split them evenly and for both camps to accept that
You cannot in all fairness give them to Hillary when it was the rules of
the DNC the votes were not to be counted because their govenors and other officials took it upon themselves to break the rules and move the primaries up!!

It is not about who "wins" the nomination (though each candidates's supporters might believe so) but it is about the people having a voice. I have a preference but I will not present the person here; the bottom line is you CAN NOT deny Florida and Michighan; too many voters; let them speak.

There is no way having a revote in Michigan and Florida would be considered fair. Number 1, some of the candidates have now left the race, number 2, Clinton may sound as though she really cares about the voices of those who voted, but you and I know that that is not the truth. Had Obama won there, she would have supported the fact that the deal was made, agreed to and delegates were not being counted. I am convinced that if you had a revote, the democrats will lose the general elections this fall. Guaranteed!

YES DARTH, YOU ARE ENTIRELY CORRECT… CAUCUS.
BUT DARTH LESS WE FORGET, PRINCESS HILLARY DOES NOT LIKE CAUCUSES.

CHARLIE CRIST IS A HYPOCRITE!!! HE DID THIS TO THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA AND NOW WANTS TO PRETEND TO BE THE SAVIOR.

IT LIKE CUTTING THEIR LEGS OUT FROM UNDER THEM AND THEN HANDING THEM ROLLER SKATES.

Obama, your supporters are disappointed in you, and they are running away. If you don't come out and fight hard, you will lose all of your supporters.

As for Hillary endorsing MCcain — TRAITOR TRAITOR TRAITOR

And CNN, POST MY COMMENT

The best solution is to split delegates from each state 50/50.
There is no way Hillary is going to take all in an unfair way.

Just look at MI for example, she won 50% against 'no body' let Obama represents 'no body' [we know he's better than that] and just get the other 50%…the Obama camp would prefer a re-run though but just for the sake of peace, that 50-50 proposal would be fine.

Another way is to award the delegates proportionately according to currently won delegates(Obama 1520, Hilary 1424] but again she'll say that's cheating b/c Obama has won more delegates…crappy as Clintons.

Then there's the super delegate thing: Let them vote according to their hearts b/c it will also be a test of that privilege. If they chose the wrong person to run against McCain, they nullify the SUPER delegate thing and nobody will ever want them again. If they get the right person[Obama or Hillary] then they keep being SUPPER!

everyone is asking that who will pay the expense of re-vote? it was clear who fault is that? must pay for….or just let the people of these two states decide what they can do with their governer… is done no justification.

If they do a re-vote the people of MI and FL should not have to pay for it. It is not there fault. And Obama's right we need change, WE NEED HILLARY, GO GIRL!!

howard dean candidate b.h. obama wouldn't benefit from delegate of michigan and or florida so he keeping them out why do you think all liberals back h. obama keennedy, kerry, jesse jackson, etc.,etc., etc.

It was against democratic rules for either party to campaign in either state however Clinton did what her husband did with the "I didn't have sex" speech. She found a way to campaign without campaigning. She campaigned for these states delegates to be seated even though the states didn't want to follow party rules. When she did this she won over voters in those states, thus campaigning in the states. Also she showed up in both states on the days of their primaries and her presence is a way of campaigning so she broke the rules or bent them to her advantage. Obama on the other hand thinks that rules are made to make this fight fair and that the rules should not be broken. This shows what type of leader he will be and shows you exactly what type of person Hillary. She cares nothing about the American public or about the Democratic party or she would have already conceided to Barack. All she cares about is her own well being.

If the citizens who voted want to vote again, and since they seem to be able to afford $5, 10, 25, 100+ campaign donations, why not charge them a $5 "cover charge" to vote again. I know, it seems laughable and absurd, but I'd sacrifice my Starbucks one day to vote again in a PRIMARY as we previously had and not drive MI further in debt. otherwise, I simply don't see how we can afford it. We can't even find the money for the low budget caucus and Clinton wouldn't accept that anyway, much to my dismay.

As a Michigan voter, I have to admit that I am hurt so many people have such hatred toward us. It was not OUR choice to move the primary up. We still went to the polls to have our voice heard anyway, and in record numbers. Though it wouldn't be fair to John Edwards even though he's no longer running, I think most MI voters would accept giving the 40% uncommitted votes to Obama. NO DEMOCRATS CAMPAIGNED IN MICHIGAN! But, we did have the advantage of watching debates, researching candidates on the web, and LENGTHY discussion with friends and family. I really don't think there'd be much of a difference if we re-did it. Besides, MI is so bad off right now, we couldn't afford it. As for caucuses……. THEY ARE A JOKE!

I can hardly believe that "Dennis" above comment parrots Hillary's shameless lie that the Republicans caused the Florida Democrat Primary to not count. Please have some tiny amount of pride or are you actually stupid enough to believe Hillary in her sad attempt to grab votes that she does not merit. Even the DNC Chairman Dean put the blame where it belongs, on the Democrat Parties of Florida and Michigan. Not on any evil Republican conspiracy. Hillary is pathetic!

ONE LAST COMMENT, I THINK HILLARY HAS AN IDEA THAT OBAMA MAY WIN IN MICH. ON THIS ONE I THINK SHE'S RIGHT. HELP ME OUT HERE, DID JESSIE JACKSON WIN MICH. IN 1988? HOW CAN SOME ONE SAY I WON THE FIRST QUARTER AND THE LAST QUARTER OF A GAME IN SPORTS BUT THE OTHER TEAM HAS MORE POINTS AT THE END OF THE GAME, BUT I WON THE BIGGER QUARTERS SO I SHOULD BE DECLAIRED THE WINNER. OBAMA CAME OUT OF TEXAS WITH MORE DELEGATES, HILLARY WINS BUT SHE LOST GROUND.

No - not necessary

1. The winner of Pennsylvania should be the nominee
2. The loser concedes the nomination
3. The existing delegates from Michigan and Florida can be seated

I'm an Obama supporter, but he has yet to win a large state other than Illinois. If he loses he has to be the VP nominee or the Dems lose his young and independent voters and many black voters stay home. So, Hillary can win the nomination, but she needs Obama as VP to beat McCain with a whopping 50% + 1. Sad but true.

Obama's only path to the presidential nomination, as I see it, is to win Pennsylvania. There is no reason to expect he would win Michigan or Florida if he loses Pennsylvania. Re-votes would only give him a slightly better delegate count.

50/50 on both states.

Even if a re-vote was done, costing millions of dollars, the possibility of there being any difference in the outcome would be minimal at best. Obama would win Michigan and Clinton would win Florida. And one of the other would come out with a few more delegates than the other. See, we're right back where we started. I say split them 50/50, save the money, and be done with it.

Rules were made and agreed to in advance by all parties involved. Why is my party such a bunch of whiners?? If the poor voters are upset, then they need to take it up with their state's leaders that signed the bill changing the dates in the first place….end of story.

James Carville (a Clinton supporter) earlier today, suggested that both the Clinton and Obama campaigns should put up the money, up to $30K to finance a re-do of the primaries…….. I have contributed to the Obama campaign, and I am not too pleased about the money I contributed being donated to resolve a problem that could have been avoided, but for the bumbling of the political leaders in Florida & Michigan. They will have another chance to vote for the nominee in the national election. May the games end soon….. geez, I am certain the Republicans are laughing their arsses off.

Its US democracy, not any Russian or nenezualan democratic sham.
If Florida or Michigans delgates are seated without a would be a disgrace.

In my opinion the DNC's decision and penalty were dumb, but the rules were set out by the DNC and everybody — including candidates, party and state officials and voters in FL and MI — ostensibly was aware that the penalty was not going to be a joking matter.

The time for addressing the appropriateness of the penalty was BEFORE the primaries, not AFTER. Rescheduling repeat primaries in MI and FL would be unconscionably costly , an untimely and devastating slap in the DNC's face, and an insult to Sen Obama and to the other candidates who abided by the DNC earlier decision.

I hope that the DNC says that ruling will stand and that it's not going to change goalposts after games have finished. If the DNC gives into the Clintons, it may as well cancel the rest of the primaries and do what it must have always wanted to do: get the self-important, self-righteous and nakedly ambitious Clintons back into the White House.

And I for one, a 64-year-old lifelong Democrat, will henceforth become an independent voter.

All major democratic candidates signed a paper presented to them by the DNC to back away from Florida and Michigan because these states violated rules by changing the primary date to better their states advantage. I feel Senator Clinton now finds herself behind and wants to change the rules because she knows Senator Obama will end this race ahead of her.

Someone needs to get real here. If the rules change to satisfy the few what does this say to all of those that abided by the rules.

Whoever is ahead at the end with pledged delegates wins.

The only reason this is an issue is because of the power of the duplicitous Clinton machine to try to steal every possible vote. Even though Hillary was the only candidate dishonerable enough to put her name on the Michigan ballot, she almost lost to "No Preference", pretty sad to try to claim Michigan as a victory.

Senator Clinton is not cheating. She won both the Michigan and Florida contests. Senator Clinton did leave her name on the Michigan ballot but Senator Obama's "uncommitted" folks campaigned against Senator Clinton and Senator Clinton won anyway. So she gets Michigan. In Florida, Senator Clinton and Senator Obama were on the ballot. No one campaigned and Senator Clinton won. So she gets Florida. I think it would be cheating if we have a re-do. The folks in Michigan and Florida already voted. They knew what they were doing. They aren't dumb. If we redo these two states, maybe we should redo the caucus states because hey Senator Clinton didn't win in those states and Obama did. I hear Senator Obama's people locked some on Senator Clinton's people out of the Texas caucuses. Do we want a president that is so hell-bent on winning that he will do just about anything to get there? Howard Dean-Save the folks in Michigan and Florida money. Just think of all of the people we could feed for 30 million dollars. They already voted in Michigan and Florida. Allocate the delegates according the districts where the candidates won and be done with it. It is the only fair way. DON'T WASTE ANYMORE MONEY.

Both candidates agreed at the outset that the decision regarding Florida and Michigan was satisfactory and they AGREED to abide by the penalty imposed by the DNC. There were not "buts" in those agreements.
We all wish we could have "do overs" in life when a decision is made that, in the end, doesn't work out to our advantage. That is why we call it LIFE.
I say, these two can split the delegates 50/50 or suck it up and do without. We have spent too many hours, days, and weeks yammering about this.

DNC needs to solve the problem. They created it, they need to solve it.
Delegates don't count anyway. The SUPER DELEGATES will ultimately decide this contest. So shut up and let's hear from the candidates. Also get of this Tax returns and I was against the war from the beginning. We know that, now what are you going to to about me losing my house, illegal immigrants in my backyard and our soldiers. Do you want to bring them home or not? Say yes or no, then i will decide whether your deserve my vote or not.

I guess we do not live in a democratic country anymore….NO CITIZEN SHOULD BE DENIED TO VOTE…..the people of michigan and florida voted and their vote as is should stand.

So if the democratic party does not want to honor the average citizens right to vote…..the voters should NOT be penalized for the govt moving the primary early for which the voters could do nothing about.

So the democratic party is DENYING THE DEMOCRATIC RIGHT TO VOTE AND BE COUNTED…..

I hope that the REPULBICANS WINS BOTH STATE BY LARGE MARGINS TO SHOW THE DEMOCRATS that right to vote and be counted DOES MATTER

RECOUNT, HILLARY'S PISSED, NO RECOUNT OBAMA'S PISSED, HILLARY WANTS ALL THE VOTES AND DELEGATES, NOT. IF HILLARY REALLY WANTS SOLUTIONS YOU SPLIT THE DELEGATES 50/50 SEAT THEM AND MOVE ON. BUT YOU CAN'T CHANGE THE RULES TO FIT HILLARYS WISHES. IF YOU DO, IT'S OVER FOR THE DEMS. ALL OR ALMOST ALL OF THE OBAMA SUPPORTERS WILL NOT VOTE FOR HILLARY IN THE GENERAL. HILLARY MUST STOP TRYING TO DISTROY THE PARTY.

Today on CNN Carville offered 15 million on behalf of Clinton supporters to do a REVOTE in both Florida and MI, if Obama camp would do the same.

Rules is Rules Obama's camp says. "But Mr. Obama does want the votes to count."

Yet another double speak from Mr. Obama which means, I want MI and FL to vote for ME in the General, but Not count in the Primary.

All votes should count. An election was held…and too bad, Obama didn't win….so he should either put his money where his mouth is, or just shut up!

Must be "seen to be done."…

Fight the good: Fight! For Democracy

Just re-do the election in both states. If Hillary wants it done, let her pay for it. Just make sure both names are on it this time instead of Hillary's cheating ways to have her name on only.

GO OBAMA !!!!

No one ever interrupts Mr. David Gergen. But countless of the lesser, CNN guests do! Does CNN and./ or the commentator moderating these less well known guests realize how completely distruptive it is for viewers to hear two persons speaking at once? Can not the moderator interrupt? Cannot speaks be more polite. It does nothing except engender irritation on my part to hear two guests speaking simultaneously. Thank you.

Sounds to me that the democratic committee which is headed by Howard Dean has to come up with a solution. Democratic Primary, itself, has long been overdue for REDO and Mr. Dean should take the lead and come up with a better way to conduct the Democratic Primary. First though is to allow the states of Florida and Michigan to RE-VOTE! This is the only democratic way to resolve this issue because voitng is one of the very basic rights of every citizen of the United States of America.

Who is the most important here? The voters or the candidates? The voters went to the polls in good faith and are now being told they can't participate because its not fair to the "candidates". give me a break. This election is about Americans being able to express their support for a person wanting to be our President…they have, and they should be allowed to have their efforts and votes count. It isn’t as if we are still in the years of the pony express where information on candidates is difficult to obtain. They are adults and knew exactly what they were doing when they went to the polls.

So if $10 Million could be raised, then Levin would have no excuse.

I'd contribute money to finance a new primary in MI no problem.

I'm sure that Obama is not afraid of a participating in a new primary in MI, so let's do this.

Problem with candidate who speak as though they represent all people.

I feel sorry for Michigan and Florida too, but their politicians screwed them. i would suggest not voting for those same politicians again

NEXT TIME DONT BREAK THE RULES AND YOU WONT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A RE VOTE.

YOU BROKE THE RULES, TAKE YOUR PUNISHMENT AND SHUT UP.

the delegate should be split according to the percentage tof delegates hat each canidate has accumulated imeadiately prior to the convention not including super delegates. Then everyone wins. A solution from FL.

Just split Michigan and Florida delegates 50-50 and let them be seated. This is the only way out of this deadlock. That way no one can complain that delegates from 2 states were not seated.

Sorry Michigan. I would be mad as heck, if I were from your state.

Some states have primaries for the different parties at different times. Why didn't Michigan and Florida?

So, both states are run by Republicans who didn't care that the Dem voters votes would not count if they moved the primary dates? That's sabotage. Somebody should sue them.

Divide the votes according to the person who was on the ballot and subtract 10 votes for whining. Then give half to hillary and the rest to the other candidates.

I don't see any more fair way for this to happen than to have a primary or caucus. As for how much it costs, ask George Soros or others with deep pockets to ante up the money. And I hope Michigan and Florida have learned their lesson.

I think Florida Democrats could have had a second primary and not stay linked with the date the Republican controlled congress set. Seems like South Carolina had seperate primaries.

Since when does Hillary do anything "practical" or "fair"?

For those of you that care to get the facts, the Florida primary had a dispropotionately higher number of Republican voters than Democratic voters. Common sense tells you that is because the Democratic voters knew it wouldn't count, so they didn't waste their time driving down to the polls. THAT makes the results irrelevant.

I have to ask all the Hillary supporters…..Do you really want a president who continually tries to use these unfair tactics? Really? She wants the Michigan delegates to be seated when she was the only choice they had on the ballot! How can anyone possibly want their leader in world affairs to such an injust person?

Levin is exhibiting more commonsense than those two idiots down in Florida. This is a logistical nightmare if anyone thinks it is as easy as saying the votes of Floridans and Michigans should count in the form of seated delegates.

The DNC is the authorized body to make and change rules, and if it said you lose your votes if you bring up your primaries, then you abide by the consequences. Run the red light or stop sign and you face the consequences. The rule is what guides us and saves us.

And what about the John Edwards factor?

To re-vote in Michigan and Florida would require Edwards to return to the race, because at the time both states voted he was still in the race. How he would have fared is anybody's guess, but it is only fair that he not be left out of a re-vote.

It would be an outrage if the democrats were even more callous to the voters of Michigan and Florida than the republicans were to the Florida voters. We want a nominee who reflects the will of all of America, not 48 states, especially when those two states are important for teh general election. Why don't they raise money online?

The game is in play with the rules agreed upon. No do over. An obscene amount of money has already been spent on an entirely too long primary process. Typical of public people on some one else's dollar - spend more. The real question is - why did the DNC 'penalize' (one of Hilary's favorite words - do it my way or I will penalize you) MI and FL? Excuse me, but this is a 'republic of united states' , the States can make decisions

It has to be our own voices and not a 50/50 split which isn't what the results were. Anything else is saying our voices don't matter. This whole thing isn't about whether we should vote again or not, it's about who should pay for it.

IT NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF IT WASN'T GOING TO COUNT.

But it did, and no one stopped them. When Michigan saw everyone pull out except Clinton on the democratic side, why didn't anyone say anything loud and clear enough to get everyone's attention then? When Floridians went out in record breaking numbers, why did the "suits" think it would all count regardless anyway? Why did they let us vote and think we were making a difference?

It hasn't effected the republican side, that candidate is clear.

But the democrats in Michigan and Florida must not be very important if they are going to be snubbed and shoved out of the way like this.

WHOEVER IS AT FAULT SHOULD PAY

And that's not the tax payers either thank you very much.

Bottom line.

I am just more and more outraged every day by the antics of the Clinton campaign. I'm a staunch Democrat, but if it is Hillary vs. McCain - Hillary has already convinced me that McCain would be a find choice so I will get out and campaign for McCain.

If it's Obama vs. McCain - well then that is an easy choice:

Obama 2008!

It is funny that Hillary didn't give a crap about the voices of the people when she was winning and was presumed the eventual nominee.

Now that she is behind she cares.

Of course you could bet your LIFE that she would oppose this if Obama was behind right now and needed it to win.

Split them 50/50

She would hate that because like I said, the only reason she wants this done is so she can gain more delegates, not for some altruistic notion of democracy.

She is so full of it I can't believe EVERYONE doesn't see it.

The stories dovetailed with the Clinton campaign’s refunding more than $800,000 in donations solicited — or bundled — by Norman Hsu, who used his influence in Asian-American circles to help raise millions for Democrats, all while he was considered a fugitive from a 15-year old grand theft conviction.

The Los Angeles Times looked at 150 donations made to Clinton after fundraising events targeting the Chinese community. It had trouble tracking down many donors.

Most had not registered to vote, many held low-paying jobs that would make it difficult to scrounge together cash for political contributions and some said they said they were instructed to give by community leaders, the paper reported.

A cook in New York’s Chinatown neighborhood told the New York Post she was reimbursed for her $1,000 contribution to Clinton, a senator from New York.

Federal election laws prohibit donors to be reimbursed for donations or to allow others to give on their behalf.

And now it is Michigan time…

Who do you want for president, a candidate who will fight for all the delegates to be seated or a candidate who don't fight for all the deligates to be seated, a candidate who feels Michigan and Florida vote matters now and in November or Michigan and Florida vote don't matter now and in November?

Let the Hillary bashing commence, right Obama followers? Cause, God knows Florida and Michigan aren't crying out to be heard themselves. Maybe you should tune out Barack for a moment and listen to the people of these two states?

OOPS, I think Sen. Levin has had enough of this power playing game and I don't think it would be wise for anyone to think any different.

This election was ok I was for Hillary or Obama. Recently I see Hillary campaign driving a wedge down the middle of the democratic party. This only favorites McCain. I feel she is being selfish as I have heard over the years defending her from republicans and now I see that. She does not seem to care if she hurts the party or not. "SHE JUST WANTS TO WIN AT ALL COST"

Work it out guys/gals so we can put a democrate in the white house.

Does it matter?

Even with them seated AS IS… She would need to win every remaining state by over 65% to come close to Obama's pledged delegate lead.

Even then though, she wouldn't catch him…

This is all over and just for posturing. She wants them seated so she can call them a victory and use them as leverage in trying to convince the Super Delegates to ignore the vote of the people and give her the nomination…

Because to her Ohio / Texas / Florida all count but the other small states don't matter.

I guess to her while all our voices need to be heard some are more important than others.

Shameful.

Obama has this locked up, even if he stopped campaigning today.

He is going to win Wyoming tomorrow and then Mississippi, then PA

Why not just split the split the delegates? The net result is zero and no candidate will have a delegate count advantage over the other, except what already exists now, but at least FL and MI can be seated at the convention.

James Carville suggested that he or Clinton campaign will raise $15 million for primaries in Florida and Michigan. He sugested simiolar contribution from Obama campaign. James should stop this nonsense. After all his family fat income is guaranteed , no matter who wins the Presidency. This Clinton supporter did not raise his voice when the Democratic party decided not to seat Florida and Michigan delegates. Terry and he can raise $30 million from their corpoarate contributors to pay for Florida and Michigan primaries. Many of us who supported Obama campaign did not doante for these primaries, which are largely to support Clinton's failed campaign.

As far as a Florida do over goes, both candidates were already on the ballot there, so why do that one over? As for Michigan, they would need to redo that one only for the simple fact that Obama was not on the ballot there. It's the only fair thing to do. I am a Clinton supporter and still feel that Michigan should have a do over.

I feel sorry for the voters of Michigan and Florida. If your politicians had foregone the election in January you would still have the funds needed to hold a later primary. You guys deserve better, more intelligent, elected officials who are willing to abide by the rules they agree to just like the other 48 states who didn't break the rules and held their primaries fairly.

One thing that will not and should not happen is the delegates being seated without a revote. That would signal to the other 48 states that they don't have to abide by the rules just like Michigan and Florida, both of which seem to currently have elected officials that feel their states should be allowed to break the rules that the other 48 followed.

No one campaigned in either state. The voters went to the polls in record numbers anyways and we have a result. Senator Obamas' name was not on the ballot in Michigan. His campaign did not have the forethought to realize the nomination could not be won outright without these two states. The state of Michigan should not be held accountable to the ommission of his campaign. Senator Obama was on the ballot in Florida and lost significantly. Florida should not be held accountable for the ommission of his campaign in Michigan.

In both states the primary was moved up by state legislators and governors who represent the Republican Party. Although the GOP caused this problem, their national committee saw fit only to "halve" the delegates in punishment. The Democratic primaries were taken along for the ride and they a punished with no representation even though their early primaries were the result of others outside of the party. That in itself is excessive.

The Republicans caused this problem. There is significant evidence they voted heavily in our primaries (up to 9% of the millions of votes in the Democratic Primary in Texas as but one example). Now we talk about spending millions of dollars because we can't see straight about who is responsible for what behavior. I say we wipe the slate clean and let the results stand as they are.

I agree no do overs. Count the votes the way they are. You start having do overs and where do you stop. There have been problems at every voting poll. You can't tell anyone their vote doesn't count. It was the states that moved up the vote, not the voters.

I don't find this Clinton's problem the problem lies with the DNC, and it's sickening to see this unfold!

I am a Florida voter that doesn't count, and feel unfair comments being made by the media. One would think they would be out raged that some Americans votes matter more, especially after what happened in 2000, which we never heard talk of a re-do!

If our votes aren't counted, all of you are as guilty as the President & the FAILED policies, because they don't seem to know what the Consitution is either.

Countless in Florida

The DNC should raise "soft money" to cover the cost of a mail in ballot primary in both Michigan and Florida. The Democrats need those states to win the general election so shouldn't punish the voters for the stupidity of both the National and State Party leaders.

Where is the public outcry directed at the legislatures in these two states that created this mess. They knew the consequences prior to the start of the primaries and thumbed their noses at the National Parties. They knew full well that by breaking the agreed upon rules, that they would cause this mess (delegates not being seated).

I am no Howard Dean fan, but why should the DNC have to pay for a re-vote? Citizens of Michigan and Florida, you should upset with your state legislators and NOT the National Parties. It is the State Legislators that silenced your say in the nomination process NOT the DNC.

I don't have a problem with them revoting.
As long as they pay for it.
The DNC shouldn't spend one dollar on ntheir mistakes.
DrFill

I pray that if Sillary gets the democratic nomination that Barack goes for an "independent" place on the ballot. I will not even go to vote if Hillary is the democratic nominee. I wonder what it will be like to have 28 states worth of Barack democrates stay home. I will laugh at what the turn out becomes!

Obama gains support when he gets to meet voters. That's how he won in Virginia. That's how he narrowed a 20 point disadvantage to a tie in Texas. So when he can't campaign in Michigan, the lesser known Obama would lose out to Hillary who rode Bill's coat-tails in that election.

This is the fault of the state governments in Michigan, not the DNC or any of the candidates. "Outraged" Clinton democrats should remember that when they go to the state polls next time.

I heard they don't have them on the SAT's anymore but what the heck….

Michigan:Mitt Romney::Ohio & Texas:Hillary Clinton

The Governors of both states are the ones at fault here. They both had the proposed bill in their hands last and knew full well that if they signed it, there would be consequences. The residents of both Michigan and Florida need to realize and accept that their respective Governors made mistakes and the residents lost out because of those mistakes. There will be another gubernatorial race for them to pay them back.

If DNC decided not to count Florida and Michigan delegates
, it should then also reduce the total delegates required for nomination from 2024 (half of the total delegates) to about 1870 (half of the delegates for the remaining total delegates).

That makes perfect sense and solves the whole problem easily.

I am confident that Al Gore would like all the votes counted. Lord knows he knows what it is like when all the votes are not counted.

The Democratic Party will be large large hypocrites if they do not do not count the votes of Florida and Michigan. These two states are needed in November.

The question is are we nominating a nominee or are we trying to win an election?

Let's take it into a bright light and put it this way; Major candidates all signed an agreement that they would not campaign in either state before those votes and they did exactly as agreed upon and millions of voters from Florida and Michigan have decided to vote anyway - NOW THIS IS CALLED DEMOCRACY! No one can deprived any citizens of the United States the right to vote and if Sen. Levin doesn't see at this time a practical way to hold a do-over then what is he suggesting to the voters of his own state of Michigan? Sen. Levin will be seen as UNPATRIOTIC and UN CARING to the citizens of Michigan. That's what they will remember about him comes election!
RE-VOTE NOW AND HAVE THE VOTES OF THE STATES OF FLORIDA AND MICHIGAN BE HEARD!

If they don't recount, Obama will cry foul.
If they recount, Hillary will cry foul.
Lose-Lose.

They will redo the primaries and reseat the delegates. It's inevitable. Hillary will win them and will have the best case to make at the convention that she wins consistently the critical key democratic states necessary to carry the White House. Barack is done. The hype is soon to be over!

Why should they count those delgates? Florida and Michigan broke the rules! How dare christ ask for them to be seated when he, himself moved up the primary against the recommendations of DNC.

As much as I would like the opportunity to make a choice in this primary season, I agree with Senator Levin. Our state is in such financial trouble right now that I cannot justify using public monies for another primary. The Republican legislature, in concert with our Democratic governor, gambled that the national party would capitulate and let us move our primary earlier. They lost. Get over it.

As an attorney, I also believe in the rule of law. IF you agree to not compete in a competition, then claim victory, you do not deserve to win. It's a shame my fellow attorney Hillary Clinton does not agree.

Finally, it is dishonest of Senator Clinton and her supporters to talk about "disenfranchised" voters. She learned the same cases I did in law school, and knows that the primaries are PRIVATE elections. There is no right to vote in them, only the national election.

Leave it to Hillay to be caculating and deceptive enough to leave her name on the ballots of both states, knowing she could claim a win with out having to spend time or money. Knowing her I would even ventur to say that her supporters made phone calls and such to draw voters out in her favor all the while stressing that the vote would not count thus keeping potential Obama supports from voting

two million plus voters did not make the decision to move up their primary.

Actually, why does MI matter? "Not Hillary" got almost as many votes as "Hillary". Also, MI knew the rules when they made the decision. Same is true in FL. Funny that nobody (including Senator Clinton) seemed to think this mattered until AFTER the polls closed in South Carolina. If Senator Clinton was that concerned, why didn't she say anything about these votes before before she embarked on the "win at all cost" campaign?

Can anyone tell me why Michigan and Florida decided to make the decision to go early?

Just split Michigan and Florida delegates 50-50 and let them seat!

CHEAT TO WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE HILLARY WAY!!!!!!! Thats solutions all of us should follow. This will be the first and last woman candiate America see justs by the way she is running.

Do a caucus, helloooooooooo

what a democracy we have - in my opinion it is the fault of these states for denying their citizens the right to vote. what a shame.

Senator Clinton is one of two candidates who did NOT abandon the voters of Michigan. I guess the guys then figured it out and left their names on for the Florida voters. Senator Clinton also was asking for - and before the Florida votes - that the decision of the DNC be reconsidered. She was not for disenfranchising the voters!!!!!!

All voters shoudl keep this in mind. Senator Obama does not want them seated because it will compromise his standing. Senator Clinton asked that they be seated all along.

I think all the voters votes should be counted as they stand. Senator Obama has his team in there and even though he chose to remove his name, had his staff instruct people to vote non-conformed (a vote against Senator Clinton)….although he did not spend 2-3 times more money than Senator Clinton.

As for Florida - they should count as they stand…..all names were there and the voters spoke! (remember, Florida does get CNN and other national news that Senator Obama had ads on but not Senator Clinton)……….

Sorry Hillary, we can't change the rules of the contest until you win. At the time as you entered the race, you knew what the rules were and you agreed to them, particularly you agreed that FL and Michigan votes will not count. However, even if you succeed in making the two states to revote, OBAMA will gain even more - this will put you even further behind.

Negotiations should have been held when FL and MI first announced that they would move up their date. Once votes started rolling in the time to change things ended. Kind of like in football..you can only challenge a play BEFORE the next play starts. Once the next play starts the last play is HISTORY.

Obama wins..what a historic time it will be when he becomes President.

He is absolutely right, both Michigan and Florida's delagates should be split 50/50. It is about making their delegates are seated, right/

Or is is about the Clinton Campaign finding a way to cheat to win the nomination