The Democrats wanted to stop another ousider like Jimmy Carter. The Big Money interests who brought you Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush and many Congressman wanted to make sure they could manipulate the system The Right wingers are easy to control but the Left has some rational , scientific people with a conscience and morals. The Superdelegates exists to put corporate owned politicians like, Clinton, Bush, Reagan etc. into power.
The Dems need to get rid of this scam as soon as possible.
The RepubliCONS need to go away.

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The loony fringe of the Democrats have, for the past dozen years, made various accusations that the Republicans have stolen or rigged particular elections. None have been conclusively proven, but the allegations and uncertainties linger in their minds.

Now it appears that the Democrats can't seem to keep their own party leaders from rigging an election, right under their noses and out in the open for all to see!

How amusing!

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Direct Primaries!

Direct Elections!

Direct Democracy!

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Be careful! After seeing Hillary and Bill in action too much honesty can get you killed.

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OK - so I get you are upset abt the Superdelegates, but how, pray tell, is that significiantly different from the whole caucus thing? That, too, can be rigged, when people are bused in to throw their weight behind a particular candidate. At least Washington State has a remedy for that, not that the Dem. Party wants to go by the actual votes (the top two candidates were separated by 3%), but the CAUCUS votes. The superdelegates will look at the ACTUAL vote in that state, or at least, that is the idea.

It just seems to me that you can't slam one component without slamming the other - they aren't that far apart.

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America has always been "a work in progress." What was designed to work for 13 rural colonies, where folks knew each other personally, now is supposed to work for 300 million people.

By the logic of the article, the Brits have long ago failed, since it is their parliament that elects the prime minister.

In my day, we moaned about the smoke-filled rooms where the 'super-power-players' chose our candidates. Since that time, the primaries have given people willing to take part a voice in balancing the power-players.

If you want to mend something, mend the lack of participation by the voters. People cannot be bothered to vote. It's little wonder that the general welfare gets neglected: the general eligible voter neglects to cast an intelligent vote.

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Their name conceals their function. "Super" delegates conveys something superior, and good, as in Superman. As in ". . . hey, that's super."

A better name for these delegates would be veto-delegates or elite-delegates, or non-elected delegates.

What is the most accurate name to call them?

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Their name conceals their function. "Super" delegates conveys something superior, and good, as in Superman. As in ". . . hey, that's super."

A better name for these delegates would be veto-delegates or elite-delegates, or non-elected delegates.

What is the most accurate name to call them?

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First, the Electoral College was established by, for, and of the Fat Cats to be able to manipulate elections as they saw advantageous to themselves, and no one else. Any resemblance to a justification for the EC disappeared as soon as the last telegraph wires were strung up, c. 1861. The superdelegate scam closely resembles the EC, and for the same reason. If our next president is a Democrat, one of the first demands of our people should be for a Constitutional Convention, aimed at dumping the EC once and for all, among other things.

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excuse me, but we do not and never have had a "democracy". we have a republic. in a democracy the president would be elected (hopefully honestly) directly by the voters. so, while 'democracy' has become a short-hand description for our system, it is not what we have, and it is clearly, Mr. Bush aside, not what we are spreading. we are spreading capitalism- or that combination of capitalism and state called corporatism by Mussolini - that which we know as fascism - which also has nothing to do with a dictatorship necessarily. if anything, we are a fascist republic.

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I've just been learning how this superdelegate system works and I've come to see it as yet another example of the largest auction on earth-Washington, D.C. We elect the most narcissistic people in our society and we expect honesty, leadership and good government from them. I like Obama but anybody that thinks there is going to be a serious turn around in the way this government functions is not paying attention. He may be sincere but W. proved campaign talk means absolutely nothing once you are sworn in. The oath of office means absolutely nothing.

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Over the past 25 years I have had many opportunities to work for, and against, both dem and repub politicians.

There is a fringe element within BOTH parties. Voters have only been given a choice between the candidate that can win the affections of these fringe elements, the foot soldiers or worker bees. Party elders have grown to heavily rely on them. If you go to a repub or dem meetings you will see they seem hynotized, like moonies, and they FAWN over anyone that is approved by the party, it is sickening.

When we call them 'parties' it is very appropriate. Doesn't matter matter much how qualified you are, nor how much experience you have, nor your integrity. Pour punch and do other favors for the party you are in with the in-crowd. People do love to be in with the in- crowd.

But this election is different for wonks. Barack is not only changing this primary by giving voters a real alternative to what they are used to, yes Barack is different, hence change, he is also rocking The Clinton's world AND he is rocking the democratic party.

Few can understand just how difficult it is to buck the democratic party, to break out the way Barack has done. Geesh, to the contrary, it is almost frigging impossible!

What is happening with the electorate during this primary is a redistribution of voters. We see the conservative right (representing either McCain or Huck depending on how far right), the liberal left (represented by party elites HillnBill, courted and cultivated for over two decades), and the rest of this country, including me, represented by the remarkable Obama grassroots movement.

The allegations that repugs are manipulating witless hapless voters, or that the '08 general election compares in any significant way with the elections of '00 and '04 is nonsense. Sour grapes from HillnBill lovers, wringing their hands at the ignorance and gullability of Obama's supporters.

Disbelieving.....WHY can't we see this right wing conspiracy against poor HillnBill? WHY can't we see the wisdom of the democratic bosses, how dare we make up our own minds, we are ignorant or tricky repugs out to upset the election! nuts!

Blaming Hillary's failure on a right wing conspiracy is not only ridiculous, it is also a HUGE lame excuse, a cop-out, denial. The Clintons didn't prepare, they ASSUMED they had it all wrapped up, everyone did, just waiting for the convention to put on the bow.

Hillary is not attracting voters because she is not the best candidate and would not make the best president for MANY reasons. In this remarkable primary season voters are recognizing this, they are thinking with their heads, hearts and senses, it is just that simple. It is the best thing that has happened for the democratic process, the democratic party AND this country in a very long time. It is long overdue. We should all be grateful.

Voters are not just interested, they are RIVETED, on this critical election. They understand our country is staggering. No they are not stupid. Contemptuous, the parties have not been giving us choices. Now we have Barack and he is our choice. Barack understands and we are hearing him. If wonks don't believe in Barack it matters little, he is the people's choice, accept it.

Blaming it or spinning it is a really lame cop-out and sadly typical of the Clintons compulsive refusal to take responsibility for their own flaws, errors in judgement or failures, just like GWB.

YES WE CAN VOTE OBAMA '08 FOR CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN

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Senator Clinton is a long-time, well connected member of the Washington insiders.

When it comes down to it, and it it will.

She will be the nominee, because the super delegates that don't already owe her favors, want her to owe them favors.

She will be cashing in her "pork barrell bribes", come the DNC convention.

Obama is the people's chocie, but the people don't really get to choose in the "Democratic" party.

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It's the game that the Parties of Money and Power play, if you want to be a Money or Power candidate.

They assume the electorate is willing to tolerate it, and they are correct.

It's not really "rigging" if you tell the sheep you're heading them into the slaghterhouse, then ask them to join you, is it?

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In a so called democracy there should be no ambiguity on what a vote means, no confusion, no wonder, nothing to confuse the process or the understanding of how it works. But it's made that way on purpose!

If one Googles "what is a delegate or super delegate, how a caucus works etc" there appears no clear to the point definition, at least on the first couple of pages. (What would we know without the internet?)But in any regard, a persons vote should carry solid value of intention. Yet so many votes have been left out as insignificant in the final count because we have to hunt like coyotes to find out what the tallies really were. This should not be. All states should have elections on the same day. Not this influencial poll BS.

The delegate thing all started in '76 with Humphrey then re-acted on in '80. In any case it all makes no difference anymore. because as a democratic, majority rule system, as it's suppose to be, nothing is further from the truth.

The idea of democracy in America is a big lie. Especially when only a little over 7 milion people vote, most of which are ignorant of the real issues. (Of course that's what the republicans would have us believe too. But the Parties are virtually no different. Even when we know the truth, it's not their truth.)

I think voting as a citizen has become self defeating waste of mental effort on our part. What the United States would be best at doing is dividing into two seperate countries. Repubs to the east and those with Demo trendancies to the west. Then each can manage their own tribes, eliminating the battles within groups that wished the other would die. It would just make life so much easier for everyone.

I mean if the election of any political issue is so close to a 50-50 split why should 49% have to submit to the will of 51%? With a population well over 310 million people, half of which are forced in to submission. That's not a samll number to live under the control of just over 150 million (round numbers).

The amount of carbon foot print, the way it is currently, is such a hugh waste of time, money and energy you don't want to even waste the time pondering this stupid statistic. Really, when one looks at the complete and utter rediculas flurry the consciousness of the whole nation is in right now, over this stupid politically wrong society, is wollaring in. Ya have to agree, Two nations would be better than one.

Why should I be forced to vote for either of the candidates I don't believe in or accept a national direction that is responsible for virtually all the disharmony happening in the world because the controlling power elete are out of my influence?

I was born here. But I don't have to agree with a damn thing or the direction this country is forcing down everones throats, whether we like it or not. Why should we be forced to pay for bad management or an economic system that is corrupt to the core.

I believe in the America I knew, but not in this country it has become.

Yup, The pentagon blows up a Spy satellite because the don't want any dangerous fuel to contaminate the atmosphere. That fuel would have blew-up and burned up completely on reentery.
But they can spray parquate, mosquito insecticide, dump aviation fuel by the billions of gallons, in urbasn populations, continue to have policies that let corporations get away with environmental pollution and on and on.

Sorry, but not one of the "installed" candidates is going to be able to fix it unless socially the people start screaming in unisone. The time of wishy washy BS and denial have to stop. Accountability for bad management and leadership must be made policy, regardless of whom is elected (because your vote's meaning is a lie). The new boss is bound by the old boss, Change is too far away to be meaningful.

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What kind of "Democracy" is it when the BEST two candidates, Kucinich and then Edwards, are "weeded out" by a stupid anachronistic "system" after only 4 or 5 states out of 50 have even weighed in!?
That's not only ridiculous, it's DISENFRANCHISING about 90% of America!
The "Super-delegates" are only the cherry on top of this toxic pile of goo!

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When things don't go your way cry, "foul!" The rules for winning the democratic party's nomination may be easier stated than understood. That being said the rules are clearly stated.

It can't be rigged if everyone is playing by the same rules.

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The superdelegates are elected officials who will vote for the winner of the primaries -- almost undoubtedly Obama. But spare us the conspiracy talk. The system is a compromise choice. Perfect democracy would have us all point and click on every choice the government makes. It would also be a flaming disaster. There is nothing especially "democratic" about caucus states. Rules vary from state to state on how delegates are awarded. Ya wanna preach, go get a choir.

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