The Rules Committee of the Democratic Party, in a contentious day long meeting, reached agreement on the issue of seating the FLA and Michigan delegations and apportioning the delegates between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. The Committee determined that both delegations would be seated, but with each delegate having only a half vote. On the key issue of apportioning the delegates the Committee determined that for Florida the delegate split would reflect the primary result, giving Hillary Clinton a net gain of nineteen delegates. In Michigan the apportioning issue caused some real controversy, with a detrmination made to award based on a recommendation of the Michigan Democratic Party. The formula used was some sort of mish-mash that took into account several variables. On Michigan, from the Washington Post:
But it was the Michigan plan, approved by a 19 to 8 vote, that drew sharper opposition because of the way that state’s delegates will be awarded. Under the plan, Clinton will be given 34.5 delegate votes in Denver to Obama’s 29.5 delegate votes, a percentage distribution recommended by leaders of the Michigan Democratic Party but opposed by the Clinton campaign officials, who said it violates the results of Michigan’s Jan. 15 primary.
The Post has given the new math that has come from the Rules Committee determinations.
The net result was a gain of 87 delegate votes for Clinton and 63 for Obama. Until yesterday’s action, the magic number for winning the nomination was 2,026 delegates. Now the winner will need 2,118. According to a count by the Associated Press, as of last night, Obama controlled 2,052 delegates to Clinton’s 1,877.
The Committee sought to make the best determination possible under difficult circumstances, but the Clinton camp was not happy with the Michigan outcome. They had Harold Ickes there to fight the Clinton fight. And nobody is better than Ickes when it comes to street brawling.
This motion will hijack — hijack — remove four delegates won by Hillary Clinton,” said Harold Ickes, who oversees delegate operations for the Clinton campaign and is also a member of the Rules and Bylaws Committee. “This body of 30 individuals has decided that they’re going to substitute their judgment for 600,000 voters.”
Arguing that the Michigan compromise “is not a good way to start down the path of party unity,” Ickes warned that Clinton had authorized him to note that she will “reserve her rights to take it to the credentials committee” later. Campaign spokesman Howard Wolfson later affirmed that Clinton will reserve her right to challenge the outcome.
And now Clinton will have to determine her best way forward. A floor fight over Michigan? The Convention is coming upon us pretty quickly. Will it be unity, or a fight to the death?
Bill Manzi.com 
Your Honor,
This fiasco just shows that the Democratic Party, in it’s drive to control outcomes, is as screwed up as anyone.
They also show they cannot keep their word. Make a rule then change it to control an outcome.
The Democratic party cannot be trusted. Cases in point;
This primary fiasco. Set rules. Rules Broken. Change rules.
How about a review of Nancy Pelosi’s promises of what the congress will do and how long it will take to do it when the Democrats took control of the congress in the last election.
None accomplished. Remember the 5 day work week?
Jules
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Well I think you make a halfway decent point here, but I cannot fully agree. The issues with FLA and Michigan are not as simple as you make them. But I do agree that the Party leadership has dropped the ball in some respects. The key to maintaining the “rules” is that both states be sanctioned for their violation of party regulations. That has indeed happened. As far as the apportioning issue that is a political football by definition, with an outcome that was dictated by political considerations. Same as the other party. I cannot accede to your statement that a rule was made and broken here. That has not happened. I do remember the results of one party rule in Washington by the Republicans. Surplus turned to deficits as far as the eye can see. Bridges built to nowhere. Earmark spending out of control. Tom Delay and the K Street Project contributing to an atmosphere of total corruption, with industry actually writing the Congressional regs governing their business (after a hefty contribution to the Delay PAC or the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee) and trillions to be spent in Iraq, with a governing coalition that literally could not run a small town of under 5,000 people, much less a country in the throes of civil war. The Republicans could not organize, as managers, a three car parade. Their total managerial incompetence was highlighted in Iraq and through the Katrina fiasco. And so I can anticipate your response on Katrina please let me say that both the Governor and Mayor deserve more criticism than Bush, and were just as incompetent if not more so. But their stupidity does not absolve Bush of responsibility for his own managerial incompetence. Its time for a change in Washington Jules, and the Republicans have brought this on themselves.
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Your Honor,
Ow. Did I hit a nerve with you?
My comment was to demonstrate that the democratic party has shown it cannot manage things anymore than the Republicans. I have always shown my disdane for the failure of the Republicans.
I will not go into your list of Republican failures because it will end up as a he said…she said talk around.
I agree with you last sentence. We got what we deserved.
Prediction: A Democratic run Congress will mirror the capability of the Massachusetts governing body times 50. How has that worked for you?
I think things in Iraq are begining to come in line. May work out in the end. We will have to wait and see. Remember a war last until the end. You seem to have left your critisim off at it’s worst.
I do take offense by pointing out the inability of the Republicans to run a 3 car parade. I saw a four car parade once. It was followed by a FEMA tow truck, though.
next four years will be interesting.
Jules
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The only time you have really hit a nerve is when you tried to add pastry to my burgeoning debt at Starbucks.
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Your Honor,
What is the status of the “better management” legislation being championed by your…ahem….”friends”?
Jules
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I have not as of yet received the official copy, but will post it when I get it this week. We may then have to submit to arbitration.
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Your Honor,
I have a great solution you will appreciate.
We each pay half. (Kidding)
Jules
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