Nothing new with the party that tried to stop the votes of the armed forces members from being counted in Florida in 2000, but now if you voted in the Florida primary or the Michigan primary the DNC wants you hold caucuses. That way your delegates can be seated at the convention without a fight since the DNC didn’t like you moving your primary date up so you could have a voice.

Of course, the only candidate who ran in either state was Hillary Clinton so if they allow the primaries to stand she would get all the delegates from those two states.

LANSING, Mich. — The Democratic National Committee is pressuring Michigan and Florida to hold Democratic presidential caucuses so the delegates they’ve lost for holding January primaries could be seated at the national convention, a top Michigan Democrat said Wednesday.

DNC member Debbie Dingell said it’s unclear whether either state would hold caucuses since they’ve already held primaries. But she said the DNC is asking the two states to consider such a plan.

DNC spokesman Damien LaVera had no comment.

But Michigan Democratic Chairman Mark Brewer said the DNC isn’t saying anything it hasn’t said before to Michigan and Florida.

”Everybody involved, the candidates, the DNC and we, need to remain open-minded. So if someone comes up with a creative way that meets everyone’s interests, we can do that” and get the delegates seated, he said.

Florida Democratic Party spokesman Mark Bubriski agreed with Brewer that the DNC’s position isn’t new. But he said the party has no intention of holding another election.

”We’ve said all along that we’re going forward with our delegate selection program using the vote on Jan. 29,” he said. ”We’ve got more delegate applications than ever.”

When people start hollering about disenfranchisement during the general election, just be sure to pin the problem where it lies. A party that willingly disenfranchises its own delegates from a primary will do all it can to scream the other party disenfranchised voters all across the country. That’s become the norm since 2000. Thank you, Al Gore.

And the Republicans’ hands are not clean on this issue either as a couple of states dared to hold their primaries earlier than allowed by the RNC.

Both parties should let every vote count regardless of when it was taken.

After Super Tuesday, in which almost half the states voted in primaries or caucused, it appears with the wins in the big states the final candidates will be Hillary Clinton and John McCain.

Pure self-professed conservatives are saying if McCain wins the nomination they will not vote. Just as they didn’t vote in 2004 and we got a Democratic Congress that would have passed a lot of bad laws if not for the veto pen of President Bush.

For a Republican to stay home and not vote it is the same as voting for Clinton. Do you really want four or eight more years of a Clinton in the White House?

Do you really savor the possibility of two more Ruth Bader Ginsbergs on the Supreme Court for the next two or three decades or more?

Do you want forced national health care where your wages will be garnisheed if you choose not to participate in their plan? It would be just like the FICA taxes now. You don’t miss it until you look at your paystub and realize how much the government is withholding.

Do you want a tax increase? That’s what’s going to happen even if no vote is taken because the tax cuts you have enjoyed during the Bush Administration are set to expire in 2011. Your taxes will go back up and that is a tax increase.

How about all the other taxes it’s going to take to implement the new social programs Hillary is rubbing her hands in anticipation of getting?

Forget Huckabee and Romney. With all his money Romney can’t seem to score in the primaries. Huckabee won a few southern states but that’s all. McCain is winning in all sections of the country.

It’s a little different for Hillary. She still has stiff opposition from Barack Obama, who is a very charming man who seems to want peace in our nation’s capitol, but has no executive experience to show he can succeed at it. Bush tried, but failed. And he had peace with the Democrats in the Texas legislature when he was governor of Texas.

Whether it’s Hillary or Obama, you can’t put a piece of paper between them as far as their stands on the issues.

McCain has been a maverick and has enjoyed the role. He loves the spotlight and the attention he gets from the press.

We have heard many conservatives disavow him, but the voters don’t seem to be listening to the insiders.

This is probably the most important election in a long, long time, if not in our nation’s history. If we refuse to vote we will give the Democrats control of all three branches of government and I don’t mean the White House and each house of Congress. I mean the White House, both houses of Congress and the Judiciary, which includes the Supreme Court.

So, maybe like some awful tasting medicine you’ve had to swallow in the past, you’ll have to hold your nose as you pull the lever, touch the screen or mark an X for John McCain, but do it we must for the sake of our country’s future.

While walking down the street one day a US senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

“Welcome to heaven,” says St. Peter. “Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we’re not sure what to do with you.”

“No problem, just let me in,” says the senator.

“Well, I’d like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we’ll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.”

“Really, I’ve made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,” says the senator.

“I’m sorry, but we have our rules.”

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.

They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises…

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.

“Now it’s time to visit heaven.”

So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

“Well, then, you’ve spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.”

The senator reflects for a minute, then answers: “Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.”

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

Now the doors of the elevator open and he’s in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage.

He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. “I don’t understand,” stammers the senator. “Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there’s just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?”

The devil looks at him, smiles and says…….

“Yesterday we were campaigning. Today you voted.”

The final installment of Men of Valor has been posted by Michael Yon.

This one is content laden and chock full of photos. If you have followed the series, this is a must read.

Also, via email, Michael relays the following:

Hoping all is well on Super Tuesday in America and that all my readers who are eligible to vote make it a point to do so. If it seems like a lot of trouble to get out to the polls, consider that lives are in the balance. Everyone’s vote matters.

and

Mosul is getting increasingly dangerous as al Qaeda’s habitat continues to shrink. That’s where I am heading to bring readers the frontline news. This time, however, I do expect more of the bad and ugly mixed in with the good.

This stirring recitation of the Declaration of Independence was delivered prior to the big game on Sunday.

On this important day in the political process in our country, what better reminder could there be of our obligations.

If you live in a Super Tuesday state, please go vote.

**If you wish to follow the results as they roll in this evening here is one location where they will be available.

Delegate count only here.

If you live in one of the 24 states having primaries or caucuses today be sure to vote regardless of your party. Get in on the selection process to help choose our presidential nominees, one of whom will be our president. Make your voice heard.

There are moments during any political season when someone produces something which takes the edge off and allows you to laugh.

This video is one of those moments.

HT: Ed Driscoll

Congratulations to the New York Giants.

In what should go down as one of the best and most exciting Super Bowl games of all time, Eli Manning did what many considered impossible. He took on the mighty New England Patriots and came away with the trophy.

If ever there was a team who believed in themselves it is these NY Giants.

Thanks to The Anchoress for bringing it to our attention.

200 people agreed to freeze in place at a specific time for a specific time. Watch the reactions of everyone else and the applause when the time is up.

Captain Ed posts on the latest concerns of my home state Senior Senator.

Arlen Specter wants to get to the bottom of an obstruction of justice that burns to the soul of America. Someone destroyed videotapes that evidenced a crime, and Specter wants an investigation. Was it the CIA who destroyed the videotapes? FBI? BATF? OMB? No — it was the NFL:

I disagree with just one teeny-tiny little point in this piece. It’s in the title of the post.

Respectfully Captain, it’s long past time the Senator finds another form of amusement.

Read the balance of this post done with the typical Ed Morrissey flair.

This about sums it up, don’t you think?

It could be that in politics, as in movies, the great screenwriter William Goldman was right: Nobody knows anything.

HT:Lucianne

I wonder if next year this will be packaged and ready to market prior to the big game?

It’s time for Super Bowl Ad Bingo!

Sensible thoughts on immigration.

4. Give amnesty to the rest…. Ah, now everyone’s going crazy. I’m just being blunt. You can call it amnesty, shamnesty or late for lunch… It comes to the same thing. These people came here under the “Wink System.” If you’re going to end the “Wink System,” you have to be fair. You can’t punish people retroactively for a shell game they didn’t invent.

Michael Yon’s latest dispatch:

“The Iranians are poison to the Iraqi people,” said the old Sheik. He said he is from the Jabouri tribe, and that many Jabouri are Sunni, like him, but many others are Shia. He pointed to someone across the room and said, “That is my son-in-law, and he is Shia!” and his son-in-law smiled. I see this all over. The fabric of Iraq is finely woven and not coarse like it sometimes appears from afar. The old Sheik said that both Sunni and Shia were friends who often came to his house. They even prayed together…..

It’s always a good idea to warn people of potential risks, right?

Well, maybe:

Apparently they had these on the tube for ages. But they had the opposite effect.

Thieves would watch as people walked past, read the sign and check that their wallet was still there.

Then the thieve’s knew *exactly* where to bump them to grab it.

If you are a child of the sixties this should bring back some memories. Enjoy even if you don’t have the memories.

No Friday Fly-By this week. There is simply not enough out there that does not have the words Clinton, Obama, McCain, Romney, Democrat, republican, Conservative, Liberal..well you get the picture.

Mind you, there has been some great stuff written this past week, but I decided to close out the week instead with a bit of fun.

I hope you enjoy the “Evolution of Dance.”

Have a great weekend all!