About asabagna
I go by the name of Asabagna Alatentou, "Asa" for short. I took this name as my African/Spiritual name when I went on a pilgrimage to West Africa in 1997. I visited Senegal, The Gambia and Ghana. "Asabagna" means "hunter" and I received that name during a naming ceremony when I visited a village in northern Ghana. "Alatentou" is Mandingo for "God is gracious" and I received that name from a village Griot in Senegal. I was born in England and my parents are of Jamaican heritage. I spent most of my formative years in Jamaica, but grew up primarily in Toronto Canada. I currently live in Ottawa, the national capital of Canada. I am professionally employed, married, 2 wonderful kids and regularly attend a Pentecostal church. I am a born-again Christian. I do not consider myself conservative or liberal, right-wing or left-wing, centrist etc., or any of the multiple categories that society likes to confine and define people by. However, I do have strong views, beliefs and opinions but I also consider myself open to listening and contemplating other viewpoints. I am a firm believer that "if you don't believe in something, you will fall for anything".
afrospear.wordpress.com 
Thanks a lot, Asa.
So, this means that 40% of the electorate – at minimum – don’t have a vote in the Democratic primaries, if the Super Delegates control 40% of the delegate total. This is insane.
Add electronic election theft and the (S)electoral College, plus the monied interests that you know are behind the scenes…yeah, this is a democracy in name only.
And people think conspiracy is a synonym for Oliver Stone!
Wack!!
Same here! The Superdelegates essentially water-down (read: nullify) the power of the popular vote – much like the Electoral College during the general election. On Jan. 8, after reading “The Fix is In for Hillary,” I blogged about the Superdelegates, I had no idea.
Since then, I also had discussions with others about the Superdelegates. So few really know about this process.
Ron Paul is often accused of being a racist, but he’s on the right track about taxes, the Federal Reserve, Federal involvement in local politics, and the true meaning of “freedom” and “democracy.” I took some time to read his articles and voting record. I’m a registered Democrat, and there’s a 99.9% chance that I’ll vote Democrat this year (Obama 08). But Ron Paul is the only Republican on my radar as “having the right idea.”
This will be the challenge for the Dems. How to explain the super delegate and why is it still necessary and should they lead the charge in repealing this Super Delegate reign. I am sure in 1972 there was some merit in creating this. But this is a new day. The Obama factor has ordinary folks interested in the political system and process and folks are asking questions. Now the trick will be to get folks to use their voting power as leverage now. To say to the Democratic party/machine that in order to restore faith in the election process this has to be repealed and if not we are going to vote you out of office. It is not enough to be outraged. Outraged has to be immediately followed up with action leading to a legislative solution. Otherwise we will find ourselves staring at this again when other candidates come up that capture our attention. The Clinton’s didn’t make the rules, but they damn sure are going to use all the information they have at their disposal to win…and rightly so. This ain’t like playing in the sandbox. This is better than high stakes poker. They want to win…by any means necessary.
Regarding Ron Paul, you might want to go and read his newsletters from back in the day during the LA riots and his stance and opinions and comments regarding that period of time. Then you can decide for yourself. I for one don’t think White folks are the sole owners of being racists. What do we call “US” when we are equally disparaging of “US” Hhmm.
THE NOTION OF “SUPER DELEGATES” IS ABOUT AS DISGUSTING AS ANYTHING NOW EXISTING IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS.
THIS NATION WAS FOUNDED ON THE IDEA OF ONE PERSON – ONE VOTE. TO DEVIATE FROM THAT PRINCIPLE IS TO RETURN OUR SOCIETY TO THE DAYS OF SLAVERY WHEN SOME CITIZENS HAD NO VOTE.
ANY CANDIDATE WHO WILL ACCEPT SUCH VOTES IS UNWORTHY OF OUR CONSIDERATION FOR ANY OFFICE….ESPECIALLY THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT.
THERE SHOULD NEVER BE A PROTECTED CLASS WHOSE MEMBERS HAVE AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTIONS. FORTHE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO ACCEPT SUCH A PROCESS MAKES IT UNWORTHY OF SUPPORT……
AS A LONG TIME DEMOCRAT, I WILL VOTE REPUBLICAN BEFORE I WILL SUPPORT ANY CANDIDATE WHOSE MARGIN OF VICTORY IS BASED ON SUPER DELAGATE VOTES. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE ELSE TO DO THE SAME IF SUCH A SITUATION COMES UP THIS ELECTION CYCLE.
I am so angry about the super delegates. How can the Democratic party condone super delegates.
The president should be elected by the people. 1 vote from one person.
What can be done to do away with super delegates?
I think someone needs to research this a bit more closely….from what I read, superdelegates comprise 20% of the delegate population (something like 800 out of 4000). Perhaps I am wrong, but it would make a substantial difference….
That said, and assuming I’m right on this, if you look at the current delegate count, Hillary has 259 and Obama has something like 160. But in terms of *normal* delegates, Obama is winning. If the delegates are only 20%, and if they continue to run like they are, with 2/3 going to Hilary, and 1/3 to, Obama, it should not make a difference in the outcome. I may have these numbers a bit off—but you can look it up on CNN.
Still hopeful, in other words.
Caitlin
At first look, it does seem that the “fix” is in. But, things are changing daily. What the superdelegates really want is to win.
If the polls consistanly show that Obama has a better chance of beating McCain than Hillary does, my guess is he’s got a really good chance.
Pingback: Katrina vanden Heuvel: The Tyranny of Super-Delegates at karmalised
In the phrase of Abraham Lincoln, democracy is a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/whatsdem/whatdm2.htm
Super Delegates don’t fit into the definition of democracy.
Super Delegates should not be able to vote, they “maybe” should have initial input into whether a person DOES or DOES NOT reflect the values of the Democratic Party, but this would happen monts/years before the PUBLIC process ever started AND WOULD BE A SIMPLE YES OR NO and WHY.
Go Obama
Thomas
The fact of the matter is Hillary clinton should be winng but because of they wont count the state of florida shes not! and yes the super delegates are not fair but they can work in anyones favor! No one can relly complain about the super delegates b/c those of you who can vote can choose the person choosing the super delegates!Its all about checks and blances here so dont complain! also if your voting for someone know why your voting for them not just b/c their black, or a woman, or even Republican! If i could vote i would take advantage of it not complain!