21-year-old superdelegate for the Dems getting breakfast with Chelsea and having his cell phone blown up by Bill Clinton and others trying to convince him to support Hillary. This makes me laugh...

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=4273078&page=1

Quote :

"College Junior Breakfasts With Chelsea Clinton 21-Year-Old Wisconsin Super Delegate Gets Face Time With Former First Daughter By KAREN TRAVERS Feb. 11, 2008 — Jason Rae is a typical junior in college. He spends several hours a day in class at Marquette University in Wisconsin where he is majoring in history and political science. He is closely following the Marquette basketball team and has the Golden Eagles' schedule memorized. But not many 21-year-olds start their Monday with a personal breakfast with Chelsea Clinton, as Rae did this morning at the student union at the nearby University of Milwaukee. Rae got the one-on-one treatment from the former  and possibly future  first daughter because he is a Democratic National Committee member from Wisconsin and thus a "super delegate," one of the 796 free agents who can back any candidate in the race for the Democratic nomination. Never Voted Before Rae may be a typical college junior but he is certainly not the typical DNC super delegate. He is only 21 years old -- he has never voted in a presidential election because he turned 18 after Election Day in 2004. Since the race between New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama is so tight, Rae has become a power broker of sorts, as both campaigns push hard to lock down the support of super delegates. Rae said he and Chelsea Clinton talked about electability and mobilizing young people to get involved in politics. He said she spoke about what states her mother can carry in the general election and what demographics favor her candidacy. The two talked about how the campaign's operations were going in the states and what she is seeing on the ground. The breakfast lasted about 30 minutes. Rae said he had to hustle back to campus and get to his afternoon classes. Rae was elected as a DNC member at the Wisconsin state party convention in June 2004. He was 17 years old at the time but there are no party rules that say a DNC member has to be of voting age. Rae ran against and defeated the president of the state firefighters' union and a state legislator. Rae has been called on his cell phone by former President Clinton and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright who tried to woo him to the Clinton side and Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, who was pushing for Rae to endorse Obama. Super Delegate Gets Political Star Treatment Despite the star power lighting up his cell phone, Rae told ABC News that he has no plans to endorse before the Wisconsin primary Feb. 19. Former President Clinton called Rae on his cell phone, Jan. 25, the night before the South Carolina primary. Rae was about to head out to dinner with friends when his phone rang and the screen said, "Number withheld." The voice on the other end said: "Please hold for the former president" and then a familiar voice said "Hey Jason, it's Bill here." "I started to think, is this real? I am a junior in college and Bill Clinton is talking to me?" Rae said as he recalled the phone call. Clinton talked about Hillary Clinton's electability and gave Rae an update on how things were looking on the ground in South Carolina. He then regaled Rae with stories about his travels to Wisconsin as president and the cities he visited during that time. Rae received a call from Kerry, Feb. 1, the Friday before the critical Super Tuesday showdown. Kerry, too, talked about electability and also asked Rae about college life in general and even the weather. Rae said he is getting a steady stream of calls from campaign staff and surrogates, including Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., and Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton on behalf of the Clinton campaign. But Rae said he is focusing on which candidate can win in November. "Both have good positions, but it's about who can win," he said. Copyright © 2008 ABC News Internet Ventures"

2/11/2008 9:19:35 PM

Nice political system there... when former Presidents and would-have-been-Presidents have to call and beg a 21 year old to influence who becomes the next President.

2/11/2008 9:53:20 PM

Kid looked like Gomer Pyle

2/11/2008 9:55:37 PM

Quote :

"Nice political system there... when former Presidents and would-have-been-Presidents have to call and beg a 21 year old to influence who becomes the next President."

do i detect some jealously?

at least people have some control over here

2/11/2008 9:58:22 PM

HEEEEEEEEEY

HOW BADLY DO YOU WANT ME TO VOTE FOR YOUR MOM?

REAL BAD?

LIKE HOW BAD?

2/11/2008 10:03:48 PM

if chelsea clinton were hot, i don't see the problem with this. Having ugly chicks stalk you, though, is a serious problem

Quote :

"Rae was elected as a DNC member at the Wisconsin state party convention in June 2004. He was 17 years old at the time but there are no party rules that say a DNC member has to be of voting age. Rae ran against and defeated the president of the state firefighters' union and a state legislator."

PWNT

Quote :

" The voice on the other end said: "Please hold for the former president" and then a familiar voice said "Hey Jason, it's Bill here.""

That's how you know you are baller. When you call someone, you put them on hold.

[Edited on February 11, 2008 at 10:08 PM. Reason : .]

2/11/2008 10:05:13 PM

2/11/2008 10:15:36 PM

2/11/2008 10:20:31 PM

when are we finally going to purge our so called "democracy" of the fucking electoral college system anyway. I enjoy how politicians like to pick and choose which aspects of the original system founded with the creation of the original constitution to keep around.

2/11/2008 10:47:17 PM

like the 3/5ths compromise

2/11/2008 11:25:49 PM

Well, i think a lot of TWW would have agreed with that compromise.

2/11/2008 11:28:47 PM

Quote :

" That's how you know you are baller. When you call someone, you put them on hold."

Psh, Lenovo tech support does that sometimes to people who place electronic service calls. Don't say things like that- they don't need any more reason to give me attitude.

2/11/2008 11:32:17 PM

I just hope this kid's getting jobs for himself and all his friends...

...otherwise, what's the point?

2/12/2008 12:15:58 AM

^I don't think chelsea is that kind of girl

2/12/2008 12:21:46 AM

Super Delegate!

Faster than a speeding Obama... More powerful than Bill Clinton's Viagra... Able to leap Teddy Kennedy in a single bound...

Look up in the sky..It's a bird..it's a plane... it's a college kid who's never voted...

It's Super Delegate!

2/12/2008 12:30:06 AM

Quote :

"I don't think chelsea is that kind of girl"

They've got to be promising -ish...

I watched the sixth season of West Wing, I know how this goes...

Wait...did TGD change parties and I missed it? Or did he mean "our" as in "American" as opposed to the more accurate "Democratic?"



[Edited on February 12, 2008 at 12:37 AM. Reason : add]

2/12/2008 12:32:43 AM

maybe Obama can get the Obama girl to have dinner with him

2/12/2008 12:38:58 AM

^FTW

2/12/2008 12:45:21 AM

^^^
the latter, I assure you

even though I work for a Dem, have helped put a half dozen of them in office, and will be voting for their presidential nominee in November, it'll be a frigid day in hell before I change my party affiliation

2/12/2008 8:59:43 AM

speaking of the fucked up primary and delegate system.....

Quote :

"it has already been reported that Sen. Clinton will demand that the convention seat delegates from Michigan and Florida, two states whose delegates have been disqualified by the party for holding January primaries in defiance of party rules. The candidates agreed not to campaign in those states. But Sen. Clinton opted to keep her name on the Michigan primary ballot, and staged a primary-day victory visit to Florida, winning both of those unsanctioned primaries. Her campaign is arguing that the delegates she won in each state be recognized despite party rules and notwithstanding her commitment not to compete in those primaries. Of course. "Count every vote.""

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120269002843257513.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

2/12/2008 9:35:08 AM

the super delegates were created b.c in 1980 a few big honchos decided that big shots in the Democratic party did not have enough power/influence to effect the presidential nomination.

Before we go around trying to spread democracy around the world perhaps we should fix our own.

[Edited on February 12, 2008 at 9:37 AM. Reason : a]

2/12/2008 9:36:41 AM

Quote :

"when are we finally going to purge our so called "democracy" of the fucking electoral college system anyway. I enjoy how politicians like to pick and choose which aspects of the original system founded with the creation of the original constitution to keep around."

When are we finally going to purge our so called "democracy" of the fucking popular vote system anyway? It fucking scares me to think that the ignorant idiots sitting next to me in my classes get a chance to choose the leader of our country, and they're in the TOP percentage of people who get a vote. I KNOW I don't know enough to intelligently make a decision in politics, so I choose not to force my opinion on the rest of the country. It's the people who are even less informed than me that don't make that same choice to not vote that scare the fuck out of me.

2/12/2008 9:42:30 AM

yeah, ironically this could end up being a 2000-election situation with the fucked up system overriding the popular vote. That's already the way it's looking:

Candidate  Plgd	 Supr  Total*
Clinton    905   242   1147
Obama      964   160   1124

2/12/2008 9:47:43 AM

^^ A majority faction might end up pushing for a economic redistribution. What would be worse?

2/12/2008 10:03:44 AM

Quote :

"Before we go around trying to spread democracy around the world perhaps we should fix our own."

Who is this "we" shit donkey boy? I'm not a member of the Democratic party. They can deal with their own crap.

Quote :

"That's how you know you are baller. When you call someone, you put them on hold."

When I pick up the phone and get a "please hold" I usually hang up before I even find out who it is.

Quote :

"if chelsea clinton were hot, i don't see the problem with this. Having ugly chicks stalk you, though, is a serious problem"

In fairness, she's matured to be pretty decent looking. She's no French first-lady, but she doesn't look as much like her mother as she used to.

2/12/2008 10:23:13 AM

Quote :

"Before we go around trying to spread democracy around the world perhaps we should fix our own."

Super delegates in and of themselves are not a bad institution. I bet some republicans were sitting there hoping they had more super delegates for fear of Ron Paul. in any democracy, there needs to be a bulwark against the stupidity of the masses, or an extreme populist who will do nothing but destroy the party.

2/12/2008 10:26:32 AM

Quote :

"When are we finally going to purge our so called "democracy" of the fucking popular vote system anyway? It fucking scares me to think that the ignorant idiots sitting next to me in my classes get a chance to choose the leader of our country, and they're in the TOP percentage of people who get a vote. I KNOW I don't know enough to intelligently make a decision in politics"

I am sure tyrants have been thinking the same thing since 3000BC. It scares me how much some of you idiots sound not just complacent but supportive of a non representative totalitarian form of government. oh thats right 9/11 CHANGED EVERYTHING GOVERNMENT PLEASE TAKE MY CIVIL RIGHTS IN EXCHANGER FOR PROTECTING ME FROM THE TURRRISTS.

Quote :

"I bet some republicans were sitting there hoping they had more super delegates for fear of Ron Paul. in any democracy, there needs to be a bulwark against the stupidity of the masses, or an extreme populist who will do nothing but destroy the party."

yeah screw democracy we need leaders to ensure the status quo and protect the wealth and power of the current establishment while keeping everyone else complacent with their mediocre lives.
I do not totally disagree with some of the opinions related to such a system, however, we need to drop our false self-image of a shining model democracy and leaders of the free world when such is not the case.

[Edited on February 12, 2008 at 10:37 AM. Reason : z]

2/12/2008 10:33:47 AM

What does Ron Paul have to do with Super Delegates?

2/12/2008 10:41:32 AM

Quote :

"yeah screw democracy we need leaders to ensure the status quo and protect the wealth and power of the current establishment while keeping everyone else complacent with their mediocre lives. "

Because we really need a Jesse Jackson or George Wallace running the country, the very people the super delegates were designed to prevent. The Democratic Party already saw the mistake of giving too much control to the electorate when they nominated McGovern in 1972.

Quote :

"What does Ron Paul have to do with Super Delegates?"

On the off chance that Ron Paul managed to pull of the victory that his supporters were claiming would happen, the Republican Party officials would have been unable to block his nomination. I know there are a bunch of internet neck beards and survivalist who would want his nomination, but it would have destroyed the Republican party. Ron Paul is an example of a candidate super delegates are meant to stop.

[Edited on February 12, 2008 at 10:45 AM. Reason : .]

2/12/2008 10:43:31 AM

I actually saw the guy interviewed on MSNBC. He looks and sounds like an awkward 14 year old kid.

[Edited on February 12, 2008 at 10:44 AM. Reason : .]

2/12/2008 10:44:21 AM

I would totally use that to my advantage.

Be like, if you want be to vote for Clinton, hook me up with Monica.

2/12/2008 10:48:01 AM

I'm sure you'd want to use it to pull better tail than an overweight intern.

2/12/2008 10:49:16 AM

someone was telling me that after they sent chelsea to court that 21 year old kid, the obama campaign was sending scarlett johannsen (sp?). now i don't think it's true. but it's pretty funny.

2/12/2008 10:51:03 AM

Quote :

"On the off chance that Ron Paul managed to pull of the victory that his supporters were claiming would happen, the Republican Party officials would have been unable to block his nomination. "

Ummm, I don't think he ever stood a chance. Ron Paul (whom I support in principle) is exactly the kind of candidate that Super-Delegates aren't needed to stop.

2/12/2008 10:51:10 AM

Quote :

"On the off chance that Ron Paul managed to pull of the victory that his supporters were claiming would happen, the Republican Party officials would have been unable to block his nomination."

If this is the will of the people who are the aristocrats running the GOP to dictate who we should vote on. I support Ron Paul but our current system does not give him a chance even with a major populist support to win. I guess our rich and/or powerful leaders running the 2 major parties have more right to decide who we elect then the other 99% of the population.

2/12/2008 10:58:20 AM

Quote :

"Ummm, I don't think he ever stood a chance. Ron Paul (whom I support in principle) is exactly the kind of candidate that Super-Delegates aren't needed to stop."

like I said, on the off chance. Super Delegates would also have been used to prevent a Buchanan nomination in 96, who actually had a chance, but in the end wasn't needed.

Quote :

" If this is the will of the people who are the aristocrats running the GOP to dictate who we should vote on. I support Ron Paul but our current system does not give him a chance even with a major populist support to win. I guess our rich and/or powerful leaders running the 2 major parties have more right to decide who we elect then the other 99% of the population."

The party has all the right in the world to determine who represents them. If you don't like that, then go create a third party. the parties are private entities, they are not the government.

[Edited on February 12, 2008 at 11:00 AM. Reason : .]

2/12/2008 10:58:42 AM

Whats wrong with Ron Paul or Pat Buchanan being elected? If he wins the majority of delegates to represent his party, he should represent his party. If he goes down in flames during the general election, he goes down in flames. The democratic system has functioned, not failed.

Of course, parties are free to set whatever rules they want to nominate whomever they want to run for office. The Democrat and Republican parties aren't branches of the government, they've just been around long enough for it to seem that way.

2/12/2008 11:01:11 AM

Quote :

"Whats wrong with Ron Paul or Pat Buchanan being elected? If he wins the majority of delegates to represent his party, he should represent his party. If he goes down in flames during the general election, he goes down in flames. The democratic system has functioned, not failed. "

I don't have problems with loons on the right being nominated by the Republican party to the presidency. It would just speed up a massive decline in the power of republicans throughout the country. I do not suspect Republicans would want to see that. A Paul or Buchanan nomination would have spelled doom for the Republican party. there are more offices to be elected to in this country than just the Presidency. The parties are interested in controlling those offices. The nomination of a Jesse Jackson, George Wallace, Ron Paul, or Pat Buchanan would strongly diminish a party's chance of holding onto the down ballot races. After all, a President has long coat tails.

[Edited on February 12, 2008 at 11:04 AM. Reason : .]

2/12/2008 11:03:21 AM

Boy

You guys would love a parliamentary system.

2/12/2008 11:04:18 AM

^ enlighten me.

is not that just where we choose congressmen parliament members who then form coalitions to choose the president prime minister. Then if we get pissed at the PM we can just elect a parliament member of a different party to oust the PM for a new one. This sounds a lot better then a bunch of old douches telling us our "candidates" who we vote for in a mock presidential election. While the president is really decided by people many of whom do not actually answer to the voters.

[Edited on February 12, 2008 at 11:09 AM. Reason : a]

2/12/2008 11:06:50 AM

Could you imagine GWB regularly heading to Congress for Q & A?

2/12/2008 11:09:21 AM

You wouldn't vote for your president, the controlling party of Congress would.

2/12/2008 11:10:24 AM

i've heard UK parliament members sometimes duke it out in westminster abbey. shit i'd tune into CSPAN to watch that shit. Better than a bunch of uptight politically correct hooligans.

2/12/2008 11:11:20 AM

Quote :

"Could you imagine GWB regularly heading to Congress for Q & A?"

Yes, yes I can. It would be glorious!

2/12/2008 11:12:18 AM

YOU GUYS SHUT UP! HILLARY IS NOT PIMPING HER OWN DAUGHTER. EVEN THOUGH THAT IS THE VERY DEFINITION ACCORDING TO MERRIAM WEBSTER OF PIMPING, SHE SAYS SHE ISNT AND SHE WAS OFFENDED SO WE HAVE TO BELIEVE HER GOSH!

2/12/2008 11:12:46 AM

Quote :

"While the president is really decided by people many of whom do not actually answer to the voters. "

You might want to check on who the super delegates really are and how they are determined before you start spouting nonsense.

2/12/2008 11:13:03 AM

In all seriousness though, the American government apparatus isn't particularly broken per se, if we had a third party that was strong and didn't have a retarded primary system like the other two then we'd be fine. While the electoral college isn't ideal for close contests, it never impedes a direct and clear winner of a Presidential election.

2/12/2008 11:14:32 AM

Except in 2000

Perhaps my mom was right when she said be nice to your sister b.c you never know when you made need her help. No coincidence do I find that GWB's victory was sealed by the resolution of voter controversy in a state where G-Dub's brother was governor after an EXTREMELY close vote which would have given either candidate the electoral votes to win. Regardless of if you like W or not anyone who doesn't find this all to coincidental has their head in the sand. Perhaps nothing illegal was done but I am sure Jeb pulled a few strings to help sway things in a non-democratic way into his brothers favor

2/12/2008 11:22:05 AM

Quote :

"Could you imagine GWB regularly heading to Congress for Q & A?"

C-SPAN's numbers of viewers would increase exponentially just to watch him sweat

2/12/2008 11:26:12 AM

Quote :

"nutsmackr: The party has all the right in the world to determine who represents them. If you don't like that, then go create a third party. the parties are private entities, they are not the government."

This logic is all well and good until taxpayers start footing the bill (read: party conventions, federal matching funds). Then I think it's reasonable that they start getting to make some demands.

2/12/2008 11:31:29 AM