Live Blogging Committee Hearing [Update with notes of Craig Della Penna and Truthteller]

COMMENTS IN THIS THREAD ARE NOW CLOSED. GO TO THREAD #2 for MORE live-blogging by TRUTHTELLER.

GOOD MORNING ALL! GO HILLARY! (LIVE on C-Span.org and WaPo online)

I’m checking media sites:

Halperin links to WSJ:

“Garin: Not So Fast: “Even though voting ends Tuesday, Clinton’s top strategist says “it’s very unlikely the nomination will be secured.”

RIGHT ON! Craig Della Penna’s notes below:

6:44 AM Well, as expected, the DNC ‘rules’ and bylaws committee met to anoint The Hallowed One.

Alexis Herman was Shocked, shocked – at the apparent interest of the public at large.

Quorum established, pledge of allegiance, complete with the ‘under god’ clause,

7:02 AM The Dean himself arrives – praise all around, even a few ‘Huzzahs’

Dean proffers the desultory faint praise for HRC, oh and of course glowing words for BHO…

Looks like they’re treating this as an opportunity for advertising, blah, blah, blah…

Dean reflects on how angry he was with the Dems and how Al Gore talked him off the ledge… are you listening, HRC?

Dean: “It’s not about BHO, it’s not about HRC, it’s about our country.”

Oh for goodness sake, this is stroke city, Dean the uniter, this is all about calming down that hysterical woman so they can show the bitch the door.

“Must respect the voters of Fl and MI, but must respect those who followed the rules and the 48 states that were good little children.”

Go, Party Unity, Go

…can you tell I’m a little cynical about this?

This is complete bullshit – these people are engaged in a complete justification dance. The fix is in.

7:20 AM To hell with these poltroons…

[Truthteller]:
10:55 AM EST The presenter for the Florida DEMOS is schooling the DNC. How refreshing. They have already been punished, he said. He is now explaining how Republicans have defrauded Florida again and again since the late 19th century. This is a Republican game. Now Herman ridicules him about the number of emails she has received.

10:58 AM EST Senator Bill Nelson speaks on behalf of the Florida DEMOS. He acknowledges Wexler, although Wexler supports Obama, who has disenfranchised Florida. Two questions: Count the 29 JAN primary and uphold one person one vote? And then how does one apportion the delegates, which is the purview of the committee? Seat the entire delegation, he says. Reinstate the highest number of delegates.

11:03 AM EST He reminds them of the sensitivity of the problem, the historical precedents. Corrine Brown gestures in support. Reminds Committee of how voters wanted to cast a vote for a Democratic nominee.

11:06 AM EST The “people of Florida took it to the streets.” Voters rally on behalf of candidates, even though candidates did not campaign in Florida. Nelson discusses the grassroots efforts in FL. He urges them to recognize their votes.

11:09 AM EST “This is not about a candidate.” This is about the hope of 1.75 million who cast their votes. He gestures toward the committee, signifying that Florida’s fate is in their hands.

11:11 AM EST Obamabot Janice Griffin is now claiming that misinformed voters who thought their votes would not count were disenfranchised. And the Obamabots in the crowd cheer. Nelson disagrees, but he notes that the turnout was twice what is was ever before. It is in your hands to change the disenfranchisement, Griffin. We shall see, for she is an Obamabot equipped with Obama talking points.

11:13 AM EST DNC member McDonald does not understand the Florida legislature and the politics of the paper trail in Florida. Nelson is now disabusing him of his misconceptions. Nelson explains how the paper trail was used as blackmail by the Republicans. How can someone as misinformed as McDonald sit on committee? Nelson also tells committee that they must acknowledge that they must recognize a certified and legitimate election.

11:17 AM EST McDonald is attempting to understand the legislative debacle in Florida. Nelson also explains to committe that $800,080 thousand could never fund a caucus in a state such as Florida: it is too large, and the state has never had a caucus. Corrine Brown reacted adversely when the word caucus was mentioned. Nelson is now explaining how Florida proposed solutions such as the mail in ballot, but parties could not agree. Tells McDonald that Florida tried over and over and over to satisfy the DNC.

11:21 AM EST State Senator Arthenia Joyner speaks on behalf of the Clinton campaign. This is a wise choice. She reminds that Florida voters are no different than other voters. She also offers her autobiography. Emphasizes the need to count every vote, and now she discusses the legislature and the Republican manipulation of the paper trail provision. She also notes that Florida Democrats in both houses of the state legislature to amend the bill to restore the correct date of the primary. But in the end they had to vote for the bill, as they needed a verifiable paper trail. She outlines the quandary of Florida Democrats well. She now cites Maya Angelou: “you may not be heard, but speak anyway.”

11:31 AM EST She reminds committee that OUR PARTY would always include Florida Democrats, who never thought THEIR PARTY would abandon them. “My state has already suffered enough.” Notes that they were already deprived of retail campaigning.

11:34 AM EST The outcome of the election is our responsibility. Florida Demos demand that votes be counted, and it is the DNC’s responsibility to honor their vote. She also notes that we are responsible for electing Democrats from President to the bottom of the ticket. Now subsumes all this beneath the notion of “making America better” by seating the whole delegation at “OUR convention.” And to do it TODAY in the name of unity.

11:36 AM EST Now cites Dean: you cannot win a state if you do not show up. Herman interrupts Joyner. Now the constitution and the “right to be heard.” Reminds the committee of the potential theft and the silence.

11:38 AM EST They have the right to bring FL back into the Democratic fold. Let’s count every vote and win in November. Her impassioned presentation was received well by the audience.

11:39 AM EST Obama supporter Katz of FL tells Joyner that her words should be universally accepted. “Seat all delegates,” and now moves toward compromise: we can seat in multiple ways. And now Obamabot Katz claims 3 million would have voted, and Joyner agrees. Katz attempted to invalidate her.

11:41 AM EST Yvonne Gates, uncommitted, notes that Joyner wants all votes to be counted. Joyner wants it all. A full vote is what she wants, not a compromise.

11:42 AM EST Donna Brazile “uncommitted” showers her with pleasantries. Donna reminds her of 2000 and of disenfranchisement. Brazile cites the “voices that were not heard.” That is an Obamabot talking point. Remember Katz. Rules 6 & 7 – affirmative action and inclusion. Did we meet these criteria? And did we engage in full participation? Was diversity reflected? Again, she and other Obamabots are citing negative evidence.

11:46 AM EST Joyner reminds Brazile that Florida has met the requirements of Rules 6 & 7.

11:47 AM EST Clinton supporter Flournoy invalidates the Obamabot argument of “silent voices.” You count what have you have, Joyner says. All votes should count, whether it be 1 or 1 million. I am glad Flournoy undermined the Obamabot argument that is predicated on negative evidence.

11:49 AM EST Obamabot Wexler is now representing the Obama campaign. I guess we will see what money can buy.

11:53 AM EST OBAMABOT TALKING POINTS: Cites the rules, and now mentions the pledge. He also says Clinton says the primary would not count. Refers to the primary as abnormal. Obama “not was well known.” And those commercials in FL? And the press conferences? Obama respected the pledge, and mindless audience cheers.

11:55 AM EST Now claims people in Florida should not blame Obama for the debacle. And now he is misrepresenting the position of the entire Florida Democratic Congressional delegation regarding their decision to not hold a second Presidential primary. He is attempting to invoke a false sense of unity. And again, Obama is not responsible. Is he admitting that Obama is responsible? And now he is screaming. Someone ask him to calm down. High theatrics are not needed.

11:57 AM EST Wexler supports Ausman petition. And he cites the Republicans as justification. Should Democrats follow Republicans. And we should commend Obama for offering this concession? And why is someone in the press core clapping? Obama can kiss my ass. He also desires partial votes for superdelegates. Somehow this will restore unity in his small and venal mind.

12:00 PM EST Ausman for him is dignified. His presentation is weak, for he offered no specifics on Florida politics. Lots of histrionics and no substance.

12:01 PM EST Alice Germond, uncommitted, asks about the votes and those who did not vote during the “event” in FL. She is now concerned that the notion that there is a nonbinding vote may have affected turnout. She is now citing the property tax as the cause for turnout. This is another Obamabot talking point. Germond now claims so many more would participate if their vote would count. She desires to reconcile hypotheticals with fact. Remember, the Obama campaign is predicating its arguments on a hypothetical scenario we do not know exists. Again, everything the Obama campaign says and does is baseless.

12:05 PM EST Wexler: compromise, unity, etc. etc. And he thinks this will help Democrats win in FL.

12:07 PM EST Flournoy will ask him about his position on full restoration. Wexler cites rules, but he misunderstands the rules. He is citing an interpretation of the rules that is contested. And he is citing a petition as evidence. “Let us unify.” But he assumes the petition unifies. Always follow their assumptions. Now Flournoy asks again, do you oppose full restoration? Wexler dodges the question. He says the question is unity. He refuses to answer Flournoy’s very simple question. Flournoy now clarifies a point on 5 OCT memo. “Do not have to,” not “forbidden.” In other words, one can or cannot participate in the slating process.

WEXLER DID NOT ANSWER FLOURNOY’S QUESTION. HE WILL NOT SAY WHETHER OR NOT HE SUPPORTS FULL RESTORATION.

12:12 PM EST: Ickes asks him to explain what the compromise is, and what the other option would be. Wexler responds disrespectfully. Again, reiterates support for Ausman petition. And he cites PA and OH delegate victories for Clinton as justification? What does Ohio and PA have to do with FL? And what does this have to do with “unity?” Or are we to accept Obama as “unity?” This seems divisive to me.

This Wexler is hostile and obnoxious. He has no respect for the law. He is a typical Obamabot.

12:16 PM EST: Review slate after petition, for Obama did not have the opportunity to review slate in the past. And now he claims that Obama should not be punished for following the rules.

12:17 PM EST: Alice Huffman, Clinton supporter. Now Wexler is blaming the committee. Again, high theatrics. Again, assumes petition is unity. And she notes that Wexler did not answer her question. And she notes that we do not have to follow Republicans. I LOVE IT.

12:21 PM EST: Now Wexler claims he is a champion of voter rights. It is all about Wexler. ME ME ME. He says he is most committed, and that is why Obama chose him. This is ridiculous. Now Obamabot Katz claims Wexler is the champion of voting rights in FL.