SC state Democratic chair...afraid to go to Florida..."I'm afraid people might shoot me"

[madfloridian]

Caution is best, Carol Fowler. You just never know about some of these good old boys down here. Heck, they might even sue your state. :think:

Who, if anyone, will party with Democrats?

A four-state axis of conventional evil

That kind of attitude by states smaller than some Florida counties naturally has some Democrats a tad perturbed. Senate Democratic leader Steve Geller last week called them "four terrorist states. You know, the axis of evil."

South Carolina Democratic chairwoman Carol Fowler, who played a lead role in drafting the DNC rules and candidate pledge not to campaign in Florida, said she feels bad about this, really she does, but everybody knew the rules from the start.

"I like Florida, and I love to go there, but I'm afraid to go down there right now. I'm afraid people might shoot me," she quipped.

You are always welcome in this state as far as I am concerned. But I simply don't know about the others.

However, Carol, you are in good company. They don't want Governor Dean coming for a fundraiser week after next. Even though it would benefit the state party. Here are two who said he was not welcome.

Geller: Dean is only welcome in some areas of the atate

Senate Democratic Leader Steve Geller, who on Wednesday labeled Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina “terrorist, rogue states” for coercing Democratic presidential candidates not to campaign in Florida in advance of its Jan. 29 primary, on Thursday announced he will not be attending a Tallahassee fundraiser held by the head terrorist himself, Democratic chairman Howard Dean.

“He’s welcome in certain, small enclaves of the state,” Geller told the Q. “If you don’t have something nice to say about someone, you shouldn’t say anything at all. Therefore I will not go.”

And then there's Mike Suarez, chairman from Hillsborough County.

Hillsborough DEC chair says Dean not welcome in Florida. Laughs at him

Meanwhile, the primary controversy isn't keeping Howard Dean away. He's scheduled to be in Tallahassee Oct. 9 for a $100-per-person fundraiser. (Suggested amount..not required)

Hillsborough Democratic chairman Mike Suarez burst out laughing at that news Tuesday.

"I'm not too sure that he's the best person to be doing fundraising in Florida at the moment," Suarez said of Dean.

But look at it this way, Ms Fowler. They haven't threatened to shoot him yet, just sue him.

Maybe you could slip into the state quietly. One thing...please don't assume we are all like that. You are most welcome here. :-)

[Dr.Phool]

1. I'll make her a deal.

I'm going back to SC on Thursday. I need a dog sitter, and she needs a place to stay. She can have my place with pool, stocked bar, HDTV, and all the dog kisses she can handle for the week-end.

Welcome to Florida.

[madfloridian]

8. Doggoned nice deal there.

Very nice. :hi:

[AuntPatsy]

2. Pretty pathetic how they are attacking Dean, I think more than anything

it proves they how terrified they are of the truth. Dean needs more citizens behind him, he fights for us and yet I don't believe we fight for him enough, and I thought that was what most of us wanted.

[madfloridian]

4. I agree on that. Our lefty blogs are not speaking out...that is our media.

They simply do not touch the subject. Markos cheered Florida on, though he hasn't said much since.

No, there is no standing up for him, you are right. I think there is an element of 04 involved. I have been told that many do not support the DNC because I do. I have certain 04 candidates I did not care for, and said so. That seems to be the deciding point for many here. We supported Kerry completely with donations and time....yet because I said he should not have conceded the next day I was told in a PM that was why they could not support the DNC.

We really do have our priorities out of order here from 04. The DNC's strategy will not draw large corporate donations, so they depend on us.

But I will keep speaking out on this travesty.

[AuntPatsy]

5. Well then most people are foolish and petty and in being that way they are doing

nothing more than aiding in destroying this country, I hear constantly about so many others both good and bad depending on the days issues that stands out but as far as Dean, the only time I see him mentioned is from you and I find that sad very sad that people don't realize just how strong a contender he is for justice to find a voice loud enough to be heard


Our own leaders fail to give that man the credit he deserves and it honestly sickens me, the fact that he still marches on amazes me and shows me the kind of person he is and which should show others the kind of person we need to help lead us out of this mess.

Sometimes I wonder if everyone is just so overwhelmed, if so, they won and we are lost.

[madfloridian]

6. I am about the only one who mentions him at all.

There are others who could and feel like I do that he is a leader in the party. But too many things get in the way.

Daily Kos and MyDD and Open Left are on board with someone, but I can't figure who except Simon Rosenberg's New Dem and New Politics Media. He has more big money. I know Kos is part of the group, not sure of the others. Rosenberg does good things, but there is a role for the DNC that is a big one.

I guess people have to decide if my support of the DNC and Dean is worth letting the strategy fail. It is my understanding Harold Ford or Simon Rosenberg are next, and they do NOT need grassroots at all. They have big money funding.

It is one of those riddles. I guess I could like everyone, but I doubt it would matter.

[AuntPatsy]

7. I am not so sure you should like anyone else at this point since they seem

to shift from one leg to the next much to often, as far as I know, Dean has not done so, most people allow the media to focus their attentions to certain individuals, and by doing so we are missing the one we really need to be paying attention to.

Please dont' give up, he needs you and so do we. You do have listeners even if they do get sidetracked more often then not.

[ClintonTyree]

10. And thank you for keeping us informed....

I think what's going on in Florida is despicable. They knew the rules and signed on to them, then changed their minds when they thought they weren't getting the attention the they deserved. Like a bunch of spoiled brats. :spank:

I lived in Florida for 3 years, from 2002-2004. I immediately got involved with local Democratic politics and, coming from New York, I have to say, I've never seen a more disorganized and toothless bunch in my life. I'm sure it's not that way throughout the State, but it sure the hell was in Highlands County. The culture shock and "snowbirds" drove me back to New York where I'll spend the rest of my life.

Thanks for keeping us informed, madfloridian. You seem to be one of the few who gives a damn about the shenanigans, yes, that's right, SHENANIGANS ;) going on in Florida right now. Thanks. :applause:

[madfloridian]

11. Ah, yes, familiar with that county

Don't live there but know the lay of the land there.

There are many counties like that where Democrats are afraid to be who they are.

Not all, but many. I am noticing in my area also that many outspoken DFAers are going right along with the "shenanigans". People I thought would be more observant and honest about things. Key words are "we have to win."

I speak out to them with each email I get. Then they write me back and lecture me for not going along.

[madfloridian]

3. Carol Fowler: "I'm no terrorist"

Carol Fowler


Steve Geller

http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2007/09/sc-dem-chair-i.html

"Had a nice chat today with Carol Fowler, the South Carolina Democratic chairwoman who played a key role in enacting especially stiff DNC penalties for state parties violating the primary calendar and in drafting the "four-state pledge" presidential contenders signed promising not to campaign Florida. "I like Florida, and I love to go there, but I'm afraid to go down there right now. I'm afraid people might shoot me,'' she laughed, noting in her soothing Southern drawl she's being likened to a terrorist.

...."hat's a reference to state Senate Majority Leader Steve Geller, who in what would not be called a soothing Southern drawl, criticized in today's Palm Beach Post the "four terrorist states. You know the Axis of Evil ... the terrorist rogue states? Well, I think the rogue states here are Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina." "

Mrs. Fowler says she feels badly about all this. Really. But the national parties have to maintain some order in the primary schedule to avoid a free-for-all. "If you're in Florida this probably does seem like a debacle. If you're in one of these early states, it's difficult. But the rest of these states probably don't even know it's happening. I'm sorry to be the one to say Florida is not the center of the universe."

We resemble that remark

[madfloridian]

9. I forget to mention Geller's grounds for suing SC and the others:

http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGB5TAAW67F.html

"Second, state Sen. Steve Geller of Hallandale Beach vowed to file a lawsuit against the four early primary states that demanded the boycott.

Geller's lawsuit could be the third filed in the case. He said it will allege a "conspiracy to intimidate the presidential candidates" by the Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina Democratic parties that disenfranchises minority voters in Hillsborough County.

Hillsborough is not even his county. So he's sort of stretching things.

"The county is one of the jurisdictions covered under the federal Voting Rights Act, so its minority voters are protected against anything that dilutes their voting power. Geller said the boycott pledge does that by preventing county voters from seeing the candidates at campaign events."