Possible Clinton Lawsuit over Texas Caucuses?

[MadBadger]

This is just too much, and I hope for the party's sake they do not.

Clinton Lawsuit Could Muddy Texas Caucuses

The Texas Democratic Party is warning that its March 4 caucuses could be delayed or disrupted after aides to White House hopeful Hillary Clinton raised the specter of an "imminent" lawsuit over its complicated delegate selection process, officials said Thursday night.

In a letter sent out late Thursday to both the Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama campaigns, Texas Democratic Party lawyer Chad Dunn warned that a lawsuit could ruin the Democrats' effort to re-energize voters just as they are turning out in record numbers.

Spokesmen from both campaigns maintained there were no plans to sue before the March 4 election.

"It has been brought to my attention that one or both of your campaigns may already be planning or intending to pursue litigation against the Texas Democratic Party," Dunn said in the letter, obtained by the Star-Telegram. "Such action could prove to be a tragedy for a reinvigorated Democratic process."

Democratic sources said representatives from each campaign had made it clear they are keeping all their options open but that the Clinton campaign in particular had warned of an impending lawsuit.

MORE:

http://www.heraldonline.com/115/story/397361.html

[scheming daemons]

1. Hillary will attempt to steal this nomination by any means necessary....

She's just Bush in a pantsuit.


Pathetic.

[KittyWampus]

2. This may be a rumor. Maybe revenge for the CTV Nafta bullshit? But considering Clintons'

history with lawsuits when things don't go her way....

[thoughtcrime1984]

3. Maybe she should just sue Obama voters

for not giving her the Presidency she so richly desires.

[Lerkfish]

4. well, both campaigns deny it at this point, so its only "unnamed sources"

but I would think it a very stupid move for either campaign.

[MadBadger]

6. There has been precedent set with Clinton's and Lawsuits over Caucuses that have been set for years.

[Lerkfish]

12. true, but this report is denied thus far.

I'll give them the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise. But, as I said, I think that would be a really stupid thing to do.

[MadBadger]

21. This is also why i put Possible, instead of quoting the actual title

title makes it seem like its definitely coming from the Clinton's

[UALRBSofL]

16. It's pretty obvious Obama supporters are pretty gullible

And believe anything MSM says about Hillary but deny anything said about Obama. Thank goodness this is just GD-P play world and not the real world.

[Lerkfish]

20. well, I'm going to vote for Obama so not really sure of your point.

I said I was witholding judgement in lieu of better or corroborating information.

:shrug:

[scheming daemons]

29. Read the article.... Clinton staff, in conference call, threatened lawsuits....

...don't blame the MSM.

[AtomicKitten]

5. Caucuses are mean to Hillary and make her sad.

[KLee]

7. Changing the rules in the middle of the game.....

How typical.....


:puke:

[Dinger]

8. Well, I Gotta Say It

I like a fighting spirit.

:patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

[Name removed]

11. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[FrenchieCat]

15. Really Dinger.....do you really "like" this changing of rules

in a middle of the game that involves Democrats? Why? Please tell me.

[Dinger]

28. Well

Not actual rule changes, but the fighting spirit. As much as I liked Gore and Kerry, I still think they could have fought a helluva lot harder.

P.S. I wonder if as someone said, this has turned into an Obama echo chamber, and many of Hillary's supporters have left. I am still here, because I never give up. Probably a fault I have, that fighting spirit. I'm feeling lonely and wimpy. I need a goddmaned hug. Ah, fuck it.

[FrenchieCat]

33. Well, here's a hug.......

:hug:

Now just behave yourself! :)

[Dinger]

37. Well O.K. Then

And I'll behave, just because Frenchie said:) :pals:

[blonndee]

18. You really like a candidate who is rightly perceived as a desperate cheater and sore loser? OK. nt

[blonndee]

9. Oh, Jeez. . .

Not this s**t again!! Freaking Clinton and her selfish, histrionic scorched-earth policy. If this happns, or if she presses the Florida/Michigan issue, could we please rename her "Bloody Hillary"? She seems to have utter contempt for the Democratic party and its voters.

Edited for the more "sensitive" members of our community.:eyes: Not that it changes the despicable nature of what this so-called Democrat is trying to do. I'd love to laugh at the absurdity of it, but somehow I can't.

[DURHAM D]

22. As an OU grad I always notice your avatar.

However, your over the top posts always cause me to be embarrassed that you are associating a good institution with your nasty mouth.

[blonndee]

27. Ooh, a personal attack with no substance whatsoever! Thank you!

How original! :rofl:

[flyarm]

38. Obama is the only one of all candidates to break DNC rules in Fla.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/sep/30/obama-vows-do-whats-right/?news-breaking

Obama Vows To 'Do What's Right'

By WILLIAM MARCH and ELAINE SILVESTRINI The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 30, 2007



TAMPA - Barack Obama hinted during a Tampa fundraiser Sunday that if he's the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, he'll seat a Florida delegation at the party's national convention, despite national party sanctions prohibiting it.

Obama also appeared to violate a pledge he and the other leading candidates took by holding a brief news conference outside the fundraiser. That was less than a day after the pledge took effect Saturday, and Obama is the first Democratic presidential candidate to visit Florida since then.

Obama and others have pledged not to campaign in Florida until the Jan. 29 primary except for fundraising, which is what he was doing in Tampa.

But after the fundraiser at the Hyde Park home of Tom and Linda Scarritt, Obama crossed the street to take half a dozen questions from reporters waiting there.

The pledge covers anything referred to in Democratic National Committee rules as "campaigning," and those include "holding news conferences."

Obama seemed unaware the pledge he signed prohibits news conferences. Asked whether he was violating it, he said, "I was just doing you guys a favor. … If that's the case, then we won't do it again."

[zulchzulu]

10. Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada...now Texas...another state the Clinton Machine wants to stop voters

Nothing new....

[madrchsod]

13. they screwed up by not knowing the texas system

and they screwed up by not going to a 50 state campaign. so do they want to sue?

[WatchWhatISay]

14. Sometimes its hard to remember that some of the comments

here on DU are actually written by Democrats. If we can find it so easy to believe this stuff, no wonder why the Republicans believe it.

[MadBadger]

19. Nevada anybody?

[FrenchieCat]

32. Do you want to see the threads started last night on Obama

and a Canadian "Unamed" news source that was refuted today, and yet the Hillary posters go on?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4814038&mesg_id=4814038

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4813258

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4813029

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4805060&mesg_id=4805060

It is very hard to ask some of us to "restrain" ourselves, while others appear to be allowed to run wild with all kind of unsubstantiated messed up stuff.

Unless I see you in those many threads saying what you are saying here, then I'm not sure why you would take the time to do it now.

[Diane R]

17. If she does this I will have no doubt that she'll sabatoge Obama in GE to position herself for 2012.

[rainbow4321]

23. Geez, think of what she would do if Texas actually mattered.......n/t

[BeyondGeography]

24. Ohhhh nooooo, not again!

[Johnny__Motown]

25. I guess this means her internal polls shows her losing badly in Texas, so now it won't matter

Any idea what the record is for lawsuits in a primary?


Nevada, Texas, Michigan, Florida....

[grantcart]

26. Obama is ready

One of the volunteers from my CD in California is an attorney and they specifically wanted him in Texas

They are also trying to prepare by having people bring video cameras to the caucuses

Here is more detail
http://www.texasobserver.org/article.php?aid=2689

Consequently, the potential for caucus confusion or worse is significant. For starters, the March 4 precinct conventions can’t begin until the last regular precinct ballot is cast. With record turnout expected, long lines could delay the start of caucuses in some precincts by hours. In just one Harris County precinct, which presents an unusually long ballot this year, Harris County Democratic Party volunteer Leif Hatlen expects 2,000 primary voters. But heavy turnout won’t be the only hurdle to an efficient caucus. There’s also enormous complexity.

“It’s a Byzantine process,” said Glen Maxey, a former state representative from Austin and caucus expert.

Ed Martin, an old Democratic hand, describes a recent DNC conference call he was on. “The biggest concern they’re getting from the campaigns is the potential for mischief,” Martin said.

Democrats are vague on the specifics of what irregularities might arise, but one potential problem area is the manner in which delegates are awarded to candidates in the precinct conventions. When voters arrive at the caucus they sign in with their name, address, voter ID number and presidential preference. They will then be checked against voter rolls to make sure they voted in the Democratic primary for that precinct. Then delegates are divvied up based on each candidate’s share of sign-in-sheet supporters. Even insiders are confused about the system’s nuances and potential loopholes.

“You can literally sign people in who aren’t there,” Davis told the Observer. “… It’s just ripe for abuse.”

Texas Democratic Party communications director Hector Nieto insists that only those who are present can be counted, but that message clearly hasn’t reached everyone.

Nieto said his office is training county chairs in the process, coordinating with the campaigns, and planning to deploy field staff statewide to monitor the caucuses. “We’re confident that we’ll have a smooth caucus process,” Nieto said.

But with more than 8,000 precincts in the state, it will be impossible to place independent monitors everywhere. Davis, of Texans for Obama, is encouraging Obama supporters to take video cameras to the polls. “I want to shine a big flashlight on this so nothing under the table happens,” he said.

Party insider Martin is less worried, arguing that the highly competitive nature of the contest itself could help prevent widespread irregularities. “The campaigns, ultimately, are the police,” he said.

Regardless of the Texas primary’s absurdly involved and unwieldy infrastructure, Texas Democrats expect to profit from the unprecedented focus on the state. The expected surge in turnout at the polls will deliver new donors, activists, and fresh energy as the party tries to rebuild, Martin said.

In fact, Martin thinks the process, despite its inherent difficulties, “has the potential to be beneficial to Democrats more than ever before.”

It also has the potential, of course, to put Hillary Clinton right back in the hunt, or push Barack Obama imposingly close to over the top. And that, finally, despite the arcana and the moving-target math, is why Texas matters come March

[LiberalAndProud]

30. delete

[barack the house]

31. This is getting surreal I am sure the GE wil be easier than this.Let HRC sue he'll win more that way

[madfloridian]

34. Did you see this? A FL lawsuit is being heard on appeal...

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/1864

This is getting worrisome.

[FrenchieCat]

35. Usurping the rules is always very worrisome.......

especially when someone is losing unless it is done. :(

[flyarm]

39. yes it is..very worrisome..in fact ..

Obama is the only one of all candidates to break DNC rules in Fla..
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/sep/30/obama-vows-do-w...

Obama Vows To 'Do What's Right'

By WILLIAM MARCH and ELAINE SILVESTRINI The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 30, 2007



TAMPA - Barack Obama hinted during a Tampa fundraiser Sunday that if he's the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, he'll seat a Florida delegation at the party's national convention, despite national party sanctions prohibiting it.

Obama also appeared to violate a pledge he and the other leading candidates took by holding a brief news conference outside the fundraiser. That was less than a day after the pledge took effect Saturday, and Obama is the first Democratic presidential candidate to visit Florida since then.

Obama and others have pledged not to campaign in Florida until the Jan. 29 primary except for fundraising, which is what he was doing in Tampa.

But after the fundraiser at the Hyde Park home of Tom and Linda Scarritt, Obama crossed the street to take half a dozen questions from reporters waiting there.

The pledge covers anything referred to in Democratic National Committee rules as "campaigning," and those include "holding news conferences."

Obama seemed unaware the pledge he signed prohibits news conferences. Asked whether he was violating it, he said, "I was just doing you guys a favor. … If that's the case, then we won't do it again."

[madfloridian]

41. That is spinning like a top.

The lawsuit will benefit only Hillary in Florida.

[FogerRox]

44. OMG Obama walked across the street to talk to reporters, all 3 of them.

or was it 6 of them, LOL.

[loveangelc]

36. I hope this gets a lot of coverage in TX. It really should work well for her among Texans lol.

[bluestateguy]

40. Uh huh

[Hillary_Hillary]

42. If it's justified, go ahead I say.

[GarbagemanLB]

43. With a name like that, I am shocked at your position.

[TexasObserver]

45. She's out of her mind if she thinks this lawsuit goes anywhere but the trash can. See analysis here.

If someone is going to urge that they are about to suffer IMMEDIATE IRREPARABLE HARM in a Texas lawsuit, they have to prove a number of things. One element is that they didn't sit on their hands for a year and do nothing about a problem they KNEW was there. That goes to the issue of LACHES. Another is that they must have CLEAN HANDS. This is a concept in EQUITY, which means "don't come to court misbehaving and expect the Judge to save your sorry ass by issuing an injunction." Another is you must prove that you are likely to win on the merits of the case. That challenge is an absolute loser. The system has a rational basis and was chosen by party leaders. It passes muster. I hope the court sanctions them, if they do it.

More asinine behaviors by Team Clinton, and also proves they don't have any lawyers worth a damn helping them.

Watch them try to assert some federal cause of action or constitutional issue, to get it out of State Court and into some federal court where they think they might get it assigned to one of Bill's appointments to the bench. I'm sure they will scout districts and file it in one they believe is most favorable.