Democratic Primaries-What could happen next

[This column is written by Chuck Foster of Yountville, CA. He blogs at THOUGHT BANDIT]

Thus far the Democratic Party’s 2008 primary election has been historical in so many ways. Here I present a hypothetical, albeit a rather dashed off treatment, which if realized will truly shake things up. If at some point you begin to dislike the prospects, don’t start picking on the details or putting your fingers in your ears.

At the time of this writing, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has yet to decide what to do with Hillary Clinton’s effort to reinstate the delegates from Florida and Michigan. The Texas caucus results only have 41% counted after two weeks and expect no final result for the 67 delegates until the end of March.

With that as a scrap of background, let’s begin:

Hypothetical Element #1
The DNC decides that the only way not to push away FL & MI voters in the national election is to find a way to ‘… give them a voice …”. The method chosen (but not publicly discussed at this date) is to seat the delegates without bias. That is to say they are free to vote as they choose after making an effort to learn the preference of their constituents. The method of deciding how to vote at the convention is left as a local decision. Thus creating a new type of super delegate.

Hypothetical Element #2
Assuming that between now and the convention that nobody gets completely whacked by the politics of personal destruction … the convention starts and it seems certain that Obama will be the nominee. At this point a 527 PAC or the Clinton Campaign goes to court and successfully obtains a restraining order preventing the DNC from placing a candidate on the ballot. The appeals drag on for weeks and weeks.

Hypothetical Element #3
Clinton and Obama rush through getting their names on all the individual state ballots as Independents or form separate new political parties.
(Element 3b: Maybe Edwards or others join in as well.)

Hypothetical Element #4
The presidential election takes place and somebody wins. The DNC never recovers and the United States carries on in the future with a multi-party system which relies on “collation governments”.

Hypothetical Element #4 [Alternate] (One can’t leave out alternate endings.)
Here Element 3 has happened -and- the DNC prevails in court just in the nick of time to get its selection, Obama, on the ballot as a Democrat. But now his name could appear twice is some states. Once as a Democrat and once as a Independent. So while I’m sure there is a rule or rules to cover this - I’m sure they have never been tested. There is, however, recent precedence from last year’s NJ Gubernatorial contest which said that because of a sudden candidate withdrawal (indictment) any vote for him on the already printed ballots counts for his last minute substitute candidate. Thus Obama withdraws his independent candidacy but least we forget most states have switched to paper ballots which requires substantially longer lead times to be approved, reprint and delivered.

Hypothetical Element #4 [Alternate Cont'd]
The Clintons sue again for a delay of the elections. There is too much confusion for the electorate to truly have their intention known and properly counted. The Supreme Court agrees and the elections are postponed. As time slips by, the Supreme Court rules on January 20th, 2009 that the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi will serve as interim President.

- END Hypothetical -

So even if you think my Hypotheticals are just too, too over the top. You have to look at the horizon and think “law suit”.