That NY Times piece was just a regurgitation of inside the Beltway Democratic insider talking points. Surprise.

Hillary Clinton is described as offerring a "direct rebuke" to Dean. Really? The same Clinton machine that didn't want Dean as chair of the DNC? Color me shocked. Shocked!

The quality of political "analysis" is depressing.

The easiest and cheapest way to revote is to caucus, but Hillary and Monster Inc said no, they obviously want to disenfranchise the voters of Michigan and Florida.

Good for Dean. Something needs to be done. I would really have liked to have revotes in FL and MI, but now that this looks too impractical to be achieved, I think that the next best option would be to halve each delegation (as the Republicans did) and seat them. Also the superdelegates from each state should get no vote (that is the real penalty which punishes the real offenders, to ensure that no states will be tempted to try this gambit again in the future). This would ensure that 1) each of these important states gets a rightful seat at the table with a delegation chosen by an election (albeit very flawed elections) and that 2) these illicit elections do not actually overturn the results of the legitimate elections.

Good on Dean!

Nice work Dean.

We need these States for Clinton to win the general.

Whine on trolls.

Another example of the weakness of the Democratic Party.

You state clearly that if the rules are broke, there will be consequences.

The rules are broke.

You spend the next several months finding a way to take back the consequences which everyone knew and had agreed upon.

This inspires confidence.

I like Dean. The old guard is out to get him. Don't back down!

They should split them 50/50 and seat them, no supers though.

The Bill Clinton who met privately with California's superdelegates at last weekend's state convention was a far cry from the congenial former president who afterward publicly urged fellow Democrats to "chill out" over the race between his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Barack Obama.

In fact, before his speech Clinton had one of his famous meltdowns Sunday, blasting away at former presidential contender Bill Richardson for having endorsed Obama, the media and the entire nomination process.

"It was one of the worst political meetings I have ever attended," one superdelegate said.

According to those at the meeting, Clinton - who flew in from Chicago with bags under his eyes - was classic old Bill at first, charming and making small talk with the 15 or so delegates who gathered in a room behind the convention stage.

But as the group moved together for the perfunctory photo, Rachel Binah, a former Richardson delegate who now supports Hillary Clinton, told Bill how "sorry" she was to have heard former Clinton campaign manager James Carville call Richardson a "Judas" for backing Obama.

It was as if someone pulled the pin from a grenade.

"Five times to my face (Richardson) said that he would never do that," a red-faced, finger-pointing Clinton erupted.

The former president then went on a tirade that ran from the media's unfair treatment of Hillary to questions about the fairness of the votes in state caucuses that voted for Obama. It ended with him asking delegates to imagine what the reaction would be if Obama was trailing by just 1 percent and people were telling him to drop out.

"It was very, very intense," said one attendee. "Not at all like the Bill of earlier campaigns."

When he finally wound down, Bill was asked what message he wanted the delegates to take away from the meeting.

At that point, a much calmer Clinton outlined his message of party unity.

"It was kind of strange later when he took the stage and told everyone to 'chill out,' " one delegate told us.

"We couldn't help but think he was also talking to himself."

When delegate Binah - still stunned from her encounter with Clinton - got home to Little River (Mendocino County) later in the day - there was a phone message waiting for her from State Party Chairman Art Torres, telling her the former president wanted him to apologize to her on his behalf for what happened.

Still, word of Clinton's blast shot all the way back to the New Mexico state Capitol, where Richardson spokesman Pahl Shipley reiterated Tuesday that his boss had never "promised or guaranteed" Bill and Hillary his endorsement.

Another Governor, Another SD for BHO

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080402/ap_on_el_pr/obama_endorsement;_ylt=AsEy7UDQgOEI6jZ4yMhZmYis0NUE

From Kos:

But frustration with Mr. Dean’s hands-off approach was reflected across Democratic ranks. Peter S. Lowy, a prominent Los Angeles contributor who has held regular fund-raisers for Democratic campaign committees, sent Mr. Dean a letter complaining about his leadership of the party during this period.

"As long-term supporters of the party, we have been singularly dismayed with your performance during the current Democratic presidential primary season," Mr. Lowy wrote.

This the same Lowy that has maxed out to John McCain, and someone who hasn't given a dime to the DNC this cycle? Yup. Just another big dollar donors upset that Dean isn't kissing his ass. And he's going to lecture Dean on party building as McCain cashes his checks?

I thik Kos is right -- this NYT story is garbage
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/4/2/1481/51962/494/488701