I think they are some of the dumbest ads on TV, and that’s a low bar to get under. You know the ones I’m talking about, where two Coke Zero “execs” are in what is made to look like a hidden camera type scene asking someone if they can sue Coke for taste infringement.

Florida Democrats have taken that concept and applied it to the 2008 primaries by suing the national party.

Congressional Democrats from Florida sued their own party Thursday, hoping to restore the national convention delegates stripped from the state because it scheduled an early presidential primary.

The party violated the Constitution and federal voting laws by taking away Florida Democrats’ ability to have a say in choosing the presidential nominee, says the lawsuit filed by Sen. Bill Nelson and Rep. Alcee Hastings against the Democratic National Committee and Chairman Howard Dean.

The national party’s rules committee voted to take away Florida’s 210 delegates after the state party chose to go along with a Jan. 29 primary. That date was set by Florida’s Republican-led Legislature and signed into law by Republican Gov. Charlie Crist.

Democratic Party rules say states cannot hold their 2008 primary contests before Feb. 5, except for Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

While it is currently the Dems playing out this scene, the entire structure of the primary system needs to be examined. In a piece I wrote at Pajama’s Media in September I said,

Fifty dancers on the stage and every one of them wants to be Lord of The Dance.

[...]

Each state hopes that being first will translate into prestige, power, and national influence. And money.

I’ll admit that I don’t have an answer. What I do know is that no state will easily cede their place at the head of the line. If they all continue to play leap frog then the 2012 campaign season will be starting even earlier than the current marathon.

Help me fix the car and get back on the road!

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fine folks have donated a total of $. $ is still needed. Thanks!

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