No, no, no, no, no. No.

[novapsyche]

Clinton may challenge Texas vote rules

Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign has raised the possibility of a challenge to Texas' primary and caucus rules just days before the contest, drawing a warning against legal action from the state's Democratic Party.

[...] Texas party officials said they believed [Clinton political director Guy] Cecil was threatening legal action and wrote a letter to him and to Obama senior strategist Steve Hildebrand reflecting that concern.

"If it is true that litigation is imminent between one or both of your campaigns and the Texas Democratic Party, such action could prove to be a tragedy for a reinvigorated democratic process that is involving a record number of participants here in Texas and across the nation," party attorney Chad Dunn wrote. "Litigation regarding the TDP could cripple the momentum of a resurging Texas Democratic Party and ultimately the November 2008 election."

The letter also noted that many of Clinton's senior campaign advisers in Texas had helped to develop the rules governing the state's caucus system. A Texas party official also noted that former President Clinton won the state's caucuses in 1992 and 1996 following the same rules.

Comments

[madkingludwig.livejournal.com]

Guys, once again, this isn't as bad as it sounds. I would argue that it is a good thing:
1) The "Texas Two-Step" is nothing new. Molly Ivins was writing about it 20 years ago. That's just how they do things and have done for a long time.
2) State and Federal courts have said over and over that parties may choose their delegates any way they wish. State parties are not required to have primaries or caucuses. They may, in fact, just decide on a slate and send them straight from the state party headquarters without consulting anyone. There is no appeal system. This is why we are so screwed up here in Michigan: there is no recourse but making the party do the right thing. No court can do a thing about it.
3) Do you know how desperate this makes Senator Clinton's side look? If you can't win, smear. If smears don't work, ridicule. If ridicule doesn't work, sue. It is an ideal time for the Clinton campaign to do this, because:
4) This is going to piss off Texas in a big way. I would guess that this will cost her 2-3% of the vote just because this is aired and everyone and their dog is going to know about it. It's going to be front page in every paper in Texas that Senator Clinton is trying to sue her way into a victory. That is not going to play well, even with her base.
Frankly, if they had not done this, I would be secretly wishing that they had.
I mean, it is so great that, did I not know the Obama people well over working with them for the last month or so, I'd think it was a plant. When is life so convenient that your opponent screws up ON YOUR TIMETABLE. And to have this break just before the Friday evening news cycle, before the Saturday and Sunday morning papers, which will carry the story as a headline "Clinton Messes With Texas" or "Hillary Sues To Win?? Before the biggest GOTV weekend in Texas history?
Too cool.