Dun duh duh...

...dumb.

Dems Shake Up Nominating Calendar

Their perogative, I suppose. Here's the DUMB part.

Eager to keep states from jumping in line, the DNC also passed enforcement rules that would punish candidates who campaign in states that ignore the party and set their own schedule. Some party members worry that would create an unseemly intraparty fight when Democrats can least afford it. Under that plan, candidates who venture into states that ignore party rules would not get any delegates from those contests.

That's right, assert your power over the states themselves as to who can set the rules for elections. Tell the state parties that their choices for delegates will not be honored, that their state elections will be without any force unless they dance to your tune.

Now, tell me one more time about that "party of the people" thing....

UPDATE: The New Hampshire Union Leader op/ed page drags out some priceless old quotes from plan architect Howard Dean.

"I am absolutely committed to New Hampshire having the first primary and Iowa having the first caucus,'' he said. "The reason I'm committed is that candidates like me would never have a chance without being able to look people in the eye and shake their hands and let them say what they think....think we've got to continue the tradition of the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary because it's the only way candidates with no money -- but with strong backing and who are willing to put backbone and spine back into the Democratic Party -- have any chance at all."

Sez the Union Leader:

The New Hampshire primary has not changed since Dean praised it in 2003. It is as it always has been: the greatest opportunity for average voters to influence the Presidential nominating process. It is Howard Dean who has changed -- assuming he meant a word of what he said three years ago.

Under his leadership, the Democratic Party has taken a significant step away from grassroots, voter-centered politics and toward the old insider-controlled nominating process of a century ago. Their actions are speaking more loudly than their rhetoric.