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This commission was appointed by Terry McAuliffe (!) to "reform" the calendar. It had limited publicity, and no input from grassroots Democrats. Surprise, surprise, the "reform" is to put a couple of more caucuses right after Iowa. Anyone who watched Iowa in 2004 knows that caucuses are controlled by the party establishment, and that candidates will have pre-set deals made to cut other candidates out. This proposal stinks. On top of that, they are pushing six events into a three week period, so that only a candidate with a ton of money will be able to make a showing in all the states (and what candidate would that be in 2008?). Governor Dean will review the plan, but he is under a lot of pressure right now from the DNC - Washington establishment. I will admit I am from NH, so I am a little miffed at how they are trying to undermine NH, but at least in the NH primary an insurgent candidate can get attention (that is where Gov. Dean first got traction, and where he came back from a 30 point plummet after Iowa to finish a healthy second), and sometimes win (Gary Hart). But whatever you think of NH, this plan stinks, and is going to be bad for the Democrats.
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