European Press Photo Agency to my left.

This is my observation: The staff legal memos go to lengths to discuss RBC's authority to seat delegates in accord with a method of its own creation rather than pursuant to primary results; disguised threat/pressure or what RBC aiming for?

Judging by their silence when all else are applauding loudly for Nelson, there seem to be a couple of rows of Obama supporters in front left rows.  

Point presumably is to support some penalty against FL for jumping the calendar -- underlying claim I suppose is that more Florida voters would have participated in primary had it been within the rules.  

Balz just listening; if he has recorder, I don't see it.

As for FL SDs, perhaps more of them support Hillary.

Roosevelt:   "Re-slating" means candidate right of approval in "new Process"; discussed in staff legal memo.

London Times guy says Ickes sitting in room

Wexler:   Ausman petition Obama campaign supporting is based on reinstating percentages as voted for in primary?????
I think Wexler is really exercised because he realizes what's at stake in Florida in the Fall.  

Thanks for the support.   I'm not commenting much on what all of you can hear on TV - trying to fill in color.   If you want more, I'll try.  

Over lunch break I will be going out to find out about the demonstration; turns out someone I know well was person who got the speakers.  

Shields taking notes.   WaPo people on their PCs ; another guy -- infront of me playing solitaire!

Brewer - no one responding to Brewer's claim that polls show if Obama's name had been on ballot, Clinton would only have gotten 46% of vote; audience must be suffering low blood sugar.

I think staff legal memo acknowledges that technically it cannot assign uncommitted delegates -- going on memory here.

Katz:   Bringing up candidates' pulling names off ballot.   Asking Brewer to confirm that primary vote has less legitimacy because leading candidate not on ballot.  

Kleinfeld:   Asking Brewer how petition addresses rules:   Acknowledges RBC can issue waiver.   Asking what section of rules or Charter allows RBC to allocate delegates 69-59.   Kleinfeld making point Rule 13A requires allocation according to candidates voted for and "uncommitted."  

Brewer not relying on rule because situation is unique.   Kleinfeld: Are you relying on "Any rule" -- mumbled amusement in audience.

Ickes:   Applause in audience for his statement that 4 candidates voluntarily withdrew names from ballot & no party rule nor DNC request required them do withdraw & same completely voluntary --Loud applause for statement candidates withdrew to curry favor w/Iowa.   Obama supporters (I presume) applaud for Brewer's statement his concern is voters of Michigan.

Levin:   Ickes is calling for "fair reflextion" of a flawed primary. LOUD APPLAUSE; we're trying to keep party together so we can win in Nov.

Ickes did get to ask 3rd Q: & Levin is answering all 3.   Applause for Levin saying Obama should be figured in the mix.   Not a legal answer which is what I think Ickes was asking for.

Levin: How have fair reflexion of flawed primary -- we in MI tried to get another primary but couldn't.

Levin - each side is going to ask for different position.   Levin asking for unity position.

ICKES: Levin, can you expand on mention of credentials committee: If RBC reaches conclusion that's a 4th way or reaches conclusion it can't reach concusion, presumes issue will go to Credentials Committee.

Bonior:   Wants SDs reinstated.   Members are struggling to get through this without food -- at least it seems to me.   Fewer than ten people standing in applause for Bonior.

Bonior response to Smith - among other things thought there was always opportunity for MI to go back to Feb caucus date, & Spring date did not happen, so were many problems at different junctures in process.
Why don't Clinton people point out groups that did public info campaign urging people wanting a candidate not on ballot to vote "uncommitted."

RBC Member w/red hair:   Concerned about RBC making determination to assign uncommitteds.   Believes they'd go overwhelmingly at convention for Obama, so why is his campaign asking committee not to honor primary vote.   Regrets initial vote on matter. Can be persuaded to recognize 50%, could be persauded to recognize 100%, but thinks RBC has to recognize integrity of vote.

Former Gov Jim Blanchard for Clinton campaign:   No Dem has won presidency for last 60 years except Carter without Michigan.   But RBC must not turn its back on 600,000 who voted in MI primary this year -- almost 4 times votes in 2004 primary & more votes than IA and other states.   He will campaign vigorously for Obama if he is nominee. & He's heard Hillary say in private company she'll do same.     State decided on primary vs. caucus -- Clinton took no part in this. 4 candidates made knowing, willing decision to take names off ballot.   Was flawed strategy; 4 candidates kept names on ballot, Kucinich campaigned in MI; pledge candidates signed did not require them to take name off ballot.

Didn't see Hillary's statement that primary won't count in MI until after primary. Her statement was made in NH.  

Was ORGANIZED< VIGOROUS, "UNCOMMITTED CAMPAIGN"; voters were publicly urged to vote uncommitted.   Obama, Edwards & Richardson had joint handbills handed out advocating same.  

I did not advocate that Clinton "cheating"   -   I was summarizing Donna Brazile's comments.   Please don't take them out of context.   I am trying to report what is being said here as part of the official challenge presentations & deliberations.   These are not my opinions unless I specifically reference as much.   I will try to make sure I am more clear here.

The applause for cutting off Ickes seems to have come from Obama supporters in audience.   But this is a surmise, not a legal opinion.

Hi - I'm back so:

First - demonstration broke up mid-day at some point while Carl Levin was spoking due to heavy rain.   Were some fellas holding signs with pic of black panther that read vote for  black panther candidate; security, upon request, ejected them from demonstration.  

Were at least several hundred; could have been more.   Buses already went back.

Wexler was pretty impassioned.   He did not sound overly loud, but he did speak more audibly than some of the others.

I'm not going to give an opinion here on whether MI & FL primaries should be treated as equal - I'm here today to report to you what is transpiring at the meeting.   I do think the meeting may spill over to tomorrow.   It's already quite late & afternoon deliberations have not yet resumed.

I don't know what the hold-up is; didn't get much info about the demonstration, as it was rained out.

I don't think Brazile said Hillary was cheating.

Sorry - comments are asking me what the 10% is about -- I have no idea.     We are wondering if some of committee members don't have to get to the fundraiser tonight    

Huffman:   Claiming big step

Audience member calls out:   You just took away votes

Huffman:   When we vote, we will leave here more united than when we came.   Audience member just called out "lipstick on a pig".  

Member:   Only sits here because of Lawrence Gillyat (sp?) who, with Ella Baker from NC formed Mississippi Freedom ________; & were people who looked like him -- African American -- were blocked from process.   But he takes seriously & abides by rules; some suggest that motion is [unfair] -- nothing in motion says votes go to particular process.   Invoking name of Ella Baker to support this motion & end further political posturing.  

8 votes against; no abstensions -- motion carries.  

Fowler:   Wants to thank chair & members for job well done.   Lots of clapping -- Now it looks like more than half the room supports action taken by committee.