The Democratic National Committee voted Saturday to follow through on its threat to strip Florida Democrats of their delegates to the 2008 National Convention because of their moving the primary date to January 29th. The Miami Herald scoffs at the idea:

In taking a hard line toward Florida, the DNC hopes to stop other states from holding even earlier primaries in January, to prevent what one DNC official called ''chaos.'' Guess what? The presidential primary process is in chaos already, with states as far apart as California and Michigan considering primaries in early January. New Hampshire, in return, might then move its primary into December of this year.

* * * * *

Political conventions hold no suspense these days, what with the presidential nominee chosen months before. What's more, the designated nominee can overrule the DNC and seat Florida's delegation at the convention -- and what candidate would not recognize delegate-rich Florida? The states have sought primary reforms for some eight years now, but the DNC has done little. So for good or ill, the states are acting on their own. With its vote to oust Florida from the convention, the DNC revealed its true status on controlling the party -- it's a paper tiger.

Read the whole editorial at the link above. They are correct that the nominee will end up seating the Florida delegation. The winner controls a majority of delegates and thereby the whole convention, not just the nomination vote. Florida is too important a state to risk throwing away over pique. Besides, the date change was made by the GOP-controlled state legislature, not Florida Democrats, so penalizing them seems unfair.

Sure, they could legally switch to caucuses to comply with the later date, but that would mean many Democrats wouldn't vote on the constitutional ballot measure in the primary, as well as forcing the state party to pay the full cost, as the Editors also note.

This problem can only be solved by compromise - the national parties have failed to impose their will on the states. Unfortunately, it is too late in the process of this cycle to negotiate and implement any viable deal amongst the states. Maybe by 2012 . . .