There's a big storm in DC and the tv coverage blanks out occasionally. BackFromOhio is live-blogging for TalkLeft from the meeting room here.

I'm going to start with Hillary's representative arguing her case. On Obama, I was surprised he asked for 50% of the delegates when the news yesterday was he abandoned that in the spirit of compromise. Apparently not.

Mark Brewer the Chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party is arguing for Michigan. the problem for Michigan is it has no rules based argument to support it. In essence, Brewer argues that if you want to win Michigan in November you better seat us.

Brewer speaks of asking for the waiver. No one questioned the Committee's power to grant a waiver. The RBC granted waivers to other states that violated Rule 11, we are asking for that type of waiver.

Michigan has no argument imo.

What did you think?
What stood out to you?
What will happen?

Comments closed, new threads are up.

Big Tent Democrat and I will be live-blogging here.

Please comment below as usual if you want to live blog along with us or post comments. If you use the commenter screen in our live-blogging software, no one will see the messages but us.

We'll start new threads when comments reach about 200.

The live-blog is below the fold so that we could make it larger than the front page allows.

Comments now closed, new threads are up.

Do you like what Talk Left does? Do you like Jeralyn's writings on crime issues and politics? Will you enjoy her on the spot coverage of the Democratic Convention in August? Will you follow our live blogging of tomorrow's DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee meeting about the Michigan/Florida travesty? Do you like TChris' stellar work on civil liberties, the law and the rights every person should enjoy? Do you like the trouble I stir up? Do you enjoy the community atmosphere Talk Left provides for reasoned discussion?

Well, it costs Jeralyn a fair amount of money to operate this web site. Much more than before as more and more and more readers come to see what's up and participate at Talk Left. If you like what you are reading and writing, please give Jeralyn a hand in paying for the upkeep. Here is how you can donate:

More...

The Rules and Bylaws Committee Hearing should begin momentarily. Here's a thread for readers to live-blog or post reactions.

We'll be joining you shortly.

Comments now closed, new threads open.

Can the Dems come together tomorrow? Is there a solution that won't leave one side angry?

Thanks to all for your donations today, every one of them is sincerely appreciated.

For tomorrow, we will begin bright and early to live blog the meeting. BackFromOhio is our credentialed correspndent at the meeting and will be live-blogging in one thread while BTD and I will have a separate live-blog going. You can all live blog on your own or post reactions in the comments .

It starts at 9:30 am ET. CNN will be televising and live-streaming it.

Take the poll below, this is an open thread.

Comments now closed.

Hillary Clinton is back in Puerto Rico where she will remain all weekend. 1,000 showed up to greet her tonight. (In Spanish.)

500,000 are expected to vote out of the more than 2 million registered voters. Recent polls had Hillary up by more than 10 points.

Prison inmates, by the way, are allowed to vote in Puerto Rico, even in the presidential primary. They vote at the prison. (article is in Spanish.)

Here's the translation of the article on Hillary's event tonight prepared from one of our new correspondents, a criminal defense attorney on scene in Puerto Rico: [More...]

For once, a primary result is a good indicator for the general election as Barack Obama wins white voters in Wisconsin and defeats McCain by 6 points, according to SUSA. Obama won white Wisconsin voters against Hillary Clinton by 9 and he wins them by 5 over McCain.

Wisconsin will not be a problem for Barack Obama in my view. Now Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida? Well, that could be another story.

By Big Tent Democrat

Two veteran Miami police officers have been charged in an FBI undercover operation:

Two veteran police officers were charged Friday with providing protection for purported shipments of cocaine and stolen goods in what was actually an undercover FBI operation.

Officer Geovani Nunez and Detective Jorge Hernandez are accused in court documents of helping protect shipments of what they thought were stolen televisions and computers and at least 12 kilograms of cocaine — sometimes by using their police cars to escort trucks.

The officers have been fired. This isn't the first time cops have gone bad in Florida.

The case is similar to a recent FBI sting that led to guilty pleas from five officers in Hollywood, Fla. Four received lengthy prison sentences.

More...

McClatchy reports:

Party officials and challengers will make presentations first Saturday, and the campaigns will then make their cases. Former Michigan Gov. Jim Blanchard and Arthenia Joyner, a Tampa, Fla., civil rights activist, will present Clinton's case, while Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Fla., and former Rep. David Bonior, D-Mich., will argue Obama's side. Levin is also expected to speak.

Mark Bubriski, a spokesman for the Florida party, said that while Democrats there want all delegates seated, Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., who will present the state's case, is expected to use a conciliatory tone. According to Bubriski, Nelson is likely to argue, "We want this to be over. Our goal is that this is the day to end it, to move on, to put this entire dark chapter behind us."

After hearing the arguments, the committee plans to break for a private lunch, followed by an afternoon of deliberations.

Legal arguments are not likely to hold sway tomorrow. Why? [More....]

Here's Richard E. Berg-Andersson of Green Papers who says he has no dog in this fight on the correct solution to seating Michigan and Florida:

On Michigan

[W]hat is fair is that 73 pledged delegates be seated for Mrs. Clinton and 55 be free to vote for whomever they might wish (after all, they are 'Uncommitted'!)-- for Michigan constitutionally set its Presidential Primary date as 15 January 2008 under State law, held said election- again, under State law. The voters who wished to do so, thereby, voted on that date and the results, if the rules set for all jurisdictions under Democratic Party national rules be applied, would be 73 Clinton/55 Uncommitted... period!

....To my mind, the Michigan Democratic Party has done both their Party and their State a disservice by being so willing to advance a 69/59 split (that, and they are also ignoring the fact that, in the end, it is not really their "call" anyway...

On Florida: [More...]