A Brokered Convention?

In today's daily report, The Week features a fantastic compilation of punditry regarding the split Democratic race (click here).

The most interesting piece they linked to was Roger Simon's latest missive about the potential shit-storm into which the Democratic convention in Denver could easily devolve. Simon gives the clearest explanation I've yet heard about the super-delegate situation:

Superdelegates are designed to protect front-runners and make sure dark horses don’t run away with things.

Superdelegates grow in number as the party gets more successful: They include all Democratic members of Congress, members of the Democratic National Committee, Democratic governors.

They also are the party warhorses and include “all former Democratic presidents, all former Democratic vice presidents, all former Democratic leaders of the U.S. Senate, all former Democratic speakers of the U.S. House of Representatives and Democratic minority leaders, as applicable, and all former chairs of the Democratic National Committee.”

This means that not only Bill Clinton, but Terry McAuliffe, Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman, are superdelegates.

And their votes count just as much as the delegates chosen by actual primary voters.

If the Clintons succeed in seating the delegations of Michigan (where Clinton had the only name on the ballot) or Florida (where both candidates agreed to not campaign or compete), or if the Clintons attempt to steal the nomination by twisting the arms of super-delegates, all hell will break loose.

And I fully expect the Clinton machine to do anything and everything they can to win this race. Their 15 years of controlling the party apparatus will certainly serve them well if this race comes down to the proverbial smoky back room.