As for 2000, that was a major blunder supported by many, many individuals. Supervisors of elections through out the state, both major political parties, and for the most part, the only privatized voter information database in the country, a la Choice Point DBT and Katherine Harris. The latter lead to minority voters being screwed on a scale unheard of, even by Jim Crow standards. Florida has certainly earned its reputation for both poorly conducted and unfair elections.

However, I have never been given a sufficient answer as to why the Florida Democrats should be held responsible for this fiasco. Even if they voted against moving the primaries, the Republican controlled legislature would have had the power to move them anyway, for BOTH parties.

From what I can make out, this power is given to the legislature because of the costs and logistics of running elections, so both primaries are to be held at the same time. The bill to move the primaries was also tied into a provision to force a paper trail in voting throughout the state. As I had mentioned earlier (and as you alluded to as well), Florida needs SERIOUS reform in the fairness and accuracy of its electoral process. What Democratic representative could go back to his constituents, many of whom would be disenfranchised minorities, and defend voting against such a bill, simply to please the national DEC. However, as I mentioned earlier, regardless of how the Democrats voted the bill was wanted by the Republican legislature and it was going to pass anyway.

Is there any rational argument for punishing the Florida Democrats for something completely out of their control?

Florida not only shouldn’t count in the primary, it should never count in any Federal election ever again. It should be forcibly secedded — & I mean with lots & lotsa dynamite — & left to the mercies of more important Caribbean nations. Preferably if any would just take up cannibalism & solve the problem of Floridians breeding into the next generation.