Perhaps the best way to view Florida’s presidential primary debacle is to think of this as what happens when a hanging chad of apparatchiks decide to transform a once proud political party into a condo association.

The late roaring lion of the Democrats, Robert Strauss must be spinning in his grave at the sight of his party being taken over by a bunch of lanyard wearing, pocket protector types armed with their clipboard and rule books.

Much has been made of Florida’s decision to move its primary up to January 29 in violation of arcane Democratic Party rules simply crafted to kiss up to New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina.

And because Florida had the audacity to move its date, the state was punished by the Democratic National Committee and its chairman Howard Dean by having all its delegates voided.

Dean has repeatedly argued the punishment was just because the “rules” had been violated. Poppycock.

Please forgive me if my Chicago is showing just a bit. But this kerfuffle isn’t, or it ought not to be about “rules.”

What Dean and his fellow condo association board members have lost in this sight of in this debate is that the “rules” have nothing whatsoever to do with this exercise.

The object here is to select a presidential candidate. The ultimate goal here is to (ta-dah) win the election in November.

And while Dean and his fellow sorority members fret over the “rules,” he might just whine his way to defeat in the fall.

But at least all the “rules” will have been followed.