Running Primaries Thread

Being able to vote for a second choice only seems fair if you're going to have viability thresholds. Viability thresholds are necessary because of proportional allocation -- to prevent someone from playing spoiler.

And whether getting rid of caucuses is a "start," doesn't change the fact that saying caucuses are bad because they are less like general election voting than primaries is a really silly argument.

 

FACT!

(And one that needs to be driven home repeatedly. Have the Democratic chairmen in those states been removed from office yet?)

 

Actually, the silliest argument is using the Iowa caucuses as determinative of the nominee.
http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Minisite_Generic&content_type_id=57354&display_order=20&mini_id=57351

Here's some nice ammo on the Jeremiah Wright business.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frank-schaeffer/obamas-minister-committe_b_91774.html

 

Actually, I don't think Iowa should be determinative -- and, in fact, I think Iowa needs to change its system somewhat.

What I do think is, given all the other vagaries of the democratic system, you can make a pretty compelling argument that a caucus which provides for absentee voting is the most logical system

And, as many others have said, Michigan and Florida proved themselves comically inept. That's not anyone's fault but the state parties in Florida and Michigan. Although Hillary's outright lying about the process certainly isn't helping.

I kind of have faith that Michigan is going to get some kind of redo done. I think Florida is fucked.

 

In other news, Chuck Todd -- has anyone's reputation as a commenter grown more than his this cycle, BTW? -- gets to the heart of the matter: Clinton's entire strategy has rested on convincing the superdelegates to move her way en masse, but she hasn't picked up any in a long, long time.


*** Clinton’s super problem: By our count, the Clinton campaign hasn’t publicly announced the support of a new superdelegate since just after February 5. Indeed, since Super Tuesday, Obama has gained 47 new superdelegates, while Clinton has lost seven (including Eliot Spitzer). Does Clinton have a bigger problem on the superdelegate front than folks realize? Why do we think party leaders -- who saw the Democrats lose governorships, state legislatures, and the control of Congress during the Clinton years -- suddenly jump on board the Clinton campaign? Isn't this the reason the Clinton campaign has only been able to keep uncommitted supers from climbing board Obama's bandwagon but they haven't been able to woo a new super to their side in a month?

 

No offense Zeke but given that Florida Democrats were too dumb to figure out a simple ballot in 2000 and party leaders in that state then insisted on the ESP method of counting ballots -- you know -- these people "intended" to vote for Gore -- why should anyone believe they can or will get this right?

I don't buy the bullshit and stall tactics being used in both states -- both parties have no problem blowing money on bullshit -- what's another $40 million -- particularly since I think most of it could be raised rather quickly -- if it means putting an end to this silliness?

 

To date, no new plan has been filed with the DNC by either the Florida or the Michigan Democratic party.

I know it's fun to kick Howard Dean around or try and make it an issue between the campaigns, but, until that happens, it's on those two state parties.

48 other states, plus, you know, places such as the Virgin Islands, managed to file plans to hold primaries within the rules of the party.

As I said, I think something will get done in Michigan. I have little faith in Florida. But to the extent the Dem. primary voters in those states have been "disenfranchised" -- and my use of scare quotes is most certainly an indication that I think that's a bit of a specious claim -- it's been done entirely by their state legislatures. If those voters want to be mad, at least be mad at the people responsible.

All I'm saying.

 

Um -- and God this scares the hell out of me --- I agree 100 percent with you.... ;D

I would hope the people who are most responsible for this fuck up are voted out of office

 

If there is one common thread that folks of all political stripe can agree on, I've found the incompetence of many, if not most, elected state officials is a good start.

And, yeah. Throw the bums out. Never a bad idea, anyway.

 

I can't find a photo for you, but it appears Hillary is wearing a gigantic shamrock schmatta around her neck today.

I didn't know she was Irish.

 

Is she wearing a Cubs or Yankees cap with it? ;D

 

Did Spitzer automatically lose his status as superdelegate because he is no longer governor? If so, does the new guv automatically become a superdelegate?