Why I've Turned Against Caucuses
Posted 50 weeks 4 days ago byI was once a fan of the caucus. Having lived in Maine, I attended twice and was once chosen as a delegate to the state convention.
As an expression of the two-party system, I liked the fact that you had to truly participate. I liked the neighborliness of it and the process of standing up for a candidate.
Now I live in Colorado, another caucus state. Here we are having caucuses because the state government decided not to spend the money to hold a primary. Not a great endorsement of the small "d" democratic process. And this year I have to be out of town on February 5th, which means I can't help to choose my party's nominee.
This is why the Democrats in Nevada chose to hold caucuses at workplaces (casinos), something that I don't believe has ever been done before. Because if you can't come to the caucus because you're working, infirm, have to travel, can't get a babysitter, you can't participate. This is why I am now in favor of primaries instead of caucuses.
Thoughts
Caucuses should be unconstitutional
Submitted on January 20th, 2008 by Another skepticPeople who are out of town on Feb 5 or are working during the caucuses won't be able to participate in one of the most interesting and important primaries in our lifetime.
We can't vote absentee by mail. We can't send a proxy to a caucus. We will be left out.
That's great for party regulars and activists, but discriminates against registered Republicans and Democrats who can't or don't want to attend caucuses.
Some people simply don't like to wear their political positions on their sleeves. They don't want many people to know their party affiliations, not to mention their votes.
And they don't like conflict, confrontation or hard sales pitches by candidates' advocates. All of those things can and are likely to occur at the Feb. 5 caucuses.
For some it will be great fun. But for others, it will be a pain.
Having participated in Colorado caucuses and been elected a precinct captain and delegate to first a county and then a state convention, I have no respect for the process or the outcomes.
Historically, less than half a dozen people show up at the precinct-level caucuses. More are expected this year.
Normally, in Colorado, we often get to vote in a primary when the conventions are inconclusive enough that candidates decide to go the primary route.
We won't have that option in the presidential contests. Caucuses should be abolished.
delegate count
Submitted on January 20th, 2008 by mxyzptlkIn the end the delegate count is what matters. But if that were the concern early on we'd have ignored Iowa and New Hampshire. What happens first does make a difference in what happens later. I think after Feb 5 it will be all about delegate count.
Hillary's empty victory
Submitted on January 19th, 2008 by Jim LakelyHillary "won" Nevada. But Obama still grabbed more delegates.
Obama: 13 delegates
Hillary: 12 delegates
Isn't grabbing delegates what this is all about?
national primary?
Submitted on January 19th, 2008 by mxyzptlkI prefer the idea that some have proposed that we have regional primaries, perhaps 5, and that the order of the regions changes every four years. I think there is some value to retail campaigning, but agree that the attention given Iowa, in particular, and New Hampshire has become too overblown.
Caucuses or primaries or...?
Submitted on January 19th, 2008 by BenOK, but what do you think about the idea of a national primary?