Primaries should not be "Open"

[SoCalDem]

How many repub primaries are open to us??

I know that this year, there probably are not many (ARE there any at all?), but if I recall, after the McCain challenge, I think I read an article that stated that their primaries would all be "closed" from now on..

The wishy-washy voters should NOT be allowed to choose our candidate.. It's true that we need the independent (are there REALLY any independents anymore?) and the cross-over repubs (even scarcer), BUT we need them in the GE.. Having them voting in our primaries is a bad thing. It's like letting your mother-in-law decorate your house, or letting your business rival buy merchandise and hire staff for you.. Does anyone think they would have "your best interests" at heart??

The primary is where we GET our candidate, and that's too important, and costly to allow ANY interference. I have heard people say."There's not enough of them voting to skew the results"..or "Maybe they had a change of heart, and really DO want to vote with us"...or "It doesn't really make any difference"..

I contend that it DOES matter a LOT.. The repubs are well organized and they "know" what to do.. The motivated ones who vote in primaries are exactly the ones we should NOT want in our primaries..

Momentum is EVERYTHING, especially in a truncated season like we have now. I think primaries should be for party loyalists ONLY.. If you are not a registered democrat for at least 3 months (or voted dem last time) you should not be allowed to vote in a dem primary..

The way our primaries are set up , is annoying enough, without the "mischief" factor. The places with the most to lose (states with the largest populations) don't even get to choose from the whole slate. We should not be penalized just because we are the biggest and have the most people.

Ask yourselves who would have had momentum NOW if the primaries had been in THIS order...

NY
SC
CA
IL
TX
NH
IA
WI
MN
etc..

I still say we need a regional format so that a true representation of name recognition and platform support can be made..

[ulysses]

1. I'm entirely agreed, SoCal.

:thumbsup:

[Skwmom]

2. Did you check out the exit surveys from WI

WISCONSIN VOTERS Opinion of Bush Administration

Clark Dean Edw. Kerry Kuc. Sharp. Other
Angry (44%) 1% 20% 28% 43% 6% 2% 0%
Dissatisfied (38%) 2% 14% 37% 44% 1% 1% 0%
Satisfied (12%) 1% 20% 50% 23% 1% 1% 1%
Enthusiastic (5%) 1% 32% 36% 10% 1% 5% 1%



http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/primaries/pages/epolls/WI/index.html

Of course this was going on long before WI.

[SoCalDem]

3. The fact that a lot of people hate Bush now

does not mean that everyone should be allowed to choose our candidate..

They are more than welcome to vote for us in the Fall, but we should be the ones to choose our own candidate..

[MurikanDemocrat]

13. I cleaned up the figures so it was easier to read

Clark Dean Edw Kerry Kuc Sharp Other
Angry 44% 1% 20% 28%43%6% 2% 0%
Dissat 38% 2% 14% 37%44%1% 1% 0%
Satis 12% 1% 20% 50% 23% 1% 1% 1%
Enthus 5% 1% 32% 36% 10% 1% 5% 1%

A definate pattern emerges.

edit: it didn't come out with the spaces I had in it anyway. Shit.

[revcarol]

4. I like it how NM did it.

Everyone who wished to vote in the Democratic primary must have been registered as a DEMOCRAT 30 days before the election.

Greens who wanted to vote for Kucinich re-registered before the deadline. Republicans who wanted to change could re-register, but had to follow the rules. And this DID require some effort, going down to the county clerk's office or finding a voter registration drive.

VERY,VERY few crossovers from Republicans. Good registration of Greens who used to be Democrats.Independents mostly didn't re-register.

We chose OUR candidate here.

[SoCalDem]

7. And.. I would favor a total news blackout until

all states in the section were verified and totaled.. That way we would eliminate the "he's a winner..I'll vote for HIM" aspect..

The media treats this as if it's just a game..a horesrace (complete with MSRNC's goofy graphics of names on toy horses on a little racetrack..

The future of the world could be at stake here, and it makes me furious to see the way they treat it :(

[Toucano]

5. 100% agreed. n/t

[Cleita]

6. You make way too much sense.

I think we should have one twenty-four hour primary day on, let's say, cemtral or mountain time from eight in the morning until eight the next morning. That way all time zones are covered.

[Cleita]

8. kick

:kick:

[David Zephyr]

9. Primaries Should Not Be Open.

I agree.

[thelocalkgb]

10. I agree

Open primaries weaken our party even more.

[arewethereyet]

11. a little perspective

the reason for this was that it used to require a party committment well in advance of he actual vote which was thought to inhibit participation and therefore be a bad thing.

Like most stupid practices, they seemed like a good idea at the time.

[SinkingInTheRain]

12. I disagree

Any American should be able to vote his mind in any and all elections concerning their well being. The party concept does not apply to the electorate.

[Maddy McCall]

14. Primaries in almost all states are republican and democratic

But since Bush is already the nominee (unchallenged) there hasn't been much ado about Republican primaries. Therefore, Repubs are crossing over to vote in Dem primaries this year.

Let me say, however, that Mississippi has open primaries, and Democrats always cross over if the Democrats are in power.

[SerpentX]

15. Semi-open

Leave it open for independents. I don't want my party affiliation to get in the way of my thumbing my nose at the DLC.

[mgarretson]

16. I'm ok with Independents...

Being somewhat new to the whole primary process, take my views as you will, but I don't mind letting Independents vote in a primary. I think their views provide a unique aspect on the race. I have greater trouble with letting Republicans vote... if it were out of genuine support for a candidate I would understand (I used to call myself a Moderate or Liberal Republican until I finally realized that it was a whole lot easier to be a moderate Democrat, especially in OK), but I do not naively believe that is always the case so I err on the side of caution with them and support keeping them out of our primaries.

I'm open to the debate on the subject, though. :)

From Clark Country,
I'm Another Clarkie for Kerry!