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Slumber Party
But where does that leave independents? They are often first-time caucusgoers who aren't much interested in attending a meeting that is not just a place to vote for president but a community-building activity for Democrats. It's like going to a party where you don't really belong.
So consider the independent voter who has told the Obama campaign he will caucus--the very voter on whom Obama is pinning his hopes of victory. He shows up at his precinct only to find that the bright young volunteer who convinced him to come forgot to mention the part about the whole thing taking an hour and a half and having to sit around and listen to a lot of jive from Democratic Party functionaries. He knew a caucus was different than a primary, but this different?
So a certain number are going to figure that they might as well go home and watch the Orange Bowl or visit their girlfriend or do their laundry or whatever.
One of the reasons Richard Gephardt faded so badly in 2004 was that some of his union backers left the caucuses before registering their support. If Obama doesn't match Gephardt's polling numbers, you can blame the same phenomenon. Call them "let's blow this pop stand" independents. They like Obama fine but not enough to ruin their whole evening.
To defend against that, Obama precinct captains will be on the lookout for Clinton-supporting caucus chairs who are trying to bore all of the independents out of the room with party-building mumbo-jumbo. It's not clear the Obama troops can do anything about it, but it could make for some more time-wasting arguments at certain caucus sites.
The Iowa caucuses still have value. They force the candidates to meet real voters, who then make well-informed choices. And the suspense makes them a lot of fun to cover. But let's not pretend they're a rational way to pick our presidents.
© 2008
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Member Comments
Posted By: flype @ 01/04/2008 10:15:43 PM
Comment: I would like to add this comment. Iowa may have gotten more than its predicted 10 percent participation. That said, I remember many years in WA. State that we were happy to get even five percent caucus participation.
That says it all for me. To have even FIVE percent of a State elect their Democrat or Republican candidate simply sucks.
We have an African American, a Woman, a Preacher, and a former War hero resulting in a some 10 percent caucus turnout... that suggests that some 5 percent elected Obama, Clinton or Edwards and the other 5 percent had a choice between Huckabee and Romney and others.
This is hardly a mandate for Democracy or for Independent choice. This system gives no room for Independents or for real Mavericks. Continue your delusional caucus euphoria but recognize that some 90 percent of voters do not participate in them!
I advocate a return to open primaries ... and those that allow multiple choices, not just for Democrat or Republican but for Independents. Socialists, Libertarians ???. Whatever.
Secateur.
We have an African American, a Woman, a Preacher , a former War hero .result in a some 10 percent turnout.... That suggests that some 5 percent elected Obama, Clinton or Edwards and the other 5 percent had a choice between Huckabee and Romney and others.
Hardly a mamdate for Democracy or for Independant choice. This system gives no room for Independents or for real Mavericks. Continue your delusional caucus euphorea but recognize that some 90 percent of voters do not participate in them!
Return to primaries ... and those that allow multiple choices, not just for Democrat or Republican.
Secateur
Posted By: flype @ 01/04/2008 9:38:03 PM
Comment: Caucuses and the use of persuasion _ _ _ in those some two hours, one half hour is usually used to EDUCATE the political neophytes as to what to do. Elect a precinct chair, who often has to be educated at the last moment.
Campaigning also includes smart issue participants to push for their candidate. It creates a bias for the most radical of both parties to succeed in swaying the new caucus goers. Prepared and politicized caucus chairs can and will always move the agenda to their own prejudices
After the mathematics and 15 percentile merry go-rounds one goes on to referendums and proposals to the party. Once again the party elite can influence the newcomer simply by having prepared statements and referendums already printed out. The newbie has no chance at all. That said even with the precinct chairs influence, most of the caucus suggestions never make it through the next steps of the urban political grinder.
As for the ???two hours???, much occurs after the majority leave. Those delegates chosen have to work through the paperwork and the proposals discussed. It can be much longer than two hours ??? guess who stays to finalize and sanitize what has been accomplished.
Read the precinct chairmen!!!!!
This system is a major waste of man-hours and I totally support a primary vote that allows voters to vote at ANY TIME OF THE DAY OR WEEK before the primary. Be it in the afternoon or the evening ... two hours dis-infranchises too many of us. A primary ... it is in and out, be it a lunch break from a job or whatever. No problem. Anyone who believes that their "resolutions" will survive even on a State level exam is delusional.
Secateur
Posted By: flype @ 01/04/2008 8:55:36 PM
Comment: Caucuses and the use of persuasion _ _ _ in those some two hours, one half hour is usually used to EDUCATE the political neophytes as to what to do. Elect a precinct chair, who often has to be educated at the last moment.
Campaigning also includes smart issue participants to push for their candidate. It creates a bias for the most radical of both parties to succeed in swaying the new caucus goers. Prepared and politicized caucus chairs can and will always move the agenda to their own prejudices
After the mathematics and 15 percentile merry go-rounds one goes on to referendums and proposals to the party. Once again the party elite can influence the newcomer simply by having prepared statements and referendums already printed out. The newbie has no chance at all. That said even with the precinct chairs influence, most of the caucus suggestions never make it through the next steps of the urban political grinder.
As for the ???two hours???, much occurs after the majority leave. Those delegates chosen have to work through the paperwork and the proposals discussed. It can be much longer than two hours ??? guess who stays to finalize and sanitize what has been accomplished.
Read the precinct chairmen!!!!!
This system is a major waste of man-hours and I totally support a primary vote that allows voters to vote at ANY TIME OF THE DAY OR WEEK before the primary. Be it in the afternoon or the evening ... two hours dis-infranchises too many of us. A primary ... it is in and out, be it a lunch break from a job or whatever. No problem. Anyone who believes that their "resolutions" will survive even on a State level exam is delusional.
Secateur