Super Delegates votes count before they can vote-why do we need them at all? Why does a caucus of 28 people get to choose 3 delegates? In my state it takes almost 40,000 votes per delegate. Why? Why did the DNC pick OBAMA? As he lost primary after primary since PA, the news was filled with the two superdelegates he gained, Why? Why was nothing done about voter intimidation that really happened in certain states? Do I think the Obama campaing itself was supporting this-no, but some of the Obamafiles in those states certainly did? Why is no one talking about what has happened to our party? Does anyone care? The court took the presidency from Al Gore in 2000. What is the Democratic party doing to its most loyal supporters in 2004? I learned alot through this campaign-mostly a party process that doesn't really care much about a free and fair election, or the concept of one person one vote. What do you think? Is this what we want our party to be? If this is what you want-then I guess we deserve it.

The whole primary process is a joke. I did go to the WA caucus in my district. I think all states should have a primary vote on Supper Tuesday. That way, people do not have to show up at caucuses just to give our candidates delegates. At my precinct, Obama beat Clinton 2 - 1. But the primary vote was very close. The discussion at the caucus was absurd...the "last name card" was played becuse of the ignorant people in attendance. These people decided for all of WA how many delegates each cadidate was to receive. This is no way a democratic process. Please note...democratic process is flawed and needs an overhaul!! CarolJean

Breaking News from West Virginia
Democrats gathered throughout the state today to hold their County Conventions. These conventions are a prelude to the state's May 13th primary, and although the results do not impact the number of delegates that each candidate will ultimately receive from the state, they do give an indication of the level of grassroots support on the ground right now.

Here is the detailed account of the Berkeley County Convention, where 50 of the 52 delegates elected at the county convention were Obama supporters:

Basically they elected delegates at the county level who'll be electing delegates at the state level. However, the delegates will be selected to the national convention proportional to the votes their candidates received. The primary vote still matters (voting runs from April 23 to May 13 in West Virginia since they have early voting). What this shows is the enthusiasm gap in the state and also could very well signal turnout for the primary.

JUST COUNT THE VOTES!!!


Whether you support a caucus system or voting in a primary, let's be truly democratic about it and just count the votes!!!!

We don't need to then elect delegates to represent those votes and spend hours and hours just to ultimately cast another vote!   Read More »

What is the best way to determine the party's Presidential nominee?

The solution is simple. Add the votes.

We don't need to have representatives of our votes (a.k.a. "delegates").

Instead of Selecting, let's be democratic about it and simply ELECT.

PLEASE SUPPORT CHANGE in the way the Democratic Party elects it's nominee. If you believe we are mature enough to elect the best candidate by popular vote, even within a caucus setting, please sign this petition.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Changethecaucussystem   Read More »

Primary Delegates
Clinton 65 51.59%
Obama 61 48.41%

Caucus
Clinton 30 44.78%
Obama 37 55.22%

TX Delegates 193 Unpledged

Clinton 95 49.22%
Obama 98 50.78%

90% Reporting.

My State, The swing state of Iowa will go blue, I doesnt matter who is on the ballot, WE WILL WIN IOWA.

Hopefully you guys feel the same about your state. No matter if you are in Mass. or Utah, for our respective presidential candidate to win, we need a large infrastructure and a competitive base in all states. That means all 50, that also means the Virgin Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and of course our many citizens living, working and serving abroad.

More about my state...

In 2006 Democrats won the Governorship, both state houses and 2 more congressional seats (we have 3 of 5). In January we hosted the first in the nation caucus, where 50,000 Independants and non-voters registered Democrat to the Republicans 4,000. Obama won by an easy margin in what turned out to be the largest democratic turnout ever.

Here is some info on my state, I would also like to hear about yours!   Read More »

Daily Talking Points - Wednesday, March 19, 2008

michigan/five-year anniversary of iraq war   Read More »

Obama 56%
Clinton 42%

Caucus Delegates:
Obama 37
Clinton 30

Primay Delegates:
Obama 61
Clinton 65

Totals, not including superdelegates:

Obama 98
Clinton 95

The question was asked of people leaving the polls. The answers are first the total, and then broken up by candidate supported.

It is from http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/epolls/#TXDEM

This just represents Texas, but it makes me nervous anyway.

Satisfied if Clinton Wins Nomination? Clinton Obama
Yes (70%) 66% 33%
No (28%) 10% 89%

Would You Be Satisfied... Clinton Obama Only if Clinton Wins (28%) 97% 3%
Only if Obama Wins (24%) 2% 97%
If Either Wins (42%) 46% 53%
Dissat. With Both (4%) N/A N/A

Satisfied if Obama Wins Nomination? Clinton Obama
Yes (66%) 30% 69%
No (32%) 91% 8%

What this means is that people think that the world will be saved if X gets nomination. WAKE UP AMERICA! We have to save ourselves, we can't expect either one of the candidates to be the change we want to see without us just being satisfied. Sure getting people who can help us into office is part of the plan, but it is NOT the whole plan. Get to work. Become a neighborhood leader, or sign up a friend, ASAP.

The good new is that JUST 43% of Texans would be satisfied if either wins the nomination, and then we get to add back on the candidate who won. That would be a good base to start with in August I hope. Then we can earn back those voters who were disappointed by the primary. I'm also proud to see, once again, that nearly twice as many democrats as republicans came out to caucus or vote. Even in states like Texas, democrats are rocking the vote (in some states it is called Baracking the vote.

I know I'm preaching to the wrong crowd here at DNC.org, but hey. At least those who will read this care. I do repost it on myspace and facebook too ;)

The following is from a email forwarded to me.

Clinton has been telling her supporters to show up at 6:45 while Obama keeps stressing 7:00. I'm afraid there's going to be some shenanigans involving closing the doors at caucus sites when at capacity or at 6:59:59 whichever comes first.

There was a similar gambit run in Nevada where the Clinton camp shut out a good number of caucus goers by barring the doors.

Anybody who's got a line on Obama folks or Texas caucus goers please pass along the heads up to show up early and not get muscled. Know your rights!

this is an open letter to my county party for comments during a post-caucus meeting.   Read More »

My thoughts:
First, to clear the air:

Why when writing this do I feel I must defend myself by beginning by explaining that I _do_ support Obama although I did caucus for Hillary when Edwards and Undecided wasn't viable. I caucused for Hillary for two reasons, A. I was trying to counter act those annoying people who say "anyone but Hillary". She has better policy then Obama (if anyone would bother to read it) and I wanted her to be voted _for_, not against. I wanted to make sure the universe was balanced, and it was something I was capable of doing. My second reason was for group connection for the ISU College Democrats who have been marginalized by the Obama people in the last few weeks.

On the topic of Obama, why can't I like a leader and still be critical of aspects of politics that is not part of an intentional strategy, and not endorsed by a candidate? I'm talking about my thoughts on this video. I am afraid that for even speaking out against such a beloved candidate, I too will be marginalized. I can like Obama without liking his supporters, and I have the right to express my healthy discussion of why I don't like his supporters.   Read More »

Having contacted the state Democratic party with no response, and even the newspaper, maybe you might actually be interested in this story about how inaccurate Nebraska's caucus actually was (in my view). It sure seems like someone ought to be willing to tell the truth!

I went to Nebraska's first caucus Saturday, Febr. 9th. I was not impressed. For one thing the more I thought about it the more I realized; the vote was not right. According to what the chair and secretary of our table (precinct) and the absentee ballot stated: absentee votes (or ones turned in on that night would only count in the first vote. So that means at our table there were supposed to be 30 people registered. Three wrote their vote down (and it was explained to them that the vote only counts on 1st vote), then they left. Our chair then spent a huge amount of time finding out where the others were (they voted at the registration table and left). Two were undecided to start with. One went to the Obama side. The other sat with my friend and I. Now that would leave only 20 people voting in the second vote; 15% of of 20 is only 3. Therefore at our precinct: 2 delegates would be for Obama and 1 should have been for Clinton. How many other times did that happen? How many more should Hillary have gotten? This was the 1st caucus and every one was inexperienced. Obviously the the vote was wrong. Even I didn't catch it right then, but it didn't seem right. Second, of the 23 people present at the table to begin with, not one had received the absentee ballot. I only know about it because another friend had received one. Obviously, I did have a favorite,and I believe that between the 2 democratic choices, there is not that big a difference. Every vote should count! I don't like being told my vote doesn't count because at my table there were less than 15% for Hillary(which wasn't even correct). Not viable was their word...like you're dead!! It is just wrong to say....you can't vote at all because there are not enough of you. Also, according to an article in the newspaper, there should have been a final room vote after the Clinton people go one way and the Obama go another and the undecided a third and then the Clinton and Obama people try to sway the undecided. I and the people I talked to afterward, all agree that voting is the only way that should count..It is what it means to be an American. I understand the theory behind the causus (kind of like a telephone poll--a concensus) but one person, one vote is more accurate. I know people who didn't go but would have voted. In Nebraska our primary doesn't count anyway; it comes to late to make a difference. Move the primary and not have a caucus!!
Quite honestly, I believe, the whole country should hold their primary on the same day, just as the general election is held in November (by Nov., we are so sick of their ads. we don't give a fig anyway), you know this is true

Nebraska wins with the grassroots appeal of Caucusing! Barack took a 2-1 margin over Hillary Clinton in Lancaster County.

Nebraska had a great day on Saturday! The Headline for the rest of the state in today's Lincoln Journal Star 'Democrats come out in a red state'!

Whooo-hooo!

I am pumped!

I attended the Caucus's for my voter precinct in Washington State today. The first problem I had was finding parking.
There were over 140 attendees for my precinct alone, this is more than all the previous caucus's I have attended added together.

We had a brief time for short speeches in support of candidates.
There was nobody willing to speak for John, so I did.

When things came to determining delegates the calculations, it took 6 individuals per delegate awarded.
The number of individual supporting candidates were as follows:


Obama 83 supporters
Clinton 50 supporters
Uncommitted 4 supporters
Edwards 2 supporters (including me)
Kucinich 0
Gravel * My apologies, there were more
than 0 but I can't remember

The Edwards and Uncommitted united to send a delegate and alternate, of which, I am one.


We have a 3 tier process here, the third being the State Convention.
I will be able to attend the 2nd tier which I believe is for our Legislative District.