Rush Limbaugh, Operation Chaos and PA..

[EnlightenmentHK]

It is terribly dirty politics regardless of which party benefits/supports it. It is the reason I think primaries should be abandoned in favor of closed caucuses allowing ONLY card-carrying and dues paying party members.

Eh...that's like stopping the Forest fire by cutting down every tree in the forest. Sure it'll fix the problem, but it'll create countless new and worse ones. The political system is de facto controlled by these two parties. they are essentially our government. And with that certainly should come some public obligations and accountability. They are not strictly private organizations nor should they be treated as such. Moving the selection process back to the smoky backrooms would be counter-productive and anti-democratic.

Ideally, Caucuses should be done away with entirely. As should superdelegates. The states should all be lodged into groups of 5 or 10 that rotate each election cycle so that no one state carries such permanent, disproportional importance. Every few weeks, another group comes up for their primaries. The potential for that sort of 'radio host fraud' would exist, but it'd be minimal.

 

[bhsup]

Eh...that's like stopping the Forest fire by cutting down every tree in the forest. Sure it'll fix the problem, but it'll create countless new and worse ones. The political system is de facto controlled by these two parties. they are essentially our government. And with that certainly should come some public obligations and accountability. They are not strictly private organizations nor should they be treated as such. Moving the selection process back to the smoky backrooms would be counter-productive and anti-democratic.

Ideally, Caucuses should be done away with entirely. As should superdelegates. The states should all be lodged into groups of 5 or 10 that rotate each election cycle so that no one state carries such permanent, disproportional importance. Every few weeks, another group comes up for their primaries. The potential for that sort of 'radio host fraud' would exist, but it'd be minimal.

The entire point of the primaries and caucuses is for the parties to determine their nominee for the November general election. Nobody who has even a hint of voting for a purpose other than voting for who they truly believe is best to lead THAT party should have any business being involved.

Believe me, when I was younger and stupider, I thought the more open the primary the better no matter what because, you know, democracy rulez and all that. As I've aged I've learned better.

 

[GenMarshall]

I think it's a dirty underhanded Republican tactic to urge people to do this. People can think for themselves and vote who they want to. They don't need the party to force them to make decisions.

Both parties seem to are more interested in competing against each other instead of working together.

 

[EnlightenmentHK]

The entire point of the primaries and caucuses is for the parties to determine their nominee for the November general election. Nobody who has even a hint of voting for a purpose other than voting for who they truly believe is best to lead THAT party should have any business being involved.

Believe me, when I was younger and stupider, I thought the more open the primary the better no matter what because, you know, democracy rulez and all that. As I've aged I've learned better.

I'd agree with your second sentence. But the problem isn't severe enough to justify making the process significantly less democratic to compensate. I have no desire to let the nominating process be dominated by Party elders who 'know what's best' for us again. And the more you exclude the random idiot peon, the more that's likely to occur.

I have no delusions about Democracy. Most people are uninformed idiots. But that's sort of the price you pay for a Democratic system (and the reason we supposedly elect 'professionals' to govern). But the fact is, these people are at least ostensibly elected to represent our interests. And the system should be designed to allow as many people as possible to express their interests and preferences. A Caucus artificially limits the number of participants almost tenfold. They're thoroughly undemocratic and its really quite embarrassing that we continue them in a modern country.

 

[Archbob]

I think it's a dirty underhanded Republican tactic to urge people to do this. People can think for themselves and vote who they want to. They don't need the party to force them to make decisions.

Both parties seem to are more interested in competing against each other instead of working together.

Don't blame it all on the republicans, democrats have done it too.

 

[DBear]

Y'know, in countries like Canada, a stunt like that would be illegal and Rush would be up on charges. It would be called election fraud.

But in America, the elections are half fraudulent anyway. So I guess its fine.

HTF would they know? They do Vulcan mindmelds in Canuckistan now? :sneer:

 

[GenMarshall]

Don't blame it all on the republicans, democrats have done it too.

Then how come there is no outcry when the Democrats do it?

 

[Berzerker]

hmm, I vote in D and R primaries when possible, Kansas is late in the season and usually irrelevant, but I vote for the better candidate, not the weakest. If these people get the weaker candidate nominated somehow and she becomes Prez because Repubs gave us McCain then we'll have the Republican version of Ralph Nader in Limbaugh.

 

[Archbob]

Then how come there is no outcry when the Democrats do it?

Because the effect is minimal. Democrats did suggest before McCain had a clear lead that some should register as republicans and vote Romney because he's the easier one to beat.


McCain had a big enough lead where it doesn't matter. It actually might matter between Barack and Hillary.

Its not just the republicans that play dirty, both sides do it and are equally as guilty.

 

[Berzerker]

Believe me, when I was younger and stupider, I thought the more open the primary the better no matter what because, you know, democracy rulez and all that. As I've aged I've learned better.

Then you're leaving out all the honest people who want the parties to nominate the best candidates

 

[h4ppy]

I have registered Democrat solely to vote for Mrs. Clinton in the primaries. Laugh if you want but there are many like me and we will make at least some difference in this nation of ours.

 

[EnlightenmentHK]

I have registered Democrat solely to vote for Mrs. Clinton in the primaries. Laugh if you want but there are many like me and we will make at least some difference in this nation of ours.

Clinton supporters are actually a rarity on the internet. So I will stare and poke at you like some curious zoo specimen.

 

[Godwynn]

I have registered Democrat solely to vote for Mrs. Clinton in the primaries. Laugh if you want but there are many like me and we will make at least some difference in this nation of ours.

I thought you were trying to emigrate to North Korea?

 

[nihilistic]

Then how come there is no outcry when the Democrats do it?

Because everybody does it all the time and it's not really news. Hell, no one complained earlier in the season where republicans voted Obama to take down the then front-runner Clinton. The tactic worked so well that the democratic front-runner got switched by states that democrats have no chance of taking in November. Now Limbaugh and co. had to pull the reverse gear to maul down the front runner that they themselves hoisted to the top.

 

[I'm Cleo!]

nihilistic,

When did Republicans vote Obama so Clinton would lose?

Cleo

 

[h4ppy]

Clinton supporters are actually a rarity on the internet. So I will stare and poke at you like some curious zoo specimen.

I'm actually a McCain supporter voting Hillary to sabotage the Dems. I'd never vote for a woman in the general, sorry.

I thought you were trying to emigrate to North Korea?

Alas, in my further research I found out that being "rich" in North Korea still means having your power cut off at night, only getting two radio stations, and having to use one of those foreigner hotels if I were to want to use the internet. (and I doubt they'd let me near those places anyways)

Also their subway system only has two lines and that is just downright Buffaloesque in its depressingness.

 

[Den Valdron]

HTF would they know? They do Vulcan mindmelds in Canuckistan now? :sneer:

Nah. They have these things called laws. In particular, they got laws against things like criminal conspiracies.

Canada only seems like another planet full of superlogical ultrahumans.

 

[Den Valdron]

Then how come there is no outcry when the Democrats do it?

Did the Democrats do it? If so, you'll have to explain.

 

[Ecofarm]

Alas, in my further research I found out that being "rich" in North Korea still means having your power cut off at night, only getting two radio stations, and having to use one of those foreigner hotels if I were to want to use the internet. (and I doubt they'd let me near those places anyways)

Also their subway system only has two lines and that is just downright Buffaloesque in its depressingness.

He's lying. I stole his job and it is awesome over here. He is just bitter because I beat him to it.

Death to America!

---

I've been registered democrat for 20 years, with the purpose of subversive voting. My highschool govt teacher explained it to me, I didn't need Rush to explain it. Since the GOP nominate will not be conservative enough for me, I just try to make sure the house stays on my side of the fence. When it comes to the general, I might vote green - just as long as the Dems don't win.

 

[JollyRoger]

Did the Democrats do it? If so, you'll have to explain.

Daily Kos was encouraging Dems to crossover and vote a certain way in Michigan to keep the Republican race mangled. It's not a very pretty tactic, but it's within the rules. Dittoheads crossing over are risking a Clinton Presidency, so I have no problem with it. I don't think Rush has as much influence as some people give him credit for. Same goes for Kos.