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"Fair" elections (i.imgur.com)

submitted by TeaPartyOverlord

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[–]joeboise 13 ポイント14 ポイント

There's a big difference between voting for who you perceive as the lesser of two evils, and voting for who you perceive as a future weak opponent to your party.

Edit: I'm not saying Cochran isn't a piece of shit though.

[–]malthustreyOpposite Day! 33 ポイント34 ポイント

I don't think you understand the complaint about gerrymandering. Your meme makes no sense, both actions run in the same direction, giving voters more power to choose politicians. The complaint about gerrymandering is that politicians get to choose the voters rather than the voters getting to choose the politicians, ie too much control of the voting process by political parties and politicians. Crossing party lines to vote in primaries also reduces the control of political parties and politicians and increases all voters say in the process.

If you don't want voters to choose candidates, have a caucus.

[–]eskimobrother319Coolidge Conservative -1 ポイント0 ポイント

I agree, but I think he may be referring to packing within the definition of gerrymandering. I assume that many districts are so packed that the Dems in the packed district will just pull a GOP ballot and vote for the most liberal, but that is the fault of the party in power.

[–]FlyingPeacockLive Free or Die 0 ポイント1 ポイント

Isn't it possible to infiltrate the caucus by changing parties? I know it's not common, but I've heard of people who are ideologically one thing, but register for the opposite party to vote in caucuses.

[–]malthustreyOpposite Day! 0 ポイント1 ポイント

They caucuses are party events and just like a frat or the boy scouts the party can set the requirements for membership and voting.

There are exceptions, like in Washington state, where there is a primary and the top two candidates go on to the general regardless of party affiliation. Caucuses aren't a path to the general election in these states.

[–]arhombus 9 ポイント10 ポイント

This makes no sense.

[–]uninterested3rdparty 6 ポイント7 ポイント

Of course, the difference being that Thad Cochran actively sought and campaigned for the votes of Democrats and minorities. Unlike "Operation Chaos" which was orchestrated by Rush Limbaugh.

[–]JPAIN7 6 ポイント7 ポイント

What about non-Republican voters who live in incredibly conservative states. In those states, it is almost a guarantee that the Republican candidate is going to win the general election, so the primary elections generally decide the race. In that case, why would moderate or liberal voters not vote for a more moderate candidate? If I had to wager a guess, I'd say you are referring to the Mississippi senate primary from last night. Thad Cochran, if I may say, is one of the best senators in the country. He actually does stuff instead of just making partisan attempts at pandering to his constituents, and he has been an excellent representative of Mississippi. So why should conservatives alone decide an election? I think the comparison to gerrymandering, a deliberate rigging of the system, is unfounded.

[–]teehawk 2 ポイント3 ポイント

This is exactly why I love open primaries, because closed primaries promotes running to the wings, while open primaries incentives moderate candidates.

[–]bearcubdvm 3 ポイント4 ポイント

See Rush Limbaugh's "Operation Chaos". Who's the hypocrite now?

[–]blatherskiterReagan Conservative 9 ポイント10 ポイント

Perhaps you don't remember that Operation Chaos was in direct response to Dem voters handing the New Hampshire and South Carolina primaries to John McCain.

[–]bearcubdvm 1 ポイント2 ポイント

Democrat? Or independent?

[–]blatherskiterReagan Conservative 5 ポイント6 ポイント

Non-Republicans.

[–]bearcubdvm 1 ポイント2 ポイント

Thanks for clarifying.

[–]TeaPartyOverlord[S] -2 ポイント-1 ポイント

Democrats, as always.

I have never voted in a Democratic primary.

[–]chabanaisFortis est veritas -2 ポイント-1 ポイント

Open primaries are what cause this and while they are to blame it still doesn't mean the other side isn't being hypocritical, too.

[–]GaroldWilsonSnailJr 0 ポイント1 ポイント

Do all states have open republican primaries? do dems do this? I'm a little uninformed on the subject

[–]teehawk 2 ポイント3 ポイント

Here is a list of states that have open or closed primaries

[–]HawkEgg 0 ポイント1 ポイント

That link is a little out of date as California has an open primary system. Top two vot getters in the primary then compete head to head in the general election be they both Republican (In Orange County) or both Democrat (In San Francisco).

[–]teehawk 1 ポイント2 ポイント

You are correct my friend. I have updated the link with a much more current (as of 2012), and interactive list from fairvote.org