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Primaries - Open or closed?
- Thread starter Salty
- Start date
I learned Louisiana doesn't have primaries ... it's an open ballot and they do run offs for the general election.
Clearly, this increases the power of the voter and decreases the power of the party. Can't have that! How would the elections be so easily manipulated!?
yeah, we did see that in last year's POTUS election with basically two candidates ... but to replicate that in dozens of federal elections nationwide would be a real big challenge. being able to run challengers in strong d or r districts during a primary election is a far superior manipulation campaign.
in TX-59 we got bit by a lefty physician who won the republican primary. That meant he won the general.
if there'd been no party primary, he'd not have had a snowball's chance.
but that's not gonna happen. I'm not even confident we'll have elections next November.
Clearly, this increases the power of the voter and decreases the power of the party. Can't have that! How would the elections be so easily manipulated!?
yeah, we did see that in last year's POTUS election with basically two candidates ... but to replicate that in dozens of federal elections nationwide would be a real big challenge. being able to run challengers in strong d or r districts during a primary election is a far superior manipulation campaign.
in TX-59 we got bit by a lefty physician who won the republican primary. That meant he won the general.
if there'd been no party primary, he'd not have had a snowball's chance.
but that's not gonna happen. I'm not even confident we'll have elections next November.
Closed. I have seen open primaries sabotaged by the other party crossing over simply to nominate an unelectable candidate.
but if the top two are of the same party - then there is no real choice - the same has happens in Calif
when the corruption happens where a lefty has won the republican primary ... there is no choice there.
at least in the runoffs, there's a choice.
NO - I am not talking about a D winning the R primary -
You stated that in Louisiana - there is an open ballot - so if the top two are both liberals
then the conservatives do not have a choice in the general election.
Unless you consider having to choose between be hanged or firing squad to be a choice.
My preference is a closed caucus - yes - even for POTUS
right. I guess I'm not getting out.
in districts which are "solid" ... the primary winner of the solid party is going to win. If it can be manipulated, then the election is stumped. primary elections are ALWAYS far less in participation which makes the manipulation easier.
So, to expound on the scenario ... in Texas, when you register to vote in a primary, you are then restricted to that party's primary.
it was 2008 IIRC? ... Sid Miller was our guy (he's now the TX Ag commish), TX 59. Well, there was a move in the democrat party to run a physician against Sid. They organized big time and voted in the republican party primary ... this was evidenced by the anemic participation in the democrat primary. Cause you can vote in only one primary.
So this physician got elected in the general because he won the republican primary he'd certainly have lost if the democrats had "played it straight" and this guy in the general as the democrat nominee.
Senator James Lankford was able to be the undisputed winner of OK5 as a representative in similar fashion ... big diff being James is ALSO a conservative, but the point is his real task was winning the primary against the incumbent.
So ... if JD Sheffield would have been in a general ballot against Sid Miller in the primary for runoff to last two in the general ... he'd have lost BIG TIME. He may not have even made the presumptive 2nd run off ... cause this is a conservative district.
Yes ... two democrats may end up being the choice in a lefty district ... but in a lefty district ... that's gonna happen anyway. At least THIS way, a republican can't sneak into winning the primary (low turnout).
the party primaries inflate the importance of the party.
I do agee that some districts are "safe"
But I am not talking about Congress - The OP is about PRESIDENTIAL primaries.
yessir ...
so the same situation happens but at a state level.
The difference here is ... a Constitutional process to elect POTUS in the electoral college. It's the only office with such a process ... and ... we saw how that was manipulateable (?) in just 4 counties!
by 2024 ... there will be no more elections. MAYBE by 2022.
RighteousnessTemperance&
Well-Known Member
There will always be elections, there just may be but one candidate.
In most cases , it doesn't seem to matter.
Even in states that have "closed" primaries, People determined to cheat will change political party affiliation at the drop of a hat to vote in whatever primary they choose.
In NY State - if you want to change party affiliation (we do have a closed primary) it must be made several months in advance.
In Tennessee one simply registers as a voter without stating a party. In the primaries, you're free to pick which party you want.
In North Carolina you register by party, but I always registered Democrat so I could vote for the worst possible candidate in the primary (and had fun doing it).
In North Carolina you register by party, but I always registered Democrat so I could vote for the worst possible candidate in the primary (and had fun doing it).
Suppose I visited your church one Sunday night - and you had a business meeting, Should I be allowed to vote in your church business meeting?
I believe that to be dishonest.
I do agree we should be involved in a political party. And by being active at a village, town, or City party - we can help
to make our party more effective. You can help choose qualified candidates.
FTR, I am a member of our County committee and I am also on the State Committee for our County party.
In addition, I have run for public office myself.
In answer to this type question, & several of the answers, I can only quote that of Adams in my sig line.
We no longer fit his description of a nation in which a republic type gov’t can survive!!
We no longer fit his description of a nation in which a republic type gov’t can survive!!
In answer to this type question, & several of the answers, I can only quote that of Adams in my sig line.
We no longer fit his description of a nation in which a republic type gov’t can survive!!
That what do we need to do to change that!
Here in Oneida, the Evangelical Pastors will be meeting every Friday at noon (starting 3 Dec) to pray for Revival. Who will join us ?