Posted by mahatma chani on 2008-02-05 19:30:24 +0000
Open Ballots
I wanted to vote for Obama, but because I'm registered Republican, they would only allow me to vote for the GOP candidates. So, I voted for Romney.
Posted by tgl on 2008-02-05 19:51:50 +0000
Rudee! Rudee!
Posted by tgl on 2008-02-05 20:02:09 +0000
I might disagree: Closed Ballots are the way to go. I myself, as an independent, feel a little awkward voting in a political party's popularity contest. I think it's reasonable to prevent registered voters from the other party trying to crash your good time. I'd be fine if they prevented me from voting in either primary (like they do in Florida, I think).
Primaries aren't elections, so, restricting the vote to only the people within your organization seems like a reasonable thing to do.
Did you unregister after voting?
Posted by TheFullCleveland on 2008-02-05 20:19:58 +0000
I don't think the majority's intention is to crash anyone's primary (sure, some do, but it's probably a negligible number). I like being undeclared - it's entirely possible that I'll like a Republican candidate in the future. I don't consider myself a Democrat, and I don't think I should be forced to label myself as one. Being asked if I'd like the Democratic or Republican ballot makes more sense to me.
Posted by tgl on 2008-02-05 20:34:48 +0000
...that's it, I'm undeclared. I prefer that to independent.
Regardless of the majority's intention, we don't have an inalienable right to vote in primaries. I'm not fond of political parties to begin with, so, anytime I can declare myself above it all by not getting my hands sullied, I do. One way is to say: I won't fuss if you don't let me in.
That being said, I voted for Colin Powell on the Republican ticket in the 2004 primary. I think I skipped '00. Probably went for Tom Harkin in the '96 NH primary. I really don't remember... oh wait I do remember... we bought polyester three-piece suits at Goodwill, donned them, then went to City Hall to register as Republicans. Maybe I didn't vote for Harkin in '96, maybe it was Steve "flat tax" Forbes.
Posted by mahatma chani on 2008-02-05 20:36:58 +0000
No... I meant the subject of this post to be: who'd y'all vote for?
Posted by tgl on 2008-02-05 20:45:48 +0000
Funny, that.
I plan to vote for Obama. Can't let weepy bitches in the White House, ya know?
Posted by TheFullCleveland on 2008-02-05 20:50:44 +0000
I drank the Obama Kool-Aid.
Posted by tgl on 2008-02-06 00:21:43 +0000
Ward 3 in Lynn was as crowded as I'd ever seen it.
----
MA goes for Romney.
Posted by tgl on 2008-02-06 01:10:46 +0000
MA goes for Clinton
The radio keeps reminding me that most D races allot delegates proportionally, so the D race is going to be fairly close delegate-wise. Clinton just announced she'll do four more debates with Obama.
Posted by tommy on 2008-02-06 02:13:42 +0000
M and I are both undeclared. I actually can't see any advantage in this state to be explicitly enrolled as a Democrat or Republican. If you're unenrolled, you can choose your ballot; if you are enrolled, then no choice. So, why enroll? Perhaps if you're involved in the day-to-day workings of a party or something... not sure.
Anyhow, M voted for McCain thinking that it would be extra-delicious if Romney would lose his own home state. I think I actually prefer Clinton a tiny bit, but I voted for Obama because I think he's got a better chance of pulling in independents in the general election. I actually thought about voting for Romney because I thought him the most likely to repel independent voters in the general election, but I decided not to play with fire.
Regarding "crossing the lines" to vote: that's how Bill Weld was elected governor. Lots o' liberal democrats crossed over and voted for him. Enough of them that John Silber(!) was nominated on the democrat side. So, we had a socially liberal Republican (who was booed off stage at the national convention for advocating gay rights) against Silber, who wasn't so much a "conservative" as a "bigoted, cantankerous killjoy". Still, Silber almost won. I think it was David Brudnoy who said if Silber had only contracted laryngitis, he would have been elected.
Posted by tgl on 2008-02-06 02:44:00 +0000
Silber and Giuliani have a lot in common.
---
CT goes for Obama.
Right now, Romney's thanking the great States of MI, MA and UT. The only States he'll ever carry.
Posted by tgl on 2008-02-06 02:49:11 +0000
Romney: "It's time for the politicians to leave Washington and for we, the people, to take over."
Yep, cause when I look at Mitt my first thought is "not a politician".
Posted by ConorClockwise on 2008-02-06 03:16:20 +0000
Ron Paul (with my help) lands at 3% in MA, 1% behind Huckabee, 2% over Rudy.
Posted by tgl on 2008-02-06 03:16:33 +0000
Oops, and ND.
Posted by tgl on 2008-02-06 03:30:51 +0000
Oops, and MN (a caucus).
Posted by tommy on 2008-02-06 03:34:16 +0000
My money is on Romney leaving Mass for a state with more electoral votes within 4 years.
Posted by ConorClockwise on 2008-02-06 03:42:02 +0000
Posted by ConorClockwise on 2008-02-06 04:24:49 +0000
Is that David Brooks glowing with his accurate prediction that Republicans run to McCain, when faced with Romney and Huckabee...
Posted by tgl on 2008-02-06 04:42:51 +0000
Brooks just glows. *sigh*
Posted by dyedon8 on 2008-02-06 05:50:33 +0000
Harkin was '92 -- I remember Colin Moore's mom being on his team.
Posted by dyedon8 on 2008-02-06 05:53:06 +0000
I thought about Ron Paul for weeks, and ultimately bailed. Love his 'servers don't get taxed on tips' thing, but closing the borders and pro-life rub me the wrong way.
So: Obama.
I went over at quarter of three, before work. Saw, MC, your name was checked off on the roster.
Posted by dyedon8 on 2008-02-06 05:53:48 +0000
Even Mondale got Minnesota.
Posted by tgl on 2008-02-06 13:30:10 +0000
Damn, that's right. I was 18 in 19_92_.
I must have registered to vote in '92 sometime after the primary. I'm not sure they let 17-year-olds vote in the primary if they'd be 18 by the general election back then. It was hot in those three piece suits, so, it couldn't have been February.
I must have sat out the primary cycle in '96, my first general election vote for Nader was in '96.
I've never voted in the NH primaries, only the MA primaries.
Posted by mahatma chani on 2008-02-06 13:35:54 +0000
Yeah... never re-registered after I moved... maybe once I get my license back?
Posted by ConorClockwise on 2008-02-06 16:56:33 +0000
Yeah, I'm also not down with abolishing the IRS and Dept of Education. But it's so refreshing to have a voice of reason about the Iraq invasion from the Republicans, it's hard not to vote for him. None of the other GOP candidates have even hinted that the invading Iraq was a mistake, or that warrantless spying on Americans is wrong.
Lastly, his pro-life stance is none regulated, meaning he is very against abortion, but would not legislate nor push to have Roe v Wade overturned, even though his backers might.