A New Trump Thread...

[wesw]

yes gob, our parties are insane and useless. that is why trump is doing so well.

[datsunaholic]

Washington State used to have Open primaries. Still does, basically, for State offices. Originally Washington was a Caucus State, and in Caucuses you don't HAVE a Presidential Primary- the "nominee" is selected through precinct caucuses which are open to any registered voter. Now, to become a Delegate (even at the County level) you have to be a registered party member. That's why I was a card-carrying Republican for one year (and one year only- I didn't want Huckabee or Romney to be the Nominee so I went with that point as a McCain supporter) So the selection went Precinct caucus, which select a nominee. The precinct sends a precinct delegate to the County Caucus, who is required to vote in the county caucus for the nominee (unless that nominee has withdrawn before the next stage, which is what happened when I was a delegate- I was sworn to Huckabee due to my precinct, but he withdrew so I was free to make my own choice). The County Caucus selects a nominee and selects delegates for the State Convention, and from there to the National Convention.

The State tried to switch to Primary elections instead of caucuses, and even changed the State Constitution... but the parties sued, because Washington had an Open Primary. I mean TOTALLY open- you got one ballot with all the candidates, and they would tally up the "winners" by party and whoever got the most by party was supposed to be the State Nominee for that party. The parties didn't like that, because in theory all the Democrats could vote for the least popular Republican to force the "more popular" one out. So the State changed the ballot so you had to select a party (Pick a party Primary). The Republicans agreed to let the primary count for HALF of the selection process, but the Democrats completely ignore it because they still want only registered Democrats to be part of the process. Since ther eis no way to declare party on our Voter registrations, it's a moot point, really, since the parties aren't the ones holding or paying for the primary. But since it's in the State Constitution, we continue to hold a mostly pointless Presidential Primary 2 months AFTER the Precinct Caucuses.


The parties didn't let the State primaries go, either. They sued to require party affiliation for those as well, but more or less lost that one, as we now hold a "top 2" primary. So it's the top 2 vote-getters, regardless of party (usually its one D and one R anyway, but not always. Seattle's last Mayor race ended up being 2 Democrats against each other).

[Big RR]

I've voted in both republican and democratic primaries but have never been a member of either party.

Amazing!! So there I could not be a party member, but I could influence the party leadership choice?

Bonkers...

My understanding is that the primaries are desirable because they let the party leadership know who is likely to be elected by the party faithful and friends (those leaning toward the party or a particular candidate, but not a member of the party). At least theoretically, it stands a better chance of nominating a candidate more to the liking of those in the district than just allowing the party bosses (or even membership) to select them.

Of course, it also does encourage mischief in having some party faithful cross party lines and vote in the primary for the other party's weakest candidate (particularly if their party has a desirable candidate who is likely to get the nomination), but nothing is perfect.

[rubato]

yes gob, our parties are insane and useless. that is why trump is doing so well.

One of them, anyway.


yrs,
rubato

[wesw]

one video , jim? just for rube?

[Lord Jim]

Here's why the Trumpanzees don't care about Trumpty's complete ignorance on foreign policy and defense issues; (at last week's debate he revealed that he doesn't even know what The Nuclear Triad is) they know just as little as he does:

The Return of Jafar: Poll finds 41% of likely Trump voters want to bomb Agrabah — the fictional city from ‘Aladdin’

Call it a magic carpet-bombing ride.

A new poll asked voters if they would support bombing Agrabah — the fictional city from the Disney classic “Aladdin.”

And 41% of Donald Trump supporters responded with a resounding yes!

Public Policy Polling conducted the automated national survey of presidential primary voters — and slipped in the question among more serious ones.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politic ... -1.2470693

[MajGenl.Meade]

Call it a magic carpet-bombing ride.

You got a set of steel ones there, LJ. Red flag to a bull, that.

[Scooter]

In fairness, I believe I read that the same statement was supported by 30% of Republicans overall and by 20% of Democrats (a difference that is probably more about greater support for bombing generally among Rs than Ds), so I think it's more about "there are a substantial percentage of really stupid Americans", than "a particular segment of American voters are a lot more stupid than everyone else".

[Bicycle Bill]

In fairness, I believe I read that the same statement was supported by 30% of Republicans overall and by 20% of Democrats (a difference that is probably more about greater support for bombing generally among Rs than Ds), so I think it's more about "there are a substantial percentage of really stupid Americans", than "a particular segment of American voters are a lot more stupid than everyone else".

I'm inclined to believe Scooter's take on the matter.  Various news and entertainment programs (I think Letterman used to do a regular segment on his show) have been doing "man-on-the-street" questions for years that proves this beyond the shadow of a doubt.

-"BB"-

[Fafhrd]

I can tell you two states where you don't have to register to a party to vote in the primary (Wisconsin and Virginia). There are others. NOTHING regarding US politics holds true in every jurisdiction.

[wesw]

not a red flag, but highly amusing to the bull.

almost rubato like in its own way.

going all rubato on half your party...., oh wait Donald s (italics) party....., still a bad idea. you know that it is a bad idea because bush is doing the same thing...,

...and the Dems? oh my, the fireworks are just beginning.....

maybe their best bet is to cross over in the primary to insure that trump wins the GOP nom ination.

[Gob]

. NOTHING regarding US politics holds true in every jurisdiction.

Well that explains why it's such a mess....

[wesw]

...just to clarify, I was not comparing jim to rubato in any way that matters.

just that the use of obviously unreliable stats, charts, polls graphs, and / or fingerpainting is not useful.

[Lord Jim]

Some plain speaking about Trumpty in an editorial from the publisher of that well known left-wing rag, The Manchester Union Leader:

Joseph W. McQuaid: Trump campaign insults NH voters' intelligence

By JOSEPH W. McQUAID
Publisher

Donald Trump is due in New Hampshire this evening. He will attract a large crowd. The crowds, the media coverage, and the polls have led him and some pundits to believe that he will win the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

That is an insult to the intelligence of Republican voters. Beginning right here in New Hampshire on Feb. 9, a great majority of them will disabuse him of that notion.

Much of the news media are lavishly covering Trump, not just because he’s good for ratings, but because he’s good for Hillary Clinton. They very much want Trump to be the Republican nominee so that Ms. Hillary can move back into the White House.

Trump can certainly be an entertaining character. He toys with TV journalists and dismisses critics with name-calling that drives the Politically Correct crowd insane. But his public descent into bathroom humor and verbal bullying has been painful, and educational, to watch.

According to Trump: John McCain accepted years of torture by the North Vietnamese but is not Trump’s type of “war hero.” Not that Trump ever served in the military. Carly Fiorina, meanwhile, doesn’t have the “face” Trump would want in the White House; and a reporter who questions a Trump falsehood is to be mimicked and mocked for his physical disability.

Trump has shown himself to be a crude blowhard with no clear political philosophy and no deeper understanding of the important and serious role of President of the United States than one of the goons he lets rough up protesters in his crowds.

He reminds us of the grownup bully “Biff” in the “Back to the Future” movie series. Lo and behold, the screenwriter says that he based Biff on Trump. On Feb. 9, we trust New Hampshire Republicans will send “Biff Trump” back to somewhere — anywhere but on the road to the most important elective office in the United States at a most crucial time for this nation. -

See more at: http://www.unionleader.com/Joseph-W-McQ ... lqJHD.dpuf

[rubato]

Some plain speaking about Trumpty in an editorial from the publisher of that well known left-wing rag, The Manchester Union Leader:

"... nomination.

That is an insult to the intelligence of Republican voters.... "

quote]


Not the 40% who prefer him above all other Republican candidates.


yrs,
rubato

[Gob]

Now he's getting the serious intellectuals behind him...

[Econoline]

Jerry Lewis is still alive? Who knew?

[MajGenl.Meade]

Jury's still out. I'm wondering if Trump will be doing Jerry Lewis impressions soon? "No one's done more for humanity than I have but...."

[dgs49]

Here in the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, one must declare a party affiliation when registering to vote - which cannot be done on election day at the polls.

Allowing "anyone" to vote in either party's primary is insanity. One who is inclined to support either party would only have subversive intentions in voting the opposite primary. But having said that, my parents - both very conservative in their views - both registered Democrat when they lived in Pittsburgh, because no Republican could even win any elected office, so voting in the Republican primary was pointless. They registered Democrat so they could have a say in who was ultimately elected.

The Republican National Committee has established guidelines for each state's organization, one of which is to do whatever can be done to see to it that only "registered" Republicans are permitted to vote in that Party's primary elections.

Although it is becoming more clear every day that Sen. Cruz is the favorite among "real" Republicans, "we" will support whomever the nominee eventually is.

The MSM's constant campaign to make Trump look bad is having some success with the general population, but any observant person can see that it is doing nothing to dampen his supporters' fervor. The strategy is simply this: Bring back the working-class white men who stayed home in 2012. It is to this constituency that Trump's "anti-illegal immigrant" and anti-Muslim rhetoric is addressed, and they are, so to speak, lapping it up.

Had working-class white men come out in 2012 in strong numbers, Romney would have won. Simple as that. And as little as they cared for Obama Bin Laden, their hatred of HRC and all she stands for - combined with Trump's populism - will bring them out massively.

...assuming Cruz doesn't win the primary.

[Gob]

Here in the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, one must declare a party affiliation when registering to vote -

Why?