How can Republicans cancel Democratic state primaries?

[Some Moran]

I'm confused...

[meegbear]

1. Is this happening?

Can you give some information on where you heard this?

[ShaneGR]

2. What primaries?

Technically, a Secretary of State (Who handles elections) can cancel an election due to lack of funding. Republican or Democrat. BUT, I haven't heard anything about any of the Dem primaries being cancelled.

[hang a left]

4. I thought I read it was just the Repugnant presidential primaries.

Whistle-Ass is unopposed..............so far anyway.


Hey, I'll have my fantasies, and you can have yours.

[Renew Deal]

10. Colorado and Kansas

There might be others.

[Some Moran]

3. Oops...Mea Culpa...

The GOP is cancelling its own primaries so that Repukes can vote in the Democratic one.

[Philostopher]

6. BIngo!

Pretty good, for a Moran! (j/k)

In states with open primaries, I fear that this is exactly what they're going to do. Not that it's a big surprise -- Dems have done it in open primary states, too. It's like the California recall -- it's a way of taking advantage of something that's a potential weakness in the sysetm.

Of course, it's only a weakness in the system when your candidate has no rivals and the opposition has fielded an entire baseball team.

[hang a left]

7. In California you cannot vote in the Democratic Primary if you are

not a registered democrat. Different states have different rules. But you bring up an interesting point. I wonder what the correlation is between the voting rules and the states that are opting out of the primary.

[ShaneGR]

5. Here's a link I found on this from google

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,102615,00.html

[maha]

8. Presidential primaries are a newfangled thing

... relatively speaking, and aren't necessary for choosing a candidate. The nation got along without presidential primaries for quite a long time. I'm not sure when they got started, though.

[Yupster]

9. First results I have is 1912

don't know if that was first one though. Thirteen states held primaries in 1912. Fourteen by 1940. Sixteen by 1960. Thirty seven by 1980.

Interestingly, in those early primary tears, the nominee often had nothing to do with the primaries.

In 1912, President Taft was the Rep. nominee. He got 33 % of the primary votes.

In 1916 Hughes was the Rep. nominee. He got 4 % of the primary votes.

In 1920, it was Harding versus Cox. They got 4 % and 15 % of their respective primary votes.

I wonder what they held them for?

[dofus]

11. Primaries have to be funded.

If they're not funded, they can't be held. Here in Kansas the Republican legislature made it clear they wouldn't fund any primaries, and so we're now a caucus state.

I'm personally very happy about this, because I'm hoping to be a delegate to the national Democratic convention, and with caucuses I stand a chance. In the primary system, only the party faithful get selected. It's a long shot, but I'll do my best.

[AP]

12. 1960 was the first year the president was chosen by primaries

which weren't all caucuses? Is that right?

In any event, it appears that popular vote primaries were an experiment in democracy which succeeded but will be one of the many rights that we throw by the wayside since we've started to accept a poorer, less democratic America in the wake of 9-11.

It's interesting how everything works to the advantage of the Republicans!

[chaska]

13. How 'bout this sh**

In SC we have to pay for our own democratic primary and then the pugs get to vote in it.

Incidentally, we could use some donations, it's gonna cost a $500,000 and our party is flat broke.

Primaries energize parties - if we weren't preparing to vote, there wouldn't be nearly so much negative energy toward Bush as there is now.

[srubick]

14. In Colorado

the repugnate Governor simply struck the money needed for the primaries from his budget, claiming there is not enough money.

[chaska]

Here's an article.

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/1103/08scdems.html

Mailing Address for donations:

South Carolina Democrat Party
1517 Blanding St
Columbia, SC 29201

[xJlM]

15. Bankrupt the government

That the repug goal all along anyway, bankrupt the government and starve all facets of actual democracy. And we head on towards one party rule. It's depressing if you think about it long.