Should those of us in red states vote in 2006 GOP primaries?

[eallen]

I live in Texas. The sad facts are (1) that whoever wins the GOP primary for most state offices will prevail in the general election, simply because of the number of voters who now pull the straight-party lever for the GOP, and (2) that there are some real differences among the (likely) GOP candidates. For example, Kay Bailey Hutchinson, currently a US Senator, is hinting that she would like to become governor. While I am not a great fan of hers, she is much better than the incumbent, Rick Perry. Hutchinson, for example, supports reproductive rights, and voted against some of Bush's more egregious judicial appointees. Perry is a smarmy Bush acolyte. We would do our state and nation a favor by booting him from the playing field.

If a significant fraction of Democrats and independents vote in the GOP primary, it could be enough to keep some of the worse out of office, and it has more likely impact than voting in the Democratic primary. Voting in a primary doesn't commit you to voting for a single GOP candidate in the general election. Its one drawback, in Texas, is that it prevents you from signing a petition to get a third party on the ballot. (I think the LP and Greens already qualify, however.)

Obviously, the importance of doing this, and the difficulty and drawbacks, vary from state to state. In Texas, we don't register as Republican or Democrat, and can pick on the morning of the primary which party's we wish to vote. It seems to me that Texas is a state where it makes a lot of sense for everyone who opposes the new GOP to become a Republican for a day.

:evilgrin:

Comments? If this is desirable, how do we go about organizing to maximize its effectiveness?

[UL_Approved]

1. Split it up

You have to get some people to vote Democrat. You need to have several individuals get some votes for the guy you would like to have for opposition.

Of course, the big goal is to get a Democrat who can get people on his side. That is the missing component of all offices in this country.

[Racenut20]

2. Democrats for Hutchinson PAC

[sam sarrha]

4. Democrats Against The WAR Machine PAC

we need to pound in the faililngs of their Fascist Empire... not elect them.. unfortunately some of what Nader says is true, one slightly better Republican isnt good enough. The worst one in will quicken the fall of support for the War Machine. i say support None of them Period. lean against the wind. or they will just put in likeable puppets.

[sam sarrha]

3. i think it is best to vote for the worst GOP candidate... in any case,

making them look good with an infrequent anomaly will just be counter productive and prevent the inevitable backlash that will change their Fascist bullshit. a Lesser of 2 evils in one position will be nullified by the party platform wannabees, anyway.

it only sounds like a good thing to do, particularly if you still have any optimism left for their system, we have to bring them down Period.. no faltering along the way. thinking an individual in their party will change their War machine is delusional and only encourages them.

[Telly Savalas]

6. Some folks do this in Kansas

I know of some people, my mom included, that vote GOP in the primaries, and give their ballot to the dopiest far right flat-earther. Democratic governor Kathleen Sebelius beat such a guy in the last election, so there might be something to this approach. I'd be concerned, however, that it'd backfire and you get stuck with the GOP guy winning the general election.

[eallen]

9. In this state, the slobbering goons take office, if they win GOP primary.

Besides, if the next four years of Bush doesn't cause a national backlash, don't blame it on the "exceptions."

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. We have the same option in Arkansas

our trouble is that every GOP candidate seems to be a nutcase. But my husband has voted GOP in the primaries, namely to help a friend win the nomination to county judgeship. He's used it ever since to rail against Repukes, ending his tirade with "And I registered Republican in the primary".

[quaoar]

7. I might have to vote in the Alabama GOP primary in 06

Just to avoid ending up with Roy Moore as governor.

[bemildred]

8. All politics is local, but generally, a fine idea.

Then vote for the worst slobbering goon on the ticket.
Throw monkey-wrenches into the political system, thwart
control from the top.

Edit: Of course, if there is a true Dem to vote for, you need to
support them in the primary first. If it's just another suit-droid,
then by all means screw with the Repukes.

[SheilaT]

10. A lot depends on how your state

does its primaries. Some are "open" which means anyone can vote in either primary, some are "closed" in which case you already have to be a member of the party in whose primary you wish to vote.

In any case, you only vote in the primary for a specific political party, which for all practical purposes means Republican or Democrat, since no other party is strong enough to field multiple candidates for an office.

I also live in Kansas, and one problem with all the RINOs (Republicans in Name Only) who register as Republicans so they can vote in the Republican primary is twofold. First, it lowers what should be the Democratic registration considerably, so that any Democrat who otherwise might run for office, takes one look at the registration figures (here in Johnson County it's 50% R, 30% unaffiliated, and only 20% D) and figures that there's no chance of a Democrat winning, and so lots of races never even have a Democrat running, which makes the Republicans look even stronger than they are.

Secondly, sometimes voting for the right-winger backfires, which is why Phill Kline is our Attorney General today. Although Dennis Moore did beat the right wing Kris Kobach for re-election to Congress by his largest margin every, so in this case the strategy worked.

But I'm still uncomfortable with it.