Here’s one way to keep your delegates together at a sub-caucus!!!!
3 Comments
Leslie Kratz
March 10, 2008
I have been thinking that Minnesota would be better served by holding primary elections instead of using the Caucus strategy. I keep thinking of all my neighbors who are all concerned about the “current state of affairs” in Minnesota. Yet… they all have kids and have soccer games, Girl Scout Meetings, music lessons and laundry to do and groceries to buy. They do not have seven hours of time to spend at a Democratic or Republican Caucus.
I am concerned that although the input of everyone who attended the Caucuses is great… we are missing the input of a significant number of people…. people who want to contribute their input.
The system the Democrats use is outdated, IMHO. They need something that’s in keeping with the times and accessible to all. If they continue down the current path McCain’s chances go up.
I must say that I went to my caucus’ for years in South Minneapolis and had been elected delegate to the Senate district convention and even once to the 5th and State DFL conventions. Lately I find myself agreeing with Dave that this system has become outmoded and obstructive to the participation of the people. In 2004, our district convention was shanghaied by a small cadre of one presidential candidate’s supporters using the sub-caucus rules and strategies to subvert the will of the majority of the body. It made a sham of the entire process. They turned senate district votes that should have been done and over with in 5 or 10 minutes into 2 and 3 hour ordeals. After eight hours of attending a convention myself and a lot of other young delegates just got up and walked out. The DFL party was harmed. New delegates who came to convention were completely dismayed and those tacticians of obstruction and confusion snuffed out all the new enthusiasm and grassroots vitality the election was inspiring. And, their Presidential candidate did not have a SNOWBALLS CHANCE IN HELL of winning county dog catcher. A major problems with this DFL sub-caucus process is it produces candidates that are sure to be loosers. George Bush won re-election and I think a lot of people walked away saying they’d never go to a caucus again. Seriously, this process needs critical examination and reform.
3 Comments
Leslie Kratz
March 10, 2008I have been thinking that Minnesota would be better served by holding primary elections instead of using the Caucus strategy. I keep thinking of all my neighbors who are all concerned about the “current state of affairs” in Minnesota. Yet… they all have kids and have soccer games, Girl Scout Meetings, music lessons and laundry to do and groceries to buy. They do not have seven hours of time to spend at a Democratic or Republican Caucus.
I am concerned that although the input of everyone who attended the Caucuses is great… we are missing the input of a significant number of people…. people who want to contribute their input.
Dave
April 1, 2008The system the Democrats use is outdated, IMHO. They need something that’s in keeping with the times and accessible to all. If they continue down the current path McCain’s chances go up.
Rich
April 11, 2008I must say that I went to my caucus’ for years in South Minneapolis and had been elected delegate to the Senate district convention and even once to the 5th and State DFL conventions. Lately I find myself agreeing with Dave that this system has become outmoded and obstructive to the participation of the people. In 2004, our district convention was shanghaied by a small cadre of one presidential candidate’s supporters using the sub-caucus rules and strategies to subvert the will of the majority of the body. It made a sham of the entire process. They turned senate district votes that should have been done and over with in 5 or 10 minutes into 2 and 3 hour ordeals. After eight hours of attending a convention myself and a lot of other young delegates just got up and walked out. The DFL party was harmed. New delegates who came to convention were completely dismayed and those tacticians of obstruction and confusion snuffed out all the new enthusiasm and grassroots vitality the election was inspiring. And, their Presidential candidate did not have a SNOWBALLS CHANCE IN HELL of winning county dog catcher. A major problems with this DFL sub-caucus process is it produces candidates that are sure to be loosers. George Bush won re-election and I think a lot of people walked away saying they’d never go to a caucus again. Seriously, this process needs critical examination and reform.