The thing about Bernie being an independent before running as a Democratic,

[rusty quoin]

I don't give much credence to such things as titles or names for things.

I like actions, and Bernie is more a Democrat than anything I've seen use the name in decades.

[elleng]

1. Absolutely!

WITH you 100%.

[Joob]

2. I've always thought myself a Democrat, and finally voted for Bernie this year.

But Hillary's claiming he's not a Democrat. I'm kind of skeptical of Democrats right now and confused.

[tomm2thumbs]

3. I think it makes him more appealing as he didn't feel the need to fit any mold

or play any bigger player's games

[dchill]

4. The Democratic litmus test under the HRC DWS DNC...

Is nothing to be proud of, that's for sure.

[Voice for Peace]

5. LOTS of non-affiliated folks LOVE an Independent.

Absolutely.many many many!

[daleanime]

6. Yeahup.....

[SFnomad]

7. Bernie didn't feel the need to be a Democrat until being one could benefit him n/t

[highprincipleswork]

8. No kidding. In a fight over what the average American wants and needs, who do you trust to

hang in there?

I'm for Bernie. I know he will be on my side and fight hard, like the native New Yorker he is.

I've been around for too long, and a Democrat for too long, and known the Clintons for too long to expect them to be my side when I really need them.

[northernsouthern]

9. I do have to agree on the name.

What has been bugging me for a bit is the trend on this forum to call out Caucuses as non-democratic and closed primaries as the most. People talked smack about the Washington caucus, but they were wayyyyy off base.

Washington you could early vote, all you had to do is fill out a paper saying you could not make it, and your vote counted. You could switch parties, forgot the cut off I think you just signed up at the polling location and did it. People could come late up to the voting, people could just drop off papers (Clinton gained a few by someone dropping his off where I was). People said not many voted, it was because they confused votes with delegates, were were in a large school, and filled all the gyms, lobbies, and meeting rooms. We were just one of many locations in our area. Of the people I know that did not vote it was because they were just as busy as a primary voter that skips it. They all could have gotten forms, they could get them online. The best part of the caucus I felt was it is impossible to fake a voter in multiple places, unlike election and mail in (not saying that is even an issue...plus they could mess up the numbers later, but we all took pictures of the tallies and could check online. The down side is the lack of organization. I thought they could have been better, but our lady was just really bad at it, the one beside us was done in no time flat. Our little district had 45 votes, and we were just one little table among tons there.

The closed primaries seem fake, they tell people they must be set to Democrat or Republican? There is not rule in the constitution about those two parties only, we are all Americans, we get a choice in our future. Forcing brand loyalty is for cable companies and phone companies back in the 90's. Forced brand loyalty just degrades the product because because it is in fact a monopoly. The next issue is while polling places allow more of a time you can vote over, they are are easier to mess with since it is all kept private. Remember Kerry in Ohio or Al in Florida?

If I was to choose it, I like Washington's mail in ballots that are just sent out to everyone, and we all have weeks to vote. They should do a better job of announcing the final day to vote, allow drop-offs until midnight (I think it is until 8, but I could be wrong), but my biggest gripe is they charge for stamps? Just make it postage paid and give that cash to the USPS, it is oddly hard to find stamps at times since the post offices suck hour wise, machines can be out, and stores can be out...trust me that has happened and I had to drive 20 miles (round trip) to drop off my ballot in nearest drop box....btw I have 20 or 30 of those forever stamps, I can just never find them on election weeks. Oh and give everyone the day off, or half the day off...holiday!!!!

So yes Democratic purity tests sound exactly like a poll tax...and I figured the DNC would want to avoid that like the Dixiecrats that loved them.

[northernsouthern]

10. Oooops...

Flash shockwave error caused double post so ignore this.