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dflprincess

(29,341 posts)

8. I like caucuses

Reply to pnwmom (Original post)

Sat Dec 9, 2017, 12:36 AM

Dec 2017

I don't think Wellstone would ever have been senator if we didn't have them in Minnesota.

They bring new people into the party, encourage grassroots involvement, and allow more focus on issues. The outcomes are less apt to be influenced by how much money the candidate has. State law requires that employees be given time off to attend (though, yes, they have to use PTO or take unpaid time if their employer won't pay them) and we still have a primary later in the year.

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Highlight:

Why caucuses are bad -- because they deny participation to many. [View all] pnwmom Dec 2017 OP

It's obvious greeny2323 Dec 2017 #1

YES, it is! tonyt53 Dec 2017 #2

Ask Manafort's electioneering pal Tad Devine about their old days in the Ukraine. Wwcd Dec 2017 #4

I can't whether you are for or against caucuses. But living in a state that has them pnwmom Dec 2017 #7

Caucuses are very undemocratic 4now Dec 2017 #3

Part of it is the party's fault but a primary requires state law. LiberalFighter Dec 2017 #16

Absolutely agree Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Dec 2017 #5

I've caucused in 2 states. One experience was ok, the other, terrible. oasis Dec 2017 #6

I like caucuses dflprincess Dec 2017 #8

So do a lot of privileged, extraverted, non-disabled people who enjoy arguing about politics pnwmom Dec 2017 #9

I wasn't aware that we who show up at caucuses are all "privileged". dflprincess Dec 2017 #10

You are more privileged than those who have obstacles that prevent them from participating. pnwmom Dec 2017 #11

This message was self-deleted by its author GulfCoast66 Dec 2017 #25

My point was that no one is forced to get up and speak if they are not comfortable doing so dflprincess Dec 2017 #26

Sounds like you guys turn it into a friendly get together GulfCoast66 Dec 2017 #27

I can't tell you what happens all over the state but at least in my area we do try to keep it dflprincess Dec 2017 #28

I'm not talking about Iowa caucuses on TV. I'm talking about Washington caucuses I've attended. pnwmom Dec 2017 #30

Campaigns bring new people into the party. LiberalFighter Dec 2017 #17

And campaigns get people to the caucuses dflprincess Dec 2017 #23

Campaigns get healthy, less busy, articulate and confident people to the caucuses. pnwmom Dec 2017 #29

We should get rid of caucuses AND superdelegates aikoaiko Dec 2017 #12

Super Delegates are not the problem. LiberalFighter Dec 2017 #18

Well, when 400 made their declaration before the first primary, I think that had an effect. aikoaiko Dec 2017 #20

Bullshit LiberalFighter Dec 2017 #32

K&R mcar Dec 2017 #13

There was an absentee option ahead of my caucus last year. PatsFan87 Dec 2017 #14

There wasn't in my state, except in limited circumstances. And I would have had to lie pnwmom Dec 2017 #15

There is at Minnesota caucuses as well nt dflprincess Dec 2017 #24

That's a good point. PatsFan87 Dec 2017 #19

There is no absentee option in my state except in very limited circumstances. By contrast, pnwmom Dec 2017 #22

Big k r UTUSN Dec 2017 #21

Because Obama might be president right now if they didn't exist Awsi Dooger Dec 2017 #31