Iowa Dems consider expanding access to caucuses
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  Iowa Dems consider expanding access to caucuses
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Author Topic: Iowa Dems consider expanding access to caucuses  (Read 620 times)
Mr. Morden
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« on: July 01, 2014, 08:44:27 PM »

http://www.tidewaterreview.com/news/national-world-news/la-pn-hillary-clinton-2016-iowa-caucus-20140701,0,4502046.story

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muon2
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« Reply #1 on: July 01, 2014, 08:49:45 PM »

It doesn't sound like it would be a caucus anymore. The IA caucuses involve a bunch of voters sitting in a room listening to some short speeches on behalf of candidates, then grouping themselves based on preferences. If some of the participants can't group themselves but are just voting, then it becomes a de facto primary.
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retromike22
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« Reply #2 on: July 01, 2014, 08:50:21 PM »

We want a primary. Primary! Primary!
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Frozen Sky Ever Why
ShadowOfTheWave
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« Reply #3 on: July 01, 2014, 08:59:08 PM »

Good. No more thievery from the radicals.
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muon2
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« Reply #4 on: July 01, 2014, 09:08:34 PM »

We want a primary. Primary! Primary!

The IA caucuses act in part like a microcosm the the whole process of the presidential nomination. They allow voters who hold weak alignment with candidates to consolidate around a stronger candidate with whom they are comfortable. That's a good thing for selecting a leader, not unlike what proponents of alternate voting systems (IRV, STV) want to winnow large multicandidate fields. A primary eliminates that function.
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Orser67
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« Reply #5 on: July 02, 2014, 12:30:41 AM »

An IRV primary might be a really good idea, but I think that caucuses are a relic of a less democratic age. Even if a caucus might theoretically select better candidates, I don't think that that type of politics should have any place in a general or primary election.
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CatoMinor
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« Reply #6 on: July 02, 2014, 12:56:33 AM »

In the name of Democracy, it is totally better to switch to a system that favors the big name political elites who have money. Roll Eyes
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Likely Voter
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Junior Chimp
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« Reply #7 on: July 02, 2014, 03:55:03 AM »

the problem is if IA switches to a primary then they wont go first as NH stakes the claim as the 'first primary' so whatever date IA sets for a primary, NH would just leapfrog them. And then NV would jump ahead of that and declare themselves the new first caucus. then maybe IA would change their mind and switch back to caucus and you could have the whole thing starting in December.
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Mr. Morden
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« Reply #8 on: July 02, 2014, 03:58:55 AM »

the problem is if IA switches to a primary then they wont go first as NH stakes the claim as the 'first primary' so whatever date IA sets for a primary, NH would just leapfrog them. And then NV would jump ahead of that and declare themselves the new first caucus. then maybe IA would change their mind and switch back to caucus and you could have the whole thing starting in December.

Which is why they won't switch to a "primary".  They may switch to something that looks very much like a primary, but call it a caucus for the very reasons you describe.
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