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Forums - General - Obama is about to take stage at DNC!

steven787 on 29 August 2008
izaaz101 said:

Look where his pinky is, lol.

@PDF (or anyone else who can answer the question)
Why do Americans register themselves as a Democrat or Republican, and is that something that you have to do?

 

You don't have to do it to vote, but most states require that you are a party member to vote in a primary.  Remember, we're not parliamentary and we don't have run off elections.



I would cite regulation, but I know you will simply ignore it.

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izaaz101 on 29 August 2008
super_etecoon said:
In order to vote in many state's primaries (where we decide on our party's nominee) we have to declare a party. So if you want to choose between two Democrats for the nomination you have to be registered a Democrat.

Many states are actually foregoing this tradition....and many voters in states where this is still true have registered as Independents, which gives them the right to pick from any party.

Is this something that has been around for a long time (and if so, do you know why it was initially started)?



super_etecoon on 29 August 2008
izaaz101 said:
super_etecoon said:
In order to vote in many state's primaries (where we decide on our party's nominee) we have to declare a party. So if you want to choose between two Democrats for the nomination you have to be registered a Democrat.

Many states are actually foregoing this tradition....and many voters in states where this is still true have registered as Independents, which gives them the right to pick from any party.

Is this something that has been around for a long time (and if so, do you know why it was initially started)?

Most of our election system has been in place since the conception of our country.  It's completely archaic and the powers that be know it's what keep them safe from what they would perceive as mob mentality.

We argue and fight for democracy abroad....but come home to a republic.

 



Nirvana_Nut85 on 29 August 2008
luinil said:
I heard a pre-speech guy on the radio... he was singing Barrack Obama's name in a praise like way, then he got the crowd to join in... Folks we are dealing with serious matters here. Praise like that only goes to one person. I was so put off and upset by that, I immediately turned off the radio in my car with a loud "ZOMG!! They are praising him like in Church songs nao!!" I don't want to go back now and listen... and I was prepared to do that before I heard the praises...

 

 OMG!!! Obama really is the antichrist!!!! I'd always thought it would be a European...hmmm,lol.



" Rebellion Against Tyrants Is Obedience To God"

Tigawoods on 29 August 2008

Registering for a specific party has been around for awhile however, it is now more based on what your state's government requires upon registration. And like someone previously said, it is only required (at least in my state) to vote in a primary.



Consoles Owned: Sega Genesis, NES, PS2 (RIP) N64, Xbox, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii

  

"In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations, and epochs it is rule."

~ Friedrich Nietzsche

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izaaz101 on 29 August 2008
super_etecoon said:
izaaz101 said:
super_etecoon said:
In order to vote in many state's primaries (where we decide on our party's nominee) we have to declare a party. So if you want to choose between two Democrats for the nomination you have to be registered a Democrat.

Many states are actually foregoing this tradition....and many voters in states where this is still true have registered as Independents, which gives them the right to pick from any party.

Is this something that has been around for a long time (and if so, do you know why it was initially started)?

Most of our election system has been in place since the conception of our country.  It's completely archaic and the powers that be know it's what keep them safe from what they would perceive as mob mentality.

We argue and fight for democracy abroad....but come home to a republic.

 

Interesting. Thank you for your responses.



steven787 on 29 August 2008
super_etecoon said:
izaaz101 said:
super_etecoon said:
In order to vote in many state's primaries (where we decide on our party's nominee) we have to declare a party. So if you want to choose between two Democrats for the nomination you have to be registered a Democrat.

Many states are actually foregoing this tradition....and many voters in states where this is still true have registered as Independents, which gives them the right to pick from any party.

Is this something that has been around for a long time (and if so, do you know why it was initially started)?

Most of our election system has been in place since the conception of our country.  It's completely archaic and the powers that be know it's what keep them safe from what they would perceive as mob mentality.

We argue and fight for democracy abroad....but come home to a republic.

 

Actually, the public primary wasn't the way candidates were selected.  The first binding primary was 1968, it was a disaster, with riots and the assassination of Robert Kennedy - it wasn't the due to primaries, but the time was too chaotic.  Primaries worked and secured their future in 1988.

Primaries are for the selection of the party candidate.  In states where people can vote in any primary, people do abuse it and vote for the candidate who they think will be easier to beat; instead of the one they think will make the best president.

Also elections have changed very much.  From the number in the electoral college and how the electoral college was selected - method is by each state, it wasn't until 1872 that every state held popular elections.



I would cite regulation, but I know you will simply ignore it.

super_etecoon on 29 August 2008

Thanks, Steven. I had no idea the primaries were such a new system. It's the electoral college that I'd like to see go away, though.



steven787 on 29 August 2008
super_etecoon said:
Thanks, Steven. I had no idea the primaries were such a new system. It's the electoral college that I'd like to see go away, though.

 

Definitely.  Or atleast not "Winner takes all".

Edit: Also to be fair, between 1812 and the above date, only South Carolina and Florida didn't hold popular elections (if I remember correctly)

Edit 2: To be complete honest, as a FL resident... we should go back to the old system.  We're not good at all that election stuff.



I would cite regulation, but I know you will simply ignore it.

super_etecoon on 29 August 2008
super_etecoon said:
I'm getting tired of having to install plug-ins to watch anything on these news sites anymore.

I just know that they're hooking me into their spam generators and keeping track of where I shop/go.

 

My computer is behaving very funny since I dled that Starlight plugin.  I can't even access my toolbar at the bottom of the screen.