I've mentioned before that caucusing is a democratic, but unfair process. However for the less initiated, here are the lessons I gleaned from Thursday night.
1. Party Caucus does not equal organization or communication. For example, as a precinct captain, one would suppose that there would be a plan as to registering campaign people first so that they can do their work--not really.
2. Is it possible that judgment is impaired by confining people in a gym that is 100 degrees? Note to the parties, plan facilities better or otherwise lets just have a primary like most of the civilized world.
3. Counting preference groups--can we all agree on a method to do it? We counted cards and other groups counted people. Do you suppose there would be any possible errors in either method?
4. Tie breaking rules. If a preference group is not close enough to the cutoff off to round up, wouldn't it make sense to either not award the delegates or to award the higher number to the group (of those in question) that have the highest number of people in it? The answer is: "it might, but we don't do it that way."
5. 87 year old caucus goers in ill health should be able to leave and their vote still count--but they can't. Similar for persons of any age in ill health, pregnant, or just realizing there is more to life than caucusing.
6. The caucus goes on forever if you care about who runs your county party or want to introduce a plank for the county platform. Bring sleepwear.
7. What's the deal about having food without liquids? See #2 for the reason why hydration might be a good thing to plan for. I suppose that is what the Unity parties are all about--hydration and inebriation.
8. If you are smart, pick the group that looks most unviable. That means you get a cool meeting room and lots of circulation--plus people will come looking for you. Besides, frontrunners lose support to swooning.
9. You get to meet very nice, patient people, except for those who aren't.
10. The worst and most ill-named job at the Caucus is the precinct temporary chair. First, they always become the permanent chair and second, they can't make anyone happy except when they offer to cutoff speeches.
11. It makes great water cooler talk the next day-- win, lose or draw.
1 comment:
My wife and I voted enthusiastically to reject one-minute speeches from representatives for the candidates, but now I wonder if that was an error. I started by caucusing for Richardson, and maybe a speech on his behalf would have swayed some people to make him viable.
At the time, however, I had had enough of the speeches. I could probably deliver the stump speeches for Obama, Edwards, and Richardson.
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