Your Vote Doesn't Matter

[the eternal]

That's right gang.

Forget what you thought you knew, you're vote doesn't matter, at least for this year's primary.

The article explaining everything is below.

Here's the Cliff Notes version.

It's a children's play.

There are two characters:

Unbending parents----- RNC and DNC

Insolent child-----state of MI and FL

In the beginning, there was an upcoming presidential election.

The primary caucus schedule was set.

With the new shortened schedule, the excitement was bubbling over. Whoever won their states would send delegates to the Republican and Democratic Conventions to vote for the winning candidate. And the early states would have much more influence, since they'd set the tone for the rest of the states

Iowa was in line to hold the first in the nation caucus, and New Hampshire, the first primary.

This made many of Iowa and new Hampshire's sibling's green with envy.

Then, all of a sudden, Florida (Gaf) and MI (everyone but Gaf) started jumping up and down.

"But we want to be first in the nation.

We're a lot more bellweather state than Iowa is."

"Yeah, Iowa sucks"

"Me first! Me first! Me first"

And the RNC and DNC turned to their kids and said "Seriously, STFU!"

"You play nice and wait until after Feb. 5 to hold your primaries or your votes won't count at our conventions"

"But we WANNNA have a primary now!! NOW! NOW NOW NOW NOW!"--said the insolent states.

"NO!"--

"Fine" said the little children

"We're having our primaries early anyway. We don't care what you say."

Just then, MI State Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer stuck out his tongue,

and went "PFFFFFFT" and spit on the DNC.

In response, the DNC declared,

"Anyone that votes in FL or MI, will not have a single delegate represent them at convention."

"So, your voters mean nothing in electing the Democratic nominee"

The RNC declared,

"We'll count your votes but each person only counts for 1/2 a person. You listening Boshy and Cher? You better make up your mind who your voting for, becasuse COMBINED you only count for one person"

In disgust, Uncle Obama, Uncle Edwards, Uncle Biden, and Uncle Richardson said,

"If you're going to be babies about this, we're not even going to be on the ballot in MI"

Aunt Hillary, who's ethics were never her strong suit promised to stay anyway.

The GOP candidates, figuring 1/2 a vote is better than none decided to stay on the ballot as well.

And THAT is why, come January 15th, your vote doesn't matter.I hope you enjoyed my little play.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CQ TODAY

Dec. 31, 2007 – 2:34 p.m.

Time Running Out for Michigan Democrats

By Marie Horrigan, CQ Staff

As Iowa voters gear up for Thursday’s caucuses, Michigan Democrats have just a few days to change their scheduled Jan. 15 presidential primary or lose all their delegates to the Democratic National Convention in August.

The conflict began when Michigan’s legislature set the Jan. 15 primary so voters could exercise greater influence over the selection of the party nominees for the 2008 presidential race, but Michigan Democrats appear likely to end up with no delegates at all and thus little clout at the national party convention in Denver.

The rule-making division of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) recommended on Dec. 1 that the party strip the Michigan Democratic Party of its 156 delegates because of the state’s non-compliance with national party rules. The DNC set Feb. 5 as the earliest date states can schedule their nominating contests. Four states are exempt from this rule: the traditionally early states of Iowa and New Hampshire, plus South Carolina and Nevada. The DNC added South Carolina and Nevada to the early calendar in an attempt to inject greater geographic and demographic diversity into the nominating process.

At the Dec. 1 meeting, the Rules and Bylaws Committee gave the state party 30 days to get into compliance with national regulations before the committee’s recommendation became final and Michigan lost its delegates.

The clock started ticking Dec. 5, when the Michigan Democratic Party received the DNC’s official notice. So unless the state party takes action by Saturday to return to its DNC-approved plan to hold a Feb. 9 state party-run caucus, it will lose its delegates. The Michigan Democratic Party has done nothing to indicate it intends to change from the Jan. 15 primary and party Chairman Mark Brewer has said there are no plans to do so.

The DNC already has stripped Florida of its 210 delegates because that state scheduled its primary for Jan. 29.

The Democratic primary will be largely ceremonial. Four candidates have withdrawn their names from the ballot. Sens. Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Barack Obama , former Sen. John Edwards and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson decided not to participate in the contest because it does not comply with party rules.

That leaves Democratic primary voters with six options: to vote for one of the four candidates left on the ballot, vote as “uncommitted,” or write in a candidate. Among the four Democrats on the ballot — Sens. Christopher J. Dodd and Hillary Rodham Clinton , former Sen. Mike Gravel and Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich — Clinton would appear to be the prohibitive favorite unless voters decide en masse to vote uncommitted.

At the time, a Clinton spokeswoman said it was “unnecessary” for the senator to remove her name from the ballot since she already had pledged not to campaign in the state and has kept her word.

The Republican National Committee (RNC), meanwhile, has penalized Michigan half of its 60-person delegation to the national convention in September. Like the DNC, the RNC set Feb. 5 as the date before which states are prohibited from scheduling their nominating contests. In the Republican case, the state party loses half the delegation for not complying. Four other states that have scheduled primaries in violation of this rule — Florida, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Wyoming — have lost half their delegates while Iowa and Nevada were exempted because their contests are caucuses

[know_buddy_kares]

also alot of Iowa's crap had to do was with Kucinich being removed from their ballots. Personally, I would agree that it should be done at the same time. This me first idis is really rediculous and just gave the government an excuse to deny voting rights. I don't know why Iowa and New Hampshire were really so special to go first, possibly because Iowa kicked Kucinich off their list, however I'd be wondering why Michigan would be so special to get to go before everyone else.

The only beef I have with the beginning cluster fuck is they should have all done it on the same day. The fact that they cut the votes in half is pure horse shit. However with the elections of 00 and 04, I wonder really if anyone's vote counts anymore anyway.

[Msterbeau]

What a cluster fuck.

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

No one paid attention when I brought this up... what makes you think people care now?

and it's not the government denying anyone anything.... its the Democratic party and the Republican party.

People really don't understand the voting process. There are no Federal laws or rules that govern how a political party chooses who it puts on the Ballet for the General Election.

The Primary's are not part of the Federal election process. They are the process the political party's have setup to choose one candidate to represent that party. Thats why the Dems have one response and the Reps have another. They each have their own rules. Even more complicated is the fact that each state party does it their own way as long as it fits in the over all party guidelines.

and it's not so much that anyone's vote counts or does not count in the Presidential election... thats a different can of worms, (Electoral process) that does not start until the General election. Where every one's vote still counts as much as it ever has.

Also, Florida is a Closed Primary. That means that you can only vote in the Primary if you are a registered Republican or registered Democrat and you only get to vote for a person in your party.

So, come Convention time... Michigan and Florida have no say in who is to become the Democratic nominee and the Republicans only get half their delegates to the Republican national convention.

[Destroit]

Well God knows that since my Boshy has crazy wisdom and insane persuasive powers I probably will vote for the same person.

BUT....that's still horseshit. What a total crock, I feel like my rights got violated in all of the wrong areas (i.e. the proverbial rectum)

I don't even know who she's voting for yet, usually we talk about stuff like that, but as she said in one post in the "what are you feeling" thread, this year she might just be one of those people to write in Mickey Mouse

[know_buddy_kares]

Well God knows that since my Boshy has crazy wisdom and insane persuasive powers I probably will vote for the same person.

BUT....that's still horseshit. What a total crock, I feel like my rights got violated in all of the wrong areas (i.e. the proverbial rectum)

I don't even know who she's voting for yet, usually we talk about stuff like that, but as she said in one post in the "what are you feeling" thread, this year she might just be one of those people to write in Mickey Mouse

heh... funny... If Kucinich or Ron Paul aren't going to be included, I'm doing the same fucking thing. Lets all vote for Mickey Mouse

[the eternal]

(I must've missed you posting earlier about this.

Trying to avoid the political posts, you know??)

Gaf, what you said is all true.

If my play didn't explain it well enough, my bad.

Anyway, this pisses me off!

Here's a worst case scenario for the Dems, IMHO.

Since MI, unlike FL, IS an open state, and we CAN switch sides,

a lot of normally Democratic people will vote for McCain in a protest vote,

thus giving him delegate power and possibly sending him to the nomination.

Why this is dangerous is I thnk Guiliani and McCain have the biggest crossover appeal,

and give the GOP the best chance for victory in the general election.

I wish more of my blue dog conservative democrat colleagues who are voting McCain could realize that.

F%$# protest votes!

I'm wasting my 100% useless vote on Kucinich.

At least it doesn't hurt the party, and he DOES have high morals and convictions,

Even if they dont jive with most of the country, it'll make my heart feel good.

Then I sit back and pray that all my fellow blues in states where their votes actually DO count,

don't send the "safe" candidate to the Democratic convention.

Because there's nothing safe about nominating Hillary.

As Gaf pointed out The DNC and RNC decide the rules,

which shows gross lack of party unity on BOTH sides for the state brass to agree

to thumb their nose up at party leadership,

EVEN in the face of rendering their constituents votes utterly useless.

This is such bipartisan BS.

I like being able to reach across the aisle to you, Cher, and others, and say with a loud, clear voice,

This is f&^%ing ridiculous!

Roll back the primary date Mr. Brewer, and LET MY VOTE COUNT!

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

I thought I read that Guiliani ws the more favored republican in both Florida and Michigan? I could be wrong about Michigan but I know for a fact that Guiliani is farging loved down here.

[know_buddy_kares]

I thought I read that Guiliani ws the more favored republican in both Florida and Michigan? I could be wrong about Michigan but I know for a fact that Guiliani is farging loved down here.

for some god awful reason, he is loved up here too. I don't know why, it's like people overlook the red flag that his own state of NY can't even stand his ass....

and when you do some digging to find out why...

yeah... i really think people who favor Guiliani really didn't do their research properly on him.

[Destroit]

I like being able to reach across the aisle to you, Cher, and others, and say with a loud, clear voice,

This is f&^%ing ridiculous!

Roll back the primary date Mr. Brewer, and LET MY VOTE COUNT!

AMEN BROTHA! w00t! Ain't it the truth?

*takes seat back in peanut gallery*

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

Actually, he is loved by people in NY. He did more for NY in his time than any mayor before or since.

Crime rates dropped.

People actually wanted to go to Time Square.

The city's economy was damn good.

People get a bad taste when they look at his personal life.

[know_buddy_kares]

Actually, he is loved by people in NY. He did more for NY in his time than any mayor before or since. Crime rates dropped. Also, when he was Attorney General.. same thing...

People get a bad taste when they look at his personal life.

well not the city workers of him, he's shafted the fire fighters pretty badly durring the 9/11

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

well, honestly... what did they expect? Ground Zero was dangerous for the city in the condition it was in... hand picking up every piece of concrete until every piece of fireman was found would be stupid and extremely costly.

That was the big screwing he gave them... He made them step out of the way so the real cleanup could begin.

Every day that pile stayed there was another day of God knows what going into New York's colective lungs.

[know_buddy_kares]

i was talking about cheating them out of equipment. One thing i can remember off the top of my head were the issues with the radios. Their technology was inneficient and they needed new updated radios, so instead of actually listening, he just gets them new radios that were exactly like the old ones... there were a few other complaints as well, however i feel he's riding on this 9/11 thing

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

Those were minor issues and not the stated reason that the Fire Fighters Union wont back him and encourages other fire fighters to vote for someone else.

He forced them to stop hand carry every piece of rubble from ground zero and limited the number of fire fighters on the site. It caused a rather big row...

There is an open letter from them on the web explaining exactly why they have a problem with him and minor problems like that are not among them.

but this takes away from the real topic.

[Destroit]

Actually, he is loved by people in NY. He did more for NY in his time than any mayor before or since.

Crime rates dropped.

People actually wanted to go to Time Square.

The city's economy was damn good.

People get a bad taste when they look at his personal life.

well, honestly... what did they expect? Ground Zero was dangerous for the city in the condition it was in... hand picking up every piece of concrete until every piece of fireman was found would be stupid and extremely costly.

That was the big screwing he gave them... He made them step out of the way so the real cleanup could begin.

Every day that pile stayed there was another day of God knows what going into New York's colective lungs.

That's why I always wondered about the city worker thing, I know people from NYC and they've practically made the guy a saint. He handled 9/11 almost better than our president could have IMO Kept morale high, tried to get the debris out as quick as possible, etc. I think he really did do the best he could. He also has money smarts, he made NYC a better place the in the time he was mayor. Oh and he has balls (i.e. he's not pulling out of the war) I refuse to vote for someone who wants to destroy everything by pulling out of Iraq.

We don't need another cold war. The last time we pulled out of a country too early and left it to the Russians (our "allies", mind you), they built a wall and started the Cold War and then stationed some pretty nukes in our backyard aimed right at us. Seeing as that was SO very recent, you think people would pay attention to that little tid bit, but heads seem to always be in the sand here in America (or up their own asses ).

People = Ostriches.

They can't see past tomorrow. They have a dollar they spend it. Something goes wrong they immediately blame the person directly in charge (not realizing it may have been a COLLECTIVE of people, or even the person in charge before him). They see food, they eat it even if they aren't hungry and go starving tomorrow. I'm sure you catch the drift.

Now who do I have to beat up to get my vote to count? I wanna know!

[Destroit]

Those were minor issues and not the stated reason that the Fire Fighters Union wont back him and encourages other fire fighters to vote for someone else.

He forced them to stop hand carry every piece of rubble from ground zero and limited the number of fire fighters on the site. It caused a rather big row...

There is an open letter from them on the web explaining exactly why they have a problem with him and minor problems like that are not among them.

but this takes away from the real topic.

Hmm....

To me, in the mess of everything, something as trivial as hand radios don't really weigh out to equal anything in the big picture.

I didn't know that about them trying to exhume bodies by hand carrying everything out. What morons! They're DEAD people. Maybe they should have been more concerned with the surrounding people's health who were ALIVE people. Makes sense to me.

On top of that, notice, Firefighters UNION. I repeat UNION. From my understanding, and correct me if I'm wrong, 9 times out of 10 don't Union generally support Democrats? Isn't Giuliani a republican? No wonder they don't "support" him.

It's all starting to make sense now, thanks for shedding some light, Gaf.

[the eternal]

I thought I read that Guiliani ws the more favored republican in both Florida and Michigan? I could be wrong about Michigan but I know for a fact that Guiliani is farging loved down here.

That's true.

It's part of his Florida first strategy.

He knows he doesn't have the support in Iowa, Nevada and New Hampshire,

and the Christian right in South Carolina would like to crucify him.

So, he's willing to take the hit in all those states, especially if he can place a strong second in at least one of them.

Then, he plans on taking Florida on 1/29, which he thinks will give him momentum for Super Tuesday one week later on February 5.

How BIG is Super Tuesday?

23 states all vote on Tuesday February 5th.

There's a good chance we will know who our candidate is on February 5th.

Which is why the party brass in MI and FL decided to sacrifice all of your delegate votes, for the mere chance at swaying who gets nominated.

Makes you feel really f%$^in important, huh?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now, for those of you who aren't sleeping yet (wake up Bean Water!)

John McCain says the momentum will have rolled so much in the 4 weeks between now and Florida, it'll be too late for Rudy Guiliani.

SO, his plan rests on Mike Huckabee pulling the upset in IA, pulling the rug out from Romney.

This will in turn lead to a McCain victory in NH on Tuesday 1/8, where he's beloved anyway.

He will take that momentum to beat out Romney in Michigan who's well-liked here but susceptible to fall if he loses Iowa to Huckabee, ESPECIALLY, if Democrats get behind him.

Then with NH and MI under his belt he rolls through Nevada on 1/19 ,

which is in his back door of Arizona,

AND even if Huckabee, the "Christian choice," takes South Carolina on the 26th,

Guiliani, still without a first place showing, will lose the Super Tuesday primaries to a momentum-filled McCain, EVEN if he wins Florida.

----------------------------------

CONFUSED YET???

----------------------------------

Now Huckabee says, "Not so fast Mr. McCain. If I win Iowa, who's to say I won't start taking the other states. Everyone likes me. I'm the nice guy, even if my views are a little too right of center. That's PERFECT for the primaries"

-----------------------------------

Meanwhile, Romney looks at himself as the Hillary Clinton. Safe, dependable, Gov of uber-liberal Massachusetts, yet has all his conservative credentials intact, even if he did just swipe them off the GOP letterhead a few years ago, when he realized his stances were a little too liberal.

PLUS, as a businessman who likes to bring up how he managed the Olympics more often than Guiliani utters "9 F&^%ing 11," think that Americans will go with him because he's in bed with Big Business, and recent polls show that the subprime debacle has moved

the economy to our number one issue as opposed to Iraq.

And he talks a good game about how he'll get us out of this economic malaise.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Of course, Huckabee sees that as Romney's achilles heel. Huckabee wants to take on Big Business, and be Robin Hood, while satisfying the Religious right by saying that he's giving to the poor in the name of Christ, a populist invocation that hasn't been uttered in as long as I can remember.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One thing's clear to me---if Romney loses Iowa he's f^%$d.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How this ties back to my original point---

If Huckabee takes IA, and McCain takes NH, he could use that to roll for 3 weeks of wins INCLUDING Michigan with the help of protest votes from disaffected MI democrats, and

THEN the Dems could be in for a world of hurt come November.

I PRAY I'M WRONG

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HERE'S THE SCHEDULE

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Republican primary and caucus schedule

(it's almost the same for the Dems)

January 2008

3 - Iowa

5 - Wyoming Republican Convention

8 - New Hampshire Primary

15 - Michigan

19 - Nevada, South Carolina

29 - Florida

February 2008

1 - Maine

Super Tuesday - February 5th

Alabama, Alaska , Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah

Later February 2008

9 - Louisiana, Kansas, Washington (18 of 40)

12 - D.C., Maryland, Virginia

19 - Wisconsin, Washington (19 of 40)

The rest of 2008

March 4 - Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, Texas

March 11 - Mississippi

April 22 - Pennsylvania

May 6 - Indiana, North Carolina

May 13 - West Virginia, Nebraska

May 17 - Maine

May 20 - Kentucky, Oregon

May 27 - Idaho

June 3 - South Dakota, Montana, New Mexico

June 6 - Hawaii

June 28 - Nebraska

[the eternal]

I love the Soap Opera, even if our lives and liberties hold sway in the balance.

Correction, BECAUSE our lives hold sway in the balance.

Daytime dramas are carazy fiction.

Wrestling is carazay fiction with suplexes.

Our lives could be invariably altered by one person, one perfectly timed speech, one swift boat ad.

How can you get more exciting than that?

[ttogreh]

Well, as per the actual topic... the Floridian and Michigander parties are basically banking on the fact that Michigan and Florida are large states with deep pockets to get the National parties to reverse their decision... which they probably will, after the dust has settled.

Ugh... Political parties are such an eighteenth century anachronism, any ways. Whatever, I am voting for Ron Paul. Heh... my principled vote actually counts, Eternal...

[Destroit]

That's true.

It's part of his Florida first strategy.

He knows he doesn't have the support in Iowa, Nevada and New Hampshire,

and the Christian right in South Carolina would like to crucify him.

So, he's willing to take the hit in all those states, especially if he can place a strong second in at least one of them.

Then, he plans on taking Florida on 1/29, which he thinks will give him momentum for Super Tuesday one week later on February 5.

How BIG is Super Tuesday?

23 states all vote on Tuesday February 5th.

There's a good chance we will know who our candidate is on February 5th.

Which is why the party brass in MI and FL decided to sacrifice all of your delegate votes, for the mere chance at swaying who gets nominated.

Makes you feel really f%$^in important, huh?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now, for those of you who aren't sleeping yet (wake up Bean Water!)

John McCain says the momentum will have rolled so much in the 4 weeks between now and Florida, it'll be too late for Rudy Guiliani.

SO, his plan rests on Mike Huckabee pulling the upset in IA, pulling the rug out from Romney.

This will in turn lead to a McCain victory in NH on Tuesday 1/8, where he's beloved anyway.

He will take that momentum to beat out Romney in Michigan who's well-liked here but susceptible to fall if he loses Iowa to Huckabee, ESPECIALLY, if Democrats get behind him.

Then with NH and MI under his belt he rolls through Nevada on 1/19 ,

which is in his back door of Arizona,

AND even if Huckabee, the "Christian choice," takes South Carolina on the 26th,

Guiliani, still without a first place showing, will lose the Super Tuesday primaries to a momentum-filled McCain, EVEN if he wins Florida.

----------------------------------

CONFUSED YET???

----------------------------------

Now Huckabee says, "Not so fast Mr. McCain. If I win Iowa, who's to say I won't start taking the other states. Everyone likes me. I'm the nice guy, even if my views are a little too right of center. That's PERFECT for the primaries"

-----------------------------------

Meanwhile, Romney looks at himself as the Hillary Clinton. Safe, dependable, Gov of uber-liberal Massachusetts, yet has all his conservative credentials intact, even if he did just swipe them off the GOP letterhead a few years ago, when he realized his stances were a little too liberal.

PLUS, as a businessman who likes to bring up how he managed the Olympics more often than Guiliani utters "9 F&^%ing 11," think that Americans will go with him because he's in bed with Big Business, and recent polls show that the subprime debacle has moved

the economy to our number one issue as opposed to Iraq.

And he talks a good game about how he'll get us out of this economic malaise.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Of course, Huckabee sees that as Romney's achilles heel. Huckabee wants to take on Big Business, and be Robin Hood, while satisfying the Religious right by saying that he's giving to the poor in the name of Christ, a populist invocation that hasn't been uttered in as long as I can remember.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One thing's clear to me---if Romney loses Iowa he's f^%$d.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How this ties back to my original point---

If Huckabee takes IA, and McCain takes NH, he could use that to roll for 3 weeks of wins INCLUDING Michigan with the help of protest votes from disaffected MI democrats, and

THEN the Dems could be in for a world of hurt come November.

I PRAY I'M WRONG

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HERE'S THE SCHEDULE

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Republican primary and caucus schedule

(it's almost the same for the Dems)

January 2008

3 - Iowa

5 - Wyoming Republican Convention

8 - New Hampshire Primary

15 - Michigan

19 - Nevada, South Carolina

29 - Florida

February 2008

1 - Maine

Super Tuesday - February 5th

Alabama, Alaska , Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah

Later February 2008

9 - Louisiana, Kansas, Washington (18 of 40)

12 - D.C., Maryland, Virginia

19 - Wisconsin, Washington (19 of 40)

The rest of 2008

March 4 - Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, Texas

March 11 - Mississippi

April 22 - Pennsylvania

May 6 - Indiana, North Carolina

May 13 - West Virginia, Nebraska

May 17 - Maine

May 20 - Kentucky, Oregon

May 27 - Idaho

June 3 - South Dakota, Montana, New Mexico

June 6 - Hawaii

June 28 - Nebraska

MY GOD. This is SO veryoff topic, but like Marc said: HOW THE HELL do you type that much in such a short period of time? I'm fucking 105 AWPM and you beat the pants off of my secretarial skills.

You, sir, must have fingers that could punch through someone's sternum and kill them instantly. Ever try the five finger touch of death like in Kill Bill? It would probably work if you did it.

Kay...back to politics. Sorry about the interruption.

[Destroit]

I love the Soap Opera, even if our lives and liberties hold sway in the balance.

Correction, BECAUSE our lives hold sway in the balance.

Daytime dramas are carazy fiction.

Wrestling is carazay fiction with suplexes.

Our lives could be invariably altered by one person, one perfectly timed speech, one swift boat ad.

How can you get more exciting than that?

Uhmmm....free internet porno? I mean COME on!

(Disclaimer: Chernobyl is obviously kidding. This happens a few times a day.)

[the eternal]

Well, as per the actual topic... the Floridian and Michigander parties are basically banking on the fact that Michigan and Florida are large states with deep pockets to get the National parties to reverse their decision... which they probably will, after the dust has settled.

Ugh... Political parties are such an eighteenth century anachronism, any ways. Whatever, I am voting for Ron Paul. Heh... my principled vote actually counts, Eternal...

How do I put this?

Ron Paul has the tin-hat crowd sealed up tight.

And, I don't know a single follower of his who isn't on the internet 10 hours/day telling each other how great he is.

AND YET, He's still polling in the single digits, and I'm cynical at the prospect that EVEN his core audience,

19-yr old college students who seem to want to stick it to the man but don't know why,

will actually go and put down their World of Warcraft games long enough to hit the polling place.

I could be wrong, though.

One thing I'd like to point out, you don't get a vote.

You get a "Vo."

Imagine Cher and Boshy doing a live recreation of Sesame Street at the polls

(I think it's more fun to imagine, because they're family)

VO..........TE

VO....TE

VO..TE

VOTE!

That's right, you get HALF a vote.

You'll have to find another Paulite for the "TE"

The whole reason I started this thread is,

why should you and others get half a vote, while some farmer in Iowa gets

full count for John Edwards????

It's crap.

CRAP I TELL YA! <shakes fist in a wildly comical manner>

He may seem significant to you now, but in a few weeks he and all the interrats following the Pauled Piper will be driven out of town by the first tier candidates.

hey, hey, Don't feel so bad!

So will the followers of this guy.

Oh Dennis, I could look at you all day.

[ttogreh]

I dunno... unless Paul decides to keep all of the money that he has amassed, I figure he will do fine. There is the small matter of him having Jack and shit of a chance of winning the nomination, and Jack has left town, however.

Yes, a great deal of libertarians are a bit... off... but not all of them are, as such. I seriously doubt after the convention is over, that his supporters will be done with him.

No matter what you say, my vote WILL count, Eternal. It will be for half of the delegates I would have gotten, but it will still count.

Assuming of course, that Ron Paul wins Michigan... HA!

[jadnifer]

I really dont pay that much to politics and I never have...but this is very interesting to me.

Now our vote only counts for half because MI wants to be babies about what day we vote.

What difference does it make? Doesnt Granholm have a lot to do with that though? If she does, there is my answer right there.

Our votes really dont make a difference anyway, cant the electoral college vote anyway they want to, no matter what the majority peoples vote was? Please correct me if Im wrong and explain it so Im not in the dark.