2008.01.03
Sick of Primaries
Today the Iowa primaries for the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates for 2008 began. It kicks off months of primaries in which many states have cried and whined that they want to be first. And if not first then at least close to the front of the line. They “want their voices heard” since they think their voice is obviously the most important voice. This has slowly let the primary dates creep up and up because a few states can stand the thought that the candidates might not be paying attention to them.
Wah!
Here’s an idea. Everyone has their primary on the same day. Every state, sometime in May or June, has their primary. This way the candidates have to pay attention to everyone.
“Wah! Then the candidates will only pay attention to the larger states and ignore our states that don’t even have the population of a small city!”
Shut up and quit crying. Here’s a compromise. The populations of states are known. Have two primaries. The states comprising the 50% of the population that are smallest have their primary first, and the few remaining with the remaining 50% of the population has theirs two or three weeks later.
The election season has already begun and we’re over a year from swearing in anyone new. How can I be burned out on this already. I’m sick of the primaries and they just began!
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4 Responses to “Sick of Primaries”
- Mookee says (January 4th, 2008 at 09:23:37 )
Well said. I’m a bit confused as to why all states don’t have a primary, but states will be states … I’ve always argued they should get to do things the way they like.
I’d speculate that the reason your logic doesn’t work with the “powers that be” is the same reason most logical solutions don’t work … some stupid bureaucratic nonsense. According to projections of the US Census Bureau, California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas (eight most populous states) would be 144 million … almost 50%. CA and NY have been traditionally Democratic, TX and FL have been Republican. The rest have their leanings.
Another option would be regional primaries… South/Southeast, West, Midwest, Northeast…or something along those lines. It would allow candidates the ability to campaign to specific groups. Whatever, the system as is, definitely can be annoying.
- Zapski says (January 4th, 2008 at 10:51:19 )
I’m sick of it too, but really when you look at it, the primaries began a year ago. All of the early jockeying, all of the hype, speculation, and stupid hoo-ha began ages ago. No wonder you’re tired!
Guess what though? Tomorrow’s Wisconsin (GOP only) and on the 8th it’s New Hampshire! Then it continues on and on and on until June 8th. Interminable.
I want to nail an alarm set to November 4th to the wall with my forehead right now.
- Nob Hill Ken says (January 4th, 2008 at 12:32:46 )
Yawn.
- douglas says (January 4th, 2008 at 15:25:54 )
Time to tune out the whole thing. I didn’t realize this went on till June! What’s the point? By the time it gets to April it should get fairly clear who will be running.
Mookee, I think the split you mention above works well. It doesn’t really matter if the states are liberal or conservative; these are the primaries, not the actual election.
