Register Republican if you are a Democrat? Is it a good strategy?

[CTyankee]

My neighbor, a Republican, is a registered Democrat. He does this so he can vote in the Democratic Primaries in our heavily Dem New Haven, CT. He figures that he can have some say in the outcome that he wouldn't have as a registered Republican (we do not have crossover voting in primaries in CT). Of course, in the general election he votes Republican. From his perspective, he can at least vote for the least liberal Democrat in the primary.

I wonder how this would work in some Republican House districts that "might" have a chance to go Dem if there are enough Dems and persuadable Independents to make a difference. Are there enough of some of the more marginal House districts to make this a viable strategy?

[bunnies]

1. Id rather eat glass than be a registered Republican.

Thats just me though.

[CTyankee]

4. Even if it were an "evil plot" to RID us of the worst pukes?

I realize that it would make one feel dirty and it makes me a bit sick, too. But I'm thinking if it would be a temporary thing, and a way to our eventually getting some of those districts to becoming blue, I'd do it. I'm wondering if after this experience we've just gone through, there might be a forging of a coalition Dems and Independents in some previously Republican districts...

[bunnies]

10. Maybe if I lived in a Teabaggy district I'd feel differently.

Lucky for me, the Booze Cruz types dont play well here. Its the libertarian types Ive got to look out for. Ugh. I feel icky just thinking about it.

[CTyankee]

12. There must be some normal people in those districts. They can't be that overwhelmingly

awful that this experience will have no effect on them!

I would like to think that what we have all been through these past two weeks has some "purifying" effect on the electorate who voted these people in. Certainly the people of Texas are having some "buyers remorse."

[bunnies]

17. Man. I hope so.

But Im weary of giving a Cruz type voter too much credit. If FR is any indicator, they'll be doubling down on teh stoopid. They want nothing to do with anyone who has half a brain. Its scary.

[sweetloukillbot]

2. I did it briefly about 25 years ago to get on mailing lists

Wanted to see what they were up to. Would occasionally get poll calls. never stayed in it long enough to ratfuck a primary though.

[HappyMe]

3. I don't think I could bring myself to do that.

[CTyankee]

6. Yeah, I hear you.

I would have to consider it a sacrifice for a noble cause...sort of like a Free French fighter posing as a Nazi to spy...

[HappyMe]

7. I would feel more like a kamikaze.

I would probably burst into flames.

[murielm99]

5. I think it is important to vote for Democrats in the local elections.

You may need to help someone with a primary. You need to vote for your precinct committeeman. In many cases, the number of votes he or she gets has an effect on how much say they have at the county convention. You need to vote for county board members, or for delegates to the national convention.

Local and state participation is so very important for us, even in red states. The repubs have made many too many inroads at these levels. We need sane representation at home, too, not just in Washington. Please support your local party!

Besides, I would feel slimy if I became a registered repubbie. I couldn't do it.

[CTyankee]

9. Oh, I"m a registered Dem and happy. Hubby works on our Ward Committee and we are active in local

and state Democratic politics. I was just thinking of my neighbor's strategy and how the reverse would work.

I agree with you about needing to help someone in the primary. It's true in some of our primaries in heavily blue CT. This was especially critical in our recent Dem primary for mayor, where I was vehemently opposed to one of the 5 candidates and had a HUGE fear that he might win...As it turned out, he came in a poor third. The guy in second place is running as an Independent against the Dem, but he's not right leaning at all and has heretofore been a progressive Dem alderman. We have an "embarrassment of riches" here in New Haven!

[BlueJazz]

8. I did it once then decided to kill myself.

[doc03]

11. I've done it before, I know a family (5 brothers) that all vote

Democrat in the primaries and vote Republican in the general. One reason they vote Democrat is local offices held by Democrats are usually unopposed so if you are a Republican there isn't much to vote for.

[CTyankee]

20. Yes, the reverse is pretty much the same here, which is why my neighbor does this.

Also, the Dems are just so much more interesting!

[uppityperson]

13. I did that once years ago and they keep calling and sending me mail. Blech. But, whatever.

[Cirque du So-What]

14. I prefer to remain registered as a Democrat

in order that I may vote for the more/most progressive candidate if there's a primary. I'd rather try to help the candidate who most closely mirrors my own beliefs and values than try to get a 'dud' into the general on their side. Besides, repug voters are doing fine when it comes to selecting the aforementioned duds, so I'll leave them to it.

[cali]

15. In my state there is no party registration

you just vote in the primary you want to vote in.

[SheilaT]

16. It is common in Kansas for Democrats to register as Republicans

so as to vote in the Republican primaries. Personally, I think that's a totally stupid strategy. For one thing, it inflates the numbers of Republicans so that a Democrat considering running for office, will often decide not to bother as it looks as if so very few Democrats exist in a particular district that there's no point in running.

Secondly, I've heard these people state in equal numbers that they'll vote for the craziest Republican so that a Democrat will be more likely to win, or they'll vote for the least crazy/most moderate Republican so that there's a chance someone semi-sensible will wind up in the office.

Here's what I say: If you're a Democrat register and vote as one. Work for Democratic candidates. Consider running for office yourself. Let the Republicans police themselves. Let the Tea Party wackos completely destroy that party. Worry a lot more about getting genuinely liberal and progressive people elected.

Just my opinion.

[CTyankee]

21. we have the luxury of having wonderful Dem candidates in CT, esp. in New Haven.

We don't really have any "mainline" republicans here any more...they all went away or became Dems or Independents. Rowland wrecked the boat for the pukes and went to jail. Rell would be considered a flaming lib by most repukes today. Weicker became an Independent when running for gov. after being a "liberal republican" in Congress earlier. Joe Lieberman cannot show his face in the state any more and he used to live in my area in New Haven (now I think he's hiding out in Stamford, which might as well be in NY for all we care).

[MineralMan]

18. Usually not. Not enough people cross-register to make a real difference

in primaries in almost every case. So, you waste your primary vote in a way that doesn't matter. Don't waste your vote. Vote in the primary for the best Democrat who has a solid chance of winning. Make your vote count.