I agree with Sanders that the Democratic Party needs changes

[lunamagica]

Here are my ideas for changes in the Democratic Party:

I've said this a million times before: Caucasus are undemocratic. They favor the young, the healthy, the able-bodied. They favor people with lots of free time. Caucasus have no place in the Democratic Party and should be abolished.

All primaries should be closed. Why should we allow Republicans to tamper with our elections?

As for independents? Well it is their choice. If you feel being a registered Democrat is beneath you, then, be an independent. But don't come every election cycle to try to infiltrate the party to further your agenda. The Democratic Party is for DEMOCRATS. If you made the CHOICE not to be one, stay away.

Anyone who wants to run for office should be a registered Democrat for at least five years. This will help protect the party from opportunists who want to use the party to further their careers without any loyalty to the party, going so far as using the platform they were given to bash Democrats.

Finally, No more Super Delegates!

These are my thoughts. Agree? Have something to add?

[skylucy]

1. Great post! I agree with everything you said!

[bluestateguy]

2. I mostly agree

There should be no superdelegates on a first ballot vote. Superdelegates should only be able to vote in the event of a second round of balloting.

Mandating that one be registered with the party would not likely survive a court challenge, and some states don't even have party registration at all.

I dislike caucuses too, and I would favor either getting rid of them, or allowing people to vote absentee and making it a secret ballot. Caucuses can result in bullying if you are not supporting the candidate that 75% of the people in your neighborhood are supporting.

[SaschaHM]

3. I agree with everything, but the Super delegates part.

I don't think that they should "pick" the nominee or shift the results of the pledged delegate race. However, I do think that there should be a stop gap in case the unthinkable happens and a candidate becomes instantly unelectable after clinching the nomination. It hasn't happened yet, but imagine what would have occurred if John Edwards was the nominee in 2008. We could have ran a candidate who cheated on his cancer stricken wife and fathered a baby during the election cycle. That would have been an electoral disaster.

[BlueMTexpat]

4. I heartily agree with all of your points,

but would modify one slightly.

Anyone who wants to run for the office of President should be a registered Democrat for at least five years.

There are previous instances of Independents, or even Republicans, who changed their party affiliation and actually were good Dem Senators, Representatives and Governors. So I believe that rule could be more flexible for other offices. In most cases, however, those individuals also did not have a political track record of constantly bashing the Democratic Party.

This is the first time in my memory that we have had a situation like the one Bernie has presented us with. This is also the first time in my memory that I have ever seen "thugs and goons" who attempted to overturn the results of an already decided caucus in a Democratic primary. That has always been seen as GOPer behavior. It's very telling that these call themselves "Sanders supporters."

[Her Sister]

6. I think they took that from Ted Cruz.

Stealing delegates from Trump in the GOP. I think the idea of the contested convention is also an idea they took from the GOP. and the boorishness they took from Trump. It is like the GOP's behaviors this year, BS and camp took as permission to act the same ways.

[BlueMTexpat]

8. That is what has bothered me most about

Bernie's campaign. Right now, I see very little distinction in behaviors.

I liked him at first, then gave him the benefit of the doubt for a long time. But he lost any respect from me after the first NV attempt at sabotage and has fallen precipitously downhill since. Now I am thoroughly disgusted.

[Her Sister]

5. I like the Superdelegates! Maybe a smaller percentage!

But like them who know the candidates and know the party to have an educated say in the matter.

Everything else you'd change am 100% on board with. Get rid of the caucuses! Why have the loudest have a bigger say! Also closed all of them! Must register as a Democrat 3 weeks or so before the primary. And yep, people running for the Democratic Party must've been a card carrying member! And definitely no Democratic haters! and no one who hyphenates Democratic with another term.

[liberal N proud]

7. The Super Delegates are there to protect the party from some wildcat candidate

like Bernie Sanders from coming in and taking the Party's nomination.

Primaries are not general elections and all should be closed to registered party voters. It is the process by which the PARTY selects their candidates for the General Election. You want to participate? Join the party, register to vote as Democrat.

And as far as the caucuses go, My parents participated in them up to their deaths.

[DemonGoddess]

9. Keep the super delegates

They're the firewall to prevent a hostile takeover.

[livetohike]

10. Great ideas! Especially having to be a Democrat for five years. I think we

should keep the Superdelegates though.

[SharonClark]

11. Agree except for super delegates

They should only be elected US Senators, US Representatives, Governors and State Party Chairs.

[lunamagica]

12. Thanks for your replies! You have given good reasons in favor of SDs.

[DURHAM D]

13. There is nothing the DNC can do about caucus vs. primary.

The party pays for the caucuses. The state pays for the primary. The existing red states is why we have so many caucus states...they are saving state money by not paying for elections.