I Don't Like The Idea Of Allowing REPUBLICANS To Vote In OUR Primaries..

[arwalden]

I always fear that they would try to muck up the works by trying to "force" a bad candidate on us. (Much the same way as how racist segregationist Lester Maddox became governor of Georgia.)

Or am I just worrying needlessly?

-- Allen

Edit/typo

[Mick Knox]

1. CA through it out here...

We had passed the law allowing voting like thatou and it was tossed out.. maybe explore the same type of avenue. Do a google search and you'll see where CA tossed that out. This was recent.

IMO... primaries are for the parties involved and they should be kept separate.

[ALago1]

2. I think your worries are unfounded

I like the fact that I could vote in Republican primaries if I wanted to.

It still gives me some say in who I want to run this country should (God forbid) the Democrat candidate lose.

[Book Lover]

8. In CA, we "undeclareds" aren't allowed

to vote in the Repub presidential primaries, so we can't freep 'em. Unfortunately.

[rucky]

3. I'll go a step further & say primaries should be replaced with caucuses

run by the party.

[cosmicdot]

13. in Iowa, Republicans went to the Democratic caucuses ...

... registered as Democrats, and according to my contact there ...

cut-n-paste from email

GOP ers went to caucuses in droves, switched party affiliations and sided with Kerry........we had one precinct in Sioux City that had 54 repugs switch parties at the door and all went to
Kerry.....so much to tell, so much to share......I will get back to you later on today......cheers,

of course, the Media and other forces are doing as much to influence the outcome as anything else

[stickdog]

15. 2004 caucuses have been fraught with cheating, rule breaking and questions

about the accuracy of the results.

[mlawson]

4. I don't like the idea of republicans voting, period.

At least until they have been through a re-educational facility. :-)

What you wrote about them 'forcing a bad candidate on us', gave me pause. I wonder....

[Cuban_Liberal]

5. Don't forget, the reverse is also true.

We can screw up THEIR primary process, too, on occasion. :evilgrin:

[robertpaulsen]

9. If I had known that...

I would have voted for McCain in the 2000 primary.

[Kathleen04]

6. I think it's near impossible to keep them out

if they really wanted to, they could just change parties temporarily to vote in the primary and then change back.

But, I don't really think that they come out in big enough numbers to make a difference...

[bluestateguy]

7. If it were up to me all primaries would be open to party members only

It should be up to the states of course, but if I am a member of the Rotary Club should I be allowed to nominate candidates for the presidency of the Kiwanis Club. Party primaries are private family decisions, and exclusion of non-party members is a rational decison.

[SadEagle]

10. Counterargument.

I mostly agree with you, and certainly agree w/you in case of presidential primaries, but there is one case where open primaries are kind of nice: districts that are strongly leaning one way or another. In the district I am in, the Republicans may be trying to replace a moderate republican with an extremist Bushist; and I imagine the winner of the primary will near certainly win. This means that I have little say in the manner... With an open primary, and all people voting who they prefer (which is a big IF) moderates are more likely to prevail, and so the people would be a bit better represented

[mzmolly]

11. Bob Novack voted for Sharpton in DC...

Your right. There are so many things broken with our Primary system.

[LTR]

12. But let's be realistic

How many Repugs are actually voting in the Dem primary anyway?

Enough to make any kind of difference?

If that was the case, LaRouche would be our nominee.

[lurk_no_more]

14. Wisconsin had a big Repug and independent turnout

About 40 percent of the voters were not Democrats. One in 10 were Republicans and about 30 percent were independents — all taking advantage of the state's open primary laws, the exit poll showed. It was the strongest turnout of Republican voters in any Democratic contest this year.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040218/ap_on_el_pr/democrats&cid=694&ncid=2043



And then there were none!
” JAFO”

[NewYorkerfromMass]

16. Allen, I agree. eom