My vote doesn't count, and I'm pissed off about it.

[stevedeshazer]

Iowa. New Hampshire. South Carolina. Nevada.

No disrespect toward any of those states, but why the hell do they get to decide the future of the (allegedly) free world?

Because, by the time the carefully selected caucuses and primary elections are over, with the contrived consent and guidance of the insider Beltway press, it's OVER.

My state doesn't have a primary election until May. We have no say in the choice of our parties. None.

This is madness. It sure as hell isn't democracy. Not that I thought we still lived in one, ya know. But wouldn't it be nice if we could at least select which corporatists would represent our respective parties? Can't we even choose which fascists will represent us? Have we really fallen that far?

The goddamned CORPORATE MEDIA decides who the frontrunners are and devotes inordinate hours upon hours of OUR AIRWAVES, which are supposed to be dedicated to the public interest.

What the hell?

And now the FCC is ready to ram through MORE consolidation of Big Media, so rich MF'ers can own all the newspapers, radio and TeeVee stations in any town in Amerika.

Aren't you pissed? You should be.

I am.

:grr:

[razors edge]

1. Make all primaries

the same day, paper ballots, hand counts, all parties, open primary, allow each voter to chose a favorite from all parties and a write in.

That would be a democracy in my book, and it would end a lot of the right left divide in this country, as we would all be responsible for the outcome of the candidates we have to choose from.

[angstlessk]

3. They used to be the same day..it was called a CONVENTION

that is when delegates to the convention counted..now they are just party, party goers!

[iamjoy]

2. Me Too!

I'm in Florida. My stupid state legislature moved up our primary to outside the window set for the Annointed Four.

So, I suggest you vote for Gravel. That's right - Gravel. Face it, most of the other strong candidates will have dropped out when they look at the math and realize they can't win. So, I say, if your vote isn't really going to matter, make it count by making a statement, a protest.

I urge everyone in Florida and Michigan to vote for Gravel. I mean really, with the stupid Four State Pledge and the candidates ignoring us, what better way to make them sit up and take notice? Besides, you know most of the Democratic power in our states want Hillary to win, so why not give them a nice "F--- You" for the way they got us screwed with the whole primary mess?

[stuartrida]

10. Not to piss on the parade

but no one will give two shits when Gravel (or Kucinich for that matter) gets their 1-2% in the primaries.

[MADem]

4. Well, if everyone went to the primaries on the same day, the rural and small states,

like NH and Iowa, would WHINE that they don't get 'fair representation' because they're so TEENY.

I think there's an argument to be made for doing it all at once. It's unlikely to happen though.

Too many states make BIG money off of these events. It's a HUGE chunk of the NH GDP every four years, with the media, the hotel rooms, the restaurant bills, and so forth.

Edit-spelling.

[Mojambo]

5. I think all the primary results should be kept secret until every state has voted.

Let any state vote whenever they want but hold ALL the results and release them on one day.

Yes, I know it's a logistical and legal nightmare, but it sure would make that one day fun.

[MADem]

6. A bribery opportunity waiting to happen!!!! nt

[waiting for hope]

7. I hear you - but the thing about Iowa, NH,

Nevada and South Carolina is that many of the voters get to meet the candidates. Unless we want to have non stop campaigning from election cycle to election cycle, then you will have more races determined by who has the most money and the most influence with the MCM (Main Corporate Media) - think about it.

[stevedeshazer]

8. Fix it

Mandate public financing of elections.

Set a date for all states to hold their primaries at the same time.

I can still dream in a fascist country, right?

[iamjoy]

12. But, That Happens Anyway

Maybe 30 years ago that worked, voters got to meet the candidates face to face and it made a difference, but now? With Hillary having a tiny lead in Iowa (admittedly far less than her national lead, but still...)

And if it is about smaller states and candidates meeting voters (something admittedly nearly impossible in the larger states) why not rotate amongst the smaller states? I don't mean regional primaries - there would be other problems with that - but rotate amongst smaller states. For example, why not Iowa and New Hampshire one cycle; Nebraska and Vermont the next?

We're already heading to non stop campaigning between elections and races determined by money and MSM influence. Annointing a handful of states to have primaries that count and ignoring rest does not seem to be stopping it.

[AtomicKitten]

9. this west-coaster agrees

[KoKo]

11. May 5th for me to in my state. By then it's over...so I will vote my conscience.

With Gore out...that leaves Kucinich if he's still left..or writing in Kucinich or Gore. It will be my lone protest against this unfair Primary Schedule where everything is decided in Jan or early Feb.

Disgusting. And our Dems participated in this scheduling. It was shown on C-Span and one of my House Reps was on the panel. Underway before Dean got head of DNC but hearings on it took place shortly after Dean. Hearing/Blue Ribbon Study Commission on "frontloading elections" was already "on the books," I've heard and DU'er "Madfloridian" verified in a post of hers aways back.

[bklyncowgirl]

13. New Jersey moved it's primary from June to February--and we probably S

-and we probably STILL won't count. Very depressing.