Dear Iowa & NH: Please tell the "Top Three" No, thank you!

[MethuenProgressive]

Four fine Democrats for you to consider:

Joe Biden:
http://www.joebiden.com/
http://biden.senate.gov/index.cfm

Chris Dodd:
http://chrisdodd.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/SenatorDodd

Dennis Kucinich:
http://www.dennis4president.com/
http://www.youtube.com/denniskucinich

Bill Richardson:
www.2013IsTooLate.com
www.TheDifferenceOnIraq.com
www.richardsonforpresident.com

C'mon, Iowa and New Hampshire - Make History!!

[BeyondGeography]

1. They are fine Democrats

Recommended.

[IA_Seth]

2. I thought you wrote Iowa off already, as a Republican stronghold?

Remember?

[MethuenProgressive]

5. Seth, in Iowa, Republicans and Democrats caucus separately.

Unless the rules have changed?

[Debi]

9. That was just for yard signs

:crazy:

[MethuenProgressive]

10. No, wait - that was about that bumper sticker question?!

Somebody days ago asked 'what bumpersticker you'd probably see the most of in Iowa' and I answered "Huckabee!" and someone took offense. Was that Seth?
Is that old thread what you were referring to, Seth? Sorry.

[Debi]

13. Well, you didn't just answer "Huckabee!"

You also were rather insulting to Iowa Democratic voters.

No matter what happened in 2004 Iowa Democrats regrouped in 2006 and elected a Democratic Governor/Lt. Governor, two new Democratic members of the US Congress (and reelected another one)and gained a majority in the Iowa Statehouse (both Representatives and state Senators). Iowa also has a Democratic Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer.

[rurallib]

15. I don't know why I ever took this guy off the ignore list

Zap he's on again. I like discussion. I don't care for his insults.

[Debi]

16. What a great representative for Bill Richardson he is

Bet the Governor is proud!

:hi: Happy Holidays to you and Mrs. rurallib

[MethuenProgressive]

24. Happy Holidays!

"Hope" you don't fall for anymore lies from ObamaNation!

[MethuenProgressive]

22. "You also were rather insulting to Iowa Democratic voters. " Nonsense.

Quote me or post a retraction.

[Debi]

27. Here's the link

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3869274&mesg_id=3869274

You were rude to an Iowa DUers without cause. There was no reason for your post other than to instigate an argument.

[MethuenProgressive]

28. I was "rude to an Iowa DUers without cause." The DUer who called my logic "Dumb Ass"?

Yes, I was rude to the rude Iowan (who used "Dumn Ass","Dumb Ass","ignorant") DUer. debi.

[Debi]

38. You don't think your first comment was rude?

Seems the comments made after your first one were exactly what you were trolling for, a senseless argument.

If anything your back and forth with that particular Iowan and another Iowan on this post and my previous experiences with you should have taught me not to correspond with you.

I hope I learn my lesson.

[MethuenProgressive]

39. If you thought "Huckabee, probably. It's Iowa after all." was "rude," I apologize...

..and respectfully disagree.
Good luck to your candidate! :hi:

[Joe the Revelator]

3. What happend to your HIllary love?

nt

[MethuenProgressive]

6. A common delusion among Obamanation and the Edwardians is...

... that anyone opposing their candidate must be a supporter of Clinton. It's a delusion that's rooted deep in their inability to defend their candidate when challenged. With out anything of substance to offer, they reflexively squeal "HillBot!" out of desperation.

I do confess to ridiculing and mocking you members of DU's Rabid HillHaterCult.
Please, feel free to continue to be offended.

[Joe the Revelator]

8. Hey I'm not going to argue with you over who you support....

you just get awful happy when Team Hillary posts good news. Sorry if I mistook that as support

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MethuenProgressive]

23. Typical squeal from ObamaNation - "You're a liar! You're a HillBot!"

Clark, do you ever post anything but hate?

[mrreowwr_kittty]

31. This is the first time I've seen that she's not #2 in your sig. line

I definitely got the sense from your posts that there was some 'love' going on there. What happened? :shrug:

[MethuenProgressive]

33. I have a soft spot for underdogs.

And in DUniverese, she's an underdog!

[Diane R]

4. Dear Iowa and New Hampshire: Any chance we might get a chance to choose the nominee sometime?

Just asking.

None of us get a vote. By time you're all done with your two years of glory, getting to know the candidates personally, it's over. We never see them, much less in a one-on-one personal ego fest.

I'm sick of only two states getting to choose. I'm sick of waiting to see what you decide for us. I cannot imagine what qualifies Iowans and New Hampshire residents to be the only states who have a voice in choosing our president.

And just for the record? If I had a vote, which of course I don't.....I would vote for Obama. Then Edwards. Just not Hillary.

[MethuenProgressive]

7. The chances are you won't have the choices that Iowa and NH have.

But if primaries were all held on the same day few states would ever see much of all the candidates.

[Diane R]

19. Well, most of us get nothing, so if we see just a little, that would be an improvement.

[CoffeeCat]

20. I'm from Iowa and I do understand....

what you're saying.

I feel so blessed to have all of this political hoopla in my state.

You're right, we get to meet the candidates face to face, and the only
thing stopping us from asking them a question, is ourselves.

It really is wonderful.

I would totally understand if this process evolved into rotating states that
got the 1st, 2nd and 3rd spots. I love that I live in a state that is first,
but I can understand how others feel that they are left out--because by the
time they get to vote, we have our nominee.

My grandest hope is that the initial primary process NEVER stops being about
challenging the candidates and holding them accountable to one-on-one, meaningful
contact with "We The People." It has to be this way. If we have multiple primaries
on one day, the personal contact ceases and the candidate with the most money for
vacuous ads wins the day.

That would be tragic.

[maxanne]

34. remind me please

about President McCain or Buchanan?

I don't seem to remember their terms, despite NH choosing them for the rest of the country.

[bunnies]

35. Maybe Iowa & NH voters should just stay home then huh?

Would that make you feel better? You do realize that it isnt the voters who chose when we vote... dont you? If I could change the NH constitution re: our primary status, I wouldnt hesitate to do so if for no other reason than to not be on the receiving end of posts like this.

Youre sick of two states getting to chose and Im sick of being made to feel like shit because I live in one of those two states. Its not some grand conspiracy by the residents designed to steal everyones voice... yet thats exactly how we're treated every primary season. Lucky us.

[MethuenProgressive]

36. Maybe the result would be different in not decided by just white rural christians?

I'm just askin'...

[bunnies]

41. White rural christians?

Yeah. We're all a bunch of knuckle-dragging, bible-thumping, shack dwellers. Seriously. Give me a break. There was a poll posted here last week, wish I could search for the link, that compared NH voters to the rest of the country. It showed that religion has no bearing on our votes. Whereas it does in the rest of the US.

And considering that a vast percentage of the people I know (myself included) are Atheists... I think you're view of the people that live in this state is distorted by stereotypes.

Again... I do not have control over when we vote. And I dont really care about voting first or not. I just dont understand why its ok to vilify voters due to state policy.

[MethuenProgressive]

50. bunnies, the overwhelming majority of NH & Iowa residents fit that demo.

...while the rest of America does not.

"I think you're view of the people that live in this state is distorted by stereotypes."

If you have figures that contradict the US census, please share, so I may learn from them.

[MADem]

42. If it ain't the voters who choose when you vote, who is it? The NH

"Constitution Bunny?"

Your legislative process must surely provide for an amendment process. And the voters MUST be involved at some level....

[bunnies]

53. I'll tell you what MADem...

I will look into it. Short of harassing my rep.. I wouldnt know how to instigate an amendment. Maybe I can start a petition? a PAC? I'll gladly take suggestions.

[MADem]

56. You do realize that the "First in the nation" crap is a big money industry for NH

THAT is why they guard it so zealously. It's a NH "industry" just as the caucuses are an IA "industry." The hotels, restaurants, printers, car hire joints, they all make a BUNDLE offa NH. You'd have better luck legalizing prostitution in "Live Free or Die" NH than getting the legislators to get behind the idea of no longer being "first."

Background:

An Economic Bonanza
Holding the first-in-the-nation primary confers enormous economic benefits on New Hampshire, and state officials zealously guard the first status. It is no exaggeration to say that the long courtship of New Hampshire voters provides a comparable and probably greater boost to the state than a major party nominating convention provides to a host city. That figure is more than $100 million. For New Hampshire the visits are spread out over a year-plus. The candidates, their aides, reporters, camera crews, representatives of a number of interest groups seeking to get their messages out, and various hangers-on all flock to the state and spend money on rental cars, hotel rooms, taxis, food, event costs and advertising campaigns.

Staying First
In sum, the New Hampshire primary has developed into a healthy industry. In fact, New Hampshire's first status is set in state law: "The presidential primary election shall be held on the second Tuesday in March or on the Tuesday at least 7 days immediately preceding the date on which any other state shall hold a similar election, whichever is earlier…" (New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated Title 63, Chapter 653.9).

Nonetheless, there are always concerns about the future and health of the New Hampshire primary. New Hampshire's special position is not without critics (see for example the Nov. 2001 resolution (PDF) of the Michigan Democratic Party). Other states have on occasion attempted to impinge on the Granite State's first status. In-state observers keep a close watch on its pulse. For example, during the 2000 primary, Concord Monitor editor Mike Pride voiced qualms about the big media presence. "They're getting here sooner and sooner, so if somebody, a candidate, shows up… there's forty cameras around."
http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2004/chrnnewh.html

[bunnies]

58. exactly. its futile.

Which brings me back to my point that theres nothing NH voters can do about it.

[yourout]

11. I support Edwards but have no problem with any of these 4.

ABC.....Anyone But Clinton.

[CoffeeCat]

21. Me too...anyone but Clinton...

I would feel comfortable voting for any of our
candidates, except for Hillary.

[surfermaw]

45. Yourout, you go girl, right attitude

[yourout]

48. Right idea....wrong gender.

I would make one ugly female.

[LWolf]

12. I would be happy if any of these 4 wins Iowa and NH. n/t

[MethuenProgressive]

25. It would great for our party, LWolf!

:dem:

[surfermaw]

44. LWolf, you have the right idea

We have to stick togeather or loose to the republicans, I am Edwards and have been since he ran for Senator, but I would vote fo Hillary in a NY moment... I think the republicans may be putting money in the dem. pot to help defeat Hillary....we had better be on our toes.

[JeffR]

17. Love this post!

K & R!

[MethuenProgressive]

26. Thanks, Jeff!

:dem:

[calteacherguy]

18. K&R for 4 fine Democrats! nt

[MethuenProgressive]

29. Let's "Hope" the Democrats in Iowa and NH think so too!

:kick:

[rucky]

30. Seriously, the top three are the least qualified...

but rank highest in name recognition, so they get more fundraising, so they get the more media coverage, so they get more support, so they get more fundraising, etc.

If you like them for their qualifications, achievements and ideas, then great! But voters deserve a chance to see all of the candidates on a level playing field. If you really think there should be campaign finance reform and a return to the fairness doctrine, then each voter will take an hour of their time to study and consider each candidate as objectively as they can.

But if we keep rewarding top-tier by supporting them based on how much money they can raise, why on earth would they change the rules of a game that they're winning at?

Maybe Edwards will initiate some campaign finance reform, and I applaud his fundraising policies. Possibly Obama. But it's certainly not happening this election, and everybody seems willing and eager to play along.

Yes, I'm pissed that Biden's not getting a fair shake - same with the rest of the "second-tier".

[MethuenProgressive]

32. NH & Iowa have a chance to tell us that nomination is *not* for sale.

The 'second tier' is much more representitive of the Party's grassroots.

[skipos]

37. Biden gets my vote!

But I am not in IA or NH :(

[MethuenProgressive]

40. I hope Joe Biden stays in after Iowa & NH so the rest of us can have a voice.

But that's not always the way things work out.

[Kucinich4America]

43. I'd like to see two messages come out of this primary season:

1) Fuck the media whores, the corporations, and the DLC. We, THE PEOPLE, will decide the nominee.

2) We don't need a nominee in February, March, or even June. Let's take this all the way to Denver.

[MethuenProgressive]

51. Those are two messages I'd support!

:kick:

[Catchawave]

46. Don't some countries have about 12 parties at their elections?

Why can't we?

[hayu_lol]

47. Catchawave, yes there are countries who have multiple parties...

but they are, like England, Parlimentary systems. We are a Republic. Check the difference between the two systems.

Blair was removed from office(forced to resign)because he lost favor with a strong party of several. We have to impeach our Bum.

[Catchawave]

49. Thank you

Are we still a Democracy though? I just feel the whole Republic system exploding if the "wrong" people head our two-party system.

[MethuenProgressive]

52. Christmas Eve Afternoon Kick.

:kick:

[red2blue]

54. We have a great field to choose from

GO JOHN GO


EDWARDS 08

[MethuenProgressive]

55. Once you look past the MSM's Top Three :O)

Good luck to your candidate.

[MethuenProgressive]

57. After Christmas kick!

:kick:

[MethuenProgressive]

59. kick!

:kick:

[MethuenProgressive]

60. C'mon Iowa and New Hampshire! Make history!

:kick: