Does anyone else think the entire concept of Super Delegates is bullshit?

[MessiahRp]

I was thinking about this the other day. This really takes the election out of the hands of voters and puts it into the hands of party leadership which more often than not are politicians or failed politicians that got party leadership posts. In an election that is so strongly about change, why would we want those who are failing us to trump our votes?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18277678/

Am I being irrational here?

Rp

[TahitiNut]

1. Well, I remember when it was ALL insiders. Brokered conventions and backroom deals.

The voters? Not much more than "windage."

[MessiahRp]

6. That sucks IMO... I mean even the slimy Republicans don't have this crap.

I can understand why we have Caucuses and they don't but this really seems like a way for our party to supercede the will of the electorate.

Rp

[Jim Lane]

21. The Republicans have superdelegates. They just don't call them that.

Members of the Republican National Committee are automatically delegates to the Republican National Convention.

The Democratic superdelegates include elected officials, all of whom are there because the voters approved them. I think it's reasonable that the votes cast during the presidential campaign be the most important factor, but that some voice be given to people who've been elected in past years.

Both parties seat as delegates all national committee members. That decision is much more questionable, to my mind. Those are the "party insiders" whose connection to the public is much more tenuous.

[fenriswolf]

2. actually alot about the process is bullshit

like if we have more then two people in an election (rep, dem, ind, green, etc) why do we only get to choose one? what if our candidate of choice tanks? we dont get a say at all. runoff ballots are way more considerate of not wasting the publics votes and might actually allow a third party candidate a chance.

and yes super delegates are bs.

[DJ13]

3. Yeah, its BS

Between super delegates in primaries to the Electoral College in the general election we dont have much say in who actually runs the country.

[jeff30997]

4. I raise my hand.

Weird concept.

[Divine Discontent]

5. well the whole electoral votes thing is annoying... :) n/t

[Va Lefty]

7. A very undemocratic concept

Mondale basically won the nomination over Hart in '84 with super delegates. (We all remember how well that turned out!) Still a lot better than it used to be. Hubert Humphrey won '68 nomination without winning a single primary!

[cynatnite]

8. Sounds like it either needs another reformation or done away altogether...

That's what I got out of a quick read on this article in the OP.

[fujiyama]

9. The entire primary system is bullshit

Its incredibly stupid. By the time it gets to many states, the campaign is over. Those people have no say in the primary process.

[CK_John]

10. Before '72 it was all insider delegates and inside traders, in order to get some reforms to

allow for primaries and caucus a deal had to be struck. In order to get voters involved the power brokers would not agree unless they still had a pony in the race. Just like life in order to get you need to give.

The deal allowed the party elders to have a seat without a risk of being tossed aside. They got about 25% of the delegates by having an elected office.

I think it has worked well, everyone saves face and they have not been a hindrance to the candidates to date.

[rockybelt]

11. YES!

It is a way to manipulate the vote in order to have the candidate of choice, choice of the "elite", gain the nomination. This to ensure that the status quo will not be broken and their agenda can be maintained.
Fuck 'em all.

[TankLV]

12. "Religiouis Conservative" - now that's bullshit!!!

[rhett o rick]

13. How specifically can we change this? nm

[CK_John]

16. With all the fights among the states to jockey for position, I don't think honorary delegates

at the convention are going to high on anyone bucket list. Any move to limit a state again will not be taken easily.

[TheModernTerrorist]

14. why must we limit ourselves?

I sorta think our whole system of elections is bullshit...
...but maybe I'm just cynical.

[progressoid]

15. Nope, not irrational. The system is stupid. EOM!

[Laelth]

17. Complete BS and unbecoming of the Democratic Party. n/t

k&r

:dem:

-Laelth

[Political Heretic]

18. Most of the process is bullshit.

We need a complete overhaul of our election process.

Step 1: publicly funded elections.

[Ichingcarpenter]

19. As the horse Boxer found out that lead to his death.

ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS.

The creatures outside looked from pig to man,
and from man to pig, and from pig to man again;
but already it was impossible to say which was which.

Animal Farm

[rhett o rick]

20. On a state level, what actions would be needed to change this? nm

[leftofthedial]

22. it's just to ensure that the oligarchy can do what's right for us

nothing to see here

just keep watching American Idol and pretend to "vote" in November.

[dkofos]

23. The power must be kept in the fewest possible hands.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

24. Some delegates are "more equal" than others.

Apologies to George Orwell, but I don't think he'd object.