33.09% of Delaware Voters Have Only Themselves to Blame
You might well be one of them. That’s the percentage of voters, as of March 6, who are registered as Unaffiliated. I have just one question: Why?
I bring this up because Mike Smith – the original one, the Republican House member who represents Pike Creek, not the johnny-come-lately who’s running for state treasurer as a Democrat – has introduced HB 188, which would let unaffiliated voters cast ballots in primary elections. To quote the House Republican newsletter,
Rep. Smith said the change is needed because many races in Delaware are decided, or effectively decided, through primary elections. He argues that not allowing unaffiliated voters to participate essentially shuts them out of the electoral process.
Oh, boo-fucking-hoo. Whose fault is that? If you want to be part of the electoral process, REGISTER AS A DEMOCRAT, YOU DUMBFUCKS! You won’t get cooties, they won’t make you wear all-blue clothing, you won’t be shunned by your neighbors, unless they’re even dumber fucks than you are.
It’s not like people don’t do this already. Jack Markell upset John Carney in the 2008 gubernatorial primary by getting hundreds of erstwhile Republicans to switch to the Democrats. When I first moved to Hockessin it was solidly Republican, so I registered as a Republican specifically so I could vote against the worst of them in primary elections. It allowed me to vote against John “Son of” Clatworthy in the state senate primary in 2008, though he won anyway, then narrowly lost to Dr. Michael Katz in the general. To further illustrate my point, the same Michael Katz is now running for the U.S. Senate – as a Republican.
For a reason I’ll never understand, most Americans think that they should register as a member of the party that best represents their values, or some such nonsense. Why would you do that? It’s not like anyone knows what party affiliation you register under. It’s not like you have to pay dues. It brings you no meaningful advantage except the right to brag, “I’m a lifelong (fill in the blank).”
The sensible thing to do – and smart people in jurisdictions dominated by one party or the other know and do this – is to register as a member of whichever party dominates your district or county or state. Lots of would-be officeholders already do this. Why do you think someone like Ted Lauzen is running for treasurer as a Democrat? It sure isn’t because he’s chock full of progressive values.
Registering that way has the further benefit of fucking with the people who want to gerrymander districts based on voter registration. That’s the opposite of what Pike Creek Mike proposes, which is letting the unaffiliated fuck with the elections of any party they choose.
We don’t need open primaries to give people a say in government. We only need smarter voters.
Why don’t political parties pay for primary elections then? Democrats love the word equity when it fits their narrative, but not when it means access for all. Tax payers pay for all elections right? Ta Ta
You still around, Monsignor?
Do Rethugs pay for their primary elections?
What do you think of the new Pope?
I’m a big fan.
Are you too dumb to understand? Yes. They should.
Temper temper, but happy to see you cop to being a thug. I like Leo too guessing you’re not a fan?
Why don’t political parties pay for elections?
I’m all for it, but the Republicans don’t have the money.
I love Leo as well and waiting for him to chastise Fox News and Murdochs for being wicked. I thought Level had expired but Transalvanians never do?
” It’s not like anyone knows what party affiliation you register under.” There are several websites that are easily accessible that show the party registration of all registered voters. This has allowed me to know the party affiliation of my neighbors.
If every Democrat would register as Republican and run as a Republican they could overwhelm the Republicans.
Yes, it’s not protected information, so in that sense I was incorrect. It’s mainly used by the parties so they can badger their voters for donations and carve out safe districts through gerrymandering.
I meant it in the sense that the information isn’t tattooed on your forehead, but I suppose you’re right, in that nowadays you might want to know which of your neighbors to shun.
In a better world nobody would register under any political party so that the information couldn’t be used for gerrymandering.
One of the reasons I will always be registered unaffiliated.
Maybe it’s just me, but that seems kind of paranoid.
Not necessarily paranoia I just find myself agreeing and disagreeing with both parties on many issues.
I was talking about the neighbors knowing aspect. As I wrote, I register strategically. By temperament I’m independent too. If we had a multi-party system I’d be a democratic socialist, but I’d be a fool to register as one.
If only there was a category for the combination of socialism and capitalism. The success of both is dependent upon each other. So much of what people take for granted and supports the economy is publicly funded and managed by public servants. The stronger the economy the more money becomes available to support these tasks.
Havent read the bill that provides for open primaries. But I wouldn’t think it mandates that parties open their primaries. Would just ‘allow’ them to do so? Wouldn’t the parties be free to decide what they want?
Nope.
Abolish primaries and choose candidates in smoke-filled rooms. Or keep primaries and pay for them yourselves if you want them. Let the parties decide. But don’t open them. That will lead to shenanigans. If an Independent or OTHER voter feels disenfranchised, it’s very easy to change your party affiliation on line. No excuse not to do so if you really want a say in a PARTY primary. No to this Republican bill. Maybe to making the parties pay for their own primaries.