Democratic caucuses and primaries

Current events dictate that we wrap this thing up now and begin speaking with a single voice as the (for now) loyal opposition.
Time for Sanders to concede.
For the sake of devilish advocacy, this seems like a propitious time for a candidate to be running strong with the youngest and most resilient voters. Perhaps Sanders will finally juice youth turnout tomorrow.
 
For the sake of devilish advocacy, this seems like a propitious time for a candidate to be running strong with the youngest and most resilient voters. Perhaps Sanders will finally juice youth turnout tomorrow.
If any primaries still happen tomorrow. Looks like many will not- and further postponement seems inevitable. The convention itself may not even happen.

Are we (as Democrats) prepared to allow the Trumpster to control the narrative in its' entirety throughout the Spring and Summer whilst we bicker over the inevitable?

If we allow this to drag out further, when we finally do have a candidate, he will be facing a President who has either seen this crises through without challenge- or can make a strong case for being "mid-stream" wherein horses should not be changed (as conventional wisdom goes).
By not putting an end to this, we throw away the opportunity to speak with a single voice as partners in whatever solutions this crisis needs.

Sanders should concede. His tide of youngsters did not wash him into office as he dreamed, but he still has the opportunity to direct them towards his goals- instead of disillusioning them with a loss.
 
If any primaries still happen tomorrow. Looks like many will not- and further postponement seems inevitable. The convention itself may not even happen.

Are we (as Democrats) prepared to allow the Trumpster to control the narrative in its' entirety throughout the Spring and Summer whilst we bicker over the inevitable?

If we allow this to drag out further, when we finally do have a candidate, he will be facing a President who has either seen this crises through without challenge- or can make a strong case for being "mid-stream" wherein horses should not be changed (as conventional wisdom goes).
By not putting an end to this, we throw away the opportunity to speak with a single voice as partners in whatever solutions this crisis needs.

Sanders should concede. His tide of youngsters did not wash him into office as he dreamed, but he still has the opportunity to direct them towards his goals- instead of disillusioning them with a loss.

If Sanders were any good at directing youngsters towards his goals, you wouldn't have to talk like this right now.
 
If any primaries still happen tomorrow. Looks like many will not- and further postponement seems inevitable. The convention itself may not even happen.

This is some ************* ********, IMO.

If people aren't willing to risk their lives for democracy, they don't deserve to keep it.
 
This is some ************* ********, IMO.

If people aren't willing to risk their lives for democracy, they don't deserve to keep it.

If only there were another option between spreading a plague and not voting.
 
And in the "If anybody cares" department Biden was declared the winner in Washington State this evening.
Just a week ago...and it seems like years.
 
Now that everyone's livelihoods are going tits up, and we are all meant to stay indoors and watch Netflix, Andrew Yang's not looking a bad idea for president right now!
 
This is some ************* ********, IMO.

If people aren't willing to risk their lives for democracy, they don't deserve to keep it.

Surely the biggest issue with this particular situation isn't risking your life, but risking the lives of others?

I'm currently self-isolating. My symptoms are mild, and I'm pretty certain that I'm not going to die. The reason I'm self-isolating is to avoid infecting other people. I'm honestly not even certain I've got the virus. It could just be the flu. It's not severe enough to get tested. But I'm staying indoors and avoiding contact with people because it's the responsible thing to do.
 
I'm currently self-isolating. My symptoms are mild, and I'm pretty certain that I'm not going to die. The reason I'm self-isolating is to avoid infecting other people. I'm honestly not even certain I've got the virus. It could just be the flu. It's not severe enough to get tested. But I'm staying indoors and avoiding contact with people because it's the responsible thing to do.

That's all well and good, but are you missing an election as well?

If we postpone primary elections now, what reason is there to suppose we'll get another chance before the Democratic National Convention?

If we set the precedent that it's okay for Republicans to cancel elections (see Ohio) what's to stop them from doing the same when the outbreak recurs in the fall?

We may yet be given a choice between losing American lives and losing the American way of life.
 
Last edited:
That's all well and good, but are you missing an election as well?

If we postpone primary elections now, what reason is there to suppose we'll get another chance before the Democratic National Convention?

If we set the precedent that it's okay for Republicans to cancel elections (see Ohio) what's to stop them from doing the same when the outbreak recurs in the fall?

We may yet be given a choice between losing American lives and losing the American way of life.

Have to admire the Ohio Governor here. Court refused his emergency action and the governor just straight up defied the order and closed the polls.

Unusual moral courage in a time of crisis. Very commendable. 3 other states are voting with in-person polls today. Shame on them for putting their citizens in such a dilemma. if it were me, I'd probably go out to vote, but I'd be eager to find someone to hold personally responsible for this terrible decision.

I find your slippery slope argument not very convincing. There's plenty of time for the general election to sort out vote by mail.
 
Last edited:
That's all well and good, but are you missing an election as well?

If we postpone primary elections now, what reason is there to suppose we'll get another chance before the Democratic National Convention?

If we set the precedent that it's okay for Republicans to cancel elections (see Ohio) what's to stop them from doing the same when the outbreak recurs in the fall?

We may yet be given a choice between losing American lives and losing the American way of life.

Just so long as you think that killing people is worth the price of not having to delay a little bit to enable a postal vote, I suppose.
 
Primaries are dog and pony shows run by the parties, not the same thing as general elections.

We start hearing talk about delaying the general election I'll worry, a lot. I'm not now, at all.

The primaries are no more "The American way of life" then campaign signs left up 6 months after the person already won/lost and attack ads running every commercial break for half a year.
 
Last edited:
Primaries are dog and pony shows run by the parties, not the same thing as general elections.

We start hearing talk about delaying the general election I'll worry, a lot. I'm not now, at all.

The primaries are no more "The American way of life" then campaign signs left up 6 months after the person already won/lost and attack ads running every commercial break for half a year.

I don't *think* you were arguing that the primaries are central to the American way of life, but your counterexamples leave me unsure.
 
Chicago officials reporting record low voter turnout. Reports of large number of poll worker no-shows in Florida. Reports of polling locations closed and people unable to vote.

What an embarrassment for these states that refused to postpone the primary.
 
Chicago officials reporting record low voter turnout. Reports of large number of poll worker no-shows in Florida. Reports of polling locations closed and people unable to vote.

What an embarrassment for these states that refused to postpone the primary.

I went to vote this morning (Illinois) and the polls were nearly deserted. Normally it'd be moderately busy at the time I went. The poll workers said it'd been slow all morning. The polls are at a senior citizens center and would normally be set up at the back side of the cafeteria, but today they were in the front of the room before entering the cafeteria to keep the public from even entering it.
 
I went to vote this morning (Illinois) and the polls were nearly deserted. Normally it'd be moderately busy at the time I went. The poll workers said it'd been slow all morning. The polls are at a senior citizens center and would normally be set up at the back side of the cafeteria, but today they were in the front of the room before entering the cafeteria to keep the public from even entering it.

Unbelievable.
 
Just so long as you think that killing people is worth the price of not having to delay a little bit to enable a postal vote, I suppose.

How confident are you that the postponed states will implement a postal ballot? You sound highly confident.

What an embarrassment for these states that refused to postpone the primary.

How confident are you that the plague will back off before the nominating conventions? You sound highly confident.

There's plenty of time for the general election to sort out vote by mail.

How confident are you that this will happen in enough states to call it a free and fair election in November? You sound highly confident.

As for me, I'm not even somewhat confident that we can expect any of these (good) things to come to pass.

Hope to be shown wrong, but I'm not expecting it.
 
Last edited:

Back
Top Bottom