Slog - Comments on A Caucusing Tip http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip From the Stranger Election Control Board's How to Caucus guide: "First, you have to find out where you're actually supposed to be. Then, when you get there, you'll be in some decrepit church basement or cheerless community meeting room, getting hassled about your vote by people who are masters of convoluted rules that you don't even begin to understand." From my friend Jill: "My caucus is with ten million others at the community college. Pro: It's about 30 feet away. Con: Last time, this kooky old man folded his arms and said, 'I'm undecided! Convince me!' Jill's Caucusing Tip: No... Copyright 2008 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:46:37 -0800 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 23:36:48 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by annie Bethany, you're at MY caucus site! Hooray! I will convince you to switch to Obama sooooo fast!

]]> annie http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931449 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931449 2008 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:48:06 -0800 Comment by Greg Your five-year-old self rules.

]]> Greg http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931452 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931452 2008 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:49:20 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle Bring cookies and donuts, annie!

They work wonders.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931454 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931454 2008 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:49:52 -0800 Comment by Aislinn Your caucus site sounds way cooler than mine. I'm also caucusing for Hillary, though! Yay!

]]> Aislinn http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931459 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931459 2008 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:50:57 -0800 Comment by stinkbug Correct me if I'm wrong, but each caucus site can be comprised of many individual precinct. So even though many people will be entering the same building, you're not going to interacting with most of them. Your precinct group will be fairly small.

]]> stinkbug http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931509 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931509 2008 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 17:12:19 -0800 Comment by JM Go Bethany! Rock the HRC vote and stay strong. This thing is far form over.

]]> JM http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931528 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931528 2008 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 17:23:30 -0800 Comment by annie @5: Most caucus sites will house multiple precincts. But most obviously tiny ones--in private homes, for example--are just for that precinct.

]]> annie http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931548 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931548 2008 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 17:33:20 -0800 Comment by Carollani Hillary in '08! Yes she can!

]]> Carollani http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931553 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931553 2008 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 17:34:19 -0800 Comment by doctiloquus Yay, let's enjoy "Republicans vs Clintons: Round 2" for four years. Maybe eight. Seriously, HRC fans. Think about what you're asking for.

Gawd.

]]> doctiloquus http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931556 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931556 2008 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 17:38:43 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle @5 - well, usually. But technically, a precinct represents 400 voters, so it could be up to 400 people.

Just vote. Tomorrow. 1 pm.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931563 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931563 2008 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 17:42:05 -0800 Comment by skye obama has a MUCH stronger draw amongst independents and republicans. hillary vs mccain may very well land us with a president mccain, which might as well be another 4 years of bush. no fucking way!

]]> skye http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931564 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931564 2008 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 17:42:42 -0800 Comment by unPC Yes, Obama has a strong draw amonst independents and republicans as long as there isn't an intense GOP campaign against him. Which there hasn't been, but which there will be.

So things will change.

This whole idea he will unite red and blue is the Barney the Dinosaur "analysis." Suddenly, the whole country will become purple, like Barney the Dinosaur. Everyone will like Obama!! How wonderful that will be. Just look at Barney -- everyone likes him, don't they??

Let's all be purple, kumbaya.

Pro'ly McCain will just give up and vote for Obama, too. Whoo-hoo!

]]> unPC http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931577 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931577 2008 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 17:48:57 -0800 Comment by bellevue & belmont Will the stranger PLEASE promote this much better caucus location finder?

http://41dems.org/gmap/caucus.html

]]> bellevue & belmont http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931600 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931600 2008 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:14:58 -0800 Comment by McCain FTW @12: No, because McCain/Crist will be busy trouncing Billary.

]]> McCain FTW http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931617 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931617 2008 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:28:17 -0800 Comment by skye @12: how does that apply to obama but not clinton? i call bullshit.

]]> skye http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931639 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931639 2008 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:46:11 -0800 Comment by Fact. Annie Wagner will secretly vote for McCain in November.

]]> Fact. http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931640 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931640 2008 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:46:27 -0800 Comment by annie @16: Never.

]]> annie http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931643 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931643 2008 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:49:45 -0800 Comment by Kent Cudgel @17 - McCain - Feingold, right?

]]> Kent Cudgel http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931770 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931770 2008 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 21:26:09 -0800 Comment by catalina vel-duray I don't know why people are so down on the caucus process. I've gone to several back in Iowa, and they are great fun.

Of course, a Seattle caucus does have much more potential for dreariness, misplaced anger, weeping, and poetry.

]]> catalina vel-duray http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931772 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931772 2008 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 21:28:24 -0800 Comment by elenchos Fun? Yes.

Democracy? Sorry. No.

If you want real democracy, the ballot must be secret.

]]> elenchos http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931827 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931827 2008 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 22:40:30 -0800 Comment by catalina vel-duray How is it not Democracy, elenchos? Why is a secret ballot required for Democracy, at least on the caucus level?

]]> catalina vel-duray http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931842 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931842 2008 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 23:09:44 -0800 Comment by hairyson Caucusing is like a town meeting: great for the 19th century village elders and non-drunkards to make decisions but pretty antiquated today.

Is the point of democracy to have fun? If so, caucusing does kinda accomplish that. But why else do it? 'Normal voting' entails privately marking ballot choices. Caucusing requires you have the fortitude to endure the opinions of your neighbors (however many choose to participate). sure, it's participatory in that undecideds and non-viable supporters get to be harangued/persuaded. I think the washington dem party continues to use the caucus (as do some 18 other rural/small states/protectorates) because it ensures that only the most dedicated democrats take the time to participate instead of the mass of rabble, and because it appeals to the independent/frontier streak in washingtonians.

We should have a national nominee voting (primary) day just like election day, so 70% of the country doesn't make up their minds based on the results of other states' votes.

]]> hairyson http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931854 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/a_caucusing_tip#c931854 2008 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 23:36:48 -0800