2008 A Mess in Texas?
posted by on March 4 at 19:30 PM
The Clinton campaign held a conference call a short time ago to complain about the way Obama supporters have been conducting themselves at the Texas caucuses. And… an Obama campaign official ambushed the conference call, creating “possibly the most entertaining conference call in campaign history“—which, of course, you can listen to online.
But what about the Texas issues that the Clinton and Obama surrogates were arguing about? Ambinder says:
Objectively, the process seems very messy and the state party seems in over its head.
Josh Marshall adds:
There’s too much confusion and disinformation in the air to know what to believe and which side’s doing what, but the reports we’re getting from on the ground in Texas sound pretty wild: doors getting shut early with various folks locked out, various kinds of gaming of the process.If earlier caucuses in this cycle are any guide, a lot of this is the product of so many new caucusers who aren’t familiar with the rules, haven’t been through earlier cycles. But it looks like a contact sport on the ground tonight.
A prelude to the Clinton camp winning Ohio, losing the Texas primary, and challenging the validity of the Texas caucus results? And then calling the whole night a confusing draw that needs to be resolved in a less chaotic fashion on a night with only one contest? Say… the night of April 22 in Pennsylvania?
I just got home from my precinct convention, and it was run very fairly and transparently. IMHO, most of them will go like that regardless of how much complaining some people want to do. I mean it's not like we're Republicans, right?
I just listened. It's more like the turdiest conference call in history.
Can anyone explain the Texas caucus? Are you allowed to primary and caucus or is there some way for them to tell if you have voted and you can only caucus if you haven't already voted?
Caucuses are a complete mess and I would never choose this format. These things are a fickin' mess and someone who wanted to could totally manipulate the process. In my opinion they favor louder and more combatitive people.
@3, you can only participate in the caucus if you voted in the primary. I'm not sure how exactly they can tell that you've voted, probably from a sign-in sheet.
@5, that's retarded. So basically you're allowed to vote twice or not at all?
Dumb.
@6,
You can still vote in the primary and not participate in the caucus. It's a lot more fair than the other way around. Many people have time to vote in a primary but can't commit to several hours at a caucus.
God, this is turning into a giant mess (Thanks, Texas Democratic Party!). Just try and remember the main goal: Dem in the White House in '08. The worst thing we can do is tear ourselves apart over convoluted caucus/primary rules...
Note that both C and O have more votes in the primary than all of the Republicans put together.
You missed one of tomorrow's stories: how Republicans voted for Clinton en masse.
@7, sure more fair than the other way around but still dumb.
Two-thirds of the pledged delegates in Texas are decided by the primary that allows people to vote early for two weeks prior to election day. The "precinct conventions" require that you vote in the primary, and they require you to have proof that you voted (a stamped voter reg. card or receipt -- it's also kept in the voter log, so it is checked).
The precinct conventions provide delegates to the district/county conventions, which then have additional caucuses that send delegates to the state convention. The final count of delegates from the caucuses are determined at the State convention, so those results will not be available until June. So don't listen to "caucus" results in the news tomorrow, they're essentially meaningless.
I agree that it's a screwed up system, but it was actually intended to get Democrats involved in grass-roots efforts. At the precinct conventions people can introduce resolutions that are voted on at the State convention that end up becoming the party's platform. The "bonus vote" gives people incentive to attend.
All in all, the energy in the room tonight was great! I just hope these same people show up in November. Maybe Texas will turn a little purple for a change.
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