Slog
News & ArtsWednesday, February 8, 2012
2012 / Election I Pick Rick!
Posted by Goldy on Wed, Feb 8, 2012 at 12:01 PM
I know that Rob McKenna and other Republicans say I'm a "partisan hack," but I'm determined to prove them wrong. That's why I intend to caucus with Republicans on Saturday, March 3, and cast my vote for Rick Santorum. And I invite all of our readers here on Slog to do the same.
The Washington State Republican Party will choose all of its 40 national delegates via the caucus system this year (you can learn all the details at the Washington State Republican Party Caucus official Tumblr page), a caucus that's open to all registered voters regardless of party preference. And as the only presidential caucus or primary scheduled on that particular slow weekend news day, you can be sure that Washington's caucus will get a fair bit of national attention.
Can your vote really make a difference? Well, in many Seattle precincts, where Republicans are scarce, absolutely. For example, my caucus, along with those of God knows how many other precincts, will be held at Cafe Ibex, delicious Ethiopian fare, but not exactly a huge location. So just a handful of like-minded Santorum supporters could easily flip the precinct in his direction, plus guarantee that some of us enjoy the honor of being selected as delegates to the county convention (possibly my only shot at getting credentialed to an official Republican event).
No, petty, childish machinations like this probably can't cost Mitt Romney the nomination, but it sure is fun trying. So please join me in caucusing for Rick Santorum. Together, we can help turn Washington brown.
1
Just the GOP tried to do back in 2008 during the nominating process for the Democrats and everyone on the left got pissed off about! OUTSTANDING!!!!
2
Legally, there is no such thing as party preference in this state: Washington has registered voters, not registered partisans.
So yeah, I'm totally up for this.
So yeah, I'm totally up for this.
3
I'm pretty sure the Stranger recommended doing this in 2000 for George Bush, due to his perceived unelectability, AND LOOK WHERE THAT GOT US.
Santorum is terrifying. Please don't help him.
Santorum is terrifying. Please don't help him.
5
I'm not convinced this is a smart move. The Republicans are doing a fine job imploding on their own, and don't need help from the likes of you. Plus, when you do this sort of thing and then blog all about it, you really open up the whole voting process to charges of manipulation. With these clowns doing everything they can to disenfranchise Democratic voters, why provide them with more ammunition?
Finally, with Romney being so apparently repellent to Republican voters, are you sure that Santorum is really the safer pick?
Go and cover the caucus like a journalist if you like, but it seems like it would serve us all better if you kept your hands clean.
Finally, with Romney being so apparently repellent to Republican voters, are you sure that Santorum is really the safer pick?
Go and cover the caucus like a journalist if you like, but it seems like it would serve us all better if you kept your hands clean.
7
I've been thinking about caucusing for months, but I'm still wrestling with that part about signing my name to a piece of paper that says I consider myself a Republican. I'm not sure I can do that in good conscience. Or with food in my stomach.
I'm also not sure I want to kill a Saturday morning on a non-binding straw poll.
I'm also not sure I want to kill a Saturday morning on a non-binding straw poll.
8
@5 The whole process is already open to manipulation. What we really need is just partisan registration so the parties can nominate their candidates as they want.
I am all for making a mockery of things that are already mockeries.
I am all for making a mockery of things that are already mockeries.
9
Seriously, for the love of democracy, don't be this kind of cynical asshole. It is better for our country to have the best candidates from each party be the presidential nominees. It heightens the level of political discourse and it lessens the potential to have a complete horrifying lunatic actually in charge of the country. If you place any value in the American political process, advocate what you actually advocate. Don't smugly undermine an already struggling process that we should all be trying to make better.
10
@3 I share your trepidation (although I am taking quiet glee from the nomination madness right now).
I think, rather than play political shenanigans, we should all just meet up for Ethiopian food.
I think, rather than play political shenanigans, we should all just meet up for Ethiopian food.
11
Cafe Ibex, eh? I just looked mine up. I live all the way down in Renton and I'm ALSO at Cafe Ibex. Either they don't expect much turn out at all or that place is going to be packed. I look forward to a hilarious time. I'll be listening to the Dan Savage at the convention This American Life episode a couple times between now and then.
14
I'm with #7.
Also, having grown up among white-shoe Republicans, I could maybe pull off pretending to be a Romney supporter, but a Santorum supporter? I can't fake that kind of crazy.
Also, having grown up among white-shoe Republicans, I could maybe pull off pretending to be a Romney supporter, but a Santorum supporter? I can't fake that kind of crazy.
15
Wow...I never realized just how small a precinct actually is. I just looked mine up on a map and it is literally four city blocks. There are others in Capitol Hill that are as small as two.
I have a feeling that if I showed up, I might actually be the only person from my precinct who did.
I have a feeling that if I showed up, I might actually be the only person from my precinct who did.
16
signing my name to a piece of paper that says I consider myself a Republican
But would the paper say that? Or would it be like the ballot, which I think says "prefers Republican"? That might solve your dilemma for you, if you like parsing words.
But would the paper say that? Or would it be like the ballot, which I think says "prefers Republican"? That might solve your dilemma for you, if you like parsing words.
17
I think my precinct caucus meeting place is at a private residence. I'm not too comfortable going into someone's private home under a false pretense. Although, if there is cookies and or food/drinks then I might go. But I'm not signing anything.
19
As a Democratic PCO, I wouldn't follow Goldy's example. We've talked about it many times, and he understands my position.
That said, giffy @8 has it pegged. The idiotic Washington wet dream over the blanket primary has led to something even worse -- the Cajun primary. The "Washington way" is itself a far larger mockery than anything Goldy could possibly do to demonstrate the reductio ad absurdum that the stupid system fosters.
That said, giffy @8 has it pegged. The idiotic Washington wet dream over the blanket primary has led to something even worse -- the Cajun primary. The "Washington way" is itself a far larger mockery than anything Goldy could possibly do to demonstrate the reductio ad absurdum that the stupid system fosters.
20
From the WA GOP page:
"To participate in the caucus, you need to be registered to vote, and be willing to sign a form that you “consider yourself to be a republican” and you will not be participating in any other parties nominating caucus this year."
If the non-capitalization of "republican" was intentional, I have no problem signing that. I believe in the rule of law!
But if they really mean "Republican" I'm not sure I can do that.
For my part, I'd be going to express an honest preference (among abysmal alternatives), not to screw with the process. But that's me. I think cynicism in voting is an entirely legitimate expression.
"To participate in the caucus, you need to be registered to vote, and be willing to sign a form that you “consider yourself to be a republican” and you will not be participating in any other parties nominating caucus this year."
If the non-capitalization of "republican" was intentional, I have no problem signing that. I believe in the rule of law!
But if they really mean "Republican" I'm not sure I can do that.
For my part, I'd be going to express an honest preference (among abysmal alternatives), not to screw with the process. But that's me. I think cynicism in voting is an entirely legitimate expression.
21
I just got a flashback to 1999, when The Stranger advised voting for a certain George W. Bush in the WA state caucus, 'cause, he couldn't possible win in the general... Just sayin'.
23
Hell no. I'm not spending my precious weekend time sitting in a room with a bunch of mouth-breathing conservatives, listening to white, male, upper middle-class college students extol the virtues of Ron Paul, Ethiopian food or not.
24
@20 Ambiguities in contracts are construed against the drafter. So pick whatever you think worst for the r(R)epublicans and go for it.
25
Here is a how to youtube video on How to Fake French
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edYHlnhxy…
Maybe I can use it's lessons and apply them in how to fake republican.
Step 1: Drink wine. (Do republicans drink wine?)
Step 2: Make sounds with your mouth to show signs of agreement. (I'll make sure to include lost of splattering saliva)
Step 3: Eat if possible, to avoid having to speak. (Easy)
Step 4: Use swear words to emphasize approval. (Might be a bit difficult)
Step 5: When in doubt, just try to blend in. (Might be another problem to deal with as I don't own khaki pants)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edYHlnhxy…
Maybe I can use it's lessons and apply them in how to fake republican.
Step 1: Drink wine. (Do republicans drink wine?)
Step 2: Make sounds with your mouth to show signs of agreement. (I'll make sure to include lost of splattering saliva)
Step 3: Eat if possible, to avoid having to speak. (Easy)
Step 4: Use swear words to emphasize approval. (Might be a bit difficult)
Step 5: When in doubt, just try to blend in. (Might be another problem to deal with as I don't own khaki pants)
26
I dont understand. How can the republicans meet at an Ethiopian cafe? Dont they know that many ethiopians are black?
28
How amusing. I live in the middle of the Hill, and my caucus location is Roosevelt High School. Clearly not expecting much of a turnout.
30
You're expected to show around 9:30 AM. On a Saturday. No wonder participants are ancient and Republican caucuses favor uber-conservatives.
31
This may be one of those "Hate the game not the player" sort of situations. Goldy didn't write the rules; he's just taking advantage of them. Is the real problem that he and some other like-minded folks might subvert the process? Or is the problem that the process is open to subversion?
On the other hand, can any sort of "honor system" work if people don't honor it? Do we have to write all kinds of rules to restrict folks from doing mischievous harm like this? Shouldn't it be enough to just discourage Goldy (and others) from being a jerk? Shouldn't Goldy (and others) just choose by themselves not to be jerks? Is this the political equivalent of taking all of the change out of the "Have a penny leave a penny, need a penny take a penny" dish at the cash register?
Back on Goldy's side of the question, maybe if the Republicans didn't tweak us in a thousand petty ways we wouldn't be interested in tweaking them in a thousand petty ways. And, beyond that, maybe if they didn't horribly distort the entire political process in truly significant ways (Citizens United, superPACs, etc.), we wouldn't be inspired to distort it in the tiny ways that are in our price range.
There is merit on both sides of this argument.
More than anything else, I might go just so I could actually see these people face-to-face. It would be like going to the zoo. I'd get to see something totally exotic and alien: a real live Ron Paul supporter or a real live Mitt Romney supporter. And not just see them, but actually talk to them and exchange ideas with them. I would love to hear how they rationalize their positions. I could only do that under the cover of acting as a Rick Santorum supporter because I would not have to provide any rational basis for that support. I would only have to say that my faith led me to it.
More...
On the other hand, can any sort of "honor system" work if people don't honor it? Do we have to write all kinds of rules to restrict folks from doing mischievous harm like this? Shouldn't it be enough to just discourage Goldy (and others) from being a jerk? Shouldn't Goldy (and others) just choose by themselves not to be jerks? Is this the political equivalent of taking all of the change out of the "Have a penny leave a penny, need a penny take a penny" dish at the cash register?
Back on Goldy's side of the question, maybe if the Republicans didn't tweak us in a thousand petty ways we wouldn't be interested in tweaking them in a thousand petty ways. And, beyond that, maybe if they didn't horribly distort the entire political process in truly significant ways (Citizens United, superPACs, etc.), we wouldn't be inspired to distort it in the tiny ways that are in our price range.
There is merit on both sides of this argument.
More than anything else, I might go just so I could actually see these people face-to-face. It would be like going to the zoo. I'd get to see something totally exotic and alien: a real live Ron Paul supporter or a real live Mitt Romney supporter. And not just see them, but actually talk to them and exchange ideas with them. I would love to hear how they rationalize their positions. I could only do that under the cover of acting as a Rick Santorum supporter because I would not have to provide any rational basis for that support. I would only have to say that my faith led me to it.
32
Boy, 9:30 on a Saturday morning. They aren't going to get any Orthodox Jews with that scheduling. Anti-semites. Why don't they schedule it at 11:00 on a Sunday?
33
Cast your vote for Ron Paul and drive the Repugs cra-a-a-zeeeeeee!
What if he wins several precincts?
What if he wins several precincts?
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