Jacksonville for Bernie Sanders

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

There has never been such a thing as "a wasted vote" in the history of the United States.

The "waste" if it exists, is not voting at all.

Since when did our vote count in a presidential election anyhow?

[The_Choose_1]

There has never been such a thing as "a wasted vote" in the history of the United States.

The "waste" if it exists, is not voting at all.

Since when did our vote count in a presidential election anyhow?

Obama won in 2008 and 2012?

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

hello......democratic process.  primaries, popular vote, electoral college.

Any idea why its set up that way?

Pretty sure it's set up that way so that the one's in charge can stay there.

I'm not going to argue politics or democratic process with anyone because it's pointless.  The system was set up in an era when it was unfeasible for the general public to have enough information in a timely manner to be able to make an informed choice.  That's completely not the case today and makes the electoral college a complete non-sensical entity, yet still remains the decision making body of who becomes the next president. 

The popular vote is nothing more than a wasteful exercise since the vote of the EC doesn't even have to consider what the 'majority' wants.  You have to go back to 1968 to find a 3rd party candidate who even registered a vote from the EC.   You guys debate on, I'll follow along, but unless you're proposing a change to the system itself, you're wasting time with the discussion.

[finehoe]

The system was set up in an era when it was unfeasible for the general public to have enough information in a timely manner to be able to make an informed choice.  That's completely not the case today ...

That's a debatable point.

[urbanlibertarian]

Since the revolution, states with small populations have feared (rightly so IMO) being an afterthought on the national stage.  Is the U.S. one nation or a federation of 50 states?  The trend has been away from B and towards A.  Government power has been slowly flowing towards Washington and away from state governments and the people.

[Adam White]

Government power has been slowly flowing towards Washington and away from state governments and the people.

I think you're making a logical leap there. Power has been moving from the States to the Federal government, yes. But to equate the States and "the people" is inaccurate.

Edit: it's also worth pointing out that as power has moved to Washington, it has oftentimes resulted in more power/rights for the "people" as discriminatory State laws have been overturned.

[UNFurbanist]

^I agree. Almost no one even bothers to turn out in state elections it seems. National elections however get much "larger turn out" at around 60%.

[Tacachale]

Government power has been slowly flowing towards Washington and away from state governments and the people.

I think you're making a logical leap there. Power has been moving from the States to the Federal government, yes. But to equate the States and "the people" is inaccurate.

Edit: it's also worth pointing out that as power has moved to Washington, it has oftentimes resulted in more power/rights for the "people" as discriminatory State laws have been overturned.

This has definitely been true in many cases, particularly in the South where state power has frequently been used to deny rights of large segments of the population. Or at least, federal power has allowed us to channel a national consensus regarding civil rights over the power of localized majorities.

[Adam White]

Government power has been slowly flowing towards Washington and away from state governments and the people.

I think you're making a logical leap there. Power has been moving from the States to the Federal government, yes. But to equate the States and "the people" is inaccurate.

Edit: it's also worth pointing out that as power has moved to Washington, it has oftentimes resulted in more power/rights for the "people" as discriminatory State laws have been overturned.

This has definitely been true in many cases, particularly in the South where state power has frequently been used to deny rights of large segments of the population. Or at least, federal power has allowed us to channel a national consensus regarding civil rights over the power of localized majorities.

I often find the arguments in favor of States' rights to be more about denying rights to people than extending them. I think it's fair to say that the Federal government has done a lot to protect rights and enfranchise people. And that States aren't necessarily more benevolent.

[finehoe]

Bernie Sanders Continues to Draw the Biggest Crowds of Any 2016 Candidate

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is still drawing some of largest crowds on the campaign trail, as evidenced by the 11,000 people who turned up to hear the Vermont senator and self-described independent socialist speak at the Phoenix Convention Center on Saturday, according to reports. He had appeared there earlier that day as part of the progressive Netroots Nation convention. The turnout broke Sanders's previous record, some 10,000 at an rally in Madison earlier this month, which was heralded as the largest crowd any 2016 candidate had attracted yet.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump spoke at the very same venue on Saturday, and drew roughly half as many attendees as Sanders did.

http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-07-19/bernie-sanders-continues-to-draw-the-biggest-crowds-of-any-2016-candidate

[ben america]

We're talking about party primaries. Why is anyone even discussing Electoral College?

Thanks for the discussion. Apparently 98 people showing up 8 months before the primaries isn't news to the institutional media.

[simms3]

hmm.  maybe you should crack open a civics book, and lay off the daytime television.

Stephendare your not a person I look up to. And I don't need civic lessons from you. But Thanks

It doesn't matter who you look up.  You can still be looked down on.

The recommendation still stands.  Try reading a civics book before you pontificate on 'wasted' votes during a primary process.  You might sound less....welll....less.

I got a chuckle in.

I am voting for Bernie.  Hillary will secure a vote from me only if she wins the Democratic primary.    I'm pretty sure that come debate season, she will only sound more and more like a typical politician and less and less like a real person.  Follow the money.  On the issues that matter to me, Bernie, in his old, wisened, and experienced age, has pretty much unwavered.  Hillary, meanwhile, has dropped on her knees it seems like so many times to "win" so many popular votes as of late.  I can't vote for for a seasoned Democrat politician who came out in favor of gay marriage years after I did in my young age raised in the closet in a Republican Christian household in Jacksonville.  I need someone who's been there all along and has had no real excuses not to be in favor of it for at least a couple decades.  And is Hillary really for it, or does she frankly not care two shits but it makes her popular with an en vogue demographic/topic du jour?  I'm not buying what she's selling.  I actually know of the guy who create the I Bottom for Hillary meme/tanks/t-shirts.  She really secured that vote and it definitely helps her that she is a woman, but damn, she's fake as hell!

Nevermind her atrocious stance on TPP and free trade in general (along with Obama and the Republicans).  And those who think her "experience" and White House connections will allow her to handle the Presidency with more ease and bridge any aisles with Republicans better than Bernie - you have another thing coming.  She ain't no Bill, that's for sure.  I think she's quite weak under pressure and is quite disagreeable (her sort of ball busting attitude is probably what has helped get her where she is, but make no mistake, I don't think she's "respected" as much as she would like to think she is).

I'm really hoping people get turnt up for Bernie...he's at least the real deal and you know exactly what you're going to get.  And I happen to like his politics more, so 2-for-1 for me.  Maybe Elizabeth Warren will run and steal the "I want to vote for the 1st woman president" sentiment away from Hillary! 

[finehoe]

^^^Oh my goodness, we're in perfect agreement.

Will wonders never cease?   

[fsquid]

Bernie is polling at 2% with blacks, he has no chance.

[The_Choose_1]

Bernie is polling at 2% with blacks, he has no chance.

Good! Good!