Comments on: My Washington State Caucus Experience http://www.theseattletraveler.com/2008/02/my-washington-state-caucus-experience/ Mon, 28 Sep 2009 04:51:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: The Chesapeake Primary is Today http://www.theseattletraveler.com/2008/02/my-washington-state-caucus-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-568 The Chesapeake Primary is Today Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:09:06 +0000 http://www.theseattletraveler.com/my-washington-state-caucus-experience/#comment-568 [...] Luckily, I’ve always lived in states that had elections, not a caucus. So the caucus process has always been a bit of a mystery to me.  And if you think you’d prefer the caucus process over a primary; where you might have a chance to convince your neighbors why your candidate is the best for the job; think again. Check out the disastrous caucus experience that Mary Jo recently had in Washington state, at The Seattle Traveler. [...] [...] Luckily, I’ve always lived in states that had elections, not a caucus. So the caucus process has always been a bit of a mystery to me.  And if you think you’d prefer the caucus process over a primary; where you might have a chance to convince your neighbors why your candidate is the best for the job; think again. Check out the disastrous caucus experience that Mary Jo recently had in Washington state, at The Seattle Traveler. [...]

]]> By: Debby http://www.theseattletraveler.com/2008/02/my-washington-state-caucus-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-513 Debby Sun, 10 Feb 2008 20:45:11 +0000 http://www.theseattletraveler.com/my-washington-state-caucus-experience/#comment-513 I live on Bainbridge Island. We had at least eight precincts meeting at the Middle School. My precinct had over 250 people show up and we were only one of three meeting in the gym. We tried to follow the process but the only real discussion had to happen one on one because of the noise level. People could and did change their minds but the whole thing was wild. In the future, among other things, there needs to be handicapped seating available and some way of having small group discussions I live on Bainbridge Island. We had at least eight precincts meeting at the Middle School. My precinct had over 250 people show up and we were only one of three meeting in the gym. We tried to follow the process but the only real discussion had to happen one on one because of the noise level. People could and did change their minds but the whole thing was wild.

In the future, among other things, there needs to be handicapped seating available and some way of having small group discussions

]]> By: Mary Jo http://www.theseattletraveler.com/2008/02/my-washington-state-caucus-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-464 Mary Jo Sun, 10 Feb 2008 16:13:44 +0000 http://www.theseattletraveler.com/my-washington-state-caucus-experience/#comment-464 John - Yes, I believe we were at the same caucus. The woman on the chair told some of the folks that she was a lawyer there to oversee the process. Perhaps she was a "trained election worker." If so, she should have known how to run the caucus, and her actions are even more disgraceful. Shame on her. Since nothing that occurred would have changed the results (except maybe for the teenagers leaving prior to the call to order), it may just be a case of "no blood, no foul." Still, I felt better about it when I believed it was just neighbors trying to do the best that they could. John – Yes, I believe we were at the same caucus.

The woman on the chair told some of the folks that she was a lawyer there to oversee the process. Perhaps she was a “trained election worker.” If so, she should have known how to run the caucus, and her actions are even more disgraceful. Shame on her.

Since nothing that occurred would have changed the results (except maybe for the teenagers leaving prior to the call to order), it may just be a case of “no blood, no foul.”

Still, I felt better about it when I believed it was just neighbors trying to do the best that they could.

]]> By: Steve B http://www.theseattletraveler.com/2008/02/my-washington-state-caucus-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-472 Steve B Sun, 10 Feb 2008 12:37:02 +0000 http://www.theseattletraveler.com/my-washington-state-caucus-experience/#comment-472 I'm certainly glad that I almost got to participate in Democratic democracy. I was late by 4 minutes. I arrive at my caucus location at 1:34 and was informed that the vote had already been taken. This would have been a joke but it was not funny. Why were the caucuses from 1:00 to 5:00 when the important vote was taken at 1:30? Further, I see no reason why the state is spending the millions of dollars to hold the primary elections when the Democratic party does not use the results at all in choosing its candidates. My experience was very frustrating, distasteful. and furthered my belief that the Democratic party does not want or care to hear from the Washington citizens. I’m certainly glad that I almost got to participate in Democratic democracy. I was late by 4 minutes. I arrive at my caucus location at 1:34 and was informed that the vote had already been taken. This would have been a joke but it was not funny. Why were the caucuses from 1:00 to 5:00 when the important vote was taken at 1:30?

Further, I see no reason why the state is spending the millions of dollars to hold the primary elections when the Democratic party does not use the results at all in choosing its candidates.

My experience was very frustrating, distasteful. and furthered my belief that the Democratic party does not want or care to hear from the Washington citizens.

]]> By: John http://www.theseattletraveler.com/2008/02/my-washington-state-caucus-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-471 John Sun, 10 Feb 2008 08:26:38 +0000 http://www.theseattletraveler.com/my-washington-state-caucus-experience/#comment-471 We were at the same caucus I believe, and the biggest problem was the lack of room in the Church. There was no practical way to have a discussion in a small crowded hallway. The person standing on the chair was trained as an election worker and was helpful, but didn't do anything to encourage more discussion. Some people were in a hurry and pushed to end the process. This was a great experience and hopefully it will result in more support for the party next time around. We were at the same caucus I believe, and the biggest problem was the lack of room in the Church. There was no practical way to have a discussion in a small crowded hallway. The person standing on the chair was trained as an election worker and was helpful, but didn’t do anything to encourage more discussion. Some people were in a hurry and pushed to end the process. This was a great experience and hopefully it will result in more support for the party next time around.

]]> By: Mary Jo http://www.theseattletraveler.com/2008/02/my-washington-state-caucus-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-474 Mary Jo Sun, 10 Feb 2008 05:03:39 +0000 http://www.theseattletraveler.com/my-washington-state-caucus-experience/#comment-474 You're right, Jennifer, there seemed to be a lot of variation in the rules, and who knows what was really follolwed at each caucus. (I did get a kick out of the mental picture of your six year old driving home, though!) I watched some election news on television, and I know that what happened at other locations was different from my own experience. Or maybe, because there were television cameras there, the effort was made to get organized and make things look good. Regardless of the disorganization of the group and the process, I'm glad that I went. You’re right, Jennifer, there seemed to be a lot of variation in the rules, and who knows what was really follolwed at each caucus. (I did get a kick out of the mental picture of your six year old driving home, though!)

I watched some election news on television, and I know that what happened at other locations was different from my own experience. Or maybe, because there were television cameras there, the effort was made to get organized and make things look good.

Regardless of the disorganization of the group and the process, I’m glad that I went.

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.theseattletraveler.com/2008/02/my-washington-state-caucus-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-473 Jennifer Sun, 10 Feb 2008 04:49:09 +0000 http://www.theseattletraveler.com/my-washington-state-caucus-experience/#comment-473 Interesting to hear about your area of WA. Here's my issue with the state caucuses. Many seem to be listing rules like, kids are welcome, but may be turned away if we're too crowded. I've talked to parents in a couple states who noted this. So, that's sort of an issue, since obviously, I'm not sending my six year old off to drive home if they want him to leave. That's not very friendly towards families who have to bring their kids places with them. I think they need to make it a priority from the start to get kids interested in politics anyhow. But, that's just a view from one mama. I like your take on why it was so disorganized though, interesting stuff. Interesting to hear about your area of WA. Here’s my issue with the state caucuses. Many seem to be listing rules like, kids are welcome, but may be turned away if we’re too crowded. I’ve talked to parents in a couple states who noted this.

So, that’s sort of an issue, since obviously, I’m not sending my six year old off to drive home if they want him to leave. That’s not very friendly towards families who have to bring their kids places with them. I think they need to make it a priority from the start to get kids interested in politics anyhow. But, that’s just a view from one mama.

I like your take on why it was so disorganized though, interesting stuff.

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