Campaign reform.
Not just that, but it’s high on my list. We need to fix a broken system.
Some required fixes:
1. End the caucuses. Secret ballot primaries only.
2. Regional primaries. Five of them, in rotation, beginning in February and ending in June. Iowa and New Hampshire can get in line with everyone else.
3. Closed primaries. Democrats should select our nominee.
4. Select the nominee by popular vote. Delegates should be used for other intra-party buisness at the convention, but let the voters select the nominee.
5. Campaign finance reform. The winner should not be selected based on who can raise the most obscene amount of money.
6. No more network debates. The party should sponsor and organize candidate forums and debates. Each candidate should receive equal time, beginning in random order. The cable and network news shows can cover them if they choose.
To accomplish #5 and #6, I would like to see the party develop fair and neutral criteria to select up to 10 candidates to begin the process. Candidates who participate will be funded through the party, and will not need to raise money individually. After each round of primaries, the lowest performing 1-2 candidates are eliminated, until there are only two candidates for the final primary.
This will prevent quality candidates from giving up merely because they can’t afford to keep running. No one should be allowed to buy the nomination. Not to mention that Iowa and New Hampshire shouldn’t be allowed to eliminate 70-80% of our choices.
Those are some of my ideas on campaign reform. Anyone else have any?
Front page
For me, he needs to apologize for Rhodes
diatribe and threatening delegates with primary challenges unless they supported him. He needs to swear that he will have a litmus test for judges and they must agree to protect Roe V Wade. Personally, I think if he’s elected, he’ll be the president that overturns it.
I’m just starting think the guy is a flat out sociopath. I’ve reached the point where I don’t think I can vote for him under any circumstances.
Quit the race
I dead serious. He isn’t a Democrat and has no business running as one.
Excellent proposals
I would add:
7. either paper ballots or electronic voting w/ paper backup.
8. Saturday and Sunday voting from 8am-11pm. There is absolutely no reason, other than dis-enfranchising working voters, to hold elections on Tuesdays w/ limited hours.
Myiqey,
whass up homey!
inmate# 745681
Nothing
I’m done after today’s Stoller (or was it Bowers) Open Left post, the S,N saga and the bribing attempt.
Shorter myiq2xu:
What does Obama need to do to get my vote? Give up all the six things that advantaged him the most in this nominating process. </snark>
Actually, I don’t know if there is anything Obama can do to get my vote. I have no trust that he will act as a strong, liberal Democrat. He’s hedged on Social Security and universal health care. He’s on the wrong side of tort reform. He has done appearances with a raging homophobe. And certainly not to be forgotten is how he’s shown disdain for the voters (exemplified in the MI/FL debacle, but also apparent in his campaign’s recent popular vote statement). He followed Clinton’s lead on policy issues during this process (his positions kept coming out about week after hers), which is not a promising trait for someone trying to sell themselves as a leader. Then there’s the fact that he and his campaign have smeared the Clintons, including false charges of racism, McCarthyism, etc.
I won’t vote for any Republican. But I really don’t see myself voting for him, either. There are good, solid Democrats I’ll support and work for. Barack Obama is not in that category.
Absolutely nothing
There is now no way he can get it. He long ago crossed the line when he decided to smear the Clintons as racists. I will never vote for anyone who could do such a contemptible thing to another democrat. As a candidate, he is dead to me.