What is your thought on open primary elections?

1. 65

   Johnny James Aposted 8 years ago

   What is your thought on open primary elections?
   
   Currently 20 states have open presidential primaries with varying levels of openness. Some states allow you to vote for either the Democrat or Republican candidate regardless of party affiliation; others only allow the unaffiliated/un-enrolled or Independents to vote in a primary for other party races.  What is your opinion on this, and do you think this opens up issues where a party purposely help choose a poor candidate for their opposing party in order to better win the general election? There is no evidence this has occurred, but do you fear this in the future.

   replyreport
2. 91

   lions44posted 8 years ago

   As a Republican, it has hurt my party more than the Dems. It gave us Trump. And it appears we are going down in flames. 
   
   I used to favor it, but now I'm ambivalent about it.  From my perspective, it's not fair to those of us who have worked within the Party for so many years.  I know the original argument is that it would bring us candidates that the vast majority of Americans would want and respect. But this year, we have 2 candidates that everyone seems to hate. So what good did it do?
   
   I don't think it is used by the other party to sabotage the primary.  There's not enough people who are that passionate to participate.  But the system has to be looked at from all sides, both the primary and general.

   replyreport
   1. 50

      bradmasterOCcalposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Your party is giving the election to Hillary.
      Paul Ryan, Ted Cruz, Mark Rubio. What a pathetic group of republicans. All three are losers. What have they done for the good of the party or the people? Nothing.

      replyreport
   2. 91

      lions44posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Brad, if you can't win, you can't change things.  And Trump is looking at an historic defeat.  At this rate, Hillary might make it to 350 electoral votes. Don't blame my party.  Blame the candidate.  I knew you guys would claim "enemy within."

      replyreport
   3. 50

      bradmasterOCcalposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Loyal party voters are dumb, and they let a dumb party make their decisions for them. It is We the People, NOT We the Party. This applies to both parties.
      Neither party has the solutions, and they both cause the problems.
      It is the party, not Trump.

      replyreport
3. 50

   bradmasterOCcalposted 8 years ago

   I would like to see both parties on the same ballot, and the voter can pick which candidate they like rather than which party. They would have one vote, so they can't do damage party wise.
   This year has shown how ridiculous both parties and the primary itself have become.
   Both parties have made gridlock the SOP, and as long as people are loyal to their party, they are being disloyal to their country.
   How can the country move forward when the party is only interested in undoing what the other party has done. Check the lack of forward movement since the 70s.
   A loyal party voter is using faith in the party rather than independent intelligence.

   replyreport
   1. 91

      lions44posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Brad, I take offense to that. I'm an intelligent who knows the issues inside and out.; more than the average voter. I vote GOP because I agree with them on the issues. 
      There are differences, most notably the Supreme Court.

      replyreport
   2. 50

      bradmasterOCcalposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      It isn't real smart to limit your choices for who get elected. The results of voting for the party are verifiable. The parties are the problem, and the loyal party voters are enablers. Gridlock is the result of two parties that have opposite goals

      replyreport
4. 70

   Old-Empresarioposted 8 years ago

   My thought is that if there had been more open primary elections, Bernie Sanders would be the Democratic nominee. Clinton cheated to win.

   replyreport
   1. 65

      Johnny James Aposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      You bring up a good point that I might make a separate discussion question.  Democrats use Super Delegates in their selection process, who are not selected via votes.  What is your feeling on Super Delegates and should we revamp this, and how?

      replyreport