God help us, it's an election year.

[Jeff Boettcher]

Iowa & New Hampshire are currently being swamped by political sound bites by all the presidential wannabe's. Why should they be the first states to be dumped on? Why aren't all the state primaries held on the same day??

By the time the first few primaries are complete, several candidates that the rest of the country may have thought to be acceptable have dropped out if they lost out in the initial votes. Why should the "early states" dictate the choices of the rest of the country???

[Old Scout]

Jeff makes a good point. Why should the corn state and the eastern liberals decide who is going to continue in the race. I think they should all be held in the spring like the other April elections.

April 1st would be a good date for a couple of reasons. (April fools day for one) That way it would all be over at the same time and we wouldn't have to hear a lot from them until after the conventions.
At least we would have a couple of months of peace and quiet.

[Michael Richardson]

I see what you guys are saying, but I don't necessarily know how much impact they really have on the entire process. The press make a big deal out of the Iowa Caucus and the New Hampshire primary, because there is a feeling that the results may be very 'typical' of the nationwide results since the voting populous of those two states may, in some eyes, be seen as a typical cross section of America. (Iowa may be more the Republicans cross sections and Hew Hampshire the Dems.

The results in Iowa haven't even been all that accurate as an indicator.

For the Dems:

In 1972 and 1976 "Uncommitted" carried the vote (the eventual nominees received less then 30% of the vote.
In 1988 Dick Gephardt blew Michael Dukakis out of the water.
In 1992 Iowa Native Tom Harkin thumped everyone (Bill Clinton got 3%)

For the GOP:

1980: G.H. W. Bush edges out Ronald Reagan
1988 Bob Dole and Pat Robertson beat G.H.W. Bush



Now for when these are held, the states set up the dates, and has a good deal to do with economics. Would Iowa make any money if their caucus was held on the same day as anywhere else on earth? No way. As it is, the state stands to bring in a ton of revenue, so there would be no motivation for them to move the date. Plus candidates don't have to try to spread their campaigns too thin.

It does get very overwhelming though, living in those states. Over the last three election cycles I lived in Iowa, and the senses get overloaded. The phone calls were the worst. The answering machine would be filled with prerecorded celebrities asking for a certain candidates vote.

Good luck to all in the upcoming election season.

[Jeff Boettcher]

Interesting stats Michael. However much like the western states hearing about exit polls coming out of the rest of the country during past presidential elections, I think that early primaries can exclude potential candidates from getiing a fair hearing in later primaries. (Both in funding and votes)

My wish would be for the campaigns to kick off in January of the election year with a national primary in July. The winners then have four months to promise us the world before the election.

[Jeff Boettcher]

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Come on now. There is no one in the Northwoods that has an opinion on electing a woman, an african-american, a southern baptist, a morman, a Viet Nam Vet, or a druid to the highest post in the land?? Is no one is upset that their choice may drop out too soon for them to place a vote for their candidate?

McCain & Clinton won the NH primary. Is it because Nor'easters are flamin' liberals that Clinton won the democratic side? Is it Northeast common sense to vote for McCain? Is Ron Paul the Ross Perot of this election??

[Deb Richardson]

I don't consider myself political. I certainly don't follow polictics as closely as some on this board. I feel the last four, OK eight years haven't been the best for our country. I'm scared at what I am seeing for prospects, I don't see strong leadership. To me it doesn't matter if we have a woman, a black, or even a black woman, as long as they exhibit strong leadership. There has to be someone out there with stronger leadership skills. I think we're in big trouble. I know this is pretty week and basic, it's just the feeling I get watching the nightly news.

It seems that there are more Ron Paul supporters in the southern part of WI judging by the signage nearer to Madison or maybe just one zealot.

[Jeff Boettcher]

Deb,
I don't really believe that any of us truly knows what's going on, especially behind the scenes. As you say, there really isn't an obvious LEADER in the bunch. Unless a person is a hard core democrat or republican, it seems like the rest of us wind up choosing who we will believe to be the lesser of two evils.

Old Scout for President as a member of the "All Night Party"!!!
Brian for V.P.!
Medic DVG for Sec. of Health!
Kerry for Sec. of State. (After all, he diplomatically puts up with all of us!)

[Kerry Tobin]

Hmm, Sec. of State could be a great launch pad for my future run for Prez!!!

[Jeff Boettcher]

Go for it Kerry! You'd have my vote.

And KMartell for Sec. of Education!

[Old Scout]

The all night party, Now I like that idea

[Jeff Boettcher]

Campaign HQ at the Pine Tree.

Slogan: A steak sandwich in every hand!

[Old Scout]

And Don't forget a Cold Beer for desert

[Jeff Boettcher]

That's a proper assumption in my book!

I'll ask you to nominate me to be the Secretary of Beer after your election to the presidency.

[Jeff Boettcher]

Hey Kerry/future Sec. of State/Further into the future President,

What's up with the time stamp on our posts? I'm in bed by the time most of my posts are dated & "timed" to have been posted. Example is this string where it's been around 10 - 11 PM that we've all been active, yet the date stamp says it's after midnight.

As a future Presidential candidate, do you want to be known as a past midnight internet cruiser??? (After all, any internet activity after midnight must be in the pursuit of porn!)

[Jeff Boettcher]

My bad. I hadn't gone to User Control Panel to set my time zone. My posts were date stamped w/ GMT not CST.

It's tough getting senile!

[Jeff Boettcher]

Did you know that Great Britain voters have the option of voting for "none of the above"? It's called "spoiling your ballot". A tempting option if it meant that if no one received a majority vote, start over with new candidates.

I still hold fast to the opinion that all primaries should be held on the same day. Some of the "fringe" candidates who may make sense get eliminated in the first few primaries because they don't have big $$$ or the behind the scene, influential backing. We as a nation might be losing our best alternative candidates.