Just got back from our Caucus in Henderson Nevada...what a cluster fuck...

First I want to say - the Hillary and Obama people are some of the nicest people I have ever met - every single one of them.

The Edwards people were extremely bitter and sore loser type people - every single one of them - all ten.

It was like a High School pep rally at the beginning - guess that's because we were in the main gymnasium of the local high school
BUT: THERE WAS NO FUCKING ORGANIZATION AT ALL.

I came to just vote - and ended up MC'ing the event.
NO official from the elections commission was present.
Hillary supporters got there first and put up the signs and set up the tables.
The Obama people didn't show up for another hour or so.
It seemed unseemly to have only Hillary people at the official sign-in tables with their T-shirts, signs, etc.
Eventually the signs came down.
Obama and Edwards people had shirts and signs, too.

ONE map for the precinct - LOTS of people were lost - you mean they can't copy a few DOZEN in case they're lost?
MANY people got mad and left even before signing-in because they weren't told RIGHT AWAY where they were to go for the different precincts.
The precints for this caucus were different than the one we normally vote in.

It was FAR too "casual" for such an important event.
We disbanded after everyone grouped into voting "blocks" - without voting for delegates...
NO accomodations were made for the Handicapped other than sitting on the bleachers - how were they supposed to "move into groups"?

Not enough "ballots" were printed - we had to do a hand count that was far from organized.
The whole thing was very chaotic - hard to hear anybody after the first grouping.

Any "help" numbers were to the Obama or Clinton campaigns - not a neutral election office or official - and since there were overwhelming problems - the line was usually "busy"...

Hear the same discriptions for the other caucus groups - we were split up into precincts in different rooms - some in the cafeteria, some in the other gym, some in the library, theater, etc.

I showed up early to JUST PARTICIPATE and ended up MC'ing our group and trying to bring some order to the chaos - where was the training? Where were the moderators in case someone had complaints?

I don't know...it could have been handled a LOT better if you ask me...

But - I am proud of the Obama and Hillary PEOPLE - in person - every single one is a credit to their respective campaigns and did their utmost to make this mess work.

And - we're UNITED in our HATRED and PASSION against the repukes - so if the idiot media whores think that just because we're fighting hard for each or our preferred candidate - we're UNITED as DEMOCRATS - and they got another thing comming if they are hoping that ANYBODY - even ONE of those who participated today - would vote for ANY of their repukes!

all that functions within our government. :shrug:

Maybe we can try to stay on topic for a few seconds?

He's our next President of the United States (all three)

I want someone that will enforce the U.S. Government’s Political Party regulating its enforcements itself with its regulations pretaining to itself and according to its enforcements

Who will enforce the U.S. Government’s Executive Branch Regulating its enforcements itself with its regulations pertaining to itself and according to its enforcements?

And then the little shrug guy! LOL, it is perfect!

we're caucusing in NM for the first time but thankfully the State party is coming down next week to 'train' us how to run it in our county...


:scared:

thanks for helping out tank, democracy in action yanno? :yourock:

don't assume "somebody else" will be there to make sure it will go OK like I did...

sigh...

at all three caucus sites at some point during the day......

it's me and the County Chair that will be the 'go to' people for the caucus goers

:scared:

It sounds disappointing. I'm glad you were there to do your part. :hi:

because I just got back from the caucus--in our small precinct the Edwards people were joking and not bitter at all-disappointed, yes-bitter,no. Since our precinct didn't have the numbers for Edwards, we were told we could caucus with either Obama or Clinton. Two went to Clinton's side and eight went to Obama. Sorry you had a problem with those sore loser Edwards people. :sarcasm:

I'd have been bitter if I were them, also...

Sounds like a complete failure.

I'm sorry that you had to experience that.

Were they basically equal or was there a clear O or H majority?

Thanks for the field report! :hi:

But I made plenty of new friends there this morning/afternoon...

like I said - just looking at the "bleachers" and room and the final tally sheets - about 35/40 to 50 for the "split" (3.5 to 5 delegates)...

similar in the other rooms, I heard...

Really interesting report! :hi:

to go...this ain't democracy, folks.

Don't matter which state you're in. I've taken over ours, often by default because of this.

Thanks for the report, though, and thanks for doing your part for our democracy. Your story reminds me of one of the times I voted in South Carolina. After I stood in this long ass line to get to the registration desk, I had to go about 5 miles down the road to vote - our precint had been changed at the last minute. Bizarre that things can't be figured out earlier than they are (on election day).

This kind of crap needs to get out. THERE IS NO EXCUSE!

This is exactly why I come here.

as they are the ones ultimately responsible for the caucus. Also contact your county's Democratic Party-- although it sounds like you may not have much of an organization in your county, judging by your caucus.

I tell you - what worries me the most - is the casualness of it all and the complete utter disregard for the "rules" of how to aparently "do" a caucus...

I was not priveledged to be trained for this event - only a couple in the room were...

Obama people - you've GOT to make sure you're people are "in there" as much as the Hillary people - got to get out early and be counted in EQUALLY to make sure it's fair and above board...

If the shoe were on the other foot, I'm sure there would be some heightened concern.

Because of the way it went, I can fully understand why the Edwards people were not at all pleased...

I'm glad all our Democrats seem to be able to work TOGETHER...but what if that wasn't the case?

One gentleman was there taping it all for his class - he's a local teacher here...

Although the media trains us to think in these terms.

Political parties and campaigns operate by gang rules, ultimtely.

The constitution does not sanction this crap.

except for that last part about how nice people were and how we're united as democrats. You just got through calling me a bitter, sore loser. Thanks, bud.

And the Obama/Hillary people at my precinct were arrogant jerks and loud-mouthed know-nothings who sneered at our little, non-viable Edwards group. Not so nice, at all!

But hey, I agree with the clusterfuck aspect. It could have been worse, but I'm not sure exactly how.


edited to correct my spelling because I'm still provoked over this mornings little experiment in democracy. sheesh.

for both the bitterness of the edwards people and the niceness of Hillary's and Obama's people...

go figure...

I'm trying not to go on the attack at all - but I honestly have never felt this used in my life.

I've voted in every single election since I was 18 (a long time ago!) - this was the first caucus I've ever attended and for the first time in my adult life I am finding myself thinking "why bother voting at all?"

This was an extremely disheartening experience on many, many levels. It proved two things to me - one, that the political "machine" is alive and well; and two, that poor planning and organization makes for poor outcomes.

I will not bother with this fucked over primary process again. Hopefully, I'll recover my will to participate in the process before the general election.

"used" is a good description...

I'd describe it like being sucked into a vacuum...

the party/process is DESPARATE for volunteers - especially in a small, newer state like Nevada.

In Nevada, being so small, ONE persons can really make a difference and get his voice heard...but it's the "oh - you're INTERESTED in becomming involved - HERE - have fun and good luck" - and they seem to dump the whole world in your lap...

A little paraphrase of Will Rodgers.

Seriously, this just seems completely FUBAR.

We'd all be screaming bloody murder if this happened in a third world country.

Herding cats is difficult, but it can be done to a certain extent.

but then again, some told me that because we're growing so fast, volunteers are so hard to come by...

I was hoping to skate it out - but I guess I can't hide this time around...

I went home with Obama AND Hillary stickers on my shirt...

I can truly say we really have a great bunch of people here...

and I am proud to be amonst them...

now if I can let go of my hostility when replying to obnoxious posts/posters here - and avoid becomming/being that which I dislike in others...I'll try - I really will...

I must say one thing - meeting all the wonderful hispanic voters has made me change my outlook on thie legal/illegal immigrant thing - the future of the Democratic Party looks very good from this corner of the woods...

:kick:

seriously - both the people and the officials in the Democratic Party who run things.

It isn't easy.

I'd like to see a two stage primary - maybe some caucusing and then formal preliminary voting...

...where's that "Roberts Rule" when you need it...

we should have had a "guide" just like we always did when I was on the board of our condo association...

It's fun for the "participation" part - but maybe if we had some volunteers from Iowa - where they chafe at the bit to do this every four years - actually three if you count all the prep time - it would go a lot better.

I can tell you this - it was an educational experience - which is why I went in the first place...

I can't skate by and hope others will do the work - it's only in the past two election cycles that I've stayed "out" of the process - my professional career is sort of taking off, and I've got ever more responsibilities at work, and now with the house remodeling starting last year - it all seem like a big plate...

I just have to find a way to balance it all...

"unviable" thing just annoys me.

Biden and Dodd were out before the final tally was even announced.

Its bullshit.

---I thought of that while I was watching the Iowa caucus. I wonder if the issue of how to accommodate the disabled ever came up there, I thought at the time. And it appears from your report there wasn't any thought given to accommodate them in Nevada. With the consciousness of needs of the disabled in California, this lack of accommodation is one reason caucuses would never fly---or else they would be designed very differently.

Much less have to go five miles elsewhere on public transportation if my precinct was moved. Some days I can't even get out of the house because of pain and mobility issues. Maybe if I had a wheelchair, but I'm only "disabled" enough for a cane right now.

I love my absentee ballot.

And that you get your absentee ballots so you can have a voice in the political process!

and I've GOT to START my housecleaning now - the dust bunnies from my three Golden Retrievers are starting to hold their own caucus and vote me OUT if I don't do something - SOON!

See ya all later - have a great weekend!

...now where should I start - the dishes piled in the sink or the furr-covered couches? so many choices...

and disorganized the caucuses were, and how it could lend itself to the type of mayhem some locations were experiencing.

Sorry about the chaos, but glad about all the good stuff you reported. :thumbsup:

K&R

I'm a Democrat. :P

All in all we did pretty well in NM I think...tho it certainly wasn't perfect. Had many of the same problems....not enough ballots at the right places...not enough watchers...not enough info to the voters about where to vote.

Why are we all doing this to ourselves anyway?

get a primary and if party activists want a town hall meeting - set it separately.

in my state of Maine.

What a load of crap. I just want to vote, not go to some chaotic, disorganized junior high school pep rally that will take hours and require "socializing." So I'm antisocial and I hate crowds and confusion. That should not take away from my right to vote--but in this stupid-ass, undemocratic "system," it does.

So not only are the choices of candidates manipulated and engineered by our corporatist media masters, our little say in which one we might "choose" is also squelched and corrupted by this dumbshit "system" of inbred party hack bullshit.

I don't think caucuses are good for democracy

People feel intimidated, the time window is too small for most people and one should be able to just cast their vote

Secret ballot is the only fair way to go

and we had quite a few new registrations, also.

People were in the line right up to the end signing-in and registering.

Don't know if we had to turn others away...

For the next time - we need to have "ushers" also - to be able to guide persons to their correct precinct "rooms" to participate.

LARGE - MULTIPLE - District maps - so people can check what precinct they're in - too many were clueless as to which precinct they were in to participate...

MULTIPLE COPIES for all precinct maps - they're gonna get LOST ya know!

And try to make it a hospitable place for EVERYONE! Think about the BIG PICTURE.

If I were an Edwards or other supporter - I would NOT be a happy camper now.

I'd even go so far as to try to screen persons to see if they can work with someone they profoundly disagree with - so to make the process as fair and pleasurable as possible for everyone to want to participate again THE NEXT TIME!

I have been to caucuses like that as well. It was a system designed when there were small towns with fewer people! Time to upgrade.

Thanks for posting. I was so glad to read this, even if the caucus itself was a mess.