Kucinich doesn't "get" the primaries.

Kucinich may have it down pat on the issues of the day, but in my opinion he was off the mark with his comments on the Tucker show. In essence, he was criticizing the Democratic Party for allowing Iowa to caucus because the process left out many, including soldiers, who would be unable to attend. He said he is also bucking party officials in Texas but did not elaborate on what his disagreement with them is.

The fact that Tucker agreed with him should have been the first sign that something was amiss.

States have different primary rules. Those rules are sometimes legislated regardless of party, and sometimes parties have more free reign in deciding how they will choose delegates. I know of no state where someone is born and declared a Democratic Boss for life. Sure, the rules may be set by a statewide committee, but these people get to that position by election of the Democrats. It is no different than being a Representative elected from Cleveland helping to make decisions that affect the nation. In some states, such as Iowa, it is a representative democracy that determines the rules for the primary and not the state legislature.

Iowa is one of several "tests" that a candidate goes through, and it is a major one. Iowa is a chance to demonstrate how good of an organization you can put together, and how you can appeal to voters who have a chance to look at you closely and personally. New Hampshire is a small state the specializes more in the latter than in the former.

Different states have different "tests" that they want the candidates to go through. Some allow non-Democrats to vote in the Democratic primary, some don't. Some make you register as a Democrat to vote in the Democratic Primary, some do not. Some allow you to switch parties on the day of voting, some do not. Some caucus, some vote.

Each of these primaries can allow voters to learn something about their candidate and to make judgments based on that. The primaries are a run-up to the general election, and they are to elect a candidate for the PARTY they represent. It is not a vote for President. As such, rules are justly made by the party through whatever means the party sees fit for the party to determine its candidate.

It *used* to be that people did not have a direct vote for presidential electors, either. The electors from a state were chosen by the state legislatures. I suppose it is possible that some state, some day, will just let the state committees decide who gets to be the party nominee... but in the meantime, candidates should accept the playing field that the various states have developed to test them, and do the best that they can.

I would have written the same about anyone who tried to make the points Kucinich did tonight. This is *not* a presidential issue, and should not even be the slightest blip in terms of someone supporting him, other than perhaps a plus for the courage to say what he thinks about Iowa on the eve of the Iowa primary, as misguided as I think it is. Please do not think I am bashing him as a candidate, this isn't a criteria anyone should use in deciding who to support.

I will try to save it from a premature exit to thread heaven.

Thanks for the recs, whoever you are!

As much as I may agree that the current nominating system stinks in a lot of ways, if you want it bad enough and you want to rack up support for the nomination, you play the game. What am I missing? :shrug:

hold their primaries too early so as not to upset the voters in the early states. Another brilliant tactical move on his part.

Some people may give him a plus for doing that, others may give him a minus. It is part of the game, and we are the judges.

quite a few people from supporting him, right?

He didn't file his paperwork by 6pm today and won't be on the primary ballot.

When he made the comment about it, it was before 6pm. I suppose there was some reason for him not being able to file his paperwork. I think I do remember him saying something about having to swear a "loyalty oath", but I thought he was referring to voters to vote in the primary, not one for the candidates.

and that... totally threw me... I am going with Edwards at the Caucus..and tossing Kucinich up as another Quack that ran for office... I am just pissed about the Obama thing. Irritated me.

--that he hasn't even bothered to look up where most of his 2004 delegates came from. Caucus states or those which had multi-tier delegate selection systems which favor the commmitted and persistent, that's where.