So our vote in the primaries aren't that important according to GOP

[Jersey mike]

According to RNC committee member Curly Haugland our vote are meaningless.

First watch this;
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/03/16/we-choose-the-nominee-not-the-voters-senior-gop-official.html


Then read this;
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/03/16/gop-declares-war-on-voters-commentary.html

[Oss]

unfortunately in all cases this is true

Its only the 1st ballot that binds certain delegates

After that the deals are on

The perception that we choose is one of the great lies

The fact that Trump is out there is an aberration and its too early to say if it will be good for the country or not

I think (IMHO) it will be good for the country if for no other reason than the fact that MANY more people are now interested in the election and may turn out to vote

Hopefully Hillary will have been indicted before the convention as there is certainly enough to warrant that. A conviction is another story entirely

[The emperor has no clothes]

unfortunately in all cases this is true

Its only the 1st ballot that binds certain delegates

After that the deals are on

The perception that we choose is one of the great lies

The fact that Trump is out there is an aberration and its too early to say if it will be good for the country or not

I think (IMHO) it will be good for the country if for no other reason than the fact that MANY more people are now interested in the election and may turn out to vote

Hopefully Hillary will have been indicted before the convention as there is certainly enough to warrant that. A conviction is another story entirely

Oss, that is the way I understood how the convention works also. But today on a news program there was a member of the republican rules committee who explained that not to be the case. He said the only time they were actually bound was in '76. He said in '80 the rules were changed back and are still in effect. Evidently a week before the convention they meet and make the rules for each convention. So unless I am misunderstanding what he was saying they are not even bound on the first vote. (Unless they change the rules)

[Bighead]

Mike did you ever really think your vote mattered?

[Moonshot_1]

I think this gets filed under "How sausage is made"

It has always worked like this. The difference this time around is that you have multiple candidates that have been viable for longer than usual and a tightening race between the remaining candidates. Usually by this time things are cut and dried. Now the rules that usually don't ever see the light of day have a gazillion watt spot light on them.

Remember that this is just an internal process for the political parties. Not for the general public. So the general public's votes don't matter. The political public votes matter but only as the rules within the party allow.

Want your vote to count in the primaries? Create your own viable political party.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I think this gets filed under "How sausage is made"

It has always worked like this. The difference this time around is that you have multiple candidates that have been viable for longer than usual and a tightening race between the remaining candidates. Usually by this time things are cut and dried. Now the rules that usually don't ever see the light of day have a gazillion watt spot light on them.

Remember that this is just an internal process for the political parties. Not for the general public. So the general public's votes don't matter. The political public votes matter but only as the rules within the party allow.

Want your vote to count in the primaries? Create your own viable political party.

exactly  and actually even in the general election we are not electing the person, we are electing the electors who do the electing.

[Serk]

[Jersey mike]

Mike did you ever really think your vote mattered?

Call me naïve,optimistic,foolish or just someone who believes or better yet needs to believe in the privilege of our vote.

Through the years I've tried to trust the whole electorate college part of presidential elections and at times have not agreed with it but that's our way for that process.

I want/need to believe there is something to hold on to that still makes our country special. Something I've always taken seriously, I've never missed voting in a presidential election since I turned 18. For the last 25 years I've voted in every state and local election too.

As a kid I wasn't a good student but when the topic of the Revolution, our founding fathers, the struggle they endured, the fight they fought for their beliefs of the future of this nation, the Declaration, the Preamble and our  Constitution always hit a patriotic soft spot.

If one of the basic tenets of our country is irrelevant to people then what are we as a nation.

I'm sorry for the long winded response to a simple question but to reply with a simple YES just didn't seem to cover it.

[Oss]

The fact fortunately remains that your vote matters on the state and local level and also for elections of federal representatives (senators and congressmen and women)

Unfortunately the colonies had enough mutual distrust (big v small) that they came up with the electoral college, and the individual parties are free to set their own "rules" fair or not.  The districts are also drawn on a crazy basis subject to change as well.

[MP]

unfortunately in all cases this is true

Its only the 1st ballot that binds certain delegates

After that the deals are on

The perception that we choose is one of the great lies

The fact that Trump is out there is an aberration and its too early to say if it will be good for the country or not

I think (IMHO) it will be good for the country if for no other reason than the fact that MANY more people are now interested in the election and may turn out to vote

Hopefully Hillary will have been indicted before the convention as there is certainly enough to warrant that. A conviction is another story entirely

Oss, that is the way I understood how the convention works also. But today on a news program there was a member of the republican rules committee who explained that not to be the case. He said the only time they were actually bound was in '76. He said in '80 the rules were changed back and are still in effect. Evidently a week before the convention they meet and make the rules for each convention. So unless I am misunderstanding what he was saying they are not even bound on the first vote. (Unless they change the rules)

I do not think so.  I believe, as of now, that they are bound on the first vote, except for the at large delegates.  They are free.  The deems have a LOT higher percentage of at large delegates than the repubs do.

However, it is true, that both parties have the ability to change the rules at any time.  But, it takes a majority vote of the delegates there to actually change the rules.  So, the idea that is out there, that some big wigs can sit in an office, and change the rules at any time, to suit them is not true.  The actual delegates to the convention, set the rules for that convention.

Both parties are organizations, not elected offices, so are free to set their own rules.  Just as if your local XYZ Club was meeting.  They are free to set their own rules.  Both parties.

[Ramie]

In my perfect world it wouldn't matter who we elected President.  The power to govern would be held in each state and the Federal government would just do what it was originally intended to do.  The protection of the country, negotiate treaties and settle disputes between states.  We have lost control to the political class and they don't want to give it up because they know what's best for everyone.

[Alpha Dog]

Good grief,I have heard about what the rules are from so many different sources, all a different opinion, I have come to the conclusion no body knows.  It seems their are so many special disclaimers, etc, etc, just about anything can happen.  Most agree that the candidate is entitled to all won delegates on first ballot.  After that chaos could rule.

Heard someone last night that said Trump needs to make friends with all state delegates in case, and it is something he has not focused on.  I do not know about that.  I would suggest he get them all together down in Mara Loma or wherever after the last primary if he does not get the 1237 and prove he is the best at The Art of the Deal. He should use his daughter Ivanca to be his ambassador, she is sharp.  However all he has to do is continue what he has done to date, especially with last Tuesday's results, when he garnered 75 percent of all delegates available.  Right now he only has to get 53 percent of remaining delegates, and the states left for the most part are very favorable to him.  Ted Cruz needs well over 80 percent, so he will not make it.  Kasich needs over 100 percent.  He has no way and I can not fathom what he is doing.  I think Krauthammer is right when he said 2 nights ago he thinks Kasich wants the VP. , which would be a really good choice.  Time will tell.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Mike did you ever really think your vote mattered?

Call me naïve,optimistic,foolish or just someone who believes or better yet needs to believe in the privilege of our vote.

Through the years I've tried to trust the whole electorate college part of presidential elections and at times have not agreed with it but that's our way for that process.

I want/need to believe there is something to hold on to that still makes our country special. Something I've always taken seriously, I've never missed voting in a presidential election since I turned 18. For the last 25 years I've voted in every state and local election too.

As a kid I wasn't a good student but when the topic of the Revolution, our founding fathers, the struggle they endured, the fight they fought for their beliefs of the future of this nation, the Declaration, the Preamble and our  Constitution always hit a patriotic soft spot.

If one of the basic tenets of our country is irrelevant to people then what are we as a nation.

I'm sorry for the long winded response to a simple question but to reply with a simple YES just didn't seem to cover it.

I don't think you are naive. Our country is special and our votes do matter. Contrary to popular belief our country is still GREAT. 

[bagelboy]

Like him, don't like him, it doesn't matter. If Trump gets 1200 delegates and gets snuffed by the GOP, there will be a lot of pissed off voters. The thought that the GOP is willing to hand a democrat the presidency because they don't like a non democrat candidate is inconceivable. It will prove once and for all how corrupt both sides are. I'm already pissed that I voted republicans into congress and they've done squat.

[scooperhsd]

I've wanted to get rid of the Electoral College ever since I learned about it in public school - direct popular vote for president should be the way now. It had it's purpose back in the day of relatively poor communications - but it is not necessary now. It will take an amendment to the constitution to get rid of that....