Re post: Texas Delegate Selection & how the process works

[WolverineDG]

I originally posted this back on Feb. 18, but the whining about the Senate Districts & their votes has started up again, so here ya go, one more time:

Bookmark this, because I am not explaining it AGAIN.

I'm getting rather tired of explaining the Texas delegate apportion system & it's perceived unfairness. So, here's the link to the Lone Star Project's Calculator so you can have something to play with from now until March 4. Have fun, kids!

http://www.lonestarproject.net/DemPrimary.htm

(on edit: original link was not working, so I found one that is.)

Why are the South Texas Senatorial Districts getting less delegates than the metropolitan areas (where most of the African American vote is)?

Because the delegates are apportioned according to turn out in 2004 & 2006. Lest you think this is a nefarious plan cooked up by the Texas Democratic Party to screw one or the other candidates, this system has been in place for years. It favors those areas that get out the vote for the Democrats. You spend election season sitting on your ass? Sorry, we're not giving you any delegates. Carrot, meet stick.

In 2004, my SD in South Texas was able to send 6 to 8 delegates to the National Convention. My own county was able to send oodles & skads of delegates (I can't recall the exact numbers.) Why? Because the South Texas machines went into overdrive to get Tony Sanchez elected governor in 2002. In 2004 & to some extent in 2006, we got the carrot.

In the 2004 & 2006 General Elections, however, the State Party decided to focus its GOTV efforts on the major metropolitan areas & essentially told the South Texas counties to take a hike. So, no real efforts were made to GOTV for the Democrats in these election years. Hence, our turn out went way down; the metro areas went way up. Now it's their turn to get the carrot & our turn to get the stick.


dg

[tekisui]

1. Thanks, but check your link.

It didn't work for me.

[WolverineDG]

2. It worked last week

Maybe they've taken it down. :shrug:

Thanks for the warning.

dg

[mirrera]

3. It is the same in Maine. I am tired of people dissing caucuses...

I love our caucus. It is fun and a wonderful way to meet like minded Democrats (you have to register as a Democrat to participate).
It is a way to get ready for the General election and sign people up who want to PARTICIPATE— We would never get together otherwise.

You are exactly right about carrot and stick. People keep forgetting that this is a PARTY nomination not a USA nomination. Anyone can join and work themselves into the structure. You show up in large numbers to vote for a Democrat in the previous Governors election you get more delegates. This is not news.

Do we need more than two parties? Yes--- so we need Instant Runoff Voting state by state to allow that to happen. Want different rules? Join the party, become a delegate, go to the convention, re-write the platform.

All the whining is because for the first time people are waking up to their perceived choices vs. the reality. It is not the Democratic party's fault that so many people care this primary season and all want a say. Barack or Hillary would have to be running as an independant to do it differently. Neither Barack nor Hillary have anything to do with the rules. Fighting those rules should take place at the convention for next time around, not during the primary.

My 2 cents...

[Scurrilous]

4. Kick

:kick: