tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16201378.post1096004727859000887..comments2023-12-28T18:17:11.191-05:00Comments on Gruntled Center: Super Delegates are a Good Idea. The Republicans Wish They Had Had Some This Time.Gruntledhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14377809238377382438noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16201378.post-27882212498994596132016-07-26T09:06:04.860-04:002016-07-26T09:06:04.860-04:00Much of the problem of extreme fringe candidates b...Much of the problem of extreme fringe candidates being considered or selected can be traced to the extremely low voter turnout in the primaries. When the participation is in the 25-35% level, it gives overweight consideration to the views of the extreme members of a party who are the most likely to vote to either express their views or to make a statement. In the county in Kentucky in which I vote, Trump and Cruz got 81% of the republican vote. However, the turnout was only 30%Barrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16201378.post-35977625456370398542016-07-25T16:48:53.134-04:002016-07-25T16:48:53.134-04:00It seems to me that the problem is not "super...It seems to me that the problem is not "super delegates'; it is the "binding primary." The Democrats created the super-delegate after George McGovern won enough primaries to easily knock really viable candidates, such as Scoop Jackson or Ed Muskie, out of the race. As the real, knowledgeable Party leaders expected, McGovern was trounced in the general election. As a result, the Democrats retreated from putting too much trust in the people. As a result of choices made in 1972, Bernie Sanders never had a chance because so many of the super-delegates were pledged to her before the primaries even began.<br /><br />I suggest that, because there is no Constitutional restriction on how candidates are nominated for the presidency, it might be better for the parties to make the primaries advisory only, and make them all closed primaries. Even better, abandon primaries altogether and return to the days when the leaders of the parties chose the nominees. That system produced some pretty fine candidates. Compared to the two weevils we get to choose from this year.<br />Machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02067844122370343813noreply@blogger.com