For the first time ever, I don't feel like voting

[xmas74]

I've always voted for everything-local elections, bond issues, run offs, etc. For the first time ever I am thinking about not dragging out my voter ID and going to the polls. Why? Because I live in Missouri.

Today is the Missouri primary. We already know who the Democratic candidate is and I'm not too worried. But today, in Missouri, if you are a Republican (no, I'm not but if I were) you're vote doesn't count. Not at all. Why? Because the Republican party announced to the public that they will hold a caucus in March to decide and that today's vote is symbolic only.

The price of this symbolism? Seven million dollars.

I have coworkers who always vote and they've said the same thing-there's absolutely no excitement about this vote, compared to any other vote. Everyone feels the same-that their vote doesn't count. As a Democrat I already know who my party's candidate will be and I'm not all that concerned but if I were a Republican-I'd be very angry.

And the candidates didn't even care to campaign here. Only Rick Santorum made a visit to the Show-Me State. Newt Gingrich chose not to be on the ballot, stating that he knows this vote "doesn't count".

I feel as though the people of my state were disrespected and mistreated, both by the politicians running and by the politicians in my state. I just don't feel as though our votes count anymore in Missouri.

[lunatica]

1. Your votes may not count maybe, but your non vote definitely counts

as a win for the other party.

Not voting is not a neutral thing. It has consequences as impactful and voting.

[xmas74]

2. In the general election, yes, it does count

as a win. In this primary it doesn't count at all.

It's all over the news around here and has been known for a few months. The Missouri primary is symbolic only. None of the votes actually count for anything since a select few have been invited to a caucus in March. The caucus is what counts, not the primary. And the people of Missouri did NOT approve both a caucus and a primary.

[renie408]

5. Did you slow down long enough to READ the post that you are replying to? n/t

[a kennedy]

7. I believe that is what happened in Wisconsin, not many voted, and the ones that did gave us walker..

[hobbit709]

10. "What we have here is a failure to communicate."

[xmas74]

15. This is a totally different situation.

Our primary this year "doesn't count", according to the Republican party. Today's vote is symbolic only-the primary in Missouri doesn't count. There will be a caucus held in March that actually decides who the Republicans will choose. Not a single Republican vote will count today.

I know we're all Democrats here but we should all be angry that votes will not count today. And the state is paying seven million dollars for this primary for votes that are basically worthless.

If you'd like I'll send you a couple of links about the situation here in Missouri. Once you read them you'll understand why so many are frustrated and angry.

[TBF]

20. I have family in Wisconsin

who are dems and did vote against him - but they noted that many feel for his "family values" nonsense.

Also families who voted for him and become disgruntled when he started going after the unions. More low information voters ...

It sucks.

[liberal N proud]

3. That is pretty sad that you would let your fate fall in someone elses hands

[Inuca]

4. Did you actually read the post

you are replying to or just its title?

[renie408]

6. It is sometimes helpful to read the POST and not just the TITLE. n/t

[xmas74]

17. People here really don't understand the situation here in Missouri.

The primary doesn't count this year-it's purely symbolic. There will be a caucus held in March in which those with the real power will decide who the candidate is. Our vote counts for absolutely nothing.

The price for this symbolic gesture? Seven million dollars. Seven million dollars when we have further cuts being made as we speak to education and social services. Seven million dollars while others will still decide our fate, whether we vote or not.

If you'd like I can give you a few links to the situation here. I don't know anywhere else where this is happening.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

8. I don't feel like voting in the Michigan primary

I got my absentee ballot. No proposals, no taxes, only one item:

pick one for president:
1. Barack Obama
2. Undecided

And that's it.

I could have lied and gotten a Republican primary ballot. It would have been more fun.

(btw, I'm voting #1 - Obama )

[xmas74]

14. I did vote

(and we know who it was for-did it this morning) but I'm still angry that so many others will have their votes not count. Democrat, Republican-it doesn't matter. In the end, your vote should count and the Republican party has made damn sure that only a select few will have votes that count in this state.

[pintobean]

9. Yeah, same here.

I will probably stop in and vote; the polling place is on the route of today's errands. If I'm pressed for time, I won't bother.

I'm also in Missouri and haven't missed an election in over 20 years.

[xmas74]

13. I've noticed most of the replies

have no idea what is happening here in Missouri today. I think if they knew the situation they'd understand why so many are frustrated.

I did vote but I noticed an extremely poor turnout. Between the weather and the primary not counting for crap no one really wanted to come out today.

[pintobean]

19. Here's my sample ballot

If there were anything else on the ballot, it might be worth my time.

[xmas74]

24. That was mine too.

August is the governor's primary. I guess by then we'll know if they'll drag someone out to primary against Nixon, Koster, et al.

I don't think most people here on DU have any idea of what's happening here in Missouri and how bad it's become. If they knew they'd understand the frustration.

[Bluenorthwest]

11. On candidates coming to your State: some States get short shrift. In 2008 the two

Democratic primary contenders each came to Oregon more than once. When Obama made the first trip here, he became the first Democratic Primary candidate to come to Oregon since RFK in 68. 40 years without a single Democratic Primary contender campaigning here. In 04 general Kerry did not set foot in the area, Theresa rushed through for a speech. On the GOP side, Cheney came here and stuck his head out of the plane at a highly secured airstrip where a small group of hand picked supporters sort of cheered him on. GW? Not at all, nope.

[jsmirman]

12. I'm still waiting for a ride to my polling place in New York

get back to me the day that happens.

The electoral college is bullshit.

[xmas74]

16. They didn't come this time around

because the primary doesn't count. It's a strange situation but really, it doesn't count. Our primary this time around is strictly symbolic. A caucus will be held with the higher ups in March to decide who the candidate will be.

Seven million dollars for a symbolic gesture when we have cuts coming down the line for education and social services!

That's what makes me angry.

[TBF]

18. I can understand your feelings -

As someone who doesn't much care for capitalism, I often feel that my choices are not the greatest. What I have chosen to do is vote when I have a chance, and vote the best choice I am given. And then I turn my attention to education/agitation. Right now I think we are making some progress in this country with Occupy - people are starting to wake up and realize that if we don't take charge corporations will - and look where that gets us. Don't let them silence you. Speak your mind - in the voting booth, during protests, via letters to the editor - however you choose.

ETA - also educating us here at DU helps - I would have had no idea what was happening in Missouri today

[xmas74]

21. I voted this morning

(didn't want to break my longtime streak) but it's just depressing. It doesn't matter who you vote for IMO, that vote should count. Today, here in Missouri, that vote doesn't count.

It's just so depressing and frustrating. That money could have gone to so many other things instead of a fraud vote. A caucus could have been held next month and been open, instead of the "closed session" they are planning.

We've lost what should be a basic right.

[TBF]

34. Agree - I think we've lost a lot in this country and that includes fraud-free elections.

I don't even know that we really had it all that long. The country was founded by male land-owners (well, ok, they stole the land) and even as women we didn't have a voting act until 1920 (within the past 100 years). The "middle class lifestyle" many were able to obtain only really lasted from the second WW to 1980 or so ... you could maybe stretch it a few years either way and come up to 40-50 years max. Other than that this country has had quite a bit of oppression and poverty with only a few at the top really living a life of luxury.

We will keep resisting and hopefully it will get louder. We need numbers, it's the only thing the owners understand.

[xmas74]

50. In my area, we just don't have the numbers.

Santorum won-and won big-tonight. It'll be interesting to see if they allow that to stand come March or they are under orders to hand it over to Romney.

[TBF]

53. Looks like the convention will be a free-for-all

it's anyone's guess at this point. We don't have numbers down here in Texas either, only in the cities. I completely understand that outnumbered feeling.

[xmas74]

56. I think some here don't understand what it's like to be outnumbered.

It's really hard in this area.

Watch for the caucus in Missouri on March 17. A few sources have already stated that if the caucus picks anyone but Santorum there will be a free-for-all and possible law suits.

People are angry about what's happened here.

[RBInMaine]

22. Two words if you are going to be an adult: BUCK UP.

[xmas74]

26. You didn't read the rest, did you?

The primary is symbolic only in this state. Everything will be decided in a select closed session caucus next month.

"Rather than hosting a GOP primary that counts, we have a Tuesday primary that doesn’t and is little more than a glorified straw poll. Missouri will pick its convention delegates at sparsely attended caucus meetings March 17."

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/02/03/3409159/steve-kraske-missouri-primary.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy

Why do we even have a primary today?

[TBF]

54. She voted RB,

she's just telling about her experience. It sucks when you go through the motions and it doesn't count anyway, that's all.

[bigwillq]

23. So don't.

Problem solved.

[xmas74]

29. I did

but it was just-I don't know. The mood at the polls was not good. So many seemed frustrated and more than a few were talking about how it didn't count anyway today.

This explains the actual situation here in Missouri.

"Rather than hosting a GOP primary that counts, we have a Tuesday primary that doesn’t and is little more than a glorified straw poll. Missouri will pick its convention delegates at sparsely attended caucus meetings March 17."

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/02/03/3409159/steve-kraske-missouri-primary.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy

[bigwillq]

30. I always vote.

I like to have a say in the matter, regardless of how much my vote may actually count or not.

[xmas74]

36. What's happened today in my state

makes many of us here feel as though we have no real say. They gave us a primary but then said that it didn't actually count-the powers that be will decide on March 17 for us.

It's depressing.

[bigwillq]

40. Then find better candidates.

Or move.

[xmas74]

41. Can't move due to child custody arrangement

Better candidates-good luck there. It runs conservative around here. We're lucky for the DINOs we do have, otherwise it'd be a state full of Blunts and Ashcrofts. (Actually, they're not as bad as some that are elected in this state. We have some scary politicians in Missouri.)

[bigwillq]

44. Then maybe you shouldn't vote.

Don't really know what to tell you or what you expect to get out of posting this thread.

Politics is often a crappy game.

[xmas74]

46. Maybe I needed to let off a bit of steam.

People post crappier things on here every single day. And, if nothing else, this also give attention as to why some places have really low turn out.

[loyalsister]

25. It may not count numerically but it does matter

Being recorded as a voting constituent gives people credibility when they write their elected officials. In MO voting info is available and politicians use it to inform their strategies.
The General Assembly didn't get their sh1t together to change the primary date as they were supposed to according to national primary election agreements. The republicans have a significant majority in both chambers. I'm not sure why they didn't work it out, but there may be some strategy at work.
They may just want to change to a caucus but can't get statewide support. This gives them an emergency situation so that they can avoid getting tangled up in a long drawn out argument on dates and procedures.

[xmas74]

27. It's still a big steaming pile of poo.

You'd think this would be a prime example of the lack of leadership here but we both know they'll keep voting the same idiots back in office time and again.

[loyalsister]

35. I agree that it sucks

The same idiots can't be voted in time and again.

Because of term limits, there are no really experienced policy makers in the GA. After every election there is a new crop of inexperienced people who are there for a line on their resume.
Political novices are running the committees, then they are out the door after 8 years or less and don't have to take responsibility for what they did or didn't do.

[xmas74]

38. They can't be voted for the same office

but I know in my town they just run for something else. They go from city council to county commission to state rep to state senate and so forth. (Don't get me started on those two-I can't stand either one.)

Yes, term limits are in play but in the end we seem to see the same names, whether it's that person or a family member. At least, around here we do.

[loyalsister]

42. It's a pipeline

Republicans have used it successfully. Some MO Democrats are working harder at it. Name recognition and money are key to getting elected.
The biggest problem is the lack of experience of these elected officials. The first session after term limits went into effect was a nightmare!! It has not gotten much better, since. They have no idea what they're doing. At least after serving on a school board or city council, someone knows how to function in a parliamentary setting.
I'll take a former city council person or school board member over some wanna- be lobbyist who runs just to get a golden parachute at Budweiser or with nursing home lobby after serving a term or two.

[xmas74]

43. I'll give you that.

It's just the council members and such in my area are ultraconservatives who make Vicki Hartzler look like a moderate. (Yep, she's my rep. It sucks.)

They've really messed it up in Jeff City and they don't seem to care. And in my area, they don't want to hear back from their constituents.

[loyalsister]

45. I know parts of MO are extremely radical RW

I am happily in Columbia. It's hard to believe it is in MO sometimes. We do have a republican senator I'm hoping will lose in Nov.
Did you see the candidate running against Hartzler?
Teresa Hensley is her name. I hope she can win. I will be a part of that district when the new congressional districting is in effect.

[xmas74]

47. I haven't read up on her all that much.

I'm still cursing the day Hartzler took out Ike, even though he was conservative. (I won't call him a DINO-he'd been in the game for too long to be "one of them".)

I need to look up Hensley. If she's any good I'd love to volunteer. I forgot Columbia was joining us! We need ya'll, desperately. Hartzler was only the second Republican to hold that seat since the Great Depression and I know there' no love for her around here.

[loyalsister]

48. I'm glad to hear that Hartzler isn't winning people over

Only the people active with the party know much about her here. It will be interesting to see what happens when we vote from our new shapes. Hopefully we can bring in enough liberal votes to flip it back to Dems.

From what I have seen, Hensley is starting out well. She was at our Chili Supper last month meeting and greeting. It looks like she is starting off with a pretty strong, active campaign.

[xmas74]

49. Yet there has been zero talk about Hensley

in my area and she's from the next county!

Hartzler had the pleasant experience of having people make her eat her words at local town meetings. She no longer does town meetings in my county, at least for the time being. And she doesn't want any of the airmen there. (Oddly enough, she didn't win the airmen's votes. They all liked Ike far too much and his standing as the senior on the defense committee. In my county, she won all the farmers and all the wannabe yuppies who moved out of KC into "the country".)

[loyalsister]

51. Is the Democratic party active there?

Ours has a pretty strong presence. Columbia is extremely active politically because of the LWV influence. The chili supper I mentioned was hosted by Boone county Democrats. I suspect if you guys hold any events like that and extend an invitation, she'll show.
It might be a good idea for some people down there to reach out to her for house parties\meet and greets, etc. From what you're saying, it sounds like there's some hope for your area. Do it early and you guys could make true believers out of them.

I'm familiar with the yuppies who want a chunk of land just for status and show. They're mostly self-involved Reaganites.

[xmas74]

52. There are monthly meetings and they try to make a presence

but it's a hardcore conservative area. You'd think a college town would be more liberal but it's also in a rural/farm area and next to a military base. Even the students sport bumper stickers and t shirts supporting ultraconservative candidates. Ron Paul is quite popular in my county.

We have multimillion dollar log cabins on 10 acre parcels for the wannabes yet most of the county is considered to be well under the poverty line. Yeah, they get on my last nerve.

[The Genealogist]

28. We had a racist "E-verify to keep out teh furners" on the ballot in Springfield, MO today

So naturally I had to vote, just to vote against that disgusting ballot item. The city council has come out and asked people to vote against it, for God's sake, and considering it is RW central around here, that should tell you how insidious the ballot measure was.

I took the Dem ballot, though, and voted in the primary for President Obama.

[xmas74]

32. We didn't even have that

which is why I dragged my feet about it today. We just had the primary ballot.

I showed up and cast my vote. (We already know who it was for.)

I suspect that there are many here on DU who have no idea what is actually happening today in Missouri, with the upcoming caucus and all. I think if they understood they'd realize why so many here just don't give a damn about voting today.

I think the next vote that actually matters for my area will be April. That should be a bond issue of some sort. I always vote for that sort of thing.

[The Genealogist]

37. I can understand why, with just the primary on the ballot, that you would drag your feet

But I am glad you did go. I was #268 in my precinct, if I remember rightly, and that was about 12:30 this afternoon. I have seen way lower #s on primary day, so I think the e-verify ballot item brought people out--for better or worse.

[xmas74]

39. The turn out was extremely low this morning.

The usual suspects (the older ladies and gentlemen I usually see at that time of the morning at the polls) weren't there. It was such a strange experience.

A coworker said it was an extremely low turn out for him too.

[bhikkhu]

31. Most state primaries are symbolic

...once a candidate has a significant lead in the primaries, then the rest of the states just vote along the established line, and it doesn't matter much. The alternative would be to have all the state primaries at once, but I don't think anyone is suggesting that.

I'm looking forward to the vote in November, myself, and tuning out much of the media until then (the biggest hate-fest ever predicted).

[xmas74]

33. they are symbolic to a point but

this is above and beyond. This is more of a straw poll, at the cost of seven million dollars. There will be a caucus next month that will decide, not today's primary.

Another poster said at least in Springfield they had something else to vote for, along with the primary. All I had today was one little ballot with a couple of names.

(A previous poster posted a copy of the ballot.)

[TBF]

55. Have you ever participated in caucus?

I never had, but it was very important for Obama in 2008 so I actually got involved and was a co-precinct leader. I don't know if you could get a babysitter and that kind of thing (I understand the constraints) but if you are able you might really enjoy volunteering. Then you at least feel like you've done what you could - at least that's how I felt. Texas still went to the R's, but at least in my area of Houston we are getting much closer to changing that.

[xmas74]

57. In 1992 I was in a caucus.

It was the last time there was a caucus held in Missouri. I couldn't participate because I was not old enough but I did get to sit in and observe. It really was interesting.

The caucus in Missouri is only for Republicans due to rules the RNC passed in 2010 about frontloading. So Missouri has a primary that doesn't count and a separate caucus for the Republicans-all at an additional cost for the tax payer.

[TBF]

58. Wow - that is quite a system. Can definitely see why you'd be discouraged. nt

[xmas74]

59. I have to declare Republican in order to

attend the caucus. I'm not doing that so no caucus for me.

Supposedly this was a glitch that will work itself out by 2016 but there was the option of having no primary. The state senate voted to keep the primary.