Tennessee: the way America outta be!

ballz2wallz · 12-29-2007, 05:57 PM

The other day I went to the DMV to get my new driver's license. It was quite an experience, as I have never had them scrutinize my status as a citizen so much in my life.

I had my old MA ID that stated my middle and last name only (I go by my middle name). Not having my first name or initial always confused people (I don't know why they didn't include it in the first place). Anyway, despite two bills, my old ID, and a passport, they still were hesitant to accept it. Despite being a pain in the ass, I liked that they did it. Why? Because it told me that they would NOT be giving out licenses or IDs to illegal immigrants. Go TN!

Secondly, I registered to vote. When in MA, I filled out a voter registration card, selected "R" and turned it in. He said 'congratulations, you're the only Republican in the state of Massachusetts'. I said 'let's keep it down shall we?'. Here in TN, all I did was fill out voter information, but did not select a party. I asked 'do I get the card in the mail'? He said 'yes, you'll get everything in the mail with all pertinent information'. I said 'do I not choose a party here?'. He said 'no, that's personal information, who you vote for is none of our business, it's the way America outta be'. I said 'do I vote in the primaries of both parties?'. His answer was 'yes, you can vote for anybody you like, it's the way America outta be'.

Best answer evar!

Stylerod · 12-29-2007, 05:59 PM

God Bless the South

garbagemanlb · 12-29-2007, 07:06 PM

as long as the gays can't marry we are ok.

Ardentfrost · 12-29-2007, 07:14 PM

Yeah, I wish all states were open primary states. It IS how America should be.

Linzyhop · 01-02-2008, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by garbagemanlb

as long as the gays can't marry we are ok.

Stylerod · 01-02-2008, 02:04 PM

Originally Posted by garbagemanlb

as long as the gays can't marry we are ok.

That's a pretty stupid comment. What the fuck does that have to do with TN???

WickedLou9 · 01-02-2008, 02:14 PM

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

Yeah, I wish all states were open primary states. It IS how America should be.

I don't think so. Why should a republican get to choose which candidate the democratic party wants to run for president? Primaries are not part of the general electoral process, they are simply a method that each party uses to pick which of thier candidates will run for president. I wouldn't want some Republican voting for the worst Dem. Candidate in a primary just to try and sabotage things for the democrats. That's not America, that's just being dishonest.

Publius · 01-02-2008, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by WickedLou9

I don't think so. Why should a republican get to choose which candidate the democratic party wants to run for president? Primaries are not part of the general electoral process, they are simply a method that each party uses to pick which of thier candidates will run for president. I wouldn't want some Republican voting for the worst Dem. Candidate in a primary just to try and sabotage things for the democrats. That's not America, that's just being dishonest.

But at the same time, it creates a monopoly for the two major parties. Because of the election rules in Texas, if I want to run as anything but a Republican I can't vote in the Republican primary. That I can sort of understand, but the flipside is that if someone votes in the Republican primary, their signature is not valid and countable if present on any 3rd party ballot access petitions.

ballz2wallz · 01-02-2008, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by WickedLou9

I don't think so. Why should a republican get to choose which candidate the democratic party wants to run for president? Primaries are not part of the general electoral process, they are simply a method that each party uses to pick which of thier candidates will run for president. I wouldn't want some Republican voting for the worst Dem. Candidate in a primary just to try and sabotage things for the democrats. That's not America, that's just being dishonest.

What if a registered Democrats wants to vote for a Republican this year? Or vice versa? Then what? Why shouldn't they be able to vote for their candidate of choice in the primaries? I think that's not fair.

WickedLou9 · 01-02-2008, 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

What if a registered Democrats wants to vote for a Republican this year? Or vice versa? Then what? Why shouldn't they be able to vote for their candidate of choice in the primaries? I think that's not fair.

I think it should be up to each party how they want to decide who will run under thier flag for president. If I created a new party called the liberty lounge party, I should be able to pick who I want, how I want, and have that candidate run for president. Why should I HAVE to let other people decide? They can vote for whomever they want on election day during general elections.
The way I see it, primaries are not part of the general election. Technically each party could just pick it's candidate based on the choices of party leadership and go with that. They would never have to have any primaries at all. They don't NEED to have elections. It's not a constititional right that we have to vote in primaries. It's just that the parties recognize that it's the best way to pick a candidate so they hold primaries to do it. I don't think it should be up to the state or the federal government or anyone else really.

I don't know if this is the case, but if you vote in one primary, are you disallowed from voting in another? If you were that might prevent someone from making a spoiler vote for the 'other' party.

ballz2wallz · 01-02-2008, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by WickedLou9

I don't know if this is the case, but if you vote in one primary, are you disallowed from voting in another?

Yes, you can only vote for one candidate in the primaries.

I think if you are allowed to vote in the primaries, you should be allowed to vote for who you want to be president.

That's how elections work.

WickedLou9 · 01-02-2008, 03:26 PM

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

Yes, you can only vote for one candidate in the primaries.

I think if you are allowed to vote in the primaries, you should be allowed to vote for who you want to be president.

That's how elections work.

Yeah I guess if you can only vote in one of the primaries and not one for each party it would be OK. I just don't really see it as a huge deal.

RockPusher · 01-02-2008, 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by WickedLou9

I don't think so. Why should a republican get to choose which candidate the democratic party wants to run for president? Primaries are not part of the general electoral process, they are simply a method that each party uses to pick which of thier candidates will run for president. I wouldn't want some Republican voting for the worst Dem. Candidate in a primary just to try and sabotage things for the democrats. That's not America, that's just being dishonest.

Political parties are quasi public entities since they get public funding and perform public functions. Because of this, primary elections are still governed by election laws and subverting the process is voter fraud.

Since the parties have such exclusive access to our government, voting for party leaders has direct effect on national politics at the exclusion of third parties. People should not be limited to choices on one side of the fence since both parties are locked into the electoral process.

Ideally, the parties should be eliminated or their exclusiveness removed from the voting process by allowing multiple candidates from each party in the general election.

As it stands, elections are just a game designed by cheaters.

David Octavius · 01-02-2008, 04:01 PM

We would be better off if there was no primary process at all and let the candidates run in the general - with of course REASONABLE restrictions so that not every tom dick and jane can run (like having to get at least X% signatures in each state to qualify for national elections) - and the top two go against each other in a run off. This process is much fairer to "fringe" candidates like a Ron Paul and also busts up the two party monopoly.