I was outraged on the behalf of a blogger when I read her post about her frustration with the Michigan primary ballot. That anyone would be denied a chance to vote their conscience really ticked me off. Royally. And that I hadn’t heard about it ticked me off even more.
So I walked out into the living room to vent to my husband, at which time he pointed out that primaries aren’t really a vote. They are merely the process the political parties use to select their candidates. According to some accounts I hear, it’s tradition. Well so was making the little wife stay at home, pregnant and barefoot. Not a good argument, IMHO.
What the hell do you mean, “it’s not technically a vote?!” I ranted. When he sees the Crazy Eyes come out, he knows to retreat, so he suggested I read up on the history of primaries in the US. So I did. 
But after reading Wikipedia, Scholastic, and the national Democratic party web site, I’m only sure of one thing: American politics are seriously F-ed up. I wish I could hire an election specialist (is there such a thing?) on retainer so they can help me understand all this mumbo-jumbo. The fact that a well educated and reasonably smart person (I’m referring to myself, BTW) can’t understand the process is my first clue. But I’m seriously disheartened to realize that all these years I thought I was exercising my right to vote, I was really essentially responding to, what, a survey?
Sadly, the people who run our political system can’t get past their own politics in order to give people a voice. My candidate is already out of the race because two states voted overwhelmingly for someone else. Wait, sorry, I forgot. It’s not a “vote.” In order to force order in the chaos they themselves help create, the Dems stripped votes from Michigan and Florida. Now how many of those Democrats won’t even be participating at all? And how many more voters will the Republicans drum up because they’re the only ones campaigning in those states? I shudder to think.
Hi Becca, I found your blog from your comment at Mel’s.
Welcome to the wonderful world of politics where nothing is as easy as it seems.
I’m glad you’re reading up on why a vote isn’t really a vote. Too many people are unaware that presidential votes aren’t actually for a candidate, but for a primary delegate or a electoral college member who will then cast a vote on behalf of many people in your area.
Now look up “Super-Delegate” because that little tidbit will really set your britches a-blaze.
On a calming note, you wrote:
“the Dems stripped votes from Michigan and Florida. Now how many of those Democrats won’t even be participating at all? And how many more voters will the Republicans drum up because they’re the only ones campaigning in those states?”
Sadly, Dem turnout will most likely be less than average here in MI because many won’t bother to vote due to the confusion. But that does not give advantage to the Repubs. They are seperate primaries; the Dems have delegates and the Reps have delegates. Neither can steal delegates from the other party. The Repubs are actually at a disadvantage because many Dems will cross over and vote in the Rep primary, skewing the results.
There is a chance that some center dems or independants will switch loyalty from a Dem. candidate who couldn’t be bothered to campaign in MI, in favor of a Rep candidate who paid his dues here. That was the chance Obama and Edwards made when they wrote off Michigan in favor of Iowa and New Hampshire. But given that Michigan has not gone Republican since Reagan vs. Mondale, the odds are that Dems here still outnumber the Reps here.
We’ll have to wait for the dust to settle to see what actually happens today.
But I’m glad this mess has wakened you to the process.