At My Caucus, The Clinton Supporters Had The Strongest Arms. Just Saying
Please, the Nevada Caucus should be a rough and raucous affair–fair, but also rough and raucous like any western democratic process. I think most of the commotion is a result of the fact that the caucus process is new to Nevada. Just give us a chance to work it out, how long have Iowa and New Hampshire been doing it anyway? Word has it that most of the complaints from the campaigns came from workers who had worked in the Iowa or New Hampshire primaries and were upset that things didn’t go like clockwork. How could anyone expect the Nevada Caucus to be a smooth and even-tempered affair after the way the campaigns went after the unions and the two recent lawsuits? All the commotion kind of set the tone, didn’t it?
For the conspiracy breakdown, go to The Gleaner’s place and read the 103 comments there. Good lord, its like the DailyKos over there!
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Excellent summary of the situation. It’s going to take at least one more caucus season until Nevadans are familiar with the system, and the kinks get worked out. There are some who prefer the primary ballot, but primaries test a candidate’s media strength (and are expensive for the state) while caucuses generally help the ‘party-building’ process. The Democratic Party may be in fairly good shape in Clark County but much re-building needs to be done in the rural counties. Anecdotal evidence I’m hearing from the rurals has thus far always contained at least one story about the number of people an individual met about whom the recounter said, “I didn’t know that she/he was a Democrat.”
Yes, everyone I’ve talked to in Reno also enjoyed the experience as far as meeting new people in their neighborhood and interacting with them in a personal way. That’s what made it fun.
At my caucus I wish I had the opportunity to visit and
get to know the “faces” with the “names”. (After two
years of poring over canvass walk and phone lists.) But,
I didn’t even get a chance to see really (outside those
I signed in) who came! I had meant to check the sign in sheets
to see who signed in, but didn’t…..I had to run my precinct and a small nearby one (5020), so I missed out on really meeting
people. And, it was over so fast (by 12:30).
You say the Clinton people had the strongest arms at yours.
At mine, (downtown 5056) there were a couple of things
I didn’t quite get….and, I’ll leave it at that.
But, sadly, very specific events are being reported and compiled right now…..and, some really wild things (….like saying there’s a Clinton sign in table and an Obama one…..or just plain closing the doors
at 11:30….misdirecting people on purpose outside….setting up campaign signs in contradiction of the rules…and, so many more amusing (actually, aggressive)
behaviors).
we had obama signs @ 1018. No one seemed to notice. I thought it was bad form. But what do I know.
-M
Yes, bad form. I found two Obama posters on my table!!!
I turned them over and put them on the floor.
All the campaigns were under the impression, due to the
briefings all campaigns’ precinct captains got in their
handbooks, trainings and conference calls, to bring their
posters and post them! That was against the rules, but
I believe they (both camps’ campaign volunteers) didn’t
know this. I also believe they didn’t “absorb” or recognize
the rules concerning observers.
Their are assertions also that Clinton captains were encouraged to be aggressive towards Obama caucus chairs.
(I was one such chair; a Clinton supporter ran for permanent chair, with the qualification being “life-long Democrat”.)
Overall, my caucus went really fast; I didn’t get a chance
to organize and set up because the Republicans overstayed
their 10am end time; people started signing in at 10:30
(half hour early), which we allowed in order to be “consumer
friendly”); the only brief dispute I had was when I refused
to include two late arriving Obama supporters (attendance
and viability number had been already determined, shortly
past noon), but given the bottom line party rules, no one
could dispute my decision; the people were gracious and
cooperative; any tension I may have had with a couple of
Clinton folks (vibe wise) was completely gone after
working with them on their delegate election forms, etc.
(i.e. no training).
I forgot to mention the key element at my caucus which
likely contributed to a generally friendly caucus: Paula’s
flower petal seating arrangement! See my final blog article describing that (click on my name).
If we keep the caucus, her model might be something to
be considered as being conducive to harmony.
My precinct (2020) was pretty much free from drama aside from a crazy woman that tried to disrupt things as much as possible before stomping off to fire a rather profane tirade at the only TV crew in the building. I did hear that someone tried to close the doors early, but that was stopped right away.
I’m just disappointed that there are already calls to go back to a primary, led by that Sen. Titus. Clearly, she missed the fact the caucus was a blast! Well, if she runs for anything I can vote on, she won’t have my vote.