Our new governor, Charlie Crist, has just signed a bill that puts Florida right behind Iowa and Nevada caucuses and the New Hampshire primary and on the same day as South Carolina's Democratic primary. I think the belief is that this will force candidates to take Florida seriously. Goodness knows no one ELSE does.
If we are so anxious to put ourselves out there, I want to know WHY. I'll grant you that we've developed a very large population. In fact, so many Cubans, Mexicans, and northerners have moved here that we're in danger of tipping over and sinking. (NO: That's not a racist statement. I'm speaking the truth. These are the demographics.)
But our large population consists of many illegals, and certainly THEY aren't able to vote. Yet.
And our state is well-known for it's political debacles. Think chads. Think Katherine Harris. And more importantly, our electronic vote systems aren't fool-proof and we don't back them up with paper. In fact, some cynics might wonder why Crist bothered. What's the point? After all, any election can be easily rigged now: These electronic voting machines are hardly fool-proof (as studies and experience have shown - go to Black Box Voting for more info).
And of course we have the Electoral College. Most people actually believe that their vote counts! (Well, it might to a small extent). Our votes don't actually elect the President of the United States, but they tell the Electoral College what we'd LIKE to see happen. It's up to them to agree with us or disagree. Most of the time they agree, but they certainly have the option to go against our wishes, too. It's rather ironic that so many people are urged to get out and vote, and that their vote counts when ... it doesn't count for much at all. And during the last couple of Presidential elections in Florida, the Electoral College may have gone against the popular vote - there is some debate on that.
So with all this knowlege and past experience, we are now making Florida a state for the media to focus on. Again.
As I've always said, Florida is the Pamela Anderson of the United States. We just aren't finished trolling for our photo opportunity, and we're happy to get it (no matter what form it comes in). Just please realize that not ALL of us here are blithering idiots: Although it's hard to tell underneath all that pancake makeup.
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I suspect sinister motives behind the move. Notice how it seems to interfere more with Democratic Primaries than Republican Primaries?
Anyhow, the notion that nobody takes FL seriously is only half true. We still have 26 electoral college votes. That is a significant chunk. California in number 1, but I think FL is number 3 or something. Candidates always come to Florida.
Anyhow I suspect other motives at work here. Something they are not going t fess up to.
If you have orange trees, I would hide them. Crist may want to finish the job Jeb started.
Don't both Democratic and Republican primaries take place on the same day? How could it interfere with one more than the other?
I have a self imposed moritorium I thinking about the election until Jan 08. The Presidential Election has become the NBA playoffs. It just goes on and on and on.
I think Florida is #4. California, Texas, New York.
LOL, your humor is a gift!
Saur,
I love Pamela Anderson more than I love you.
I don't like Crist getting involved with a woman. I also feel at 36 and with all that sun damage she's going to look hideous in say 2 to 3 years.
I feel like I'm being negative but it's just how I feel.
Excellent post.
The whole primary thing is really starting to get out of hand. Maybe it's about time for congress to regulate the dates of these things (or to threaten to). Certainly the early bunching up of the races isnt doing the voters any good service. These things need to be spread out evenly across the calendar because it's starting to feel less like an election and more like high-pressure sales (though arent politicians a lot like time-shares?).
Just because a bunch of states are feeling their egos doesnt mean we have to put up with it.
BWA-HA-HA-HA-HA!!! like we've got a choice...
Actually, I've been feeling a little bitter, lately.
The Democratic Party has rules about Primaries. States that bump primaries too early can end up losing delegates for the national convention.
What impact this will have is open to debate. The term "fart in a whirlwind" comes to my mind.
I do not know what the rules for the RNC are. Nobody is talking about them.
Snicker Snicker. I wouldn't touch that post with a ten foot pole (or a fifteen word comment) Chuckle.
Saur - so many things these days are computerized from stocks, to credit cards, to bank accounts to phone calls and they are so reliable that we often take them for granted (and yet none are "fool-proof" either). Yet when it comes to voting on a computer, people are rabidly afraid.
Yes there is a possibility of voter fraud or malfunctions with a voting machine but if you read up on it, there is voter fraud and malfunctions every voting period using paper ballots too and you bring up one of the best known ones with the hanging chads.
Ed, ahhh, but with electronic voting, votes can be changed with a quick program which would instantly alter. If you're dealing with paper ballots, there's a papertrail and lots of work to alter each individual ballot.
3 Score & 10, ;o)
Lazy Iguana, who knows? But it certainly seems like an attempt at a publicity power grab to ME. As Hans points out, I don't think it will affect one party more than the other. But for some reason(?) we're losing delegates as a result.
Daveawayfromhome, dittos, all the way. *sigh*
Caiman, no doubt that Pamela is hot... for a walking petri dish.
Kathleen, ;o) Glad to see you still around! Miss you when you're not!
Hans, Thanks for popping by!
Which takes me back to my first point. There are tons of things totally electronic, without paper trails, all of which could be modified by a "quick program" that we use in our everyday lives and never question.
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