Monday, February 11, 2008

Potomac Primary Day is Tomorrow

I vote tomorrow morning. I'm actually surprised because a month ago, I thought that by the time Virginia's primary rolled around, the nominees would be decided.

I'm excited. I'm voting for Obama. I'm hopeful that something good is going to happen this fall...there seems to be lots of commotion around this primary (which I've been told is actually a bit unusual).

Regarding the nomination for the Democratic candidate, I don't understand why there is such a thing as "superdelegates". What's up with that? Can someone justify to me why we have them? I heard that superdelegates started up in the 80s, and the last time they made a difference was when Walter Mondale ran. I think I'm going to be pissed if they are the ones that decide this thing, because it isn't clear to me why they should be given so much weight. Shouldn't the voting public decide?

I wondered to myself who my parents might possibly vote for in this upcoming election, so I mentioned something about it on the phone to my mom this past weekend. I basically got from her, "I'm already sick of hearing about it. I don't care for any of them."

Yes, the times are changing. Yay.

2 comments:

Emily said...

Re: Superdelegates- I think the reason for them is connected to why we have the electoral college. And I think both are outdated. Namely, "we" (as in the olde tyme we) wanted a democracy, but still feared giving "the people" too much power/say because really, they don't know what's best for the country. So to compromise, they give the people a vote, but also build in votes for "those that know better" to even things out.

We all know what happened in 2000 with the messed up system--popular vote goes to Gore, but due to the screwy system Bush ends up winning. Let's hope the equivalent doesn't happen this year with the nominations...if it does, we need to seriously consider altering the various processes!

Emily said...

Actually, I don't know if what I said is right. I tried reading about the history of superdelegates, but it just confused me...and wasn't very illuminating. Maybe I need to search longer for better sites, but I don't feel like it right now.