Did the caucus mock us? ADVERTISING Did the caucus mock us? Responding to Stephen Schleder’s letter expressing disappointment in the caucus system, or lack thereof, I assure you, Stephen, it didn’t matter whether anyone voted in either party’s presidential selection
Did the caucus mock us?
Responding to Stephen Schleder’s letter expressing disappointment in the caucus system, or lack thereof, I assure you, Stephen, it didn’t matter whether anyone voted in either party’s presidential selection process.
About 70 percent of caucus attendees voted for Bernie Sanders. However, even after suffering a late-in-the-political-season, 2:1 beating, Hillary Clinton captures the lion’s share of Hawaii’s delegates.
Regardless of the party, “super delegates” prevail, making me question the purpose of voting.
On the Republican side, central-party concern exists that a somewhat rogue candidate could take over. The fear is that its rank-and-file members have been temporarily mesmerized by Donald Trump. In addition, the extremely high public interest this year has brought a lot of non-party crossover voters from the Democratic Party.
Republican leaders face dilemmas, especially in a state like Hawaii. Were these crossover votes cast in support of Trump? Are they “monkey-wrench” votes, cast consistent with polls that show Clinton prevailing in a head-to-head general election versus Trump?
Similarly, at the Democrat’s caucuses recently, the lines for new party members were long, registering Republican crossover voters and re-registering prior Democrats, those who had, just a month ago, temporarily registered with team R.
After the first Republican convention ballot (votes cast according to caucus results which favor Trump), I predict that Hawaii’s delegation will take Charles Djou’s lead and throw support to John Kasich (yes, the third-place candidate).
The Democrats’ equation differs, with similar results: the voters’ overwhelming candidate of choice U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (hardly a rogue) will not get support, even after the first ballot, unless Sanders supporter Tulsi Gabbard bends some ears behind closed doors. In both parties, the Presidential selection process makes a mockery of the voting citizenry.
So Stephen, you didn’t miss anything at the caucuses … except maybe the cookies.
James Donovan
Waikoloa
