| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
faceless
admin
Joined: 25 Apr 2006
|
 Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 1:27 am Post subject: Super Delegates |
 |
|
|
|
I've been wondering what these so-called Super Delegates in the painfully exhausting Democratic party nominations are about. So I checked on wiki and got this:
| Quote: | "Superdelegate" is an informal term commonly used for some of the delegates to the Democratic National Convention, the presidential nominating convention of the United States Democratic Party.
Unlike most convention delegates, the superdelegates are not selected based on the party primaries and caucuses in each U.S. state, in which voters choose among candidates for the party's presidential nomination. Instead, most of the superdelegates are seated automatically, based solely on their status as current or former party leaders and elected officials ("PLEOs"). Others are chosen during the primary season. All the superdelegates are free to support any candidate for the nomination.
The Democratic Party rules do not use the term "superdelegate". This article follows the most common media practice in using the term "superdelegate" to refer to unpledged delegates, who fall into two categories:
* delegates seated based on other positions they hold, who are formally described (in Rule 9.A) as "unpledged party leader and elected official delegates"[1] (unpledged PLEO delegates); and
* additional unpledged delegates selected by each state party (in a fixed predetermined number), who are formally described (in Rule 9.B) as "unpledged add-on delegates" and who need not hold any party or elected position before their selection as delegates.[1]
Unpledged PLEO delegates should not be confused with pledged PLEOs. Under Rule 9.C, the pledged PLEO slots are allocated to candidates based on the results of the primaries and caucuses.[1] Another big difference between pledged PLEOs and unpledged PLEOs is that number of the former ones is fixed and predetermined, whereas the number of the latter ones has not any bounds. Pledged PLEO delegates are not generally considered superdelegates.
The Republican Party also seats some party officials as delegates without regard to primary or caucus results (see Republican delegate selection), but the term "superdelegate" is most commonly applied only in the Democratic Party.
At the 2008 Democratic National Convention the superdelegates will make up approximately one-fifth of the total number of delegates. The closeness of the race between the leading contenders, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, has increased the chance that the superdelegates will play a decisive role in selecting the nominee, a prospect that has caused unease among some Democratic Party leaders.[2] |
So I am basically none the wiser! The whole thing seems incredibly and nonsensically complicated and I can see exactly why so many people are jaded about voting. We're only getting the 'best bits' of the campaign over here and I'm sick of hearing about it already. They should just make an episode of The Apprentice with them and see how they do. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Skylace
Admin
Joined: 29 Apr 2006
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 2:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
|
|
Being in Pennsylvania I must admit I am even more tired than usual by all the ads. It's been non-stop.
I hate the primaries. I think they are just plain stupid. Here it is, people in the same party tearing each other apart only to support the other they were just slinging mud at when one is chosen.
I still voted though but in all honesty, I am jaded about voting in all this. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
pirtybirdy
'Native New Yorker'
Joined: 29 Apr 2006
Location: FL USA
|
| Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 1:16 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
|
| A lot of democrats feel their votes or voices aren't counted when the super delegates can come in and make the deciding factor. The people want to be the ones that have chosen their candidate to run for the presidency. I can understand why they are miffed. It is a confusing system alltogether quite frankly. There must be a better way and a more "uncomplicated" way to choose a candidate. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Skylace
Admin
Joined: 29 Apr 2006
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:22 am Post subject: |
|
|
|
|
| pirtybirdy wrote: | | A lot of democrats feel their votes or voices aren't counted when the super delegates can come in and make the deciding factor. The people want to be the ones that have chosen their candidate to run for the presidency. I can understand why they are miffed. It is a confusing system alltogether quite frankly. There must be a better way and a more "uncomplicated" way to choose a candidate. |
They used to do this by voting within the party and not having the whole primary malarkey. Instead the party would vote internally and then present who their candidate for president would be. A lot more simple and made a lot more sense. Shame they got rid of that though. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
pirtybirdy
'Native New Yorker'
Joined: 29 Apr 2006
Location: FL USA
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 10:40 am Post subject: |
|
|
|
|
| Many are complaining, so maybe in the future it will change. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Skylace
Admin
Joined: 29 Apr 2006
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:07 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
|
| I am hoping so Pirty. I mean, even making it a bit more simple. Not drawing it out. Doing it instead as a one day election across the US and doing away with this whole "Super Delegate" shit. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
eefanincan
Admin
Joined: 29 Apr 2006
Location: Canada
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 9:53 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
|
I just don't understand a system where the most votes doesn't get someone a win. It just doesn't make any sense to me.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Twirley
Joined: 29 Apr 2006
Location: North Carolina
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 4:11 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
|
And now that Hillary won Pennsylvania, they're coming here to North Carolina. So we'll get all the ads and phone calls and malarky that ensues.
May 6, my hubby gets to vote. Wish I'd applied for my citizenship earlier then I could have had my voice heard, too. Oh well, hopefully by the election. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
pirtybirdy
'Native New Yorker'
Joined: 29 Apr 2006
Location: FL USA
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 4:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
|
| I had been in Florida when my state had it's primary, so my voice didn't get heard. I want a re-do....lol! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
faceless
admin
Joined: 25 Apr 2006
|
| Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 1:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
|
57 states and he still has one more to go! The future bodes well...
But then, at least he's not got a fucking doomsday maniac as an advisor like McCain... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
