...which accounted for over half Bernie’s margin in our precinct! But our precinct still went 2-2 in its delegates.
Before my long tale, a bad word or two to the state Dem party and its insistence on caucuses. Why do we have to be perhaps the only state, where yesterday I’m treated to hearing on the local NPR station, the state GOP chair saying caucuses are voter suppression, and invoking single moms(!) — and I agree with her!!! — then hear the Dem party chair trying to sell BS about “conducting party business” yada yada.
Yes. It is voter suppression. We were close to losing a couple of our votes. Our 19-year-old cancelled at the last moment, a driving test scheduled for 10:30; he was ridiculously optimistic about how long this caucus thingie would take. I and our 17-year-old son, who’s eligible to caucus because he’ll be 18 in October, had to leave mid-caucus to make it to his climbing competition at the last moment. Well at least our votes counted, we think.
So many people we spoke with, had issues with making it to the caucuses, issues not covered under the very narrow exemption clauses granted by the party. So they weren’t there. It is reported that a relatively large number of people still claimed to qualify for the exemption, and sent in the equivalent of an absentee ballot. You had to do it 8 days in advance. I think if the local Dem party doesn’t grow up, that’s what we’ll do next time.
Oh, and what’s the story with total strangers seeing your full name, full address, date of birth, email, phone number — on the same page together with whom you vote for in the primaries?!?!? Really, WTF? Anyone who supports this shit, I don’t want to ever again hear you complain about the NSA snooping into your privacy online.
And the speeches and “convincing” part… yet another chance for the loud-mouthed to intimidate the timid via peer pressure. There’s a reason why over the centuries, democracies have learned that the best type of vote should be private, individual, and protected from in-your-face solicitation. Oh well.
That said... of course it was a festive atmosphere this morning at Olympic View Elementary in Northeast Seattle. Especially festive as it was sunny and not cold. We also learned that the State Attorney General lives right in our neighborhood! Now I know where to go if I’m in trouble :)
About our family’s choices, below.