Do the Presidential Primaries mean anything?

2016-04-12T10:23:07-04:00

Reading an article today, someone from the RNC was interviewed and stated the public has it all wrong. The primaries really do not mean anything. The RNC and DNC are not bound by any of the votes the nation has taken over the past few weeks. If that is the case, what point do you see in having the primaries?

Response by SSG Ed Mikus made Apr 12 at 2016 10:25 AM

2016-04-12T10:25:54-04:00

My wife and i had a discussion on this last night, She was under the impression that her vote in the primaries counted more than in the general election. she is furious with the way there talking of handling the RNC this year even though she is avidly against Trump.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Apr 12 at 2016 10:27 AM

2016-04-12T10:27:00-04:00

Something to convince the masses that they choose the next president, they don't and never were supposed to elect the president in this Republic. This election and reading the History of the delegate process has taught me more than I wanted to know about how the system has been rigged, since the beginning of our nation. It may be the best on the globe, but it is seriously flawed.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Apr 12 at 2016 10:40 AM

2016-04-12T10:40:06-04:00

Technically speaking they do not.

The DNC & RNC are PRIVATE organizations. The CANDIDATES must still get on the State ballots. The issue however is that having the RNC/DNC "guarantees" that they are on them.

That's the trick.

Anyone can run for President. The trick is being on the Ballot come Nov. If you aren't on the Ballot, you won't get elected. The primaries are how the RNC/DNC determine who THEY are going to put in THEIR slot on the ballot.

A candidate who has shown enough standing (through the primaries) can get on each States Ballots. The Libertarians & The Constitutionalists do it. They don't win, but they do it.

So what's the point?

So they aren't fighting themselves. The Republicans want to beat the Democrats. The Democrats want to beat the Republicans. The primary system is about getting the "best" candidate for the general election. The one who has the best chance of winning in Nov.

Rather than thinking about our current candidates.. instead think of some theoretical ones. John & Bob from Red and Tim & Fred from Blue. If John wins Red.... Blue goes with Fred because Fred has a track record of beating him. Even though Tim is a better person. It's not about the best candidate. It's about WINNING. They want the OFFICE, not the best "person."

The issue we have right now is one side understands that, and the other doesn't.

Response by SPC Andrew Griffin made Apr 12 at 2016 11:10 AM

2016-04-12T11:10:23-04:00

In this season it seems like it doesn't!

Response by 1LT Christopher Sorge made Apr 12 at 2016 12:08 PM

2016-04-12T12:08:05-04:00

No, the system and its rules were written by the elite in our society, we are sheep and have been resigned to this for quite sometime until now.

Response by TSgt Kenneth Ellis made Apr 12 at 2016 12:15 PM

2016-04-12T12:15:13-04:00

They are rigged . To keep candidates like Ron Paul and Bernie Sanders out.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Apr 12 at 2016 1:04 PM

2016-04-12T13:04:52-04:00

I've been around long enough to have seen the evolution of "democratic primaries". When I first began watching politics in the mid-1950s, presidential candidates were chosen in smoke filled rooms. No one had a plurality let alone a majority in the first ballot. Delegates voted for "Favorite Sons" and then the real convention began. Then came the primary system and the people chose the nominees. Sure, there were always "Super Delegates" but their choices generally coincided with the "people's choice". Personally, I think that the older system produced better candidates. Eisenhower/Stevenson, Nixon/Kennedy, Johnson/Goldwater were far superior choices to Ford/Carter, Carter/Reagan...Dole/Obama, weren't they?

Response by SGT Paul Mackay made Apr 12 at 2016 6:40 PM

2016-04-12T18:40:09-04:00

not now adays

Response by SGT John " Mac " McConnell made Apr 12 at 2016 8:57 PM

2016-04-12T20:57:22-04:00

More like a Dog and Pony show..... All is watching the Train Wreck unfolding on TV. Sometimes it is quite amusing..... But to mean anything probably not..