[S4B]

Can some of our american friends explain what this is all about? My understanding is that this is a vote among the members of political parties to elect a party leader. Once each party has won enough primaries the candidates of each of the parties are put to the vote by the general public. Is this correct?

[MK Chris]

This is my understanding of the situation and may not be correct...

Depending on a state, you either hold a primary or a caucus(sp?). One of the two is where the local council (or similar) elect a person to go and vote for their area, but they are only allowed to vote for who they tell them to. The other one is where you go to someone's house and depending on who you are voting for, you stand in a particular corner of the room. Then the same happens at the town hall, with a larger area and so on up to state level.

It doesn't sound very democratic, but my understanding is at best sketchy, at worst totally wrong.

Am I also correct in my understanding that the general public doesn't choose the president at all? Some sort of council or body has the final say?

[S4B]

If that's all true it is very confusing! Apparently according to exit polls and general consensus today Hilary Clinton has won one today what does that actually mean?

Typical Americans never about when you need one!

[MK Chris]

She won in Nevada. I think that means she has now won two states for her party (this isn't to choose a president, this is to choose a candidate for each party) and Barack Obama has won one. I don't think the Democrats were in the other state that have already done it for some reason.

I'm confused myself, which is partly why I may be wrong.

[S4B]

We need to wait for the yanks to come online I think. I may investigate this on my week off as I don't like not understanding stuff.

[S4B]

And what the feck is "A Super Tuesday"???

KKKKKKKKKKEEEEEEENNNNNNNNDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA?

[foot-loose]

After watching The West Wing, I understand the whole thing. I have no idea how to explain it though.

[Sunny So Cal]

Ha! This is great. This thread actually had me chuckling!
It's the U.S. Electoral College and the Popular Vote that Toph was talking about. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Sta ... al_College
My state has the most electors. It is based upon the number of seats in Congress which is then based on the number of Representatives and Senators from each area of each State. We're a huge state and quite populated. Hence our large number. The candidate, in order to win that state, would have to have the majority of votes from the Electoral College. I think that's 270. We vote either by Absentee Ballot (which is you pick your choices on the ballot and mail it in) or you go to polling stations. I am unfamiliar with standing in a certain corner of the room? You can register to be either Republican, Democrat or Independent, etc. Read the article above, S4 and if you are still curious, you can email me or probably find some more information by searching at http://www.whitehouse.org.
Last I heard, McCain just won the Republican nod for South Carolina.

[Sunny So Cal]

I just realized I didn't answer the What the Feck is a Super Tuesday question but I'm getting ready to go out for thenight so I'll direct you back to Wikipedia>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Tuesday

I also didn't answer the main portion of your question -- the primaries right now are picking who we will have as a choice from each party to vote for come November. Right now there are like 6 candidates for each party and these primaries whittle it down to one from the Democratic and one from the Republican based upon the number of states that each wins. Come November, it is a choice of just the front runners for each party. Make sense? If not, I blame the 2 Newcastles. Speak to me when I'm sober

[kendra k]

sunny so cal has it pretty darn right for being tipsy.

super tuesday is being called "tsunami tuesday" now because california (who traditionally had their primary in june) moved it up to february to have more of an impact on who the candidates will be. it's starting to get out of hand how many states are moving forward their primaries/caucuses to have more impact/get more money/court more favours from the candidates. the dnc (democrats) actually penalised michigan for moving up their primary so far ahead by reducing the number of delegates possible, thus making their primary not very meaningful.

oh and something sunny so cal didn't make clear: during the primaries all votes for candidates will eventually be expressed as delegates at each party's national convention in the summer. the most votes you get, the more delegates will vote for you at the convention. now that so many states hold primaries (so early), the role of the delegate is diminished, but back in the day (1960s or so) the delegates had a lot of sway with who was on the final presidential ticket.

i'm actually a poll worker. it's quasi volunteer. i was just a lowly clerk during the last general (midterm) election, but for this primary i'll be the inspector/person running the polling station for a precinct. i have to pick up the ballots/equipment before the election and drop it off to be counted immediately following. it should be fun.

[Andy B]

This all sounds really weird. I like our way of doing it where we have no choice over who governs the leading party. Both parties are equally inept and virtually indistinguishablr from one another so voting for either I'd just as meaningless. There is a third party but they're about as useful and opinionated as a third nipple and voting for independents means that even if your candidate does get it you still get governed by the guy who works for the party that got in despite more people voting against them than for them.

If you really wanna change government in this country then Guy Fawkes had the right idea if you ask me!

[S4B]

God I'm still confused! So everyone gets to vote twice? Once to decide who they will vote for when they get to vote the second time?

[kendra k]

sort of.

in the primaries you vote for a candidate from one of the parties to secure delegates at the convention. most states have "closed primaries" where only registered members of the party may vote for a candidate from that party. a few states have "open primaries" where people can vote for whichever candidate regardless of the voter's party affiliation. this election is interesting because it's hard to say who will have the nomination on either side, and there's a lot of "strategic" voting for both parties.

once the candidates are settled and the tickets are picked after the conventions, then they gear up for the general election in november when any registered voter can vote for any candidate/ticket. so independets/undecided/lazy people get thrown into the mix.

frankly, the system is bloated and stupid and costs way too much money. the campaign's been going on for over a year and very little governing has happened as a result. oh well, it's our * up brand of democracy.

[S4B]

Thank you Kendra that makes much more sense now. Well I understand it, it doesn't seem that sensible!

[Wesley]

It is a load of crap. Basically a few states set the pace for everyone else and it is so far from being fair it isn't funny. The real fun begins on Feb 5. Should be interesting.

[S4B]

Why on Feb 5th? What happens then?

[Wesley]

Super Duper Tuesday as mentioned above.

[kendra k]

wesley, don't be bitter because you live in alabama. california didn't matter much until this election cycle.

[S4B]

Ah I see. Still think it's a strange system. What state are you in Kendra?

[kendra k]

california - i seriously think we could break off from the union and still survive. we have some of the best, most progressive policies and the federal government keeps mucking it up for us.

[Wesley]

wesley, don't be bitter because you live in alabama. california didn't matter much until this election cycle.

Bitter? nah just tired of hearing about it for over a year and we still have over half a year to go. Will it never end

[Sunny So Cal]

How is this different than any other election? It's always the same crappy semi-libelous adverts over & over again. Come November we'll all want to turn the television off and not get our mail. And, I'm not so sure about us breaking off, Kendra, that 9th Circuit Court up there is completely mental. Scary mental!

[S4B]

It's really different from our elections Sunny! We don't do all this crap, goes on for about 2 months I think then it's all over, much simpler and not so much of a media circus!

[Sunny So Cal]

I know. I was referring to ours because we're already hemming & hawing and it's only January

[kendra k]

they were hemming and hawing in january of last year!

this is the way elections are in the u.s. and it's irritating. i much prefer the british cycle which is short and contained, though i don't know if i like trusting the parties that much.