Comments on: Did you caucus? http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2008/02/07/did-you-caucus/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:38:04 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Erica M http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2008/02/07/did-you-caucus/comment-page-1/#comment-4875 Erica M Fri, 08 Feb 2008 20:13:29 +0000 http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2008/02/07/did-you-caucus/#comment-4875 I do see the value in a primary on account of it being more accessible to all. I'm not opposed to the caucus process, though. I think it's just striking because this year's turnout about maxed out the capacity of a caucus system. The caucus locations would have to be waaaay more organized to effectively handle crowds like that again. Having now actually seen the whole caucus process, I think there's a lot of value in the "neighborhood meeting" aspect of it. It does require significantly more engagement of the participants. I do see the value in a primary on account of it being more accessible to all.

I’m not opposed to the caucus process, though. I think it’s just striking because this year’s turnout about maxed out the capacity of a caucus system. The caucus locations would have to be waaaay more organized to effectively handle crowds like that again. Having now actually seen the whole caucus process, I think there’s a lot of value in the "neighborhood meeting" aspect of it. It does require significantly more engagement of the participants.

]]> By: Ferocious J http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2008/02/07/did-you-caucus/comment-page-1/#comment-4874 Ferocious J Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:15:54 +0000 http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2008/02/07/did-you-caucus/#comment-4874 We went intending to at least stay for a bit but it was a madhouse and our caucus room at Sanford Middle School was overflowing (precinct 12-3). So we voted and left. This is my 2nd caucus, and my recollection of the first (4 years ago) is that the old warhorses dominated the discussion and not a lot got done considering the amount of time we spent (3+ hours). Strib has an article about doing away with the caucus system in favor of primaries, which I am totally in favor of for a lot of reasons: (1) you can still caucus on another day, but let's make presidential preference a simple vote; (2) primaries are open all day, whereas caucuses exclude anyone who can't make evening meetings (evening workers, many parents, those in night school, some seniors, etc.); and (3) even with record participation, MN caucuses included just under 6% of registered voters, whereas any primary would draw out a minimum of 4X that many, and in a closely contested election like this, possibly as many as half of all registered voters. Even FL primaries, which on the Dem side were non-events because FL was stripped of delegates, had more than 5X the participation of MN caucuses. We went intending to at least stay for a bit but it was a madhouse and our caucus room at Sanford Middle School was overflowing (precinct 12-3). So we voted and left. This is my 2nd caucus, and my recollection of the first (4 years ago) is that the old warhorses dominated the discussion and not a lot got done considering the amount of time we spent (3+ hours).

Strib has an article about doing away with the caucus system in favor of primaries, which I am totally in favor of for a lot of reasons: (1) you can still caucus on another day, but let’s make presidential preference a simple vote; (2) primaries are open all day, whereas caucuses exclude anyone who can’t make evening meetings (evening workers, many parents, those in night school, some seniors, etc.); and (3) even with record participation, MN caucuses included just under 6% of registered voters, whereas any primary would draw out a minimum of 4X that many, and in a closely contested election like this, possibly as many as half of all registered voters. Even FL primaries, which on the Dem side were non-events because FL was stripped of delegates, had more than 5X the participation of MN caucuses.

]]> By: Awed Job http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2008/02/07/did-you-caucus/comment-page-1/#comment-4873 Awed Job Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:25:32 +0000 http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2008/02/07/did-you-caucus/#comment-4873 Pct 10-9 approximately 400 showed up I will be one of 37 delegates at the 61B district caucus on March 29th. While I had no resolutions to present I did make a friendly amendment suggestion for an affordable housing resolution. I also gave some background for a resolution to combat vandalism. What could have been chaotic was rather orderly thanks to Josh and that other guy who I have seen in years past at other caucuses. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of DFL caucus rules. Glad he was there to keep us "legal". People arrived all the way from 6pm to 8pm. Some even came in late. It was the largest caucus our precinct has ever seen from what I was told. While I have been to previous caucuses, many new goes and young goers were energized and will probably be there again. Pct 10-9
approximately 400 showed up

I will be one of 37 delegates at the 61B district caucus on March 29th. While I had no resolutions to present I did make a friendly amendment suggestion for an affordable housing resolution. I also gave some background for a resolution to combat vandalism.

What could have been chaotic was rather orderly thanks to Josh and that other guy who I have seen in years past at other caucuses. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of DFL caucus rules. Glad he was there to keep us "legal".

People arrived all the way from 6pm to 8pm. Some even came in late. It was the largest caucus our precinct has ever seen from what I was told. While I have been to previous caucuses, many new goes and young goers were energized and will probably be there again.

]]> By: Erica M http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2008/02/07/did-you-caucus/comment-page-1/#comment-4872 Erica M Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:09:11 +0000 http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2008/02/07/did-you-caucus/#comment-4872 I'm glad you had a good experience, Zach. That is so great to hear! It was my first time caucusing, too (at the ripe old age of 29). I hope the enthusiasm demonstrated by first-time caucusers and the population in general carries through to November. I’m glad you had a good experience, Zach. That is so great to hear!

It was my first time caucusing, too (at the ripe old age of 29). I hope the enthusiasm demonstrated by first-time caucusers and the population in general carries through to November.

]]> By: zach http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2008/02/07/did-you-caucus/comment-page-1/#comment-4871 zach Thu, 07 Feb 2008 04:55:04 +0000 http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2008/02/07/did-you-caucus/#comment-4871 I caucused at the 3-7 precinct in Saint Paul, which is where Macalester College is - it includes the campus as well as a portion south and west - and the caucus itself was held on the Macalester campus. 900 people showed up to vote for their presidential preference (of which 750 or so voted for Obama), 450 stayed for a portion of the caucus, and 300ish stayed for the walking caucus. I'm a freshman, this was my first caucus (and really my first experience with politics beyond school government), and it was amazing. I was chosen as an alternate delegate (46 delegates, handful of alternates), and the experience has inspired me to participate much more in politics. I caucused at the 3-7 precinct in Saint Paul, which is where Macalester College is – it includes the campus as well as a portion south and west – and the caucus itself was held on the Macalester campus.
900 people showed up to vote for their presidential preference (of which 750 or so voted for Obama), 450 stayed for a portion of the caucus, and 300ish stayed for the walking caucus.
I’m a freshman, this was my first caucus (and really my first experience with politics beyond school government), and it was amazing. I was chosen as an alternate delegate (46 delegates, handful of alternates), and the experience has inspired me to participate much more in politics.

]]> By: RoboSheep http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2008/02/07/did-you-caucus/comment-page-1/#comment-4870 RoboSheep Wed, 06 Feb 2008 23:01:29 +0000 http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2008/02/07/did-you-caucus/#comment-4870 I went out; White Bear Lake South Campus was packed I am happy to say. I didn't bring my camera but I did snap a photo of the madness with my cellphone. <a href="http://robosheep.tumblr.com/post/25620969" rel="nofollow">http://robosheep.tumblr.com/post/25620969</a> I went out; White Bear Lake South Campus was packed I am happy to say. I didn’t bring my camera but I did snap a photo of the madness with my cellphone.

http://robosheep.tumblr.com/post/25620969

]]> By: Strolling Amok http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2008/02/07/did-you-caucus/comment-page-1/#comment-4869 Strolling Amok Wed, 06 Feb 2008 22:05:43 +0000 http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2008/02/07/did-you-caucus/#comment-4869 I caucused in Minneapolis - 62A. It was getting crowded already when I arrived at 6:15 and the lines were out the door by 6:30. My ward finished everything up by 9 o'clock (I'm a delegate - yeah!) But as I was leaving I spoke with a lady from another ward and they had gotten into a fight over delegates and still hadn't started voting on resolutions yet. I caucused in Minneapolis – 62A. It was getting crowded already when I arrived at 6:15 and the lines were out the door by 6:30. My ward finished everything up by 9 o’clock (I’m a delegate – yeah!) But as I was leaving I spoke with a lady from another ward and they had gotten into a fight over delegates and still hadn’t started voting on resolutions yet.

]]> By: James Lindsay http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2008/02/07/did-you-caucus/comment-page-1/#comment-4868 James Lindsay Wed, 06 Feb 2008 21:43:38 +0000 http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2008/02/07/did-you-caucus/#comment-4868 Here's some photos from last night's Democratic caucus in NordEast. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/opie/tags/election08/" rel="nofollow">http://flickr.com/photos/opie/tags/election08/</a> Here’s some photos from last night’s Democratic caucus in NordEast. http://flickr.com/photos/opie/tags/election08/

]]> By: James Lindsay http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2008/02/07/did-you-caucus/comment-page-1/#comment-4867 James Lindsay Wed, 06 Feb 2008 19:28:46 +0000 http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2008/02/07/did-you-caucus/#comment-4867 I caucused in North East Minneapolis last night, and while it was crowded, the whole thing took me about half an hour. I didn't stay for the whole thing though, like most people, I just put in my vote for the democratic nomination and left. I caucused in North East Minneapolis last night, and while it was crowded, the whole thing took me about half an hour. I didn’t stay for the whole thing though, like most people, I just put in my vote for the democratic nomination and left.

]]> By: James Lindsay http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2008/02/07/did-you-caucus/comment-page-1/#comment-4866 James Lindsay Wed, 06 Feb 2008 19:27:36 +0000 http://minneapolis.metblogs.com/2008/02/07/did-you-caucus/#comment-4866 I caucused in North East Minneapolis last night, and while it was crowded, the whole thing took me about half an hour. I didn't stay for the whole thing though, like most people, I just put in vote for the democratic nomination and left. I caucused in North East Minneapolis last night, and while it was crowded, the whole thing took me about half an hour. I didn’t stay for the whole thing though, like most people, I just put in vote for the democratic nomination and left.

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