Well, I’m getting ready to do the one thing I never thought I would: Enter the weird, 19th century world of the political caucus. If I may be boldly partisan for Obama for a minute, a few thoughts:
*Texans—just show at your local precinct. The caucus should be in the same place as the precinct voting booth. I’d suggest being there by 7 PM, so for all but West Texans, you have an hour to get there. You can’t caucus if you didn’t vote, but if you did, you should have a stamp on your voter registration card that’s your ticket in. It’s a squeaker coming out of the exit polls, so get thee to your precinct.
*In Austin, at least, Obama’s ground game has been a lot better. We’ve been blanketed with Obama materials, and they’re really useful, with explanations on how to handle the “Texas two-step”, the primacaucus weirdness that hasn’t been a factor is forever. I’ve gotten like a dozen Obama mailers and fliers, and only one Clinton one, and it was better described as an anti-Obama mailer. I feel that the combination of upbeat messaging and education on how to handle the system will serve the Obama campaign well tonight.
*That said, apparently Rush Limbaugh is instructing Texas Republicans to vote in the Democratic primary for Clinton. I can’t begrudge them this strategy, since I’d probably do it if the tables were turned. But it does double up the importance of getting your Texas Obama-supporting asses to the precincts to caucus. Remember, 1/3 of the votes rest on what happens at 7:15 PM tonight, and in such a close primary, we can’t take any chances.
I’m excited. This will be the first and probably last time I’ll ever see a caucus. My mom even text-messaged me wishing me luck, this is so unusual. I know it’s sort of dorky to be excited, but you have to understand that we aren’t Iowa here. This whole situation is just unique, and that automatically puts a layer of exciting on it.
33 Responses to “Caucus my caucus”
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I’m in Houston and this will be our first time caucusing as well, we’re heading out the door now and are excited! In my 30 years in Texas, my votes have never really counted before.
Ideologically I know caucuses are an abomination for little d-democracy, but I really enjoy them.
My favorite part was all the kids (under 18 years old) who showed up to observe the caucus.
Have fun!
That has to be a good feeling, for both Texas and Ohio residents tonight. After the general thinking was that the post-Super Tuesday states would have little impact, it now comes down to these two states.
Hey folks — if anyone wants to jump for a live primary chat, surf over to my pad’s Cover It Live for a spell:
Live chat is here
If you caucused, does that make you a Caucasian? Can a caucus in the Caucasus spread staphlococcus?
Have fun! I was sort of silly-excited to go to my first now that I’m in Iowa.
Ideologically I know caucuses are an abomination for little d-democracy, but I really enjoy them.
Depends how they are organized and structured.
We just got back from caucusing for Obama in our precinct and it was pretty awesome. Lots and lots of people, good energy, happy kids running around.
We just got back from caucusing for Obama in our precinct and it was pretty awesome. Lots and lots of people, good energy, happy kids running around.
I hope someone recorded Limbaugh urging people to vote for Clinton, because if she does manage to turn it around and get the nomination, and then win in the general, I just want to play it for him over and over. “You did it, Rush! Hillary’s in the White House, thanks to you!”
I live up in northwest Austin, on the border of Williamson County. This precinct had been solidly Republican for years until recently. In the last election, what I suspect to be a demographic shift (that is, out-of-staters moving here) made the results almost 50/50. If the general is anything like the caucus tonight, it may finally go blue.
There seemed to be almost no caucusing Republicans. More interesting to me, though, is that there were very few Clinton supporters. There was an incredible crush of people trying to caucus at my precinct, and they were almost all for Obama. Everyone up and down the line was joking about it. Because of the huge number of people waiting in line, some people were making catcalls to change the Clinton tables over to Obama because the people working at those had little to do except stare at the Obama crowd.
This is all quite a change from previous primaries I’ve seen. Those had so few voters that the poll workers seemed to perk up when someone actually walked in to vote. I hope this flood repeats itself in November!
Just got back from our caucus. Very interesting, but much longer than I was expecting. (I’d been told by someone that it was a “Sign your name, pick your candidate, and head out the door” caucus, and I hadn’t had dinner yet, so I starved just horribly for several hours.)
I even entered a resolution to end the Iraq war by the end of 2009, and it passed! If it makes it through the Lubbock County convention and through the state convention, it could be selected as part of the national platform.
Wow. I just got back from one raucous caucus. I’ve been in our polling place many times - it was my elementary school - but I have never seen that many people packed into that space. It was really phenomenal.
The best part was when a family friend cruised past and said to my mother, “Remember when it was just the four of us?”
I’m in Canada, watching CNN — and I’ve gotta say, I really hope Amanda (and all of you) manage to caucus without it getting too raucous…
They showed 600 votes separating the two candidates a couple of seconds ago…
My caucus convention in Houston was huge. 132 people showed up for my precinct and over 200 for the one that was being rund at the same location (ugg that made it really crowded) As a comparison I was one of three people that showed in 2006. Pretty even split in mine went 11-9 in favor of Clinton as far as delegates. A bit more in Clinton’s favor in the other precenct.
I enjoy these things even when there aren’t many people there just cause I like the process, but this many people showing up was amazing.
giggle. amanda went out looking for some caucus.
Does anyone else find it completely weird that they’re watching Texas like a hawk on CNN? Nobody ever cares about the Texas primary!
I also vote in NW Austin, precinct 254, which votes at Davis Elementary on Duval Rd.
Ours was a huge mess; the people in charge had been expecting about 70 people, and we had almost 300. The party hadn’t given us enough signup sheets, so we had to resort to lined paper out of someone’s notepad.
The guy who wanted to be our precinct captain had no idea what he was doing, and the temporary captain he was taking over from knew what to do in a normal situation but had no clue how to modify that for the large turnout.
We had 287 votes, split Obama-197 to Clinton-90, or 69% to 31%. So we sent 30 Obama delegates to the county convention and 13 Clinton. We would have had even more - I did a quick headcount at one point and I’m sure we had closer to 325 - but since it was taking so long (over an hour; 7:15 my sweet aunt fanny!) many got fed up and went home.
A pretty cool caucus in Tarrytown. Obama was the winner by a large number, but I was torn by the Clinton side of the room - they looked more ground down, less cheerful and prosperous, more like my kind of people. But I still voted for Obama. Hooray!
Shouldn’t election reform, from primaries to voting booth to electoral college, be near the top of the agenda when the Bush regime ends?
I know it’s sort of dorky to be excited
It’s fucking patriotic dorkitude, so I’m doubly in favor (being as I’m pro-dork generally).
CNN just predicted Clinton the winner in Texas. Argh. This will never end.
I know it’s sort of dorky to be excited
I once wrapped up jury duty on election day. Can’t even tell ya how excited I was on the walk from the courthouse to the VFW.
So? How was it?
My caucus (precinct 207, in NW Austin) as overwhelmingly tilted towards Obama. Probably something like 90%, by my rough guess, and there were probably 250-300 people there. I hadn’t even gotten into the room where they had all the tables before they opened them all up to Obama supporters.
Plus, at the Draught House afterwards, I ran in to a friend from college I hadn’t seen in probably 3 years. So a good night all around.
Moore: In counting so far it looks like Clinton won the Texas primary and Obama won the Texas caucus. The caucus counts for less, but Obama won the caucus by more than Clinton won the primary. It’s not clear to me who this will wind up assigning an ultimate delegate lead to.
On the other hand, is the media actually interested in things like waiting around for delegate counts, or are they just going to take one look at the primary results and announce Clinton won Texas? And what counts for more at this point in the campaign, actually winning, or the media acting like you won?
Dana, I’m aware that many of you Republicans looked in your hearts and realized you were bigger racists than sexists and will vote accordingly. I’m not sure the nation is with you on either racism or sexism, though.
fucking patriotic dorkitude
It’s Democracy Dorks!
I’m with you, Steph. I have misgivings about Hillary up and down, but if she gets the nom, I’d sure like to shove her up Rush Limbaugh’s ass. Metaphorically, of course — I would never wish such a thing on her. Or anyone, for that matter.
Caucus participation in my precinct:
2004: 7 (to fill 11 delegate slots!)
2006; 2
2008: 109 (56 Clinton, 53 Obama, 15 delegate slots split 8-7)
The thing that really kills participation in the caucusing, it seems to me, is the laborious process of reading and voting on platform resolutions. Everything went along great while we were getting orgnaized, voting for permanent precinct chair and secretary and getting everyone signed in; there was great energy in the room. It was only when somebody starting droning on with whereases and therefores that people’s eyes started glazing over. If the state party could somehow streamline that part of the conventions, they might get more sustained participation.
The 784 people at my precinct convention last night marked quite a change from the last election, where we had 35. It was totally nuts. They broke 7/2 for Obama.
Mine was like the rest of Austin—packed, and they totally weren’t expecting it. Luckily, we got in and out pretty quickly.
we had 29 show up in 04 here in Hutto, Williamson County - Tuesday night we had 287 at our 2 sites - props to our county chair Rich Torres for being prepared - plenty of Dem ballots, back up site contingencies, etc.
btw,
first timer, unheard of 31 yr old congressional candidate outpolled DeLay Monkeyboy John Carter by 12,000 votes
and Dems outpolled Pubs 2 to 1 in Bell County (Ft Hood)
I was excited about caucusing too.