In a message dated 5/16/2005 2:05:24 PM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: >>>I have stated where I stand politically on previous posts. If the party chooses to endorse a candidate I personally do not believe upholds my personal values, I will not vote for them, in the primary or otherwise. I do the same on the convention floor as I do in the voting booth. Vote my conscience. << JP: I have to disagree with Pamela (whom I normally agree with though) on a few things in regards to this and other points she's raised. I'm having a hard time reconciling the thought that delegates must endorse a candidate, and the position that those RT supporters that left disrespected the process with the fact that you wouldn't vote for a candidate that you felt didn't uphold your values even if he got the endorsement but rather that you vote your conscience. It seems to me that those who left were voting their conscience, they didn't want to endorse Peter and RT wasn't going to get support from Peter's folks and so they voted with their feet. If you believe the idea people should vote their conscience and you're in a convention that's deadlocked, then realistically you have to either allow for no endorsement or for people to agree to go home or whatever. Otherwise you're forcing people not to vote their conscience, but rather to but persuaded in order to go home
Ultimately, though, I think our endorsing process is flawed in a few regards. I don't think we've done enough to include underrepresented groups, what should be people voting their conscience is actually family, friends and supporters of a particular candidate trying to ensure his/her success, and in a primarily one-party town (no disrespect intended to Greens, Repulicans and Independents) the endorsement is not only the litmus test but clearing the field of candidates that might reach or resonate with voters. We have a primary, and therefore don't need the endorsement to eliminate candidates in Minneapolis. In my opinion, the endorsement should be about nominating who is best for the party, but if you're going to do that, 60% is way to low. It should be 90% so that you can say that a candidate truly represents the will of the delegates. And while people may snap at RT and make comments about being "imaginary", how many delegates went out and polled their neighbors so they could best represent them? How many came to the convention undecided prepared to give any candidate fair consideration, certainly not anyone volunteering for or wearing a campaign's t-shirt, myself included. The majority of people had a candidate in mind walking in. I'm not downing that, it's just the nature of the beast. But because the percentage is so low (60%), you can't really call the endorsement a mandate. There is a wide difference between the way things are supposed to be or ideally are and they way they actually are. Our country is founded on the principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and that all men are created equal.......by a group of slaveowners who treated women like cattle and the inheritors or which can't support two people who love each other being married because they're the same gender. Our party and processes are not always what they claim to or should be. It's part of being human and we do the best we can. Ultimately, what I would do is change it to be similar to what some of the caucases do, endorse who you like and put your resources behind that/those candidate(s), rate acceptable or unacceptable the rest, and let voter's decide in the Primary. Jonathan Palmer Victory REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
