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caucus
Texas Latinos win victory in fight against the caucus system
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation/AP/story/1201956.html
Associated Press Writer
SAN ANTONIO -- Latino voters celebrated a federal court ruling Tuesday that came down against the Texas Democratic Party and could put the complicated "Texas Two-step" presidential delegate system in jeopardy.
The ruling by a three-judge panel will allow the lawsuit to go forward and put the Texas delegate system closer to facing a potential review by the Justice Department, which Latino advocates sought in the aftermath of last year's intense Democratic primary between Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton.
In a lawsuit filed last year, the Latino groups argued that the way Texas Democrats awarded presidential delegates unfairly discriminated against Latinos by awarding fewer presidential delegates to heavily Hispanic areas. They did not contest to whom the delegates were awarded, but rather how the allotment was made.
Latino advocates saw Tuesday's ruling as clearing the way for the party's complex process of awarding delegates through a primary and caucus to be done away with entirely.
Caucuses Revisited
(This started out as a reply to BJ and twandx, on the "They don't fool around in Iowa" blog entry. It got so big I figured it would be better to make a diary out of it.)
BJ and twandx, You Nailed It.
We don't have a presidential primary in Iowa. We have caucuses. In order to cast a vote in the presidential primary you must present your body at the caucus. No exceptions.
If you're working, can't get a sitter or are physically unable to leave the house, that's too bad. Your vote won't be counted. No excuses.
If you don't have transportation we're sorry. Most busses don't run at night in Iowa and there are none at all in this little town, nor do we have taxis. Find someone you can ride with or hoof it. If you're not there, you don't count.
Scheduled a non-refundable vacation trip without checking to see when the caucuses were? Too bad. Choose between the beach in January or driving to the caucus in a blizzard.
Your daughter selected January 5 to get married in Phoenix? Sorry. The wedding or the caucus. Take your pick.
You must be there in the flesh, standing on the side of the room designated as your candidate's. If you're not, your voice will not be heard.
DNC Begins Review of Primary System
Funny but all I can think is: Up Yours DNC!
http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2009/06/democrats-work-to-avoid-2008-primary-strife.html
Democrats Work To Avoid 2008 Primary Strife
June 27, 2009 12:09 PM
Dean was against Caucuses before he was for them
Here we have an article from 2004 detailing Howard Dean's opposition to the Iowa caucus in 2000. You may remember him trying to back pedal his way out of it in 2004 just before he left screaming to go home to Vermont.
From The New York Times
THE 2004 CAMPAIGN: THE FORMER GOVERNOR; 2000 Tape Shows Dean Maligning Iowa Caucuses
By JI WILGOREN AND RACHEL L. SWARNS; JODI WILGOREN REPORTED FROM BURLINGTON, VT., FOR THIS ARTICLE, AND RACHEL L. SWARNS FROM DES MOINES.
Published: January 9, 2004