The longer the presidential nomination process struggles to identify the two winners, the better the chances that Kansas’ caucuses will matter. The leading candidates still may not find time to campaign in the state, especially given the crush of big states voting Feb. 5. But Kansans who participate in the caucuses (Feb. 5 for Democrats, Feb. 9 for Republicans) could feel that their votes count for a change. If uncertainty still reigns on Feb. 6 in the GOP race, Kansas Republicans’ preference could matter more. Only Louisiana holds a primary on Feb. 9.
Meanwhile, those who pushed unsuccessfully for the Kansas Legislature not to cancel a full-fledged presidential primary can feel vindicated.
45 Comments
I am SO STOKED that I’ll be at the dem caucus for my area. And yes, I’ll be caucusing for Hillary. All dems who care need to be at their respective caucuses that night. Read up on what to expect if you haven’t been there. Your candidate needs 15% support at least. I wish that the news would put out what to expect and how to get involved in the process, so people who are inexperienced can feel more comfortable going.
This still doesn’t take the place of a primary. We need a primary.
I too will be at my senatorial district caucus. This, unfortunately, is the only say that we get in the primary process.
The republic party overlords don’t to spend the money for a primary because they are truly scared of the number of their former members who are jumping ship.
One reason attendance is so poor at caucuses is that the media don’t give enough publicity. Sure, party activists find out where and when to go, but the typical citizen has no idea. Maybe the Eagle could explain how the Kansas caucuses work in each party, where meetings will be held, how someone who has not participated in the past can get involved.
It is my expectation that the primaries and caucuses on Feb. 5th will decide who is the Demo. Party nominee, so Kansas’ caucuses WILL MATTER. It is not for purposes of overkill that the Obama and Clinton campaigns are paying a great deal of attention to Kansas. I expect that many independents show up for the Demo. Party caucuses so that they can really participate in the selection of our next president.
Barak Obama is my generation’s Bobby Kennedy.
He expects Americans to be better than we’ve been, to work for peace in the world and understand that this nation leads because we are inherently better than to bully our will against the rest of the world.
And that scares the hell out of me.
Because there are elements in America — personified by the Cheney/Bush/Halliburton/Blackwater industrial complex — that simply will not accept a Kennedy-esque approach to government. The Secret Service has redoubled its efforts to protect Obama; it’s one of the most under-reported stories of this campaign. The Secret Service isn’t doing that simply because they’ve got nothing better to do.
Obama is a target, I fear.
Whether it’s a matter of race, or Obama’s vision of treating our “enemies” as people who might be reasoned with, or environmental/energy issues, there are plenty of crazy and/or monied interests who are potential threats to an Obama presidency.
Yeah, that’s how you know there’re good, Jeremy, when the hate-mongers and status-quoists want to kill them.
Nobody wants to kill Bush, heh . . . .
Our caucus might matter, but our electoral votes won’t as they will go to the Republic loser.
Jeremy – We think alike. I remember after seeing the Bobby movie in Dec 2005 saying to myself that I would never again criticize Obama for being young or inexperienced. Those same things were said about Bobby . . .
All this talk about caucus is great but in all the news reports I have not seem they do not tell when or where the caucus will be, or is that a secret held by a few party leaders.
Larry–
The Democratic Caucuses will be on February 5th (first Tuesday). You must be in-line at your polling place by 7 p.m. sharp (no exceptions).
Your polling place is based on your State Senator’s district.
Go to this website http://www.ksdp.org/SuperTuesday and click on “Caucus Locations” on the hotlink (top right in a highlighted box) to see where your polling location is.
Thanks the info Capn.
The Eagle needs to be more informative. As this caucus may be the first and only chance for Kansas voters to have any say at all, high turnout should be worked for.
Calling for anyone who knows how the presidential primary caucus will actually work in Kansas.
When we vote in our State Senatorial district caucus voting location, presumably for all the candidates of our party who have filed for President (nationally or in Kansas?) … WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Or do these Kansas senatorial district winners get voted on again at a state level caucus?
Then how are the delegates to the national presidential convention selected and by whom?
I have participated in this before over the years particularly in 1976 and 1980’s but don’t recall the details.
I do support the caucus system because it brings out the relatively serious political party people in all political parties.
This also brings up another question … will a third party such as Libertarians caucus for their candidates?
I second and third all the comments asking for an explanation of the state caucus procedures. I’ve never participated and think I would like to.
Capn, I looked up at the site you provided and found the address for my Senate district. Do I just show up and make sure I’m in any line before 7 p.m. and then find out what is going on? Wouldn’t it be better if I was somewhat prepared?
Anyone? Help??
Information on voting the United States:
http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Voting/Register.shtml
Good explanation of the Kansas Caucus here published by the Morning Sun:
http://www.morningsun.net/stories/010508/loc_231661549.shtml
A call again to the Eagle.
Get the word out so folks can turn out.
Republican Caucus, Saturday, February 9, 2008
To get detailed information on what a caucus is and how they work go to http://www.ksgopcaucus.org/
• In order to participate in the Republican caucus, you must be a registered Republican by January 25.
• You can attend any caucus in your Congressional District. (for Sedgwick County, it is in Wichita at the Sedgwick County Courthouse Jury Room located at 525 N Main, Wichita, Kansas.)
• Caucus proceedings will get underway at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 9. You may want to consider arriving prior to 10 a.m. to check in.
• Make sure you bring a state-issued photo ID (i.e. drivers license) to the caucus. You are welcome to bring your voter registration card as well, but that is not required.
• Electioneering at caucus locations is encouraged. T-shirts, stickers, signs, and literature from candidates is allowed. If you chose to pass out information about a specific candidate, please be respectful of other people’s opinions.
• There are no advanced or absentee ballots. In order to cast a vote you must be physically present at the caucus location.
• There is no electing of delegates at the caucus. That is a separate process. The only ballot you will cast is for the Republican Presidential candidate of your choice.
• The winner of the caucus will be announced late afternoon/early evening on Saturday, February 9
On February 5, 2008 the Kansas Democratic Party will hold presidential caucuses in each senate district across the state.
If you know your Senate District, go to below link to find the location for the caucus you should attend; if you don’t know your Senate District the same link will help you determine that by simply typing in your address:
http://www.ksdp.org/caucus
The Kansas Democratic Party caucuses give Kansans a chance to meet other Democrats in their area and engage in grassroots campaigning. All registered Democrats are eligible to participate and voter registration forms will be available at each caucus location for those wishing to register for the first time or change their party affiliation.
The link below tells the procedures that will be followed:
http://www.ksdp.org/delegateselection
This is all from the link provided by Capn in his 11:10 post. I found it informative and easy to follow.
There has never been a time when our country needed a change of direction more than following these disastrous years of bushco. Let’s get motivated! Much needs to improve and each of us can help determine our next leaders and the direction of our country.
Caucus meeting places for the 4th District in Kansas
BUTLER Wichita Sedgwick County Courthouse 525 N Main Jury Room
CHAUTAUQUA Independence Memorial Hall Penn and Locust Basement
ELK Independence Memorial Hall Penn and Locust Basement
GREENWOOD Eureka Eureka Public Library 606 N Main Public Meeting Room
HARVEY Newton Harvey County Courthouse 713 N Main St Basement Community Rooms
MONTGOMERY Independence Memorial Hall Penn and Locust Basement
SEDGWICK Wichita Sedgwick County Courthouse 525 N Main Jury Room
SUMNER Belle Plaine Belle Plaine City Building 401 N Merchant St City Council Chambers
That should read Republican Caucus Meeting places.
All you members of the republic party be read to take you loyalty oath before you are allowed to participate at the caucus.
Caucus meeting places for the 4th District in Kansas
BUTLER Wichita Sedgwick County Courthouse 525 N Main Jury Room
SEDGWICK Wichita Sedgwick County Courthouse 525 N Main Jury Room
————-
Thanks Regular. Sounds like it could be a mite crowded in there. I have room for a few in my basement.
I would urge all good Kansas to caucus for Obama. After all he is really a native son of Kansas who has done well for himself and as such deserves the support of Kansas Democrats. Hillary has paid Kansas no attention and she will not even if she wins.
Undecided now as to who I will caucus for since my first choice (Richardson) dropped out. I’ll probably decide that night.
Come November though and there is zero doubt that I will support one of those three against their Republic opponent.
Ben–
Please caucus for Obama. Edwards can’t win the nomination and is just splitting the vote with Obama.
Hillary must be stopped at all costs. The woman said on “Meet the Press[titute]” this morning that he vote for war was a vote for giving the inspectors more time.
That doesn’t even make good nonsense.
If the war had gone well, she’d be crowing about how she was for it all along.
She’s a politician in all it’s negative connotations.
Granted, she’s better than Commander Cod-Piece, but then, Hoover and Nixon are better than
Worst.
President.
Ever.
I cannot caucus for Obama.
He is (so far) the candidate of compromise.
Well an awful lot of people have been hurt by the GOP for a long time now.
I am not in the mood to make nice with the enemy.
Obama’s ONLY chance against the right is a fierce nomination fight. He is naive and too good natured.
I will caucus for Kucinich and will compromise to Senator Clinton.
The field the right has and our side is talking compromise?
Sad.
I’ve got to part company with you on that, JR.
Clinton never flip-flops because she never takes a position.
I see her and her entire organization (including Bill) as the ultimate politico compromisers.
Of course I’ll vote for her over a Romney or a McCain if I must.
But Obama is the real-deal. He’s someone you can vote for, IMHO.
Capn, it WAS a vote to allow more time for inspections did you forget? They voted to authorize war if needed. We didn’t like it then, but we also were told how dangerous and imminent danger and all that jazz…did you forget?
She is a politician, and she is adept at playing the game. I’m afraid that Obama will be too naive. Hillary knows how nasty it can get.
I will caucus for Hillary because she will be the best nominee. But I do wish she would choose Obama for her running mate.
Kev, you’re not even from Kansas, how do you know how much attention Hillary has given to us?
FYI, I’m on the list, I get invites to national calls and conferences, I get calls from her campaign. I just gt called the other day.
So you’re wrong, she is paying attention to us.
Hmmm . . . I guess I did forget.
Would appreciate a link if you’ve got it.
What I remember was that the Senate gave Bush the authority to go to war–a vote of confidence.
Why any Democratic Senator would do that after he stole the election and killed democracy boggles the mind . . .
Again sad.
It is OUR sides election to win.
We elect as our representative someone who wants to work with the likes on the right?
There are very vile,right wing posters here who have no problem with Obama. If the Democrats want to work with (for) the Republicans, I will take my vote elsewhere. To…Greener pastures.
even I was ok with that vote at that time. We argued, that perhaps there were no reasons for war. Then Colin Powell showed us…and we had been attacked, and skittish. We said “ok, but you’d better be right”.
Well we know how that turned out. We were lied to.
I don’t fault her at all when most of us were also duped into believing that there was truly a threat that needed addressing. Who would believe that a president -repub or dem- if they truly loved this country- would take us to war over a lie?
Of course now we now how truly Anti-American values the President and his ilk intended on being. We knew the PNAC had ties, but didn’t really want to believe that.
SO my vote stays with the person who I believe will take us back to when her husband was prez. I know she has the ability to make good sound economic decisions. I know she’ll get right in there with foreign leaders and start mending bridges. I want another Clinton era.
And so should you.
I agree with JR. I’m not interested in someone who will try to appease the right. They have lost the right to run this country.
It’s our turn, and when the nation goes back to good health, then we can yet again look at the policies of each party, and yet again, we’ll see the Dems presiding over a better life for Americans.
I am disappointed by you Capn.
You want a candidate who wants to work WITH the likes of the Prices and Paulthecon?
Maybe it is because I am originally from the right that I know you cannot negotiate with those people. They play mean and they play for keeps. The election is ours to win. No compromises.
I’m inclined to caucus for John Edwards.
If we can’t generate 15%, I’ll probably go to Obama.
I’m a bit ashamed of some of my reasoning.
First off, I’m strong for Edwards’ message. I agree with him that the forces that have caused so much damage to the United States, at home and around the world, aren’t likely to sit down and be nice. I don’t need someone to dream for me, I want someone to fight for me. And Edwards is an advocate; a fighter.
Obama’s optimism inspires me, but I fear he’s not ready to deal with the conservative-dominated mainstream press and the Republican slime machine. Further, I’m worried that the Secret Service has redoubled its security detail around Obama. They don’t do that without provocation and I fear Obama is a target for a 1968-type assassination. When they shot Bobby Kennedy the Democrats had no one to turn to excecpt Hubert Humphrey. Today’s Limbaughtomized masses would jump on their own Obama hit with claims that the Clintons were somehow responsible; you can count on it.
Given the Republic Party alternatives, I can accept and vote for Senator Clinton, but (as I’ve expressed many times in this forum) I believe she best serves the people of the United States of America in the Senate.
I don’t want to be stuck at convention time with no alternative to Senator Clinton, so I’ll stick to my preferred candidate ’til Edwards is no longer viable.
I’m not proud of considering the Bobby Kennedy Scenario, but it still haunts me.
What a lot of people don’t know is that there are now over 40 volunteers in Sedgwick County for John Edwards… we meet twice a week in groups of 2-3 to go over caucus rules, strategy, etc.
We’re trying to raise the money we need to buy a voter list–we’re $30 short–and we get more people every day.
Monkeyhawk, if you haven’t done so already, please go to johnedwards.com and sign up for the South Central Kansas One Corps, so we can keep you in the loop.
Wow, I agree with 33% of what Capn and MonkeyHawk said!
Amazing.
Against Clinton!
She’s actually the least electable. I wish you guys would vote FOR Clinton.
Mr C,
Thanks for the info. My oldest is a strong supporter of Edwards, and I’ll pass the info on to her. As for me, with Richardson gone, I’m like Ben and undecided as yet.
The thing with my oldest is that she’s gotten her hubby to pay attention. He isn’t even a registered voter! He’s always claimed to be a Republican, but I think we’re winning him over. :) Actually, he’s military, so he’s seen for himself what the Republicans have done for him. Or not done, as the case may be.
“Max” –
You’re a fool.
My only problem with Senator Clinton is that she’ll keep people like you and the conservative-dominated mainstream media’s divisiveness in play for four or eight years.
A Democrat will be elected in November.
You know it.
I know it.
As much as I believe either Senator Obama or Senator Clinton would work hard to redirect the nation from George WMD Bush’s Reign of Error, I’m for a proven advocate of the people who make America great.
We need to get past the low-hanging fruit that will bring out right-wing racists and sexists who will fuel the Limbaughtomized Masses and Faux Noise Channel’s venom.
My first choice is Edwards.
My second choice is Obama.
My third choice is Clinton.
My last choice is any of the Republic Party’s contenders.
“mrcontroversy” –
Turns out I’m out in the hinterlands and will advocate for John Edwards in a local caucus.
If we can figure out a way to communicate off this forum (thanks but I don’t want to sign up for spam from the wing-nuts), let me know.
This is what we’ve learned.
Republicans are evil.
The only thing they love at all is greed.
Beneath their reptile hide
There’s self promotion inside.
I wonder why we even plead.
We need to get past the low-hanging fruit that will bring out right-wing racists and sexists who will fuel the Limbaughtomized Masses and Faux Noise Channel’s venom.”
That’s the problem though Monkey- why on earth would you wish to appease them? Do you think they care who the nominee is? They’ll trash them just the same. They are not the people to compromise. I’m tired of that. They had their chance, now I don’t care if they cry in their soup. I want the candidate who most supports my vision for the USA. And the racists and sexist can go jump in a lake.
If I make them angry with my vote- GOOD.
I just do not know why anybody would vote for Hillary except for the fact that she is a woman and she is the wife of a former President. I do not see how she thinks either qualify her to be President. She talks about “experience” but redecorating the White House does not mean you experienced. The only thing her husband gave to her to keep her busy was health care and she failed miserably at that and then, rather than fight for it, she walked away and collected a big check from the insurance companies for doing so. If “experience” is something she cares about than either Dodd, Richardson or Biden would have been much better candidates than her. She is basically a Senator that has only a few years senority on Barack Obama who had 8 years in the Illinois State Senate while she was doing nothing. And Obama has proven that he cares about regular people. When he finished Harvard Law School, he could have taken any number of high paying jobs in big law firms or on Wall Street. But he went to Chicago and took a job in a community organization. And while the Clintons are in Marthas Vinyard sipping wine, Obama was trying to make life better for the regular people. Obama cares about US. Hillary cares about POWER. That is the difference. And I just cannot believe people are again being FOOLED by the Clintons.
Kansas does not count in the national election. Not enough electoral strength.
Mike is a great candidate.
We hope he can stay in.
He is honest, people minded, God loving.
We do need a man like him.
Rose Lane, Parsons, Kansas
Mike is a great candidate, and man of God.
We need him to stay as long as he can.
Rose Lane
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