Illinois State Lawmakers Look to Help Obama

[toasty]

Obama's White House bid may get help from Springfield
ASSOCIATED PRESS
01/10/2007
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A new Illinois General Assembly was sworn in today with a long list of issues to tackle over the next two years.

...

But House Speaker Michael Madigan, re-elected to his post Wednesday, wants to do something else, too: introduce legislation to moved next year's Illinois Democratic primary to Feb. 5, to help boost the presidential prospects of Sen. Barack Obama, if he decides to seek the party's nomination.

Madigan said that by the time the state's primary rolls around in March, the presidential nomination is largely decided by Iowa and New Hampshire.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/illinoisstatenews/story/FD663D124D91DF968625725F006E36A8?OpenDocument

I guess if this goes through, Iowa and New Hampshire just do theirs earlier, too, right? Frankly, it has always irritated me that these two small states, neither of which even have major metropolitan area, carry such pull come election time.

[thesightless]

Re: Illinois State Lawmakers Look to Help Obama

you should have to pass a test to vote in this country. i am sorry, but anyone who watched MTV or the like shouldnt be allowed to vote when you are listening to john stewart for your political news.

[toasty]

Re: Illinois State Lawmakers Look to Help Obama

you should have to pass a test to vote in this country. i am sorry, but anyone who watched MTV or the like shouldnt be allowed to vote when you are listening to john stewart for your political news.

Is this in the right thread? I'm missing the connection...

[thesightless]

Re: Illinois State Lawmakers Look to Help Obama

that so many factors, from a state congress to an asshat on TV, alter and affect our elections through many filtered and false pretenses, with out ppl knowing, is what bugs me.

i.e. 2008, you shouldnt be able to vote unless you, in writing, know that this action was done to garner more democratic favor.

[toasty]

Re: Illinois State Lawmakers Look to Help Obama

that so many factors, from a state congress to an asshat on TV, alter and affect our elections through many filtered and false pretenses, with out ppl knowing, is what bugs me.

i.e. 2008, you shouldnt be able to vote unless you, in writing, know that this action was done to garner more democratic favor.

I don't know that it was done to garner democratic favor as much as to garner more favor for Obama specifically over other democratic candidates. But he's an Illinois guy and he should be expected to easily take Illinois anyway, so I'm not sure that it would carry a lot of weight regardless. More just a way for Illinois to make itself feel more important.

[Lorn]

Re: Illinois State Lawmakers Look to Help Obama

Silly positioning.

[thesightless]

Re: Illinois State Lawmakers Look to Help Obama

Silly positioning.

that exactly it, these elections are so disgusting when you think that this country was founded on the principle of "fair share at the expense of none" with regards to governing. shit, we had about 20 parties at one point. but these two groups continue, through media, and moves like this, alienate everyone else. but people are too dumb to notice, and never see the other guys, most of whom are a lot more based in reality (not the sicko and BS parties like pro drug use and stupid shit) and could co-exist both internally and internationally so much better than our last two options:john kerry or GW2....think about that for aminute..................john kerry or GW2, the two best options to rule and relate for us?......out of THREE HUNDRED MILLION people here legally......... and its our fault too. no one ever looks into things deeper...kerry bush......but they hurt it a lot....so in the end, ill leave it with this...mccain or clinton..whose side are you on?............................................... .................................

[thesightless]

Re: Illinois State Lawmakers Look to Help Obama

now thats how you rant.makes you really wanna look forward to the next 4 years

[subterFUSE]

Re: Illinois State Lawmakers Look to Help Obama




vs.

[toasty]

Re: Illinois State Lawmakers Look to Help Obama

The first step to getting away from our strict adherence to a two-party system is doing away with the electoral college and going with popular vote in the national election. That's the root of the problem, IMO.

[subterFUSE]

Re: Illinois State Lawmakers Look to Help Obama

That won't solve the problem of a 2 party system. I think It would just reduce the 2 parties down to 1. Without the electoral college, a disproportionate level of influence would be based in heavy population centers, which by and large vote only one way.

[toasty]

Re: Illinois State Lawmakers Look to Help Obama

Without the electoral college, a disproportionate level of influence would be based in heavy population centers

I'm 100% OK with this, and not because they tend to vote the way I've voted lately. It makes imminent sense that the places with the most influence be the places where the bulk of the population are located. That's where most things that have an impact on the country happen anyway.

With the electoral college in place, people in NY, LA, DC, Chicago, Dallas, etc. are cut out of the political process altogether because there is no incentive to campaign there. Meanwhile, people that have chosen to live awash in corn and grains decide the presidency. It's madness.

We now have the technology to quickly tabulate the popular vote, which we did not at the time the electoral college was first implemented. There is no longer any need for it, and it's time to put it to bed.

[rubyraks]

Re: Illinois State Lawmakers Look to Help Obama

That won't solve the problem of a 2 party system. I think It would just reduce the 2 parties down to 1. Without the electoral college, a disproportionate level of influence would be based in heavy population centers, which by and large vote only one way.

So you're essentially arguing that the electoral system is a way to dilute the principle of one man one vote just to please your personal interests...nice

The bicameral nature of Congress was created specifically in regards to your concern.

[88Mariner]

Re: Illinois State Lawmakers Look to Help Obama

the electoral college is necessary. I'd rather keep the republic, thanks.

[rubyraks]

Re: Illinois State Lawmakers Look to Help Obama

Why is it necessary? What's wrong with a straight up one man one vote election system?