As I was driving in this morning, I heard some speculation that Indiana’s Democratic Presidential primary would “be decided by Republicans.” Given how thin the margins appear to be as between Clinton and Obama, I guess it wouldn’t take much for this to be the case. The speculation went that there would be two groups of cross-over Republicans — “Obama Republicans” who legitimately liked Obama’s policy approaches and “Limbaugh Republicans” who wanted to cross-over to vote for Clinton in order to cause mischief.
For the record, I have doubts about the number of people who are actually following Limbaugh’s lead on this thing. I suspect it’s more hype than reality. But, I’ll run with the premise. Let’s say a lot of devoted Republicans of the sort who not only listen to Limbaugh, but act on his suggestions, decide to vote in the Democratic primary. This means that such Republicans will *not* be voting in the Republican primary. So, I’m just wondering what sort of effect that would have on the resulting Republican candidates up and down the ticket. Obviously McCain and Daniels have their respective nominations locked up. But, there are plenty of state and local races remaining with closely contested primaries.
If the Limbaugh ideologues and the pragmatic Obamicans are absent from the Republican voting pool, what does the remaining Republican electorate look like? Are they more or less socially conservative? Are they more or less fiscally conservative? Are they more or less neo-conservative? (Those are, as I see it, the three main tribes of Republicans these days). Will the ideological composition of Republican nominees lower down on the ticket change as a result?
As an Obamacan, I was thinking just this morning how much more exciting voting for the Democratic candidates for governor and congress will be this year than if I were voting in the Republican primary. And, in case you’re wondering, I will follow up that primary selection with a vote for the Democratic candidates in the fall!
Doug, it’s not mischief–it’s Operation Chaos.
I’m a registered republican who is crossing over to vote for Obama because I do not like the direction my party has taken.
Wonder if I’ll be interrogated by the dems in Schererville?
You’d think GOPers would want to vote in their primary as there are contested elections for U.S. House nominations.
Go Zirkle!!
My wife says my parents are both voting for Hillary. And then McCain in the general, more than likely.
I’m trying to reconcile the “If you don’t vote, you can’t complain” mantra I was raised with, with the practice of crossing party lines simply to cause disruption or game the system…
Baron Hill throws his superdelegateness behind Obama.
I hear from Republican friends who just want to be a part in this historic event. They are not a part of someone else’s agenda. So, I’d add that faction in as well.
I don’t know how to get a handle on the real impact Limbaugh will have – he’s such a self-agrandizer that he’ll claim he got Clinton elected just to hear himself rant.
This primary will attract folks of both parties who usually only vote in the general election. So, I’m not sure how to get a handle on even the overall amount of crossover, expect through an exit poll.
See, I think too many die-hard Republicans would cringe at pulling the lever for Hilary Clinton.
You still can’t count her out, and never can until she says she is done. T, I wonder what your parents would do with themselves if Clinton went on to win? The “blood” would be on their hands! After all, if they would have just let Obama get the nomination, who knows how it could have worked out?
Limbaugh could very well destroy the Republican party in Indiana (imagine that!).
If Republicans take a Democrat ballot, they’re Democrats, not Republicans. Republican poll workers cannot be Democrats.
We could get to the general election and simply not have any Republican poll workers because they all voted for Hillary!
I’d sooner castrate myself with a rusty butterknife than vote for Hillary, under any circumstances. Because at the end of the day, the two activities have the same result.
Wonder what mom and dad will do when they read this blog and find out that both their boys are voting for Obama?
Brings a whole new meaning to “buzzcut!”
Buzzcut,
Interesting point! Sounds like the Republicans have a choice of temptations:
1) Take a Democratic ballot in the primary so one can try fuck up the black man running for President;
2) Take a Republican ballot in the primary so one can be a poll worker in November and try to fuck up the black, poor, and elderly voters.
One can’t do both! An economics student could get a Master’s thesis out of this…
Actually, mom called to say they both voted for Hillary, and they are intending to vote for the Democrat (preferably Hillary) in the general. She said her had was shaking as she did it. She wants Hillary on the ticket one way or the other. They spent the entire Clinton years in the type of Clinton hatred that would make Rush proud, but are fatigued after eight years of our CEO president’s stewardship. She defended her vote on purely economic terms without even having to get into foreign affairs, the environment, justice, etc.
These are very interesting times, indeed.
that should be “her hand”, not “her had”. me no type good.
A vote for Hillary equals Buzzcut getting deballed?
Hmmm… who to vote for? Thinking…
Why is Buzzcut so concerned about the loss of his testicles? What sort of sordid world does he inhabit? It’s not high on the agenda of most rational folk…
Registering as a Democrat does not make one become a Democrat.I used to be a swing-voter back when I was merely upset with Republicans and before I totally rejected them,and many others are probably similar.
Now I don’t think I could never vote for a Republican.But all party politics are corrupted and self-serving. It’s the pay-offs and obligation to repay with legislation.I do see Democrats as closer to traditional American values of constitutionally guaranteed civil rights and due process,and a fair shake for everyone. Our Constitution has recently been a stumbling block for Republicans’ agenda, not Democrats’.
I don’t know if Obama will be destroyed or not,and if he is, I can’t imagine what kind of administration we would have.I just hope the guy gets a chance.No one I can recall has been as positive and as promising and as unique.
To see an intellectual Black man ,who is always positive and even-keeled make many think he must be faking it.He must be a stealth Jesse Jackson ready to pop out of his disguise and will appoint Farakhan as AG.
Two “firsts” this year: the presidential primary in Indiana counts, and, I don’t even feel like voting. I’m thinking I can reframe my attitude and vote for Obama as an expression of protest.
I’m reasonably certain that an Obama administration would not be dedicated to sticking it to whitey or whatever it is I’m supposed to be worried about when the tv news media personalities are clucking over Obama’s ex-preacher.
A vote for Hillary equals Buzzcut getting deballed?
Hmmm… who to vote for? Thinking…
No, no, no, you misunderestimated. A vote by you for Hillary does nothing to me.
I would rather castrate MYSELF than vote for Hillary…
Aw forget I even brought this up.
I’m reasonably certain that an Obama administration would not be dedicated to sticking it to whitey or whatever it is I’m supposed to be worried about when the tv news media personalities are clucking over Obama’s ex-preacher.
Well, Wright himself has said that he’s going to be around an Obama administration. He’s not going away. I’m sure he will not have an official capacity, but the media will be after him for comments on what Obama is doing, I’m sure.
A black liberation theologian like Obama is not going to end or mend affirmative action. He’s not going to fix African American schools. He’s not going to transcend race. He’s not going to address the various pathologies that infect the African American underclass.
So basically he isn’t going to do any of the things I want an African American presidential candidate to do. He’s not the man he sold himself as. Quite the opposite, in fact.
Hopefully Wright will be too busy decorating the million dollar mansion that his congregation is building for him in a gated, primarily white Chicago suburb to do too much damage to an Obama administration.
BTW his mansion will include an exercise room and an elevator. Guess I need to become a liberation theologian!
Rev–
Step 1: Get TV station.
Step 2: Ask viewers to send you checks.
You’re welcome.
Yea…that and sell every last ounce of credibility I have.
Hopefully Wright will be too busy decorating the million dollar mansion that his congregation is building for him in a gated, primarily white Chicago suburb to do too much damage to an Obama administration.
So he was “disinvited” from 2 churches in Indianapolis because of “The Klan”.
But he is going to live in a gated community with a bunch of Crackers.
What’s the deal with that?
I went on a field trip with my son and his pre-school class to the Lincoln Park Zoo last Friday. We drove by Trinity Church as well as Farakhan’s “Mosque”. They’re like 2 miles apart. Maybe less. So I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that Wright and Farakhan have a close relationship.
I understand why Wright wants to live with the Crackers when he retires, too. Not a good neighborhood.
Buzzcut-You mean you didn’t see the report on Fox 32 about two weeks ago? They showed the “compound” and everything.
Wonder if his maid(s) will be legal?
BTW he’s moving to Tinley Park.
Ooh, Tinley Park. Isn’t he concerned about suburban sprawl and global warming?
Maybe he can help find the Lane Bryant killer.
A neutered Democrat–what an interesting thought.
How about removing both and getting the same health benefit?
Nah–don’t you know the Lane Bryant killer is racial profiling!