tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870905574657583796.post4454641993622502137..comments2007-11-19T21:20:51.063-06:00Steve Harrelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02525770449071261507noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4870905574657583796.post-27437699155217640552007-11-19T21:20:00.000-06:002007-11-19T21:20:00.000-06:00You know, Steve. There is some merit to it. As I am one of your Republican friends, I do have some misgivings about how our system works. You know as well as I do that there are a large number of Republicans that are elected as Democrats just because they know they have a better chance of getting elected as a Democrat. But the truth is, no matter how our primaries are conducted, it wouldn't change the fact that people still hide behind false identities in order to get elected. Of course, that's not the point of the system in LA, but one couldn't help but wonder if it doesn't open the doors up to more folks who might want to run that won't now. If they think they have just enough of a shot to bring the front runner under 50%, then it might encourage them to run where they might not otherwise. <BR/>As you know, parties serve a purpose. They unite resources behind one candidate that otherwise wouldn't have access to those resources. In a "cajun" type primary, you can win the election outright without the party structure helping you. It means that there may be some people that get elected that otherwise wouldn't have a shot. Jindal was a given, but I'm sure there are instances where an unlikely candidate won because he or she didn't have to face the vetting of the party. Like Arnold did in California during the recall. He probably wouldn't have survived a partisan primary. <BR/>I'm happy with our current system, but a closed primary does make it hard to vote if you vote Republican. Many contests are decided in the Democratic primary and I wish that I could vote in those races, but I'm faced with having to vote one ticket only. Maybe if there was a way to fix that problem, then I'd support it. I just don't know how it could be done.<BR/>And yes...I'd vote for you if I could. You're my favorite Democrat. Mainly because I know what a fine duckhunter you are.Corynoreply@blogger.com