The argument that Terry McAuliffe would not be Virginia's Governor if the GOP had a primary verses a convention last election cycle is BS. Regardless of your leanings it's clear this race was MUCH closer than anyone
thought it was going to be and had the GOP rallied around "our" candidate or if the Beach's RINO Mayor hadn't endorsed McAuliffe, things would
likely have been different.
So even if we don't have a big convention in Richmond why couldn't the 2nd District have a little convention? Conventions in my mind bring the party together, keep 99% of the democrats out, save the candidates huge money, concentrate the primary into a few weeks verses months, keeps our infighting and squabbles within the family and allows the party to emerge with a unified voice.
Down side... It could be argued that the outcome is not always the best for the party statewide since enthusiasm, excitement and conservatism seem to attract the most delegates.
Lastly the argument that a primary is "free" doesn't fit the conservative mindset any more than the Presidents proposal to expand free public education to grade 14. Free is a big part in the math getting us to $18,939,000,000,000+ in debt... not including future federal obligations we are already on the hook for!
Having attended a few conventions and
voting in countless primaries (both Democrat and Republican) I tend to
think each year is different and that is why there's a back room party
vote to determine if we should have a convention or a primary. In Virginia everyone can vote in primaries meaning Republican's don't always pick their candidate.
Next you have the money issue... For example how much money was spent by Scott Rigell to win his first primary? How much was spent in total? Nearly $2,000,000 that how much! Do we really want to exclude the "citizen" from running for Congress? Or more importantly, in a close race do we want to spend a million doing the Democrats work of tearing down our eventual nominee?
Primaries by their very nature are drawn out ordeals. The human resources expended on primaries is massive and when it's all said and done people from each camp hate each other... a little. Whereas the convention is comparatively swift and nearly painless with little rancor other than that from those who wanted a primary. Heck even a canvas is better than a full blown primary.
Forget about the media they pretty much ignore local races and I'm sorry but unless it's weather or sports there's not much for them to bite into.
Some groups seem to be disenfranchised in this process such as the poor, ederly and active duty military who can't attend. Regarding the military they really don't vote in primaries. The elderly and those who can't afford a weekend in Richmond because the price of politics is too high or they are just not mobile... clearly you haven't seen the stuff that I've witnessed at conventions. Old people, poor people, people fresh out of the asylum... Good God it's just crazy and I love it as smart organization over come these obstacles by the bus load.
That said, being able to "slate" votes locally is a great option but not according to some party redcoats in Virginia Beach. I'm not sure about state wide but I sure like to see Randy Forbes run in the new 4th District with a convention determining who is going to represent Republican's in the 2nd Congressional. A primary for an "open" Congressional seat is something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy or Gary Byler for that matter. Okay maybe Gary.
Next you have the money issue... For example how much money was spent by Scott Rigell to win his first primary? How much was spent in total? Nearly $2,000,000 that how much! Do we really want to exclude the "citizen" from running for Congress? Or more importantly, in a close race do we want to spend a million doing the Democrats work of tearing down our eventual nominee?
Primaries by their very nature are drawn out ordeals. The human resources expended on primaries is massive and when it's all said and done people from each camp hate each other... a little. Whereas the convention is comparatively swift and nearly painless with little rancor other than that from those who wanted a primary. Heck even a canvas is better than a full blown primary.
Forget about the media they pretty much ignore local races and I'm sorry but unless it's weather or sports there's not much for them to bite into.
Some groups seem to be disenfranchised in this process such as the poor, ederly and active duty military who can't attend. Regarding the military they really don't vote in primaries. The elderly and those who can't afford a weekend in Richmond because the price of politics is too high or they are just not mobile... clearly you haven't seen the stuff that I've witnessed at conventions. Old people, poor people, people fresh out of the asylum... Good God it's just crazy and I love it as smart organization over come these obstacles by the bus load.
That said, being able to "slate" votes locally is a great option but not according to some party redcoats in Virginia Beach. I'm not sure about state wide but I sure like to see Randy Forbes run in the new 4th District with a convention determining who is going to represent Republican's in the 2nd Congressional. A primary for an "open" Congressional seat is something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy or Gary Byler for that matter. Okay maybe Gary.
So even if we don't have a big convention in Richmond why couldn't the 2nd District have a little convention? Conventions in my mind bring the party together, keep 99% of the democrats out, save the candidates huge money, concentrate the primary into a few weeks verses months, keeps our infighting and squabbles within the family and allows the party to emerge with a unified voice.
Down side... It could be argued that the outcome is not always the best for the party statewide since enthusiasm, excitement and conservatism seem to attract the most delegates.
Lastly the argument that a primary is "free" doesn't fit the conservative mindset any more than the Presidents proposal to expand free public education to grade 14. Free is a big part in the math getting us to $18,939,000,000,000+ in debt... not including future federal obligations we are already on the hook for!
