DrROBschiz
Member
Things like the delegate counts and superdelegates and so on seem anti-democratic, and they are. But the parties aren't saying "hey, pick our nominee for us" so much as they're saying "who do you think should be our nominee?" And then they'll consider that decision before accepting it. This gives them a safety valve for if some wackjob starts winning.
The GOP had a situation where their "safety valve" wasn't enough to stop Trump because the party was divided, there were too many candidates, Trump was winning by too much, they implemented short-sighted rules in the past, etc. AND they never had an willing and acceptable alternative.
In 2008 and 2016, the "safety valve" has mattered in the Democratic primaries because it's become a two person race where the superdelegates can potentially control the balance. In 2004 and 2000, it didn't matter because a single candidate obliterated the table after NH.
What some of the rabid Sanders fanatics can't seem to accept is that the superdelegates when they do vote, will not vote for Sanders for a multitude of reasons, but foremost is that it's their Party, their rules and their process. They'll take into account the Sanders surprise groundswell because it's good business, but they don't have to listen to your "votes" anymore than Microsoft has to listen to your change.org petition about Windows 10's incoherent auto color schemes.
This isnt news
But it also makes Bernie's crusade all the more important in my eyes. Because despite being essentially private entities they exert near complete control over the election process going into the general
They cant force voters to vote on party lines but we want to as a populance since these parties are so effective at propping up their candidates and giving the public a simple Left/Right decision
I suppose this will remained locked as cultural until there is an actual groundswell against how private parties are currently formed and operated.