After a quick read on Wikipedia, I can tell you that the term "superdelegate" is an informal term and I think used mostly (or totally made up) by the media. This is about as far as I got with a clear answer on Wikipedia. Sure, there was a page of words but in the end amounted to not much more than "vote for Presidential candidates...blahblahblah." So I moved to howstuffworks.com. I got a little more information there but realized that we, as Americans, like to complicate things. It's in our genes. Lest you think I am not a proud American, I will say I do believe the complications are an effort to make things more fair. Democracy is the government for the people and by the people, I get all that. I understand where are Forefathers were going with the electoral college but in 2008, the year of campaign overload, this complicated (but fair?) system seems to be more like a load of shananagans. They can vote for whoever they please regardless of which candidate won the popular vote of the state - which is where I think they get their super powers. "So if one Democratic candidate wins 60 percent of the popular vote in a state that offers 10 delegates, for example, that candidate will win six delegates in that state." The other four become the "superdelegates" I suppose, and can vote for Obama.
Why has there been no mention of superdelegates on the Republican side? Is it because they had one clear winner long ago or because they don't believe in superheroes (I mean superdelegates)? Good questions. When a Republicans primary candidate wins a state, the winner gets all of the delegates. See, the fairness gets lost in the simplicity.
The superdelegates are said to be high ranking members of Congress or the Party, former Presidents and Vice Presidents. But no one can seem to explain exactly how they are chosen. If I am a delegate of Connecticut, who decides if I get the Super "D" cape and tights? You can find a list of all the superdelegates online but I still can't find a straight answer as to how they became superdelegates. Are these people chosen by an independent group or has Bill gone and used his super ex-President powers to win friends? But even if you do understand the system (and I'm really not sure there is anyone), doesn't it seem like it must be at least somewhat corrupt? But maybe this is what politics has really always been about and it's just that now it's in your face 24 hours a day.
Or maybe it is a good system and I'm just the uninformed village idiot. But it certainly isn't clear. The papers seem to be "unofficially" declaring Obama the winner, talking about how he IS the Democratic candidate, but in the article next to it, they are writing that Hilary is still trying to influence the 200 uncommitted delegates. If Obama needs 47 more and there are still 200 undecided, does this mean Hilary really still has a shot? Time magazine is running an article about how well she may or may not readjust to Congress now that she has failed in her bid for the ticket. If it's over, will someone please just call it? Because I'm still holding out hope for Hilary and I'm starting to feel foolish. What's that they say about The Audacity of Hope?
I'm not sure if it's this frustration with understanding US politics or maybe just the anxiety of spending $70 for a tank of gas with no job, that has me missing India. I think it was about a month into our stay in Bangalore that we really started to miss the US and now I'm feeling the same way about India. Maybe it was spending the morning out on the golf course yesterday or assuming that the pasta dish I ordered on Saturday night did not have chicken in it (really, no where in the description did it mention chicken but what American doesn't like chicken?). The weather is finally comparable to India (though still a little more chilly) but even sitting outside, enjoying the sunshine and looking up at the sky, all the green makes this place seem so different from India. Obviously, there is much more than that but at the most basic level (aside from what's actually in the streets and how people operate), what strikes me about being home is all the green and lack of brown/dirt. And it's not that I miss the dirt but there is something comforting about the chaos and all the people out in the streets, just living. I know it seems crazy to miss that but today, I do. But at least we did get a picture of Chandan (before our final departure) to help remember the good times when were Ma'am and Sir.
7 comments:
The "super delegates" are delegates who may cast their vote for any candidate. This is a pool of people connected to the Democratic party. They are current and former politicians, party officials etc. They were created after George Mcgovern won the Democratic nomination for President in 1972. He was anti-war (Vietnam) and very far left overall. He was unelectable but primary voters are, in general, more dar leaning. Either left or right depending on party affiliation.
The republicans do not have super delegates. These are Democratic party rules.
The elected delegates are assigned per State based on total population. The States determine the number of delegates per congressional district. For example in Texas some districts were given a higher number of delegates because of past Democratic support.
These elected delegates can actually vote for whomever they choose. This is also the case with the Presidential electoral college electors. They are free to vote for anyone. The elected delegates are however, loyal to their candidate so this does not happen often.
Any other questions feel free to call.
Your favorite B in Law!
PS He won months ago. If the roles were reversed he would have dropped out in March!
It almost sounds like he knows what he is talking about.
I prefer the wonder woman and superman reference.
In any case, what will the talking heads talk about, if Obama has, in fact won?
Well do you feel educated now?
:) Laura
....for the record I am much nicer then George!
Your speech that you cut and pasted from other website is basically a regurgitation of what I wrote. You still have answered my question of who decides who will be a superdelegate...
P.S. He would've dropped out because he is a quitter.
I meant "have NOT answered my question of who decides..."
Tell me oh wise one...
He would not have been a quitter, you get out of the way of the winner. check the history! 1980!
Here are a exact rules...Sorry thought I was helping!
The procedure to be used for certifying unpledged party leader and elected official delegates is as follows:
Not later than March 1, 2008, the Secretary of the Democratic National Committee shall officially confirm to each State Democratic Chair the names of the following unpledged delegates who legally reside in their respective state and who shall be recognized as part of their state’s delegation unless any such member has publicly expressed support for the election of, or has endorsed, a presidential candidate of another political party;
The individuals recognized as members of the DNC (as set forth in Article Three, Sections 2 and 3 of the Charter of the Democratic Party of the United States); and,
The Democratic President and the Democratic Vice President of the United States, if applicable; and,
All Democratic members of the United States House of Representatives and all Democratic members of the United States Senate; and,
The Democratic Governor, if applicable; and,
All former Democratic Presidents, all former Democratic Vice Presidents, all former Democratic Leaders of the U.S. Senate, all former Democratic Speakers of the U.S. House of Representatives and Democratic Minority Leaders, as applicable, and all former Chairs of the Democratic National Committee.
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