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Opinion Across The Fence Make your vote count, regardless of system Our system of choosing presidential candidates needs a major overhaul.
The posturing and politicking by potential candidates usually begin more than a year before the first primary. The slate of candidates from both parties who declared and saddled up for the campaign trail was enormous. Planners almost needed to provide overflow podiums in the early debates to accommodate everyone. But, as I predicted in an earlier column, the field thinned out right after the New Hampshire primary and the Iowa caucuses. That wasn't necessarily a bad thing. It helped separate the chaff from the wheat and gave us a more realistic look at the viable candidates. By the time Super Tuesday rolled around on Feb. 5, the field was down to only Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama on the Democratic side of the ballots, and John McCain was picking up speed over Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee on the Republican side. Sen. John Edwards probably made a good choice when he decided to end his campaign in late January. Edwards had been trailing in the battle for convention delegates, even though he was a rational and well-spoken candidate. His positions on issues are certainly as solid as those of his two major opponents. Don't write him off yet. He has all of the qualifications needed for a vice president, plus the Southern edge. Many thought the battle for supremacy on the Democrats' ticket would be decided on Super Tuesday. Most of them were probably disappointed. The outcome is still too close to call and a clear winner may not emerge until the Democratic National Convention in late August. I'll admit that after the last eight years, I'm not very willing to walk into the voting booth and cast my ballot for another Republican. And, yes, I've voted Republican more than once. They usually captured my support on the basis of what would be good for the nation's economy and my impression that they supported entrepreneurs and small- business owners. That's not my view anymore. And the ongoing failure to provide a balanced budget is slowly and surely bankrupting this nation. I strongly object to lackadaisical financial policies and the erosion of oversight. So, I figured I would have to come to an eventual decision on whether to support the young upstart or the old-school gal. The choice wasn't coming easily, even though I resorted to every technique including a list of their personal pros and cons. I should have been relieved last week when it dawned on me I wouldn't have to make the decision. Instead, I think I'm disappointed. All of you out there gasping in disbelief should go ahead and catch a deep breath. I'll be casting a ballot in the Republican primary next month. And I'm sure a lot of others may do the same thing. Almost all of the candidates for offices in Potter County, from judge to sheriff and commissioners, are running as Republicans. Those folks make decisions that directly impact our lives. It would be foolish not to vote in those races. My change in direction has shifted my focus back to the Republican race for the presidential nomination. And after watching things unfold over the past week, I'm confused rather than convinced. Arizona Sen. John McCain is the undisputed front runner, and it's not very hard to understand why. McCain has always been one of my favorite Republicans. He's characterized as a maverick, and that stance appeals to my hard-headed, independent-minded, Texas attitude. He's also been on the front lines of a battlefield. I have respect for his military sacrifices and service, and figure he gained some wisdom along the way. He's usually demonstrated a no-nonsense approach to taxes and spending, and he seems to have a social conscience. And, despite the ultra-right-wing conservative clamor, he's quickly closing on the delegate count needed for his party's nomination. Two things bother me. First, why are the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter so dead set against him? Coulter, whose whiny-toned voice irritates me even more than the pomposity of her phraseology, has vowed that she'll vote for Hillary if McCain is nominated. And Limbaugh, whose addiction to prescription drugs sends shudders down my family-values spine, has been on a vociferous rant against McCain. Where's the Republican unity? Second, why are most of the party leaders doing their darnedest to get Mike Huckabee, the conservative crown prince, to drop out of the race? The way our primary system is set up, it seems all too often that the major candidates for both parties are determined long before we Texans cast a primary ballot. The same holds true for voters in several other states, including California. The current primary process discourages voter participation, when what we really need is an informed and engaged electorate. It's too late to make many changes in this election cycle, but concerned voters across America need to demand changes that will make the system more balanced and assure the validity of every single vote. Kathie Greer: Columnist and consultant for the Amarillo Independent. She can be reached at kathie@amarilloindy.com. E-mail
comments about this story Posted: February 14, 2008
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