We voted this morning, then participated in the precinct caucus this evening. I was astounded and delighted at the incredibly large number of people who attended the caucuses.
Three or four precincts voted in an elementary school near our house. This evening's caucuses were located at the same place. I was expecting a handful of people in our precinct because...we live in a deeply Republican area. When we got there at just after 7:00 pm, there were well over 500 people crowded into the school cafeteria...it was pandemonium.
Our precinct, by far the smallest of the three, left this cafeteria and went into the gymnasium. Our precinct had 165 plus people present, which I am absolutely certain was a record...I've never been to one before, but I'm sure the turnout was crazy.
The Democratic caucus process is utterly ridiculous...convoluted beyond belief and ideally suited to be manupulated by damn near anyone who wants to manipulate it. I'd like to see it drastically overhauled. That having been said, I'm deeply into it now. I was one of twelve people elected as Hillary Clinton delegates for the Senate District convention on March 29; nine people were elected to serve as Barack Obama delegates. In our precinct, at least, Clinton won with 55% of the popular vote to Obama's 45%.
My wife was elected an alternate delegate for Clinton. Both "elections" were more a matter of being among the few who were willing to serve.
Despite my vote for Hillary Clinton, I have been extremely impressed with Obama's organization, up to and including tonight's process. No one in the room was particularly well-versed in the caucus process, but the Obama voters had the benefit of having had an incredibly well-organized political machine in Texas. I was impressed with the way they did things. Clinton's political "machine" was non-existent; it was as if her supporters were much less sophisticated about the election process.
We'll see how it turns out. I'm guessing Obama will squeek out a win in Texas, but maybe not. I'm afraid this race will get nastier and bloodier, on the Democratic side, which might play right into McCain's hands...and deliver the White House to him in November.
If Democrats would just force the issue and insist on a quick decision if there is insufficient movement toward nomination with these races, we might be OK. Otherwise, we'll have done it to ourselves.
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