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Subscribe to RSSIf New Hampshire decides to move its primary too early, that could be the end of New Hampshire's protected first-in-the-nation primary status, a top Republican observer warned.
"There are some pised-off people," the source said.
New Hampshire could easily select Tuesday, Jan. 10th, as its date, the source said, disputing the notion that Nevada is a "similar" election, as New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner contended yesterday. New Hampshire state law says its primary must be held seven days before a "similar" election -- and with Nevada’s move, that means the latest New Hampshire could go is on Saturday, Jan. 7. But given that the New Hampshire primary is typically held on a Tuesday, that would mean Jan. 3.
Aside from being a caucus, Nevada is expected to garner less attention than the other three carve-out states -- Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. The candidates have campaigned in the Silver State far less than the other three, and Mitt Romney is expected to win there, given that in 2008, for example, more than one-in-four -- 26% -- voters in the GOP primary were Mormon.
The observer added there is precedent for New Hampshire going less than seven days before another election. In 2000, for example, Delaware set its date for Feb. 5, and New Hampshire went on Feb. 1. In 1996, once again, Delaware and New Hampshire were just four days apart with New Hampshire going on Feb. 20 and Delaware Feb. 24.
Unlike in other states, Gardner has the power to set the date unilaterally. He has indicated he is in no rush to select a date and has threatened that the Granite State could go as early as December. If it were to go Jan. 3, it would almost certainly push Iowa to the last week of December, perhaps Dec. 28 or 29.
There's also the possibility that Iowa selects its date first. There's buzz building that if Gardner waits too long, Iowa GOP Chairman Matt Strawn could push for Iowa to go Jan. 5th., "and then what does Gardner do?" the source asked.
Another thing to consider is that, by law, military ballots have to be printed 60 days before an election and "the further [Gardner] moves that back, the further problem he has."
"There are people in New Hampshire talking to him," the source said. "As soon as this thing goes into December, people on the [RNC's] 168-[member committee]" are going to be calling for an end to New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation status and could be "brought to a head at the convention. … There's a growing sense that this whole thing needs to be relooked at."
The source added, "Gardner doesn't want to have the legacy that he had the last first-in-the-nation primary."
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Why not just hold the primaries on Thanksgiving & get it over with?
It would be appropriate since there's nothing but a bunch of turkey's running anyway...
Cranberry sauce anyone? lol
Turkeys? I thought those were Kee Kee birds.
You know- running in circles, dazed and conused, crapping on everything, hollering "kee Kee Kee Kee-riste! Where the hell are we, and what the hell are we doing??"
Is that your impression of the little dance Reid performed last night?
Ah, unintended consequences. Poor Harry, the things he has cause for himself and his party, all top stop the GOP from giving Obama what he wants.
You just can't make this stuff up.
So DBO - do you find it odd that Obama, a Consttitutionasl scholar and all, would draft a bill htat attempts to exclude istself from the 11 th amendment?
Oh, what am I talking about. Like you know what the 11th Amendment is.
Sorry, my bad Drive By.
Now, Feisty, I think you're being unfair to turkeys.
They are considered among the smartest and most crafty of all avians. Ben Franklin wanted the turkey to be America's national bird. Their meat is really quite healthful, and of course turkey meat contains a chemical that helps some ofus old geezers sleep better. And by the way, turkey goes quite well with a nice glass of chardonnay.
Can't say any of those things about the flock of pea hens running for the GOP nomination.
Fair enough JohnA... but... turkey's are one of the ugliest birds on the planet... kind of like the current flock running for the GOP nomination. lol
They are rather tasty though on fresh artisan bread with mayo & swiss! ;o)
Wouldn't surprise me if the first caucus/primary was on Halloween.
On topic, as usual, Spank.
Neat.
January 10th it is, let's get the show on the road. The sooner this election is over next year, the better it'll be for all of us. So, Jan. 3rd it is, for Iowa, then; Jan. 10th, for N.H., works for me.
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Sounds like a plan to me Feisty! The sooner we get this circus over the better! On the other hand, it does provide comic relief! I'll bring the popcorn.
I'm with you nurse and Feisty. These guys have nothing in their noggin to offer. What is their plan?
How about Alec and their voting laws
This resolution aims to point out flaws in the military voting "MOVE ACT" passed by
Congress in 2009 so that military ballots are delivered home in the shortest
possible time.
http://alecexposed.org/w/images/3/33/7G7-Resolution_on_Military_Voting_Rights_Exposed.pdf
VOTER ID ACT
SUMMARY
This legislation requires any United States citizen[i] desiring to vote in a state to
provide proof of identity at the polls, outlines permissible provisional ballots, and
optionally[ii] provides for a free ID to those who do not have a drivers license.
http://alecexposed.org/w/images/d/d9/7G16-VOTER_ID_ACT_Exposed.pdf
We could make *popcorn* stuffing... How much fun would THAT be? lol
"This resolution aims to point out flaws in the military voting "MOVE ACT" passed by
Congress in 2009 so that military ballots are delivered home in the shortest
possible time."
I don't see a real reason for this - it took them 4 months (or more - can't remember) to count and recount Minnesota (Al Franken's seat) Until such time as they learn to count faster I don't see the point. There will always be another excuse.
Maybe what the liberals call comic relief is the necessary reaction to the fact that Obama isn't a shoe in this time. So many jokes eminating from those on the left towards any republican running simply shows a huge fear factor.
We on the right don't have to resort to cat calls or comic anything when it comes to Obama. The guy is a walking tragedy of a leader. Obama's negative record will count against him in 2012. When he loses, there will be a great lament coming from liberals across the land... Don't blame yourselves when it happens because there is nothing you can do to prevent Obama from what he's done to this nation and how he's whittling away at our freedom, one letter at a time.
Brian b. President Obama wasn't a "shoe in" the first time. As for cat calls and comic relief, the conservatives here do a bang up job of name calling so time to climb down from the high horse before you fall and get hurt.
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New Hampshire is destined to lose its first in the nation status because it does not reflect enough of the mainstream, especially on the Republican side.
The GOTP hasn't been in the mainstream since Eisenhower.
The GOTP hasn't been in the mainstream since Eisenhower.
You said it.
You rocket scientist are right, but then again the TP has only existed for a few years now.
Amy - you never did answer: in 1979/80, who did you think was going to win?
Haven't you been paying attention Spanky? The Tea Party is just a front Dick Armey and the Koch Brothers cooked up to hide the bullying tactics of the RWNJs of the GOP. Get with it man!
Now beat it troll you've been "buzzing" around FR for to long and your bs is stinking up the place, again.
devie, you want me to go away?
Ouch.
But I'm not going to , so what now brown cow?
Long overdue to reform the order of primaries. I have always found it odd that two states in particular have as much influence in the political process.
Devie- you can't run Spank off. He's our main entertainment, now that Palin's in hiding.
That, and he has to keep stealing from his 'worker-bees' there at the law office, of course.....
As as Iowan, I can say that having participated in every caucus since I returned here, that from the democratic perspective, every candidate is given a fair chance to make their case. Iowans take their first in the nation caucus status seriously. Candidates are expected to meet and greet, to answer tough questions and while it may seem Iowa and NH have too big a say so in the preliminary process, most of the candidates that fall by the wayside afterwards would have fallen there anyway. I cannot speak for the GOP side other than to observe that, just as the party in general has shifted to the far right, Iowa's GOP has shifted further. NH has a long tradition of being independent minded. IA has a long tradition of fairness in terms of equality and civil rights; it eliminated segregation in the 1860's, gave blacks the right to vote a year later; it also was one of the first states to allow gay marriage. Unfortunately, with the shift to the far right on the GOP side, some of that "fair minded, live and let live" attitude has disappeared.
People forget that the small states of NH and Iowa are representative of their regions and that is the goal of early state preferences. Each region of the country has an early, small population state represented in the primary/caucus system. NH for the northeast, IA for the midwest, SC for the south, NV for the west. The purpose of that is to give those areas a say they would not have otherwise. That said, I think there should be a lottery of sorts or some sytem where every presidential election year, a different state gets a slot at the top. That might help alleviate the resentment and the jumping in line nonsense. The parties also need to get serious about punishing states that mess with the dates both parties previously agreed to.
All good responses Jody. No doubt the process is taken seriously. But still hard to argue that the same two, relatively tiny delegations have so much sway. It's disproportionate to the extreme and should not surprise anyone that other states want in on the deal. In the modern media world it should not be that way. There are many forms of interaction that were not available when these processes were created and they are long overdue for reform.
Not to mention the economic advantage to the excessive campaign spending that takes place in early primary states. I bet the travel, hospitality and media companies in the area plan their business based upon the political calendar. And it should not be that way for a national election process. Fine for local. Give all the scrutiny you want to your Senators and Congressional delegation. But for national elections the time has long past where Iowa and New Hampshire have the influence they carry.
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A rotating first in the nation system is best.
This guy just doesn't get it. The people are reallty revolting against people like Cantor and the other, so called conservatives, who think that having regulations on wall street is a bad idea. If the government had put at least some controls on wall street and the banks we wouldn't be in this mess in the first place. The ONLY thought on Cantor's (and others like him) mind is ,what do I have to do to get more money from donors. They couldn't care less about the welfare of the country. What did we do to deserve people like this in government ?
Let me get this straight John... You are advocating more government control on free enterprise? Don't you see anything wrong with that? Aren't there enough government regulations controlling just about every aspect of life here in America? Now you want the government to regulate free trade? When does it stop with the regulation, or doesn't it? When they start regulating how you walk, or how you talk? What limits should be put on government to control our lives? The Constitution was designed to regulate government, but this current batch in Washington have just about bypassed the law of the land in order to take more control and provide less freedom... is this your envisionment of the way the country should be heading? How about when it effects you personally, will you then see what government regulation does to freedom?
Unlike some we haven't forgotten who signed into law the repeal of Glass-Steagall (if you want to play your game and make our current problems a partisan issue).
As to another point you make.....didn't Obama change the game (and commit crimes along the way) as it pertains to campaign donors? I'm sure, if you were old enough at the time and eligible, you voted for the Big O. He has forsaken his job 15 months early to campaign and squeeze donors. If recent history is any indicator, Wall Street will set another record for him.
Brian,
when the misdeeds of others can effect me personally, and without regulation it can be done with impunity, then I do want there to be oversight/regulations that will, at least, intend to hinder those actions.
An honest question for you...are there any regulations you do feel are proper?
Regulations on Wall Street are a bad idea, as are regulations on the free market system. You do not have to deal with Wall Street ( just dont be an investor) and dont have to deal with the big banks.
The reason we are in this mess is the government putting regulations on these businesses. Telling them how many sub-prime mortgages they needed to make to people who did not qualify in an attempt to get more poor people into houses (the American dream). Ignoring the state of Fanny and Freddie when GWB brought the subject up. Barnie Frank said everything was "Fine".
Every time government meddles in areas of the free market, bad things happen. And you are encouraging more?
Free markets correct and take care of themselves when the government gets out of the way. The reason we are stuck in this mess is the government keeps getting MORE in the way. OBAMACARE anyone?
ABO 2012
BrianB -- What "free market" are you referring to? The last time I looked the tax codes ensured business operates with government support. You think business wants zero tax? Think again. They would no longer be able to socialize their losses amongst the masses. So what free market allows no one to stand on their own two feet and monetarily supports the too big to fail entities?
If only Government had not, over the past 30 years, slowly repealed all the banking regulations that FDR put in place and that for 50 years kept the country from having meltdowns. One disappointment with President Clinton was his signing of Graham/Leech/Bliley (sp) which took out the last barrier of protection. Reagan began it and within a year or two, savings and loan institutions collapsed--that should have been a warning of what was too come. We've been living on borrowed time since the protections were slowly and systematically removed.
Jody as usual you make a great point!
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I think they should wait until Perry has a solid debate performance and then have the primary right after that to give him a fair shot at the nomination - of course, that might be when hell freezes over...
And it's time again to get in on corn & wheat futures ground floor..;-)
I'll have some popcorn and cake while the RNC & the GOP has whine.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-04/corn-futures-in-chicago-drop-amid-signs-of-slowing-demand-for-u-s-supply.html
Hey,
I just wanted to let you know that I won the Delaware primary....last week!
Nothing you could make up would be any dumber than what is actually going on...
This is ridiculous. Nevada is forced to move up by FL and SC which forces..... The original dates should be retained by FL and SC or else they lose all their delegates, not just half. They do themselves no favors by jumping in line and actually do a disservice to the candidates who cannot successfully campaign and make their case to voters in all those states at the same time. Florida, South Carolina are making it difficult for the candidates to spend time making their case to the people. The worse thing is that such manuevers simply give us an earlier and earlier campaign season.
Hopefully the trend will continue. The entire electoral primary process is retarded. How is it that two of the smallest states have so much sway in the national electoral process. A better method would be to pair the smallest with the largest state by size of delegation in batches and have fewer election days. Something like 2 - 4 - 6 states grouped together on each election day.
I'll have some sweet potatoes with mine.
Every 4 years it's the same old dog & pony show... How about both the DEM and GOP Committees agree to a set schedule, based on time zones.
Eastern - Feb 2-3-4 (Thurs, Fri, Sat)
Central - Feb 9-10-11
Mountain - Feb 16-17-18
Pacific - Feb 23-24-25
Think of the time & resources saved. And every state would have 3 days to vote.
I know, it's not complicated enough...
Or as I posted earlier, fewer election days with states grouped by the size of their delegation. Smallest with the largest working towards the middle.
Face it, Y'all! This Treasonous Erring Anarchist(TEA) party is sure mixing up the dates, people and over conditions! Some one wake up Boehner and tell him to get his troops back in line! Check that! Someone tell Cantor to get his duckies in line!
Dems can't stand the fact that they don't know who the Repub nominee will be. Repubs don't anoint people like they do in the Dem party. There is a vetting process via the primaries. So I'm sure the Dems would like to see the process over with sooner, rather than later, so they can know for sure who to shoot their spitballs at. But they should be thinking about something else. That is, who they can run against Obama. Because Obama is going down like a turkey sitting outside of an NRA hunting lodge the day before Thanksgiving. Best you pick someone else to run if you want the Dems to control anything in Washington after the 2012 election.
Best thing we the americans can do is. fire all of congress, president, ttop 10 levels of every gov't agency. then they would get the message. we not money, foreign govt, or illegals or the citizens of america.
I thought the Party of No like traditions....The party is in disarray..
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I kind of envy the Occupy protesters. I went to the Tea party protest when i was able. What an up tight bunch. Also it is unfair the way the media give all those bummy folks a pass . They never have to prove the credibility of their remarks. But the press were all over every Tea party person. I tried to bang a tambourine . I thought they would have a heart attack. The Occupyie just don't seem thought out enough. And will probably be usurped by some unethical group to help Obama or communism. Every one needs to have some credibility.
You can't expect everyone to come join you on a whim.
every time i try and post a linky to a video i got showing our Governments true colors that would cost them an election if it got out i get censored. How convenient for them that MSNBC and other news media sources online got their backs.