I feel I should point out that there is a Democratic primary season, but Obama is running unopposed.

NH allows you to vote in whatever primary you choose, so MOST people will vote in the Republican primary.

However, if Obama gets more votes than Romney, I will LOL all day.

9 hours 50 minutes until polls close. 9 hours 51 minutes until Romney is projected as winner. My expected delegate distribution: Romney 6, Huntsman 2, Paul 2, Santorum 1, Gingrich 1

For as similar as Canada and the US are on so many fronts, I don't think there's anywhere in the political arena where they differ more than selecting candidates and I really don't know why that is.

In Canada, the selection of a new party leader, even at the Federal level, even the governing Federal party, is really not that big a deal at all. AT ALL. It is absolutely NOTHING like the circus you guys have down there.

Is it because the US is so much bigger? A Democrat or Republican candidate has to tour around and reach out to all citizens? Is that it? Why is it this huge, drawn out thing?

66 percent of voters didn't vote for him so I don't see how this is anything but bad news for Obama

Rev.K: Is it because the US is so much bigger? A Democrat or Republican candidate has to tour around and reach out to all citizens? Is that it? Why is it this huge, drawn out thing?

Because we used to have party bosses select the candidates, but that resulted in horrific amounts of corruption, graft and those bosses essentially controlling the system so they eventually decided to let the people decide.

Holy farking fail, batman. Obama beat out the GOP contenders in 2 dinky towns? BFD.

Rev.K: In Canada, the selection of a new party leader, even at the Federal level, even the governing Federal party, is really not that big a deal at all. AT ALL. It is absolutely NOTHING like the circus you guys have down there.

It is truly a circus. And it's not the clowns that are crying.

/is it December 2012 yet?

Rev.K: For as similar as Canada and the US are on so many fronts, I don't think there's anywhere in the political arena where they differ more than selecting candidates and I really don't know why that is.

In Canada, the selection of a new party leader, even at the Federal level, even the governing Federal party, is really not that big a deal at all. AT ALL. It is absolutely NOTHING like the circus you guys have down there.

Is it because the US is so much bigger? A Democrat or Republican candidate has to tour around and reach out to all citizens? Is that it? Why is it this huge, drawn out thing?

I really don't like trying to justify our *anything* to Canadians. We might be neighbors, but we have 200 years of different traditions and history.

But its a fair question. So here goes.

Our unique and outdated two party system means all the fun of parliament and minority parties is wrapped up in our early primaries. By the general election all our coalitions have already been formed. By then its just who is the PM going to be, Brand A or Brand B.

So this time of year is when our circus as you put it is in town. Its the only time one-party or minority candidates have any shot at media attention. So Ron Paul and his 10% of the electorate (on a good day) gets to shout and mostly have the floor, while Santorum's frothing about hatred for gays gets to spread.

Come the general election we will have whatever is left over to come be the CEO of Corporation America again.

The long season we have seems like its a substitute for what Parliamentary systems have built-in .. a voice for fringe or minority parties. Here, this is all we have. By the General Election (usually) there's only two parties, sometimes a third, but never a third with a chance at winning anything, only in monkey wrenching the 2nd party that year.

I am confused, so someone please help out the stupid girl.

If Obama is already going to be on the ballot, why would he be on THIS ballot?

I thought that this was to pick who would run against Obama.

/seriously not trolling here

Interesting. And even in Iowa, Obama received about the same number of votes (~25-30k) as the top tier of Republicans. Even tho he was the only name on the ballot.

Sort of a repeat.

Grables'Daughter: I am confused, so someone please help out the stupid girl.

If Obama is already going to be on the ballot, why would he be on THIS ballot?

I thought that this was to pick who would run against Obama.

/seriously not trolling here

Both parties tend to have primaries the same week. Its just Obama is a foregone conclusion, so there is no media around him winning, because he's running unopposed.

If there'd been a Democratic challenger, we'd get news about Obama and the challenger, but instead we only have a decision on the Republican side, so thats what makes news.

I saw this from Nate Silver last night. It's valid for all Dixville Notch comments:

Things less useful than Dixville Notch for making predictons: 1) The BCS formula; 2) A Zogby Interactive poll.

Grables'Daughter: I am confused, so someone please help out the stupid girl.

If Obama is already going to be on the ballot, why would he be on THIS ballot?

I thought that this was to pick who would run against Obama.

/seriously not trolling here

Technically speaking, the Democrats can pick someone else to run, if they feel that Obama is not doing the job they want or he's not likely to compete well. There is a primary for each party for each election cycle. However, they have not chosen to run anyone against him. There is still a primary, it's just that there's no need for debates and whatnot since there is only one candidate on the ballot.

RminusQ: 9 hours 50 minutes until polls close. 9 hours 51 minutes until Romney is projected as winner. My expected delegate distribution: Romney 6, Huntsman 2, Paul 2, Santorum 1, Gingrich 1

I got money that says Buddy Roemer finishes ahead of Rick Perry.

Grables'Daughter: I am confused, so someone please help out the stupid girl.

If Obama is already going to be on the ballot, why would he be on THIS ballot?

Ok, a few things. Calling yourself a "stupid girl" pisses me off. You might be stupid, but not because you're a girl. I'm a girl, and I'm not stupid.

To answer your question:
what_now: I feel I should point out that there is a Democratic primary season, but Obama is running unopposed.

There is a nomination process (primary) for both parties. There are no MAJOR competitors in the Democratic primary this year. In 2004, there was no MAJOR competitor in the Republican primary. This is how it usually happens- there is an incumbent or a Vice President who has a lock on one of the nominations.

2008 was an anomaly because both fields had open races.

Generation_D: I really don't like trying to justify our *anything* to Canadians.

No need to be offended. I'm genuinely curious as to why it's so different.

I'm not saying we're better, I'm saying we're a lot different and I don't know why that is.

I do see your point though. The lack of third-parties is essentially compensated by wide open nominations that eventually get whittled down. I can see that.

Demetrius: I got money that says Buddy Roemer finishes ahead of Rick Perry.

He's very recently outpolling him. Link (new window)

that's cause Obama is going to be a two term President. can ya' handle that, Republicans?

his poll numbers are better than Bush's, Reagan's and Clinton's at this same juncture during their first terms. and we all know what happened during there reelections............

you can watch all the bullsh*t Artists you want on TV, but the republicans are still gonna' lose.

Generation_D: Grables'Daughter: I am confused, so someone please help out the stupid girl.

If Obama is already going to be on the ballot, why would he be on THIS ballot?

I thought that this was to pick who would run against Obama.

/seriously not trolling here

Both parties tend to have primaries the same week. Its just Obama is a foregone conclusion, so there is no media around him winning, because he's running unopposed.

If there'd been a Democratic challenger, we'd get news about Obama and the challenger, but instead we only have a decision on the Republican side, so thats what makes news.



Beaver1224: Grables'Daughter: I am confused, so someone please help out the stupid girl.

If Obama is already going to be on the ballot, why would he be on THIS ballot?

I thought that this was to pick who would run against Obama.

/seriously not trolling here

Technically speaking, the Democrats can pick someone else to run, if they feel that Obama is not doing the job they want or he's not likely to compete well. There is a primary for each party for each election cycle. However, they have not chosen to run anyone against him. There is still a primary, it's just that there's no need for debates and whatnot since there is only one candidate on the ballot.

Thank you both.

what_now: Grables'Daughter: I am confused, so someone please help out the stupid girl.

If Obama is already going to be on the ballot, why would he be on THIS ballot?

Ok, a few things. Calling yourself a "stupid girl" pisses me off. You might be stupid, but not because you're a girl. I'm a girl, and I'm not stupid.

First off, I didn't want to get flamed for asking what very may well be thought of as a dumb or obvious question in the politics tab.

Second, I never said that I was stupid because I was a girl.

/duh

That would be an interesting thought experiment though. What would happen if the election was between the Obama people voted for and the Obama they got?

Carth: The American and Canadian systems are too different to make direct comparisons. There is no equivalent in Canada to a US presidential election/nominating process because your head of government isn't directed elected.

That's....sort of true. They are directly elected by their constituents, but no one in Canada votes CANDIDATE X for Prime Minister.

That said, the governing Federal party may be substantially different under one leader than another. So it matters who's leading the party, it matters a lot.

So yes, they're not elected in the same manner as US presidents are, but the implications are the same.

xanadian: Holy farking fail, batman. Obama beat out the GOP contenders in 2 dinky towns? BFD.

Rev.K: In Canada, the selection of a new party leader, even at the Federal level, even the governing Federal party, is really not that big a deal at all. AT ALL. It is absolutely NOTHING like the circus you guys have down there.

It is truly a circus. And it's not the clowns that are crying.

/is it December 2012 yet?

This is indeed a circus, so much so that let me relate a dream I had last night.

It was a Republican debate, and Jackie Chan was running for the GOP nomination(yes, I know he's not eligible, this is a dream, remember?).

Half way through one of the other candidate's answers he throws his hands up in the air like this



and says "My mind is full of f*ck", jumps on top of his podium, crouches there a second, then launches into the air in a spinning forward flip, lands outstretched like he was doing a belly flop on the stage floor, breaks through the floor when he lands, then stands up through the dust and rubble, and yells "TADA!". The crowd goes wild, then I wake up.

The whole thing is a giant circus, with the Republicans trying to make the freak show the main act.

Rev.K: They are directly elected by their constituents, but no one in Canada votes CANDIDATE X for Prime Minister.

Tell that to the folks who voted for the NDP!

Bwhahaha!! Obama's even leading in the White Mountains. This election is OVA!