General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPresident Obama doesn't have an opponent, so why caucus?
A phone is seen next to a note at the phone bank for U.S. President Barack Obama, to encourage Iowa Democrats to attend caucus night for the 2012 Obama re-election campaign, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, January 2, 2012. REUTERS/Jeff Haynes
madrchsod
(58,162 posts)my wife, who is the political chair of her union, got an invite...
warrior1
(12,325 posts)Bok_Tukalo
(4,323 posts)<OPE>
missed that . . . I think you're right.
cyberswede
(26,117 posts)There's a group encouraging caucus goers to propose the following amendment to the platform:
to defend democracy from the corrupting effects of undue corporate power by amending the United States Constitution to establish that: 1. Only human beings, not corporations, are endowed with constitutional rights, and 2. Money is not speech, and therefore regulating political contributions and spending is not equivalent to limiting political speech.
(I got this from a John Nichols article)
MineralMan
(146,318 posts)but in Minnesota, they're a crucial part of all Democratic (DFL) politics. The local precinct caucuses are where the delegates to district conventions are chosen. At the district conventions, the DFL candidate endorsments are made for that district, and delegates are elected to go to the state convention. There's a straw vote for the Presidential candidate, and the results of that vote set the stage for the process of selecting delegates to the national convention at the state convention.
Caucuses, in caucus states, are the core of Democratic political organization. At the precinct caucuses, officers for the precinct organization are elected. At the district convention, officers for the district organization are elected. At the state convention, officers for the state organization are elected. At the precinct level, anyone who has an interest in serving usually wins the elections. From there, you are a member of the DFL party's structure, and can begin the process of becoming more influential, if that's your wish.
Iowa may do it differently, but in Minnesota, if you want to make a difference, it starts with your local precinct caucus.
Disclaimer: I'm the chair of my DFL precinct's caucus. Its website is in my signature line.
mmonk
(52,589 posts)Pab Sungenis
(9,612 posts)his opponents are planning to caucus for unpledged delegates.
bigtree
(85,999 posts)tell, tell . . .