Spring 2008 Progressive Primary

[Hatman 🍁]

This will be the official thread for the proposed presidential primary for any left leaning member of the forum.

Once again, unless there is significant opposition, I will be chairing this event, and organizing it. If any one wants to help out, please feel free to do so. There was some controversy last time, and so I would like to remind anyone who plans to actively participate, that what I say is not the law, and if you have any opposition please speak up, and I will change things if I feel that it's not a bad idea. Things will be run the same as last time, unless change is desired.  I do remind those that you can only propose changes before the beginning of the primary, for consistency reasons.

Secondly, I would like to announce the list of people who will be invited to participate. If you are not on the list and would like to participate, please indicate your desire to be on the list. Please do not be offended that I have left you out, I may have made a mistake. People who voted in the last primary have been included, as well as anyone else who joined the forum since who I thought would fit in. Atlasians have until May 17th to declare their desire to be a registered voter for the primaries.

List

Northeast
Rockefeller Republican
Polnut
EarlAW
MAS117
Lief
Smash255
Mr. Moderate
Old Europe
Hashemite 
Eraserhead 
Fingolfin 
Tender Branson
Dr. Cynic
Ernest

Southeast
Tcash101
Bacon King
Matchu
cookies and milk

Mideast
HappyWarrior
Al
opebo
Tik
Sensei
Warner for Senate '08 
meekermariner
Boris

Pacific
Jesus
Alcon
Ebowed
CultureKing
Xahar 
Friz
evilmexicandictator
Arnold Layne

Midwest
Speed of Sound
Jas
Lewis Trondheim
BRTD
ilikeverin

Schedule of events.

The first stage is the candidacy. Any one who wishes to run for President in the primary must let us know in this thread. Anyone Atlasian citizen may do so, whether or not he or she can vote in the primary. (e.g. President Wixted may choose to run in the primary). This stage will last until May 19th. Persons wishing to run in the primaries must notify their intentions to do so in this thread by midnight on May 19th.

Declared candidates:

* Mr. Moderate
* Speed of Sound
* Ernest
* Al
* Ben Constine

The next stage are the primaries. There will be one primary for each region. These five primaries will be held over three weekends.

Midwest - May 23rd-25th
Pacific & Northeast - May 30th-June 1 - "Super Weekend"
Mideast & Southeast  - June 6th-8th

Each region will be worth a number of delegates depending on how many eligible primary voters reside in each region (as of May 17). The amount of delegates will be half that of primary voters, rounded up in the case of half a person. Delegates will be awarded proportionally in each region, and a candidate will be required to win at least two votes in a region to win a delegate. (If no candidate gets 2, then one will be sufficient) In the case of an extra delegate not being rewarded due to a tie or some other mathematical problem, an extra delegate will awarded to the candidate with the highest national popular vote (if there is a tie, the candidate who is tied with the most PV). A candidate cannot win more delegates than he or she received votes in a region.

Current delegates:
Pacific: 4
Mideast: 4
Midwest: 3
Northeast: 7
Southeast: 2

Beginning on June 10th, a national convention will be held at a location to be determined. Candidates will have to find delegates to vote in the convention. Delegates can be any Atlas citizen regardless of whether they voted in the primary. They do have to be from one of the regions that a candidate won delegates.  They do however have to vote for a candidate that won delegates. A candidate must win 50% of voting delegates to win. If this doesn't happen in the first round, then a second round will occur where the candidate who had the least voting delegates is knocked off, and they will be free to choose from whomever is leftover. After the candidate is won, he/she will be expected to pick a running mate at the convention.

[Hatman 🍁]

I must insist that a more orderly process of handling candidate withdrawals must be found than was used last time.

Any ideas?

The whole delegates part seems unnecessary and complicated...

That's the whole fun!

[Hatman 🍁]

I would like to be a voter in the progressive primary.

I oppose this, however if no one else does, you will be allowed to vote.  To be barred from voting, one needs 5 signatures,

x - EarlAW

I must insist that a more orderly process of handling candidate withdrawals must be found than was used last time.

Any ideas?

The easiest would be to unpledge delegates on the first round. The withdrawing candidate would still have to pick his delegates, though - if he's too lazy or frustrated to do even that, tough luck, and deservedly so for voting for someone who sucks that badly.

Alright, the first round can be unpledged.

[Hatman 🍁]

Will "Uncommited" be an option on the ballot?

Not unless there's demand for it.

[Hatman 🍁]

Will "Uncommited" be an option on the ballot?

Not unless there's demand for it.

There was last time, no?

No, Lewis voted for it, but it didn't get counted in the delegate tally.

[Hatman 🍁]

Earl, though you probably don't remember this, I do:

Just a note to voters, uncommitted is not an option.

Why not? We can have delegates free to vote for anyone in the first round.

It's too late to change for this round, but next primary I can look into it.

Xahar, would you like that option available?

[Hatman 🍁]

Well, if people are free to vote for who they wish in the first round, then I suppose anyone can come in and claim to be an uncommitted delegate.  There would have to be at least two uncommitted votes in a region though.

[Hatman 🍁]

BUMP

still looking for candidates.

[Hatman 🍁]

In any case, since it is not a party primary for a party I am not a member, I am willing to participate as both a voter and a candidate, though to be fair in general, I consider myself more centrist than leftist.

ok, I'll add you as a voter. I have some reservations, but I wont object.

[Hatman 🍁]

Poll results!!!

Our first poll was conducted this week, and has indicated a close race between three frontrunners, Mr. Moderate, Speed of Sound and Al. All three were polling at 26%. The poll was conducted before Al and Ben Constine entered the race, although Al was included in the poll. Ernest was a distant fourth place at 5%. 5% of voters plan on voting uncommitted, and 10% are planning to vote for a different candidate, possibly Ben Constine. 10% of those surveyed were undecided.

Results:
Mr. Moderate: 26%
Speed of Sound: 26%
Al: 26%
Ernest: 5%
Uncommitted: 5%
Other: 10%

[Hatman 🍁]

Perhaps we should have a debate for all of our primary candidates?

I would be willing to moderate.

Feel free to set one up!

[Hatman 🍁]

Bump.

I guess this would be a good time to open nomination for host cities for our convention.

BEGIN!

[Hatman 🍁]

Ogdensburg, New York

hahaha. Tempting, as it is my fantasy hometown!

[Hatman 🍁]

San Francisco, California (again)

Sorry. Not going to accept it, as we just had it there.

[Hatman 🍁]

Poll results: Progressive race is shaping up to be a race between Al and SoS. Both candidates were tied last week at 26%, and have both received a bump in the polls to 33%. Mr. Moderate, who was tied with them last week has faced a major set back, losing 15 points. Ben Constine, who was not included in last weeks poll sits in third place with 22%. Ernest who had just 5% last week has lost all of his support, at least that's what the poll suggested. The poll sample was small, so keep that in mind as well.

25% of respondents are undecided.

Poll Results:

Al: 33% (+7)
Speed of Sound: 33% (+7)
Ben Constine: 22%
Mr. Moderate: 11% (-15)
Ernest: 0% (-5)

[Hatman 🍁]

Voting may now begin on a location for our third convention.

Please rank these locations from your most preferred to your least preferred. I will be using IRV to calculate the results.

Baltimore, MD
Arlington, VA
Belle Fourche, SD
Ogdensburg, NY
Tupelo, MS
Seattle, WA
Scranton, PA
Waldron Island, WA
Crawford, TX
Milwaukee, WI
Boston, MA
San Jose, CA

[Hatman 🍁]

8 ) Baltimore, MD
9) Arlington, VA
4) Belle Fourche, SD
2) Ogdensburg, NY
3) Tupelo, MS
10) Seattle, WA
6) Scranton, PA
11) Waldron Island, WA
5) Crawford, TX
1) Milwaukee, WI
7) Boston, MA
12) San Jose, CA

[Hatman 🍁]

Yup, that's what I got. Voting can continue until Sunday, since that's probably when I'll be online next.

[Hatman 🍁]

I would first like to remind Midwest voters they only have 6 and a half more hours to vote in their primary. Where are Jas and SoS???

Secondly, I'm going to close the voting for the site of the convention. Keep in mind, I am using the same system as I have in previous events.

First round:

Waldron Island: 6
Milwaukee: 2
Baltimore: 2
Boston: 2
Arlington: 1
San Jose: 1
Tupelo: 1
Crawford: 1
Belle Fourche: 1
Scranton: 1
Ogdensburg: 1


Second round:
Waldron Island: 7
Milwaukee: 5
Baltimore: 4
Boston: 3


Third round:
Waldron Island: 8
Milwaukee: 6
Baltimore: 5

Fourth round:
Milwaukee: 11
Waldron Island: 8


Milwaukee wins!

[Hatman 🍁]

Why does Boston with only 3 votes in Round 2 advance to Round 3 while Baltimore with 4 votes does not?

Typo, should say Baltimore.

[Hatman 🍁]

Results of the Midwest Primary

Al: 2 votes, 2 delegates
Speed of Sound: 1 vote, 0 delegates.

One delegate will not be awarded due to low turnout.

I am disappointed, to say the least by Jas and SoS not voting.

[Hatman 🍁]

I am disappointed, to say the least by Jas and SoS not voting.

Your disappointment is noted.
Is there any particular reason for it?

Well, you've voted before, so I am disappointed you didnt vote this time. Oh well.

[Hatman 🍁]

Super Weekend has begun! Citizens of the Northeast and Pacific may now vote!

[Hatman 🍁]

Results of Super Weekend

Northeast

Mr. Moderate - 4 votes, 3 delegates
Speed of Sound - 2 votes, 2 delegates
Uncommitted - 2 votes, 2 delegates
Al - 1 vote, 0 delegates
Ben Constine - 1 vote, 0 delegates
Ernest   - 1 vote, 0 delegates

Pacific

Mr. Moderate - 5 votes, 4 delegates
Uncommitted - 1 votes, 0 delegates
-----------------------------------------

Totals so far
Mr. Moderate: 7
Al: 2
Speed of Sound: 2
Uncommitted: 2

[Hatman 🍁]

Results of Super Weekend

Northeast

Mr. Moderate - 4 votes, 3 delegates
Speed of Sound - 2 votes, 2 delegates
Uncommitted - 2 votes, 2 delegates
Al - 1 vote, 0 delegates
Ben Constine - 1 vote, 0 delegates
Ernest   - 1 vote, 0 delegates

Pacific

Mr. Moderate - 5 votes, 4 delegates
Uncommitted - 0 votes, 0 delegates
-----------------------------------------

Totals so far
Mr. Moderate: 7
Al: 2
Speed of Sound: 2
Uncommitted: 2

Fix please.

Fixed. Sorry!