Texas Federal Prisoner gets 40% of vote in WV Dem Primary

[ScarletNumber]

Originally Posted by Left Hand of Dorkness

Thanks for sharing!

You're welcome.

Originally Posted by BrainGlutton

And you base that on what?

Some people think Obama is a lousy president and doesn't deserve reelection. I don't see why that is so terrible.

[Left Hand of Dorkness]

Originally Posted by ScarletNumber

Some people think Obama is a lousy president and doesn't deserve reelection. I don't see why that is so terrible.

Well I sure do, as exemplified by my post that said NOTHING OF THE SORT.

The question isn't whether people think Obama is a lousy president. The question is whether people think a federal prisoner in Texas would be a better president. Are you gonna make the claim that:
a) some folks genuinely think that, and they're not a bunch of stupid assholes? or
b) some folks don't really think that, but they didn't bother to find out who they were voting for, and they're not a bunch of stupid assholes? or
c) something totally unrelated to the thread?

[lance strongarm]

Originally Posted by Typo Negative

OK, help me out with something.

How an inmate get get on the ballot? He has been incarcerated in Texas for more than a decade. Doesn't that make him a resident of Texas? If not, doesn't a person who tries to get on the ballot in a state have to have lived in the state for a certain period of time directly before getting on said ballot?

Could I, as California resident, have gotten the ballot in WV?

Yes. Most presidential candidates try to get on the ballot in all 50 states.

[ScarletNumber]

Originally Posted by Left Hand of Dorkness

Well I sure do, as exemplified by my post that said NOTHING OF THE SORT.

The question isn't whether people think Obama is a lousy president. The question is whether people think a federal prisoner in Texas would be a better president. Are you gonna make the claim that:
a) some folks genuinely think that, and they're not a bunch of stupid assholes? or
b) some folks don't really think that, but they didn't bother to find out who they were voting for, and they're not a bunch of stupid assholes? or
c) something totally unrelated to the thread?

b)

[Left Hand of Dorkness]

Originally Posted by ScarletNumber

b)

Okay, fine, make it.

[ScarletNumber]

Originally Posted by Left Hand of Dorkness

Okay, fine, make it.

As I stated earlier, they didn't want to reelect Obama. So they voted for someone else.

This isn't a difficult concept.

[Algorithm]

Originally Posted by ScarletNumber

As I stated earlier, they didn't want to reelect Obama. So they voted for someone else.

This isn't a difficult concept.

And what does that say about Obama?

[pravnik]

Let's not pretend this had anything to do with either Obama or being in federal prison. West Virginia voters rewarded Judd for rocking the most kickass ponytail imaginable, as damn well they should.

[Left Hand of Dorkness]

Originally Posted by ScarletNumber

As I stated earlier, they didn't want to reelect Obama. So they voted for someone else.

This isn't a difficult concept.

Yeah, see, in light of the "they voted for a federal prisoner over Obama without bothering to find out who they were voting for," you need to justify your "but they're not stupid assholes" claim. Shit, that coulda been Kang or Kodos.

Or you could just keep making the claim without any justification, in which case, hey, wanna know what my cat's breath smells like?

[CandidGamera]

Originally Posted by Left Hand of Dorkness

Yeah, see, in light of the "they voted for a federal prisoner over Obama without bothering to find out who they were voting for," you need to justify your "but they're not stupid assholes" claim.

Speaking as a West Virginian, don't hold your breath on that happening.

[Left Hand of Dorkness]

Originally Posted by CandidGamera

Speaking as a West Virginian, don't hold your breath on that happening.

Indeed. The whole thing seems, once you admit the possibility of stupid assholes voting, to be pretty straightforward.

[ScarletNumber]

Originally Posted by Left Hand of Dorkness

Yeah, see, in light of the "they voted for a federal prisoner over Obama without bothering to find out who they were voting for," you need to justify your "but they're not stupid assholes" claim. Shit, that coulda been Kang or Kodos.

Or you could just keep making the claim without any justification, in which case, hey, wanna know what my cat's breath smells like?

Hey, you're the one making the non sequitur.

[septimus]

Originally Posted by Algorithm

And what does that say about Obama?

You don't even know?? Look at photos of Obama and the typical Judd voter. Hint: Focus on the skin color.

It's so pathetic that right-wingers seize on instances of racism and pretend they reflect on Obama's policies.

[BrainGlutton]

Originally Posted by ScarletNumber

As I stated earlier, they didn't want to reelect Obama. So they voted for someone else.

This isn't a difficult concept.

But, the "they didn't bother to find out who they were voting for" part does make them stupid assholes, and you know it; that isn't a difficult concept either.

[Left Hand of Dorkness]

Originally Posted by ScarletNumber

Hey, you're the one making the non sequitur.

All right then: cat food!

[The Great Sun Jester]

Originally Posted by Marley23

Joke about comparing Hillary Clinton to a federal prisoner goes here: ___________________________________.

What's the difference between Hillary Clinton & a federal prisoner?

SPOILER:

The federal prisoner left enough evidence to lead to an indictment.

[lance strongarm]

Originally Posted by Inigo Montoya

What's the difference between Hillary Clinton & a federal prisoner?

SPOILER:

The federal prisoner left enough evidence to lead to an indictment.

Nice innocent until proven guilty thing there.

[The Great Sun Jester]

Originally Posted by lance strongarm

Nice innocent until proven guilty thing there.

1) As someone who cottons more to the theoretical efficiencies of dictatorship than the theoretical "fairness" of Democracy, I don't always appreciate the constraints of our legal system. I live under it so I respect it and work within it, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't fancy some changes. Further discussion would probably hijack the thread.

2) Assuming my jape was close to the mark, my admiration of Mr. & Ms. Clinton is founded in part on their ability to operate in fact under one system and appear to operate under another. Such cleverness deserves reward.

3) Because a proper list consists of at least 3 points (greetings to an unnamed SDMB poster)

[ScarletNumber]

Originally Posted by BrainGlutton

But, the "they didn't bother to find out who they were voting for" part does make them stupid assholes, and you know it; that isn't a difficult concept either.

No, it doesn't. They were casting a protest vote against Obama.

[gamerunknown]

Originally Posted by lance strongarm

Nice innocent until proven guilty thing there.

Is Inigo Montoya a court?

[Left Hand of Dorkness]

Originally Posted by ScarletNumber

No, it doesn't. They were casting a protest vote against Obama.

Stipulating you're okay with voting for a convicted felon just as a protest vote (which obviously, for whatever reason, you are), all that says about Obama is that he's not popular in WV. Which isn't new. To the extent that the nature of the protest candidate matters at all, it's to indicate what stupid assholes there are in WV--which, again, we already knew (stupid assholes being everywhere). The nature of the protest candidate in this case says nothing about Obama.

[The Great Sun Jester]

Originally Posted by gamerunknown

Is Inigo Montoya a court?

'Ello! My name is Inigo Montoya. You're in my court. Prepare to try.



I'm shameless.

[ScarletNumber]

Originally Posted by Left Hand of Dorkness

all that says about Obama is that he's not popular in WV.

Thank you for admitting I am right.

[Left Hand of Dorkness]

Originally Posted by ScarletNumber

I think it says more about Obama than it does about the voters.

Originally Posted by Left Hand of Dorkness

The nature of the protest candidate in this case says nothing about Obama.

Originally Posted by ScarletNumber

Thank you for admitting I am right.

Scarlet, if you're this desperate for a victory, who am I to deny it to you?

[CandidGamera]

Originally Posted by ScarletNumber

No, it doesn't. They were casting a protest vote against Obama.

To be pedantic, in the spirit of the Straight Dope : Sez you.

Er, I mean : Cite?

Unless you're a mind-reader, I reject your implicit assumption that 40% of the voters in the Democratic primary went knowingly for a convicted felon as a protest vote. And unless they did so knowingly, then LHoD's characterization of them as stupid assholes (perhaps it should be ignorant assholes, though) is correct.

So to sum up :
Obama is unpopular in West Virginia. - Nobody's on the other side of this issue. Nobody was arguing against you on that point.

Obama is so unpopular in WV that a large number of people will vote for any other name on the ballot - Same thing. Nobody's saying that this isn't true. LHoD's arguing that this makes them stupid assholes. I concur.

Obama is so unpopular in WV that a large number of people will knowingly choose a convicted felon over him - This one's False. I know the WV electorate. They're not well-informed.

[Left Hand of Dorkness]

Originally Posted by CandidGamera

Unless you're a mind-reader, I reject your implicit assumption that 40% of the voters in the Democratic primary went knowingly for a convicted felon as a protest vote. And unless they did so knowingly, then LHoD's characterization of them as stupid assholes (perhaps it should be ignorant assholes, though) is correct.

I'm not sure that it's an either/or thing between ignorant and stupid . The ignorance is in not knowing they're voting for an inmate. The stupidity is in casting a vote for someone when they have no idea who that person is.

I regularly go into the voting booth ignorant of certain elections, like I have no idea who the different candidates for Agricultural Commission are. Because I'm ignorant and not stupid, I don't cast a vote for those elections.

But yeah, basically, spot on.

[Clothahump]

Originally Posted by Left Hand of Dorkness

The question isn't whether people think Obama is a lousy president. The question is whether people think a federal prisoner in Texas would be a better president.

At this stage of the game, most people think a one-legged leper would be a better President that Obama.

[Lobohan]

Originally Posted by Clothahump

At this stage of the game, most people think a one-legged leper would be a better President that Obama.

I find it unlikely that you are able to back up that statement with a cite.

Also, do you think leprosy should be a bar against public service?

[Lightnin']

Originally Posted by Clothahump

At this stage of the game, most people think a one-legged leper would be a better President that Obama.

So we're at the outright lying stage of the game, now?

[CandidGamera]

Originally Posted by Clothahump

At this stage of the game, most people think a one-legged leper would be a better President that Obama.

If that's true, then given Mitt's poll numbers right now, that sure doesn't cast Romney in a favorable light. Apparently most people would rather vote for the guy who nearly lost WV's democratic primary to a convicted felon.

[lance strongarm]

Originally Posted by Clothahump

At this stage of the game, most people think a one-legged leper would be a better President that Obama.

Not most people.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_1...idential-race/

[ScarletNumber]

Originally Posted by Left Hand of Dorkness

Scarlet, if you're this desperate for a victory, who am I to deny it to you?

Thank you.

[ScarletNumber]

Originally Posted by CandidGamera

To be pedantic, in the spirit of the Straight Dope : Sez you.

Er, I mean : Cite?

Unless you're a mind-reader, I reject your implicit assumption that 40% of the voters in the Democratic primary went knowingly for a convicted felon as a protest vote. And unless they did so knowingly, then LHoD's characterization of them as stupid assholes (perhaps it should be ignorant assholes, though) is correct.

This isn't GQ.

[CandidGamera]

Originally Posted by ScarletNumber

This isn't GQ.

Nor is it the "make shit up" forum.

When come back, bring facts.

[goonhead]

I would attribute the odd election results to people casting an "anyone but Obama" vote who were also registered as democrats to vote for local and state races. I think there are still a lot of local office holders who are nominally democrats but are more conservative than Obama but perhaps still to the left of most republicans.

The results aren't really any threat to Obama being re-nominated. The West Virginia department of elections said Keith Judd didn't file any delegates, so even though he got a significant chunk of the vote, he'll get few if any votes at the democratic convention.

Interestingly, this was not Obama's worst showing in a state primary. He got 57% of the vote in Oklahoma, with four minor candidates splitting the remaining 43%. Like WV, Oklahoma still has many local and state officials who are conservative democrats, and like WV, Obama still ended up winning the vast majority of Oklahoma's delegates. This would probably only have spelled trouble for Obama if he were consistently winning 50-60% of lots of primary states against a well organized challenger who had lined up slates of possible delegates (see Reagan campaign, 1976).