# Dude! I was totally Caucus-Blocked! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 20, 2008, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-i-was-totally-caucus-blocked/434221 "2008-01-20T02:33:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-i-was-totally-caucus-blocked/434221/1 "2008-01-20T02:33:47Z")
Being a political imbecile, I figured I’d get up and wander down to the Nevada Republican Caucus in my precinct. Sure, the card they mailed me, and instructed that I bring with me said “9 a.m.”, but I figured, “Why fight the crowd? Show up at 10 or 10:30. Vote and go enjoy the nice day.” So, I make the 13 mile (one way) drive, walk in and ask, “What now?” “We’re done! You had to be here at 8:30!” (a chorus of cackling toothless crones) What the fuck? Was this an episode of “Beat the Clock” or something? Who the fuck thought that 8:30 A-Fucking-M on a Saturday of a 3-day weekend was a good time for this sprint-vote to go down? Ah, fuck it. One more chunk eroded in my faith in the electoral process. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-i-was-totally-caucus-blocked/434221/2 "2008-01-20T02:48:45Z")
Who were you going to caucus for, if it’s not too personal a question? ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-i-was-totally-caucus-blocked/434221/3 "2008-01-20T03:09:01Z")
It doesn’t seem like you entirely get what a caucus is. It’s not a standard vote situation, like a Primary, where you stroll in, cast your ballot, and leave. It’s more like an extended discussion/horse trade amongst supporters of different candidates. It just wouldn’t work if people walked in and out, willy-nilly. But, yeah, 8:30AM is a terrible time to have it. And the entire caucus system is antiquated hogwash. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-i-was-totally-caucus-blocked/434221/4 "2008-01-20T03:19:16Z")
God, 8:30?! Democratic caucus was at 11:30, which is much more reasonable. Being the America-hating independent that I am, I slept through both. Not that my vote would be worth anything at this point. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-i-was-totally-caucus-blocked/434221/5 "2008-01-20T03:34:30Z")
If the card said 9am, why were they done at 8:30am? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-i-was-totally-caucus-blocked/434221/6 "2008-01-20T06:19:59Z")
[QUOTE=Gatopescado] a Saturday of a 3-day weekend [/QUOTE] Why is this a 3-day weekend in the U.S.? ---
**Author:** ![aktep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f0a364/32.png) [@aktep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aktep)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-i-was-totally-caucus-blocked/434221/7 "2008-01-20T06:22:21Z")
[QUOTE=Northern Piper] Why is this a 3-day weekend in the U.S.? [/QUOTE] Martin Luther King’s birthday is celebrated on Monday. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-i-was-totally-caucus-blocked/434221/8 "2008-01-20T07:25:57Z")
[QUOTE=kaylasdad99] Who were you going to caucus for, if it’s not too personal a question? [/QUOTE] McCain, because of his strength of character. I don’t like everything he says, but I believe he is telling “the most truth” of all the candidates, and will do the “most good” for the country if elected. He is one of the few politicians with a shread of integrity, in my opinion. He says shit that people don’t want to hear, but needs to be said. Yeah, I know less about “caucusing” then I do about women. Turns out, I wouldn’t have made a fuck-all difference by getting up \*waaaay tooo \* early. A buddy, who did make it out that early (did I mention he doesn’t drink?) said it was a giant disorganized cluster-fuck. And his guy lost worse than mine! 😃 I shoulda gone skiing, but I got a bunch of stuff done around the old homestead anyway. McCain won back east, so I guess I’m happy about that. Wife says that SC predicts the winner always. Wish I hadn’t wasted 2 gallons of gas and a half-hour. And I even took a shower! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-i-was-totally-caucus-blocked/434221/9 "2008-01-20T09:47:45Z")
[QUOTE=Gatopescado] So, I make the 13 mile (one way) drive, walk in and ask, “What now?” [/QUOTE] Your caucus is 13 miles away? That’s insane. How big is your precinct? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-i-was-totally-caucus-blocked/434221/10 "2008-01-20T16:11:42Z")
[QUOTE=amarinth] Your caucus is 13 miles away? That’s insane. How big is your precinct? [/QUOTE] I live in the middle of nowhere, BFE. ---
**Author:** ![Tenebras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@Tenebras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenebras)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-i-was-totally-caucus-blocked/434221/11 "2008-01-20T18:42:16Z")
I was actually more surprised by using 2 gallons of gas for a 26 mile trip. Your car gets 13 miles to the gallon?! ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-i-was-totally-caucus-blocked/434221/12 "2008-01-20T18:54:47Z")
I probably only really used about a gallon and a half. I drove the little truck, which does pretty good, but was going about 85. That knocks the milage _waaay_ down. Now, I have 4 or 5 vehicles that I would _welcome_ 13 mpg! That would be a giant leap forward! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-i-was-totally-caucus-blocked/434221/13 "2008-01-20T19:15:08Z")
Caucusing is a strange thing. It’s so different from an election that it really is a poor predictor of what the actual election is going to be like. Sorry you missed out, but Romney was a shoe-in anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2008, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-i-was-totally-caucus-blocked/434221/14 "2008-01-20T21:25:14Z")
Could be worse. I voted in the michigan primary. I had to vote for uncommited since Obama pulled himself from the ballot and my vote may not count if the DNC decides to keep Michigans delegates out due to their rescheduling of the primary. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2008, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-i-was-totally-caucus-blocked/434221/15 "2008-01-21T02:54:00Z")
I really should have followed my gut feeling and not bothered. All it did was piss me off. Maybe we’ll (Nevada) will know more about this process in 4 years… ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2008, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-i-was-totally-caucus-blocked/434221/16 "2008-01-21T04:48:34Z")
[QUOTE=aktep] [QUOTE=Northern Piper] Why is this a 3-day weekend in the U.S.? [/QUOTE] Martin Luther King’s birthday is celebrated on Monday. [/QUOTE] thanks - hadn’t thought of that. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2008, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-i-was-totally-caucus-blocked/434221/17 "2008-01-21T23:34:14Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] If the card said 9am, why were they done at 8:30am? [/QUOTE] Well, 9-11 changed everything. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2008, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-i-was-totally-caucus-blocked/434221/18 "2008-01-22T03:05:25Z")
Ahh… I see. It was a “pre-emtive strike”! I didn’t get to vote, so the terrorists have won! :eek: