Free Republic 2016 Caucus Open Discussion Thread XX

Free Republic ^ | 8 January 2016 | Windflier

[Windflier]

DO NOT VOTE ON THIS THREAD.

This is the nightly DISCUSSION thread for the ongoing 2016 Free Republic Caucus. Per caucus rules, no comments are allowed on the caucus thread itself - hence this open chat thread.

If you'd like to vote in the caucus, please look in the sidebar for the link, or check downthread here.

Thanks, and let 'er rip!

Windy

[Jim W N]

What is the difference between “comments” and “open chat”?

[PROCON]

Meh, I can’t wait for Baseball to start up again.

[Windflier]

What is the difference between "comments" and "open chat"?

None that I know of (if I'm reading your question right).

I post this thread every night go give FR caucus participants a place to discuss it, as comments aren't allowed on the caucus thread itself.

[entropy12]

In just 40 hours, NH starts voting!

[Jim W N]

Well, I can tell you that I don’t get why any state does these “caucuses” where somebody can win by flipping a coin or influence voters away from one candidate to another DURING the “caucus”. I don’t get what a “caucus” is.

[Windflier]

I don't get what a "caucus" is.

Seems like an odd, antiquated system to me. I've always lived in states where we vote by secret ballot in a regular primary, so I don't get it, either.

[Windflier]

In just 40 hours, NH starts voting!

Thank goodness. Maybe this place will calm down during next week. My nerves could use a rest from all the clawing and scratching.

[BigEdLB]

When this caucus day ends, DIXVILLE NOTCH! 23:10 to go

[sockmonkey]

Maybe this place will calm down during next week. My nerves could use a rest from all the clawing and scratching.

Y'er getting soft. We're keeping up the clawing and scratching until the Convention in July. After that we're starting up with the burnings at the stake! :o)

[Lonely Bull]

Table 1: Free Republic Caucus 2016 threads, most recent 15 days

Date	Voting thread	Discussion thread	Results [on www.hotr.us]	Sequence no.
2/08	[link]	[link]	[available later]	20
2/07	[link]	[link]	[link]	19
2/06	[link]	[link]	[link]	18
2/05	[link]	[link]	[link]	17
2/04	[link]	[link]	[link]	16
2/03	[link]	[link]	[link]	15
2/02	[link]	[link]	[link]	14
2/01	[link]	[link]	[link]	13
1/31	[link]	[link]	[link]	12
1/30	[link]	[link]	[link]	11
1/29	[link]	[link]	[link]	10
1/28	[link]	[link]	[link]	9
1/27	[link]	[link]	[link]	8
1/26	[link]	[link]	[link]	7
1/25	[link]	[link]	[link]	6

Table 2: tables with older threads

Dates	Table	Sequence nos.
1/20 - 2/03	[link]	1-15

[bigbob]

My Iowa friends tell me the caucus is more of a social event, dominated by the church ladies, of course, where the goal is to find concensus on who’s the best candidate. Republicans do take a ballot, but it’s nowhere near the same thing as a real election. The FR online caucus mimics this, as not everyone participates, some try to influence others, and the voting is public not done in secret. So you could say it represents the concensus of FR.

I find it most interesting that while this is a conservative site, Trump has consistently kept the lead over Cruz. At best the difference has tightened, but Trump has always held the lead despite not being a “perfect conservative”, or even caring much about ideology. This tells me that many people like a populist businessman outsider who they feel will solve the right problems and won’t get wrapped-up in the politically-correct approach dictated by the conventional parties.

It is a very interesting election and the FR caucus does serve a valid purpose. Thanks for the efforts!

[IAMNO1]

A fellow FReeper helpfully suggested to me the other day via FR mail that because of my tagline “Vote Cruz. Vote Trump.”, likely all the times I've voted, it wouldn't have counted (or wouldn't be tallied correctly and so discounted) because my post would contain the following: “Vote Cruz” and ALSO “Vote Cruz. Vote Trump.”, potentially disqualifying my vote

Nevertheless, going forward I am recusing myself from these daily FReeper caucus votes, as I am a proponent of Cruz OR Trump, and not going to divide our predominate FR interests into categories A or B, just to see that division hinder our ability to get either one of them into office to fix this mess.

[smoothsailing]

Dixville Notch! I’d forgotten about them. Isn’t it like 14 or so people voting at 12:01 am on Tuesday?

[tumblindice]

No matter how much cats fight, there always seem to be plenty of kittens.
A. Lincoln

[BigEdLB]

yes. and two other towns do also

[BigEdLB]

yes. and two other towns do also: Millsfield, Hart’s Location.

[Daffynition]

Poor olde Dixville has fallen on bad times; only 9 registered voters this year. :(

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/02/07/in-dixville-notch-the-economy-dried-up-then-the-candidate-appearances-did/

[Windflier]

...because of my tagline "Vote Cruz. Vote Trump.", likely all the times I've voted, it wouldn't have counted..."

That's not true. It's what you type into the posting window that counts. Taglines are immaterial to the vote counting process.

You can recuse yourself from the FR caucus if you like, but I urge you to exercise your right to vote at election time.

[Windflier]

Looks like Trump has been consistently winning the nightly FR caucus. If those numbers were votes in the real world, it would be recognized as a landslide victory.