The ruling only affects Washington peeps, but may have repercussions on other states toying the idea of opening up primaries in general. Also, this may be the only time in history where I don't think Clarence Thomas is actually totally batshit crazy wrong... stressing "may".
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004289949_webprimary18m.html
Supreme Court rules in favor of Washington state primary By The Associated Press
The U.S. Supreme Court today upheld the state of Washington's blanket primary election system, a setback for the Republican and Democratic political parties in the state.
By a 7-2 vote, the court says the state may use a primary system that allows the top two vote-getters to advance to the general election, even if they are from the same party.
Washington never held a primary under the new system because of legal challenges.
"Wow!" Washington Secretary of State Sam Reed said when told of the decision. "That's terrific! It means the people of the state of Washington are going to be able to control who gets elected through this process."
Reed said the top-two system will take effect with the August primary election.
"This is a victory for the state of Washington," he said in an interview.
Reed said the ruling sets a precedent that will allow other states to break political party control on primary elections.
"I think we'll see it around the country," he said.
The decision shocked former Washington state Democratic Party Chair Paul Berendt.
"You're kidding," he said when he heard the decision. "When we were sitting in court, the justices appeared to be very hostile to the state's position."
Republicans also had argued the parties should have the right to select their own nominees. State party Chairman Luke Esser did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
Washington state voters created the top-two plan by initiative in 2004, but it was blocked by court challenges.
Writing for the majority, Justice Clarence Thomas said that overturning Washington's plan would have been an "extraordinary and precipitous nullification of the will of the people."
In dissent, Justice Antonin Scalia said Washington's system would cause a political party to be associated with candidates who may not represent its views. Scalia was joined by Justice Anthony Kennedy.
Under Washington's system, all candidates for a particular office may list their political party preference after their names.
Lawyers for the political parties said David Duke has identified himself as a Republican, despite GOP repudiation of his racial views, while perennial presidential candidate Lyndon LaRouche has called himself a Democrat, despite wide disagreement with Democratic leaders.
In his majority opinion, Thomas wrote that "there is simply no basis to presume that a well-informed electorate will interpret a candidate's party-preference designation to mean that the candidate is the party's chosen nominee" or that the party approves of the candidate.
Thomas added that "we cannot strike down" Washington's plan "based on the mere possibility of voter confusion."
The major parties challenged the law in federal court, asserting a First Amendment right to select their own nominees without outside interference.
The top-two plan was created after state voters approved a law in 2004 allowing them to pick their favorite candidate for each office. The top two vote-getters would advance to the November general election, even if they are from the same party.
A federal judge and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco struck down the election plan.
Washington state Attorney General Rob McKenna argued there was no evidence that the parties would be harmed, since they can publicize through advertising and other means which candidates they support.
Today's decision is the second of two this year on the rights of political parties. In New York, the justices said the state's method of electing trial judges, which gives party bosses effective control of the process, does not violate the Constitution.
The top-two plan was intended as the replacement for Washington's old "blanket primary," in which voters could vote for one party for governor and another party for the state Legislature, for example.
The Supreme Court threw out blanket primaries, to which the political parties also objected, in a case from California in 2000. The Washington state government and the Washington State Grange have been sparring with the political parties ever since. The Washington State Grange advocates for farmers and has a long history of supporting populist ballot measures.
The cases are 06-713, Washington State Grange v. Washington State Republican Party, and 06-730, Washington et al. v. Washington State Republican Party.
― Mackro Mackro, Tuesday, 18 March 2008 16:46 (eighteen years ago)
Striking stuff. Be interesting to see how this plays out further in other states.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 18 March 2008 16:48 (eighteen years ago)
Wow
― Mr. Goodman, Tuesday, 18 March 2008 16:55 (eighteen years ago)
Yeah, I'm not all rah rah about the ruling myself, yet I'm not really upset either. I think the worst thing about it is the image of the inevitable LaRouche/Nader/Paul circle jerk.
― Mackro Mackro, Tuesday, 18 March 2008 16:59 (eighteen years ago)
A Threesome for America
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 18 March 2008 17:00 (eighteen years ago)
I'm not so sure about this. I think a party should be able to put up whatever candidate they want as long as it is done democratically through the party's base.
― The Reverend, Tuesday, 18 March 2008 17:16 (eighteen years ago)
OK, so far, this is having very LOL-y results here in WA at least
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/366154_filings07.html
So there it is. There won't technically be a Republican gubernatorial candidate! Dino Rossi (yes, there should be a thread about his name), who ran as a Republican in 2004 and barely lost by a hundred votes, is choosing to run as "G.O.P." this year, not Republican. Reading in between the lines, he's trying to avoid having that poisonous "R" next to his name in the ballots, which I guess means that Washington state Republicans think/know that most voters just vote for "Anything but the R's". lol. And I'm guessing Rossi somehow thinks "G.O.P." sounds sexier. It's a bit sad, isn't it.
― Mackro Mackro, Sunday, 8 June 2008 20:12 (seventeen years ago)
Meanwhile, in the 36th district, it will be Dem vs. Dem: John Burbank vs. Reuven Carlyle.
Quote from this Stranger article:
Although the race has been amicable so far ("we're both good!" Carlyle declared cheerfully after a recent interview), the two candidates aren't identical. Carlyle, a motorcycle-driving wireless entrepreneur who helped found the community-service group City Year Seattle/King County, talks a lot about "comprehensive tax reform," public-private partnerships, and "technological innovations" like plug-in hybrid cars. He says his opponent, in contrast, supports "miscellaneous taxes that do not relate to the services they provide"—like 2003's failed "latte tax," which Burbank's think tank was behind. Burbank, a longtime Democratic Party activist, focuses more on "comprehensive health care" and "environmental problem solving"; he says what distinguishes him from Carlyle is that he's spent his life "working for the greater good and helping to knit together economic security for middle-class and low-income people," not making money; and he suggests Carlyle will be beholden to the business community. "A lot of the work we're going to have to do is moving against [business interests]," Burbank says. "When I get into the legislature, I'm unfettered."
Burbank sounds like a good guy in the wrong district, though. The 36th is Queen Anne Hill, Magnolia, Ballard, Loyal Heights, Interbay, etc. (I'm barely in the 36th. Fremont is in a separate district by a few feet from me.), none of which is really lower-income class anymore. Also, the latte tax idea was the dumbest idea ever. Burbank would be a better guy in a different district though.
Anyone disagree? Is Carlyle a total asshat, and I haven't heard the gossip yet?
― Mackro Mackro, Sunday, 8 June 2008 20:21 (seventeen years ago)
OK, http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/seattlepolitics/archives/145827.asp
Now, read the small above in this thread about the thing about Rossi running as "G.O.P. Party" candidate for WA Gov '08 and not Republican.
OK, now read this:
Identification of the Candidates – The "GOP Party" The Elway Poll identified the candidates as they identify themselves on the ballot, thus, Dino Rossi was listed as "prefers the GOP party." We found in our June survey that 25% of the registered voters – including 18% of Republicans and 27% of Independents – did not know what "GOP" stands for. The question was:
On the new Primary election ballot, instead of indicating which political party the candidates belong to, each candidate will indicate which party he or she prefers. If the ballot says that a certain candidate prefers the "G.O.P. Party," what party do you think that candidate is associated with? (answers not read) Republican…75% Democrat…7% Other…3% Don't Know…16% The potential confusion could have resulted is as much as a 9 point depression of the Rossi total if Republican-inclined voters did not understand that Rossi is a Republican. (18% of the Republicans = 5% of the total. Plus 27% of half of the Independents = 4% of the total).
― Mackro Mackro, Monday, 11 August 2008 23:03 (seventeen years ago)
I was nine or ten the first time I heard 'the GOP' and argued with my dad for a full day after he told me what it stood for. Grand Old Party? You're puttin' me on, dad.
― milo z, Monday, 11 August 2008 23:13 (seventeen years ago)
very interesting... missed this thread before.
― sleeve, Monday, 11 August 2008 23:26 (seventeen years ago)
I still can't get over the having a GRAND OLD PARTY PARTY candidate.
― Mackro Mackro, Monday, 11 August 2008 23:33 (seventeen years ago)
clearing the way for the PARTY PARTY
― Shakey Mo Collier, Monday, 11 August 2008 23:37 (seventeen years ago)
PARTYMAN 4 PREZ
― jergins, Monday, 11 August 2008 23:37 (seventeen years ago)
Gregoire seems to be polling about 4-8% ahead on average. There was an Elway poll last week that put her 16 points ahead, but I'm pretty sure that's an outlier.
― The Reverend, Tuesday, 12 August 2008 02:05 (seventeen years ago)
She's running some tough ads.
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Tuesday, 12 August 2008 04:16 (seventeen years ago)
So is the BIAW.
― The Reverend, Tuesday, 12 August 2008 06:15 (seventeen years ago)
Hasn't Louisiana been doing this for years?
― Pleasant Plains, Tuesday, 12 August 2008 15:37 (seventeen years ago)
voted today ; )
― The Reverend, Tuesday, 19 August 2008 04:01 (seventeen years ago)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/375685_legroundup20.html
You know, given the very people who are whining and laming all around (and Pelz should know better. WTF Pelz?), so far, this Top Two thing has been really fucking cool.
Also, I'm really starting to like Reuven Carlyle and I'm a 36th'er. I don't think I would have had this chance to vote for him if we didn't have a Top Two.
― Mackro Mackro, Wednesday, 20 August 2008 20:29 (seventeen years ago)
To Pleasant Plains: Louisiana seems to have something different, I think. But you tell me.
Here's the deal in WA as of this year. For the primary, many choices are given, each party can add a paranthetical saying "prefers Democrat party", "prefers Republican party", "prefers Tyra Banks on top of all this deep fried twinkies party", whatever. The only thing that matters is the top two of the entire gallery of candidates for a given position square off against each other in the General Election, no matter what party it is. Dem vs. Repub. Dem vs. Dem. Repub vs. Repub. Tyra vs. Hongro Nation whatever
if the Louisiana *general election* does the same as we do, then yeah, they have been doing this since 2000 or whenever.
― Mackro Mackro, Wednesday, 20 August 2008 22:05 (seventeen years ago)
Tyra vs. Hongro Nation
Needs to happen, really.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 20 August 2008 22:06 (seventeen years ago)
-- If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Monday, August 11, 2008 9:16 PM (1 week ago) Bookmark Link
god they are awful, and make me hate her as much as rossi
― remy bean, Wednesday, 20 August 2008 22:07 (seventeen years ago)
If I could get a $1K grant, I'd run a 3 second ad on TV somewhere that said "ROSSI IS GRAND OLD PARTY PARTY GRAND OLD PARTY PARTY LOL LOL"
― Mackro Mackro, Wednesday, 20 August 2008 22:11 (seventeen years ago)
Mackro Mackro, they seem to be about the same.
― Pleasant Plains, Wednesday, 20 August 2008 22:19 (seventeen years ago)
yup! you is rite
― Mackro Mackro, Wednesday, 20 August 2008 23:07 (seventeen years ago)
I'd be hesitant to call a primary in Louisiana a "jungle primary", but there you go.
― Pleasant Plains, Thursday, 21 August 2008 03:14 (seventeen years ago)
thank you, I figured I wasn't the only one who saw that phrase and went uh
― Mackro Mackro, Thursday, 21 August 2008 07:33 (seventeen years ago)
cosign uh
― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Thursday, 21 August 2008 08:54 (seventeen years ago)
edited that out uh
― The Reverend, Friday, 22 August 2008 11:30 (seventeen years ago)