Wyoming: Lots of Excitement for a Republican State

By Jeralyn, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 11:17:33 PM EST
Tags: Wyoming '08 (all tags)

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Wyoming caucuses convene tomorrow morning. 12 delegates are at stake. Hillary, Bill, Chelsea and Barack Obama all have campaigned there this week, with Hillary and Obama each making two appearances today.

Denver's Rocky Mountain News had reporters live-blogging the appearances all day and evening.

They drew large crowds and while Obama is expected to win the caucus vote, Hillary should make a decent showing.

One joke Obama didn't tell today: the one about Cheney being his cousin. A story about Hillary that did come out through one of those introducing her: Hillary has eaten reindeer.

Wyoming is pure Cheney country. The chances of the Dems taking it in November are nil. But, it's exciting to see both Hillary, Obama, Bill and Chelsea in western mode.

Update: The reindeer story below:

Kathy Karpan, the former secretary of state of Wyoming is introducing her, saying she traveled overseas years ago with Clinton when Clinton was First Lady....When Karpan and Clinton were on a delegation to the Winter Olympics together in Norway, Clinton even ate reindeer.
"She'll do anything for America," Karpan said.

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Wyoming: Lots of Excitement for a Republican State | 31 comments (31 topical)

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Is this a new variation of the (5.00 / 3) (#1)
by litigatormom on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 11:21:06 PM EST

"Hillary Will Eat Your Children" diary mentioned in the prior thread?

Except this one will be "Hillary Will Eat Rudolph and There Will Be No Christmas."

: How the Hillary Stole Christmas. . . (5.00 / 2) (#3)
by LarryInNYC on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 11:25:40 PM EST

coming soon to a left-blog near you.

: Hardly, follow the link (none / 0) (#2)
by Jeralyn on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 11:25:07 PM EST

Kathy Karpan, the former secretary of state of Wyoming is introducing her, saying she traveled overseas years ago with Clinton when Clinton was First Lady....When Karpan and Clinton were on a delegation to the Winter Olympics together in Norway, Clinton even ate reindeer.
"She'll do anything for America," Karpan said.

: I hear (none / 0) (#6)
by ghost2 on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 11:29:13 PM EST

she has eggs for breakfast everyday.

Well, (5.00 / 1) (#4)
by NJDem on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 11:26:00 PM EST

I'm not that surprised Hillary has eaten reindeer--ever since her hot peppers comments, she seems to be a food adventurer.

The most surprising thing I've learned about her is that she worked in an Alaskan fishery in 1969--who would have thunk it?

: Sliming Salmon (5.00 / 3) (#5)
by ghost2 on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 11:28:23 PM EST

She called it the best preparation for Washington politics.
Of course, that line just writes itself.

: Yep (5.00 / 1) (#21)
by reynwrap582 on Sat Mar 08, 2008 at 04:29:50 AM EST

My sister Anna did the same thing in Sitka, AK for two summers in the early 90s... When she first left, she was a softy who would never raise her voice and stand up for herself. When she got home 3 months later, she was tough as nails. 5'2" and not even 100 pounds, she was suddenly breaking up fistfights, organized a big protest downtown against the police for harassing the kids hanging out down there...lost her voice from leading their rallying cry for 3 hours straight.
I was mildly supporting Hillary when I heard about the Alaska experience, and that's one of the things that really pushed me over the edge. It suddenly made a lot of sense, and I started to see a lot of Anna in her. (Anna died as the result of a serious asthma attack in 1993 at the age of 17, about a month after returning from her second summer in AK)

: yeah I knew she took (none / 0) (#18)
by facta non verba on Sat Mar 08, 2008 at 03:25:31 AM EST

that smelly job in Alaska. Shows she is a trooper. I had forgotten about that. Thanks for the reminder!

The reindeer eating... (5.00 / 1) (#25)
by kdog on Sat Mar 08, 2008 at 08:34:25 AM EST

is gonna kill her with PETA...scores a few points with me though. I've got no problem with a woman president...I'd never vote for a vegetarian. Hitler was a vegetarian....they cannot be trusted:)

Before I moved, Wyoming Game (none / 0) (#26)
by Militarytracy on Sat Mar 08, 2008 at 09:23:47 AM EST

and Fish started their own PETA org and auctioned off their own Tshirts at a fundraiser. I didn't get one, but they read People for the Eating of Tasty Animals ;)


Now that's.... (none / 0) (#27)
by kdog on Sat Mar 08, 2008 at 09:34:43 AM EST

a t-shirt I just have to own. Hopefully I can find one:)


Make Your Own (none / 0) (#29)
by squeaky on Sat Mar 08, 2008 at 10:43:21 AM EST

Here


: Link (none / 0) (#30)
by squeaky on Sat Mar 08, 2008 at 10:43:45 AM EST

Here

How does Hillary combat the Caucas chicanary? (none / 0) (#7)
by CentristDemocrat on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 11:50:52 PM EST

I'm wondering, is this the last caucas? And how do they combat the chicnaary that takes place in the caucases?

I think it's pretty funny that peopl even take these contests seriosully. We have in Texas, Obama probably winning by 10 or so in the caucas and loosing by 4 in the primary....

In Washington state, he blew her out of hte water in caucas, but only beat her narrowly in the primary...

It seems to me that there is a lot of under-the-board activity amiss apropros the Obama campagin in the caucases.

I think I saw a book about the mathematical theory of voting systems in my libary, i may check this out to familarize myself with the various processes.

It seems to me that one fits the general eleciton model much more then the other, and the fact that they display divergent results for the same set of voters is troubling.

I would guess (5.00 / 1) (#8)
by blogtopus on Sat Mar 08, 2008 at 12:00:09 AM EST

unless there are rules against it, that someone should show up with a video camera and document the intimidation techniques, if any. There is no other explanation as to the difference between public and private voting, is there?

Obama supporters, why would there be a difference between how a population votes in the privacy of a booth, and voting in the public eye? I'd like some suggestions.


Texas shenanigans (5.00 / 1) (#10)
by Cream City on Sat Mar 08, 2008 at 12:07:15 AM EST

discussed in this post I just found on Craig Crawford's blog -- another in my ever-growing collection of reports of corruption from almost every caucus so far. On other states, I just haven't found them yet, but they're there. . . .

suzie from atlanta March 05, 2008 8:51 PM

My husband is flying home from Dallas-Ft. Worth as i write this, having spent the last three days with the Clinton campaign as a lawyer dealing with this mess. He traveled from caucus to caucus responding to complaints of voter interference and the total lack of understanding the voters had with this process. It is a stupid process, designed to do what, I don't know, but I am sure it was designed this way to confuse the Democrats by the GOP in TX.

There were many instances of Obama followers telling Clinton voters to go home, the caucus was cancelled, or moved, some of which were caught by the Election Judge and stopped, but not all. Add to that the fact that the GOP could and did vote in this DEMOCRATIC caucus, and help determine our candidate, which I find outrageous, and 4000 out of 8000 precincts had no one to run them, made it was a mess. The rules said that the first one there could run the whole show, which is why Obama followers were able to turn away Clinton voters.

My husband will be coming home with tons of filings to complete, complaints against the Obama campaign for voter interference and such, since he has spent the day interviewing the people who were prevented from voting, or where the attempt was made to interfere. I find that so disgusting, that Obama could do this, although I am sure he will say he "didn't" or "didn't know."

This is worse than what was done in Florida in 2000, because of who is doing it. Fortunately, the Election Judges were available to be called in, and filed complaints as well. This system is cleverly designed to give the GOP total control over the election process. The Democrats don't have the ability to do this to them because only they are stupid enough to hold this stupid caucus the same day, at night, of course. It seems to me that these caucuses, which are supposed to be a type of pre-convention convention, need to be done after the Primary, as in months after, as the other States who choose their delegate slates do. . . .

I wonder if what Texas does is constitutional? And can those who were prevented from voting sue the Obama campaign? Anybody know?

The Constitution says nothing (none / 0) (#13)
by Arabiflora on Sat Mar 08, 2008 at 01:20:24 AM EST

.. about the methods and procedures by which political parties may decide to proffer their candidates for office. The present two-party system is free to give way to a 3, 4, or more-party system, each of which is free to set rules for nomination of 'party' representative in the race for federal office.

IANAL, but (a) I'm pretty sure that you could lodge a suit against the Obama campaign; (b) but you and your lawyers would be laughed out of court for lack of standing, in the first place, and laughed out of court by the justices because of your obvious ignorance of the state of US electoral practices.


The Constitution (5.00 / 1) (#15)
by sumac on Sat Mar 08, 2008 at 01:53:38 AM EST

doesn't say anything about drivers needing car insurance, but I am pretty certain that if you are caught driving without it, you can be penalized under state law.

The fact is, states do have laws about voting, particularly denying an eligible voter from voting.

I don't see any candidate trying to sue based on how a state conducts its primaries, but if there is documented evidence of voter fraud or illegally preventing a voter from voting, then there is a basis for a lawsuit.

If you are interested in reading up on Texas election laws, here's a good site:

Texas Election Code


Reread. (none / 0) (#23)
by Cream City on Sat Mar 08, 2008 at 07:55:19 AM EST

This is not from me. Go on the blog noted to talk to the person who wrote it.


: please don't reprint (none / 0) (#28)
by Jeralyn on Sat Mar 08, 2008 at 10:08:02 AM EST

what you find on other blogs. Link to it and quote to it but don't reprint in full. It's their work.

I know how they'll respond... (none / 0) (#11)
by CentristDemocrat on Sat Mar 08, 2008 at 12:09:54 AM EST

You see, according to Obama supporters, no one who is of sound mind and body would not vote for Obama, therefore assuming that axiom... the erason why you have 2 differnt voting results is that white, latino, and asian people (and especially white women) are secrelty all racist towards an African American.

Therefore, only the caucas, which allows the brotherly comaradity of people to get together and use social wisdom, and being all 'in plain sight' negates the backwards and evil machinations of the closet racist (which is anyone who dosn't vote for Barack Obama).


Someone posted a youtube (none / 0) (#22)
by ghost2 on Sat Mar 08, 2008 at 05:08:25 AM EST

video. If I remember where I saw the link, I'll find and post it.


Open voting vs secret ballot (5.00 / 1) (#9)
by Prabhata on Sat Mar 08, 2008 at 12:05:07 AM EST

When people are unable to vote in secret, the organizers can pressure voters to vote a certain way. It's the bet way to stuff a ballot. Hillary will do anything for America, but evidently she is not willing to abuse the voters.


: As a non native born American (5.00 / 1) (#12)
by Stellaaa on Sat Mar 08, 2008 at 12:48:14 AM EST

I find that caucuses are almost anti american--not in a McCarthy kid of way. Older Americans are very private about religion and politics. They are not like the younger data dump culture. They don't like public display of emotions or politics. So, of course a lot of older people hesitate to participate, particularly women. I think it purposefully disenfranchizes women.

Montana (none / 0) (#14)
by clapclappointpoint on Sat Mar 08, 2008 at 01:37:00 AM EST

is also a "Republican" state that is the home of two Democratic senators and one Democratic governor. We also may find a competitive race or two in Idaho.

The Wyoming AL Congressional seat was competitive last time around and may be close this time as well.

The Mountain West is changing and looks like a good place for Democratic pickups in the future. As Democrats, we do a disservice to ourselves and the citizens of Wyoming to say "They don't count."

clap: (none / 0) (#16)
by cpinva on Sat Mar 08, 2008 at 02:29:37 AM EST

it's not that wyoming (and utah, SD, ND, MT) don't "count", obviously they do and should. it's that they have been republican bastions since reagan, and aren't likely to change any time soon. that both democratic candidates have spent time in wyoming, a state neither is likely to win in nov., shows that they take the state seriously.

being realistic, absent some miracle, i don't think the democrats should expend significant scarce allocable resources on any of the sparsely populated republican mountain states come nov., it wouldn't be cost effective.

the more i read, see and hear, the more i believe the caucus is antithetical to the true democratic process; it lends itself to abuse. this is an issue the DLC could sink its teeth into. that, and insisting on closed primaries.

A strong presidential candidate (none / 0) (#19)
by clapclappointpoint on Sat Mar 08, 2008 at 03:29:14 AM EST

has coatails that can in help down-ticket races.

The "Republicans" of the Mountain West are different from the Republicans of the South. They have more of a libertarian streak and pissed as hell at the BS civil-liberties infringement of the Bush Whitehouse.

This election is very good opportunity to pick up some more House seats in the Mountain West (capitalizing on Bush fatigue). The cost of advertising in these states is relatively modest and the payoff from Presidential (candidate) visits is pretty high. The return from contesting these downticket elections may be relatively high.

The Democratic party could stick to contesting CA, NY, IL and a handful of other states, but we'd lose big. At some point, we've got to gamble in a couple of CD, go on the offensive, and hit the Repugs where it hurts or the party's going to die a slow death.


: How do you reconcile Libertarinism with Liberalis? (none / 0) (#31)
by CentristDemocrat on Sat Mar 08, 2008 at 12:56:52 PM EST

How do you propose to reconcile liberatrianism with the liberal policies of the democratic party? They don't jive at ALL in terms of economics, except in the most shallow sense, and libertarinism are opposed to (if not all) alot of federal spononsred social programs...

I've eaten reindeer (none / 0) (#17)
by facta non verba on Sat Mar 08, 2008 at 03:22:51 AM EST

a few times. A little tough but good. Most recently in Finland.

Can anyone tell me the history of caucuses? How they first come about?

: I've also eaten reindeer (none / 0) (#20)
by clapclappointpoint on Sat Mar 08, 2008 at 03:31:31 AM EST

or maybe it was caribou. It was in a sausage and the first 4 ingredients were heart and other "variety meats" from reindeer/caribou and cow.
It sounds interesting, but I wouldn't necessarily say it's more exciting than venison or duck.

I was very excited for Wyoming (none / 0) (#24)
by Militarytracy on Sat Mar 08, 2008 at 08:17:40 AM EST

I lived there for eighteen years. I'm waning though today. It's only Wyoming everyone ;) I need more coffee, maybe a danish. I don't know where my bright mood about the new possibilities for Wyoming evaporated to.