Okay, I'm confused.As an Australian, I'm watching the updates on the presidential primaries from the US, completely and utterly bewildered.
The only connection I can put to the term 'caucus' is this:
“What is a Caucus-race?” said Alice; not that she much wanted to know,
but the Dodo had paused as if it thought that somebody ought to speak, and no
one else seemed inclined to say anything.
“Why,” said the Dodo, “the best way to explain it is to do it.” (And,
as you might like to try the thing yourself, some winter day, I will tell you
how the Dodo managed it.)
First it marked out a race-course, in a sort of circle ("the exact
shape doesn’t matter,” it said), and then all the party were placed along the
course, here and there.
There was no “One, two, three, and away!” but they began running when
they liked, and left off when they liked, so that it was not easy to know when
the race was over. However, when they had been running half an hour or so, and
were quite dry again, the Dodo suddenly called out "The race is over!” and they
all crowded round it, panting, and asking, “But who has won?”
*Giggle!*.
In Australia, it seems so much more simple. The major political parties pick someone as their leader, and over-18s vote (it's compulsory) for the party (and therefore Prime Minister, by default) they want to run the country. It takes one day. We just elected a new PM last November. The last guy was in for almost 12 years (he won three elections). Election dates are traditionally only called 6 weeks before the day. Six week campaigns. Although, granted, it's always obvious which years are election years and we all know voting comes in November, so the party leaders campaign unofficially months beforehand, but the official stuff only gets going within 6 weeks of Election Day. The posters aren't even allowed up on the power poles before that.
Which is why primaries and caucuses and multiple candidates per party and all that jazz make my head spin. I don't know if it's because Australia seems to be a bit more laid back with politics, and I'm certain that our only-21-ish million population makes for a simpler system than the US, but I have no idea what any of the US stuff means! It's rare to find an Australian willing to proudly proclaim their affiliation with either of the two major political parties! We might have opinions on who is going to do a better job and there is the usual mud-slinging, but nothing like the Americans. I take it the American folk are a lot more passionate about politics in general though?
Can anyone give this bemused Aussie an idea of what the primaries actually mean? I'm genuinely curious. How do you guys elect a President? In layman's terms please!
Cheers,
Lizzie
4 comments:
Well, I'll try to clear it up a little bit, though I am no expert. I will admit that a caucus is confusing. Here's how it works (I think):
States hold either a caucus or a primary.
In a caucus, people actually line up for a certain candidate. Each line (or group, whatever) must have a certain percentage. If they don't, people who chose that person then have to choose one of the candidates who DID make that mark, until I think there are three left.
In a primary, people go and vote for the candidate of their choice just as you would for the general election. The difference is in a primary you can only vote for the candidates in your registered party. So Democrats vote for the Democratic candidate they would like, Republicans for Republicans.
Based on the results of the primaries or caususes, delegates are awarded to each candidate. These delegates will then vote at the national conventions where the final two (Republican and Democratic) will be officially nominated. Third party candidates? Not sure how they fit in, but it can happen.
Following the national conventions, which happen generally in the summer I think, those two candidates are the only ones left standing for us to vote on in November.
It sounds like the difference between us is that in Aus. the party chooses the candidate and here the voters choose the candidate, via the primaries and caucuses.
Lori -
That actually helped a lot. A lot simpler than trying to decipher the Wikipedia entry! LOL.
I should also add a postscript to how the Aussie system works. On election day we vote for the candidate in our own electorate (there are several federal 'seats' per state). Though we do have more than one political party, it's usually a two party race, Labor and Liberal. So depending on which candidate you vote for in your own area, either of those two parties 'wins' the federal seat (you can vote for any of the other parties, of course - there are several, but many are merely 'token parties', not capable of actually winning enough seats to bring in a Prime Minister, but they are capable of winning enough votes for a particular SEAT and therefore having at least some say in how the country is run). They add up all the seats nationwide for each party and once they get above a certain level, that party wins the election and whoever happens to be leader and deputy leader of the voted-in party, become Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. We now have our first female DPM, I believe. She recently made history by taking over the acting-PM job for 2 whole days (LOL) when the new PM was overseas.
What is fascinating for me with the US election is the history-making component. First African American, first Female and so on. Obviously I have no connection to any party in the US but I think it's awesome we're at that point where there's a real chance of history being made :)
Cheers,
Lizzie
That was meant to read 'more than TWO political parties'. DUH. LOL.
Cheers,
Lizzie
Just found your blog and added it to my blog roll...
I have to agree with you, I am an American and I STILL find the whole election process confusing (I am laid back too)..I live in a primary state, so in May I will head to the polls and place my vote for who I think should be in the BIG race...wouldn't it be easier to draw straws (LOL)...:)
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