CAUCUS: It was 'a goat rope'

I am writing in response to the My Turn article written by Kellie Palm of March 24, specifically, her comments on the Idaho Republican caucus.

To be blunt, the Idaho Republican caucus was a goat rope — both in execution and concept. It caused the disenfranchisement of multitudes of Idaho voters. It was inefficient and dehumanizing. Voters were herded around like cattle and then told that their vote might be negated by “headquarters.” Why must a voter be faced with having to change his vote to a candidate whom he does not want in order to get a 50 percent +1 majority? Why is Idaho winner-take-all?

Where I participated (Kootenai High School), the people who were running it did not know that cell phones are not reliable in that area and were unknowledgeable of the precinct specifics of the area due to Reservation boundaries. A school land line had to be made available. When I asked why a caucus and not a primary, I was told that Idaho Primary votes would be cast too late to effectively count, but if Idaho had an earlier primary election, the National Headquarters would reduce the number of Idaho GOP delegates. Which delegates were not identified.

Due to the length of time for the first votes to be counted, several voters left. After the second vote which totaled a little more than half the first vote, people left in droves. How many GOP votes are cast in an average presidential primary and how many votes were allowed in this caucus?

Then there was the “surprise” that Idaho has two time zones!

What problem was so great as to necessitate changing to this boondoggle? Isn’t one of the arguments made by the Republican campaign that “Big Brother” is making our decisions for us and interfering in our lives? What superior (?) intellect made this decision? Was it Larry? Was it Moe? Curly? Or even Shep? Or was it a tiny group of power-happy political demagogues with self-inflated egos? It appears that the sleazy political process has gotten sleazier.

While I am the sole signatory of this missive, I doubt that I am the Lone Ranger in my observations and opinions.

JIM EDER

Medimont