IRV in real life: it has done nothing whatsoever for third parties in San Francisco, the largest IRV jurisdiction in the US.

San Francisco's "IRV" is a hot mess. And expensive. SF spends about $2.00 per reg voter on education, and will spend about $12 million on new voting machines soon.

Where is the net savings?

The IRV ballot is a portal into hell. An article by Electionline quoted San Francisco voters as describing IRV this way:

"Voters also questioned the value of ranked-choice voting."
"There are a lot of people who only mark one [candidate] or the same person three times,"
"I don't want to vote for a second one, I want this one."

Jay Bordeleau, an election inspector at Notre Dame Des Victoires in Union Square concurred.
"There are a lot of people who only mark one [candidate] or the same person three times," he said.

And what a sick waste of money on printing ballots for the Nov 2007 election:
there were three places on the ballot to rank candidate choices for the sheriff's race, in which only two candidates were running and the district attorney race in which Kamala Harris ran unopposed.

And in 20 consecutive IRV elections in San Francisco, since its adoption, the end result was the same as if the election were a "winner take all" or plurality. In other words, the person who won the first round ended up being the winner of the final round.

Oh, and I keep seeing the phrase "incumbent protection" in articles explaining why the mayor did not have a serious challenger and as a reason for the unchallenged DA contest.

I hope other places in the country will look before they leap.

Posted at June 10, 2008 1:07 AM in response to Natl Expert: Instant Runoff marred with flaws

Anyone think maybe Hillary ought to take some sensitivity classes (to add to her acting classes)? I'm talking about how her lack of grace has impacted others:

Clyburn said he was disappointed that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) didn’t concede but then added: “Nobody can dampen this for me.”....

Posted at June 7, 2008 1:26 AM in response to Jesse Jackson Jr. wants chapter added to Bible dedicated to Obama's primary victory (not a joke)

Translation: Hillary can say/do/insult/threaten whenever and whoever she wants, all with impunity.

This makes her just like George W Bush.

Do we want 4 more years of Bush?

Hell NO.

Father Phleger was speaking in a church to a congregation, not to MSNBC/CBS/ABC etc.

He owes Hillary NOTHING. However he was kind enough to issue an apology for his comedy routine similar in construction/sincerity to Hillary's apology for invoking the assassination of Barack Obama.

We wouldn't even be talking about any of this if Hillary wasn't the wife (in name only) of a former president. She is a mediocre senator who voted to send our troops to a war that never should have happened.

She is Nixon in a pantsuit.

Posted at May 31, 2008 1:56 PM in response to Pfleger Was Wrong and Owes Hillary a Public Apology

Obama has shown that he can learn the rules and abide by the rules.

Hillary's national campaign co chair is in Florida, and the Gov and former Gov of Michigan are key Hillary supporters.

Its no surprise that they would break the rules in order to try to game the system for Hillary.

Florida is really a bad place for Dems, consider that Clinton campaign co chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz has protected the seats of hard core republican congressmen in Florida.

Posted at May 30, 2008 12:06 AM in response to Disenfranchisement: an Old Obama Trick

If Universal Health Care had passed during Bill/Hillary's 8 year term, then Bill/Hillary wouldnt have had that wonderful budget surplus to boast about, would they?

Hmmmm......

Posted at May 29, 2008 11:59 PM in response to Hillary Clinton In Her Own Words: "The Most Fiscally Responsible Candidate"

"Hillary the Victim" is must a ploy. The Clintons are all about manipulating their "subjects" and environment. Its nothing personal with them, its just what sociopaths do.

They are snake oil salesmen. There's always a buyer for that.

Posted at May 25, 2008 7:04 PM in response to Some Further Thought on the A-Word Gaffe

Sorry Kinkistyle. Obama is neither stupid nor is he all about manipulation.

Now Hillary.....

Posted at May 25, 2008 4:47 PM in response to A Hollywood Ending: Offer the Unity Ticket NOW.

It seems to me that Hillary's goal is to sink the democratic party and its chances at the WhiteHouse.

What other goal does she have left?

Oh, and ever notice how Hillary Clinton NEVER attacks republicans?

Posted at May 25, 2008 4:44 PM in response to Some Further Thought on the A-Word Gaffe

Please send the above OP to the DNC and tell them:

NO to CLinton plan.

see link
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/05/act-now-obama-supporters-ive-m.php

Posted at May 18, 2008 5:32 PM in response to The Influence of Florida and Michigan

wwstaebler hit the nail on the head with this comment:

GenX was treated to the example of a president redefining what "is" is, and getting away with
it.

The "culture of NO personal ethics and NO integrity" has become normal to the point that democrats adopt it and embrace it.

We have been so weakened that any old lie or excuse was accepted, the ends justified the means and whoever could tell the most convincing lies or whoever just wouldn't blink even when cost with their pants down - wins.

Not any more - Americans won't accept this mind bending disposal of the core requirements of human decency. We've hit bottom and its time to dig out of the hole.

Go by the rules, enforce the rules, PROTECT the rules. And you protect the integrity of the process.

We cannot adopt a "Big Two State" policy. NO.

48 states followed the rules - good for them, this is a political party you join, but two states don't get to change the rules after the rules were agreed upon.

Posted at May 18, 2008 5:29 PM in response to The Idea Hillary WON in Florida and Michigan is LAUGHABLE!