In Virginia, any time the phrase “party registration” passes the lips, thousands of our fellow citizens burst into flames. Seriously – if you have never witnessed spontaneous combustion, drive to a TEA Party meeting, have a cup of coffee and a slice of pizza (if they aren’t cheap); and then say, “I’m for party registration”. You do this at your own risk. If they kill you, themselves, each other, or a half dozen kittens, it’s on you. I’m writing this to warn you, not encourage you to create chaos.
What’s all the fuss about you ask? Well, Senator Mark Obenshain had the nerve to propose legislation which would do the following:
On and after January 1, 2018, each application to register shall provide a space for the applicant to state his political party affiliation or independent status. If the applicant does not state a political party affiliation, he shall be designated as independent in the registration records.
B. Each voter registered prior to January 1, 2018, shall be deemed to be an independent in the registration records unless the voter changes his designation to a political party affiliation pursuant to § 24.2-423.1. (lis)
If that sounds like Senator Obenshain is making a deal with the devil, then you are one of “those people”. Which is fine. We aren’t judging here. As it stands right now, you are whatever you are. If this bill passes, you will still be whatever you are, except that you will declare yourself.
All persons qualified to vote
,pursuant to §§ 24.2-400 through 24.2-403,and § 24.2-516.1 may vote at the primary. The primary shall be conducted, as specified pursuant to § 24.2-516.1, in accordance with the notice of the state chairman of the political party holding the primary. No person shall vote for the candidates of more than one party.
Oh….My….Gawd! This is exactly what we have now! What in the world will we do if all of our rights and privileges enjoyed today are enjoyed tomorrow? Everything stays the same, except you register by party or independent. Those who say that this will strengthen the two party system are suffering from paranoia. Read this bill. There is nothing in this legislation that disenfranchises people who intend to vote Libertarian, Communist, Green, Constitutionalist, or Socialist.
Before moving to Virginia, I lived in North Carolina. We had party registration and closed primaries. The result? A TEA Party groundswell threw out the Democrat legislature and established a Republican Government from one end to the other for the first time in over a hundred years. It was horrible…if you were a Democrat or establishment Republican.
I am friends with a handful of Virginians who have lived in North Carolina; and to a man, they are all baffled by the chaos and confusion surrounding our electoral process in the Commonwealth. These are conservative TEA Party folks, mind you. They don’t understand why you encourage Democrats to vote in Republican Primaries. It’s not that they think this is stupid….Sorry, yes it is. They think the way we do things is stupid.
Ron Hedlund amassed a great deal of power within the Republican Party of Virginia when he gave the grassroots the Brutus Treatment and ensured Primaries ad infinitum. Now that we have primaries, the debate rests upon the question of open vs. closed primaries. This legislation in no way solves that debate. Senator Obenshain seems keen on allowing “independents” (aka unhappy Democrats) to vote in Republican Primaries. So those of you wishing to preserve and protect the liberal Democrat wing of the Republican Party, who are concerned about Senator Obenshain’s bill, have no fear. We are still going to allow you to overthrow the will of Republicans in the electoral process. Your right to ruin our party the way you ruined the Democrat Party will be preserved. We’ve got your back.
All Party Registration does is allow us to encourage an honest electoral process, despite the fact that we will require absolutely no integrity in our primaries. It’s a beautiful step in the right direction. Senator Obenshain is not riding a pale horse. These are not the end times. There is nothing in this bill that contradicts conservative or Republican principles; unless you believe that honesty and integrity are antithetical to the Republican Party – in that case, yes, we’re out to get you. #SorryNotSorry
My advice, Don’t Panic and make sure to carry a towel. That is all.
70 comments
A good post on this subject, http://thejeffersoniad.com/blog/2016/12/29/party-registration-is-a-halfway-house-to-kill-conventions/ I agree, if we have party registration we can forget ever having conventions again.
As a supporter of conventions I have to ask, do states with party registration ever have conventions? If this passes in Virginia (highly unlikely) that will mean the end of conventions.
I think so — there are pluses and minuses for each kind of get-together.
Conventions are best to elect party officials and conduct party business, caucuses are best for localized party building, canvass’ are best to winnow fields of candidates.
I could see reason in us piggybacking upon regularly scheduled necessary and required primaries. I could even see a value in a primary as a run-off for a canvas or convention selected ‘top 2’
The way we are doing it now just ain’t working.
Hold onto your head, Steven, because it night explode to hear some Tea Party e.g. limited government folks favor primaries over conventions. Primaries are much more honest and allow for less rigging of the system & backroom deals than does occur at conventions.
Primaries also serve to grow the party because they’re welcoming, whereas conventions are elitist and exclusionary.
Enough with the boogieman of Democrat-crossover votes too, supposidly to “mess up” our results. There’s probably very little of that anyway.
These are my OPINIONS; and yet they’re just as valid as your OPINIONS, as are other commenters here.
I don’t know why so many conservatives maintain their love affairs with conventions: in many cases lately the more conservatives’ favorite has lost. Or if their guy(s) won the convention, he went on and got slaughtered in the general.
Bottom line & it’s a FACT – conventions constrict citizens’ participation in our party; primaries expand citizens’ participation.
I am an Assistant Chief Election Officer. I served in a very heavy (3:1) Dem precinct during the primaries. But, just as many voters voted in the Republican Primary as voted in the Dem Primary. I doubt very much that only Republicans came out to vote.
Primaries are more spontaneous in that they make it easier for new candidates and issues to get into the game and therefore they have the potential to attract new voters and “grow the party.” I view conventions as much more inside baseball and therefore less attractive to new voters and new issues.
‘Grow the party’ like how? Why do they need to do anything for the party because they are already selecting the nominee? ‘Free milk and a cow’ time here.
I want Republicans to attend Republican processes to nomninate Republican candidates — I want skin in the game, I want some degree of political wisdom before they break something running someone for office.
“Grow the party” like win elections. The new participants don’t have to attend meetings and pay dues to identify as Republicans and carry an election. Further, the “political wisdom” demonstrated by “skin in the game” Republicans often does not last more than a couple of days past the election. I have seen too many self-identified conservative Republicans turn into Jerry Brown wanabees after an election.
Winning elections doesn’t grow the party, heck, some simple folk think our congressional election was a mandate and shows her more popular than Trump!!
Trump won despite the GOP In VA. For the most part, outsiders and we weirdoes that supported him in the primaries were the All-in Trump people. And Corey, even after he got fired and the gloves came off!
Strong party or Powerful incumbents — can’t have both. We the party are the check on the absolutely corruptible politicos.
Why is a primary the time to open the floodgates to our party?? Why is the only time we want to build our party is in a primary? Why isn’t our party being built before a primary? Why aren’t our unit chairs and district chairs doing their job to build our party before a primary? Why aren’t our party leaders leading with integrity (Whitbeck) that show the independent voter why they would want to become a Republican?
I could go on but you get the point. People like Whitbeck have been the demise of not only our party but our Republic. He promises everything, delivers nothing, and capitulates to all. We are left crippled and weak. So the best SBT can come up with is to settle for primary’s. That’s pathetic and shows no backbone for the fight of restoring our Republic.
I’m happy with Whitbeck if he keeps the inmates from escaping the asylum.
Since everyone hates him, we know he’s not in the tank for any particular faction.
I worry more about that young Lee Atwater Findlay fellow. He’s why the RPV has to pay for a food taster for John.
1). That’s hilarious! But the inmates are controlling the asylum.
2). Hates a strong word. I can’t stand a liar, that’s Whitbeck. The only faction Whitbeck has ever been for is his own. It’s never been about the people he should be serving.
3). Findley is nothing more than a single cell amoeba that’s just bumbing around looking for a purpose. He doesn’t move unless Whitbeck puts a boot in his butt. He couldn’t find his plausible thumbs.
4). Whitbeck needs a food taster for his own misdeeds.
And I went there again.
First of all, I really have way too much fun on TBE, no doubt I’ll be Breitbarted by my fellow commenters one year at the Homestead Advance.
1) we call them the SCC and they are the ruling politburo of the RPV — always fun to see them meet and do nothing.
2) He’s a lawyer as well, deserves hating. He’s never broken his word to me or mine, but he does weasel about as I expect Chairmen to do and be. But I do think that he pisses off people equally, so he’s balanced at least.
3) Yeah that’s what he wants you to think, and then… whammo!!
I’ve seen his up close and personal, I’d rather go up against Randy Minchew in court than be on the wrong side of Findlay. Do not be fooled by this political Matlock!
Notice how Whitbeck/Findlay never sits with their backs to the door, Aces & 8’s!
1). Still hilarious.
2). Weasel fits to a tee.
3). His whammo… It’s a bit slow. Something is seriously wrong with this guy.
4). That’s hilarious too
As always, it’s been fun with you on TBE. I’m sure The Big Bull-n-Chief will keep you around. I can’t do all this by myself.
1) At some point, somebody in that August body will wake up, look around and say ‘I give up, just what the hell are we doing here?’
2) Cagey and savage, impossible to pin down.
3) Yeah, you never see it coming and you gotta admire his network, he knows stuff before my inner circle agrees on it. I once saw what he brought to the table more than did the job, then he let me see the elephant gun he had in reserve — I’m not foolish enough to do anything but get out of his way and avoid the boot to the head.
4) The two of then together is like Spock playing 3D Chess — the wall probably moved to their backs for protection.
The first two questions in your comment are answered by the rest of your comment. Virginia Republicans tend to be hidebound with rules and procedures along with a “eat your young” mentality. A few years ago, I would have been more supportive of the convention process but after watching it in action in Virginia, it seems to favor machine politics and incumbents more than new thinking.
A convention is the best way to challenge incumbents. They won’t be able to out fund them with sound bits and misleading ads.
I don’t want expanded citizen participation in selecting our nominee — I want us to put up nominees that can get elected and re-elected.
We have one job…. to put forward qualified electable nominees that are superior to the Dems.
Why is abdicating our responsibility for this acceptable or a good thing?
It’s none of employers, potential employers, politicians, or the media, (all crooks) business which party someone chooses to vote for. The same air head bunch that wants to convene a COS is also in bed with this idea. The same air heads who created the Trump, and then there are the other air heads who created Hillary.
Trump, in Florida partying now with the Don King, steps out every now and then, to lay claim to having created thousands of jobs.
Just like his campaign nothing but lies.
Lighten up, your bitter vibes are harshing my political mellow.
Being originally from NY, I could not stomach the thought of Democrats crossing over to vote in the Republican primary, without even a little hill to climb, switching parties. Seeing how most Democrats in NY are arrogant and lazy, the little hill to climb proved sufficient. The closed party system suited me fine in NY; the same in VA will suit me as well.
The less pollution, the better.
Why don’t you try something more constructive by repealing the incumbent’s ability to choose between a primary or convention. That should be the party members decision. Then maybe work on party registration enshrined in the constitution instead of passing some sleazy law.
Exactly. All this does is help consultants. The government has no business in pur nomination process at all. It’s not public business what political party we choose to associate with. Repeal the Incumbent Protection Act if you want to actually make a dent.
No politician will vote to repeal the Incumbent Protection Act. It’s against their best interests. But it would be great if they did!
They would if the units told them they’d get bounced if the didn’t… but that would require engaged, committed Republicans and not the mutual admiration societies waving flags on overpasses.
Ooh, that would be a better first step!! But I like something like this sleazy law or better as a first step.
As a “TEA Party folk”, I’m not quite in on this. And NO I won’t combust over it. Thanks for the added drama, I couldn’t have done better myself.
SBT, I’m a convention kinda gal. Although I support my friend Ron and actually believe THIS primary will help the two candidates I’m supporting, I would’ve still voted for a convention. That is the BEST way to pick the Republican candidate. Sometimes it works in my candidates favor, sometimes not. Doesn’t change my opinion of conventions.
Whether your primary is open or closed is never going to be the way our party should pick its candidate. Please relay that to Albertson and Cuccinelli, as I’m sure they’re still pushing this quietly behind the scenes. And yes I know Obenshain and Cuccinelli have discussed this at lengths. Regardless of how anyone will admit that.
All the same, your jib jabs at the TEA Party are duly noted. I’ll let everyone know to take a xanax before reading this. I’ll try and keep them off the clif.
You are wrong. Steve Albertson has NEVER pushed for a primary, EVER. He’s a pro convention guy ALL THE TIME, always has been. Please stop spreading falsehoods.
I have no idea what Cuccinelli and Obenshain have discussed and I suspect you don’t either.
“Please stop spreading falsehoods.” Ha! Ha! Ha! Your commitment to veracity on this blog has a special personal meaning to me. I think I’m going to vomit.
Clearly you don’t have the spirit of TBE this season.
Albertson does not stop the Cuccinelli agenda no matter how many ally’s are sacrificed in the process. I want to know who pressed for this article to be written?? My money, Albertson was asked first then he passed it to SBT. Can’t wait to hear the truth.
Many delegates were lost in obtaining the plans to the death star.
That is timely, appropriate and now a classic. Putting that one at the top of my file.
Steve Albertson has not pushed for a primary, but the SCC has given us one. I blame each and every SCC member for $80,000+ waste of taxpayer dollars for our primary.
We all know what Cuccinelli and Obenshain have discussed… Oysters!
I wonder who would have won a convention had they chosen one….hmmm?
Personally, I prefer a convention instead of a primary to make sure that Republicans vote for Republicans. Too bad that the SCC doesn’t agree.
This proposal is much better than what we have now but is not a panacea. When I lived in CA, I’d temporarily change parties to vote strategically. When I campaigned for Ron Paul, I’d carry a lot of Voter Reg forms with me to make sure that the voter who agreed to vote for him was registered Republican. Many were independent, Libertarian, or belonged to the Independent Party, thinking it meant independent voter. I always said: If you don’t like the Republican Party, take two and change back after the election. So, expect Dem activists to become temporary Republicans.
That’s certainly a possibility and an excellent point, however, it’s a small thing. Nothing is perfect. Registration isn’t prefect, but it’s better than what we have. Conventions are great, but Ron Hedlund ensured we won’t have them for a while.
Yes, being controlled by others, Ron Hedlund went back on his word to those who supported him and voted for a primary. Now we’re stuck with them for a very long time.
That’s a tough call, a corrupt convention or an expensive primary.
50% plus one gave us primaries, each of those bozos were the plus one.
If that was the best they could do, they should all resign in shame.
That is SO funny! I’m hoping none of my Republican friends spontaneously combust before the end of the legislative session!
Are you saying that all the Tea Party folks in NC registered as Republican as opposed to Independent, or that they had always registered as Republican but worked to put forward more conservative Republican candidates?
I’m just saying that we cared about progress. I know that isn’t vogue in VA.
That was an actual question. Which was it!
Yes, we all registered Republican and went to work.
yep,yep, yep and the Democrat voters who are putting back in every other year the squishy Republican delegates in Virginia who should be gone won’t be able to do it anymore. The result will be MORE conservative candidates in office who adhere to our principles. excellent article Steven!
So, are you now saying that it is the Democrats who are the ones responsible for keeping the Virginia delegates and senators who voted for HB 2313 in office? HB 2313, being the Republican bread largest tax increase in Virginia history.
Or, are you saying that conservatives voted for HB 2313?
Other than tax raising and anti-abortion Republicans, and pro-gay rights Democrats, it doesn’t make 2 cents difference at the end of the day which party we vote for in Virginia.
A conservative sighting in downtown Richmond in January or February, is now rarer than a UFO sighting.
Excellent point! Could’ve said it better. If ya can’t tell the difference between the Ds and the Rs, “What difference does it make.” Obenshain has ruined his fathers legacy and this bill makes me even more right about Cynthia Dunbar becoming the Committeewoman for our party.
Ok
1) if you can’t tell the difference between D’s and R’s, that’s our fault, and the worst R is better than the best D, if only for electorate training and practice.
2) This bill is a step in the right direction to identify and clarify “You might be a Republican if…”
3) Pops O would be proud
4) There is a reason they are the RPV power couple and either one stands on their own.
5) I know what Suzanne did for Trump in the general, the Texas Carpetbagger, notsomuch.
(Oh yeah, R went there!)
Here we go…
1). If we can’t tell the Ds from the Rs it’s not our fault. It’s the legislation that Rs push that’s no different than the Ds.
2). That’s funny.
3). I know my dad is. But not of this.
4). I could give you a much longer list of what Cynthia has done not just for Trump for the integrity of our party.
5). If that’s the litmus test then not too many would be elected in VA as a Republican. I’m voting for those that won’t cave and stick to their word. Suzanne had a dear friend back her in the 2nd and refused to do the same for them. That’s pretty low.
And this R can go there too. But I still like you regardless if we disagree on this.
1) Legislation has to be compromise, but I don’t want it negotiated by surrender monkeys. I want our Rs to understand why we fight and act accordingly.
2) Most of our electeds cannot articulate why or how they are Republicans.
3) Mark has done way more than most about party integrity– his bona fides are Jake with me.
4) Cynthia needs to do better press, all I’ve seen of her saying and doing has been Texas’ 3rd committeeman. That convention was an abortion and all were tainted. This Faux Convention is exhibit A of how Ron was ahedlund of his time and vote.
5) Yep, your word is the only coin that matters in politics, without it, you are politically bankrupt.
I’m still with you at least 80% — come join with me in Suz for Szenator in 2018!
“Surrender Monkey’s” , ya killn me smalls. I gotta file that one too.
Couldn’t pass the party loyalty pledge. This shouldn’t pass either. Look at section IV of the bill. It is designed to suppress any upstarts or grassroots outside of the two parties as it allows the state to determine what is legitimate (by the state, I mean the two existing party leaders).
(iv) allows an official political party to retain that status as long as at least 15 percent of the Commonwealth’s registered voters are registered as affiliated with that party. The provisions of the bill are applicable to primaries conducted after January 1, 2018.
Ken, you can keep supporting Democrats from here till the end of eternity, but I don’t think that will help, us—– or anyone else.
Just because I don’t support the republican ploy to silence any competition that might spring up to challenge it does not make me a democrat supporter. It does make me a proponent of freedom.
I am not looking to help the republican party. I prefer a free market of ideas rather than protectionism. Legislation like this has protecting the party as it’s primary aim.
It’s protecting our two-party system. I’m good with that.
Yes, that’s the bonus.
We need more ideas than democrat and democrat lite. This bill insulates the two major parties from the marketplace of new ideas. What you see as a selling point is budding fascism at its worst.
A faction in both parties have figured out how to game the system and screw the taxpayers. What allows us or facilitates us to be DEM light? The fact we have so many conservatives that sit it out, or join the faction of free stuff.
Here’s a new idea, quit screwing a
The RPV and GOP have outlived their usefulness. They each have figured out how to use the might power and force of government to silence speech. The powers that be have made it quite clear, the republicans want to run on social engineering, they want their turn with the purse, pen and phone.
So, no, it is time to allow the republican party to die, not to try to resurrect it. A 3rd party will emerge to replace it. The party elites fear this and are acting to squash that effort.
Our RPV? You’ve been to one of our shindigs??
Allow the GOP to die and a 3rd party to emerge? Like the libertarians or greens?
And our party elites? (Like Findlay, Shak, and Albertson?)
They fear the rise of of the new party so they seek to squash it??
Truly dizzying.
yes, enjoy your cool aid
I’ll trade you, clearly you have stronger stuff.
On what planet is either party going to allow a third party? Libertarians, constitutionists, et al can’t do anything on their own, so they infest the GOP from time to time doing the damage that other internal parasites refuse to do — internecine warfare, screwing up processes, gaming for unelectable candidates, etc.this is what makes them RINOs on the right.
The units that succeed are those able to control their kooks and the RINOs both on the left and right.
You’ve just touched on the whole point of the legislation. Obstruct free speech and freedom of assembly from anyone who might erode votes or ideas from the two major parties. As in – violate the Constitution.
At this point no 3rd party can do anything on it’s own. Had legislation like this existed at the time, would there be a republican party or would you be a Whig?
No, the lesser parties can still have their card tables ourside of the libraries railing on about Nazi Bases on Mars.
3rd parties can and will always be spoilers and serve as bad examples. I just see no need to embrace such behavior into our GOP.
As political parties are a necessary evil, I’d imagine we’d be the WPV fighting about primaries — same ‘ol same ‘ol.
Even more evidence that the republican party isn’t an open tent… but a dungeon.
Big tent was a RINO ploy to water down conservative influence.
Yep, a foul nasty dungeon, best to stay away — ooooh, now that’s scary!!
Nice try. The arrogant republican party loyalists don’t want constitutionalists or conservatives involved. People like us get firmly in the way of the goals of the “party”.
I can’t be arrogant, I’m a populist!
I don’t indulge Constitutionalist Conservatives because it only encourages their delusion of political relevance. Best that they keep to themselves, their Renaissance Convention of Festivals and buffet symposia.
They will have equivalent electoral success as the existing libertarian and constitution party, how many elected officials is that in Virginia?
I will be waiting with my teetering hollow GOP party to hand over the reins of political power to the totally awesome constitutional conservatives who have driven the Republican Party away. If only they hadn’t seen through our party registration trick!
Once again you are a poet and don’t know it. 😇
Oh, and before I forget.. “budding fascism”???
Yes, When a political party uses the might power and force of government to silence voices of opposition in the marketplace of ideas, that is fascism. Particularly if that party should ever take power. Section IV of this bill does precisely that.