Fresh Tracks Weekly - Vote In Your Primary Election

[Big Fin]

We always claim that our elections are a choice between the lesser of two evils. That surely can be, yet when only 20% of Americans vote in primaries the most rabid candidates have an advantage due to the hyper-partisan party loyalists voting in very high proportions compared to the rest of the electorate.

Thus, we end up with the fringe elements. Seeing the effectiveness of this tactic, billionaire- funded PACs are coming into small states and flooding money to crazy firing operators in hopes of defeating any more reasonable incumbent.

This primary season has 16 Montana Republicans wing targeted by big money from out of state billionaires. These PACs have picked some crazy people to support, but they are spending like crazy. @Eric Albus is one of their targets.

Americans For Prosperity-Montana is one of the big finders of these groups. They are supporting people and promoting how Mike Lee from Utah has endorsed them. That’s is an example of the fringe elements they are promoting.

Please, vote in your primary. Reject the out-of-state PACs spending heavily to insert their puppets, none of whom are good on our issues.

Randy wants YOU to VOTE in your Primary Elections | Fresh Tracks Weekly PSA

 

[KingOfTagSoup]

Some very important races going on that could have huge implications for many issues, including conservation. Coloradans, you will be getting a new governor this year. Make no mistake, the outgoing guy was a problem, but be cautious and discerning with the next one. I cannot emphasize enough, every single candidate needs to be pressed hard on where they stand on the construction of data centers. Our friends in Utah are finding this out the hard way as I'm hearing plans were approved for the construction of a data center that is somewhere in the ballpark of 60 square miles in size? We can't even imagine what such a thing will do to the habitat and wildlife. Again, press every candidate on this issue.

 

[Big Fin]

Here’s an example of the types AFP and others are supporting.

 

[quarterhorse]

I wish more people would inform themselves and vote in the primary. Idaho just held the primary - voter turnout was average/poor. In Idaho the R winner in the primary wins the general election by a landslide. The general election here is basically a rubber stamp.

If you want a better candidate the primary is the place to try and make that happen.

 

[belshawelk]

Some very important races going on that could have huge implications for many issues, including conservation. Coloradans, you will be getting a new governor this year. Make no mistake, the outgoing guy was a problem, but be cautious and discerning with the next one. I cannot emphasize enough, every single candidate needs to be pressed hard on where they stand on the construction of data centers. Our friends in Utah are finding this out the hard way as I'm hearing plans were approved for the construction of a data center that is somewhere in the ballpark of 60 square miles in size? We can't even imagine what such a thing will do to the habitat and wildlife. Again, press every candidate on this issue.

Agreed. Whether you or on the right side or left we have to quit voting for those who make us feel good. Has to have sustenance. Oregon will finally have ( most likely) the first republican governor in 42 years. Tina the current governor has been a total disaster, much like Polis in Colorado. She promised more new housing , never claimed how, now new housing has dropped by 50%. Promised to end homelessness, which has increased. Now they want to tax the rich 2% on net wealth ( not gross earnings) including retirement accounts. Let alone in favor of ending hunting. Look at Seattle, completely useless incompetent mayor. For some reason both these candidates made people feel good. Crazies always stick together. I thought they were both nutjobs. Feeling will always be replaced with facts.

While ( no surprise to anyone here) am a staunch fiscal conservative, lots of candidates on the right are bad choices also. While I can never bring myself to vote for a liberal, there are lots of choices in both parties if we were to press harder for facts.

 

[jimh406]

Voting for/against based on endorsements is usually a bad idea. I don't think it matters if you like the person doing the endorsement or not.

AFAIK, all of the well known candidates have donations/funding coming from out of state. That's the way politics works. Sure, you can pretend it doesn't and vote for someone who will lose.

But, I agree vote in the primary if you do your research.

 

[SAJ-99]

Feeling will always be replaced with facts.

I disagree. They tell you things you want to hear. It doesn't matter the facts of how impractical they may be.

Gov. Tina Kotek has spoken against the initiative, describing it as "the wrong direction" for the state.

“I don’t support IP 28 because I believe criminalizing standard agricultural practices and lawful activities like hunting and fishing would be the wrong direction for Oregon," Kotek said in a statement. "As your Governor, I will continue to champion strong animal welfare protections while respecting the long-standing traditions and livelihoods of farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and hunters across our state.”

 

[belshawelk]

I disagree. They tell you things you want to hear. It doesn't matter the facts of how impractical they may be.

Gov. Tina Kotek has spoken against the initiative, describing it as "the wrong direction" for the state.

“I don’t support IP 28 because I believe criminalizing standard agricultural practices and lawful activities like hunting and fishing would be the wrong direction for Oregon," Kotek said in a statement. "As your Governor, I will continue to champion strong animal welfare protections while respecting the long-standing traditions and livelihoods of farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and hunters across our state.”

Well first it wont pass because the Ag industry is too big. If it did I will bet you she will sign, regardless of what she says. Again stating what people want to hear. Proof is when they actually do something. Not trying to banter but we will disagree on whats we feel is right and wrong so I'll stay out of this one. I think differences in opinions are important and whats make the country so great.

 

[Nameless Range]

I'm definitely seeing a very focused and concerted effort this year to primary out any R legislators who think independently at a level never seen before.

What does it say about a person when, as desired by the party bosses and the financial machines they serve, they literally vote in lockstep with their party 100% of the time? What is more likely - that after considering all the pros and cons of an issue and its affect on their constituents they come to the same conclusion every time, or that they have forfeited their own thoughts for the party's directive? I think if one really thinks on that, the answer is obvious, and though it isn't often framed this way, I can think of very few forms of greater domestication. Of fealty and subservience. Their minds are for sale.

AFP and the like are not our friends, and in this cycle produce outright lies about Montana Candidates daily.

 

[SAJ-99]

People should note the type of primary used in the state they live in. They could always vote for the least electable person from the other party...

 

[Rack Daniels]

I wanted to leave this somewhere and this seems appropriate more now… Can anyone pull up Daines signature on anything he says he will/has adamantly reject(ed)?

 

[SAJ-99]

I wanted to leave this somewhere and this seems appropriate more now… Can anyone pull up Daines signature on anything he says he will/has adamantly reject(ed)View attachment 409303?

I know he voted against numerous funding bills for LWCF in his first term. He must have changed his mind on that. And of course the GAOA hasn’t been properly administered since it came into law and I have never heard him say anything about that but obviously wants credit for its existence.

 

[jimh406]

Daines isn't running for reelection.

 

[Robg2]

People should note the type of primary used in the state they live in. They could always vote for the least electable person from the other party...


View attachment 409297

MT's primary isn't truly open. We get to choose from three ballots based on party: R, D, or L. We can pick any ballot we want for any particular primary, but we can't vote more than one ballot. In practice, it's not much different than a closed primary.

There was a ballot initiative last election to really open up the primaries, but it failed.

People that cross to vote for the weakest primary candidate are sh*tbags, but if I lived in a county where one of the AFP targets lived, for example Eric Albus, I would vote the R ballot just for him since the primary is the only real election for those races, and the MT state legislative races are about the only thing that can be won by the people these days.

 

[elkduds]

People should note the type of primary used in the state they live in. They could always vote for the least electable person from the other party...


View attachment 409297

 

[bayoublaster7527]

I disagree. They tell you things you want to hear. It doesn't matter the facts of how impractical they may be.

Gov. Tina Kotek has spoken against the initiative, describing it as "the wrong direction" for the state.

“I don’t support IP 28 because I believe criminalizing standard agricultural practices and lawful activities like hunting and fishing would be the wrong direction for Oregon," Kotek said in a statement. "As your Governor, I will continue to champion strong animal welfare protections while respecting the long-standing traditions and livelihoods of farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and hunters across our state.”

While I am glad to hear she opposes it, I suspect that is more due to her read on the likelihood of IP 28 passing than any principled respect for hunters and anglers. A good example of “both sides-ing” this issue.

 

[Nicoli7153]

I wish more people would inform themselves and vote in the primary. Idaho just held the primary - voter turnout was average/poor. In Idaho the R winner in the primary wins the general election by a landslide. The general election here is basically a rubber stamp.

If you want a better candidate the primary is the place to try and make that happen.

Can you vote in a primary if you aren't registered to a particular party?

 

[Hunting Wife]

People should note the type of primary used in the state they live in. They could always vote for the least electable person from the other party...

I think some people do this, but ultimately what is the outcome? The end result is exactly what the dark money operators are asking for- getting the wackos on the ballot in the general. It’s a losing strategy.

I really wish we would go to ranked choice voting. I’d rather be able to put down alternates that I can live with if my favorite doesn’t appeal to enough others to actually win. I certainly think it would smooth out the fringes.

 

[SAJ-99]

I think some people do this, but ultimately what is the outcome? The end result is exactly what the dark money operators are asking for- getting the wackos on the ballot in the general. It’s a losing strategy.

I really wish we would go to ranked choice voting. I’d rather be able to put down alternates that I can live with if my favorite doesn’t appeal to enough others to actually win. I certainly think it would smooth out the fringes.

It was a tongue-in-cheek post pointing out that it is the voters who put the crazies on the ballot. Just look at Congress. I don’t think people switch that much but the conspiracy always comes up. See post 17 question. There are a lot of different systems out there and people should know what they are for their state. The reality is not many people vote in primaries. I’m not sure ranked choice would solve the problem of the crazies because I think a large percentage of voters are equally crazy and not interested in hearing about problems or solutions.

 

[antlerradar]

People should note the type of primary used in the state they live in. They could always vote for the least electable person from the other party...


View attachment 409297

That didn't work out so well in 2016