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Missourians have an opinion about who should be the Republican candidate to run against Barack Obama in November. Too bad it won’t matter.
Tuesday’s presidential primary election will go down as one of the most irrelevant elections in state history — except for the $8 million price tag.
The results will be nonbinding and, therefore, meaningless — mainly because Missouri’s choice for the election will be made in March by caucuses of party insiders from around the state.
Politicians have commiserated that all the money we’ve saved from a light winter and associated snow removal will go right back into an $8 million election that doesn’t count. On top of that, winter isn’t finished. We still may have to salt the roads, so we wish everyone would stop teasing Mother Nature or Old Man Winter — whoever is responsible.
Seriously, the biggest tragedy is that this situation could have been avoided.
Last year, a bill was submitted to move Missouri’s primary elections to March to conform with national party rules. The bill passed through the General Assembly, but with amendments that removed write-in candidates for city elections and other provisions.
Gov. Jay Nixon was left with no choice but to veto a bill that was otherwise just fine. Though the House was able to pass it without amendments last year, the Senate could not.
Here’s the thing: We still believe that a primary is the best way for Missourians to make their voices heard — especially with Missouri’s system of voting for a political party without declaring an affiliation to one.
Remember that voters can choose to vote Republican or Democrat in a primary. While some argue it’s a system for gamesmanship, it allows people to truly make up their minds based on current issues and events.
The only reason this particular election is irrelevant is because of some badly placed amendments at the wrong time. We’re disappointed that, during what many would argue is one of the most critical presidential elections we’ll have, the voices of Missourians won’t count for much in an election.
Opinion
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Our View: Meaningless in Missouri
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