So if we had wide open primaries and Trump ran as a Dem?

[MattP]

We would be fucked right, and without super delegates even more so. I mean we might pull it out but it than again.

[geek tragedy]

1. Closed primaries are necessary nt

[eastwestdem]

7. Doesn't make sense for any type of group to let their leaders be chosen by the general population.

People who have a dedicated interest in the betterment of their cause should be the only ones to have a say in who manages that cause.

[caquillo]

2. I don't think Trump would've gotten very far in the Democratic Primaries

At least not the way he's conducted himself on the right (remember, the DNC has a monopoly on the black, Latino, gay, female vote), which is why he probably ran for the GOP ticket, despite having once been a registered Democrat himself and donating to Democratic candidates in the past, including Hillary.

[MattP]

3. If we allowed republicans and indys to vote in our primaries?

You think that couldn't cause some serious harm, I think it would be horrible

[lunamagica]

4. Democrats get to pick the Democratic candidate. It's that simple

[TwilightZone]

5. Nah, most GOP voters would have voted in the GOP primaries.

The nominee would still have been chosen mostly by Dems and Independents, as it was in Hillary's case.

Fully open primaries could become a serious issue in a close race on the Dem side where there was little or no competition in the GOP race, like an incumbent president running for reelection unopposed. This time, Trump wouldn't have gotten very far.

[Thinkingabout]

8. There was lots of chatter in the Michigan open primary many republicans switched over and voted

For Sanders to try and prevent Hillary getting the DNC nomination.

[TwilightZone]

9. I have no doubt that it happens; I just wish we had real numbers to know to what extent.

The GOP had record turnout in MI, so it wouldn't seem that crossover was significant, but there's really no way to tell.

For the record, I'm 100% for closed primaries and getting rid of caucuses, but I think unless circumstances are very unusual, Dems will usually drown out the noise and be the ones choosing the nominee. They managed to overcome a significant influx of Independents and temporary Democrats this time to nominate Hillary pretty handily.

[Thinkingabout]

10. Since party selections can be changed those complaining about not having the opportunity to

Vote in the primaries can look to themselves as the reason they are unable to participate. I knew when Hillary announced she was running in the DNC Primary I knew I was registered as a Democrat. It was not a secret who was announcing and what primary they were announcing. The announcements began in April and May, the primaries began in February.

[TwilightZone]

12. Agreed. The argument is self-serving. But, I'm an independent. I shouldn't *have* to do

anything! Let me do whatever I want - who needs rules?

The best part is when they say that Sanders is bringing a lot of new Democrats into the process, but then they say they're either already independents or they're switching back to I right after the primaries. Uh, it can't be both!

[yallerdawg]

6. We almost got royally screwed with the DINO we did get!

If we had nominated a self-described 'socialist' we'd be talking about landslides in a completely opposite direction!

[Thinkingabout]

11. Yes