The Primary Problem

I live in Texas, the second largest state in both area and population (first in common sense), and my vote had zero influence on the Republican presidential nomination.  By the time the Texas presidential primary was held on March 4^th, I had been effectively disenfranchised.  Iowa (30^th in population), New Hampshire (41^st), Michigan (8^th), Nevada (36^th), South Carolina (24^th), and Hawaii (42^nd) combined are smaller than Texas, but the horse race promoted by the news media had already eliminated many of the best candidates. 

 

This primary system is an abomination.  It makes the process way too long because these silly little states keep moving their primaries/caucuses/abortions forward so they can be “first”, and the hell with my vote.  Good God, what a stupid way to do things!  Did you notice that, of the states listed above, only South Carolina went to McCain?

 

Obviously the GOP can’t control when the various states hold their primaries.  They could, however, make one simple ironclad rule:

 

Results of any primary or caucus held before March of the election year WILL NOT BE COUNTED AT THE CONVENTION!

 

In fact, all states should be strongly encouraged to hold the Republican primary on the same day.  Let all Republicans participate in narrowing the field down...not just the states that probably won’t vote for our nominee anyway.