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Public Opinion: Do Political Parties Still Need National Conventions?

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buy databases of 1:53PM January 11, 2010

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Bloodyline of 2:50AM December 12, 2009

I think it's about time we taxed the churches for their giving support and money for political issues.I would never go back to a church where the pastor is advising me how to vote. Cy

chiyo Yakushi of CA 9:28PM November 11, 2008

What this country really needs is to have NO more parties at all. No demorcrats no republicans just people running for the presidency, These party lines are the most stupid thing our country ever did. So many people out ther are still like a herd of sheep. "I am a Republican and I will only vote Republican, same with Demorcrats. Unfortunatly with so many people who can't or wont use thier own brain to make a decision just vote thier party, right or wrong and then we have to listen to them complain about it for the next 4 years. I have republican friends who have complained about Bush for the whole 8 years. I ask, "did you vote for him last time?" and thier reply was YES I had to vote republican!!!! WHY? (and thanks for nothing!!)
I wish we could all just vote for the person we think could do best, forget about all the republican/demorcrat hoopla. If we didn't have parties then nominees would have to run on thier views and policies. What a concept!
So you old staunch Republicans and Demorcrats, you really can vote for whomever you REALLY want while you are in the booth, tell your friends what they want to hear if thats what it takes to shut them up and then if your canditate looses at least you know you gave it your best shot.
And for those of you who do not vote for anyone,SHUT UP about the one who wins, you really have no right to complain if you do not vote. Those if us who take the time out of our day to vote have a right to complain if our candidate looses and the US goes down the crapper!!

AW of SC 3:26PM September 20, 2008

National conventions are not only a waste of time and money, but also are very misleading. They are misleading because if you only watch one of the conventions, then you will be lead to think that this particular party is the one that you should vote for.
All that the conventions do is repeat who the nominee is and retell everything that we already know about the candidate. Just like it said in the article, the only way for conventions to be useful would be for them to tell us something that we don't already know.
Maybe instead of spending money on conventions that serve no purpose, the candidates should spend their money on solving world problems that will actually affect our lives.

Elliot W of IL 5:31PM September 10, 2008

Political conventions are a waste of time and money. If parties were there to pick a candidate, that would be a different story.
Another thing, we have heard the same old speeches for the last year and one half, we did not and do not need to see money being spent that could be put to a much better use.
IT IS JUST A BIG EXPENSIVE PARTY!

L. Abromovich of IL 1:31PM August 31, 2008

In our Progressiveness, we have lost something essential. Progressivism is not always a good thing. In this case it’s highlighted by the purpose of Conventions. The importance of the Conventions is lost today. The people pick the Candidates while the delegates are supposed to pick the Nominee and also the VP. The conventions now are a non issue and a waste of time because the media and the delegates have already picked the nominee. And the behind the scenes pick of VP makes the Democratic Process more not so Democratic. We are not a Developing Democracy we are an old one. There is no excuse to by pass a legitimate process that was put in for a reason. Regardless of public turn out. Today’s electoral college is not in favor of the people, it's in favor of the Parties. I would be in favor of reconstituting the old system or getting rid of it all together. While daily people struggle in a good economy or bad economy it is ridiculous that when it comes down to it we foot the bill when we have little say in the process. What people don't know doesn't hurt them is the motto of today's progressive government.
I enjoyed the Libertarian Convention although it was and is hopeless that they would ever get the attention needed for the election. It was heartening to see that although those in the majority or the followers eschew tradition and right, that right and equality did exist in our government and it‘s not lost in the history books.

Sarah Atiyeh of TX 9:51AM August 29, 2008

Nominating conventions have become a sop for the losers, has beens and wannabes. Everyone knows who is going to be the nominee and what he/she believes. The platform has already been constructed and there is little reason to attend or watch. All the "egos" have an opportunity for free face time to glean one more "15 minutes of fame" episode. I say give the wasted money as a bonus to all the military men and women who defend the right of the empty suits to preen before the cameras.

William P. O'Brien of CA 9:01AM August 29, 2008

I feel that the two political parties are waisting MY Money on these conventions. Would you pay to go to a ballgame if you knew the final score,I bet you would not.I think it is for the politicans and the money hacks. We all knew the final outcome before it started. I say NO the this kind of political conventions

Thomas Graham of FL 9:48AM August 28, 2008

NOT NECESSARY! The millions of dollars taxpayers spend on this one activity is completely wasteful spending on the part of our politicians.
The only result is listening to endless speeches that we will get to listen to during the course of the campaign. It the politicians still want the national conventions - let them pay for it out of their own pockets, not the taxpayers...

Gail Wheaton of TX 5:47PM August 27, 2008