Before the 2012 election, some serious changes need to be made to this process.

[Skidmore]

Yes or no?

I want a shorter primary season. We have literally been subjected to an unending campaign season since the last election. I think it is unhealthy for governance if everyone is always campaigning and not doing their jobs for a while. Debates are ridiculous and media coverage is worse. We could use more fairness in providing forums for debate and we need perhaps a national debate show broadcast everywhere on a regular schedule. Front loading is highly undesirable and there's too much money required. I think we need some serious change and reform to the process.

[LiberalFighter]

1. If by shorter you mean doesn't start in December, January or February

I agree!

If you mean having it all completed in 1 month or less. I don't agree!

Splitting up the country into 6 or 8 regions with each of the states in those regions holding their primaries at the same time. Each region would rotate the order they conduct their primaries. It could all be accomplish from the beginning of April to the end of May.

Maybe allow states that usually have their regular primaries during that period to opt out of the rotation as long as they don't change their regular date. Some may not realize that when a state changes their primary it is only a primary election for Presidential candidates. They still conduct their regular primary for the other offices on the regular date. That is an additional expense to conduct 2 primaries.

[SoxFan]

2. Superdelegates

The "superdelegates" have to go. It disgusts me when the media reports that Hillary has "won x amount of delegates, but includes in the tally those members of Congress and the DNC who have automatic votes.

The "superdelegate" system is undemocratic and needs to be scaled back, if not eliminated alltogether.

[Skidmore]

6. I would prefer for them to be eliminated, and it is highly undemocratic.

[peace13]

3. After the 2004 election we said the same thing.

It has taken this long to get them to say that there are problems with the machines. I agree that the primaries are much too long, before we get to March we will have eaten our own. I doubt that we will see any changes unfortunately. Peace, Kim

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

4. Can you have it both ways?

It seems to me that a shorter primary season would require that the money be "front loaded", that the candidates be fully funded before the lesser-known candidates have a chance to get known.

I like having smaller states up front, with a slow primary process, so "unknowns" like Kucinich, Gravel, etc, can get some exposure before the big states vote. Once the big states vote, the winner may be anointed and all further debate made moot.

I wonder if WJC would have stood a chance in a short primary season?

[all.of.me]

5. I would like to see...

...regular people asking questions at the debates. As it is, questions are biased, loaded, and aimed at particular candidates. Real concerns are not addressed. I'd like the questioners to be able to ask candidates to clarify what they just said, because, frequently, they don't even answer the question! They just say the same thing over and over, like a memorized script. I want real, heart-felt answers.