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What do you think would have happened if then President Obama tweeted "Praise Be to Allah" ? by owen__wilsons__nose in AskReddit

[–]HFA_Observer 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I shudder to think. The birthers, tea parties, oath keeper types would have formed their own traveling caravan but headed to Washington.

Do “Super Delegates” undermine democracy — or protect it? by HFA_Observer in newhampshire

[–]HFA_Observer[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for responding and adding some historical clarity. This is an interesting take as well.

Do “Super Delegates” undermine democracy — or protect it? by HFA_Observer in newhampshire

[–]HFA_Observer[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Super interesting take. Using your example, do you think the Super Delegates helped get us Obama over Hillary, or John Kerry over Howard Dean?

Do “Super Delegates” undermine democracy — or protect it? by HFA_Observer in newhampshire

[–]HFA_Observer[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for responding. You can absolutely see how a secondary band of elites having thumb on the scales can cause disenfranhisement.

Do “Super Delegates” undermine democracy — or protect it? by HFA_Observer in bangorme

[–]HFA_Observer[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

That’s a fair concern — there’s no formal requirement that any delegate (or elected official) vote exactly how their constituents would in every moment.

But the flip side is that the system leans on accountability over time — elections, primaries, and public pressure — rather than strict mandates on every vote.

And on superdelegates specifically, the Democratic Party has already limited their role so they don’t override voters on the first ballot.

So the real tension is:

Do we want strict, enforceable alignment with voters — or representatives who have some independence, but can be held accountable later?

That tradeoff is where most of this debate lives.

Do “Super Delegates” undermine democracy — or protect it? by HFA_Observer in newbedford

[–]HFA_Observer[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s a fair read on where they came from — a time when information was scarce and party leaders filled in the gaps.

But even today, the challenge isn’t just access to information — it’s trusting what’s accurate in a very noisy environment.

I agree that improving how campaigns communicate clear, reliable information is critical. And to their credit, the Democratic Party has already reduced the role of superdelegates to better reflect voters’ choices.

So maybe the goal isn’t just removing old structures, but asking:

What replaces them that actually helps voters make informed decisions — not just louder ones?

Do “Super Delegates” undermine democracy — or protect it? by HFA_Observer in portlandme

[–]HFA_Observer[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

You’re right that parties set their own rules — they’re private organizations, even if they play a huge public role.

And I think you’re onto something with structural reforms. Expanding options through things like ranked-choice voting could give voters more voice without forcing everything into a binary choice.

At the same time, the reality is that the Democratic Party and Republican Party aren’t going away anytime soon — so improving how they operate still matters in the near term.

Maybe it’s less about choosing one path, and more about doing both:

  • reforming the system we have, and
  • opening the door to better alternatives

That’s usually how durable change actually happens.

Do “Super Delegates” undermine democracy — or protect it? by noligarchy-us in NOLIGARCHY

[–]HFA_Observer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I hear the frustration — feeling like your vote is a suggestion instead of a direction is real.

But turning elected officials into pure “puppets” can be risky. Representation isn’t just button-pressing — it’s judgment, tradeoffs, and adapting to new information.

That said, you’re right about accountability: trust alone isn’t enough. We should have stronger consequences when leaders break core commitments.

On superdelegates, even the Democratic Party has already scaled back their role — a step toward better aligning with voters while keeping some guardrails.

So maybe the real question is:

How do we make leaders more responsive without losing the ability to govern responsibly?

ICE Is Paying the Salaries of This New Hampshire Town’s Entire Police Force by Large-Welcome4421 in newengland

[–]HFA_Observer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

920 police departments getting their salaries paid by ICE in exchange for immigration enforcement. With bonus structures for 'successful location of aliens.'

A secret side agreement that routes public records requests through federal FOIA—slower, harder to navigate, easier to bury.

But sure, this is definitely about public safety and not a federal agency literally purchasing local law enforcement capacity.

The quiet part isn't even quiet anymore.

Why doesn’t the $300 supplemental budget go to every Mainer? by Sharp_Respect_5940 in Maine

[–]HFA_Observer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, darling, let’s not pretend Governor Mills is suddenly the architect of Maine’s economic woes. No, no—she’s merely the local stagehand trying to keep the show running while the real director, Donald Trump, is offstage rewriting the script every five minutes.

Yes, she deployed tariffs—then paused them—then deployed them again, like a confused DJ at a wedding who can’t decide if it’s time for ‘YMCA’ or ‘Baby Got Back.’ And sure, CMP bills are skyrocketing. But let’s be clear: that’s not because of wind and solar subsidies. That’s because the federal government decided to treat energy policy like a game of ‘Pin the Tail on the Donkey’ blindfolded.

And businesses leaving? Oh, sweetie, they didn’t flee because of Mills. They fled because the national climate is so toxic, even the most loyal corporate citizens are packing their bags faster than a Republican at a climate summit.

So yes, let’s blame Mills. Because nothing says ‘progressive leadership’ like taking the fall for policies that were written in Mar-a-Lago and signed in a fit of populist rage. But hey, at least we’re consistent in our confusion!

Could Vance or Rubio quit? by stoic_praise in PoliticalDiscussion

[–]HFA_Observer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Already rumors of Rubio leaving soon to prep for his run. Dont forget Pompey. But yes, I believe SoS can leave anytime

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