Word: straws
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...case of presidential campaign fever. The cause is the round of caucuses on Oct. 13 at which Democrats will choose 878 delegates to a convention on Nov. 16-18 in St. Petersburg. There they will be joined by 839 other delegates, including party officials and officeholders, and cast a straw vote on their preference for the Democratic presidential nominee in 1980. It is one of the quirkier contests in the history of American politics, since it has a theoretical significance rating of about minus ten. Not until after a primary on March 11 will Florida Democrats select their 100 delegates...
Given the small turnout that is expected, as few as 100 votes could decide many of the contests, even in the big counties. In any event, no matter who wins the caucuses, President Carter is the heavy favorite to carry the straw vote in November, because his followers dominate the party machinery and hold most of the elective offices. Of 135 seats at the convention already assigned by party executive committees, Carterites claim they have all but ten. Said Carter volunteer Chip Ford of Miami of the caucus results: "Who is to say who has won? The true meaning...
...inclination of all Cabinet departments is to narrow the scope for presidential decision, not to expand it. They are organized to develop a preferred policy, not a range of choices. If forced to present options, the typical department will present two absurd alternatives as straw men bracketing its preferred option-which usually appears in the middle position. A totally ignorant decision maker could satisfy his departments by blindly choosing Option Two of any three choices submitted...
...what will that person have won? Depending who you believe, the Florida caucuses mean everything or nothing. The prize clearly isn't worth the fight. Voters are only selecting half the delegates to a convention that will take a straw vote. And the straw vote means nothing. State officials will appoint the other half of the delegates that appear at the convention. It isn't until March 11, 1980, that Florida voters have their own primary--the one that really counts...
...substitute, Willie Mays Aikens, named for the famous centerfielder and born the month that Mays and the Giants were destroying the Cleveland Indians in the 1954 World Series. Angel luck being what it is, Aikens later wrecked his knee, and is out for the year. The last straw was the injury to Pitcher Jim Barr (10-12), one of eight Angels who have signed contracts of over $1 million. After the team clinched the Western title last week, a young fan waved a placard at Barr, who swiped at it. Of course, he damaged the knuckles of his pitching hand...