Countdown: Iowa Caucus Politicking
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For a Californian like me who is used to a straightforward party primary, the Iowa caucus process is confusing. And I'm sure I'm not the only one. On Wednesday's Countdown, Keith Olbermann spoke to David Shuster who tries to make sense of the maneuvering and tactics being taken by the candidates to best position themselves in what remains one of the--if not THE--closest race in recent memory.
On a related note, in my hunt for information about the Iowa caucus process, I found this blogger's experience to be revealing. The pundits have been making this a "Hillary is the candidate to beat" story, but in Iowa, this blogger found that Hillary Clinton just hasn't captured the spirit of caucusing as much as Barack Obama has.
obama is JUNK! he doesnt believe the president nor vice president has committed impeachable offenses.... obama is:
a. clueless
b. wants a get out of jail free card
meez thinks (a).
C-span had a repub and a dem from Iowa on the other week and each explained exactly how the caucus process works. For the first time, I understand the process thanks to their explanations. For the repubs, it's a piece of cake. For the dems it's a lot more involved and much more time consuming. Seems to me the dems need to overhaul their process if they want to get more people to turn out.
If only Obama or Edwards would drop out quickly, then the other would beat Clinton. If they both stay in and keep the vote split she will win. I realize that this is not a reflection on her and it may not be fair but I just don't want 4 years of GOP nonsense about the Clintons. I also think she is too far to the right for what the country needs right now. We need a check on the corporations that have hijacked our government and electoral process, and she will not provide that check.
Speaking of Obama, I was visiting my wife's relatives in France and my father-in-law asked me if Obama was a Muslim. Apparently the smear machine's dis-information tactics reach across the pond.
Obama "captured my spirit" but when I woke up the next morning (Illinois) he was gone and had left without even a note.
Fool me once . . . . a fool won't get fooled again.
The next President has already been chosen.
L.A. Confidential @ 6:
Just like Bush was in 00 and 04
L.A. Confidential @ 6:
Who is it?
The suspense is killing me.
Dear Iowa
Switch to a primary instead of a caucus. Thanks
Joementum @ 8:
Only the shadow knows!
LOL
L.A. Confidential @ 10:
Actually it should be obvious.
LA confidential, I usually agree with you, but I have a feeling Dumbya Bush has pushed a lot of the machines over the edge, and that the time is ripe for the people to really choose a Prez this time. I may be wrong, but we will find out in a few hours what is really up. Just get ready for the Blood bath if Queen Hillary comes in 3rd. The DLC'ers who are on a respirator these days are fighting their last fight. If Clinton loses the DLC will finally close their despicable doors, and Carville and Begala can go work at McDonalds...GOOD RIDDANCE!
Franco @ 12:
Well Hillary could become the "Come Back Chick" like her hubby. Who the hell freaking knows. We're in uncharted territory now.
Not sure I'm ready for another 8 years of right wing nuttery if Hillary actually does become President though.
16 years of it has been enough.
Way to echo the media's narrative...
jr @ 9:
At some point yesterday I learned that the state party chooses 11 of the 56 delegates, regardless of the caucus results. That was a huge downer (since my preferred candidate is not part of the machine) and I can't imagine that it helps the turn-out.
A little later I remembered that Iowa only matters because it is first, not because of its delegates, and moved on. The way that those 11 apostles will vote will not come out until much later.
It's the charisma, baby. Obama's got it. Clinton doesn't. And don't forget the negatives. Clinton's the champ.
Screw the democrats, the spineless wimps caved too many times against Bush to deserve my vote
Reuters:
DES MOINES, Iowa (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama surged to a four-point lead over John Edwards in Iowa, with Hillary Clinton fading to third just hours before the first presidential nominating contest, according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Thursday.
Obama and Edwards gained ground overnight in the tracking poll, and Clinton fell four points to third place -- a finish that, if it held, would deal a dramatic setback to the one-time Democratic front-runner.
It's a horse race. Hillary Bush Clinton Bush Clinton may come in third!
mr.ed @ 16:
Whoever promises to put money in peoples pockets will win. Which is why none of the Candidates have even played the It's the Economy Stupid card.
In the immortal words of TV's erstwhile "Mr. T," I pity da fool who gets elected into this mess.
CalGeorge @ 18:
The schmedia has been saying that for weeks now.
Makes ya wonder don't it?
and may i suggest that neither hillary or obama have the iowa caucus strategy down like edwards does; he's been working the state since '04 (read taibbi's RS piece on edwards from august; mighty edifying).
check this out, courtesy of finnegan's roundup yesterday:
http://www.southernpoliticalreport.com/storylink_1231_103.aspx
L.A. Confidential @ 13:
I am with you. I have my bags out and If Hillary wins, Im goin to Canada for awhile!
I get the feeling that we're all really holding our breaths over this one. I'm hoping the elections this year restore my faith a bit.
VegasRage @ 17:
=========
I agree, the moment a viable third party pops up I plan on abandoning this wreck of a political party. I only vote Democratic because it's "The Lesser of Two Evils"... Remember that old chestnut? I'm tired of things being this way here in the US, it sucks! Give me liberty and TRUE representation, or rip this system of governing apart and replace it with a TRUE democracy, a system that utilizes the blog phenomenon to give each person a voice and a TRUE vote. No more Electoral College, no more lobbyists, no more self-destructive incestuous two-party politics, no more electing people who don't give a damn about us or the country's well-being. I'm sick of all this crap, I don't want our nation ran by ANY of the people they've offered up, even though Hillary WILL be our next President. It sucks, but expect more of the same. We live in a fake democracy, and I stopped buying into it a while back.
This is MSNBC, Chris matthews, Tim Russert and Joe Scarbrough have made it a personal mission to give a negative slant on anything Hillary is doing... They seem to think she is running against them and they are out to get her out of the race... That was my favorite station and now I never watch them except for Keith Olbermann.. It's what I expected from Chris, I'm very dissapointed with Tim but I have long suspected he was a sextist, he loves his place in the "good ol boys club" and doesn't want it messed up, and Joe started off very fair, even had compliments for Hillary, now he is yeilding to his buddies and it is only attacks... Enough is enough! ! !
bob @ 4:
Did he say: Pardonez moi. Eez Oobama ay Moose-leem?
-GSD
below_me @ 1:
I don't agree with him but I wouldn't call him clueless. The US public is sick of impeachments after the sham in 1999. Plus if he calls for impeachment it takes away the focus from the campaign. At least that seems to be his strategy. I'm with Edwards but let's not bash other candidates here; that kind of venom is the exclusive domain of Republicans. Now if Lieberman was running I'd agree with the "clueless" characterization...
Any of the candidates discussing Frankenfood?
Reuters - 1 hour, 7 minutes ago
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Agricultural company Monsanto Co said on Thursday its quarterly profit nearly tripled, helped by strength in its corn seed and herbicide businesses, and raised its 2008 forecast.
Bystander @ 25:
I am far from a Sen. Clinton fan, but I gotta say, the machine to destroy her is cranked up to 11.
Andrew Sullivan has projected every ounce of vileness upon her too.
The Good Old Boys are afraid of a woman fer shure.
-GSD
jr @ 9:
This is the first year I've looked into the caucus system, and I like it. It involves discourse, not just going into a booth. Politics should be about the free interchange of ideas. But although it works in Iowa and would probably work in smaller states like mine, I don't know how well it would work in a highly populated state.
From what I'm hearing a lot of Obama's supporters are young people and the question is will they turn out and caucus for him. Edwards has a lot of leftover support from 2000 so they have done this before and are ready to do it again. In that respect he has a definite edge. Many of Hillary's supporters are women over fifty and again the question is will they actually turn out.
I'm not for Hillary but if she wins I'm not going to bonk myself over the head with a hammer. The days of Bill Clinton were a hell of a lot better than any one day of geo bush. Yeah, yeah I know big corporations and all, and I know the routine. But no one is going to give us everything we want overnight. This country is in such a mess that it's going to take years of unwinding the bad before we can begin to see the good. I would like to see many of us in this country united with a common goal and then work together to attain it. I don't want a president who says he will kiss my ass or take away my rights to protect my ass. I want a president who will be working for what is best for the future of the citizens of the country and will inspire us get all our asses in gear to help him or her get that work done.
The view from the "great white north" (-20 Celsius outside my house this AM) is it is all the Hill and Bill show on our newsmedia. I've seen more Clinton exposure the last few weeks than Monica Lewinsky. I wouldn't even trade Steven Harper for her, and I can't stand that man. She is without a doubt as phony as her marriage. Now if she would do like a good ReTHUGlican and come out of the closet, at least she'd show some honesty for once in her life.
GSD @ 29:
I think it's fake. They WANT her to win. Even negative publicity, is publicity.
Indigowatcher @ 24:
I agree with everything you've just said. That being said, feel free to visit http://www.newsmediatube.com The system IS reformable. It will just take a while.
GSD @ 29:
===================
I have to respectfully disagree, Hillary Clinton IS one of "The Good Ol' Boys"... She's their new favorite, and when she wins she'll do their bidding. I used to worship Bill Clinton, but I've changed my mind; he and his "wife" are nothing but craven power-hungry whores, just like the average Republican. This whole "Poor Poor Hillary" thing doesn't work, Hillary doesn't play the victim well.
OT: Bob Herbert and the NYT can't even get the date of King's assassination correct. *headdesk*
L.A. Confidential @ 11:
Shrillary. Isn't it obvious. The Bush step daughter.
Indigowatcher @ 35:
Actually Bill Clinton wanted to be President.
Bush Junior never has wanted to be President. He just got stuck with the job for 8 years.
The Truth is we've had President Cheney the past 8 years.
it's great to see such a unified party-- reminds me of when i was a boy and pennies were thrown on the ground for the smaller kids to fight over--
I had trouble with caucusing as well until I started taking Benefiber.
L.A. Confidential @ 39:
Yep, Night of the living dead!
I will be more interested in what the "serious and respectable" Village Idiots are going to be saying tommorrow than I will be in the actual results.
My predictions: At least one candidate's second or third place finish will be deemed a "win" for them, while at least one of the two first place finishers will be deemed to have "lost" becuae their margin of victory wasn't big enough.
If Edwards doesn't finish at least a close second, his candidacy will be deemed DOA, while Clinton or Obama can finish a distant third and still be viable.
Fred will drop dead, figuratively speaking, while Paul will carry on no matter what the results. If Rudy flops, he will suddenly have health problems that force him from the race. Johnny Mac will hang on, hoping his competitors continue to implode.
For every state primary, caucus, or frog jumping campaign should be limited to only LOCAL coverage and there be a black out for national news. I'm fed up with national news reporting mostly NOTHING about what's going on in national government while going on and on about Iowa pot luck party politics as though whoever wins the caucus (not a secret ballot) matters at all.
These politicians have not been campaigning in Iowa they've been campaigning TO the national news organizations FROM Iowa. They could care LESS about local Iowa issues (illegal aliens are a big problem in Iowa?).
It would serve the country and local state elections AND the local press if the national news organizations let the LOCAL news cover LOCAL events and the national news organizations got to finding out what the hell has been going on in Washington DC for the last two years or at least investigate the stench eminating from there.
Have fun with your caucus Iowa but don't expect anybody to help put away the chairs afterwards.
L.A. Confidential @ 38:
Tim Russert is definitelyThe King of the Good Ol Boys
A Clinton nomination would be the greatest gift the Democratic party could give to the GOP this cycle. Their profoundly corrupt, inept, hypocritical, and often bizarre "leadership" has brought their party to the point of irrelevance for a majority of Americans, but they still have the infrastructure (and more importantly - the pathos) to turn a Clinton candidacy into the greatest get-out-the-vote campaign the GOP has ever seen. I don't agree with their obsession (though I'm not a fan of either Clinton), but the only candidate more likely to help the GOP in 2008 would be bin Laden himself.
Hillary Clinton is not a viable candidate in a national election. We'd have better chances with anyone - even Dodd - running against the GOP.
Oh My
We learn that a foreign defense contractor will be tallying the votes of the Iowa caucuses, we have to wonder why a USA-owned company isn't doing the job. Or why Iowans can't find enough people in their own citizenry to do the tally. Do we really need to outsource that? Yet, when I hit Google news this morning and read the headline:
Israeli defense firm counts American votes.
ShortNews.com, Germany - 18 hours ago
Little did they know that the first election event in 2008 may be tallied by an Israeli defense contractor. The calls go to a call center in Georgia to ...
http://www.dailypaul.com/node/19098
revko @ 44:
They're a huge problem, if you talk to the Lum day la Roo. Of course, if you listen long enough, you'll also learn that the "illegals" in question are usually black Americans who have recently moved to Iowa City from Chicago to "mooch our social services."
JTM @ 48:
So a caucus IS a caucasian ritual
I knew it
L.A. Confidential @ 47:
I find this a little iffy at best. The article sounded fairly reasonable until i got down near the end with the "Zionist-controlled media" remark.
A quick google search revealed the Iowa caucus precincts for 2004. Not very many, are there?
Then i found a detailed article and analysis fore just one of these precincts, Precinct 93.
Now how, i wonder, with so few precincts and the information publically available would an Israeli Defense Company or any other company find a way to falsify the results without a precinct captain noticing and complaining?
revko @ 49:
Ah think you ain't done catch mah drift, son. Duh whole problem with them Shee-Cah-Go freeloaders is that they do drink.
[Hint: explore the origins of the word "caucus."]
DES MOINES, Iowa (Reuters) Thu Jan 3, 2008 7:20am - Democrat Barack Obama surged to a four-point lead over John Edwards in Iowa, with Hillary Clinton fading to third just hours before the first presidential nominating contest, according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Thursday.
Wow, voter manipulation-suggestion before the booths even open interesting.
xoites defends Constitution @ 50:
Agreed but in this day and age of anything goes and nothing matters every clue counts.
L.A. Confidential @ 52:
I don't fully understand the the Iowa Caucus process but i am fairly certain no voting booths are involved.
L.A. Confidential @ 53:
The clues you are providing remind me a lot of claims the moon is made of green cheese.
i am still scratching my head as per kucinich's semi/pseudo obama-endorsement. why obama? why not edwards? edwards seems like the obivous choice for kucinich-supporters. he wants to confront the corporate stranglehold on our democracy, and other vital issues that are more closely aligned with dennis' platform. but kucinich chose obama... is this just b/c he thinks that obama has the best chance at beating corporate-hillary?
i have supported kucinich, but i would throw my vote behind edwards (if i lived in iowa). obama, to me, is acceptable. clinton is MOST DEFINITELY not acceptable. me no likey.
Not only are there no booths, but the suggestion that there are not many sites is laughable. The link that was posted above (@ 50) for the 2004 precincts is just one county.
We have 99 counties.
xoites defends Constitution @ 55:
Okay then quote . . "Wars are winnable and affordable, that government is looking out for your best interests, and that everything is all good and getting better including the war on inflation, poverty, housing and employment. Yessir, we couldn't be any more better off thanks to corpgov and reported by corpmedia."
JTM @ 57:
Thanks for the clarification. I just did a quick search. Since you are from Iowa, correct me if i am wrong but isn't a caucus a group of people sitting together and discussing the candidates?
xoites defends Constitution @ 55:
Surely you don't mean to imply it's not!?! I might become so disraught that I won't be able to focus on "The Biggest Loser" tonight!
LOL we're freaking nuts in this Country.
L.A. Confidential @ 58:
Its a pretty big jump from saying your refference is suspect to agreeing to marshal law.
I think most of the grousing about the Iowa caucus system and the one-two punch of Iowa and NH before any other state is coming from the Clinton camp. Iowa flushed Hillary out, it vetted her. If we had had a national primary, all the hype about her being the inevitable candidate might have worked. I am surprised that kos is promoting this line too. I know he is for Edwards and is probably upset that Edwards might come in second to Obama, but does he seriously think that if there were a national primary day Edwards or any of the poorly funded candidates would have a chance, would be able to create formidable organizations across the country with money? I don't think so.
Make that WITHOUT money.
naschkatze @ 64:
The election should be all publicly funded. What costs the most in an election? Advertising. Television access should be free to all candidates. Done. No need to ride expensive buses criss-crossing the nation to shake hands and kiss babies.
The corruption within the traditional media outlets in this country has reached an absolutely absurd level. The time for a grassroots rise against these forces is long overdue, and finally the Internet is reaching a critical mass of individuals. I don't think anyone really knows how this election will shake up, but one thing is for sure, I would not trust the traditional polls going around. Every different source sites different numbers, its ridiculous.
Check out this interesting study on grassroots support going around, I find it fascinating.
http://www.spartaninternet.com/2008
GSD @ 26:
Maybe I'm missing something, but this kind of comment is what continues to place doubts in my mind that the US or its citizens, regardless of political affiliation, could ever make any real positive contributions to the international community.
It's not funny. It demonstrates ignorance of other cultures. It shows incredible hubris.
xoites defends Constitution @ 62:
We don't need Martial Law as long as there's an abundance of Cheese Doodles and American Idol.
Canuknotusa @ 67:
Are you kidding? We can't even make positive contributions to our own community.
Meanwhile
5 minutes ago
NEW YORK - Oil futures rose to a new record of $100.05 a barrel Thursday after the government reported a larger-than-expected decline in crude oil inventories and an unexpected rise in heating oil supplies.
Enronomics at it's best!
The neocon controlled press has left me with the impression that they relly, really want HRC to be the nominee in '08.
"The next president has already been chosen"
"Save the cheerleader, save the world."
"Use the force."
Speak your piece or quit wasting space with cryptic conspiracy crap.
ConcernedCanuck @ 32:
-20 CELSIUS??? YE GODS MAN! That's durn cold!
Paul @ 71:
It takes a Clinton to build a village! Or rebuild a mess a Bush leaves I should say.
Paul @ 71:
EXACTLY! So they can pillory her, just like they did gore, in order to make the repugs more palatable. Let's include the NYT addition of Bloody KKKristol as part of that strategy.
L.A. Confidential @ 70:
what'd you expect? christmas shopping season is over. My gas went up 10% overnight.
Bud @ 73:
Ya, saw a squirrel this morning with ball warmers on...TRUE STORY!!
CoIntelPro @ 76:
Why just shaft the Grandma Millie's of California when you can shaft the whole country?
CoIntelPro @ 76:
OPEC said it can't do anything about the price of oil because U.S. Oil Traders-Speculators are the root cause of the whole problem. Even if they pump more oil these good ol' boys and their media enablers will lie, cheat, and work to push it to $165 a barrel anyway.
L.A. Confidential @ 79:
Darth Cheney's company is in "it's last throes, if you will"
ConcernedCanuck @ 80:
The Last Hurrah as Cheney referred to it. Translation. Oil is a sunset industry get it while the gittin's good because your on your own after this!
L.A. Confidential @ 47:
It's items like this that drive me nuts. Go to Wikipedia and type in "Iowa Caucus". What they do is go to a meeting and literally STAND IN THE SQUARE FOR THEIR CANDIDATE. That's right PHYSICALLY STAND IN A SQUARE!!!!
So how the Israeli Military found the time to fly to Iowa to count heads standing in the church basement meetin' room in 30degree weather is beyond me (aren't they busy enough controlling Hollywood and the diamond industry)
But seriously this just goes to show what meaningless reporting is being done by the national media on this caucus when they haven't even informed the rest of the country as to just what the hell a caucus is and especially what it ISN'T!!!
YIKES
revko @ 82:
I know it's total insanity.
Okay, let's assume that a simple head count takes place in the church basement and that this part of the process is tamperproof. Nobody has yet explained how those counts are tabulated across hundreds (thousands?) of caucus sites.
Are they phoned in with a written record to follow? Is there any software involved in the tabulation and validation process?
84 Blue Lensman Says:
You don't trust them? LOL!
ConcernedCanuck @ 85:
Let's just say I'm looking for independent confirmation of the process. If the article that LA refers to above is accurate and that process is still in place, we're basically screwed.
No. 6, 7, & 8:
We have the whole round of 2008 and until then Bush might create a false flag with Iran, Syria, etc disrupting the elections.
Just hold your breath!
All of the results from the 1800 or so precincts must be collected in one place. One way to do this is for each precinct to call into a computer system (using a regular phone) and type in the results using the tones that phones make. The fancy system that seems to have you worked up is that which answers the phone and decodes the tones.
I have no idea what system is used to "verify" what was typed in.
[/serious reply]
But I'm still glad to have moved here recently. From what I heard, the lines for the outhouse in 2004 were just awful, especially in Des Moines and Iowa City. Plus, it was rainy, so the roads had all washed away and the buggies got stuck. And then, worst of all: someone cut the string between one precinct's tin can and the other one that they had connected to the main computer. Do you know how hard it is to imitate the tones of one of them fancy phones when holding a tin can to your mouth? Now imagine having to do again when you learn the string broke.
Shuster meant "14 percent," not "14 people," unless a precinct had almost exactly 100 people.
This was helpful, but this animated piece by Why Tuesday explains the mechanics awfully well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxZYwcoBPhA
Batocchio @ 89:
Half-a-dozen of one, six of the other.
We have about 1800 precincts and about 180,000 show up.
JTM @ 90:
I know the odds of it happening are zero to nil, but ........
What if NOBODY showed up? What would happen?
Blue Lensman @ 84:
"Let's assume that a simple head count takes place"
ASSUME!!!? THAT IS WHAT THEY DO IN A CAUCUS!!! IT IS NOT A SECRET BALLOT!!!!!
That is why it is MEANINGLESS!!!!
A contigent of vampires from the Transilvania could count the votes and guess what?
IT'S MEANINGLESS!!!
just because something is on the tee vee does not make it meaningful. It's frightening to think the future choice for presidential candidates rest on the decision of a few people standing in rec rooms across Iowa.
This is a LOCAL state event... we need to quit filling it with imaginary national intrigue. It trivializes the REAL voting process.
YIKES
Bystander @ 25:
I've adopted the same strategy for MSNBC. I used to watch hardball, then keith then scarborough every night. But now I don't watch anything but Keith on that channel. CNN even does a better job. Matthews can't go one show without saying something outrageous, usually misogynistic, and always stupid about Hillary. The Daily Howler (http://www.dailyhowler.com) does an excellent job documenting some of the sexist and idiotic things that Matthews says. I agree with your interpretation of Joe scarborough. I used to really like him and I thought he was objective and fair. You're right - he caved to good ol boy mentality. I can't stand him now.
ConcernedCanuck @ 91:
The guy with the tin can would be free to make any noises he or she wished.
No, seriously ... we'd go and find the people who punctured our tires and beat them up. (Sorry that I can't remember which side pulled this trick and/or when they did it.)
[In other words: I have no idea, but it isn't preventing sleep.]
JTM @ 94:
I was just curious. Every election the numbers seem to be going down for the electorate even showing up at the polls. My last municipal election, supposedly less than 50% showed up to vote. Some people say (god sound like the MSM) that it is your "democratic right" and you "can't bitch if you don't vote" but I always find that amusing. So living in a democracy is casting a ballot for turds every few years? Nice. So if the voters REALLY wanted change, and nobody showed up, what then?
xoites defends Constitution @ 54:
"What's Caucus day like? Take a look..."
Informative AND corny. I wasn't sure at first, but now I think that the 15% and secondary voting is a better idea. Many people are wondering why we don't try some type of ranked, or "instant runoff" voting in the general election too. It can actually get pretty technical as to the pros and cons of the exact details of the system, but in general they are much more fair, and better express the preferences of the people than a simple vote.
The party overriding those preferences to send whatever delegates the fat cats in the backrooms want? Now THAT should change.
As a lifelong Iowan that has recently moved to Illinois, I cannot tell you how relieved I am to be rid of this ridiculous caucus. In 2004, I participated in my first and last Caucus. I am an independent that was swept up in the Dean phenomona (and still credit him for leaving an ounce of hope in my cynical body).
My fondest memory of the caucus was seeing the Edwards and Kerry people have many fewer "caucusers" yet getting the same delegate votes. When my neighbor innocently questioned this (and yes, the rules were followed perfectly...the system is just screwed up), someone from the Edwards camp yelled at us that he wasn't going to let us flush the party down the toilet.
Incidently, the Edwards and Kerry people did a fine job of it themselves and relied on Dean to get out the plunger in the 2006 elections.
I am proud of Iowa and our first in the nation status. I think Iowa does represent a healthy portion of America. Sure, we aren't the most racially diverse but we do have urban, suburban, and rural areas that make up a varied portion of our state. We have farmers, blue and white collar workers, teachers, and the works...and though the majority prefer a simple and unglamourous lifestyle, you'd be hard pressed to find two that are identical in their views, occupations, and interests.
With that said, the process is a sham and relies on mob mentality. If Dean didn't have so many party outsiders willing to take a shot at participating in the process, we could have had a much firmer stand and placed better. But the establishment was able to intimidate and change the course through fear and threats, much like our boy G-Dub has done.
Franco @ 12:
Quit insulting Senator Clinton-Fool.
ConcernedCanuck @ 65:
I agree with you. If we went to a national primary day, the playing field would have to be leveled for all. Same amount of money per candidate. Would they agree to this? John Edwards has run a brilliant campaign, BTW, without the resources Clinton and Obama had.
Feh. The Iowa caucus is simple (even us flyover rubes in Iowa can understand it). It's basically Instant Runoff Voting.
Paul @ 71:
The funds from Murdoch and Scaife had not given you that impression already?
Iowa Boy @ 97:
Good story, I've talked to people who worked for other campaigns and they have told me stories of how they went around telling students about how long and boring the caucus was, so that they students would leave the line and not caucus for Dean. Just something to think about.
Franco @ 22:
Razant @ 103:
Sorry- this was suppose to go here.
Sorry…no vacancy. We only have room for those not morally screwed up (military who don’t want to fight this bullshit war). Hiliary & Obama both didn’t have the balls or the common sense to go against Bush in 2002. For that reason, we’ll take Edwards supporters only.
Obama's candidacy is thrilling.
I was captivated when, at the 2006 convention, he said nothing about Kerry, next to nothing about the Iraq war, and lots about himself.
I was invigorated when he embraced Lieberman, one of my favorite architects of endless war.
I am deeply impressed that he can accept as much corporate money as Clinton but escape any criticism from lefties and other rabble.
I found it thrilling when he toured with Donnie McClurkin. Wow. Can he sing!
I was deeply moved when, in a sweetly pandering way, he evoked the names of my heros, Ronnie Reagan and Bush the First.
My distrust of civil liberties was gleefully fortified when he voted for the Patriot Act. None of those hippie lefties noticed.
And, best of all, he savaged all of the democrats without laying a glove on the republicans or the Bush administration.
Iowa needs to be fixed and here is how to fix it http://themproject.blogspot.com/
I would love to live in Iowa, or it would be great if my state was set up like Iowa's caucus. I found the descriptions of the caucus meetings to be very interesting. It would be refreshing to meet in a room with people who express similar views.
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