Poll: Iowa Caucuses - What do you think?
- Posted by Beth on January 3rd, 2008 filed in 2008 election, General, Mike Huckabee, Politics, Stupid Iowa caucuses · poll
I know what I think of the Iowa Caucuses - I think it’s an archaic, stupid, expensive, absurd process that gives undue weight to voters that do not represent America as a whole. I’m even more annoyed because Mike Huckabee won, and I don’t think there’s a snowball’s chance in hell that he can win a general election, no matter how charming he may appear in the soundbites on teevee–I fell under the spell for about five minutes myself a couple months ago, until I took a look at where he really stands on the issues. I just think people are as delusional as Paultards are if they believe he can win. But that’s just me.
So I wonder, why do we still do this? I’m a fan of tradition too, but this is ridiculous. Am I alone in thinking this is stupid?
UPDATE: Speaking of Iowa… and here, too.
UPDATE 2: Ed Rollins got OWNED. LOL. Rollins is still a jerk after all these years.
Jane says:
argggh!!!!
How’s that for expressive?
"Buddy" Popeil says:
This is the third Conservative blog I’ve visited since the results in Iowa came out and each one is talking poorly of Mike Huckabee. I don’t get it. Christian conservatives supported President Bush in two elections, but now it seems that our votes are not valued when we select a candidate who is not a Washington insider. I’m very disappointed.
Carol says:
I just hated listening to the reporters on TV. They said some of the most asinine things.
WAY too much attention was given to Iowa. I think Huckabee has a chance. I like him better than Romney anyway.
beth says:
I ranted about it earlier this evening for pretty much the same reasons. I couldn’t get the poll to take my vote - but that’s my opinion. Its a big waste of time and money AND its WAY too soon before the election. I’m sick of hearing what all the pundits have to say about everyone.
I have to admit though that I DID enjoy Hilary getting the living daylights beat out of her and her reaction speech was delightful. She was in shock and even with the smile plastered on her face it was obvious.
Huckabee is charming and has a lot of good points. I think people want someone who is ‘more like them’ and are tired of big money winning elections. I’m resistant to him myself, but I can see why he’s appealing.
Nice Deb says:
I liked Huckabee briefly, too, just like you did, Beth for about five minutes, three months ago. Since then I’ve had a chance to look at his record more closely.
Why don’t more people take the time to do that?
Beth says:
Oops, sorry the poll didn’t work…it’s working now!
Buddy, nobody says your votes aren’t valued–they are. We (those of us who aren’t Huckabee supporters) just aren’t on that bandwagon for other reasons–and religion isn’t one of those reasons. Well, it’s SORT OF a reason for me, as I noted here, but it’s not a deal-breaker.
Stix says:
I am not a Hucakbe supporter either. I do not want another Dhimmi Carter type in the White House.
But this whole circus that they had in Iowa is not really going to amount to a hill of beans in the long run. Almost every one that wins the Iowa Cauci looses the Presidency.
SO it is just another MSM orgasm for being the revealer of truth to us that are just boobs and don’t know anything
We will hear the pundits and spinmeisters talk about the next big thing, the New Hampshire Pirmaries, but forget to tell us that there is a Primary in Wyoming
Attila Girl says:
I find Huckabee’s pandering so insulting–and I am a Christian.
The man doesn’t seem to have a conservative bone in his body, and he’s the shallowest person on the ballot.
Beth, I think the format of the Iowa caucus is interesting because it forces people to pretend to think about the issues, versus having a straightforward primary. Still, there has to be some more rational way to figure out the order of the states in a primary year, and going strictly by tradition ain’t it. I wish we just had the primaries (/cauci) in reverse order of how many delegates a given state represents.
The current reality–with all the states jockeying for position–is just silly.
c.a. Marks says:
NO! You are NOT alone in this and I’m glad to see you writing about it here. I thought I was all alone in this thinking. What an asshatery way of picking a candidate! I, too, fell under the Huckabee spell, only a few weeks ago, and like you only for about 5 minutes. God help us all.
c.a. Marks says:
Stix says, “SO it is just another MSM orgasm for being the revealer of truth to us that are just boobs and don’t know anything.”
LOLOLOL Boy, is that not the truth?!
PaulW says:
I’m with Beth in that I dislike the Iowa Caucus, and even the New Hampshire primary, simply because these two states get to choose who gets to run in all the other primaries across the nation.
We need a One-Day primary, all states, all voters, getting a chance to say “Yes dammit I want Johnny Depp to be the next President!” Aw damn, I got the Viewer’s Choice Awards mixed in this, brb…
Beth says:
YES! One-day cage match primary!
(If it’s Johnny Depp, though, I’m moving to Australia.)
;-)
Bull Cash says:
The Iowa caucus represents the wishes of the voters in Iowa so obviously they are going to pick a person more aligned with the issues of that state and the people of that state. Each state will also do the same and in this way the states will eventually select a person for the federal office that will represent the majority. Each state also gets to choose how the primaries are run and how the electors are chosen. Keep in mind, it is the states that give power to the federal government. Now, I don’t believe that being more electable than someone else is a valid reason to select a candidate. We’re not trying to pick a winner, we’re trying to pick the best person for the job. If all Americans thought this way, Hillary, Obama, and Giuliani wouldn’t even be in the race!
PaulW says:
You want it to be a cage match primary?
That would be an unfair tactical advantage to Hillary. She’s wicked evil with that metal folded chair.
I was hoping more along the lines of a calm, collected debate session from a central locale, like St. Louis, after which the voters across the nation online get to choose their preferences… no, no, it still gives Hillary a chance to whack people with that chair… :-/
Seriously, though, we need to get a one-day primary going. Know off-hand of any group that’s advocating for a one-day primary system?
Alan says:
Huckabee is the media darling because any Democrat can beat him in November.
PaulW says:
The Iowa caucus represents the wishes of the voters in Iowa so obviously they are going to pick a person more aligned with the issues of that state and the people of that state. Each state will also do the same and in this way the states will eventually select a person for the federal office that will represent the majority.
Each state can’t do it the same, because half the candidates are already dropping out, and the later states aren’t going to be able to make the same choices. But who’s to say those candidates won’t do better in California, or Arizona, or Texas, or Washington, or New York? Why should Iowa get to say, or New Hampshire? We’re not voting for someone to represent those states, we’re voting for someone to represent ALL of US, in ALL states. All of us should get to choose. That’s what I’m saying, and that’s what we’re not getting with this state-by-state primary system.
Beth says:
EXACTLY, Paul! Exactly!
The way it is now, we may well get a nominee that is Iowa and/or NH’s favorite for their own parochial reasons–reasons that someone in CA, AZ, TX, NY, or Alabama don’t care about (i.e. farm subsidies or whatever)! And if we had the initial make-or-break primaries in, say, Louisiana, we’d have a front-runner that pandered the best to their issues, such as hurricane recovery. Do the voters in Iowa or NH care about that? I’d say they don’t, not now, anyway.
I wish I did know offhand who’s looking to change the primary schedule/system right now, but I’m gonna look for it. :)
At the very least, I’d rather see the first states be ones that are a little more diverse, a little more representative of American voters as a whole. Like Ohio, Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania… somewhere like that, where there’s a little bit of everyone and every interest. But of course, we see how well that attempt to leapfrog IA & NH worked out this time–it just moved everything back, making the campaign process even longer.
Beth says:
Isn’t THAT the truth. Notice how they’ve virtually ignored John McCain, whom they used to adore, at least until the campaign got started? It’s no accident, considering polling data shows him beating all the Democrats when matched with them one on one.
Beth says:
I dunno…I sure don’t think Mike Huckabee is the best person for the job. Neither do a hell of a lot of other Republican voters.
Stix says:
The whole presidential race is screwy to me. Why does someone have to start raising money over 2 years before the general electionha even started. It is ridiculous. I would rather have it as the olden days where people in the back rooms picl the candidate. There would be less monmey and no more of the whole circus that we call primary season. Which every year gets longer and longer.
Or have the states in 3 or 4 groups have their primnaries on the same day and then rotate which ones go first. Iowa and New Hampshire do not represent the rest of the country as a whole.
And still don;t forget we have a primary/caucus or wahtever in Wyoming this weekend. But the MSM has just forgotten about that because, well it is not in the Northeast or one of the MSM favorite states. Yes it doens;t have that many delegates, but it is just as importtnat as Iowa, NH.
O well we can dream. I really don;t think anything will really change until Super Yues in the Republican race anyway. Iowa went tio Huckabe, then McCain or Romney will win NH, Fred might take Wyoning, but I don’t know because no oine is talking about it. then Michagan and Florida and SC but no real front runner will come from any of them, not until we get more staes that have bigger delegates will we see who is going to go out in front.
Oh well enough of the rant. i am just going to ignore the MSM until later in the primary season.
raz0r says:
Hate the way the primaries are set. As has been mentioned about candidates dropping out, it is one of the reasons Florida moved the primary up. I with beth, I’d rather have a one day primary. I’d also like a 30 day colling off period between stumping and the primary vote and limit the period to drum up votes to 90 days.
Now on to Huckabee. I like some of his positions (abortion, DOMA), but giving tuition breaks to illegals was bad. The guy I would like to see win (but doesn’t stand a chance it appears) is Duncan Hunter. He understands the illegal immigration problem facing this country. He’s pro-life, doesn’t want to take my guns, supports the military and its missions, etc.