Why do we care about the Iowa Caucuses?

[Longhorn85]

Who decided they would go first? Did we draw straws? They represent less than 1% of the country's population and the demographic is skewed (old and white).

The amount of money, time and press invested in pancake-flipping and PTA meetings is a little much.

Kudos to the Iowa powers that be for getting first crack and keeping it this long, but how long can it last?

 

[BO-DEN]

go to sleep dude its 4:44

 

[Longhorn85]

go to sleep dude its 4:44

Ha ha, LOL. I'm working night shifts this week, what's your excuse?

 

[BO-DEN]

i was working security till 2 am

and i hung out with this girl and now i cant get to sleep

 

[Longhorn85]

i was working security till 2 am

and i hung out with this girl and now i cant get to sleep

so, humor me, answer the thread

 

[RADAR]

Ah!! Good everyone went to sleep-----now i can relax!



RADAR

 

[WODIN]

Cuz in 71' the state voted to move its primary ahead of new hampshires to Mid January.

 

[Longhorn85]

Cuz in 71' the state voted to move its primary ahead of new hampshires to Mid January.

Why was it allowed? Other states have tried recently to do that and have been denied by the DNC. What is special about boring Iowa?

 

[Dial_tone]

As for why Iowa and New Hampshire in particular — rather than two other states roughly the same size, say, Rhode Island and Oklahoma — always get the privilege of opening the race, Mayer said, “the short answer is they kind of stumbled into those positions by accident and now are doing everything possible to retain them.”

 

[Longhorn85]

“the short answer is they kind of stumbled into those positions by accident and now are doing everything possible to retain them.”

That much is clear. Iowa has not has this much attention since they last made it to the Rose Bowl. Of course they fight to retain it. I'm just curious as to why the DNC lets them, and fights off other states trying to go before them or concurrent with them.

 

[Dial_tone]

This might help:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3890178/

 

[bigschweeler]

That much is clear. Iowa has not has this much attention since they last made it to the Rose Bowl. Of course they fight to retain it. I'm just curious as to why the DNC lets them, and fights off other states trying to go before them or concurrent with them.

Maybe it's a matter of perception...if the country perceives that a state like Iowa will back this democratic canidate, then that person must have some good, ole American values.

 

[Longhorn85]

Thanks for the link DT, I guess my question is really rhetorical because I am aware of the tradition and the process. It just seems that other states would not allow Iowa to reap all the benefits without moving their primaries earlier to compete. Clearly the DNC is interested in maintaining the status quo, to Iowa's benefit.

 

[Dial_tone]

I had been under the impression that no other states *wanted* to be that early then Iowa jumped on it and hasn't let it go. It really doesn't serve any purpose other than giving false hope to candidates from breadbasket states.

 

[DcupSheepNipples]

The Iowa Caucuses are a Power Elite scam! The sheeple are forced to find it important!

 

[Raina]

It's the one time every 4 years that Iowa gets to be in the news. That's why it's important. It makes the Iowans feel important.

Actually I went to college there and there was a caucus while I was there. It was a big deal. Lots of candidates toured our campus. I didn't vote in it though as I was still a resident of MN.

 

[Longhorn85]

The Iowa Caucuses are a Power Elite scam! The sheeple are forced to find it important!

No one is forced dude, most Americans couldn't give a flip about it, only the political junkies.

 

[DcupSheepNipples]

No one is forced dude, most Americans couldn't give a flip about it, only the political junkies.

LOL! If the sheeple only knew what the fuck is really going on!

 

[bigschweeler]

The Iowa Caucuses are a Power Elite scam! The sheeple are forced to find it important!

Get some new material...

 

[DcupSheepNipples]

Get some new material...

No material it's the truth! The Pres. has already been hand picked and his name is Goerge W. Bush! It's a scam!

 

[Longhorn85]

Get some new material...

It's the only tune he knows.

 

[DcupSheepNipples]

It's the only tune he knows.

Not really, it's just my personal crusade! I have no love lost with the Iowa Caucuses, nothing against the people of Iowa, but it's a waste of time in the reality of the real world that we live in!

 

[ZKaudio]

didn't read anything above my post but in answer to this question... the iowa caucus is namely a momentum setter.

 

[Longhorn85]

the iowa caucus is namely a momentum setter.

Or a momentum killer if you're Howard Dean or Dick Gephart.

 

[HumorMe]

so, humor me, answer the thread

I know that guy!