As a liberal Iowan, I am a walking oxymoron. (But at least we have the “oxy” part to separate us, I guess?)
The caucuses (cauci? cauces?) are dumb. They are a holdover from the days without telephones, and they essentially amount to several hours of bullying each other to try to get people to vote for your candidate - one who statistically will not end up as the nominee, anyway. And because for some dumbass reason we insist on being first, it means that we are relentlessly piss-pounded with political visits, ads, and texts/phone calls for literally a year leading up to each caucus. Vivek was so proud of himself for visiting each of our 99 counties - as if the rural, remote Red corners of the state would vote for someone whose name “they can’t pronounce.” As if they would vote for anyone who isn’t Trump. What a waste of time and resources.
Not that long ago, Iowa valued public education and was one of the first to allow gay marriage. Now, we definitely do NOT need the media attention that comes with this sideshow - it is mortifying.
So, Rs have to pretend they have a surprise candidate and the media have to pretend they don't know who will be declared. It is a whole day of content creation, injecting different theories, and if you happen to be skewed, the other side will suffer throughout the day. DT has benefited mostly from the free airtime. He hasn't even campaigned but the guy is getting attention of his presidential ambitions. Anyway wishing the Iowans a nice causus full of surprises.
“Anyhow, the Iowa caucuses are stupid. The people who show up to them are way too into politics” And way too uninformed! And susceptible to conspiracy theories! Sad for many reasons, as Iowa is a lovely place.
Many folks no longer even consider both Iowa and New Hampshire, since neither of those two states are representative of the rest of the nation. I never understood how they do what they do or why it even mattered. Merely being the first seems irrelevant since their “votes” do not persuade anyone or change any minds.
As an Iowan, I can provide some context to why the caucuses are a thing. Feel free to dismiss it immediately after learning it.
Agriculture is the reason. When Iowa was far more rural and spread out, the caucuses were one of the few social events available to geographically disparate people. So they'd come to the county seat, a large church, or whatever, and shoot the shit for four hours.
There's absolutely no reason for it to exist in a modern context. But... y'know... "tradition."
All we know is that, this time next week, nobody will give a shit about Iowa anymore, which is the right and natural way of the world.
No truer words have ever been spoken. I have not ever been to Iowa. There is no compelling reason for me to do so. There are many US states I'd like to visit which I have not, and fish in. Maine. Vermont. New Hampshire. Virginia.
I have never understood why Iowa is considered the "bellwether" state for elections. As you say, they tend to pick losers.
As a liberal Iowan, I am a walking oxymoron. (But at least we have the “oxy” part to separate us, I guess?)
The caucuses (cauci? cauces?) are dumb. They are a holdover from the days without telephones, and they essentially amount to several hours of bullying each other to try to get people to vote for your candidate - one who statistically will not end up as the nominee, anyway. And because for some dumbass reason we insist on being first, it means that we are relentlessly piss-pounded with political visits, ads, and texts/phone calls for literally a year leading up to each caucus. Vivek was so proud of himself for visiting each of our 99 counties - as if the rural, remote Red corners of the state would vote for someone whose name “they can’t pronounce.” As if they would vote for anyone who isn’t Trump. What a waste of time and resources.
Not that long ago, Iowa valued public education and was one of the first to allow gay marriage. Now, we definitely do NOT need the media attention that comes with this sideshow - it is mortifying.
This dictionary site has an interesting entry for Santorum:
https://www.yourdictionary.com/santorum
Those circles they stand in should be called rings, as in three-ring circus.
MIB, you had me at "Rick fucking Santorum."
No, we do not need the primaries at all.
So, Rs have to pretend they have a surprise candidate and the media have to pretend they don't know who will be declared. It is a whole day of content creation, injecting different theories, and if you happen to be skewed, the other side will suffer throughout the day. DT has benefited mostly from the free airtime. He hasn't even campaigned but the guy is getting attention of his presidential ambitions. Anyway wishing the Iowans a nice causus full of surprises.
Idiots
Out
Wandering
Around
“Anyhow, the Iowa caucuses are stupid. The people who show up to them are way too into politics” And way too uninformed! And susceptible to conspiracy theories! Sad for many reasons, as Iowa is a lovely place.
As one young, "educated" so-called "Christian" in Iowa told me:
"I'd rather give my tax dollars to a billionaire than give it to a N***** on Welfare"
That pretty much sums up Iowa. 😲
Many folks no longer even consider both Iowa and New Hampshire, since neither of those two states are representative of the rest of the nation. I never understood how they do what they do or why it even mattered. Merely being the first seems irrelevant since their “votes” do not persuade anyone or change any minds.
As an Iowan, I can provide some context to why the caucuses are a thing. Feel free to dismiss it immediately after learning it.
Agriculture is the reason. When Iowa was far more rural and spread out, the caucuses were one of the few social events available to geographically disparate people. So they'd come to the county seat, a large church, or whatever, and shoot the shit for four hours.
There's absolutely no reason for it to exist in a modern context. But... y'know... "tradition."
All we know is that, this time next week, nobody will give a shit about Iowa anymore, which is the right and natural way of the world.
No truer words have ever been spoken. I have not ever been to Iowa. There is no compelling reason for me to do so. There are many US states I'd like to visit which I have not, and fish in. Maine. Vermont. New Hampshire. Virginia.
I have never understood why Iowa is considered the "bellwether" state for elections. As you say, they tend to pick losers.