The Iowa grift

[44nutman]

How did Iowa earn its place as being the state to establish presidential candidates? It is the biggest con job out there and it was proven once again with Santorum winning.
Lets be honest, Santorum has as much a chance as I do, for being elected president.
He will never win any states on the coasts and does not play well in large population centers. His views on abortion and the gheys only works in the heartland.
Buchannan won in Iowa, I will give them Obamas win there, but overall they do not represent the typical voter in the United States.

They have somehow tricked the left and right to spends 100's of millions every 4 years for an opinion that does not matter.

I guess, Michelle Bachman and her wife now drop out. Perry drops out and Newt hangs on til Florida and then goes back to making millions as an advisor.

The two things Iowa does prove, is the base hates Mitt and there will be 4 more years of Obama.  I am not sure if that is a good thing or not.

The only bad thing is I have to wait 4 more years to see candidates deep throating corn dogs.

[Howey]

How did Iowa earn its place as being the state to establish presidential candidates? It is the biggest con job out there and it was proven once again with Santorum winning.
Lets be honest, Santorum has as much a chance as I do, for being elected president.
He will never win any states on the coasts and does not play well in large population centers. His views on abortion and the gheys only works in the heartland.
Buchannan won in Iowa, I will give them Obamas win there, but overall they do not represent the typical voter in the United States.

They have somehow tricked the left and right to spends 100's of millions every 4 years for an opinion that does not matter.

I guess, Michelle Bachman and her wife now drop out. Perry drops out and Newt hangs on til Florida and then goes back to making millions as an advisor.

The two things Iowa does prove, is the base hates Mitt and there will be 4 more years of Obama.  I am not sure if that is a good thing or not.

The only bad thing is I have to wait 4 more years to see candidates deep throating corn dogs.

Actually, Romney wins now by something like 8 votes. What's funny about Iowa is it means absolutely nothing...as I pointed out yesterday they finangle the "voting" process so anyone can "vote". It's kinda like their fake straw polls where they sell tickets to fans of political personalities.

In a state with a population a little over 3 million, the total number of sheep who "voted" was around 100k.

You are right in your conclusion. We'll have four more years of the greatest president in history. Hopefully, we'll also have a filibuster-proof majority in Congress to actually get shit done.

Warren '16!

[Howey]

I like this from Jim Messina:

Howey --

These Republican candidates spent in some cases more than a year -- in Mitt Romney's case seven years -- campaigning in Iowa to be the next president.

But tonight, GOP voters there couldn't decisively get behind anyone.

Who exactly leads the Republican race going forward isn't clear, but we do know two things:

1) The extremist Tea Party agenda won a clear victory. No matter who the Republicans nominate, we'll be running against someone who has embraced that agenda in order to win -- vowing to let Wall Street write its own rules, end Medicare as we know it, roll back gay rights, leave the troops in Iraq indefinitely, restrict a woman's right to choose, and gut Social Security to pay for more tax cuts for millionaires and corporations.

2) We'll be facing an onslaught of unprecedented spending from outside groups funded by corporations and anonymous donors. In Iowa alone, so-called "super PACs" spent $12.9 million on almost exclusively negative ads. These groups will turn their fire even more directly on us in the weeks ahead to prove that their candidate is the most anti-Obama.

[uselesslegs]

The problem I have with all of these candidates, that supersede any personal misgivings I have, is that none of them (in any serious manner) has mentioned or shown how they as President will exhibit ANY amount of bi-partisa­n behavior. It could be their willingnes­s to please a base that sees this as a_war or it could be their personal stance that anyone across the isle is to be treated as a_ hostile. But NOTHING, absolutely nothing meaningful­, for democracy'­s sake, will be accomplish­ed if you feel your role is to lead from a position that views ANY voice, ANY idea that is not identical to your own ideology as wholly dismissibl­e and completely suspect.

Obama, for his misgivings­, bent over backwards to accommodat­e and keep opposing views and voices (to his detriment) as part of the NORMAL dealings of democracy. More often then not, he dealt with an opposing party that felt it perfectly acceptable to scrub or hold legislatio­n_hostage and impassible for ideologica­l desires, despite the harm that would inflict to the psyche of the American people and our ability to function as a nation. I will not broker one candidate that thinks being President means their ideology trumps any bi-partisa­n dealings. That is insanity and a path to horrible consequenc­es. We've already gotten a taste, I don't want anymore.

[ekg]

They have somehow tricked the left and right to spends 100's of millions every 4 years for an opinion that does not matter.

not to mention the millions we spend in corn subsidies.. but hey, cows can digest corn and HFCS is good for us so uh.. GO IOWA!

[Howey]

corn subsidies..

Thank God they're gone. I'm sure the repubs will find another way to hand out energy companies billions of unearned dollars. I guess that's what the shale oil push is all about.

[44nutman]

Thank God they're gone. I'm sure the repubs will find another way to hand out energy companies billions of unearned dollars. I guess that's what the shale oil push is all about.

Corn has nothing to do with energy companies. There are plenty of Dems that suckle at the Agribusiness teat. They have the presidential election covered just look at what they gave  to Mitt and Obama. That is why our government sucks, big business spreads money on both sides, that way you are always backing a winner. 

http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?Ind=A

[Howey]

Corn has nothing to do with energy companies.

I was soeaking of ethanol subsidies. They ran out Dec 31st. Although I do agree the business of lobbying has got to end.

[lil mike]

How did Iowa earn its place as being the state to establish presidential candidates? It is the biggest con job out there and it was proven once again with Santorum winning.
Lets be honest, Santorum has as much a chance as I do, for being elected president.
He will never win any states on the coasts and does not play well in large population centers. His views on abortion and the gheys only works in the heartland.
Buchannan won in Iowa, I will give them Obamas win there, but overall they do not represent the typical voter in the United States.

They have somehow tricked the left and right to spends 100's of millions every 4 years for an opinion that does not matter.

I guess, Michelle Bachman and her wife now drop out. Perry drops out and Newt hangs on til Florida and then goes back to making millions as an advisor.

The two things Iowa does prove, is the base hates Mitt and there will be 4 more years of Obama.  I am not sure if that is a good thing or not.

The only bad thing is I have to wait 4 more years to see candidates deep throating corn dogs.

Basically... yes.

Santorum only got as far as he did because he wasn't attacked.  He was a stealth candidate.  Once his spending record comes up, he won't be able to pretend to suck up to Tea Partiers.



I think candidates have to participate though, since the news media gives it so many undeserved hours of coverage.  But I wouldn't drop out because of Iowa.  T-Paw dropped out a few months ago because of a straw poll.  It's ridiculous.  I think Huntsman should have participated to horn in on that national coverage.  Even if he came in fifth he would have been able to get his message out (once he decides what that is) and would be in better shape in New Hampshire.

Unfortunately we're stuck with Iowa until the two parties recognize that both would be better served by a state that is more representative of the country as a whole.  Like Florida.

[Howey]

Like Florida.

Glad to see you've regained your sense of humor.

[44nutman]

Glad to see you've regained your sense of humor.

It is actually not  a bad idea, it does not have to be Florida but a bigger state. Callifornia would not work since it is so left leaning and not a good representation of the US. Texas, Florida, New York or one of the bigger states in the rust belt would work much better.

The problem is Iowa does not tell you shit. The spend 100's of millions for roughly 100,000 people to show up and vote.

[Howey]

It is actually not  a bad idea, it does not have to be Florida but a bigger state. Callifornia would not work since it is so left leaning and not a good representation of the US. Texas, Florida, New York or one of the bigger states in the rust belt would work much better.

The problem is Iowa does not tell you shit. The spend 100's of millions for roughly 100,000 people to show up and vote.

How about just doing away with the whole charade? Give everyone who wants to run one hour a week on PBS to state their case. Have Factcheck or some similar group verify all claims before they air. Have an open primary 6 months before the election, narrow the field down to four or so, then hold the election. Winner of the popular vote is prez, second place is VP.

[lil mike]

Glad to see you've regained your sense of humor.

Florida is perfectly good choice.  It's demographically close to the nation at large, and the I 4 corridor is where new products are marketed since we reflect the nation so well.

I think Florida is a much better choice than Iowa to be the first State to vote. 

[Howey]

Florida is perfectly good choice.  It's demographically close to the nation at large, and the I 4 corridor is where new products are marketed since we reflect the nation so well.

I think Florida is a much better choice than Iowa to be the first State to vote. 

Florida is the armpit of all that is crazy in the world. Look at the news. Ask Casey Anthony and the millions who love/loathe her. The only thing Florida's a barometer for is Depends and methheads.