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octoberlib

(14,971 posts)
Wed Apr 1, 2015, 10:33 PM Apr 2015

In which we discuss why the Iowa caucuses are a terrible idea that is getting worse -Charles Pierce

Back in 1992, the late Senator Paul Tsongas, a serious man of great dignity, driven a little batty by Bill Clinton's native abilities to be all things to all people, started parading around with a stuffed panda that he called "The Pander Bear." It didn't work. But if you want to see true pander bears at play, get a load of the following events in the Republican pre-primary competition that have followed hard on each other.

First, Senator Aqua Buddha calls for another "Great Awakening," reversing what many saps believed was his firm commitment against the theocratic wing of his party.Then, we have not a single potential Republican candidate for president demonstrating even the least ambivalence toward Indiana governor Mike Pence and the anti-gay law that has blown up in Pence's face. The most comical of these is our old friend Jeb (!), who said he doesn't think people will use a law that allows them to discriminate to, you know, discriminate.
Then, we have Chris Christie, who preceded Jeb (!) as the "moderate" in the field, suddenly supporting a federal ban on abortion after 20 weeks almost immediately after an influential anti-choice group called him out for being the only potential GOP candidate who hadn't. The problem isn't that these people are soulless cowards who would sell their gray-haired grannies to the Somali pirates for five points in the next Gallup Poll, although that is surely the case. The problem they all have is Iowa.

On its face, the prominence of the Iowa caucuses -- a jerry-rigged, easily-gamed, and otherwise hopeless system that couldn't even produce a final result for six months the last time around -- in our presidential nominating process is a joke. In the general election, the state is worth a paltry six electoral votes, the same number as have Mississippi and Arkansas. Nobody gives a damn about Iowa three minutes after the caucuses close. Up until then, it's the place where campaigns go only to die.

This is because, at least on the Republican side, the jerry-rigged, easily-gamed, and hopeless caucus system is the province of the hardest of the hardcore evangelical Christianist Right. Iowa is not a laboratory in which candidates have to address diverse voters and diverse issues. At least on the Republican side, it is the litmus test of all litmus tests. There is no room for even the slightest heretical deviation from the pure anti-choice, anti-gay, anti-immigrant, god-bothering faith. Consequently, even if there were influential Republican moderates any more, and there aren't, any of them seeking the presidency either would have to ignore Iowa entirely, which would open a separate can of worms nationally, or the candidates would have to tailor their positions until they are irreconcilable with anything the candidates previously had said anywhere in their entire career.

http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a34025/the-problem-with-iowa/

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In which we discuss why the Iowa caucuses are a terrible idea that is getting worse -Charles Pierce (Original Post) octoberlib Apr 2015 OP
Thanks for reminding me of Governor Dukakis. elleng Apr 2015 #1
Tsongas. truebluegreen Apr 2015 #3
Of course; you got me, truebluegreen. elleng Apr 2015 #9
... truebluegreen Apr 2015 #11
:hi: elleng Apr 2015 #12
The NH primary is almost as much of a put-up job as Iowa - almost... Mopar151 Apr 2015 #2
Iowa caucus is worth it just for the laughs. Cheese Sandwich Apr 2015 #4
Mahalo for Charlie Pierce, octoberlib! Cha Apr 2015 #5
Oh good. Shit on Iowa has started early. progressoid Apr 2015 #6
It's a Big Money Maker For Iowa (just like NH is a big moneymaker for them). MADem Apr 2015 #7
I gotta give ol' Chimpoleon credit for one thing. hifiguy Apr 2015 #10
Iowa campaigns aren't all bad, there might be other places to start the campaign season, but HereSince1628 Apr 2015 #8
That's a fine analysis, HereSince. elleng Apr 2015 #13

elleng

(130,153 posts)
1. Thanks for reminding me of Governor Dukakis.
Wed Apr 1, 2015, 10:52 PM
Apr 2015

NO THANKS for reminding me of clinton vis a vis him.

in which

Mopar151

(9,965 posts)
2. The NH primary is almost as much of a put-up job as Iowa - almost...
Wed Apr 1, 2015, 11:03 PM
Apr 2015

It's a frightful friggin' annoyance, especially if BirchBaggers produce an allergic reaction in the rational side of your brain. All our local TV outlets pummel us with those godawful, scary-voice attack ads. A regional primary system, starting in April or so of the election year, would make far more sense.
Arguing against change in the status quo is the same thing that drove NH to grab "first-in-the-nation" status in the 50's - Motel rooms. Rental cars. Resturaunt meals. Bar tabs. And the intangible of a bunch of small city Babbits having a small scrap of political psuedo-power - the same currency ALEC uses so well with state legislators.

 

Cheese Sandwich

(9,086 posts)
4. Iowa caucus is worth it just for the laughs.
Thu Apr 2, 2015, 01:24 AM
Apr 2015

2012 clown car was top notch comedy. You couldn't make that stuff up.

MADem

(135,425 posts)
7. It's a Big Money Maker For Iowa (just like NH is a big moneymaker for them).
Thu Apr 2, 2015, 05:18 AM
Apr 2015

--Brings in billions with all the reporters and hangers-on.

--Provides opportunities for "gotcha" moments, and lies that can be used later for other "gotcha" moments.

--Is a disenfranchising process for people who have to work at blue collar jobs; all of the shift workers, taxi drivers, anyone who works the midshift, they get fucked out of exercising their franchise because they have to work while all of their "farmer" (cough) buddies are caucusing.

Iowa is going to insist that the Beauty Contest has value; I think they over-estimate the actual value of the process. There's nothing worse than seeing some poor bastard who is not comfortable in a rural, farming environment put on a checked shirt, a pair of ill fitting jeans, and some shitkicker boots and pretend to give a crap about corn. It's just ... debasing. Of course, some idiots don't mind making fools of themselves:



I don't think it reveals much about the candidates, they all pander, it's tiresome and uncomfortable, and it wastes time that could be spent exploring other issues.

 

hifiguy

(33,688 posts)
10. I gotta give ol' Chimpoleon credit for one thing.
Thu Apr 2, 2015, 02:45 PM
Apr 2015

He had the largest repertoire of completely moronic facial expressions in the history of humanity.

HereSince1628

(36,063 posts)
8. Iowa campaigns aren't all bad, there might be other places to start the campaign season, but
Thu Apr 2, 2015, 09:24 AM
Apr 2015

Iowans understand their role and do know how to play the game. Going into 2000, the little college campus I worked at in western Iowa hosted all the candidates at least once. Imagine a town of ~8000 (if you count the livestock at the IBP) on a campus of about 1200, visited in person by all the candidates! The wonder of soft auditorium seats, A/C, and freedom from used air serviced by livestock, which the locals say...smells like money!

Of course, that part of Iowa is thinly populated and the nearest thing to a 'big city' is Ft Dodge. Giving a speech on Putin's dangers in the auction barn in Hampton isn't quite like giving it at the ballroom of a Hilton hotel.

But there it is...almost literally a Field of Dreams. And if a candidate will build it (a political team) and take the show to hay mows, high school school gymnasia, and any of myriad small college auditoriums...THEY (Iowans) DO COME!

It's sort of a combination baseball minor league and vaudeville circuit, which would have to be created somewhere if it didn't already exist. And the greatest logistical challenge would be getting the equivalent of Iowans, who know and can patiently and respectfully fulfill their roles, without laughing out loud at the stupidity or throwing shoes at outrages.

Those crazy caucuses, with all the influence that one can imagine brought to bear by a group of zealots loading up a van and getting to a caucus are really a good thing. And the not-ready for prime-time get juxtaposed to the superstars and graciously filtered out. All the little details are there, the things the campaign staff must handle to get on stage in big cities. Despite some historic "AAARRRRGGGGHHHH!" moments, coming up short in Iowa usually isn't immediately fatal for a major player.


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