Why are Republicans having debates and straw polls so early?

[LiberalFighter]

Doesn't this work against them?

[elleng]

1. That's what they do in Iowa!

Dunno about work against them, but large field needs thinning.

[Swede]

2. They need all that straw for uhm constructing strawmen.

:shrug:

[glowing]

3. No, its not early.. I believe by Feb they will be having the caucus.

[frazzled]

4. Debates always start the summer before election year.

I was at Yearly Kos (now Netroots Nation) back in 2007, when all the Democratic candidates attended and had one of their first debates. There were freaking dozens of them before Iowa and NH.

The Iowa caucuses used to be in December of the year prior to the election. This year I think they're pushed back to early February 2012. That's only six months from now.

[donna123]

5. election rules need to change

politicians spend more time running for office than they do governing. We should do like the UK, 6 weeks or whatever it is. I bet politicians would like that too because it is just ridiculous.

[phasma ex machina]

6. OTOH the MORE time pols spend running for election the LESS time they have to stick it to the people

on behalf of the powers-that-be (banksters).

[onehandle]

7. Most of them, if not all of them, are just there to sell books and speaking gigs.

Never too early to make money.

[Historic NY]

8. Because they are the "Morana Class".

[Balbus]

9. The same reason Democrats were having debates and straw polls during the summer of 2007

To find the best candidate to run for president.

[jwirr]

10. They have a lot of candidates and we have only one. For us that

is good (spend less money on the primaries & do not tear each other apart) but for them it just gives them more time to stick their foot in their mouths. With this group the more talking they are allowed to do the crazier they look - same way with the rethugs in congress.

[Demeter]

11. Desperation

They need a miracle.