Joey Porter's Pit Bulls occasionally ponder matters less important than the Steelers. Such as? Well, for instance, presidential elections and world events.Today's topic: The Iowa caucuses.
We don't really have opinions about the Iowa caucuses, just … stupid questions.
- Like, what the hell are the Iowa caucuses?
- And, if they're so important, why doesn't every state hold caucuses instead of conventional primary elections?
- Also, if Iowa is such a bellwether state in January, why is it inconsequential in November? On election night, nobody has ever said or is going to say, "It comes down to Iowa. It's too close to call in Iowa." No. You never hear that. It's always Florida. Or Ohio. Illinois. Pennsylvania. Michigan. Even, in 1960, West Virgina. Never Iowa.
- One more question: How are the Republican candidates going to spin the immigration issue when they get to a state that actually has, you know, immigrants? It's one thing to talk big in Iowa, but let's hear what they have to say in, say, New York.
7 comments:
I'm not an expert and some of this info may be a little off, but I'm pretty sure it's mostly accurate. I spend way more time reading the news than what I should be doing...like work:
1. Caucuses are different than normal elections. It varies by parties, but is generally more informal and, at least on the democrat's side, a public declaration of the candidate you choose. They seem really weird.
2. Caucuses get a lot of grief for disenfranchising people. You have to show up at a set hour and time, which means that people who have to work or can't get childcare can't attend - not to mention those in the military.
The reason Iowa is the most important is because it's the first and gives the winner momentum heading into the first primaries next week, NH and SC. It gives the winner additional publicity, which leads to more donations.
3. Answered above. The key for Iowa is that it provides major momentum, not so much delegates.
4. Who knows. They change their platform so often, depending on who they're talking to...
Thanks, Quiet Strength. It's all a mustery to me. Kinda like why Bill Cowher allowed Ricardo Colclough to return punts and why the team kept him on the roster for as long as they did.
from what i've seen, the iowa cacusses give iowans a chance to feel important, you know, like they really matter to the other 49 states. i know what i've heard of them being interviewed on the news, they certainly are full of themselves right now. i'll give it to them once every 4 years, i guess. next week we'll forget about them completely.
and i'm not touching the immigration deal, giving a political opinion on any issue now days automatically opens you up to be hated by 50% of your viewers. we're all too confrotational and judgemental nowdays.
I don't mind the caucus much. If they had all the primaries on one day then it would basically just come down to who had the most money and name recognition - meaning Clinton vs. Giuliani. The Howard Deans, Ron Pauls, and Mike Huckabees of the world wouldn't have a chance. Which means that some state would have to go first. I say better Iowa than Massachusetts or Texas.
Still, the way they do it is really weird.
The Huckabees, Pauls, and Deans of the word not having a chance?
I'm ok with that.
But then again, I'm also ok with the Clintons and Giulianis not having a chance either.
I'm one of the coveted "undecided".
I’m not feeling for any of them.
Which is weird for me because I love this political stuff.
Can't imagine someone introducing "President Huckabee". Sounds like a character out of a Saturday Night Live alum. comedy.
I meant grassroot phenomenons rather than the individuals themselves. Spreading out the primaries allows candidates to actually go out and spread their message rather than the media just anointing someone (like it tried to do with "Rudy" and "Hillary").
Wait, there are immigrants in New York? Get right out of town.
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