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Cairycat

(1,706 posts)
Tue Aug 13, 2019, 07:59 AM Aug 2019

A great answer for those who say, "Why should Iowa go first?"

From the NYT article, "The Pundit-Defying Idiosyncrasies of Iowa Voters" (also worth a read if you get past the pay wall) this comment:

I am learning quite a bit by reading the comments here. Most glaring is the notion that people in Iowa do not share the concerns and viewpoints of the nation as a whole.

I know that Iowans get cancer, go bankrupt trying to pay medical bills, are buried in student loan debt, serve proudly in uniform, work hard but have trouble keeping up, are already affected by climate change, are already suffering as a consequence of an ill-conceived trade war.

I'm just surprised that the rest of the country is not at all burdened by those concerns.

Keep in mind too that, without the Iowa Caucus, Barack Obama would not have been president (yet). With 3% in polls going into campaign season, he would have never mustered enough support to win a one-day national primary. It was only after Mr. Obama convinced Iowans of his sincerity, intelligence, and energy that other states like South Carolina believed sufficiently that, in fact, Yes We Can (win).

So we'll again do the best we can. You're free to heed or ignore the outcome.

https://nyti.ms/2Me6dJj#permid=101977549



14 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
A great answer for those who say, "Why should Iowa go first?" (Original Post) Cairycat Aug 2019 OP
I'm a big fan, they make candidates work for it BeyondGeography Aug 2019 #1
Message auto-removed Name removed Aug 2019 #2
I have no issue with Iowa going first. I have a problem with it being a caucus still_one Aug 2019 #3
I double dang agree. sagesnow Aug 2019 #5
A lot of Iowans agree. progressoid Aug 2019 #6
+++ still_one Aug 2019 #9
I wish we had a primary Bettie Aug 2019 #11
+++ still_one Aug 2019 #12
Good article. FM123 Aug 2019 #4
A typical Trump supporter at the Iowa State Fair..... kenisgod1 Aug 2019 #7
He seems triggered The Polack MSgt Aug 2019 #8
Here you go and welcome to DU: Rhiannon12866 Aug 2019 #10
I'm old and white as well JPPaverage Sep 2019 #14
There are other good reasons for Iowa to be first Bettie Aug 2019 #13

BeyondGeography

(39,374 posts)
1. I'm a big fan, they make candidates work for it
Tue Aug 13, 2019, 08:04 AM
Aug 2019

They make up their minds late and in return they get to see pretty much all a candidate has to offer. And their judgments have been very sound. Not just with Obama but even when they go with the front runner/safe choice the others get a fair hearing and usually leave Iowa with something to work with.

Response to Cairycat (Original post)

still_one

(92,202 posts)
3. I have no issue with Iowa going first. I have a problem with it being a caucus
Tue Aug 13, 2019, 08:28 AM
Aug 2019

Last edited Tue Aug 13, 2019, 09:29 AM - Edit history (2)

sagesnow

(2,824 posts)
5. I double dang agree.
Tue Aug 13, 2019, 09:20 AM
Aug 2019

I'm from the Hawkeye State and HATE the 4 hour ordeal that is Caucus night. I want to go in vote for my first and second choice and Get Out. Instead of a quick trip to the voting booth, I am locked in a room full of a few hundred of other voters. If my candidate is ahead, my am expected to select someone to give a rally speech to get other caucus goers to come over to my candidate. If my candidate is behind, I'm supposed to select someone to give rally speech to get other caucus goers to come over to my candidate. You have to sit through those off the cuff rally speeches and some mystical mathematical calculations that make Trig class seem like a breeze. It is a real Pain in the Electoral Process. I just want to vote, d@^^1t!

FM123

(10,053 posts)
4. Good article.
Tue Aug 13, 2019, 08:29 AM
Aug 2019

By the way, your post was #1234 - I don't know what that means, but maybe something lucky

JPPaverage

(508 posts)
14. I'm old and white as well
Wed Sep 4, 2019, 11:51 AM
Sep 2019

And I've never once voted Republican. And especially not now. See, I love this country and my state(no not the state of confusion) so I will likely never vote anyone other than Democrats.

Bettie

(16,110 posts)
13. There are other good reasons for Iowa to be first
Sun Aug 18, 2019, 08:46 AM
Aug 2019

A less expensive media market makes various types of advertising more feasible on a small budget.

A smaller population means that a candidate can personally meet people in more intimate settings.

It is a place where an unknown candidate can get a foothold even with very little in the way of resources just by showing up in a lot of different places and talking to people.

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