Is it just me but are the Iowa Caucuses just straight up stupid ?

[Botany]

They seem like a throwback to a theater production of good old fashioned down
home country style dance at the feed mill where Jimmy bids the most for Betty
May’s peach apple pie so he can the first dance with her.

Or I might be wrong.


Btw we really need to redo the whole Presidential and other elections crap.
6 months soup to nuts for Presidential elections and 4 months for the others.
This non stop campaigning is prime time stupid. I can never see some news
person with a $2,700.00 coat and sporting a $450.00 cut and color by that
dog ass waterfall in Burlington for the rest of my life and be real good with that.

And we can dump the electoral college too.

And make it illegal for Fox News to keep poisoning America via disinformation
as they call themselves “news” too.

Btw getting rid of electronic voting is also needed.

[bottomofthehill]

1. Any caucus is stupid

Extremely un-democratic.

[SunSeeker]

7. Yes. I hope we, as a party have abolished them.

Last I heard, Dems will vote by mail in Iowa.

https://www.kcci.com/article/how-iowa-democratic-caucuses-work-2024/46343087#

https://iowademocrats.org/caucus/

[dchill]

2. It's not just you.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

3. Endless campaigning will continue until no profits are made from ads.

[Blue Owl]

4. Is this a Cauc Block thread?

If so — please proceed!!!

[rubbersole]

10. Funny!

[Skittles]

5. yes, very ridiculous

but then, so is the entire American way of voting for president

[LetMyPeopleVote]

6. Caucuses are weird animals

Texas used to have the Texas two step where two thirds of the delegates were selected in a primary and one-third in a caucus that took place that night. I ended up running the caucus for my precinct in 2008 which was the last year Texas had the Texas two step. It was a much simpler process compared to Iowa but I was there until almost 11 PM doing the paperwork and calling in the results.

For the next step which was the county convention, the Obama team brought down the team that ran the Iowa caucus and I learned some tricks to increase the number of delegates. There are some fun game-theory type games that increase the number of delegates awarded at the county convention level.

I was happy to get rid of the Texas two step.

[brooklynite]

8. Name a better Democratic candidate who didn't get nominated because of the Iowa Caucus...

[SocialDemocrat61]

15. Hubert Humphrey in 1972

Ted Kennedy in 1980
Gary Hart in 1984
Literally anyone in 1988

[Grown2Hate]

17. I MIGHT argue Dean in 2004, but I

loved Kerry, too, so I'll defer.

Although I think it's less of an outcome driven complaint than just a ridiculous process complaint. Whomever has the loudest, most persistent, or even bullying supporters, has the best chance.

Unless I'm confusing a caucus with something else. Ok, back to lurking.

[rubbersole]

9. Its relevance out of proportion in national electrons.

Jimmy Carter shook every hand in Iowa and it gave him the exposure and momentum to get elected. Brilliant at the time.

[Warpy]

11. I think the word you're looking for is "conrball."

and it's always like that, I don't kno whether because it is or they're goofing on the candidates as they hand them corn dogs at their state fair or if they really are like that at heart. It's a favorite of Republicans, who meet and greet the "real" Americans in greasy spoon diners across the state, neglecting the majority of Americans who live on either coast.

Drives me nuts every year and was a large part of why I turned televised news off 20 years ago.

[BaronChocula]

12. Come on now, Botany!

Iowa ranks #31 in GDP among U.S. states and it's the 31st most populous state. So that weird numerical coincidence has to be worth something, Right?

Plus Steve Kornacki has been trying to keep busy tracking Taylor Swift ticket prices or some crap and he's ready to get back to some super exciting real-time on-air on the spot math, county by county, by county as each single vote comes in. It is truly the Milli Vanilli of Democracy and I.Can't. Wait!

[Botany]

13. Steve Kornaki is like a case of shingles but less enjoyable

N/t

[Tom_Foolery]

14. I have thought the same thing for over 50 years...

[LetMyPeopleVote]

16. I changed channels because they were focusing on Iowa

Iowa is really a meaningless state and I am tired of the coverage

[ChoppinBroccoli]

18. I Remember Watching Them In 2004 On CSPAN And Thinking The Exact Same Thing

They all take place in somebody's house, or is a high school gym, and the method of "voting" is to go stand over there if you're for X, go stand in the bathroom if you're for Y, etc. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

And then to listen to the people who go to the other groups lobbying people to come join their groups was even more shocking. You come away from it thinking that there's no way this is how the leader of the free world is selected.

[SYFROYH]

19. There are good qualities to caucuses -- speaking, listening, multiple rounds of votes, consensus

But in the end I think voting is best. And in winner take all primary, ranked voting.

It's too difficult for people to attend; they can be long events, and sometimes people feel intimidated or peer pressured.