‘Caucus,’ a Documentary of the GOP’s Crazy Days in Iowa

[DonViejo]

by David Freedlander Nov 9, 2013 12:00 AM EST

From Marcus Bachmann thumb wrestling to Mitt Romney’s cheesecake insult, a new film by A.J. Schnack captures all of the weirdness before Iowa Republicans’ first-in-the-nation vote.

Of all the oddities that presidential campaigns produce, there is perhaps none so strange as that after over two years of caucuses, primaries, polls, pundits screeching at each other on cable, blogs, tweets, gaffes, stump speeches, and state fairs, the whole shebang comes back again as reporters dump their notebooks and operatives ply their insider access for favorable coverage in the books that chronicle the history just past.

It’s odd for three reasons: One, even political junkies are sick of the blather by the time conventions roll around in the summer; two, if you missed the whole thing, or just don’t care, why would you care to revisit it?; and three) by the time the previous cycle’s books have hit stores, the new campaign cycle is in swing. It’s a little like re-reading a stack of old newspapers to find out everything you have missed. The world has spun on.

Still, in a week in which Double Down (by the duo that brought us Game Change after the 2008 campaign) informs us that the Romney team’s nickname for Chris Christie was “Pufferfish,” comes Caucus, a look at the Republican primary process in Iowa, that all-important first-in-the-nation state.

This film is a delight, and a riveting glimpse into the American political process—or at least the red-hued half of it. Unlike Double Down, this isn’t a behind-the-scenes look. The camera is out front, keeping a close eye on the candidates as they grovel and plead for votes by declaring that “we are an exceptional country,” “this is the last election before it is too late,” and pledging to be the ones to “tell you the truth,” as Rick Santorum says at one point. In this contest of ideas, all things Obaman—health care, TelePrompTers, campaigns against childhood obesity, Social Security, tax relief for the poor, and international apologia—are held up for ridicule and scorn.

full article
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/11/09/caucus-a-documentary-of-the-gop-s-crazy-days-in-iowa.html