This is how we elect a President?

[milkyway]

A couple of percent of the population of a small state has great influence on electing a President--and then after more than a year of non-stop campaigning, some people show up and are still undecided? If you haven't made up your mind by now, don't show up! These people aren't talking about anything substantive--they sound like my kids trading Pokemon cards.

[Joe the Revelator]

1. Democracy in action nt

[goobergunch]

3. What ever happened to the Australian Ballot? (n/t)

[kerry-is-my-prez]

2. Totally "freaking" nuts!

n/t

[creativelcro]

5. Sad, but I have to agree...

[ogminlo]

6. Does everyone go out for a beer after?

Or maybe punch and pie. More people will come if there is punch and pie.

[mike1963]

9. I think a lot of them have already "gone out for a beer".......

weird stuff, this.
:eyes:

[Snivi Yllom]

21. paying attention to the Dem caucuses for the first time...

I agree the system is bizarre, too complicated and strangely quaint.

[depakid]

4. That's the American way

now you see why we're in such sorry shape compared with all of the other Western democracies!

[cryofan]

16. I agree! This IA caucus is a disgrace to this nation.

[Frederic Bastiat]

27. Especially when your guy looses

[demnan]

7. Yeah, it's surreal isn't it? I'm watching CSPAN

Here they are trading delegates. Something about this whole process leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Now chanting Edwards! Well everyone seems civil and in good spirits.

I'll be glad when the fight for which candidates is over. Everybody talking about viable. Are we playing a defensive game or an offensive game? Hmmmm?

[sangha]

8. No, not at all.

This is how Iowa elects delegates to the DNC Presidential convention. That's all.

Some people may come to some conclusions based on the issues that came to light during this contest, or the candidates reactions to those issues, but there's nothing wrong or unreasonable about judging candidates based on their performance under pressure.

[milkyway]

15. The media has blown this up to be much bigger than it should be...

I have no problem with Iowa and New Hampshire providing a kind of early screening of the candidates. What I don't like is seeing people that have been bombarded with campaign news, commercials, advertisements, mailings, phone calls, etc. for over a year--then showing up still not knowing who they support yet! Why bother! They're going to make their decision based on a few words with a neighbor on caucus night? You had all year to talk to them.

The primaries begin next week.

[sangha]

22. I disagree. The media TRIES to make it bigger than it is

but I think Iowans are smart enough to know what's going on. Look at what you just said. You say the Iowans are ignoring the news, commercials, ads, etc. THAT'S THE MEDIA!! And Iowans aren't paying attention to it.

[incapsulated]

10. People show up..

at the General Election not knowing how they will vote in amazing numbers, you know.

What's even more crazy, is that so many wait until the conventions to make up their minds. The conventions??

[fishnfla]

11. That one judge on the end is harsh!

I dont like American Idol either

[MercutioATC]

12. NOW does everybody understand some of the criticizms of caucuses?

What chaos! How the hell to they validate anything? It's a complete mess.

[eleny]

13. I'm enjoying the coverage

What I'm seeing is diehard Americans in the heartland who went out on a cold, January night to participate in the election process. Maybe it's easier for me because Clark is my candidate of choice. So, this isn't my night in that way. But as an American, it's a thrill when I can watch Americans make the effort to participate.

Btw, I'm in Colorado where our primary was canceled for budgetary reasons by our Repub governor. Pfui! But we will Caucus in April. It will be my first caucus and I wouldn't miss it for the world.

[leyton]

14. I think it's great that they haven't decided yet.

After all, it shows that they haven't closed their mind to any candidate yet. They can be swayed by arguments and not loyalty to a candidate or partisanship.

[Jerseycoa]

17. Me, too

A kind of rollicking democracy we never see in primary states. I like.

[MercutioATC]

18. My issue is that if they haven't decided yet, they're probably

choosing on a whim. What could one person at a caucus possibly say to an informed voter that would make up their mind for them?

I see it as an example of how lazy Americans have become when it comes to choosing people to govern them.

[leyton]

25. Informed voters can be indecisive.

If you inform yourself well about every plan, you can see the strengths and flaws in each one... and that can make it hard to decide.

Haven't you ever tried to convince a friend of something?

[MercutioATC]

28. Yes, but I've never voted (politically or otherwise) without a clear sense

of what I was doing. I've always taken the time to weigh the issues beforehand and make a decision.

My problem with leaving the decision to the last minute is what if you DON'T have an epiphany? What if you're STILL undecided when it's time to declare?

[theboss]

19. No, it's how we choose a nominee

The Parties are not democracies. They are closed clubs. So, they make their own rules about selecting their candidates.

Just be glad it's not pre-1972 when the Mayor of New York or Chicago could essentially decide who the next President would be.

[ShaneGR]

20. So only people who make up their minds early should vote?

Huh?

[MercutioATC]

23. No, but it DOES seem indicative of a lack of time spent making an

informed decision. I just don't know anybody who researches a purchase to be sure of all of the ins-and-outs and then impulse-buys.

[oasis]

24. When voters make decisions based on their discussions with other

informed citizens that's a good thing.

[terryg11]

26. don't show up?

that's a great suggestion. I'm amazed at how sure we are of ourselves at times. I've spent months reading things posted here and watching the news and listened to the pundits and I barely had my choice down pat by last night. You know why? Because our democratic candidates all had some very strong points that were just different enough to make me stop and think about them. In my opinion five or six of them are viable and the decision to support one weighs heavy. Going to caucus CAN be a good way to get more info and decide, although in some cases it's obviously not tht good. Didn't watch Cspan or CNN so don't know what they showed whre I went there were some good cases made for supprting a particular candidate.

Yeah, Iowa is a small state and should in no way be a clear indicator of how the rest of the nation feels but I don't recall anyone saying tht just because you get shut out at the caucus you need to quit.
In the case of Gephardt though, I understand. He is tremendously popular here and if he can't show well then his race probably is over. Not to mention choosing to spend that much time and money here only to finish way behind. I heard it a lot last night, evryone really likes Gep. and thinks he's a terrific congressman but just didn't think he had what it takes to beat W.