Bulldogs chill with Obama

[MoValley John]

I didn't know getting a chance to meet the President of the United States was a partisan issue.

I don't think it is. That said, holding a shin dig for the President in your back yard becomes political and partisan. It can rub people wrong. To host a reception at the school or in any other public place would have been one thing, but to host a political photo op in your own back yard is another. I think everyone, Republican or Democrat, would be honored to meet a sitting president, but hosting a defacto political event in your back yard means you have chosen sides and could alienate some of your boosters. It would irritate some Drake alumni that are Democrats should the same exact event have taken place with a Republican president.

[unipanther99]

I'm not an Obama fan, but it's hard to hold it against anyone for wanting to meet the President. The issue I have is that Iowa gets all the attention is does for national politics when there are certainly areas in greater need of focus that are overlooked. Why we allow Iowa and NH to play the role they do should probably be a little more closely analyzed.

I'm way biased, but I think Iowa's first in the nation status is a great thing for the country. It's inexpensive to campaign here, so it doesn't limit the field to only the mega rich. Iowans take their responsibility seriously, and by and large, seem better informed than Americans at large (understanding there are several very well informed people posting on this board from outside of the Hawkeye state).

Also, both parties have added South Carolina and Nevada to the "early" list, allowing for a little more of a diverse population to get their say early on.

My first job out of college was working for a presidential candidate during the 1999-2000 Iowa Caucus season. It nearly killed me, but it was an experience that I will never forget, and has impacted my life in a big way.

[Snaggletooth]

Iowans take their responsibility seriously, and by and large, seem better informed than Americans at large (understanding there are several very well informed people posting on this board from outside of the Hawkeye state)

So well informed that they gave John Edwards 30% of the vote in 2008. Plus they do a "Caucus" - which is more of function of how strong a particular group is for a specific candidate.

[unipanther99]

Iowans take their responsibility seriously, and by and large, seem better informed than Americans at large (understanding there are several very well informed people posting on this board from outside of the Hawkeye state)

So well informed that they gave John Edwards 30% of the vote in 2008. Plus they do a "Caucus" - which is more of function of how strong a particular group is for a specific candidate.

Iowans are well informed, but don't have ESP. The sex scandal wasn't yet public. Edwards was polling a strong third nationally, so I didn't see his 30% as a big shock. The big news was Obama's early victory. Anyway, I was caucusing across the hall, so I can't really speak to the Edwards issue.

The Democrats caucus differently than the Republicans. With the Republicans, it's basically a state-wide straw poll, with raw vote totals added up across the state. The Democrats do this "viability" thing, where there is horsetrading for votes when your candidate is no longer "viable."

[MVCfans]

Iowans take their responsibility seriously, and by and large, seem better informed than Americans at large (understanding there are several very well informed people posting on this board from outside of the Hawkeye state)

So well informed that they gave John Edwards 30% of the vote in 2008. Plus they do a "Caucus" - which is more of function of how strong a particular group is for a specific candidate.

Iowans are well informed, but don't have ESP. The sex scandal wasn't yet public. Edwards was polling a strong third nationally, so I didn't see his 30% as a big shock. The big news was Obama's early victory. Anyway, I was caucusing across the hall, so I can't really speak to the Edwards issue.

The Democrats caucus differently than the Republicans. With the Republicans, it's basically a state-wide straw poll, with raw vote totals added up across the state. The Democrats do this "viability" thing, where there is horsetrading for votes when your candidate is no longer "viable."

Dammit... I should have had a prediction caucus on the board because that would have been a much better indicator of who people really want to win

[DUBulldog]

Iowans take their responsibility seriously, and by and large, seem better informed than Americans at large (understanding there are several very well informed people posting on this board from outside of the Hawkeye state)

So well informed that they gave John Edwards 30% of the vote in 2008. Plus they do a "Caucus" - which is more of function of how strong a particular group is for a specific candidate.

I've lived in Iowa for 34 years now....and still don't really know what a caucus is.

[Ali]

A caucus is a really poor way of determining anything. If you don't agree with one of the larger groups you basically don't exist. If you were a Dodd supporter, you would have had to decide between Obama and Hilary because they were the only ones viable. One group might have better snacks and persuade you to their group with that while the other might have a cute babe wink at you. It's rather ridiculous.

[unipanther99]

You have to admit, it makes for great 24 hour news channel theater when they have a live camera in the basement of some small country church and the national commentators are trying to figure out who is going to get their lone delegate, and meanwhile a 45 minute discussion about adding a hog lot ordinance to the party platform is being discussed.

[goUEaces]

You have to admit, it makes for great 24 hour news channel theater when they have a live camera in the basement of some small country church and the national commentators are trying to figure out who is going to get their lone delegate, and meanwhile a 45 minute discussion about adding a hog lot ordinance to the party platform is being discussed.