Iowa Caucus

**forHISglory** · 01-03-2012, 10:43 PM

I was there tonight! It was my first caucus, and pretty exciting. I really enjoyed the whole experience.

**Nishu** · 01-03-2012, 10:54 PM

I've been glued to the news all night!

**McD** · 01-03-2012, 11:48 PM

I also participated! Second Caucus here.

**Nishu** · 01-04-2012, 12:33 AM

Well, I'm obviously very disappointed in the results. Ron Paul is my man, and I was hoping he would take Iowa.

On the upside though, he's top tier now and I think we sent a message tonight. Santorum will have his moment, and he will fade like the rest of them. I know we can beat Romney. We spent the better part of the evening on top of him. (you're welcome for that mental image btw.)

I'm also incredibly proud of our boots on the ground. Paul volunteers are amazing. They don't quit, they don't mess up, and they don't listen to the man. You know that nonsense about the Virginia ballot? Never would have happened if they had half of the skill and dedication that our Paulbots do. Our guys get it done. <3

EXCLUSIVE: Ron Paul May Have Just Secretly Won Iowa

**mauimagic** · 01-04-2012, 01:32 AM

Congrats to all of you who are participating in our political process - it is exciting and important!!

**Nishu** · 01-04-2012, 02:11 AM

I'm hearing that Paul gets the same number of delegates as Romney and Santorum... I think this was effectively a 3 way tie.

**ilovechocolate** · 01-04-2012, 08:39 AM

The latest news from the caucus is that Romney won by 8 votes.

To me, this is what America should ideally be-----grass roots politics. Too bad it's hardly ever this way anymore.

**McD** · 01-04-2012, 09:42 AM

Originally Posted by Nishu

I'm also incredibly proud of our boots on the ground. Paul volunteers are amazing. They don't quit, they don't mess up, and they don't listen to the man. You know that nonsense about the Virginia ballot? Never would have happened if they had half of the skill and dedication that our Paulbots do. Our guys get it done. <3

Here is what amazes me. I started out yesterday knowing that I would cast a vote for either Ron Paul or Mitt Romney. My main purpose in caucusing was to ensure a particular candidate that I found frightening did not win.

I called the Romney HQ multiple times and received only a voicemail. I called Ron Paul's HQ TWICE and was speaking to a live person within minutes.

I mentioned this to you on FB, Nishu, but in our particular polling place there were 154 voters. Gingrich took 39 votes, Paul followed with 37. The man that spoke on behalf of Gingrich was AMAZING. He was charismatic and I think he swept all the undecideds in the room.

**bunnys** · 01-04-2012, 05:15 PM

Nishu:

What nonsense about the Virginia ballot? The fact that Gingrich didn't get on? The fact that there are only 2 candidates on the ballot (Romney and Paul?) The fact that one must swear an oath of allegience to the Republican Party's eventual candidate to vote in the Virginia Republican Primary (a state where residents do not register for one party or another?)

I, for one, will vote in the Republican Primary if I want to. I'm a citizen and I have the right to have my voice heard. As a citizen, wouldn't I want to be able to choose what I consider to be a good candidate from either party once the actual presidential election day arrives?

If I decide I want to vote in the Republican Primary, I will have no problem taking the oath and then breaking it later on if I choose to do so on election day. I mean swear an oath of allegience to a POLITICAL PARTY? Come on? That just seem so counterintuitive and destructive to the entire process.

**Nishu** · 01-04-2012, 06:06 PM

Wow, I hadn't heard anything about the loyalty oath.

For others interested:
Va. GOP will require loyalty oath in presidential primary | Richmond Times-Dispatch

I think it's rather sad that they're pulling this nonsense considering how badly the GOP doesn't want Paul OR Romney in the White House. I wouldn't want to lie, but seriously, that can't be binding. The vote is private. Goofballs.

The ballot drama tickled me a little, I have to admit. For one, being a Paul supporter, my guy wasnt the one getting the shaft. For two, that's what they get for not having the passionate ground support that Paul has. Newt's "volunteers" were actually paid, from what I hear. I don't really see what's so hard about getting the signatures required, but it wouldn't have bothered me at all to see the other candidates fight the system and get their names on the ballot. I was surprised when they got shut down.

Of course, if Paul had failed at getting on the ballot it would have been seen as evidence of what a big joke his campaign was and we would have been told to stop whining.

**Nishu** · 01-04-2012, 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by McD

Here is what amazes me. I started out yesterday knowing that I would cast a vote for either Ron Paul or Mitt Romney. My main purpose in caucusing was to ensure a particular candidate that I found frightening did not win.

I called the Romney HQ multiple times and received only a voicemail. I called Ron Paul's HQ TWICE and was speaking to a live person within minutes.

I mentioned this to you on FB, Nishu, but in our particular polling place there were 154 voters. Gingrich took 39 votes, Paul followed with 37. The man that spoke on behalf of Gingrich was AMAZING. He was charismatic and I think he swept all the undecideds in the room.

I kinda wish I would have seen the guy talk... not that I would have changed my mind or anything.

**bunnys** · 01-04-2012, 07:21 PM

There are a lot of Paul supporters in my area--really visible. Not at all surprised he got on.

If I were a die-hard living, breathing Republican in Virginia, I'd be very disappointed that when I went to choose someone to be my nominee I only had two choices on the ballot. There are still a lot of very serious, viable candidates in the race (Santorum, Gingrich.) They should have more than two candidates to choose from. Why bother coming out if so few choices?

**McD** · 01-04-2012, 09:24 PM

Originally Posted by Nishu

I kinda wish I would have seen the guy talk... not that I would have changed my mind or anything.

I am serious, he blew my mind. He even managed to put a positive spin on the affairs Gingrich had. In a way that made sense.

**Nishu** · 01-04-2012, 10:20 PM

Originally Posted by McD

I am serious, he blew my mind. He even managed to put a positive spin on the affairs Gingrich had. In a way that made sense.

What? What did he say?

**McD** · 01-04-2012, 10:28 PM

Okay, I am botching it horribly but it was along the lines of Gingrich having made horrible, personal mistakes. However, Gingrich has opened up and admitted those mistakes. This guy went on to say that in his (the speaker's, not Newt's) line of work, he often dealt with people who were in the crux of horrible personal crisises and that is when they grew and learned from them versus people choosing to bury their heads in the sand and never admit their mistakes.

It was a combination of what he said and how he said it. Dude was charismatic and personable as all get out.