Some anecdotes from my first caucus (I didn't live here 8 years ago):
There was record turnout according to some of the people standing next to me in line, far and away more than 2016. I had to park 3 blocks away, because the school parking lot was already full, even though I got there 30 minutes early. The snow and freezing temps didn't stop anyone from the farmland around Dubuque it seems. I then stood in line for 45 minutes as everyone slowly made their way into the school gym, after getting their ID's checked and being handed a piece of paper with the list of candidates.
Reps from each candidate gave a "5 minute" speech (aka 20 minutes), the Trump speaker was quite possibly the worst public speaker I've ever heard. She lost track of what she was saying constantly, repeated the same sentences over and over again, and didn't actually say anything about Trump. She just talked about herself for 20 minutes while repeatedly mentioning that she loved Trump. The Nikki Haley speaker spent her 20 minutes antagonizing the Trump supporters, by telling them she was voting for Haley because Trump can't win swing voters. Towards the end of her speech, she was getting booed and heckled so loudly that I couldn't hear what she was saying. She didn't convince a single person to vote for Haley in my opinion, and may have even turned some of the Haley voters off. I'm surprised the campaigns don't try to vet the people who are going to be giving the closing pitch.
DeSantis then came in to a small ovation, but none of the Trump supporters booed him. He gave a pretty good campaign speech, and the only digs he took at Trump were very subtle. Just an occasional mention of the fact that it's going to take 8 years to fix the mess, that he keeps his campaign promises, and that he fought back against Covid restrictions and Fauci. By the end of his speech, the Trump supporters were applauding what he was saying, as he pointed out all the problems with the country, and what he'd do to fix them.
There were a small amount of Vivek supporters there, they all appeared to be exactly 18 years old, and they were all men. I was still standing in line when whoever spoke for him went first, so I didn't hear any of it.
It looked to be about 70% men 30% women there.
After the speeches, they split us up into our precincts. They passed around a donation basket for the Iowa GOP, which I found very distasteful to be doing on election day. They then had everyone bubble in their choice, and drop it in a basket. At that point, you were free to leave if you wanted, or you could stay for the results and watch them count the votes. I had been there for about 2 hours by that point, so I left.
The caucus continues to be one of the dumbest ways to vote. You have to show up on a weeknight, waste 2 hours, and listen to people speak when your mind is already made up. Only then can you vote, and if you're not in line on time, you're turned away. You can't come at the end after everyone is done giving their pitches. I can't imagine how 2 parents with kids would both be able to attend. I wonder if that's part of why there was a disproportionate amount of men there.
The Nikki Haley supporters were the moderates, or the anyone-but-Biden people, based on what they were saying. The Trump supporters were far and away the most enthusiastic and energetic, and they appeared to be over half the people there. The DeSantis supporters kept talking about how awesome it was that he showed up out of nowhere, so I didn't hear any of what they were saying about why they were voting for him. l'm not sure if DeSantis managed to turn any of the Trump supporters or not, I'll be curious to look at my precinct to see.
I voted for DeSantis, like I had planned, so it was cool to see him show up like that. I have no judgement for anyone who votes for someone else, I just can't get myself to vote for someone with provable Epstein connections. It's a red line I can't cross, but everyone has their own way to interpret that and what it means.
Trump is going to win in a blowout regardless, he very obviously had the most supporters, but not just that, his supporters were more passionate than anyone else. The supporters of the other candidates were kind of just there, the Trump supporters were ecstatic to be there.
I read an opinion piece that said a good chunk of Trump's base has bought into the phrase he put out there, "They're only coming after me because I'm in the way, they're really coming after you." So they think Trump will protect them from the big, evil government. I think that's based on an unfounded fear. Another over-laying chunk of Trump's base sees D.C. as 'the swamp' and the only way America can survive is if the swamp is drained, and Trump is the One to do it (One is intentionally capitalized). I don't think the swamp can be drained, moreover, I believe if Trump could actually drain it, the swamp would simply be re-filled with a different kind of sewage and stink.
I base that last part on my understanding of fallen human nature. The founders of this country were cognizant of man's propensity toward corruption, having been corrupted by sin. I'll accept the eye-rolls at this point, but call it whatever you will, the human heart/mind/soul is trending ever downward.
Because of all this, I would much prefer Desantis or Haley over Trump; accept the fact that the swamp is in place, keep it from growing, and manage it where you can. Maybe a Desantis or a Haley can be more of a unifier and actually be good for all of us.
@CalvinAndHobo
Thank you Calvin. I enjoyed the insider’s perspective. Now for the weirdness. I was gonna ask you what “bubbled in” your choices meant but, after sufficiently googling it I figured it out. I already assumed it meant you completed your ballot, but I was not familiar with bubbles. I’ve done plenty of standardized tests and paper ballots In my life and I know how to fill in the choices completely using a #2 pencil only, but I just can’t recall ever calling them bubbles.
Since the Republican Party has no balls, no money and no unity, Trump is the only one that gives a majority of them any hope of getting the country back on the track they'd prefer.
Don't let the wife know what you spend on guns, ammo or cigars.
Just filed my taxes. First year maybe ever where I am not getting money back on my return. It definitely made me wonder how easy it would be to lie and not get caught, but I did what a true American does instead. I paid the bill and then complained about it on the internet.
This is my least favorite of all the discussion topics....politics is such a waste of time...creates too much division.... hot off the press...we live.. we die.. and all go in a box.... enjoy the show while you can, find Jesus while you can, enjoy your loved ones while you can.. and smoke as many cigars as humanly possible in between...
"Some people meditate, I smoke cigars." - Ron Perlman
"...I intend to go home tonight and smoke a cigar to the glory of God." - Charles Spurgeon
Two Time Cigar Lottery Winner
@BullSquatch said:
This is my least favorite of all the discussion topics....politics is such a waste of time...creates too much division.... hot off the press...we live.. we die.. and all go in a box.... enjoy the show while you can, find Jesus while you can, enjoy your loved ones while you can.. and smoke as many cigars as humanly possible in between...
I dont know, making fun of liberals still makes for some good fun..............jk. Its a joke Francis, lighten up.
"I drink a great deal. I sleep a little, and I smoke cigar after cigar. That is why I am in two-hundred-percent form." -- Winston Churchill "LET'S GO FRANCIS" Peter
In today’s world, it doesn’t really matter what side of the fence you identify with… The bottom line is all politicians are corrupt, or eventually will become corrupt. As a traditionalist and constitutionalist I still believe in what this country was founded upon. It’s worth fighting for.
"I drink a great deal. I sleep a little, and I smoke cigar after cigar. That is why I am in two-hundred-percent form." -- Winston Churchill "LET'S GO FRANCIS" Peter
@dirtdude said:
We need to recruit more libs, tough ones that can take a beating and keep coming back for more, like Francis.
Francis like a good pounding in more ways then one.
"I drink a great deal. I sleep a little, and I smoke cigar after cigar. That is why I am in two-hundred-percent form." -- Winston Churchill "LET'S GO FRANCIS" Peter
@OutdoorsSmoke_21191 said:
In today’s world, it doesn’t really matter what side of the fence you identify with… The bottom line is all politicians are corrupt, or eventually will become corrupt. As a traditionalist and constitutionalist I still believe in what this country was founded upon. It’s worth fighting for.
You think that this country was founded on slavery?
"I drink a great deal. I sleep a little, and I smoke cigar after cigar. That is why I am in two-hundred-percent form." -- Winston Churchill "LET'S GO FRANCIS" Peter
This is how some people today seem to take the saying "pick your battles":
Pretend a long dead subject is still relevant, and that others are supporting the wrong side of history.
You win every time.
It just feels SO good to be right.
WARNING: The above post may contain thoughts or ideas known to the State of Caliphornia to cause seething rage, confusion, distemper, nausea, perspiration, sphincter release, or cranial implosion to persons who implicitly trust only one news source, or find themselves at either the left or right political extreme. Proceed at your own risk.
"If you do not read the newspapers you're uninformed. If you do read the newspapers, you're misinformed." -- Mark Twain
Comments
Trump gonna be roLLin , giDDy uP.
Some anecdotes from my first caucus (I didn't live here 8 years ago):
There was record turnout according to some of the people standing next to me in line, far and away more than 2016. I had to park 3 blocks away, because the school parking lot was already full, even though I got there 30 minutes early. The snow and freezing temps didn't stop anyone from the farmland around Dubuque it seems. I then stood in line for 45 minutes as everyone slowly made their way into the school gym, after getting their ID's checked and being handed a piece of paper with the list of candidates.
Reps from each candidate gave a "5 minute" speech (aka 20 minutes), the Trump speaker was quite possibly the worst public speaker I've ever heard. She lost track of what she was saying constantly, repeated the same sentences over and over again, and didn't actually say anything about Trump. She just talked about herself for 20 minutes while repeatedly mentioning that she loved Trump. The Nikki Haley speaker spent her 20 minutes antagonizing the Trump supporters, by telling them she was voting for Haley because Trump can't win swing voters. Towards the end of her speech, she was getting booed and heckled so loudly that I couldn't hear what she was saying. She didn't convince a single person to vote for Haley in my opinion, and may have even turned some of the Haley voters off. I'm surprised the campaigns don't try to vet the people who are going to be giving the closing pitch.
DeSantis then came in to a small ovation, but none of the Trump supporters booed him. He gave a pretty good campaign speech, and the only digs he took at Trump were very subtle. Just an occasional mention of the fact that it's going to take 8 years to fix the mess, that he keeps his campaign promises, and that he fought back against Covid restrictions and Fauci. By the end of his speech, the Trump supporters were applauding what he was saying, as he pointed out all the problems with the country, and what he'd do to fix them.
There were a small amount of Vivek supporters there, they all appeared to be exactly 18 years old, and they were all men. I was still standing in line when whoever spoke for him went first, so I didn't hear any of it.
It looked to be about 70% men 30% women there.
After the speeches, they split us up into our precincts. They passed around a donation basket for the Iowa GOP, which I found very distasteful to be doing on election day. They then had everyone bubble in their choice, and drop it in a basket. At that point, you were free to leave if you wanted, or you could stay for the results and watch them count the votes. I had been there for about 2 hours by that point, so I left.
The caucus continues to be one of the dumbest ways to vote. You have to show up on a weeknight, waste 2 hours, and listen to people speak when your mind is already made up. Only then can you vote, and if you're not in line on time, you're turned away. You can't come at the end after everyone is done giving their pitches. I can't imagine how 2 parents with kids would both be able to attend. I wonder if that's part of why there was a disproportionate amount of men there.
The Nikki Haley supporters were the moderates, or the anyone-but-Biden people, based on what they were saying. The Trump supporters were far and away the most enthusiastic and energetic, and they appeared to be over half the people there. The DeSantis supporters kept talking about how awesome it was that he showed up out of nowhere, so I didn't hear any of what they were saying about why they were voting for him. l'm not sure if DeSantis managed to turn any of the Trump supporters or not, I'll be curious to look at my precinct to see.
I voted for DeSantis, like I had planned, so it was cool to see him show up like that. I have no judgement for anyone who votes for someone else, I just can't get myself to vote for someone with provable Epstein connections. It's a red line I can't cross, but everyone has their own way to interpret that and what it means.
Trump is going to win in a blowout regardless, he very obviously had the most supporters, but not just that, his supporters were more passionate than anyone else. The supporters of the other candidates were kind of just there, the Trump supporters were ecstatic to be there.
Thank you, Calvin! Your coverage of the event was more informative than the 4 hours of coverage the media spewed last night.
I read an opinion piece that said a good chunk of Trump's base has bought into the phrase he put out there, "They're only coming after me because I'm in the way, they're really coming after you." So they think Trump will protect them from the big, evil government. I think that's based on an unfounded fear. Another over-laying chunk of Trump's base sees D.C. as 'the swamp' and the only way America can survive is if the swamp is drained, and Trump is the One to do it (One is intentionally capitalized). I don't think the swamp can be drained, moreover, I believe if Trump could actually drain it, the swamp would simply be re-filled with a different kind of sewage and stink.
I base that last part on my understanding of fallen human nature. The founders of this country were cognizant of man's propensity toward corruption, having been corrupted by sin. I'll accept the eye-rolls at this point, but call it whatever you will, the human heart/mind/soul is trending ever downward.
Because of all this, I would much prefer Desantis or Haley over Trump; accept the fact that the swamp is in place, keep it from growing, and manage it where you can. Maybe a Desantis or a Haley can be more of a unifier and actually be good for all of us.
@CalvinAndHobo
Thank you Calvin. I enjoyed the insider’s perspective. Now for the weirdness. I was gonna ask you what “bubbled in” your choices meant but, after sufficiently googling it I figured it out. I already assumed it meant you completed your ballot, but I was not familiar with bubbles. I’ve done plenty of standardized tests and paper ballots In my life and I know how to fill in the choices completely using a #2 pencil only, but I just can’t recall ever calling them bubbles.
I support Trump because he makes good choices for the country. Also, his tweets really pizz off the far left.
Trapped in the People's Communits Republic of Massachusetts.
Since the Republican Party has no balls, no money and no unity, Trump is the only one that gives a majority of them any hope of getting the country back on the track they'd prefer.
Don't let the wife know what you spend on guns, ammo or cigars.
I tried to find a political cartoon that won't offend half the country, lol. We have become a nation of victims with blaming mentality.
Posted, merely to create a false narrative and keep sides divided.
Let me help Pedro....
I love the 95% white folk in there too...... let's not offend anyone.......😑
Don't assign race....
I'm still deciding myself ......
Can you imagine the backlash If they were minorities.......
We are all God's children....
Just filed my taxes. First year maybe ever where I am not getting money back on my return. It definitely made me wonder how easy it would be to lie and not get caught, but I did what a true American does instead. I paid the bill and then complained about it on the internet.
If you owe you are supposed to wait til mid-April to pay.
This is my least favorite of all the discussion topics....politics is such a waste of time...creates too much division.... hot off the press...we live.. we die.. and all go in a box.... enjoy the show while you can, find Jesus while you can, enjoy your loved ones while you can.. and smoke as many cigars as humanly possible in between...
"Some people meditate, I smoke cigars." - Ron Perlman
"...I intend to go home tonight and smoke a cigar to the glory of God." - Charles Spurgeon
Two Time Cigar Lottery Winner
I dont know, making fun of liberals still makes for some good fun..............jk. Its a joke Francis, lighten up.
-- Winston Churchill
"LET'S GO FRANCIS" Peter
Making fun of liberals is the best. Although they've been making it way too easy for the last twenty years or so.
Trapped in the People's Communits Republic of Massachusetts.
In today’s world, it doesn’t really matter what side of the fence you identify with… The bottom line is all politicians are corrupt, or eventually will become corrupt. As a traditionalist and constitutionalist I still believe in what this country was founded upon. It’s worth fighting for.
A good cigar and whiskey solve most problems.
Agree ^^^ but it's still fun nonetheless
-- Winston Churchill
"LET'S GO FRANCIS" Peter
We need to recruit more libs, tough ones that can take a beating and keep coming back for more, like Francis.
Francis like a good pounding in more ways then one.
-- Winston Churchill
"LET'S GO FRANCIS" Peter
Except the whole slavery thing..... all but that.
You think that this country was founded on slavery?
-- Winston Churchill
"LET'S GO FRANCIS" Peter
🥸🙄 oh boy..... I think Joker said it best..... "Why so serious"
This is how some people today seem to take the saying "pick your battles":
Pretend a long dead subject is still relevant, and that others are supporting the wrong side of history.
You win every time.
It just feels SO good to be right.
"If you do not read the newspapers you're uninformed. If you do read the newspapers, you're misinformed." -- Mark Twain