If anyone wants to know... Kucinich, then Obama, then Edwards. Or maybe I'll go republican and caucus for Ron Paul, just to try to get him ahead of the rest of the chuckleheads.
Since I'm from a primary state, this is my first caucus.
Here's a really creepy pic of the type of person I can't stand at these events:
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/01/03...s/d8tuih8o5.txt

yeah, I'm jealous, and NO I'M NOT considering that pic...

but as someone who's political opinion I deeply respect, I have to ask:

Why Obama?

it could't be just because DK told you to, could it?

I'm truely curious.

It is because DK told me to. I'm hoping he promised DK a place in his cabinet. Mt bet is on Hillary though. Not because I think she'll get the most votes, but because I question the integrity of the process. The precinct totals aren't posted publicly until they are handed up for the final tally for the state. Then we have to rely on the word of the person giving the totals. I can imagine the person most inside the democratic establishment receiving an embellished total over someone more on the outside like Obama and DK. I much prefer the paper ballot primaries like we had in Missouri.

you're hoping that a politician will do something he hasn't said he'd do? Well, I guess that's safer than betting the farm on an actual promise...

Dammit man !!
I'm not going to be able to sleep now I've seen that image.


I can see it now, I'll be just dozing off into the arms of Morphee and I'll be woken screaming and sweating with the image of a Fred Thompson zombie supporter gnawing my ankle...............

they don't eat ankles they eat "BRAAAAINSSSS!"

Ah yes, but only because they fear them!

Bush never promised to appoint people already convicted of lying to Congress in to positions that report to Congress, but I called that one right.

You'll fuck it up. You will end up in the Duncan Hunter group by accident.

I'm not trying to question you're intuition... I respect your decision... It just wouldn't be mine.

The repubs are in the convention center. Dems are in the Highschool. That'd be a pretty big fuck up.

Seuss:


Then you are bad and wrong. A wrong and bad person!

Just kiddin'

You know what chaps my ass? The republicans just go in, drop a ballot in a box and go home. We have to stand around hemming and hawing for two hours or more.

yeah, damn it! why should dems have to think for a while when republicans just have to act like sheep!!!!







... wait a minute...





isn't that what happens most of the time?

I just prefer the primary process. Nobody trying to sell me on a candidate is going to tell me anything I haven't already heard. I've heard from a veteran caucuser that if you go in claiming to be undecided that you'll be pounced upon by hordes of candidates' supporters. And I'm not really feeling outgoing or talkative tonight, but I do have 100 promotional POAC business cards.

NIIIICE...

What better place to find people who want unbiased, rational perspectives, (as long as they don't read the forum that is... )

Have fun!!

I'm crossing my fingers. Choose wisely.

even if you tied your testicles into a fancy bow, paul would still lose.

I didn't say he would win. 3rd place is Odds on in Vegas and would catapult him to "viable" in the eyes of many.

Viable, well, to you anyway.
But then, with your testicles tied in a bow, I doubt you'll wanna discuss it eh?

I wanted to ask the boss.....

OK, so this is your first caucus experience, what did you think of the process?
And what are your major impressions of the evening?

*author's disclosure*:
The author of this post has been consuming rum at an unhealthy rate to celebrate his new entry into a political career. All posts hereafter may be somewhat inarticulate and/or offensive and/or off-character.

My take on it?
Human beings truly are just a step above monkeys (I come to that conclusion every time I go out in public) and if our precinct democratic leadership is any indicator, the democratic party really is a disorganized scattered mess. I had a negative view of the caucus process before the evening... now mine is very favorable. It really was the epitome of democracy. When I stood up to run for a delegate position I felt like this guy:

Thank you.

One thing I know about politics from my short personal experience, is that old politics depends on new blood.
Meaning, it's extremely frustrating and after a while the glaze of jadedness can be a problem. New blood keeps it alive and kicking. Over all though I consider it a fun activity. The personal reward of sticking it out and making a difference is big time.

Plus, I refered to your experinece is networking, and as to networking, you just hit a main artery.

Something the lovely Mrs. POAC just reminded me: I was applauded when I stood up and elected for delegate. Nobody else was. I think it was because of my age and that so many sitting around us knew about the POAC. (Thanks to Mrs. POAC) MAn, it's weird. I so didn't think I would come away a delegate. But to be honest, I'm more ready for it than anyone. I'm ready to fight.

I think you're gonna enjoy it.
I think they're gonna be pleased with thier new deligate.

You may be going to the convention dude!

I'm determined.

Great news for the people, I think.

We need a legion like you.

Best wishes and long-life for you and yours, brother.

Excellent news !

Democracy, doncha love it ?

I think you're giving humans too much credit.

Not really. Adding zeroes does not produce a sum. Democracy is founded on the notion that two fools are better than one wise woman. I've always had a problem with that.

Up until now I've never seen any wise woman, or man, capable of assuming the responsability without challenge.
Kings and queens are best left in their little box, and democracy, at least the idea of democracy, seems to me as being the most functional system we have, short of a benevolant dictatorship....

If those are the only choices, I agree. I just don't think they're the only choices.

I'm open to suggestions. (Improper or not !!)

modified socialism?
Specifically, a Democratic Socialism?

You hate us for our freedoms!

/kidding.

Living in a primary state (as opposed to a caucus state) the caucus process seems quite uncivilized to me, TJ. I'd be interested to hear more about it.

In 4 days, I'll be casting a private ballot - and later helping to count it.

Iowacoccus has been identified as the microbe that causes QPF (quadrennial political fever), a disease which causes delerium, logorrhea, and an uncontrolled desire to send money to crooks. While usually not fatal, QPF last for as much as 10 months, and can destroy the victim's life.

Jubal - I adore you.

Well alrighty. First off, I disagree with Jubal 100%. It really was the epitome of democracy in action. All of the democratic caucus-goers are divided by precinct. Before the meeting, people are walking around handing out stickers and each candidate has a table with foods and drinks. Also, there is a table with letters to the caucus-goers from the candidates and petitions to sign for various causes. Then announcements were read, a brief explanation was read, and some people were introduced and voted on to be the counters, secretary for the meeting etc.

Then we separate into groups by candidate. And one table for undecideds. we had 151 people, I believe, and you had to have 26 supporters to be viable. Only Obama, Edwards, and Hillary met that number. So then we had time to decide if we wanted to join another candidate's group.
The precinct captain for each candidate would hold up a sign for their candidate and their supporters would encourage people to join their group. The Obama people we mostly saying "if you want real change and a new direction in Washington, join us. The Hillary person was shouting over the Edwards people saying "$400 haircuts for Edwards!" Apparently she had no problem seizing a republican talking point to try to empower Hillary. The other Hillary people were chanting "You go girl You go Girl!" and Hill-UH-REE!" Not a very convincing argument. I don't know what the Edwards people were doing because they were on the other side of the room and you couldn't hear anything over the "Hill-u-hree" crowd. Then when everyone has relocated with their candidates group, another count is taken and the total is tallied up. Then, from there, a percentage is used to determine how many delegates a candidate gets from that number. We had significantly more more supporters, so we got, I think four delegates, and Hill and Edwards got two. Those delegates are then elected to go to the county caucus and be counted for that caucus. Anyone can run to be a delegate. I did. And I won. So I'll be going to the next caucus where I'll have to be elected again to go to district.... I already said this last night, didn't I? Sorry. Anyway, hope that explains it.

I also signed up to be a poll watcher and to caucus for Native-American issues and environmental issues.

I think what I liked most about it was that I was able to just walk in off the street and insert myself into the political process. I have really high hopes for this. Hell, I've already won my first two elections!

I was ing the creativity, not necessarily the sentiment. It was a good piece of writing.

So, what if you support another candidate who didn't meet the viability quotient? Can you stand firm for that candidate?

Nope. To have viability, you have to have enough supporters to get one delegate. In our precinct, that took 26 supporters. If you couldn't get enough for a delegate, you can leave like one of the Biden guys did, or you can join another candidate's camp.

Coming from a primary state - that seems barbaric to me!

Having to sell my support to the highest bidder in a primary is repugnant. There's plenty of time for that in the general election.

I am glad that this was a good thing for you.

Yeah, I pretty much agree. I would have preferred to cast a vote for DK, however, I also liked the idea of taking support away from Hillary.

And thank you. Knowing all of the work you do helped inspire me to do more terrestrial grass-roots work, as well.

I need to amend my previous statement. To be viable, I don't think you had to be able to get one delegate, but I think it was simply a percentage of the total in attendance.

Big freakin' surprise there. I was just messing around, boss. Democracy has many, many problems, but any other system tried on a national scale only puts power in the hands of a small, interested group. That's not good.

- Well, it made me laugh anyway!




Thanks TJ, nice to know how these things work. It's all been a bit Greek until now!
And congratulations on winning your first 2 elections. - Hopefully, by the time you run for President Rousseau and e will get to vote for you!

I was under the impression that the Repubs had to stick around for a couple hours also. They do the vote first, then later a vote for delegates, which is just as important as the first vote.

Before the caucus I read that they didn't, but from what I've read and heard afterwards, they apparently did have to be there for a few hours.