Iowa Caucus

[someonesomewhere]

Obama's strong first place finish surprised me, as did Edwards' second place. Hillary's third place, IMHO, doesn't bode well for her. With all the money's she's poured into this thing, she shoulda been neck and neck with Obama, maybe a point apart. Just as well, 'cause the b*tch scares me.

Nothing too extreme about Huckabee I can point to and touch, except that Baptist Preacher thing gives me the heebee-jeebees in a President. Romney doesn't even make me queasy.

Sadly the guy I really want, Bill Richardson, was a far distant 4th. Oh well, perhaps he'll do better in New Hampshire.

[CleverCynic]

I like Richardson, he always seems very reasonable, but he's just not going to have the mass appeal.

My guy MCcain seems to be dead in the water... pity... he reminds me of a "forefather" figure. The campaign seems to have really aged him too, I wonder if he'll live another 8 years at this point.

[WickeDay]

I was really shocked when the news flash came on yesterday. I really, really, really, kept hoping Al Gore was gonna make a last minute jump in. But, I can honestly say it would be a dream come true to have The Clintons back in the white house. It's going to be so dissappointing if she's not the candidate.

[CleverCynic]

There's been one democrat president in the last 28 years... frankly I think you're due.

I was surprised at how much I liked Bill, but it was an era undefined. The times make the man and that decade was pretty much a cakewalk with no major world issues to address and a fantastic tech boom driving the economy. There was really no way to lose. Plus he provided us awesome TMZ-like drama... what's not to like?

[WickeDay]

Well, I kinda think it's the other way around. I think he made alot of very impressive moves while he was in the white house and that is why the times were great.

When I was a wee one I don't really remember enough but things seemed fine and then it was Bush vs. Decaucas (insert spell check here).

All of a sudden we were writing letters in school to soldiers, my cousin went away, we had a soldier painted on our handball court and we weren't supposed to like alot of countries.

Then there was a guy named Clinton who played his saxaphone on Arsenio Hall, he had a daughter who was my age that didn't look like Ivanka Trump but seemed to be a good role model and Hillary talked alot about issues for women and arts.

I actually paid quite a bit of attention and was shocked when I was asked to perform at a theatre in Downtown LA regarding Arts restoration and was told, "By The Way, Hillary Clinton will be speaking."

The Clinton's left office and even after the heartbreaking Gore vs. Bush election, I tried to remain optimistic.

For the last 8 years, I've felt like I was back in elementary school. Only this time I understood that when two cousins and two best friends went to Iraq, they might not be coming home. They weren't "Heroes" we could write letters to. They are four amazing men who don't want to be there, who know that they have no reason to be, and most of America thinks so too, but they hope America will oppose the war, support the troops, and bring them home to their couches, bathtubs, macaroni and cheese.

I just want to return to a safer world with treaties, and peace, and rights for all people, knowing other people should be able to do with their bodies, partners etc. what they want, and at the end, let the maker decide what was right and what was wrong.

I think the Clintons are the best bet to give me that road.

[CleverCynic]

Any vote that truly represents YOUR interest is a good vote. I only disagree with those who donate thier constitutional right to a vote to someone else.

For someone like me going to school, married, and with 3 children, the last 8 years have been the best in my particular circumstances. More money than ever in school funding and earned income credit and increased tax returns have improved my quality of life immensely. Young singles wouldn't see those benefits so much and so I understand that as well.

I think you need to be healthy in order to help others. I just don't want government telling me how generous I am, I'm a huge believer in the private sector which ALWAYS trumps every other country in aid and donations to all kinds of causes. I believe people are good and will overall do the right thing if thier personal property is preserved and opportunities exist to take steps to better yourself if you're not on the up-end of things.

[MasterP_Nice]

I'm all for firing the federal government, which is why I'm voting for Ron Paul.

I seriously haven't been this excited about a political candidate in a long long time! For the first time I donated to a campaign on his November 5th mega-donation day (couldn't do it on the Boston Tea Party anniversary)

[merkurfan]

Oye vey...

Clinton (any of them) will lead this country down the tubes. Hilary already said there is not enough money to fund her programs. her negitive numbers are always in the 50% or higher range. It's very hard to win when so many people know you, and won't vote for you.

Edwards is a Rich man trying to be a common man. his 2 americas is not playing well at all..

Oboma (did I spell it right??) has curb apeal. But very little experiance. Also, I am not sure this country is ready for a black president. Must of his support was young people (18-25) they tend to be a bit flakey (IE not showing up to vote) he is also soft on national security. This is the elephant in the room. If either side takes this issue and can be convincing that they will do something about our boarders they will win. Taxes comes in second.

Huckabee got a lot of his support from women who are church goers in towns with less than 10,000 people. This is where Iowa shines. It's ALL small towns. I don't think he will do so well in more poulated areas.

Rudy.. blew off iowa, I don't think he'll make it. maybe as VP though.

McChain, can't win. To old, to much of a democrat for the republicans to swallow.

Tompson, has a good chance of wining it all. If he wanted it. I don't think he has the fire in his belly to pull it off. He's a good old southern boy who will tell you alot, but take half an hour to do it.

Romney has trouble with his record and convincing those that would vote for him that he is what they want. while his record says otherwise.

I miss Reagan.. and I was only 7 when he won office.

[2001Badyear]

merk,

I agree with all of your observations above.

[lavs412]

Merk.....enlighten me a bit more on your opinion of Romney .....I have been swaying his way but need a little push one way or the other........your last statement confused me, I wasn't sure how to take it.........Sometimes I need to hear from others and get their opinions so I know that I am reading and understanding things correctly.......

I agree with you on the other opinions........lol

This election has me more confused and flipflopping than ever before ...God, I flipflop so much I'd never be able to run for office!!! LOL......Hoping that the NH debate straightens me out.

Thanks, Merk or anyone else who has an opinion........

[2001Badyear]

Merk.....enlighten me a bit more on your opinion of Romney .....I have been swaying his way but need a little push one way or the other........your last statement confused me, I wasn't sure how to take it.........Sometimes I need to hear from others and get their opinions so I know that I am reading and understanding things correctly.......

I agree with you on the other opinions........lol

This election has me more confused and flipflopping than ever before ...God, I flipflop so much I'd never be able to run for office!!! LOL......Hoping that the NH debate straightens me out.

Thanks, Merk or anyone else who has an opinion........

Lav,

I'd vote for you as a self admitted flip-flopper.

[MasterP_Nice]

I think the problem with Romney is that he's a Republican who was a governor of one of the most left-leaning states in the nation. While I'll admit that I'm not familiar with his specific record, the usual problem is that he would have as governor is to shift his positions further to the left to keep his left-leaning electorate satisfied.

Now that he's in a national race, that's not going to fly over too well - especially with the religous-right traditionalists who want their party represented along their beliefs. You start getting into discussions about him becoming a flip-flopper just to appease the right-wing Republicans, or accuse him of not holding true to his beliefs while in office as governor. Neither is a winning solution, and he'll get hammered either way.

That's why I'm sticking with Ron Paul. He's been a traditional Republican before the party got so bastardized during/after the Nixon years, and Dr. Paul has always voted his conscience, and I think represents a good mix of left and right, with libertarian beliefs. The private sector has always fared better when government gets out of the equation, and necesscity is the mother of all inventions. If the people need it, the people will make it happen!!!

[merkurfan]

Mit Romney was governor of taxacusits. He adopted such liberal plans as state wide health care (sounds good, till you pay the bill) and raised taxes. People are leaving that state in droves. I hear in New Hapshire they call them massholes (people that move there from Mass). He supported many things most democrats would agree with. The health care plan, raising taxes, he was pro-choice (now claims he is pro-life).. I get the feeling he is what you want him to be to get your vote.

[merkurfan]

Hate to say it P, but Paul has as much of a chance of winning as I do.

[2001Badyear]

But watch out if any of the three front lefties gets in. If you think your taxes are high now, with the unfunded plans they're all babbling about we are all screwed.

Glad to see the witch knocked down though and Edwards is a POS ambulance chaser that wants more power. He's for the little guy??? My a$$. Have you seen his monster house? Lawyers like him are the reason we pay for healthcare as much as we do.

[merkurfan]

There are a few on the repub side that will spend us in to the poor house to. the current occupent of the white house is proof of that.

[MasterP_Nice]

Paul's chances now are slim, however that's in part due to the media, plain and simple.

He got a little attention when he raised $4 million on November 5th, but he got almost ZERO attention when he raised a single-candidate record of over $6 million in one day on December 16th. If that was Guiliani, Clinton, or Romney, you can bet that wouldn't get mentioned. Paul has also fared quite well in straw polls too, so don't let that fool you.

I agree that right now his chances are slim... let's wait and see what happens in NH, and in the next debates as the field thins a little bit.

Still, I think he represents the *very best* of what the Republican party is *supposed* to be about, not what it has become in the Bush-times. Peace, (yes you read that right!), a small non-interfering government, low taxes, and pro-private sector.

PS - yes they're called Massholes for quite a few reasons... mainly because of how they drive

[J_Snow]

Tsk Tsk Tsk all of you!

I know it's all exciting and everything, but last I checked Political Threads were still not allowed.

I'm locking it.