January 4, 2008 by vortmax.

Considering the Iowa caucus results, and the mass-media’s never-ending talking-headism over it, wonder if we’ll now see a cascade effect for Obama and Huckabee?

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January 4, 2008 by vortmax.

Considering the outcome of the Iowa Caucuses (caucusi?), I decided to see how this procedure works. One thing is certain, it’s not just another primary.

To put it simply, each precinct has it’s own “caucus,” or mini-convention, for each party. People gather at a central location, a school, church, etc., and then discuss their choice of candidate.

For the Republicans, they take a straw poll then dole out the representatives much like electoral delegates. This is similar to a normal primary election, however it’s done in one huge gathering.

For the Democrats, it’s much different. There is an open discussion about what candidates are “viable,” then they do a show of hands vote. Candidates who receive under 15% of the vote are eliminated, then delegates are distributed to those who are above 15%.

This is why the Republican results look more like a traditional primary result, while the Democrat results are so high for the top 3, and so low for the rest.

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January 4, 2008 by vortmax.

I was listening to NPR’s “Talk of the Nation” one day just before Christmas. The episode was asking Iowa voters to call in and state who they are supporting and why. The first caller was an African-American woman who stated that she was (justly) offended at being typecast as an Obama supporter simply because of her race. I promptly thought “Good for her! She’s making her own decision and not taking the easy way out!”

But I spoke too soon.  When asked who she was voting for, she said “Well I was supporting John Edwards…, but I don’t want to waste my vote, so I’m voting for Hillary Clinton.”

Excuse me? “Waste my vote?”

I immediately yelled at the radio “You idiot!” The whole purpose of an election is to express one’s own opinion of who they feel is the best candidate. One who shares the same views as the voter.

No matter who I vote for, even if I’m the only voter for that candidate, I’ll never consider my vote “wasted.”

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