Iowa Caucus and NH Primary Thread

[GrnBay007]

Obama and Huckabee win.

You serious?

DES MOINES, Iowa (Jan. 3) - Sen. Barack Obama, bidding to become the nation's first black president, swept to victory in the Iowa caucuses Thursday night over Hillary Cllinton and a high-powered Democratic field. Mike Huckabee rode a wave of support from evangelical Christians to win the opening round among Republicans in the 2008 campaign for the White House.

http://news.aol.com/elections/story/_a/obama-and-huckabee-win-in-iowa/20080103070309990001

[Deputy Nutz]

If I have to vote Democrat in 2008 I am really going to be pissed. What the hell happened to Ron Paul? I gave the guy like six bucks.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Historically, these Iowa caucuses are pretty meaningless.

[Merlin]

If I have to vote Democrat in 2008 I am really going to be pissed. What the hell happened to Ron Paul? I gave the guy like six bucks.

Ron Paul? WOW...

[Merlin]

Historically, these Iowa caucuses are pretty meaningless.

Sometimes. The field is so big that it may weed down a few candidates. I am sure Hillary is busy trying to figure out where she went wrong. Obama had Oprah campaign for him. Rumor has it when she shows up 30,000 people on average some to see her and Obama where candidates usually average in the low 1000's when they appear.

We need a major push towards conservatism in this country and sorry to say, there is maybe 1 or 2 in the whole bunch. We certainly don't need more taxes, more social programs, and we sure as hell don't need socialized medicine. All of Wisconsin's new taxes went into effect January 1. All of a sudden my grocery bill went up $30 from what it normally is. Higher taxes = higher priced goods = kill the economy = reliance on the government.

[MJZiggy]

Wisconsin's taxes went up? I thought you guys had a republican house and state congress?

[Merlin]

Nope we sure don't. Democratic Govenor, Democratic Senate, Republican House.

The Dems wanted 18-20 billion in new spending and the Reps wanted no new taxes at all and a modest increase in existing taxes. We got a compromise and people aren't happy about it. The Reps wanted to pass bills separately but the Governor said he would veto them because they had to pass the budget as a whole. So instead of doing the logical thing of passing the agreed upon parts, our state budget was passed 3+ months late.

My favorite Jim Doyle Quote (something along these lines): "Illinois and Minnesota are ahead of is with their bans (smoking bans), it's time for Wisconsin to get in line."

That pretty much sums him up. Anything to take away from the people and give the state more control. That's Doyle.

[Freak Out]

Nope we sure don't. Democratic Govenor, Democratic Senate, Republican House.

The Dems wanted 18-20 billion in new spending and the Reps wanted no new taxes at all and a modest increase in existing taxes. We got a compromise and people aren't happy about it. The Reps wanted to pass bills separately but the Governor said he would veto them because they had to pass the budget as a whole. So instead of doing the logical thing of passing the agreed upon parts, our state budget was passed 3+ months late.

My favorite Jim Doyle Quote (something along these lines): "Illinois and Minnesota are ahead of is with their bans (smoking bans), it's time for Wisconsin to get in line."

That pretty much sums him up. Anything to take away from the people and give the state more control. That's Doyle.

Take heart Merlin...Wisconsin is still behind the French when it comes to the smoking ban.

[MJZiggy]

Nope we sure don't. Democratic Govenor, Democratic Senate, Republican House.

The Dems wanted 18-20 billion in new spending and the Reps wanted no new taxes at all and a modest increase in existing taxes. We got a compromise and people aren't happy about it. The Reps wanted to pass bills separately but the Governor said he would veto them because they had to pass the budget as a whole. So instead of doing the logical thing of passing the agreed upon parts, our state budget was passed 3+ months late.

My favorite Jim Doyle Quote (something along these lines): "Illinois and Minnesota are ahead of is with their bans (smoking bans), it's time for Wisconsin to get in line."

That pretty much sums him up. Anything to take away from the people and give the state more control. That's Doyle.

You should move.

[the_idle_threat]

That's kinda like saying we should switch to being Bears or Vikings fans if we don't like the current GM.

The biggest problem IMO is Wisconsin's ridiculous line-item veto. It effectively makes the Governor the chief legislator as well as the chief executive, given that he can change entire bills unilaterally by selectively deleting words, sentences and paragraphs. Imagine a bill where the parties fought hard to arrive at a compromise, and the governor destroys that compromise by simply deleting the word "not" in a few places and signing the bill.

I absolutely loathe Jim Doyle as governor (kind of makes me understand how all you anti-Bushies feel), but I would feel the same way about this regardless of who is the governor. It's a law that hijacks the democratic process in this state.



OK I'm done now.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Historically, these Iowa caucuses are pretty meaningless.

I would say the caucus this year are fairly meaningless. The most important result is that Romney has been prevented from steam-rolling with a string of early victories. McCain is a winner. Huckabee & Obama get nice bumps, but Romney & Clinton are still the ones to beat.

[LL2]

Saying President Huckabee sounds odd, but I think I would vote for him over Clinton and Obama.

[hoosier]

The biggest problem IMO is Wisconsin's ridiculous line-item veto. It effectively makes the Governor the chief legislator as well as the chief executive, given that he can change entire bills unilaterally by selectively deleting words, sentences and paragraphs. Imagine a bill where the parties fought hard to arrive at a compromise, and the governor destroys that compromise by simply deleting the word "not" in a few places and signing the bill.

I absolutely loathe Jim Doyle as governor (kind of makes me understand how all you anti-Bushies feel), but I would feel the same way about this regardless of who is the governor. It's a law that hijacks the democratic process in this state.

Guess who put the line item veto in to begin with? Hint: wasn't a Dem.

[The Leaper]

Clinton is probably toast. She can't possibly hope to increase her support, because of her massive negative polling numbers. Supporters of Obama and Edwards have already made a decision about Clinton...I doubt many Edwards supporters will flock to Hillary when Edwards eventually bows out.

The GOP nomination is ridiculously up for grabs. I'm not sure anyone is going to win it outright before the convention. Giuliani is weak because like Clinton, I don't see him adding much support going forward...unless Romney or McCain bow out early and throw their support behind him.

The key for the GOP will be the timing of when lesser candidates bow out, and who those candidates throw their support behind. Huckabee and McCain could stand to gain a lot from Thompson bowing out...and he is likely the first GOP major candidate who would do so. I can't see Thompson's people moving over to Giuliani or Romney.

[Deputy Nutz]

This election will be interesting on both sides considering Rudy hasn't even started yet. Rudy is running a national campaign and will hands down take the East Coast in the Primaries, same with Clinton. Obama is strongly backed by the entertainment industry and if he is Oprah endorsed he gets a heck of a push. At this point he is squeeky clean, and is still the most unknown canidate.

I think Obama could actually get the most done as president in comparison to Clinton. Republicans won't budge an inch with Clinton even though she is probably the most conservative out of the two.

Ronny Paul got 10% of the vote, not bad since his party is black balling him.