Ron Paul Panic Seizes Iowa Establishment

Politico ^ | 12/20/11 4:30 AM EST | By JONATHAN MARTIN and ALEXANDER BURNS

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

In spin rooms, bar rooms and online forums, the what-to-do-about-Paul conversation has become pervasive as polls show him at or near the top here just weeks before the January 3rd vote.

Paul poses an existential threat to the state’s cherished kick-off status, say these Republicans, because he has little chance to win the GOP nomination and would offer the best evidence yet that the caucuses reward candidates who are unrepresentative of the broader party.

“It would make the caucuses mostly irrelevant if not entirely irrelevant,” said Becky Beach, a longtime Iowa Republican who helped Presidents Bush 41 and Bush 43 here. “It would have a very damaging effect because I don’t think he could be elected president and both Iowa and national Republicans wouldn’t think he represents the will of voters.”

What especially worries Iowa Republican regulars is the possibility that Paul could win here on January 3rd with the help of Democrats and independents who change their registration to support the libertarian-leaning Texas congressman but then don’t support the GOP nominee next November.

“I don’t think any candidate perverting the process in that fashion helps [the caucuses] in any way,” said Iowa House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, adding that he didn’t know if that’s necessarily how Paul would win.

While there’s no evidence of an organized effort, public polling shows that Paul’s lead is built in large part with the support of non-Republicans – and few party veterans think such voters would stick with the GOP in November.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

Here is an answer to the RUN Paul Iowa fiasco. It is probably being manipulated by the Democrats and the media as some of us suspected. If this drags Newt down on a national level, and we let them, then we are in dire trouble.

[mac_truck]

Gringrich is being dragged down by the weight of his own baggage, nothing else.

[humblegunner]

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

Not to mention all the Paul operatives who are swarming Iowa. When this is allowed to happen, not election will be fair and honest.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

Not at all, it is people like you who are making it an issue. You would gladly forsake the future of your own country out of spite and bias for something you are completely ignorant about.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Iowegians can change their political affiliation on election day.

[Burkean Buckleyite]

Anybody who panics the RINO Establishment can’t be all bad.

[D-fendr]

"It would make the caucuses mostly irrelevant if not entirely irrelevant,”

Iowa's anyway. Every cloud...

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

LOL! I love that graphic. But in all seriousness, this is no longer a laughing matter. This country is going down the tubes, and our own side is playing the biggest part in making that happen!

[dartuser]

Ron Paul will win Iowa ... then be out of the race in a month.

[humblegunner]

Paul’s rise in polls is only that... a rise in polls.
His army of flying spam monkeys used this same tactic on his last failed run.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

Not one word was said about the “RINO” establishment. It merely pointed out the dedicated conservatives who has been voting in Iowa for decades are being canceled out by the Paultards.

Much like you are doing in regards to destroying our chances of winning this election.

[Beagle8U]

No caucus should count for anything more than a straw poll.

It doesn't even represent the voters in the state, much less the nation. Iowa can switch to a real primary or be left out.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

Good points humble, I am somewhat perplexed over the situation. (What gave you the first hint?)

But in all truth, we have to win Iowa for Newt, mainly because he is short of funds and organization, due to those short funds. If Iowa goes to Paul, it won’t hurt Romney one bit, but the momentum for Newt in New Hampshire may be critical.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

Straw Polls are garbage politics for sure, but the MSM takes them to manipulate their enemies (That be us.)

They are legitimizing these lies as big news. The same way they launched a completely incompetent candidate like Cain to the top over night. They seem to take great pride in the power they have over the ignorant American Public.

[C. Edmund Wright]

>> Anybody who panics the RINO Establishment can’t be all bad. >>

In general, I agree with that sentiment. But one has to properly apply that sentiment here.

First, the Iowans know that a Paul victory probably makes the Iowa Caucuses a joke forever. This is not the DC RINO establishment.

In fact, the DC Establishment is fine with that, because they think Newt will suffer more from this than Romney, who has NH to rally in the very next week.

So be careful which “establishment” you are talking about.

[no dems]

“It would make the caucuses mostly irrelevant if not entirely irrelevant,”

You've got that right. When Ron Paul is polling first in Iowa, it's time to make some other State the "first in the nation" and tell Iowa to go screw themselves. BTW, when was the last time any non-incumbent, Republican who won Iowa, got the nomination?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I find it curious that the Iowegians are more worried about the reputation of their caucus system than its result.

[C. Edmund Wright]

>> But in all seriousness, this is no longer a laughing matter. This country is going down the tubes, and our own side is playing the biggest part in making that happen! >>

And if on the way down, MB or RS suddenly surge in the polls - I”m sure they will handle the heat magnificently!! /sarc

[no dems]

This country is going down the tubes, and our own side is playing the biggest part in making that happen!
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No sh*t! We are pulling defeat out of the jaws of victory