2012 Iowa Caucus Live Thread

Iowa GOP ^ | 1.3.12 | Free Vulcan

[Free Vulcan]

Live thread to cover today's GOP caucus. News, predictions, opinions, totals, and the like.

Will be heading out about 4 pm or so to get our site ready and do a final review with the precinct chairs. I expect it to be bigger than 2008 with very heavy turnout and we are preparing for that.

We are also ready for disruptions. They simply won't be tolerated. The state party sent us a memo saying if there's any trouble call the cops immediately. Anyone trying to cause problems is going to get a rude awakening.

My predictions of the outcome are a narrow field with about a 10 point spread for the top five with Bachmann far behind in single digits:

Santorum - 24 Romney - 22 Paul - 20 Perry - 17 Gingrich - 14 Bachmann - 4 The Rest - 1

Think things are still in flux and many won't decide till right to the wire, so I'm not terribly confident of any predictions.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

Listen closely. The guys who are burning your flag, who are railing against you as a people and culture, who pay those who attack you... they are your enemies.

When they want to get nuclear weapons, they become your mortal enemies.

And for your assertion that they were never a problem for the U.S. before “we started to constantly intervene in their region”, you might want to actually read some history.

Start with the Barbary Pirates and see what Thomas Jefferson did. You know, one of the founding fathers. Might want to check out Adams and Monroe while you are at it. Also, check out what Washington did when there was a rebellion in his first years as President.

Actually learning about history might open your eyes to why those with more experience call Ron Paul a lunatic.

[seekthetruth]

I do think our Sunshine state Primary will be interesting. After SC, the field will be smaller. I will be traveling FL in support of my favorite! :)

[CedarDave]

Crap, Romney now in lead with 25%, Rick and Wron Paul tied for #2 at 23%. 25% of the vote in.

[katiedidit1]

Sister Wives for Romney

[Rational Thought]

If Santorum continues and finishes strong tonight, he will see a bounce in New Hampshire. Granted, Romney still likely to win there, but I think his margin could be hurt.

[Deo volente]

Santorum is going to surprise everyone (and infuriate many).

[glock rocks]

Are you saying you get a tax break for homeschooling? I sure don’t. Around here, your taxes are the same whether you home school or not.

[mamelukesabre]

I don’t know what you’re talking about. The map shows santorum has more counties than anyone else.

[2111USMC]

Thanks.

Makes feel a “little” better.

[caww]

Hi Katie! Go Newt Go!... is right in more ways than most imagine...his sights are already out of Iowa and have been...the South is in play already! Go Newt Go!!!!!!

[duffee]

Newt is the most electable of our candidates and a true Conservative who has actually advanced the Conservative agenda.

[Daffynition]

Don’t know if anyone posted this link:

http://iowagop.org/

Hover your cursor over the county, and detailed results appear.

Listening to the silly news channels, one would think this is November. Oi!

[RitaOK]

Thank goodness you barfed and turned off FAUX indoctrination hour. LOL! :)

[Boston Blackie]

Its been a very long day and I must have misread part of your comment.

Did you equate our military personnel with welfare freeloaders?

[CainConservative]

Me, too. But for Newt to absorb $10 million in mudslinging from the goons working for Willard and Uncle Ron...

AND still get one of the four tickets out of IA is WONDERFUL.

http://iowacaucus.com/results/

WITH 22% of the votes in..

Go Santorum 23-24%!!! Good for about 1st
Go Newt 13-14%!!! Good enough for 4th

Perry 9-10% and Michele 6% drop out Wednesday :(

[Loyal Sedition]

Top three, 24%, 24%, 24%!

Sorry to see Rotney doing this well, but not surprised after what I witnessed from “His” organization last time around.
If any other candidate depended so heavily on a church to run their campaign it would be a big deal, but for this guy, barely mentioned.

Ron Paul has zealots, the Putsch they tried in Nevada ruined any chance I could ever support him again.

Santorum?
Basically know little about him, good thing this caucus is essentially meaningless to me.

Nothing I am seeing here will affect who I support, “Open Caucus” indeed!

[KansasGirl]

Did anyone see the exit polling on FNC? 48% of voters switching their affiliation to R today went to Paul. 2nd was Romney with 30 something. I hope the Rats aren't allowed to do this in all the primaries.

[ari-freedom]

“Santorum is going to surprise everyone (and infuriate many).”

I don’t understand why we didn’t go with him in the first place instead of playing around with Perry, Cain and Newt.

[bigbob]

I just got an inspiration....

Since they’re tied up, Ron Paul is bound to finish pretty strong, yet we know he won’t be the nominee. So, what if the eventual next POTUS were to recognize the hard work of all the Paulistas by putting Ron Paul in his Cabinet.

How about Ron Paul in charge of Energy, EPA or Education? Just give him a big axe and chop away!

[BillyBoy]

At the time, Keyes was universally worshiped on FR as the best orator for conservative philosophy in America. In 2000, oodles of freepers were fantasizing about a "Keyes/Forbes" ticket being "unbeatable" The same is being said about Gingrich now.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice...