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No Glory in the Hawkeye State
National Review ^ | 3/18/15 | Jonah Goldberg

Posted on 03/18/2015 10:06:44 AM PDT by gwgn02

I am no fan of the Iowa caucuses. I like Iowa. I’ve been there many times. But the caucuses have turned into something like a permanent subsidy for the political class of Iowa. What is supposed to be a democratic test of candidates in “real America” often morphs into a playground for savvy political consultants who’ve mastered a single skill: helping out-of-state politicians navigate their way around Iowa’s political landscape. As a result, the vast and bipartisan network of politicians, consultants, and activists unite to guard their food bowl. And that’s fine, or at least understandable. But they act as if there’s something in the Bible or the Constitution that says Iowa must go first. The Iowa caucuses’ first-in-the-nation status is second only to the government moonshine subsidy for ethanol (indeed, if the caucus didn’t exist, ethanol subsidies might not either). When I hear Iowa politicians talk about the sanctity of their front-runner status it sounds no different to me than listening to corrupt teachers’-union bosses talking about the sanctity of tenure; it’s just another interest group pretending that there is a great principle behind their own narrow self-interest. And so I was very, very, disappointed in the Walker team for the decision to capitulate to the bullying efforts of the Iowa state GOP. The back story: The Walker team hired Liz Mair to run the campaign’s online operations. Back in January Mair had said some things that hurt the feelings of the Iowa GOP. From the Hill:

Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/415577/no-glory-hawkeye-state-jonah-goldberg

(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Florida; US: Iowa; US: New Hampshire; US: New York; US: Ohio; US: South Carolina; US: Texas; US: Wisconsin
KEYWORDS: 2016election; azerbaijan; bencarson; davidweigel; donaldtrump; election2016; ethanol; florida; ilhamaliyev; iowa; johnkasich; journolist; lizmair; marcorubio; newhampshire; newyork; newyorkvalues; ohio; rickwilson; scottwalker; southcarolina; tedcruz; texas; trump; trumpcardllc; walker; wisconsin

1 posted on 03/18/2015 10:06:44 AM PDT by gwgn02
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To: gwgn02

Ewww that’s gonna leave a mark...


2 posted on 03/18/2015 10:07:06 AM PDT by gwgn02
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To: gwgn02

Well, he lures you in with hard truths about Iowa caucuses, then ends up pimping open borders. Such is life in the GOP.


3 posted on 03/18/2015 10:11:45 AM PDT by jjotto ("Ya could look it up!")
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To: gwgn02

Sometimes all you have to do is import a few dozen busloads of people from Chicago and pack the caucuses.


4 posted on 03/18/2015 10:15:15 AM PDT by CMailBag
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To: gwgn02
If Walker is the guy I hope he is (I’ve been a booster)

With friends like lil' lucy's baby boi, Walker doesn't need any enemies.

5 posted on 03/18/2015 10:16:30 AM PDT by USS Alaska (Exterminate the terrorist savages, everywhere.)
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To: CMailBag

In GOP caucuses, that would be all but impossible. This is precinct level where people know each other, and you have stick around for an hour or two and compete to go to the county level to have any impact.


6 posted on 03/18/2015 10:18:10 AM PDT by jjotto ("Ya could look it up!")
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To: gwgn02

Rather telling how most of the so-called ‘conservative’ beltway pundits have been rushing to defend a professional political operative who is pro-abortion, pro-amnesty and pro-fag marriage. Similarly telling is how so many of them (like the FoxNews piece) are only mentioning her Iowa criticism as the factor that blew things up, ignoring everything else.

I have a hard time deciding who to distrust more... from the GOP to the conservative media to FoxNews to the current candidates like Walker. I expect all of them to spit on my values and beliefs, at this point.


7 posted on 03/18/2015 10:32:09 AM PDT by greene66
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To: gwgn02

Why did Walker hire Lefty Liz Mair in the first place? Walker seems to be very weak on social issues and that will not play well with the GOP base.


8 posted on 03/18/2015 10:43:32 AM PDT by iowamark (I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy)
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To: gwgn02

A long time ago, I participated in the Iowa caucus system, and I liked it. It’s limited to people who live in that precinct, and the GOPe guys can’t really control who gets on the ballot, as they can in states with primaries like my present state of Virginia.

While it’s true that a couple of well-organized (local) guys can sway a caucus meeting, at least you can look the guys in the eye and question them on their motives and positions, which is a lot better than just walking into a booth and choosing from a slate that is presented to you by the state party.

In addition, this goes from the precinct level through county and eventually the state caucus, so there is lots of time to make a choice.


9 posted on 03/18/2015 10:44:42 AM PDT by VanShuyten ("a shadow...draped nobly in the folds of a gorgeous eloquence.")
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To: jjotto

He’d be better off staying true to what people like about him: A guy who won’t pander to anybody.

“I know this will cost me any chance of winning Iowa, but I think it’s a bad idea to use hardworking American’s tax money to pay farmers NOT to grow food.”

And remember, the last two Iowa winners were Santorum and Huckabee.


10 posted on 03/18/2015 10:51:23 AM PDT by privatedrive
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To: gwgn02

IA and NH gotta go.


11 posted on 03/18/2015 1:30:54 PM PDT by VRWC For Truth (Roberts has perverted the Constitution)
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To: VRWC For Truth

Having +6 Obama states for opening the schedule is depressing.

And I’d love to prohibit blue wall states from the first 20 on the list.


12 posted on 03/18/2015 1:34:31 PM PDT by nascarnation (Impeach, convict, deport)
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To: nascarnation

Yup, the Uniparty has got to be destroyed.


13 posted on 03/18/2015 1:39:49 PM PDT by VRWC For Truth (Roberts has perverted the Constitution)
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To: iowamark

.... Why, in the first place, did Walker hire Lefty Liz Mair ...?

Because, on even his very best day, the (very) Good Governor Walker is still only a career politician.

That’s why I’m With Ben!

(President and Armed-Forces Commander-In-Chief-elect, Benjamin Solomon Ronald Wilson Reagan Carson)

Who, in just one separation of co-joined twins, made — and instantly acted upon — more vital-to-life executive decisions than the very best 1000 career politicians - in their combined 1000 lifetimes - even imagined!

Brian Richard Allen


14 posted on 03/18/2015 3:55:31 PM PDT by Brian Allen (Buraq Hussayn bin Buraq Hussayn bin Hussayn Oogooboogo Ubambi: To America as was Pol Pot to Cambodia)
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