The Iowa Straw Poll is dead whether it happens or not.

The Washington Times ^ | May 26, 2015 | By Steve Deace

[US Navy Vet]

Nobody screws up a one-car funeral, or kills the goose that lays the golden egg, quite like the Republican Party establishment.

Such is the plight of a political party lead by people who don’t share the same basic values as its base. This puts the GOP in a constant state of inner turmoil. For example, just six months after a historic midterm election victory only 23 percent of Republicans believe their party’s leaders have kept their campaign promises, according to a new Pew Research poll.

At the epicenter of this dysfunctional family lies my native state of Iowa: Home to the first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses and packed with promising presidential candidates angling to be the next party standard-bearer. If conservatives lamented our lack of good choices the past few primary cycles, the fear this time around is there are too many desirable options to choose from.

So if there was ever a time for an event like the legendary Iowa Straw Poll to cull the herd, and bring some early clarity to the election process, this would seem to be the year. Unfortunately, though, this is the Republican Party we’re talking about. That means at the very time it is needed the most, the Iowa Straw Poll is dead — whether it happens or not.

And the Republican Party is responsible for doing the killing.(cont)

[rrrod]

Great point. And you are right. Its good to add some fun.

We need, including myself, to lighten up at times.
Thanks.

[rrrod]

I think all here can agree on one thing...Getting rid of Bush. Straw poll or not!

[iowamark]

Then last year, Mr. Branstad dipped into his own re-election coffers to spend a lot of time and energy retaking control of the state party from an alliance of liberty and evangelical activists.

Deace thinks that the Ron Paul/Vander Plaatsers were the base of the party? How absurd.

[jjotto]

Deace knows better. He’s just carried away with his own rhetoric.

[iowamark]

The Straw Poll is not dead yet:

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/presidential/caucus/2015/05/28/straw-poll-meeting-iowa/28073945/
“UPDATE ON STRAW POLL PLAYERS

IN: Donald Trump*, Ben Carson. (Trump has said he’s in if he joins the presidential race.)

MAYBES: Chris Christie, Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, Rick Perry, Bobby Jindal. (Have sent some signals they’re considering coming.)

OUT: Jeb Bush, Mike Huckabee, Lindsey Graham, Marco Rubio. (Rubio staffers have signaled his attendance is unlikely; the others are a firm no.)

UNCERTAIN: Rand Paul, George Pataki, Rick Santorum, Scott Walker. (No strong signals either way.)”

[nonliberal]

It's done. Sad too because it used to be a great event.

I would go, but your Iowa Rethuglican buddies raised the gas tax. It will cost more for me to attend. Oh well.