[US Navy Vet]

The Iowa "GOP" is 100% GOP-e/RINO thanks to Branstad.It started a few years ago when Democrat Gov. Terry Branstad – yes, I know he calls himself a Republican but I don’t believe in bearing false witness – immediately went out of his way to publicly undermine the credibility of the Iowa Straw Poll. Mr. Branstad and his ilk don’t like the fact the event seems to energize the party’s conservative base instead of his preferred corporatist shills. Alas, the only political party more offended by an energized conservative base than the Democrats is the Republicans.

[Resolute Conservative]

The road for Jebbie is being paved by the media and GOPe. He is their choice.

[jjotto]

Premature obit. The Straw Poll will take place immediately after the first primary debate. The new more businesslike Straw Poll may actually get a bigger PR boost than it would have had it remained a candidate carnival.

[wjcsux]

Later

[JOAT]

I celebrate the death of the Iowa farce!

Those idiots consistently choose RINOs.

I can only hope they are cut out of the process of selecting from now on.

[TexasFreeper2009]

The premise of the whole article is wrong.

It assumes that since Jeb isn't going to participate that the whole thing is meaningless.

I have two words to say to that:

Rudy Guliani

Then it also says that since Jeb wont be there all the conservatives will only be beating up on themselves...

um... no they will be beating up on Jeb and other RINO’s who because they are not there wont be able to defend themselves.

That's a win for the conservatives :)

[discostu]

ISP has always been completely pointless. Unless you’re a betting man. If you gamble then bet against whoever wins the ISP because they largely do not win the nomination.

[rrrod]

Many here have been saying these straw poll or even regular polling are way off base. After watching the various polls in the last two election cycles I agree with them 100%.
The straw polls are totally a waste of time....they are just fund raisers.

[kevkrom]

Apologies to any FReepers from Iowa, but can we just burn the place to the ground already? It’s just one drawn-out extortion scheme played out in four year cycles.

The “straw poll” is nothing more than an exercise to extract money from campaigns to stuff the ballot box for a mythical “win”.

[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.

[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.)”