Discussion: Des Moines Register Calls For Audit Of Iowa Dem Caucus: 'Something Smells'

[geofu54]

What are the political leanings of the Des Moines Register? D or R?

R, if I recall.

[turdburgler]

I heard the Des Moines Register is in league with Jeb!, and this is their ploy to throw the Democratic primary into chaos so he can win the election.

[ibbster]

They just need to change the rules of how they conduct these elections overall, period. Perhaps in a raw vote count, Sanders would have indeed come out ahead. But going by the rules these silly caucuses have been going by for years, Clinton won fair and square.

[darrtown]

And nothing smells on the republican side? I’s suggest y’all at the register take a look at Cruz and what his campaign said about Carson’s sojourn to Florida.

[martinheldt]

Its was a truly remarkable night to see so many ties.

Who would have thought a democratic socialist from the New York could have ventured into a state where Hillary Clinton has maintained a presidential wannabe campaign for the last nine years and yet manage to battle her to a tie?

Who would have thought that someone who refuses PAC money, someone who needed 200,000 ordinary people to contribute to equal the amount from Hillary’s top billionaire donor, would have a chance?

Who would have thought that Bernie could come from 40 points down - and obscurity - to so motivate the people to get out and vote in such refreshing numbers?

[ottnott]

The whole Iowa Caucus is an outdated way of selecting a candidate.Tthe system is cumbersome, it lacks any checks and balances. “Pure” democracy is a wonderful idea: but there must be a better and fairer way of selecting a candidate. Its 2016, folks. Join the rest of the US.

To date, Iowa has had to stick with the caucuses if it wants to stay first. NH somehow got dibs on first primary, and has a cow if anyone suggests that NH take turns. The state would hold the primary the day after Inauguration, if it had to.

[mantan]

With so many pinheads, how will we ever tell if Zika virus strikes the media?

[hoagie]

Because 1) it is not always likely to be polite, 2) people deserve to have their preferences kept private, and 3) it’s not democratic because it is inconvenient and unaccessible to the less privileged. It shouldn’t be a Friends Meeting but rather a process that includes people and protects their self interests.

[daveyjones64]

Yes, Especially because it didn’t happen that way.

[pluckyinky]

Absolutely. IA and NH shouldn’t be the first to vote because they’re particularly poor reflections of the Democratic bases’ demographics. I know there are logistical and financial (cheap ad buys for cash strapped candidates) reasons why IA is the first in the nation, but surely there are similarly sized, far more diverse states. As the make up of the party continues to grow more and more diverse, the party needs to find better ways to ensure better representation.

[daveyjones64]

Not just a cow…it has a law. If any state moves ahead of them, they automatically move theirs ahead once again to be first.

And they are so small in terms of actual delegates, that any scolding or punishments offered up by either the RNC or DNC are ignored.

[saylen]

Interesting that this comes from a paper that endorsed Clinton. Less interesting because this is such a stupid and outdated and unsophisticated method of deciding elections.

Like, the very first selection of nomination between candidates for President is literally decided by people standing in corners of rooms and being hand-counted. I just can’t even.

[edhedh]

DNL: …it’s the BS left at all the wannabe caucus places

suggestion for iowa. dump your dumbass caucusing and tally votes. cut the bullshit.

[pluckyinky]

Who would have thought? The skinny, big earred, black dude with funny sounding name who beat her in Iowa last time.

[trippin]

Jesus, just let it go. It stands for what it is, and obsessing over the last fraction is petty.

[imkmu3]

…and clap. No, not that kind!

[barbara63]

They endorsed Romney over Obama in 2012 and Joni Ernst ® over Braley (D) in 2014 for Senate so I’m guessing they lean Republican.

Good for the Iowa Democratic Party to shut this wild goose chase down.

[mymy]

Doesn’t this happen EVERY year–I seem to recall Romney winning then Santorum (or the other way around) or Ron Paul, etc. It’s a silly system and this sounds like a newspaper trying to make headlines for no good reason.

[ottnott]

I heard that the coins used were all Eisenhower Dollars. Eisenhower was a Republican. See?

Speaking of coin flips and Republicans, the GOP halted the use of coin flips in their caucus meetings.

The coin flips weren’t working, because instead of calling “heads” or “tails”, the participants kept calling “mine!”

[ralph_vonholst]

Well, I can guess what the opening topic will be on Chris Hayes’ show, aka “Bernie Sanders and Friends” tonight.