2020 Presidential Election

[Voronwë the Faithful]

Apparently, the Iowa Democratic caucus results are being delayed by some kind of reporting problem, so there are no results as of yet.

ETA: Here is the Iowa Democratic Party's statement about the situation.

[elengil]

ETA: Here is the Iowa Democratic Party's statement about the situation.

Psst... you forgot something...

[Voronwë the Faithful]

https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/03/politics ... index.html

[River]

I have sympathy for Iowans. In 2016, the CO Democratic Caucus was a mad-house. I didn't go because I remembered the 2008 caucus and decided I just didn't have the time or energy. The CO GOP didn't even have a caucus. They just went straight to convention for reasons I'm not entirely clear on but I suspect had something to do with depriving Trump of delegates. Or they feared an even bigger mad-house. Following that, there was a serious discussion about going to primaries. The disadvantage to a primary is the state's election infrastructure has to be used and so the state has to bear the costs. Caucuses are strictly party business. However, caucuses can also turn into a total circus and the population of Colorado is expanding rapidly. So we had a referendum on going to primaries and that's why, instead of a caucus, Colorado will have a primary on Super Tuesday. Iowa might want to consider that, though if they hold their primary on hte same day as they would typically caucus New Hampshire's going to get mad.

[River]

I must say, the ongoing media tantrum about the lack of Iowa results is getting tiresome. It's one state. There's 49 more to go. I'm sure the state Democratic parties in the other 49 are taking notes so this doesn't happen to them. Meanwhile, in Iowa, the paper trail is being followed to the victor. I'm sure it's very frustrating for the campaigns, but the results will be announced sooner or later and New Hampshire's primary is also happening this week.

[Voronwë the Faithful]

The whole thing just shows how ridiculous and outmoded the whole nominating process is. Caucuses need to be done away with altogether. Ideally, there would be one date in which each state holds its primary, though it is unlikely that will happen any time in the near future.

Meanwhile the Iowa Democratic Party announced that it will announce "the majority" of the results at 5:00 p.m. EST. Asked what that means, they said "more than 50%". At this point, all that will do is add to the confusion, since it is unlikely that "more than 50%" of the results (but presumably not that much more, or they would say so) is going to be indicative of the full results. Of course, both Buttigieg and Sanders have already claimed victory (and Warren and Klobuchar announced that they did "better than expected") without any results at all, so we might as well add to the fun.

I agree, River, that the whole thing is really just a blip on the radar, but it is indicative of how screwed up the whole system is. The most ridiculous thing are the claims at CNN and elsewhere that the chaos someone "creates an opening for Trump". WTF? It is irrelevant to Trump. Somewhat more reasonable is the argument that Bloomberg benefits for the chaos, since there is one less chance for someone else to establish firm momentum going forward (since he is not competing in Iowa). But I still feel that my hats are safe from culinary attacks.

[Frelga]

Republicans are going to claim that Democrats "rigged" the election no matter what actually happens. Already claiming in fact. This, while massive voter roll purges are on the way in, e.g., Wisconsin, where Trump's margin of victory was razor thin.

I do not appreciate Democratic candidates throwing a tantrum while the work is underway from a very sensible paper backup process.

[River]

Meanwhile, multiple state GOPs are refusing to print primary ballots that include Trump's challengers. Who exactly is doing the rigging?

[yovargas]

The whole thing just shows how ridiculous and outmoded the whole nominating process is. Caucuses need to be done away with altogether.

I'm kinda baffled that they're still around at all, or that anyone in 2020 would think that it's a idea. I guess some people are just really resistant to change.
(See also: the electoral college.)

[Voronwë the Faithful]

What a clusterfuck!

[elengil]

Honestly, I still don't even understand what the heck a caucus even is.

[Voronwë the Faithful]

elengil, I would tell you, but then I would have to kill you! (Actually, I honestly don't think that I could coherently explain it.)

They have no released 62% of the precincts, and Buttigieg is in fact in the lead, with 26.9% of the vote, followed by Sanders with 25.1%, Warren with 18.3, and Biden lagging behind with 15.6%, not far ahead of Klobuchar with 12.6%. Nobody else has more than 1.1%.

[elengil]

elengil, I would tell you, but then I would have to kill you!.

It would be a mercy killing

[Voronwë the Faithful]

As an indication of how ridiculous the caucus process is, while Buttigieg has a slight lead over Sanders in the current delegate count, Sanders actually is leading in the popular vote. Assuming that holds to the final results we can only imagine what kind of complaining that will lead to.

[Frelga]

Meanwhile, Warren's campaign.

Another reason she's my first choice.

Our campaign collected photos and other raw documentation of the results at hundreds of caucus locations as part of our internal reporting process. Today we will provide what we have to the Iowa Democratic Party to help ensure the integrity of their process.

https://twitter.com/RogerLau/status/122 ... 01729?s=19

[Voronwë the Faithful]

Can I vote for this woman? (the one on the left, in case that isn't clear)

https://twitter.com/annabelpark/status/ ... ng-hes-gay

[yovargas]

Wow. That was impressive. I so wish we could see more of that kind of discussion between differing views. I would genuinely love to talk to that woman on the right.

[Voronwë the Faithful]

What would you say?

[yovargas]

First thing is I want to genuinely hear from her why she feels this is relevant to who we choose for president. Hopefully we could actually talk about that in a calm, patient manner. I'm usually pretty good at being able to do that which is why I was disappointed in myself when I lost my temper at a that one Trump supporter recently.

[Voronwë the Faithful]

Forgive my cynicism, but I doubt that you would receive a reasonable answer from her. But I have great confidence that you would nonetheless be able to talk about it with her in a calm reasonable manner (far more confidence than I would have in myself).