Did last night's results from Iowa increase your understanding of the race for President?

SGT Ben Keen — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 08:27:06 -0500

So last night was the historic Iowa Caucus. This has been viewed in the past to be the true test to see which candidates really stand a chance in getting on the official ticket later this year.

with all the results in now, have you learned anything to help you with this year's election?

Response by PO2 Mark Saffell made Feb 2 at 2016 8:31 AM

PO2 Mark Saffell — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 08:31:32 -0500

I have to admit the Caucuse is a confusing system. Anyone else confused about this method?

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2016 8:32 AM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 08:32:28 -0500

Clinton & Sanders are breaking ties with the flip of a coin.... FML Here's what will happen, mark my words. Trump will fail to get the nomination and go independent. Regardless of which socialist gets the democratic nomination, Trump will split the conservative vote much like H. Ross Perot did during Bush's failed re-election against Bill Clinton. Come January, we will live under a socialist President and there will no motivation to do anything since the government will give us everything for free.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Feb 2 at 2016 8:40 AM

LTC John Shaw — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 08:40:54 -0500

Iowa may provide a short boost to Sanders and Cruz. Hillary still owns the machinary of the Dem party. GOP, The most likely outcome is the lift to Rubio over all other Establishment candidates. It will be interesting to see if Trump grows through the process and stops being the jerk he normally is on the campaign trail.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2016 9:00 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 09:00:39 -0500

It has rarely been correct for the Republican side.

Response by SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz made Feb 2 at 2016 9:10 AM

SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 09:10:02 -0500

Like many before me have said, winning in Iowa don't guarantee anyone the election. Vote Trump 2016!!!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2016 9:16 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 09:16:55 -0500

We learned that people are so excited about Hillary that a grumpy, disheveled, 74 year-old Socialist can take her all the way to the wire.
We learned that the riff-raff that had no chance to win are throwing in the towel. So far that includes Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum, and Mike O'Malley. Governor Gilmore is on life support, and should be next in the coming days. It'll be interesting to see where their supporters go.
We learned that support for the "non-protest" vote seems to be coalescing around Senator Rubio at the expense of Jeb, Governor Christie, and Governor Kasich. In order for the latter three to live to fight another day, they will have to do much better in New Hampshire.
We learned that the coronation of Trump and Hillary was premature, and that this will go at least until Super Tuesday in March.
We learned that the party of "old white people" had two Hispanics and a black man as their top four finishers, and the party of "the little guy" is down to a two-horse race between two old white people. This does not bode well for the DNC, hoping to harness the coalition that sent President Obama to the White House twice.

Response by SFC Stephen King made Feb 2 at 2016 10:10 AM

SFC Stephen King — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 10:10:39 -0500

https://www.thewrap.com/how-good-are-the-iowa-caucuses-at-picking-presidential-nominees-pretty-good/

How Good Are the Iowa Caucuses at Picking Nominees?

If you hate the results of the Iowa caucuses, don't worry: The winners have a decent chance of winning their parties' nominations, but they're not a lock.

Response by A1C Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2016 10:38 AM

A1C Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 10:38:27 -0500

NOPE! All politics aside...how do you support someone who should be in jail or someone who looks up to Karl Marx for how to run a country? I understand the other side has snake oil salesmen as well.

Response by COL Ted Mc made Feb 3 at 2016 12:49 PM

COL Ted Mc — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 12:49:59 -0500

SGT Ben Keen - Sergeant; Not really.

The Iowa votes on the first elected delegates who were "pledged" to vote for certain National candidates (on the first ballot and can then do whatever they feel like doing) at the County wide meetings (which you probably won't hear much about) that will elect candidates who are "pledged" to vote for certain National candidates (on the first ballot and can then do whatever they feel like doing) at the State wide meetings (which you probably won't hear much about) where they will elect delegates to the National Nominating Convention where they are "pledged" to vote for a specific National candidate for nomination (on the first ballot and can then do whatever they feel like doing).

This, of course is not necessarily the same process as is followed in the Iowa Democrat "primaries"

And, of course, the process in Iowa is not necessarily the same process that is followed in other states.

And, of course, there is no independent, third-party, which oversees the processes at any of the "primaries", County conventions, State conventions, or National conventions so there is no way of being certain that no fraud is being perpetrated at any of those levels.

But, then again, I already knew that (not that it does anyone any good to know it).

And, of course, the "National polls" have absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with delegate preference so trying to judge who is "ahead" without (almost) precinct specific polling is pretty much a waste of time (as is trying to predict who is "ahead" in the ACTUAL Presidential Election race without reference to how Electoral College slots are allocated).

PS - Don't forget the wonderful boost to the economy those "Caucuses" are. Tens of millions of dollars in "new money" is getting poured into advertising, travel, accommodation, meals, telecommunications, and all of the other associated "services" that you find springing up around ANY convention like happening.