Can I stand up for Iowa just a second.

[Peacetrain]

People do not like our caucus system.. I understand that. The republicans do a different kind of caucus here, where they have a straw vote prior to their caucus, and the caucus is basically a organization event.

We in the Democratic party do it differently. We all come in with our selected person who we want. Mine is Biden if you have not figured it out by now ...

We vote, and everyone who is a candidate who does not get at least 15% of that caucus vote, well, guess what... we give our voters a second chance, that the republicans do not have. We can choose to go and join a different candidates group or leave.. that is up to us.. but that is why in Iowa, numbers 2,3 4 5 are just as important as number one. If #3 does not make it, his or her people many end up boosting number 4 into first place. So Iowa Democrats really try to look at everyone. Because, my choice may not be viable at my caucus, but if someone else that I think they would be a good choice, I can go and stand with them.

[Demsrule86]

1. I hope Iowa will have a primary...too many folks don't have the ability to spend the time at

caucus so get left out...other than that my husband interviewed in Iowa but didn't get the job...it was a nice place.

[Peacetrain]

2. There is truth to that.. and it is usually darned cold..

But you would be amazed at how many babies are at caucus and little kids. We have been living with these people for two years, and we will slug it out to get there to cheer our choices on, or hear from other candidates captains on why another candidate would be a good choice. It also gets a LOT of people involved in our state organization. But it will probably change in the future.. we had thought about doing a online caucus, but there was no way to control who would participate. And in Iowa, you have to be a registered Democrat to vote at the Democratic caucus..

Edit to add.. darned, wish you could have moved here.. I just moved to the eastern side of the state a couple of years ago.. I used to live on western end by South Dakota. It really is a nice place

[Skidmore]

4. We also provide rides

to get people without transportation, the elderly, or with disabilities to the caucus. I wonder how many people in primary states don't get to the polls because of work schedules.

The one benefit of the caucus is that all participants get a chance to be immediately selected as county delegates and voting on proposals for platform items to move up to the next level occurs.

What I'd like is a holiday for voting/caucusing everywhere.

[Peacetrain]

5. Yep, have done many a pickup myself

And the great thing about selecting county delegates at caucus, is that we have so many more people to select from.. gets new people involved in the process.

[Demsrule86]

6. It was very nice...we liked it...but ended up in GA instead...not a fan of Georgia. We lived all

over...we were looking at a tire company in Iowa...hubs is an engineer...but here we are in Ohio...I like Ohio.

[Peacetrain]

7. I have a cousin that lives in Ohio..

She loves it there too. You know the downside of moving to Iowa.. you would have had to choose between the Hawkeyes (Univ of Ia) or Cyclones (Ia State Univ) .. we love our college football, almost as much as Nebraska..

[Demsrule86]

8. We are all in for Ohio State...liked them before coming to Ohio. And we support the Browns...not

much good this year...I do have a soft spot for Green Bay...my Dad from Chicago loved them...his folks were from Wisconsin... we lived in Janesville for a while too.

[Peacetrain]

11. Heartland to the core!!!

Your bona fides go deep in the Midwest.. so with linked arms... let me give a shout out to the Buckeyes!!

[Demsrule86]

24. I was a navy brat...but my Dad hailed from Wisconsin and Illinois...Chicago our family goes back

many years in the Mid West.

[Demsrule86]

25. We are going to beat the orange monster with Biden and maybe we win some seats in Iowa too and Ohio!

[hlthe2b]

3. That was the part of caucus system I liked in Colorado (replaced for 2020 with primary election)

People civilly talked with each other and some even ended up changing minds...

The part I didn't like was the extreme limitation on participation. Given one had to be able to attend on a single evening event for several hours was extremely exclusive of those who worked certain jobs, those with caretaker responsibilities, and of course the sick and infirmed.

But, yes, the caucuses were an interesting exercise in civic participation. It introduced me to a few neighbors several streets over that I might never have gotten to know, as well as a lot of people who I've since recognized at other local political events.

[Gothmog]

9. I was with the Obama voter protection team during the 2008 Texas Two Step

The Texas two step is no more but under this system two-thirds of the delegates were allocated on the basis of a primary and one-third on the basis of a caucus that took place the night of the general election. Hillary Clinton won the primary but President Obama won the most delegates due to the caucus portion

There are games that you can play. The Obama team had trainers who worked the Iowa caucuses train us on how to game the caucus system and these techniques worked.

I do NOT like caucuses. I am glad that Texas got rid of the Texas two step and I am glad that 10 or so states that had caucuses in 2016 are now using primaries

[Peacetrain]

10. Gothmog, we have to live with what we have got this time around

there is no changing anything for this caucus. I know they tried to implement an online caucus for those who could not attend..but as the party looked closer at all the intrusions the Russians and other parties were doing in the viral world. they realized this just would not work. It would have been too easily manipulated. So this is where we will be in 2020

[Gothmog]

14. Iowa cannot change to a primary format and still be first

New Hampshire will move their primary up if anyone tries this. Iowa's hands were tied. I simply do not like caucuses. I know the games that one can play. Game theory works in the context of caucuses

[Peacetrain]

22. That is true too!

[MuseRider]

30. We finally have a primary

in Kansas. We did the caucuses but I would much rather vote a vote than be a part of a smaller or larger mass then have to go on to the next etc. etc. I am looking forward to it.

[brooklynite]

12. I'm sorry, but people engaged enough to spend two hours at a political meeting are unrepresentative.

I want my candidates selected by people who get their information from TV ads and Facebook stories...

[dsc]

15. It isn't just engagment

to use one example our candidate couldn't caucus when he was serving in Afghanistan, though he was pretty likely engaged. I presume you like the fact that if you get sick at night you have a hospital to go to, well the people who staff those hospitals can't caucus no matter how engaged they may be. I am lucky that I work at a job where I could caucus but I am not so self absorbed that I don't realize others aren't so lucky.

[Peacetrain]

16. Oh hell no! Love you brooklynite.. but people making their choices by facebook ads

is the last thing I want. God only knows how many disruptive actors are putting up ads as we speak. Facebook makes yellow journalism look good. I have to admit, Joe Biden has some great ads on Facebook, but some of the other stuff I have seen scares me to death to think people would use that garbage to make a decision with. I have seen people who I know and are intelligent educated people fall for some of the craziest crap you have ever seen ..I will take a long night at caucus anyday over that. The people developing this ads overseas have become experts at what rings the bells of Americans.

[Skidmore]

17. People don't seem to understand how

engaged Iowans are when it comes to attending campaign events. In the cold. At night. In the daytime. On weekends. With strollers, wheelchairs, and walkers. We go whether we can caucus or not. I've seen people swap shifts with someone who didn't want to go and schedule trips around the caucus. Participation is discounted by many who don't live here.

[Peacetrain]

18. Exactly, cannot name then number of times I helped babysit,

at caucus or gave someone a ride who does not drive anymore or does not have access to a car. After two years of these people literally living with us.. Martin O'Malley stayed in the homes of his supporters.. and giving up rooms for their staff, we are invested in going to that night. for sure

[Skidmore]

19. We knew a

Hillary staffer living with one of our friends in 2016. In 2008, another friend's house was big enough to serve as meet-up central for Obama supporters from several villages. There was a group who made certain people at phone banks were supplied with food and drinks.

During the last caucus, I was a precinct captain. Took lots of calling to organize and GOTV.

[Peacetrain]

20. Me too!! I was MOM's precinct captain!!

We were not viable, so I was just not ready to stand for anyone else that night, and walked.. but by the next week I was all in for Hillary..

[Happy Hoosier]

13. Ranked choice voting would accomplish the same thing...

... and be far more inclusive to boot. Plus, I HATE, HATE, HATE that my primary vote is almost never a factor. Why is it that Iowa voters get so much say and voters in my state get the cold shoulder. Rotate the early states. Let everyone have a shot at mattering.

[sacto95834]

21. I don't Mind Caucus States...

Caucuses and primary elections test different strengths of a campaign. I agree with many who think caucuses are "less democratic," but they are cheaper to hold if that is a concern.

It's unfortunate that Iowa and New Hampshire gets so much criticism for going first - somebody has to. Moving toward the future, it would be nice to rotate the states that get to go first. My only concern is that they be relatively small and where the media market is not very expensive to give the lesser known candidates a shot to gain recognition. If one did only a one day national primary (like the General) only the best funded and most well known candidates would win.

Perhaps we can move towards a regional primary, where say four to six or so regions of the country vote in a block and the regions change with each cycle, so if you went first this cycle you go last in the next. Not sure you can do this as each state governs their own primary. Haven't work out all the kinks in the plan, but just some of my thoughts.

[redqueen]

23. I don't like the social aspect but proportional representation is best.

It's long past time to implement that.

[TidalWave46]

26. I don't like the system.

But I love how you put forward positive aspects to the system. Like many things, black and white thinking can sink us. I do no like the public vote aspect of it and think there is a very easy way around it that still keeps the "caucus" theme.

Love your op.

[nsd]

27. The first caucus/primary state is first for both Democrats and Republicans.

So, the first state should be representative of the country as a whole, not just Democrats or just Republicans.

Iowa is pretty good in that respect because it can go either way. HRC lost by 9 points, but Obama won by 9 and 7 in his two runs. GWB edged out Kerry in 2004, but Gore edged out GWB four years earlier.

Yes, Iowa is whiter than the rest of the country, but it was also the single most important state in the rise of Barack Obama as a presidential contender.

Caucuses are tricky, but I do get the feeling that Iowa caucus voters take their responsibility more seriously than primary voters in other states.

[Peregrine Took]

28. How much intimidation goes on?

I watched one on tv years ago and saw some big guys crowded around a small group of people seated in a corner who supported another candidate
Had I been in the seated group I would definitely been intimidated by the men standing over me wanting to discuss my vote.

[MBS]

29. When I did phone banking for the 2004 Iowa caucuses,

- then later for primaries in NH, MA, AZ, and other states –
I found that Iowa voters were, hands down, the most knowledgeable and engaged of any primary voters that I encountered.
I have huge respect for Iowa voters [at least the Democrats ], and I think that their sense of responsibility and overall engagement does our entire country a big service. And yes, I also think that the caucus system helps foster that engagement, in part for the reasons you've already articulated.
There are very few states for which the caucus system would be appropriate. But IMO Iowa's system plays a vital role.

[justgamma]

31. Thank you for this.

I can't imagine just walking in and voting. It seems so impersonal.

A caucus leads to actually talking to people. Discussions, about candidates and the platform we want. I've never seen anything but respect for people with different views of the candidates. There has been no pressure put on anyone. If your person isn't viable, there might be some campaigning to switch votes but that's it. Remember the caucus are full of our families, friends, and neighbors especially in the majority of small towns in Iowa.

[Happy Hoosier]

32. And if you can't attend?

I guess ya just don’t count?

We need to be eliminating barriers to participating, not entrenching them.