Chaos?

[jayschool2013]

I'm tired of the characterization of the caucus process as chaos.

Yes, the caucus process is unreasonably complicated and hard to understand if you aren't part of it.

And yes, we should move to a simpler primary as soon as 2024. No doubt about it. More people need to be involved.

But I'll draw this analogy:

Football is an unreasonably complicated game and hard to understand if you aren't a fan or part of it.

But football isn't chaos. It's highly choreographed but also unpredictable. That's what we have.

So for Brian Williams and Claire McCaskill to call our caucus process "chaos," they clearly don't get it.

[abqtommy]

1. Williams and McCaskill are only doing what they're paid to do. They "get it" all the way to the

bank.

[jayschool2013]

2. Boom!

Right on target.

[question everything]

3. It was only yesterday's caucuses which resulted in chaos

because we still are no closer to finding the results than we were last night.

And, frankly, now with the state of the union address, the acquittal, the town halls and debates and NH - the 2020 IA caucus will long be forgotten.

So, not it is not a chaos. But it does disenfranchises too many voters and the results are strange. It also skew many results because of lack of secret balloting.

Two stories that I have been telling: first, I participated in the 1988 caucus. Our winner was declared by a toss of a coin.

Second - a friend's child was active on Obama campaign in 2008 so the parent, being present in the same caucus voted for Obama. But the parent had reservations about Obama so in the general elections voted for McCain.

Yes, I understand your liking of these cozy feelings, of the comradery among like minded people. And this is fine. This is what caucuses are for. But voting for a presidential candidate should be separated. In Minnesota this year they are. But even before, you came to the caucus, you wrote your preference on a Post it note, the notes were counted and you either stayed for caucusing of other issues or left after you cast your vote.

[jayschool2013]

4. We agree

If you read my OP, you'll see my advocacy for a primary election. Not sure where you got my "liking of these cozy feelings" or the camaraderie "among like-minded people."

[question everything]

5. I thought you reported them yesterday. Apologize if I misread them

This is what you said:

But I sat in a middle school gym with 571 of my neighbors and talked for two hours with them about issues, candidates and processes. I haven't done that in years, if not decades.

It was a fantastic experience. And it should have been the prelude to a secret-ballot primary tomorrow.

Still, I will treasure my Iowa caucus experience, even if it may be my ... and others' last.

=====

Yes, you support secret ballot primary but the, yes, cozy feeling was transmitted in that post. Still apologize if that was not your message.

[jayschool2013]

6. It was my message that it was fun

Yesterday, but I've always advocated for a primary.

Thanks for keeping me honest.

Peace.