Iowa. Thoughts?

I think that it's really great that the Republicans are going to hand Obama a second term in office because they can't get their sh*t together.

Seriously, there is NO O. in the ENTIRE Republican party that everyone likes???

Mind you, I voted for Obama the first time. I was going into this election seriously evaluating alternatives. But given this complete cluster of an overall campaign season from the Republican party, I'm staying with Obama. At least the Democrats can all agree to rally behind O. central thought platform.

I cannot say what I think about Santorum on a family board. That's about all I have to say about the Caucus right now.

My only thought is that I think it's crazy we put so much emphasis on a state where 60,000 votes were cast.

sure i do.

its a ridiculous dog and pony show.

When candidates are rated 1st and foremost on ability to beat Obama, well, no wonder you get a parade of the ridiculous.

That doesn't work as a party platform, as a governing principle, or as a campaign strategy.

But don't tell em. I'm getting a huge kick out of watching them chase thier tales and make fools of themselves.

I'm thrilled watching this theater of the absurd! I hope they keep it up - it's great (albeit scary) entertainment. I never cease to be amazed at the things that are coming out of these candidates' mouths - dude, you're going on and on about your religious faith and how that makes it okay to be against gay marriage. Meanwhile, President Badass Ninja brought down Osama bin Laden and ended a hugely unpopular war. I mean, seriously. The Republicans are bringing a knife to a gun fight. But I'm loving it.

ETA: AKC's Mom - yep, President Badass Ninja. I said it. He's the commander in chief. President Bush got to take credit when he stood on an aircraft carrier in front of a "Mission Accomplished" banner. President Obama gets to take credit for Osama bin Laden. That's how it works.

I am continually shocked that so many seemingly reasonable people could support these candidates. Do ya'll read? Do you really listen and understand what they beleive in and stand for? Their positions on social issues alone is absolute extremism in most cases.
I've been sure from the start of this crazy show that Mitt will be your guy and think he is the most reasonable choice. I do find it ironic that because of his RELIGION he can't get the traction he needs going into the real race.
I think it's been invaluable (and great for Obama) that we've all had a chance to hear what these people really stand for. Never in all my years of following this stuff have I seen candidates with such extreme veiws taken seriously.
So if Mitt's your guy how are you going to get all those hard core Christians to vote for a Morman? I guess that's what happens when your party has extremists controlling such a big chunk of the voting base. Worked wonders for Bush but I for O. would love to see it backfire in 2012!

Mini throw up in my mouth. Does that count as thoughts?

;{

Reminds me of that old song "Send in the clowns ... don't bother they're here ..."

My question is: When is it Huntsman's time to "surge???" He's the only O. who could possibly give the President a run for his money. The others are just a circus sideshow.

I want Santorum to be the nominee. His psychologi­cally disturbed obsession with everyone else's privates will prove to be just too creepy even for most Republican­s.

To be honest - I am surprised that the media gets to make our selections for us. I realize the people voted on this O.. But really - it all boils down to what and who the media wants us to see.

I'm glad that Perry is "reassessing" his campaign.

I would've liked Santorum to win it.

Romney is no better than Obama - look what he did to Massachusetts with his Romneycare!! Don't want him in charge of our country. Don't like that people say he's "electable" - that's a cop-out.

I think it's great that Ron Paul still has a horse in this show. Keeping a lot of people on their toes, he is! LOL!!

I'm glad that Bachmann is out. She reminds me of Obama. Talks without a purpose or uses the "I" or "ME" way too much. Like Obama, almost needs a teleprompter to keep her on track.

Other than that? I am going on "hope" and "change" that Obama is a O.-termer.

Oh, I really want Santorum to run b/c he's so hated in PA, and so religiously crazy (Mr. We Should Bomb Iran and Outlaw Premarital Sex) that Obama would be a shoe-in! I can imagine the ads now: "Santorum took a small PA community for $100,000" and "Santorum lived in VA while claiming to live in PA" and that doesn't even touch the man-on-dog comparison he embarrassed us all with.
The others are a joke, but he could be dangerous with Presidential power. We in PA are disgusted by him for good reason.

Why can't the GOP come up with someone who's not a crazy Christian? I'd like to see someone from another faith step up, just to mix things up a bit, but a sane Christian will do until then. Too bad they don't have any of them on the ballot.

Nope, but then again it's "Anyone but Obama" for me.

No . . . other than I think it is absurd how much attention it gets.

I'm glad Romney won. Personally, I think he can appeal to more people to get get Obama out of there! I like Ron Paul and Santorum, but they may be too conservative for independents and disgruntled dems that don't want O.

It doesn't really matter. The powers that be (which certainly are not the people of Iowa) will decide who will run against Obama. I'm guessing it is going to be Mittens. As a former Pennsylvanian, I must fervently hope that people think long and hard before voting for Santorum.

The way I see it, there isn't a really strong Republican contender...no O. who is going to get most of the votes from all of the various conservative groups. We will see.

I'm just glad that wackadoodle Paul didn't do well. Iowa doesn't really hold that much importance, so I'm not sure what the craziness is about!!

My thought about it is... Im SO glad the 10 phone calls a day asking me what my thoughts and who my choices are will finally stop!!

Not really, I am in a holding pattern.

Actually still hoping Ryan rides in on a white stallion. :)

I'm pulling for Rick Santorum but not sure if he has a real chance. I just hope that whoever it is has the capability of getting Mr. Hope and Change out of office.

I'm sorry but I have to reply to something Catherine C. said. You really going to give all the credit to Obama for getting Bin Laden? Yes, he deserves some credit but not all of it. Bush is the O. that got it started and oversaw it for 8 years compared to Obama's 3. Besides all that the true "Badass Ninja's" are our military. So let's be fair on who exactly gets credit. Just saying.

I'm really excited about how well Rick Santorum did. I think he is completely out of touch with reality and doesn't have a snowballs chance of beating Obama! If he wins the nomination, Obama should win in a walk. (knock on wood).

Mitt Romney is the only candidate that has enough common sense to govern this nation. If I wasn't such a huge Obama fan I might consider voting for him. Sorry, Mitt ...

Personally, I would like to take some from each candidate and that would make my ideal candidate! I love the process. My husband and I were in London when they went through their process a couple of years ago. It is all so interesting to me. I know people get sick of it but I rather enjoy it all. That is what makes this country so great. I have lived in places that their citizens didn't get a say in their leaders and I swore I would vote in every election and I do. That is my responsibility as an American.

Now my thoughts? I think Romney will probably be the nominee but I'm not thrilled with him. I think that is why you see each candidate surging because the republicans are looking for something that they don't see in Romney. Newt is a fine debator and very smart but he has way too much baggage. Rick Perry ran a terrible campaign and I don't think he was ready for prime time. Michelle Bachmann was a long shot. I don't care for Ron Paul's foreign policies. I think he is a little out side the box on that. I don't know enough about Rick Santorum. However, I plan to look at him closer. My thoughts? Its just starting!!!

Herman Cain was my top choice; the rest just get a shrug from me, although Santorum and Bachmann were my next choices. Now that Santorum did so well (how did that happen? just a few weeks ago, he was at the bottom of the heap, just above Jon Huntsman!) and Bachmann has suspended her campaign, he's my top pick. Jon Huntsman and Ron Paul are too libertarian for me, though I agree we need a dose of libertarianism in both parties! And RP's foreign policy scares me. If it weren't for that, I could support him more strongly, even though I don't agree with his position on everything. Mitt Romney is just a liberal in conservative's clothing, and I don't quite trust Rick Perry's or Newt Gringrich's recent (re)discovery of conservative positions on some issues, and think all three of them are political opportunists who have changed in the past and will change in the future, depending on which way the political winds have blown.

Even though Santorum was my top choice and the win in Iowa gave him a strong boost [I count it a win, since it was a statistical tie for first with Moneybags Mitt], I don't give much credence to the caucus, to tell the truth. It's O. win, and he needs a lot more. I forget who won the Iowa GOP caucus in '08, but whoever it was certainly didn't go on to win the nomination, so I don't think it has any predictive value whatever.

Perry is out (and yes I'm from Texas) and there are really no other viable candidates (not that Perry was even O.) to choose from.

Its just another platform. And everything can change in a blink...

So in a nutshell...meh...

Ditto to Stacey B and Mom of 4...I love this stuff.

I'm not sold on Romney yet...and I sure as heck won't vote for Ron Paul. But really, it's ABO for me too!

First thought: what the what????
Second thought: good, Bachman will finally have to drop out.
Third thought: woohooo that Ron Paul got the necessary delegates.

Michelle will be dropping out this week and Perry by the end of next week. I am praying they throw their support behind Rick.

Yeah. Santorum? Where did he come from all of a sudden?