Iowa's Witching Hour is 7 P.M. For Ron Paul Supporters
In a few hours, we'll see if Ron Paul's people prove the mainstream media and polls wrong. If you're late, your vote doesn't count. by Bob Nightingale
(libertarian)
Thursday, January 3, 2008
A lot of people will not vote tonight. If you are a shut-in, or if you have to work second shift, or if you are out of town for school or military service, you can't pick your party's nominee for President of the United States. That's too bad, because this election has some serious issues. For all the hoopla, the only Iowan votes that will count are from those who show up. And you can't be late.
It's strange from where I sit. I live in Michigan and I already voted. My wife and I have a family matter that will take us out of town on Jan. 15. We used the absent voter form. Although my wife typically votes Democratic, she took a Republican ballot, because the Democrats are not counting Michigan's delegates. Michigan moved it's primary up before Feb. 5, against the wishes of the parties. My wife wanted to be counted, and the Republicans will count at least half the delegates. If we lived in Iowa and had to leave the state, our votes wouldn't have counted for either party.
I didn't see how my wife voted, but you can guess mine from what I've written here at Nolan Chart:
That last one gives it away. It was written in October, when I started believing the good Doctor had a chance and started shilling for him. Four months later, I'm feeling really good about my choice.
If Michigan had a Caucus instead of a primary, I'd be really sad. I can't get out of my commitment that day--even to vote.
So now that the advertisements have run and the doors have been rapped, what are the campaigns going to do? Provide taxi and babysitting services. In this election, every vote is sacred, every vote is grand. Don't let one get wasted. (My apologies to Monty Python.)
The Weather Channel says that it will be 21 degrees, clear, no precipitation in Des Moines tonight. There will be a full moon. With such relatively good weather, you can figure that many of the party faithful will be out in force. The Paul insurgents will be tested.
Tonight we'll see who is right, the pollsters or those of us trolling the internet as part of the Love Revolution.
Previously I've predicted that Ron Paul could make a credible third place. In my article Setting the Ron Paul Mendoza Line, I talked about the other candidates who would be hurt if Ron Paul were to finish ahead of them.
The biggest candidates to lose tonight, if they finish behind Paul are Romney, Huckabee, and McCain. Expectations for Hunter and Thompson are so low that they may quit after tonight. Giuliani has already conceded Iowa, so it doesn't matter--he's concentrating on Florida, and perhaps Nevada.
McCain is making a last ditch effort in Iowa, since resurrecting his campaign and rising in the polls. If he finishes behind Paul, he has to win New Hampshire, or he has to seriously re-evaluate. Perhaps Michigan would be his last hurrah.
But the two biggest ones who could be hurt by a Ron Paul upset are Romney and Huckabee.
From what I've read about the Huckabee office in Des Moines, it's about one-fourth the size of Paul's and they have a hard time answering their phone bank. It sounds like a good place to take a nap. I think last night's run to California to be on Leno's show is the last time Huckabee can get into living rooms, without paying for airtime. I think he's running low on cash. If he wins Iowa or comes close second behind Romney, he'll make a push to consolidate his forces in South Carolina. South Carolina would be the last notch on his Bible Belt.
Conversely, Romney has the best Republican campaign money can buy. His sons were joking on the news last night about losing parts off the campaign RV. I hope they're having fun, because Dad spent their inheritance. If he were to finish behind Paul, that would be the news story every night until New Hampshire. Romney is expected to win there, with McCain a close second.
Before I sign off, I want to thank all you young Ron Paul insurgents who have spent your Christmas Vacation and started your semester a couple days late to promote a better vision of the future. The best you can do now is get your converts to the right spot at about 6:30, and get them home safely.
At about 9 p.m., that hot chocolate will taste really good.
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It is just so REFRESHING to read your supportive and well thought out article, and I just love your encouraging the voters - it would be so nice if some other journalists got a feel for the power of positive thinking you reveal. Keep up the good work........Lindy from South Africa
I can't wait to see the shock of suprise when the MSM has to eat their own words. No-shot, long-shot, quixotic, kook, ect. Can liberty really be popular? Thanks for the good article :) And thanks for supporting the DR. :)
Like you, my absentee vote has been cast for Dr. Ron Paul. After being in my home state of South Carolina last week, I was very impressed with the support he's generated there; what's more, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who has been working with the McCain campaign, commented the other day about his astoundment at the Ron Paul support in his state.
South Carolina has a strong States' Rights streak running through it, so I can see Dr. Paul doing quite well there.
Can't wait to see what happens this evening in Iowa. Go Ron Paul 2008!
What do you make of the story (that is being spiked) of the vote counting in Iowa being done by a Israli Defense company?
http://www.dailypaul.com/node/19098
Great article. Really positive-minded, it made me smile.
I need something to do until the caucus results start pouring in. The tension is driving me mad.
I wouldn't worry about Fox News. If Ron Paul gets an hour by himself after the Fox forum, he can take his time to critique each of the questions and all the other candidates. CNN and MSNBC has been more than fair lately. They're looking for a contrasting story for ratings. This may be a gift.
Mitch: I think it's very wrong. I watched CSPAN2 tonight. The votes were being called into a central location in IA over the phone, and the precinct leaders were talking to a PERSON on the other end. That story may have been true last time, but not this time.
