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Iowa and the Future of the GOP
The Wall Street Journal ^ | December 24, 2011 | David Yepsen

Posted on 12/24/2011 6:01:20 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

No matter the outcome, Ron Paul's strength indicates a resurgence of the libertarian and isolationist wings of the Republican Party.

Judging by some of the television images of the 2012 Republican presidential race in Iowa, the contest is among a bunch of small-bore candidates courting farmers and born-again Christians out on the chilly prairie.

Look again. The 2012 Republican contest in Iowa is very much a battle over what the GOP should stand for in the years ahead. Just as Republican leaders in Washington can't seem to reach a consensus on what they're for, so can't rank-and-file party activists here. Throughout this campaign, a variety of candidates have risen and fallen as caucusgoers have fallen in love and then been struck by buyer's remorse.

Today most leads in polls of the race are within the margins of error. One thing pollsters agree on: A majority of likely caucusgoers say that even in this 11th hour, they could be persuaded to change their minds before Jan. 3.

Why this softness? Many on the left snicker and say it's because the field is so weak that Republicans are having a hard time deciding. Watching some of the gaffes and stumbles of the race, there is an element of truth in that....

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Iowa; Issues; Parties; Polls
KEYWORDS: iowa; ronpaul

1 posted on 12/24/2011 6:01:26 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

It is true that there are no superstars, but with the MSM as it is, nobody could be a superstar. Republicans would wail, if Reagan was running at how unelectable he was.

But it’s my experience that you need somebody who is a groundhog, to make the changes needed to fix Washington. Somebody who can keep gnawing away at the resistence, while working unseen in the background.

IMHO, I think Newt and Perry are capable of that.


2 posted on 12/24/2011 6:09:53 PM PST by Jonty30 (What Islam and secularism have in common is that they are both death cults.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
December 24, 2011

Poll Watch: American Research Group Iowa 2012 Republican Caucus Survey

•Ron Hitler Paul 21%

•Massachusetts Romney 20%

•Grassroots/Tea Party Gingrich 19%

IOWANS are not stupid. They'll do the RIGHT thing.

3 posted on 12/24/2011 6:13:52 PM PST by CainConservative
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

It is called Dis-integration. It means the total loss of a unifying theme as evidenced by tolerance, equality, diversity. The inability to exclude those who do not belong. We are no longer a People but have become a mere demographic.


4 posted on 12/24/2011 6:24:48 PM PST by AEMILIUS PAULUS (It is a shame that when these people give a riot)
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To: CainConservative

Right on the button. Poll numbers are not to my liking but we shall see.


5 posted on 12/24/2011 6:31:25 PM PST by Jukeman (No Romney, No Bush, No Trump. No, No, No. Never. Final Word!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
No matter the outcome, Ron Paul's strength indicates a resurgence of the libertarian and isolationist wings of the Republican Party.

All these Dems like Mr. Yepsen choose to ignore the fact that most of Paul's support comes from Democrats.

6 posted on 12/24/2011 6:49:50 PM PST by iowamark
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To: iowamark

Like Cafferty, who also used to work in Des Moines, he’s a boozer.


7 posted on 12/24/2011 7:03:40 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (You can't invade the US. There'd be a rifle behind every blade of grass.~Admiral Yamamoto)
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To: CainConservative
IOWANS are not stupid. They'll do the RIGHT thing.

And the proof is ___, definitely Harkin!

8 posted on 12/24/2011 7:35:46 PM PST by Theodore R. (I'll still vote for Santorum if he is on the April 3 ballot.)
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To: Theodore R.

oops, I mean to say “definitely NOT Harkin!”


9 posted on 12/24/2011 7:36:31 PM PST by Theodore R. (I'll still vote for Santorum if he is on the April 3 ballot.)
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