Iowa Caucus: Animated Edition!

[blowgoats666]

No one outside of iowa gives a shit about Iowa. The "straw Poll" is a sham, pay for votes joke and they haven't picked the candidate that won the nomination very often. Great "cross section' of america. All Middle and above income white people...... In 10 years, no one will even go to Iowa, that trend has already started.

[exectomom]

Now that was an excellent explanation for a non US person. Thank you!

[cerebrum1270]

Go Ron Paul!!!

[danski1212]

RON PAUL 2012 LIBERTY, PEACE , PROSPERITY & THE CONSTITUTION

[Numbuh7]

@danski1212 Yeah if you consider deregulating everything that works in the people's favor as "prosperity" and "liberty". You need to take a good hard look at the long term effects of Ron Paul's proposals. Your comment is not based in reality, it's based in fantasy.

[johnnyrelie]

Ron Paul 2012!

[Shewib]

Gingrich 2012 !!! By far the best candidate. No other candidate has even 10% of the experience, wisdom, and knowledge of Newt Gingrich.

[daleskill1]

@Shewib You must of never heard of Ron Paul.

[khimosaubi]

@Shewib Gingrich is a NWO whore.... Ron Paul is the last hope for America... You dont vote him in, enjoy your new facist home... How you like that NDAA bill? Not home of the free anymore.

[milo476]

@Shewib Gingrich voted for NAFTA, and GATT. Has been in the CFR since 1990. He supports amnesty. He fought so hard in 1996 against Paul getting elected (he got 50 congressmen and BushI to endorse Paul’s primary opponent) It will be especially enjoyable watching Paul trounce him badly in these primaries.

[a10fjet]

republican blah blah

democrat blah blah

both end up with the same policies save minor differences...

[nabil113]

@a10fjet you totally right. ron paul, they both hate him, look at their media CNN... fox... he's the man of this stage

[Whyiyawta]

I got it now. The Republicans are a bunch of caucus suckers.

[carajones89]

Great view! Made it very easy to understand! Thanks for posting, helped me out with my pol sci homework :)

[kellyeself]

So glad I found your videos tonight! Your explanation is so clear, and the animated graphics make it so much more interesting than my usual classroom lectures. I'm definitely adding you to my powerpoints!

[negranzac]

Excellent quick source on the caucus process. Painless and effective explanation for those new to the caucus.

[frankfrank1985]

Very informative! One correction: 29 degrees F is not cold! Just be glad that you don't have the caucus in North Dakota (where 40 below 0 is not uncommon in January).

[Bacchant33rd]

Iowa shouldn't have that much of an impact on the election. I'm not trying to put down the state, but Iowa is a rather small state & the even the perceived power it has over presidential politics is unfair to the rest of country. It is certainly unfair to states with larger populations.

[jjwoodie12]

johninves, move to iraq please.

[Wismeryll90]

Thanks for that great video! I'm french and I tried to understand the american political system. And that video explain very well the odd (for an European ^^) principle of caucus.

[tirzan65]

I fully undersign this comment!

ciao from Italy

[EMSqueen88]

The democratic caucus system is messed up. But why is it different for the democrats and the republicans? is it because the party chooses to conduct there caucus in that manner? Srry I just think its so stupid.

[Taurus01979]

So basically, I guess it's entirely about on who can convince the most people to go stand with their group... lovely.

Lets here if it picking candidates based on peer pressure and those that are week to it, and perhaps the confused old and naive. Our good old bass backwards American system.

[Taurus01979]

*hear

*weak

[johninves]

IOWA CAUCUS:

What a stupid, retarded system.

Coupled with our limited choice to two (actually one party - RepubMocrats) and our ridiculous Electoral system makes us the joke of the world.

[hillusatv]

Oprah Winfrey is the next president of the united states !!!!!

[lucobis]

And Dr Phil is the vice !!!!

[kotorian1]

She threw her pom-poms in for Obama.

[thefreddy]

Dugg!

[Ackdacka]

romper room

[ysgeye]

Very informative.

[boxpilot]

The democratic caucus is fucked up.

[zomgFletch]

So what's the outcome of the caucus, why is it important? And how is Iowa's decision treated differently than New Hampshire's?

[millamotaylor]

yeah, its wierd. but every time since jimmy carter, the winner of the iowa caucus has been the nominee.

[cartmanj24]

ron paul 08

[millamotaylor]

i mean, iowa and new hampshire are important because they are the first two to vote.

[millamotaylor]

because they are the first two to vote.

[famslore]

My teacher wa talking about this to us today! except u gave more info! Thanks it helps with my homework!

[mar913]

this helps me with my homework. i hope this is all right =] thanksss

[Boultbeemx]

I am not American, but will tell you this: The Image of the US looks very bad outside, the fact is that we may probably dont like Americans as much as we`d like to, but we dislike europeans and chinese even more than what we dislike you and we share culture and values with the US people. Therefore Americans, this is your move to prevail as the world leading nation, or to continue falling. If you are going to do something, do it now or lose your chance, forever.

[struveinsky]

I'm from Iowa, and I feel like Iowans are extremely conscientious about their role in the election process, many taking the opportunity to visit with multiple candidates, attend speeches, rallies, etc, and then make an informed choice. The caucus process requires a commitment that is unusually large for the average citizen in the election process, but one that many Iowans are eager to accept.

[cowdude]

KUCINICH!

[Christoffeltje]

Hillary 4 PRESIDENT 2008

[johntkucz]

i think you miscounted your delegates second time round.

[nine8nine]

And they call America democratic!

Is it true you don't even directly elect a president? It's done for you?!

[baigandine]

Yes and no. Generally, states have laws that the electors follow the popular vote in that state.

[baigandine]

Yes and no. Generally states require electors to vote with the popular will.

[areweevil]

Thank you for the explaination. go Ron Paul!

[sapperzulu]

@areweevil He is... to the top!

[bearmill78]

Thank you for taking the time to explain this confusing system to "dummies" such as myself!!! ;) Seriously, it's a confusing system, and thank you for taking the time to place such importance on voting, especially to folks our age...we must voice our opinion, less, not complain!?!?!? TY!

[kumaranyc]

Video well done, thanks. The caucus system is confusing, I prefer the primary - but to each his own. Kumar...

[mariasharapova1fan]

vote for hilary!!

[Xenu]

Fuck that war-mongering, Republican-wannabe.. I'd be tired of having two presidents back to back who so closely resemble monkies. As much as I dislike Obama and Edwards either one of them are better than Hilary or any of the vile Republican candidates.

[buddybleau]

Dr. Ron Paul will win in Iowa for the republicans. IF not, heaven help us. Even if Dr. Ron Paul wins, the media will downplay this fact. The media is so crooked it makes me sick to my stomach.

[38569]

Ron Paul is the only candidate who actually takes a stand on our horrible monetary system, but anyone is better than Hillary.

[ColdFlo]

seems to me that the republican system is more open to exploitation seeing as its much more isolated from the voters making sure their votes are tabulated correctly but i guess thats good for republicans because some republicans vote the wrong way and others should be able to fix that..............

[rpshissl]

I hate the electoral system in the States.

[FranklinPatriot]

thanks for using pictures of hillbillys from the 70's to illustrate us as...yokels. Thanks.

[bearmill78]

that was great ;O

[jennkneefur14]

im from iowa, and i think the iowa caucus is GOOD! sure its time consuming but what the heck, it sure is worth while.

[Andi1761]

Iowa is an important State as is New Hampshire, these idiot people who don't like these two States going first do not fully understand what goes on in these States either. Go Iowa and New Hampshire. Both Great States.

[thetani]

That process, though time consuming, sounds like a lot of fun. I wish more states did it. If I had to do that every four years so that voting didn't always have to be so passive.

[MatthewRMaher]

Brilliant job. I was thinking of doing something like this in order to explain the process to some fellow classmates but alas, no need to reinvent the wheel. Keep up the good work!

[dolphinsfan913]

Democrats of course make things much more complicated and harder.

[ytdsmom]

That's exactly what I was going to comment on:)

[lordjadams]

Lol!  Good thing I'm a Republican! :-P

[shaiasha]

who is this guY? (with all the respect)

he´s so cute! i will vote for him! hahaha..just kidding....good job!

[tjlawson20]

That was good. A non-partisan explanation of things. I like that

[SeekTruth77]

Thanks for explanation! Great!

[Eurobubble70]

The Democratic Iowa Caucus is a shame for a 1st world democratic country, no wonder that the turnout is so low.

[DaRockFlipper]

Good Job!

[singularityrush]

Good stuff. Thanks.

[WhyTuesday]

No doubt.

[beachblonde222]

(I'm totally joking when I say this): Does it hurt a lot when you kiss your own ass like that? LOL Seriously, though, I just showed my sister this. Neither of us has known the process. Also, you're an excellent speaker; news anchor worthy, in my opinion.

[MyPileOfDigitalMedia]

Wonderful explanation, thank you : ) as a reminder to us (voters) out their, there are many candidates available to vote for and not the media famous ones; there are Dennis Kucinich, I believe DK can make a difference in my opinion. Please choose to whom to vote wisely, for your sake. Also Ron Paul from the Republican side is good. Thank you for reading.

[madjayhawk]

Great.  Thanks

[PatriceOneal]

Caucus is pretty silly.

My videos are funny.

[indians5224]

Thank you for this video. I really didn't know what the big difference was between the caucus and the primary. That video cleared it up.  Thanks

[CombineWizard]

Thank you for posting. Too bad we had no such educational materials back when I was in junior high learning civics.

[lunken86]

hmmmm... that make sense

[guyvf]

Cool video. I'm from Iowa, and I've caucused before, but I assumed the Republicans used the same method as the Democrats; forming preference groups and all that. So congrats, you even taught an Iowan something new about the caucuses.

[WhyTuesday]

right on, thanks! -jacob

[THEOFFICIALSAGEMAN]

Thanks for clearing the ambiguity behind the complex caucus system. I will see your caucus sytem and raise you one new system test the new electronic voting system at capitalpoliticking. com

[freesk8]

Great video! Thanks for the data.

Go, Ron Paul!!! :)

[Mindraker1]

Make America's voting system "more secure, more reliable, and more accessible"

-- wow, you're naive.

[eapsystems]

Really informative--I had never realized how different the caucus was, esp the democratic one.  I'm from a primary State and will be voting for Ron Paul--all the way!

[cvick420]

Im from Iowa and Im voting for Ron Paul. You should too.

[mvpriebe56]

You're a true patriot for posting these very informative, non-partisan videos. Thank you!

[ccbean]

Thanks for posting this video - I was always confused about how the caucus system worked and this really cleared things up for me.

[facelessdoll]

Thanks! I'm from Iowa and I've caucused before but this is such an excellent explanation of the process (I vote democrat) as it sounds so odd when I try to explain it. And as for the post a little ways below, if everyone you know is a democrat then I'm guessing you live in or around Johnson county. It's the most liberal county. In fact, the only place worth going in Iowa is Iowa City.

[StorminNormin1977]

You should look into Ron Paul!

[StorminNormin1977]

I think a bigger question is what are we going to do about the debold voting machines that will placed throughout the country. These are proned to voter fraud! Please Help!

[WhyTuesday]

Take a look at our interview with CA Secretary of State Debra Bowen. We talk about her decision to decertify certain voting machines in CA, some Diebold, and why she made that call. -- Jacob

[StorminNormin1977]

Thanks!

[Yakubshma]

im from Iowa and everyone I know is a democrate

[rockylbrown]

i left iowa because i am a republican i used to live in cedar falls

[AllAboutVoting]

Excellent explanation.

One thing that you do not mention is that, as with most of our election system, there is a spoiler problem. The issue is that support for one candidate necessarily means a lack of support for another candidate.

A system that would work well to address this is range voting.

Voters submit votes rating candidates on a scale (say 0-9: 9=best). Votes are added together and the candidate with the highest score wins.

[AllAboutVoting]

Example: Candidates A B and C.

A supporter of A who thinks that A is a likely contender to win could vote A=9 B=0 C=0. If that same voter actually preferred B but did not think that B was likely to win they could vote A=9 B=9 C=0.

[AllAboutVoting]

Another voter might not have a favorite candidate but thought that A and C were ok with C slightly better.  She could vote A=7 B=0 C=6. By not using the full range of the vote (eg at least one max scored candidate and one min scored candidate) she partially abstained. This may be her intent if she were unwilling to fully support any of the candidates.

[Dadevster2]

...wha?

[SelfExposure]

Why Tuesday, because Tuesday is a horrible day of the week. Duh!

[WhyTuesday]

Check out our website (whytuesday-dot-org) and search for the Onion article we posted about. They share your thoughts exactly. :) jacob

[SparklestheClown]

Really good information! Some things we did not know too!

[welliguessnot]

I don't really get it, why did one of them leave at 3:10?

[xxxgrimREAPERx]

He didnt want to associated or give support to any of the remaining candidates.

[XENONneo]

なんつ～か中野(≡ω≡`.)

[hakonatli]

Nice one

[ScottFerrante]

Nice 1

[WhyTuesday]

thanks

[WhoRadley]

Nice explanation!