My sobering analysis on iowa, from Cedar Rapids

[malibu]

The platform of the Republican Party in Linn County (Cedar Rapids) really includes alot of what
Ron Paul's domestic platform would be,
but most importantly those former eastern Iowa congressional districts of Jim Leach
( one of the handful of GOP Congressman to oppose the Iraqi War Resolution Act of 2002 )
are the catholic side of the state that were really ready for strong Ron Paul support from the Sanctity of Life to seperation of church and state -

Painfully, Des Moines had their plan back in June to purposefully and inadvertently squash eastern Iowa grassroots efforts and they did it again still through November and December . . .
Obama has been the benefactor of that stategy.

 

[Mastiff]

Painfully, Des Moines had their plan back in June to purposefully and inadvertently squash eastern Iowa grassroots efforts and they did it again still through November and December . . .
Obama has been the benefactor of that stategy.

What are you talking about?

 

[Jordan]

You called 350 people and got 3 people who said they will vote for Ron Paul. That is just about 1% voting for him. Only 6% of people turn out to vote, if the Ron Paul supporters show up, we're looking at 16% of the votes. Thats pretty good.

 

[Gimpster]

Another Iowan here.

I'm starting to wonder about my precinct here in DSM as well.

I hope I'm wrong, but the 7-10 people we had lined up... only I and one other guy have been in constant contact. He lives about 4 houses down from me, and I think that's the reason why. The others are no longer responding to email etc. The other guy is going to attempt to call them tonight/this weekend since I'm out of town on business.

I've even written the short 2-3 minute speech for my candidate, since nobody else was interested.

I'm showing up to my caucus come hell or high water, but I'm pretty bummed. It seems like some of the people we talked to are ANNOYED they can't just show up and cast a vote like a normal primary state. Unfortunatly this is how Iowa works (caucus) and you've got to play within the rules.

Nobody wants to be a delegate either in my precinct, so I guess if it comes down to it... I'll do that too. Most of them said they had no interest of being part of the GOP, and that's fine... I understand that. However, just like Ron Paul, we have to play within the system we're given. It appears that we have 4 delegates and 2 alternates for my precinct.

 

[malibu]

What are you talking about?

Stiffing Cedar Rapids

 

[shadowhooch]

Another Iowan here.

I'm starting to wonder about my precinct here in DSM as well.

I hope I'm wrong, but the 7-10 people we had lined up... only I and one other guy have been in constant contact. He lives about 4 houses down from me, and I think that's the reason why. The others are no longer responding to email etc. The other guy is going to attempt to call them tonight/this weekend since I'm out of town on business.

I've even written the short 2-3 minute speech for my candidate, since nobody else was interested.

I'm showing up to my caucus come hell or high water, but I'm pretty bummed. It seems like some of the people we talked to are ANNOYED they can't just show up and cast a vote like a normal primary state. Unfortunatly this is how Iowa works (caucus) and you've got to play within the rules.

Nobody wants to be a delegate either in my precinct, so I guess if it comes down to it... I'll do that too. Most of them said they had no interest of being part of the GOP, and that's fine... I understand that. However, just like Ron Paul, we have to play within the system we're given. It appears that we have 4 delegates and 2 alternates for my precinct.

So what goes on in this "caucus" you have? How long does it last and is there a set time and place to be? I'm trying to let my cousin know (who lives in Iowa). Thanks for the help.

 

[curtisag]

Lets assume for the moment that only about 6% of the voting population votes in the caucus (based on historical data). Let us also assume that your phone calls are representative of Ron Paul's support at about 1% success rate. Well, that means 1 out of 6 people who intend to caucus are definitely for Paul. That's not counting people with cell phones only either. So at a bare minimum, you can expect Ron Paul to get at least 16.6% of the caucus vote, add in the cell users and you probably get around 20 to 25%.

 

[thechitowncubs]

Wish me luck, leaving for Iowa in an hour and a half!

 

[BrianH]

So what goes on in this "caucus" you have? How long does it last and is there a set time and place to be? I'm trying to let my cousin know (who lives in Iowa). Thanks for the help.

It's basically a GOP meeting starting to build their election platform from the grassroots up.
From Drew Ivers: For more information on the caucus process, please go to www.ronpaul2008.com/states/iowa. We have created a caucus handbook you can download and print, and also a caucus training video.

 

[scooter]

Don't get discouraged up there in Iowa. You all are doing a great job.

If Paul pulls 3rd in Iowa he will not be considered a candidate with zero chance any more. He already has huge support in New Hampshire. So if he pulls at least third in Iowa and then comes out on top in New Hampshire, he will definitely be on the map in this election.

 

[Leslie Webb]

Does anyone know what effect the letter writing campaign is having? Supporters have sent out more than 524,000 letters to Iowa voters registered no party. One person in Cedar Rapids I talked to this morning was very interested in hearing Ron Paul speak. I had written and included info on the Dec. 29 Ron Paul rally in Cedar Rapids. I called to say the rally had been cancelled. It was nice to get a positive response.

I would hope that many students at the University of Iowa in Iowa City are probably be leaning towards Ron Paul. Has the campaign has given the eastern part of the state short shrift?

PledgeforPaul, we appreciate all your work. Cold calling is hard and thankless. Send us a picture of those yard signs when you get them from Austin4Paul!

 

[skinzterpswizfan]

Lets assume for the moment that only about 6% of the voting population votes in the caucus (based on historical data). Let us also assume that your phone calls are representative of Ron Paul's support at about 1% success rate. Well, that means 1 out of 6 people who intend to caucus are definitely for Paul. That's not counting people with cell phones only either. So at a bare minimum, you can expect Ron Paul to get at least 16.6% of the caucus vote, add in the cell users and you probably get around 20 to 25%.

This is assuming we have 100% voter turnout, and as fanatical of a following Paul might have, there's no way we will have 100%.

 

[DanConway]

I sent another 50 letters to previous caucus voters from Cedar Rapids today. That makes 100 to CR, and 500 to Iowa, and that's it for me for the Iowa letters, since I think I'm out of time to be sure they'll get there. I know some other people have sent letters to CR through P4P.

Maybe, just maybe, Paul will win P4P's precinct because of our efforts here. I hope so.

 

[zcopley]

Thank you for all your hard work!

Zach

 

[Opulen]

Just keep going and going and going.. like the energizer bunny.

"Victory belongs to the most persevering"
-Napoleon Bonaparte

 

[Mastiff]

Just keep going and going and going.. like the energizer bunny.

"Victory belongs to the most persevering"
-Napoleon Bonaparte

We're reaching saturation on phone calls in Iowa. They've hired professional callers and other supporters are reporting receiving multiple calls. We don't want to annoy people. It's time to organize now. I'm waiting for my final list of supporters in my precinct so I can try to contact everyone.

 

[malibu]

We're reaching saturation on phone calls in Iowa. They've hired professional callers and other supporters are reporting receiving multiple calls. We don't want to annoy people. It's time to organize now. I'm waiting for my final list of supporters in my precinct so I can try to contact everyone.

Hiring professional callers in Iowa after refusing to support the grassroots volunteer and the student volunteer
phone calling efforts especially during November and early December was VERY dumb
and should NOT be a strategy and "tried and true" tactic to be repeated in Florida, Texas. California or other states.

 

[stevedasbach]

I have a list of 500 people to call in Cedar Rapids. I don't have the stomach for it. My wife said she'd help call but now she's waffling. I sent an E-mail to the state HQ asking if some of the volunteers could help me out, but I haven't heard back.

The good news is that I have 7 people already in my precinct, so we're not totally stuck.

I'm considering a robo-call since I can call everyone in my precinct for about $50, but I'm not quite sure what it would say aside from "press 1 if you are a Paul supporter". This would let me ferret out any other supporters.

Reports I heard indicate that Iowans are sick of the robo-calls.

 

[LibertyEagle]

Does anyone know what effect the letter writing campaign is having? Supporters have sent out more than 524,000 letters to Iowa voters registered no party. One person in Cedar Rapids I talked to this morning was very interested in hearing Ron Paul speak. I had written and included info on the Dec. 29 Ron Paul rally in Cedar Rapids. I called to say the rally had been cancelled. It was nice to get a positive response.

Why was it canceled? I just do not understand why he isn't going all over Iowa.

 

[Mastiff]

Why was it canceled? I just do not understand why he isn't going all over Iowa.

Good question. We called a bunch of people to tell them about it, then it was promptly canceled. I hope they have a good reason. RP will be in Iowa pre-caucus, but we don't know where. There are some disappointed people out here.

I'm awkward on the phone anyway, and now I need to call people back to tell them the meeting is off.