Caucus Update: "In Your Face" edition

[bedsitter23]

Iowa's spot as "First in the Country" is always in danger. Things looked safe for the Hawkeye State after Obama won in 2008, beating Hillary and going on to the White House.

Still, it's never safe. there's always states like Florida eager to step in line and don't forget the National Vote Initiative crowd.

This year, especially has been difficult. The first major blow was that the land of Steve king and Bob vander Plats was too far to the right for the rest of the country. It has been said often in this election cycle (from Bachmann's early popularity to the recent performance of Paul) that whoever Iowa selects (like Huckabee before) will be too beholden to the Evangelicals and just plain unelectable.

The second blow, and this one is a lot more subtle if you have not been paying attention is that we have moved toward a National Primary already. While Santorum and Bachmann have ate at a Pizza Ranch every night for the past 6 months, it's only the National polls that matter.

Think about it. The fall of Michele Bachmann started when her Ames Straw poll did nothing to move her National numbers. Conversely, Newt Gingrich's campaign was dead in Iowa until his National numbers soared. (To a minor degree, Herman Cain was still holding in there in Iowa until his National numbers dropped, but I think I have already made the point).

Still, I hope Iowa never goes away, as we get so much face time with the candidate. Willard's "Corporations are people" comment would never have happened.

I know it's probably a matter of time before it goes away. There, of course, was the Iowan who tweeted that he was so close to Newt Gingrich he could shoot him. There of course is Occupy Iowa (who smartly don't plan on infringing on democracy) , but have made life hell for the staffs of Herman Cain and Mitt Romney (and Democrats aren't immune), and the hacker group Anonymous who has scared the GOP into using paper ballots.

So, I loved the Iowa caucuses, so you can get all in Newt's grill, and call hims a "f*ing a**hole".

As if that wasn't bad enough of a headline news story for newton, the next day his campaign announcement got heckled and ran out of the event.  What was supposed to be a major endorsement (Iowa House Speaker Craig Paulsen) turned into a victory for the Occupy guys.

Sure, all of the candidates have had their moments (Bachmann has routinely had issues with college students and state fairgoers.  rick Perry thought he could run a "queerin' don't make the world work" ad without people showing up to tell him what for), but I guess there's just something natural about telling Newt off.

Despite the fact Paulsen was there to endorse Gingrich as an outsider (ya rly), Newt is the face of the career politician - a 20-year Congressman who makes millions lobbying; which is why glittering Newt is such a fun idea.

So, we will see post-Gabby Giffords and post-Occupy, if the parties reign things in, or we will still see top National leaders in smalltown Iowa cafes in 2016.

(Disclaimer:  I have been face-to-face with Newt Gingrich twice (one time even sitting on his lap shaking his hand), and (call it either cowardness or respect) never said a negative word.  My bark is worst than my bite.