16/01/2024
We went to the Iowa Caucus tonight, here’s our experience…
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Jet Set Jiles. Coming to you for the Zebra Press…
The high today was negative one. But we grabbed our press passes anyway. Braved the cold and went to experience the Iowa Caucus first hand.
It was friendly. People knew their neighbors. People chatted.
The theory behind the caucus is that you sway your neighbors to your candidate. People speak on behalf of the candidates they support.
Come 7 o’clock (prime time in the Midwest) order was called in the Hawkeye state. And the Iowa Caucus officially began.
The high school we visited hosted several precincts in different areas.
We were in the auditorium. With 100 people voting.
But before the voting started, here’s what really struck me…
As the meeting started. Everyone stood. There was a teeny tiny flag on the stage, and they started with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Followed by a prayer.
And then they sang the first verse of God Bless America.
There was something charming, sweet, nostalgic, and calm about it. Decorum from a bygone era.
Then people began to speak for their candidates. With a 3 minute time limit per person.
Then the vote happened.
People wrote their candidate on what looked like a small colored pice of paper, no bigger then a post it note.
Zip-lock baggies were passed around the auditorium and folks put their votes in the clear gallon sized bags.
Votes were then tallied on the stage in front of the group.
It was so fascinating. So different than the primary I’m used to participating in.
They’re’s a certain percentage that has to happen that I don’t fully understand. Otherwise they have to go to a second vote. With more speeches. But the numbers worked and only one vote was needed in our little auditorium.
100 votes were cast. And although no one spoke for him, Trump won with 36 votes. Followed by Desantis with 28, and Nikki Haley with 27.
Ok, friends, Jet Set Jiles signing off from the Hawkeye State.
🖤💛🖤💛
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