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Are You From Iowa or New Hampshire? Here’s Your Chance…
…to participate in an experiment in political influence. Here’s your opportunity to Organize for America. Just, you know, our vision for America.
Here’s my idea:
We launch two new pages here on Ricochet, one for the Iowa caucuses and one for the New Hampshire primary. (If the experiment works, we’ll do it for the rest of the primary season events, too….)
We’ll invite all candidates to post and comment. We’ll cross-post relevant member posts on the page. We’ll also invite voters in those states to join the conversation on those pages. So, if you’re from Iowa an you’re not a Ricochet member, we’ll figure out a way to verify your residence and let you participate in the Iowa page.
We’ll encourage local meet-ups, debates, and a general candidate-Ricochet mix-up.
The Iowa caucuses will be won with, maybe, 10,000 votes. The New Hampshire primary with, maybe, 50,000 votes. Those aren’t big numbers.
This is a chance for local voters and Ricochet members to have a pretty influential voice in who wins where.
This is how Barack Obama “organized” his two victories. Why can’t we do the same?
So here’s what we need to get this going:
1. Are you from Iowa? Or New Hampshire? We need some local Republicans to moderate and post on these pages — news, photos, that sort of thing. If you’re not a member yet, JOIN!
2. We need to get the word out to primary/caucus voters in those states. They don’t have to join, they just have to register. And, of course, agree to play by Ricochet rules.
3. Do you work for a campaign? Sign up and start posting.
As is typical, I have no idea how this might work technically. But I can’t help but think that it will work politically. As I said, winning these contests comes down to a lot of small-number retail politics.
Could be fun.
Published in General
Super-Yeti can handle it!
I’m in! As a Massachusetts resident, I’m sure NH won’t mind if I butt in on the conversation, right?
Fantastic idea. A fantastic idea.
Sierra Hotel.
I’m looking forward to the Texas primary….
Eric Hines
Count me in the Virginia primary!
Count me in. I live in NH and am pretty connected with state GOP (Jennifer and Bill are friends). Tonight I am going to hear Chris Christie speak at my local Republican committee’s Lincoln dinner. The big man from NJ is not my first choice, but I look forward to meeting him and hearing him speak.
Fabulous idea!
How about a Canadian section for us Canadians who are deeply concerned to have a Republican win the next Presidential election? We love the United States of America and want to be close friends again. :)
Excellent idea. Can you identify members by their hometown? (its a free form field, I realize). It would be cool to send New Hampshire/Iowa Ricochetti an email about this idea so it doesn’t get lost in the churn of new posts.
I’ll cover the GOP primary for Chicago. Based on the last turnout I think I can host everyone in my basement and we should just need a 6 pack. Actually, come to think of it, it will be like a lot of nights in my house….me drinking alone in the dank basement. I find the radon gas compliments the beer well
Best of luck in efforts in states that matter!
Great idea! Finally a place to tell Iowa and New Hampshire voters the truth.
The primary voters of those two states are the spoiled children of the electoral process.
Instead of judging the candidates on television like the rest of us, you toss out any candidate who won’t come to your home. What’s the matter, mommy and daddy not giving you enough attention?
I think we’ve all figured out that Iowa voters can simply be disregarded, since over the years they’ve boosted the campaigns of sanctimonious losers like Pat Robertson, Mike Huckabee, and Rick Santorum.
New Hampshire? Please. Pat Buchanan? John McCain? What do a paleo-con and a super-RINO have in common? They’re both cranky, bitter old geezers, just like New Hampshire voters.
Here we are in the Information Age, and our primary schedule goes from Grant Wood to Norman Rockwell. Hello? 21st century calling?
What’s that you say? Iowa and New Hampshire are both key swing states which could swing the general election. Oh. Never mind.
Let’s all be very warm, welcoming, and respectful while our candidates audition for these knowledgeable, experienced judges of political talent!
New Hampshire resident Max will be in charge of this. My vote in California is worthless compared to his.
Hawkeyes represent.
Jim, you’re welcome, glad to have you with us. You can eat the fill of all the food you bring yourself.
And otherwise we would have boosted the campaigns of sanctimonious losers like John McCain and Mitt Romney. Shucks, damned if you do…
This sounds like a great idea, Rob!
Watching candidates try to explain to the good people of Iowa how they are both fiscally conservative and pro-Farm subsidies could be fun.
That’s just great. Go ahead. Make the Iowa Caucus and NH Primary even better and more important. Don’t worry about making the June primary in NJ even less relevant. It’s OK, we’re used to getting dissed by those more glamorous states.
Sob.
;-)
I just listened to the Podcast, I’m in SC. We’ll wait for you :)
I should be relocated to Florida by the end of the year. Already registered to vote there. Just served my last jury duty as a CT resident.
Hey, I’m from Iowa! Problem is, I’m no longer a Republican, so I’m not sure if I can participate in the caucus, and surely not the primary.
I think I’m on record here as wanting to see the whole primary system revamped. Unfortunately, this is what we got. So what can we do with it?
Alright, I’ve been lurking for way too long. I’ve been a member for 4 years and its about time I contribute. I live in Iowa City and look forward to being a part of this experiment.