You all realize that there is nothing preventing the repubes

[SoCalDem]

from attending the caucuses and skewing them ??

They can "register democrat" tonight when they arrive and if enough of them show up, they can "pick" *'s opponent..

I recall hearing soome of them squawking last week about how Dean's people were planning to show up at the caucuses, even though they are not residents.. But the Iowa republicans can (and probably will) show up and make some mischief..

Is there any way that the precinct leaders can avoid this??

[ulysses]

1. are the caucuses "open"?

Bet your ass they'll do it here in GA, too.

[SoCalDem]

4. Yep.. they can re-register at the door..

of course they cannot participate the in republican caucus, which is moot anyway, since there is no one running against the chimp..

I could see it if you are registered as an independent, but anyone who is registered as a republican should not be allowed in at all.. They had plenty of time to change their party afilliation before.. This caucus is not a secret..

If they show up tonight it's only to move as a group to a candidate that they have been coached to support..

[Guaranteed]

2. I don't think they'd know who to pick. nt

[w13rd0]

6. I tend to agree...

...they can't afford to be too obvious, but they also would have to be consistent enough to skew. Do they have clear marching orders? I'm not so sure about that.

[ulysses]

8. "they can't afford to be too obvious"

Why not? If they're not breaking Iowa election law, what would be the legal problem?

The electoral system is deeply broken.

[SoCalDem]

9. In a small caucus of say 30 people, if 10 "disruptors"

showed up and waited to see who the majority wanted, they could just join up with another and make HIM the "winner"..

I am sure that this is probably done by phone call and a wink wink nod nod, so there would not be a paper trail.. If they are to do this, they will probably already have someone in mind..

Wouldn't it be a hoot is Sharpton won :)

[INTELBYTES]

12. Their marching orders are to vote for Dean.

I'm not taking a swipe at your candidate, but you know that is the one they are frothing at the mouth to take him to the GE. Some how they think he will be an easy target. I don't agree of course, but that is their way of thinking and that is their marching orders.

[FreeperSlayer]

3. I don't think that Iowa...

..."can "pick" *'s opponent.."
This is the beginning, not the entire nominating process.

[SoCalDem]

7. True, but the papers will be all over whoever emerges

and someone with momentum could be stopped in their tracks by an "upset" in Iowa... ..

I realize that Iowa is a drop in the bucket..I just never put anything beyond our disruptive counterparts :)

[NJCher]

5. articles about "neighborliness"

I keep reading these articles about how all these people know each other. Wouldn't that leave a repuke suspect?


Cher

[ThomWV]

10. So What?

Look at it this way, all they could so is show up and argue in favor of one of the candidates. Just like everyone else they would have to be able to sway their neighbors to vote for one or another of the candidates and as most of us have agreed, we will support whoever comes out of the ENTIRE process, not just Iowa. So if Republicans want to come to Democratic meets and point out the good points of the candidate they feel Bush could beat, not that there is one (except for Liberman) then why should I care?

Thom

[opihimoimoi]

11. "For the want of a nail the shoe was lost"

The smallest things count sometimes.....

They will "tell" their people to vote for "Dean" to make mischief but in reality vote for someone else. Very cunning.

[Maeve]

13. Which is why we shouldn't rely on a single result

The whole nomination process is important--the later states as well as the front voters.

Patience, people. See who can last and who can't take the pace.