The FUBAR State
Newt Gingrich came from behind for a smashing victory in South Carolinas primary last Saturday. And yet a more interesting story may be emerging in Iowa: Rick Santorum, not Romney, is apparently the Republican caucus winner. Though thats not counting the eight precincts whose official results forms went missing.
This could be just another typical screw-up. Democracy means rule by the people, and the people arent perfect.
Foul-ups happen.
On the other hand, the whole thing smacks of back-room manipulation. The fact that the official tabulations were moved away from the traditional site, GOP state party headquarters, to an undisclosed location allegedly to protect the vote-counting from Occupy protest influence makes the uncertain results all the more suspect.
And Republicans cant blame this on Occupiers.
The winner may have been the biggest loser. Santorum got the proverbial bump from the initial Iowa results losing by a mere handful, it was reported but Romney received a bump from it too, simply by being declared a winner in the closest caucus race in American history. By losing control of the actual count, the Republican Party of Iowa skewed the national election.
Leading into the caucuses, Ron Pauls supporters sniffed something conspiratorial in the vote count location switch, complaining that such a move could help disenfranchise Pauls supporters, knowing that GOP caucus officials were not at all friendly toward his candidacy.
Youre probably familiar with Stalins most famous quote about democracy: Its not who votes that counts, but who counts the votes.
In Iowa, Stalins shade sports a mischievous grin.
This is Common Sense. Im Paul Jacob.