Democracy is now left to chance, at least as far as democrats are concerned.
Hillary Clinton was declared the winner of the Iowa caucuses in very tight race. She received 49.8% to Bernie Sanders’ 49.6%.
After a coin toss. Actually, after six coin tosses.
It seems Iowa prefers chance to the regular voting thing:
In a case where two or more preference groups are tied for the loss of a delegate, a coin shall be tossed to determine who loses the delegate.
That occurs when people don’t show up:
A total of 484 eligible caucus attendees were initially recorded at the site. But when each candidate’s preference group was counted, Clinton had 240 supporters, Sanders had 179 and Martin O’Malley had five (causing him to be declared non-viable).
Those figures add up to just 424 participants, leaving 60 apparently missing. When those numbers were plugged into the formula that determines delegate allocations, Clinton received four delegates and Sanders received three — leaving one delegate unassigned.
Unable to account for that numerical discrepancy and the orphan delegate it produced, the Sanders campaign challenged the results and precinct leaders called a Democratic Party hot line set up to advise on such situations.
Party officials recommended they settle the dispute with a coin toss.
This happened in six precincts, so six times a coin was flipped and Clinton won all six. The odds of that happening are one in sixty four, or 1.7%. You can see some of them here.
I guess it depends on your definition of the word “luck.” Iowa isn’t alone. Thirty five states allow coin tosses or tied elections. That’s utterly absurd.
That’s odd enough, but something else catches one’s attention. Hillary declared victory even before all the votes were tallied.
DES MOINES — Hillary Clinton’s campaign declared victory Tuesday over her late-surging rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders even as the final tally was being counted in Iowa’s Democratic caucuses, setting up what is likely to become a prolonged nominating contest.
Clinton and Sanders effectively battled to a draw, splitting the vote in the first presidential selection contest of 2016. The outcome, stunning after Clinton’s onetime dominance over a challenger who entered the race a virtual unknown, means the two Democrats are likely to claim roughly the same number of delegates so far.
It’s like she knew.
To paraphrase Stalin, it’s not who tosses the coin, it’s who brings the coin.
With normal people one might be able to dismiss such a mathematical improbability but these are the Clinton’s.
What were the odds Clinton would make millions while Secretary of State? (Remember, the money Bill made speaking went into her pocket too) What were the odds of all those favors being granted to donors to the Clinton Foundation? What were the odds of Bill always getting speaking fees from those who needed something from Uncle Sam?
Why have votes? Why have primaries? Why not just hand out some Clinton coins?
DrJohn has been a health care professional for more than 40 years. In addition to clinical practice he has done extensive research and has published widely with over 70 original articles and abstracts in the peer-reviewed literature. DrJohn is well known in his field and has lectured on every continent except for Antarctica. He has been married to the same wonderful lady for over 45 years and has three kids- two sons, both of whom are attorneys and one daughter who is in the field of education.
DrJohn was brought up with the concept that one can do well if one is prepared to work hard but nothing in life is guaranteed.
Except for liberals being foolish.
Gambler to W.C. Fields: “Is this a game of chance?”
W.C. Fields: “Not the way I play it, no.”
Clinton will need more than 2-headed coins in N.H.
Bernie big–63-37
Repub side Trump big 34 Rubio 15 Bush 12 Cruz 12 Kasich 11 Christie 8-gone Fiorina 4 Carson 4 Santorum 0 and gone
Paul gone today Christie and Santorum out next Wed–Their combined–approx. 10% go primarily to Rubio.
Huck out already–his 3% to Cruz and Trump
Shocked, shocked I say to see Democrats throwing money around!
I think it should be ROCK – PAPER – SCISSORS, then EENIE -MEANIE-MINEY- MO. could grab a daisy …the voter loves me he loves me not.
It will be hard to slip in Uncle Joe at the last minute if Sanders has the delegates.
@kitt: Sanders will get clobbered after N.H. Joe will only get in if HRC is indicted.
@Rich Wheeler: Exactly, will then the Democrats also see they have no choice in voting except who the elite choose for them?
@Mark Kaczmarek: u made a good funny thanks 4 the smile
@kitt: Who are the “elites” Are they only Dems? Is being elite good or bad?
@Rich Wheeler:Question 1, nope, question 2 yes very bad.
Or, THIS Wednesday.
http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/03/politics/rick-santorum-dropping-presidential-bid/index.html
So, it’s Huckabee, out.
Paul, out.
Santorum, out.
I think Santorum might make an excellent White House spokesperson if a Republican gets elected.
He’s eminently believable when he speaks.
@kitt: Funny, I was always taught being an elite student, an elite athlete etc was a good thing—something to strive for.
HRC and Bernie have taken off the gloves–tonight’s debate might be worth checking out.
Nanny-Santorum out—yawn. “He’s eminently believable” That may be his problem.
@Rich Wheeler: Those that spend a lifetime in politics are all about power, they lose touch with reality.We must pass the bill to know whats in it , only one example of non representation. Both parties no finger pointing. They somehow become multi-millionaires on a public servants salary, private jets ect.
@Rich Wheeler:
Except it isn’t a debate.
It’s a ”townhall.”
They never face one another.
Each one simply sits and takes questions in turn.
Q for Bernie:
How does Bernie keep everyone from trying to go to Harvard, Yale and the other elite universities when they are ALL FREE?
@ktt: Are you then defining “elitists” as lifetime pols? I’ve always been for term limits across the board.
Nan– Everyone can try to go to Harvard, Yale etc-They can’t all get in, even if it’s free—If tuition was not a factor it would put even better students in the best schools—a good thing BTW When we speak of Universities is “elite” a good thing?.
@Rich Wheeler: Self-proclaimed elitism is never good.
@Rich Wheeler: Happy to hear you are for term limits, many of your opinions are reasonable. How do you get it passed?
@Bill: Ha–“self proclaimed” Sounds like Trump–no?
Kit –Good question—Like asking someone to give up their cushy job voluntarily–At least 3 votes taken in Congress—no success–let’s keep trying–Repubs. led passage of 22nd Amendment after FDR’S 4 elections.
Off topic I’m a Dem. but I love O’Reilly–Best cable since The Sopranos.
@Rich Wheeler: Going to take a convention of states to get this government back in control of the people, with the disgust voters are feeling I think it may happen sooner than later.
@Rich Wheeler:
No, actually Trump is pretty elite.
@Bill: Self proclaimed elitist for sure.
Just when you thought this egotist might possess a modicum of humility he goes off on Cruz and calls highly respected Rep. Steve King a liar.
Many are proclaiming him a Dem. plant. What say you?
@Rich Wheeler: I say he is elite in his own right (not self proclaimed by virtue of their willingness to put themselves above the law). That being said, he has been straying from his message of fixing the ills of the nation and reversing the near irreparable damage inflicted by liberals by concentrating on personal vendettas.
Would he be better than Hillary, Bernie, Biden or Warren? Yes to all.
@Rich Wheeler: So’s O’Reilly — your perception is off
@Bill:
You need to listen to some rally speeches
Maybe they got their coins from the NFL overtime staff — either that or they were playing “Heads I (Hildabeast) win – tails you (Sanders) lose”
At this point – what difference does it make — they are both olde ’60’s campus commie radicals
@Budvarakbar: O’Reilly is not running for Prez—I got no problem with Trump on his “reality” show. That’s where he should stay–make Palin his guest host–They can fire people together–great shtick.
I used to love Seinfeld and The Larry David Show
Bernie is Larry David—hilarious