Were you surprised Ted Cruz won the Iowa caucus over Trump?

What? Trump was defeated? Now I don’t have to worry about not being able to enter America.

Not at all.

Iowa is not the deciding factor. History shows they often get it wrong. Still, I really thought they’d go more for Rubio.

Not surprised per se. Trump still did very well. I’m baffled by the love for Ted Cruz. To this day I hardly know what he says, because he can’t hold my attention. I’m not his target audience though.

@jleslie I have the same opinion. I can’t listen to him.

It appears he pandered to the evangelical brigade, Iowa, a very small fish in a very large pond.

@Mimishu1995: Trump didn’t lose the election for President, he just came in second in a preliminary bout. The election for President comes in November 2016. There’s so many hurdles and events and so much campaigning that will take place before that. We’re inundated with media information on the topic.

Iowa is very religious, and The Donald proved himself to be a complete Christian poser when he couldn’t name a single important Bible verse, tried to put money into the Communion Plate, and referred to Second Corinthians as Two Corinthians.
Iowa voters can smell a fool, and he was ripe.

Also, this didn’t help.

I am not surprised but I am surprised he won with the margins he did and same wit Rubios strong third very close to second place showing. But I think the way Iowa caucuses is the least representative way to come to a true conclusion on how people will vote in the general election and I offer the previous winners of the Iowa caucus Santorum and Huckabee as proof that the Iowa caucus is less than relevant.

Imagine yourself last night walking into the local gymnasium and seeing where everyone before you is standing. Over by the Cruz flag is your pastor, your boss, your high school sweetheart, your alderman and a scattering of your close neighbors. Over by the Trump flag is the banker, stockbroker, execs from the Con Agra corporation, college kids wearing Apprentice T-shirts…where do you think many will stand given the obvious peer pressure of the moment? I truly believe voters will tend to vote with their gut when given the privacy to cast their vote.

No. I’m close to Iowa and he had a lot of support here. I’m not happy because I think he’s worse than Trump.

A quote last night from his victory speech. “Our rights come from God, not the constitution.” He’s also homophobic.

@jca

I agree, which is exactly why I wish all primaries were held on the same day. This long, drawn out process leaves too much room for manipulation by both establishment run parties, along with their media.
Who really understands how this whole process with primaries, caucuses, delegates, and conventions work? I think it’s made that way on purpose.
Oh yeah, and then we have to worry about the electronic voting machines….

Not in the least.

Iowans caucus face to face, and I’d counted on the embarrassment of voting for Trump more than one round to pull Cruz through.

Iowa is true to it’s neck:
Cruz
Santorum
Huckabee

meh, yawn

Yes, pleasantly so. Not that I give a rat’s patootie. I’m for Clinton. But if I had to pick a Republican, I like Rubio. Trump’s a chump, and Cruz gives me the creeps. But I think I could give Rubio the knife needed to slit my throat. (He’s a Tea Bagger.)

I also think the Iowa caucus methods are deeply flawed, and they overemphasize evangelical preferences. I’m not surprised about Cruz’s win. The conservative family I left behind is all about Cruz. My brother-in-law is a Tea Party priest in the Outer Banks (technically Anglican but self-described Calvinist), and he loves Cruz. He does not love Trump. My father has reportedly spent a pretty penny on Cruz’s campaign.

I get all the family news through my little brother, who hasn’t been a liberal as long as I have—I think that’s why they’re more likely to express their feelings to him; they think maybe, just maybe they can get him back. (Ha, suckers! My brother is awesome.)

I’m not real surprised. In addition to being an absolute buffoon, I don’t get the impression that Trump is running a particularly organized or mobile campaign.

And, while I know that half the time Iowa gets it wrong, but I’m honestly a bit relieved that Cruz beat Trump. I’m certainly no fan of Cruz or his ilk, but I think I’d rather take a fairly by-the-party Republican over Trump. Kind of a “devil you know” sort of thing.

@ibstubro The Republucans cast a secret ballot vote. It isn’t face to face in the same way the Democrat caucuses are. I agree that peer pressure can play a part when you are actually on a specific side of the room with neighbors being counted.

They’re just slightly different flavors of horrible. I actually prefer Trump, as he’s a hair more obviously a clown.

Cruz may have pulled the wool over many in Iowa, but Cenk has his number :)
..
..
https://youtu.be/W6D1aBfkPek

Trump has somthing up his sleeve. Always has. Snake oil only lasts until there’s no more pond water to utilize.
Cruz homophobic? His Mother made him to stop playing with the hangers in there and nicknamed him ‘Doodle’.* However, ” By the twitching of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.” Just wait.
Rubio will be the dog to watch in that race.

*~ She didn’t call him Doodle… to his face.

This is how Cruz did it.

^ woooo….
Easier to get forgiveness than permission.
Cruz is going to get served up with some garnish before Trump lets go of this.
Anyone want some popcorn?
This is gonna be fun!

Not at all.