Iowa Stubborn

In The Music Man, Professor Harold Hill, after escaping the other salesmen on the train, arrives in River City, Iowa. And discovers that he's not exactly welcome. And that the characters are stubborn, as they sing the lyrics to the song Iowa Stubborn:

And we're so by God stubborn
We could stand touchin' noses
For a week at a time
And never see eye-to-eye.

And, so it seems, is the rest of the country. About Iowa, anyway.

Folks seem to think the Iowa Caucuses mean something.

Heck, maybe it does. After all, in 1980, Jimmy Carter won the Democratic caucus, as did Walter Mondale in 1984, Bill Clinton in 1996, Al Gore in 2000, and John Kerry in 2004. They all went on to win their party's nomination. Of course, Carter in '80 and Clinton in '96 were already President. And Clinton was unopposed in '96.
But, guess who won in 1972? No one. "Uncommitted" took top spot, Ed Muskie came in 2nd, and the eventual nominee, George McGovern, came in 3rd.

In 1976, Carter (the eventual nominee) came in 2nd, behind "Uncommitted." And in 1988, Michael Dukakis (who was nominated) came in 3rd, behind Dick Gephardt and Paul Simon. Oh, and in 1992, Clinton (who took the nomination) came in 4th, behind Tom Harkin, "Uncommitted," and Paul Tsongas.

So, excluding sitting Presidents, the nominee was the Iowa winner 3 of 7 times.

Oh, and on the Republican side? Well, in 1984, 1992, and 2004, the sitting President was unopposed. And in 1996 and 2000, the eventual nominees, Bob Dole and George W. Bush, won.

But, in 1980, Ronald Reagan came in second to George Bush. And in 1988, Bush came in 3rd behind Dole and Pat Robertson.

Which means, excluding sitting Presidents, the Iowa winner was the nominee half the time.

With that in mind, just how big were the wins by Barack Hussein Obama and Michael Dale Huckabee?

I'm thinking not all that big a deal.

I mean, you think for one second I'm going to let someone in Iowa influence how I'm going to vote?

No way.

Of course, on the other hand, there are plenty of people who do what they're told.

Maybe this country could use some Iowa Stubborn.