This Is What Democracy Looks Like

Two more outtakes from Ames. First, the walk over to Duncan Hunter's tent and the sighting of his much-photographed Elvis impersonator. Probably my favorite example of the utter randomness, insanity, and disconnect from "things that make people want to vote for you" of the Straw Poll.

James Kotecki interviewed Elvis and Duncan Hunter right after this. I was… elsewhere.

Also, here's stage-left view of when the Straw Poll results came in. Note the enormous throng of Romney supporters and the room-filling giggle when McCain comes in 10th place.

Pre-order Matt Welch's book about McCain here.

Comments

[The DailyVid]

Republicans are evil and must be stopped.

[crimethink]

The funny thing was, it was hard to differentiate the cheers from the candidates’ supporters and those from their opponents who were happy they finished lower than them.

Note the enormous cheers for Rudy, Fred, and Tommy Thompson, which I suspect weren’t coming from their supporters.

[de stijl]

Democracy looks shaky.

[Nate]

The room was 2/3 to 3/4 Paul supporters. We were hoarse from yelling all day. 🙂

All of Romney’s supporters had to catch their free bus back to the old folks home.

[Dave Weigel]

Note the enormous cheers for Rudy, Fred, and Tommy Thompson, which I suspect weren’t coming from their supporters.

That was from the Paul, Brownback and Huckabee people who were cheering the fact that they’d beat those candidates.