Interesting. The "Update" describes the process used in the DEMOCRATIC caucuses in Iowa, which is different from the process in the Republican caucuses, where there IS a secret ballot. Leads me to suspect that the e-mail you received was a false flag.

It was sent by a regular commenter here. The update he pulled off some site he reads.

The first commenter is right. That isn't the way the Republican's do their caucus in Iowa. Also, please remember that anecdote is not data.

http://www.frumforum.com/change-iowas-secret-ballot

There is also a difference between a party choosing its candidate and the general election.

The smoky room at the convention has largely died out but if people think the parties don't steer nominations, they aren't paying attention. Look at the problems the candidates are having getting on the ballot in Virginia.

I wouldn't put any form of cheating past the theftists of both parties. Buy guns while you can!

I remember sour grapes from Obama supporters in the Texas caucuses four years ago. (Texas is weird. It has both a caucus and a primary on the Democratic side.) YouTube videos showed massively pro-Obama support in Dallas and proclaimed that the results could not possibly reflect the "facts" on the ground. It had to be fraud. Just look at the overwhelming support in this crowd!

I remember thinking that my fellow Obama supporters were full of shit. I caucused for Obama in a much smaller town and we were very much outnumbered by Clinton supporters. It was probably five to one. And in Texas, there are a lot more people living in small towns than big ones. As you know, it's a goddamned big geographic area.

My point is, I can see where anecdotal evidence might seem compelling but, sometimes your perception of the facts all depend on the little bubble in which you find yourself swimming around.

Plus, Ron Paul supporters seem to be abnormally prone to conspiracy theories. It's not surprising to hear these cries. :)

Forums like this are where we can post our thoughts and see if they sink or swim. I wouldn't sink this one too quickly, since it follows Paul's recent treatment by the mainstream media-- he wasn't even invited to the debates.
Business Insider carried an article mentioning how Paul is working to build support-- Telling caucus supporters not to leave after the voting, but stick around and join the committees. It seems to be getting results.

Iowa Republicans conduct a presidential preference poll at their precinct caucuses. No national delegates are bound by the results. It's a "beauty contest," a "straw poll." In June, the delegates at the Iowa Republican state convention will elect delegates to the national convention. State convention delegates are elected by county conventions, and county delegates were elected at the precinct caucuses Tuesday night. I suspect that, in most precincts, the majority of grassroots conservatives (whose support was divided among Santorum, Gingrich, Perry, and Bachmann) coalesced to elect their own as county delegates and to block Paul or Romney supporters from advancing.

I got another email from the OP today and he described the voting-- ballots cast in a barrel, which was then taken to another room for counting. No representatives for the candidates were actually present to watch the count. It seemed pretty fishy to him, and other people reported the same thing.

Realistically -- this is just not worth being concerned about.

Mitt Romney		30,015		24.6%

Rick Santorum		30,007		24.5%

Ron Paul		26,219		21.4%

Newt Gingrich		16,251		13.3%

Rick Perry		12,604		10.3%

Between the top three you have a split of 3,796 votes difference. If there was an apparent significant difference from the polls, such as Romney was supposed to get 50% Paul 25% and the rest was spread among the rest then I would worry.

Iowa is about one percent of the U.S. population. There is no reason that 1% of the population should control the electoral process.

We need to get rid of primaries. We need to return to the voting system set up by the founders.
Senators appointed by state legislators. No party tickets.
1st runner up for president becomes vice president

"Plus, Ron Paul supporters seem to be abnormally prone to conspiracy theories."

It's not a conspiracy theory when they really are out to get you ;)