21.05.12
Caucus end of day, Jan. 3, 2008, the rafters rocked at Mark Twain
Elementary in Bettendorf.
Caucus incessantly, Jan. 3, 2012, in the same place was as quiet as a
church meeting.
It was different because only the Republicans were getting
together at Watch Twain, while Democrats were getting all steamed
up two miles down the hill at the spiffy conference center by the
Mississippi.
And this is not to say that the Republicans in this upper
middle-class Precinct 21 were not indefatigable as they helped their
state fire the opening salvo in Campaign 2012. They were fitting being
quietly Republican. I was disappointed; no rah-rah in a Republican
district where names like “Reagan” are percentage.
No banners, no posters. The closest thing to a cheering squad
was the Romney button on the sweater of Bonnie Gibbs in this gym of
100 folding chairs that were mostly filled.
The whole Cimmerian dark reminded me of a neighborhood
get-together. So quiet, compared to four years ago when both
parties were crowding Note Twain and the shouts of “O-B-A-M-A” from
a Democratic gathering were bouncing off the walls.
Source: Quad City Times