Update – 2:30am est:

Well, its been over an hour and we’re still waiting on the less-than-one-percent returns. Can’t say that I know they’re coming in yet this morning, so we’ll end with these latest  numbers from C&L. Couldn’t be much closer than 4 votes between Rick & Mitt.

Update – 1:42am est:

Back to C&L (turned-out they were more up-to-date than some Iowa TV stations). A few more votes were counted, but we’re still waiting on the last precincts.

In the meantime, CSPAN reports:

Texas Governor Rick Perry announced that he will be returning to Texas to reassess his campaign and will discuss with his staff if he will continue to campaign for the GOP presidential nomination.

Update – 12:45pm est:

Switching to the latest numbers from KCCI 8, Des Moines, IA:

Interesting to see that 249 votes went to “No Preference” or “Other”, and 58 fools voted for Cain (duh, he’s not a candidate any longer).

Update – 12:21pm est:

C&L: 98% reporting … almost there …

Some have asked, “who cares?”. Its all about the “mo”; momentum and money. The result gives us a good idea of who will have the momentum to continue receiving campaign contributions from the big donors, and potentially become the gop nominee, and who may decide to drop-out.

Update – 12:15pm est:

Still waiting for the last few percent to report … zzzzzzzz …

Update – 11:45pm est:

C&L: 96% reporting. Fyi: The last column is the number of delegates they get.

Update – 11:32pm est:

C&L: With 93% reporting, its too close to call. For all of the claims of extreme enthusiasm for getting rid of Obama, it appears there will actually be fewer votes cast compared to the last gop Iowa caucus. The total is 114,043 votes cast with 93% reported. In 2008, there were 119,188 votes cast. Romney got 30,021 and 25.19% of the vote in 2008, nearly identical to tonight’s result.

Update – 10:45pm est:

C&L: With 88% reporting, Santorum’s on top, Romney close behind, and Paul is falling further behind.

Update – 10:23pm est:

With 46% reporting, Romney and Santorum tied at 24% with Ron Paul in third.

Today, Santorum said “Ron Paul is disgusting” in response to Paul campaign robocalls claiming Santorum is really pro-choice and against the second amendment (the right to bear arms).

Update – 9:40pm est:

It will be a couple hours before we get the final results of the caucus. Crooks & Liars is reporting these initial results:

In the meantime, I found this interesting graph at The Nation on how the top candidates (with actual plans) plan to address income inequality through tax cuts. It shouldn’t surprise you too much to see who gets the largest percentage of the cuts …

And just for fun, how about an #OWS mic check on Romney last night?

Original post …

Today’s the day that the radical right-wing in little ol’ Iowa will decide who is the most far-right GOP candidate for President. Cable news networks are leaning toward Rick Santorum, with Ron Paul coming-in at a close second. In a matter of hours, we’ll know who ends up in the top 3, who drops out, and who hangs-on because they have the funds to do so.

Updates to follow …
—————————————————

Some noteworthy statements from the candidates-

Rick Santorum on President Obama’s race and pro-choice beliefs:

I find it almost remarkable for a black man to say ‘now we are going to decide who are people and who are not people’.

Ron Paul on the border fence:

I think this fence business is designed and may well be used against us and keep us in. In economic turmoil, the people want to leave with their capital. And there’s capital controls and there’s people control. So, every time you think of the fence keeping all those bad people out, think about those fences maybe being used against us, keeping us in.

Michele Bachmann on the founding fathers ending slavery (?!):

But we also know that the very founders that wrote those documents worked tirelessly until slavery was no more in the United States. … I think it is high time that we recognize the contribution of our forbearers who worked tirelessly — men like John Quincy Adams, who would not rest until slavery was extinguished in the country.

Newt Gingrich on “freedom”:

A mere forty years ago, beach volleyball was just beginning. No bureaucrat would have invented it, and that’s what freedom is all about.

Mitt Romney:

I’m happy to learn that after I speak you’re going to hear from Ann Coulter. That’s a good thing. I think it’s important to get the views of moderates.

Rick Perry:

I will tell you: It’s three agencies of government, when I get there, that are gone: Commerce, Education and the — what’s the third one there? Let’s see. … OK. So Commerce, Education and the — … The third agency of government I would — I would do away with the Education, the … Commerce and — let’s see — I can’t. The third one, I can’t. Sorry. Oops.

The gang, minus the dummy:

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