Rob Richie

Executive director, FairVote

The national media is in a frenzy about the Republican contest in tonight's Iowa caucuses. Unfortunately, most journalists seem to be getting the story wrong -- and a key reason is not understanding or even thinking about the rules and their implications.

James Moore

Best selling author, Director of Progress Texas PAC

Mitt Romney has money and the moderate politics to give the president a tough fight in the fall. But he doesn't give his own party those sweaty palms of excitement. He could have a very miserable 2012.

Howard Steven Friedman

Statistician and health economist for the United Nations; Teacher, Columbia University

"So residents of these three states, three states that comprise only a very small percent of the US population, three states whose demographics do not come close to mirroring that of America... are going to be the major deciding factors in who represents the Republican party." "That's right."

Ari Melber

Attorney & MSNBC Contributor and Nation Correspondent

The Republican presidential race actually begins Tuesday night. It is worth remembering that this is the first time we will hear from the voters.

Craig Crawford

News commentator, blogger, author

Why Iowa shouldn't matter: 1. Caucuses don't even pick binding convention delegates. 2. The winner's raw vote total would fill one fourth of an NFL ...

Chris Weigant

Political writer and blogger at ChrisWeigant.com

This year we'll only be offering up picks for the Republican side all year, until we get to the general election. So, let's wipe the slate clean, dust off the crystal ball, and dive right into the 2012 election cycle!

Michael J. Hunt

Political observer trained in Oakland, based in the Heartland

Undecided or not, Prof. Hagle joins other Republican observers who dismiss the suggestion of this being a "weak field" simply because party leaders haven't chosen to rally behind any one particular candidate. "One of the main things Republicans are looking for is someone that can beat President Obama," he said.

Matthew Dowd

Political strategist

While the No. 1 seed -- Romney -- is a good bet, he is no sure thing. He needs to see if he can take a beating under the boards, and if he can win in a higher-scoring shootout. Ya gotta love this game

David Wild

TV Writer; Contributing Editor, Rolling Stone; Co-Author, 'Diary of a Player"'

I feel pretty bad about myself today because if Rick Santorum can have a surge, anybody can get one -- right? Yet even after watching all 456 Republican debates in 2011, I've still got nothing to show for it according to the latest polls.

Howard Fineman

Editorial director, Huffington Post Media Group

To Democrats, George W. Bush is the Voldemort of American politics, an evil force. But even to Republicans, he is He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, someone you dare not talk about as you try to win the votes of conservative Iowans.

Michael Brenner

Senior Fellow, the Center for Transatlantic Relations; Professor of International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh

Anything but representative of the country at large, the Hawkeye state should have only a marginal role in determining who the GOP standard bearer and possible winner in November will be.

Yousef Abukhdair

Freelance Political Writer

President Obama has been a failure to many Democrats, especially the liberal wing of the party, and all they can say to one another is, "At least he's not the GOP candidate." But what if the GOP candidate was Ron Paul?

Earl Ofari Hutchinson

Author and political analyst

The hard reality is that not one of Mitt Romney's GOP presidential rivals is electable, no matter how close they hue to the social and fiscal conservative line.

Byron Williams

Columnist, author, and pastor

Now that the Iowa caucus is upon us, the best thing that could happen to the Republican party in 2012 at the national level may be a good drubbing -- not just in the presidential race but across the board.

James Moore

Best selling author, Director of Progress Texas PAC

Rick Perry is not a conservative. He is a man of little intelligence who has used charm and looks to build a political career. And his success is a crime against democracy.

Stewart J. Lawrence

Founder and managing director, Puentes & Associates, Inc.; journalist and public policy analyst

Get ready folks: the Republican Party is poised to make U.S. election history.