A good article from Real Clear Politics on How and Why to participate:
A week from today, somewhere between 80,000 to 150,000 Iowans are expected to head to their local precincts to participate in the caucus system that has governed the state's politics since the mid-1800s.
Even if turnout far exceeds projections, only a small percentage of Iowa’s 3 million residents will participate in the event that plays an outsized role in determining which Republican candidate will face off against President Obama in November -- and possibly lead more than 300 million Americans over the next four years.
Despite the national media saturation, the process by which the Iowa caucuses are run can seem incomprehensible even to politically attuned outsiders, and it is rarely explained in detail.
But some quintessential Iowa quirks notwithstanding, the Republican caucuses are rather straightforward.
(less...)As the lone Iowan involved in NewGov.US I thought it my duty to kick off the conversation about the 2012 Presidential campaign. This is the place online to express your opinions about your favorite candidate bring up the issues that matter to you. There is a blog for the entire state and as the discussion grows there will be one for each congressional district. Your post goes on your own blog and you can add it to the larger state discussion and share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter. You can read other posts and comment all you want. The important part is that we all participate and share, so we choose the best candidate at the caucus.
First you must be come SuperVoter. This process is to certify you live in Iowa, because this discussion is for Iowans only. So, click on Super Vote Me!. You will need to do a small credit card transaction, but it will be free. It normally is $5, but because Iowans are special, we are waiving the annual charge until the caucus.
Now take some time to gather your thoughts about your favorite candidate or issue. The following may help you started, but probably not.
Iowa is the beginning of the presidential election process every 4 years. Other states try to crowd us and take away our status as first in the country. There are reasons we are first in the nation and here are my top 10:
The top 10 reasons why Iowans are first in the elections cycle:
10. U’N I know that in this state we approach each day with the strength of a CYCLONE and the EYE of a HAWK.
9. When it comes to grassroots, we have a lot of them.
8. Our values are time tested and down to earth.
7. We are not a trendy, fad-driven state, but we do have indoor plumbing.
6. We are smarter than dirt.
5. We have more corn than Obama has excuses.
4. All the fresh air helps us to see things clearly.
3. 10,000 bike riders each year know what a great state we have.
2. We not only have the Field of Dreams, we have a Field of Candidates in the state all the time.
1. Being a rural state helps us know BS when we hear it.
Not sure if those reasons are legit, or amusing, but we are STILL #1.
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I believe our country needs to refocus our energy on governance and not the electioneering machine. We spend countless hours and dollars on campaigns and partisan politics. I don't want to pick a winning team. I believe we are all on the same team and need to work together for positive progress.
I am a Radiohead fanatic and I have always been a fan of the Electioneering lyrics -
(less...)"I will stop
I will stop at nothing
Say the right things
When electioneering
I trust I can rely on your vote
When I go forwards you go backwards and somewhere we will meet
Riot shields
Voodoo economics
It's just business
Cattle prods and the IMF
I trust I can rely on your vote
When I go forwards you go backwards and somewhere we will meet"