Primary Pundit by Michael McCord

For the fourth time today I've checked the weather for Des Moines, Iowa tomorrow through Friday (a balmy 10 to 15 degrees high awaits me), and I'm in an Iowa frame of mind as I prepare to leave behind first-in-the-galaxy primary land and head to first-in the-universe caucus territory. In my daily link, Christopher Hitches takes apart the Iowa caucuses and skewers the bizarre process that gives us not only Iowa but our own circus. In particular, Hitchens takes the mainstream media machine to task for enabling the insanity.

One of my favorite nuggets was from an Australian commentator who wrote this explanation for the folks down under and warned it was important to take notice of what will happen in Iowa (has to do with choosing the leader of the free world with looks positively strange to 99.5 percent of the rest of the world.)

“The Iowa caucuses are a process so bizarre and byzantine it is either, depending on your outlook, the essence of grass-roots democracy, a quaint anachronism, or perhaps just plain crazy. For a start, only a small fraction of Iowans will vote. In the Democrats’ case, it is not a secret ballot - people gather in groups in corners of a room to indicate their support for a candidate, and then try to convince those in the other corners to join them. They pick delegates to county conventions, which then lead to district and eventually state conventions. And long after the media has lost interest, these delegates can change their allegiances. If the United Nations sent observers to monitor the poll they would shake their heads," said Mark Coultan of the Sydney Morning Herald.

I get to add to the circus. One Iowan told me "the state is overrun with candidates, their handlers, campaigns and roadside gawkers." I'll start posting from Iowa tomorrow.

Comments

Shocking! A "columnist" posts the 1/100th of 1% type of Liberal Letters from a military person to "Authenticate" their own liberal and misguided ignorance. Its stunning that you are afraid to post the 99.999% opinions of militia who SUPPORT what they do. Even more stunning; a "nostalgic" and academic beard (we have razors in the 21st century); To compliment your arrogant liberal look is your "derby" cap -- which I'm sure helps on your horse-ride to work; "Wire-Rim Glasses" - how "academic". Tell you what: Go start your OWN paper, get investment money or a loan, pay for rent, utilities, employees, equipment, marketing, all business costs - INCLUDING TAXES - and THEN you might get more than one post about how typical, ignorant, and obnoxious you are. Cambridge would welcome you, or Maine - and you can see how the liberals are helping those economies -- right down the toilet. Enjoy the next inspirational muse from the up-and-coming Michael Moore movie - I think its called: "How to be a big, fat, COMMON LIBERAL (and make money of selling b.s. to other ignorant saps)".

Posted by: jmaxandrews | January 1, 2008 09:30 AM

It sounds like jmaxandrews needs a long deep Texas enema

Posted by: Retep | January 1, 2008 03:42 PM