On a snowy day such as this, I have two main topics to discuss:

1. The Iowa Caucaus this evening.
2. The continuing writers' strike.

Kick off your socks, kiddies... it's about to get wet.

1. Iowa -- The Hawkeye State. America's Almost Bread-Basket. Ethanol's Best Friend. Home of the first dramatic moves in any Democratic or Republican Presidential primary season. Usually Iowa doesn't get hot until 5-6 months before the initial caucaus, but in this case there have been political operatives on the ground working for candidates since 2004-2005. Until recently, I really never had a major problem with Iowa... I tended to take out my bigotry against homogenous, all-white populations picking the presidential candidates on the citizens of New Hampshire, BUT this year turned me around somewhat.

Typically, I have written Iowa off as a smaller jewel of the Midwest.... a political battleground that allowed real debate and discussion to translate into legitimate results. This year; however, proved to change my mind.

Around a week ago, Governor Ted Strickland (D-OH) criticized the Iowa caucaus as an inappropriate and inefficienct electoral process for beginning the primary process for both parties' presidential selections. These comments were given to the Columbus Dispatch in an interview, but soon were recopied and analyzed in papers across the country. Senator Clinton's staff was quick to point out that they disagreed with Governor Strickland's comments--most notably because Strickland serves as one of her endorsers and a campaign surrogate in and outside of Ohio. This quick band-aid action by Clinton goes a long way in proving the point that candidates will do just about anything to keep their image sparkling clean in Iowa before the caucauses.

Had Clinton ignored Strickland's comments or actually embraced them, she would have witnessed one of the greatest tailspins in political history; going from tied in first to dead last (yes, Dennis Kucinich would be more popular today in Iowa.) Iowans and New Hampshirites have become spoiled with their role of "initial deciders." Instead of using their processes to truly sort through the campaign messages to offer up to the rest of America the most credible and qualified candidates to choose from on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November every four years; these states have turned an American process into a localized, heavily-benefitting game show. At this point in Iowa, there is more out-of-state money and people flowing through the state's veins than actual corn oil on the local grocery shelves. Most Americans will never step foot in either Iowa or New Hampshire in their lifetimes, but will live every second of every day with a reality that is crafted in those small states every electoral cycle.

So today I leave New Hampshire out of the mix... we'll discuss her next week. Today, Iowa becomes my body of criticism. The Iowa caucauses take place this evening in scattered school buildings, town halls, and community centers across the state. Registered voters are courted by the political campaigns and parties themselves to show up and announce their reasons for support in front of their neighbors, co-workers, and friends. These voters are allowed to sway their support across party lines and change their mind right up to the moment that they declare their true support for a candidate. Both parties and all of the candidates explain to the media that they feel this is a true example of American politics because it allows a real discussion among voters in their local communities. It actually turns into a shouting match with quips from attack ads and memorized speaking points as cannon fodder. Supporters are courted by out-of-state campaign workers and all-but-bribed to show up and stand their ground for their candidate. Television interviews show that some of these voters will refuse to support a candidate if they haven't had a chance to shake his or her hand, or ask them a question directly before the caucaus begins. At the end of the night, the votes are tallied and the floors are swept and the candidates leave for New Hampshire----and Iowa goes back to not mattering much for another few years.

Why do I think that Iowa is truly uneffective? For the simple fact that SO much depends on this initial process and SO few Iowans actually get to participate. Since the caucaus process usually involves a one-to-two hour physical committment at a pre-determined meeting site, it makes it quite difficult for those that are sick, disabled, working an evening shift or second job, taking night classes, without transportation in poor weather, or at home taking care of children to participate in the process. Thousands of would-be caucaus goers are left out of the process because they can not show up and stay for its full length. That analysis is fully consumed in the true spirit of American political democracy isn't it? All Iowans are important to the parties and the candidates... BUT only the ones that can afford to show up and yell are the real power brokers in the process. Going back to Governor Strickland's comments, I believe that he was making a reference to these points.... that until every eligible Iowa voter has a real opportunity to participate in the electoral process (whether it be through mail-in ballot or a polling site with more flexible hours), the results will be skewed dramatically and the rest of the country will have to deal with its effects in a very dramatic and immediate fashion. So wave your flags tonight, Iowa... but make sure to remember who you are disenfranchising every single time you repeat this horridly inefficient and inappropriate process.

2. Most Americans probably cannot give you a full explanation to the writers' guild strike that is most definitely affecting the entertainment industry over the past two months, but I would assume that most comments that you will hear will point out a selfish tendency by the guild members.... leading to our inability to watch new episodes of our favorite tv shows when we get home from work at night. In fact, most reponses that I have heard from individuals under the age of 30 have said just that. Very rarely are we affected directly by striking workers that are banding together to collectively bargain for their wages and benefits. Sure we see 2 minute news stories about UAW workers that are outside auto manufacturing centers but we rarely see or feel those impacts like we do now. Spoiled, spoon-fed Americans are cranky because they can not see a full season of Grey's Anatomy or hear the cackle of Jay Leno's voice each and every night as they fall asleep in their recliners after dining on tv dinners.

But now, after the dawn of the New Year 2008.... there is much rejoicing because many major networks are sending their shows back on air without the union writers. Scabs or the lack of writers are putting these shows back into circulation.... AND I refuse to support these specific networks or shows.

I applaud David Letterman however because he went out of his way to make sure that a deal was struck between his production company and the writers' guild to allow his usual writers to return to the show with an approved contract renewal. Letterman knew that it was appropriate to take sincere steps to returning his show to broadcast. Earlier in his career he had done the opposite and it seems as though he learned from his mistakes. What I can not accept or tolerate are the other networks and/or shows that are moving forward with production without their guild writers. I refuse to watch any program that blatantly violates the picket line, and I encourage you to do the same. Before watching your favorite show, please check online to see if the guild writers have received a new contract (such in the Letterman case.)

Would you want someone to walk past you on the picket line, and not respect you enough as a person to look you in the eye and offer you respect as a person at the bargaining table? Hopefully we respect one another enough to do better than that.

Happy New Year 2008!
Today is the day that John Edwards makes history!