(by 3 people)
As the political posturing for the 2008 election accelerates, more people will start paying attention to Iowa, a state that chooses delegates using a vaguely quaint caucus system that has become known as the first real test of candidates viability in national race.
Like a poker player who couldn't beat the winning hand but felt no need to dwell on it, Iowa was discreet about showing her cards in the 2004 election. As the next chapter of the political pursuit commences, it will undoubtedly bring with it attempts to color Iowa red or blue.
Recently on the DiscoveryTimes channel, there was a show called Red & Blue that focused on highlighting the differences that divide US citizens. In the graphics transitioning from the commercial breaks, Iowa was shown as a red state. While that may be the way some want to portray it, I would suggest that Iowa is really purple.
In the Iowa where I grew up, intolerance was not part of the curriculum in the schools, which are among the nation's leaders in education. Growing up amid the turmoil of the Watergate era, I learned that it's important to expose corruption at all levels and to question and debate the fundamentals of issues.
From messages delivered from the pulpits and podiums, and most importantly, personal examples, I understood that tolerance and respect for everyone transcends partisan posturing.
Integrity and common sense still matter in Iowa. That may seem remarkable to those who would rather color her red, but then, Iowa is purple. Plus, it's a pretty remarkable state to be from.
Iowa Caucus Information
Learn about the Iowa Caucus
- Inside the fight for Iowa - Roger Simon - Politico.com
- Iowa Ground Game: Welcome to the most daunting political process in America. December 6, 2007 primer on the Iowa Caucus process and how it differs from other primary elections.
- IowaVotes2008 - Caucus 101
- Iowa Votes 2008 - Coverage of the 2008 Iowa Caucuses from WHOtv.com., This year, the straw poll will take place August 11th at Hilton Coliseum. Tickets for the event are $35 each and are available through the Iowa Republican Party. The doors open at 11:00 a.m. In the morning you can visit various ca
- Iowa Caucus Project 2004
- web site for the Iowa Caucus Project 2004
- Iowa Democratic Delegation 2004
- Iowa Democratic Delegation 2004 - Includes Detailed Explanation of how the caucus elects delegates
- State Dems vie for early presidential caucus in '08
- Arizona could gain unprecedented national attention by becoming the second stop in the 2008 Democratic presidential sweepstakes, grabbing headlines a week before New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary.
- Campaign 2004: How to Cover the Iowa Caucuses: January 19, 2004
- Campaign 2004: How to Cover the Iowa Caucuses: January 19, 2004Susan Ramsey and Representatives of the Greater Des Moines Partnership Foreign Press Center BriefingWashington, DCJu
- Gurus: Candidates Turn to Iowa Experts - washingtonpost.com
- Drake University politics professor will be online to explain how presidential campaigns and their advisers operate in Iowa, why the caucuses there are important and how it all impacts average residents.
- They Know How to Caucus - washingtonpost.com
- DES MOINES -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton had a decision to make. After someone in her campaign leaked a memo late last month suggesting that she skip the Iowa caucuses, the New York Democrat needed to show that she was committed to winning the crucial first contest on the presidential nominating...
Iowa Politics on Amazon
Learn more about the Iowa Caucus process and Iowa politics with these resources available at Amazon.com.
The Iowa Precinct Caucuses: The Making of a Media Event
Amazon Price: (as of 10/07/2008)
How media relations in Iowa turned politics into economic development.: An article from: Public Relations Quarterly
Amazon Price: $5.95 (as of 10/07/2008)
Postville: A Clash of Cultures in Heartland America
Amazon Price: $10.20 (as of 10/07/2008)
Iowa Caucuses and the Presidential Nominating Process (Westview Special Studies in American Government and Politics)
Amazon Price: (as of 10/07/2008)
The Iowa State Constitution: A Reference Guide (Reference Guides to the State Constitutions of the United States)
Amazon Price: $110.95 (as of 10/07/2008)
Commentary on Iowa Political Influence
- Prospect
- Purple People Watch
- QCTimes.com - The Quad-City Times Newspaper News
- Iowa's 'values voters' weigh choices, April 23, 2006 QCTimes.com - The Quad-City Times Newspaper News
- Daily Iowan - Politicos Head for Iowa
- Politicos head for Iowa
Bryce Bauer - The Daily Iowan
Posted: 4/28/06
Midterm elections may be more than six months away and the presidential vote more than two years from now, but, already, Eastern Iowa is seeing a flurry of activity from local and national politicos alike. - American Prospect Online - ViewWeb
- Evasive Maneuvers How the Justice Department is teaching other agencies to sidestep congressional investigations
- MyDD :: Direct Democracy for People-Powered Politics
- HomeDiariesBreaking BlueE-Wire 2008New Iowa Poll by Chris Bowers, Wed Feb 21, 2007 at 08:20:25 PM EST
It is from Republican firm Strategic Vision, but considering the wave of poorly done and generally useless national polls, I am willing to give anyone props for actually conducting an Iowa or New - Lying Around Iowa
- Unraveling the tangled web of Iowa politics
- KCAA - News
- Obama Sucess in Iowa Fundraising
- ANALYSIS: Both Iowa contests tight - Yahoo! News
- Call it a brave new world in Iowa presidential politics.
Political Link List
Official sites of Iowa's Political Parties
- Iowa Democratic Party
- Homepage of the Iowa Democratic Party
- Iowa Republican Party :: Home
- Homepage of the Iowa Republican Party
- Libertarian Party of Iowa - LPIA.org
- Libertarian Party of Iowa: Welcome to the Official Web Site of the Libertarian Party of Iowa! The Libertarian Party is committed to America's heritage of freedom:
- Iowa Green Party
- Iowa Green Party
- Iowa Voice
- Iowa Voice is a leading source of conservative views and opinions about politics, current events, news, and more.
More Iowa Political News
- QCTimes.com / News / Humble Leach exits office with no sadness
- The Senate will miss Leach.
- Software Notebook: Fun reading in Microsoft's Iowa lawsuit
- Iowa courts take on Microsoft in this January, 2007 proceeding.
- Vilsack drops out of presidential race - Yahoo! News
- Democrat Tom Vilsack, the former Iowa governor who built a centrist image, abandoned his bid for the presidency on Friday after struggling against better-known, better-financed rivals.
- TrueMajority.org
- Home | Take Action | Serious Fun | Donate | Shop
Ice cream kings Ben and Jerry have launched this site to mobilize thinkers concerned about the serious issues facing the US. The logo is too cool - a graph of the allocation of funds by purpose in the US budget. Too bad the numbers are real... - My Best Life
- My Best Life
Perspective from Claire, a 40-year-old woman living in beautiful Des Moines, Iowa. "I am very lucky to have a great job, two wonderful kids and a fulfilling life. I'm always up for a stimulating conversation...could be about anything. I blog about what's on my mind." - IowaVotes2008 - Familiar Faces At Biden's Side
- Iowa Votes 2008 - Coverage of the 2008 Iowa Caucuses from WHOtv.com., One might think that a politician whose career was nearly ruined by plagiarism would avoid other people's words at all cost.
Iowa Stuff on eBay
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Iowa Public Radio Blog
Connecting Iowa
The official blog of Iowa's statewide public radio network
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byOpinion Page from the Des Moines Register
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byDaily Iowan
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byQC Media
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byPurple is Good
- NMFA Facing fears together
- National Military Families Association
Operation Purple
The Iowa Operation Purple camp, hosted by state 4-H officials serves children of military famiies
Iowa Caucus stuff CafePress
Blog for Iowa
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byIowa Stuff on CafePress
Iowa Underground
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byMore Iowa Stuff on eBay
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byIowa Farmer Today
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byIowaBiz Blog - The latest from Drew and crew
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byResearch and polls
- Virtual Library: Resources You Can Use | Benton Foundation
- Resources related to Media Literacy from the Benton Foundation
Tracking Legislation
Broadband Benefits
Consumer Advisory Committee
Public Interest Obligations
Media Ownership
Public Service Media
Legacy Projects
LIBRARYBenton/General
Digital Divide
Education/Edtech
Health
International Issues
Issues In
U of I Stuff on CafePress
Iowa Links
- IowaBlogs.Net
- IowaBlogs.Net
Iowa Blogs presents a growing list of blogs, voices, and viewpoints from our neighbors in Iowa. - My Own Private Iowa
- My Own Private Iowa Perhaps you're an urbanite wondering what life in rural Iowa is like? Or maybe you're a transplanted Iowan that misses the sights, the sounds...the smells?
- Daily Davenport Politics
- It seems there's not a Davenport politics blog on the web anywhere. (my sincere apologies if there is; point me to it and I'll go there instead.) My biased opinion is that there oughta be.
- AuctionIowa.Com Iowa auction companies, Iowa auctioneers, Iowa auctions: AuctionIowa.Com
- Directory of Iowa auction companies,
Iowa auctioneers and Iowa auctions. Directory and links to Iowa auction companies, Iowa auctioneers, Iowa auctions; Links to Iowa real estate auctions, Iowa land auctions,
Iowa estate auctions, Iowa antique auctions, Iowa farm machinery auctions and... - Iowa Judicial Branch
- State of Iowa Official Judicial Branch Website
- The President's Budget and Iowa - Meeting the Goals of Our Time
- The President's Budget and Iowa - Meeting the Goals of Our Time
- E-Commerce News: iPod: Apple Nixes Des Moines Bar's 'iPod Monday'
- Hey, it sounded kind of remarkable to me...
- E-Commerce News: Legal: Microsoft, Iowa Settle Antitrust Case
- Everything you need to know about doing business on the Internet. Information for C-Level executives and small-to-mid-sized business managers.
- The Iowa Distance Learning Database
- Comprehensive directory of distance learning sites, including schools and libraries throughout Iowa.
- Mississippi River Trail
- The Mississippi River Trail is a 10-state cycling route in process of development. It travels over 2000 continuous miles between the headwaters of the Mississippi at Lake Itasca, Minnesota and the Gulf of Mexico, winding its way through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tenne
- Iowa Small Business Development Centers
- The SBDC is the only nationally accredited entrepreneurial development program in Iowa.
Business Plan Cash Flow Financing Market Research - The Heartbeat of Iowa | Kitchen Parade
- Fresh seasonal recipes for every-day healthful eating and occasional indulgences. Cooked and written by a home cook in a home kitchen. All recipes tested with tips and nutrition analysis.
Iowa Stuff on Amazon
Little Heathens: Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm During the Great Depression
Amazon Price: $9.60 (as of 10/07/2008)
Iowa Atlas & Gazetteer
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 10/07/2008)
Test Best on the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills: Level 8 (Test Best on the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (Teachers Editions))
Amazon Price: $16.38 (as of 10/07/2008)
Paddling Iowa: 96 Great Trips by Canoe and Kayak (Trails Books Guide) (Trails Books Guide)
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 10/07/2008)
Iowa Acceleration Scale Manual: A Guide for Whole-Grade Acceleration (K-8) 2nd Edition
Amazon Price: (as of 10/07/2008)
