Iowa Caucus 101

For the portion of my life that I have been politically aware the Iowa caucus has always been the first nominating contest for Presidential candidates.  This year I decided to ask why and what is the actual outcome?

• Many sites attribute the prominence of the Iowa caucuses to an article published in the New York Times on January 25, 1972 entitled "Iowa Democrats Hold Caucuses, First Step in Picking Delegates".
• Under Title II Section 43.4 of the Iowa code caucuses will be "held not later than the fourth Monday in February of each even-numbered year. The date shall be at least eight days earlier than the scheduled date for any meeting, caucus or primary which constitutes the first determining stage of the presidential nominating process in any other state, territory or any other group which has the authority to select delegates in the presidential nomination."
•  Ultimately the outome of the Iowa caucus is that delegates are selected by each party to attend the 99 County conventions.  The number of delegates per county varies by population.  These delegates then go on to choose delegates for the congressional district state convention.
• The congressional district state conventions then select the delegates that go to the national convention. 
• The Republican and Democrat parties each have their own caucus procedures.
• Republicans take a straw vote while Democrats base their caucus outcome on the percentage of voters who support each candidate.
• Third parties are also allowed to hold their own caucuses to send representatives for one presidential candidate and one vice presidential candidate to the nominating conventions.
• The results of all caucus activity are non-binding meaning that delegates may switch their support to another candidate at any time.

Sources:
http://www.legis.state.ia.us/IACODE/1999/II.html
http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40811FA3C59107A93C7AB178AD85F468785F9&scp=22&sq=iowa+caucus&st=
 http://2012iowacaucus.com/sample-page/

See you in 2012....

We'll be back in 2012 for the Republican presidential primaries.  Thanks for reading!

John McCain on Second Amendment Rights

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John McCain on 2nd Amendment rights from JohnMcCain.Com:

• John McCain believes that the right of law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms is a fundamental, individual Constitutional right that we have a sacred duty to protect.
• "We have a responsibility to ensure that criminals who violate the law are prosecuted to the fullest, rather than restricting the rights of law abiding citizens."
• John McCain opposes holding gun manufacturers liable for crimes committed by third parties using a firearm.
• John McCain opposes restrictions on so-called "assault rifles".
• He opposes bans on the importation of certain types of ammunition magazines and has voted against such limitations.
• John McCain has supported legislation requiring gun manufacturers to include gun safety devices such as trigger locks in product packaging.
• He cosponsored legislation to lift a ban on the citizens of the District of Columbia from exercising their Constitutional right to bear arms.
• John McCain supports instant criminal background checks to help prohibit criminals from buying firearms.
• He is for standardizing sales procedures at gun shows.
• John McCain has opposed "waiting periods" for law abiding citizen's purchase of firearms.
• He also opposes the confiscation of firearms from private citizens, particularly during times of crisis or emergency.
• John McCain believes in strict, mandatory penalties for criminals who use a firearm in the commission of a crime or illegally possess a firearm.

Source:

http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/77636553-6337-4ecd-b170-49e1c07d2fbd.htm

AP: Music and candidates: An uneasy alliance

The Associated Press
Wednesday, May 28, 2008

EDITOR'S NOTE — This latest chapter of "The Measure of a Nation," a yearlong series of multimedia story packages about the presidency and the 2008 election as seen through the prism of the culture, explores the ways candidates use — and misuse — music in their efforts to capture the White House.

So let's say it's the early 1980s, and you're a rising young musician named John Cougar Mellencamp. You cut a song with a chorus that oozes Jeffersonian democracy and adds a touch of postwar suburban placidity. "Ain't that America — for you and me," you sing in your gravelly Indiana voice. "Ain't that America; we're something to see. Ain't that America: home of the free. Little pink houses for you and me."

Now let's say you're a strategist for Sen. John McCain, Republican candidate for president in 2008. You hear "Pink Houses" 25 years after it was recorded and think to yourself, hey — this is perfect. Let's blast this out at the big guy's rallies and hitch our wagon to Mellencamp's imagery.

That scenario proved problematic when it unfolded earlier this year. First, Mellencamp is a Democrat and activist who has supported John Edwards. He didn't like his work being co-opted and asked McCain to stop. Second, and just as important, "Pink Houses" is an edgy, melancholy song about chances lost and potential wasted:

"'Cause they told me when I was younger, said, 'Boy, you gonna be president.' But just like everything else, those old crazy dreams just kind of came and went."

Click here for the full AP article on Music and Candidates.

Barack Obama on Army Suicide Report

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• Barack Obama issued the following statement in response to the Army Suicide Report:

"Today's news is a tragic reminder of the staggering and ongoing costs of the Iraq war, particularly on our troops and their families. We are more than five years into this war, and the Pentagon and VA are still unprepared to treat the unseen wounds of battle. We know that incidence of psychological injury increase with each additional tour of duty in Iraq, and that our troops are not getting the support they need. Too many are falling through the cracks because they need help but feel they can't get it. When I am President, we'll hire more mental health professionals, increase training to recognize the signs and to reject the stigma of seeking care, and enhance mental health screening and treatment from enlistment, to deployment, to reentry into civilian life. It's time to serve our troops as well as they have served us."

Source: http://www.barackobama.com/2008/05/29/obama_statement_on_army_suicid.php

Clinton Endorsed By 22 South Dakota Native American Leaders

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• In a press release on HillaryClinton.Com her campaign announced endorsements by the following "22 South Dakota Native American Leaders":

Lionel Bordeaux, President, Sinte Gleska University

Shawn Bordeaux, Rosebud Sioux Tribal Councilmember

Floyd Brings Plenty, Oglala Sioux Tribal Councilmember

Anthony Castaway, Rosebud Sioux Tribal Councilmember

Kim Clausen, Oglala Sioux Tribal Councilmember

Carol Crazy Thunder-O’Rourke, Oglala Sioux Tribal Councilmember

Leonard Crow Dog, Rosebud Sioux Tribe elder

Ron Duke, Oglala Sioux Tribal Councilmember

Cecilia Fire Thunder, Former Chairwoman, Oglala Sioux Tribal Council

Phillip Good Crow, Oglala Sioux Tribal Councilmember

Lewis Good Voice Eagle, Rosebud Sioux Tribal Councilmember

Scott Herman, Rosebud Sioux Tribal Councilmember

William "BeBe" Long, Rosebud Sioux Tribal Councilmember

Trent "Okie" Poignee, Rosebud Sioux Tribal Councilmember

Thomas Poor Bear, Oglala Sioux Tribal Councilmember

Francis Pumpkin Seed, Shannon County Commissioner

Lula Red Cloud

Brandon Sazue, Sr., Chairman, Crow Creek Sioux Tribal Council

Tom Shortbull, President, Oglala Lakota College and Former State Senator

Michael J. Valandra, Sr., Rosebud Sioux Tribal Councilmember

Carl Waln, Former Chairman, Rosebud Sioux Tribe

Connie Whirlwind Horse, Shannon County Commissioner

Source: http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=7870

Indecision 2008: A Billionaire's Guide to the Candidates: Ralph Nader

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POSTED BY: Billionaires4Bush

Unreasonable Man Ralph Nader makes it easy. Sure, he's owned corporate stock, dissed the Green Party, and been accused of "spoiling" the election chances of Democrats paddling towards the callow middle -- but what can he do for the Billionaires? The splash page for his website asks "which side are you on?" On one side: "Nader/ Gonzales '08." On the other: corporate greed, corporate power, corporate control, the health insurance industry, agribusiness giants, corporate criminals, nuclear power, big banks, drug companies, corporate Democrats, polluters, unionbusters, war profiteers, credit card companies, Wall Street, Big Oil, and corporate Republicans. Have I died and gone to Halliburton? Sign me up for Column B!

Click here for the full Indecision2008.Com article.