And my city gets stupider by the day.

[Bluzmann57]

I live in a mid size city in eastern Iowa which is a pretty good place to live normally. We have many things to do in all seasons, good museums, excellent medical care, good schools, (normally) tolerant people, the Mighty Mississippi River, and a world class road race as well as a world renowned Blues Festival.
But with the confluence of stupid in Des Moines this past weekend, I guess some of it had to spill over this way. I heard on the news earlier that ol' man on dog santorum will be making a visit tomorrow as well as the creatures from westboro "church" who are here to protest, well I really don't know as they were outside a church earlier today and scheduled to be at a local high school tomorrow. All that stupid in one city at one time can't be good. I sincerely hope none of it rubs off. Personally, if my kid were old enough to be in that particular school (she will be going to that school someday if things stay the same), I'd be ok if she cold cocked a westboro person or two. She is Asian, so they most certainly wouldn't like her.

[SheilaT]

1. You make me realize that there are certain advantages to living in a state

that is totally unimportant to the Presidential election. New Mexico. We have a relatively late primary here, and fortunately no one in the state is making noises about making it any earlier.

It is sort of nice to be pretty much left alone. I think there's plenty of political advertizing on TV during the campaigns, but I honestly don't know since I don't own a TV.

Anyway, Iowa is a nice state. I have friends who used to live in Muscatine, and their children grew up there. Got to visit them several times and I always liked it.

[lunasun]

2. Until the caucus it will be a zoo off and on unfortunately

If you are Asian get thee downtown and give all the press there your political opinion to air
Was years ago but they were looking for diversity in opinions cuz it was so white at the time when I was there in a caucus year. It IS like an invasion no matter who the candidates but the stupid now days can't help
I do not know if it is still one of the whitest states though.......but back then anyone nonwhite got to voice there opinion to the Ntl./ Intl. media that invade.
Only time it was an advantage there

[Bluzmann57]

7. I'm not Asian, my kid is.

Package deal. Wife and kid.

[rurallib]

3. It is the Branstad effect on education

he's been governor off and on since 1980. Those in school when he started his little adventure in governing are now at the age that they can prove they learned nearly nothing in Iowa schools.

And it looks like he will be able to dumb the state down for another 4 years with an effect of probably at least 30 years.

[Fred Sanders]

5. Kind of like the Wahibi clerics in Saudi running education in return for not objecting to a dictator?

[Bluzmann57]

9. I have a theory about Branstad

Maybe I'm some sort of crazy conspiracy theorist, but I think in around two or three years, he will resign from office citing health problems, leaving us with the stark raving mad Reynolds. And she will try and take things to a new extreme.
I could be wrong about this, I guess time will tell.

[rurallib]

10. That rumor was rampant during the campaign

but like most things, no one cared.
Branstad becomes the longest serving governor ever in September I believe. Look for a resignation anytime after that.

That would make Reynolds young (mid-50s) and an incumbent and a crazy teabagger that the Kochs would die for. Branstad has been very good for them, but Reynolds will do what she is told. We don't vote out incumbent repugs in this state.

[IADEMO2004]

4. Westboro baptist theater troupe is no different than people that jump on the hood of a car for cash.

They float into town and hope to provoke someone with their all media invited show so they can sue a citizen city county or state for some quick cash. They are very good at what they do. First Amendment is hard to swallow some times.

[msongs]

6. sounds like Iowa is getting Kansas disease, one politician at a time nt

[47of74]

8. We don't escape it up here in Dubuque either.

Usually some reich wing idiot has to spew their verbal diarrhea around up here in Dubuque as well. Especially those who want to play to the John Paul II & Benedict XVI were too liberal wing of the Catholic church.

[mndemsocialist]

11. What is happening to Iowa?

I am a native Iowan, but I live now in Minnesota. I love Minnesota (and its politics), but
I have been thinking about returning to Iowa in a year or two to be much closer to family (Iowa City would be where I want to live).

I have been fairly serious when I tell my friends and family in Iowa about not wanting to move back to the state as long as Joni Ernst is senator.

Reading this thread only reinforces my unease about politics in Iowa just now...What is going on down there!?