missing my homeland

Tonight would be a great night to be an Iowan again.

I just talked with my Dad, who'll be heading over to the local elementary school tonight to stand up and participate with my Mom in the democratic party's caucus. (Full disclosure: it does give me chills to type the word DEMOCRAT.)

We discussed why he's choosing a particular candidate, what political gaffes candidates are getting skewered for (Huckabee's crossing the picket line), who's "buying their way in" (cough, cough, Romney), and the criticism of the Iowa caucus. My Dad was a U.S. History & Government teacher back in the day, so these talks are always rich and mentally stimulating.

In the course of our conversation, I started to toe the pundit's line about "things being unfair because they're held at a certain time and you have to physically stand behind a candidate, not cast a ballot," but then Dad pointed out something brilliant. Iowans don't care. They aren't the ones complaining.

And this, my friends, is why I love Iowa.

Iowans get wrapped up in all the election hoopla, but something about it is different. Like it doesn't go to their heads.

They'll vote, then wait to do it again come November.

They won't bitch about a system that works for them, and has since the farm days.

People will go listen to 6 different candidates during the primary season and then decide tonight.

The Des Moines Register will report on each candidate (quite well, I'd add) and then this weekend, go back to other reporting, not speculating on how cool they were.

So maybe there's more than one reason I wish I was there tonight. Not only to give my boy Obama a caucus-goers endorsement, but because it'd feel good to matter...then go on with life again until November.

Have fun Moms & Pops.

-A

and, erm...Go Obama.