Iowa First

Joe Hallet (and crew) from DispatchPolitics.com posed the question, "Are Iowa, N.H. really worthy?" They note the movement from both parties to undo or change the current vetting system that forces candidates to stump in these two "first" states. My guess is this a charge from big name candidates who want to spend their time doing the big speeches and to which hand clutching is a bother. (It was Governor Ted Strickland of Ohio, a Hillary mouthpiece, that raised the issue) John Fund also addresses the concern that acts as a sub-plot in the quiet moments of the Iowa caucus.

I have meandered my way around Iowa for the better part of four days and I am impressed with these people. Not only do they take this role seriously, they were born into it, raised to understand their responsibility to educate themselves and ask the tough questions. Can some changes be made to the schedule to allow for a broader view early on in the primary season? Possibly. But I hope whatever conclusion is drawn up that Iowans maintain their significant role because these people, more so than any I have come across, see it as a sworn duty to the rest of our nation. We should be grateful.