I see that Iowa's Democratic Party caucus muddle still is in the news this morning, reassuring to those who believe that any publicity is good publicity; not so much to others.
But the caucuses accomplished their purpose --- showing clearly which of the candidates had gained the most traction among politically active Iowa Democrats (and very little else).
So Pete Buttigieg (with a two-delegate equivalent margin) and Bernie Sanders (with a 2,000-popular vote margin) both can claim victory as they campaign in New Hampshire and elsewhere.
The results also demonstrated that Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden were having difficulty winning hearts and minds among Iowa Democrats. Whether that trend continues elsewhere, we'll see.
I liked this sentence from the introduction to The Des Moines Register's running report on caucus results, which I've been following: "The Iowa caucuses are not first because they're important; they're important because they're first for Election 2020." Remember that.
Sanders and his merry band can be extraordinarily annoying and that could affect his performance elsewhere; homophobia, actual and functional, among Democrats may affect the Buttigieg effort. Either could channel votes toward Warren or Biden. We'll just have to wait and see.
Personally, I think any of the four could contend quite effectively with the incumbent president and win --- so no matter who, as they say, I will vote "blue."
Speaking of homophobia, Iowa Republicans have been at it again early in the 2020 legislative session. Republican House leaders already have stalled in Judiciary Committee a bill that would strip Iowa Civil Rights Act protections from transgender people.
Yesterday, state Sen. Dennis Guth (R-Klemme), known also as an anti-vaxxer, introduced SF 2193 and SF 2194 --- "Freedom of conscience from government discrimination" and "Professional freedom of conscience from government discrimination" respectively.
These are designed to bless by statute any form of discrimination evangelical Christians in any walk of life or professional calling may wish to direct toward LGBTQ+ people or pro-choice folks of any persuasion.
It promises to be an interesting legislative session.
Sanders and his merry band can be extraordinarily annoying and that could affect his performance elsewhere; homophobia, actual and functional, among Democrats may affect the Buttigieg effort. Either could channel votes toward Warren or Biden. We'll just have to wait and see.
Personally, I think any of the four could contend quite effectively with the incumbent president and win --- so no matter who, as they say, I will vote "blue."
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Speaking of homophobia, Iowa Republicans have been at it again early in the 2020 legislative session. Republican House leaders already have stalled in Judiciary Committee a bill that would strip Iowa Civil Rights Act protections from transgender people.
Yesterday, state Sen. Dennis Guth (R-Klemme), known also as an anti-vaxxer, introduced SF 2193 and SF 2194 --- "Freedom of conscience from government discrimination" and "Professional freedom of conscience from government discrimination" respectively.
These are designed to bless by statute any form of discrimination evangelical Christians in any walk of life or professional calling may wish to direct toward LGBTQ+ people or pro-choice folks of any persuasion.
It promises to be an interesting legislative session.
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