Any Iowans who will be cacausing here?

NoH8

I am thrilled with the results. I'm so glad Obama won and I think he's got the best shot of either party of uniting the country-- the red vs. blue states. I'm also glad Hillary finished 3rd, if only a tad behind Edwards.  I had enough of her seemingly robotic statements.

Iowa isn't representative of the cultural, economic or racial demographics of the country-- which I think is wonderful in that they voted for Obama more than the other dems. I had fears about tacit prejudism perhaps going against him, as I did with tacit sexism going against Hillary as I did with tacit religionism (is that a word) against Romney.

On the republican side-- glad to see Thompson pull out-- why did he even get in? Note to Fred-- running for president is hard. As I've said before Huckabee's beliefs about gays scare the heck out of me. I think McCain's 3 or 4 finish speaks volumes, because he didn't campaign there and to finish so highly means that people do support him even without campaigning. 

On to NH- I'm so excited to see what happens on Tuesday.

BethNY

Iowa is only the beginning, and it's not going to shape the end, I'll tell ya that much. Huckabee's got no shot anywhere else.

While I do enjoy Barack Obama, he will not win against a republican.  And in my opinion, if we don't get a democrat in the white house we are seriously in trouble.

We'll see what happens next.

NoH8

Beth I think Obama is one who actually can win against the republican candidate. He has a history of building coalitions and working with both sides of the fence. I think he has a much better chance than Hillary who is very polarizing and Edwards would probably have a difficult time because his stance against big business is the stuff that brings out the 527 negative ads and big business has deep pockets. I think we have to consider the person's positives and the negatives from the otherside because I would hate to see more republicans coming out for their candidate against Hillary or Edwards.

I do agree if we don't get a dem in the white house the party needs a rehaul.

The reason I want to move to Iowa in 3 1/2 years is because Iowans get more face to face time with the candidates than those in other states. This seems to start years before the actual caucuses. I would like nothing more to ask a few key questions face to face with the candidates, and follow up with rebuttal questions if it seems like they're avoiding an answer.  Too many of the reporters don't do that, even in the debates there are so many vague answers.

I want to look Hillary in the eye and say, "Why are you against gay marriage but for civil unions when you say you want to give gays the rights."

She will reply, "I don't like to say I'm against gay marriage but very enthusiastic about civil unions."

Me, "do you perceive civil unions having all the same rights as heterosexual marriages."

She will reply, "In my administration rights will be equal."

Me, "so it's really just the word 'marriage' you object to? Can you tell me more about that? In what ways does this objection come from your religious beliefs, what you think is acheivable, fear of backlash from the fundies?"

I really want to know. I want her to look me in the eye and the other candidates as well and I don't think I can get that anywhere but Iowa.

I just want the truth to the answer-- no pandering or double speak.

I'm trying hard not to be myopic but this issue and repealing DADT and letting gays serve openly in the military go to the core of my heart-- being seen as an equal with the same rights and priveleges as my heterosexual counterparts. If I'm not seen as equal in the eyes of the government, it's hard not to be enthusiastic about the candidate.  The only exception to this is Obama who doesn't support marriage, but he has something I don't see the other candidates having and that's the ability to unite the country.