Iowa Caucus

As it happens, of the nearly 6,000 delegates at the Democratic National Convention, the youngest is Sam Gray, a seventeen-year old from Marion, Iowa. “I’ve been interested in the political process for a long time,” says the Marion High School Senior. He is currently enrolled in a government class taught by Dave Messerli, who has […]

August 3, 2012. Charlotte, North Carolina. Thousands of journalists, political activists, protesters, and yes, delgates have poured into Charlotte for the 2012 Democratic National Convention. Opening night will feature remarks by First Lady MIchelle Obama. We note with interest that swing states Iowa, Virginia, Nevada, Colorado and host North Carolina have been given prime seating […]

With the opening of the 2012 Democratic Party National Political Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina just two days away, a spirited albeit comparatively small demonstration took place downtown, with protesters marching just a few blocks from the convention site. Ray Suarez, of PBS NewsHour, tweeted, “Just watched Occupy et. al. march through Charlotte, who were […]

Following speculation on how Governor Romney would or wouldn’t address his religion, his team called upon one of his LDS homeboys to endorse the one-time president of the Boston Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “Mitt taught faith in God, self-reliance and service to humanity,” said Grant Bennett, Romney’s successor as […]

“The soles of Neil Armstrong’s boots on the moon made permanent impressions on OUR souls and in our national psyche. Ann and I watched those steps together on her parents’ sofa. Like all Americans we went to bed that night knowing we lived in the greatest country in the history of the world” –– Governor Mitt […]

Sen. Marco Rubio speaks of his working class background—one of the Convention’s tropes. Like many of his Latino colleagues, he delivers a line en español. Rubio opposes all forms of amnesty for undocumented residents and opposes “The Dream Act.” Sí, se puede…

Condoleezza Rice: “I do think Mitt Romney is speaking to black voters.”

Convention crowds gather around people of celebrity. For a person who watches little to no television and pays limited attention to the mainstream media, these characters are often unidentifiable save for the cameras swarming around them. Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is a notable exception. Some of the Convention’s ostensible celebrities, like actor Janine Turner […]

Tea Party Patriots litter the crowd, causing the occasional minor stir. Small groups leave the convention hall in protest chanting, “As Maine goes, so goes the nation.” Despite best efforts, their shouting is inaudible and, essentially, impotent. Ron Paul brought the national debt to the awareness of young supporters AND he’s contributed to the dictionary. […]