Well, officially, anyway.
Given, as British historian Timothy Stanley writes, "...a campaign that feels like it started in 1776 is finally going to count some votes...."
Iowa, baby.
Lot of people doing a lot of talking about a lot of other people and what those other people will, or won't, do, who they will, or won't vote for.
How things will, or won't go, for any/all of those whose hats are in the ring.
CNN.com (among, obviously, many other sources) predictably offers up, today, (the Sunday before the Monday) a six or seven on a verbosity scale of one to ten treatise on "what to look for" prior to the voting. And what the Iowa caucuses "really mean".
I think they think of it as "things you need to know".
I think of it more as yada, yada.
With a sassy splash of blah, blah.
So, I've taken a pass on including it, in its entirety, in this piece.
Because too much yada, yada, blah, blah makes for a blah blog.
That said, never let it be said that I'm not always ready and willing to let you make up your mind(s) for yourself(selves).
Here's a link to that article.
http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/30/politics/iowa-road-trip-caucus-takeaways-king/index.html
As for me, I haven't come close to making up my mind about any of those hatless folk I mentioned earlier.
But I'm coolly confident about my take on what the Iowa caucuses are all about.
Michael Jackson.
Bear with me.
Whatever other virtues the voting aged population of this country, at this point in our history, may possess, it's neither unfair, nor inaccurate, to opine that the term "informed voter" is, at least, an ironic, even laughable description and, at worst, an overwhelmingly depressing oxymoronic, but, again, irrefutably fair and accurate categorization.
Take a minute or two to click on You Tube and find yourself one of the many "street interview" schtick segments the late night talk show folk like to do.
You know the ones I'm talking about. Where everyday folks are stopped, at random, on any busy street, USA and asked questions that spotlight, or dim light, their knowledge about and/or awareness of current movers and shakers and the current events that have them moving and shaking.
Even allowing, and conceding, that a lot of editing goes into the final product that airs, it's certainly a lot of funny.
And not just a little scary.
Because of how little so many seem to know about so many things that they should know at least a little about.
Let alone a lot.
And no one place in America deserves any more derision than another when it comes to being home to those who honestly think that the right to bear arms has something to do with sunscreen and Rand Paul, for example, is, for example, that famous hairdresser guy who does all the Kardashians.
That kind of funny, and frightening, ignorance can be found in any one of the fifty states any time, day or night, 365 a year.
From California to New York, from North Dakota to Texas, from sea to shining sea.
Oh...
And Iowa.
Where "...a campaign that feels like it started in 1776 is finally going to count some votes....".
And those in the other 49 states lacking the "know" but looking for a little "show" are, curiously, if not anxiously, awaiting the outcome.
For a variety of reasons, surely.
Not the least of which being some indication of how they might want to cast their own vote down this very, very...very long road to November.
Old joke.
King stands on the main road of his kingdom, a good and faithful servant by his side, watching the entire population of said kingdom moving rapidly past him, a reverse parade of sorts.
The King, quizzical expression dramatically expressed, turns to his good and faithful and, in a confident and commanding tone, commands....
"...quickly....tell me where my people are going....so I may lead them..."
That satirical swipe is usually offered up as an impish indictment of our elected officials inability to find purpose, direction and/or their asses with both hands and a flashlight.
But you get the idea.
Meanwhile, back in Iowa.
Or more to the point, meanwhile, back to Michael Jackson.
Since its release in the 1980's, Michael's seminal album, "Thriller" has sold somewhere in the neighborhood of 65 million copies.
A pretty nice neighborhood, I think we can all agree.
Courtesy of the "wisdom" that life experience provides, though, I've offered, both in print and on the assorted radio shows through the years, what I think is a valid perspective on the prolific volume of "thrilling" Michael managed.
Simply put...
40 million people, let's say, give or take, bought a copy of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" because they loved Michael, loved and respected his work, knew what he was all about musically and were excited about hearing his particular style once again with the added bonus of whatever new, even, perhaps, culture changing, innovations he was going to offer this time around.
And 25 million people, let's say, give or take, bought a copy of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" because the first 40 million people bought one.
Didn't know diddly about the guy.
Except what they'da heard here and there, every now and then.
Must'a been somethin' to it, though, if that many people were excited about it.
I haven't come close to making up my mind about any of those hat-less folk I mentioned earlier.
But I'm coolly confident about my take on what the Iowa caucuses are all about.
They're about a couple of hundred thousand, everyday kinda, Midwest folk, give or take, deciding on who they want to live at 1600 Pennsylvania come January next year.
So that a pretty sizable chunk of somewhere in the equally nice neighborhood of 120 million people, give or take, can begin to get some idea on who they want to live at 1600.
Even, and especially, those who, at this point, don't know diddly about the guys.
And gals.
Except what they've-a heard here and there, every now and then.
Must be somethin' to em', though, if that many people are excited enough to vote for em'
Heck, those up till now out of the loop folks might start to get a little ed-u-ma-cation about the American presidential election process.
At the very least, the outcome of the Iowa voting will qualify as interesting.
Maybe even a little exciting.
What the hell.
Might even be a thriller.
No comments:
Post a Comment