Wow! Is it cold here or what?
Zero degrees Fahrenheit – that’s around minus 18 Celsius.
The sort of temperature where it’s hard to think let alone speak.
It certainly made me wonder what I was doing standing in a farmyard near Martensdale in very rural Iowa.
But then Kathy Bruere, the farmer’s wife, came to the rescue with a mug of coffee and home baked cookies.
Suitably warmed we were soon talking politics with Kathy and husband Bill overlooking the snow-clad cornfields so typical of this Mid Western state.
The intriguing thing is how seriously the Brueres and all their friends and neighbours take their civic and election responsibilities as they look to pick the next President of the USA.
With the Iowa Caucus looming, these farm folk are determined to set an example for all America in choosing the right candidates for the right reasons.
They ran through a few thoughts with me. First and foremost they’re looking for character – the sort of person they can trust and be proud of to represent their country and, of course, someone they believe will protect them in these trouble times.
Iraq, Afghanistan, the War on Terror all weigh heavily on Iowans, like most Americans.
But interestingly I found the emphasis has started to shift as much to domestic issues – health care, education, taxes, the environment (they make ethanol fuel from their corn here) and, the topic of the moment, immigration.
An upsurge in illegal immigration has certainly got people worried here and they want some action.
Some quite extreme, like 70-year-old Vietnam Veteran Ron West, who proudly showed me his sidearm, and proceeded to tell me how he thinks the next President should consider building a fence between the US and Mexico to the south AND Canada to the North to stop illegals.
I might add that it was a minority view! Even so when the Iowa voters huddle in their caucus meetings they’ll be cajoling, persuading, arguing and debating with their friends and neighbours about just who will make the right decisions from the White House.
The Brueres and their friends have met most of the candidates up close and personal.
This is eyeball to eyeball politics…gruelling, stamina-sapping stuff for the hopefuls, revealing for the voters.
For a few, short hours this rather obscure, rural, frozen state turns into the hub of the political universe and regular country folk get to shape the race to the White House.
They may not decide the winner here, but they’ll certainly discard a fair few losers amongst the 16 White House wannabees.
It feels more like they’re picking their local sheriff. But the implications could be felt by the whole world.
Even under the blanket of snow, this is grassroots politics in the raw.
Dear JT,
I hope it is better now with the cold, and the weather, at least that you are not outside now.
Thank you for the reports and the blog, it is very useful and very interesting and good to read from you again.
Thank you for the explanations too, it is more clear now for me, this election system, which is a bit complicated.
Keep up your great work.
Happy New Year and thanks again for JT and for the Sky staff out there.
I wish you all the best.
Kind Regards,
Rita, from Hungary
Posted by: Rita, Hungary 3 Jan 2008 15:30:45
Sir
I feel rather ashamed for not having personally wished you propserity and to further convey my sincere thanks for bringing about this wonderful blog to the world, where many a clown has shed a tear or two.
However, I sit here proud in the knowledge that as America chooses the best, we have the very best, namely JT, amongst the many a Sky professional,( as viewed on the sky digital channel 501) whose diligence, drive and integrity remains a shining example for all Americans, whether they choose a man or women to lead the world towards the re-insatement of pride and peace.
Having said that, my kettle has just boiled, so I raise my cup of coffee to you all as I continue my "California Dreaming" and wish you all the very best in choosing what is in your national interest, and not someone who just happens to be a friend of a friend. No sugar thanks, "DJ Sammy".
By the way, did you hear about the pregnant bed bug? She had a baby in the spring.
Happy New Year.
Posted by: Khalid 3 Jan 2008 11:42:30