A satisfying experience

By Evan Anderson – Dear reader, I get my brownies. Double chocolate-chocolate chip, and now for the story of how I was sated…
Now, about that Hyatt. Helm’s Deep is no longer hidden. “Dr. Gonzo” has slithered in and established his beached. Actually, this Iowa delegation member scored an AFSCME invitation and intents to fully make [...]

Evening musings

By Evan Anderson – Monday afternoon, there was a pre-convention reception honoring the Iowa Delegation at the Hard Rock Café. The nibbly-bits served, amongst other items, included fresh fruit on a stick (everything in Iowa can be served on a stick, including Lutheran green jell-o salad). Finger food at parties for convention goers [...]

Iowa delegation off and running

By Evan Anderson – Although herds of Denver police dressed in riot gear have been zimmering past the convention center whenever the furtive anti-war or pro-lifers press against the fences some blocks away, the Colorado Convention Center is host to the most dignified events thus far associated with the DNC.
Sunday night, many in the Iowa [...]

Iowa delegates get first taste of convention

By Evan Anderson – Although the stark fields surrounding the Denver International Airport might remind people of Mongolia in the 1965 film, “Doctor Zhivago,” the Democratic Convention is the most colorful scene on the political stage today. DNC volunteers wearing orange shirts greeted the Iowa delegation early Sunday morning with banners and chants happily [...]

No horsing around

By Rod Boshart – Iowa Democrats arriving in Denver have been caught off guard by the magnitude of the security precautions surrounding the national convention that is expected to draw from 3,000 up to 10,000 protesters. Throngs of law enforcement officers armed with riot gear patrol the areas outside hotels where state delegations are housed [...]

Leach in the house

By Rod Boshart – Former Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Leach has been given a speaking role at the Democratic National Convention. Leach, who represented parts of Eastern Iowa for 30 years, surprised and disappointed Iowa Republicans recently by endorsing Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., for president. Obama officials announced Sunday that Leach had been invited to [...]

Distance learning

By Rod Boshart – University of Iowa political scientist David Redlawsk spent the weekend making preparations for a long-distance teaching project. Armed with a Web camera hookup and text and video blogging, the associate professor of political science will teach classes on politics and elections from his hotel room in Denver, where he is participating [...]