Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.
The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.
The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
Political junkies, caucus veterans, eager voters, and anyone interested in learning about the rich history of Iowa’s political past should visit the new exhibit at the State Historical Museum in Des Moines. “Caucus Iowa” will be open until the next president takes office in January 2009.
Drawing from sources around the state, the exhibit features a large collection of famous and not-so-famous photographs, campaign buttons, and video and film clips. Visitors will meet a cast of “caucus characters” who will be familiar to anyone who has ever caucused or tried to shake hands with a visiting presidential wanna-be including: reporters, video bloggers, campaign staff, precinct captains, county chairs, politician’s families, photographers, voters, and caucus organizers.
Video available below the fold.The State Historical Museum’s Mark Holub managed the production of “Caucus Iowa.” In this 3 minute video, he talks about some of the specifics of the exhibit.
Walking through the 10,000 square foot exhibit, look for a campaign button collection found in the area for “retail politics” at a make-believe coffee shop.
The differences between Republican and Democratic caucus procedures are demonstrated when you shake the fake snow from your boots, step across the front porch of a host house and enter a living room that serves as a Republican caucus center. In this space a first-time caucus goer appears poised to ask questions while a precinct captain watches over the proceedings.
The Democratic caucus is held in a school gymnasium where one display gives details behind the mathematics of Democratic caucus procedures.
Other areas include a media room with print and broadcast sections, a candidate portrait gallery, and a historical area telling some of the key stories behind each caucus held since 1972, when Iowa became “first-in-the-nation.”
Exhibit designers have taken care to include interactive elements like touch-screen voting stations for voicing opinions on issues like abortion and the Iraq War. As you leave the hall a final touch-screen has a straw poll voting station with all the candidates. In deference to the Democratic party, which disallows publication of a straw poll vote, the results will be available after January 2007.
The museum has planned many family-friendly events, including a Ben and Jerry’s ice-cream event Oct. 17 about the non-profit organization, Priorities Action Fund, and “Caucus! The Musical,” which opens in December.
More information about “Caucus Iowa” can be found at http://www.iowahisto…
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