My daughter had never watched a caucus in action before. I told her that, theoretically, it's similar to the national conventions, except they don't always pare the slate of candidates to only one victorious soul in each party. With a beverage at one hand, snacks at the other, and a remote at the ready, we commenced with her education thanks to CNN and the agrarian, Bible belt state of Iowa.
She soon became intrigued with the idea that neighbors could actually assemble, intelligently and respectfully discuss issues, and make decisions for something as important as the U.S. Presidency. However, she also learned how meaningless results can pour from the political arena when competing non-profit organizations are allowed to dictate incongruous rules for decision making.
In the end two front runners did emerge, but no absolute victors were crowned by anyone but the media, the camp followers, and the spin masters. Being such a small, unrepresentative sampling of the American populace the Iowa caucuses were not significant enough to warrant an "all-nighter" by the national news media. Iowans did prove, though, that objective and morally well-founded people concerned for the well-being of the whole can not be bought. Nor will they succumb to superficial prejudices.
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