Yes, Oprah and Jesus won. Nothing to be too happy about there. I really don't have enthusiasm for any candidate. I come away from this presidential campaign thinking we really need to find a better way to elect the leader of the free world.

Gosh, Doug...we think a lot alike.

I, too, got the same message last evening...that the voters are mad as hell and that "politics as usual" is now on life support in the USA.

Clearly, Mrs. Clinton did herself absolutely no favors by lining up a lot of the soured old guard (a.k.a. Bill and Ms. Albright) behind her during her "victory" speech. Bill, in particular, is starting to look REALLY old. And, judging from her speech, one would have thought she had come in first rather than third. Clearly, her "national campaign" that has been running under the arrogant assumption that she is the Democratic "heir apparent" has backfired.

I was also particularly pleased to see the relatively strong (10% or so) showing of Ron Paul. Like Sandy Price, I'm of the opinion Mr. Paul will wait out his various showings in the Republican primaries and then run as an independent. It was also interesting to note how (at least on CNN) not one word was discussed during the entire evening by any of their commentators about his candidacy.

And whether you love or hate Mr. Paul's politics, the fact that he is now actually polling in double digits is a cause for celebration. That's because the relative success of his candidacy reflects an ever-growing disgust not only with Mr. Bush and the "asses of evil" in his Administration, but with ALL of the horribly corrupt "Republicrats" now running our nation.

Clearly, it would appear that Americans (at least those in this tiny Midwestern state) have had it up to here with politics as usual...and in particular Mr. Bush and his Cabal. Even on the Republican side, the "well oiled" political machines of Mr. Romney (and in particular Mr. Guliani) got them nowhere.

The overall message I got from the voting in Iowa was that, while Americans seem quite eager for change in our political leadership, they are still looking to the horrifically entrenched and blatantly incestuous "Republicrat" duopoly to produce it.

But, judging from Mr. Paul's showing in Iowa last evening, even THAT old way of doing things now seems poised for change as well.

Doug, I would rather have a lawyer with a track record of winning against corporate fatcats versus someone with limited political experience. We have had a president with limited political experience for the last 7 years and we all know how that turned out. If we truly want someone who will stand up to corporate facism in favor of individual citizens then I believe the trial lawyer would be the better choice.

Also, not surprised by the Ron Paul turnout. Are you really?

Ron Paul is not dead yet. He will never get the Evangelicals behind him because he puts the Constitution before any Christian doctrine. We have a power house of support coming in New Hampshire next week and that may be the turning point for Ron Paul. I am a terrible optimist when liberties and freedoms are on the line.

I will say that Obama is my second choice as he will never threaten any woman or homosexual with second class citizenship. He, like Paul, is anti-war and these are the REAL Pro-lifers!

Putting a man like Obama into the white house will only be successful if we give him a workable Congress. This will be a total effort for me here in Arizona as our House and Senate leaders are part of the war-loving Evangelicals. We must dump the Bush House of Representatives!!!

Mary. Perot ended up with 12 million votes and it was the GOP that brought him down because he was pro choice on everything. There is a very dangerous group behind all Republican candidates. PNAC, AEI and easily another 50 groups who have influence in the MSM, the Universities and now the television. I had two kids at Berkeley but I had them 17 years first and they swallowed none of the socialism that was non-stop in their 4 years.

I think a final vote count of 12 million is nothing to sneer at. I have a Ron Paul bumpersticker and people follow me into Safeway and Walgreens asking about his opinions on the war. The media is overlooking his anti-war stand and it is very important to people in Arizona. My state had a lot of deaths in Afghanistan and Iraq and we do not forget the war was based on lies.

We are prepared to continue with Ron Paul if he wants to change parties. He is too good for us to give up on.

I know that the younger generations are accustomed to having the government do for them but it always comes as a loss of freedoms. Read Patrick Henry and Thomas Paine for a change of thinking. Both men would be marching for Ron Paul as they fought for our freedoms not for our welfare.

So why no mention of Dennis K. is the fact that his wife is half his age too much for some to swallow? Get over it, he's the only one who truly stands for everything we need.
I don't like the mistaken idea that a lawyer is a good president, we need intelligent decision making and diplomacy with the constitution ever in mind, not another tricky dickey.

Ron Paul's candidacy is not dead. On the contrary, the fact that at one point he was challenging John McCain for 4th place last night is indicative of his support.

Iowa is classically not representative of the entire country and most certainly the opposite of New Hampshire. If John McCain is whining about Ron Paul in New Hampshire, then you know Ron Paul is making a difference.

Last but not least, the attacks have started against Ron Paul. That doesn't happen to a DEAD in the water candidacy.

one other point.....despite the percentages last night, the Democratic delegate count currently remains:
Obama -- 14
Edwards -- 12
Hillary -- 13

Will someone please explain to me how Hillary comes in 3rd place but ends up with more delegates than Edwards?

" ... a slick trial lawyer with an anti-corporate greed."

I'm not sure what "anti-corporate greed" may be. Please elaborate. Was it a misprint or am I just obtuse? An "anti-corporate bent" I would have understood. And yes, I would agree that his greed is served by his anti-corporate legal tactics. Thanks.

"A subdued Clinton met her supporters and promised she was in the race for the long haul but muted applause and a dour Bill Clinton standing silent behind her sent a more downbeat message."

I'm so glad "Billary" has been taken down a peg. I hope they are crushed in New Hampshire. Its time for them to just slink away with their ill-gotten gains and shut the f*** up.

-- Kent Shaw

hey Kent, I don't expect you to get my logic. You NEVER do. Doesn't make you right though.

Doug, you should always rub the hard drive's back and bring up a good burp.

I got a phone call this afternoon from a fan of yours (and mine). Very nice indeed.

You Ron Paul supporters are amazing. He has no chance. If he ran as an independent he would receive no more than One per cent of the vote once people found out about all of his loony ideas.

Which is worse,a well intentioned Loon,or the full blown lunatic we have now?

I couldn't agree more, Doug. Except for one thing: Is there REALLY frozen tundra in Iowa? Are frozen, burned-out, ex-corn-stalks really considered tundra? I think you guys need a botany consultant over at CHB.
Just kidding. Nice piece, as usual.

Change? YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING! Why has Doug not brought up the connection in Hawaii with Obama and Clinton? LOOK IT UP IN THE SEARCH ENGINES! Huckaby is a well-meaning average Joe that has no more ability to take on our problems than... well I could.

"If Jesus saves, well He better save himself... from the gory glory seekers, who use his name in death. Oh Jesus... save ME!" Jethro Tull

Jay Sr.

Anything would be better than what we have now, Bryan. It really is frustrating to have an election to select a person for the most important position in the world and not have a single person you really want to have it. I don't consider any of them presidental material. A couple might make good VPs but I don't feel like I want to "follow" any of them.

Given the cast of characters, I think things have gone as well as they could, so far. But then, as I have stated many times, stopping Hillary Clinton is the top priority. I'll take Obama or Edwards (the only ones who could) to accomplish that. However, I have never cared for Edwards if I have to choose between those two. I have never gotten over how ridiculous he looked in his debate with Cheney in 2004. Like a little boy competing with a man. It was disgusting. And he was a trial lawyer?

Clinton is going to attack Obama in New Hampshire with everything she has. If it is extremely negative stuff she may hurt herself more than him. But he is going to have to be more assertive and direct in the debate Saturday night than he has been in the previous ones. He must come off as a confident man who will command and lead. That is the only thing lacking in his campaign so far.

He gives the impression he is always holding back. Lets all hold hands and be one nation is great, but the President Of the United States is a "leader." I will say he is the only one of the three who gives the impression that you can trust him to keep his word. And he has taken NO corporate money for his campaign. But I do not like his health care plan that includes the insurnce corporations. The insurance companies should be excluded, period - exclamation point!

My hope is that Hillary comes in third again in this one. Obama will surely win South Carolina with its predominate black voter base. The polls indicate he will. Should he win all three the only thing that could keep Hillary in the race would be winning Florida where the Clintons are very popular. But even if she won there I doubt she would have a realistic chance for the nomination. Obama would probably sail on home to an early victory at the convention.

[Sorry - I know a lot of my writing is substandard right now but typing is so painful for me now that I just want to get it said and over with. I must correct mispellings in every sentence due to spasms and that is enough as long as I get my point across]

Here's my take on the whole Primary situation. Economics is totally broken in America. I think it is the most important item to be discussed. The voters have no clue about the background of American economics and freedoms. Yes they are connected!

Ron Paul is the only Republican who understands the situation and how we were diverted from our basic capitalism through the greed of having the White House manipulate the corporations who screwed all of their employees and investors. The word "Capitalist" is now the worse thing anyone can be called. I know this and nobody running for office has even addressed the situation and continue to call capitalists the evil in America. Did it ever occur to anyone that this was a brilliant plan to destroy our nation?

Everyone is so eager to label others that we overlook the solutions to all our financial problems. The longer I look at the Bush/Clinton/Bush actions and the speeches from the candidates I see only utter destruction.

I don't think the voters at this time are ready for a financial fix in D.C. You want your hand outs and you overlook your debts. The Democrats sound like sugar and honey as do most of the Republicans. Only one man has tried to discuss the economic fix that will save what is left of our nation.

Ron Paul has studied the economics of the Austrian school but it is not a simple solution. First we must stop the waste and abuse from the White House. We need to stop the threats from the IRS and the loss of our freedoms.

I will vote for Ron Paul in the Primary and I have money into his campaign to show my intent. But if Huckabee or any Christian runs on the GOP ticket I will pick Obama as we know he will beat those two-faced Conservatives.

This morning on CSPAN all the Democrats were featured at the Dem. dinner party last night. They will take us back to Carter and LBJ which may sound great to many of you but take a look at the interest rates that were double digit and the terrible school academic scores during those years. I even heard Kucinich talking about federal programs that will cost more than handing them over to private corporations. I know many of you believe that Americans need the government to handle manufacturing and safety standards that will drive up the cost of everything. Our taxes will be unpayable.

Many of you want a big fat overblown government and others want it slimmed down to be affordable. Big government has never improved the quality and that includes our schools.

It looks to me that many here are too lazy to improve their own lives and would rather sit back and wait for Big Daddy. I've been there several times and big government stands only for big government.

Ron Paul will stop the war and bring all our troops home. He will close the borders and he will slim down the federal government so we do not need the IRS.

It might take a couple of years before the budget will allow health care for everyone but you want it tomorrow and that will never happen without borrowing more money from the Arabs or China.

Perhaps a national lottery could bail us out if all the profit went to pay off the debt?

Excellent Points, Keith

Somewhere I read that our new national debt is now running at close to $4 billion EVERY DAY. We hear nothing from any of the candidates re how to correct this looming disaster. The Dems want to increase spending, especially entitlements, while the R's want to cut taxes. You are correct in that W and his fellow R's have only made the problem worse with their incessant spending, new entitlements (especially Part D), lower taxes, and those wonderful earmarks.

Our budget deficit, trade deficit, and current account deficit have devalued the dollar and made us bankrupt. We should be teaching our kids Arabic, Mandarin, and Cantonese so that they can better negotiate with the economic powers that own us. As Pete Peterson so correctly stated in his book "Running on Emty", we are becoming a nation of sharecroppers. What is really shocking is that his book was written in 2004.

Sorry for the rant, but I can't stand to see our once great nation go to hell in a handbasket due to corrupt politicians and their special interest cronies.

It's not a rant when it's fact, cobaltkid

"new entitlements (especially Part D),"

Yes, and the Medicare Part D bill was written by lobbyists for presentation in the legislature to explicitly prevent the government from negotiating lower drug prices due to volume purchases. Tell me big business doesn't control our government AND press.

-- Kent Shaw

There is a revolution taking place in this country and as far as I can see, Capitol Hill Blue is either ignoring it or doesn't know of its existance.
For a media outlet who claims to despise tyranny as much as Capitol Hill Blues, I would think they would be on the bandwagon. I suspect that Capitol Hill Blues as well as several other media outlets will be more attentive after the NH primary.
BFS