Boehner Makes Ugly Threats on Debt Limit Increases

There were so many shenanigans going on in Iowa that my head was reeling. Who would have thought former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum would play leap-frog over Newt Gingrich? I live in PA and I can tell you, we didn’t like Santorum that much when he was here.

There were questions regarding his residency. Did he live in Penn Hills, PA, Mt. Lebanon, PA or was he actually residing in Virginia for most of the time he represented Pennsylvania? The questions were never satisfactorily answered by Santorum, who was defeated by Bob Casey Jr. in what has been described as the “largest margin of defeat ever for an incumbent Republican Senator in Pennsylvania.”

There were other issues besides his residency that caused Santorum’s defeat by Casey. He seemed, and remains seen, as homophobic. He certainly does not approve of gay marriage. He also tendered an Islamaphobe characteristic when he stated that Islamists were “waging a more than 300-year old crusade with the intent to restore to power to Shia clerics in the Western world.” Casey responded that Santorum statements were outrageous. “No one believes terrorists are going to be more likely to attack us, because I defeat Rick Santorum. Does even he believe that?” These are just a few of the reasons PA booted Santorum from office.

Most recently Santorum has come under scrutiny for sending former Senator John Ensign a head’s up email that the husband of Ensign’s mistress was going public about the affair. Santorum may not come under fire for this, but it does somewhat taint his family values stance. What part does consistent practice of truth actually play?

Santorum showed spunk in Iowa, but still has not been vetted by the media, which was caught off-guard by his moment to shine. The candidates have been trading places in the sun for weeks. The media should have been ready. Romney showed he has staying power as he waits for friendlier turf in New Hampshire. Newt Gingrich looked pitiful and had a poor showing, along with the fact that his finances are slimming down. Ron Paul’s base was the most enthusiastic. And Bachmann closed up shop; down for the count. Perry, salving his ego, is holding on by threads, at least for now, and has the money to hang in there. In the end what does it all mean, these few votes that can change by the time of the Republican convention?

It is the best of our electoral system and it is the worst. We watch the man-on-the-street interviews in small Iowa towns and diners. Some residents may seem to reflect values held by many, but others seem out of touch as though they are not so blighted by the economy and are immune to big-city businesses. All seem mightily influenced by their respective churches. But it is interesting.

The media blitzes get us all riled up. Sometimes we cheer what “We, the people,” say and other times we slap our foreheads as in, “I can’t believe he said that!” It is a slice of Americana. It’s like a marriage that stays together for the sake of the kids, only in this instance it is for the sake of American politics. It is our tradition. It’s almost like being with relatives during the holidays because you have to be there, not because you like what they are serving.

The worst of what happened in Iowa were the attack ads, proffered by those who could afford them (Romney) and not done by those running out of money (Gingrich). It is not the Iowa caucuses so much as it is the shaping by the media for the electoral process. It is the best reality show on TV! It dos not, however, serve as a direct portend of things to come.

Governor Mike Huckabee’s 2008 victory in Iowa became a mere blip by the time of the GOP convention. Mondale won Iowa in 1984 and did not go far. Even Obama, who had an Iowan triumph in 2008, still had months of turmoil and struggle. And lest we forget, Reverend Pat Robertson had a strong showing in Iowa way back in 1984. It was an empty victory as the process went on.

So truly, very often what happens in Iowa stays in Iowa, but it is an integral part of the American democratic process. As quickly as the polls closed there, the media was already speculating about New Hampshire and the candidates hit the road. Iowa gave us more questions than answers about the candidates, but what a great entertainment! Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum emerged in a virtual tie – eight votes separating them. I don’t think the Donald could trump the reality show of Iowa.

—cher