My first time voting in Iowa

[No Passaran]

I was military so I have moved from state to state and retired here where my wife was from.

I was a resident of Virginia but I switched a year or so ago and got my voter registration card and all.

Des Moines, Polk County

What can you tell me about D and R candidates here. There is no way I would ever vote for a R, but I like to see what the people around me are like.

[rurallib]

1. Well, Grassley talks like a hick, but lines his pockets with lobbyist money

His claim to fame is big shows of taking down 'government waste" but never does anything.
5 years ago he pushed hard to use government money to build an indoor rainforest in Iowa. Iowans reacted with disgust at the government waste. His next big thing was to push the unfunded drug bill and make sure that the government COULD NOT negotiate better prices.
Not to mention he was #1 or #2 on the Senate Finance committee while the repugs stole the country blind. So he blames it on Obama.
I am sure you are familiar with his actions to stop health care, especially his infamous "pull the plug on Grandma" speech. He and Steve King pretty much fit the M$M's caricature of Iowans and as such get lots of air time.
For all this the smart people of Iowa will probably re-elect him.
BTW Iowa and Mississippi are the only states never to elect a woman to a major office. In this case it appears we will once again elect an old white incompetent rather than a competent woman

Branstad was governor for 16 years. His own party disliked him so much they primaried him in 1994. Sadly the Dems couldn't beat what was then a solid Republican state.
He kept two sets of books. During the farm crisis he sat back and watched family farms disappear and did nothing.
Governors Vilsack and Culver maneuvered Iowa into a much more diversified economy and solvent budget such that Iowa has taken the brunt of the Bush depression much better than other states.
For this the smart people of Iowa appear to be ready to return Branstad to his former job. Branstad's top priority is to cut pre-school education for all. And no doubt keeping 2 sets of books.

Can't tell you a lot about your congressman. But I hear his opponent has some major issues paying bills.

And we are all proud of the attention Steve King brings the state.

[progressoid]

2. "And we are all proud of the attention Steve King brings the state."

Yes, we sure are. I see that The Daily Show highlighted this embarrassment yet again.

:banghead:

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-september-27-2010/truthiness-to-power
(he shows up at about 1:50 but the real shame starts at 2:45)

[No Passaran]

4. LOL

my wife is a native of DSM. I always get a kick out of watching all of our favorite shows and every time they want to make fun of someone, they use Des Moines. She hates it and I find it hilarious because Des Moines is really awesome and I used to really think it was lame based on all those jokes.

[No Passaran]

3. thank you so much

When I got my DL I registered. Do I have to go somewhere to make sure I'm registered and what do I have to do on the election day?

[47of74]

5. I would recommend not waiting until election day

I would go vote early. Like tomorrow.

In Polk County (where Des Moines is located) the election office is at 120 Second Avenue, Suite A in Des Moines. Go there and they should be able to not only verify you but then you can vote and get it taken care of right away.