Demi in Des Moines?

[ccharles000]

California’s having an identity crisis.

Once the West Coast glowed with prosperity and was the harbinger of hip new things. Now it’s in the grip of recession and repression. California’s cool has been stolen by, of all places, Iowa.

White-bread, cornfed, understated Iowa was the first state to ratify the black rookie Barack Obama and has usurped the role everyone thought California would play as a leader in the fight to give gays the right to marry.

Now it’s flyover country that’s starting high-flying trends.

The mayor of Des Moines, Frank Cownie, called the San Francisco mayor, Gavin Newsom, to leave him a message about the Iowa Supreme Court decision.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/opinion/12dowd.html?_r=1

[murielm99]

1. I don't know why people are so surprised.

Iowa is a good, blue state. The people there are very proud of their first in the nation caucus, and they stay politically informed. I like Iowa.

[KharmaTrain]

3. Dukakis Won The State in '88...

...the only rushpublican to win the state was boooshie in '04 by a very slim margin. It's been ahead of the curve with the current rise of the Democratic party. Iowa City is as Progressive a town as Madison or Columbus or any other major college town and Des Moines long has been a strong Democratic bastion, even when the GOOP dominated the state.

I still think back a year ago...driving down I-88 and seeing all the Obama and Hillary bumper stickers rushing past me...all headed for the caucus battle.

:hi:

[SoCalDem]

2. Why NOT Iowa? or Kansas? or Missouri? or Kentucky?

PWM (people with money) can live ANYWHERE.. They can afford a MONSTER house for a fraction of what it would cost in their former homes.. They can afford to fly out anytime they like, they can afford the electronic fencing to keep themselves "safe".. they can afford to ship their kids off to Harvard or Yale..

They like the "small town" atmosphere, and the lower crime rates, and can still take jobs anywhere and anytime they like..

Colorado was "discovered" by the chi-chi richie rich crowd, and it was not long before the average person could no longer afford to live there:(l..and of course some pretty prime property became enclaves for the "elite", and pretty much off limits to the locals, unless they were coming there as staff..

Gentrification happens :(

[MADem]

4. She lives in an "I" state...only it's Idaho (Hailey, Idaho, to be precise). nt