Not only are the Iowa Caucuses next week, not only does the Michael Jackson trial begin today but last night I saw my 1st episode of CRIBS (it was Russell Simmons' place in N.J. and just the teensiest bit vulgar but I'm not here to judge). How in the world could I consider a life without cable?

Iraq is arguing that instead of a caucus, they would like a full-on election and, after hearing all these reports about how the caucus works in Iowa, I see the Iraqis' point.

For those of you who ignore all of this, a caucus is NOT like casting a single ballot. Everyone gathers in a location...a church basement or maybe somebody's living room. First someone determines how much support there is for any given candidate-a candidate has to hit 15%-and then the caucus attendees have to cluster themselves in the room...everyone for Dean over by the basketball hoop, everyone for Gephardt by the Snoopy poster, etc. Then the groups spend lots of time hollering at one another, trying to convince people to move groups ("we have cookies! Come over here and support Edwards!") and it takes forever.

Lots of people decide, reasonably, that they have better things to do with a Tuesday evening in January than sit in a room with a bunch of other goofballs doing this contest that isn't that effective at measuring much of anything except who is best able to turn out goofballs.

Here is an incredibly funny and well-written story about Iowa that sums things up nicely:

Why are the media desperate for us to care about Iowa? Because the media themselves care about Iowa, deeply. Journalists are members of a class of people who can't think about anything right now except Iowa.

Any journalist with a brain knows that covering the Iowa vote is one thing, but covering it this much and this breathlessly, suggesting that the future of the Republic hinges on this one story, is really kind of dumb and pointless. Iowa doesn't decide anything -- candidates have won Iowa and lost the nomination -- and the media know this.

So they seek popular validation. That's why the message keeps coming at us, day after day, from every possible kind of news outlet: Care, care, care! Iowa, Iowa, Iowa! If enough people start caring, the coverage will have justified itself.

The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press (as quoted in this essay) found this:

"While the majority of Americans are at most marginally engaged in the Democratic primary process, a small number keep close tabs on campaign news and events. These people have been following the campaign closely, enjoy keeping up with election politics, and are familiar with all of the election events and facts asked about on the survey. Overall, they represent roughly 7 percent of the population."

Please, join those of us in the 7%

If you'd like to be more informed, may I suggest this story in SLATE about the lamest press releases of the 2004 campaign including such gems as The Edwards for President campaign today announced that former Hawaii Lieutenant Governor Mazie Hirono endorsed John Edwards (D-NC) for president.