Iowa Caucuses: What are the issues?

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2835&u_sid=10221293

Published Tuesday | January 1, 2008
Iowa Caucuses: What are the issues?
BY ROBYNN TYSVER
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

COUNCIL BLUFFS - Kim Mattingly is a Democrat from Woodbine who wants a presidential candidate who will end the Iraq war and ensure health care for all Americans.

Jeff Theulen is a Republican from Council Bluffs who wants a candidate who will commit to victory in Iraq and reduce health care costs, without adopting a government-run system.

Republicans and Democrats may not agree on the solutions, but opinion polls show that Americans of all political stripes agree upon the top issues facing this country: the Iraq war and national defense, health care and the economy.

These are pocketbook and security issues, un- derscored by falling house prices, rising insurance costs and last week's assassination of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

All are on Iowans' minds as Thursday's caucuses approach, and they will assuredly remain top issues long after the caucuses conclude.

"They are clearly the three big ones," said David Redlawsk, a political scientist at the University of Iowa, who helped to conduct a poll in late October that gauged the priorities of Iowa caucusgoers.


FULL story at link.

[patrice]

1. 3 issues: Iraq War and national defense are two issues if you're a Democrat,

one if you're a Repuglican. Health Care makes 2 and the Economy is 3.

I think we should add one that underlies everything else: Who picks our candidates? We the People? or The Powers-that-Be?