Here's a crazy thought: Iowa needs to keep the caucuses

By Jeff Orvis

The final countdown is underway. By this time next week, barring some sort of tragedy, “Iowa” will no longer be the top national story. TV network correspondents who think they're entitled to hazardous duty pay when they have to venture out of Manhattan can go back to confusing Iowa with Idaho.

In a recent moment of engaging the fingers before the brain, I referred to Iowa's caucus experience as the “Republican Comedy Tour.” Seems some folks are taking this whole thing seriously and my Facebook post was probably unfortunate. But it came on a day when one of the lower level candidates made one of her famous gaffes and was called on it by one of her opponents. Then a veteran CNN reporter interviewed Ron Paul and tried to get him to admit he still believed some statements that were attributed to him 20 years ago. She asked the same question over and over and finally Paul had enough and walked away.

That's what I meant when I referred this whole exercise as a comedy tour. I have no doubt that the declared candidates for the Republican presidential nomination are sincere. I'm sure those tour buses that many of them have been using the past few weeks are nice, but some of them would much rather be back on a Tiffany's spending spree or sitting back sipping a cold drink in their penthouse apartments or estates. Instead, they are out here with members of the 99 percent, pressing the flesh and drinking coffee in small town cafes.

There has been the suggestion that if some candidate emerges from the bushes and surprises the so-called experts and wins next week's caucus, Iowa will become irrelevant in the process. Some have even suggested that we could lose our first in the nation designation. As much as I detest hearing all of those tasteless smear campaign ads on TV and as much as thousands of voters would rather not be bothered by robo-calls every night at the dinner hour, I hope we will still retain our spot in the process.

It takes an obscene amount of money to mount a presidential campaign. Both major parties are equally guilty in the amount they spend. It is said that the Obama campaign might raise as much as $1 billion for next year's race and he isn't even facing any opposition from his own party! As long as all that money is floating around out there, why shouldn't Iowa businesses continue to get their fair share? It takes cash to fuel those buses, house and feed the candidates and their staffs, make those annoying phone calls and send out that blizzard of campaign propaganda. In this economy, every little bit helps.

If you listen closely to the claims of the various candidates, you have to laugh (at least you should). It seems like every one of them is claiming to be more conservative than the next guy. Some of us may not agree that being labeled a “conservative” is necessarily a good thing. I'm currently reading the autobiography of former Vice President Walter Mondale, who makes a solid argument for responsible liberalism in government. With the help of a bull-headed Texas president and a cooperative Congress, many battles were won over conservative Republican and Democrats to greatly decrease discrimination and increase opportunities for young people and seniors in this country a generation ago.

Not all liberals want to freely spend government money with no regard for the national debt. But a lot of us know that you often have to spend money to make money, saying “yes” to some proposals while also asking “how are you going to pay for this?”

When I was still employed as a small town weekly newspaper editor, I had the honor of meeting and interviewing several state and national politicians. I've had breakfast with former governor and current secretary of agriculture Tom Vilsack, interviewed past and current Gov. Terry Branstad several times, had several interesting talks with Sen. Chuck Grassley, as well as congressmen Leonard Boswell, Jim Nussle and Steve King. While I definitely agreed with some of them more than others, I respected the offices they represented and the opportunity to meet them for one-on-one interviews, something many of my colleagues in larger cities would die for.

The 2008 presidential campaign gave me the highest thrill of any of my many interviews when Mondale stopped by Belle Plaine on one snowy Saturday morning in support of then-candidate Hillary Clinton. About a half-dozen of us sat around a table at the Lincoln Cafe discussing current national affairs and past history with a man who was on a first-name basis with several presidents, who represented this country honorably as a senator, vice president and later as an ambassador. He once had a Secret Service detail and a flock of aides with him at all times. But on this particular day, he arrived with one guy who served as his driver and clock-watcher.

That's what is so important about this caucus process. If you have any faith remaining that voters matter, that money is still only one component to a successful campaign, then just maybe the eventual winner will remember that person in small-town Iowa or New Hampshire who related his or her life story.

It was once inferred that President Ronald Reagan had a tough time dealing with the problem of poverty in this nation. The saying went that if he met a man who was down and out on the street, he would give him the shirt off his back. He was a compassionate guy who may have remembered some of the folks he met during the early days of the campaign. He just couldn't grasp fact that thousands were in similar situations around the country at that time.

Yes, the caucus process is often fuel for late night TV comedy monologues. It is frustrating at times. But it may be the last way those of us who aren't frequent visitors to our nation's capital will have a personal connection with those who will make the monumental decisions that affect all of us.

Remembering the reason for the season

By Jeff Orvis

The countdown is in its final stages. Less than a week from now, it will be Christmas. I've come up with some various thoughts on what is perhaps the greatest holiday time of the year.

With some stores putting up Christmas decorations as early as October, many of us are beginning to suffer from burnout regarding the commercial aspect of the holiday. Those folks who camped out three days before Thanksgiving outside Best Buy stores around the country to buy cheap laptop computers or TV sets need to get a life. The turkey dinner in a warm dining room trumped saving a couple of bucks on electronics any day.

One thing I definitely don't miss when it comes to my current financial situation is the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping. I don't want to say I'm broke, but let's just say none of my loved ones should expect to hear that familiar jingle and look out on the driveway to see a new Lexus with a red bow on it from me. By the way, if there are any car dealers reading this, I would like to know if they ever sold a car as a Christmas present.

Many people who are scrambling to buy that perfect gift for their someone special are fortunately also remembering that many Americans have no money for Christmas. Every kid deserves at least one special gift this time of year. The Salvation Army, Toys for Tots and other agencies have been working overtime to make sure many disadvantage families can smile this week. Putting that dollar in the kettle or dropping off that gift makes us feel good this time of year. But it's just as important to remember that very few of these families will face brighter prospects in the short term after Christmas is only a happy memory. Maybe more of us should make a New Year's resolution to take a bag of food to the local food bank in April or July or contact a relief organization during the middle of the year to determine how we can help at that time.

Perhaps even more important than food and presents this time of year, we should remember those who are facing physical or emotional problems. I know a couple of men who are facing major physical challenges. Their families are constantly in my prayers. Please stop for a moment and think about someone you know who is facing a major challenge and help if you can, either directly or through thoughts and prayers.

Some people are actually offended when you wish them Happy Holidays. They think you are afraid to say “Merry Christmas” or you don't know the Christian reason for the season. I understand the basics of Christmas. As we hear more and more about the Middle East, I am always amazed that the man who I believe would become the Savior of the world would come from a region of the world where everyone thought the world was flat and many probably didn't realize there was life beyond the horizon.

But one of the great things about living in this country is how we are all free to worship or not worship as we wish. I may not fully understand or agree with the Jewish faith, I know that Hannukah is underway this week and it is as meaningful to those who profess that faith as Christmas is to Christians.

So, keeping that in mind, may everyone have a very Merry Christmas and/or Happy Holidays!

A 40-year musical love affair

By Jeff Orvis

It's been more than a few years since I played my trumpet. Only in the past year have I had the honor of joining an awesome choir at church where several of the members are much better musicians than I am. But during that musical gap, I've still maintained an interest in many forms of music. But my main guilty pleasure has always been the group “Chicago.”

Like some school girl from another era anxiously awaiting the next song from Frankie Avalon, I've tried to keep up on every album release from Chicago. The group formed in 1967, the same year I entered high school. They called themselves “The Big Thing” at that time, but just a few years later, they changed their name to the Chicago Transit Authority. Like most guys my age, I was big on rock music at that time. I also was playing in the high school concert band and jazz band. When I first heard the band that would soon shorten its name to “Chicago,” I realized that there was definitely a place for horns in rock music.

If you are a fan of popular music, how many of the artists you like can you honestly say have been recording and performing for more than 40 years? Sunday night was an incredible night for rock fans. The HD Net television network opened the evening with an hour of the group REO Speedwagon, another long time Midwest rock band. The night ended with a concert by the Doobie Brothers.

But the centerpiece of the evening was a nearly two-hour performance by Chicago, playing in a theater in the city of Chicago. Four of the original members are still with the group. Over the years, they have been joined at one time or another by more than 25 musicians as some members of the band decided to get off the grueling tour grind or explore other avenues of music. Robert Lamm on keyboards, guitar and vocals, James Pankow on trombone, percussion, keyboards and vocals, Lee Loughnane on trumpet, guitar and keyboards, percussion and vocals and Walt Parazaider on woodwinds and vocals are the founding members of the group.

If you've ever played a trumpet or saxophone in a band, you know it's hard to imagine doing it sometimes every night of the week, dancing on a stage for more than 40 years! What's amazing is that the Chicago sound is as fresh and up to date in the 21^st century as it was in the early 1970s. In Sunday's concert, they stayed with their early hits, recorded on their first 17 albums for their set.

I saw the group in concert many years ago at the Cattle Congress in Waterloo. I paid $14 for the ticket for the Sunday afternoon show. That was a lot of money for a young newspaper reporter. The group was scheduled to perform again Sunday night. I almost spent another $14 to hear them again, but decided I needed milk and bread for the week a little more.

Chicago recently performed at the I Wireless Center in Moline. Money's a bit more tight now and I decided not to try to find the $45 or more it would cost to see them this time. I'm glad I waited. I'm sure they put on a great show in Moline, but playing in the city where they first formed must have given them added incentive.

Sunday night was a real treat. It's not too late to jump on the Chicago bandwagon. The group recently released its 33^rd album, entitled “Oh Christmas Three.” It contains 14 holiday charts in an updated, jazzy fashion. Some of their albums have been good, others have not really caught on. Many fans anxiously awaited the release of an album called “The Stone of Sisyphus.” It was recorded in 1993 and was a lot different from the tunes the band had produced before. The band's label at the time, Warner Brothers, didn't like it. The work was shelved and finally released in 2008.

As you can see, this band has it all, longevity, quality, rock, horns and just a little mystery. Here's hoping the guys keep the good music coming!

A little politics, a lot of football

By Jeff Orvis

Today's topic is a little bit of politics and a bit more on the politics of football.

The recent news that Herman Cain is hanging it up when it comes to his bid for the presidency was certainly not surprising. Whether he committed some of the things he was accused of or was set up by someone with an ulterior motive, even the hint of infidelity is tough to overcome.

It was reported that he admitted he had a 13-year “friendship” with a woman and had also given her money over the years. He apparently kept this fact from his wife. Now, I'm certainly no expert on a good marriage relationship, but even I am smart enough to know that if you are friends with someone of the opposite sex who is not your spouse, you'd better let your better half know about it.

So the Republicans no longer have a pizza mogul to kick around anymore. Someone has to fill that void. Everybody likes pizza, so if the GOP hopes to appeal to the masses, it had better act fast to replace him. I first thought of Papa John, but he's so good looking someone would probably plant rumors about him. Perhaps Papa Murphy would be a better choice. Nobody knows what he looks like. Maybe Little Caesar would be a safe choice. He looks like everybody's favorite uncle.

Given the current craziness of the our political climate, maybe the Republicans could think outside the (pizza) box and consider Ronald McDonald. I hear he's looking for work. If there is not a complete makeover of our next Congress, the idea of Ronald McDonald giving the State of the Union address in 2013 makes good sense to me.

Now back to the reality of college football, if indeed there is any true reality there. After a truly amazing Big Ten championship game this past weekend, it only seems fitting that 10 of the 12 teams in that conference received bowl bid invitations. Only three-win Minnesota and one-win Indiana were left out of the loop.

A lot of my Big 12 fan friends were upset that Alabama was chosen over Oklahoma State to play LSU for the national title. Not me. I figured if OK State had been chosen and had found a way to beat LSU, many Iowa State fans would claim that the Cyclones must be the best team in the nation, since they beat the Cowboys this season.

Iowa, Iowa State and Illinois all gained bowl bids. Iowa has the best gig, as the Hawks will travel to Arizona for the Insight Bowl to face Oklahoma. Be sure to get a nap in the afternoon. Kickoff for the game is set for 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30. Iowa athletic officials are undoubtedly smiling all the way to the bank. The payout per team for this game is $3.35 million. Some bowls pay as little as $500,000 per team. Of course, if your team is picked for a BCS bowl, the payout is a cool $17 million per team.

The money is important to athletic programs. It goes to pay for the expenses of the traveling party and any left over is either divided among the other conference schools or is used for the department's general budget, or both.

Iowa State gets to travel to New York City earlier that same day to take on Rutgers in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. Game time is 2:20 p.m. Cyclone fans better start looking at a second mortgage if they hope to go to that game. Top ticket prices are more than $120 apiece. Add in the cost of a New York hotel room for at least a couple of nights and you are starting to talk about serious coin.

The next afternoon, Illinois meets UCLA in something called the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco. Game time is 2:30 p.m. They should rename this game the See Ya Later Bowl, as both coaches for Illinois and UCLA have been fired. But it should be a good game and a good way for one of these two veteran coaches to go out.

I was glad to see that Penn State will play Houston in the Ticket City Bowl in Dallas on Jan. 2. Regardless of the scandal that plagues the Penn State program, the players who worked so hard to post a 9-3 record should be rewarded. Penn State officials have already pledged to donate the bowl proceeds to groups fighting child abuse.

The Rose Bowl on Jan. 2 is shaping up to be an awesome contest between Oregon and Wisconsin. I know I should stick with my Big Ten allegiance, especially since the Badgers are coached by former Hawkeye Brent Bielema. But Oregon is an exciting team. This should be good.

My early prediction for the national title game is that LSU should take care of business over Alabama. But I still have a few weeks to change my mind. I have both an LSU and an Alabama t-shirt in my drawer, so I might wait until that morning and pick the shirt that is clean and pull for that team.

By my count, there are 35 football bowl games this season, plus three or four all star games. The fun starts Dec. 17 and ends with the championship game on Jan. 9. So ice down the beverages, get those nachos ready and put fresh batteries in the remote. It's going to be a wild three weeks!

Before we all get geared up for the major college bowl show, there's a very important game happening Friday night. Northern Iowa is seeking a national championship. The Panthers travel to Montana to play the Grizzlies. Game time is 7 p.m. It will be shown on ESPN 2. The forecast is for cloudy skies and 17 degrees. GO PANTHERS!!!