The 2012 Presidential Election Year Begins

Yes, with the 1,000 GOP debates it feels like the 2012 campaign has been happening for a year, but actually it officially starts in these next 12 hours with the Iowa caucuses. Next week is New Hampshire, and then primary after primary after primary. Just watch, whether because the coverage is interesting or amusing or engaging or enraging...but watch (or read, or listen). 

Iowa will count for something tonight because A) it is the venerable Iowa caucus, and B) the weather forecast is good (for Iowa), so estimates are more than 150,000 Iowans will participate. On the other hand, campaign experts predict the outcome won't make the GOP field any more defined than it's been for the past several weeks of clockwork shifting among Republican voters. Here's a good politico.com piece that focuses on the candidates mind-numbing mediocrity. 

I haven't decided who will be my "go-to" yet for cable campaign coverage, because I'm not keen on most of the prime time cable shows, with the occasional exception of Anderson Cooper. Piers Morgan is unwatchable, his MSNBC and Fox competitors are boring. I wish Chuck Todd and Chris Matthews had a 9 pm campaign show. Until that happy day I will just have to record Chris at 5 and otherwise patch patch patch.

My favorite political website remains RealClearPolitics.com. It is an ideal one stop, aggregating most of the other "print" reporting and commentary, plus polls, plus news. Hoping lots of new sites and fresh ideas will emerge during the run. My favorite campaign app of the moment is from The New York Times.