News, Notes, and Platforms

Well, today is a big day at the Thieman household - yes, we received our first order of DFIA/Blog for Iowa merchandise that graphics artist "jc" created for us.  As I write this blog entry, I am sipping iced tea from a really huge orange DFIA mug!  Now, that's living.

To purchase your very own DFIA/Blog for Iowa merchandise, go here.  The site offers mugs, t-shirts, mouse pads, lunch boxes, totes, caps, sweatshirts, and tanks.

The Democratic Party Platform is now online for all to view.  Go here.

What's even MORE interesting is the Green Party Platform.  You can check it out here.

I would post a link to the Republican Party Platform, but I'm pretty sure it's top secret and hidden away in a bunker with Dick Cheney.

Here are a couple of interesting links sent our way by Christina Butts, at-large delegate to the Democratic National Convention.

1)  I suppose VoteToImpeach.org is self-explanatory; you can sign the petition, if you like.  400,000 disgusted Americans have thus far, but I dare say, wear protective goggles before you gaze upon the photos of the "smirking chimp" and his smirking, foul-mouthed daddy figure;

and

2)  At the non-partisan ElectionMall.com, they believe the Internet is the "great political equalizer" for elections, allowing everyone a fair voice in the electoral process. They have created a "one-stop shopping" experience by offering the ability to purchase traditional campaign products as well as nontraditional, technology-based services from a collection of 21 different sites.  Check it out!

According to a report in the Quad-City Times, the 57 members of the Iowa delegation at the national convention will be front-row center, right next to the Massachusetts delegation.  That's Kerry's way of thanking Iowa for, oh, I won't say it.  Someone will yell at me.  Anyhoo, at least our peeps will have good seats.  I'll bet Gephardt gets the BEST seat.  Oops.  It slipped out.  Go, Iowa!

Hey, look at this!  Blog for Iowa got our link posted over at the IDP website.  They even added a new category for us: grassroots.  (I requested that category.  It was either that or "non-conformist trouble-makers - I couldn't decide.)  Well, that is just totally cool.  Just to show the IDP how grateful we are, I will add the IDP website to my list of Iowa sites over on the right sidebar of Blog for Iowa.  Was going to do that the other day, but spaced it off.

Say, go visit our link on the IDP website and click on us to make it look like somebody cares.  Thanks!

I'm thinking of having a Blog for Iowa slogan contest, since my original suggestion, "Because we're not really thrilled with either party," seemed kind of lame.  Although, now that I think of it, "non-conformist trouble-makers" has a nice ring to it.

Thanks, Christina, and best of luck to Christina and all our delegates (Darrell, Dave, Sally, Dr. Alan, and Elesha) as they make their way to the convention this week!