Tell them what.

Here's an open letter to voters and caucus-goers in New Hampshire and Iowa. (Hey, it's Christmas - what the hell, right?) More than anybody anywhere in this vast country, your now have the ability to call the major party candidates on just about any topic, whether it's torture of detainees, the war in Iraq, health care, whatever. What's more, you have the opportunity to make a greater political impact than that of much larger populations in New York, California, and other major states. How so? Well, for one thing, you can choose from among nearly the entire field of candidates - by the time the race gets to New York, for instance, it will essentially be over. Sure, there may not be a lot of variety there, but it's better than a ballot of one. And you - particularly those folks in Iowa - can stand in a not-too-crowded living room with one of these fuckers, challenge them with non pre-fabricated questions, and go mano-a-mano politically with ordinarily very isolated and well protected politicians.

Frankly, I'm a bit discouraged by the comments I've heard from your fellows in recent weeks. Too many are taken in by the atmospherics of the campaigns. They want you to waste your time thinking about whether or not Hillary Clinton is "likeable" - don't indulge them. Let them find their own marketing opportunities. And just to make your task a little simple, I've come up with some all-purpose questions you can adopt your own. Toss these suckers at any candidate, blue or red, and watch them turn a whole different color.

Q1: In as much as the administration started this war under false pretenses and has plainly indicated that they envision a long-term U.S. military presence in Iraq, are you prepared to pledge that you will a) withdraw all U.S. forces from Iraq, b) abandon any plans for permanent bases in that country, and c) pay reparations for the crime we've committed against the Iraqi nation at a level of expenditure that at least approaches the amount it took to destroy that nation?

Q2: Do you intend to put a halt to the current orgy of human rights abuses that our government has embarked upon since 9/11/2001 and to withdraw support from anti-democratic regimes that have invoked our excesses to justify their own with our avid encouragement (both political and financial)?

Q3: Will you become a part of the growing movement to take health care out of the hands of profiteering corporations and start treating it like a public good by aggressively advocating National Health Insurance along the lines of what has worked for decades in Canada, Britain, and other civilized countries?

I got more, but even Christmas has its limits. You can probably do better than this yourselves. Just corner 'em and nail 'em down - it's up to you, folks.

luv u,

jp