Several Items In Search Of A Common Theme

A.J. Spiker is drawing a line in the sand on his July date for next year's Republican state convention, insisting that it can't happen before the state canvass even though the 99 county canvasses are done about a week after the election. He's citing a 1928 court case involving a county and ignoring the much more recent and relevant 2002 congressional district convention that picked Steve King. Kevin Hall has a good overview. While we're at it: can we get the 2014 caucuses on the same date/time for both parties, too?

The 1st CD Republican primary just got a grownup; looks like Cedar Falls Rep. Walt Rogers is getting in. Walt's still a pretty conservative guy, but he's not a Paulbot (Rod Blum) or a perennial loser (Steve Rathje). With three candidates, that one could also theoretically go into the convention zone with no one over 35%. Hint: GOP primary? Always bet on crazy.

Also in IA-01, DC-based Roll Call looks at This Cycle’s Top 8 Most Fascinating Recruits (So Far) and Anesa Kajtazovic is of course in the first sentence.

Tyler Olson has a list.

In an alternate universe where Gabby Giffords didn't get shot, she won Arizona's open seat Senate race last year. In this universe, she and astro-husband Mark Kelly are headlining a Bruce Braley event in Des Moines on October 27.

Here's an it's funny because it's true read between the lines of Putin: "every Russian knows that the Soviet Union defeated the Nazis and that the Americans pitched in a little at the end." Bazinga.

An interesting piece on Bill de Blasio's NYC win, implications for Hillary Clinton, and generational change. Conclusion seems to be President Warren. Implications more than just political:

...people are disproportionately influenced by events that occur between their late teens and mid-twenties. During that period—between the time they leave their parents’ home and the time they create a stable home of their own—individuals are most prone to change cities, religions, political parties, brands of toothpaste. After that, lifestyles and attitudes calcify. For Mannheim, what defined a generation was the particular slice of history people experienced during those plastic years. 

Plays into my pet theory on music in advertising. The song in the ad was popular when the target audience was roughly 20. Or: Song date minus 20=target birth date. That car ad with kids training for a playground football fight to Quiet Riot's "Metal Health?" 1983. Target audience = me. Or: Too old to be cool, too young not to care. (Still seeking suggestions to replace that slogan when I turn 50 in December.)