Cyclones, Hawkeyes, Elephants, Donkeys

Over the past two weeks, the Republicans and Democrats wrapped up their respective national conventions.  These things have really changed over the years.  Everything is so scripted and made-for-TV now, there is no potential for any surprise.  And the broadcast networks only show the last hour of each nigh - back in the day, it was the only thing on TV the entire evening, and since there was no cable TV then, you were stuck.

Over the past week, another big event soaked up media time in Iowa.  Specifically, the Iowa - Iowa State football game.  These games have also changed a lot over the years.  In the '80s and '90s, Iowa would routinely win big.  Now the game is more competitive, with Iowa State winning the last two, and 9 of the last 15.

Now, why write about these seemingly different things?  What do these events have in common?  Plenty:

• Each party/team has some passionate supporters.  People who will vocally and monetarily back their party/team regardless of how good the actual product is.

• Each party/team has some extremist supporters.  People who will take whatever action necessary they believe will help their party/team to win, including lies and even violence.

• Each event rarely lives up to the hype.  They are small parts of a longer effort to achieve a larger goal, and the event itself is forgotten in a few months or weeks.

Oh, and one more:  There is lots of partying before and during each event.