Last night’s Iowa caucus results were, of course, surprising. I’ve never been good at political analysis, though, because I’m always wrong, as are most other people. I think that anyone who makes predictions or pronouncements about “what the caucus results mean” or whatnot is just succumbing to our very human need to make the unknowable knowable. Really, nobody knows what’s going to happen. Why bother guessing? This is why I don’t watch TV news — too many instapundits.

Because Edwards came in second place, however, I can now come out of the closet as an Edwards fan. I liked him a year ago, mainly because he was being touted as the savior of the Democratic Party. Then people stopped talking about him. I don’t hold strong enough positions on the issues to have a clear preference among the Democratic candidates — all I want is someone who can beat Bush. So my support is really soft; whoever is touted as the Next Big Thing seems to become my first choice (except for Dean, about whom I’ve always had some reservations). I think Edwards is refreshing and charismatic and can go the distance. I still like Clark a lot, although I’m wary. I think that Kerry, despite his military service, could be Dukakicized, and he’s still not all that charismatic, but hey — if he wins the nomination, I’ll vote for him. Lieberman, too. I’d much prefer any of them in the White House instead of W.

And that’s my talking-head bit for the day.

Meanwhile, here are some political news sites I’ve been checking out daily:

Political Wire
The New Republic Online Campaign Journal
Howard Kurtz’s Media Notes (Washington Post)
The Note (ABC News)
Campaign Desk (Columbia Journalism Review, criticism of media coverage)