Howard Dean continues to be put first, despite media reports of his changing or evolving views on issues. The other candidates complain that Dean continues to get coverage as a front-runner and the media don’t cover all candidates equally.

With a nine-way debate dividing time between the presidential candidates, the time each candidate gets for a response seldom gives enough time to clearly explain his or her view points on even the simplest issue.

For the first time in my life, I have sought to be politically informed. I have expanded beyond the media commercials and “one paragraph or less” newspaper meltdowns.

I’ve met candidates in homes, schools, pizza parlors and airplane hangars. I’ve sought out more lengthy speeches. I’ve read candidate Web sites.

I support John Kerry for president. I responded to his military service and active involvement in foreign affairs.

The senator regularly acknowledges that his accomplishments are the result of people working together: senators, House members, Democrats, Republicans and countries. He demonstrates that he has, he can and he plans to work with others.

Kerry writes how issues such as energy, economy and the environment are interconnected. We may need energy for our economy to generate a continued high standard of living, but we need to understand how that same energy production can permanently impact the environment and quality of life.

The benefits need not be weighed against one another. Kerry proposes that the search for cleaner energy and development sources can be an economic boost in itself — generating jobs as well as cleaner air.

I’m caucusing for Kerry. Whether Iowans make him first, second or third, he has dramatically regenerated the political idealism that I haven’t felt since JFK asked us to ask ourselves what we could do for our country.

My caucus vote for Kerry is an answer to that question — a vote for Kerry is what I can do for my country on Jan. 19.

Steven Greenquist

Ankeny