The Iowa presidential caucuses will be held on Jan. 3, 2008. That means reporters covering the campaign and the candidates face the real prospect of spending New Year’s Day in Des Moines.

What do they think about that?
To find out, we asked America’s hugest marquee-name superstar political media celebrities this question: How will you celebrate New Year’s Day in Des Moines?

Here’s what they say.

Michael Allen, chief political correspondent for Politico:

“After spending five New Years’ in a row in Waco while the president was at his ranch, Cedar Rapids seems like Times Square.”

Dan Balz, national political correspondent for The Washington Post:

“Ah, yes, Des Moines on New Year’s Eve and Day. How will I celebrate? With an early breakfast at the Drake Diner, continuous filing for The Trail on our website and, no doubt, a long drive to somewhere for a town hall meeting with one of the candidates. What could be better than that?”

Carl Cameron, Fox News Channel’s chief political correspondent (read his blog here: cameron.blogs.foxnews.com):

“BLAME DEAN AND LEVIN — I’ll probably do both New Years eve and New Years day in Des Moines. A caucus two days after New Years is a travesty. Iowans should be outraged. State officials were left with no choice and they should blame Democratic national chairman Howard Dean and Michigan Sen. Carl Levin. For decades Levin has been railing against Iowa and NH. But until Dean every other Dem chairman had enough sense to ignore Levin. Dean instead did Levin’s bidding and helped create the ridiculous schedule that now exists. Dean authorized a DNC calendar study and recommendations for this year’s schedule. The chaos that is unfolding is precisely what Levin has said he wanted all along. Levin has been telling people privately and publicly for years that he would do anything to knock Iowa and NH out of their leadoff positions. He is particularly antagonistic toward NH’s primary. He finds the caucus marginally less offensive. Levin made his strategy clear at numerous interviews availabilities and DNC gatherings over the years: push Iowa and NH so far forward on the calendar that confusion reigns and they are abandoned in a new process.
Iowa’s first in the nation caucus tradition has been severely messed with. They are among the most astute voters in the country and Levin doesn’t like em. Dean screamed in Iowa, think he’s bitter? New Hampshire’s threatened, too. But these two states with the outsized influence have beaten better than Dean and Levin in the past.
As for New Years eve; In 1995 Bob and Elizabeth Dole did a First Night celebration in Concord NH. It was 3 degrees without wind chill. Des Moines can’t be much worse.”

Tucker Carlson, host of MSNBC’s “Tucker“:

“I imagine I’ll spend it doing what I always spend my time doing in Iowa: eating, first at one of the state’s 56,000 donut shops, then at a coffee shop, and finally at 801 Steak and Chop House in Des Moines. Then I’ll get up and do it again. After about a week I’ll go home, feeling full.”

Chris Cillizza, washingtonpost.com staff writer and blogger at The Fix:

“Under the mistletoe with Dan Balz.”

Charlie Cook, publisher, The Cook Political Report and political analyst, National Journal:

“My current plane ticket and hotel is to go out on New Years Day. With Dems moving to Jan 3rd I guess I’ll go out a day or two earlier. For me it would be dinner with fun people at 801 Grand. I prefer eating the cow than tipping one over. 801 Grand is a great steakhouse always hopping around Caucus and Straw Poll time. The night before the Republican Straw Poll in August was like a reunion for political hacks and reporters. It was great.”

Ann Compton, national correspondent for ABC News Radio:

“New Year’s Day is shaping up to be a NIGHTMARE! It will take all day to fly in from that wild New Year’s Eve party at Buzzard Billy’s Armadillo Bar and Grillo [sic] down near Crawford, Texas. Mike Allen and I may have to charter a plane !!! But did you know, the travelling political press corps can party, too, at the new Buzzard Billy’s in Des Moines at the east end of Court Avenue — they serve gator fingers (yes, croc meat) and beer cheese soup. You can’t make this stuff up!!!”

Matthew Cooper, Washington Editor, Condé Nast Portfolio:

“I’d probably do something quiet if I was in DC. In Des Moines, I’d have dinner at Azalea or Zen and a visit to the very British pub, The Royal Mile. I’m very pro Des Moines and since I’m not running for anything, that’s not a pander.”

David Corn, Mother Jones’ Washington bureau chief:

“Making Rice Crispies squares (from scratch) and reading Ron Paul’s new memoirs, ‘Freedom Is My Mistress.’”

Craig Crawford, contributing editor for Congressional Quarterly:

“I will be having an Irish coffee in the Hotel Fort Des Moines bar wondering why I’m there and remembering the time I was in the same bar (hopefully the same corner table) 20 years ago with Kitty Dukakis as we watched her husband, Michael, power walking with hand weights in the silliest imaginable lycro outfit circling the building numerous times while we laughed our asses off at how ridiculous he looked.”

John Dickerson, Slate magazine’s chief political correspondent and author of “On Her Trail”

“I don’t know whether I’ll be in Des Moines. I’ll be in Iowa somewhere but there might be some hot action in Council Bluffs that makes it the place to be. Because I’m going straight to Iowa from the Christmas holidays I’m bringing my wife to show her the excitement of Iowa as it prepares to ring in the New Year. Our celebration will no doubt include yelling at the NeverLost lady as she misdirects us into a cornfield, sweating in a VFW hall that’s been over-heated while we listen to a speech, freezing in a gymnasium that has been under-heated while we listen to the next one and nursing the irrational hope that the world’s greatest gin martini will be discovered by us at the end of the day at the very Super 8 where we are staying.”

Major Garrett, congressional correspondent for Fox News Channel:

“Of course, everyday, even New Year’s eve, simply MUST start in Des Moines, so I hope I start somewhere near the dance hall in East Des Moines where Howard Dean screamed his way to presidential oblivion (if for no other reason than the nearly four-year-old echo should be enough to wake me up). My hope is that my campaign travels on New Year’s Eve take me east, not west and that I end up somewhere along the mighty Mississippi. And if I’m allowed to ask that all the stars align (and why not, it’s New Year’s eve?), I’d ask that the final campaign stop of the day be in Davenport, where I can glimpse Moline, Illinois, across the snow-dappled Big Muddy and think of my mom’s hometown while I simultaneously call my oldest daughter on the cell phone at precisely midnight to wish her Happy 13th Birthday! Kind of a generational, geographical, presidential thing, don’t ya know.”

Jonathan Martin, writer of Politico’s blog about the candidates for the 2008 Republican nomination:

“The same way I celebrate every new year’s day — nursing a hangover all day watching the b-list bowls in anticipation of Keith Jackson calling “the grandaddy of them all” that night from Pasadena. This will all be done, of course, while blogging and reporting on the closing developments of the caucuses. Or at least that’s what my editors will think i’m doing.”

Howard Fineman, Newsweek’s chief political correspondent, senior editor and deputy Washington bureau chief:

“Presumably at the 801 Grand restaurant in Des Moines, the best steakhouse I know of between chicago and SF0.”

Betsy Fischer, executive producer, NBC News, “Meet the Press,” which will be broadcasting live from Des Moines on December 30th:

“My answer is going to depend a lot on how I spend New Year’s Eve in Des Moines!”

David Folkenflik, NPR’s media correspondent:

“I think we’re nearing the point in this ever-accelerating presidential campaign that if I were to go to Des Moines for New Years it will cause a tear in the time/space continuum and I will be forced to get in the DeLorean, switch on the flux capacitor and go back in time to prevent R.W. Apple of the New York Times from designating Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter the surprise up-and-coming candidate for the 1976 Iowa caucuses. I’m exhausted just thinking about it.”

Jennifer Harper, media and political writer for The Washington Times’ national desk and “Inside Politics” columnist:

“Well, I have to answer your question as a theoretical, as I don’t plan to be in the heartland for New Year’s Eve. I will be inside the Beltway, in a conga line somewhere, wearing something with sequins. Maybe I’ll have, oh, a chili dog at 5 in the morning. So that’s my disclaimer.

If I was in Iowa, though, I would probably be in a conga line somewhere, wearing something with sequins. Maybe I’ll have, oh, a chili dog at 5 in the morning. I would hope that the conga line would have all 18 White House hopefuls in it, all of them hollering ‘Happy Noo Year’ and ‘I love you, baby’ and wearing gold top hats (and one tiara,) which they would continue to wear right through Jan. 3. It might play really well in Peoria.”

John Harwood, CNBC Chief Washington Correspondent and Wall Street Journal senior contributing writer:

“I could look at my altered New Year’s Eve plans as half empty (away from family) or half full. Since I have no choice in the matter, I am temperamentally compelled to embrace half full.

• Instead of playing cards by the fire in the family room with my wife and three daughters, I will be spending a little quality time with one or more of the people on track to become the next leader of the free world.
• Instead of watching some very lame football bowl game, I will watch negative television ads made by the best in the business.
• And instead of eating the black-eyed peas that my Mom has taught me are essential for New Year’s Eve dinner, I will be eating a tender, juicy, expense-account filet at 801 Steak and Chop House on Grand Avenue in downtown Des Moines. Garlic mashed potatoes and broccoli on the side.

Not so bad when you think about it that way, huh?”

Dana Milbank, national political reporter for The Washington Post and writer of “Washington Sketch”:

“Pork tenderloins at midnight.”

Adam Nagourney, New York Times national political correspondent:

“Considering the fact that New Year’s Day will be two days before the caucuses, I’m sure I’ll be working,

And I like Des Moines! I can think of many worse places to spend a holiday like that.”

Jim Pinkerton, Fox News political analyst and Newsday columnist:

“Desperate for an answer to this question, I did the only thing possible: I Googled your exact question, and got these illuminating responses:
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGIH_enUS234US234&q=How+will+you+celebrate+New+Years+Day+in+Des+Moines%3f+
Traveling to Paris for the New Year seems to rank pretty highly in the rankings, but I guess for political junkies, that’s not much of an option.
So I guess I’ll be drinking “Des Moines Perignon”! (see result #3).”

Stuart Rothenberg, editor and publisher of The Rothenberg Political Report:

“By not being there.”

Ken Rudin, NPR political editor:

“For me, this New Year’s Eve won’t be any different from previous New Year’s eves, now that my hotel in Des Moines has porn.”

Bill Sammon, senior White House correspondent for the Washington Examiner and author, “The Evangelical President“:

“Hopefully, I’ll celebrate by actually being home on New Year’s Eve and then flying out to Iowa on New Year’s Day or, if I’m feeling particularly cocky, Jan. 2.”

Steve Scully, C-SPAN political editor:

The C-SPAN crew no doubt will be toasting in the “Campaign 2008” year in one of those fancy Embassy Suites ballrooms… While the political unit in Washington will be wondering why the crew spent the day at the Prairie Meadows Horse Track & Casino, instead of going to that town hall meeting in Ottumwa.

And isn’t it 2008 already ?

Walter Shapiro, Salon’s Washington bureau chief:

“What an effete idea. New Year’s Eve in Des Moines, although about a month ago I did make my reservation at the Hotel Fort Des Moines. Still, I am tempted in other directions on New Year’s Eve. Personally, as a man filled with Iowa values, I am tempted to forsake the bright lights of Des Moines and the fleshpots of Iowa City to celebrate New Year’s Eve by watching the Big Ball drop a full seven feet on Main Street in Rock Rapids.”

David Shuster, MSNBC correspondent based in Washington, D.C. who reports daily for “Hardball with Chris Matthews”:

“I plan to be in Des Moines on New Year’s Day. More importantly, however, I’ll be there for New Year’s eve! And, my wife (Bloomberg political reporter Julianna Goldman) and I are planning to throw a New Year’s eve bash for all journalist types at “801″ (the infamous Des Moines steak house). Those who survive the party will be invited to join us in watching the main TV event in Des Moines on New Year’s Day… the Rose Bowl!”

Roger Simon, chief political columnist of Politico:

“I will drink one glass of ethanol at midnight, dance one dance with the Butter Cow and then drive to Ottumwa to do door-knocking.”

Jake Tapper, ABC News senior national correspondent & senior political correspondent (see his “Nightline” interview with Fred Thompson here):

“My beloved wife Jennifer and little baby Alice and I will try to replicate the Caribbean holiday we had to cancel (thanks, Florida). We will crank up the heat in the Hotel Fort Des Moines (where Jen and I first met), import sand to fashion a makeshift beach, and drink ethanol-coladas.”

Chuck Todd, NBC News’ political director and editor of First Read:

“Do what all Iowans do, watch the dropping of the pig carcass from the warmth of one of Des Moines’ skywalk bridges.”

Amy Walter, Hotline editor-in-chief:

Well, I don’t yet know what my 1/3 plans will be though I do expect that at the very least my New Year’s will involve 1) toasting w/ baby bottle (we have a baby just about to turn 1) and 2) hoping that hangovers will prove to be helpful to the creative process of the Hotline. It seemed to work well for all those tortured writers.

Lots of chuckles this morning over this exchange from last night’s Democratic debate:

MR. RUSSERT: The godmother of your daughter, Shirley MacLaine, writes in her new book that you’ve cited a UFO over her home in Washington state — (laughter) — that you found the encounter extremely moving, that it was a triangular craft silent and hovering, that you felt a connection to your heart and heard direction in your mind.  Now, did you see a UFO? (laughter)

REP. KUCINICH: I did. And the rest of the account — (interrupted by laughter) — I didn’t — I — it was unidentified flying object, okay. It’s like — it’s unidentified. I saw something.

Here at Extreme Mortman, we refuse to join the mocking laugh pack howling at Kucinich.  We trust his eyes.  After all, he saw well enough to do this:

Here now, as a special service for political and news junkies, a Brian Williams translator tool. Your quick and easy way to make sense of what Brian Williams says by suggesting alternate language.

Today’s offering is Brian Williams from last night’s debate:

MR. WILLIAMS: Senator, thank you. And a brief housekeeping note here: we have built two or three rather short breaks into tonight’s program, this two-hour debate tonight. And we’re going to choose to take the first of them right now, mostly so everyone can take a breath, on this hot stage, on this otherwise cool night in Philadelphia. We will continue with our debate, from the campus of Drexel University in Philadelphia, right after this.

And here’s what the patented Brian Williams Translator suggests as a speedier way to put it:

MR. WILLIAMS: We’ll be right back after this break.

On the Brian Williams difficulty scale, his version earns a 6.

Normally we don’t liveblog a presidential candidate debate, and to point out that tonight’s Democratic debate is turning into a nobody-but-Hillary debate is to state something painfully obvious.  But are any Democrats at all concerned that all these endless attacks tonight by male Democrats against the sole woman on stage might backfire?  By going overboard, might they be risking women votes by endlessly bashing Hillary?

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama whisper.  But what, as ABC News’ The Note wonders, are others saying?

We kinda like this question from today’s White House press briefing with Dana Perino:

Q Dana, in the past two months, 13 million toys have been recalled. For those of us whose children are playing with those Thomas the Tank Engines that were painted in lead, that system failed us.

Ah, but won’t the Thomas the Tank bedding still do in a pinch?

Rabbi Dana Milbank instructs us today:

Entine, in his opening remarks, mentioned another source of Jewish pride: the Vulcan gesture made by Spock in “Star Trek.” It was, he said, a symbol used by Jewish high priests that Leonard Nimoy learned in synagogue.

We should add parenthetically that we Jews also are proud to have inspired the legendary Vulcan slogan: Live long and kvetch.

Favorite Barack Obama story of today comes from the New York Daily News:

It’s no surprise Barack Obama hits the gym to stay in shape, but it may be a shock to his donors that he occasionally sticks them with the workout tab.

A Daily News analysis of recently released fund-raising records found Obama’s presidential campaign paid $20 for his workout at Blue Turtle Yoga/Eco Fitness in Charleston, S.C., and $15 for another at Fitness Revolution in North Hampton, N.H.

When asked by The News why Obama was nickel-and-diming his own campaign for personal workouts, an aide promised the senator would reimburse the campaign for the $35.

The aide described the payments as a staff error, insisting the charges were placed on the wrong credit card.

Wrong credit card aside, the item actually inspires me to get back in shape.

I used to belong to a gym, but I didn’t really enjoy the experience because all the weights so were so heavy.

And I didn’t really care for my personal trainer.  He kept telling me to do this, and do that.  Finally, I snapped, “Hey do it yourself!”

But I was really nice to the other folks who used the gym.  I remember every time I would use a towel, after I was done I would fold it up and put it back on the shelf for the next guy.

President Bush today announced recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nation’s highest civil award.
Many excellent selections — but this one, in our opinion, is in a class by itself:

Brian P. Lamb has elevated America’s public debate and helped open up our government to citizens across the Nation. His dedication to a transparent political system and the free flow of ideas has enriched and strengthened our democracy.

Congratulations to Brian and C-SPAN. Bravo!

(see the whole list here)

Loyal reader K T Cat asked us to plug this item — which we proudly do here:

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Members of the Iraqi Army in Besmaya collected a donation for the San Diego, Calif., fire victims Thursday night at the Besmaya Range Complex in a moving ceremony to support Besmaya’s San Diego residents.

Iraqi Army Col. Abbass, the commander of the complex, presented a gift of $1,000 to U.S. Army Col. Darel Maxfield, Besmaya Range Complex officer in charge, Multi-National Security Transition Command Iraq, to send to the fire victims in California.

The money was collected from Iraqi officers and enlisted soldiers in Besmaya. In a speech given during the presentation, Col. Abbass stated that he and the Iraqi soldiers were connected with the American people in many ways, and they will not forget the help that the American government has given the Iraqi people. Abbass was honored to participate by sending a simple fund of $1,000 to the American people in San Diego, to lower the suffering felt by the tragedy.