They call it The Manifesto. Former Iowa congressman Dave Nagle penned an 11-page memo last spring excoriating his state's officials for signing onto a Democratic party schedule that demoted New Hampshire's primary. In the memo, which has been circulating in Iowa and New Hampshire, Nagle writes that Iowa's vote for the plan was a "violation of the historic pact between the two states."

Nagle, a former Democratic Party chairman and veteran of battles over the calendar in the 1980s, wrote that hope isn't lost.

"I think we all realize that, ultimately, while the DNC can huff and puff, they cannot blow down the brick houses of Iowa and New Hampshire," he wrote in an August follow-up to the memo. (Both memos were sent to the governor's office, secretary of state, attorney general, Democratic Party and the Hillary Clinton campaign in Iowa.)

New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner got a copy from his counterpart in Iowa, Michael Mauro. While it's been dubbed The Manifesto, the actual title of the March memo is "Iowa Caucuses 101," with a follow-up this month named "What's Next?" (Nagle said he'll just title the next one Manifesto III - "that'll come in a couple of days. I haven't finished it yet.")

Nagle argues that the DNC honed in on getting Iowa's sign-off because Hawkeye State officials gave the impression that they were willing to bend, while New Hampshire never did. "The buzzword among a majority of committee members is that they are 'flexible' and 'patient' " he wrote in the March memo. He added: "Flexibility should be out. A better word for our position is 'adamant.' "

Since the DNC adopted its plan - which left Iowa's traditional leadoff caucus first, wedged Nevada's caucuses next, then New Hampshire's primary and South Carolina's primary - chaos has ensued. Gardner has never accepted the party plan, saying that he schedules the primary, not the Democratic party.

A crush of states rushed to Feb. 5, the beginning of the official window. Florida opted to jump ahead to Jan. 29. South Carolina's GOP has announced it's moving to Jan. 19, three days before the day the DNC slated for New Hampshire's primary. And Michigan is now flirting with Jan. 15 - while Detroit newspapers reported this week that longtime New Hampshire nemesis Sen. Carl Levin is pushing for Jan. 8, to force Iowa and New Hampshire to either share the spotlight or move into 2007.

What Iowa should do now is insist on keeping its traditional 8-day window after its leadoff caucus while supporting New Hampshire if it moves, he argues.

Seeking permission from the DNC is a losing proposition, Nagle says.

"If the battle is joined on the narrow issue that the DNC will relent and just allow us to move, then get to Sears and buy the white flag now," he said.

Gardner sat down this month and read the whole thing, underlining parts. Among the parts underlined: "New Hampshire is still mad at us, as they should be."

Gardner chuckled when he asked if he's still mad at Iowa. "Family squabble," he said.

Look out

Last week, we wrote that after all the opposition we've been hearing about, we were surprised that we didn't see any protesters outside at a pair of John Sununu events in Keene and Concord this month.

That quiet will not last long, we've been assured.

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