Americans Elect leaders recently started a process by which the public can know more about the organization. First, various leaders of Americans Elect have spent two hours being interviewed by blogger Solomon Kleinsmith, of Rise of the Center. Kleinsmith has not yet posted the details of his interviews, but he describes the Americans Elect leaders he has interviewed here. Also, he confirms that Americans Elect has no ideological litmus test for candidates who wish to seek its presidential nomination. See here.

Also, Americans Elect has told Jim Cook, of Irregular Times, that the group will reveal more about its funding, and its leaders, by the end of August. See here.

The results of the Iowa Republican straw poll of August 13 are: (1) Michelle Bachmann 4,823; (2) Ron Paul 4,671; (3) Tim Pawlenty 2,293; (4) Rick Santorum 1,657; (5) Herman Cain 1,456; (6) Rick Perry 718 (write-in); (7) Mitt Romney 567; (8) Newt Gingrich 385; (9) Jon Huntsman 69; (10) Thad McCotter 35. There were another 162 scattering votes.

Four years ago, Mitt Romney won the Iowa Republican straw poll.

On August 12, a lower state court in Arizona ruled that the recall petition against State Senator Russell Pearce has enough valid signatures. See this story. The decision will be appealed. Pearce is President of the State Senate. UPDATE: here is the opinion, which is called Ross v Bennett, cv11-011864.