12:02 and greetings from Jim Larew’s law office. I can’t get his wifi network configured, despite their kind provision of the password, so the blogging will be pseudo-live. Nice lunch of Neuzil pork, which is tastier than Republican congressional pork. (It’s only pork if it’s in someone else’s district. In YOUR district it’s “jobs.”)
Noticed some high profile Blouinistas here including legislators Bob Dvorsky and Dave Jacoby. May not catch every dignitary present. I’m sitting on the floor in the corner.
Dave Loebsack is here and working the crowd. Also a bazillion staffers with clipboards and fellow blogger Dien Judge who I just met in real life for the first time! So I’m not the only blogger here but I'm the only one blogging! The running mate is back at the office, gotta do the job.
Saw thy guy who has my old WSUI job. The tape gear has gotten smaller.
12:08 Dems chair Jen Hemmingsen is intro-ing candidates. Larew is herding people in. Small room makes the crowd look big. Holding the laptop with one hand typing with the other for the ee cummings effect.
Pretty much the whole courthouse and legislative delegation.
Channel 2 and 9 here and loads of print and photographers.
12:12 Loebsack speaks. The difference between bloggers and old media – I can cheer. But not clap while typing. Loebsack saying the right rest of the ticket stuff. A little bit on difference betweeb behind the scenes and campaigning as the candidate.
Hitting the GOP damage to the country theme. First time I’ve heard him mention his family members who got called up to Iraq.
Health care, gets applause. I should get a palm pilot for stuff like this…
Pensions and corporate reed, another applause line. Touches on the war but I missed the line – a little squashed for multitasking.
UPDATE: Jason Friedman of the Loebsack campaign gace me the excerpt:
AS I TRAVEL ACROSS THE DISTRICT TO TALK WITH FOLKS, I SEE FIRST HAND THE
DAMAGE CAUSED TO OUR COUNTRY BY GEORGE BUSH AND A REPUBLICAN CONGRESS.
SENIORS CONFUSED ABOUT THE NEW PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROGRAM -- FOLKS PUT OUT
OF WORK BECAUSE OF LAYOFF AND OUTSOURCING - PARENTS WORRIED SICK ABOUT
THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS FIGHTING AN UNNECESSARY WAR WE NEVER SHOULD HAVE
GOTTEN INVOLVED IN. I GET E-MAILS FROM PEOPLE WITH MEDICAL PROBLEMS, HELP
IN FINDING A JOB, AND OTHER NEEDS. TRULY HEARTBREAKING STORIES. I HAVE
LEARNED A GREAT DEAL FROM THESE FOLKS AND CARRY THEIR HOPES AND DREAMS
WITH ME.
SO PEOPLE ASK ME - DAVE, WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR CONGRESS? I AM RUNNING
FOR CONGRESS BECAUSE IT'S TIME TO BRING EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP AND REAL
CHANGE TO IOWA. THE VOTERS OF THIS DISTRICT ARE TELLING ME THEY HAVE HAD
ENOUGH AND WANT REAL CHANGE.
After 30 years Leach has no leadership to show for it. He votes with us when his party allows it and when it doesn’t matter. Recites a litany.
Wrapping up: “I will never leave folks behind.”
12:21 he wraps and Born To Run plays, way too quietly. I mean, it was made to be LOUD. Dave works the crowd, I suspect we’re on campaign standard time. Chet and John are coming from opposite directions, and upstaging must be avoided.
It was just suggested that I get telescoping legs on the firebolt to make a mobile stand.
I’m guessing 75 here in he room and I can’t see outside.
Spent many an hour in this office working on campaigns – unfortunately usually with out success – Public Power, Bill Bradley…
Now we’re hearing September by Earth Wind and Fire, which seems inexplicable as rally music. Sure it’s upbeat and funky yet inoffensive, but it’s chronologically weird in June.
1232 heard some applause – false alarm? No that was it, Chet is here. Greeting the down ballot folks. U2 beautiful day, which seems to be Approved Rally Music..
Chet shaking some hands, obviously he showed up just a hair early…
Edwards Is here 12:34.
Chet speaking first. Larew acknowledged Chet’s third place, points out past comebacks by winners. "We get acquainted first, then we fall in love on the 2nd date."
Chet credits other candidates, Vilsack. Bucket pass getting ignored.
IA at crossroads, good things in 8 years but some slipping. George bush clone. Nussle a loyal foot soldier. Voted 55 times to cut education. Lots of, er, “comparative” stuff here. Nussle sold out ethanol and farmers, here’s choice and South Dakota.
They called this a “unity rally” and Jim Nussle is a great unifier.
No mention of death penalty, haven’t heard it discussed/
12:43 and he’s already wrapped. Now he moves into the Edwards intro. Mention of presidential race gets biggest applause.
12:46 Edwards is on, thanks Larew. Gives the Elizabeth health update and the cute kid story.
Nussle took biggest surplus into biggest deficit. "Absolute insanity” to elect him. Looks at current bush budget – “I’ve been worried about whether Exxon’s making enough” hah hahaha
Cites from nutrition, education – billions for Exxon, taking away health care for poor kids. Immoral. “This is not the kind of man who should be leading the state of Iowa.”
"I also see this campaign and - dramatic pause - FUTURE CAMPAIGNS (Yaaay) as an opportunity to end consultant, poll-driven politics." Huge void in moral leadership…
12:54. Laptop shut down from heat! another joke: "Some of you might even remember I’m the son of a mill worker."
Talking about our lack of global moral leadership. Much like his February trip. Obviously the ostensible Culver stuff is over with…
Crowd is a bit older – midday on a Monday cuts into it We still have a couple hundred here.
"This is not just about politics it’s about what kind of world we live in." "The leaders we are waiting for are us."
No mention of war.
12:57 he wraps and crowd mills. Going for a picture if I can. Some media availability post speeches.
Larew chatting County. I think
UPDATE: I SAID third and I WAS right but I TYPED second. The hazards of liveblogging.
I get my moment with Edwards and a pic… watch for pictures (and dissent!) later. I gotta get back to work. Stopped home to post and clean up typos, not necessarily in that order.
I think you mean Edwards came in 3rd in Johnson ...
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