December Dems

December Dems

Here with the Johnson County Democrats at the Iowa City library, and it's my first liveblog on the new laptop. Last central committee before caucus.

Christy Vilsack is here for Team Hillary. We're reversing the order and going with campaigns first rather than county party business first. The Hillary staffer starts things. Tammy Baldwin in town Saturday, 3:30, the Cottage. Hillary coming through the area Saturday, but Iowa and Washington County.

Christy says the Hillary support is about experience, leadership skills, then goes through the laundry list of issues. Zooms in on education more. "Our Democrats are all going to bring our troops home... but we Democrats have to choose someone who can withstand the slings and arrows of a tough campaign. It's also about the experience you bring to a campaign. Right now Karl Rove is figuring out a strategy to use against every one of our candidates." Says in every national poll, she beats all the Republicans (be careful arguing from the universal, Christy. One counter-example disproves it.) Very brief reference to the brief Vilsack presidential campaign. "Hillary was there for (me and Tom), and I want to do the same for her."

Winding down with the Hillary Caucus Buddy program, and stories of people who don't get the caucuses (think they have to drive to Des Moines, etc.) "A lot of people have never been invited to a caucus, many of the are women, many of them are my age, and those are the people I get up for every day. A person who is courageous enough to walk into a room for the first time, without knowing the rules..." "it's about empowering people" to join central committees or get a better job or leave an abusive relationship. Mentions "electing a woman is a different way of presenting ourselves to the world." Uses the Hillary buzzword "invisible."

Christy heads out as soon as she's done speaking; driving back to Des Moines in this mess. 100 minutes or so in good conditions, probably a lot longer tonight.

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We now have South Carolina state senator Phil Leventis, for Team Dodd. He looks almost like a Dodd brother, but as soon as he talks we get those dulcet Dixie tones. Says Dems shouldn't get overconfident about `08. Talks about Dodd's rule of law, gets applause for "we're not going to give the telephone companies immunity for turning over our records." Leventis was a fighter pilot, and talks about fear of capture and torture. "For us to even talk about torture is perfectly frightening, and Chris Dodd understands that." Carbon tax "about ten cents a gallon."

"Senator Dodd gets results, he'll do it again." Makes an electability argument.

Says he went to Boy's Nation with Bill Clinton. "I didn't know you were supposed to elbow everybody out of the way to shake Kennedy's hand, I was in the back." Wraps up arguing the race should be about qualification, not celebrity.

The staffer announces the events. The email earlier today says the senator won't make the Iowa City house party tomorrow, so Jackie Dodd will be there instead.

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Staffer makes the pitch for Team Edwards. Will be in Iowa City Wednesday noon with Tim Robbins. Noon, library. Also at the Loebsack birthday party Saturday.

Staffer for Team Biden. Touts the climb in the polls. He'll be at Loebsack too. The big Biden news is prominent labor activist Scott Smith (Building Trades) endorses Biden. "I love all the candidates... the thing that turns me on, and they've all got great ideas. But he's the one all the other keep agreeing with on a realistic plan to get our troops home."

Team Obama staffer cites the Joe Bolkcom endorsement and the Tuesday/Wednesday rallies. Oh, yeah, and Oprah.

No one here from Team Richardson. Oh wait, they just walked in AND said they heard about the meeting from this very blog post. That's very, uh, circular... their big thing is the 99th county.

The county party unanimously passes a resolution that says staffers are wonderful and we love them.

We got some electeds: Dave Jacoby, Rod Sullivan, Regenia Bailey, Patti Fields.

And the rest is mostly caucus prep.

Ed Flaherty makes a pitch for unviable groups to realign to Uncommitted. "The nomination may in fact go to Denver, and that may be a good thing. If you feel you're compromising your principles by going to your number two or three, consider going uncommitted."

Quote of the night, "weather has nothing to do with global warming."