Iowa Pwns NOM, to the Tune of 90 Grand

by: Dean Barker

Sun Sep 06, 2009 at 20:25:00 PM EDT

And remember how they vowed to make it a big issue in the next election cycle after their out-of-state hate was rejected?

Well, it looks like they tried to just that in Iowa, turning a state house race into a proxy battle over marriage equality.

They spent 90 grand (the source of which money continues to be a mystery) on TV ads.

And lost.

Words fail me, so instead, just:

The Face of Marriage Equality (Out-of-State Interlude)

by: Dean Barker

Sat Apr 04, 2009 at 08:31:56 AM EDT

If you are enjoying this series, please consider contributing a photo (and maybe some words) to this effort to show the human side of marriage equality.  "Straight," not, single, not, is no matter.  Just that you live in NH and support marriage equality. Find out how at this link, or simply email me at dean dot bluehampshire at gmail dot com with your pix and support.

Click here for the series so far.

And have you contacted your State Senator yet?

* h/t James Pindell for this clever submission.

Obama in command

by: HAP

Sun Jan 06, 2008 at 17:39:07 PM EST

The contrast between the two parties in last night's debate, was stark. Early in the evening, six befuddled Republicans blustering to their own unhappy and divided party base. On issue after issue, from health care to tax policy to the environment, Republicans offered extreme, implausible, sometimes straightforwardly ignorant responses out of step with either the American electorate or with what is required for sound policy.

Then Democrats took the stage, and offered substantive responses that reached beyond red meat to what is actually required to sway independent voters and, more important, to actually govern. In their essentials, Edwards, Obama, and Clinton presented similar approaches to health reform and many other things. They look ready to govern. Barack Obama looked increasingly solid as the party's best and most-likely standard bearer.

Monday morning quarterbacks will explain the reasons for Obama's ascendence. So far,post-mortums of Iowa yield little that is new. Clinton and Edwards ran imperfect campaigns. Neither made a serious tactical mistake that explains their disappointing showing. Both had strong and resourceful local organizations. Simply put, we had the better candidate, complemented by an excellent Iowa organization.

Like most Americans, I dislike a system that gives Iowa (and then New Hampshire) undue weight in the nomination process. Yet it's undeniable that the current process required each candidate to sell his or her wares through retail politics, meeting people up-close and giving a candid and compelling account of why one should be president.

As the process unfolded, it became apparent that Senator Obama's intellect, his positions, and his personal presence captured the moment better than his rivals could do. He tapped into a deep desire for change, particularly among young people who are often fickle participants in the political process. As Mark Halperin put it, Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton is not the kind of change Democratic voters, or the American public, hungers for. The first New Hampshire debate only reinforced the contrast.

Ironically, unusual aspects of the Iowa caucus projected to give Senator Obama his greatest difficulties turned out to seve him well.  Iowa's traditional low turn-out, typically tilted towards senior citizens, worked against him. So did the strong union presence and the sheer complexity of the process. Senator Obama's unprecedented ability to energize young voters, his unexpected appeal to women, and his strong organization overcame these difficulties.

Many people wondered whether Senator Obama could win in Iowa when more than 90 percent of participants are white. Ironically, this monochromatic stage opened opportunities for Senator Obama to succeed. Iowa spared Senator Obama the poisonous issues he would have surely confronted in a more ethnically divided state. Free from the straightjacket of racial politics, Iowans could see him as the outstanding individual he is.

Rather than allowing white racism to defeat Obama, the Iowa caucus created one of the most admirable, non-racialized political contests I have seen.  There was tellingly little conflict over the standard litany of racially charged matters: affirmative action, urban crime, school desegregation, and the like. These issues merit greater discussion. For now, however, both Senator Obama and the nation benefited from a contest in which Obama's candidacy was allowed to be something apart from the BLACK CANDIDATE, as Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton had been.

Iowa's nearly all-white constituency also allowed Obama to wrest the African-American vote away from Hillary Clinton. Only two weeks ago, one heard commentators debate whether Barack Obama is "black enough" to win the African-American community. Such talk was always overblown and ahistorical. The African-American community has long embraced many leaders with a wide range of skin tones and personal biographies.

The real questions Senator Obama faced among African-American voters had nothing to do with identity politics. People wanted to know: Is he for real? Can he win? Will white people vote for him? These concerns were entirely legitimate. Most African-Americans desperately want a Democrat to win. This question has now been answered.

Of course, Senator Clinton will still compete for the African-American vote. She has worked hard in the minority community. For most of the campaign, everyone assumed that the African-American community would be a bedrock of Clinton support.  She has key endorsements. She has the magic name "Clinton," and draws upon her husband's reservoir of goodwill within the African-American community. This counts for something, but I doubt it will be enough. African-Americans are a huge constituency within the Democratic Party. If Senator Obama can seize this constituency and continue his success among women, this is over.

I feel some surprising sadness for Hillary Clinton. She has the intellect, knowledge and experience to make a good president, but seems on track to suffer a shocking defeat. In last night's debate, she demonstrated why she would be a huge improvement over George Bush or any Republican. Despite the very shallow coverage presented by ABC News, she stated her case well.

Her problem is that Barack Obama demonstrated his case at least as well. Senator Clinton needed to expose his shallowness or elicit a bad mistake. Instead, Senator Obama showed command of the issues, and an intellect and toughness that serve him well. Discussing the problems of cap-and-trade energy policies, health care reform, Pakistan, he convinced me, and I suspect many others, that he is ready to be president.

It is still early. Senator Clinton is a tough candidate with deep support. Yet she suddenly looks like someone whose time has passed. She just carries too much baggage. Given everything we've fought about, and for, both Clintons for 20 years now, it is she-not Senator Obama-who represents a throw of the dice this November.

Barack Obama's current run bears similarity to Bill Clinton's 1992 run-not least in the story line that a charismatic outsider appears from nowhere on the basis of his drive and ability to make his more experienced rivals seem stale.  Despite her strengths and the head start she enjoyed in the 2008 race, Hillary Clinton conspicuously lacks her husband's (and Senator Obama's) political gifts. At events such as Coretta Scott King's funeral in February 2006, the contrast between her labored performance and her husband's effortless mastery was painful.

Senator Edwards, for his part, deserves credit for his forthright attack on poverty and inequality. He brings the tools of a gifted trial lawyer to indict some worthy targets, such as the health insurance industry and piggish hedge fund operators. Elizabeth Edwards is a beautiful person. Her courage, dignity, and grit in battling breast cancer bless us all.

I do not agree with her husband's angry populism. Some of my reticence reflects simple policy disagreement. One can be a loyal Democrat and yet dissent from some misguided views which hold currency among the party faithful. I believe Bill Clinton was right to maintain an open posture towards world trade. Despite undoubted defects, trade agreements such as NAFTA serve America's interests and are essential for people in many nations to escape grinding poverty. There is little reason to think that constraining trade with low-wage nations will help middle-class Americans. There are many reasons to think that such protectionism would harm ourselves and the world.

Global trade causes real pain and insecurity for millions of American workers. So do many home-grown economic factors. The right response is to stay open to the world, while enacting measures such as universal health care and pension reform that reduce everyone's economic insecurity, regardless of its origin.

Senator Edwards overlooks that Senator Obama's posture of graciousness and inclusion comes with real toughness and political skill. Obama somehow came out of nowhere to dominate a tough city and state. He could not have accomplished this without the ability to receive and deliver sharp elbows when the occasion demanded. In this one way, he bears comparison to Ronald Reagan. However misguided his policies, Reagan realized that unsettling social change is most likely to be accomplished by a gracious and optimistic leader. Angry populism frightens too many Americans to succeed over the long run.

In a recent blog, Professor Katherine Newman exemplified the populist perspective of many Edwards supporters. She states that Senator Edwards feels in his gut for the little guy, and that his own personal story will steel him to fight when other Democrats would go soft. She says: "[W]e want FDR or LBJ in the White House. We don't want someone who will compromise or put a finger up to see which way the wind is blowing."

Senator Edwards brings real fire in his desire to help the disadvantaged. Democrats understandably hunger for a street fighter. However, the ability to nurture broad political coalitions is vastly more valuable than fiery rhetoric in enacting social change. I fear Senator Edwards' approach will make this more difficult.

As a matter of history, FDR and LBJ were two of the most notable compromisers and vote-counters in American history. FDR often enraged liberal supporters and was hardly immune to unattractive compromises.  Whatever LBJ felt in his gut, he was a political animal. He ascended the (southern) Democratic Party by spending much of the 1940s and 1950s opposing civil rights and other liberal causes.

Of course, FDR and LBJ were more admirable characters than the last sentences let on. Both men deployed their political gifts to beneficial effect. My point is that these men achieved great liberal triumphs because they enjoyed huge congressional majorities at unique historical moments, not because they felt any more deeply about these issues than others. Both men failed greatly when they overstepped their political mandates, and when they lacked working majorities in Congress.

The next president will enjoy no such mandate. This person might well come into office with a wafer-thin majority in a political system specifically designed to thwart major policy change. One will need moderate and independent allies. One might bluster about steamrolling fat cats and special interests. But then so did Hillary Clinton fifteen years ago, when her minions clumsily alienated key senators such as Daniel Patrick Moynihan, whom they needed for health care reform.

Senator Obama's approach to policy reform, in which one builds broad coalitions and reaches out to independent voters, is much more promising. He is proving that with his remarkable performances in Iowa and New Hampshire. No one who reads his policy proposals or his two books can doubt that he is a very progressive figure.

That is why Republicans are afraid of him. That is why I am increasingly convinced that Senator Obama will make a fine president.

A New Yorker For Edwards

by: Jonathan from NY

Sat Jan 05, 2008 at 11:28:01 AM EST

  I've just been told my a lovely woman in the campaign headquarters that I look like John Stibile, a well-known man here in Nashua--who also owns the local baseball team. Anyone known John? I think I can attest to the fact that I don't have the funds he probably has but, as a passionate baseball fan, I like the comparison. Lest this thread and diary get sidetracked, I'd better not get into which team I support--I don't think that would play very well in these parts :):)

  But, I digress? Why are so many union member supporting John and his message that we must change this country?

Edwards Evening News RoundUp: Some Things are STILL Worth Fighting for!

by: jamess

Fri Jan 04, 2008 at 23:31:54 PM EST

Thanks to record turn out to the Iowa, the "Candidates of Change" got over two-thirds of the Votes!

According to the New York Times, nearly twice the Dems turned out this time:

Iowa's caucus also saw a record number of Democrats turn out - more than 239,000, compared with fewer than 125,0000 in 2004 - in a strong indication that opposition to President Bush has energized Democrats more than previously estimated.

If this is any indication of how ALL of America feels, maybe a Progressive Candidate, DOES have a Chance to Win the White House, maybe even with a Progressive Agenda?

We shall see ... by all accounts, this Fight is JUST getting started ...

Barack Obama's Victory Speech

by: Helenann

Fri Jan 04, 2008 at 13:55:37 PM EST

Obama's message has been consistent and clear from the start.

We are at a critical point in our history as a nation, and we desperately need to CHANGE course.

What is so striking in watching this video compared to the others is that most of the time the crowd is NOT should "Obama, Obama." The are shouting USA, USA.  I think we, as a people, so much want and need to feel proud of our country again and proud to be Americans.  Barack taps into this deep need to care for and love our country.  It is an extraordinary country.  

He speaks about lifting our country up.  This gives us great hope for the future and goes directly to our frustration with how bad things have turned over the last 7 years.  Obama wants to believe in America again and so do we.

He also drives home the importance of reuniting our country as one nation.  His theme of UNITY is powerful and I think resonates with the American people who are so sick and tired of all the fighting and battles and slash and burn politics and divisiveness. He calls on us to come together for the sake of our nation.

I think what else is so extraordinary about this speech is his call to the American people to join him in this effort.  His message is Stand Up for Change.  This is directed to the American people.  We as a people need to take a stand and join him in what is a true social movement to address the problems we have at home and abroad. I think the American people want to be involved in turning things around and yet, all President Bush has asked of them is to go shopping.  Obama tells us that it will be hard and that it will require courage but together ordinary people can do extraordinary things.  We all want to believe that together we can take back our country: of the people, by the people, for the people.

His speech is insprirational.  The crowd is ecstatic at the prospect of a better future for themselves and their children.  Barack Obama gets us truly excited about the prospect of a better America, something we yearn for desperately.

Obama offers a new vision of America.

And in the process, he always comes back to HOPE.  He offers Hope as an antidote to the fear that the Administration has been peddling since 9/11.  Unity over division. Change is coming to America and we can be part of it.

We have not seen a leader like this in a long time.  He has inspired the youth of America to engage in the political process. He has inspired Independents to come back to the Democratic party.  He has even inspired Republicans, who find no good options in their party, to cross over and unite for change.

And the world is watching and excited.  Yesterday I was in Vietnam and spent the day with people from Sweden and Britain and Australia and Canada and Isreal and Germany and Vietnam.  There were amazed and so encouraged by the news that Obama had won the primary in Iowa.  Obama's picture and victory is the lead story in China and Vietnam and in the Daily Herald, which the expats living abroad read every day.  The excitement among all of these people is palpable.  They believe that if America can change for the better, it will be better not only for them, but for the planet.  The whole world is watching with anticipation and hope that Obama becomes the next President for the United States.

To all those of you who have not joined the Obama campaign, I ask you to take another look.  Please join us.  Obama's campaign is an open tent.  You will be welcomed with open arms and you will feel the exhilaration of being part of something very important for the future of our nation and our world.

With a big victory in Iowa, the train is just leaving the station.  Next stop is New Hampshire.  All aboard!

The 12 Days of the NH Primary: Day 7 (Iowa)

by: Delegator

Thu Jan 03, 2008 at 23:13:38 PM EST

On the 7th day to the primary my candidate gave to me

A SEVEN point margin of victory in Iowa,

SIX degrees on my thermometer,

five days to comment on legislation,

four hundred thousand volunteers,

three members of his family,

two cultural backgrounds,

and one outstanding orator!

I don't think much more needs to be said about Iowa other than that the turnout was phenomenal. The numbers I heard on MSNBC were that turnout was 84% higher than 2004, and twice that of the Republican side. Both women and 17-21-year-olds went strongly for Obama.

But it's no time for back-slapping based on what our compatriots in Iowa have achieved. It's time to roll up our sleeves and get out the vote to continue this momentum here in New Hampshire.

Biden hearts Obama? Bill too, maybe?

by: Sleeping Giant Stirs

Wed Jan 02, 2008 at 21:26:31 PM EST

But ended up Off The Bus

Beverly Davis http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
Des Moines-
-snip
Dennis Kucinich started what may add up to the critical mass Obama needs for a win or strong second-place showing in the Iowa caucuses, when Kucinich encouraged his supporters - few though there are in this frozen state - to join the Obama forces on caucus night, if Kucinich doesn't have enough voters to be viable.
-snip

The Biden national and state campaign honchos met at 4 p.m. Monday in a Des Moines attorney's office to discuss their strategy and decide if they would encourage their non-viable voters to choose either Obama, Edwards, or Hillary Clinton's caucus contingents.
-snip

...Offthebus chatted with one of the Biden's national consultants who wanted to remain anonymous:

"A decision will be made tomorrow about who we'll encourage our supporters to stand behind if we aren't viable in a precinct. Right now, I'd guess Obama gets our support because we're more inline with his vision of foreign policy than any of the other candidates, and besides, we like him and how he's run his campaign."

"Is Biden angling for a Secretary of State position in an Obama Administration?"

The Biden consultant told Offthebus, "Well, Joe would make a great Secretary of State, wouldn't he?"

Biden's son, Joseph R. Biden, III is the current Attorney General for Delaware. Should Joe Biden resign his seat and accept a major post in the next Democratic Administration in Washington, his son is positioned to replace him in the U.S. Senate.
-snip

Off-the-bus spoke with a national Obama staffer who confirmed, "We've heard that Richardson may also be telling his supporters to caucus for Barack if they aren't viable. Nothing definitive but there's a trend going on," she added with a smile. Ah, that's an understatement.

All of this off-the-record conversation and backroom pol talk could be nothing or something.

But the fact that the rumors are flying and top aides are willing to discuss their thinking with Offthebus, albeit without disclosing their names, is still enough smoke to detect yet another spark that could ignite a fire under the Obama campaign's fortunes in the Iowa caucuses.
-snip

None of the campaigns I spoke with - on or off the record - are prone to hand their support over to John Edwards, who is busy today flying around the state for his final push to win - and therefore, survive until New Hampshire, where his poll numbers continue to fall far behind either Clinton or Obama.

Don't ask me for any salt, I just used my last grain.

Edwards Evening News Roundup: Happy News Year Edition!

by: cosbo

Wed Jan 02, 2008 at 02:44:36 AM EST

The sprint to the end had begun! We all know that Edwards is workaholic. He's worked very hard for this nomination. He came prepared with plans, ideas, goals and ATTITUDE. This dude knows how to fight. He has been outspent by millions and millions of dollars by two celebrity candidates and he's STILL in the race. That goes to a testament of how strong his message is and how much people are to take their country back. AGGRESSIVELY. He didn't come to the table as entrenched insider and he brought a lot more than something and flighty and wishy-washy than hope. He came prepped with the plans and the fight to actually give REAL hope to millions of Americans.

Edwards Evening News RoundUp: the Big Mo Edition

by: jamess

Tue Jan 01, 2008 at 14:40:51 PM EST

This Edition is dedicated to that exciting phenomenon called Momentum! The Big Mo.  

All Candidates want it. Lately though it seems the fight and the message of John Edwards has captured it. So take a quick tour of all the hopeful signs that since the People are finally tuning in, that more and more People are connecting to what John Edwards is saying ...

Dodd in Mason City--Closing Argument

by: hannah

Mon Dec 31, 2007 at 16:43:44 PM EST

Stand up for the rule of law.  Stand up for American values.

Edwards Evening News RoundUp: the Something Happened Edition

by: jamess

Sun Dec 30, 2007 at 00:49:05 AM EST

Out of respect to that Audience, those who have had their fill of Candidate News,

Here's the Executive Summary:

"Stuff happened in the Edwards Campaign."

And for the Edwards supporters, out there in audience, those who may be expecting a "little more detail" about your Candidate, continue reading please ... well because "Something IS happening in the Edwards Campaign ..."

America's Future ....... Can we afford much more?

by: Granitdamit

Fri Dec 28, 2007 at 19:23:43 PM EST

Here are the 5 top items I see that cloud our future as a nation.

1.)We (the U.S) are disliked in most nations. because of our Police actions world wide.
2.)Our borders are open and unprotected.and our laws are ignored unlike any foreign country on earth.
3.) American's have lost job's since 1980. Anti Unionization, globalization policy.
4.)America's manufacturing is now non existant.
5.)American's lost lives while standing guard with out bullets in our guns. (Beirut)

We have been a strong nation in the past, but have reached a cross roads.
With the loss of good jobs for our citizens over the years, how long can we continue to pay in money and life lost for the aid in the world.
How long can we continue to write blank checks to those who hate us and our culture?

The next President, be it Obama, Edwards, or any other Democratic candidate will have their hands full at home as well as all over the world.
 They may need to revamp government programs that are not, or have not been working like the  war on drugs, welfare, department of homeland security and education for example.
They will need to look at what a budget really is and do some reorganization.
We may see another Great Society program, and replace dated ineffective programs.

I would like to hear from everyone on these issues... and read the words to the song "MONSTER"
which I have included below, does it reflect America as it is now?  

Clinton, Obama, and Edwards Make Closing Arguments to Iowans

by: gradysdad

Fri Dec 28, 2007 at 09:08:18 AM EST

Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton began her final push before the Jan. 3 caucuses at an event in southeastern Iowa with her husband, daughter and former Iowa Gov. and First Lady Tom and Christie Vilsack, by stressing the problems the next president will face the day they are inaugurated.

The core of Hillary's closing argument is to frame the choice around her "experience" and "preparedness" to be president.

"That person will go to the Oval office and on the desk in the Oval office will be a stack of problems," she said. "We know that the next president will face a daunting agenda."

Clinton also spoke, as she often does, about her work for the Children's Defense Fund, the speech she gave in Beijing about women's rights, her efforts to provide health care for children and her work with Republicans in the Senate -- using the examples to illustrate the various ways she changed people's lives for the better. And she talked about America needing a "new beginning" when it comes to healthcare, education and other issues.

Her final ad in Iowa is as follows:

Per Clinton spokesman Jay Carson, the campaign has a two-minute ad buy on every Iowa TV station's 6 o'clock news on January 2, the day before the caucuses. It's being billed as "a very succinct version" of her closing argument.  

This irritated me

by: smucci

Mon Dec 24, 2007 at 10:08:58 AM EST

This Week With Barack Obama, December 16-22, 2007

by: icebergslim

Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 22:34:28 PM EST

Iowa Caucus Center
Nevada Caucus Center
Obama Iowa Mailer

Obama Worried About Edwards in Iowa?

by: gradysdad

Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 13:57:09 PM EST

Speaking at an Iowa diner, Senator Obama suggested that a pro-Edwards 527 group's plan to spend money on televisions ads in favor of Senator Edwards, run by Senator Edwards' former campaign manager, Nick Baldick, reveals Senator Edwards as a hypocrite or calls into question Edwards' ability to govern.

Senator Obama said:

"He said yesterday that he's going to ask [Baldick] to do it, and my attitude is that if you can't get your former campaign manager and political director to do what you'd like, then it's going to be hard to get the insurance companies and drug companies to do what you want."

Edwards Evening News RoundUp: Why I'm with Edwards Edition

by: jamess

Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 01:15:33 AM EST

Why are people supporting John Edwards, anyways?

Don't these people know that the National Polls and the Media already have scripted out how this Election is supposed to turn out?

Silly People, thinking they should actually be able to make up their own minds! Imagine that -- the People actually picking their own Leader! (And NOT having one Picked for them!)

So stick around for a spirited look at why more and more people are saying:

"Why I'm with Edwards" ...

John Edwards: The Fighter. The Closer

by: NCDem Amy

Sat Dec 22, 2007 at 03:10:47 AM EST

With less than two weeks before the voting begins in Iowa and New Hampshire, John Edwards is delivering his closing argument to voters, something Edwards is well known for. As one of the top trial attorneys in the nation, Edwards is no stranger to taking on a fight and then driving it home, with a powerful closing argument.  

Edwards Evening News RoundUp: Middle Class Rising

by: jamess

Thu Dec 20, 2007 at 00:16:32 AM EST

The Edwards campaign is picking up steam, and a lot of people are noticing, even some of the Media.  That Poll yesterday showing Edwards in the Lead in Iowa at 30%, certainly helped to get people talking. The Chris Matthews Interview with Edwards in New Hampshire was certainly a breath of fresh air too.  

The race just got VERY interesting ...