News from Iowa

[RockEnds]

What's up with Felons for Huckabee? I saw them at the rally. I'm sure I'm missing something here. What is their point?

 

[Dave]

I did not realize the events were not tied together. I thought the debate in Des Moines was timed particularly for the Straw Poll. Oh well. I hope Romney trashes McCain and Giuliani for being afraid of the Iowa Straw Poll.

Yeah. Romney now has nothing to gain and everything to lose in Ames. If he wins, nobody will give hime credit since McCain, Giuliani, and F. Thompson aren't participating. If he loses, it will be a HUGE story and could end his candidacy.

The stakes are always high in Ames. Goal = beat expectations = survive.

 

[Dave]

What's up with Felons for Huckabee? I saw them at the rally. I'm sure I'm missing something here. What is their point?

Apparently while he was governor of Arkansas he had a habit of letting prisoners go free. I think our buddy 'Wecandoit' has some scoop on this since he's from Arkansas.

 

[Dave]

As a Des Moines-area Ron Paul supporter, I've decided to start this thread to share news and observations from Iowa, home of the first-in-the-nation caucus.

The Des Moines Register resumes its comparison of candidates' positions today, only this time the comparison tables are reproduced online. Today's feature is on illegal immigration, a big issue in Iowa.

Here's the comparison table:

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070716/NEWS09/707160325/-1/caucus

The accompanying article only said this re Dr. Paul:

Rep. Ron Paul of Texas also supports ending "birthright citizenship." He said the Senate bill was a compromise of laws and sovereignty, and he is the only candidate to call for an end to welfare benefits, medical care and public education for those in the country illegally.

Here's the article:

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070716/NEWS09/707160326/1001/BUSINESS

 

[LibertyEagle]

A new video that I posted on YouTube shows the "Felons for Huckabee" and "Flip Romney" characters. It's at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1MPduZoNnk

That's a very good video. Thanks. Great music too.

 

[Dave]

DMR Prints screwed up table of fundraising

The Des Moines Register has a screwed-up table on fundraising results on page 3 today. It lists dems and reps and says that results are for April-June but the figures are for January-June, which puts Brownback ahead of Ron Paul.

Also, they have McCain at $3.2M when he raised $24.7M Jan-Jun.

They have Obama at $36.3M when he raised $58.9M Jan-Jun

They have Clinton at $33M when she raised $36M in Q2 alone.

What an absolute mess. No report on momentum, no report of cash-on-hand.

The accompanying article is copied from the Chicago Tribune and makes no mention of RP. I'm not sure if the table came from Chicago or from the DMR.

Time for me to write an email. I'm sure they'll run a correction in the fine print tomorrow that nobody will see.

 

[Dave]

I just heard a radio commercial for Tommy Thompson - it was entirely about illegal immigration.

I think this is the first commercial I've heard for him.

 

[Dave]

McCain loses 2 more top Iowa staff

I know McCain is finished but I couldn't help posting this:

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070716/NEWS/70716031/-1/caucus

Apparently he's also starting to cancel Iowa appearances.

Drudge is all over it, too, featuring headlines like:

1. More McCain Mutiny: Defections continue...
2. Press Staff Quits...
3. Newsweek: Inside the McCain Campaign Meltdown...

This is a brutal business.

 

[Bergie Bergeron]

He's finished.

 

[poppop_schell]

Yes McvCain is finished. I said as much in an e-mail to the NY Times. They have a campaign 2008 page and did a poor job on Ron Paul. I wrote them an e-mail with some Paul facts and kindly asked them to put up a bgetter profile. What happens we will have to see.

 

[Lord Xar]

I just heard a radio commercial for Tommy Thompson - it was entirely about illegal immigration.

I think this is the first commercial I've heard for him.

More candidates stealing Ron Pauls thunder.. nice..... can someone ping his campaign and tell them to stop screwing around.. get the spooner operation going and get him to start taking a tough stance verbally on illegal immigration......

 

[poppop_schell]

Has ANYONE heard from the National Campaign, specically Heather, about the telephone call lists? These were to takeover the Spooner Project BUT I don't see that is possible given Spooner took several weeks to get up to speed.'

Me thinks there is something FISHY going on at National. I(s anyone of this list making telephone calls?

 

[Noodles]

bump

 

[Orat]

Sit tight, I think something is getting ready to happen soon...

 

[Dave]

T. Thompson gets news coverage for running ads

This seems a little odd. T. Thompson starts running radio ads yesterday and today it's a news story in the Des Moines Register. I'd say in all the time he's spent here visiting with Iowans he's heard repeatedly about the illegal immigration problem so he's tailored his message toward that in an effort to score in Ames. His campaign is finished if he doesn't blow away expectations in Ames.

I just find it strange that the paper made a story out of someone buying radio time:


Republican presidential candidate Tommy Thompson started airing a radio advertisement Monday outlining his plan for immigration reform.

Thompson, former Wisconsin governor and former director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, starts the 60-second ad by saying he is a descendant of German and Irish immigrants.

Thompson opposes any legislation creating a path to citizenship for immigrants who are in the country illegally. "First, no amnesty," he says in the ad.

Thompson says he would complete the security wall between the United States and Mexico within the first 150 days of his presidency and pardon two border patrol agents convicted of shooting a Mexican drug-smuggler.

Thompson would require noncitizens who want to work in the United States to have tamper-proof ID cards. He would penalize employers who do not verify the cards of the people they hire.

He would also require people who want to become American citizens to learn English. "It's the language of opportunity and success in the U.S.," Thompson says.

The radio advertisement is airing statewide, according to the Thompson campaign.

 

[orenbus]

I've tried contacting some people at the campaign. No word yet.

Reposting my comments from the other thread;

Going to go in a different direction on this one. Although I respect the official campaigns drive, dedication, commitment and innovation in our common goal, I’m finding myself at odds of the news that Operation Spooner has been shut down?

We need to remember that there are allot of volunteers that are retired, in between semesters at school, currently unemployed, on 'vacation' have chosen not to work in order to dedicate themselves to the campaign full time. These people come from different backgrounds and many have decades of experience in their professions that lend themselves to being very effective in a campaign like this. They have taken a job that does not pay cash, any amount of cash but does pay in a different way. In a way no amount of money can possibly match, a payment of a bright future for our country.

I really, really hope that Operation Spooner was shut down for something other than a decision from HQ. A decision like that would be no way to win a campaign. The only way we have a chance is if everyone on an individual basis does whatever they can, when they can to make sure that Ron Paul wins. That’s it, end of story.

Our friends that put Operation Spooner together spent many hours and people like Jason, Rachel, Josh and everyone else that put the word on the net and beyond on this project should be thankd and applauded for they're work, and their example of commitment to this campaign! Many different groups and people online started to come together on this one, it felt like the stars were aligning, which was a nice thing to see The official campaign needs to take a humble approach when it comes to something like this. The support structure efforts outside of a traditional campaign something that is grassroots/netroots like this can turn out WAY WAY WAY more support than the best and biggest official campaign. ... anyway I'm kind of emotional about this one, lets just say I’m holding my anger till all the facts are in.

I know your getting this information second hand and I've heard someone from the official campaign talk about how "Big" their calling list is, although honestly that's B.S. excuse my French, who cares how big the list is? we need as many people calling as soon as possible that should be our focus, and to keep the momentum going and not stop. The more callers we have the better, there is always time to add to a list, but the crunch between now and August 11 is narrowing. I can't believe we're throwing away Advokit for excel spreadsheets. ::smacks hand against head::

Anyway really the only thing I have to say right now is if someone has regular contact with someone in the official campaign, preferablly someone close to the top, please tell them if their going to have a Call Iowa Outreach program to get their asses in gear. The longer it is delayed the more people will begin to feel frustrated. We have a Straw Poll to win and I'm going to feel really bad about it if we look back and realize there may have been other options that would have worked better if we had allowed them to. Worst part is, Operation Spooner shuts down and the official calling program isn't ACTIVE yet?!?!? Wow even Tancredo is killing us on that one. Don't fix what aint broken is what I heard.

I struggled with this for a bit, but I have to say it. Operation Spooner may have been aptly named, take a look at Lysander Spooner wiki article, specifically regarding the postal monopoly, am I just reaching here or what?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysander_Spooner

Now I'm not saying lets SPAM them, lol that is stupid. I'm just saying if you're
in casual conversation with one of them tell them. Thanks.

 

[Scribbler de Stebbing]

Wouldn't hurt for RP to get some radio ads in Iowa. They're not that expensive and as I've said before, the straw poll is everything right now.

We all know that the only reason RP is not doing better in the polls is because people haven't heard of him. Yet, according to the AP, there are plenty of undecided voters out there WANTING to hear about Ron Paul.

 

[Lord Xar]

This seems a little odd. T. Thompson starts running radio ads yesterday and today it's a news story in the Des Moines Register. I'd say in all the time he's spent here visiting with Iowans he's heard repeatedly about the illegal immigration problem so he's tailored his message toward that in an effort to score in Ames. His campaign is finished if he doesn't blow away expectations in Ames.

I just find it strange that the paper made a story out of someone buying radio time:


Republican presidential candidate Tommy Thompson started airing a radio advertisement Monday outlining his plan for immigration reform.

Thompson, former Wisconsin governor and former director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, starts the 60-second ad by saying he is a descendant of German and Irish immigrants.

Thompson opposes any legislation creating a path to citizenship for immigrants who are in the country illegally. "First, no amnesty," he says in the ad.

Thompson says he would complete the security wall between the United States and Mexico within the first 150 days of his presidency and pardon two border patrol agents convicted of shooting a Mexican drug-smuggler.

Thompson would require noncitizens who want to work in the United States to have tamper-proof ID cards. He would penalize employers who do not verify the cards of the people they hire.

He would also require people who want to become American citizens to learn English. "It's the language of opportunity and success in the U.S.," Thompson says.

The radio advertisement is airing statewide, according to the Thompson campaign.

Well, he is doing the smart move and one I think the Ron Paul campaign is totally neglecting.... illegal immigration. Ron has a strong stance yet you would NEVER KNOW IT.

This is a HUGE issue in America and unfortunetly, other candidates, are taken it by the horns... Tancredo, Hunter, and Thompson and using it to their advantage... and its working. Tancredo is right behind Ron Paul in fundraising YET he has a smaller following.. or does he? My point being.. The liberty message is great.. but he needs to understand that AMERICAN'S also need the Illegal immigration message address... I am saying "illegal".

If he isn't gonna stretch out his message, then others will capitalize on it. Much to his chagrin.

Listen, people want to hear about liberty and freedom IF you intend to also deal with things that are palatable to them...... one is the war, and two is the illegal immigration issue... that is what they are living with EVERYDAY!!! He needs to taper his "greater" message with more "real" issues too.. else he will be bombed out.. IMHO.

 

[Orat]

I've gotten word that National *did not* order Spooner shut down. I think there was apparently a miscommunication somewhere.

 

[Dave]

I've gotten word that National *did not* order Spooner shut down. I think there was apparently a miscommunication somewhere.

I was just picking up some 4X8 Ron Paul signs over the lunch hour and I heard the same thing (second hand, admittedly).