Based on my survey of yard signs in Wellman today, "For Sale" leads Ron Paul by a small margin. There were seven, maybe eight, Ron Paul yard signs. No other candidate had signs on display. The Rick Perry one I got Thursday will remain in the trunk of my car until Wednesday when I add it to my classroom collection.
Does this mean anything? Well, there are a fair number of houses for sale in town, for one. Beyond that it is a matter of speculation but since all the media types can speculate, I suppose I can as well.
For one, the lack of signs on display reflects a lack of interest, or at least passion for a particular candidate. In a primary this may not matter but in a caucus, it can make a big difference. Based on past experience, quite a few people who go to the caucus haven't made up their minds as to which candidate they will support. They may lean towards one or another, but they can easily be steered to another candidate by a neighbor, friend, or even an acquaintance who acts like he knows what he is talking about. This means a neighbor, especially a respected one, can if he or she chooses, persuade folks to vote for their candidate. Sticking a sign in your yard requires minimal commitment but it does require that you be willing to explain to folks who ask, why you are supporting that candidate.
The lack of signs also reflects to a certain degree the lack of organization displayed by most of the Republican candidates. Paul is supposed to have one of the best organizations this year and it shows. It may not seem like much, but once the signs are made, someone has to get them delivered to town and to the people who are willing to display them. It also requires getting people to show up at your campaign appearances where more signs can be distributed. If you are well organized someone will follow up with a phone call to make sure the sign is actually being displayed. I know a fair number of people who like to collect all the political stuff, meaning they are happy to take a sign, but there ain't no way they are going to put it in their yard.
With the caucus scheduled for Jan. 3, my guess, unscientific though it may be, is that Ron Paul will win the Wellman precinct. Wellman isn't all that big but the votes make a difference. Four years ago, on the Democratic side the top three finishers were Obama, Edwards and Clinton. Edwards came in second statewide, two delegates ahead of Clinton. That was the margin by which Edwards beat Clinton in Wellman.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Rick Perry
Rick Perry visited Washington this morning so I drove to Kalona, picked up my niece visiting from Pennsylvania, and headed down to the Corner Coffee shop. We got there 30-40 minutes before his scheduled arrival and made our way in to the shop. I am fairly certain they had originally scheduled him to be in the new library but we met in the coffee shop. The library bans concealed weapons and maybe he didn't want to go without his for a few minutes, plus the crowd seemed bigger crammed into a much smaller space.
A bunch of old guys had staked out the prime seats and a young kid was wearing his army uniform so you knew he was going to get some attention. Just a few minutes before 10, Perry entered the room. Leading the processional were a couple of local ministers and some of Perry's security team. It was hard to tell the difference since they were all wearing sport coats, had short hair, and the earnest, yet serious look, preachers and security guys often have.
The minister of the Marion Ave Baptist church, Rev. Joe Brown, introduced Perry as a man of God, a true conservative, and a man who would restore traditional American values. Shouts of "Amen" rang across the room and for a minute I thought I was going to hear a sermon.
Perry started off his remarks by taking some shots at Romney, though he didn't mention his name. Then he wailed on Rick Santorum for a few minutes, decrying his use of earmarks when he was in the Senate. When I got home I saw Santorum has moved to third in some polls, likely at the expense of Perry, Bachmann, and maybe Newt Gingrich. He skipped over Ron Paul and then took some shots at Obama and Congress. He repeated his proposal for a part-time Congress, criticized "Washington insiders" and wasteful spending. He threw in a story about his father and small town values, thanked the soldiers for their service, and then said the soldiers coming home from Iraq should have a parade to honor their service. "I want to give them a parade." My guess is most of them just want to go home.
Perry took questions for about 10-12 minutes. They were fairly typical, easy questions which allowed him to rail on Congress, Obamacare, the EPA, government regulations, promise to always support Israel, build military spending, criticize ethanol subsidies, and take some shots at public education. "The ultimate show of love and faith is for a parent to home school their child." During his answers he threw in references to Isaiah, scriptures, and faith several times. I raised my hand, he said "one more question," and he picked someone from the other side of the room.
My impressions: Why does the guy need 3-5 security guys in small town Iowa? One stood directly in front of me, blocking my view and the little kids in front of me. It seemed a bit much, making me wonder, what is he afraid of and why is he so scared?
He didn't offer one single specific proposal to deal with the problems the country is facing. He did say he want's to make Congress part-time, and that he wants a balanced budget amendment but didn't say how he would cut the deficit. He said he wants to get rid of "Obamacare" but didn't say how he would deal with the 46 million uninsured people and the rest of us facing rising healthcare costs. He offered simplistic, soundbite solutions to massive problems. The sad thing was, people there seemed to swallow all of it hook, line and sinker.
Perry seemed personable and friendly, though my niece and I could never quite make it by his security team or phalanx of pastors. I think the US would be much better off if he stayed in Texas and gave up his run for the Presidency. Right now I would guess he will finish 4th or 5th in the caucus, after Romney, Paul and Santorum. He may beat Newt for 4th, and he should finish ahead of Bachmann who is tanking rather badly.
On the way out, one of the staffers handed me a yard sign and asked if I wanted to be a precinct captain. I said no and he asked if I would be a precinct partner. I said no, but asked if I could have the sign for my classroom. He let go, so I took it. I did think that they are rather late at looking for precinct captains. When I agreed to do it for Edwards four years ago, I was going to training sessions already in October. Then the Obama staffer was after me to join with them into November, promising me I could help, as they already had captains for Wellman. Again, I find it amazing that some of these guys are so unorganized when it comes to running a campaign in Iowa.
A bunch of old guys had staked out the prime seats and a young kid was wearing his army uniform so you knew he was going to get some attention. Just a few minutes before 10, Perry entered the room. Leading the processional were a couple of local ministers and some of Perry's security team. It was hard to tell the difference since they were all wearing sport coats, had short hair, and the earnest, yet serious look, preachers and security guys often have.
The minister of the Marion Ave Baptist church, Rev. Joe Brown, introduced Perry as a man of God, a true conservative, and a man who would restore traditional American values. Shouts of "Amen" rang across the room and for a minute I thought I was going to hear a sermon.
Perry started off his remarks by taking some shots at Romney, though he didn't mention his name. Then he wailed on Rick Santorum for a few minutes, decrying his use of earmarks when he was in the Senate. When I got home I saw Santorum has moved to third in some polls, likely at the expense of Perry, Bachmann, and maybe Newt Gingrich. He skipped over Ron Paul and then took some shots at Obama and Congress. He repeated his proposal for a part-time Congress, criticized "Washington insiders" and wasteful spending. He threw in a story about his father and small town values, thanked the soldiers for their service, and then said the soldiers coming home from Iraq should have a parade to honor their service. "I want to give them a parade." My guess is most of them just want to go home.
Perry took questions for about 10-12 minutes. They were fairly typical, easy questions which allowed him to rail on Congress, Obamacare, the EPA, government regulations, promise to always support Israel, build military spending, criticize ethanol subsidies, and take some shots at public education. "The ultimate show of love and faith is for a parent to home school their child." During his answers he threw in references to Isaiah, scriptures, and faith several times. I raised my hand, he said "one more question," and he picked someone from the other side of the room.
My impressions: Why does the guy need 3-5 security guys in small town Iowa? One stood directly in front of me, blocking my view and the little kids in front of me. It seemed a bit much, making me wonder, what is he afraid of and why is he so scared?
He didn't offer one single specific proposal to deal with the problems the country is facing. He did say he want's to make Congress part-time, and that he wants a balanced budget amendment but didn't say how he would cut the deficit. He said he wants to get rid of "Obamacare" but didn't say how he would deal with the 46 million uninsured people and the rest of us facing rising healthcare costs. He offered simplistic, soundbite solutions to massive problems. The sad thing was, people there seemed to swallow all of it hook, line and sinker.
Perry seemed personable and friendly, though my niece and I could never quite make it by his security team or phalanx of pastors. I think the US would be much better off if he stayed in Texas and gave up his run for the Presidency. Right now I would guess he will finish 4th or 5th in the caucus, after Romney, Paul and Santorum. He may beat Newt for 4th, and he should finish ahead of Bachmann who is tanking rather badly.
On the way out, one of the staffers handed me a yard sign and asked if I wanted to be a precinct captain. I said no and he asked if I would be a precinct partner. I said no, but asked if I could have the sign for my classroom. He let go, so I took it. I did think that they are rather late at looking for precinct captains. When I agreed to do it for Edwards four years ago, I was going to training sessions already in October. Then the Obama staffer was after me to join with them into November, promising me I could help, as they already had captains for Wellman. Again, I find it amazing that some of these guys are so unorganized when it comes to running a campaign in Iowa.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Home Town, Tracy Kidder
I was asked to read Home Town and after the first couple of pages I realized I had read it before. It was good enough I decided to finish reading it the second time.
Kidder takes us to Northampton, MA, the kind of town that exerts a hold on long term residents as well as those who move there for some reason. There are probably quite a few such towns or cities which seem to pull people in and make it difficult for people to leave. Right now, I'm sitting in the my house, in a town where I never thought I would live after graduating from high school. After fifteen years on the east coast we moved back and now 21 years later here I am. And trust me, this little town has a fifth of the charm or culture of Northampton.
Kidder tells the story through several characters. Tommy, the hometown boy who grows up to be a cop and then decides to try and join the FBI. Judge Ryan, another hometown boy who becomes a DA, then a quirky judge. A successful businessman who struggles with mental illness, a non traditional college student, and an immigrant who makes a living dabbling in drugs and petty crimes. As he tells the story of Northampton through these people, Kidder weaves in the some of cities illustrious history. This includes references to Jonathon Edwards, Sojourner Truth, and Henry James. He also recounts the lynchings of two young Irish immigrants in 1805. Here he shows that the good old days weren't always so good. Bigotry, hatred, and prejudice have a long and cherished tradition in American history, and Kidder doesn't shy away from telling the story.
I enjoyed reading about Northampton and the cast of characters Kidder presents. They are the kinds of folks who populate many small cities and towns. Some will stay to carry on the traditions. Many will leave for the big city. Some of these will never look back, others will hope to return, but if and when they do, they will find their hometown has changed. If the town is to survive, new folks will arrive and they will bring new ideas and ways of doing things. A healthy city will incorporate the best of the new, creating a new place a new generation will refer to as their "hometown."
Kidder takes us to Northampton, MA, the kind of town that exerts a hold on long term residents as well as those who move there for some reason. There are probably quite a few such towns or cities which seem to pull people in and make it difficult for people to leave. Right now, I'm sitting in the my house, in a town where I never thought I would live after graduating from high school. After fifteen years on the east coast we moved back and now 21 years later here I am. And trust me, this little town has a fifth of the charm or culture of Northampton.
Kidder tells the story through several characters. Tommy, the hometown boy who grows up to be a cop and then decides to try and join the FBI. Judge Ryan, another hometown boy who becomes a DA, then a quirky judge. A successful businessman who struggles with mental illness, a non traditional college student, and an immigrant who makes a living dabbling in drugs and petty crimes. As he tells the story of Northampton through these people, Kidder weaves in the some of cities illustrious history. This includes references to Jonathon Edwards, Sojourner Truth, and Henry James. He also recounts the lynchings of two young Irish immigrants in 1805. Here he shows that the good old days weren't always so good. Bigotry, hatred, and prejudice have a long and cherished tradition in American history, and Kidder doesn't shy away from telling the story.
I enjoyed reading about Northampton and the cast of characters Kidder presents. They are the kinds of folks who populate many small cities and towns. Some will stay to carry on the traditions. Many will leave for the big city. Some of these will never look back, others will hope to return, but if and when they do, they will find their hometown has changed. If the town is to survive, new folks will arrive and they will bring new ideas and ways of doing things. A healthy city will incorporate the best of the new, creating a new place a new generation will refer to as their "hometown."
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