New Year's In Des Moines
By TalkLeft Monday Dec 31, 2007 12:03pmHi everyone, Jeralyn from TalkLeft here filling in for John Amato. It's beyond cold in Des Moines -- we'll be in the single digits all day with a wind chill factor of 15 to 25 below zero.
Jane of Firedoglake and I had a fun New Years' Eve starting with dinner with 30 or so national reporters and other caucus followers in the wine room at 801 Grand, organized by David Shuster of MSNBC. Joe Trippi with the Edwards campaign joined the group -- he was in good spirits -- Jane will have a post up on her encounter with Trippi in about an hour. Tim Tagaris, Chris Dodd's internet director was also with us -- at 11 p.m. he got a text message telling him to report for duty at 8 a.m! After dinner Jane, her friend Linda and I headed down to the Court District, where the bars were overflowing with people and champagne.
At dinner, the topic was the new Des Moines Register poll -- and its obvious flaws. While it shows Obama ahead, it is far too top-heavy on independent voters. They also used a strange turn-out model.
A large crowd is pouring into a restaurant next door to the hotel as I write this -- it's a Joe Biden event. I've got to log off now as we are heading over to a Mitt Romney event. Tonight we'll be at a John Edwards get together. I'll be updating this thread with news from both so please stop back.
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Oh Jeralyn , How did I know you would start right off with the PROBLEMS of the DR poll.
Geezzzzzzzzzz first the anti-Obama Taylor Marsh nonsense now this, C&L about to become a part of DLC central, just like Armando and talk left . Interesting Joe Trippi was with ALL the MSM reporters put together by David Shuster who has been shilling for Edwards. Where were the obama people and the Biden people, NOT INVITED, of course not, when you want Hillary to win you pump up Edwards. Geezzz at least you guys don't try and disguise your agenda!
Cleaning up The Mess that won't end in your Lifetime.
I feel bad for you younger people. Real bad.
Uh, sorry but...WHO CARES?!
Beware the manufactured individuality of capitalist consumerism.
A couple thousand people are gonna decide the fate of this country? Bullcrap! Who is pushing this stuff? The MSM, and who are they? Everyone who is wining and dining in Iowa! What bullshit! How long would this go on if not for all the idiots who have been driving back and forth in a jerk water state! They will be lucky to get a 10% turnout! You media people created this and now just like welfare office people, if they got people jobs they wouldn't have a job-- you're pushing the importance of Iowa, I'm losing a lot of respect for bloggers who have now thought they are important way beyond their contributions! When firedoglake and the others start dodging bullets in Afghanistan your still just bloggers!
Franco @ 1:
Hamlet Act I, Scene 4
Horatio:
He waxes desperate with imagination.
Marcellus:
Let's follow. 'Tis not fit thus to obey him.
Horatio:
Have after. To what issue will this come?
Marcellus:
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.
Horatio:
Heaven will direct it.
Marcellus:
Nay, let's follow him.
Vote Obama 2008
Franco @ 1:
I agree. And I hope Barack Obama wins the hell out of this thing. www.BarackObama.com. Come on C&L.
Gee, C & L, first Taylor Marsh bashing Obama and now Jerralyn Merritt saying the Des Moines Register poll is so flawed. I don't recall Merritt attacking the DNR when they endorsed her gal. Keep it up and you will be about as "fair and balanced" as Fox News. And yes, Jerralyn, I agree with another poster above: [deleted--the policy of remaining civil extends to our contributers as well.]
#6-Dan
Obama is against the immediate withdrawal of the troops from that slaughterhouse in Iraq, which Kucinich supports. Obama believes in keeping the option open for bombing Iran, thereby causing the deaths of many thousands of innocent Iranians, which Kucinich is against. Obama is against the idea of impeaching Cheney and Bush, which Kucinich logically supports. Obama's health care plan keeps the insurance companies in the equation, which places profit over people, while Kucinich supports universal health care, which would cover everyone in this country, including the uninsured. Looking at Obama, one quickly realizes [or at least should realize] that beneath all his fine oratory and charisma, all that glitters is not gold.
L.A. Confidential @ 2:
I'm with ya, L.A. I think during the Great Depression people didn't have it as bad as it's going to get. I'm old and my time is about over but I weep for my child and her children. I weep for all those who come after.
There is too much hatred now. Too much religion. Too many guns.
It is a bit concerning that two top stories on C&L in such a quick procession were anti-Obama by virtue of being misleading.
When are people going to start thinking, why the hell is IOWA always determining the direction the country is going to take on National Elections?
It is obvious, that many of the major blogs are becoming or have become what they despise. But I have trust in John Amato, he won't let that happen here.
ConcernedCanuck @ 14:
Heh...
In this country, it seems that there actually are people who care about frivolous stories and who's having coffee with who, and what pant suit Hillary is wearing, and whether or not they saw Obama smoking a cigarette.
It's the Paris Hilton effect. The media bombards one with so much nonsense it becomes an accepted norm.
Bud @ 16:
We were just funnin' with her. Sheesh. I reckon I better be nice now.
Jo @ 12:
I'm with you. It's over for me too. All thats left is wrapping things up. But what concerns me more then anything is that when hatred, religion, superstition, and ideology are put into a life survival state the thin veneer of civilization disappears very quickly.
Is Hillary Clinton running?
The only reference I have seen to her in the last month is when someone dumps on her.
The top 3 Democratic candidates (Hillary, Obama, and Edwards) are not going to make change if elected to the office of the presidency and neither will any of the republican candidates. Sad, sad, sad...
Erroll @ 9:
Kucinich, Dodd, and Gravel are the only candidates who would make the republican candidates & the top 3 Democratic candidates sit up straight in a debate and who would force them to explain why they supported George Bush and his atrocious policies over the years (Iraq, illegal wiretaps, spitting on our rights, attack on Iran, torture, tax cuts, war funding, etc.).
odanny @ 16:
Youthful Optimism isn't a bad thing.
But the truth is economic reality is knock knock knocking at the door. The charade of permanent prosperity based on getting something for nothing is over.
Thanks for all your great work Jeralyn
There were no Hillary or Obama people at the dinner. With the exception of Trippi, and Tim Tagaris from Dodd, it was all reporters or writers.
We're in the car now on the way to a Romney football house party where we may or may not get in. Jane wants to go to the Huckabee event tonight instead of an Edwards thing. I'm not as interested in covering the Republicans.
As for bias, your comments are well-taken since on TalkLeft I favor Hillary and Edwards and haven't decided between the two. (Big Tent Democrat's thoughts are his own. ) I will make an effort on C&L from here on out to be neutral or present both sides. That said, blogging is most fun when it is about individual perceptions. That's why we have comments so you can chime in with your own.
Thanks
I'm a boomer but I never completely bought into the system like many of my contemporaries. My life philosophy has been take some, leave some. Avoid the "me" syndrome. Don't be a show off.
Just to set the record straight.
Keep up the good work, Jeralyn. Some people would bitch if they got hung with a new rope.
Jeralyn @ 24:
I bet you two are thrilled and overwhelmed at all the excitement.
LOL . . Sorry, couldn't help myself. You two did bring wool socks with you didn't you? The feet are usually the first to freeze up and malfunction in this kind of weather.
jack foster @ 27:
She is kind of cute too.
;-)
why is anyone in Iowa even answering the phone anymore. If I lived there, I wouldn't be. This nonsense has gone on long enough.
Jeralyn @ 24:
When you say "both sides" I hope that isn't exclusive to Edwards and Hillary.
foolme1ns @ 30:
The battles of the 1960s in this country, even 40 years later, have not been brought to a conclusion and a lot of that stuff was still boiling in 1992-93 and is still boiling today.
It's not complicated.
Thanks Jeralyn; good to see you on C&L.
OBAMA is going to win in IOWA. Make it happen.
BlueTooth @ 31:
Well to be truthful I get a sense many kids who are just beginning to become politically aware might not have appreciated just how good they had it during William Jefferson Clinton. Those who turned 18-20 in 1999.
The Cons have somewhat successfully used the internet to convince young people the absolute worst thing they can do if they want prosperity and change is to vote for a Democratic President. And that the better choice is to support a candidate who hasn't a chance at being elected front runner. And vote for a spoiler just to be on the safe side.
Hideous and diabolical stuff. Even if Clinton won your still going to get a democratic cabinet and the benefits of thinkers like Dennis, Obama, and Edwards who will be involved in policy.
L.A. Confidential @ 35:
By Hideous and diabolical stuff I was referring to the Cons.
Off Topic: What is up with www.BuyBlue.org? This was a favorite site of mine. I wonder if there is anything we at C&L can do to get this site back up and running.
Translation: Divide and Conquer! The greatest Con Game in Town.
Jeralyn @ 24:
Hey Jeralyn. This is a first at least from what I have seen about someone blogging from the campaign trails on a more wide ranging individual level concerning all of the candidates. I must admit, I do not cruise many blogs. I just go to the ones I like which are usually the ones that let me make comments on various topics. I always like to voice my opinion. Your blogging from Iowa kind of puts people like me right there in the middle of the action or as the case with some candidates, bordom in Iowa. All I can get from the cable networks are a bunch of stats and charts about the campaigns. There really is no personal detail involved on those channels.
On another note, maybe you should attend the Huckabee dinner or what ever it is. I would like to see if Huckabee brought along his pheasants and his Elmer Fudd hunting costume. :lol: That might be good for a few laughs anway. Next, if you happen to see Mitt Romney outside I would like to know if his hair moves in the wind. I am convinced that he uses some sort of cement to keep in place. :lol:
I am looking forward to your next post. :)
Live blogging from Iowa!
Sweet
Jason B @ 11:
Curious, no?
L.A. Confidential @ 35:
A bit early for such determinism, don't you think?
Jeralyn @ 23:
..At least she's honest about her bias...vote Billary and get more of the same !
jack foster @ 26:
not me !ive been hung with old rope and the dam thing broke!!!!!!!!dissapointed to many folks!
Jo @ 10:
I agree 1000%.
foolme1ns @ 29:
Damn straight. We're looking forward to plugging the phone back in on Friday.
Edwards people have every reason to be upbeat. They have run a great campaign in Iowa. While my first choice is Obama, we could do a whole lot worse than Edwards.
Let me see....
Huckabee
McCain
Fred Thompson
Giuliani
etc.
Somebody Has Honesty Issues
What the WP failed to note is there has been other polls giving Hillary leads up to 7 points. LA Times/Bloomberg with a 6 point lead for Clinton, American Res. Group with a 7 point lead, and ReutersC-Span/Zogby giving her a 4 point lead did not get the kind of press the Des Moines Register poll has gotten.
Sometimes subtle, other times outrageous, the media, WP included, will not give the Democratic front runner the same kind of press they are giving the second place guy. So, what is the motive for this one sided slow degradation of Clinton?
The Democrats have a huge following over the Republican caucus goers. The right has to erase this lead anyway they can. First, they must get rid of the front runner. Once they have made the Democrats chose the second place guy, it will be time to go after them, who ever that is,with a vengeance.
This dynamic, bashing the front runner, has highlighted something of concern. How much influence should the media have over our process of choosing our next president? Right now, and don't be fooled by the hyped complaints about a left-wing bias, the conservatives have the media advantage. All you have to do is turn to CNN, Fox news, and MSNBC to see that bias. MSNBC's shows have been spending most of their airing time bashing Clinton. Watch Chris Matthew's Hardball. His show needs to change its name to "the lets beat up on Hillary hour."
It is one sided and somewhat concealed to influence who will be our next president. I say write your representatives and tell them you want it to stop. It will be one of the most important contact you make for the year.
Joseph
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