And so it begins....the personal attacks have started

[Debi]

The article is actually about several issues, just a note that Blouin is done w/his whisper campaign and is attacking outright now....this is going to be a long four months.

<snip>
The candidates rarely engaged each other. One exception was when Blouin touted his support for ethanol production and said Culver "doesn't know what he's talking about" when it comes to renewable energy.

Afterwards, Blouin said he wasn't making a personal attack, but merely wanted to highlight his own expertise on the subject.

Culver did not reply. On renewable energy, Culver is proposing that the state invest in attracting manufacturers who would build equipment that uses locally-produced fuels.

Blouin said that approach would give the state too little bang for its buck.
<snip>




http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2006/02/04/news/politics/03cddc8d52650dd68625710b001d8484.txt

[rurallib]

1. All the while Nussle plays like W in front of hand-picked crowds

Makes him look like a leader - refuses to appear with VPlaats. Such bullshit but it plays well. When Iowa touts its education heritage you wonder how they could be fooled by the likes of Nussle and W.

[Debi]

2. Isn't it odd that Vander Plaats doesn't seem to mind that Nussle never

shows? Shouldn't he at least mention it? Is he really running for Gov? Of course, Nussle is WAY to busy destroying our Federal Government to RUN for office, that's why we should just hand over the crown and scepter

[rurallib]

3. Yeah - you'd think his strategery would be to challenge the

presumed leader and try to get him in a face-to-face appearance. At least that used to be a good strategy. I'd guess they must have made a pact not to bloody each other as the Dems do a party bloodletting. That a repub winning is more important than an individual.

[tom2]

4. Not that much of an attack

Actually, Blouin's comments don't seem to be much of a personal attack. If that is all the nastier the primary campaign gets, then I will be happy. I think the primary will be a big boost to whoever gets the nomination, unless our guys start beating up on each other. I hope they keep it civil and let the best candidate win the primary.

I remain neutral, though I like Fallon on the issues, and probably Blouin the least. Culver may win it, and I can support him, but he is not all that impressive in person.

[Debi]

5. It's the death of a thousand paper cuts

(or something like that)

It's not so much what Blouin said, it's that he implied that Culver is uneducated and inferior in his intellect. (Kent Dorfman....a big lug...etc.) Blouin is doing publicly what his supporters have been doing privately all summer. Saying that Culver is just a big, dumb jock who doesn't know the issues and we should trust Big Poppa Blouin to take care of us (you know, from the lunch room to the board room). Who's fault is it that Culver beat Blouin out of the blocks with a plan? Blouin's.

It's the whisper campaign, it's his campaign saying to the alternative press that Chet has peaked, it's the photos you'll soon see of Chet w/his tie undone or an unflattering photo of him eating (or something like it...it'll come you just wait). It's classic Vilsack campaigning, don't promote your positives, but your opponent's negatives.

I had to laugh when Blouin attacked Chet's fund raising only to have Culver's campaign turn it back on Blouin - or when Culver received a couple of recent endorsements when Blouin was supposed to be the only 'man of the people'. A recent article in the W/CF Courier was all about the support Blouin has - the reporter obviously didn't leave the rotunda of the statehouse because outside of elected officials (that Vilsack has bullied into endorsements) Blouin hasn't gotten a whole lotta love. Blouin HAS to step up his attacks because he isn't doing as well as he was supposed to be doing by this time. He HAS to tear Culver down because he's doing better than expected. Has nothing to do with issues or Iowa or people. YUCK.

Is it June yet???

[tom2]

6. I wish it was June

I am holding my breadth that it will not get nastier than it already has. So far it has been politics as usual, but it really could escalate, as you suggest.

[Broke Dad]

7. On the other hand . . .

Let me start by saying that I have not picked a Dem for Governor yet . . .

But, I have worked with Ed Fallon, Patty Judge, Mike Blouin and Chet Culver . . .

Ed Fallon is probably the brightest guy in the race, but in the Iowa House, he has played the role of the "prophet in the desert" rather than a consensus builder for change. Governor Lone Wolf doesn't work, especially in Iowa. . .

Patty Judge is a brawler. Nobody tells Patty what to do and that's a blessing and a curse. She has the Southern Iowa chip on her shoulder that plays well in rural Iowa but is the kiss of death in the major cities where the votes are. She also started the game late and gets along a little too well with Big Pork. But Patty is not a quitter and she is a quick study . . . She could spank Nussle at every turn and look like the Iowa grandmother she is while doing it . . . But what about money??? And the Vilsack factor? Patty and Vilsack have NEVER gotten along. Would he sabotage her campaign if she won the primary?????

Mike Blouin is a nice guy. Period. Mike gives one helluva sermon when he is "on." He is also the insiders insider. Mike actually talks to legislators, not at them. Big difference from the other top candidates. That's how he got all of the endorsements for legislators. The $64,000 question is whether he can reach anybody outside of the business community and political power structure? Mike is a consensus builder and a steady hand. CEO material. The question is whether the Gov is CEO or inspirational leader? That's for each of us to decide when we step into the voting booth.

Chet Culver is ambitious. Never hid it. Has looks and money. Has been running for Governor since he was elected Sec of State. Has hired a great staff. Modernized the whole Sec of State organization. But . . . has the Culver temper and fires staff that other pols would kill to hire every time he is in a snit. Has virtually no relationship with the Iowa Legislature. Actually, has made more than a few enemies. Might actually be the anti-consensus builder . . . a lot of legislators were willing to kiss HAVA federal money goodbye rather than accept it under the terms that Culver proposed. Culver is getting better at speaking, proof that he is coachable . . . but nobody in Des Moines will mistake him for a Rhodes scholar.

So while I know Debi loves Chet, the feeling is not universal . . . Let's keep things a little more positive when we are discussing our candidates. They all have strengths and weaknesses.

[Debi]

8. Nice piece and you are correct.

My lack of diplomacy is why I will never be able to run for office myself. x(

[amesdem]

9. A democratic problem! (Fallon)

The points you brought up are at the very heart of many problems among current democratic leaders. We lack a sense of unity. Seeking the Ed Fallon track we all look for some type of moral leader with all the Clinton characteristics. Should we continue to do this?

I don't know. Yet, in the wake of problems shattering our current government and the foundation of the American values we continue to bicker among ourselves determined to find the perfect candidate. When the reality of our situation should have us combining efforts to win seats and take back our country. Get Democrats in office and then move the country on those basic democratic ideals. We currently have 5 democrats running hard for this primary, repubs have 2. We have already started the negative attacks and we are simply imploding. We as Iowans looking for a progressive candidate and change in the policy of our government, both locally and nationally, need to support the most electable candidate with the strongest possibility of destroying Nussle before the general.

I find Fallon as a hinderness to the change needed in this country. He'll lose the primary, then enter as an independent and steal 4-5% from our candidate. Maybe I'm not as idealistic as most of you on here, but in the game of politics we need to understand the reality and fight for what we need, not what the ideal situation would be.

[Debi]

10. I don't believe that Fallon would drop his principles just for an election

I don't see him turning away from the Democratic Party if he loses the primary (in fact, I believe he would work with the nominee to ensure a Democrat is elected and his reforms promoted and enacted). Sure Fallon has bucked the Party about the current 'Go-Along-To-Get-Along' philosophy, but HOPEFULLY when Vilsack leaves office our new Governor will promote the Democratic Agenda. (And blame the republicans for not wanting bi-partisan solutions when they don't like our ideas - as it is Vilsack acts more like them than a Democrat).