First thoughts: Rudy's two big weeks

Posted: Thursday, September 20, 2007 9:00 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: First Thoughts

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro

*** Rudy’s Two Big Weeks: For a second week in a row, it appears that Giuliani is well on his way of "owning" the week as far as the GOP primary is concerned. Last week, he used the MoveOn ad as a way to steal Petraeus week from McCain (politically, of course). And this week's trip to London -- which he’ll likely talk about at a press avail in Reston, VA today -- is giving Giuliani an opportunity to look "presidential." But the big event for Giuliani comes tomorrow when he addresses the NRA. If he is able to convince them that he won't be an enemy, he just might get over the final conservative hurdle. There's NO chance he'll get the NRA's endorsement -- but if he can simply keep the group on the sidelines during the primary, he can claim a mini victory.

*** Does This Help Rudy Even More? The AP gets its hands on a private email from Focus on the Family’s James Dobson, in which the evangelical leader demonstrates that he’s no fan of Fred Thompson. "Isn't Thompson the candidate who is opposed to a Constitutional amendment to protect marriage, believes there should be 50 different definitions of marriage in the U.S., favors McCain-Feingold, won't talk at all about what he believes, and can't speak his way out of a paper bag on the campaign trail?" Dobson says in the email. "He has no passion, no zeal, and no apparent 'want to.' And yet he is apparently the Great Hope that burns in the breasts of many conservative Christians? Well, not for me, my brothers. Not for me!" Is this a sign that the evangelical community isn’t crazy about any of the GOP front-runners?

*** Waiting For Andy Stern: The news out of the SEIU yesterday -- that its endorsement comes down to Clinton, Edwards, and Obama -- was probably bad news for one candidate more than any other: Edwards. The fact that he didn't get the endorsement the "normal" way, and the fact that the union is also considering the two Dem candidates doing better in the national polls than Edwards is means that the former North Carolina senator has an extra hurdle to pass in picking up the unions much-coveted endorsement. That said, the SEIU’s decision to also strongly consider Clinton and Obama isn’t surprising given the union’s power bases in Illinois and New York. And at the end of the day, isn’t it more important whom the SEIU endorses? Not when?

*** Return To Sender: The Wall Street Journal writes about another possible bundler problem for the Clinton campaign. The bundler in question allegedly reimbursed a couple that each gave Clinton the max of $4,600. And, according to the paper, the Clinton announced it would return the combined $9,200. It’s no Norman Hsu story. But look how quickly the Clinton campaign was with returning the money…

*** Forum Time: Five Democratic presidential candidates -- Biden, Clinton, Chris Dodd, Edwards, and Richardson -- participate tonight at a forum in Davenport, IA on (for the most part) health care and retirement security issues. It’s sponsored by AARP and Iowa Public Television and moderated by PBS’s Judy Woodruff. There are three absences: Obama, whose campaign has announced it won’t attend most non-DNC sanctioned debates and forums, and Gravel and Kucinich, who didn’t meet the organizers’ requirements to have active campaigns in Iowa. Organizers aren’t too pleased that Obama isn’t attending. "It's really an opportunity for him to talk about these issues," he said. "We're really disappointed he's not going to be there," Bruce Koeppl, campaign manager of the AARP-backed voter outreach effort that is spearheading the forum, tells NBC/National Journal’s Carrie Dann. Is Obama’s absence a boon to Clinton? After all, if there is a profile of the most likely caucus-goer in Iowa, that person just might be a member of the AARP. Some 68,000 Iowa AARP members have previously caucused.

*** What’s Cooler -- The AARP Or The “Human Highlight Film”? Instead of participating at the AARP forum, Obama hits an event in Atlanta with former NBA star Dominique Wilkins and performing artist Usher. (Yeah!) This comes less than a week after Clinton attended a fundraiser featuring another NBA star, Magic Johnson.

*** On The Trail: Elsewhere, Biden campaigns in Iowa before the AARP forum; Brownback stumps in South Carolina; Giuliani travels back across the pond to hold a press avail in Reston, VA; Huckabee is in South Carolina; McCain hits a fundraiser in Northern Virginia; Paul hosts a tugboat ride and dinner in Michigan; and Thompson, in Dallas, holds a press conference on Iran.

Countdown to LA GOV election: 30 days
Countdown to Election Day 2007: 47 days
Countdown to LA GOV run-off (if necessary): 58 days
Countdown to Iowa: 116 days
Countdown to SC GOP primary: 121 days
Countdown to Tsunami Tuesday: 138 days
Countdown to Election Day 2008: 411 days
Countdown to Inauguration Day 2009: 488 days

EMAIL THIS

Comments

Good morning America,yes Bush continues to suck. That is all.

Z (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 9:08 AM)

Hillary continues to have problems with money people. No problem getting money, just dealing with sleazy people.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 9:23 AM)

Tootsie goes to London. Looks like a B Grade movie that Fred Thompson might actually star in. I wonder what kind of dress Rudy wore.

Dickie Flatts, Charlotte, NC (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 9:42 AM)

AARP just another Insurance Company. The devils that worked like the devil to help pass the ripoff called Prescription Drugs for seniors. The best sleazy people getting more money for the sleazy drug companies.
Good for you Obama, stay far away from SMP (sleazy money people) AKA, AARP!

H P Boston (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 9:45 AM)

Little j prefers sleazy Dobson for his pal around time.
Now there is a sleazy money person the repukes go to for money and free ads.

H P Boston (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 9:49 AM)

The nutjob right will be happy with no less than a continuation of the dreadful bush days of deficits and chickenhawks starting wins they can't finish...

Rick, WS, NC (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 10:06 AM)

GW didn't have any problem with Ken Lay's money. He just told everyone it was none of their business and kept it. Guess that's the difference between Republicans dealing with dirty money and Democrats.

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 10:16 AM)

Thompson can't be all bad if Dobson doesn't care for him.

nuanced (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 10:18 AM)

HP Boston, I so agree with your assessment. My mother ended up paying much more for her prescriptions. Needless to say, she will be voting straight Democrat for the first time ever.

Ravine Force, Kissimmee, FL (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 10:20 AM)

Countdown to LA governor race is 30days. Could we have a report on the outlook?

nuanced (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 10:23 AM)

allegedly reimbursed a couple that each gave Clinton the max of $4,600...

HaHa

To HRC,

SHOW ME THE MONEY!
Is that the FBI is knockin'?
Birds of a feather flock (to prison). Jailbirds.
She's 60 yrs old and still jailbait.Aahahahahaaa
Same old Hillary, same old tricks, same old friends...

Hsu, by any other name... (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 10:32 AM)

these forums are largely unproductive. I think Obama is doing the right thing in putting his foot down. They take up alot of time that could be spent with voters.
I do think many organizers are upset because the big draw to these things is Obama. I noticed how little is paid attention to the ones he has not attended.
For all her frontrunner numbers in polls, Hillary is not drawing the viewers to these things.
It's odd that she has the polling but, outside that she is not stirring the interest, the crowds or the viewers where she goes. this is why I concider her polling to be largely media generated. People are not that interested in her but, the media is.

diane (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 10:35 AM)

Are these people real? Yes, real stupid.

Notafool (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 10:38 AM)

I gues it is more important to attend a rally with famous people than to speak about the issues with concerned Iowa voters. To each his own.

Carrie, Eastern Iowa (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 10:39 AM)

"Guess that's the difference between Republicans dealing with dirty money and Democrats.
John B, Des Moines, IA"

Yep John, that's the difference. Republicans don't want to rub your sensitive nose in it, so keep quiet. And if pushed tell you to shove it, cause the Democrats do it.
Democrats are still crooks but its OK because they 'might' give the money back to someone. Oh and the damn Republicans did it first.
Sounds like the only difference is the Republicans have some balls.

Hsu-t me now (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 10:40 AM)

Nuanced: A republican victory in LA.

HP: You have your own little problem with Ted Kennedy, a murderer of women.

He is no different then O J Simpson

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 10:45 AM)

Hey, Carrie !! HP Boston !!
Let's work together on this......

Do you two ever think about Nicole Simpson ?

She would have made a GREAT Running back !!
She was MARRIED to OJ for YEARS !!
I’m SURE she watched him run with the football !!
She learned how to head fake and stiff arm !!
She was really ‘experienced’, wasn’t she H P ??

She was qualified to be the FIRST WOMAN IN THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME !!!
What do you think, Carrie? HP ?
Nicole Simpson should be elected to the Hall of Fame !!

Nicole Simpson more ‘experienced’ than anyone !!

Just like Hillary, huh??

Nicole and Hillary,
The most 'experienced' candidates !!

Sierra, SF (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 10:45 AM)

Carrie, just how many times do candidates have to come to Iowa? It is stupid that New Hampshire and Iowa take up so much of a candidates time and money right off. California, Michigan and Florida are much more important electoraly. Winning the race to hug the butter cow is not that important.

Alan in Phx (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 10:59 AM)

Speaking of the Republican candidates for Prez, James Dobsen finally got it right: "...and can't speak his (their) way out of a paper bag on the campaign trail?" Dobson says in an email. "He (they, the Republicans) has (have) no passion (except for tax cuts and continuing the war in Iraq), no zeal, and no apparent 'want to.' And yet he is (they are) apparently the Great Hope that burns in the breasts of many conservative Christians? Well, not for me, my brothers. Not for me!" Is this a sign that the evangelical community isn’t crazy about any of the GOP front-runners?" Yes - nor is anyone else. They're all Bush redux.

R.Merrell (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 11:00 AM)

H P Boston: '...Good for you Obama, stay far away from SMP (sleazy money people) AKA, AARP!...'

H P, I thought the 'sleazy money people' were the two HillRaisers, Norman Hsu and Peter Paul !!
You better give that advice to Hillary !!
The AARP was attacked by the Bush admin because they objected to the 'privatization' of Social Security.
They were one of the groups that stood up for us.

Ravine Force, Kissimmee, FL,
The AARP DIDN'T PASS the perscription drug bill.
The Republican Congress did !
There a 'slight' difference !

Hsu-t me now: '..Democrats are still crooks but its OK because they 'might' give the money back to someone. Oh and the damn Republicans did it first.
Sounds like the only difference is the Republicans have some balls.'

Hsu-t me now, Norman Hsu was a 'HillRaiser' not a DemRaiser.
Hillary is the crook !!
NOT the other Democrats !!
Bill Clinton introduced Norman Hsu as 'my friend' at the Kennedy Center.
None of the other Democratic candidates did that !!

Sierra, SF (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 11:02 AM)

A BAD REPUBLICAN IS A MILLION TIME BETTER AND A GOOD DEMOCRAT

RONALD JOSEPH (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 11:05 AM)

From the SF Chronicle: Obama endorsement splits California Black Legislative Caucus
Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer
Wednesday, September 19, 2007

'Just a week after the Legislature's black caucus announced - with fanfare - its endorsement of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama for president as "the only candidate that can unite people to get things done," two high-profile African American legislators have split publicly with their colleagues to back Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Democratic presidential contest.'

a MAJORITY of the Black caucus backed Obama !!
Two members backed Clinton

'...Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally, D-Compton (Los Angeles County), the state's former lieutenant governor and current chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus,...'

Mervyn Dymally is a politician that has had long standing ethical problems. That's why he couldn't retain his post as Lt. Governor. It's almost symbolic that he endorsed Clinton.

Sierra, SF (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 11:14 AM)

My mother ended up paying much more for her prescriptions. Needless to say, she will be voting straight Democrat for the first time ever.
Ravine Force, Kissimmee, FL

I hope your mother can afford to wait in line behind 20 million illegal immigrants that will be granted immeadiate access to any Democratic sponsored 'universal health'. Hillary put the estimated cost for the taxpayers at $110,000,000,000.00 PER Year.
$110 BILLION. PER YEAR. NEVER WILL BE LESS.
$110,000,000,000 A NUMBER THAT WILL ONLY GET LARGER.
Hillary on Healthcare "she called for a requirement for businesses to obtain insurance for employees, and said the wealthy should pay higher taxes to help defray the cost for those less able to pay for it. She put the "government's" cost at $110 billion a year.
So Ravine are you one of the 135 million non-farm employees that will have a new tax of $815.00 yearly? That is your part of $110 Billion dollars worth of "government expense", paid by taxpayers. And remember those taxpayers get the same waiting list as to see the doctor as the illegal immigrant gangster that floated over on the last boat from Cuba.

Buy your $815.00 share of HillBillary Healthcare. R.Popeil (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 11:27 AM)

Carrie,

Whether it is wise for Obama to stop attending any more forums he had not already committed to (at any location, Iowa, NH, Il, etc.) and only attend DNC sanctioned debates from here on out as his campaign announced prior to the Hawkeye Labor Forum on August 18th is debatable. However your claim "I guess it is more important to attend a rally with famous people than to speak about the issues with concerned Iowa voters. To each his own." shows not only your complete Hillary bias, but your hard on against Obama. I'm not supporting him in the caucus, but not because he isn't a fine person, and wouldn't make a good President, but rather because Sen. Biden, in my view is the most electable and most experienced candidate. If my only choice was Clinton or Obama it would be Obama all the way.

Given your undying support of Hillary, your slamming Obama, every chance you get is growing old! And often, like now, is the height of hypocrisy, which is why I really believe you are a paid Clinton staffer. Obama has been to Iowa far more times than Hillary
(at least 10 times more), and unlike Hillary he is not afraid to take audience questions. Hillary has not done so since she was repeatedly asked about her war authorization vote, and repeatedly tried to dodge the questions in Davenport in late January or early February. Since then she has not taken any unfiltered questions at events open to the public. I asked you yesterday how do you defend a candidate who refuses to take audience questions from voters in Iowa and NH (or anywhere else) and of course you didn't respond. If you can't defend your candidates refusal to take unfiltered questions at events open to the public, then how can you support her? I won't hold my breath waiting for an answer. But given your candidate is afraid to even take unfiltered questions at events you really shouldn't blast Obama for being afraid to speak to Iowans about the issues. Hillary will speak to Iowans at forums, or hold a rally, but speaking to, is not the same as speaking with, or having that "conversation" she talked about when she announced her candidacy. A conversation is two ways, she tried it once, did not like the questions, and won't do it any more. And yet some people talk about how strong she is? Get real!

Sara, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 11:41 AM)

Carrie,

Actually, Obama has said that he is skipping all of these forums that are not sanctioned by the DNC so that he can spend more time with the voters. If you checked barackobama.com you would see that he is going to be at 4 different events in Iowa on Friday & Saturday. Not forums but actual events where he can interact with the voters.

Jessica, Wisconsin (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 11:47 AM)

Sara..you are sooooooooo long winded and boring as hell. We believe so little you post because it is not verifiable. TMI, to much info, we can gather it for ourselves.
I am able to get my info on IOWA and a candidate if I feel the need.

H P Boston (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 12:29 PM)

Sierra, SF writes:

'Bill Clinton introduced Norman Hsu as 'my friend' at the Kennedy Center.'

Obviously you have not seen the latest, and I dare most accurate poll from the Clinton Institute that clearly shows 87% of Americans believe that Mr. Bill Clinton thought he was introducing Jackie Chan as his long time friend, not Mr. HSU, at the Kennedy Center on the evening in question. An all too common mistake that you yourself are probably guilty of, just look at the picture of Mr. HSU and you can not deny the uncanny resemblance. So next time before you attempt to slander the Clintons it would be wise to check the polls.

Facts can not be ignored Sierra, thus I am sorry that you now must take that longest walk to the summit of the trash heap.

Van

vanreuter, NY NY (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 12:36 PM)

Uh, Sierra, has it escaped your attention that Nicole Simpson was murdered, most likely at the hands of her ex husband? Way to respect the dead there, kiddo.

Carrie, Eastern Iowa (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 12:51 PM)

Sara - Your constant discourses on how wonderful Biden is are getting old too...but I don't challenge your right to support him..now do I?

And where have you been? My criticism of Obama is VERY mild compared to the crap that gets thrown around about Hillary day after endless day on here. I have said OVER AND OVER that I think Obama is a great man, and that he would probably be a good president. If you think I slam him, what do you call what people on here say about Hillary? Or is that okay since you hate Hillary too?

Have you apologized to me yet for personally attacking me? Perhaps when you do, I will answer any questions you have for me. Until then, as I said in my response to you last night, I don't feel the need to explain myself to people who are going to be insulting me for no reason other than that I like a different candidate than they do.

Carrie, Eastern Iowa (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 12:57 PM)

Thank you, Jessica, for the non-insulting response to what I said. I understand that he is not attending non-DNC sanctioned events. I still question the wisdom of it, as it would seem like a great time to address the differences in the health care plans with Clinton and Edwards right there in front of an audience of elderly people who are undoubtedly concerned about health care, but as I said before...to each his own.

Carrie, Eastern Iowa (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 12:59 PM)

Good afternoon America, yes Bush continues to "suck". That is all.

Z (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 2:18 PM)

Dobson is a left-wing pinko Guiliani fan that doesn't like Fred Thompson.

Okay, Thompson has my vote.

Mark Silverton, OR (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 2:22 PM)

I see the trash heap is back. Time to recycle while he drains his bilge.

There is a reason no one talks to him. Don't go there.

Mark Thieme (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 2:40 PM)

Carrie,

I have no interest in insulting anyone. You did say "to each his own" but you also said this:

"I gues it is more important to attend a rally with famous people than to speak about the issues with concerned Iowa voters. To each his own."

You are implying that Obama is not interested in speaking with voters about issues that are important to them and that is completely wrong. He feels he can address voters issues better by taking their questions and speaking directly to them instead of giving 30 second answers to questions in a debate or forum. I personally would prefer to be able to ask a candidate a question in person and have them be able to answer that question without a time limit. I am sure that this was a difficult decision for Obama to make but I have complete confidence that he did what he thought was best - even if it wasn't the easiest or most popular decision.

Jessica, Wisconsin (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 2:48 PM)

Carrie:
Sara asked you: '...I asked you yesterday how do you defend a candidate who refuses to take audience questions from voters in Iowa and NH (or anywhere else) and of course you didn't respond...'

You managed to dodge her question again, Carrie.
How do you defend Hillary's refusal to take unfiletered audience questions ?
Cat got your tongue ?
This technique sounds like George Bush's !!
I guess Hillary is too cowardly to explain her Iraq war vote !!

Care to defend her silence, Carrie ??

PS: the 'logic' you use to say Hillary has Presidential 'experience' makes as much sense as saying Nicole Simpson has football 'experience'

I didn't think you'd get it, Carrie

Sierra, SF (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 2:51 PM)

Oh boy, Hi liar y's health care fiasco.

I know three people that live in Canada, near Vancouver, and they come to the U.S. for their medical care. Hmm, I wonder why that is.

When they go see the doctor, in Canada, it's like going to the V.A. clinic. Be there at 8:00 a.m. and you might get to see the doctor that day. If you don't you have to come back the next day, or the next... Pick a number and be seated. The only people talking about how grand and glorious the Canadian healthcare system is are Americans. Hmmmm.

Let's see. I worked for minimum wage and it sucked. So I put myself through college, without welfare and while raising three children alone, so I could better myself and my family.

I put up working for some sleaze bags and for a few really great people. I started absolutely on the bottom and worked my way up.

Let's see, it is now September of 2007 and my reward for advancing and making something of myself is to have already paid over 13,000.00 in income taxes. And Hi-liar-y, the woman that accepts illegal campaign contributions (until she gets caught each time) wants to dig deeper into my paycheck to pay for her worthless schemes that will not work.

This is the same Hi-liar-y that supported amnesty for 12-20 million "illegal" aliens and continues to support it through pork barreling the D.O.D. bill, the Ag bill, and how about the Dream Act. Then she wants to create a health care system that will not work (look at what the Fed has done to education in this country)and make me pay for it. And her system will include 12-20 million foreign crimminals and their children (calling an illegal alien an undocumented worker is like calling Adolph Hitler a political activist).Typical Democrat.

Hey Hi-liar-y. How about you go to Kentucky and talk with the laid off Black Americans that have been displaced from the chicken processing companies that hired legal and illegal alien workers for less and without benefits to do the same job. You are a liar Hi-liar-y when you say, "the illegals come here to do the jobs that Americans refuse to do." You go tell those unemployed displaced Black Americans that story and see if they buy into it. You are as big a fraud as George Bush. Congress needs to be impeached.

That is why this Independent voter is going Republican accross the board this election. I'm fed up with Democrats. At least when the Republicans are screwing me they don't lie about it.

I will be very surprised if this legt-wing hypocritical website allows my comments. Got to filter anything that tells too much truth.

Mark, Silverton, OR (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 2:51 PM)

Jessica, Wisconsin (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 2:54 PM)

After three quarters:

Carrie (Iowa) 24
Sierra (Cal) 7

Mimi (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 2:54 PM)

HP Boston: 'Sara..you are sooooooooo long winded and boring as hell.....'

Great way to dodge the question, H P !!
Like George Bush, Hillary refuses to take unfiltered questions from voters.......

Defend that, HP !!

What is Hillary AFRAID OF ??
Obama takes direct questions.
Does Hillary think she's not as smart as Obama ?
I do !!
Afraid to defend her Iraq vote ?
Sounds like her campaign manager (and Rove wannabe) Mark Penn is taking a page from the Rove playbook.

If your candidate's dumb, don't let her take questions !!

Sierra, SF (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 2:56 PM)

Ravine Force

“My mother ended up paying much more for her prescriptions. Needless to say, she will be voting straight Democrat for the first time ever.
Ravine Force, Kissimmee, FL”

My condolences to your mother. It is sad when Alzheimer’s takes over – the dementia causes them to loose track of the facts and reality.

Does your mother know you are voting for her?

Mark, Silverton, OR (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 3:01 PM)

Mark - Tsk tsk, you should play nice. Don't make me go all Emily Post on you again. :)

Are any of the candidates going to the Field of Dreams? If they are, we could kill to birds with one stone and head up there.

Carrie, Eastern Iowa (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 3:11 PM)

Carrie:
Please forgive my shoddy manners. Too much campaigning. Every time I do this my inner pit bull comes out. I can't say these things out loud, so I go to a low rent venue and spew... Yes, I am a sinner.

Field of dreams? I am there. It is not far.

Mark Thieme (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 3:45 PM)

Carrie, Eastern Iowa wrote:

"Sara - Your constant discourses on how wonderful Biden is are getting old too...but I don't challenge your right to support him..now do I?"

Carrie I suggest you re-read the post the only candidate's I mentioned were Obama, a candidate I'm not even supporting, and Hillary, your candidate. And I have defended you in the past when you have been, in my mind, unfairly attacked. (Heck instead of adding a (sic) after your failure to add a 2nd s in Guess when I copied your post, I added it for you) However, you keep slamming Obama every chance you get, and you never give any specifics on why to support Hillary, any piece of legislation she got passed, any accomplishments, etc., that justify supporting her, merely blanket statements of support.

Also, I do not lie about candidate, either pro Biden, or statements against another candidate. You have made statements, almost always anti-Obama that have been false. Often when I, or others call you out, you will say your were sorry about being wrong, and acknowledge it. I truly believe that you are a paid staff member if you aren't, and you are really a regular Iowa from Eastern Iowa (a pretty large area, when you've been asked what city/town by me and others you haven't responded, which is odd.), then I am sorry for believing you are a paid staffer. But if some one who doesn't even support Obama, and it is obvious who I do support, believes your slams on Obama are excessive , irrational and frankly often completely false, don't you think others who aren't blind Hillary fans able to see through that too? You claimed that you slept through the steak fry, and only caught the last speaker,(which means you slept Sunday afternoon until 4 PM CST) and yet you also claimed to have seen Obama refuse to allow his picture to be taken with a volunteer. I watched C-span's repeat broadcast of the steak fry and never saw what you claim happened. If what you say happened was true it would be posted on youtube and MSM would have picked it up. But it didn't, so I believe you lied. And I don't know why you'd lie if you weren't a Hillary staffer. Her staff is very good at lying during push polling.

Look I understand why you won't (or can't) defend Hillary's refusal to answer the questions of regular people from early states, and you are under no obligation to do so, but lay off slamming Obama for not attending every Forum, when Obama does take questions (including ones from hostile Clinton plants) , and has been to Iowa 10 times as often as Hillary.

Sara, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 4:13 PM)

Carrie, Eastern Iowa states

"Or is that okay since you hate Hillary too?"

Call Jennifer at Biden's CR office (you can call information, or go on Sen. Biden's website for the phone number), give her your address. I will tell her to give it to me, and I'll send you copies of my pictures of Hillary and me at her DC home in 02, my daughter and Hillary in 1996 , Hillary and me at the donor's cocktail party before the Hall of Fame dinner 6/2/07, and the pictures I have of me and Bill over the years. I'd send you some of my son's with Obama, but it doesn't sound like you'd want those. Believe it or not, I don't hate Hillary, what scares the hell out of me is she has the worst chance of winning the White House of any of the candidate's at the steak fry. The thought of a Romney, McCann, or a Giuliani Presidency scares the hell out of me. I have a 17 and 15 year old son, and I believe a draft is a real possibility under a GOP presidency. Because I believe to my core, and many others agree, that because the general election is decided by the non-partisan electorate, and Hillary's negatives (which usually go up not down in a general) are nearly insurmountable, the nomination of Hillary almost insures a GOP president I will continue to correct false statements of support for Hillary, and baseless unfair accusations against other candidates. Can you stop making up false claims denigrating Obama?

Seriously, if you even live in Iowa and are named Carrie, give Jennifer a call, and give her your address, and I will send you the photo's. Would you like some of the inside of Hillary's DC house? She's got a great decorator! (Or if she chose the colors, she has great taste!)

Sara, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 4:35 PM)

Sierra - I didn't say it didn't make sense. I said it was disrespectful. As far as me dodging questions, I have made it very clear to Sara why I will not answer her questions. You have done nothing to make me want to explain myself to you either, incidentally. You want answers from me? Try asking me in a respectful manner rather than demanding them.

Carrie, Eastern Iowa (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 5:21 PM)

Jessica - I am sure it was a difficult choice. I maintain that I think it was the wrong choice, and may send the wrong message. Keep in mind that not everyone follows politics closely. There will be people who see that he chose to skip it and think he is blowing Iowans off. Rightly or wrongly, that is a possible consequence of his decision.

It is my right to disagree with his decision, just as it is your right to think it is a good decision. I don't dislike Obama, nor do I question his desire to serve this country. I do, however, question his readiness to do that. Again, that is my right, just as it is your right to maintain that he is ready.

Carrie, Eastern Iowa (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 5:25 PM)

Mark - You are always forgiven. If you ask nicely, I may even throw some holy water on you and wash away your sins. (Is that how it works?)

How far is not far? I don't even know how to get there from where I am. I have vague knowledge that it is north somewhere, and that's about it. Yes, I am horrible. I can find my way around Iowa City blindfolded but I'm hopeless when I have to travel those rural highways. And this despite having lived for several years on a farm.

By the way, are we ever going to have that discussion about why I should make up my mind to support Obama? :)

Carrie, Eastern Iowa (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 5:28 PM)

Sara - No one has ever asked me where in Iowa I am from. I have in the past mentioned that I grew up in Iowa City. I currently live in Cedar Rapids, after having spent the past year in NW Iowa. Where I live, however, is frankly none of your business and is completely irrelevant to this discussion or any other discussion.

Did I sleep until the end of the steak fry? No, I didn't. I actually was up by 7:00 am that morning, which is the latest I have slept in several weeks. I typically get up between 5:30 and 6:00, even on the weekends. This particular Sunday, however, I was ill after having spent the prior day with a friend and her 4 children, one of whom was sick. Therefore, ont his particular Sunday, I took a nap, hoping that I would feel better when I woke up. I hope you are now satisfied by my explanation.

Look, you can believe whatever you want to believe about me. It's clear that you will regardless of what I say. Why should I lay off "slamming" Obama? Are you going to lay off "slamming" Hillary or any other candidate? As I said, my so-called attacks on Obama are mild in comparison to everything I have seen being said about Hillary. As far as the C-Span thing, I know what I saw. It's a shame I didn't record it, or I would be happy to send it to you. I'm assuming, of course, that you would gladly give me your address, since you are so big on knowing where people live yourself.

Carrie, Eastern Iowa (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 5:35 PM)

To the idiot who used my tag to post here:

You are lower than low. You are probably someone who has been upset by my posts, and I probably know who you are. I have asked the moderator here to trace you, even though you probably hid behind a fake email address just as you have hidden behind my tag here.
If you aren't clever or intelligent enough to engage me using your own screen name, I will begin to post using the names of those I suspect. I may not embarrass you the first time, or the second or the third, but eventually I will, and you will be responsible for anyone else who has been slandered in between. Own up to your subtrafuge before innocent people get hurt.

vanreuter, NY NY (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 5:52 PM)

Sara, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 4:35

There is a big difference between following the facts to a conclusion and marshaling facts to support one. You are an exemplar of the latter.

vanreuter, NY NY (Sent Thursday, September 20, 2007 6:29 PM)

Next >>

SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.):

Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private) Remember me?

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=369778