Big Killer is back on the trail with this report from Sam Brownback’s appearance in Dubuque Thursday.
Here's a report from the Thursday evening Dubuque stop of Senator Brownback's campaign. I arrived in Dubuque on the Loras College campus in plenty of time for the 7:00 PM event featuring Kansas Senator Sam Brownback. However either an incorrect address from the campaign press release or a SNAFU by Mapquest.com or a combination of the above had the Big Killer hustling both in the car and on foot to arrive at the proper venue by 7:05 Luckily, as is often the case, the candidate was also running behind.
I would estimate that the crowd was in the 90-100 range in a very well lit room with comfortable chairs and that the attendees were 60% college age and 40% older. In the Senator's temporary absence we were treated to a heartfelt testimony of a woman who had had 3 abortions in her early years. I did not ask for permission to use her name so I will not, but her story was very moving. She shared how the three abortions rendered her unable to conceive when she married and she introduced us to her 19 year old adopted son.
The Senator arrived and delivered his speech: "Pro-life Means Whole Life". Brownback spoke for approximately 25 minutes and took questions for an equal amount of time. He referenced the 40,000,000+ abortions that have been performed since Roe v Wade and moved from there to a discussion re adoption. Brownback shared that he has two 9 year old adopted children. He spoke about the fact that 90% of Downs Syndrome babies are aborted and shared that he has a surprising ally (in big Killer's mind anyway) in the effort to get Downs Syndrome babies adopted. It seems that the Kennedy family has been very active and supportive in the Special Olympics etc and that Senator Brownback and Senator Ted (I never considered him pro-life) Kennedy were working together to promote adoption of Downs Syndrome babies.
Senator Brownback talked about how the pro-life issue can be advanced if people only listen. He quoted the fact that if women who had experienced an abortion (as our introductory speaker had) get a chance to talk directly to women who are considering having an abortion the "FLIP rate" is 75%. He referenced his title when he said pro-life supporters have to help promote whole life and briefly discussed the Christian community working in our prisons to significantly lower the chances of inmates returning to prison after they have been released. Senator Brownback called for the like-minded crowd to support him in his efforts. He shared his need for support @ the Iowa Caucus and he referred to his campaign as one that is NOT overly funded and is NOT overly publicized. He asked for questions from the audience and took questions for another 20-25 minutes.
One young woman made a good logical argument that "pro-life/whole-life" might indicate that the building and/or proposed building of a southern border fence was in contradiction of the evenings theme. The Senator did a fine job of citing that the US is a country of law and the law must be enforced. This answer seemed to differ from a somewhat similar question posed to the Senator by yours truly last May in Cedar Rapids.
A question about no child left behind prompted Brownback to say he thinks that it is working but felt there was too much federal government dictate; he mentioned that he felt the state's should have more control and be able to direct the money where they felt it would do the most good. After taking a question regarding social security Senator Brownback polled the under 25's in the room. He asked how many attendees 25 or younger felt Social Security would be there for them when they retired and no hands were raised. He then asked how many believed in UFO's and one young man raised his hand. The Senator said that those results confirm survey results that indicated that more people under 25 believe in UFO's than believe Social Security will be there for them.
One last question I will cover involves another young woman's question of concern about if abortion is made illegal, what about all of the women who will die and be severely injured as a result of "back-alley" abortionists. Senator Brownback quoted data that shows the mortality rate of women experiencing abortions pre and post Roe v Wade is virtually identical. The Big Killer is a child of the 60's and as one who was quite well connected to the party scene and worked as a dispenser of "adult beverages" near the Iowa State campus in the late 60's - early 70's, would probably take exception with the Senator's answer. Many, many young ladies from central Iowa returned from their trip to The Big Apple with horror stories of various magnitude. The Senator did mention that he is taking part in a campaign event (wouldn't it/shouldn't it be considered a Senate-Out-of-Session gathering) with Senator Joe Biden, D Delaware in Des Moines on Friday.
It was a good event and I was glad for Senator Brownback. I had attended an event last spring where the crowd was really low and Sam was really fired up when he saw this group tonight. He even mentioned his tag-line from the recent noon-hour (almost) debate PMSNBC's sister network CNBC earlier this week - "This country Rocks!!"
Thanks to the Big Killer.
Here's a report from the Thursday evening Dubuque stop of Senator Brownback's campaign. I arrived in Dubuque on the Loras College campus in plenty of time for the 7:00 PM event featuring Kansas Senator Sam Brownback. However either an incorrect address from the campaign press release or a SNAFU by Mapquest.com or a combination of the above had the Big Killer hustling both in the car and on foot to arrive at the proper venue by 7:05 Luckily, as is often the case, the candidate was also running behind.
I would estimate that the crowd was in the 90-100 range in a very well lit room with comfortable chairs and that the attendees were 60% college age and 40% older. In the Senator's temporary absence we were treated to a heartfelt testimony of a woman who had had 3 abortions in her early years. I did not ask for permission to use her name so I will not, but her story was very moving. She shared how the three abortions rendered her unable to conceive when she married and she introduced us to her 19 year old adopted son.
The Senator arrived and delivered his speech: "Pro-life Means Whole Life". Brownback spoke for approximately 25 minutes and took questions for an equal amount of time. He referenced the 40,000,000+ abortions that have been performed since Roe v Wade and moved from there to a discussion re adoption. Brownback shared that he has two 9 year old adopted children. He spoke about the fact that 90% of Downs Syndrome babies are aborted and shared that he has a surprising ally (in big Killer's mind anyway) in the effort to get Downs Syndrome babies adopted. It seems that the Kennedy family has been very active and supportive in the Special Olympics etc and that Senator Brownback and Senator Ted (I never considered him pro-life) Kennedy were working together to promote adoption of Downs Syndrome babies.
Senator Brownback talked about how the pro-life issue can be advanced if people only listen. He quoted the fact that if women who had experienced an abortion (as our introductory speaker had) get a chance to talk directly to women who are considering having an abortion the "FLIP rate" is 75%. He referenced his title when he said pro-life supporters have to help promote whole life and briefly discussed the Christian community working in our prisons to significantly lower the chances of inmates returning to prison after they have been released. Senator Brownback called for the like-minded crowd to support him in his efforts. He shared his need for support @ the Iowa Caucus and he referred to his campaign as one that is NOT overly funded and is NOT overly publicized. He asked for questions from the audience and took questions for another 20-25 minutes.
One young woman made a good logical argument that "pro-life/whole-life" might indicate that the building and/or proposed building of a southern border fence was in contradiction of the evenings theme. The Senator did a fine job of citing that the US is a country of law and the law must be enforced. This answer seemed to differ from a somewhat similar question posed to the Senator by yours truly last May in Cedar Rapids.
A question about no child left behind prompted Brownback to say he thinks that it is working but felt there was too much federal government dictate; he mentioned that he felt the state's should have more control and be able to direct the money where they felt it would do the most good. After taking a question regarding social security Senator Brownback polled the under 25's in the room. He asked how many attendees 25 or younger felt Social Security would be there for them when they retired and no hands were raised. He then asked how many believed in UFO's and one young man raised his hand. The Senator said that those results confirm survey results that indicated that more people under 25 believe in UFO's than believe Social Security will be there for them.
One last question I will cover involves another young woman's question of concern about if abortion is made illegal, what about all of the women who will die and be severely injured as a result of "back-alley" abortionists. Senator Brownback quoted data that shows the mortality rate of women experiencing abortions pre and post Roe v Wade is virtually identical. The Big Killer is a child of the 60's and as one who was quite well connected to the party scene and worked as a dispenser of "adult beverages" near the Iowa State campus in the late 60's - early 70's, would probably take exception with the Senator's answer. Many, many young ladies from central Iowa returned from their trip to The Big Apple with horror stories of various magnitude. The Senator did mention that he is taking part in a campaign event (wouldn't it/shouldn't it be considered a Senate-Out-of-Session gathering) with Senator Joe Biden, D Delaware in Des Moines on Friday.
It was a good event and I was glad for Senator Brownback. I had attended an event last spring where the crowd was really low and Sam was really fired up when he saw this group tonight. He even mentioned his tag-line from the recent noon-hour (almost) debate PMSNBC's sister network CNBC earlier this week - "This country Rocks!!"
Thanks to the Big Killer.
4 comments:
The only presidential candidate who has a chance at winning, who has been a consistent, true social conservative is Gov. Mike Huckabee. Of all the candidates, he is the most charismatic and likable candidate who has always supported core conservative values such as low and fair taxation, the right to life from conception, and making our nation's borders secure. Also, He did an incredible job as Governor of Arkansas, lowering taxes, enacting covenant marriage, and even winning elections in a historically Democratic state with almost half of the African-American vote. Gov. Huckabee is a true man of faith and courage. To find out more about him go to this link. http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=VerticalDay.Home&l=50F49E7D03868E58F54AA1ED674B0C61
What a maroon! Everybody knows Mark Klein is the man to beat!
Someone wake me when he talks about something other than abortion...Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
We could turn the abortion issue into an election winner than it remain the perennial campaign albtatross which robs us of the votes of too many middle of the road voters.
Today's abortion rates are the consequence of the unaffordability of young pregnant couples in love to start families. In my day when we were still governed by grownups who cared about the children, starting wages still had real buying. Most pregnant couples back then married. Decades of deficit spending, bad trade treaties, and endless inconclusive war making wrecked the dollar's buying power.
Were Rowe v Wade overturned nothing would change. Overnight most states would pass emergency legislation legalizing abortion.
Returning to our Republican roots with policies of fiscal responsibility and modest foreign policy goals is the way to hold the White House and regain congress.
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