The Real Sporer on The Insiders

The Real Sporer will appear on the long running WHO-TV (Des Moines Channel 13) political talk show, The Insiders, tomorrow. the program first airs in its totality at 6:30 a.m. (some may utilize a chronologically based recording device) and partial replay at 10:00 a.m. Extra parts will be available on line, including Presidential ups and downs.

Thanks to John Bachman and Dave Price for the invite. Thanks to Gordon Fischer, ex IDP State Chair for the dance. By the way, as I’ve always said when some of our more aggressive bloggers have gotten personal with Gordon, while as misguided as they get, Gordon is a great guy with whom it is easy to disagree but with whom it is very hard to become disagreeable.

Needless to say I did use the words “Damascus” and “Nancy” and “Beijing” and “Hillary” in the same sentences. So turn on and tune in and let me know what you think. But remember when voicing your opinions that Gentry and Ed aren’t the only ones with secret police.

Wet your pants funny...............

.............. OMG, click this link, and you will laugh yourself silly.

What about Chuck?

It is just about time to reset The Real Sporer Presidential preference poll (at right). I’m told the blog is going to get some TV time in the near future. We will probably reset right after talk about the results on the broadcast. That will give everyone a fresh start before the next public discussion of the results..

My problem is what to do about Chuck Hagel (we are publishing in Cornhusker Red). Chuck is certainly talking about a run. After 3 resets and over 1000 total votes cast our sunset neighbor has failed to generate a single vote. Has the readership spoken? Should he stay or should he go?

On a related thought, should we include potential candidates like America’s D.A. Fred Thompson or the True Architect (of 94) Newt Gingrich?

Let me know your thoughts. After all, The Real Sporer is a populist at heart.

The Mitt review completes ………………..

………………….. this week’s trifecta of presidential reviews for the Real Sporer. As expected Mitt’s Grand Opening of the Iowa office in Urbandale (reported in Celtic green) was very well organized, timely and efficient. Exactly what you’d expect Gentry Collins to produce.

Mitt also drew a very good crowd. The nature of the room was not designed to produce the numbers of the gymnasium sized events Rudy and Tommy held this week but there were still at least two hundred, exclusive of staff, and that made the place look absolutely packed, always a good television image. The crowd was largely composed of Republican regulars who I am pretty sure will attend their caucuses and will have important voices at their caucuses.

Sen. Brad Zaun did the intros. Governor Branstad was again in attendance. I heard Governor Ray was there but left early, but I didn’t see him so no confirmation. Several legislators appeared, although a different set than attended Tommy during lunch time. There was also a pretty good attendance from Cedar Rapids and Scott County, although no Yoda.

It was also good to see so many people that had been to see Rudy and Tommy earlier this week. This underscores the value, and validates the method, of the caucus process itself, as I said in my earlier post.

Mitt gave a tremendous performance. It is impossible to overlook Mitt’s charisma and telegenic good looks-he radiates the image of leadership in the 21st Century. The poll numbers aren’t great now but this race is dynamic and with nine months and $25 million to spend, those numbers could head north in a hurry. Popularity in April should be the last criterion for supporting a nominee next January so current poll numbers should mean very little.

The Real Sporer also gives Mitt a big “huzzah” for his frank and feisty description of Damascus Nancy. I think that we need to make it very clear to the American people that the mainstream Democrat foreign policy position, the correction I assume Damascus Nancy would implement if she could, mirrors the policy that the mad mullahs and the ultimate Mad Hatter Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Usama bin Laden, Al Qeda and the rest of the Islamofascist world desire from the United States. Thanks to Mitt for helping to make this distinction more clear.

We can confirm that the Romney black helicopters are, in fact, unarmed. A ridiculous heckler appeared in the costume of some aquatic creature. Unfortunately, Keith Hunter politely escorted the, uh…. dufus ….. to the edge of the property. I was pulling for a taser display. Gentry, don’t lose your edge.

Tommy………………..

……………. Thompson (posted in Badger red) came to town today and, like Rudy last night, put together a great event. I saw someone scooped me (a little) but the Tommy turnout was about the same as Rudy drew last night-400ish. Not as many new faces, but a strong showing of locally active Republicans none the less.

Hopefully the press is noticing the large numbers of people who are turning out for all the Presidential candidates’ events. Iowans really do take the caucuses very, very seriously. The people who attend and are studying all of the candidates will most likely lead the discussion in hundreds of caucuses next January. This level of interest followed by local, small group discussion at the caucuses is the very best of participatory democracy, and believe me, participatory democracy is in many ways the cure for our cultural failings all over the USA.

Tommy himself is an impressive campaigner. He’s enthusiastic, optimistic, and, perhaps most importantly, likeable. One should never forget that the more likeable candidate usually wins and Tommy is very engaging. Governor Branstad, from whose absence from the ballot we have not yet recovered, introduced Tommy-although I don’t know if that is, in fact, an endorsement and I’m not about to put words in the mouth of Iowa’s longest serving Governor. Bill Dix kicked off the affair, and its great to see another young leader staying active in public life after defeat.

The mid-day timing cut back on SCC participation and it turns out the Real Sporer was the only member in attendance. I saw a group of Republican legislators enter and watch carefully from the back-additional evidence of participatory democracy in action. Thanks to each of those legislators for learning more about our potential candidates.

Tommy has a great staff and team here in Iowa. This event represented a very well organized campaign with a strong ground game. To the press and the contenders, as we in the law say, take notice and govern yourselves accordingly.

P.S.

The Real Sporer is also attending Mitt’s event tonight but has to travel to Fairfield immediately upon leaving so the Mitt report might be delayed until tomorrow evening.

Giuliani Event Update.

You have to just love Iowa this time of year. With Mitt and Tommy on tomorrow’s agenda, The Real Sporer had the opportunity to attend Rudy’s Des Moines debutante ball tonight (technically, West Des Moines as the event was held at Valley “Smells like Victory” High School). The event was very, very impressive.

Perhaps the best news for Rudy’s supporters, who don’t already know, is the presence of KC Jones as Rudy’s Regional Director. KC worked our area for the President early in the ’04 cycle. KC’s unusually pleasant and practical demeanor will go a very long way toward building a strong Iowa ground game. Our local leadership will find KC leadership style quite cooperative. Returning KC to the Midwest is a very strong move.

The turnout was pretty strong. Best of all, the turnout was heavily flavored with novitiate, maybe even more than the John McCain Hotel Fort Des Moines event. A good example was Irish Walsh, who runs a local Iowa blog. The presence of so many neophyte activists in our crowds is evidence of enthusiasm for Republican leadership.

Dave Jamison, Bonnie Hall and I were there for the Central Committee. Great to see Bert Ann as well, working her tail off with crowd management. Jim Nussle gave a very good warm up speech. It is very important that we keep our leadership at home and Jim is setting a very good example by staying active in Iowa politics in Iowa.

All the way around a very good start for Rudy here in the Capitol City. Tomorrow we will get to see Tommy Thompson and Mitt Romney. Both have outstanding teams in Iowa, including Mitt’s Romney's “crisp, suit-clad Iowa state director“Gentry Collins (among the best of hires) and the recent addition of my buddy Keith Hunter. Both Tommy and Mitt present great positive messages. Mitt’s Iowa commercials are great and, lets face it, he has had a very good week. Tommy has been working off his tail here in Iowa. The Real Sporer expects both to have the kind of alluring event that will draw supporters and keep this race dynamic.

The presence of Rudy tonight and Mitt and Tommy tomorrow provide the Iowa Republican with a most opportune chance to compare three eminently qualified candidates for our nomination-up close and in person. I hope everyone who can attend tomorrow. I will report on both.

CNN shows its "fair and balanced" side.

Its good to see that CNN has taken off its Clinton era gloves as a partisan propganda source.

.................

April Fools.

No, CNN continues to employ hard partisans while identifying them as "news" reporters. I just saw Ware this morning (I think). He is one of those defeat at any price guys, nothing good ever happens, we never have any victorys, nothing ever gets better, blah blah blah...........

Does this not evoke the spectre of Dan Rather and his fabricated documents? Good to know that journalistic integrity has been passed to a new generation.