Comments on: Mike Blouin Chat (Recap)

By: Eric

Eric — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 21:12:41 +0000

This is my opinion, but in the primary stages, I don’t think Blouin is the best candidate for Iowans. He lacks the conviction for change that I see in Ed Fallon, and Blouin seems all too-well prepared to work within an establishment whose policies are crippling this country’s ability to care for itself. The amount of money he said he would probably spend in the primary and general election was absolutely heartbreaking, something like ~2 mill for primary and up to 10 mill for the general. Paul Wellstone got outspent 6 to 1 and still won, Fallon has a fraction of his dough and is polling even, so for a guy who says he’s the economic kingpin of Iowa, he sure as hell doesn’t seem to be using his dollars well.

By: Lee

Lee — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 03:07:57 +0000

I am comforted by the fact that McGuire blindly supports her (and her brother’s) neighbors. Because, you know, if a politician lives by a member of the family, they must be good! Honestly, is that even an excuse? LAME. And to talk about reaching out to republicans in one breath, and criticize Fallon for actually doing it (you know, beyond his neighborhood) is equally lame.

By: nancy

nancy — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 00:02:17 +0000

how many of you have actually tried to win an election in iowa? how many of you have actually tried to get something done in the legislature? do you understand how ineffective ed fallon has been at moving the ball down the court for us liberal progressives? if you don’t, then maybe you should pay attention. for those of us on the hill, working with ed and other “faux democrats”, as ed seems to call them (80% of his caucus,) we understand how ed doesn’t work. how his ideals and tearing apart of everything anyone tries to do (without working with others to build things up) is completely annoying and ineffective. it’s righteousness that goes nowhere. the reality is that absolutely nothing gets done in iowa without compromise. frustrating, yes, but this is a democracy, not some totalitarian state. money in politics is sad and should be changed, but it works. you probably don’t know this, but it cost nearly half a million for a state senate race in rural BF southern iowa for a democrat to win the last time. without that win, we wouldn’t have a tie in the senate and we’d have anti gay marriage amendments, the death penalty reintroduced, and any other number of wack-job policies out there that republicans want to put on the map. i’m willing to sacrifice a modicum of principle for the sake of the end results, cause i live in this world not above it. an ugly reality, maybe, but some of us are willing to mess with a few ugly realities, cause until the game changes, that’s what it takes. and while you coo over your ideals, don’t choke on your righteous sadness, cause some of us will be fighting the fight out here, going toe to toe with jerks like jim nussle, who will lie and smear and get away with it, cause that’s how people operate.

when this money starts getting spent, ed fallon will quickly realize how hard it is to just get the message out without money. it’s not being spent on evil things, it’s being spent on dumbed down electorate that doesn’t pay attention but feels the need to vote as if they were informed, an electorate that complains they don’t hear anything when they’re not listening or paying attention.

do you know blouin? really? except for ed fallon and chet culver’s shallow and incorrect attacks? blouin is a stealth candidate, someone with genuinely liberal progressive heart who is so likeable by republicans who don’t know how truly liberal his record is. this is crunchy catholic social justice liberal.

By: Chase

Chase — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 02:15:38 +0000

Nancy, thanks for your comment. I’m happy we’re getting more visits from people actually involved in Des Moines, because I think you guys probably have an interesting and different perspective than we do about this. But to answer your question, many of us have fought pretty hard to get Democrats elected in Iowa. We have been around the block a few times, even if you think we sound idealistic.

That said, I thought my post on Blouin was generally pretty positive. Did you think I was being unfairly critical of him? Because, at the very least, I think everyone left the room thinking that they wouldn’t mind if Blouin were governor, and that’s not something everyone thought before the event.

Your comment also helps explain why so many legislators have endorsed Blouin. One would think they’d want to rally behind the front runner, but it sounds like they’re supporting Blouin because they actually feel he’s the right candidate for the job, and that makes it more meaningful.

So thanks.