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Tag Archives: 2008 election

An ounce of prevention — part one

25 Tuesday Nov 2008

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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Tags

2008 election, Joe Goeke, missouri, Velda City

Who could blame African Americans in St. Louis for wondering whether deliberate malfeasance at the Board of Elections caused the ridiculous waits in line at some of the predominantly black polling places? Sure, waits of an hour or even two were common throughout the metro area in the morning. And granted, most of the polling places in North St. Louis County didn’t have any longer waits than other places in the area.

But the real problem polling places were all in neighborhoods with a high proportion of African-American voters. The voters themselves were dogged and good humored. And the Obama campaign posted people at each poll to do what they could to relieve the stress–including bringing donuts and White Castle burgers to the longsuffering.

Velda City, of course, was the worst of the worst, as this report from a roving poll monitor for the St. Louis Voter Protection Coalition explains.

One young African-American man vented at last Thursday’s Board of Elections open meeting about the long lines being a form of intimidation, a way of keeping blacks from voting. But the chaos at some polls resulted more from carelessness than from deliberate efforts to disenfranchise anyone.

At Velda City, for example, eight machines were delivered, but–for lack of room–only three were set up. This was occurring at the city hall, so why didn’t the mayor scream bloody murder to the Board or just make another room available? Judge Joe Goeke, the director of the Board of Elections, said at Thursday’s meeting that when he found out about the problem at 4:00, he called Velda City and was told that they didn’t have room to set up the other five machines. Goeke informed them that they had damn well better find some more room. Now. And they did.

But considering that the first black man ever to run as a presidential candidate from a major party was on the ballot, Goeke–if he took his job seriously–could have, should have, sent people to take a look at polling places in African-American neighborhoods and moved them to larger quarters if necessary. Blacks turned out to vote at three times the usual rate, so one little room in city hall was obviously going to be inadequate. There was an empty grade school a block away. Aargh!

And who is to blame for the confusion about whether voters could mark paper ballots without waiting for privacy booths–confusion common at polling places across the county. The Board decided the week before the election that voters need not wait for a booth. But the election judges at Velda City, and at many other polling places, believed that voting any old where was not allowed.

The decision to let voters mark ballots on any hard surface was taken at the urging of voting rights groups. Too bad the Board didn’t follow through with letting the election judges know about it–though the board members, Goeke in particular, did crow that the election protection people had been wrong, wrong in criticizing him for not printing more paper ballots than he did.

Another problem that the St. Louis Voter Protection Coalition–as well as the Obama campaign–tried to head off in areas of high black population was the dampening effect on voters of police presence at the polls. The law allows officers to be at a polling place only in response to a specific problem or complaint. One roving poll monitor for the coalition explained what happened when he saw a police officer hanging around Berkeley Middle School:

Well, I went in, I went to talk to the officer. I said, “Hey, your presence here could be intimidating to people coming to vote, so can you please, you know …” She said “Oh, I’m sorry, my sergeant told me to keep an eye on these cars. Some cars got broken into. But I’ll, you know, I’ll take off.” I said, “OK, great.” You know, problem solved.”

Uh, then I went to Dellwood Recreation Center where I heard there was another police presence. And I went up there, and there was a cop, you know, standing in line, you know, in uniform, wearing his gun and talking to voters in line. I said, “Excuse me, sir. Could I have a word with you?” He said, “Yeah, what’s up?” And I said, “You know, you being here is intimidating people from voting. Or it could. Police arent’ supposed to be hanging around polling places unless they’re on official duty.”

He told me that he was talking to his family and that he was done talking to me. Then I called the command center, and he received a call on his radio about ten minutes later. Then he received a call on his cell phone about twenty minutes later. And then he stared me up and down for about twenty more minutes and he left.

There was no conspiracy among police departments to intimidate voters by hanging around polls. It was more just that a stray cop here and there couldn’t resist acting like a tough guy.

The St. Louis Voter Protection Coalition offered several ounces worth of prevention to the Board of Elections–most of which the Board chose not to implement. But there will be other elections, and the Coalition is already working to head off the problems they know will come next time around.

Oh yes, there is a difference you Naderite putzes…

07 Friday Nov 2008

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

2008 election, EPA, Nader, Obama

As if the last eight years didn’t happen?:

County Reporting

Unofficial Election Returns

State of Missouri General Election  – 2008 General Election

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

JOHNSON

U.S. President And Vice President Precincts Reporting 11 of 11

John McCain, Sarah Palin REP 12,178 55.2%

Barack Obama, Joe Biden DEM 9,474 42.9%

Bob Barr, Wayne A. Root LIB 108 .5%

Chuck Baldwin, Darrell Castle CST 104 .5%

Ralph Nader, Matt Gonzalez IND 205 .9%

Cynthia McKinney, Rosa Clemente WI 0 .0%

Total Votes   22,069

[emphasis added]

That was Tuesday. This is four years ago:

County Reporting

Official Election Returns

State of Missouri General Election

Tuesday, November 02, 2004

As announced by the Board of State Canvassers

on Wednesday, December 01, 2004

JOHNSON

U.S. President And Vice President Precincts Reporting 21 of 21

John F. Kerry, John Edwards DEM 7,790 38.5%

George W. Bush, Dick Cheney REP 12,257 60.6%

Michael Badnarik, Richard V. Campagna LIB 93 .5%

Michael A. Peroutka, Chuck Baldwin CST 71 .4%

Ralph Nader WI 25 .1%

Total Votes   20,236

[emphasis added]

Given our present environment, what excuse on this (not so) green earth could someone give for voting for Ralph Nader? 180 more votes in Johnson County from 2004 to 2008? An almost tenfold increase?

Oh yes, there is a difference you Naderite putzes:

Robert F. Kennedy Eyed to Head EPA

By Juliet Eilperin

President-elect Barack Obama is looking at possibly appointing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Environmental Protection Agency, according to sources familiar with the process, though he is eying several other prominent environmentalists as well…

I rest my case.

John McCain would have probably appointed Joe the Plumber.

This sums up…

07 Thursday Aug 2008

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

2008 election, republicans


…what the election is all about.

Are We in A Recession?

01 Thursday May 2008

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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2008 election, economy, George Bush, Kay Barnes, missouri, recession, Sam Graves

That’s the question Kay Barnes asked Sam Graves today.

From a press release:

WILL GRAVES STAND WITH BUSH OR WITH MISSOURIANS?

Last week, Kay Barnes asked Congressman Sam Graves if he agreed with President George W. Bush that the U. S. economy is not in a recession, or if he agreed with the 74% of Americans who at that time believed we are?

Now, according to a Wall Street Journal poll released today, now 80% of Americans believe we are in a recession. (see article)

Tomorrow, President Bush will be in Missouri to give a major speech on the economy. Will Congressman Sam Graves stand with President Bush tomorrow? Or will he instead stand with the people of Northwest Missouri and admit we are in a recession?

Technically speaking, we are in a period of really crappy, back to back quarters of 0.6% growth, not a recession. Still, I’d love to see Sam Graves explain that 0.6% growth is just dandy. I mean, when wages are stagnant, health care and energy costs are spiraling upward, and the value of your home is falling, the fact that the economy is growing meagerly is small comfort to the 80% of Americans who feel like we’re in a recession.

Lieutenant Governor – first quarter campaign finance reports

25 Friday Apr 2008

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

2008 election, fundraising, Lieutenant Governor, missouri

For some reason the job of Lieutenant Governor of Missouri is a popular one. There’s a certain attraction to it for a number of people.

Lieutenant Governor (in ballot order)

Republican

Peter Kinder  Cape Girardeau MO 2/26/2008

Paul Douglas Sims Lecoma MO 2/26/2008

Arthur Hodge Sr. Springfield MO 3/18/2008

Democratic

Sam Page  Creve Coeur MO 2/26/2008

Michael E. Carter  St. Charles MO 2/26/2008

Richard Charles Tolbert Kansas City MO 3/19/2008

Becky L. Plattner  Grand Pass MO 3/21/2008

Mary Williams  Jefferson City MO 3/24/2008

C. Lillian Metzger  Troy MO 3/25/2008

Libertarian

Teddy Fleck  Springfield MO 2/26/2008

That’s some list. Let’s slog through those campaign finance reports.

Teddy Fleck (L) filed a Limited Activity Statement (pdf) with the Missouri Ethics Commission on April 3rd.

Arthur Hodge, Sr. (r) filed a Statement of Exemption (pdf) (he will not spend more than $500.00 nor accept more than $500.00 in contributions) on March 30th (received April 8th) with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Paul Sims (r) has yet to file anything with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Pete Kinder (r) filed his first quarter 2008 campaign finance report with the Missouri Ethics Commission on April 15th.

Detailed Summary of Committee Disclosure Report

Committee [e]: FRIENDS OF PETER KINDER

1. TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR THIS ELECTION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED  $858,278.52

2. ALL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD  $468,405.00

3. ALL LOANS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD  $0.00

9. TOTAL ALL RECEIPTS THIS ELECTION(SUM 1B + 7A – 8A) $1,326,843.52

15. TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS ELECTION (SUM 10B + 14A) $680,465.90

25. MONEY ON HAND AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (INCLUDING FUNDS IN DEPOSITORY, CASH, SAVINGS ACCOUNTS AND ALL OTHER INVESTMENTS) $274,589.74

28. MONEY ON HAND AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (SUM 25 + 26 – 27) $640,589.73

[emphasis added]

Let’s see where he spent some money:

Detailed Summary of Expenditures And Contributions Made

Committee[e]: FRIENDS OF PETER KINDER

Report[ ]Date: 04/13/2008

Horizon Promotional Products Cape Girardeau, MO 02/28/2008 shirts $1,087.46

Horizon Screen Printing Cape Girardeau, MO 02/28/2008 stickers and shirts $1,020.84

T-shirts!

Capitol Consulting  Jefferson City, MO  02/28/2008 fundraising $14,210.60

Capitol Consulting Jefferson City, MO 02/28/2008 fundraising $7,000.00

Capitol Consulting Jefferson City, MO 02/28/2008 printing, supplies and po $2,650.64

Show me the money!

Jared Brown Jackson, MO 03/06/2008 data entry $4,000.00

Jared Brown Jackson, MO 02/11/2008 data entry $8,000.00

Jared Brown Jackson, MO 01/18/2008 data entry $4,000.00

Data entry? Do you think that’s a lot of data?

Okay, where did the money come from?:

Detailed Summary of Contributions And Loans Received

Committee: FRIENDS OF PETER KINDER

Report Date: 04/13/2008

5th Judicial Circuit Rep Comm Saint Joseph, MO 03/31/2008 $13,400.00

12th Legislative Dist Republican Comm Saint Charles, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00

14th Legislative Dist Republican Comm Saint Charles, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00

15th Legislative Dist Republican Comm Saint Charles, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00

16th Legislative Dist Republican Comm Saint Charles, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00

17th Legislative Dist Republican Comm Saint Charles, MO 03/31/2008 $7,500.00

19th Legislative Dist Republican Comm Saint Charles, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00

23rd Senatorial Dist Republican Comm St. Charles, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00

27th Legislative Dist Republican Comm Saint Joseph, MO 03/31/2008 $13,400.00

85th Legislative Dist Republican Comm Saint Louis, MO 03/31/2008 $13,400.00

The Seventh State Dist Republican Comm Saint Louis, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00

106th Legislative Dist. Rep. Committee Farmington, MO 03/31/2008 $13,250.00

3rd Senatorial Dist. Rep. Committee Bonne Terre, MO 03/31/2008 $13,250.00

12th Senatorial District Committee Maryville, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00

People for John Griesheimer Washington, MO 02/15/2008 $1,350.00

30th Republican Leg. Dist. Comm Smithville, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00

The 35th Republican Leg. Dist. Comm. Kearney, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00

129th Republican Leg. District Comm Joplin, MO 03/31/2008 $12,150.00

32nd Republican Legislative Committe Kansas City, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00

Republican 18th Legislative Dist Com Saint Charles, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00

MO 29th Legislative District Saint Joseph, MO 03/31/2008 $13,400.00

Boone County Rep Central Comm Columbia, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00

Newton County Rep Central Comm Neosho, MO  03/31/2008 $13,400.00

1st Senatorial Rep. Dist. Committee 03/31/2008 $13,450.00

32nd Senatorial Republican Committee Joplin, MO 03/31/2008 $13,400.00

150th Legislative Republican Fund  03/31/2008 $13,450.00

34th Republican Senatorial Dist Comm Saint Joseph, MO  03/31/2008 $13,400.00

13. TOTAL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED FROM PERSONS GIVING $100 OR LESS $1,680.00

[emphasis added]

We have a champion! Don’t you just love the “grass roots”? Evidently republican committees in St. Charles and St. Joseph are flush with cash. And what is it with republican committees and the last day of the quarter?  Gee, do the only cut checks four times a year? Okay, silly question. You’d think they’d go with a day that was a little more symbolic – like the vernal equinox.

C. Lillian Metzger  (D) filed a Statement of Exemption (pdf) (she will not spend more than $500.00 nor accept more than $500.00 in contributions) on March 37th (received April 1st) with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Mary Williams (D) filed an Exemption Statement Of Limited Activity For Candidate Who Filed Statement Of Exemption (pdf) with the Missouri Ethics Commission on April 15th.

Becky Plattner (D) has yet to file anything with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Richard Tolbert (D) has yet to file anything with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Michael Carter (D) has yet to file anything with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Sam Page (D) filed his first quarter 2008 campaign finance report with the Missouri Ethics Commission on April 11th.

Detailed Summary of Committee Disclosure Report

Committee[e]: PAGE FOR MISSOURI

1. TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR THIS ELECTION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED  $664,413.69

2. ALL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD  $152,113.00

3. ALL LOANS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD  $0.00

6. IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD $4,708.10

9. TOTAL ALL RECEIPTS THIS ELECTION(SUM 1B + 7A – 8A) $821,234.79

10. TOTAL EXPENDITURES FOR THIS
ELECTION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED $306,171.60

15. TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS ELECTION (SUM 10B + 14A) $404,425.16

25. MONEY ON HAND AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (INCLUDING FUNDS IN DEPOSITORY, CASH, SAVINGS ACCOUNTS AND ALL OTHER INVESTMENTS) $354,793.02

28. MONEY ON HAND AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (SUM 25 + 26 – 27) $413,035.56

[emphasis added]

Let’s take a look at campaign expenses:

Detailed Summary of Expenditures And Contributions Made

Committe[e]: PAGE FOR MISSOURI

Report[ ]Date: 04/11/2008

U.S. Post Office Saint Louis MO 01/07/2008 P.O. Box Rental $92.00

U.S. Post Office Saint Louis MO 01/18/2008 Stamps $41.00

U.S. Post Office Saint Louis MO 01/31/2008 Postage $4,510.00

U.S. Post Office Saint Louis MO 02/19/200 Postage $6,437.00

U.S. Post Office Saint Louis MO 03/12/2008 Postage $1,722.00

U.S. Post Office Saint Louis MO 03/13/2008 Postage $533.00

I sense a mail plan.

Let’s take a look at where the money comes from:

Detailed Summary of Contributions And Loans Received

Committee: PAGE FOR MISSOURI

Report Date: 04/11/2008

2nd Congressional District Democrats Ballwin, MO 03/25/2008 $5,000.00

87th LDDC Clayton, MO 03/25/2008 $680.20 In-Kind

87th LDDC Clayton, MO 03/31/2008 $5,850.00

87th LDDC Clayton, MO 03/31/2008 $5,850.00

92nd District Democrats Ballwin, MO 03/25/2008 $4,500.00

And a long list lot of contributions from individuals.  

First quarter fundraising: Secretary of State

23 Wednesday Apr 2008

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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Tags

2008 election, Carnahan, fundraising, missouri, Secretary of State

Yes, a few people filed for Secretary of State:

Secretary of State

Republican

Mitchell (Mitch) Hubbard Fulton MO 3/11/2008

Democratic

Robin Carnahan St. Louis MO 2/26/2008

Libertarian

Wes Upchurch Columbia MO 3/25/2008

Let’s take a look at what they’ve raised:

It appears that Wes Upchurch (L) hasn’t filed any campaign finance reports with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Robin Carnahan (D) filed her first quarter 2008 campaign finance report with the Missouri Ethics Commission on April 15th:

Detailed Summary of Committee Disclosure Report

Committe[e]: ROBIN CARNAHAN FOR MISSOURI

1. TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR THIS ELECTION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED $1,012,571.76

2. ALL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD $186,310.00

3. ALL LOANS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD $0.00

7. TOTAL ALL RECEIPTS THIS PERIOD (SUM 5A + 6A) $190,638.66

8. FUNDS USED FOR REPAYING LOANS THIS PERIOD $0.00

9. TOTAL ALL RECEIPTS THIS ELECTION(SUM 1B + 7A – 8A) $1,203,210.42

10. TOTAL EXPENDITURES FOR THIS ELECTION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED $536,350.62

14. TOTAL ALL EXPENDITURES MADE THIS PERIOD (SUM 11A + 12A + 13A) $70,642.19

5. TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS ELECTION (SUM 10B + 14A) $606,992.81

28. MONEY ON HAND AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (SUM 25 + 26 – 27) $635,159.35

[emphasis added]

And where did the money come from?:

Detailed Summary of Contributions And Loans Received

Committee: ROBIN CARNAHAN FOR MISSOURI

Report Date: 04/15/2008

114th Legislative Democratic Committee Jefferson City, MO 03/14/2008 $1,300.00

114th Legislative Democratic Committee Jefferson City, MO 03/28/2008 $3,900.00

134th Democratic Committee Springfield, MO 03/26/2008 $2,450.00

138th Legislative District Springfield, MO 03/31/2008 $6,250.00

140th Legislative District Committee Springfield, MO 01/22/2008 $6,250.00

15th Senate District Democratic Committee St. Louis, MO 01/05/2008 $600.00

15th Senate District Democratic Committee St. Louis, MO 01/15/2008 $1,250.00

15th Senate District Democratic Committee St. Louis, MO 03/17/2008 $3,000.00

19th District Democratic Senatorial Cmte Columbia, MO 03/28/2008 $6,600.00

23rd District Democratic Legislative Cmt Columbia, MO 03/18/2008 $6,250.00

25th District Democratic Legislative Cmt Columbia, MO 03/18/2008 $6,250.00

2nd Senatorial District Legislative Committee St. Charles, MO 02/01/2008 $6,200.00

52nd Legislative Democratic Committee Independence, MO 03/31/2008 $6,000.00

82nd Democratic Legislative District Comm. St. Louis, MO 03/31/2008 $3,625.00

8th Senatorial District Democratic Comm Independence, MO 03/31/2008 $6,000.00

Johnson County Democratic Central Comm. Warrensburg, MO 03/25/2008 $6,650.00

Sixteenth District Leg. Committee St. Charles, MO 03/19/2008 $3,100.00

Thirteenth District Leg Committee St. Charles, MO 02/01/2008 $6,200.00

Twelfth District Legislative Committee St. Charles, MO 02/01/2008 $6,200.00

Webster County Democratic Central Comm Fordland, MO 03/26/2008 $2,450.00

9. AMOUNT OF ITEM 8 THAT WAS RECEIVED AS MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS $180,120.00

13. TOTAL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED FROM PERSONS GIVING $100 OR LESS $6,190.00

There are also quite a few individual contributions.

And what was some of that money spent on?:

Detailed Summary of Expenditures And Contributions Made

Committe[e]: ROBIN CARNAHAN FOR MISSOURI

Report[ ]Date: 04/15/2008

Research Associates, Inc. Washington DC 02/14/2008 Research $14,000.00

Research!

Mitch Hubbard filed a Statement of Committee Organization (pdf) with the Missouri Ethics Commission on April 1st (hand delivered!). Yet another brick is added to the mythology of the lost cause…

Chris Koster – campaign to return contributions in excess of current limits

27 Tuesday Nov 2007

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

2008 election, campaign finance, Chris Koster, Missouri AG, Missouri Senate

Chris Koster’s campaign issued the following press release today:

Missourians for Koster Statement on Missouri Ethics Commission Ruling

ST. LOUIS-In response to the Missouri Ethics Commission ruling that political candidates who received contributions in excess of current contribution limits must either return the contributions or file a claim of hardship, the Koster campaign released the following statement:

“Today, Missourians for Koster notified the Missouri Ethics Commission that they intend to begin the process of returning contributions from individuals in excess of current contribution limits.”

 

What’s yer motivation?

14 Sunday Oct 2007

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

2008 election, dave Helling, Kansas City Star, media criticism, political consultants

There’s only one thing worse in partisan politics than public hand wringing: anonymous public hand wringing. Not by much, though.

Some Democrats fear a Clinton nomination could hurt other party candidates [tiny URL]

….”There’s only one person capable of uniting the Republicans, and that’s Hillary,” said longtime Democratic operative Jim Bergfalk. Unlike the others working their worry beads in the party, he was willing to be quoted by name in this article….

So, what’s the motivation for this public display of angst?

Dave Helling goes on in the same Kansas City Star article:

….But polls suggest Clinton’s margin for error here isn’t large. A recent Survey USA poll, conducted for KCTV in Kansas City, showed Clinton losing Missouri to Rudy Giuliani by three points – the only Democratic front-runner to lose the state to any Republican candidate….

Yes, Dave, let’s talk about Rudy Giuliani in Missouri – as I wrote on MyDD:

…Especially since Rudy Giuliani doesn’t have any family values problems, or “controversial” business associate problems, or hasn’t ever flip-flopped on any major wedge issues important to the republican base….

That’ll all go over really well in Missouri, eh?

And still, we have consultants who talk to reporters who then report what the consultants say (sometimes “anonymously”, sometimes not). A consultocracy as it where.

If you’re really in the know you shouldn’t be telling all to the media, should you? Unless you’ve got an agenda.

Blue Springs Fall Festival – Democratic Presidential Candidate Straw Poll

22 Saturday Sep 2007

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

2008 election, Blue Springs, missouri, straw poll

A Jackson County Democratic group is very involved and aggressive in visibility activities at various area festivals, usually manning a booth at these high traffic events. I received the following e-mail about a straw poll the group held at their booth at the recent festival in Blue Springs:

Results of the Blue Springs Straw Poll for Dem. Pres:

Here’s the count of the straws and the percentages:

Blue Springs Fall Festival–Sept 14, 15, 16, 2007
Democrats 21st Century Democratic Presidential Straw Poll

Total straws deposited during the 3 day weekend:  710

Hillary Clinton – 354  (49.8%)

Obama – 149  (20.9%)

Edwards – 141 (19.8%)

Biden – 23  (3%)

Richardson – 14 (1.9%)

Kucinich 14 – (1.9%)

Dodd – 8 (1%)

Gravel- 7 (1%)

As with the straw poll which was done during Santa Cali Gon, we let only people vote who were at least 18 by Feb 5, 2008, which is the Missouri Presidential primary election. Also, we believe that the people who participated were either Democrats or voters who at least lean Democratic in their votes. We did not have a large number of identified Republicans who participated. And we knew this from the conversation that took place during their stop at our booth.

Democrats 21st Century
Independence, MO 64050

dems21cent@sbcglobal.net

Bear in mind that straw polls are exactly that.

Road Trip! – The Harkin Steak Fry in Indianola, Iowa – The speechifying

17 Monday Sep 2007

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

2008 election, blogging, Democratic presidential candidates, Iowa

The crowd had filled out to its full size of 12,000 (probably minus a few no shows).

I stopped to talk to two women who were sporting Hillary stickers. I asked them where they were from. “Grinell, Iowa.” I asked them who they were supporting. “Hillary or Obama. They both have platforms we agree with.” One said, “It’s a triumph of American politics I’d like to see. Both are smart.” I asked if they would be participating in the caucus. Both said they have in the past, and they will this time, too.

Senator Tom Harkin introduced his six guests in the order they were speaking. The crowd response to Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John Edwards was big and about the same for each. The candidates had contingents of supporters, but most in the crowd applauded all of them.

One of my traveling companions noted that this was probably indicative of the current state of the race in Iowa.

I noticed more than a few people with stickers of most, if not all, of the candidates plastered on their shirts.

A singer performed the national anthem with pre-recorded accompaniment. Her rendition was heartfelt and definitely unique. Most people would have had difficulty singing along with her. I noticed that all of the candidates except Obama held their hands over their hearts. Obama held his hands folded in front of him throughout [This is not criticism – the “hand over the heart” looked awkward on the stage – I was standing in the same fashion as Obama].

As the speechifying started I realized I wasn’t going to be able to talk to people in the crowd. They were paying attention to whoever was speaking on the stage. I later made the mistake of trying to talk to some Edwards supporters after he had finished speaking. A woman dismissed me with [rightly so], “I’m trying to listen to this speaker…”

The candidates spoke in an order determined at random. First up was Barack Obama:

…Some of the reason you’re all out here. You’re sick and tired of George Bush…

Barack Obama supporters started trickling to the exits after he spoke.

A man noticed me and my press pass. He came up to me and said, “Have you ever noticed when people run for office they sound like a dictator? They’ll say they’ll do this, but don’t mention there’s a Congress they’ll have to work with or anything.” I listened politely. He walked away.

Bill Richardson:

…Al Gore has been right, we all just hope he doesn’t get in the race…

…with Bill Richardson you get change and experience…

Hillary Clinton was introduced and a good portion of the crowd got on its feet:

…building a new field of dreams for the country we love, and we’re going to take it back…

If you’re ready for change, I’m ready to lead…

…[referring to the Bush administration] The era of cowboy diplomacy is over…

…[referring to cabinet appointments] let’s appoint qualified people to do the job in America again…

…[a 90 year old woman] said, ‘I was born before a woman could vote and now I’m going to see a woman in the White House’…

A number of Hillary Clinton supporters exited the grounds after she spoke.

Chris Dodd:

…doing something greater than ourselves…

…All 12,000 of you are invited to spend Inaugural night at the White House [Harkin supposedly quipped, “We’ll all be there.”]

John Edwards:

…When we walk away from the poor and defenseless our party loses its identity…

…We need more than the rhetoric of change…

…[the system] is broken. It does not work for ordinary Americans. When you give [corporate interests] a seat at the table, they’ll eat all the food…

…I don’t want to see us replace corporate republicans with corporate Democrats…

…George Bush has not damaged America’s standing in the world, he’s destroyed it…

Every [war] funding bill sent to Bush should have a timetable for withdrawal…

Most of the crowd started to stream out.

Joe Biden:

…I’ve also seen ‘Field of Dreams’, but if I’m not mistaken this [event] has taken longer than nine innings…

…George Bush has made it abundantly clear that he will not end this war. One of us on this stage will have to end it…

…This war must end…

[He somberly recited the number of  American dead and wounded in Iraq to date]…

Joe Biden’s speech was well received by the crowd that remained.

The event was certainly interesting. The press pass made it more so, surreal even.

I never made it to the press filing/blogger building.

I had given my full admission ticket to one of our traveling companions who didn’t have a ticket. My press pass got me on to the grounds, but I still never got a chance to plunk down the ten dollars to get something to eat.

Getting out was easier than getting in. By the time we made it to the parking lot most people had already left. It reminded me of the crowd at a sporting event leaving with time still on the clock.

We drove past long lines of people walking back to the cars they had parked further out when they tried avoiding the traffic jam.

We stopped at a local convenience store to gas up the vehicles and headed to I-35 – four and a half hours later we reached home.

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