Tag Archives: Iowa

Iowa – Meta – #ForThePeople – August 10, 2019

11 Sunday Aug 2019

Posted by in meta

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

We receive media advisories for somewhere around ten of the current Democratic Party presidential candidate campaigns. Others? We’re not really interested in driving any distance to cover (Tulsi Gabbard? Really? What were the Russians and Syrians thinking?). Plus, at this point the advisories are coming in so thick and fast it’s like trying to take a sip from a firehose. A couple of weeks ago we received one notice for a five day, eighteen stop bus trip from northwestern Iowa through to southeastern Iowa, from the Missouri River to the Mississippi, following Senator Kamala Harris (D). This cycle we had already spent four days covering various candidates (one event, a cattle call of sorts). The thought of spending five days on the road, while doable from scheduling and financial standpoints (we’d have to pay our own food, lodging, and for our transportation on the press bus), wasn’t attractive from a personal wear and tear perspective. We’re getting older. What I did do was send a media RSVP for one of the stops on the tour, a campaign rally in West Des Moines, Iowa, for early Saturday evening, the location a relatively short four hour or so drive from our base in Missouri.

I looked up the satellite photo of the venue to check on parking. There was plenty of free public parking.

The campaign advisory stated the doors would be open for the public at 4:00 p.m., with the event scheduled to start at 4:45 p.m. Rule No. 2 of campaigns: Nothing ever starts on time.

I loaded up the equipment (two cameras, lenses, tripod, monopod, two digital audio recorders, batteries, chargers, spare memory cards, ID, etc.). I decided not to bring the laptop to save on weight. If this had been a multi-day road trip I would have brought it to process photos. We departed west central Missouri at 10:30 a.m. Rule No. 1 of campaigns: Never pass up an opportunity to use the restroom. Travel time was added for Rule No. 1 and for fueling up the vehicle.

We arrived at about 3:00 p.m., parked the car, and walked into the venue. Campaign advance staff spotted me (a large camera bag, the tripod and monopod, and my outlet photo ID on a clip gave me away), asked who I was, recognized the outlet (that’s the beauty of the media RSVP), and retrieved my event press pass. The staffer noted I had a safety pin on my ID clip. This was not my first rodeo. I didn’t actually say that, I just thought it.

I waited about thirty minutes in the entry area before I was told to proceed to the press riser. I picked a corner next to the riser entry stairs. The venue was very well lit. As I set up my tripod advance staff asked me not to do so because they were expecting a lot of press for the riser space. That’s the reason for bringing the monopod. A long lens on a full frame camera with an external flash attached weighs a lot after about three minutes of handheld photography.

I was instructed to leave the center of the riser for the traveling press (the people on the bus). I was also instructed that we would be escorted to the cut riser on a rotating basis. And, after her speech the candidate would be working the rope line and that we would be escorted from the main riser. The room and the risers were too crowded for that to work. Once I was on the riser I was stuck.

At around 4:00 p.m. the venue was opened to the general public. And they streamed in:

“America needs clean water”

“We should all be feminists”

“America needs librarians”

“I do care and I vote”

“Moms demand action”

“Nasty woman”

“America needs public schools”

Not your typical unengaged or uninformed voters.

Because I couldn’t hang my primary digital audio recorder from my tripod I had to set it on top of my camera bag behind me at foot level at the back of the main riser. Unfortunately, two individuals took time at this event to stand at ground level and have a lengthy, if intermittent, conversation unknowingly speaking directly into that recorder while the candidate was speaking. Which brings us to Rule No. 3: Always have a “Plan B”. I have a second digital recorder running as a backup on me – connected to a lavalier microphone attached to me. I had to use this backup recording, hence you can easily hear the incessant shutter bursts of the still camera.

Waiting is always a staple at every campaign event. Ever.

Media interview in the crowd:

And, waiting…

The campaign field organizer speaks. This individual is responsible for West Des Moines. And as part of the campaign organization (along with other staff and volunteers) will be charged with identifying and getting Harris supporters to the February caucus.

You can always tell when the candidate is about to take the stage. The haggard and harried traveling press rush the press area and main riser.

Aside from a few Iowa print reporters, a sound guy with a boom microphone (covered by a dead cat), and me, all of the media present at this event (print, video, still) looked to be around twelve years old. Think about it. It’s a young person’s game. That, and almost all of the candidates were in Iowa campaigning somewhere. That’s serious saturation, so it has to be ‘all hands on deck’ for coverage.

The candidate:

Senator Kamala Harris (D) – West Des Moines, Iowa – August 10, 2019.

As the crowd dissipated somewhat at the end of the event and the candidate was still on the rope line I was able to squeeze off the main riser and get out of the roped off press area. Someone was kind enough to unhook the barrier and let me pass. I managed to get a few closer images.

Senator Kamala Harris (D) – West Des Moines, Iowa – August 10, 2019.

The venue cleared out fairly quickly after the event. The traveling press departed on their bus, and the tear down staff started on their work, removing risers, lighting, sound system, and banners. I packed up my cameras and audio recorders and we walked to our car in the now mostly empty parking lot for the 225 mile drive home.

This is going to continue at an increasing pace in Iowa until the beginning of February.

Previously:

Sen. Kamala Harris (D) – West Des Moines, Iowa – August 10, 2019 (August 10 2019)

Sen. Kamala Harris (D) – West Des Moines, Iowa – August 10, 2019

11 Sunday Aug 2019

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , ,

Early Saturday evening Senator Kamala Harris (D) spoke at a rally in West Des Moines, Iowa, one of eighteen stops for her presidential campaign’s five day bus tour from northwestern Iowa across the state to southeastern Iowa, from the Missouri River to the Mississippi. 300 to 400 individuals attended the event. Update: The campaign head count (they sign people in) was over 450.

Senator Kamala Harris (D) – West Des Moines, Iowa – August 10, 2019.

Senator Kamala Harris (D):

…I’ll tell you, I love being in Iowa. I really do. And, um, you have made me a better candidate. You have helped me to think about and understand the issues that are the issues that keep people up in the middle of the night – and prioritize those. You have helped me, actually my first visit to Iowa as a candidate, I’ve been here before, but my first visit as a candidate, among the many meetings I had with a group of teachers who really made clear to me the issue of teacher pay – which is why that was the first initiative I rolled out as a presidential candidate.[applause]…

…I know we are all here for one reason in particular. And it is because we love our country. [applause]…

…So, let’s, let’s get into it. Let’s get into it. Uh, so I think we all know this is an inflection moment, inflection moment in the history of our country. This is a moment in time that requires each of us, as individuals and collectively, to look in a mirror and ask a question. That question being – who are we? And I think we all know part of the answer to that question is – we are better than this. [applause] So this is a moment in time then that requires us to fight for the best of who we are and fight we will…

…My mother, um, she raised my sister Maya and me, and she was tough. Um, our mother was all of five feet tall, but if you ever met her you would have thought she was ten feet tall. And, um she was a parent who would say to us, you will be judged, and you should be judged, based on how you serve your community and those that you lift up. It is not about yourself. It is about those that you serve. My mother would say listen, you Kamala, you may be the first to do many things but make sure you’re not the last. Um, she would say, don’t you let anybody tell you who you are, you tell them who you are. Um, but she was tough. You know, she would also, if you ever came home, if you ever came home complaining about anything our mother would look at you with a straight face, maybe one hand on a hip, and she would say, well, what are you gonna do about it? So I decided to run for President of the United States…

…So, let’s talk about the current occupant of the White House, shall we? No, we must. Context. We must. So, here’s a fellow that came into office on a campaign slogan about ‘Make America Great Again’. Which of course, for many of us begged a question, again, exactly for whom? [laughter] And for all of us, made us realize he was talking about going backward. Which then prompts the question, back to what? Back before the Voting Rights Act? back before the Fair Housing Act? Back before the Civil Rights Act? Back before Roe v Wade? Back before Federal minimum wage? ‘Cause we’re not going back. [applause] We are not going back…

… He puts in place a so-called trade policy, by Tweet, based on unilateral action borne out of his fragile ego that has resulted in farmers here in Iowa looking at bankruptcy, with soybeans rotting in bins, why, because over the period of at least a decade folks have built up a market in China that is now cut off to them. We’re looking at, because of this so-called trade policy, Autoworkers, as many as three-hundred thousand, that may be out of a job by the end of the year. American families, because of this so-called trade policy that I call ‘the Trump trade tax’ are paying one point four billion dollars more a month on everything from shampoo to washing machines. He came in making promises and he betrayed people. He betrayed people. And so, there is no question that we need to make the statement: That dude gotta go. [cheers, applause]…

The rope line:

Iowa meta

19 Friday Jul 2019

Posted by in meta, social media

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

Last weekend in Iowa:

Former Congressman John Delaney (D) at the Progress Iowa Corn Feed – Cedar Rapid, Iowa – July 14, 2019.

Former Congressman John Delaney (D) was the first of ten candidates to speak at the Progress Iowa Corn Feed in Cedar Rapids. And if anyone thinks I have my act together one hundred percent of the time while covering these events they would be sadly mistaken. At times it’s like trying to juggle three or four balls in the air while you’re hopping on one foot. Sure enough, as I glanced down at the digital audio recorder while John Delaney was speaking I noticed it was still in “standby” mode. I hit the button and was only able to record the last two and half minutes of his speech.

Sometimes stuff happens or doesn’t happen.

This morning:

Axios @axios
Scoop: John Delaney’s 2020 team have asked him to drop out of the presidential race by mid-August
[….]
6:39 AM – 19 Jul 2019

Sometimes stuff doesn’t happen.

Previously:

Progress Iowa Corn Feed – Cedar Rapids, Iowa – July 14, 2019 (July 14, 2019)

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D): – Progress Iowa Corn Feed – Cedar Rapids, Iowa – July 14, 2019

16 Tuesday Jul 2019

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

“…I think that America is looking for a President that tells the truth. Because right now we’ve got a guy in the White House that just doesn’t know how to tell the truth. He doesn’t know how to keep a promise…”

Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar (D) spoke at the Progress Iowa Corn Feed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Sunday afternoon.

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D) at the Progress Iowa Corn Feed – Cedar Rapid, Iowa – July 14, 2019.

Senator Klobuchar (D):

“…And I’ll make you this promise. When I’m your President I’m the one that’s taken on pharma for over a decade. They think they own Washington with their two lobbyists for every member of Congress? Well, they don’t own me….And we’re going to bring in les expensive drugs from countries that are safe, like Canada. In Minnesota we can see Canada from our porch, all right…”

“…When you look at a foreign country invading our democracy, not with tans, not with missiles, but with cyber attack, no, Mr. President, it’s not a joke. And as your President I will stand with America, right. I will stand with our allies and I will not coddle dictators…”

Previously:

Progress Iowa Corn Feed – Cedar Rapids, Iowa – July 14, 2019 (July 14, 2019)

Sen. Cory Booker (D) – “Conversations with Presidential Candidates” – Iowa Public Television – Ankeny, Iowa – July 15, 2019

15 Monday Jul 2019

Posted by in meta

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

Meta.

As part of an Iowa road trip covering the 2020 Presidential Campaign and Democratic Party candidates I sent an RSVP to a press notice about an appearance by Senator Cory Booker (D) in Ankeny, Iowa scheduled early (relatively, as campaign events go) this morning. Covering the event was going to be easy – for me it was on the way back to Missouri from the previous day’s event at the exact driving time I would have been there anyway.

On first notice from the campaign the format of the event wasn’t clear to me. By the time of the event I realized I would be covering a live taping of the first of a series of structured presidential candidate interviews (with submitted audience questions) leading up to the 2020 Iowa Caucuses.

Since this was a live taping of television public affairs program the press ground rules for covering it were specific and strict. Media/press were issued credentials, we were stationed in a media room with a live feed (audio and visual), we could not live stream (this program will be broadcast on Iowa Public Television later this week), and we would be escorted and accompanied individually into the venue for still photography for brief periods during the event – this so as we would not inadvertently interfere with camera lines and audio. Oh, and no tripods.

About fifteen minutes before the start of the event a representative of Iowa Public Television asked me if I would act as the pool still photographer. This changed the dynamics of my coverage. On one hand, as a photographer I get more access (accompanied) time in the venue, but it’s also now more important and necessary that I am successful at getting usable images because they are going to be shared with everybody. I would not be able to monitor my audio recording of the event, nor would I be able to pay undivided attention to portions of the hour long taping a I prepared and sent my pool still images.

Some of the images:

Iowa Public Television announcer.

Senator Cory Booker (D) with Iowa Public Television interviewer David Yepson.

At Iowa Public Television.

Previously:

Progress Iowa Corn Feed – Cedar Rapids, Iowa – July 14, 2019 (July 14, 2019)

South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D) – Progress Iowa Corn Feed – Cedar Rapids, Iowa – July 14, 2019

15 Monday Jul 2019

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

“…I promise you that I will stand with folks at every level of the ticket because we know that things go better when we demonstrate that we realize the presidency is not the only office that matters…”

South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D) spoke at the Progress Iowa Corn Feed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Sunday afternoon.

South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D) at the Progress Iowa Corn Feed – Cedar Rapid, Iowa – July 14, 2019.

Mayor Buttigieg (D):

“…We are lucky and unlucky enough to be living in one of those moments that only comes around once or twice in a lifetime. But, these moments come along. And they decide how Democrat and Republicans are going to act for the next thirty, forty, fifty years. We’re in one of those moments right now. That’s why even now we may well be under reacting..to the seriousness of the moment we live in…”

“…If the New Deal ended with Reagan, the Reagan Era ends with us today. That’s why this isn’t just about winning an election this is about winning an era. And if we want to end the era we gotta be true to our deepest values…”

“…Normal hasn’t worked the entire time I’ve been alive. And so we cannot promise a return to the 90s to the two thousands any more than the President can keep his promise to return us to the 1950s. And we shouldn’t try. There is only the future, and we can make the future better than the past…”

Previously:

Progress Iowa Corn Feed – Cedar Rapids, Iowa – July 14, 2019 (July 14, 2019)

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D) – Progress Iowa Corn Feed – Cedar Rapids, Iowa – July 14, 2019

15 Monday Jul 2019

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

“…I have voted against resident Trump’s agenda more than any U.S. Senator…”

That’ a quality we look up to.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D) spoke at the Progress Iowa Corn Feed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa Sunday afternoon.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D) at the Progress Iowa Corn Feed – Cedar Rapid, Iowa – July 14, 2019.

Senator Gillibrand (D):

“…This president has launched an all out assault on women’s reproductive freedom since day one. He’s emboldened legislatures across this country, thirty different state legislatures, to overturn Roe v. Wade. All of this to deny women basic reproductive freedoms…”

Previously:

Progress Iowa Corn Feed – Cedar Rapids, Iowa – July 14, 2019 (July 14, 2019)

Former HUD Secretary Julián Castro (D) – Progress Iowa Corn Feed – Cedar Rapids, Iowa – July 14, 2019

14 Sunday Jul 2019

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

“…I’m running for President because I feel tremendously blessed with the opportunity that I’ve had in life in this country. And I want to make sure that no matter who you are, whether you live in a big city or mall town, no matter what your background is, that you can have those kinds of opportunity too…”

Former HUD Secretary Julián Castro (D) spoke at the Progress Iowa Corn Feed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa this afternoon.

Former HUD Secretary Julián Castro (D) at the Progress Iowa Corn Feed – Cedar Rapid, Iowa – July 14, 2019.

Julián Castro (D):

“…And then I said, I actually look forward to a moment earlier in the day when it’s traditional for the incoming resident to usher out the outgoing President. I can just imagine being there on the White House lawn, getting ready to say good bye to Donald Trump and Melania Trump, being there with my wife Erica and our ten year old, Carina, and our four year old, Cristian. You know, the helicopter will be right there in the distance with the door open and ready to go. All of the cameras will be there. And right before he leaves, right before he walks away, I’m going to tell him, ‘Adios’.”

Previously:

Progress Iowa Corn Feed – Cedar Rapids, Iowa – July 14, 2019 (July 14, 2019)

Progress Iowa Corn Feed – Cedar Rapids, Iowa – July 14, 2019

14 Sunday Jul 2019

Posted by in meta

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

, , ,

This afternoon ten of the Democratic Party candidates for President spoke in turn to a crowd of over 1100 individuals gathered at the NewBo City Market (a town square/small business development project) in downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Two additional candidates were also scheduled to speak but were not able to appear due to other circumstances (a delayed flight for one, a power outage in his city for another). The event was sponsored by Progress, Iowa.

The venue opened at noon, with the candidate speeches starting at 1:30 p.m. The sky was partly cloudy, with the temperature in the mid 90s. Spots in the shade were at a premium. There were periodic announcements over the sound system reminding everyone to hydrate.

In the period before the speeches candidate’s campaigns and various interest groups had information tents/tables around the venue. The vendors inside the NewBo City Market had a variety of food and drink available for purchase.

Inside the Newbo City Market.

Each of the candidates was introduced before their scheduled speaking time slot and was allocated around ten minutes for their remarks. The event did not run over time.

Former Congressman John Delaney (D).

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D).

At the press gaggle inside the market, immediately after speaking:

Marianne Williamson (D).

Congressman Tim Ryan (D).

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D).

Congressman Seth Moulton (D).

Former HUD Secretary Julián Castro (D).

South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D).

Former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper (D).

The candidate speeches (more on that later) highlighted each candidate’s messages and experience, and also reinforced the reality that they all agree on issues much more than they disagree. And, of course, they all agree, Donald Trump must not be reelected in 2020.

Iowa

18 Monday Mar 2019

Posted by in media criticism, meta, Town Hall

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

Meta.

If you’re reading this you’re probably not aware (judging by the site statistics) that we spent the past weekend on an Iowa road trip, covering two out of three 2020 presidential campaign events we intended to cover (sometimes the concession to cold weather, a blocks long walk with a load of equipment, and the fact that we’re not getting any younger weigh more than getting just a few more images).

Back to the beginning. Once Democratic Party candidates started announcing that they were running or their intention to run for President (and traveling) we started contacting campaigns – not as easy as you might think – so we could receive media notices. We’re a four hour drive from Iowa’s largest city and in past years, dating back to 2007, had regularly covered the Harkin Steak Fry (look it up in our archives) in Indianola. They’re all going to be in Iowa more than once before 2020, so why not?

If history is any indication, it’s a mixed bag. In 2008 and 2012 we managed to cover what we could in Missouri and surrounding states as we received notices. In the 2016 cycle, by the time the two major candidates in the Democratic Party primary finally started sending us media notices the Iowa caucus was long over.

So, we’ve sent requests for media notices (again, it’s not always easy to find out the “to who” part) and have started to receive them. At present six of the campaigns are sending us media notices. It’s like trying to sip from a firehouse. We’ve yet to receive notices or responses from a number of other campaigns. That’s okay – it’s either a result of our failure to contact the right person or their choice.

The dynamics of the two different candidate town hall events we covered this past weekend were very similar to the constituent town halls we covered in Missouri when Claire McCaskill (D) was still a senator. At least the later ones.

There’s a meeting room in a small town with the space to seat a hundred, maybe more, interested people. Media shows up early – well, we do. We check in and may ask a few logistics questions. The lighting can be adequate or stellar. We always mumble to ourselves about the light. There’s a portable sound system that the candidate may or may not use. The interested crowd gathers, may visit, and gets seated. The candidate is usually behind schedule (that’s normal).

Then the candidate makes remarks, takes questions from the audience, finishes speaking, and, in this age of smart phones and social media, remains for a few minutes to pose with attendees for selfies.

There may or may not be a press availability. It depends on the candidate schedule and other factors. We’re a Z-list blog.

After the event is done then it’s a matter of us downloading, processing, and choosing photos; downloading audio; transcribing audio portions; and then writing and posting the story.

We’ll take anywhere from 500 to 1500 images at an event. The audio recordings (two sources) can run up to an hour of content.

So, why bother? It’s why we exist. And for the same reasons. Old media (not so much individuals) does such a poor job. There aren’t enough people covering the content details of these events. Not that some corporate entities in the game have a lack of resources. We’re comparatively cost efficient – we try, but we’re pedaling as fast as we can.

Iowa. Why do we invest so much importance in the “first in the nation caucus”? Well caucuses are democratic and anti-democratic. You show up, stand your ground, and choose your candidate. Unless you’re a working person who can’t take off for those particular two or so hours on that day. Old media needs an answer and a narrative, and they need it quick. That’s their failing. And, there’s the matter of a diverse population in a diverse state anointing a candidate for a diverse nation.

We see that you’ve never been to Iowa.

You believe presidential campaigns start too early and take too long? We attribute that to your laziness and sense of entitlement.

There are a number of publicly spirited, intelligent, and immensely talented, experienced individuals running for President. There are others doing so who are none of the above. How are we all going to tell the difference if they’re not meeting with voters in small groups from state to state over the period of time from now to the Fall 2020 election?

Also, Donald Trump (r). I rest my case.

It is our impression that the Iowa voters who attend these events to vet candidates and who participate in the caucuses take their responsibilities very seriously. Would you want unengaged morons doing this instead? Of course, there are no guarantees that they’ll get it right in 2020. With a single exception (a right wingnut Bret Kavanaugh supporter) the Iowans we watched participate this weekend were cheerful, thoughtful, engaged, and polite.

And, if we are to judge the entire Democratic Party field of candidates from the two campaign events we witnessed this weekend we’ll be in the good hands of an experienced, intelligent, and compassionate nominee in 2020 who believes in doing the best for all Americans.

Reporter: “Where does [this candidate] stand with you?” Iowan: “Oh, they’re on my top twenty list.”

Welcome to Iowa.

Previously:

Sen. Cory Booker (D) in Indianola, Iowa – March 16, 2019 – “Hope is the active conviction that despair will not have the last word.” (March 16, 2019)

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D) in Cedar Rapids, Iowa – March 17, 2019 – keep the peace, tell the truth, obey the law (March 17, 2019)