News from Iowa

Dave · 05-23-2007, 11:51 AM

As a Des Moines-area Ron Paul supporter, I've decided to start this thread to share news and observations from Iowa, home of the first-in-the-nation caucus.

Dave · 05-23-2007, 11:54 AM

I posted this earlier in another forum but thought it would be a good place to begin with "News from Iowa". The Iowa GOP Straw Poll in August is being talked about in the local media.

I have attended the Iowa Straw Poll. It's a grotesque spectacle but I would consider it a necessary evil since it will be widely covered and it is the first real test of the candidates. This is even more important now that the caucuses and primaries are so front-loaded. To do poorly in the Iowa Straw Poll this year will reflect very poorly on those campaigns - and to do well requires an extraordinary commitment.

(One strategy is to skip it and/or Iowa entirely. McCain tried this last time and Giuliani is contemplating it this time. Nobody has ever won their party's nomination after skipping Iowa.)

It's far from a scientific poll of a candidates support in Iowa - it's really much more of a test of a candidate's organization. This is really where the campaigns that are serious about a good showing in Iowa flex their muscle. I'm concerned that to my knowledge Dr. Paul doesn't seem to have much of an Iowa organization right now.

It's a carnival-like atmosphere in and around Hilton Coliseum at Iowa State University. There will be tens of thousands of people there. They have parking for over 500 buses that candidates will hire to deliver Iowans to Ames.

Massive tents are set up all around Hilton. Candidates pay big bucks to get the prime locations and have the biggest and most elaborate setup. The wining and dining is over the top. Fantastic spreads of food and drink. Live bands, some with national stature. Hats, buttons, flags, horns, and RAH RAH RAH! Woe to the candidate with the tent clear out in the parking lot offering a bowl of fritos.

Then there's the Iowans. It's like sheep being led to slaughter but instead of slaughter it's a giant party! Only Iowans can vote but literally hundreds of campaign supporters from around the country come to help orgranize busloads from all corners of Iowa and fill them with Iowans to go vote. The parking lot is a sea of buses.

More than once I saw people become anamored with another candidate's tent and 'jump the fence' to check it out. It's a secret ballot so nobody really knows who these people ultimately vote for.

Inside Hilton it's like the national convention. Each candidate gets an opportunity to speak. It seems like it was 10-20 minutes. You'd better have your herd seated by then so they can scream their heads off at the end of your every sentence.

If you're a political junkie, this event IS Xanadu. Even if you're not GOP.

I had an automated call last night from Tommy Thompson offering to bus me to Ames (I only live 45 mins. away) and pay for my $35 ticket in exchange for my support.

The Paul campaign will have to decide soon whether to commit to this event. It's outrageous, very expensive, non-scientific, and I'm not sure if we (yet) have the kind of grassroots support in Iowa that would allow us to light up Ames like we light up the internet. To skip this event might be a risky strategy but there may be better ways to use our limited money and unlimited energy. I trust the judgment of Dr. Paul in this regard.

DavyDuke17 · 05-23-2007, 11:55 AM

Is there enough interest to start a thread on the home page for the Des Moines area?

Dave · 05-23-2007, 11:57 AM

I guess we'll find out. I'll leave that up to Josh.

JoshLowry · 05-23-2007, 12:03 PM

Howdy Dave

It looks like you got some good ideas, check out this thread and post in there: http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=208

I will go ahead and make that forum as soon as you guys decide on a name. It looks like you have 4 or 5 members on this message board. Iowa grassroots might have to just start with you 4 or 5 and then pyramid down, it's got to start somewhere.

Also checkout http://ronpaul.meetup.com for other members in the area. I think you are right though, Iowa could be big for Ron if done right.

MsDoodahs · 05-23-2007, 12:07 PM

Hello. I'd like your input on whether or not to bother with placing ads in Iowa newspapers?

Thanks!

MsD in Texas

Scribbler de Stebbing · 05-23-2007, 12:11 PM

I'd be interested in carpooling down there with a group from Minnesota. I'll put a message out to the list in late June or early July, when we know a little more about what is going on with the campaign. Maybe the campaign itself would be interested in helping us coordinate at that point.

lonestarguy · 05-23-2007, 12:12 PM

I'm trying to rally Texas to Iowa, like Patton's Army to the seige at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. Here is what I posted to my Austin meetup of over 100 and growing. Let it apply to you from wherever you are reading this. The future of our country, I believe hinges hugely on Iowa. Wherever you see the word Texas below, insert your state unless of course your way closer to New Hampshire:

From my Austin Meet-up Post of Tuesday 22 May.

Knowing how important the Great State of Iowa is to nearly every prez candidacy, (though the well-monied McCain in 2000 skipped Iowa to win in NH), I was scanning around Monday (21 May) on the meetup site snooping zip codes and towns in Iowa and found nary a meetup, and my heart sunk. But I did find about 20 interested persons spread across the state but no one had pulled the trigger to start a group. Lo and behold, Des Moines has it's first group as of 21 May, with 15 members and meets for the first time 4 June. And just today group number two pops up to the east towards the Illinois line in Iowa City with 3 members and a 5 June scheduled meeting. There is life in Iowa!!!

As the great person that started this person indicated, the Iowa Strawpoll is 11 August, a test of a candidate's field operations, is just over eleven weeks away. I think it's possible to finish in the top 5, but it will take work, and lets be honest, reality check time, between June and late December, it is going to require, imho, a significant volunteer base transiting between here, Texas, and there, Iowa. Just rough guessing it but anybody who can spend on the ground only a couple of solid days to those that can spend weeks, it's gonna be worth it. We can't hope that others will do the job, we have to ensure the job gets done. If RP is the nations's gem, it is only fitting that Texans are there on the ground in a crucial state and doing whatever it takes.

Iowa is where the rubber meets the road and the dance begins in this labor intensive person to person operation, and heck, Des Moines from Austin is only 923 miles, from Dallas only 690. This is the summer of our life. And if Iowa is to be sweet to RP, then some of us are gonna have to do the heavy (though fun in a serious way) lifting.

Logistics and what not will need to be explored soon as well as quick education of this thing known as the 'caucus system'. I do not see us waiting "until" campaign hq is on the ground in Iowa, we have to get in the game and soon, Iowans have to stand up and get in the game, but Texas may have to lead side by side. Communicating and talking and meeting people in a significant way has to commence soon. The latest Des Moines Register Poll simply indicates we have our work cut out, but ultimately with the good leadership from the quality of people in Austin, Dallas, etc, we can do anything. I have studied the calender and I will spend my 10 days on the ground the last two weeks of July and another 6 days in the Fall or Winter in sunny Iowa.

One final note, Florida is moving up its primary to around 26 January. Iowa to remain number one, is considering moving her caucus in mid to late December! How about that one

Dave · 05-23-2007, 12:15 PM

Josh - If you'd like, just elevate this thread to it's own forum called News from Iowa. Otherwise, just leave this thread here.

Either way, I'd like to keep this thread/forum separate from the 'local area' forums so everyone can easily follow what's happening in Iowa. Iowans can continue to post/organize in a local area forum as well but I want to keep broadcasting news to the whole Ron Paul forum.

lonestarguy · 05-23-2007, 12:21 PM

I think in addition to Dave's comment we might consider re-naming the thread, MUST READ: ALL EYES ON IOWA

05-23-2007, 11:51 AM	#1
Dave Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Des Moines Posts: 920	News from Iowa As a Des Moines-area Ron Paul supporter, I've decided to start this thread to share news and observations from Iowa, home of the first-in-the-nation caucus.

05-23-2007, 12:12 PM	#8
lonestarguy Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 159	Iowa is Huge...now what will You Do?? I'm trying to rally Texas to Iowa, like Patton's Army to the seige at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. Here is what I posted to my Austin meetup of over 100 and growing. Let it apply to you from wherever you are reading this. The future of our country, I believe hinges hugely on Iowa. Wherever you see the word Texas below, insert your state unless of course your way closer to New Hampshire: From my Austin Meet-up Post of Tuesday 22 May. Knowing how important the Great State of Iowa is to nearly every prez candidacy, (though the well-monied McCain in 2000 skipped Iowa to win in NH), I was scanning around Monday (21 May) on the meetup site snooping zip codes and towns in Iowa and found nary a meetup, and my heart sunk. But I did find about 20 interested persons spread across the state but no one had pulled the trigger to start a group. Lo and behold, Des Moines has it's first group as of 21 May, with 15 members and meets for the first time 4 June. And just today group number two pops up to the east towards the Illinois line in Iowa City with 3 members and a 5 June scheduled meeting. There is life in Iowa!!! As the great person that started this person indicated, the Iowa Strawpoll is 11 August, a test of a candidate's field operations, is just over eleven weeks away. I think it's possible to finish in the top 5, but it will take work, and lets be honest, reality check time, between June and late December, it is going to require, imho, a significant volunteer base transiting between here, Texas, and there, Iowa. Just rough guessing it but anybody who can spend on the ground only a couple of solid days to those that can spend weeks, it's gonna be worth it. We can't hope that others will do the job, we have to ensure the job gets done. If RP is the nations's gem, it is only fitting that Texans are there on the ground in a crucial state and doing whatever it takes. Iowa is where the rubber meets the road and the dance begins in this labor intensive person to person operation, and heck, Des Moines from Austin is only 923 miles, from Dallas only 690. This is the summer of our life. And if Iowa is to be sweet to RP, then some of us are gonna have to do the heavy (though fun in a serious way) lifting. Logistics and what not will need to be explored soon as well as quick education of this thing known as the 'caucus system'. I do not see us waiting "until" campaign hq is on the ground in Iowa, we have to get in the game and soon, Iowans have to stand up and get in the game, but Texas may have to lead side by side. Communicating and talking and meeting people in a significant way has to commence soon. The latest Des Moines Register Poll simply indicates we have our work cut out, but ultimately with the good leadership from the quality of people in Austin, Dallas, etc, we can do anything. I have studied the calender and I will spend my 10 days on the ground the last two weeks of July and another 6 days in the Fall or Winter in sunny Iowa. One final note, Florida is moving up its primary to around 26 January. Iowa to remain number one, is considering moving her caucus in mid to late December! How about that one

05-23-2007, 12:21 PM	#10
lonestarguy Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 159	"All Eyes on Iowa" I think in addition to Dave's comment we might consider re-naming the thread, MUST READ: ALL EYES ON IOWA

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

05-23-2007, 11:54 AM	#2
Dave Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Des Moines Posts: 920	I posted this earlier in another forum but thought it would be a good place to begin with "News from Iowa". The Iowa GOP Straw Poll in August is being talked about in the local media. I have attended the Iowa Straw Poll. It's a grotesque spectacle but I would consider it a necessary evil since it will be widely covered and it is the first real test of the candidates. This is even more important now that the caucuses and primaries are so front-loaded. To do poorly in the Iowa Straw Poll this year will reflect very poorly on those campaigns - and to do well requires an extraordinary commitment. (One strategy is to skip it and/or Iowa entirely. McCain tried this last time and Giuliani is contemplating it this time. Nobody has ever won their party's nomination after skipping Iowa.) It's far from a scientific poll of a candidates support in Iowa - it's really much more of a test of a candidate's organization. This is really where the campaigns that are serious about a good showing in Iowa flex their muscle. I'm concerned that to my knowledge Dr. Paul doesn't seem to have much of an Iowa organization right now. It's a carnival-like atmosphere in and around Hilton Coliseum at Iowa State University. There will be tens of thousands of people there. They have parking for over 500 buses that candidates will hire to deliver Iowans to Ames. Massive tents are set up all around Hilton. Candidates pay big bucks to get the prime locations and have the biggest and most elaborate setup. The wining and dining is over the top. Fantastic spreads of food and drink. Live bands, some with national stature. Hats, buttons, flags, horns, and RAH RAH RAH! Woe to the candidate with the tent clear out in the parking lot offering a bowl of fritos. Then there's the Iowans. It's like sheep being led to slaughter but instead of slaughter it's a giant party! Only Iowans can vote but literally hundreds of campaign supporters from around the country come to help orgranize busloads from all corners of Iowa and fill them with Iowans to go vote. The parking lot is a sea of buses. More than once I saw people become anamored with another candidate's tent and 'jump the fence' to check it out. It's a secret ballot so nobody really knows who these people ultimately vote for. Inside Hilton it's like the national convention. Each candidate gets an opportunity to speak. It seems like it was 10-20 minutes. You'd better have your herd seated by then so they can scream their heads off at the end of your every sentence. If you're a political junkie, this event IS Xanadu. Even if you're not GOP. I had an automated call last night from Tommy Thompson offering to bus me to Ames (I only live 45 mins. away) and pay for my $35 ticket in exchange for my support. The Paul campaign will have to decide soon whether to commit to this event. It's outrageous, very expensive, non-scientific, and I'm not sure if we (yet) have the kind of grassroots support in Iowa that would allow us to light up Ames like we light up the internet. To skip this event might be a risky strategy but there may be better ways to use our limited money and unlimited energy. I trust the judgment of Dr. Paul in this regard.

05-23-2007, 11:55 AM	#3
DavyDuke17 Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 164	Is there enough interest to start a thread on the home page for the Des Moines area?

05-23-2007, 11:57 AM	#4
Dave Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Des Moines Posts: 920	I guess we'll find out. I'll leave that up to Josh.

05-23-2007, 12:03 PM	#5
JoshLowry Admin Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston Posts: 5,979	Howdy Dave It looks like you got some good ideas, check out this thread and post in there: http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=208 I will go ahead and make that forum as soon as you guys decide on a name. It looks like you have 4 or 5 members on this message board. Iowa grassroots might have to just start with you 4 or 5 and then pyramid down, it's got to start somewhere. Also checkout http://ronpaul.meetup.com for other members in the area. I think you are right though, Iowa could be big for Ron if done right.

05-23-2007, 12:07 PM	#6
MsDoodahs Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chappell Hill, Texas Posts: 9,384	Hello. I'd like your input on whether or not to bother with placing ads in Iowa newspapers? Thanks! MsD in Texas

05-23-2007, 12:11 PM	#7
Scribbler de Stebbing Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Excelsior MN Posts: 2,575	I'd be interested in carpooling down there with a group from Minnesota. I'll put a message out to the list in late June or early July, when we know a little more about what is going on with the campaign. Maybe the campaign itself would be interested in helping us coordinate at that point.

05-23-2007, 12:15 PM	#9
Dave Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Des Moines Posts: 920	Josh - If you'd like, just elevate this thread to it's own forum called News from Iowa. Otherwise, just leave this thread here. Either way, I'd like to keep this thread/forum separate from the 'local area' forums so everyone can easily follow what's happening in Iowa. Iowans can continue to post/organize in a local area forum as well but I want to keep broadcasting news to the whole Ron Paul forum.