Kucinich and Gravel NOT invited to JJ Dinner in DM.

[Hardrada]

I'm glad we weren't going anyway but had I known I would have boycotted this event which seems to be mainly for the candidates the news media have decided on for us.

[Judge_Mental]

1. AFAIK DK only has one staffer in Iowa (Marcos Rubenstein)

I know of none for Gravel.

Hard to take a campaign seriously when they have no field org in place.

[josh_edwards07]

2. Kucinich and Gravel not invited

If I'm chairman Brennan, I don't invite them either. If you have few or no staffers or field offices, you aren't showing that you take the Iowa Caucuses very seriously

[9119495]

3. Or if you agree to swap votes at caucuses to hurt another candidate

as DK did in '04. People make som silly criticisms about the caucus but this bothered me.

[Hardrada]

4. But what's the harm in letting them say their piece?

DK is doing a lot of heavy lifting in DC the other Dems aren't doing. And Gravel has an interesting take on events.

[pstans]

5. They not only not have staffers, they haven't had event here

I think Gravel's only visit to the state was the debate that was held in Des Moines. Kucinich has been here less than 5 times.

[CornField]

6. Personally, I think it stinks

Just speaking for myself here, but I think if someone is running for office and that person has a D beside his or her name, he or she should be invited to all the major D events.

[Hardrada]

9. Thank you for concurring. The national media is trying to make

these guys vanish. Why should the Iowa Democratic gauleiters do the same thing?

[Debi]

11. But where do you draw the line?

I agree that Kucinich and maybe even Gravel should be at the JJ, but 22 Democrats have filed to be on New Hampshire's primary ballot http://www.sos.nh.gov/presprim2008/candidatesfiled.htm (poor Sal Mohammad was disqualified so he won't end up on the ballot). Should the Iowa Democratic Party allot speaking time for each of the candidates?

[CornField]

13. Yeah, I think they should

And I'm aware that I'm in the minority on this. But if we are the Iowa Democratic Party, I think we should represent all Democrats running for office regardless of their perceived ability to compete. Unless we are making a primary endorsement of one candidate over the others, we really have no business playing a game that elevates select candidates over others. To do so, in my opinion, places a stigma of bias on the party and could, in turn, place a stigma on the legitimacy of our caucus process.

[Debi]

14. "Unless we are making a primary endorsement of one candidate over the others"

Or a set group of candidates that the IDP deem legitimate? I hear you. I just don't know if I could cope with 22 (and Sal) campaign speeches in one night! :wow:

[kernelfarmer]

17. I disagree

We didn't get back to Cedar Rapids until 2:45am as it was. If we'd had 2 more speakers would've been driving back into the sunrise! Seriously, it's my own fault for being too damned cheap to get a room.
:nopity:

[Debi]

18. We got home at 2:00 AM

:boring: I'm still dragging and I didn't have a single glass of wine! I think we could have done w/out some of the non-presidential speakers. :hi:

[kernelfarmer]

19. Hi Debi

:hi:

I agree with cutting out speakers. I saw John Hedgecoth (from Gov's staff) earlier in the day and reminded him that no one was there to see the Governor. Not sure if John had the courage to pass my message to our Governor. I can definitely say that Patty Judge didn't get the message.

Now that I think of it, having a lot of state-wides to introduce isn't necessarily a bad thing.
:woohoo:

[CornField]

21. Wow... imagine how much shorter it would have been if

The candidates had actually stuck to the agreed upon length of their speeches. :evil:

[rurallib]

7. With all the praise Ron Paul gets here maybe he should be invited?

I shall now wait patiently for my beating. Proceed.

[MaggieSwanson]

8. Can do.

:spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank: :spank:

;-)

Miss you,

Maggie

[rurallib]

10. Maggie! - been thinking of you

How's it going?

[Debi]

12. Hi Maggie? Are you ever coming home?

:loveya:

[MaggieSwanson]

15. Debi!

I miss you. Thanks for doing such an excellent job of keeping me up to date on Iowa happenings here in this forum. You are a treasure.

And I'm avoiding your question. :P

[Debi]

16. Ohhhhhh, Hmmmmm

I guess as long as you keep Iowa in your heart (and keep posting on DU :7) You'll be an Iowan-DUer no matter where you are :hi:

[youthere]

20. Where've you been?

Ron Paul is soooo yesterday. Now "Sack of hammers" is the candidate to bring Hillary down. :P