Posted on 06/29/2007 11:45:33 AM PDT by pissant
If you are an avid reader of this web log, you'll know that I sometimes put some of the upcoming political events in a header of "Path of the Cyclone: Calendar". Well, let me tell you, after driving the 3 plus hours to Ames on Thursday afternoon, I pulled into my favorite convenient store to get some Diet Pepsi and the sirens started going crazy. What was approaching? A Cyclone (tornado/twister).
I headed over to Main Street to the old depot area and checked out the Brownback office that was being opened that night. It is a nice location with plenty of parking but the actual office is pretty quaint. I think it should be a nice satellite office for them. The winds and torrential rain literally put a 'damper' on their headquarters opener and I left before the Senator arrived. Lots of good, ambitious staffers with Team Brownback though.
As I was headed toward Hilton Coliseum, I drove by Sigler Publishing and noticed that the old Story County GOP/Tom Latham headquarters is now the Ames office of the Mitt Romney campaign. I felt as though I gave a lot of my fall semester to that building (helping out the Story Co./Latham/Nussle/V.P.) and it is an extraordinarily spacious building. I'm not sure what sorts of operations will be run out of there, but their Urbandale office is absolutely incredible in size and scope.
Congressman Tom Tancredo also has a very beautiful office in Ames (in the very lovely Welch Crowne Center) and they are planning to 'officially' open it next Sunday afternoon with some gool 'ol fashioned BBQ. I will be attending that and I've been in that office and am very impressed by their operations there. There are a couple of Democratic offices in Ames also (Hillary and Obama, I think).
After learning that a cyclone HAD touched down at the airport and that the weather system was passing, they let all the people at Hilton Coliseum out of the locker rooms. The event was supposed to start at about 5:30 but it was closer to 6. There were a few hundred people in attendance and it was all extraordinarily well planned and set up. Very professional and very classy.
They had some of the student organizers speak and then they turned the floor over to Dan DiMicco, Chairman and CEO of Nucor, the world's largest Steel producer and recycler. DiMicco's remarks lasted about an hour so I thought they got a little long-winded, but he did bring up some good points and was critical of both Republicans and Democrats. The entire event centered around America's trade policies and the future of manufacturing in the country. I found the topic to be pretty interesting and DiMicco was pretty interesting, just a little long-winded.
Sam Brownback and Duncan Hunter were also in attendance. Both spoke for about 5 to 10 minutes each. Brownback looked visibly exhausted and his voice was even straining a little but that is obviously because he just finished an incredibly aggressive statewide bus tour. He gave some nice remarks and talked about trade and about energy and said that the United States needs to become much more forceful with China because they refuse to float their currency. His remarks were timely and he received a nice reception from the very politically diverse crowd. I've seen Senator Sam several times and while he never wows you with any sort of oratorical brilliance, he does have a common sense midwestern flavor to his style.
This was also the second time I'd seen Duncan Hunter in Iowa. The first time was at the Hamilton Co. GOP fundraiser in March. Hunter is a powerful speaker. I was sitting at a table of almost all Republicans (minus one) and they were all saying 'wow' afterwards. Hunter has a very commanding voice and talked in great depth about his 'arsenal of democracy'. He also talks about his father and his son and their military service and what that has meant to him. Duncan received very fervent applause.
Afterwards, Brownback didn't really hang out too much as I'm not sure he had other stops or people to meet, but Hunter was probably one of the last persons to leave the room. He was literally talking to everyone. I didn't see any staffers there with him and Hunter was busy trying to pass out his information to anybody and everybody. I was very refreshed by this. To anybody who believes retail politics is over, seeing Duncan Hunter on Thursday night puts that to rest. He was working the room, by himself, for literally an hour. It was refreshing in an era where a lot of candidates have too many handlers and yes, possibly even puppet masters.
Overall, a nice event. Just another reason why Ames is home to the Iowa State Cyclones and the Ames Community Schools "Little Cyclones".
PING
I cant get the hunter 08 website to accept my $$$. Any body else had this problem?
I have not. Call them on the phone and give them your info if the website is not functioning. They have a number on the website.
Thank you, pissant! It is wonderful to hear first hand about this amazing man, Duncan Hunter. I am grinning ear to ear under my trusty Duncan Hunter cap!
Not only does he have a commanding and sincere speaking abiliity, but he possesses an imposing presidential presense that few can resist. GO DUNCAN HUNTER!
He is fearless, never trying to nuance or tapdance his way around tough issues.
If you please, make your generous check or money order made out to: Duncan Hunter for President, and send it to:
9340 Fuerte Drive, Suite 302, La Mesa, CA, 91941-4164
Actually, if you donate by credit card, the cc co. skims 5% off the top, so the campaign does not receive your full donation. Every little bit helps, and I thank you so much for your contribution, CPT Clay. God bless!
BTTT for Hunter!
Best to get it in now, before the June 30 accounting deadline.
He respects the intelligence of his audience, that is for sure. And he finds no need to resort to platitudes or extra words to plump up a speech. Duncan Hunter cuts to the chase, and hits the mark every time. Have you noted lately how other candidates are adopting some of his prime issues? Not that he owns them, but he was first in voicing them.
PINGALING!
Yes. Everyone is for a secure border now. Everyone is for punching out the mullahs’ nukes. Everyone is for a larger military. Everyone want to sh*tcan Roe v. Wade. Everyone wants to hold China’s feet to the fire.
Problem is, if you look at the others’ records, you will find scant evidence of any of these things.
“Not that he owns them, but he was first in voicing them.”
Bump!
Just goes to show what I have said all along. IF media outlets would allow him the exposure he would beat the other candidates, hands down.
I’ve been getting comments on my cap as well....making a few Hunter supporters in my office already.
You are right, CPT. I just tried to donate another $100 by Visa, and I couldn’t get them to take it either. Even typing all the numbers in without the spaces. Tried at least four times. At first it kept dropping my state, then still rejected me. Sam!
Call their campaign HQ and tell them, please.
I just called the campaign and talked to Breanna in S.D. to report the problem with acceptance on the website. She was so appreciative, and said they would look into what is going on immediately, so keep trying, CPTClay, in just a little while. So will I.
.... Hunter was probably one of the last persons to leave the room. He was literally talking to everyone. I didn't see any staffers there with him and Hunter was busy trying to pass out his information to anybody and everybody. I was very refreshed by this. To anybody who believes retail politics is over, seeing Duncan Hunter on Thursday night puts that to rest. He was working the room, by himself, for literally an hour. It was refreshing in an era where a lot of candidates have too many handlers and yes, possibly even puppet masters.
Thank you pissant!
We are lucky to have this man as a candidate!
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