I just saw dean tonight, on the Iowa state campus. I'm pretty much planning on voting for Dean, and was interested in seeing him in person. Anyway, I figured it it's something you guy's might be interested in.
One of the most interesting moments was when someone held up a poster with a confederate flag. Everyone in the room laughed, including the black guy I'd been talking too. (I'm also half black) "Say hi to our Republican friends with the Confederate flag," Dean said. "Always looking for Republican support." People laughed. "But, we don't use that symbol" he said. "It's racially divisive.", more a little more then slight sarcasm in his voice.
Based on the reaction of the room, I almost might think this thing might help him out with people who don't think the flag is all that bad. But then again, I haven't done any scientific testing.
Read on for the whole story.
I'd know Howard Dean would be coming to campus tonight from the chalk writing all over the sidewalks on central campus, and I'd figured I'd go. I'd skipped out on the other candidates that have been around here, Kusinich(sp?) and Kerry that I knew of, but I figured it would be stupid to give up on a chance to see pretty much the only candidate I found interesting. And the one who would probably be president.
A couple of days ago, I actually came across some dean supporters in the "Free Speech Zone" in front of the Parks library. A cute girl with Curly blond hair and chic blocky glasses approached me.
The conversation when something like this (not like I took notes)
"Hey, how are you?"
"alright"
"Are you a democrat?"
"Yeah, I am."
"Are you leaning too any of the candidates?"
"Actually, probably dean."
Etc. Then I got to ask her the question I'd been dying to ask a dean supporter.
"Hey, I have a question for you, What's his stance on the War on Drugs?" I'd heard that dean was for it, which had really killed my early enthusiasm.
Her reaction was interesting. She shrugs and dithers, and says "Dean's all about the Drug War." Rather sheepishly. "And that's something I kind of disagree with him with. I dunno maybe that's something he's just saying to get the votes, you know?"
"well..." I say, "I doubt that." Smiling, I found her reaction entertaining, and I was glad that she at least agreed with me about it. We bitched about the drug war for a while, although she sort of tried to defend it too. And I told her I thought it was more important to get the country back to where it was 4 years ago then make it perfect right away.
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I had been working on schoolwork at the library until 3:30 or so with a friend, and after dropping her off at her boyfriend's (sigh) who's out of town for the week (heh) I headed to the MU. It turns out one of the kids on my dorm floor is in Cyclones for Dean. He says the thing is supposed to start at 5:30. I get there around five and there's this huge mass of people waiting in the lobby/stairs area. I make some conversation with the guy's around me, and end up talking to this black kid about politics (Geez, I'm just 23 and already I'm calling other collage students 'kids'. Just shoot me now). He says he's probably going to vote for Kerry, and is disappointed that Carol Mosley Braun get's no respect. I tell him I agree, but that she's only got like $100,000, and seemed a little Naïve. Kinda like Carter (not that I would really know). We talk about Dean's fundraising, etc.
After a while, we got to enter the South Ballroom where the event was being held. And got to stand around for a lot longer. We did get tons of swag though, T-shirts, bumper stickers, even these "foam fingers" about half the size of normal ones.
After what seemed like a long time (and I couldn't tell you how long, exactly since my cell phone died. Probably a half hour) we got some ISU professor, and the kid I was talking to said he had one of his classes.
Then we got Herman Qurmbaugh, a local state senator who I grew to despise when my mom ran against him for City Console way back when. He's really got a bad name for politics, If you ask me. Anyway, he rambles on for a while, then that same hot chick who I'd been talking too the other day comes on, and introduces dean. The crowd goes wild. Which isn't unexpected, given that they've been standing around waiting for a half hour.
Here's what sticks out in my mind, not in any order:
+The aforementioned confederate flag poster, which is what got me to post this here.
+He mentioned Ethanol, which I guess a big deal in Iowa. People cheered. I don't know how many due to the fact that it's the active ingredient in Booze, though :)
+He also talked about wind-farms.
+He talked a lot about how his campaign was all grass-rootsy, and how the average campaign contribution was $77. He told us about how he hopes he can get $100 from two million Americans, because "I think there are two million people out there willing to pay $100 for a one way bus ticket, from D.C to Crawford Texas". That got a good round of applause.
+He talked about how bush was working to end abortion, and how that would probably happen if bush was reelected. He called the Court the most conservative since the Dredd Scot decision. That got some cheers, including one "Yay abortion!" from me, which got a couple people around me to laugh.
+He mentioned a pretty innovative plan to have caps on Student loan payments, which I, being a student really like. (Although it probably won't help me too much).
+He talked about how kids were the future, and how it was much more important to get involved with kids and families before they had a chance to lead fucked up lives and end up in jail. Mentioned a 40% reduction child abuse or something in Vermont.
+He bitched about the No Child left behind act, "Iowa has had one of the top five school systems for the past 50 years. Texas has had one of the bottom five for the past fifty years. George bush thinks the way to improve Iowa schools is to make them more like Texas schools. I think Iowa has a better idea how to run it's schools then George Bush." That got a lot of applause.
+talked a lot about defense, of course. How he's not a pussy, basically.
+He also talked about how Bush used the Race card by talking about "quotas" and how racism is bad. Obviously a little CYA for the whole "Flag Flap" thing.
+Speaking of flags, he wraps up by talking about how we (democrats) need to stand up and fight, stop being bush light, and take back the flag behind him (the US one, obviously) from people like Rush Limbaugh and Jerry Fallwel. Great ending.