I live-blogged on
HeartlandPACIowa.org and I thought a number of you might be interested in the report. Sorry I didn't get over here sooner, I had to tend to the IA site first.
8:03: Intial impressions. Chet Culver did well against Nussle, making solid policy points and doing better than expectations -- he won this debate and will likely only win the next two by more. The Republicans are already chattering about "all his proposals," but folks it's called having a plan.
As for Nussle, he sounded un-original and DC-like. All of his points were straight out of the Republican partisan playbook. He seems singularly obsessed with lowering taxes above all else, and just like in congress it is likely that he will choose that over funding education, health care, law enforcement, or any of the other priorities he mentioned tonight.
But worst of all he closed with an outright lie: "we've reduced the deficit." Someone in the press needs to ask Nussle what he meant by that or if it was a purposeful deception.
Overall the debate goes to Culver and is a victory well deserved as he explained his vision and plan for Iowa. Then defended himself by pointing out Nussle's record did not meet his rhetoric tonight. Nussle will have to do better in the next two or face losing even worse.
Sorry i missed some questions in there. I will update with more on those tomorrow.
For now, got to
www.chetculver.com and help him out as a thank you for such a good performance.
7:58: Nussle. Van der Plaants and I have the experience. Helped create the ethanol industry, and reduced taxes, and then claims ... we've reduced the deficit????????????? Has he read the federal budget that he wrote?
Then says he wants to lower taxes again, then decides to go after "scandals" in state government. But he seems to be silent on the scandals in DC.
More of the same: severe distortions of his 15 year record in Washington DC with Tom Delay and Dennis Hastert.
7:55: Closing Statements, Chet Culver goes first.
Culver: The race boils down to one question: Do you want Washington D.C. style leadership or do you want to see Iowa leadership? Culver lays out his vision for Iowa -- positive. He asks Iowans to stand with him to achieve the greatness we all know we can achieve.
7:55: Question 20. Whose your favorite Hero?
Jim Nussle: His Dad.
Chet Culver: His parents and John Kennedy.
7:50: Question 19. Stem Cells. Nussle supports a "very good compromise" (a.k.a. the ban on using new stem cells) to continue to the research, but then brings up the "human harvesting" boogyman claiming none of it worked (both outlandish claims). Chet Culver points that science takes time, and that Nancy Reagan and most Iowans disagree with Nussle (where most Iowans tend to be on most the issues).
7:45: Question 17. Teen Driving restrictions. They both support protecting our children.
Nussle seems to be getting flustered, and his attacks are sounding typical and unimaginative. But most of all -- he keeps walking into Culver's comparisons between his 15 year record and his rhetoric. It's like when I was 10 and my 15 year old brother always walked right into good joke by him. Nussle should be more careful.
7:43: Question 16. Prison Staffing. Culver is endorsed by those workers (among many others), and supports building a new prision as well. Nussle tells people to "hold on to your wallets," he argues that we have neglected law enforcement and he will somehow make everything better by claiming it is "priority" but not funding it. Yeah that has worked well for things like No Child Left Behind, Katrina rebuilding, and many more of Congress' greatest hits of unfunded programs. (Plus obviously the employees disagree. Since their endorsements went to Culver).
7:38: Question 15. Teacher Pay. Jim Nussle, we need to pay teachers more. Culver agrees, and then points out that Nussle's record on voting for education funding is abysmal. Then hits on the nail on the head -- it's the record not the rhetoric. Jim Nussle can't avoid his record because Culver seems to know it better than him.
7:36: Question 14. Gay Marriage. Culver, we don't need to change the marriage laws. But we can help reduce discrimination in other ways like employement discrimination. Nussle says he supports the federal amendment, and goes back to question 13, which was on bullying gay children.
7:33: Question 12. Property Taxes. Chet Culver wants to lower commercial property taxes, form a blue ribbon commission and continue to reduce residential property taxes. Nussle tries to dig at Culver claiming he stole his plan -- says we need to lower all taxes. Then attacks Culver for wanting to form a blue ribbon commission (Huh? I thought he stole your plan?).
7:28: Question Ten. Sex Offenders. Culver says he wants to protect our children, and asks Nussle what he thinks of Foley. Nussle says we are glad he resigned and I have prosecuted people like Foley.
But Jim what do you think about Hastert, Reynolds, and others that have raised money for you in the past and may have refused to protect our children. He's going to have to answer that question soon.
7:26: Question Nine. Iowa Values Fund works, why would you change it. Nussle says it is just "icing." Culver comes back to the last question and makes Nussle confront his record of borrowing and spending -- and does well at it. GO CHET!
7:23: Nussle says it is a success as well. Points out that Governor Vilsack does good work by empowering local leadership. Then goes after him about taxes, and then has the guts to go after Culver for spending and borrowing (something he's the one with the record on).
7:22: Question Eight. Vision Iowa. Culver supports it's success, praises Governor Vilsack and Lt. Gov. Pederson.
7:21: Culver talks about an actual plan to expand healthcare and technology improvements. You can read it on his site:
www.chetculver.com
7:20: Question Seven. Access to Healthcare. Nussle talks about liability as the solution to rural healthcare access? He is going out of his way to hit the typical Republican talking points on every question.
7:18: Culver seems to be getting his footing. Looking better as the debate goes on.
7:16: Sixth Question. What was your toughest decision you've made as an elected official? Culver, HAVA funding. Nussle, choosing to prosecute and voting for war.
7:15: Culver talks about his experience as a teacher and how he will create help for those in need.
7:14: Fifth question. Tuition. Nussle argues for bi-annual budget, and talks like a used car salesman about how he is going
gurantee tuition won't be raised (How
will he pay for those tax cuts? Or keep his promises?)
7:12: Fourth Question. Road use taxes. Culver won't change these taxes. Nussle then claims Culver wants to raise taxes. Typical.
7:11: Culver reminds Nussle that we have over $300 million in surplus. Then explains he will cut taxes for the people who need it.
7:10: Third Question. Tax policies. Nussle Iowa is over-taxed. Nussle clearly prefers to cut rich people's taxes and deficit spending as he has done in Washington. Then attacks Vilsack's budget -- seems he opposes surpluses too.
7:09: Nussle says his position is not extreme (most Iowans disagree).
7:07: Second question. Abortion. Culver explains his position, he believes women have a right to make their own decisions, and believes it should be safe, legal, and rare. Then Culver explains Nussle's latest position on abortion.
7:05: Nussle never addresses his negative ads, explains Culver has negative ads too (nevermind that he started the negative barrage). Culver explains Nussle has been on the attack from the beginning (The first record vs. rhetoric moment).
7:03: Moment of silence for the fallen in Iraq and the two national guardsmen, classy move by Nussle, but lets him avoid the question. Nussle uses his time with that moment. Culver answers the question by pointing out that Nussle started the attacks.
7:01 PM: And the introductions begin, no opening statements. 1st question to Nussle about negative ads.
6:55 PM: Five minutes left and I am tuned in already. Getting excited.
6:39 PM: As the debate nears I've noticed that Krusty Konsertvative will be live blogging from the other side. First I noticed this comment on his forum:
"I know the union mob is there in force to promote their desire for more socialism."
The respect for working families continues.
Even more interesting --
Krusty claims that
Culver's contrast between Washington style leadership of Nussle to the Iowa leadership of Culver in the Des Moines Register is just "attack politics."
Culver is prepared to compare Nussle's record on the issues to his and compare Nussle's DC politics to Iowa politics, but they aren't attacks. It is a comparision of leadership styles, something I consider very important when electing a Governor, don't you?
I agree with Krusty on one thing though -- if he considers Nussle's record from 15 years in Congress with Tom Delay and Dennis Hastert a "bomb" so be it, at least he and I can agree on something.
6:10 PM: It's about one hour until the debate starts. For a primer here is the
Tom Beaumont's article about the debate in the Des Moines Register.
This should be a good debate, with Congressman Nussle having years of political experience and Chet Culver having a lot more ideas and plans about where to take the state. Nussle has some natural advantages, but Culver has the most to gain from the debate tonight.