Iowa Candidate Forum Cedar Rapids- 6 of 9 Dem Candidates there

[iowa_democrat]

Just back from a local union hall, where Kerry, Graham, Edwards, Kucinich, Dean, and Gephart gave their "labor" stump speeches. As an undecided voter in Iowa, I was hoping the event would help me. Well, I suppose I still have a few months. Graham disappointed, left a hole in the charisma you could drive a semi through. Kucinich had the hall rocking, showed his union cards. you don't hear oratory like that much anymore. He was a surprise. Dean and Kerry were both solid, both in ability and speech, with a bit of a nod to Dean. It was a Gephart crowd though, and he worked it. He was very moving when talking about health care insurance and his two year old son's cancer, as well as what growing up in a union family meant to him.

Everyone I talked to had the same idea though. Whoever wins, we've got to support them and work as hard as we would for our own choice. That is the only way to beat "W".

Steve

[Cha]

1. H ey! Welcome to DU, Iowa_Democrat! And thanks for your

perspective! :-)

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

2. Thanks for filling us in!

I get frustrated that not every forum is televised. It's great to have so many wonderful candidates to choose from.

[samurai_jack]

3. this election is about more than 'entertainment value'

iowa_democrat,

I respect the position you find yourself in as an undecided. However, if you are going to claim that Graham was disappointing because he lacked "charisma", you are doing yourself a huge disfavor. You are essentially advertising the fact that you are going base your vote on whomever gives you the best emotional "jollies."

People voting based on empty sentiment is how our nation got into this mess with GW Bush.

Here's a tip: listen to what each candidate actually says. I know that it is <b>easier</b> to focus on presentation stylistics, but summon some gumption and try to pay serious attention to the "boring" speeches. Especially as a union member, you have got to be on the look out for soothsayers who will get you excited, but don't have the ability or intention of following through in backing your cause.

If you seriously listen, you'll find that Bob Graham has the most "exciting" message of any of the candidates, including Dean.

[iowa_democrat]

4. entertainment value?

Sorry if I gave the impression that I was expecting a rockstar and was giving up on Graham solely because of a Libermanesque performance. (BTW no one I talked to was upset that Liberman wasn't there.)

Let me clarify. I like Graham's positiions. He is in my top three candidates. I particularly like him taking it to * on intelligence matters, terrorism issues and military pay, and the fact that he has the knowledge to do so. I have seen Graham in a smaller forum and talked with him, and understand why he is so popular in Florida. However, perhaps a the union forum wasn't ideal for him. He talked about his workdays and one in particular at a nursing home in a way that was very moving, otherwise he wandered a bit. He did NOT however compare well to the other candidates when speaking. The crowd seemed to lose interest too soon. It was a restless crowd, and had to be yelled at several times to quiet down. My PERSONAL opinion is that Graham did not do well at this forum, but is still early.

I apologize to his supporters for my flippant comment about a serious candidate.

Steve

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

5. Geppy had 2 lines that were so memorable, I wrote them down:

"First of all, we need to help everything."

"I'm for doing more."