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I wish some of you would have been able to attend, I had a good time and really enjoyed hearing all of the various candidates speak. I took along an ex-girlfriend (now very close friend) who to this point has only been mildly engaged in politics, and it was interesting to hear her point of view.
As far as candidates for governor, Sal Mohammed, Patty Judge, Ed Fallon, and Mike Blouin all spoke. Chet Culver was there early and made his rounds but left before the stump speeches began - something about a prior committment. I was pretty disappointed as I really want to give him the consideration I think he deserves (and I have heard that his stump speech is getting better).
Sal Mohammed, bless the man, spoke mostly about the need for progressive reforms. I admire his ideas, but I think he has a snowball's chance in bush's future residence of being elected. He speaks with a very thick accent. My friend had a very difficult time understanding what he was saying for the majority of his speech. I don't think she was alone. I understood him for the most part because I have close friends that have arabic accents so I am a little used to it, but I can't imagine most corn-fed Iowans would vote for him. He obviously has tremendous passion and courage and I respect the man.
Patty was great. I don't know if it was the woman-power thing, or the fact that she really spoke out about women's rights (an obvious poke at Blouin) but my friend really connected with her and made me go grab some Judge literature. I think she may have found her ticket into activism! Patty seems like a very trustworthy, very caring person. Maybe I was influenced by my friend's enthusiasm, but I liked her.
Ed Fallon was a little more fiery than I had ever seen him. Not necessarily confrontational, but the good majority of his speech was about how we should rely on 'electability' and 'economic development' in its current sense. He equated 'economic development' with reaganomics, or trickle-down economics. Again, it seemed most of his speech was directed towards Blouin, and I think he too may have mentioned woman's rights.
When Blouin started speaking we went over to get a refill on the drinks and we were talking with some of the organizers, then decided to go have cigarette, so I didn't hear much of what he had to say except a bit on him touting his record of economic development (it IS rather extensive). Blouin by far had the most stickers being worn in the hall. I don't think my friend was real interested in a lot of what he was saying after I told her he was anti-choice. She did say that he seemed to be the only one that "looked" like a politician, which she said may or may not be a good thing.
I am still undecided. Balancing electability, economic development, progressive/grassroots change, and personal stances on woman's rights has been and still is a tough one. Ugh.
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