So Jim Leach called me a 'radical' the other day at his forum.

[rurallib]

Other folks weren't asking any questions, so I filled the dead air with about 5 or so questions and would interrupt to clarify some 'facts' that weren't quite right. About 10 minutes into it he looked kind of quizically at me and asked if there were any more radicals like me in Cedar county?
The questions I asked were about things like the debt, the signing statements,Iran and the run up to war, whether or not we are building permanent bases in Iraq. Never got a chance to ask about 'kitchen table' issues like the price of gas, health care, college and the medicare prescription drugs.
And of course I got no answers. On each issue Leach said that it was a very serious issue, went into his little civics lesson and tailed off. And as he tailed off I asked him (in a civil manner) "well, what are YOU coing to do about it?".
His aide Gary Grant was staring me down.
The funny part was that some ass-kisser came in with about 10 minutes left and lauded Leach as "probably the best representative in congress. I thank God every day you are my congressman". It was just sickening.
Heard Leach got a hard treatment in CR also?

[Debi]

1. How dare you challenge him for his republican stances on issues

Don't you know he'll vote 'D' on at least one committee vote this year so that all the Democrats will support him in November? (don't worry, he'll support the GOP when he's told to get in line, but by then we won't be paying attention...again).

:eyes:

[Hardrada]

2. My wife's association, the ISEA always endorses Leach

because he is supposed to vote with Dems on crucial issues. This actually never happens. My wife and others have said that for God's sake support his opponent since he has been there too long and has never done us any good save for maybe some mythical thing in the remote past. You realize that Knot's Landing and all the successive Star Treks to the Shatner/Nimoy one have come and gone while that sweater- wearing elitist fraud has been holding down that spot.

[Debi]

8. Yeah, here in Cedar Falls the ISEA always endorsed Don Redfern

Even over Democratic candidates that were ISEA members - they thought that he'd help them if they endorsed them and wouldn't help them if they didn't. Well they forgot one more scenario - that he wouldn't help them WHEN they endorsed him. :crazy: Messed up, I tell ya!

Hey, now, don't blame the sweater....blame the man!

[Hardrada]

9. OK, I'm cool with the sweater. I remember now the ISEA

also endorsed Terry Braindead (Barnstad) over Don Avenson a Dem State Senator. My wife came back after that meeting and had almost completely lost her voice after fierce arguments opposing that absurd move!

[9119495]

13. And they'll do it again this time too. Loebsack is a much better option

I won't quit the union, but I will withold my PAC contribution if they endorse Leach.

They'll probably also endorse Mary Lundby because SHE TELLS THEM she is a centrist. She thinks we don't watch her votes. She is one person that should be "retired" somehow. Nothing violent, I just want her to wake up, realize she is a sham of a legislator, step down, and appologize for years of abusing the state.

[MaggieSwanson]

3. You must be doing something right.

:thumbsup: :patriot:

I had some family obligations and didn't make it to his meeting in CR. I went to the last one, though, and brought up Palestine. Boy, was he ever thrilled.

[rurallib]

4. Somebody brought up Palestine at ours also

[Critters2]

5. Stewie Iverson used to talk to me like that, when I asked questions

I miss ol' Stew, and Iowa politics in general. *sigh*

What am I saying?!! How bad can Illinois be, if I miss Iverson....yep, that bad.

[CornField]

6. So glad you went

So happy he got some grief. Wish I could have been there to see you in action, rurallib.

[rurallib]

7. Just talked with friend. She said he really got grief in Wapello

Wapello! That is like the heart of Leach country. She said that three guys wanted to 'have him fired'. Folks really upset about kitchen table issues. Leach tried to push his internet gambling bill, but the natives wanted to talk real issues. She said he was supposed to leave at 4:30 and had to finally get up and walk out around 6:30.
Leach meetings used to be as exciting as watching grass grow.
Loebsack support seems to be picking up in the southern part of the district that used to be pretty red.

[Hardrada]

10. We got on Nussle's case about the Schiavo vote and had some

good antiwar questions too. He tried to deflect things by having some big photo op at the beginning where he gave some WWII medals to a widow whose husband had never gotten them. Flag in background etc. I felt the poor woman was being used as a prop for Nussle's ambitions. The pic of this never made it into the local papers though!!
Also, at this meeting he feigned ignorance of fiscal matters even though he is, of course, the head of the House Budget Committee. This year they won't get away with assuming we are just there for the glory of being in their Divine Presence!

[rurallib]

11. I am surprised Nussle would meet with real people and not

hand-picked audience. That may end soon.

[Hobarticus]

12. I think Paper Bag Boy is going to have a hard time when he starts

REALLY campaigning in Iowa. Having to talk to real-deal people has never been his forte.