About the author: desmoinesdem

You bet! (0.00 / 0)

I remember Paul Simon of the bowtie and John Anderson, independent candidate for President. They were both from Illinois.

Anderson is now with FairVote, trying to help us escape from the electoral college straitjacket.

Keep on posting.

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by: IowaVoter @ Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 07:46:42 AM CDT

I remember John Anderson (0.00 / 0)

and Paul Simon (though I was in 8th grade and a freshman in college respectfully).

8th grade was an important time for me, I moved to Pennsylvania, got new friends, listened to punk rock and went from a Reagan Republican to a Anarchist to a Marxist-Leninist in the span of about 3 months.

While I've not been fortunate enough to live in Iowa, I did support and vote for Jesse Jackson in 1988 -- and he stunned the world and won Michigan!

I'll look forward to continue to read you.

Unfortunately, I'm not from Iowa: Michigan For Edwards Blog

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by: philgoblue @ Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 07:49:08 AM CDT

Jackson's campaign (0.00 / 0)

That brings back memories. In August 1987 I went to a Democratic presidential candidates' debate at the Iowa State Fair. Even though I was for Simon, I remember that Jesse Jackson stole the show. It wasn't just his rhyming rhetoric ("farmers want parity, not charity"), it was the way he related to the audience.

To make a point about our country's manufacturing base, he asked people to raise their hands if they personally owned a VCR. He went on about how Americans invented the VCR but there were no VCRs manufactured in the US--just about all of them came from Japan. Then he asked the crowd, "Raise your hands if you personally own an MX missile." Laughter and huge applause.

Invite other Iowa political junkies to join us at Bleeding Heartland.

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by: desmoinesdem @ Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 23:04:16 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I was a Gore supporter in 1988, (0.00 / 0)

but I remember Simon, Anderson and Jackson too.  I am a southerner, and I was very surprised that Jackson could win votes in the midwest.  I got to meet Sen. Simon late in 1999, when he was campaigning for Gore in the 2000 caucuses.

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by: corncam @ Fri Apr 13, 2007 at 09:48:21 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Paul Simon? (0.00 / 0)

Yeah, always hanging around with that Garfunkle guy. 

I got a couple years on you but was not politically active at such a precocious age. 

(My daughters, however, have already been in Time magazine at a Kerry rally.  They liked his early meetings much better than the Obama rally as Kerry accepted a picture they drew and gave the oldest one a hug.  Cold and aloof my butt, he was very nice.  Obama's music was too loud for the kids.)

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by: BoringDad @ Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 18:42:53 PM CDT

Yes I remember John Anderson (4.00 / 1)

I was a precinct committeeman in Union County when I announced for John Anderson.  It really pissed off the rest of the county central committee.  I didn't really care.  I couldn't support Carter.  21% interest rates was crippling our business.  The prime skyrocketed.  For those of you that think a poor credit rating caused the high interest rates.  You are wrong.  It was a family owned grain elevator the business had been in my family since 1887.  We had banked with that bank for over 30 years.  In 1978 our interest rate was 7% by 1980 it had risen to over 20%.  We could borrow hundreds of thousands of dollars just on our voice on the phone.  All loans were paid off early.

I was very impressed with John Anderson's openness and honesty.  I recieved a fundraising letter in which he said they would pay back donations with interest if he qualified for matching funds.  I sent him a check and six months later got a check from his campaign with interest.  Yes John Anderson was a good man.  One of the last sane republicans.

I do remember Paul Simon.  The man with the bowtie.  I was a precinct chairman for him in Polk County.  I liked his openness.  He kindof reminded me of what I had read about Harry Truman.

I was first elected as a precinct committeeman in 1976 I was 18 years old, in Union County.  I have since been a committeeman in Polk and Dallas Counties.  And until 2006 I have always been active in my local democratic party.  After the 2000 election I started to become angry at how the Democrats in Washington cowered to Bush.  They acted as if Bush won the election with 400 electoral votes.  At times when they should have stood their ground and fought they caved in.  At times they might have lost, they could have stood for their values and beliefs.  They could have stood for something only to raise the white white flag of surrender.  In 2006 the cowards of Congress (the Democrats) voted 35-9 for the patriot act.  After that I left the party.  Actualy I didn't leave the democratic party, the party left me.

For thirty years I had been there for the party.  Knocking on doors, making phone calls and selling tickets.  Every year I donated one thousand dollars to democratic candidates.  But I couldn't do it anymore.  I donated instead to MoveOn.  Atleast they were trying to fight back.  Something the cowards in Congress (the Democrats) refuse to do.  IN 2006 I was excited to see the Dems take Congress.  I thought we would see oversite hearings.  But Pelosi has said impeachment is off the table.  If not now then when.  I would love to see the 20 republicans in the Senate that are up for reelction this year be forced to defend Bush/Cheney or vote for impeachment.  I realise we don't have the votes for impeachment but they atleast should go on record for history as fighting for it.

Keith Nichols

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by: keith nichols @ Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 00:48:12 AM CDT

thanks for your comment (0.00 / 0)

I haven't left the Democratic Party, disappointed as I am sometimes by their lack of a spine. I will always be a yellow-dog Democrat. But if I've got a better option in a primary, I will take it.

We need to elect more good progressives in primaries. That's how the right-wingers took over the GOP, and we can do it too. It will be a long-term project, though.

Invite other Iowa political junkies to join us at Bleeding Heartland.

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by: desmoinesdem @ Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 12:55:17 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Hey (0.00 / 0)

DSM dem...

I had an Idea... Modeled after what Harkin did. We can set up an Act Blue account Called "Bleeding Heartland Bloggers" and we can hold a vote (single vote) for which Representative candidate we would "endorse", of course we support all democrats, but I think this would be a great way to connect the candidates with the voters and the voters with the candidates, I'll do my best to get the word out to every candidate that I talk to and maybe you could get a hold of your blogging friends?

I have a special interest in a few races but I REALLY want to stay impartial, I'll donate 20-50 dollars to the act Blue winner, if we hold this. I dont know what others think but Im sure there are a few people who would like to throw in too.

Once again I have worked with a few campaigns but I dont want to suggest who to vote on or how to do so, because I would like to be fair and impartial.

If this sounds like something you might like to plan and promote, get a hold of me, and I will do everything I can!

Thanks

Adam

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by: secondtonone @ Sun Jun 08, 2008 at 18:59:02 PM CDT

What do I remember? (4.00 / 1)

Geez, dmdem, I remember exactly where I was when JFK was shot.
By one lone gunman, Lee Harvey Oswald.

As for John Anderson? Well, that would have been the tail end of the 70's.  My memory is pretty fuzzy about them daze.  I do remember every single Cheech and Chong schtick however.

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by: EltonDavis @ Wed Dec 24, 2008 at 16:46:09 PM CST

hmmm... (0.00 / 0)

What does it say about me that I think of this guy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J... when I think about John Anderson?

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by: clarencepcanine @ Sat May 16, 2009 at 21:25:46 PM CDT

I'm so old I my first vote for president was for (0.00 / 0)

McGovern in 72.  I have only been in Iowa since 1993 after I retired from the Air Force.  My parents were from Iowa and dad was also a career Air Force NCO. When they got out they came back here. I've been active off and on with the Warren County Democrats since moving to Carlisle in 1996.

mark
carlisle, iowa

mark
carlisle iowa
proudtobeaburdenonsociety

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by: abgdinstr @ Sat Aug 07, 2010 at 21:29:41 PM CDT