Deace’s Take: Bob Vander Plaats
- Thursday, June 11, 2009, 6:47
- Iowa
- 1,159 views
- 11 comments
Is the third time the charm for Vander Plaats?
Let’s face it, until Mike Huckabee shocked the nation by winning the Iowa Caucuses comfortably Vander Plaats was being laughed at by party moderates as “the never-ending candidate.” Vander Plaats lost out to Terry Branstad…err…I mean Doug Gross in 2002. And then waved the white flag before the primary in 2006 to become Jim Nussle’s running mate.
But Huckabee’s win resurrected Vander Plaats statewide political presence, and in the past month since Varnum vs. Brien a new BVP has emerged that is much different than the old one. Even my WHO broadcast partner Jan Mickelson, who might be more naturally cynical than even I am, told me recently he’s seen a totally different Vander Plaats this time around.
If the primary were held today I have little doubt the former high school principle would best this four-man field, but the primary isn’t held today. The daily anonymous posts attacking him on websites like this from moderates and operatives of candidates Vander Plaats helped defeat in the Caucuses provide anecdotal evidence of who the current frontrunner is.
The reality is there are establishment figures from both Polk County and Western Iowa who will allow Vander Plaats to become the GOP gubernatorial nominee over their dead bodies, so I believe he needs to two things to ultimately emerge victorious next year:
1) Stay aggressive on the campaign trail and not be afraid to campaign against his own party establishment. After all, last I checked Republicans still ranked third in voter registrations in this state, so the same party establishment that dislikes Vander Plaats is also disliked by most voters in Iowa at the moment—especially conservatives (I know, because nobody talks to more of them across the state than I do). This is Vander Plaats last political go-around, so he’d be wise to just let it all hang out since he’s got nothing to lose.
2) Show that he has the depth of knowledge on the marriage/separation of powers issue, as well as sincere moral conviction, so that he can be the ideological pace car his opponents are trying to catch, as opposed to those same opponents successfully denigrating his principled stance on the issue as just election year posturing.
If he does those two things I believe Vander Plaats will be the GOP’s 2010 gubernatorial nominee. If he doesn’t he won’t.
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11 Comments on “Deace’s Take: Bob Vander Plaats”
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What a shock.. Deace endorses BVP. Not like you’re biased or anything there Steve.
> know, because nobody talks to more of them across the state than I do
You mean talks *AT* them. And it’s usually the same thing anyone can hear at a good god-fearing church on a Sunday.
Steve Deace’s Christian politics show is just not appealing to me anymore.
Sounds like you’re turned off by Christianity, Jeff.
I hear Plymouth Congregational Church is looking for new members.
To quote Gomer Pyle: Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!!! Gee, no bias here. Do any of you really think much credence can be put in this “straw poll”? BTW steve, you missed a spot of that brown stuff on your nose!
Peggy, that attitude ain’t helping. Last I checked, deace isn’t catholic either.
Timmy,
What attitude?
> Sounds like you’re turned off by Christianity, Jeff. I hear Plymouth Congregational Church is looking for new members.
Not at all. Also, I’m not looking for a church. But I’m not a hypocrite (in case you are wondering)…I don’t call myself a Christian. I am of a different faith, not that it really matters which one. We are talking about government policy, not religion (they are very different things).
My issue is the mixing of religious doctrine with government policy. I believe morality is innate in human beings…I don’t need a God (or you) to tell me killing babies is wrong. I already know that. That’s why I am against abortion.
However, that’s why I’m indifferent towards gay marriage. I don’t think politically we should care about it. It’s a morality issue (some say religious). Teach it to your children if you want, just keep it out of public policy.
Regards
Here is a quote from my favorite movie that I believe is right along the same lines as your essay above.
“Mr. Deace, what you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.”
Nowhere in Deace’s comments are anything about Iowa’s debt.
It’s about the debt, Steve. Republicans and Democrats are concerned abot the debt. You should be concerned about the debt. Your kids will certainly feel the debt.
Debt Culver will drive as much debt as he can to get the programs he wants. The debt is the issue that will rally Iowans to whatever candidate the GOP puts forward. It ought to be in the front of the platform. Otherwise, the GOP is just a bunch of statists like the Dems – wanting to use the government as a means to their end.
It’s only about gay marriage–there is no other issue.
Jeff- After reading your comment about not mixing gov’t policy with religion, I must say, spoken like a truly ignorant and ungrateful beneficiary of said mix, for example: India has over 200 million sacred cows roaming freely, eating grain in the fields at will, while MILLIONS OF IT’S CITIZENS STARVE BECAUSE THEIR RELIGION EXALTS COWS OVER PEOPLE! NOTHING MATTERS MORE THAN RELIGION when it comes to all issues of life and government, and only the most spoiled of Americans who have never been forced to live truly at the mercy of their own godless stupidity can believe otherwise, and no religion has blessed the entire world like Christianity. There are stark differences between religions, and consequences for the ideas and values enshrined in each. Just as it has been proven in multiple studies that after surgery AND prayer, those with prayer did better, it also has been shown historically that “blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” How sorry we will be if, after decades of removing God and His influence from society, He finally says- O.K., Your will be done!