TIR vs. Deace, English, and Alons (4 to 6 p.m. Tonight)
- Monday, February 1, 2010, 11:23
- Blogs, Craig Robinson, News Center
- 1,225 views
- 37 comments
No, I’m not getting sued. I’m probably just going to get roughed up a bit.
From 4 to 6 p.m. tonight, I will be debating Steve Deace, Bryan English (IFPC), and State Representative Dwayne Alons on WHO Radio.
Here are the questions that we will be debating.
1) Is voting for a constitutional convention a risky or prudent way to pass a marriage amendment?
2) Is Bob Vander Plaats’ executive order proposal an unnecessary step in passing a marriage amendment and does it set the precedent for future governors to have too much power?
3) Did the Iowa Family PAC make a strategic blunder by betting the marriage issue completely on the gubernatorial campaign of Bob Vander Plaats?
It should be a fascinating two hours of radio. If you can’t listen to the radio, you can listen on-line by clicking here. Then click the ‘Listen Live’ button on the right side of the page.
Please feel free to post you reaction in the comment section. Tomorrow’s top story will address these topics as well.
About the Author
Craig Robinson has written 499 stories on this site.
Craig Robinson serves as the founder and Editor-in-Chief of TheIowaRepublican.com. Prior to founding Iowa's largest conservative news site, Robinson served as the Political Director of the Republican Party of Iowa during the 2008 Iowa Caucuses. In that capacity, Robinson planned and organized the largest political event in 2007, the Iowa Straw Poll, in Ames, Iowa. Robinson also organized the 2008 Republican caucuses in Iowa, and was later dispatched to Nevada to help with the caucuses there. Robinson cut his teeth in Iowa politics during the 2000 caucus campaign of businessman Steve Forbes and has been involved with most major campaigns in the state since then. His extensive political background and rolodex give him a unique perspective from which to monitor the political pulse of Iowa.
37 Comments on “TIR vs. Deace, English, and Alons (4 to 6 p.m. Tonight)”
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Craig I asked this in the other post
The argument your making is the same attack Branstad keeps using. He attacks Vander Plaats on marriage (something I agree with branstad on — I am pro civil-unions and gay adoption) and then says he won’t attack other candidates in the same interview. I don’t understand how you are angry with people for saying they don’t want to support him. They haven’t said they won’t support Rants or Roberts.
I just don’t understand how you’re claiming not to support a candidate when you are debating them about an attack that Branstad uses?
He needs to start answering some of Iowans questions — they aren’t just coming from the opposing candidates. But, he won’t even go to events with any of the other candidates. Its hard to reach out to people and college kids, when you won’t even show up to answer questions.
I don’t understand why Branstad is criticized so much less than the other candidates on TIR.
Three on one, Craig?? Cmon….that’s bordering on foolishness.
Is this 3 against 1 or does Alons share Craig’s view?
#2 is easy. There is no basis in law for the executive to trump the judicial on matters of constitutional interpretation. Turn the question on its head by asking Deace if Obama has the power, through executive decree, to overturn the recent SCOTUS decision invalidating large parts of McCain/Feingold.
And again (for the 5000th time), you should ask English and Deace why BVP has not come out in favor of repealing gambling. The fact that he hasn’t done so, and the fact that Deace/IFPC won’t call him on it, is baffling. Well, we know why Deace/IFPC won’t call him on it. What I can’t understand is why no one will call out IFPC/Deace on their hypocrisy over the issue.
Alons supports the Vander Plaats EO.
Again, I’ve been critical of all the candidates. Use the search function on the site. I wrote some pretty hard hitting stuff on Branstad in October, November, and December. I had a good interview with him this month and wrote about that.
I don’t have anything against Bob. I do not support his executive order, I’ve been pretty clear about that.
Mr. Hawk — Why does hypocrisy only need to be called out about one candidate. IF what you’re saying is true, they really should answer for that. I don’t agree with them on the social issues, but you’re right it hurts them a lot.
But you argued all day yesterday that Branstad doesn’t need to answer for his hipocrisy on taxes, budgets, and and even marriage (I am glad he supports civil-unions, but don’t quite understand why he can support gay adoption like me, but also call it a broken home).
Anyways, I am curious why BVP needs to be called out and Branstad doesnt?
I did just use the search instructions as I sit here and wait for mediacom to fix my cable, and everything you post about Branstad are criticism of his tactics, and nothing about his record. As a new voter that is what I am concerned about. The emails you posted today attacked BVP’s record and not just tactics. I simply can’t find an artcile where you are as harsh on Branstad as you are on BVP. If you have I would love to find it, you post a lot!
Anyways, I don’t see why its a big deal if you say you don’t want vander plaats to be the nominee. I am not sure I do. But I am sure I don’t want Branstad.
Craig’s posted anything that candidates send him concerning their campaigns….he’s sat down with all of the GOP candidates and has put up interviews done with the candidates…
Craig’s been critical of Branstad and had some tough questions for his campaign…so saying TIR is a pro-Branstad site is a pretty big stretch.
However, Craig has made it very clear that he questions the strategy of tying the gay marriage issue around ONE candidate as IFPC has done. It creates a situation where if BVP loses the primary…it then hurts the issue as a whole. In a lot of peoples minds…the issue is bigger than one candidate for Governor.
Hawk, I guess it’s not as important as an issue to me as the other ones (fiscal conservativism, taxes, size of government) so the focus on it by TIR confuses me, but IFPAC it makes sense.
I am not saying that TIR is pro-branstad, just that it seems to take issue with BVP more than Branstad. And saying anything else is def a stretch. He’s never debated Branstad supporters on the radio.
“Anyways, I am curious why BVP needs to be called out and Branstad doesnt?”
- He should answer for those. But we’re referring to a group (Deace, IFPC) who specifically state that they won’t vote for someone whose views don’t line up with their own, especially on the “big moral issues of our time”. Bob’s views on gambling do not line up with the views of Deace/IFPC. Thus, someone should bring it up them. No one will, for some odd reason.
I totally agree someone needs to bring both things up. I am not with any of them on this marriage stuff, I don’t want gay marriage, but want civil unions. I could care less. But I am not sure I’d vote for Branstad for different reasons.
More and more I don’t understand why Chris Rants doesn’t get more traction. Why is that?
dsmmod sez: “More and more I don’t understand why Chris Rants doesn’t get more traction. Why is that?”
I can’t answer for hard-core repubs but I darn sure know why I don’t like Rants: I viewed him as arrogant, angry, snarly, and just plain-disdainful of his three interviewers.
Conserv Demo: LOL. Well I guess that explains that. What about Roberts, why did the powers that be in this state get behind a guy like Branstad?
Well..there’s a reason why Chris Rants has never gotten any traction…his past history as former Speaker of the House and then Minority leader. If you’re the guy at the top when the GOP lost not only its majority..but then after losing even MORE seats the next election…and then end up getting your leadership position stripped from you. That usually doesn’t bode well for a political future.
As for Roberts…he’s done very well for himself being a virtual unknown quantity, running his campaign with virtually no staff and raising a healthy amount of money. Roberts has a future as a conservative leader in Iowa…he may not be successful in the primary..but he’s opened up a lot of people’s eyes to him.
HawkCR1 — So why not Roberts over Branstad? Does Roberts have issues with his record too?
Very good question, dsmmod: This shows this is about Deace having control over one of his feet kissers. As a matter of fact, Robert’s record is impeccable and at least he has a record and has had the courage to take votes and run for office before.
Roberts would make a very good candidate–he is extremely likeable and has a good record.
I personally like a candidate like Roberts, who seems very conservative. I know he he hasn’t really gotten much traction, but I would support him any day over someone with a record like Brandstad’s
Deace voted for Obama: But that still doesn’t explain why the rich guys in my town are for Branstad … after talking with people here it looks like these guys are both a couple of lemons. And Deace and Gross should both stop messing with our party and using it to fight out their battles.
Why not Roberts? Roberts biggest problem is that he’s got virtually zero name ID. He’s running a campaign with little to no staff and a big problem for him is that like Rants..he’s a current state legislator, so he has to spend a lot of his time right now in Des Moines for the legislative session, so he’s not able to get out there as much as folks like Branstad and BVP.
That’s why Roberts went up with radio ads here not too long ago on stations like WHO, to start getting his name out there more. He just recently introduced legislation in the Statehouse that would eliminate the state corporate income tax that generated some news for him as well.
He’s a minister, well respected in his community and in political circles. He’s done very well for himself during his run. The interesting question here..is why groups like IFPC and social conservatives in the media like Deace, etc are giving BVP their support instead of Roberts.
If you compare the two, Roberts in many ways fits IFPC’s agenda much better than BVP would. What it all boils down to is the gay marriage issue. Roberts understands that there is a clear, constitutional method to resolving the issue. BVP is willing to “wave the magic wand” to “invalidate” the Varnum decision.
IFPC has decided that its worth risking the whole gay marriage issue by tying their organization to BVP’s candidacy…instead of working to push more legislators to call for a vote on the issue.
A couple weeks ago, IFPC held a rally at the Capitol that was touted as a “Let Us Vote” rally to bring forth attention to the issue…Roberts was planning on attending…but at the last minute, he was informed by IFPC officials that they were instead going to use the rally to endorse BVP and it turned into a BVP rally instead of a rally to urge the Legislature to bring the issue to a vote.
So what’s wrong with rich guys? I have no idea if more wealthy are for Branstad or anyone else and even so, I don’t see how it’s relative to anything. I know BVP has a few very wealthy people supporting him, too. Who cares? Anyone can do whatever they want with their money.
At least Gross is a Republican and helps the Republican party. Deace is not a Republican and only tries to destroy it.
Anyway, welcome to Iowa and good to see you asking good questions.
HawkCR1: I don’t see it as a gay marriage issue at all. I know that is the issue they use to justify what they’re doing but it has more to do with who will, and who won’t go on the Deace show. dsmmod needs to know that Deace has berated Republicans for years to where very few will go on his show. If you notice, it’s only the same ones over and over. If you suck up to Deace, he promotes you and will do all he can to destroy anyone he considers a threat. He does not care about electing a Republican majority and as a matter of fact has done all he can to prevent it.
Bryan English from IFPC is a Deace Kool Aid drinker as is BVP. They take advantage of the fact that Deace will shill for them each day on his 50,000 watt radio station. It’s them against everyone else.
That sums up the whole situation. What’s wrong with Roberts? He doesn’t go on the Deace show.
Anybody listen to this? Care to tell us about it?
Is Craig gonna be coming back or did they serve him up for supper? Oops, my-bad, fergot repubs have _dinner_ at eightish.
Oh waitaminnit, that’s even changed, that was the old-line country club repubs.
Anyway, it would be interesting to hear about this aft.
I listened, for a short while. It was so bad and one sided I could not listen further. These people (Deace, et al) are now so personally invested in BVP he could be arrested with the proverbial dead body in a hotel room and they would STILL support him. It’s now personal. No longer even remotely political or in any way professional. I had hoped maybe someone over there would come to see what we were saying and make a course correction. It reminds me of the old “Battleship Captain” joke.
——————————
The Captain of a battleship saw a light directly ahead and gave an order, “Signal that ship: We are on a collision course, advise them change course 20 degrees.”
Back came a signal, “Advisable for YOU to change course 20 degrees.”
The Captain said, “Send, I’m a Captain, change course 20 degrees.”
“I’m a seaman second class,” came back the reply. “You had better change course 20 degrees.”
By this time, the Captain was furious. He snapped out, “Send, I’m a battleship! Change course 20 degrees immediately!”
Back came the flashing light…
“I’m a lighthouse, sir, your call.”
—————————————————-
BVP is a Battleship and Deace and company are all on board it. I can’t even watch….
Hmm, I figured; thanks.
Hey ConDem, I’m still part of the great unwashed out here in the hinterlands that has supper about 6-ish,(I prefer beef!!!)
Timmy, that’s cool.
LOL
Craig came prepared tonight. I honestly didn’t think he had it in him. I know people who agree with Deace/English on this issue that thought Craig won the debate.
Thanks, I guess…
LOL
I would have expected no less. Too bad you can’t listen to this show in NW Iowa.
You can listen to the pod cast on-line tomorrow.
I am glad you “won”. I still don’t think I could sit through the whole thing, and I am sure that it won’t change any of the kool aid drinker’s behaviors.
YES! I hadn’t heard DVFO spout off “Deace Kool Aid drinker ” in a few days: I was starting to think she was going soft on him. Mmm mmm good, Deace Kool Aid – Really slacks the thirst for a mind-numbed robot looking for marching orders.
If you hate him so much, why listen? Why care? You say he’s self-centered – it’s his show! He has to get ratings, which in turn gets more advertisers, which allows him to increase his rates. If what he says or does makes you turn on to WHO from 4 to 7 each evening, hasn’t he done his job? It’s called Capitalism, folks!
Craig–you did well, especially with the executive nullification issue. You know when Deace is boxed in a corner. He voices raises an octave, he talks faster and then he grabs the bully pulpit. In fact, he sounded like a fool. Bgunzy–you are absolutely correct. Don’t listen. I would suggest that Craig not appear anymore on the show. Deace is advancing his own agenda at the expense of the GOP. Moreover, Deace appeals to such a small segement of the electorate, albeit noisy, that he is not worth the time or effort.
Suggest what you want, MIE, but Craig’s appearance on Deace makes great radio listening, and a way to draw people to his website (and generate advertising revenue). How many of you would have even heard of TIR if it weren’t for Steve Deace’s show? Uh huh, I thought so. Craig refusing to appear on Deace’s show would hurt him more than it would hurt Steve-o.
As much as you all “hate” Deace, if it weren’t for him, you wouldn’t have this nice little forum to pontificate and chest-puff like a bunch of peacocks gutlessly hiding behind anonymous blog names. If it weren’t for Steve Deace people like “Deace Voted For Obama” would have to get a new anonymous name like “Rabid Republican” or “Crazy Cat Lady” and discuss real issues rather than moan and complain about some ~entertainer~ on an AM station.
Face it – Steve Deace is the best thing that’s happened in your lives in a long time. At least the discussion of him gives you more fodder than just complaining about the weather or the long lines at the pharmacy.
Mmm mmm, Deace Kool-Aid – Lubricant for the gears of Iowa’s mind-numbed robots.
deace kool-aid might be a lubricant, but I don’t think it’s the kind you want……
Deace’s contributions to good government and for Repubs is like what Ralph Nader and Ross Perot did for their respective parties. And, the reason Branstad was recruited is because (at that time) every poll showed that none of the announced candidates could beat Culver.