Radio Iowa

"O Tannenbaum"

I’m sitting here in the newsroom, ready to write something about the final debate among the three leading Democratic gubernatorial candidates, but I’ve got the TV at my desk turned to NBC’s coverage of the Preakness (I can hear the horse-race jokes now).

When I flipped the telly on, a choir in crisp military whites was singing the Maryland state song, which is written to the tune O Christmas Tree.  Makes me think: if I could pick a Christmas carol to sum up the 2006 gubernatorial campaign, what would it be? Your suggestions, please. Alternate lyrics welcome. I shall think on it some more. I might widen my search to non-Christmas songs.

The debate didn’t break much new ground. There were a handful of reporters out at IPTV to cover the event and we were (at great surprise to us) invited to eat lunch. The Register provided chips, a sub sandwich, cookies and bottled water to the assembled throng. Actually, there were only a little over a dozen reporters/photographers/technicians in the room, so that’s more of a grouping rather than a throng.  I think to have a media "throng" there must be boom microphones, and there were none today.

After the debate, the group of reporters stood in a circle and compared notes, then listened to the end of the debate to ensure we had the right "yes" or "no" answers to the "lightning round" question-and-answer session at the end of the debate. Then, Fallon came in to answer a few questions, followed by Blouin, then Culver.

Looking back at the event, I was struck at first by Culver’s resemblance to the cartoon character Mr. Incredible -- and I can’t take credit for this. The folks on WHO-TV’s Sound-Off made the on-screen comparison months ago, but man, it was so spot-on at the beginning of the debate -- particularly when it looked like Culver was standing on one foot and looking at the moderator to answer a question.  His body was positioned in such a weird way. That was also a really red tie. And Culver mentioned how he worked with Governor Vilsack twice, while Blouin (the guy who worked for Vilsack as Department of Economic Development director) didn’t mention Vilsack’s name once. Bizarre.

The candidates seemed a bit more collegial than they have in recent debates. They even laughed with one another at certain points. Fallon’s people were noisy, though, and the moderator had to remind them the rules of the debate were that no one was to applaud (or yell, or run with scissors). I think the time used on the video segments could have been better used for more question and answer time. If more slick production elements had been added, though, I have an idea: they could have concluded with an American Idol-esque list of numbers on the bottom of the screen so callers could dial in to vote on who "won" the debate.

To the question about admitting to a mistake, they gave those answers you prepare for during a job interview.  You know – citing a "negative" that can be spun as a "positive."  And why was Blouin wearing glasses one moment and then sans glasses the next?   

Back to the after-debate press gaggles, Culver tried to claim he never suggested the state should try to get a flexible fuel auto plant built in Iowa. We’ve got the tape to prove he did make such a call, and I’m sure all the newspapers in Iowa have the printed quotes to prove it, too. I’m going to check the chetnotstupid site to see if the Blouin folks have that up yet.

Hello, Bayh

I sat down this afternoon for a quick chat with Indiana Senator Evan Bayh.  His staff had done some prepping, so Bayh walked into the interview and remarked on the fact that I was born on Election Day.  Bayh then shared that his twins were born on Election Day, too, a news event which 10 years ago eclipsed the re-election of Indiana’s governor for premiere front-page space in Indiana newspapers.   I did ask -- Bayh’s birthday is December 26.  He shared that as a child his parents made an effort to parcel gifts out on both Christmas and his birthday, but Bayh noted that he always found himself equipped with a wider array of winter-wear – gloves, hats, mufflers – than was the norm.

Bayh plans to run (literally, as in exercise) in downtown Des Moines later this afternoon before headlining a party fundraiser in Des Moines tonight.  Then he helps two western Iowa Democrats running for re-election to the House raise money tomorrow before a party fundraiser Saturday night in Sioux City.

Second Hand Rose?

Six of the candidates who’re competing for Iowa’s first district congressional seat were in Johnston, Iowa this morning for taping of  IPTV’s Iowa Press. You can read the stories at RadioIowa.com, but you can’t read about "Second Hand Rose" there. Here’s the scoop:

After the GOPers had appeared on camera, they trekked out to the lobby where reporters were holed up.  Dix and Kennedy stood at about two paces, facing one another, as reporters asked Kennedy about his charges against Dix (regarding the Iowa Values Fund) and Dix responded.  Whalen stood about 10 paces away from the two, watching what he later termed the “blood sport” Dix and Kennedy were engaging in.  Whalen told reporters he felt a bit like “Second Hand Rose” because he’s been left out of the slinging.  He sang a few bars and told a story about hearing the song played over and over on the jukebox in a bar. 

After I wrote my news stories, I googled "Second Hand Rose" and came up with a few used clothes stores bearing that name as well as Second Hand Rose "the most seductive folk rock band in China" before I found the lyrics.  The song was written in 1921 and Fanny Brice sang it originally, but I’m betting Whalen was hearing the version sung in 1965 by Barbra Streisand.  Barbra sang "Second Hand Rose" in Funny Girl. Here are the lyrics:

Father has a business, strictly second hand.
Ev’rything from toothpicks, to a baby grand.
Stuff in our apartment, comes from Father’s store,
Even things I’m wearing, someone wore before.
It’s no wonder that I feel abused.
I never have a thing that ain’t been used.

I’m wearing second hand hats, second hand clothes,
That’s why they call me second hand Rose.
Even our piano in the parlor,
Father bought for ten cents on the dollar.
Second hand pearls, I’m wearing second hand curls,
I never got a single thing that’s new.
Even Jake the plumber, he’s the man I adore,
Had the nerve to tell me he’s been married before.
Everyone knows that I’m just second hand Rose,
From second avenue.

Each one in the family, kicks the whole day long.
Ev’ryone’s disgusted, ev’rything is wrong.
Second handed doggie, second handed cat,
Second handed welcome, second handed mat.
I think father’s head is made of wood,
He brings home lots of things that ain’t no good.

I’m wearing second hand shoes, second hand hose,
All the girls hand me their second hand beaux.
Even my pajamas when I don ‘em,
Have somebody else’s ‘nitials on ‘em.
Second hand rings, I’m sick of second hand things,
I never got what other girlies do.
Once while strolling through the Ritz a girl got my goat,
She nudged her friend and said, Oh look, there’s my old fur coat!
Everyone knows that I’m just second hand Rose,
From second avenue,
From second avenue…

And no, I do not have tape of Whalen singing this nor do I plan to think too much about using a second-hand toothpick.

What’s in a name plate?

One of the men helping Governor Tom Vilsack prepare for a presidential campaign has been president himself – of the University of Dayton student body. I went into the governor’s first floor office suite at the statehouse recently to talk with Vilsack "communications director" Rodell Mollineau. I noticed the sign on his office door. The brass-like name plate reads: Rodell Mollineau, President. Upon direct questioning, Mr. M revealed he had been elected president of the student body in college and loves the name plate so much he carts it around from job to job and puts it on the door to his office.  He’s done stints as press aides for Arkansas Senator Mark Pryor and South Dakota Senator Tom Daschle and he worked in a few states for General Wesley Clark’s presidential campaign. That’s a lot of office doors to adorn for a 29 year old.