This is unbelievable. And if the media cares so deeply about the price of a guy's haircut, you would certainly think that this would generate some attention.

seriously -- that's what I'm sayin`

Perhaps it's time for the Von Sprecken family to invite John Edwards over for a chat about the two Americas, since they don't seem to be members of the right America anymore.

Farmer folk from Eastern Iowa are some of the most ridiculously nice people in the Midwest. I can guarentee you when they said they put a lot of work into it, that was a significant understatement.

These folks are savvy. They realize they've been played, and are not afraid to stand up for themselves. Wow....the image of an elderly disabled farmer ripping Guliani and a TV broadcast would be a nightmare PR scenerio for Rude-y. Couldn't have happened to a phonier guy.

This is rich, so to speak. The whole anti-estate tax business is predicated on falsehoods about the children of family farmers having most of their inheritance taken away. So Rudy gets a family farmer to help out in his campaign, only to discover that it's only the families of really, really rich corporate farmers who have to pay the estate tax.

Rudy has shown himself to be the crude person he is and, at the same time, has shown why the anti-"Death Tax" argument is full of baloney.

This would be on cable 24/7 if it had been one of the Dem candidates and brought up endlessly over the length of the campaign by both TV and the written press. Doubt it will get any notice at all and if it does it will be a few minute blip that goes away in less than a day.

we'll see if the media calls them. bets?

"Does anyone doubt that if John Edwards or any other Dem did this it would be covered by all the major networks and chewed over endlessly by cable chat-show hosts for days and days and days?"

Of course it would, because the major broadcast and cable networks are wholly-owned subsidiaries of America's Ultra-Rich Hereditary Neo-Fascist Corporate-Feudalist Ruling Class, Inc. ... you know, the same people who own the Republican Party.

As such, Job Number Two for America's corporate media is to do everything possible to ensure Republican control of government.

(Job Number One, of course, is to hypnotize Americans into buying and shopping and shopping and buying, to keep the "consumer economy" -- the giant engine of wealth transfer to the ultra-rich corporate ruling class -- going.)

Unbelievable. Our problem is that we don't have Fox News to beat this drum til hell won't have it!

Or Drudge to place it on network news.

You're absolutely correct! It's doubtful the media will give it the same airtime as Edwards' haircuts because the media needs at least one GOP challenger alongside Hillary.

I feel really bad for those folks. They really put themselves out and look what they get ...

Side note- The paper did not feel the need to bother noting that not everyone calls the inheritance tax the “death tax”. Different issue obviously, but still an issue.

Good luck to Giuliani campaign on trying to find a rich enough family farmer to act as their political prop.

This "Death Tax" stuff makes for good copy, but trying to come up with a sympathetic real-world example is tricky. Especially since it doesn't kick in until $2 million ($4 million for couples) *and* there are already exceptions built in for family-owned farms.

As the Presidential race gains speed less time needs to be spent on the petty issues and more time spent on the serious isseus. Global poverty is an issue that needs to be critically addressed by all potential candidates. The United States has agreed to the Millennium Development Goals, plan that will put an end to global poverty by 2015. Unfortunately less than half of aid from the United States goes to the poorest countries where people earn less than $2 a day. Also, the program to end starvation and malnutrition is under funded by over $19 billion dollars. Groups such as the Borgen Project are working to bring global attention to global poverty. For any candidate to receive recognition from organizations such as these it is crucial that their foreign policy addresses these issues.

Fear of the Death Tax is a major incentive for farmers (even those with only 80 acres) who vote Republican. Don't Giuliani's people want those votes, especially in Iowa? Must be more to this story than that - makes no political sense to risk this demographic.

Good point! The inheritance tax is NOT the
"death tax".

The only media person I can imagine calling this couple up is Olbermann.

Rudy hates him already so that's a bonus!

Obviously Olbermann has his Worst Person in the World candidate for tonight...and many nights to come.

If I'm John Edwards, I would try and call these people and ask them if they would like to host a John Edwards rally...

Best thing to do is send this to Keith Olbermann then others will pick it up.

Estate Tax. Should be framed as Estate Tax.

The media is having a cocktail right at this moment. They'll get around to it when its old news. Is that all you folks do is bitch?

justed emailed the link to brian ross at abcnews in hope he will investigate more...he is one of the last investigating news person out there.

Death Tax my ass. What a joke. It's not even an honest political issue. It's just pushing pure, irrational fear.

Is it me or is Rudy's campaign making several blunders a day now?

Officially, it's the "Estate and Gift Tax". And if you are a family farmer in Iowa, there is a 99% chance that your estate won't be paying it.

What do actual working class families expect when they try and shake hands with a snake?

Not trying to slam the farmer-family in this story, but when will people who are on the receiving in of these fraudulent scams like the "Death Tax" GOP hucksters wake up and realize they are being used and used poorly against their own interests and that of the nation?

I don't think people in rural areas nor the midwest in general are rubes (FYI I lived in the midwest for years) but Christ on bicycle, what does it take for people to see what the GOP are really all about and finally relegate them tot he dustbin of history as a viable party once and for all?

But wait! John Edwards got a $400 haircut! That trumps everything! Come on, more haircut coverage! More g*damn haircut coverage!!!!

Puking useless media.

Is there any sign that Giuliani had ever heard one word about this? Aren't we most likely dealing with staff work here? Are you sure thisaccount is fully accurate?

Do we want the press to stop the bullshit attacks against Dem candidates? Or do we want them to start such attacks against Reps?

Do you think Giuliani knew this woman had a handicap? Do you think his staffers did?

By the way, a family isn't affected by the estate tax if they're "worth a million dollars." It's typical that we get our shorts in a major knot about side points, but don't understand how to argue basic issues. That would be one of the major ways they've beaten us over the years. The only reason we're doing better now is becaue Bush has destroyed the known world.

Yeah, I'm thinking we'll hear about this tonight on Olbermann. And then other outlets might pick it up.

Why aren't they all reading TPM?? Shouldn't they know by now that this is where the good scoops are?

-- ARG

This doesn't seem like that important of an issue. A politician concerned with money? Oh what news.

Maybe it's just not news when a Republican is an asshole and show their fundamental disrespect for the hoi polloi.

Whining about the media is so right-wing. Turn on the AM radio and hear about how only Fox News is bringing us the truth that the liberal media are trying to cover up. Listen to them slam the New York Times.

Some of you sound the same way.

And of course Rudy's got an agenda that precludes being courteous. This makes him look bad, but most any politician would plan appearances to bolster his or her message. It's theater.

The nice couple in this story are nothing but props.

Wonder which Democratic Candidate will step in for Rudy?

This whole "family farms threatened by the estate tax" is one of those zombie talking points. David Kay Johnston's "Perfectly Legal" has this about recent use of farmers as props to help the heirs of the Walmart fortune, Paris Hilton, and other American aristocrats keep amassing obscene amounts of wealth:

---begin quote---

"Soon after President Bush took office, both the White House and the American Farm Bureau Federation were asked for information identifying families who had lost their farms to the estate tax. After all, both had said repeatedly that to save the family farm, the estate tax had to be killed.

"Weeks passed by without any answer. The White House could not find one example.

"The best that the Farm Bureau could do was R. Elaine Gunlad, whose California grape vineyard was hit hard when her husband died unexpectedly and she had to mortgage the land to pay taxes on his estate. But that case was two decades old--and Congress made sure is could never happen again in 1981 when it voted to defer estate taxes until the death of the second spouse.

"Of course, even the White House and the Farm Bureau might have just been unable to find specific cases to support their rhetoric. So a reporter and a photographer from the New York Times traveled through the richest chro-growing counties in Iowa, knocking randomly on the doors of farmers...Not one of them had ever heard of a farm lost to the estate tax. Nearly all of them wanted to keep the estate tax, but with a higher threshold before any tax was due."

[...]

"Neil Harl, an Iowa State University economist whose tax seminars are so well attended that he is a household name among midwestern farmers, search far and wide for three decades for a farm lost to estate taxes without finding a single one. 'It's a myth,' Harl said."

---end quote---

(From pp. 71-73 of the cloth edition.)

That's why his name is Rude-y.

I just can't wait until his on-air melt-down.

[The password is... "false")

Not going to be an embarrassment for the Guiliani campaign. They were looking to make a political point regarding the inheritance tax, and the host didn't fit the bill. If Hilary was looking to hype ethanol would she stump at a rutabaga farm?

How ironic. In the course of implicitly acknowledging that the estate tax only hits the VERY wealthy and excludes most family farms, Giuliani proves himself to be the quintessential dick.

really these people are so stupid, they deserve the republican party.
losers.

John Edwards will be holding a rally at this farm within a month.

Greg, send this to Keith Olberman. i'm sure he'd get right on it.

Excerpt:

"Preparations had already been put in place for traffic control and bleachers and Deb’s mother, sister and niece were planning to fly from Texas to meet Giuliani."

Thta cost money.

Did the Giuliani campaign reimburse the VonSprecken family? You know there were other costs involved and that they paid for things out of their own pocket. Least the campaign can do is reimburse the family.

Poor Rudy, so much for Iowa.

But there's still California. Maybe he could do a 'Death Tax' photo-op with Paris Hilton...

"The Death Tax is a federal version of the Iowa Inheritance Tax."

This is a small paper . . . it sounds like the reporter actually believes it's called the "Death Tax". You repeat a lie often enough, and people start thinking it's true.

Giuliani never fails to demonstrate the same level of class and grace as our current rulers. His campaign seems relentless in its denigration of "litle people" and anti-Amrican values.

No wonder he leads the GOP polls.

code=judge

Ditto this from earlier: "If I'm John Edwards, I would try and call these people and ask them if they would like to host a John Edwards rally..."

code word: flag

I'm not kidding. The hypocritcal flag wavers make me sick.

StarGirl: I remember one of the former Repub bigwigs (DeLay? Newt?) had a jar in his office that staffers had to put a quarter in if they called it the "Estate Tax" instead of the "Death Tax," with funds going towards an office pizza party.

My right-wing (American) co-workers seem incapable of calling it anything other than the "Death Tax," no matter how much I proclaim that I could only hope my heirs are subject to it.

Then again, I also go around saying that exceeding the Foreign Earned Income exemption and having to pay US income tax is the sign of a very good year - I aspire to pay income tax!

This absurd incident comes as absolutely no surprise to any of us living in New York. Rudy was a bully, a thug and a general all-around ass and never failed to remind us of all three again and again and again. So now the rest of the country is about to realize the one and only reason he became such a "hero" on 9/11 is because he didn't visibly shit himself in front of the cameras.

Edwards should asks if he could hold a campaign rally there. Since Deb and Jerry have already fixed the place up and the fact that they are Republicans, this would be a chance to show that he cares about all Americans and at the same time get some very good media attention.

Drudge is already teasing an upcoming Politico story on this . . . oh wait, that was just me dreaming.

The MSM can't ignore it if we don't let them. I applaud those who've already contacted Olbermann and Brian Ross. Remember, it was TPM that broke Purgegate.

We have power, too!

You know what's really unbelievable about that story is the Anamosa Journal-Eureka's mindlessly calling the federal estate tax a "death tax."

Are newspapers all working from the Grover Norquist manual of style now?

Does this mean that Rudy is only America's Mayor for Millionaires?

Fibromyalgia is a disorder, not a disability and it is often diagonosed as psychosomatic. To trump up this story playing a disability card seems sort of shady and sensationalist to me and makes me tend toward not belieiving it. Sorry TPM.

Do we want the press to stop the bullshit attacks against Dem candidates? Or do we want them to start such attacks against Reps?

Is it so wrong to want both?

KIDDING, Mr. Somerby. :D

"The Death Tax is a federal version of the Iowa Inheritance Tax."

So, journalists are now using the phrase "Death Tax" without scarequotes?

"Not going to be an embarrassment for the Guiliani campaign. They were looking to make a political point regarding the inheritance tax, and the host didn't fit the bill. If Hilary was looking to hype ethanol would she stump at a rutabaga farm?"

Completely misses the point. If Hillary were hyping ethanol, she wouldn't ask a farmer to organize a rally without asking what crop he produces, *then* ask him after he'd already done all the work, and *then* cancel on him once she found out the answer was rutabaga.

Sounds tailor-made for John Edwards. Rudy Il Duce and the rest of the GOP only care about the rich. Clearly.
It also makes a lie of the GOP's talking point that it's little folks on family farms and small businesses who suffer from the "death tax".
Shout it from the rooftops, John. It shows Rude-boy's true colors. Michael Tomasky wrote about Rudy's sadism to his family and anyone else who gets in his way in The American Prospect this week. A.P. requires registration now but it's still free.

Didn't Sessions try to find a Katrina farm victim they could tie into the "Death Tax" too just before they dropped the while stupid debate in the wake of video of floating bodies in New Orleans that September?

Lordy, why didn't the staffers just call some exec at ADM -- supermarket to the world -- borrow field and give a bonus to a couple of senior vice-presidents to pose as farmers. That would have been more efficient.

Can you imagine how the media would play this up if it were Hillary, Obama, Edwards or Gore?

IOKIYAR

Wow, Rudy is.

I feel for the VonSpreckens. They are solid American farmers who have worked hard and feel they have prospered to the point that they think the Republicans would care for them. They were wrong.

Next time they should dig a little deeper into what they invest their political future in.

Republicans only care about money, their money and any money they can steal from the government.

whoever @ 5:43pm

Have you ever met someone with it? It's classed as a 'chronic syndrome', but that doesn't mean it isn't disabling. 'Psychosomatic' is not 'imaginary'.

The Death Tax is a federal version of the Iowa Inheritance Tax.

Since fucking when?

It's the Frank Luntz version of the federal Inheritance Tax.

I know this is a (very) local paper, but damn, that's bad copyediting.

I find the whole thing amusing. I can guarantee that the Von Spreckens were supporting Giuliani because they drank the republican koolaid and believed the spiel about "Death Tax" and "Terra!". I certainly hope they woke up, but I bet they didn't. BTW, I live about 10 miles away.

It was early morning waking up yesterday (Wednesday) when I heard a story on NPR recounting the various personal attributes that Rebublican nominees stated they were good at. It was meant to be a lighthearted Q&A judging from the responses by various candidates i.e. John McCain said he was a great grill guy. Rudy's response? He's "a good listener." That got me laughing with my morning cup of joe.

I'm just going to email this to every news organization.

bob somerby,

"Do we want the press to stop the bullshit attacks against Dem candidates?"

Yes

"Or do we want them to start such attacks against Reps?"

No. Unless they won't stop attacking dems then yes. With the current press corp/press ownership I don't see any danger of repubs being attacked by bullshit. Maybe an individual repub but not repubs as a whole.

Take the Edwards hair cut. That wasn't just an attack on Edwards. The press corp/press ownership have built a narrative about dem pols:

Liberals tax and spend, east coast liberal elites think they are better than the heartland, the liberal left coast hates America.

That's just a small section of the narrative pushed by the "liberal media." A narrative told to us by the “liberal media” for more than a decade.

So when ‘Edwards got a $400 haircut’ came out of press corps dog whistle Americans heard "America hating liberal elitists want to take your hard earned money while they spend their endless cash on haircuts." The Gore mansion and the Edwards' new mansion was the same tune from the same press corps dog whistle.

Same with Kerry during 2003-04. All the media had to do was whistle Massachusetts senator and Americans knew what to think. It took more than a decade for the “liberal media” to get us to this point in our training. I don’t see them giving it up now.

Right now it’s the “liberal medias” game and their rules. If Sargent or anybody can win a hand that’s OK by me.

Oh and Somerby is the best. But don't take my word for it:
http://www.dailyhowler.com/

this is a great opportunity for a democrat to jump in and have an event there in rudy's place.

my god! that would get some legs.

I bet they switch to Mitt now.

Someone should ask the Rudy campaign just how rich does someone have to be to get their issues heard?

What is the entry fee to this country club?

That's why I can't afford to be a Republican.

to the commenter above who points out that her affliction is a disorder not a disability, pls see update....

Is there any sign that Giuliani had ever heard one word about this? Aren't we most likely dealing with staff work here? Are you sure thisaccount is fully accurate?

Sounds like Greg gave the Giuliani campaign a chance to respond/correct the record and they said nothing.

I'm sorry to have to say this, Greg, but I'm beginning to lose count of the number of times you've put up a headline that doesn't accurately convey the juice of your articles. Headline changes and revocations are becoming a part of what you contribute to TPM. It seems especially ironic considering that you are the media watchdog guru. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? We all do, I guess. I will give you kudos for always being brave enough to make corrections where appropriate (something the MSM almost never does) but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, you know?

By the way, I don't know that these people are going to become Democrats over this--more likely to start supporting another Republican.

What Kind of fuckery is this?

Bah.

Typical elitist liberal snobs. Can't be bothered to deal with regular folks and only want to deal with their high-falootin rich country club brandy-drinking social circle.

Fibromyalgia may not be a capital 'D' Disability, but it is certainly disabling, and has an enormous impact on the quality of life for sufferers. I have never heard any claims that it is "psychosomatic", and some evidence should be provided before accusing this unfortunate woman of "playing the disability card".

"she also told me that she's got Fibromyalgia"

My mother also tells people this. In my opinion, it's a red flag that you should cross check her story.

In at least some cases, people report this disorder as a way of getting extra attention. My mother doesn't actually have any symptoms she hasn't read about on the internet. And you can get her to change the reported symptoms at will by making up bogus "tell-tale symptoms you heard about on the radio."

To the unnamed person who obviously knows nothing about fibromyalgia: It is not psychosomatic; it is real, verifiably real. Check with most knowledgeable doctors and the federal government. It is possible to receive Social Security disabilty for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. I know because I have both and recieve SSA disability.

The woman in Iowa put herself and her limited amount of energy on the line for Giulani and probably increased the amount of pain she was feeling because she believed in the candidate. Unfortunately, she was thrown under the bus by insensitive clots.

Well, this liberal sister on the left coast sends her my best.

To the person who calls fibromyalgia a "disorder", please be aware that many with the problem are totally disabled in the true sense. My husband has been living with it for over 17 years. There have been times his muscles etc. are so out of order and the pain so bad he has been in bed for weeks on end. You go to sleep tired and wake up worse. You never get to the stage of sleep where your body can refresh itself like others can. He was put on a disability pension because of it. He couldn't work, most days couldn't do much of anything other than sit. So, for those who have, or those who go through the pain with a loved one that has fibromyalgia, let's not split technical hairs. She is disabled in the true sense if she has fibromyalgia.

There is no difference between Giuliani and/or his staff. Each is reflective of the other. A snub from his handlers is a snub from him.
Speaking of reflections: The main stream media should be just ashamed of itself for allowing this story to go unreported to the wider audience.
The Family Values republicans at work - only if you have money.
Thank you TPM for bringing this forward --

I would like to acknowledge a truly great reporter. Not just you, Greg, but everybody else here.

I have fibromyalgia.
It may be a "disorder" but it is also disabling. I cannot stress enough how much pain and fatique it could cost Mrs. Von Sprecken to do all the organizing she did.
You can feel pretty ok one day and unable to function the next day, especially if you have physically or emotionally stressed yourself.
Having Fibro is like spending "energy" dollars.
I never make time or energy committments without letting people know my capabilities come and go.
It,s a tough, demoralizing "disorder" that few people understand, primarily because the symptoms appear invisble to outsiders.
My heart goes out to the Von Spreckens.
Their neighbors will take note of ow they were treated, believe me.
Guliani deserves to lose their vote, and ours.
Tacky tacky tacky.......

They should never put Rahm Emanuel and Rudy Guiliani
in the same room. The resulting matter anti-matter explosion might destroy all life as we know it.

This sounds like a golden opportunity for Edwards--or another Dem. If they were on the ball, they'd call these folks up and ask to have a rally to talk about issues relating to family farms, etc.--something Rudy obviously knows/cares squat about.

I have fibromyalgia. It is a disorder that can be disabling depending on the severity. I am completely disabled and unable to work. I have been approved for Social Security disability benefits.

I have a friend with fibromyalgia. There are days that she can't even get out of bed because it hits her so hard. Disability or not, these people were led on. And who's to say Rude-y (LOL!) *didn't* know about this? I would say his entire staff is monkey-see-monkey-do, so no surprise these people got snubbed.

People just don't get it, do they? Repubs are the party of the rich white male.

Security code: male

I don't like Rudy. I think he's a stuffed shirt.
That said, I suspect this is a staff gaffe, but I wonder if it will get the attention of Edwards's and Clinton's haircuts.
Bet not.

Guiliani doesn't need a haircut.

Combovers are free.

Damn!

I also have fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue syndrome. It is unfortunately all too real to me. It is the greatest challenge of my life and one I grapple with every day. I want to thank all those fellow sufferers who have chimed in acknowledging how disabling this "disorder" can be.

I feel heartbroken that these people were treated this way. The fact that Mrs. Von Sprecken has fibromyalgia is really besides the point - other than the cost of her energy is 10 times what it would be for a well person. These people were made to feel second class because they weren't wealthy enough. Being honest, generous, and hard-working doesn't fit the qualifications to be a Rudy supporter, so tough. All that matters is the money.

Probably someone has addressed this earlier in the thread; but at the risk of repeating ideas already expressed, I have to say we blew it with your headline.
Much of the thread focuses on whether or not Rudy knew; the headline suggests a mistake by the Giuliani campaign. Are there right wingers out there giving Edwards a similar benefit of the doubt - that he didn't know what the hair cut cost. Clinton's haircut in fact caused no delays, and there is no reason to believe that he ever understood the non-ramifcations of the event.
Rudolph Giuliani said Fuck You to that couple. He said it. No one else. He has spent his career saying fuck you to the poor and the powerless.

I just sent this column with a comment to John Edwards campaign.....
anyone else ?

If Guiliani is looking for an Iowa farmer who is going to have to pay estate tax, he might not find a single one. Bush was never able to. What the American public, 99% of whom are not liable for what is properly called the unifed transfer tax (estates and large gifts), don't realize is that family farmers are eligible for a special exemption from the estate tax. The only time they face liability is if husband and wife have more than a couple of million each in the bank (by then they've stopped milking the cows and you couldn't call them farmers) or if the kids sell the farm at a profit and cease farming soon after the death of the owner of the farmland. Such a sale triggers a nasty recapture tax that no one likes. There are ways around that, but no one likes the workarounds either. So the estate tax properly speaking applies to former farmers, not to current farmers. Guliani should have gone for the bird in hand not the one in the bush, so to speak.

What's most unbelievable to me is that regular folks like the Von Spreckens would support any GOP candidates to begin with. I'm sorry but I can't feel too bad for them getting snubbed by the Guiliani campaign. Working America needs to wake up and see the Republicans for the destroyers of Middle Class America that they are.

This has just become the lede on wonkette....

Republicans like to argue that the death tax hurts farmers because the kids have to sell the farm to pay estate taxes when the parents die. The problem is the tax does not hurt small family farms because the tax does not kick in until way after a million dollars. The tax only hurts large millionaire farmers. Hence they had to hold the event at the home of a farmer who might actually be effected by the tax.

Seriously, I feel *really* bad for them. I'll be forwarding this to KO and *ahem* my candidate, and I hope somebody (I honestly don't care if it's Sam freaking Brownback) steps up and takes advantage of the work they put in.

The saddest thing about the article to me was the sentence, "The Death Tax is a federal version of the Iowa Inheritance Tax," as though "The Death Tax" is its name, and not the right-wing branding of it.

We need to work on rebranding.

For the record, I have fibromyalgia and it is an officially recognized as a disability by the Social Security Administration.

Sent this to the Des Moines Register and KO -- and Drudge (you never know....) Where else should it go? Help me out here, folks -- if this story gets legs, Rudy is done in Iowa.

Andrew Sullivan has picked this up:

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2007/05/rudy_in_iowa.html

I've blasted it to all the major libbie blogs, and got a personal "christ! posting now....!" from the guy at wonkette, apparently i was the first one there on this one. i did KO also, plus Huffpo, C + L, Raw Story, FDL, TP, the rest. And of course Cafferty at CNN. I've given up watching their coverage, it's almost as biased as Faux News now...:(:(

"Do we want the press to stop the bullshit attacks against Dem candidates? Or do we want them to start such attacks against Reps?"

I don't accept the premise that this is a bullshit attack or equivalent to a story about an expensive haircut. Greg, you gave too much ground to Somerby. This story deals not only with the estate tax, but class in general, in both the economic and qualitative sense of the word. This is how the Giuliani campaign interacts with voters. (The campaign hasn't yet denied the account). New Yorkers have seen Giuliani attack hot dog vendors and street vendors and snub black community leaders, but snubbing someone solely on the basis of income--this is a new one to me. I will be interested to see the Giuliani campaign denial when it finally comes. If he's smart, heads will roll and he will apologize and make amends. If he's angry at VonSprecken about the embarrassment...Iowans will get to see the real Rudy.

And yes, it's appalling that a newspaper called it the Death Tax. They should call it by its official title, the Paris Hilton tax.

Wait just a minute. Fibromyalgia can absolutely be a disability. There are many 'levels' of this condition and at it's worse, it can force one to be bed bound or wheelchair bound.

Why would an uproar ensue if this were a Democratic candidate? Because 1) the right wing has an incredibly effective echo chamber that 2)has absolutely no moral qualms about blowing stupid shit completely out of proportion. Outrage is their lifeblood and end product.

Should we become like them? No. Is whining about this, as in "if this were a Democrat, whaaaaaaa," an effective strategy? No.

Share this story with media organs you think should be aware, express your view that this says a lot about the kind of president he would be...and move on to more constructive matters.

for all the wingnut "it's just women whining" idiots out there, try this little gem from the Centers For Disease Control (you know, the agency that FIGHTS DISEASES for a living)...geesh!

http://www.cdc.gov/cfs/

The cause of fibromyalgia is not well understood, which is why some physicians feel free to speculate that some cases may be psychosomatic.

Also, this farm couple would have to be worth a lot more than just a a mere $1 million for the estate tax (the term "death tax" is just propaganda) to be an issue. In 2006 and 2007 the estate tax limit is $2 million.

Thank goodness most of you are not on my campaign team. Listen: I understand your righteous indignation, and applaud your call to do something about it. That said, the least effective way to deal with an opportunity like this is to sweep in, meet these folks, and disappear with your press toadies in tow. What a simply ridiculous suggestion.

The Edwards campaign would be well advised instead to ask Iowa Senator Tom Harkin to arrange a quiet, private visit by the candidate at a time convenient to this couple, with the Senator and possibly a small group of their neighbors, whom they would select. That would give both Senator Harkin and Edwards the opportunity to listen to these folks, and share a conversation about the larger issues. No press coverage. No announcement. No cheezey attempt to slap the Guiliani campaign, as much as it might deserve it. Just a quiet face-to-face conversation about the issues that those in Eastern Iowa face.

That quiet, direct contact between the candidate, one of their Senators and those folks is worth a thousand campaign rallies.

The Republican party uses farmers to push their horrible estate tax policy. There are a raft of special estate tax provisions to protect working farmers from the estate tax. They couldn't care less about working farmers.

Dear Fibromyalgia sufferer posters—you are all a little too sensitve regarding your "condition." You know nothing of Mrs. Von Sprecken and should not be projecting your own self-generated pain-ridden dramas on to her. See the quote directly from the story by Michelle Phillips in the Anamosa Journal: “Deb even went around and personally invited people.” I wonder if she walked, ran or DROVE! Maybe she was wheeled in a gurney from house to house.

For the rest of this BS story, it's pretty clear to see that nothing was approved. Anyone should now that if you don't pass the security check—no one official-like is coming to the "party". And as you can read the VonSproken's most likely planned without approval.

Since there is only one side of the story presented—that of some bitter farm folks—I find it difficult to see the facts. And for the record Giuliani's camp did respond with exactly the kind of staement you'd expect:

"Maria Comella, spokesperson for the Giuliani campaign, said, “We’re glad to have Debby and Jerry’s support and are thankful for all their hard work on the campaign. We’re looking forward to our visit to Iowa on Friday and having the opportunity to share Mayor giuliani’s message of fiscal discipline.

Comella did not comment on the cancellation at the VonSprecken home, and said a site had not yet been chosen for a campaign stop."

I say this story ain't goin nowhere, but down. Let it die people!

Hello,
I am the snubbed Iowa farm-wife where this whole mess began. To my neighbor, I am truly sorry that you feel that way. I would be happy to continue the conversation in person, as I have some serious choices ahead of me. Please give me a call.
To the "red-flag" guy, don't lose any sleep over me. I do suffer extreme pain, but did explain to Greg that I also suffer from Minier's disease which affects my ability to balance.
The constant calls from the Rudy managers drained me of energy. As far as fixing up, we made hours of phone calls, I drove the back roads to the neighbors and we were picking up broken limbs in a pasture for parking. I did "NOT" get around to painting the front of the barn yet....We cancelled the port-a-potties and contacted the Sheriff to cancel traffic control.
As for the Rudy campaigne, they were aware that we are far from "Well-off or Rich" and that I have great difficulty getting around.
I am grateful my Mom, sister and niece flew up, as I was needing emotional support and a hug.
I will get past this, I don't know about Rudy.

Thanks for listening,

Debi VonSprecken

OOPS - I meant to edit this:

Dear Fibromyalgia sufferer posters—you are all a little too sensitve regarding your "condition." You know nothing of Mrs. Von Sprecken and should not be projecting your own self-generated pain-ridden dramas on to her. See the quote directly from the story by Michelle Phillips in the Anamosa Journal: “Deb even went around and personally invited people.” I wonder if she walked, ran or DROVE! Maybe she was wheeled in a gurney from house to house.

Since there is only one side of the story presented—that of some bitter farm folks—I find it difficult to see the facts. And for the record Giuliani's camp did respond with exactly the kind of staement you'd expect:

"Maria Comella, spokesperson for the Giuliani campaign, said, “We’re glad to have Debby and Jerry’s support and are thankful for all their hard work on the campaign. We’re looking forward to our visit to Iowa on Friday and having the opportunity to share Mayor giuliani’s message of fiscal discipline.

Comella did not comment on the cancellation at the VonSprecken home, and said a site had not yet been chosen for a campaign stop."

I say this story ain't goin nowhere, but down. Let it die people!

As stated above, fibromyalgia IS a disorder.

HOWEVER, "disability" is a "determination." For example, by Social Security or the VA.

We're talking the difference between a diagnosis and a status. (It's like comparing apples and oranges.)

So it is entirely possible that the person stated on the phone to Greg that their fibromyalgia (which means aching muscles, a great deal of pain all over your body) has been deemed a disability.

Social Security, for example, may deem someone disabled if their condition results in inability to perform work tasks and tasks of daily living and so on.

I write all this because these individuals may not only have been taken advantage of and cast aside by a political campaign, but they may be living examples of problems in our healthcare system.

I applaud these individuals for going to the press. And as small as Iowa as, as friendly and neighborly, I think something like this can have a far larger effect than you might realize if you live in a large industrial area.

Politically, it may have a huge impact on their community and surrounding areas. And I only hope that someone checks further into this disability status, the person's healthcare situation, and how all of this is important for the discussions we are having now and the decisions we need to make to care for our citizens.

This is not a trumped up bit of non-sense. There may be far more of a story here. And I hope it is pursued further. We have much to learn.

Sorry - posted at 8:39 - without attribution.

you go girl! us libbies just think that the republicans don't appreciate (or deserve?) decent people like you as supporters. in the old days they did. not anymore.

The original rhetorical questions look sound to me.

This isn't superficial; this is classic Rudy. Sounds like the staff signed off on it, then Rudy overruled them. The rap on the anti-Death Tax position is that the farmer victims of the tax are hard to find and easy to exempt.

Now I see 2 posts at 8:39. Please, mine is the sympathetic one!!!

My post is the second one at 8:39 (not the first!).

If those folks vote Republican, perhaps this will teach them not to.

As far as your comment about being approved and cleared by security, I still have the telephone recording and the emails. Unfortunately, it was approved. Approved on Monday, cancelled on Tuesday when the asset check was completed.

I'm going to coin the "Rudy Principle."

This is a principle which says that the more trolls, the more infallibly important is the story.

Feel free to find a better way of saying this.

But yes, the Rudy Principle is at work here. There is a pun as well, which includes the fact that the more rude the troll, the more important the discussion!

So, go to town folks. Follow the trolls to learn if the topic is important.

More g*damn haircut coverage!!!!

More cowbell, we need more cowbell.

Mrs. VonSprecken,

Welcome to the Democratic Party!

You will find that we believe your diagnosis. We believe your disability. And we are working to be sure you get good healthcare and keep your social security.

I applaud your going to the press!

MAYBE EVERYONE SHOULD CHECK THIS OUT:
http://www.rideasteer.com/Stories/recordvotinglines.php

Here's what it says:

From: Deborah Acuff
Sent: November 3, 2004
To:
Subject: Record voting lines
Iowa election locations were open yesterday from 7 am till 9 pm. As I worked till 5, Jerry and I decided to run down to the Olin Community School before supper thinking we would hop in and out as this location was for 2 little precincts only. I figure population of 1500? maybe…

Anyway, wow, the parking lot was ridiculous! The parking lot held maybe 15 regular spots and 2 handicap. We had to WAIT as two cars left before we could even pull in! Then…the line was at least 10 folks or so…That took about 10 minutes…When we left there were actually 4 cars lined up the driveway! The whole ordeal was about a half hour. We came home, cooked a delicious steak supper and proceeded to watch the reruns.

Hope everyone had a great experience voting. I saw some lines on TV that were very long! Wow.

Go Bush!!!I don’t know about you, but I found myself praying all day long…keep up the prayers.

Love,

Debi

PS…looks like Iowa turned RED. That could be my vote, ya think???

Weather, it’s chilly, 33 this morning high maybe 50, then dropping…Still have not used the heater, the wood burner is doing great…

DiamondBack Ranch
A Texas Longhorn Dream
Olin, Ia 52320

Stories Page

Copyright notice:
All photographs and stories on this website are copyrighted. www.HolyLonghorns.com and/or Deborah Acuff and/or Jerry VonSprecken are under no obligation to provide the photos or stories for free.US copyright law is clear that all intellectual (is this really intelligent?) property belongs to the author or creator.

Every time someone uses the "Death Tax" talking point, ask them about the "Birth Tax".

You know, the huge Bush deficit that our kids and grandkids will have to pay for.

so she believed mr bush. so what? doesn't mean she CAN'T GET BETTER! This ain't the mark o' the beast people (that's the Trilat's barcode or somthin') give the lady some respect. we DO NOT want to become the things we hate about the current republicon (new meme: if bush and his writers can say "democrat" all the time, let's start the "republiCON" meme, for CON as either or CONVICTED repub crooked lawmakers, or CON as in the whole Bush Admin con job on american and the free world) party.

It's always a good sign when the other side is fighting itself..in public!

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/05/10/rove-berates-gop-lawmaker-over-iraq-meeting/

....And though the ad focuses on family farms and businesses, the truth is that very few actually pay the estate tax. The Tax Policy Center projects that roughly 440 taxable estates were primarily made up of farm and business assets in 2004... the is 2.35% out of 18650 in total

...Far from imposing tax bills on farms and businesses that "cost them everything," the average estate tax paid by all farm and business estates in 2004 was just under 20 percent of the value of the estate, according to calculations by the Tax Policy Center.

The effective rate was far less for smaller estates. Of the 440 taxable family farm and business estates in 2004, two out of five paid an average rate of only 1.6 percent....

http://www.factcheck.org/article328.html

As someone with Fibromyalgia, I can attest that it can be very disabling when a person takes on too much. Thus, to take on the request, the woman probably said she tried to do it and hoped the Fibromyalgia wouldn't flare up. You have good periods and bad periods with Fibromyalgia. For me lately the bad periods have been too frequent. This is one of those mystery disorders; consequently, there is limited help from the medical establishment. I work; but, I have a note from my doctor that this falls under the ADA and I am reasonably accommodated. Working for yourselves as the couple above described do must create even more problems because reasonably accommodating herself may not work with the seasonal needs on a farm.

Thanks for bringing more public attention to Giulani's cruelty and indifference.

As a physician, I've learned to take people at face value when they say they are disabled.

Any commenter suggesting TPM's journalists do otherwise is making a very unwise suggestion.

With this in mind, I take objection to the implicit assumption in one of the updates above.

Other than that, thanks for this piece.

Right off the top of my head, I don't know any farmer who's lost the farm due to inheritance taxes. I do know of farmers who've gone bankrupt and lost the farm.

Farming is one of the few businesses where materials are bought retail (or near retail) and sold wholesale. It's a recipe for being owned by the banks.

No doubt Politico will "reluctantly" run eight stories on this as they did for Edwards' troubling haircut.

this thread is embarrassing to our cause.

why are we talking about her disability? her disability has nothing to do with the snubbing that rudy's campaign gave to her.

this is an opportunity for our more inclusive tent to welcome these people and to use their story to fight against republican elitism.

but for those of you who are wondering why progressive have achieved about nothing in the face of the most incompetent and bumbling administration in american history, just read this thread and you'll understand why. we are disjointed, confused, disorganized, and off message all the time.

...but will this Iowa farm family remain Republicans?

If so, then they obviously haven't learned their lesson. Republicans truly don't give two shits about you unless you are wealthy.

I'm rather incensed at the commenter who insinuate that fibromyalgia is a hypochondriac's disease or a some kind of Munchausen-esque attempt to get attention. It's a very real and debilitating disease.

Having read the commenters on fibromyalgia:

Fibromyalgia is considered to be an auto-immune disorder in which the body's immune system attacks the body's connective tissue (the stuff that makes our skin and tendons). Objective studies find reproducible abnormalities in immune function and in abnormal meuromuscular function.

The above is all wholly inconsistent with a disease processes considered "psychosomatic".

How do I know? I completed my fellowship in consultation-liaison psychiatry at UCLA in 1995.

Consultation-liasion psychiatry is the subspecialty of psychiatry responsible for diagnosis and treatment of psychosomatic disorders.

Any commenter (or person) who seriously believes fibromyalgia is a psychosomatic disorder is about twenty years out of date.

And they are also profoundly ignorant of basic causes of medical diagnoses.

In reality, fibromyalgia can be a severe medical condition causing disability. Fibromyalgia may cause kidney failure or even death.

Of course none of these facts would matter to Ghouliani's trolls, so the slams on Mrs. VonSprecken's medical condition will probably continue.

Joe Klein was on the "Morning Joe" show on MSNBC this morning and even he couldn't help with the cheap shots over the Edward's haircut. Give it a rest, geniuses.

The level of discourse that passes for political insight and commentary in the mainstream media is repugnant enough as it is. But as long as the pundits are going down that path, I would like them to drain the scum on both sides of the gutter. Not just the left side.

Thank you, kirk murphy.

Your assistance here is appreciated. I agree with all you have stated. Who, but trolls, can disagree with facts?

For those who think this discussion is a waste of time, you are sadly mistaken. TPM offers an opportunity for topics to be debated and information to be provided.

I find that the presence of trolls is an indicator that something important is being discussed.

Fibromyalgia as a diagnosis is indeed a "disorder", it is not s "disease". Nonetheless it is, however, extremely debilitating and does qualify as a "disability".

As a 1% type whose children could be affected by the Estate and Gift Tax (if I decide not to give it away), I would love to host Rudi at my place...and then ask him why it's so important to the Republicans to develop a monied aristocracy in the US? What a bunch of myopic, greedy, self-centered jerks.

Deborah, you deserve apologies and a whole lot more from a large group of people, including some of those who posted here. Chalk it up to a learning experience and develop a strong sense of skepticism.

Personally, I hope that your condition improves with time. Good luck.

Ditto the sentiments of Alfred Kelgarries. Hell, I voted for Bush in 2004 (in a Blue state, please don't frag me). I regret it more than I possibly express. What point were you possibly trying to make with "maybe you should check this out?" That it isn't okay to feel sympathy for someone who voted for Bush? For someone who might be a current Republican? Should we maybe brand them with little red W's, so we can spot them on sight and make nasty faces and be sure not to do business with them?

Please. Stop. I'm begging you. You, and the people who were happy when Tony Snow's cancer came back, for example, upset me. You're making me look bad. You make us all look bad. And you've no right to turn around and insult Republicans on grounds of being "assholes"; you become hypocrits.

We are all Americans, we are all human beings. As (liberals, progressives, Democrats, left-leaners, however you choose to label yourself), we're supposed to represent tolerance and respect and similar principles. Last time I checked, conservatives were human beings.

Sorry to go all holier-than-thou, I just can't stand this obnoxious name calling and divisive nonsense. If we keep it up we're setting ourselves up for a culture war with that loyal 28%.

Deborah, it's nice to see you here, and I really hope something good comes out of all of this for you and your family.

counting on the 'media' do report on anything to do with facts is a lost cause.

Journalism as we knew it is dead.

The combination of repeal of the Fairness Doctrine, 24 hour cable news helped do it in. Conversion of what used to be actual reporting by the big networks before management decided that news departments were either 'profit centers' or 'entertainment generators' added to the mix.

The final nail in the coffin may have just been the internet, as revenues for print media [the last vestige of any hope of real journalism in the traditional media world] disappear, so do salaries and positions for real reporters and investigators.

You guys [and others like you] are all we've got.
That's why I'm donating some money shortly to you.

Keep up the good works.

Rudy to poor farmer: Fuck you

Rudy to super-rich: Love you

David Johnston of the NYT searched high and low for an Iowa farmer impacted by the estate tax. Couldn't find one. Neither can poor Rudy, er, Rich Rudy.

Greg,

Fibromyalgia is a disorder that can cause disability.

If the woman said that she is disabled, then she is disabled.

Don't fall for the cynical BS that fibromyalgia is psychosomatic.

[The password is... "doubt". Yeah.]

Greg,

After reading through the thread, it is apparent that the "fibromyalgia is psychosomatic" person is a wingnut troll trying to inject disinfo into the thread in order to smear your source and derail the point.

It is a real shame that you fell for it, especially without even checking into the troll's charges.

A real shame.

Disputo

I think I read somewhere that there are maybe two farms in the whole world that ever got forced into sale by the Estate Tax.

By the way there is no Federal Inheritance Tax. Just a tax on estates.

To jello5929:

My mother brags about her multiple sclerosis symptoms. She's never passed a single recognized diagnostic test for it. She believed she had it for 20 years before she got a doctor to agree. For years we wondered. Some relatives who never quite believed now do. I have no opinion.

Just because your mother and my mother seek attention for their possibily imagined ailments doesn't mean that everybody with a grievance does.

I believe

thank you, Althelia

"Rudy Campaign Reportedly Snubs Farmer For Not Being Rich; Will Media Cover It?"

If by "cover" you mean "shove the story on Page Z24", then the answer is yes. But if by "cover" you mean "put the story on drive-time radio and the evening news" -- in other words, where normal human beings are most likely to get their news -- then the answer is no.

A big thanks to Kirk Murphy, Althelia, Sarah and all who understand "disability".

Let me see if I understand the controversy.

A farmer in Iowa invited some friends over for a
political meet 'n'greet and then had to cancel?

'Scuse me... Yawn. There, it's out.

I could get excited if say, family farms over
x1000'sof acres/$M revenue had a chance of having
their needless subsidies cut
- or -
one of the teacher unions were crushed and thereby freeing up resources to teach kids instead of funding an education syndicate.

Other than the article's profound pointlessness and peevish tone - shared by the subsequent choir or same-minded responses - it was totally right on!

One especially appreciates the mention of injustice, tears and a gesture at explaining the inherent bias of vocabulary by way of "death taxes" vs inheritance taxes.

So, how could social gaffes be "fixed" under a Democrat administration? How would legislation make this better - to ensure that fund-raisers kicked off successfully?

I am a Conservative Republican and I have to agree that Rudy Giuliani is a jerk who has no class. That said he doesn't agree with us on any of the issues either so the sooner his campaign crashes and burns the happier I will be. I won't vote for him now or ever.

"Fibromyalgia is a disorder, not a disability and it is often diagonosed as psychosomatic. To trump up this story playing a disability card seems sort of shady and sensationalist to me and makes me tend toward not belieiving it."

It IS a disability if the disorder is disabling. I know several people who are legally disabled with this disorder.

Yes, it is sometimes diagnosed as psychosomatic... as are many other genuine disorders. Some diseases are simply misunderstood, and many others are constantly misdiagnosed.

I am disabled. Legally. Among my disorders are Meniere's Disease and PTSD, both of which were repeatedly misdiagnosed before finally being correctly diagnosed, and among the misdiagnoses were "malingering," (i.e. psychosomatic)

It is entirely possible that when the woman says she is disabled with a disease that she may be malingering, just as it is possible that if she had claimed to be a cancer patient she might have actually been a delusional woman with a pimple - but it is in no way the role of a commenter to make that diagnosis and supposition.

People with non-apparent disabilities have enough on their plate to deal with without constantly having to justify themselves to strangers who think they know better.

"regular lurker: Least the campaign can do is reimburse the family."

Or get the millionaire farming family/agribusiness that's going to replace them to pick up the bill.

Rudy Giuliani makes all New Yorkers look bad, he has no couth. Trust me Rudy knows because he micro-manages everything. I hope people wake up and realize he is a sham. Any person who would announce his divorce on television with his mistress and not tell his wife in person is a cad.

Regarding Althelia's regrets over voting for Bush in 2004:

My father is a hard-core right-winger, of the fiscal conservative/warhawk type rather than a Bible-thumping social conservative.

He has been incensed with the war and Bush's profligate borrow-and-spend ways for the last 3 years. He mentioned the "I" word frequently.

But when 2004 rolled around, what did he do? He voted for Bush again. And a Republican straight ticket.

Regrets mean nothing if you don't change your behavior in 2008 and beyond. George W. Bush is the face of today's GOP. This stopped being Barry Goldwater's GOP in the 1990s.

So stop voting for Republicans unless you want more of the same.

Not to belabor the point, but I'm an RN with fibromyalgia and want to underscore that it is a well-documented syndrome which has been researched more in Canada, Australia and England than here. I was diagnosed 15 years ago ran a support group for folks north of Boston for 4 years. Common symptoms are muscle pain and weakness, severe fatigue, headaches, sleep disturbances, feelings of swelling and ringing in the ears. There are a variety of others, but these are the most usual. There is no current cause known but research is focused on Substance P, Human Growth Hormone and Magnesium which is sometimes given as an IV infusion to manage pain with limited effect. While it is true that some people anecdotally diagnose themselves with it, actual diagnosis is made by history and physical exam and pain eleiced by the examiner in certain "tender points" in both sides of the body is part of confirming the diagnosis. It is mostly found in middle-aged women which is the likely culprit for it's label as a psycosomatic problem. Many folks with it see an average of 10 doctors before receiving a definitive diagnosis. It is common to find patients who have coexisting depression, but this is due to the chronic pain and sleeplessness and when these are addresses, the depression often resolves. Of course, another source of the depression is looking normal but feeling like you've been hit by a truck and having people tell you there's nothing wrong.
http://www.fibromyalgianetwork.org/

blessings, screw rudi

This story holds relevance because it is a vivid example of cynical Republican politics-as-usual.

Rudy, a wealthy eastern city boy, was looking for a farmer as a prop to help him tell the lie that says American families are going to lose their farms to inheritance tax. It's plain bullshit and anyone who pays attention to the price of 80 acres in Iowa knows it. The only Iowa families who are going to "lose" their farms to inheritance tax are those who make a $10 million selling the land for shopping malls and parking lots.

Rudy, on the other hand, knows a lot of people in New York City and beyond who won't be able to take ownership of all six apartments and both of the vacation homes their parents worked so hard to accumulate. Not unless you want them to sell the porsche!

The truth is that Rudy wanted Deb and Jerry VonSprecken to help him tell the lie that Inheritance tax hurts anyone other than those who are both super rich and greedy.

That'll teach 'em to vote Republican.

I tipped Wonkette 2 days ago on this story ( see below ). Wonkette ignored it, then you scooped it; then Wonkette files your scoop. Ya. My tips to you from now on.

----------------

Subject: Giuliani Snubs Jones County
Date: May 8, 2007 6:10:17 PM PDT
To: tips@wonkette.com
Guiliani snubbed Iowa farm family supporters planning to hold a campaign rally, because they weren't "millionaires" and wouldn't be subject to the 'Death Tax'.

See this link from the Anamosa Eureka- Journal:

http://www.anamosaje.com/NewsArchive/2007/May/3/news.html#1

The knee-jerk Republican argument against taxation is that whatever you tax, you get less of it. So, you'd think that they'd love the so-called "Death Tax." But Republicans aren't capable of following their own logic. Republican logic isn't meant to be followed. Republican authority is.

On a related point, did anyone else watch Countdown tonight and see Mitt roll out his promise to veto non-defense discretionary budget increases exceeding inflation minus 1%? This is an old Republican sleight of hand -- the only part of the government they want to drown in the bathtub is the non-defense part. Their mentality is that defense spending is off-the-books. All of the Dem candidates need to call them on it, and point out how Mitt's demonstrating the same mentality that brought us missing bricks of $100 bills in Iraq and the other lovely accounting scandals that will be the hallmark of the Bush years.

my sister's got fibromyalgia, and she is disabled and receiving social security disability benefits....

i'm not sure i understand somersby's point. does he mean it's ok for staffers to act this way?

somersby's a prick who doesn't care as much about the truth as he does getting people to believe he is a bastion of it.

I am going to abandon my comment, and simply highlight my security word:

"screw"

When Politico publishes their eighth story on this, will they tell us on their frontpage how "reluctant" they are as they did with Edwards troubling haircut?

It looks like the Giuliani campaign is taking a page from the Bush playbook, what with their "my base is the haves and the .... have mores".

More fun with Rudy (and no blaming the campaign this time). Check out the "Lord of the Rings" story about how Giuliani very strangely ended up with a collection of Yankees World Series rings:

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2007/05/lord-of-rings-by-digby-i-think-rudy.html

http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0719,barrett,76566,2.html

Somerby has a good point on the "worth a million dollars". Even if they were worth a million dollars, they wouldn't be subject to the estate tax on death.

Currently, the minimum at which it kicks in is $2 million. As I understand it, that's per individual. So with some minimal tax planning a married couple should be able to avoid the estate tax on up to $4 million. (They would have to pay 45% of the amount above that. E.g. to leave a total of $5 million to non-charitable beneficiaries they would have to pay $450K in estate tax.)

"Thank goodness most of you are not on my campaign team. Listen: I understand your righteous indignation, and applaud your call to do something about it. That said, the least effective way to deal with an opportunity like this is to sweep in, meet these folks, and disappear with your press toadies in tow. What a simply ridiculous suggestion.

"The Edwards campaign would be well advised instead to ask Iowa Senator Tom Harkin to arrange a quiet, private visit by the candidate at a time convenient to this couple, with the Senator and possibly a small group of their neighbors, whom they would select. That would give both Senator Harkin and Edwards the opportunity to listen to these folks, and share a conversation about the larger issues. No press coverage. No announcement. No cheezey attempt to slap the Guiliani campaign, as much as it might deserve it. Just a quiet face-to-face conversation about the issues that those in Eastern Iowa face.

"That quiet, direct contact between the candidate, one of their Senators and those folks is worth a thousand campaign rallies.

"Posted by: Michael Lafferty
Date: May 10, 2007 08:24 PM"

Beautifully and perfectly said. On the Republican side, this is all politics. On the huan side, it isn't.

As for Mitt "Big Game Hunter"/"I was For Choice Before I was Againt It" Romney: I still haven't figured out who is the bigger of the two phony-*ssed liars: Romney, or Guliani.

craig --

"People with non-apparent disabilities have enough on their plate to deal with without constantly having to justify themselves to strangers who think they know better."

In the law they are termed "hidden disabilities". And it is an added burden for those with such to have to deal with the uninformed, skeptical doubters who question the reality of that which is none of their business to begin with, and about which they know less than the individual with such disability.

Those know-it-alls, though, always know better about disabilities than those who actually have/suffer them. They also tend to be Republican'ts instructed to see actual compassion, genuine charity, and legitimate need as fraud. And tend themselves to be pickpockets in suits and ties.

In 2007, there are still Americans this stupid? The couple were HONORED to have Rudy use them? Oh, that's right. If he HAD come to their house, he would have been great! But, oh woe! She is crying now.

Wanna bet she THOUGHT she was rich, before? Otherwise, why in the hell would she vote GOP? (Not surprising that THIS made her cry. Too many Americans have dead children to cry over.)

Ahhhh, the blustery story FULL of indignation, then the INEVITABLE "updates" that deflate the impact of the story like the Hindenburg.

Does anyone else see a DAILY pattern here? Why don't you guys at TPM wait a day and include these "updates" in your ORIGINAL story....ever consider that? If your posts were the least bit balanced and thought-out in the first place, these positively lame "updates" would be unneeded. Does the term "HALF-COCKED" ring a bell guys?

Still more fun for Giuliani: The Pope's recent call for pro-choice Catholic politicians to be excommunicated. By the way, is there any issue Giuliani agrees with the Catholic Church on? He's pro-choice, pro-Iraq War, pro-death penalty, pro-gay rights, on his third wife...

In fairness, I don't particularly like this line of attack. But since the press lapped it up for Kerry in 2004, will they apply a similar standard for Saint Rudy this go round? I didn't think so.

How have the Republicans succeeded in getting people to vote against their own interests? What have the Democrats done to allow this to happen?

These matters are dealt with in a very cogent book:

What's the Matter With Kansas: How Conservatives Won the Heart of America

By Thomas Frank

Of course, what a campaign does reflects on the candidate. Working in the Federal government, I know Bush appointees reflect the toxic mix of incompetence, mindless stubborness, arrogence and obsession with power seen in Bush. Rudy is an arrogant bastard. Hence, he has arrogant bastards working for him.

As for Update II.........this is a disability. I know people who have this and are on SS Disability. So since they are received federal disability payments, then I would feel safe to say that this is a disability.

Fibromyalgia is a disorder that can result in disability. Think of arthritis which is a disorder that can ultimately disable. One is disabled as a result of a condition which is limiting.

"Disorder"?my ass,it is a real and painful D I S A B I L I T Y,the C.D.C has it as a disease,as well as chronic fatigue, which is the DISEASE I have,and after being told it was all in my head about a thousand times, I take offense at stupid statements by people who do not have any idea what they are talking about, saying in affect that it is not real well look it up,its listed on the C.D.C web site.It is not a disorder. for shame...

Okay, first of all, these campaign staffers were hired by Guiliani, so he's responsible for what they do and if they aren't getting direction from him, they damn well should be or he's an idiot. So the "it was his staff" people can get over it because what they're saying, essentially, is that he's not qualified to run a campaign, much less a country. I'm really tired of commenters from "the party of individual responsibility" trying to brush off responsibility for their icons.

Second of all, there is absolutely no way you can spin this to make him look like anything but an ass. The campaign people called the farmers, not the other way around. And then, not having bothered to actually research as to whether the couple was what they were looking for before they called them in the first place, they allowed them to spend plenty of time and hard-earned money and get all excited about it before calling them back to actually ask the question they should have asked in the first time around if they were so concerned about it. It's stupid, crass, and cruel, and that's about all you can say about it. Does it happen all the time in campaigns? Well, along with the TPM folks I feel fairly certain that if it happened in a Democratic campaign I would see it first thing the next morning on my Google news headlines.

According to the Freepers: 1) it was a set-up to smear Rudy all along! or 2) What did those people expect, giving money to a "liberal!"

Oh, and by the way, FREE REPUBLIC is the only link available to read the article, since the original source has a problem with "bandwidth" so the links to it in this and other blogs aren't working anymore...It's instructive to see how "inquiring minds" process and rationalize new information about themselves in Freeperville:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1831430/posts

Greg or someone:

You could get such a good story about healthcare here.

How do people running a family business pay for healthcare? It's not easy.

If you have a chronic health condition, even if you apply for Social Security and get it, it takes two whole years before you are eligible for Medicare.

So even disabled people, even having been declared disabled, have to foot the healthcare bill for years on their own.

As we know, once an individual insurance policy gets "needed" for healthcare, they raise the rates. How many times has this family had the rates raised?

We also know that under bush, the people who raid the treasury for their cronies - not for the people - a huge backlog of cases has piled up, because they have just left the disabled in the lurch.

So, how long has this woman, perhaps, been waiting for a disability designation in order to receive benefits under social security, and more important, in order to qualify for Medicare so that she and her husband are not burdened with her costly medical care or ever-increasing insurance costs?

I know this started with the "rude rudy fiasco" but I think there is this larger issue of people with disabling medical problems, who live in a wealthy society, where we have failed to provide healthcare as a basic civil right.

Somebody, there is a story here.

Yah and people missing their legs aren't disabled either. They've just got missing-leg-disorder. Whoever says fibromyalgia isn't a disability is either ignorant or an asshole

In response to this: ' Fibromyalgia is a disorder, not a disability and it is often diagonosed as psychosomatic".

Last year a friend from my church took her life. She suffered from fibromyalgia, constant pain and depression. She never complained but one could tell she did not feel well. She was always willing to help with things at Church but would preface a commitment with "it depends on how I will be feeling that day". She lost her appeal for disability with the Social Security Administration. She grew weary of her suffering and killed herself. It was very tragic. Since her death, I have a better understanding of fibromyalgia and it is not psychosomatic.

Guiliani....what a joke...what a poor excuse for a politician or a human being for that matter. Puts his command center in the bottom of the world trade center building...real smart...married and divorced 3 times...good moral fiber....says pro-life when he donates pro-choice...darn memory lapses....and now he screws over the mid-west farmers....real dumb Rudy...real dumb.

That Freeper thread Tennessean pointed to has some fun stuff (as well as some disappointingly uncrazy comments). Here was my favorite comment on Rudy aka Superman/Supermayor:

"He save[d] one of the largest cities in the world."

Hey, who cares if Rudy knew about it or not? Most Presidents work through their staffs -- they are not, as George Tenet puts it, "action officers." And here, as with the Bernie Kerik fiasco, we see what sort of people Rudy hires, and how they treat people. Rudy's staff did what they did because of the kind of people they are, and the way they think. And Rudy hires people who think that way because he's the kind of man that he is. That's all we need to know here.

Rudy may have snubbed the VonSpreckens, but he is coming to my farm later this month!

RUDY! RUDY! RUDY! RUDY!

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a syndrome, a condition characterized by a constellation of symptoms. Whether or not it is a disability is a legal detrmination made by a doctor qualified to make such an assessment.

Many unknowns about the condition, however chronic pain, usually muscular/joint -related, sleep disorders, and depression are associated with it. Distress is believed to increase flare-ups. Disability from FM has been compared to someone undergoing regular dialysis for kidney failure.

NIH article on FM: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1847465

The minimum level needed to trigger the estate tax nowadays is upwards of $1.5 million. Over the next three years that will increase to around 2.5 million. In other words, (and this statistic is mostly speculation) 90% of Americans, if not more, will never have to worry about it. This issue is a complete red herring. The origin of the estate tax was to prevent the rich from passing on their wealth through the generations, which, in effect, would create a permanent caste of rich people. There is nothing wrong with being rich, to be sure, but when you are passing on your wealth to your subsequent generations, who did nothing to deserve it but being born to the right couple, then the estate tax is there to level the playing field so to speak.

http://www.centerframe.blogspot.com/

Rudy is one big phoney. As mayor of NYC he was all about Quality of Life issues (getting rid of the squegee guys and the homeless). Problem is that unless you have a few million bucks to throw around, your quality of life became much, much worse. The middle and working class are being engulfed and devoured by the uber rich. Tourists come for the sanitized, Disneyized version of what was once a diverse landscape of people and neighborhoods. Rudy's version of America would be a Starbucks on every corner, right down the block from the Bannana Republic. The idea that he snubbed these good people doesn't surprise many New Yorkers. Beware America-do your homework on this guy.

Security Code: brain

Maybe it belongs to Rudy.

"Psychosomatic" is just a fancy word doctors dreamed up to hide the fact that most of them couldn't tell a cold from cancer...

Good thing about this? Guiliani is toast in rural Iowa. I am close to the area (southeastern MN). No matter what the MSM publishes, half of Iowa already knows that that guy from the east coast with the italian name was rude to the VonSpreckens, in a way that is a big nono in the area. As another blogger said, these people are one of the nicest in the world, and they will do a lot for you without even telling you, but they won't take very nicely being put down that way.
This Guliani guy is not too good, I guess

So do you like doing the work of the Romney and McCain campaigns?

The answer to this whole problem can be settled with a vote for RON PAUL!

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=158537123

Fuzz-braind McCain and Silly Mitt can go sit with Rudy!

As we move closer to the actual presidential campaign, Rudy Guilani's character unfolds. Do you really think America is going to accept all of him?

While this issue raise significant concerns about Guilani's policies, they only touch the surface of his very controversial personality. Why Guilani's camp does not do some kind of survey to find out how much the public will accept about him can turn out to be the biggest waste of money every spent to a losing cause.

Rudy is a cross dresser. He loves the feel of silk on his body. This one fact will kill his bid to be president. I don't think American will accept someone with a gender identity problem. I can see him busting out of the White house to do a press meeting in total drag. Had I not scene it for myself, I would not of believed it if someone told me this. I am not sure how to place a link into this post. Here is the sites address: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/154212/rudy_giuliani_in_drag/. See for youself.

They'll most likely still vote against their own economic interests. Just throw in "God" "Support the Troops" and millions of knee jerk righties will follow along. The got what they deserve. Still, any damage to Guiliani is a good thing.

Peace.

Of all the people running for president from both dems and replicans, there only 2that are any way near fit for a patriotic american, or christian American to vote for . They are Ron Paul Rep from Texas and Tom Tancredo, rep from Colorado. The rest are simply not fit to be president of the Constitutional Republic of the United States of America.

The answer to this coldly calculated political strategizing is Ron Paul, a real Constitution-loving American.

Dismissing this as bad staff work is misplacement of responsibility. Attitudes like this come from the top of the campaign, where the buck stops.

Hopefully events like this will reveal the true nature of the Giuliani campaign and the Republican Party (generaly) for what they are: callous, ignorant by design, and self-serving.

Maybe these folks should stop contributing to Republicans...

Marvin Creech,

Tancredo??? You've got to be effing kidding. That guy hasn't a snowballs chance in hell of getting the nod or becoming president.

Um, how come the couple was even supporting Giuliani in the first place? Why do average-income Americans support Republican candidates when they are always voting against their economic interests. Good for them. I'm glad Giuliani showed his true colors and ditched them since they weren't rich. Maybe they'll get a wake-up call.

The only reason people are protected up to 2 million is because of Bush. Also, it is used to be that your estate was taxed and then the recipient was also taxed. This has been fixed - for now. This bill runs out in a few years, and will need to be addressed again and updated. The people that I see losing their inheritence quite often are people that inherit real estate or a business that owns real estate and/or inventory. It is a real issue, and if your parents have money, and want to give it to you, they should be able to. It is not my money. Just because I haven't made a lot of money and accumulated a lot of wealth doesn't mean you owe me yours.

"bob somerby" asked if we want the MSM to stop the BS attacks on Dems, or start them on Reps.

Answer: YES.

All I ask is that the press be impartial. Either make sh*t up about BOTH parties or don't do it at all. Either way works for me. Better than the status quo.

I'm Michelle Phillips, editor of the Anamosa Journal-Eureka. Our website was overwhelmed with hits, but I have talked to our webmaster and the problem has been rectified.
The original story can be viewed at anamosaje.com

Althelia, you stated "you make us look like a**holes"

I'm sorry, no one forced you to vote for Bush. I'm assuming a second time? No, people who voted for Bush TWO times in a row, made themselves look like "a**holes."

I a very open-minded, "put myself in other people's shoes" kinda guy, but your post sounds like someone trying to make themselves into a "victim."

If you think a person's past isn't interesting, or plays a part in a person's current life, then I'm sure you'd rent a property to someone without a credit check. Point being, I think the post Deb made adds light to the whole story; the poster who added this info, did not make commentary with it, he added it and YOU are the one who insinuated "all Bush voters don't deserve respect."

I stand by the following comment: Anyone who voted for Bush ONCE and especially TWICE, deserve exactly what they reap, in the form of higher gas prices, increasing gap between living costs, and wages, and anything else that this sham administration brings on us.

All of this simply because you weren't paying attention from the beginning; if you had been, you'd have gone to the polls informed, and not voting for a guy "you could have a beer with."

jus sayin

.."I a very open-minded" etc...

Yea, I a very good writer too.

I'm a little late on the post, but to everyone who's exhibiting a little schadenfreude - "serves them right, supporting a Repub" - what do you want? A little self-congratulating smugness, or to win the next election?

Let's keep on message - "we're so sorry that you got screwed over by a Republican. Can we show you how Democrats are on your side?"

Rudi was instrumental in the 9/11 cover up. What did ya expect?

HA HA HA Have you ever seen such a steaming pile O' Dogshit as Rudy Giuliani? HA HA HA...

No. I don't doubt that if this was done by ANY of the Democrat candidates this would be chewed over for days by the MSM. Nothing is more detestable than the Repugnants and their glossed over tyranny than the brain-dead, sycophantic corporate media amnesia industry that does the glossing.

This "Fibromyalgia" is a joke, like chronic fatigue. It is an excuse to be lasy and sleep, also doctors can load you up on expensive pills.

Fibromyalgia, ha.

The link to the Anamosa Journal article is wrong. Here is the correct link:
http://www.anamosaje.com/NewsArchive/2007/May/3/news.html

It's not surprising that the media haven't covered this, since they've all been co-opted by the Bush administration. What would Bill Moyers do?

Fibromyalgia is very real just like the other disorders MS, diabetes, Alzheimer's, SLE all caused by having an older father either in this generation or a prior one. The lie about the non-existence of a male biological clock has brought about fibro and many other disorders such as autism. The way we are being duped to father at all ages to keep the pharmas and academic researchers rich is quite a scandal.

Even if they cover it, smart-ass will make up some pathetic excuse to cover his tracks. I think though less coverage for him the better..who the hell gives a damn about what he does--smart people know what kind of arrogant SOB he is. He just hides behind 9/11 to make himself out to be a great savior. WHat a phoney.

Greg:

Re: fibromyalgia - it is a federally-recognized disability; it's possible to be approved for social security disability based on that diagnosis.

As for Rudy behaving like a suck-up only to the rich -- well, here in NYC, we lived through countless instances of this.

This is nice. It's totally about 10 miles north of me where this happened.

Everyone here lacks much in the way of money, so I'm going to call Rudy a jerk on this. People in Iowa around here don't have much money, so, it's like, why would he expect us to be millionaires?

Charles,

You're an asshole. If you had a real PhD (not in something fake like divinity), you'd know better.

Dick.

Have you folks read about Guiliani's gifts from the Yankees baseball team? Eight tickets to each of the 40 post season games. Four World Series rings. Hats(custom made to accommodate his large cranium). Jackets. Nothing reported or paid for while he was mayor! Finally about the sweetheart deal he gave them on their lease at the City owned stadium, and for a new stadium? It was so sweet, Mike Bloomberg had to pull it as one of his first duties as mayor, post 9/11 er, Guiliani. It's all in this weeks Village Voice...

http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0719,barrett,76566,2.html

It felt good to see (an outsider/non-disabled) person refer to Fibromyalgia as a disability. After 15 years of being judged that I'm a hypochondriac by such ignorant idiots (as seen above), I'm glad that an outsider actually understood a little and seemed willing to get the facts (more than most people will bother to), instead of relying on people who aren't disabled by the DISEASE. These people are not doctors or medical students, they are just plain idiots.

But no harm done, we've put up with dumbf*ck's like the ignorant doubters (did I mention they were ignorant?) for years and have certainly have come to expect such ignorance. What even qualifies these idiots to make such judgments? Do they even have enough intelligence to comment on such things? Pathetic.

I agree with your comment at the end that IF THIS HAD BEEN EDWARDS THE CABLE NEWS NETWORKS WOULD COVER IT ENDLESSLY. It is amazing how biased the news media is against Edwards, in particular, and in favor of Republicans, particularly Giuliani.
Can you imagine if it had been EDWARDS, instead of GIULIANI, who had gone to parties dressed as a woman? Cable news and Letterman would play the film all the time. But they almost never show the film of Giuiliani doing so. There's even one on Youtube of Trump kissing Giuiliani while Giuliani is in a dress. Yeah, its genuine. Bet you've never seen it.
The bottom line is, they are afraid of Edwards, because he has NO SCANDALS and rarely makes verbal gaffes, and they know he would have an excellent chance of winning if he got the nomination. They know that Democrats will have a much tougher time with Hillary or Obama or Biden or others that have any chance in the primaries.

Brian Ross would be an excellent choice to email this story to. He got his start in eastern Iowa at KWWL-TV in Waterloo Iowa in the early 1970s. Let's hope he goes with it.

Charles C. with the PhD. in Divinity, you are uninformed and malicious. (Quote: This "Fibromyalgia" is a joke, like chronic fatigue. It is an excuse to be lasy and sleep, also doctors can load you up on expensive pills.)

I am ambitious, smart, and strive to live a full life. Often I can't do the latter because of fibro. One of the problems is that a patient usually CAN'T SLEEP! There are no medications specifically for fibro. I know this first-hand, and so does my doctor.

As a "doctor" of divinity I suppose you think you are personally acquainted with the particular circle of hell a firbromyalgiac knows.

I've sent it to Countdown, if ya'll also want to, the address I used is countdown@msnbc.com - maybe if the show gets enough of this story, whoever reads the mail will pass it along to Keith.

Someone needs to bring this to the Edwards campaign's attention. Edwards could visit them and make a point that the estate tax will not affect people like them. It will only affect people like Paris Hilton and the Waltons and that the attempt by the Republicans to eliminate the estate tax is part of the class war the Republicans are engaging in against working people and the poor.

I hate to put it this way....working folks just making living on a not so big farm have no business to donate,talk to or kiss up to republicans.
Period.
Unless they are masochists,then be my guest.
I hope more of these people in RED states realize the contempt republican millionaires have for them..."useful idiots".

I hate dirty politics as much as everyone else, but the media won't stop, so I say this is every bit as much of a story as Edwards' haircut! The idea of campaigning is supposed to be to help voters get to KNOW the candidates. Know what they're like & how they think. I think this says a lot about Rudy. And just becasue you may think he didn't know about it personally doesn't matter! Remember, Edwards said he didn't know someone was going to charge the haircut to his campaign account, but he took the heat anyway, huh?

Fibromyalgia is not psychosomatic. If it were, I would have it, not my sister.

The code is Woman, which my sister is one hell of.

I'm glad there's an internet. Spreading the word and this story.

The majority of Americans have less than one million dollars in assets. Why does Herr Rudolf hate America? Why was he present at the London Bombings? Is he a terrorist?

I would love for this story to be absolutely accurate, because it is the perfect stereotype of Republican behavior. But I can't find any mention of it on the Web site of the Anamosa Journal-Eureka in Jones County, Iowa. No search words turn it up on their site. Is there any explanation for this?

Reverend Charles C.,PHD Divinity:
Parody posts are usually ineffective on the internet, and there is no need to smear hard-working and compassionate ministers just for a laugh.

Now what I'd like to know is Debrah, could this event possibly make you consider voting Dem?
Or do the Dems "kill babies" and "want to turn the country over to the Islamofascists"
Did you think the Estate Tax was going to affect you, until Rudy's asset check told you different?

Usually, rural Repubs have some existential reasons why they feel no matter how bad a Republican is, voting Democrat is tantomount to national suicide. Is that the case with you, Deb?

How have the Republicans succeeded in getting people to vote against their own interests?

Their own interests? My friend, Republicans are not afraid of going against their own interests to stop the murder of millions of little babies, so little they ain't even bornded yet.
And besides, isn't it in all of our interests to save the country from it's various ills, both moral, Muslim and Mexican?

Everyone here lacks much in the way of money, so I'm going to call Rudy a jerk on this. People in Iowa around here don't have much money, so, it's like, why would he expect us to be millionaires?

Travis

Well, as Deborah notes on her website, the state "went red" in 2004. So why aren't you rich?
Didn't you all get the ponies Bush promised you? Or did the Dems spend all your tax dollars on unwed mothers and illegal immigrants? I guess it's lucky the War on Iraq is profitable, else we'd be completely broke, aye Trav?

Or is having no money worth it, as long as you are doing God's will by voting Repub?

Tell me, Mrs. VonSprecken, what did you hear about Rudy that made you consider voting for him, let alone campaigning for him, in the first place.

Or is the lowest Repub, better than the best Dem?

This is a non-issue from the start.

I worked my bootie off one year to get a Vice President to do a combined fundraiser for a youth group and the congressional campaign I was a lead staffer on.

At the go hour, someone with more pull jumped in and wanted the event to focus on a different issue at a different place with different results.

It happens. Can campaign staff be too brusque, yes. Not like they work 7am to 10pm like I did and sometimes get lost in the sheer volume of the work. Is that a story? On how overworked campaign staff can be sometimes, yes.

“I invited him into my home,” Deb said of Giuliani, fighting back tears.

THIS is the key phrase. Those of us who extend guest-right are hurt when someone proves unworthy of it.

Politicians must claim to be exceedingly religious in order to get elected. That doesn't mean they are good people at heart, just that they stand in the doorway to the church until the photographer is finished.

Politicians must claim to empathize with working people in order to gather their votes. That doesn't mean they have ever earned respect for their own work, just that they visit factory floors owned by corporate donors.

Politicians must claim to be financially responsible in order to tap our wallets. That doesn't mean they have ever balanced a checkbook or budgeted for the future, just that they'll repay millionaires by appointing them to prestigious positions.

We have to ignore what a politician says, and examine their actions and associates.

If his intended message wouldn't be supported by the backdrop, Giuliani's team could easily have dealt with the fact that the VonSpreckens aren't millionaires by changing the topic of the speech! Wealth isn't the only criteria for worth!!!

After ascertaining that this was a family farm, he could have addressed the increasing problems of food safety (mad cow disease and pets dying of imported additives) which is very much a homeland security issue. He could have considered family ties and discussed schools and opportunities and that a child who goes away to college might come back and start a business. He could have talked about heartland values, and the importance of knowing your neighbors and forging community so that when disaster strikes people know they can rely on each other, even if it is miles between farms. So many appropriate and important topics, but by focusing upon money, Guiliani and his staff have totally missed the target.

I doubt if Deb VonSprecken will switch parties overnight, however I would hope that she, and her family and friends and neighbors, will look at all candidates to find those worthy of entering office as well as our homes.

All the commenters wishing to send this story to Olbermann, Edwards, etc.— WHY? Why would you want to exploit this poor, naive (I mean American), DISABLED woman even more than she and her family have been exploited here. Hasn't she been taken advantage of enough. Hasn't she already been dragged through an emotional roller coaster by that wretched GIULIANI political juggernaut (I mean campaign).

Right here on this very small blog our Little Debi VonAmerica, has become an ICON of DISABLED Americans, Fibromyalgia VICTIMS and our poor, poor underwritten American farmers and victimized Red Staters. Why on earth should we spread this tragedy further.

I implore you all - let these people go back to their quiet, heart-warming RED state and lives and pray for BUSH, because - really isn't that what it's going to take to get US out of this mess - PRAYERS.

God Bless and goodnight!

I worked my bootie off one year to get a Vice President...

Jeff Berea

Jeff, I apologise for Cheney's actions, or do you campaign for Dem Candidates?
A little advice, Jeff: if you're gonna come here and dump that BS on us, don't leave a link to your wingnut blog.
But that isn't how I guessed, just how I confirmed.
I knew as soon as you didn't mention the VP's name, it must have been Cheney

Oh look, the secret word is 'snake'

Oh my, you must really go over to Mr. Barea's blog. This guy (and his institute for public policy initiatives) is a classic wingnut. And a whiner and coward to boot.

Vote for Ron Paul. Those farmers are exactly the people he represents. He does'nt care about income he truely wants to make this country better, in the vision of our founding fathers.

Yes, if the story is true, it was an insensitive thing for Giuliani to have cancelled his visit to the VonSpreckens'. However, as others have pointed out, Giuliani is campaining on a particular issue -- the estate tax. That being the case, it makes sense that he'd want to speak to people who would (1) stand a chance of being affected by that tax, and (2) have money to contribute to his campaign. If the estate tax is only of interest to millionaires, then speaking to a crowd of non-millionaires about it would have been a waste of Giuliani's campaign fund -- money that the VonSpreckens and people like them contributed. (Whether Giuliani should be campaigning on an issue of such limited interest in the first place is a separate issue.)

I understand why the VonSpreckens are complaining, but I wonder if they realize that their complaint is really saying "don't worry about spending my contributions wisely -- just show up at *my* house". If they were not relevant to Giuliani's current campaign issue, they should never have been asked to host in the first place. The problem, in my opinion, is more Giuliani's campaign's lack of tact in dealing with the cancellation. Instead of outright cancelling, Giuliani should have said something like "It doesn't make sense for me to have a fund-raiser at your house, but can I stop by for a few minutes and hear what issues *you'll* be voting on?"

Of course, maybe he did exactly that. If the VonSpreckens are as pissed off as they seem, they could easily have seen that sort of approach as an effort for Giuliani to "cover his butt" and have a photo-op. I think that by the time he canceled the fund-raiser, he couldn't win no matter what else he did.

Moral: do your research before you try to ask for a fund-raiser. You may wind up in a situation where you have to waste either financial capital or political capital.

And sorry, but the fibromyalgia is irrelevant.

To those of you who scoff at the seriousness of Fibromyalgia: you probably also claim that the only reason Christopher Reeve didn't just get back on his horse was because he was too lazy. Same kind of thinking. Get a taste of this disease before you take it so lightly.

Dear Fibromyalgia sufferers - PLEASE stop posting how much you suffer - it's unflattering and as Marnen states above - irrelevant. It was unnecessary and just plain wrong of Sargent to note that the woman "added" that she suffered from it. Look how it has clouded this post with space wasting comments.

What a prink.

Time to stop preaching to the choir. Kudos to Horse's Mouth for uncovering this glimpse of Giuliani, and hopefully there will be similar stories on all the other candidates -- including, even though it's cruel to mock the mentally ill, Alzheimer's victim John McCain -- so that WE can serve as the media. You have a circle of e-mail friends to pass on such stories to. Each of them has other friends and family members. What will it take to wake up the sheeple? GETTING THE INFORMATION TO THEM. Most of them DON'T get their news from independent sources, and DON'T realize what bull$hit the corporate whore mass media spews at them 24/7. Don't just pass on the URL -- pass on a significant excerpt, short enough that the non-news-savvy will read it, but enough information to make it more than just "look what a terrible person this guy is."

Write letters to the editor. Even if it's not printed, editors count how many letters they get on an issue to determine which way to cover a story, because they're catering to a paying audience. Call talk shows, and don't be afraid to call a lie a lie.

Blogging only reaches people who already have their minds made up. We need to invoke the power of our own "mass media" to reach the PUBLIC.

Psssst.

It wasn't Dick Cheney. And to the other commenter, I use my real name, speak from my real experiences, yeah that's the definition of a coward.

Point I was making, before the attempted hijacking, is, that campaigns make decisions based on a complex set of circumstances.

They could have been more communicative to avoid hurting someones feelings but that doesn't make them bereft of decency as has been hinted at.

According to http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2007/may/11/exclusive_mccain_called_iowa_woman_snubbed_by_rudy_campaign , John McCain has now called the VonSpreckens and made a very positive impression on them.

Good for him. I have long said that if he wins the Republican nomination, then I will vote Republican in a presidential election for the first time in my life. He's the sort of mensch we need in the White House. Obviously, his call to the VonSpreckens doesn't prove that -- it's a perfect political calculation -- but it does reinforce the other data points we have.

The Cedar Rapids Gazette had a follow-up article on May 16, saying Giuliani apologized in person with a 2-hour visit last Monday. http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070515/IOWACAUCUS/70515015&SearchID=73281436962569