The Duluth New Trib’s account of the big debate was fair enough. I was “overshadowed” it said and I was. I had been placed on the periphery of our group and the principals, Grams and Oberstar, were seated closer than even friends would tolerate if they had a choice. The two of them enjoyed a real bickerfest.
I’ll link to the debate when TPT puts it on their site. My wife and my campaign manager both gave me credit for framing the issues which were debated starting with Iraq and the nation’s budget deficit.
Oberstar and Grams immediately locked horns on the vital question raised by Grams’s flyer about Jim’s many visits to France. Being a proper midwesterner I let them squeeze everything out that dishrag before interjecting that I’d rather hear about real issues like the two the boys I had taken on church mission trips who had been sent to Iraq and whose welcome home gift was an 8.5 trillion dollars debt to pay off.
I didn’t say this with any of the fury I feel about it nor did I expose any raw emotion in the rest of my precious few responses. (Its hard to separate kids locked in combat) The result was that Mel’s wife said IÂ seemed polite. Damn that Minnesota Nice.
Oberstar and Grams had their fingers in each other’s faces throughout. Oberstar said, as he has in the press, that Grams was lying about him and, as the Trib pointed out, the two continued bickering as the debate ended. Oberstar slapped Grams on the back two or three times as they left the “couch” in what was supposed to be a friendly gesture but with such ferocious blows that they probably stung the Senator as Jim continued to gripe that Rod was lying.
There were serious subjects like Social Security which made brief appearances and questions about forest management and water rights. Oberstar who can’t debate on the floor of the House worth beans couldn’t shut up on Almanac. He was obviously very pleased with himself at having tossed out a few mild bon mots. Grams looked stoic, disapproving and like he’d rather be almost anywhere else.
The highlight of my day was my visit to my Mother in her Alzheimer’s unit a couple hours before the debate. Mom at least would sing with me. Swing Low Sweet Chariot, God Rest ye Merry Gentleman, You are my Sunshine and another hour’s worth of songs. Her roomate, Timma, joined in on the spirituals.
Jim and Rod just wern’t my sunshine.
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