Hillary’s Little Helpers

Hillary Clinton is getting some premium help on the campaign trail in Iowa this week. And that’s critical in the final, fateful hours.

According to AP, her daughter Chelsea is doing a great job keeping the nasty wolves in the press at bay.

“Sydney Rieckhoff, a Cedar Rapids fourth grader and “kid reporter” for Scholastic News, has posed questions to seven Republican and Democratic presidential hopefuls as they’ve campaigned across Iowa this year. But when she approached the 27-year-old Chelsea after a campaign event Sunday, she got a different response.

“Do you think your dad would be a good ‘first man’ in the White House?” Sydney asked, but Chelsea brushed her question aside.

“I’m sorry, I don’t talk to the press and that applies to you, unfortunately. Even though I think you’re cute,” Chelsea told the pint-sized journalist.”

Way to play hard ball, Chelsea.

Also, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland is lending a big hand to his favorite Democratic hopeful. He’s really getting Iowans’ attention, as this Columbus Dispatch article shows.

Beginning the presidential nominating process in Iowa, as will occur this week, “makes no sense,” says Gov. Ted Strickland, who recently campaigned there for Sen. Hillary Clinton.

“I’d like to see both parties say, ‘We’re going to bring this to an end,’ ” he said.

Sometimes insult is the sincerest form of flattery.

And finally, hats off to Clinton’s Midwest co-chair Jerry Crawford, who gave a sketchy/ambiguous answer to a WHO TV reporter when asked if Clinton would be in Iowa on caucus night. No, I mean yes, I mean probably.

Hillary had to clear this one up herself on the same Des Moines channel.

“Well, my plan is to be here on Caucus night. It’s certainly what I’m planning to do. I want to thank, you know, the Iowans who have supported me, so many have volunteered for me, everybody who caucused for me, everyone who went through the trouble to drive somebody else there…I just want to thank Iowans for everything they’ve done for me the past year.” 

But first, be sure to thank your surrogates for keeping it all smooth sailing in the final hours. Bonuses for everyone.

Blackberry Caucus

I unintentionally left my Blackberry at the office this weekend and felt no urge to retrieve it. Here’s a sampling of what I missed.

Eight e-mails from Mitt Romney’s campaign, including breathless announcements that the venerable Marshalltown Times-Republican and the Council Bluffs Nonpareil have fallen for Mitt’s charms.

Eight messages from Rudy Giuliani’s forces, informing me of his schedule. In case you missed it, Rudy’s been endorsed by the newspaper in Dover, NH. He’s got “mettle.”

Six e-mails from Christopher Dodd’s Iowa spokesperson Taylor West, informing me, among other things, that the Connecticut senator strongly disagrees with Mike Huckabee, politely disagrees with Joe Biden and likes Niman ranch pork.

Two missed calls and a GoogleTalk prompt from my wife.

One hot stock tip.

How could I ever live without this wonderful machine?

Silencers and Muzzle Flashes

The LA Times’ Top of the Ticket blog reports that Hillary Clinton has stopped taking questions at her Iowa events as the caucuses loom.

 “Before the brief Christmas break, the New York senator had been setting aside time after campaign speeches to hear from the audience. Now when she’s done speaking, her theme songs blare from loudspeakers, preventing any kind of public Q&A.She was no more inviting when a television reporter approached her after a rally on Thursday and asked if she was “moved’’ by Benazir Bhutto’s assassination. Clinton turned away without answering.

Her daughter, Chelsea, had the same reaction when a reporter approached her with a question.”

The HRC team must have run out of questions to plant. 

Instead of the cold shoulder, Mike Huckabee gave reporters birdshot during his recent Iowa pheasant hunt, according to the Chicago Tribune’s Swamp blog.

“At one point, Huckabee’s party turned toward a cluster of reporters and cameramen and, when they kicked up a pheasant, fired shotgun blasts over the group’s heads. This, friends, is dangerously bad hunting form.”

Wanna give him crap about being foreign policy lightweight? Go ahead, make his day.  

Three Things I Learned Listening to NPR

I’ve been doing some traveling lately and a lot of radio listening. Here are three stories that kept me from falling asleep as I stared blankly at Iowa’s frozen wasteland/barren beauty.

O Beer Tree

Sometimes, the holidays are best consumed 12 oz. at a time.

Merry Christmas

That Old Planted Cross?

Did he or didn’t he? Only the big guy upstairs knows for sure.

Adios, Tancredo

Word is today that U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado is dropping out of the GOP presidential race. Not surprising.

Today’s Column — Last-minute gifts

Last-minute presents you won’t find in stores

If you’re like me, you’re not finished Christmas shopping. Not even close.
  Perhaps you’re exhilarated by deadlines. Maybe you thrive under pressure. Well, I’m here to help.

Friday night at Blend

Having lived all over Iowa, I’m used to trying over-hyped ‘upscale’ joints with pricey dishes that sound ambitious and delicious on the menu but aren’t so great on the plate. I’m sure you can think of some.

Sick Child Monday — Update

Home this mornig with my 5-year-old, who was sick much of the weekend and remains ill at this hour. Pre-Christmas plague is a hoilday tradition in our household. Put up the tree, string some lights, turn on some carols and grab a bucket.

I’m thinking of all those single or child-free people who gripe and complain about parents getting extra time off for their kids’ illnesses. I wish some of them were here right now to enjoy this time with me.  Happy Monday.

UPDATE — Tess rallied by late morning, to the point of asking for corn dogs for lunch. It’s a Christmas miracle.