We had 10 RAGBRAI bikers from Simpson College stay with us last night and they were oh, so grateful for a night of air conditioning!  Although I attempted to move some of the campaign paraphernalia out of sight, it’s still fairly obvious Art  is running for office.  Cowboy cards, various copies of fundraising letters, a huge district map display (with the streets we’ve walked highlighted), newspaper clippings, and “Art Staed” stationery all pepper the tabletops.

After we returned from an evening of door-knocking, one young bicyclist who is camped out in our lower level, shared his desire to run for state representative in his area of the state.  I guess if our campaign clutter has served to inspire young people to pursue legislative service, then I can live with it for a few more months!  We enjoyed our visit with this group, and Art bid them farewell early this morning as they headed east to the Mississippi River.

As we were headed back to the car this evening, tired from a busy week of doorkocking, we were confronted by a passerby.  He’d seen the Art StaedMobile parked down the street as he was headed home from the grocery store.  After brief introductions, he angrily pointed his finger at Art, and repeatedly shouted this mantra, “Government needs to balance the budget!  It’s a SIN- it’s a SIN I tell you, to do otherwise!”  Art patiently attempted to explain that he was running for the Iowa legislature and, unlike the federal government, Iowa is constitutionally required to balance the state budget, and always does.   However, this guy did NOT have his “listening ears” on (that’s for you, Molly) and continued to rant and rave, repeating his mantra.  He suddenly stopped short and said, “I’ll take your card” which Art was happy to provide.  And that was that. The man, seemingly deflated after his diatribe, walked away quietly, with Art’s card in hand.