April 07, 2005, 8:06 a.m.
Cheney’s woman in Ottumwa, &c.

As you may know, Vice President Cheney likes to mention Ottumwa, Iowa, and it comes up in this context: "Are you running for president?" some reporter will ask. "No," Cheney will say. "I serve the president better when I have no interests but his, and when I don't have to worry about what the precinct committeeman in Ottumwa, Iowa, will think of me." (Those caucuses, you know.) Sometimes Cheney says "county chairman," rather than "precinct committeeman."

Anyway, it's a nice line, in part because "Ottumwa" sounds kind of funny — it's a comedian's name, like "Schenectady" or "Poughkeepsie." In a column the other day, I said, "Someone ought to call up the committeeman, or county chairman, in Ottumwa, Iowa, and see what he thinks." Well, now I've done so.

And the Republican in question is not a man, but a woman, Trudy Caviness. She is chairman of the Wapello County Republicans. She explains to me that Ottumwa is the county seat, in the southeastern corner of the state, 30 miles from Missouri, and 90 from Illinois. Wapello — pronounced "WA-pello" — is named after Chief Wapello, of the Fox tribe. Lot of Indian history in the area, says Mrs. Caviness.

She herself was born in California, "because I had a Marine Corps dad" — and "he was getting ready to ship out to Iwo Jima." He came back, fortunately, and lived to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Iwo Jima landing. Mrs. Caviness has a son-in-law in the Marine Corps now — he has visited Iwo, and brought back some volcanic ash.

No matter that she was born in California, Mrs. Caviness — pronounced "CAV-iness" — is an Iowan through and through. She and her husband, Keith, own a photographic-finishing business, established in 1970. And what does she think of Cheney? Why, if he ran in '08, "I'd support him wholeheartedly."

Politics has always been part of Mrs. Caviness's life. "My family was always active. My parents and grandparents always voted. We were raised to take responsibility for being Americans — we knew the price that many people had paid. I was raised around a lot of Marines who had served in the war. They were my parents' close friends."

Mrs. Caviness, now 60, has done political work for 30 years. "I've always done door knocking, and everything else involved. I took my children, as I went out and campaigned. And I always took my children with me to vote." Mrs. Caviness has never missed a vote, since turning 21 — except two: "One was a utility election in the county, and the other was a school-board election, when I was out of town." The Cavinesses have three daughters and seven grandchildren. All the daughters are Republicans, and so are all the sons-in-law.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Caviness have party positions: She has been chairman of the Wapello County Central Committee (sounds virtually Soviet!) for seven years; he is financial chairman. He is also a city councilman in Ottumwa, and that's a nonpartisan position.

Cheney visited the town last September 13, while campaigning for reelection. Mrs. Caviness was part of the delegation that greeted him. She found him "very, very gracious." And at their event, "we had a young man, still in a wheelchair, who'd been injured in Iraq. He called us and asked to come see the vice president, to thank him for his leadership. So, at the end of the meeting, this young man spoke about what we were doing in Iraq, and how important it was. He hopes to return to active duty. And that's one thing I've found, in talking to many of the military today: They're reenlisting, they want to serve."

It wasn't long after that visit that Mrs. Caviness started to hear Cheney talk about Ottumwa — in explaining why he wouldn't seek to "move up" in '08. How did she react? "I smiled. And then I started getting e-mail and things."

Asked how she thinks Cheney is doing, Mrs. Caviness answers, "Well! First, as a person, he's so believable. I first took an interest in Cheney when he was secretary of defense. When he speaks, you believe what he says, because he believes what he says. I think he's very caring. And I feel he's a smart man in the political arena, as well as in the world arena."

She would indeed support him if he ran in '08 — "but I don't believe that's going to happen," given his adamant demurrals. Still, "in the world of politics, you never say never."

Her county is the least Republican county in the state: Only 20 percent are registered Republicans, while 50 percent are Democrats, and 30 percent independent. But last November, says Mrs. Caviness, 45 percent of Wapello County voters went for Bush and Cheney. And "we had teachers asking for yard signs, and a big union turnout" for the Republicans — so this part of Iowa is in play. People are responding to "a philosophy of responsibility," says Mrs. Caviness.

What about other candidates in 2008? Many dream of Condi, according to the chairwoman, but there are more realistic candidates: Giuliani has been to the state; so has Pataki; "Steve Forbes is speaking in the middle of April." So "we're starting to see a few of these people around. That's the joy of living in Iowa: We get to see the candidates, have coffee with them — just like you see on television," in other parts of the country.

And she's optimistic about '08, unlike some (and that means, ahem, me): "I like the direction we're going in, as a country. National security is a strong point for us. And the Social Security issue, if you look at it — I really feel the president will come through with a plan. That is something everyone else has been afraid to do. And I think we can run on that. The other thing is, unless the Democratic party changes its ways," it could be out of luck — people are attracted to that "philosophy of responsibility."

I can tell you that Trudy Caviness is a joy to talk to. Not to wax all corny, but she reminds me of what is best about this country. She strikes me as a Norman Rockwell American: informed, patriotic, engaged, bright, open, idealistic, decent. She can dent your cynicism, even in a brief phone conversation. As far as I'm concerned, Trudy Caviness is truly scrumptious.

Did you hear what Sen. Jon Corzine, the New Jersey Democrat, said about Cheney, and his stumping in behalf of Social Security reform? According to the AP, Corzine "compared his appearances to sending Saddam Hussein to campaign for democracy in Iraq."

They always know just what to say, those Democratic leaders. Class acts.

And here's Sen. Barbara Boxer, on John Bolton, Bush's nominee to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations: "He's been very contemptuous of the U.N." Well, no sh**, senator. And you haven't? You weren't contemptuous when Saddam Hussein's government chaired the nuclear-disarmament committee? You weren't contemptuous when Qaddafi's Libya and Assad's Syria chaired the human-rights committee? You're not contemptuous that China, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe, and other beauts sit on that committee?

You weren't contemptuous when the U.N. stood by as thousands were slaughtered in the Balkans? You haven't been contemptuous at the U.N.'s performance in Rwanda, and Congo, and Sudan?

Liberalism used to mean something — e.g., opposition to tyranny and lies. And now? Opposition to George W. Bush seems most important.

Speaking of great Democratic leaders: Al Sharpton issued a statement when Terri Schiavo died. Read it, and tell me whether you think the Schiavo case had an eensie-weensie bit to do with abortion, in the Democratic mind (and others):

I am saddened by the death of Terri Schiavo. I am also saddened by the blatant attempt by right wing extremists to use her condition and family disagreements to galvanize an anti-choice fervor in this country. I respectfully declined an invitation to come to Florida by the Schindler family because the situation was being used by the right wing to distort the issue of a person's right to make life choices.

The National Action Network and I offer our condolences to the entire family, but also remind the nation to critically view what was said by Congressman Tom DeLay, who tried to cynically manipulate public opinion against people's right to choose in this country.

Sharpton is really, really determined to be a national Democrat. His enthusiasm for abortion seems to rival Gloria Steinem's. Nice going, Reverend — you are the very model of the modern Democratic minister.

Another great leader? Howard Dean, chairman of the National Democratic Committee. He said that Sen. Rick Santorum, the Pennsylvania Republican, should "stay in Virginia," where he lives as he works on Capitol Hill. But, Dean cracked, "Santorum is too much of a right-winger for Virginia. How about Venezuela?"

Huh? Does he realize that Hugo Chávez, the Venezuelan strongman, is a Castroite?

But then, this is the Democratic leader whose favorite book in the New Testament is Job.

According to John Stossel, the novelist Michael Crichton "almost didn't write his latest book," State of Fear, which explores global warming, but not in conformity with environmentalist dogma. "I'm 62 years old," Crichton said. "I've had a good life. I'm happy. I'm enjoying myself. I don't need any of the flak that would come from doing a book like this."

He went ahead and did it anyway. A strong and noble spirit, Crichton.

When the world turns, people marvel at it for about two seconds, and then forget about it — that's natural, and not despicable, I suppose. But let me pause to record that a First Lady of the United States (Laura Bush) has visited Afghanistan. That is a very strange historical fact, ladies and gentlemen. But then, the last three and a half years have been unusual.

Robert Creeley, the poet, died at 78. He came to speak to a group of us when I was in school. I didn't much understand him — but I figured he was beyond me, and that I should endeavor to comprehend him later. Must put that on my list.

Friends, if you can, please join us when we visit Atlanta on May 5. When I say "we," I mean many NR and NRO-niks, gathered for discussion, revelry, and fellowship (in a sense). (Details of this event are found here.) The price is not a pittance — $500 — but it is for a cause: the cause of NR and NRO. We have to sing for our supper; and it would be such a pleasure to sing for you. So thanks for considering — and see you in Atlanta, if not elsewhere.

Deleting some of the Africa spam the other day — you know, the spam offering Nigerian deals, and purporting to be from Tanzanian orphans, etc. — I wondered whether these con artists bother sending this stuff within Africa. A semi-interesting question, no?

Care for a little music? A little music criticism, I mean? I didn't think so, but here's some: For a review of the pianists Martha Argerich and Nelson Freire in duo recital, please go here. For reviews of the pianist Russell Sherman in recital, and an all-Schubert concert of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, please go here. And for a review of Un Ballo in Maschera at the Metropolitan Opera, please go here.

Gotta tell you something. This morning — meaning Wednesday morning — I was in a Jamba Juice, getting a jalapeno cheddar twist and a passion-fruit smoothie. Through the speakers was blasting the most vulgar, disgusting song, about fornication (to put it delicately), and everyone was just standing around, as though nothing unusual or remarkable were happening: This "song" was complete with rutting noises, and the most vile, yelled phrase, repeated over and over. Not a soul in there — and there were about ten, young and old — seemed uncomfortable.

You want a right-wing rant on the state of the culture? Come to me, baby.

A few letters — on Schiavo — and then out.

Hey, Jay:

What if the first people to weigh in on Terri Schiavo had been Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, saying that a wife must be in the complete control of her husband, come what may — even unto decisions of life and death. The husband rules.

How might the feminists have reacted then?

Here's something honest, for which I was grateful, in a way:

Dear Mr. Nordlinger:

I'm one of those who "needed" for Terri Schiavo to die. But really, it wasn't about Terri. It was about me — some potential version of me, with a body or mind damaged beyond repair. I don't want to have nutrients pumped into a body that used to savor food. I don't want to be cooed and clucked at by people once loved, and now unrecognized.

Etc. Thank goodness someone said it, plainly.

A creepy, nasty lexical development:

Jay —

Did you happen to catch Hendrik Hertzberg's latest editorial in The New Yorker? . . . Here's the part I think you'll appreciate — near the end of the piece, he slips in this little phrase: "the fervor of Terri's Christianist 'supporters.'"

As nice as the scare quotes around "supporters" are, I'm really talking about the word "Christianist," which is not one I've seen used before. Did Hertzberg coin this himself (and if so, you can see why he was such a valuable member of the Carter administration)? The word is clearly formed on the model of "Islamist," and is as pretty a piece of moral equivalence as I've ever found.

Me too. I have to go now, and I realize I'm not leaving you on a very cheery note. But don't forget: We have the marvelous Trudy Caviness in Ottumwa!