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sspl05 - Sat 02 Aug 2008 07:21 AM CDT
ihatehogconfinements - Mon 21 Jul 2008 06:45 PM CDT
no4gman - Tue 15 Jul 2008 10:46 PM CDT
evaroberts - Tue 15 Jul 2008 01:20 AM CDT
Sam Garchik - Mon 02 Jun 2008 10:10 AM CDT
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Wednesday, November 8
Loebsack's Going to DC, and Other Dem Victories
by
Sam Garchik
on Wed 08 Nov 2006 10:38 AM CST
Loebsack's Going to DC
(and other dem victories)
By Sam Garchik
Dave
Loebsack ran a great, dignified campaign against a tough opponent, and did what
no other challenger could do in 30 years. He beat Jim Leach. Way to go Dave.
Enjoy DC.
Bruce Braley beat a tough opponent also, as did Leonard Boswell. Iowa now has
three Democratic Congressmen. Times are good. Thanks also to Selden Spencer and
Joyce Schulte, who ran good campaigns in tough areas.
We also have a new Democratic governor, a new Democratic Secretary of State,
and a good candidate for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture in 4 years. O'Brien ran
a good campaign about important issues, and should continue to work for the
people in the state of Iowa. We need her.
On to the Iowa House. Andrew Wenthe, McKinley Bailey, and Eric Palmer beat two
tough GOP incumbents. As did Elesha Gayman, who, at 28, is, I think,
Iowa's youngest ever female elected to the State House. She will work there
with Tyler Olson, who graduated high school in 1994. The future of our party is
in good hands. Meanwhile, Social Studies Teacher Art Staed takes over a former
GOP seat, as did Doris Kelley. Mark Nolte and Sally Vitamvas both ran good
campaigns, but came up short.
The State Senate also went well for Democrats. Rob Hogg, Bill Heckroth, and
Stacci Appel all won seats previously held by Republicans, Becky Schmitz beat
an incumbent in Southern Iowa.
More results are here, and more commentary will be forthcoming.
Thursday, June 22
Iowa Blog Roundup (and other things also)
by
Sam Garchik
on Thu 22 Jun 2006 03:57 PM CDT
 Iowa Blog Roundup (and other things also)
By Sam Garchik
It's been a very hectic week with the convention and all, but I wanted to bring you up to speed on a bunch of different issues and happenings.
Courtesy of The Left Coast of Iowa Blog, I posted Joyce Schulte's response to King's comments on Thomas. I encourage you all to read what she said, as she speaks for all of us.
Also, Chris at Political Forecast is doing a great job of keeping tabs on what's going on in this state. He pointed two things out to me that I want to pass on to you. The Eminem Domain issue keeps popping up, and it has the gov in a bind.
Wait, sorry. That's State 29.
Seriously, Chris linked to this article in City Pages which tries to sum up all the arguments made by which rich and famous Iowans about eminent domain. I still can't figure out why the Johnson County state reps voted against the bill, which isn't to say I am accusing them of something. It's just to say I'm looking to find out why. Chris also covered the Iowans for Sensible Priorities bloggers press conference. They had a good showing at the state convention as well, so look for them to get more traction in Iowa.
On the Trail of the Contender
Villsack was written up in the American Prospect, who teases the interview here. I got to hear the old guv talk 3 times in one day at the convention. I don't want to comment any further, and I still don't know if I am going to caucus for him, but $600,000 for Culver buys him some good will in this state.
We are starting to get a lot of event notices. It's hard to keep them all straight, and this is a statewide blog, so I'll mention these, and then encourage you all to check out our calendar:
District 1
Bill Gluba endorsed Braley, saying, "the fundamental principles and positions we share are more numerous than the few issues on which we disagree." Also, DFQC is planning an Iraq War Forum on Tuesday, June 27. You can join the group and RSVP at DFA-Link.
District 2
The Johnson County Democrats will have their grand opening this Saturday in Iowa City. Ag. Secretary Judge will be there representing the Culver-Judge ticket. That's at 535 E. College, June 24, from 1 - 3 PM.
Sunday, June 25th, from 1 - 3 PM, Dave Loebsack is having a yard sign party across the district. They are serving food, and you can find one near you:
Iowa City - City Park
Burlington - Perkins Park
Ottumwa - Central Park (between City Hall and the Library)
Cedar Rapids - Ellis Park - Harborview Pavilion
Dave Bradley got us Air America, and I'm loving every second of it. Dave reminds us that we should "follow up with KXIC and ClearChannel with positive notes on the addition of AirAmerica programming. And remember since this is a business decision for ClearChannel, they need to know that we will support advertisers of Air America programming. We will get a list of advertisers out after a couple of weeks. And it would really help to stop by the business and say "Thanks" directly to them. I am sure that Right Wingers will be vocal in their opposition. Don't let them intimidate advertisers." You can email the folks at KXIC (I used to work there, in the interest of full disclosure, but didn't know any of these folks):
Contact:
joenugent@clearchannel.com (KXIC program manager)
cc to: johnlaton@clearchannel.com (regional GM)
telephone: 319-354-9500 (KXIC)
District 3
Time to get your walking shoes on. It's Polk County Fourth of July parade time!
Call Tamyra at 515-285-1800 to join a parade and get details*
Grimes Funtastic days - June 24th - 10 AM
Bondurant - June 27th - 6:00 PM
Urbandale - July 4th - 10:00 AM
West Des Moines - July 3rd - 6:30 PM
Windsor Heights - July 4th - 1:00 PM
Ankeny Summerfest - July 8th - 10:00 AM
District 4
Thanks to Christina of the Yahoo Group Democracy for Iowa, we now know of a big human rights showdown in Fort Dodge. If you live in Fort Dodge, make sure you let the council know that it should stand up to the right wing.
District 5
Denise O'Brien is celebrating her victory in Atlantic on Friday, June 30, from 6 - 10 PM. They will have music.
In-State, Out of State, and Out of Sight!
Did you wish you could go to Florida and recount hanging chads? Black Box Voting is giving you the chance to register for the National Hand County Registry. Have good eyes, will travel! Or not, as hand counts may come to an election near you.
Selden Spencer is in the running as a Map Changer on Warner's PAC, and Culver is up for some help from Feingold's PPF.
Fighting Bob Fest is in Baraboo this September. Mary Bichell is looking for folks to go with her to this event, which is 1 1/2 hours from Dubuque. Here's the lineup so far includes Amy Goodman, Jim Hightower, and Doris “Granny D” Haddock Their theme is perfect for the moment: “Hold Them Accountable”. They are also looking forward to the return of Congresswomen Tammy Baldwin and Gwen Moore, Senator Russ Feingold, the Progressive magazine’s Matthew Rothschild, the People’s Legislature, and the largest enthusiastic crowd of progressives in the Midwest insisting that those who seem oblivious to political corruption be held accountable!"
Finally, Lewis Lapham is coming to Des Moines for the ICCI State Convention. He's the long-time editor at Harper's Magazine, and his trip is sponsored by ICCI. He'll be at the Hotel Fort Des Moines on Friday, July 14 at 8:00 PM. He will also sign copies of his book, Gag Order: on the Suppression of Dissent and the Stifling of Democracy. Tix are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. You can call ICCI at 515-282-0484 for more info.
Monday, May 8
King Leads Another Charge Against Democracy
by
Sam Garchik
on Mon 08 May 2006 07:09 AM CDT
 King Leads Another Charge Against Democracy
By Sam Garchik
Ellen Ballas sent this on to me from the LA Times, where it appeared on Saturday. Blog for Iowa has not endorsed a candidate in the Fifth District, but Steve King has got to go...
House GOP Group Targets Bilingual Ballots
The 56 lawmakers want to let language assistance provisions in the Voting Rights Act expire.
By Nicole Gaouette, Times Staff Writer
May 6, 2006
WASHINGTON — A group of House Republicans wants to do away with bilingual ballots and translation assistance at the polls, a reflection of how tensions over immigration are pervading other issues.
As Congress readies to reauthorize the 1965 Voting Rights Act, the lawmakers are lobbying their colleagues to let the act's language assistance provisions expire. The 56 lawmakers support the act, but say the language assistance to voters — provided throughout much of California — undermines national unity, increases the risk of election fraud, and puts an undue burden on state and local governments.
"We believe these ballot provisions encourage the linguistic division of our nation and contradict the 'melting pot' ideal that has made us the most successful multiethnic nation on Earth," the members said in a letter earlier this year.
The group's effort is not likely to succeed, in part because of other Republicans' concerns that it could further offend Latino voters upset by the enforcement-only immigration legislation the House passed in December.
Policy analysts said the focus on bilingual ballots illustrated a hardening of positions within the GOP as the debate on illegal immigration evolved.
"It's reflective of the broader divide in the Republican Party on the immigration issue and related cultural questions," said Marshall Wittmann, a former GOP Senate aide who is a senior fellow at the Democratic Leadership Council.
"This division is now being reflected in collateral issues, like the Voting Rights Act," Wittmann added.
Under President Bush, the GOP has emphasized courting Latino voters.
But many Republican lawmakers also have spotlighted illegal immigration as a key concern, arguing that the continuing flow of illegal immigrants into the U.S. is culturally transforming the nation and must be stemmed. Such attitudes led to the passage of the House bill that would significantly upgrade border security, make illegal presence in the U.S. a felony, and make aiding illegal immigrants a felony.
Bush is urging Congress to pass a bill that, along with beefed-up border security, includes a guest worker program and some legalization measures for illegal immigrants. He also is encouraging immigrants to learn English — a response to a controversial Spanish-language version of the national anthem.
The Senate and House are to conduct committee hearings next week on reauthorizing the Voting Rights Act. Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), prime sponsor of letting the language assistance provision expire, plans to submit his proposal as an amendment in the House Judiciary Committee next week.
The Voting Rights Act was designed to prevent discrimination from interfering with citizens' ability to vote. When the act was extended in 1975, Congress added the section that requires some jurisdictions to provide bilingual ballots and translators.
Currently, 466 jurisdictions in 31 states provide these services on election day. Twenty-five California counties qualify, including Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara and Santa Clara.
King dismissed suggestions that his proposal could hurt the GOP among the nation's growing numbers of Latino voters.
"We're talking about public policy, and I would like to think the Hispanics in this country respect American values in the same way," said King, who has long backed efforts to make English the United States' official language.
Six GOP California House members signed the letter detailing King's proposal: Gary G. Miller of Diamond Bar, Ed Royce of Fullerton, Dana Rohrabacher of Huntington Beach, Ken Calvert of Corona, John T. Doolittle of Roseville and John Campbell of Irvine.
The proposal's backers say that U.S.-born or naturalized citizens should know enough English to vote, particularly because a command of the language is a requirement for citizenship.
"In all the talk now about immigration, there seems to be a very broad consensus that people who want to become citizens should read, write and speak English," Campbell said.
King said another provision of the Voting Rights Act allows voters who need help, including translation, to bring someone with them.
But Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.), the main author of the enforcement-only House immigration bill, staunchly defended the language assistance provision in the Voting Rights Act.
"If [immigrants] want to achieve the American dream, they better learn how to read and function in English," Sensenbrenner said. "But this deals with the right to vote, and these people are United States citizens; they are not illegal immigrants. It seems to me these people should not be confused because they don't have the proper instruction about how to vote on ballots for the candidates of their choice."
Caroline Fredrickson, an official with the American Civil Liberties Union in Washington, said the language assistance provision had "worked phenomenally well in allowing people with limited English proficiency to participate in our democratic process. There has been a remarkable growth in voting participation in areas that have been covered."
King and his group say bilingual ballots cause election errors. They cited a 2000 case in Flushing, N.Y., where ballots printed in Chinese misidentified the political affiliations of some candidates. They also allege that bilingual ballots can make it easier for illegal immigrants to fraudulently vote.
Sunday, January 22
Where Iowa Gubernatorial and Congressional Candidates Stand on Choice
by
Linda Thieman
on Sun 22 Jan 2006 04:00 AM CST
 Where Iowa Gubernatorial and Congressional Candidates Stand on Choice
by Linda Thieman
Today,
Blog for Iowa is joining over 200 other progressive blogs across the nation for
Blog for Choice day - the 33rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Our posts today will examine the state of
abortion laws in Iowa and where the candidates stand on the issue of
choice.
First
out of the gate, since this is an election year, I thought I’d take a
look at which gubernatorial and congressional candidates are
pro-choice, who amongst them thinks he has the right to control MY
body, and who is too timid to commit to this politically-charged and
yet most fundamental of all issues.
Iowa’s Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates
• Rep. Ed Fallon (D) – Pro-choice
• Sal Mohamed (D) – Pro-choice
• Vernon Weems (D) – Pro-choice
• Chet Culver (D) – Pro-choice
•
Patty Judge (D) – unclear; says she is pro-choice in the Planned
Parenthood poll, but in 1998, as a member of the Iowa Senate, she voted
for a bill banning certain vaguely defined abortion procedures with no
exception for the woman’s health.
•
Mike Blouin (D) – anti-choice; would not commit to an answer
on the PP poll; however, Blouin, as a member of Congress in 1975 and 1977,
proposed amendments to the U.S. Constitution outlawing abortion. Got to hand it to him, though, for actually addressing the issue on his campaign website - sort of.
All of
the Democratic gubernatorial candidates (except Yackle, who did not
respond) support: 1) public funding to Planned Parenthood for
family planning services and 2) teaching responsible, comprehensive,
medically accurate sex education in public schools.
Iowa’s 1st Congressional District
[Rep. Nussle (R) is vacating, leaving this seat open.]
• Bruce Braley (D) – Pro-choice; a solid progressive.
• Bill Gluba (D) – Anti-choice; too bad, an otherwise solid, progressive anti-war candidate.
•
Rick Dickinson (D) – This guy is so slippery on the issue of
choice, it’s like sleeping on satin sheets. Can’t get any
traction.
Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District
•
David Loebsack (D) – Pro-choice; one of our own, whom, when I
asked if he were pro-choice, responded, “Of COURSE I’m
pro-choice!” Gotta love that guy!
Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District
•
Rep. Leonard Boswell (D) – Mixed bag. From 1999 through 2005,
Boswell voted 8 times on the pro-choice side of bills and amendments,
according to VoteSmart.org,
and 5 times on the anti-choice side. Not a progressive by any
stretch of the imagination, yet not quite a Republican. Has the
slight advantage of being the (Democratic) incumbent in what is often a
close race.
Iowa’s 5th Congressional District
•
Joyce Schulte (D) – Pro-choice. Come on! Let’s elect
THIS woman to Congress! She's a billion times more qualified to
serve the 5th district than our current "representative," whom, from here on in, will be referred to as Big Brother's little buddy.
• Bob Chambers (D) – (no response yet); long-time Democratic activist.
Next up on the docket: Iowa v. Pro-choice Laws – NARAL Pro-choice America gives Iowa a “C.” Arrrrrrrrrgggggghhhhhhh!
Tuesday, January 10
Joyce Schulte to Announce for Congress, 5th District, on January 14
by
Linda Thieman
on Tue 10 Jan 2006 04:00 PM CST
 Joyce Schulte to Announce for Congress, 5th District, on January 14
Blog for Iowa Proudly Adds the Indomitable Joyce Schulte to our Candidate Watch List.
Creston, IA – Joyce Schulte
will announce her candidacy to be Iowa’s next Congressperson from
Iowa’s 5th Congressional District, Saturday, January 14, in a six-stop
tour of the district. Schulte will address a different issue of concern
to Iowans and the American people at each stop.
Schulte talks about why she is running. "The people of western
Iowa work hard and contribute strongly to their communities, state and
nation. They want and deserve to be represented by the highest possible
level of integrity, compassion and knowledge in Congress. There is a
vacuum of leadership that leaves Congress to do and say things that are
not Iowa quality. Iowa quality, when implemented on all levels, would
not allow the FEMA disaster that happened after hurricane Katrina;
would challenge every policy of the presidential administration to be
honorable; and would not misrepresent history by hailing heroes where
there are none and deriding the every day hero."
As Schulte told Blog for Iowa in September, "These are only a few of the reasons I'm running for Congress. Very
simply, the issues and concerns of the regular Iowan have been
forgotten, left behind and thrown overboard by my opponent and his band
in Congress.
I'm ready to work for regular people, our students, our families
and our family farmers. I'm ready to lift western Iowa up so our
strengths are seen. We have serious work to do.
We're into the 21st century, so we don't need people in Congress putting us down, or wanting to fence us in.
As a
very young widow in 1973 with 2 young boys to raise, I knew
what work was involved. I did not run away from it. I used all the
skills and talents I learned on the farm. Define the work. Do the work,
rest a bit between the work, and get ready to do it all over again.
Those two young boys are now men, married and one has a young daughter.
So the future is here and it requires the best we can give it.
I'm ready to see American Pride come alive."
Get out there and show your support on January 14 for Joyce Schulte!
Schulte for Congress Schedule for January 14, 2006:
- 7:30 a.m. – Press Conference – Creston, IA – Restored Depot – Schulte will address Economic Growth
- 11 a.m. – Press Conference – Council Bluffs, IA – Senior Center, 7th Ave and S Main St – Schulte will address Senior Issues
- 12:30 p.m. – Announcement Meet and Greet and lunch – Missouri
Valley, IA – Gurney’s Restaurant, 229 S 6th St – Schulte will address
why she is running for Congress
- 2 p.m. – Press Conference – Sioux City, IA – Sanford Center, 1700 Geneva St – Schulte will address Family Issues
- 5 p.m. – Press Conference – Storm Lake, IA – Location TBA – Schulte will address Education
- 7:30 p.m. – Press Conference – Denison, IA – Yellow Smoke
Park, Enclosed Shelter 2237 Yellow Smoke Rd. – Schulte will address
Security – Event to be followed by Candidate meet and greet with
supporters.
Joyce Schulte is Director of the Student Support Services program at
Southwestern Community College in Creston, where she sees on a daily
basis how government funding and policies can affect lives. She has a
long history in the mental health field, education and family farming.
Check the Schulte for Congress website for updates in the schedule.
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