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Friday, June 30
Iowa Blog Roundup and District Heads Ups
by
Sam Garchik
on Fri 30 Jun 2006 12:53 PM CDT
 Iowa Blog Roundup and District Happenings
By Sam Garchik and Other Folks
Denise O'Brien is having a party tonight! The potluck is in Atlantic, Iowa:
Please bring a covered dish, your own table service, drinks and lawn chairs and enjoy an evening of live music and fun! Meat will be provided. Camping on the farm will be available for those of you coming from out of town.
Harris/O'Brien Farm
59624 Chicago Rd.
Atlantic, IA
Friday June 30, 2006
6-10pm
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DIRECTIONS TO THE FARM:
If you're coming on I-80 from the East or the West take exit 54. Go 1 1/2 miles south of the interstate and turn left on Chicago Rd. We are the first house on the left.
If you're coming from Atlantic take highway 173 (the Elk Horn Road) 3 1/2 miles north to Chicago Rd. Turn right and we are the first house on the left. |
Denise also got the EMILY's List endorsement. Information about Denise will be up on their web page soon. You can help her in the meantime by giving her a good car: The O'Brien Campaign for Secretary of Agriculture is looking for a fuel efficient vehicle to drive around Iowa for the next 4 months. Please get in touch with us if you are interested in donating a vehicle to the campaign.
Ed Fallon's not gone yet. He sent out an interesting email. I want to print this in its entirety. I read this on my Feedblitz email, but it came to me from Gavin's Journal:
Dear Friends,
While the recent primary election didn't achieve the victory we'd hoped for, it has had significant political impact statewide. Here's an exchange among Kay Henderson, David Yepsen, Jeneane Beck, Mike Glover and Todd Dorman during the most recent edition of Iowa Press. This should give all of us encouragement to keep building our network of reform-minded Iowans.
One thing you can do is send this e-mail to your own lists, and recommend that others sign up for my weekly electronic updates. And be sure to share with them my promise never to inundate recipients with e-mail or sell my e-mail list. That's a promise I've kept for years, and one I continue to stand by. Thanks!
Ed Fallon
Excerpts from Iowa Press, June 23, 2006
Henderson: "Out of this race, I think I see that there is a potential in Iowa Democratic politics for a populist to be successful. Ed Fallon did incredibly well in that election. He had 38,000 people who turned out. And in a low turnout election, he would have been even more competitive. And I think you can argue that his people would have gone to the polls regardless of the type of election year it was. So I think that what it tells us is that Iowa is sort of right for a candidate, like a Paul Wellstone or maybe the former governor of Minnesota who was a wrestler, that if someone crafts a message in such a way, I think a candidate of that ilk could be successful."
Yepsen: "Jeneane, what about Ed Fallon? What do you think he did right? What did he do wrong? "
Beck: "Well, I think that his message -- I think the CIETC scandal would help an Ed Fallon because he doesn't take PAC money and he -- the time was right for him to look at the scandals that we've had in Washington with the corporate lobbyists and the CIETC scandal here in Iowa. For a candidate like that to come forward and say, 'You know, what, I don't play that game. I'm not influenced by money' -- and that's what he did well across the state and in debates in talking about that. To me that was his best argument."
Yepsen: "Mike, is the reason he did so well that the Democratic left is so very angry just about everything and Fallon became sort of the vessel for that anger?"
Glover: "That's part of it. That's part of it. But one of the things that went into Ed Fallon's relatively strong showing, 26 percent of the vote, was Ed Fallon grew as a candidate throughout the course of that campaign. And that's one of the things that -- one of the great challenges we face is to measure a candidate who is going to grow into the job. As he was in the race for governor, Fallon grew. He got more thoughtful. He got more focused. He got more -- you get better as a candidate. And as a result, he was able to attract that Democratic left that's alienated and angry. He also was able to attract a group of disaffected Republicans who are unhappy with that sort of rightward drift of the Republican Party and looking for somebody to voice their message. He actually can be a key figure in this fall election because the voters who turned out for Ed Fallon are voters that have to show up if Chet Culver is to have a chance for winning this election in the fall. Ed Fallon will be a very important person for Chet Culver come the fall election. And it will be interesting to see how he fits into that whole campaign." [emphasis mine]
Henderson: "One other point about Ed Fallon. I think when he was on the dais with Culver and Blouin at his side in debate situations, he came off looking pretty good because he didn't have consultants who said, 'In answer to this question, you give this answer.' I mean he looked normal. He looked human. There was a question; he actually answered it. So I think he came off in those settings where people were measuring the candidates against one another, I think he came off rather well."
Dorman: "There's a hunger among voters for candidates that seem genuine, and he fit that bill. Like Kay said, a lot of times the other candidates would look, you know, preprogrammed, kind of robotic. And he didn't look that way. He looked like he was answering questions honestly, and I think that built a lot of appeal to him."
And yes, I do read the JCR blog. They pointed me to this article about a new, scary group in Iowa. This is the group that dumped three Republican incumbents this spring. Beware! You may be able to fight them off with facts from Nussle and Flow. It's hard for a pimp out there, aint it, Jimmy?
District 1
Alta Price says:
I found this at DailyKos. It is long, but well worth reading, especially with the upcoming elections. The diarist discusses tactics used by the Republicans, and why the Democrats have trouble countering them. Running against Bush is not enough. Just this discussion is worth the read.
I really like the discussion on Republican "ideology". The basic idea is the conservatives have spent 40 years and millions (billions?) of dollars promoting their ideology of "government is bad" and we need "less government". This is nonsense, of course, but is accepted unthinkingly by the people. We need our own ideology to counter their ideology (the diarist also explains what an ideology is, and why we want to be ideologues!) http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/6/28/22312/3713
If you click on the links towards the end, you get more information about the ideology this diarist suggests, which is "cheap labor conservatives", as opposed to "big government liberals". I think it is pretty good, actually.
Alta also recommends the July Linkup and Drinking Liberally in the QCA. You can email her at altaprice@yahoo.com
District 2
Dave Loebsack keeps working the phones. Two more major fundraisers were announced for this week: one with John Edwards (July 7, Cedar Rapids), and one with Evan Bayh (July 8, Iowa City).
Speaking of events this week, the Draft Gore in 08 movement (email me for my take on how this could turn into a victory ala Nixon in 1968) is hitting its stride. Martha Smithback writes:
Draft Gore 2008.org will have its national kickoff event in Iowa City July 1st. The theme is "If we build it, He will run!" Everyone is invited to this family friendly BYO picnic event at City Park From 3:00 p.m. - dark.
Covered sites (#2 & #3 on map here) have been reserved. They're next to the pool, so bring your suit. Plan to attend and help to plan! Go to DG08 to offer suggestions or order a picnic basket (includes: ticket to AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, T-shirt, and supper for $30.) The park is about a half mile from the theater.
And if your looking to help the state party, you can canvass for the IDP!
The Iowa Democratic Party is accepting applications for the position of Canvasser in Iowa City. The Canvasser job description includes the following staff functions and is a temporary full-time position from June 1 – August 18.
Contacting registered voters by canvassing door-to-door in assigned regions of Iowa
Making phone calls to registered voters
Recruiting volunteers in assigned counties
Assisting in campaign activities as assigned
Application Requirements
Strong verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills required
Computer skills required
Extensive travel within Iowa is required
U.S. citizenship desirable
Active voting status desirable
Reliable transportation required
The Iowa Democratic Party is committed to diversity among its staff, and recognizes that its continued success requires the highest commitment to obtaining and retaining a diverse staff that provides the best quality services to supporters and constituents. The Iowa Democratic Party is an equal opportunity employer.
For more information or to apply contact the Iowa Democratic Party at (319) 337-2405 and ask for Chris Bowen, Regional Field Director.
District 3
Christina Butts sent me a link to the funniest Bumper Sticker I've ever seen. Meanwhile, Mr. Lamberti, if you need 6 debates to explain on federal issues, you should probably stay away from government.
District 5
http://www.kingwatch.org/
This explains itself. I also updated our blog links on the right side of the page. Check those out also.
Thursday, June 29
Scientists OK Gore's Move for Accuracy
by
Caroline Vernon
on Thu 29 Jun 2006 03:57 PM CDT
 Scientists OK Gore's movie for accuracy
By SETH BORENSTEIN, AP Science Writer
I'm sure many of you may have seen, Al Gore was on the Daily Show last night. When Jon Stewart asked him if he plans to run for President again, Gore said, "No way, this time I'm running a campaign for a cause." Right on Al!
Gore's movie, An Inconvenient Truth, is opening in theaters across Iowa this Saturday, July 1st. Progressive Action for the Common Good is organizing a group showing of the movie at the Great Escape 14 in Moline, located at 4100 38th St (just off John Deere Rd). We will be attending the 5:05pm showing (last matinee) but will be gathering in front of the theater at 4:45pm. If you live in the QC, please join us! Wear a blue shirt for solidarity and easy indentification; I will be holding a Progressive Action sign. After the movie, we will be gathering at Panera Bread for coffee and conversation.
Hope to see many of you there!
Caroline Vernon
Scientists OK Gore's movie for accuracy
By SETH BORENSTEIN, AP Science Writer
WASHINGTON - The nation's top climate scientists are giving "An
Inconvenient Truth," Al Gore's documentary on global warming, five
stars for accuracy.
The former vice president's movie — replete with the prospect of a
flooded New York City, an inundated Florida, more and nastier
hurricanes, worsening droughts, retreating glaciers and disappearing
ice sheets — mostly got the science right, said all 19 climate
scientists who had seen the movie or read the book and answered
questions from The Associated Press.
The AP contacted more than 100 top climate researchers by e-mail and
phone for their opinion. Among those contacted were vocal skeptics
of climate change theory. Most scientists had not seen the movie,
which is in limited release, or read the book.
But those who have seen it had the same general impression: Gore
conveyed the science correctly; the world is getting hotter and it
is a manmade catastrophe-in-the-making caused by the burning of
fossil fuels.
"Excellent," said William Schlesinger, dean of the Nicholas School
of Environment and Earth Sciences at Duke University. "He got all
the important material and got it right."
Robert Corell, chairman of the worldwide Arctic Climate Impact
Assessment group of scientists, read the book and saw Gore give the
slideshow presentation that is woven throughout the documentary.
"I sat there and I'm amazed at how thorough and accurate," Corell
said. "After the presentation I said, `Al, I'm absolutely blown
away. There's a lot of details you could get wrong.' ... I could
find no error."
Gore, in an interview with the AP, said he wasn't surprised "because
I took a lot of care to try to make sure the science was right."
The tiny errors scientists found weren't a big deal, "far, far fewer
and less significant than the shortcoming in speeches by the typical
politician explaining an issue," said Michael MacCracken, who used
to be in charge of the nation's global warming effects program and
is now chief scientist at the Climate Institute in Washington.
One concern was about the connection between hurricanes and global
warming. That is a subject of a heated debate in the science
community. Gore cited five recent scientific studies to support his
view.
"I thought the use of imagery from Hurricane Katrina was
inappropriate and unnecessary in this regard, as there are plenty of
disturbing impacts associated with global warming for which there is
much greater scientific consensus," said Brian Soden, a University
of Miami professor of meteorology and oceanography.
Some scientists said Gore confused his ice sheets when he said the
effect of the Clean Air Act is noticeable in the Antarctic ice core;
it is the Greenland ice core. Others thought Gore oversimplified the
causal-link between the key greenhouse gas carbon dioxide and rising
temperatures.
While some nonscientists could be depressed by the dire disaster-
laden warmer world scenario that Gore laid out, one top researcher
thought it was too optimistic. Tom Wigley, senior scientist at the
National Center for Atmospheric Research, thought the former vice
president sugarcoated the problem by saying that with already-
available technologies and changes in habit — such as changing light
bulbs — the world could help slow or stop global warming.
While more than 1 million people have seen the movie since it opened
in May, that does not include Washington's top science decision
makers. President Bush said he won't see it. The heads of the
Environmental Protection Agency and NASA haven't seen it, and the
president's science adviser said the movie is on his to-see list.
"They are quite literally afraid to know the truth," Gore
said. "Because if you accept the truth of what the scientific
community is saying, it gives you a moral imperative to start to
rein in the 70 million tons of global warming pollution that human
civilization is putting into the atmosphere every day."
As far as the movie's entertainment value, Scripps Institution
geosciences professor Jeff Severinghaus summed it up: "My wife fell
asleep. Of course, I was on the edge of my chair."
___
On the Net: http://www.climatecrisis.net
The Carnival Mobile is Coming to Iowa!
by
Sam Garchik
on Thu 29 Jun 2006 11:05 AM CDT
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The Carnival Mobile is Coming to Iowa!
By Iowans for Sensible Priorities |
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Come Join the Carnival - Priorities Style!
Join fellow Iowans for Sensible Priorities members in welcoming the CarnyMobile to Iowa. The CarnyMobile, designed by Ben from Ben and Jerry's shows where you tax dollars go in a fun and interactive form by using carnival games.
It's just in time for some serious summer fun! The CarnyMobile has two games that you will not want to miss! The HiStriker is the classic "test your strength" booth where you can slam the mallet down to ring the bell. The wheel of fortune, allows players to bet on where the wheel will stop, only our version the wheel portrays the federal budget -- which means the odds of it stopping on education or health care is very small.
From August 1st to October 31st, learn about the Sensible Priorities campaign, receive free Priorities! Pens, and of course enjoy the fun of carnival games. |
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Want the Carnival Mobile
in Your Town?
E-mail Jessica or (515)244-1207 |
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You Tell Us Where You Want It... We'll Bring It! |
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The CarnyMobile is available for presentations with groups, festivals,concerts, community events... the possibilities are endless.
If you know people who want, or should see the CarnyMobile, let us know and we'll bring it! Of course, all games are free to play and everyone wins a prize!
Currently scheduling tour dates: August 1st through October 31st.
To book the CarnyMobile contact Jessica at (515) 244-1207 or email
Yours in summer fun!
Jessica Maass, Field Organizer |
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We look forward to seeing you on
our trip around Iowa! |
| Iowans for Sensible Priorities - In the News |
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Iowans For Sensible Priorities is a 501(c)3 organization in Iowa dedicated to educating the public about the inequities of our current federal budget. We aim to redirect 15% of the Pentagon’s discretionary budget towards education, health care, job training, starting to repay the national debt, and foreign aid. This 15% cut, or $60 billion dollars, on obsolete Cold War era weapons systems and the further proliferation of nuclear weapons in no way impacts homeland security or our defense. We have the money; let’s spend it on sensible priorities!
Iowans for Sensible Priorities
www.sensibleiowans.org
1620 Pleasant Street #218
Des Moines, Iowa 50314
(515) 244-1207
infoisp@sensibleiowans.org
Wednesday, June 28
Congratulations On Not Being Indicted
by
Sam Garchik
on Wed 28 Jun 2006 07:57 AM CDT
Congratulations On Not Being Indicted
Dave Leshtz sent me this story on the Presiden'ts visit to Iowa.
Rove's Iowa visit generates protests, praise
Dean Treftz - The Daily Iowan
A top White House aide visited Iowa on Monday, leaving praise and protest in his wake.
Karl Rove, the deputy chief of staff in the White House and a master strategist for the Republican Party, spoke at fundraisers for two Republicans running for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Rove spoke at a private fundraising lunch for the Mike Whalen campaign at Sunnyside Country Club in Waterloo. At nearby Sulentic Park, 51 protesters gathered to oppose current White House policies.
"Rove uses fear and hatred as distracting tools, so [the Bush administration] can get away with its own agenda, ignoring what people really need," said Chris Schwartz, the president of the group Cedar Valley United for Peace and Justice and an organizer for Working Families Win, two groups organizing the protest.
The demonstrators lugged signs decrying Rove's position on minimum wage and health care; one declared, "Rove plays fiddle as working families burn."
The White House official has aroused national controversy since serving as an integral part of President Bush's campaign in 2000. Widely considered the master strategist behind strong Republican showings in elections this decade, Rove has won the approval of conservatives and provoked the ire of liberals.
Most recently, he was the subject of an investigation into the leak of then-undercover CIA agent Valerie Plame's identity in 2003. Plame's status was exposed after her husband, former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, wrote an op-ed piece undercutting the White House's justification for the war in Iraq. Earlier this month, special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald informed Rove he would not be indicted.
After the Waterloo fundraiser, Rove moved on to a private reception at a West Des Moines residence, raising money for state Sen. Jeff Lamberti's congressional campaign.
The Polk County Democrats congregated near the house where Rove's reception was held, carrying an 8-foot sign stating, "Dear Karl Rove, congratulations on not being indicted."
"He missed indictment by an eyelash," said Tom Henderson, the chairman of Polk County Democrats. He added that Rove represented "politics as usual."
"Mr. Lamberti used this opportunity to talk to Rove on issues that are important to Iowans," said Kevin Graney, Lamberti's campaign manager. Graney said the senator was pleased to meet with Rove - just one of a "laundry list" of politicians pledging their support, such as Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.
Graney said the protests did not come as a surprise. The Lamberti campaign was "just pleased to have such an influential person here," he said.
E-mail DI reporter Dean Treftz at:
dean-treftz@uiowa.edu
One Less Thing To Worry About, Courtesy of "Chuck" Grassley
by
Sam Garchik
on Wed 28 Jun 2006 07:49 AM CDT
One Less Thing To Worry About, Courtesy of "Chuck" Grassley
I don't know nearly as much as Chuck when it comes to many things, but I don't think he's found an answer to this one.
This article, widely published today and yesterday, reminds us that we should have put Art Small in office. Of course it's a good idea to punish people who kidnap little kids and sell them for sex, Charles, but I get the sense that the same people who do that are just about as likely to pay their taxes as the people who get busted for failing to pay their marijuana tax.
Oh, by the way. while he was doing this, he was also voting to restrict our freedom of speech by banning the flag burning.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006; Posted: 11:27 p.m. EDT (03:27 GMT)
The Senate Finance Committee is expected to vote Wednesday morning on the pimp tax. The bill also calls for more jail time for sex workers.
If passed, the provision will authorize at least $2 million toward the establishment of an office in the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation unit to prosecute unlawful sex workers for violations of tax laws.
"Recent headlines have focused on sex trafficking in connection with the World Cup in Germany," Grassley said. "This vile crime is under our noses in the United States, and it's a no-brainer to have the IRS go after sex traffickers. Prosecuting these tax code violations can get these guys off the street and yank from their grasp the girls and women they exploit."
Grassley said the problem is "especially horrible" when underage girls are involved.
Asked if taxing sex workers would legitimize their trade, a Grassley spokesman said the goal was simply to find "yet another alternative to track the money flowing in this industry to get at potential criminals."
Currently, the IRS has to prove a prostitute's or pimp's income to pursue a tax law violation. But under Grassley's proposal, a pimp could get up to 10 years in prison for each prostitute for whom the pimp hasn't filed a W-2, which means a pimp caught with 10 unregistered prostitutes faces a century in prison.
Carol Leigh, a representative of the Bay Area Sex Worker Advocacy Network in San Francisco, California, called the proposal short-sighted.
"Forced labor, kidnapping should be targeted. But this legislation broadly targets the sex trade in general, and could target your local strip club," Leigh said. "We want laws enforced against those who abuse us, against those who are violent, and enforcement of labor regulations. That is the only truly effective way to protect the welfare of the women who work in the industry."
CNN's Jonathan Schienberg contributed to this report.
Tuesday, June 27
Sup. Court Nixes Vermont Campaign Limits
by
Sam Garchik
on Tue 27 Jun 2006 07:57 AM CDT
 Sup. Court Nixes Vermont Campaign Limits
By Sam Garchik
Did campaign finance reform suffer a setback or a jump forward yesterday when the Supreme Court, in six seperate opinions, struck down a Vermont law that capped donations to gubernatorial candidates at $400?
A New York Times editorial claimed that the new court affirmed campaign regulation in striking down the cap on contributions. This editorial sees the court ruling as a victory for campaign finance reform because the court let the idea of limits stand, even if they disallowed the actual limits in Vermont because the court said, they hurt challengers and help incumbents.
Meanwhile, USA Today used this opportuniy to remind Americans that voters in 7 states offer candidates the option of public financed races. (Of course, ICCI has been working on that for several years.)
Also, this article sums up the interested sides of this debate (Was the ACLU really agaisnt campaign finance reform?), and discusses the law and the future of Vermont elections in detail.
Monday, June 26
Leach Votes to Cut Estate Tax
by
Sam Garchik
on Mon 26 Jun 2006 04:55 PM CDT
 Leach Votes to Cut Estate Tax
By Jason Friedman
"Well, it looks like the House leadership is putting the reins on Jim Leach these days, despite the fact that its election season when he likes to remind of us of his moderate credentials. Leach voted yesterday for the Bill Thomas plan to gut the estate tax. Long an opponent of full repeal of the estate tax, Leach gave the repealers most of what they want. The bill exempts almost all estates from tax, slashes the tax rates on the rest and will cost at least $760 billion during its first full decade.
Another $600 billion would be added to the deficit along with an additional $160 billion in the interest on that borrowing, to be paid backby future generations so today's wealthiest families can get another Republican tax break.
Dave brought the staff together to talk about the bill and the vote.
"After thirty years in Congress, Leach has apparently decided it is more important to give millionaires a big tax break than it is to balance the budget, more important to heap more debt on the backs of middle-income families than it is to assure that our critical needs are met," he told us.
Dave reminded us about Leach's deciding committee vote earlier this week against an amendment to force companies that seek government financing for exporting to pledge to hire American workers at "livable wages." He noted that the amendment which failed 33-34 would have passed if Leach truly represented the interests of the working people of Iowa's 2nd District.
As the meeting broke up, a volunteer that overheard part of the conversation asked, "So, what are Leach's priorities for middle-income Iowans?" We looked at each other in complete silence.
We'll keep looking.....
Jason Friedman, Communications Director
Loebsack for Congress
385 E. College Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
(319) 321-5884www.loebsackforcongress.org
Sunday, June 25
Culver on LGBT
by
Sam Garchik
on Sun 25 Jun 2006 06:11 AM CDT
Culver on LGBT
By Christina Butts, from Yahoo's Democracy for Iowa
Culver has been saying he doesn't want to look like he waffles and look weak in the face of the Nussle attack dogs on this subject. Culver can easily avoid 'flipflop' labeling on the LGBT same-sex marriage issue by publicly saying in a press release:
"I strongly support equality and civil rights legally across the board for all Iowans - minorities including the LGBT community - and believe in making sure same-sex couples and family rights are secure and protected in Iowa. But I will not retract my statements about civil unions or marriage. "
As someone tasked to try to politically organize through the IDP the LGBT community, my mission has become more difficult in getting the marginal and independant LGBT voter out to vote or interested in registering when looking at his history of public statements and refusal to publicly address his most recent anti-same sex couple statements.
Saying it's Nussle's(the devil) so vote for the Culver(deep blue sea) is not a positive nor affirming campaign message to promote or advocate to potential voters. What happened to his vaunted following in his dad's civil rights footsteps?
At least, the message for the need to win BOTH Iowa houses in the legislature to actually get PRO-LGBT legislation passed exists as a Positive talking point for swaying voters. There is also the fact, the IDP Platform overwhelmingly passed during the State Convention with the Civil Rights plank with LGBT equality and civil rights firmly stated within it, as one of the TOP THREE GOALS for the party to promote these next 2 years.
=================
Christina Butts - IDP Central Committee LGBT Caucus Secretary
Polk County Central Committee Pre. 57 rep - Affirmative Action Committee
IDP Platform Government and Law Subcommittee Co-Chair
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