I'M for Iowa Weekly Round-Up

By I'M for Iowa

I’m giving a talk this Thursday, March 8 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Student Center, 1150 28th Street in Des Moines.  It’s the annual Stringfellow Lecture, and the subject of my talk is “Politics as a Religious Vocation.”  I’m excited about it because, while I do a lot of public speaking, I don’t often get to discuss the confluence of faith and politics in my life.  It’s free and open to the public. Regardless of your own faith journey, regardless of whether or not you even have a faith journey, I’d be delighted to see you there.

While my faith is Christianity, I have profound respect for all true religions.  Over the years, the wisdom I have garnered from other faiths has helped me understand my own faith better.  Yet the gospel is, for me, a true inspiration.  Jesus is one of my political heroes.  Divinity aside, any guy who can take on a corrupt foreign power and a compliant domestic power while feeding the poor, healing the sick and preaching good news to the downtrodden – well, that’s somebody I’d like to meet.

LOCAL ACTION ON GLOBAL WARMING

April 14 will mark a national day of action to raise awareness about the threat of global warming.  Author Bill McKibben is spear-heading the effort.  Across the country, nearly 800 actions are being organized by local residents, including events in five Iowa cities:  Ames, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Keokuk and Marshalltown.  For more information, or to initiate an event in your town, see http://events.stepitup2007.org/.


EASTERN IOWA GRASSROOTS TRAINING

The national leadership of Democracy for America will hold a training academy in Cedar Rapids on March 24-25.  The focus is on fine-tuning skills relevant to working with presidential candidates and preparing for the Iowa caucuses.  Experienced campaign professionals will cover practical strategies and tactics including communications, fundraising, voter targeting, online organizing and building a sustainable grassroots movement.  For more information, contact http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=17104.


CENTRAL IOWA POLITICAL SOUP SUPPER

Join me Friday, March 9 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the home of Karla Hansen, 1621 NW 107th Street in Clive.  Karla writes, “You are not alone!  Other progressives are tired of feeling that their highest values – peace, justice, equality and the common good – are ignored by those elected to represent us.  If you feel it is important to put progressive values back into the mainstream of political debate, please join us for conversation and exploration.”  RSVP to Karla at (515) 440-3395 or karlahansen@hotmail.com.


BUSES TO D.C. CALL FOR AN END TO IRAQ WAR

Two buses will leave Des Moines for Washington, DC on Friday, March 16 for a national day of action marking four years since the start of the Iraq War, and calling for an end to the war.  There will be a send-off for the buses at 10:30 a.m. at the historic fire station at 1041 8th Street in Des Moines.  Contact Chet Guinn at (515) 282-8054.


VOICE PASSES HOUSE COMMITTEE!!
Thanks to all of you who took the time to call, write, e-mail and speak with your state legislators.  HSB 105 – the Voter-Owned Iowa Clean Elections bill – passed the House State Government Committee today with 14 votes.  Two weeks ago, we could only count nine “aye” votes, so this is an example where the grassroots really made a difference.  Be sure to thank representatives who supported the bill.  They are Jochum, Gaskill, Lensing, Whithead, Abdul-Samad, Jacoby, Wessel-Kroeschell, Quirk, Shomshor, Taylor (Todd), Pettengill, Wendt, Raecker and Kaufmann.  A similar bill will be up for a vote in the Senate State Government Committee on Thursday.

JOHN EDWARDS IN IOWA THIS WEEKEND

Friday, March 9 at 12:15 p.m.
Council Bluffs Senior Center
714 Main Street, Council Bluffs

Friday, March 9 at 5:15 p.m.
Sanford Community Center
1700 Geneva Street, Sioux City

Saturday, March 10 at 11:00 a.m.
UAW Local #997
1813 1st Street North, Newton

Saturday, March 10 at 2:00 p.m.
Indian Hills Community College
Advanced Technology Center, Ottumwa

Saturday, March 10 at 5:45 p.m.
Burlington Convention Hall
310 Jefferson Street, Burlington

Events are free and open to the public. Contact (515) 288-0766 or www.johnedwards.com/events.