Iowa

updated 4:46 a.m.

PoliTweeps

“No legislation taking away liberties passed by Congress in last 36 hours. Snow froze activity in DC. Our State Secy of Ag mtgs continue.” ~ Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey “In public hearing- testimony about not closing Clarinda, not moving empowerment. Room is overflowing.” ~ Iowa Rep.Renee Schulte, R-Cedar Rapids “I don’t think any of Iowa’s ...
Iowa Independent - Mon 8:46 p.m.

First criminal charges filed in film tax credit scandal

The Iowa Attorney General's Office filed the first criminal charges in connection with the film tax credit scandal today. Tom Wheeler, who stepped down in September as manager of the office, faces a charge of non-felonious misconduct in office. Wheeler, 41, is accused of failing to verify the eligibility of applicants for the state's film tax credit program. Also charged is Wendy Weiner Rung...
Bleeding Heartland - Mon 6:13 p.m. - 3 clicks 3 clicks

BLUE STATES: Iowa. C Culver (D) vs C Grassley (R)

This series advances with new blue states and new peoples votes for all diaries making it more interesting every day. New votes here has the same value than old votes and make some things change here. Before start with a new state, what should be Massachusetts, a new difficult state, I must update Iowa. New votes in the poll for the third democrat from Iowa makes C Culver governor must be cons...
DailyKos (Iowa) - Mon 5:45 p.m.

BLUE STATES: Iowa. C Culvert (D) vs C Grassley (R)

DailyKos (Iowa) - Mon 5:26 p.m.

A week to test the GOP’s commitment to bipartisanship

With unemployment tickling 10 percent (and likely to rise), Democrats in the U.S. Senate this week are hoping to push through a series of bills designed to encourage job creation. It’s as much a test of the Republicans’ commitment to bipartisanship as it is a gauge of the Democrats’ power to pass legislation in the [...]...
Iowa Independent - Mon 2:35 p.m.

PoliTweets

Iowa Independent - Mon 1:54 p.m. - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Good news for Iowa water quality (for once)

State legislators have allowed clean water "anti-degradation" rules to stand, a step toward filling a significant hole in Iowa's water quality regulations. A last-ditch effort by Republicans failed to win enough votes on the Iowa legislature's Administrative Rules Review Committee (ARRC) to set aside rules adopted by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. I've joked that the ARRC's unofficia...
Bleeding Heartland - Mon 1:54 p.m. - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Top Steve King staffer running for attorney general

Iowa Republicans let Attorney General Tom Miller run for re-election unopposed four years ago, but Brenna Findley confirmed today that she is stepping up to the plate for the GOP this year : Raised on a farm near Dexter in southwest Dallas County, Findley, 33, attended Drake University in Des Moines and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History and minor in Russian with...
Bleeding Heartland - Mon 12:28 p.m. - 4 clicks 4 clicks

GOP lawmakers want to exclude gay students from anti-bullying bill

A pair of Republican state legislators has introduced a bill that would remove protections for gay, lesbian and transgender students from an anti-bullying law passed in 2007. State Reps. Jason Schultz, R-Schleswig, and Matt Windschitl, R-Missouri Valley, sponsored the legislation to remove sexual orientation and gender identity as definitions used for purposes of protecting students in [...]...
Iowa Independent - Mon 11:26 a.m.

Lunchtime Links

It’s funnel week for the Iowa legislature. Roxanne Conlin becoming darling of the netroots. Federal appeals court upholds Romona Cunningham’s sentence regarding CIETC scandal. Nate Silver: Sarah Palin needs help. Chuck Grassley needs a lesson in intellectual honesty. City of Des Moines plans nearly $10 million in budget cuts. ...
Iowa Independent - Mon 11:08 a.m. - 3 clicks 3 clicks

GOP congressional hopefuls brandish conservative credentials

CEDAR RAPIDS -- The three candidates vying to be the GOP's nominee to face U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack, D-Mount Vernon, in November made it clear that they all believe government would be best served if it would simply get out of the way of its citizens....
Iowa Independent - Mon 11:08 a.m. - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Curbing the Rhetoric?

It seems that as never before, at least since the Civil War, has this country been so ideologically divided. The fractures appear to be between what are known as liberal/conservative labels, but in truth, there are several dozen cracks–small groups who have their own personal issues. Some are interested in health care reform, others in gay [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Mon 11:08 a.m.

Time for Recess appointments

Harry Reid is ready to hit the reset button and recess the Senate to allow President Obama to make recess appointments. ...
DailyKos (Iowa) - Mon 9:22 a.m. - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Committee vote on prevailing wage scheduled for Monday afternoon

Lawmakers are set to discuss controversial legislation that would set minimum pay and benefit standards for workers of some public projects Monday afternoon. House Study Bill 699, better known as prevailing wage, is scheduled to go before an Iowa House subcommittee at noon and then the full Labor Committee at 3:30 p.m. The bill is similar [...]...
Iowa Independent - Mon 8:22 a.m. - 4 clicks 4 clicks

New Iowa poll: Gay marriage not worth legislature's time

More than 60 percent of Iowans think gay marriage "does not deserve the Legislature's limited time" this session, according to the latest poll conducted by Selzer and Associates for the Des Moines Register . ...
DailyKos (Iowa) - Mon 8:22 a.m. - 4 clicks 4 clicks

New poll: Iowans think gay marriage not worth legislature's time

More than 60 percent of Iowans think gay marriage "does not deserve the Legislature's limited time" this session, according to the latest poll conducted by Selzer and Associates for the Des Moines Register . The poll surveyed 805 Iowa adults from January 31 to Feburary 3, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent. The question named six issues on which legislation has been introduced d...
Bleeding Heartland - Mon 8:22 a.m. - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Iowa Poll: 62 percent say gay marriage shouldn’t be an issue this year

More than 60 percent of Iowans surveyed in the latest Des Moines Register Iowa Poll say lawmakers have more important things to worry about than same-sex marriage. The poll, with a margin of error of 3.5 percent, found Iowans are more interested in a ban on text messaging while driving than on overturning the Iowa Supreme [...]...
Iowa Independent - Mon 7:01 a.m. - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Tea Party convention marks coming out for a movement

The paranoid, mysterious Judson Phillips in the weeks leading up to the National Tea Party Convention gave way to the real, jovial Phillips this weekend....
Iowa Independent - Mon 6:25 a.m.

Poll shows strength of tea party in Iowa

The Des Moines Register released its latest Iowa Poll Sunday, and though it clearly shows the growing influence of the tea party movement in the Hawkeye State, it is still unclear what sort of impact it will have in 2010. Thirty-three percent of those polled said they consider themselves “a supporter of the tea party movement,” [...]...
Iowa Independent - Mon 3:01 a.m. - 4 clicks 4 clicks

How We're Going to Fight Shelby's Hold

We will no longer tolerate business as usual in Washington. So, when I read this HuffPo article about Senator Shelby holding 70 important presidential nominations for ransom , because he wants sweetheart deals for a foreign airplane manufacturer that's given him more than $100,000 in political donations. I just couldn’t believe it. Are you kidding me?!?! Jed Lewison is right. Th...
DailyKos (Iowa) - Sun 10:23 a.m.

Progressive Democrat Issue 245

I've been hammering at Bank of America and other big banks for their predatory lending and awful customer service. Seems I'm not the only one: Italy Seizes Bank of America Assets - Fraud Is Finally Catching Up With Wall St./Bankers From what I can tell, the bank near me that has done the best is TD Bank. I am switching to TD and so far I am happy. They avoided predatory lending (probably bec...
DailyKos (Iowa) - Sun 9:24 a.m. - 18 clicks 18 clicks

IA-Sen: Conlin organizing against Shelby's "political extortion"

Whether you call it hostage-taking or shark-jumping , we can all agree that Republican Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama is abusing Senate conventions. He has put a blanket hold on all Obama administration nominees until his state gets more than $40 billion in federal money . Roxanne Conlin, one of three Iowa Democrats running against five-term incumbent Chuck Grassley, may be the first Demo...
Bleeding Heartland - Sat 5:22 p.m. - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Evolution Evolving

A few days ago, I had a surprise. A high school classmate who had “unfriended” me on Facebook, suddenly messaged me. In fact she sent two messages. The material she was so desperate for me to see, after a sentence of  so-called pleasantries, (hope you are having a joyous winter?) was a long and tedious [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Sat 11:03 a.m.

Weekend open thread with events coming up this week

The coming week will be busy at the state capitol, because February 12 is the first "funnel" date. All bills excluding appropriations bills that have not been approved by at least one committee by February 12 will be dead for the 2010 session, unless something extraordinary happens. Also, Iowa House Republicans are expected to try to suspend the rules this week to force consideration of a consti...
Bleeding Heartland - Sat 9:05 a.m. - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Reflecting on sixth-grade hopes and dreams

A few weeks ago, a long-lost elementary school classmate scanned our entire sixth-grade yearbook from May 1981 and posted the contents on Facebook. In addition to the usual goofy photos, we all contributed brief notes for our "20th reunion," describing our lives as we imagined they would be in 2001. The reunion notes were good for a lot of laughs. Then, like the geek I always have been, I deci...
DailyKos (Iowa) - Sat 6:20 a.m.

Candidate forum could become Tea Party, GOP showdown

The growing rift within the Republican Party of Iowa could take centerstage next Friday, as two Republicans vying for the Iowa House District 8 seat will face off for the first time. Tom Shaw, a former chair of the Pocahontas County Republican Party, announced last year he was leaving the party to run as an independent, [...]...
Iowa Independent - Fri 3:47 p.m. - 8 clicks 8 clicks

Don't believe everything Republicans tell you about Boswell retiring

The top story at The Iowa Republican blog today suggests that seven-term Representative Leonard Boswell may be retiring. The so-called evidence is a poll in the field in Iowa's third Congressional district: The poll asked how likely they were to vote, whether or not the respondent was Republican or Democrat, and how they would rate the performance of President of Obama and Congressman Boswell....
Bleeding Heartland - Fri 12:09 p.m. - 2 clicks 2 clicks

VIDEO: Vander Plaats says states need to re-establish their sovereignty

Iowa Independent - Fri 11:09 a.m. - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Loyal Opposition or A Convenient Excuse?

It is common for the religious right to complain that the left demonizes their “legitimately” held religious views on homosexuality. And I grant, that there is some efficacy to their argument. After all, one can be supportive of gay rights from an economic sense, and from a personal sense, and still believe that they must [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Fri 10:02 a.m.

Lunchtime Links

Iowa Independent - Fri 9:42 a.m. - 12 clicks 12 clicks

Don't believe everything Republicans tell you about spending cuts

Yesterday the Iowa House State Government Committee voted down a Republican plan to cut state spending by $290 million in the coming year. State Representative and gubernatorial candidate Chris Rants offered the plan as an amendment to the government reorganization bill. He said his party was trying to "work in a bipartisan way" and make "tough decisions" to balance the budget for the coming...
Bleeding Heartland - Fri 9:42 a.m. - 9 clicks 9 clicks

King, Iowans for Tax Relief team up for robocall

Iowa Independent - Fri 8:41 a.m. - 8 clicks 8 clicks

VIDEO: Veterans group attacks Grassley on cap and trade

Iowa Independent - Fri 7:43 a.m. - 8 clicks 8 clicks

King on job creation: Crack down on illegal immigrants

Iowa Independent - Fri 6:29 a.m. - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Don't believe everything Republicans tell you about I-JOBS

Iowa Republicans have been throwing around misleading talking points about the I-JOBS program since the Iowa legislature approved the infrastructure bonding initiative last spring . I'm still waiting for Republicans to address some basic questions, like where would they have found $45 million for flood recovery efforts in Linn County without I-JOBS? What was their plan for repairing ten flood-d...
Bleeding Heartland - Fri 6:26 a.m. - 9 clicks 9 clicks

Religious education at statehouse an example of what the public doesn't know

Iowa Independent - Thu 10:01 p.m. - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Not Enough Canvass To Cover the Circus

Last night's gathering of interested folks at the Old Capitol Center to participate in the Project on Public Rhetoric Inquiry turned to be more inquisition than inquiry. The topic of discussion “Words Matter: On-line Postings in the Iowa City Press-Citizen” was the first of three seminars in the “Media, Space and Race” Public Rhetoric Seminar series. Three panelists and the public were to austen...
Popular Progressive - Thu 3:36 p.m. - 5 clicks 5 clicks

Recent Chet Culver news roundup (updated)

The Des Moines Register dinged Governor Chet Culver recently for not scheduling as many press conferences and public appearances as Terry Branstad and Tom Vilsack did as governor, but Culver's been active around the state since he submitted his draft budget to the legislature last week. Lots of links are after the jump, along with an update on Jonathan Narcisse, who supported Culver in 200...
Bleeding Heartland - Thu 3:05 p.m. - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Blue Dogs central to coming jobs debate

Iowa Independent - Thu 1:41 p.m. - 3 clicks 3 clicks

EXCLUSIVE: State lawmakers draft bill to end access to abortion, birth control

Iowa Independent - Thu 12:32 p.m. - 6 clicks 6 clicks

Report: 1.2 million Americans set to lose unemployment benefits in March

Iowa Independent - Thu 12:06 p.m. - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Vander Plaats draws sharp contrast with chief rival

Iowa Independent - Thu 10:49 a.m. - 3 clicks 3 clicks

UPDATE: One Iowa expects marriage ban push to start Monday

Iowa Independent - Thu 10:24 a.m. - 5 clicks 5 clicks

Lunchtime Links

Iowa Independent - Thu 9:44 a.m. - 4 clicks 4 clicks

More Biblical Thoughts

I’ve said it many times before; the more deeply I probe the bible for understanding, the more I stand in awe of it. Fundamentalists may protest that all this unpacking will destroy faith, but I find it the opposite. It remains, and is, all the more clearly a human document, but as I’ve been wont to say [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Thu 9:44 a.m. - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Good news keeps coming for organized labor

Iowa Independent - Thu 8:08 a.m. - 8 clicks 8 clicks

One Iowa warns of new push to ban gay marriage

Iowa Independent - Thu 7:44 a.m. - 5 clicks 5 clicks

IA-03: GOP primary developments

Seven-term Representative Leonard Boswell is only the 64th most vulnerable Democrat in the House of Representatives , according to Crisitunity's "vulnerability index" at Swing State Project, but Iowa Republicans still like their chances against him. Five candidates have already entered the GOP primary, and two others I've never heard of were reportedly collecting signatures on nominating petitio...
DailyKos (Iowa) - Thu 7:26 a.m. - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Boswell still not among most vulnerable House incumbents

Seven-term Representative Leonard Boswell is the 64th most vulnerable Democrat in the House of Representatives , according to new analysis by Crisitunity at Swing State Project. Crisitunity's "vulnerability index" takes into account both the partisan voting index of each member's district (based on presidential election results) and the House incumbent's performance in the previous election. Re...
Bleeding Heartland - Thu 4:22 a.m. - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Immigrants seek education, citizenship with proposed bill

Iowa Independent - Wed 10:02 p.m. - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Progressive Democrat Issue 244

Little late this week getting the newsletter to Daily Kos. Some parts might be outdated, but most is up to date. I also want to draw attention to a fellow Culture Kitchen blogger, Leo Igwe, whose attempts to further reason and oppose fundamentalism in Nigeria have gotten him beaten up by a mob and harassed by cops. Here are his two most recent articles regarding Nigeria: Humanism and the Ques...
DailyKos (Iowa) - Wed 6:31 p.m. - 10 clicks 10 clicks

Sarah Palin money? Yes, please

Iowa Independent - Wed 12:06 p.m. - 9 clicks 9 clicks

Internal poll shows Zaun leading GOP primary in IA-03

A helpful Bleeding Heartland reader sent me a copy of a memo from Brian Dumas of Victory Enterprises to State Senator Brad Zaun's campaign for Congress. The memo describes a poll conducted on January 27 and 28 of 400 Republicans in Iowa's third Congressional district who are likely to vote in the June primary. The poll shows 60 percent of respondents were undecided about whom to support in the pr...
Bleeding Heartland - Wed 11:27 a.m. - 9 clicks 9 clicks

Lunchtime Links

Iowa Independent - Wed 10:04 a.m. - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Groundwater testing begins at coal ash dump used by universities

Iowa Independent - Wed 10:04 a.m. - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Grassley: 'AIG has taxpayers over a barrel'

Iowa Independent - Wed 8:20 a.m. - 12 clicks 12 clicks

A bicameral call for a constitutional amendment to nullify Citizens United

Iowa Independent - Wed 6:40 a.m.

Iowa political fundraising roundup

Financial reports for the end of 2009 were due with the Federal Election Commission on January 31. Here are some highlights. The Iowa Democratic Party announced yesterday that it raised about $2.47 million across all accounts in 2009, while the Republican Party of Iowa raised $1.46 million. IDP chair Michael Kiernan said the party had met its goal of securing "the resources needed to win this Nov...
Bleeding Heartland - Wed 6:40 a.m. - 6 clicks 6 clicks

Narcisse forms committee to explore independent run for governor

Iowa Independent - Wed 3:03 a.m. - 5 clicks 5 clicks

Bill supporting military families stirs up partisan differences

Iowa Independent - Tue 10:07 p.m. - 5 clicks 5 clicks

Abortion activist praises Tiller murderer for his 'faithfulness and brave actions'

Iowa Independent - Tue 2:08 p.m.

Braley gets a new Republican challenger

Last week attorney Ben Lange of Independence told Ed Tibbetts of the Quad-City Times that he will run against two-term incumbent Bruce Braley in Iowa's first Congressional district. According to Tibbetts, Lange will make a formal announcement next month and was collecting signatures for his nominating petitions at the January 23 Republican caucuses. Before returning to Iowa to raise a family, La...
Bleeding Heartland - Tue 1:27 p.m. - 7 clicks 7 clicks

Beef processor wants Iowa State to keep ammonia research documents hush-hush

Iowa Independent - Tue 12:45 p.m. - 11 clicks 11 clicks

Panel will study how to end Don't Ask, Don't Tell

During his State of the Union speech last week, President Barack Obama promised, "This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are." Today the Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing today on the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of t...
Bleeding Heartland - Tue 12:08 p.m. - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Poll: Many Republicans believe Obama is racist socialist who was elected by ACORN

Iowa Independent - Tue 11:26 a.m. - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Sac Bee: SCOTUS ruling will benefit Greiner, American Future Fund

Iowa Independent - Tue 11:26 a.m. - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Psychiatric drug changes pass state Senate

Iowa Independent - Tue 10:29 a.m. - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Lunchtime Links

Iowa Independent - Tue 9:43 a.m. - 6 clicks 6 clicks

Looking at the Bible Anew

For anyone who has come face to face with the clear evidence that factually the Bible contains many historical errors, a crisis of sorts must ensue. If one believes, as I do, that there is inherent worth in the book itself as a dispenser of spiritual food, then one must reach some conclusion as to what [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Tue 9:43 a.m. - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Iowa Senate approves government reorganization bill

Last night the Iowa Senate passed Senate File 2088, which would reorganize state government , after four hours of debate. All 32 Democrats in the chamber voted for the bill, along with three Republicans: Shawn Hamerlinck, Larry Noble and Pat Ward. Click here for the full text of the bill. According to analysis by the Legislative Services Agency, Senate File 2088 would reduce state spending f...
Bleeding Heartland - Tue 8:29 a.m. - 7 clicks 7 clicks

Speculation begins on Bush 2012 aspirations

Iowa Independent - Tue 8:04 a.m. - 3 clicks 3 clicks

GOP gay marriage focus continues

Iowa Independent - Tue 7:01 a.m. - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Romney PAC has highest burn rate, but leads Palin and Pawlenty in cash

Iowa Independent - Feb 2 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Payday lenders use loopholes to continue high-interest loans

Iowa Independent - Feb 1 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Iowa US Senate candidate holds fundraiser in Maui

DailyKos (Iowa) - Feb 1

Huckabee returning to Iowa to stump for Vander Plaats

Iowa Independent - Feb 1 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Iowa GOP leader criticizes 'pillow biters' for protesting in Britain

Iowa Independent - Feb 1 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Political Points in Peyton Prospective

It’s been a good two weeks of political this and that. Time for everything to marinate, blend, shake out, and the subtle themes and nuances to shake out. In other words. . . .time for a retrospective, Peyton style, of the news. We are after all, a hurry up, short attention span sort of species. I [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Feb 1 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Lunchtime Links

Iowa Independent - Feb 1 - 5 clicks 5 clicks

Terry Branstad's family values

Anyone following the Iowa governor's race must read Todd Dorman's recent interview with Republican front-runner Terry Branstad . The Branstad so many Iowans remember from his four terms as governor shines through. Branstad is at his most incoherent when speaking about gay marriage, but his answer to an open-ended question about the state budget was also revealing. The whole interview is worth y...
Bleeding Heartland - Feb 1 - 8 clicks 8 clicks

Branstad, Vander Plaats rivalry erupts in blogosphere

Iowa Independent - Feb 1 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

State governement reorganization scheduled for debate in Senate

Iowa Independent - Feb 1 - 8 clicks 8 clicks

Questions linger about full payments to Goldman Sachs

Iowa Independent - Feb 1 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Catch-up thread on Culver's budget blueprint

Governor Chet Culver submitted his draft budget to the Iowa legislature last Wednesday, but with the State of the Union and other news of the day, I didn't have time to write up the story. The complete budget document can be downloaded at the governor's official website , and you can view Culver's press conference on the budget here . For more links, reactions and commentaries, follow me aft...
Bleeding Heartland - Feb 1 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Communication, Networking, and Progressivism

Thanks to our social-networking site and all the organizing done by our volunteers on the ground... [We] felt like we had a meaningful organization advantage... -The Audacity to Win, pg. 167, David Plouffe ...
DailyKos (Iowa) - Jan 31

Republican National Committee rejects "purity test"

The Republican National Committee won't be imposing the "purity test" proposed by committeeman James Bopp of Indiana . During last week's meetings in Honolulu, a group of state GOP chairs unanimously voted against requiring Republican candidates to agree with at least eight out of ten conservative policy stands in order to receive RNC support during the 2010 campaign. Bopp withdrew his mot...
Bleeding Heartland - Jan 31 - 12 clicks 12 clicks

RAGBRAI route to go through northern Iowa, July 25-31

The Des Moines Register threw a sold-out party Saturday night to announce the route for the 2010 Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa. The 38th RAGBRAI will go through northern Iowa, beginning in Sioux City on the Missouri River and ending in Dubuque on the Mississippi. The other overnight stays will be in the towns of Storm Lake (Buena Vista County), Algona (Kossuth County), Clear Lake (...
Bleeding Heartland - Jan 30 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Weekend open thread and events coming up during the next ten days

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 30 - 9 clicks 9 clicks

Enough Already!

I wish it were only caffeine. Here in the meadow, we are used to a certain adversity that is just part and parcel (whatever that quaint phrase means) of living in rurality. I mean it’s not like McDonald’s is a block away; in fact, the nearest one is closer to ten miles away. So it should [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Jan 30 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Two Democrats have stepped up to challenge Steve King

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 30 - 11 clicks 11 clicks

NRSC takes swipe at Conlin

Iowa Independent - Jan 29 - 9 clicks 9 clicks

Branstad speaks out on gay marriage, confrontational right

Iowa Independent - Jan 29 - 5 clicks 5 clicks

Rasmussen finds Senate race is Grassley's to lose

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 29 - 7 clicks 7 clicks

Roeder convicted of first-degree murder

Iowa Independent - Jan 29 - 5 clicks 5 clicks

Jury convicts killer of late-term abortion provider

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 29 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Psychiatric drug policy shift stemmed from governor's report

Iowa Independent - Jan 29 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Lunchtime Links

Iowa Independent - Jan 29

Zaun goes up on tv and other news from the third district race

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 29 - 5 clicks 5 clicks

Offenburger: Branstad campaign stunting growth of Iowa GOP

Iowa Independent - Jan 29 - 5 clicks 5 clicks

Future of Hawkeye Energy ethanol plants still unknown

Iowa Independent - Jan 29 - 7 clicks 7 clicks

Conservatives see long-term 'gift' in Obama spending freeze

Iowa Independent - Jan 29 - 6 clicks 6 clicks

Roberts speaks to local Tea Partiers, goes after Branstad

Iowa Independent - Jan 29 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Fed chairman Bernanke confirmed for second term

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 28 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

A scorecard on federal spending

Iowa Independent - Jan 28 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Rasmussen poll has Grassley with big lead in 2010 race

Iowa Independent - Jan 28 - 6 clicks 6 clicks

Republicans will play catch-up in Iowa House district 74

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 28 - 8 clicks 8 clicks

Labor reforms still needed, says Harkin

Iowa Independent - Jan 28 - 6 clicks 6 clicks

Lunchtime Links

Iowa Independent - Jan 28 - 6 clicks 6 clicks

Feds give no money for passenger rail to Iowa City

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 28 - 9 clicks 9 clicks

Salier: 'It's Branstad's race to win'

Iowa Independent - Jan 28 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Braley outlines Populist Caucus "Blueprint for Recovery"

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 28 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Federal deductibility back on the table

Iowa Independent - Jan 28 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

The new 'taint of incumbency'

Iowa Independent - Jan 28

State of the Union thread (updated)

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 27 - 9 clicks 9 clicks

King, Bachmann launch 'Declaration of Health Care Independence'

Iowa Independent - Jan 27 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

King on O'Keefe arrest: 'It seems really convenient that this would happen now'

Iowa Independent - Jan 27 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Secretary of Agriculture Grassley?

Iowa Independent - Jan 27 - 5 clicks 5 clicks

IA-Sen: Roxanne Conlin releases fundraising numbers

DailyKos (Iowa) - Jan 27 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Roxanne Conlin releases fundraising numbers

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 27 - 10 clicks 10 clicks

What Do We Need?

It should come as no surprise during this economic downturn, that a good number of politicians are touting their business acumen as a reason to elect them to office. Certainly Mitt Romney tried this tack during the last presidential election cycle. The last CEO of the WWF, Linda McMahon, is purportedly interested in running for the [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Jan 27 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Grassley: No on Bernanke

Iowa Independent - Jan 27 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Savings don't justify changing state's psychiatric drug policy, advocates say

Iowa Independent - Jan 27 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Grassley to vote no on Bernanke

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 27

Lunchtime Links

Iowa Independent - Jan 27 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

King, Bachmann plan to 'foment revolution,' attack health care reform

Iowa Independent - Jan 27 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

GOP straw polls show two-man gubernatorial race

Iowa Independent - Jan 27 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Harkin, Grassley help sink deficit-cutting commission

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 27 - 6 clicks 6 clicks

King co-sponsored bill to honor arrested anti-ACORN filmmaker

Iowa Independent - Jan 27 - 13 clicks 13 clicks

We're number 32! We're number 32!

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 27 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Group demands banks give up bonuses to fill state budget gap

Iowa Independent - Jan 26 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

The drama of reconciliation

Iowa Independent - Jan 26 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Harkin will vote no on Bernanke

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 26 - 8 clicks 8 clicks

2009 was big year for LGBT legislation

Iowa Independent - Jan 26 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Grassley has more questions for pay czar over AIG severance

Iowa Independent - Jan 26 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Harkin: 'I'm going to vote against Ben Bernanke'

Iowa Independent - Jan 26 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

The Pizza Wars

If you have ever lived in a small town, you know that there are always back stories. Oddities and mysteries that sometimes are passed from generation to generation. But, large cities are no exception, and this is the tale of the Pizza makers, and how they once ran an important industry in Detroit Michigan. Yes, you heard [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Jan 26 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Give up on passing cap-and-trade in the Senate

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 26 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Lunchtime Links

Iowa Independent - Jan 26 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Two Dems line up to take on King

Iowa Independent - Jan 26 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

FEMA flood maps still a big concern

Iowa Independent - Jan 26 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Wanted at the Fed: An Inflation Dove

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 26 - 7 clicks 7 clicks

Give up on passing cap and trade in the Senate

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 25 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Tea partiers, FreedomWorks craft a 2010 agenda

Iowa Independent - Jan 25 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Barack Herbert Hoover Obama

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 25 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Energy, climate low 2010 priorities for Americans

Iowa Independent - Jan 25 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Economists: Stimulus has saved/created 1.2 million jobs

Iowa Independent - Jan 25 - 6 clicks 6 clicks

Lunchtime Links

Iowa Independent - Jan 25 - 6 clicks 6 clicks

What I Know About God So Far

Okay, okay, so I’m fudging a bit. I don’t “know” a lot on the subject. More technically, I “believe” certain things. And I’m starting to get what Augustine meant when he said (with my merciful paraphrasing) that what we think we know about who God is, is probably precisely what he is not. Let me explain. When [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Jan 25

Legislator, religious group team up for 'Christian education' series at Capitol

Iowa Independent - Jan 25 - 8 clicks 8 clicks

Terry Branstad's balancing act on gay marriage

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 25 - 6 clicks 6 clicks

Vander Plaats only gubernatorial hopeful to refuse loyalty pledge

Iowa Independent - Jan 25 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Branstad takes heat from conservatives, speaks up for constitutional convention

Iowa Independent - Jan 25 - 11 clicks 11 clicks

New features at Bleeding Heartland

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 25 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

While health reform falters, mammogram debate still rages

Iowa Independent - Jan 25 - 8 clicks 8 clicks

Congratulations to the Iowa Renewable Energy Association

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 24 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Update on Iowa House district 14 race

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 24 - 6 clicks 6 clicks

Bawking at Mid-Term Caucuses

While a relative handful of people turned out for area Iowa Republican and Democratic mid-term caucuses, many stayed home. I was among them. In the past, I waded into the Democratic Party's caucus mechanism only to become frustrated by the work as it moved away from the county and on to the district level. For instance in working on the platform committee, I watched as agendas to remove women's ri...
Popular Progressive - Jan 24 - 7 clicks 7 clicks

Some Gitmo Detainees In For the Longer Haul

CNN reports that sources within the Obama administration are reporting that 47 detainees who are considered too dangerous to be released and unable to be tried because of national security concerns, will continue to be held. "If you close Guantanamo but leave individuals detained without charge or trial you're just making a cosmetic change," Jameel Jaffer, director of the ACLU National Secur...
Popular Progressive - Jan 24 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Progressive Democrat Issue 243

DailyKos (Iowa) - Jan 23

Weekend open thread: off-year caucus edition

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 23 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Rushing to the Abyss

If you regularly peruse a number of blogs, or heaven forbid, watch any of the mainstream media, then you are filled to the gills with explanations of the debacle in the Haaaabor. That’s Massachusetts talk. There are parodies of all sorts, jugular distorting cries for  revenge, and all manner of “analysis” guaranteed to ’splain it all to [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Jan 23

Favorite burger recipes thread

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 22 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Harkin urges 10-month extension of unemployment benefits

Iowa Independent - Jan 22

With or without presidential candidates, the caucus tradition continues

Iowa Independent - Jan 22 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Eighth Circuit: Discrimination cases focus on individuals, not groups

Iowa Independent - Jan 22 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

When opposition to health care reform isn't really opposition

Iowa Independent - Jan 22

Caucuses could have big impact on 2010 campaign

Iowa Independent - Jan 22 - 5 clicks 5 clicks

Iowa City ranked third 'gayest city' in America

Iowa Independent - Jan 22 - 5 clicks 5 clicks

Tyson to cut 480 workers in Council Bluffs

Iowa Independent - Jan 22 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Lunchtime Links

Iowa Independent - Jan 22 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Learning to be Human

As I think I mentioned, I’ve been reading Richard Rohr’s, The Naked Now. It was really a foregone conclusion that I would adore his writing, I’d heard enough said about him from a number of bloggers who read him and were praiseworthy. That was plenty of recommendation. Rohr talks about how to experience the Divine in [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Jan 22

Revisionist history watch: Branstad on spending and jobs

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 22 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

The question Geithner can't escape: Why pay off AIG's partners?

Iowa Independent - Jan 22 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

SCOTUS decision's Iowa impact unclear

Iowa Independent - Jan 22 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Thoughts on raising altruistic children

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 22 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Group compares Boswell's campaign finance amendment to Prohibition

Iowa Independent - Jan 22 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

The irony of Scott Brown's opposition to health care reform

Iowa Independent - Jan 21 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Harkin on SCOTUS ruling: 'Talk about an activist Supreme Court'

Iowa Independent - Jan 21 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

We have a new candidate in House district 26

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 21 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Boswell pushes constitutional amendment to overturn SCOTUS ruling

Iowa Independent - Jan 21 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Ten days left to comment on manure rules

Iowa Independent - Jan 21 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

We're in for it now

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 21 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Why Politicians Matter So Much...And So Little

Reading that John Edwards finally confessed to fathering a child with a woman he was having an affair with while his wife continues to battle terminal cancer reminds me that while not many people love politics, they do seek politicians that they can believe in. John Edwards was the fair-haired candidate when he ran as John Kerry's VP choice and was a front-runner until Obama ran him over him in Io...
Popular Progressive - Jan 21

Free Speech Sponsored by...?

The US Supreme Court's ruling today to allow corporations and unions to spemd freely from their coffers to influence politics in the United States through advertising is nothing short of the worst decision ever perpetrated by that institution short of upholding segregation. The Supreme Court's 5-4 vote overturns a 20-year-old ban on businesses and unions using money from their own funds to pay for...
Popular Progressive - Jan 21 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Dems continue to focus attacks on Branstad

Iowa Independent - Jan 21 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Lunchtime Links

Iowa Independent - Jan 21 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

More Questions than Answers

Richard Rohr would suggest that’s a good thing. The more questions than answers thingy. It may be more a matter of not having seen the sun in over a week, or the fact that I don’t have the right size knitting needles, and it’s too far to travel in questionable weather to get them. Or [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Jan 21

Mari Culver promotes child abuse prevention funding stream

Iowa Independent - Jan 21 - 8 clicks 8 clicks

Chris Rants walks a lonely road

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 21 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Skinny highlights Iowa Caucus angles from latest book

Iowa Independent - Jan 21 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Events coming up this weekend and next week

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 21 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Independent state House candidate to run as Republican

Iowa Independent - Jan 21 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Larson named chief judge for 4th Judicial District

Iowa Independent - Jan 20

Braley: Three paths remain to health care reform

Iowa Independent - Jan 20 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

The least bad path forward on health care reform

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 20 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Et tu, Brute?

  Friends, Americans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury the Democratic Party,  not to praise it. The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones; So let it be with the Democratic Party. The noble Limbaugh Hath told you Obama was ambitious: If it were so, it was a grevious fault, And grieviously [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Jan 20 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

What's Plan B for Democrats?

Iowa Independent - Jan 20

Environmental groups seek to halt use of genetically-modified sugar beets

Iowa Independent - Jan 20 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Brown: 'It's important for everyone to get some form of health care'

Iowa Independent - Jan 20 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Lunchtime Links

Iowa Independent - Jan 20 - 5 clicks 5 clicks

Previewing the Iowa secretary of state race

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 20 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Pate will not run for secretary of state

Iowa Independent - Jan 20 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

UPDATE: Linn County Republicans pass loyalty resolution

Iowa Independent - Jan 20 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

House committee to take up lobbyist gift bill

Iowa Independent - Jan 20 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Some great news slipped under the radar last week

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 20 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Iowa EPC calls for federal coal ash rules

Iowa Independent - Jan 19 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Special election results thread (updated)

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 19 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

VIDEO: King rallies Republicans in Massachusetts

Iowa Independent - Jan 19 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Vander Plaats releases fundraising numbers

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 19 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Pate forms committee to run for secretary of state

Iowa Independent - Jan 19 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

U.S. Supreme Court will hear Monsanto appeal

Iowa Independent - Jan 19 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

The Hard Lesson Which Ever Beckons

Deepak Chopra once said, in one of his innumerable books, that everyone is doing the best they can, given their level of understanding. What he meant I think, was that most of the time, most people have sincere motives, no matter how deeply flawed their thinking might actually be. And, we should, he claims, honor [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Jan 19 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Lunchtime Links

Iowa Independent - Jan 19 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Silver linings of a Branstad candidacy

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 19 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Grassley questions 'severance' pay to AIG exec

Iowa Independent - Jan 19

Massachusetts Republican stresses insurgency over issues

Iowa Independent - Jan 19 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Santorum confirms interest in 2012 presidential run

Iowa Independent - Jan 19 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Linn County Republican ponders loyalty resolution

Iowa Independent - Jan 19 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Take Action on Water Quality in Iowa

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 18 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Rod Roberts reports respectable fundraising numbers (updated)

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 18 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Lunchtime Links

Iowa Independent - Jan 18 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Iowa Republicans assist in Massachusetts senate race... like it or not

Iowa Independent - Jan 18 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Prospects for third-party candidates in the governor's race

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 18 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Tragedy in the Heartland

I never throw things unless they are unbreakable. Just another example of my finely evolved brain wherein my frontals are in firm control over the reptilian aspects of my brain. The query is: “Once calmed, do I want to clean up a mess?” Better to throw pillows I think. In other words, I practice safe [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Jan 18

Vander Plaats aide won't rule out third-party campaign

Iowa Independent - Jan 18 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day thread

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 18 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Culver praises resiliency, pledges more help for flood victims

Iowa Independent - Jan 18 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

I Have a Dream: The Party Is Over

In my years being involved in the political process, I believed that party membership had it's privileges. However today, I am convinced that while I can and will support individual candidates for public office, my days of valuing party membership are nearing their end. And this is why. As any reader of this blog knows, I am a populist progressive. I believe that both parties are in dire need of ...
Popular Progressive - Jan 18 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Statue (of Liberty) "Tory" Rape

The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the people of France to the people of the United States to mark the centennial of the Declaration of Independence and "in recognition of the friendship established during the American Revolution." As it turns out, "We the People" weren't originally so crazy about receiving the gift because we had to raise the money privately for a foundation on which it woul...
Popular Progressive - Jan 17 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

BLUE STATES: Iowa. D Loebsack (D) vs T Latham (R)

DailyKos (Iowa) - Jan 17

Weekend open thread with events coming up this week

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 17 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

BLUE STATES: Iowa. D Loebsack (D) vs D Vaudt (R)

DailyKos (Iowa) - Jan 17

I May Be Needing a New Planet

Just a very few weeks ago, we all considered this eminently doable. The Senate passed its version of health care reform, and we were pretty much assured that the powers that be in both Houses would hammer out something. We were all unhappy as to what would be extruded from this painful process, but at least [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Jan 16 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Update on Iowa Senate district 41 race

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 16 - 5 clicks 5 clicks

To a hammer, everything looks like a nail

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 15 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Culver to sign Race to the Top

Iowa Independent - Jan 15

Lunchtime Links

Iowa Independent - Jan 15 - 5 clicks 5 clicks

Ugandan government bows to pressure on anti-gay bill

Iowa Independent - Jan 15 - 5 clicks 5 clicks

Same-sex marriage ban introduced, faces 'insurmountable odds'

Iowa Independent - Jan 15 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

King: Deported Haitians could help relief efforts

Iowa Independent - Jan 15 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

House passes Race to the Top bill

Iowa Independent - Jan 15 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Weekly Mulch: EPA, Clean Air Act Facing Opposition

DailyKos (Iowa) - Jan 15

Federal education grant summons ghost of labor bill past

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 15 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

When is Enough, Enough?

The news, from all sources is filled with stories about the sad plight of Haiti trying to dig out from the catastrophe of a major earthquake. Not only that, but virtually all news organizations give people directions and advice on how best they can help in the relief effort. It seems that planet earth is never [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Jan 15

Fundraising figures cause celebration, concern for both sides

Iowa Independent - Jan 15 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Branstad and Culver release partial fundraising numbers

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 15 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Could Rod Roberts save Iowa GOP from itself?

Iowa Independent - Jan 14 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

IA-Gov: Could Vander Plaats pull off an upset?

DailyKos (Iowa) - Jan 14 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

An imminent deal on health care?

Iowa Independent - Jan 14 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Grassley denies intentionally delaying Obama nominees

Iowa Independent - Jan 14 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Grassley: Dems 'may not care' if they get health care right

Iowa Independent - Jan 14 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Chief Justice: Cuts are 'rationing access to justice' in Iowa

Iowa Independent - Jan 14 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Culver on more cuts to judiciary budget: 'Absolutely not'

Iowa Independent - Jan 14 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Politico picks up on Iowa GOP schism

Iowa Independent - Jan 14 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Experts hope Dems learn stimulus lessons

Iowa Independent - Jan 14 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Lunchtime Links

Iowa Independent - Jan 14 - 5 clicks 5 clicks

Coalition takes aim at Iowa nursing shortage

Iowa Independent - Jan 14 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Let Iowa courts consolidate

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 14 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

How many votes will it take to win the GOP primary?

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 14 - 5 clicks 5 clicks

Pitiful settlement reached in nursing home neglect case

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 14 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Could Vander Plaats pull off an upset?

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 14 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

A cautionary tale for non-profit boards

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 14 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

God’s Joke: The CAT

I have it written on my list, then when I get my first sit-down interview with God, I intend to ask him about his creation of cats. Something along the lines of “What were you thinking?” You may have been under the impression that the duck-billed platypus was the all time winner in the God’s joke [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Jan 14

Lunchtime Links

Iowa Independent - Jan 13 - 5 clicks 5 clicks

Evolutionarily Yours

Long time readers here, know that I suffer to a degree with SAD, seasonal affective disorder. During these past couple of weeks, with temperatures hovering near or below zero most days, I’ve spent time sitting at the window, since blessedly the sun was out most days. I handled the intense cold and resultant miseries rather well, [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Jan 13

Federal deductibility back on political radar

Iowa Independent - Jan 13 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

King: Harry Reid is guilty of hypocrisy

Iowa Independent - Jan 13 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Endorsement exposes cracks in GOP unity

Iowa Independent - Jan 12 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Viewpoint: The Johnson County Supervisor's Race

Janelle Rettig, Lori Cardella, and Jim Knapp are running hard for the Johnson County Board of Supervisor's vacancy. As such, the campaigning has turned bruising. This is politics--opposing ideas attempting to find concensus. As a progressive, it would be difficult not to support Janelle Rettig as she is the only true progressive candidate running for the office. What makes the endorsement of Rett...
Popular Progressive - Jan 12 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Year in review: Bleeding Heartland on food and parenting in 2009

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 12 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Rally to oppose gay marriage morphs into Vander Plaats event

Iowa Independent - Jan 12 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Iowa Republicans are itching for a culture war (part 1)

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 12 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

VIDEO: Gay marriage opponents heckle governor before address

Iowa Independent - Jan 12 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Lunchtime Links

Iowa Independent - Jan 12 - 5 clicks 5 clicks

Culver praises Iowa's resiliency during economic crisis

Iowa Independent - Jan 12 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

One Agriprocessors supervisor to remain in jail, another likely heading there

Iowa Independent - Jan 12 - 5 clicks 5 clicks

Thought in Progress

Bear with me here. I’m thinking. You remember that concept right? You do it, I know you do. Well, most of you do, at least I think all of you who read this blog do. The other side? Well, this might be a new idea to them. Remember when you were a kid? At least a [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Jan 12 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Culver "Condition of the State" speech thread

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 12 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

FEC to weigh American Future Fund robo call complaint

Iowa Independent - Jan 12 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

GOP lawmaker outraged oath lacks 'so help me God'

Iowa Independent - Jan 12

Gay marriage takes center stage on legislature's second day

Iowa Independent - Jan 11 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Obama's "five worst nominees"

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 11 - 2 clicks 2 clicks

Anti-Marriage Equality = Bigotry : Redefining the Gay Marriage Debate

DailyKos (Iowa) - Jan 11

Links on the Iowa legislature's opening day

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 11 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Spat between White House, EPA could derail federal coal ash rules

Iowa Independent - Jan 11 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Grassley, Harkin say Reid should not resign

Iowa Independent - Jan 11 - 9 clicks 9 clicks

Lunchtime Links

Iowa Independent - Jan 11

It’s Not the Money, Really

Saturday, we, along with all you no doubt, were busy watching the Cowboys beating the tar out of the Eagles. I began to realize, that after scores, the cameras would pan to the rich boxes and show us the reaction of owners and former president, George “do ya like me now,” Bush. I began to [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Jan 11 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Gronstal: Budget will be balanced with no tax increase

Iowa Independent - Jan 11 - 5 clicks 5 clicks

Legislation would offer more women care while saving taxpayer dollars

Iowa Independent - Jan 11 - 3 clicks 3 clicks

Iowa State let Farm Bureau choose the head of the Leopold Center

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 11 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

King: Every word Reid said about Obama was true

Iowa Independent - Jan 11 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Legislative session kicks off Monday

Iowa Independent - Jan 11 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Broad coalition stands up for marriage equality

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 11

Why Do Republican Candidates Advertise On Here?

DailyKos (Iowa) - Jan 10

One of the "sustainable dozen" will replace John Norris at USDA

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 10 - 4 clicks 4 clicks

Me Prefer Living in Cave

Frankly, I must admit that I have trouble understanding the American penchant for being suspicious of science. One would think just the opposite. As recipient of most of the world’s greatest advances in all aspects of scientific endeavor you would think we would hold it in higher esteem. After all, the rest of the world at one [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Jan 10

Trains of Thought, Part 4: The View From the Ground (w/pictures!)

DailyKos (Iowa) - Jan 9

Weekend open thread: Legislative preview edition

Bleeding Heartland - Jan 9 - 3 clicks 3 clicks