Iowa
updated
3:42 a.m.
With Republican Rod Roberts decision to not run for re-election in House District 51, the big question remains: Who will run to succeed the highly popular legislator who has held a stranglehold on the seat for a decade....
Iowa Independent - 3:05 a.m.
I expected former four-term Governor Terry Branstad to drive all of the lesser-known Republicans out of the governor's race. To my surprise, State Representative Rod Roberts has not followed the lead of Paul McKinley , Christian Fong , Jerry Behn and Chris Rants . Roberts has insisted that he is staying in the governor's race all the way to the June primary, and another Republican has alr...
DailyKos (Iowa) - Mon 7:01 p.m.
Ed and Lynn Fallon's I'M for Iowa organization sent out an e-mail blast today containing the following tidbit: Monday, 1:00 - 4:00 pm, we talk about politics, and expose what appears to be a sneaky effort in the 65th House District in Des Moines to keep Wayne Ford's retirement a secret so party insiders can hand-pick a successor. We also talk about the Des Moines Register's love affair with Sena...
Bleeding Heartland - Mon 4:21 p.m.
John Patrick Bedell, who shot and wounded two police officers near the Pentagon earlier this month, bought at least one of his 9 mm guns at a Nevada gun show, The Associated Press reported yesterday. Law enforcement officials say Bedell, a man with a history of severe psychiatric problems, had been sent a letter by California [...]...
Iowa Independent - Mon 2:44 p.m.
Today’s Twitter lesson: Ahhh! The fragrant and varied bouquet of spring is once again upon us, and it hasn’t been this intoxicating since grade school. ~ Linn County Supervisor Ben Rogers, Democrat ~ Charlotte Eby, reporter for Lee Enterprises ~ Jake Krob, publisher of the Mt. Vernon-Lisbon Sun ~ Jeff Raasch, mobile reporter at The Gazette ~ Justin Cook, Iowa [...]...
Iowa Independent - Mon 1:37 p.m. - 2 clicks 
Former Democratic state Rep. Ed Fallon, filling in for liberal radio host Chris Bradshaw on his afternoon WOW-FM program, said he has heard from numerous sources that Wayne Ford will not seek re-election in Iowa House District 65. Ford’s retirement would be significant, since it has not been made public and the deadline for candidates to [...]...
Iowa Independent - Mon 12:27 p.m. - 4 clicks
Among the myriad criticisms that opponents of the Democrats’ health reform bills have leveled at the legislation, perhaps none resonates as strongly as the emotionally charged claims about how the proposals approach abortion coverage. For almost 35 years, federal law has prohibited the federal funding of abortions, and the critics of this year’s reform proposals [...]...
Iowa Independent - Mon 11:09 a.m.
Gov. Chet Culver said Monday that if lawmakers pass a budget without funding 2 percent allowable growth and an additional $100 million in surplus reserves for Iowa schools he will not sign it. “As governor, and as a former teacher, my commitment to education transcends even our most difficult budget challenges,” Culver said in a statement. [...]...
Iowa Independent - Mon 10:28 a.m. - 4 clicks
Kudos to the Woodbury County Democrats for recruiting strong candidates for all three open Iowa House districts as well as both Iowa Senate districts representing parts of Sioux City. Two of those races became open very recently, when Democratic State Representative Roger Wendt announced his retirement from House district 2 because of a cancer recurrence and Republican State Senator Ron Wieck said...
Bleeding Heartland - Mon 10:28 a.m. - 4 clicks
Last week in my Texas Focus I concentrated on some absolutely critical School Board races. I got a comment that I was burying the lead in my story. What I failed to emphasize, though I mentioned, was that the Texas School Board DOMINATES the school textbook market. They are the ones who keep almost getting creationism in our science books, downplaying of slavery in our history textbooks, and Chri...
DailyKos (Iowa) - Mon 10:28 a.m. - 6 clicks
CEDAR RAPIDS -- Federal officials signaled over the weekend that the next big legislative push will be an overhaul of Pres. George W. Bush's "No Child Left Behind" educational policies. Because U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa leads the influential Health, Education, Pensions and Labor Committee, Iowans were afforded the first opportunity to speak out on the proposed changes tentatively announced only...
Iowa Independent - Mon 10:02 a.m. - 5 clicks
Former Agriprocessors illegal workers being deported by the end of this month have to pay their way home. Third District GOP congressional hopeful critical of franking privilege. Staff cuts, hiring freeze hit state agencies. U.S. Rep. Steve King calls process of passing health reform “macabre.” State could lose $75 million in federal money if driving-while-texting ban doesn’t pas...
Iowa Independent - Mon 10:02 a.m. - 4 clicks
I sat upon the porch today, turning face to the sun, feeling the warm caress of breezes flirting with skin, tantalizing, promising. Looking about, I sigh in sadness. Browns, greys, mud, empty trees, accompany the detris of winter’s end. Things dropped, plowed under, broken and bent, ugly reminders of weeks of cold, land dead, beaten. And I close my eyes, letting the [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Mon 10:01 a.m.
Reforming the nation’s health care system is only one of President Barack Obama’s goals, and if conservatives can kill it they can stall other legislative aims, namely immigration reform, U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Kiron, said in an interview with the American Family Association’s news division. King said if Democrats are successful in passing health care reform, [...]...
Iowa Independent - Mon 7:41 a.m. - 4 clicks
I haven't posted any job listings here in a while, but I recently learned of a few opportunities in the environmental area. Those are posted below. If you know of political or progressive advocacy jobs available, feel free to send details to me (desmoinesdem AT yahoo.com), and I will try to spread the word. The big political event this week is the March 19 deadline for Iowa candidates to file no...
Bleeding Heartland - Mon 7:08 a.m. - 3 clicks
Legislation to reform the program designed to provide assistance to nuclear workers suffering illnesses related to exposure to radiation and toxic substances continues to languish in the U.S. Senate....
Iowa Independent - Mon 4:01 a.m.
With the historic 2008 Presidential elections well behind us it's time to turn to a discussion of how progressives will be mobilized in 2010. As we've seen from recent Des Moines Register polling, being "progressive" isn't necessarily a Democratic or Republican issue. It's a question of "getting things done". Voters of all political stripes see major problems t...
Bleeding Heartland - Sun 2:22 p.m. - 3 clicks
Six weeks after revealing the overnight towns for the 2010 Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa, the Des Moines Register announced the full 442-mile route that cycling enthusiasts will follow the last week of July. RAGBRAI XXXVIII will treat riders to one of the shortest and flattest routes ever as it winds through northern Iowa from Sioux City to Dubuque from July 25-31. That comb...
Bleeding Heartland - Sun 9:48 a.m. - 7 clicks
Brain researchers tell us that we are much the product of our experiences. While genetics play its role, most of our opinions, beliefs, and framework for examining information comes from a hidden and unrealized drama that plays out inside our heads, quite unbeknownst to our consciousness. Every new experience is compared and contrasted with everything we [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Sun 9:48 a.m.
Share anything that's on your mind this weekend in the comments below. Yesterday the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Justice jointly hosted a workshop in Ankeny devoted to concentration in agriculture, antitrust issues and market practices. After some controversy over the speakers scheduled initially , more farmers and producers were able to speak during the workshop....
Bleeding Heartland - Sat 5:21 p.m. - 3 clicks
It has been my considered opinion for many years, that democracy requires a certain political maturity to pull off. I came to that conclusion as we wasted so many thousands of lives in Vietnam, all in pursuit of exporting democracy. The neo-cons cannot “get” this. So we have continued to go about the business of “nation [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Sat 10:42 a.m.
I've heard some strange arguments against marriage equality, but the latest from Iowa Family Policy Center President Chuck Hurley is a doozy. ...
DailyKos (Iowa) - Sat 7:03 a.m. - 9 clicks
I've heard some strange arguments against marriage equality, but the latest from Iowa Family Policy Center President Chuck Hurley is a doozy. Reacting to a new report on HIV and syphilis rates among gay and bisexual men , Hurley asserted , "The Iowa Legislature outlawed smoking [in some public places] in an effort to improve health and reduce the medical costs that are often passed on to t...
Bleeding Heartland - Sat 4:46 a.m. - 9 clicks
I knew you couldn’t resist, so you might as well come on in, sit down, and make yourself comfortable. A cup of java? There are times I think that I might be slightly bi-polar. Today is one of them, as I have a rare indeed experience of being energetic and wanting to get things done. This [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Fri 9:49 a.m. - 2 clicks
Bret Hayworth has the story at his Politically Speaking blog: David Dawson, a former prosecutor in the Woodbury County Attorney Office, will be the Democratic candidate in Iowa House district 1. He sounds like a great candidate for that Sioux City district. He will face Republican high school teacher Jeremy Taylor, who almost beat retiring State Representative Wes Whitead in 2008. Our previous...
Bleeding Heartland - Fri 9:02 a.m. - 3 clicks
The good news is, an important public safety bill went to Governor Chet Culver's desk on March 11. Senate File 2357 was one of Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller's legislative priorities this year. The bill prohibits Iowans from owning guns and ammunition if they have been convicted of a domestic violence crime or are subject to a protective order. Since 1995, 205 Iowans have been killed in dome...
Bleeding Heartland - Fri 6:04 a.m. - 5 clicks
Yesterday the House of Representatives unanimously approved HR 4261, the Prevent Deceptive Census Look-Alike Mailings Act . The short bill would ban fundraising letters like those the Republican National Committee and National Republican Congressional Committee sent last month , which gave the appearance of being official census documents. Those mailings were legal because they did not "us...
Bleeding Heartland - Thu 5:22 p.m.
Republican operative Ralph Reed, who once headed the Christian Coalition , is building an Iowa branch for his latest venture, the Faith and Freedom Coalition . Reed spoke at an Iowa Christian Alliance event on Tuesday and promised the crowd that the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition will get "people who share our values" elected "from governor all the way down to the statehouse and school board...
Bleeding Heartland - Thu 1:06 p.m. - 8 clicks
As Iowa citizens brace themselves for another spring flood season, Iowa mayors, city council members and state lawmakers are doing everything they can to STOP even modest flood prevention planning from going forward in the Iowa Legislature. If you’re scratching you head and wondering why, it may be time to contact your elected officials and ask them. The following is an action alert sent ou...
Bleeding Heartland - Thu 9:51 a.m. - 4 clicks
A day or so ago, a young boy named Carlos became a “hero” in America. Having the presence of mind in a home break-in to secrete himself and his younger sister in a bathroom and call 911, he may well have averted serious injury or death to members of his family. He is rightly so named a [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Thu 9:51 a.m.
Yesterday the Senate approved HR 4213, the Tax Extenders Act of 2009 , by a 62-35 vote . Tom Harkin voted for the bill, as did all but one Democrat. Chuck Grassley voted against the bill, as did all but six Republicans ( roll call here ). Harkin's office summarized some of the $140 billion bill's key provisions: o Extend the current federal unemployment benefits program through De...
Bleeding Heartland - Thu 8:25 a.m. - 7 clicks
So, I've been away. Bleeding Heartland has been one of my favorite Iowa blogs for sometime and I used to post relatively regularly, but my previous life working in the Iowa House limited my involvement with the community. Now, I've moved on to a new endeavor and I'll be resuming my regular posting to Bleeding Heartland. Of course, I will need to make a disclaimer...I&#...
Bleeding Heartland - Wed 4:48 p.m. - 6 clicks
State Representative Dolores Mertz announced yesterday that she will not seek a twelfth term in the Iowa House. First elected to House district 8 in 1988, she said she's in good health but wants to spend more time with her large family. House district 8 includes all of Humboldt and Pocahontas counties, plus parts of Kossuth and Webster counties ( map here ). Mertz has chaired the Iowa House ...
Bleeding Heartland - Wed 12:40 p.m. - 9 clicks
State Representative Rod Roberts continues to line up endorsements in his long-shot gubernatorial campaign. Bill Schickel just resigned as secretary of the Iowa GOP in order to endorse Roberts. Party officers are supposed to remain neutral in Republican primaries, but "I can no longer remain neutral," said Schickel, a former state representative and Mason City mayor. "Our party is curre...
Bleeding Heartland - Wed 10:07 a.m. - 7 clicks
From time to time, usually as criticism, I’m asked why I have such “issues” with fundamentalism. I’ve answered many a time, and what it boils down to is simply this: When atheists and other non-believers decide there is reason to take pot shots at religion, it is always the lowest common denominator that they choose–fundamentalism. We [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Wed 9:20 a.m.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 9, 2010 Contact: Eric Nost, Environment Iowa 515-243-5835 | enost@environmentiowa.org The Iowa Senate voted 37-13 Tuesday afternoon to allow Mid-Am...
Bleeding Heartland - Tue 8:21 p.m. - 10 clicks
Sioux City residents will replace their entire delegation in the Iowa House and Senate this November. Democrat Steve Warnstadt announced his retirement yesterday from Iowa Senate district 1, which comprises much of Sioux City ( map here ). Warnstadt is completing his second term in the Senate and has chaired the upper chamber's Commerce Committee . He is known for his work on veterans' issues...
Bleeding Heartland - Tue 12:47 p.m. - 7 clicks
Yes, it’s true. I confess. I’ve had an addiction of sorts for many years to science fiction. Actually, us “real” junkies don’t use the term sci fi, finding it trite and the phrase of choice for the truly uninitiated. You know the ones I mean, the kids who really watch Star Wars, and BattleStar Galactica [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Tue 9:08 a.m. - 4 clicks
Jason Hancock published a fascinating story at Iowa Independent today about a federal lawsuit against Syngenta AG and its U.S.-based subsidiary, Syngenta Crop Protection Inc. Sixteen communities, including Creston in southwest Iowa, are suing Syngenta because it profits from sales of atrazine while communities have to pay to remove the weed-killer from water supplies. Apparently Creston has a hi...
Bleeding Heartland - Tue 7:42 a.m. - 5 clicks
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee confirmed yesterday that Representative Bruce Braley will co-chair the DCCC's "Red to Blue" program this year. Red to Blue candidates are Democratic challengers seeking to win Republican-held House districts. DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen noted this week that even in a "tough cycle for Democrats," The DCCC is focused on not only protecting ou...
Bleeding Heartland - Tue 4:40 a.m. - 3 clicks
Where we have arrived as a nation is a disdain for the Government we have elected, appointed, and volunteered to be a part of. But really, is it in lousier shape than say during the Civil War? In reality, the times we are now are experiencing is a lack of cohesiveness about national identity. Resistance to taxes, the belief that the government is creating more problems than it is solving and so on...
Popular Progressive - Mar 8 - 2 clicks
Wellmark Blue Cross-Blue Shield recently announced premium increases averaging 18 percent for about 80,000 policy-holders. Tens of thousands of customers were facing rate hikes of 22 percent, effective April 1. Today Governor Chet Culver halted the planned increases by Iowa's largest health insurance provider. Details are after the jump. ...
DailyKos (Iowa) - Mar 8 - 3 clicks
Seems like everywhere you look these days, Republicans are bellying up to the table for a snack. And the snack of choice seems to be each other. Yes, as reported here before, they GOP is eating its own. And just when they thought they had the Dems on the run and were looking to sweep [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Mar 8
I guess many people spend Saturday all busy and such, racing around doing chores and running errands. Not me. Even though I have been retired by choice for nearly fifteen years, I still reserve Saturday as a day of relaxed fun. I love to read blogs on Saturday morning. I learn so much. I make connections [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Mar 6 - 3 clicks
From time to time, it occurs to me that I have been derelict in my duty to you in bringing you the latest in scientific discovery. No doubt, you depend on me for this, and so I’ve been shopping the blogs for the best and most useful bits of mystical magical info found around the Internets. [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Mar 5
Everyone on planet Earth has heard or read the story of the Orca who apparently inadvertently killed its trainer. Well, the American Family Association, well known right wing Christian loonie tunes organization, has done itself proud once again. Their solution to the sad affair? Stone the whale! Yep, biblically that’s what it says to do you [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Mar 4
Never in a million year did I imagine myself agreeing with former Vice President Dick Cheney, but I confess dear Civilian, I recently found myself taking my first step into the Dark Side by agreeing with Cheney that the military should repeal its “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy. However, truth be told, which is not an option for gays currently serving in the military, it was Cheney who ...
Political Fallout - Mar 4
Serendipity is defined as the act of making discoveries by accident. It is, I would suggest, the movement of grace masquerading as coincidence. I have learned that if I am open, nuggets of wisdom come to me from others and if I let them lay fallow in the warm earth of my mind, they will be [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Mar 3
I don’t imagine the 1.2 unemployed Americans waiting to see if their benefits will be extended another 30 days were amused by the latest episode of C-SPAN’s latest episode, “A Democracy of One,” on The Obstructionist (a spin-off from Seinfeld’s “show about nothing”) that aired the other night. If Seinfeld is a “show about nothing,” then The Obstructionist is “much adieu about nothing.” Flying...
Political Fallout - Mar 2 - 3 clicks
One of the joys of getting back to church last Sunday was in joining in with fellow parishioners in a discussion of Richard Rohr’s book, The Naked Now. It explores the concept of “present moment” work as a method of meditation or contemplation. Like many other works of this nature, its basic premise is that [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Mar 2
As many of you know, its been a rough winter here in the meadow. But heck, it has been rough across the land. My complaints have been more to the personal meadow issues than the mere cataloging of inches of snow, and days below freezing or without sun. I’ve tread water a good deal of the [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Mar 1 - 2 clicks
They say that it can take years, decades often to gain a perspective on an event sufficient to speak intelligently about it. So, I figured with only two days to go, it was high time I pontificated on the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Now let me say first of all, that I have a slightly dis-favorable [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Feb 27
Frankly, I haven’t had a lot to say about health care reform for some time. I grew tired. I grew disgusted. I could feel my blood pressure soar at the mere contemplation. Nothing has changed. The “Summit” turned out as expected. Mitchy McConnell worries that his side only has gotten 13 minutes and the other side [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Feb 26
Masturbating motorists across Iowa were relieved to hear that the Iowa Senate did not include “masturbation” as part of its bill outlawing texting-while-driving. Unlike the Iowa House’s version, the Iowa Senate passed a tougher bill that would not only ban texting while driving but would put the kibosh on reading text messages as well (although the bill made no explicit distinction between te...
Political Fallout - Feb 26 - 3 clicks
Not being a parent, I feel uniquely qualified to give opinion on the practice of homeschooling. At least I am good company, since in a significant number of states, there is zero regulation of the practice, and anyone can declare themselves “teacher.” So, like I said, I’m uniquely qualified. The chart says a lot. In those [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Feb 25
Last week, I called Atheist Revolution to task for suggesting that fundamentalism was somehow more rational and cohesive a theology than more progressive mainstream religious thinking. I suggested that the author meant to “get the goat” of believers rather than honestly suggest such a ludicrous theory, or that he was utterly uninformed. As anyone knows who [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Feb 24
Let’s face facts. There is precious little that is good about getting old. We put on a brave front of course, we claim we are just excited as all get out to play golf and lounge on the veranda. We are lying. Youth is wasted on the young. Every older person knows this. It’s one of [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Feb 23 - 2 clicks
I’m surely not the only one who finds Evan Bayh a pale comparison to the giant many of us consider his father, Birch. Well, Ragebot, has done a lovely satirical piece on the retiring Senator from Indiana. Or is he? Go and take a gander at this quite amusing little post. And guess what? It turns [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Feb 22
I’ve acquired some wonderful new friends on Facebook, people who, from my perspective, see the world rationally. One, said something that got me to thinking. C.S. Lewis, (or someone!) said something to the effect that if God/no God were an even proposition, then, choosing God cost nothing and garnered a great reward if God is real, [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Feb 21
As a writer, I find that it is often best to let ideas lie fallow for a while. More ideas come, and somewhere, somehow, they coalesce into a theme. And then I have something to write about. Today’s theme is choice. Choice, the opportunity to favor one thing over another. We are a choosy people, at [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Feb 20
You are surely tired of listening to me moan, and I am just as surely tired of having so much to moan about. After all, nobody every said that “life was a bowl of cherries.” You can ponder the meaning of that trite phrase, while I proceed to well, errrr, moan. Just when you think it [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Feb 19
Surprise, surprise: I've launched yet another blog, " Confessions of a Cold War Veteran ." Part memoir, part humor/satire, part pop-culture, and like our government's annual budget -- 50 percent Military Industrial Complex. Delay cadence/Count cadence/Delay cadence/Count! One!... I confess, dear Civilian, I am not a Catholic nor am I a war veteran, rather I am a veteran of the Cold Wa...
Political Fallout - Feb 18
Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return. The root of the word “human” comes from the word humus or soil. Humus is also the root for the word humility. To be humble is not to be self depreciating, but to be grounded in our relationship with God and the earth. [from: www.simpleliving.org and with thanks [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Feb 17
I figured you should share in my nightmare too, so the picture at right, having little to do with the commentary which follows, only serves to seer your brain with an image that will haunt your peaceful sleep in ensuing nights. You see, it’s all too apparent that I don’t belong here. I’m in the wrong [...] ...
A Feather Adrift - Feb 16
While out of state in Ohio this past weekend, I felt badly for missing Gov. Culver's visit to the Hamburg Inn for a chat with The People. Having not supported the Big Lug when he ran against Ed Fallon in the last go round, I am not particularly surprised at the way his first term has gone. When I attended the Labor Day picnic and watched him spend most of his time pitching E-85 to members of local...
Popular Progressive - Feb 16 - 2 clicks
While glancing at the mirror the other day, I had the feeling that my hairline and the current state of American politics have a lot in common: hairy on both sides and empty down the middle. Yeah!--Huh? Follow along. The real Left and real Right are angry and looking for leadership to help them coallesce. In the meantime, like my hair, they fire shots across the bow of each other. The central poi...
Popular Progressive - Feb 16
