Tax Political Campaigns Like Corporations

From the Quad City Times Letters to the Editor section, this is the best idea I've heard in a long time:

Here we are, 21 months before the next presidential campaign, and the Democrats have 12 candidates and the Republicans have six going on 12. For the next 21 months, we will be subjected to television, radio, newspaper and any other kind of media advertisement that you can think of. We also will be called at dinner time, polled during “Deal or No Deal” and surveyed by computerized political candidates’ organizations (they exempted themselves from the no call lists).

To make this extended aggravation a bit more tolerable I propose that we make all political campaign funding taxable. Most likely the amount of money being spent by politicians at every level will exceed $2 billion. If they are taxed at a corporate rate, this would add $800 million to our state and federal coffers. This isn’t that much when it comes to government spending, but it would cut the annoyances by 40 percent.

Jim Hayne, Hampton

Ballot initiative, anyone?

I think law services should be taxed, too. But then the lawyers write all the tax laws, don't they?

See? Taxpayer Subsidization For Rich People Works!

From the Iowa City Press-Citizen:

It's been a year since Plaza Towers became a reality on Iowa City's skyline, and despite the recent closure of a business in the property, many continue to consider the $27 million development a success...

...There are also 28 apartments and 23 condominiums on the upper seven floors. Initially, the apartments were leased to tenants, but demand has led to the sale of eight of them, Moen said. Not only that, but he said he takes calls regularly from people waiting to get a spot.

Guess they didn't really need the TIF money after all, eh?

The Problem With Chambers Of Commerce

Greg Alan has much more on the Mayor in Marion, Iowa, who, at the urging of some union members, wants a police officer deputized as a Federal Marshall so illegals can be busted.

Alan also has some pointed commentary towards Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce President (and Al Gore-supporting "Republican") Lee Clancey.

You should be reading that Greg Alan blog every day. He also has a newsletter.

Funny how most of the chambers of commerce in Iowa were in favor of allowing government to take private homes and businesses from individuals through eminent domain so they can give them to politically-connected out-of-state developers in order to build another strip mall, and they are also against higher fines against companies who employ illegals.

And aren't all chambers of commerce also in favor of endless tax increases?

I think it's about time you people in Iowa declared war on your local bunch of inbred, politically-connected, bottom-feeding, unelected, scum-sucking, corrupt Chamber Of Commerce types. Do they do anything of value?


Related: Lee Clancey Wants More Illegals and Unions Want Crackdown On Illegals

I Blame Global Warming

From the Des Moines Register in a story headlined "Cold, cold and colder forecast for this week":

The National Weather Service says it will be mostly cloudy tonight with a 30 percent chance of snow with a low overnight of 5 to 10 above.

Thursday will be partly sunny with a high in the mid-20s. Another chance of snow is possible Thursday night and Friday morning with a low of zero to 5 degrees above.

Colder air moves in Friday with scattered flurries and a high around 10 degrees. Wind chill readings will reach 15 to 20 below zero. The high on Saturday is expected to be 5 to 10 degrees above zero.

At 5 a.m., this morning it was 10 degrees above zero in Shenandoah and 9 degrees below zero in Dubuque. It was partly cloudy and minus 1 in Des Moines.

Just a few days ago, the dumbfucks self-appointed experts on the Editorial Board wrote a piece called "Iowa Should Step Up On Global Warming"

Brown-Nosing From David Yepsen, Who Also Seems To Have Failed Math Class

In the Des Moines Register this morning there's a David Yepsen column that's ridiculously headlined "At least Culver sets out to improve Iowa's finances":

There are good things and bad in the budget Gov. Chet Culver presented to the Iowa Legislature on Tuesday.

Unlike his predecessors, Culver makes honest accounting a top priority of his administration. His comments about the need for better finances came first in his budget speech - before all he said about education and health care...

...it's still refreshing to see a governor propose a budget that seeks to end the bad budgeting practices of the past.

I don't understand how David Yepsen was able to insert his nose between the Big Lug's butt cheeks. The experience must have affected Yepsen's oxygen supply for him to write such a brain-damaged column like this.

For better insight, read Chet Culver Failed Math Class.

Exploiting Dead Troops For Financial And Political Gain

Rekha Basu once again proves that the enemedia and the dictator-appeasing Left only support the troops when they're dead.

I'm sorry, I don't mean support. I mean exploit.

Lee Clancey Wants More Illegals

In followup to Unions Want Crackdown On Illegals, here's a story from KCRG-TV:

Marion Mayor John Nieland used his state of the city address to say Marion's making plans to tackle immigration issues, but the idea definitely kicked up some controversy on Tuesday.

Nieland wants a city police officer trained to go after businesses hiring illegal workers, but using city money for that purpose didn't make everybody happy.

"The problem you have is people keep hiring them. If you didn't hire them, there would be no problem," said Nieland.

Nieland says Marion's particular problem with undocumented workers involves workers in some construction trades. He wants the city to hire a new police officer.

After five weeks of federal training, that officer would be deputized as a U.S. Marshal, and would be able to investigate local complaints about illegal workers.

But Cedar Rapids' chamber president Lee Clancy said the idea could jeopardize efforts by many area businesses to bring in workers from different cultures.

"How do you implement a plan like his and still create and sustain a welcoming environment?" said Lee Clancey.

Gee whiz. I remember Lee Clancey as an Al Gore-endorsing "Republican" back in 2000. She later got her ass voted out of office after that stunt.

What part of illegal does Lee Clancey not understand? She's still obviously deranged.

Miss Iowa: "Chris Matthews was very aggressive"

From the Mason City Glob Gazette:

The Miss America Pageant was “a great experience,” but Emily Nicholas, Miss Iowa 2006, is looking forward to being home.

“I felt good about everything,” the 21-year-old Clear Lake native said Tuesday. “I’d done everything I could do. I guess it just wasn’t Iowa’s year.”

...The interview process, however, was “very intense.”

“I felt like I was being prosecuted. (MSNBC reporter) Chris Matthews was very aggressive. I think the judges had been told to be intense. I was being asked four questions at the same time. They were always interrupting each other, interrupting me.”

Chet Culver Failed Math Class

From the AP via the Iowa City Press-Citizen:

Gov. Chet Culver today presented his proposed $5.93 billion budget to a joint session of the Legislature...

The proposed budget is a 5.9 percent increase from $5.6 billion this year.

Despite the call for more spending, Culver sounded a conservative tenor is his speech, saying his spending plan will have a $200 million surplus.

State 29 blog on January 11, 2006: Vilsack Wants 6.1% Increase In Spending

Des Moines Register headline on July 4, 2006: State revenue went up by 3.6% in budget year

Is state revenue going up faster than 5.9% now? If not, how can Culver come up with a $200 million surplus? I guess those news reporters also failed math class, too. They wouldn't want to actually look up the numbers.

Also:

[Culver] called on lawmakers to create a $100 million ``Iowa Power Fund'' to boost the renewable fuel industry with a payment of $25 million this year.

More taxpayer-financed corporate welfare.

And:

``It's time for Iowa to become the Silicon Valley of the Midwest,'' said Culver. ``It's time to create the jobs of the future that will keep your children and my children here at home where they belong.''

I cringe when I hear politicians talk about their area becoming the Silicon Valley Of The ____________ (fill in the blank). That phrase was what Chet Culver used when he was trying to float his plan to lose up to $666 million in IPERS pension funds by having his union thug friends "invest" it in Iowa high-tech startups.



Then, finally, there's the cigarette tax:

Culver pledged to use the $140 million that would be generated from a new cigarette tax to bolster health care.

Right, and Tom Miller's shakedown of tobacco companies was going to pay for healthcare for all; that is until Iowa lawmakers and Tom Vilsack got their hands on the money and basically blew it all.

Politically-Motivated Half Staff Flags

Updated below:



From the Des Moines Register:

Flags should be flown at half staff today under a directive from the governor to honor Command Sgt. Maj. Marilyn L. Gabbard, 46, of Polk City, who died Jan. 20 while serving in Iraq.

Gov. Chet Culver ordered all flags in the state be flown at half staff from 8 a.m. until sunset.

Governor Culver is using the US and State of Iowa flags in order to make a political statement about the war in Iraq. That's all this is. It's political grandstanding.

Sure, Marilyn Gabbard is the first woman from the Iowa National Guard to die in combat. But what's to stop Governor Culver from continuing to keep the flags at half staff if further Iowa National Guard soldiers die?

And why does a soldier's sex merit special attention? I thought the whole point of feminism was that men and women should be treated equally. I guess women are only equal except when Democrats want to use the war score political points, in which case Democrats think female soldiers, especially dead ones, are more equal than others.


Update:



Too many people say they "support the troops" but are "against the war". The enemedia usually only spotlights the death counts and all the negative stuff that is happening.

Democrats in charge of Iowa will pull the usual shit to explain their political grandstanding with Marilyn Gabbard's death. They'll say they only want to honor her. Then they'll say the war is not the fault of the soldiers, but Bush, Cheney, Rummy, Halliburton, etc. Troops didn't have enough armor, or there weren't enough troops, but now we're not going to have more troops. Or they'll be like Hitlery and play the stupid wife with her "Bush misused my vote" bullshit. It's a convenient lie for the hate-America wing of the Democrats and gutless RINOs. They don't support the troops. They merely use the dead troops as props in order to score cheap political points. That's all they care about.

Earthpork Deadline

From WHO-TV:

Earthpark organizers have until December [1st] to come up with $50 million in private funds. They need the private money to collect a $50 million federal grant.

Senator Charles Grassley helped secure the grant in 2003 and says four years is long enough for rain forest developers to come up with the additional financing.

If they don't the federal grant will go back into the federal treasury.

Earthpark developer David Oman says the matching funds will be raised though he wouldn't say how much has been raised to this point.

Oh, here's something that WHO-TV forgot to mention: $2.9 million of the $50 million grant has already been blown, at least according to the Iowa City Press-Citizen in November 2005.

Who's going to pay back that $2.9 million? Is chief rainforest con artist David Oman going to pay it back if he doesn't get matching funds? Is that fauxscal conservative weasel Chuck Grassley going to pay it back? How come the Des Moines Register hasn't been asking any of these questions?

Bruce Braley Wants To Make College More Unaffordable

Common Iowan has a post yesterday concerning a recent visit by Congressman Bruce Braley to UNI where he talks about college tuition.

From the Waterloo Courier:

The freshman Democrat from Waterloo called passage of the College Student Relief Act the "single most important bill based solely on the bipartisan support it received." House members approved the bill 356-71. Noting most of the Republican minority favored it, Braley said the support signaled the importance of access to a quality education.

"This bill affects the 5.5 million students who currently receive subsidized Stafford loans," he said. After completing four years of college, such students are typically $13,000 to $14,000 in debt. The bill's effect "will be $4,000 over the life of their loans, just in terms of the interest they will pay."

Under provisions of the bill, the average Iowa student beginning college in 2007 would save $2,300 by the time the subsidized loan is paid off. An Iowa student beginning college in 2011 --- when the lower interest rate is fully phased in --- would save $4,460. Current UNI students have taken out 6,385 Stafford loans, which total more than $23 million in debt.

I've blogged about this issue before, and while I don't have a problem with the lowering of the interest rates on Federally-backed student loans I do have a problem with championing the interest rate reduction as a victory for students who are loaded with debt. The reduction saves the average student with debt about $22 a month over the course of a 15 year repayment schedule. That's chump change.

Then there's this:

Braley also supports other efforts now under way to boost students financial assistance.

He favors increasing the maximum subsidized student loan per year from $4,050 to $5,100 and expanding the eligibility.

Great. Now more kids can acquire more debt. Isn't that great? But the politicians knocked a couple of points off the interest rate. Whooopeee!!!!!

All along, Bruce Braley has been bitching about repealing the Bush Tax Cuts. One of the Bush Tax Cuts is the ability for parents to invest for their children's college education and then take that money out specifically for education expenses without having to pay any capital gains. Considering long-term growth for the average mutual fund, repealing that "break" for working families would force parents to pay a significant amount of money to the government in taxes rather than to a school for tuition, room, and board.

Where is Braley on the subject of the capital gains exemption for college tuition investing by parents? He's never addressed it. Would he be in favor of keeping that tax break?

The Botanical Center's Red Ink

From the Des Moines Register:

City leaders Monday said they will make a far-reaching public inquiry about the future of the Des Moines Botanical Center before they move forward with millions of dollars in proposed expansion plans...

...The $10.5 million plan that was discussed publicly Monday includes a $1 million classroom building that would be used by Polk County's Iowa State University Extension, outdoor demonstration gardens and educational and environmental exhibits.

The Water Works, which manages the city-owned facility, has not officially approved that plan. Resident ideas, partnerships with businesses, donations and a host of other issues must be investigated before the project may move forward, Ryan said...

...The center, at 909 Robert D. Ray Drive, once boasted attendance of than 200,000 people per year. Attendance in recent years has declined to as low as 37,869 in 2005, blamed largely on what some have deemed stagnant displays.

The water department, which is owned by the city but operates independently, took over the Botanical Center in 2004 after city leaders threatened to close it over an $851,645 deficit that taxpayers covered the previous year. Water officials were confident they could shrink the deficit.

Water customers shelled out roughly $600,000 to soak up red ink the first year, followed by another $450,000 in 2005. The 2006 loss is expected to be about $150,000.

Things aren't working out? Attendance is down? Red ink has been spilling for years? Interest has long since waned? Why, yes, spend another $10.5 million on the joint!

And some politicians want to build a rainforest in Pella...

Wolf Urine

From the Des Moines Register:

Perhaps wolf urine could make Iowa's highways safer.

Testing whether deer can be scared off with real or synthetic urine from predators such as wolves, coyotes and bears was just one of several ideas that officials from eight states, including Iowa, plan to consider this week in Arden Hills, Minn., as they look for ways to reduce the number of crashes between deer and vehicles.

The eight states are pooling their money and brain power to reduce the hazard, which kills about 200 people nationwide each year.

''I think it's a problem in every state but Hawaii,'' said Bob Weinholzer, programs administrator for the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Weinholzer said such crashes cost the nation's drivers about $1.4 billion annually in property damage, death and injuries.

That's why he planned to propose the predator urine research project to fellow transportation officials from states that make up the newly formed Deer-Vehicle Crash Information Research Center.

Representatives from Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio and Wisconsin were also expected to attend the two-day meeting, which runs through Wednesday.

The participants will propose and vote on research projects to fund with their combined $280,000.

Gee, no talk of reducing the deer population back to pre-1980 levels by allowing hunters an open season or two?

No, that would be too easy.

Iowa Legislature Flooded Out Again

From the Des Moines Register today:

The start of today's Legislative session has been delayed because of a break in a water pipe.

Majority leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines, said the session would begin when officials make sure everything is safe.

About 100 people, many without coats, were allowed back into the Statehouse between 11:30 and 11:45 a.m. today after being evacuated from the building when a water pipe in the attic broke.

A pipe carrying water for a sprinkler system in the Capitol building apparently broke some time in the morning. The leak created a pool of water in the attic, which was running through the third-floor ceiling in the northeast corner of the building.

And back on Christmas of 2004, this is via the Des Moines Register:

Maintenance crews spent Christmas morning sopping up more than 1,000 gallons of water that poured through ceiling tiles and inundated offices after a pipe broke in the building's fourth-floor attic.

The 2-inch pipe apparently burst about 8 p.m. Friday and tripped a water-flow alarm connected to the sprinkler system. Des Moines firefighters were on the scene as soon as possible, but not before water had gushed into hallways and seeped through light fixtures to soak carpet, furniture and stairs below.

No estimate was available Saturday. Firefighters estimated the damage "could total hundreds of thousands" of dollars...

...The state is self-insured, meaning cleanup and replacement costs will be paid by taxpayers.

I blame global warming.

Tough On Sexual Predators, Or Tough On Sexual Predator Enablers?

I noticed this in a Des Moines Register story today about how the Iowa Legislature is taking a second look at the arbitrary 2000 foot sexual offender residency law:

Iowa law enforcement officials, who have complained en masse that the law is a detriment to public safety, want lawmakers to toss the 2,000-foot residency requirement that went into effect in 2005. They are pushing for a legislation that would create safe zones around schools and child care centers that registered sex offenders would be prohibited from entering without permission. They also want more money for prevention and assistance in tracking predators in cyberspace.

Others, including Jenny Slight, the aunt of a 10-year-old Cedar Rapids girl who was sexually assaulted and killed by a sex offender in 2005, have spoken up publicly in favor of the residency requirement.

"We need to be tough on these predators and stop listening to them whine about how hard it is" to comply with the law, Slight wrote in a December letter to The Des Moines Register.

Jenny Slight is the aunt of Jetseta Gage, who was raped and murdered by Roger Bentley. Slight's full of crap, and I'll tell you why:

What the media rarely mentions anymore is that Trena Gage, Jetseta's "mother" once "dated" James Bentley. At the time of Jetseta's abduction and murder, James Bentley, brother of child murderer Roger Bentley, was awaiting trial on a felony charge that he molested Jetseta between Jan. 1, 2002 and Nov. 17, 2004.

At the time, the media just wanted to blame the sex offender registry rather than question why some "mother" would allow her daughter around a family of monsters like the Bentley brothers.

And the 2000 foot residency rule had absolutely nothing to do with Jetseta Gage's situation. The scumbag "mother", Trena Gage, put her daughter amongst these piles of garbage. Jetseta was sexually abused for almost three years, yet what did the mother do to protect her? Nothing.

I always felt that Trena Gage should have been charged with some sort of crime. She should be rotting in prison forever along with "mothers" of Tracey Dyess and Evelyn Miller. These "mothers" are scum. They have enabled sexual predators and deviants to prey upon, abuse, and kill their daughters! But where is the media? Where is the law? Out to lunch.

Hitlery: "Bush Misused My Vote"

From Radio Iowa's O. Kay Henderson, who has a knack for being able to cut through the usual media BS:

New York Senator and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton had two opportunities to address the issue of Iraq during a public forum Saturday in Des Moines, but she chose to avoid the issue. On Sunday in Davenport, though, Clinton did respond, saying she resents that President Bush had made a "mess" of Iraq and calling upon Bush to "extricate" the U.S. from Iraq before he leaves office.

Clinton also was pressed on Iraq by members of the Iowa Democratic Party's State Central Committee when she met with them Saturday morning. Many Iowa Democrats have questioned why Clinton has not renounced her 2002 vote to authorize the war. "I have said on numerous occasions that if we knew then what we know now...the congress never would have voted to give the president authority and I would have not voted to give the president authority," Clinton said. "I think that I've taken responsibility for my vote, but there are no do-overs in life. I wish there were. You know, I acted on the best judgement that I had at the time, and at the time I said that this was not a vote for pre-emptive war."

Clinton and her aides have begun stressing that last part. "The president took my vote and other votes and basically misused the authority we gave him,"

It was not a vote for pre-emptive war?

The president misused the authority she gave him?

Here's H.J. Res 114 from October 11, 2002, A joint resolution to authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq:

Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Enrolled as Agreed to or Passed by Both House and Senate)

--H.J.Res.114--

H.J.Res.114

One Hundred Seventh Congress

of the

United States of America

AT THE SECOND SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,

the twenty-third day of January, two thousand and two

Joint Resolution

To authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq.

Whereas in 1990 in response to Iraq's war of aggression against and illegal occupation of Kuwait, the United States forged a coalition of nations to liberate Kuwait and its people in order to defend the national security of the United States and enforce United Nations Security Council resolutions relating to Iraq;

Whereas after the liberation of Kuwait in 1991, Iraq entered into a United Nations sponsored cease-fire agreement pursuant to which Iraq unequivocally agreed, among other things, to eliminate its nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons programs and the means to deliver and develop them, and to end its support for international terrorism;

Whereas the efforts of international weapons inspectors, United States intelligence agencies, and Iraqi defectors led to the discovery that Iraq had large stockpiles of chemical weapons and a large scale biological weapons program, and that Iraq had an advanced nuclear weapons development program that was much closer to producing a nuclear weapon than intelligence reporting had previously indicated;

Whereas Iraq, in direct and flagrant violation of the cease-fire, attempted to thwart the efforts of weapons inspectors to identify and destroy Iraq's weapons of mass destruction stockpiles and development capabilities, which finally resulted in the withdrawal of inspectors from Iraq on October 31, 1998;

Whereas in Public Law 105-235 (August 14, 1998), Congress concluded that Iraq's continuing weapons of mass destruction programs threatened vital United States interests and international peace and security, declared Iraq to be in `material and unacceptable breach of its international obligations' and urged the President `to take appropriate action, in accordance with the Constitution and relevant laws of the United States, to bring Iraq into compliance with its international obligations';

Whereas Iraq both poses a continuing threat to the national security of the United States and international peace and security in the Persian Gulf region and remains in material and unacceptable breach of its international obligations by, among other things, continuing to possess and develop a significant chemical and biological weapons capability, actively seeking a nuclear weapons capability, and supporting and harboring terrorist organizations;

Whereas Iraq persists in violating resolution of the United Nations Security Council by continuing to engage in brutal repression of its civilian population thereby threatening international peace and security in the region, by refusing to release, repatriate, or account for non-Iraqi citizens wrongfully detained by Iraq, including an American serviceman, and by failing to return property wrongfully seized by Iraq from Kuwait;

Whereas the current Iraqi regime has demonstrated its capability and willingness to use weapons of mass destruction against other nations and its own people;

Whereas the current Iraqi regime has demonstrated its continuing hostility toward, and willingness to attack, the United States, including by attempting in 1993 to assassinate former President Bush and by firing on many thousands of occasions on United States and Coalition Armed Forces engaged in enforcing the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council;

Whereas members of al Qaida, an organization bearing responsibility for attacks on the United States, its citizens, and interests, including the attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, are known to be in Iraq;

Whereas Iraq continues to aid and harbor other international terrorist organizations, including organizations that threaten the lives and safety of United States citizens;

Whereas the attacks on the United States of September 11, 2001, underscored the gravity of the threat posed by the acquisition of weapons of mass destruction by international terrorist organizations;

Whereas Iraq's demonstrated capability and willingness to use weapons of mass destruction, the risk that the current Iraqi regime will either employ those weapons to launch a surprise attack against the United States or its Armed Forces or provide them to international terrorists who would do so, and the extreme magnitude of harm that would result to the United States and its citizens from such an attack, combine to justify action by the United States to defend itself;

Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 678 (1990) authorizes the use of all necessary means to enforce United Nations Security Council Resolution 660 (1990) and subsequent relevant resolutions and to compel Iraq to cease certain activities that threaten international peace and security, including the development of weapons of mass destruction and refusal or obstruction of United Nations weapons inspections in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 687 (1991), repression of its civilian population in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 688 (1991), and threatening its neighbors or United Nations operations in Iraq in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 949 (1994);

Whereas in the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution (Public Law 102-1), Congress has authorized the President `to use United States Armed Forces pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 678 (1990) in order to achieve implementation of Security Council Resolution 660, 661, 662, 664, 665, 666, 667, 669, 670, 674, and 677';

Whereas in December 1991, Congress expressed its sense that it `supports the use of all necessary means to achieve the goals of United Nations Security Council Resolution 687 as being consistent with the Authorization of Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution (Public Law 102-1),' that Iraq's repression of its civilian population violates United Nations Security Council Resolution 688 and `constitutes a continuing threat to the peace, security, and stability of the Persian Gulf region,' and that Congress, `supports the use of all necessary means to achieve the goals of United Nations Security Council Resolution 688';

Whereas the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-338) expressed the sense of Congress that it should be the policy of the United States to support efforts to remove from power the current Iraqi regime and promote the emergence of a democratic government to replace that regime;

Whereas on September 12, 2002, President Bush committed the United States to `work with the United Nations Security Council to meet our common challenge' posed by Iraq and to `work for the necessary resolutions,' while also making clear that `the Security Council resolutions will be enforced, and the just demands of peace and security will be met, or action will be unavoidable';

Whereas the United States is determined to prosecute the war on terrorism and Iraq's ongoing support for international terrorist groups combined with its development of weapons of mass destruction in direct violation of its obligations under the 1991 cease-fire and other United Nations Security Council resolutions make clear that it is in the national security interests of the United States and in furtherance of the war on terrorism that all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions be enforced, including through the use of force if necessary;

Whereas Congress has taken steps to pursue vigorously the war on terrorism through the provision of authorities and funding requested by the President to take the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations, or persons who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such persons or organizations;

Whereas the President and Congress are determined to continue to take all appropriate actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations, or persons who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such persons or organizations;

Whereas the President has authority under the Constitution to take action in order to deter and prevent acts of international terrorism against the United States, as Congress recognized in the joint resolution on Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-40); and

Whereas it is in the national security interests of the United States to restore international peace and security to the Persian Gulf region: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This joint resolution may be cited as the `Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002'.

SEC. 2. SUPPORT FOR UNITED STATES DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS.

The Congress of the United States supports the efforts by the President to--

(1) strictly enforce through the United Nations Security Council all relevant Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq and encourages him in those efforts; and

(2) obtain prompt and decisive action by the Security Council to ensure that Iraq abandons its strategy of delay, evasion and noncompliance and promptly and strictly complies with all relevant Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.

(a) AUTHORIZATION- The President is authorized to use the Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate in order to--

(1) defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and

(2) enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq.

(b) PRESIDENTIAL DETERMINATION- In connection with the exercise of the authority granted in subsection (a) to use force the President shall, prior to such exercise or as soon thereafter as may be feasible, but no later than 48 hours after exercising such authority, make available to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate his determination that--

(1) reliance by the United States on further diplomatic or other peaceful means alone either (A) will not adequately protect the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq or (B) is not likely to lead to enforcement of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq; and

(2) acting pursuant to this joint resolution is consistent with the United States and other countries continuing to take the necessary actions against international terrorist and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations, or persons who planned, authorized, committed or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001.

(c) War Powers Resolution Requirements-

(1) SPECIFIC STATUTORY AUTHORIZATION- Consistent with section 8(a)(1) of the War Powers Resolution, the Congress declares that this section is intended to constitute specific statutory authorization within the meaning of section 5(b) of the War Powers Resolution.

(2) APPLICABILITY OF OTHER REQUIREMENTS- Nothing in this joint resolution supersedes any requirement of the War Powers Resolution.

SEC. 4. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

(a) REPORTS- The President shall, at least once every 60 days, submit to the Congress a report on matters relevant to this joint resolution, including actions taken pursuant to the exercise of authority granted in section 3 and the status of planning for efforts that are expected to be required after such actions are completed, including those actions described in section 7 of the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-338).

(b) SINGLE CONSOLIDATED REPORT- To the extent that the submission of any report described in subsection (a) coincides with the submission of any other report on matters relevant to this joint resolution otherwise required to be submitted to Congress pursuant to the reporting requirements of the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148), all such reports may be submitted as a single consolidated report to the Congress.

(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION- To the extent that the information required by section 3 of the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution (Public Law 102-1) is included in the report required by this section, such report shall be considered as meeting the requirements of section 3 of such resolution.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.

Does Hitlery read the stuff she votes on?

Unions Want Crackdown On Illegals

Greg Alan has comments on an Iowa mayor's plan to crackdown on illegals because of tips by union members.

Don't forget, whoever wants to challenge Tom Harkin in 2008 can easily pick up union support by positioning themselves as pro-American Worker. Harkin sure isn't.

CIETC Is A Democrat Scandal

GED recipient and former $368,000-a-year CIETC head Ramona Cunningham with Senator Tom Harkin at the dedication of the "Tom Harkin Learning Center" at CIETC offices in October 20, 2004.

From the Des Moines Register's Letters section:

You would never know from reading the Register that the Urban Dreams mess, the Board of Regents intrigue, the discriminatory state hiring practices and the CIETC scandal were primarily actions by Democrats on Vilsack's watch. Your CIETC timeline doesn't even include Tom Harkin's efforts, on behalf of Ramona Cunningham, to provide some $170,000 to the struggling organization ("Four Are Indicted Over CIETC Roles," Jan. 17).

One does wonder if the Register, Rekha Basu, Andie Dominick and Richard Doak would have been so subdued if the shoe were on the other foot.

- John Malett, Des Moines

Ouch.

He's right.

Hitlery In Iowa: "I know how dangerous the world is, I'm a senator from New York, after all."

From the Daily Iowan:

The senator said she supports some Democrats' call to put a stop to Bush's planned troop increase in Iraq by withholding congressional funding. Yet, she said, she doesn't favor a total freeze on financing the war.

Her comments on the conflict also carried over into how America should deal with its allies.

"I do want to cut off funding for the Iraqi army because it's not doing its part," Rodham Clinton told The Daily Iowan. "We aren't going to be funding forces to be part of a sectarian war."

Meanwhile, when questioned about how to best deal with Iran, Rodham Clinton said Bush made a major mistake by "outsourcing" diplomacy to Europe and the international community...

..."I know how dangerous the world is," she said. "I'm a senator from New York, after all."

Oh dear god...

You know, I'm going to have to side with the kooky anti-war leftists when it comes to dealing with Hitlery's Presidential ambitions: She voted for the war, she wants the war to continue, and she isn't interested in cutting off funding and bringing our troops home. You might as well be voting for George W. Bush's third term.

As far as Hitlery's foreign policy is concerned, I have to side with the neocons and conservatives who always cringe when politicians talk about wanting "diplomacy" with a country run by a Muslim lunatic with nuclear ambitions who thinks the Holocaust didn't happen. But considering Hitlery always had a problem with those fucking Jew bastards, I'm not surprised.


Update: The South Of Iowa blog mentions:

As as I was leaving a parking lot on the south side of Des Moines today, I pulled up behind a car with a bumper sticker and sign in the rear window that I hadn't seen before...

Hillary Clinton '08

The occupants were driving a Cadillac STS. The driver looked like a hippie liberal type, smoking a cigarette and wearing a bandana over his head. Smoke waifed through the open sunroof. The passenger had a similar psuedo unkempt look, with shaggy hair and beard.

The scene pretty much summed up what Hillary is - an elitist trying to pose as a commoner in order to take power. The Caddy is a symbol of elitism, while wearing t-shirts and shaggy hair connects with the proletariats.

Athletic Supporter Tax Deductions

From the Daily Iowan Editorial Board:

The U.S. Senate Finance Committee is examining whether contributions to athletics departments should be tax-deductible. This Editorial Board welcomes the investigation and is extremely skeptical about the current deduction.

The regent universities beg the state Board of Regents year after year to fully fund the Partnership Plan for Transformation and Excellence with mixed success. But athletics contributors receive obscenely high deductions for their money. After subtracting the costs for tickets and amenity fees, a full 80 percent of money spent for luxury seating is deductible. It is somewhat easier to stomach a deduction for money designated for scholarships - but not at its current 100 percent rate. Certainly, contributions for capital projects are not worthy of full deductions, either.

When people go on about "tax cuts for the rich" this is the sort of thing I'm thinking about.

I agree totally with this editorial. Read the whole thing.

More about this issue over at Nicholas Johnson's FromDC2Iowa blog.

Tens Of Thousands, Give Or Take A Hundred Thousand

Sean "Spicoli" Penn, Eve Ensler's Vagina, and Hanoi Jane, rooting for the enemy on Saturday in DC.

From ABC News:

Protesters energized by fresh congressional skepticism about the Iraq war demanded a withdrawal of U.S. troops in a demonstration Saturday that drew tens of thousands and brought Jane Fonda back to the streets.

Tens of thousands?

What do they mean? Maybe 20,000 people showed up?

Meanwhile, the Register's favorite Jew-hating blogger says:

Over one hundred thousand protesters from 31 states rallied and marched in Washington D.C. this weekend, signaling to the U.S. Congress their demands for an immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

That's a big stretch between tens of thousands and over one hundred thousand.

ABC News would lie about the attendance figures, wouldn't they? That would be the defense by the Jew-haters, wouldn't it? ABC is run by the Jews at Disney. Rich Jews. Rich, Republican Jews. Fucking Jew bastards, if we can paraphrase Hitlery.

Organizers expected 200,000. They got tens of thousands.

And don't forget that 9/11 was an inside job:



Now for tonight's video clip: watch this:

Hitlery Is Tone Deaf

Des Moines Register: Iowa Should Step Up On Global Warming

From the Des Moines Register, likely the Editorial Board:

President Bush once again talked tough this week about reducing dependence on foreign oil. In his State of the Union speech, he set forth the ambitious goal of reducing gasoline use by 20 percent in 10 years.

Such a cut makes sense because greater petroleum use means a greater risk that our national economy and security will be held hostage by tyrants and terrorists. As finite oil supplies dwindle, the world needs a next generation of fuels, and the country that leads in developing safe, reliable energy sources will prosper.

But the president devoted only one sentence to mentioning the other reason why it's critical to stop burning fossil fuels: That's the best way we know to halt global warming.

Do these dumbfucks self-appointed experts in everything really believe that global warming is real?

It's not.

And from the NOAA.com web site for Des Moines tonight:

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 0. Wind chill values between -10 and -20. Blustery, with a northwest wind between 15 and 17 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.

Sunday: Partly cloudy, with a high near 11. Wind chill values between -10 and -20. Blustery, with a west northwest wind between 8 and 17 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow after midnight. Partly cloudy, with a steady temperature around 11. Wind chill values between -5 and zero. South southwest wind between 7 and 10 mph.

Monday: A 30 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 24. Wind chill values between 5 and 10. Blustery, with a west wind between 7 and 16 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Monday Night: A slight chance of snow showers before midnight, then a chance for flurries. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 7. Northwest wind between 13 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy, with a high near 17.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 8.

Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 24.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 12.

Thursday: Partly cloudy, with a high near 25.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 6.

Friday: Partly cloudy, with a high near 15.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 2.

Saturday: Partly cloudy, with a high near 13.

Staci Appel Wants Your Seventh Grader To Be Taught About Abortion And Sexually Transmitted Diseases

From the Des Moines Register:

Schools could opt to teach sexual education that is exclusively "science-based," including age-appropriate information about emergency contraception and a new vaccine for the sexually-transmitted virus HPV, under a new bill filed in the state Senate Tuesday.

"As a mother, not just a senator, I want everything my children are taught to be medically accurate, and first and foremost that would be abstinence," said Sen. Staci Appel of Ackworth, a Democrat, who introduced Senate File 43...

...Starting in seventh grade, the class would teach information on the sexually transmitted human papilloma viruses, or HPV, and the availability of a vaccine. Instructors would discuss data on the effectiveness of all federally approved contraceptive methods, including Plan B.

The information must also cover rape by an acquaintance or family member, and how to recognize and reject any unwanted sexual advances...

...Advocacy groups such as Planned Parenthood pushed for the legislation.

Seventh graders are 12 and 13 year olds, correct?

Staci Appel wants them to be taught about the vaccine against genital warts? Then she wants them to be taught about all the various contraceptive methods, including Plan B, which some consider to be a form of abortifacient?

What's next? Allowing Planned Parenthood to offer abortion services in middle schools?

This is all pretty funny, especially considering Staci Appel has spent the last 8 years with her legs open, taking in her husband's man juice with reckless abandon. They now have five children. And probably a number of nannies.

Now watch this:

"This Lawsuit Appears To Be A Huge Bunch Of Crap"

Separated at birth, greedy lawyer Roxanne Conlin and Tootsie


Via the AP and in the Seattle newspaper:

More than 1,100 individuals and businesses in Iowa have decided not to be a party in the class-action antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft Corp.

To exclude themselves, business owners or individuals had to contact the plaintiffs' attorneys, saying they wanted to give up their right to any money that might be available if the case is settled or the jury rules against Microsoft.

"This lawsuit appears to be a huge bunch of crap," wrote Mike Franzman, of Iowa City. His note is one example of the strong feelings some Iowans have toward class-action lawsuits.

Des Moines attorney Roxanne Conlin filed the lawsuit representing thousands of Iowans who purchased Microsoft software between 1994 and 2006. The lawsuit claims that the company engaged in illegal monopolization and anticompetitive conduct that caused customers to pay more for software than they would have if there had been competition. The plaintiffs' expert witnesses will place damages at more than $300 million.

The buyers of software could be compensated anywhere from $11 to nearly $57 per copy of software, depending on whether they bought spreadsheet, word processor or Windows products...

..."These frivolous lawsuits cost us and the economy too much money. We hope Microsoft wins," wrote Murray Ellis, of Urbandale.

Paul Bargar, 80, of Ida Grove, in a handwritten letter addressed to Conlin and dated Sept. 26, complimented Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, saying he "has done many wonderful things in the world."

"Have you done anything for anyone that would even compare in the tiniest way compared to what he has done?" Bargar wrote.

Marie Latta, of Wilton, opted out with these words: "I am opposed to using the people from the state of Iowa for your ridiculous lawsuit."

Iowa companies signing exclusion letters include Flexsteel Industries Inc. of Dubuque, Pella Corp. and Fox River Mills Inc. of Osage.

School districts, public libraries and some religious organizations and a bar owner also opted out.

Jamie Ward, 59, a partner in the West Des Moines accounting firm Denman & Co., said Thursday that she wants to exclude herself from the case and will do so if the court allows late applications.

"I think class action lawsuits are a ripoff. They increase the price of things," she said in a telephone interview. "I think these things are done to line the pockets of attorneys and not really done to help me, not that I was hurt anyway."

...The lawsuit was brought by Joe Comes, a Des Moines businessman who owns a chain of pizza restaurants, and Patricia Anne Larsen, a retiree from northwest Iowa, and two businesses - Riley Paint Inc. of Burlington and Skeffington's Formal Wear of Iowa Inc. of Des Moines.

Related: Roxanne Conlin Is A Greedy Lawyer

Minimum Wage Going Up In Iowa; Where Are All Those Family Breadwinners?

From the Des Moines Register:

Hy-Vee Food Stores, a large employer of teenagers, said it did not oppose the change.

"I mean, we weren't against (the minimum wage increase) by any means," said Chris Friesleben, assistant director of communications for the corporate office.

Friesleben said few employees at Hy-Vee work for minimum wage, and those who do are mostly teenagers "looking for a little spending money, not trying to raise a family."

Contrast this to the lies and bullshit offered up by proponents of the minimum wage increase:

"Because you came together, the lives of nearly 260,000 hard-working Iowans will be improved," [Governor Culver] said, citing a figure from the Iowa Public Policy Group that includes not only Iowans now making less than $7.25 per hour but also those making slightly more who would be expected to see a raise as employers adjust pay levels...

...At the Capitol complex, it's not easy to find anyone who makes the current minimum wage, locked for the last 10 years at $5.15 an hour. Even the pages, all high school juniors and seniors, earn $8.08 an hour. Most of the cafeteria workers earn about $10 an hour.

Culver hasn't earned minimum wage since he was a teenager, pumping gas and working with the rental houseboats at a marina in McGregor.

260,000?

Just recently, Mike Gronstal was saying that 70,000 to 80,000 family breadwinners earned minimum wage in Iowa.

They can't keep their lie straight, can they?

Where the hell are all the families with head of households earning minimum wage?

Could somebody please produce one? Greg Alan and Kevin Schmidt have $150 to dole out if you qualify.

The Register's story on Culver signing the minimum wage increase did include this person:

Brandon Chanas, 24, of Des Moines, who has Down syndrome, attended the bill signing to show support. He said he has worked at McDonald's and is now looking for a new minimum-wage job. "I will put the money in my wallet ... and take my family to Las Vegas," he said.

There ya go. Somebody with Down's Syndrome is looking for a minimum wage job so he can save up his money and go gambling. Isn't that great? Maybe he can join the usual bunch of meth addicts and child beaters who earn minimum wage, because that's the only adults who seem to be earning that wage.

And did Christopher Rants ever bother to go and research how many employees bound by state contracts use the minimum wage as a multiplier? I don't think he ever did.

I predict that the State of Iowa will, magically and seemingly unexpectedly, have to spend more money in the next year or two on salaries for certain state employees. Why? Because it's likely there are contracts out there that are tied to the minimum wage. It'll be just another excuse to raise taxes.

Rekha Basu On Wages In Iowa

For the most part, a very good column by Rekha Basu in today's Des Moines Register:

Among the few things I never understood about Iowa was why the person running a city water utility should earn 50 percent more than the governor. Important as water is, and as good as its manager may be, the Des Moines water chief is responsible for just that one commodity. The governor is responsible for everything. A governor is never really off the clock. A water administrator can probably kick back most evenings and leave the job behind...

...To pay upper-level employees these inflated salaries, we end up cheating the lower-end ones. Iowa is 40th in teacher pay, with average salaries under $41,000 a year. Iowa nurses, who make $15 or $16 an hour to start, rank dead last in the nation...

...The point isn't to single out particular individuals for the good deals they were able to cut. It's to urge officials to set some reasonable guidelines for public-employee compensation. This is something a state legislative committee could begin to tackle, by looking at how Iowa executive salaries compare with others, factoring in cost of living and other variables and setting some reasonable expectations. We should neither lose out on the best candidates nor lose our shirts paying people to run things.

A state legislative committee should look into this?

You want people earning about $22,000 a year studying the matter? Because that's what most state legislators make.

Hitlery Hires A Tom Harkinite For Iowa

GED recipient and former $368,000-a-year CIETC head Ramona Cunningham with Senator Tom Harkin at the dedication of the "Tom Harkin Learning Center" at CIETC offices in October 20, 2004.

From a blog by Elizabeth Benjamin at the Albany Times-Union web site:

U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, who will make her first foray to Iowa since her “I’m in!” announcement last weekend, announced today that she has hired Jodee Winterhof, the former chief of staff of Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin, to run her campaign operation in the Hawkeye State.

Winterhof, a fourth-generation Iowan, helped establish America Coming Together in 2003 (the largest 527 in the last presidential cycle, primarily funded by Peter Lewis, George Soros and labor unions, especially SEIU), and served as its political director in 2004.

Winterhof worked on Harkin’s presidential (1992) and senatorial campaigns (1984, 1990, 1996, 2002). She will be taking a leave of absence from Grassroots Solutions, a Washington, D.C. consulting firm, to work for Clinton.

Americans Coming Together. That always sounded like an orgy or a fuck flick, didn't it?

Chet Culver Is The "Anointed" Successor To Tom Vilsack, According To The Retards At Blogcritics.com

Some fucktard named "seatoshiningsea" at Blogcritics.com who seems to not know shit about Iowa politics says this in a recent post:

Tom Vilsack, former Iowa governor, ensured the victory of his anointed successor Chet Culver...

Are you kidding me? Anointed??????? Like Tom Vilsack could have given a crap about who succeeded him.

Tom Vilsack was anywhere but Iowa during the last election cycle. He spent most of his time in Pittsburgh and New Hampshire. Was he out campaigning for Chet Culver? Hell, no.

If anybody thought he was Tom Vilsack's anointed successor, it was Deacon Blouin, who failed to capture the lead in what was a tough three-way primary race between himself, Culver, and Ed Fallon.

This reminds me of the boneheaded and completely retarded pontificating by the likes of that dipshit Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post.

If you don't know what the fuck you're talking about, shut the fuck up.

From His Earliest Days In Vietnam To The Presidential Election In 2004, John Kerry Has Fought His Country

From Radio Iowa:

It wasn't a typo, but the omission of a word which made us laugh in the Radio Iowa newsroom yesterday when Barak Obama's statement regarding John Kerry not running for president in 2008 came into the newsroom:

Here's what we received at about 4:15 p.m.

Obama Statement on Senator Kerry's Decision Not to Run for President in 2008

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today released the following statement on Senator Kerry's decision not to run for President in 2008:

"From his earliest days in Vietnam to the Presidential Election in 2004, John Kerry has fought his country and his ideals. I am proud to call him a friend and a colleague in the United States Senate, and know that he will continue to serve his country with honor and distinction in the years to come."

(emphasis added by Radio Iowa)

It was a real Freudian slip of a typo by the dummies running the Barack Hussein Obama campaign, and the press release was reissued about 45 minutes later.

Appreciating Jane Barto's Anxiety

GED recipient and former $368,000-a-year CIETC head Ramona Cunningham with Senator Tom Harkin at the dedication of the "Tom Harkin Learning Center" at CIETC offices in October 20, 2004.

From the Des Moines Register:

Trials for three key players in the ongoing CIETC salary scandal might not happen for a year or more, the lawyer for one of the defendants said this morning.

Former accountant Karen Tesdell, former Iowa Workforce Development deputy director Jane Barto and former Des Moines City Councilman Archie Brooks were in federal court in Des Moines this morning to be arraigned on fraud and conspiracy charges. All three pleaded not guilty.

They were formally charged and then released on their promises to show up for future court dates. Former CIETC chief executive Ramona Cunningham, who now lives in Louisiana, will be in court for formal charges on Feb. 1...

...Today’s arraignment was brief. None of the defendants spoke publicly either before or after the charges were read. All were required to surrender their passports.

Barto’s attorney, Leon Spies, asked the media to “respect her privacy” and “appreciate the anxiety she is experiencing.”

[insert laugh track here]

Or just read some of the comments at the bottom of the story.

I don't think anybody is appreciating Jane Barto's anxiety. Nobody likes a whiny crook.

The Open Process

From Nicholas Johnson's FromDC2Iowa blog:

What is in some ways the most significant story in this morning's papers is found, not in an Iowa paper, but in the Albuquerque Tribune.

Why is that? What could it possibly be about?

Read the rest of Johnson's thoughts here. Then proceed to the story in the Albuquerque Tribune.

The Davenport City Council Doesn't Understand The Law

From the Des Moines Register:

The Davenport City Council has voted against a proposal to tweak the city's traffic camera ordinance that a judge says violates state law.

The city's legal counsel, hoping to keep the camera system operational, drafted a revised ordinance after the ruling was issued earlier this month. The City Council decided Wednesday night to keep its original ordinance and hope the Iowa Supreme Court overturns the district judge's decision...

...District Court Judge Gary McKenrick ruled Jan. 2 that the city's camera ordinance conflicts with the state motor vehicle code in several ways, including its fine structure and the fact that the violations are not reported to the state.

Er, it's a little more than that.

This is from a January 2 story in the Register:

According to state law, people who speed or run a red light must be issued criminal citations. The city of Davenport treats citations issued by the camera system as civil matters. Plaintiffs’ attorneys also argued the city was breaking state law by issuing the citations to the vehicles’ owners instead of the drivers.

I'll go out on a very short limb and suggest that the issuing citations to the owner of the vehicles rather than the driver is the biggest deal here.

There are instances where fines are levied against the owner of the vehicle, regardless of who was driving it. Parking tickets, for example. But what the Davenport City Council is asking for here is that they can fine the owner of a vehicle for a moving violation rather than the driver. That would be a significant change in the law if the City won on appeal; a change I think would be for the worse. The City should be able to prove who was driving the car.

I don't know who's dumber; the people who elected these bozos on the Davenport City Council, or the retards that got elected.

The DNC Wants To Model 2008 Campaigns On The Loebsack-Leach Race: Why That's A Bad Thing

Common Iowan mentions that the DNC wants to model 2008 campaigns on Dave Loebsack's victory over Jim Leach.

I don't think that's a wise thing.

The Loebsack-Leach race was actually a rather unique situation. The two candidates were very similar on many issues; both were against the Iraq War (Leach voted against it), both were against the Bush Tax Cuts (Leach was the only House Republican voting against them in 2002), and both were critics of many of President Bush's policies. Leach is also pro-abortion and in favor of taxpayers funding stem cell research. Leach wouldn't accept PAC money or out-of-state donations. The only thing Jim Leach had going for him in the past was his lengthy incumbency, name recognition, and chairmanship of the House Financial Services committee, but that crumbled away as he was forced to move into a more Democrat-leaning district several years ago after Iowa was reapportioned.

What's the difference between Dave Loebsack and Jim Leach, other than the letter behind their names? Not much, if you think about it.

What do I think happened?

Two things:

1. Dave Loebsack gave RINOs and moderate independents a reason to vote against a House lifer. It was an anti-incumbency thing.

2. Jim Leach was not the kind of candidate that excited the Republican base. Say you're pro-life, or maybe you think the tax cuts were a good idea, or maybe you're in favor of the war in Iraq. Who are you going to vote for? Well, you don't have anybody to vote for, so you leave the bubble blank. It's as simple as that.

Good luck on the DNC finding more 30 year Republican incumbents who are pro-choice, anti-war, anti-tax cut, and are a regular critic of members of his own party. I think the last one just left the building.

Voted "Most Likely To Work In Gay Porn In 6 Months"

How bad is the Des Moines Register scraping the bottom with some of their bloggers?:

Tue 1.23.2007 4:20 PM

Hey how’s it goin’? My name is Jacob Motsinger. I am 19 years old and living in North Hollywood, California. I moved out here from Iowa about 3 months ago. I am pursuing an acting career. I work at the Gap and Jerry’s Famous Deli; both on Ventura Blvd. in Studio City. I work alot. I mean….. alot. I work 40 hrs/week at Jerry’s and about 15 hrs/week at the Gap. I haven’t had a day off in a week, and I’m not gettin one this week either. But oh well ya know? Ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

Anyway, I’m headed to gap tonight. It’s an easy/short night; 5:15-10. After that, I don’t really know what I’ll do. Hang out with friends I s’pose. Hmmmm….. I do have something to blog about (celebrities, and people with and/or without manners) but I know it will put me in a bad mood to talk about it so I’ll save it for later when I’m already in a bad mood. Haha.

Alright then… I guess I’ll talk atcha later. Don’t worry, I’ll let you know more about me. Gotta get back to my laundry though… so…. C ya!!

Jacob

Talk atcha later!

Who did this clown suck off to get a Register blog?

Haha. C ya!!



Why, it wasn't that long ago when newspapers regarded bloggers as being "humorless, thin-skinned and have a grandiose sense of their own importance."

In fact, some newspaper columnists explained blogging to the masses in this way: "Perhaps you have not heard of blogs. The name derives from a combination of 'blather' and 'logorrhea.'"

Then came the warning from one newspaper reporter about how the public should "Know that if the information is coming from the mainstream media - the accredited reporters, broadcasters and photojournalists - they are following strict professional guidelines that the looser outlets don't require. The information has been verified, has been scrutinized by editors, has been fact-checked and proofed." and to ignore blogs.

Related: One Year Later: How Are Those Juice Blogs Doing?

The Strategic Vision Poll For Iowa

I'm sure all you political junkies have seen the Strategic Vision Poll for Iowa, done in the past week with 600 likely caucus-goers.

It's hard for me to believe that Rudy Giuliani, John McVain, and Newt Gingrich are leading in Iowa amongst Republicans. Where are the fire-and-brimstone religious-right candidates that garner nearly a third of the caucus votes? The only real conservative in the bunch is Newt and he's damaged goods.

I can understand why John Edwards is at 25% and leading the pack. I don't think he's that strong of a candidate, but I understand why he's there.

My favorite question is 2. Do you see President George W. Bush as a conservative Republican in the mode of Ronald Reagan? (Republicans Only)

That's a good thing to drop into a poll. I'd like to see other polling firms expand upon that ask questions on the order of:

* If you could elect any Republican, past president or not, into the office of the President Of The United States again, who would you pick?

Ask just the Republicans that sort of question. I bet it would be Ronald Reagan in a landslide, probably followed by Barry Goldwater.

Then ask the Democrats a similar question. I bet it would be Harry Truman, Bill Clinton, JFK, and FDR, or something close to that sort of ranking.

Even more curious would be asking Democrats what Republican over the past 75 years they'd like to see elected as President. They'd all pick Ike, wouldn't they?

Same thing with asking Republicans about past Democrats. Probably lots of Harry Truman and JFK there.

Such a poll wouldn't have to be restricted to just a former President. It could be any politician or public figure who has identified with a particular party in the past.

Nude Dancing In Marshalltown = Economic Development + Empowering Young Women

From the Marshalltown Times-Republican:

The Des Moines strip club manager and owner of the former Tractor Supply Company property on Iowa Avenue asked the Marshalltown City Council Monday for an opportunity to relate the benefits of bringing a similar establishment to Marshalltown.

The council will afford Melvin Bryson that opportunity on Feb. 12 during a public hearing on the final reading of a proposed ordinance banning alcohol from establishments that permit nudity...

...For the council and public, Bryson wants to present information and data that counter the negative perspective of the nude dancing or strip club business with “a positive, growing type of a standpoint — from the economic impact as far as empowering young women and other people to make something more than minimum wage for themselves, but then also from the impact on other businesses in the area, such as pizza parlors and McDonalds and Kentucky Fried Chicken ... and gas stations who would sell a lot of gas,” he said.

Tractor Supply Company, eh?

I've got a tractor story for you:

Slipknot's Clown Is Selling Some Shitty Cars On Ebay

Via Blabbermouth:

SLIPKNOT percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan is apparently selling four of his 1973 Dodge Charger cars via eBay. According to a posting on the auction page, "These four Dodge Chargers are in varying condition. Yes, new floors needed, full restorations advised, as these are projects in the work. Shawn was going to make one or two cars out of these four. . . The cars are located in Des Moines, Iowa and should be picked up there. You are responsible for all shipping costs, all sales final, cars sold as is."

The auction ends on Tuesday, January 23 at 7:16 p.m. PST.

Here's the Ebay auction. What a bunch of shitty cars.

Terror-Free Gas Station Comes To Omaha

From Nebraska.tv:

There's a new gas station making headlines in Omaha. Its the nation's first "terror free" gas station. The Florida-based company claims US dollars are used to buy gas made from Middle East oil that funds terrorism. The new gas station urges Americans to only buy oil products that originate from countries that do not support terrorism.

The new station will be near the west side of Omaha and the grand opening is set for February 12th. The company plans to open more terror-free oil stations across the nation.

That's a clever marketing plan.

They should also carry bio-diesel and E85 that's been blended with cruelty-free, kid tested/mother approved, and non-Muslim-or-dictator-originated liquid former dinosaurs.

Would Iowans go for that?

More stuff at TerrorFreeOil.org's cheesy web site.

Hat tip: Gay Patriot

See You Next Tuesday

From the Iowa State Daily:

Iowa State's new second-in-command is settled into her office, ready to take the lead in guiding changes large and small at the university, even when that means sticking to her guns.

Elizabeth Hoffman, a doctor of economics whose resume includes a previous tenure at Iowa State as the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, was announced in November as President Geoffroy's final choice for ISU executive vice president and provost.

Hoffman has also served as provost at the University of Illinois and president of the University of Colorado system.

The post makes Hoffman Iowa State's second-highest ranking university executive and primary academic administrator, a position she was chosen for despite outspoken criticism of her candidacy from certain faculty members and alumni.

Much of this criticism stems from Hoffman's presidency at Colorado, where she resigned amid a series of scandals, most sensationally a football recruiting controversy where players and coaches were accused of sexual harassment. During that time, Hoffman received pointed criticism for statements she made as well as her decision not to fire outspoken CU professor Ward Churchill.

Hoffman said she is dedicated to being an administrator who is inclusive while maintaining confidence in her own decisions. She said the importance of making principled decisions was one of the main insights she gained from her presidential tenure at Colorado.

From Wikipedia:

In 2004, University of Colorado president Elizabeth Hoffman fanned the flames of a football rape case when, during a deposition, she was asked if she thought "cunt" was a "filthy and vile" word. She replied that it was a "swear word" but had "actually heard it used as a term of endearment." A spokesperson later clarified that Hoffman meant the word had polite meanings in its original use centuries ago. In the rape case, a CU football player had allegedly called female player Katie Hnida a "fucking lovely cunt".

And from the Des Moines Register a couple months ago:

Regina Cowles, president of the Boulder Chapter of National Organization for Women, was a frequent critic of Hoffman's handling of the recruitment controversy and the rape allegations...

Some Elizabeth Hoffman defenders lump in the president of the Boulder Chapter of the National Organization for Women as a malcontent and detractor.



Ward Churchill

And Elizabeth Hoffman was the same person who couldn't fire "professor" Ward Churchill:

The review of Churchill's scholarship and whether or not the university has grounds to fire the tenured professor was instigated after Churchill's essay about the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks came to light. In his controversial essay, Churchill compared the victims to "little Eichmanns," referring to Nazi bureaucrat Adolf Eichmann, who helped carry out the Holocaust. The professor argued that those who worked at the World Trade Centers were not innocent victims but were actively participating in an unfair American economic system that provoked the terrorist attacks.

Hoffman is getting $275,000 a year, and is one of the highest paid provosts in the Big 12.

I wonder if Elizabeth Hoffman is on the short list as a possible presidential candidate at the University of Iowa. That would not shock me if it were true.

25th Anniversary Of Ozzy Getting Rabies Shots In Des Moines

From the Des Moines Register:

The bat in Des Moines, however, was most certainly dead, closer to rancid, according to Mark Neal. He was 17 at the time he tossed the bat corpse on stage. Neal's younger brother had brought the bat home from school, alive and flapping, about two weeks before the concert. No surprise that the bat failed as a household pet. So Neal's friends, aware of Osbourne's carnivorous reputation, convinced the impressionable lad to seal the bat remains in a baggy and tuck them inside his coat.

Neal got more of a reaction than he bargained for.

"It really freaked me out," he told a Register reporter in 1982. "I won't get in any trouble for admitting this, will I?"

After the concert, Osbourne was rushed to Broadlawns Medical Center for rabies shots.

Pam Culver was the nurse supervisor on duty that night when Osbourne's tour bus rolled in. She didn't personally treat the rocker, but she did weather the aftermath of his visit.

"For a week that was probably 50 percent of my job - fielding calls from England and Canada and all over the United States," Culver said. "People wanted to know how much did it cost to do that, and did it hurt, and how may shots did he have to have, what part of his body did we have to attack."

Osbourne's antics also made a lasting impression on the facility's management.

By October 1982, auditorium directors had decided "to prohibit concert performers from using, presenting or in any way making live animals a part of a program at Vets without the consent of management."

Wow, I never knew they found the kid who threw the bat on the stage!


Related: 24th Anniversary of Ozzy Biting The Head Off A Bat In Des Moines and Memories Of Vets Auditorium

Wanted: A Dozen Teenage Pot Smokers

From the Quad City Times in a story headlined "Wanted: Teens who use marijuana":

Robert Block is trying to find a dozen teenage pot smokers.

But the University of Iowa researcher says there is a catch. The kids’ parents must know about the marijuana use and sign a consent form.

“No one is going to tell their parents to be in the research,” he said while talking about his decision to advertise in newspapers in the Quad-Cities and throughout the state for possible subjects after getting a meager response from a drug treatment program in Iowa City. “It’s only going to be those who have parents who already know about it.”

...The effect of teenage marijuana smoking on the brain is the focus of Block’s research. He has found differences in similar studies on adults and now plans to discover the impact on teens, whose brains are still developing, he said.

Block hopes to find 12 male teens between 12 and 17 years old who are either current or former marijuana users. He also is recruiting teens who never have used the drug. They will undergo tests for attention, memory and reaction speed, among others, and also will undergo brain imaging.

There is one more catch, he noted.

The participants are asked not to use marijuana during the study.

Those guys are fags!

Marshalltown Newspaper Editor: Immigration Raids Aren't Working

From the Des Moines Register:

Ken Larson, the managing editor of the Marshalltown Times-Rebublican, said a summit is scheduled for Feb. 26 at Dejarden Hall at Marshalltown Community College.

“We want to do two things — to make sure the higher officials we invite can walk away educated knowing that we’ve been doing immigration raids for how many decades, and the population continues to rise, so (the raids) are not working,” Larson said.

Larson's suggestion at solving the problem appears to be simply amnesty for illegals.

Until companies like Swift are fined heavily for employing illegals, the people in the region stop buying their products, and the politicians stop accepting campaign donations from these companies, it will continue.

CIETC: Keep Digging

GED recipient and former $368,000-a-year CIETC head Ramona Cunningham with Senator Tom Harkin at the dedication of the "Tom Harkin Learning Center" at CIETC offices in October 20, 2004.

Like I said: keep digging.

Mary Kennedy Takes On Tom Vilsack

Dixie Shanahan (now Dixie Duty), after her first husband beat her up

From the Des Moines Register's Iowa View, by Mary Kennedy:

I volunteered for nearly three decades at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women and am familiar with the requests of all 16 women who had applied to Vilsack for commutations. It was probably beyond hope that he would go back and consider the applications of the women he'd rejected earlier. But he hadn't ruled on the applications for 12 women. Although they'd been rejected in Parole Board hearings, Vilsack was the final decider. (In Iowa the commutation request goes to the governor's office, who sends it to the Parole Board for a commutation interview and vote. Then it is returned to the governor with the Parole Board's recommendation.)

I met last month with a lawyer in the governor's office who tried hard to convince me that the governor was not prejudiced against women prisoners in making commutation decisions. It was a "No Sale" for me.

In his two terms, Vilsack commuted sentences of seven men and only one woman. And the one woman, Duty, was less deserving than the other women applicants. He also has appointed a Parole Board that appears to be vindictive and prejudiced toward women offenders. He and the Parole Board have called certain women "liars" because they did not tell the story the governor and Parole Board wanted to hear about their crime...

...To lead this country, it's important to operate from a platform of justice and fairness. Presidential candidate Vilsack doesn't measure up in this area.

I would be interested in reading stories about the other women who have petitioned Vilsack for clemency.

Hitlery 2008

Unlike Krusty, I don't want Hitlery to get the Democratic nomination for President. I'll take an inexperienced Democrat over a corrupt and ruthless one any day.

No More Blood For Botox!

From the AP via the Waterloo Courier:

A 14-year-old girl was killed by Hispanic gang members who police say were targeting blacks. A 9-year-old girl died after being hit by a stray bullet as gang members exchanged shots near her home. A cop was wounded in a gunbattle with a suspected gangster.

The soaring violence is prompting police and politicians to promise one of the toughest crackdowns against gangs in city history.

"This is the monster, this is what drives people's fears," said Deputy Chief Charles Beck, who oversees a South Los Angeles district where gang-related crime jumped 24 percent during the year ending in November.

However, the effort has met skepticism in the city that has an estimated 700 gangs with 40,000 members _ about four for every police officer _ and that gave birth to some of the nation's most notorious gangs, including the Crips, Bloods and Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13.

"It's too big, it's too entrenched, it's too intimately connected with the urban setup here," Malcolm Klein, a gang expert at the University of Southern California, said of the gang problem. "You can reduce it. But the idea you can somehow eliminate it is ridiculous."

Gangs have thrived for generations in Los Angeles, but the especially violent past year caught police brass off guard. Citywide crime rates fell in 2006 but gang-related offenses increased 14 percent _ the first hike in four years. In the San Fernando Valley, gang murders, assaults, robberies and other crimes jumped 42 percent.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has appealed to U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez for millions of dollars in anti-gang funds and for more federal prosecutors to pursue racketeering and other charges mostly used in the past against organized crime.

Sounds like a civil war to me.

A quagmire!

Why do they hate us?

Is it poverty or racism that's causing this?

I blame the rich Jews running Hollywood and other crackers. That, and the racism that drove blacks and former slaves out of the South during Reconstruction to California. And the fact that America stole Aztlan from Mexico. Until we address those issues, gang violence will continue.

My suggestion? Same as Tom Harkin's. I don't think an escalation in Los Angeles is necessary. America just needs to pull out.

And if Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa wants more troops to control what is essentially a ongoing civil war then I oppose it.

No more blood for Botox!

Davenport Police Chief Mike Bladel Is A Drama Queen

From the Quad City Times:

Gesturing sternly and speaking in a clipped, impassioned tone, Davenport Police Chief Mike Bladel fired back at traffic camera enforcement critics.

“I haven’t seen anyone else involved in this debate who has had to stand on a parent’s porch and tell them their child has been killed in an accident,” he said during Thursday’s public safety committee meeting. “Until you’ve done that, it’s kind of hard for me to accept the criticism that we shouldn’t use every bit of technology we have to try and prevent accidents.”

What does that have to do with anything?

Bladel spoke after several members of the audience blasted the city council for considering a new ordinance that would allow the city to begin issuing traffic citations again. A district judge ruled against the current ordinance Jan. 2.The public commenters’ arguments centered on the city using camera enforcement as a “cash cow” and questioning the fairness of issuing tickets to the owners of vehicles rather than the driver when the violation occurred.

Bladel pleaded with aldermen not to bow to public pressure.

“Less people are getting hurt and killed, and that tells me this technology is worth fighting for,” Bladel said.

That sort of reminds me of the police chief in Burlington who claimed that the cameras were only responsible for the accidents that didn't happen.

It's all about the money. Bladel is just being a drama queen.

The police should be forced to prove who is driving when a vehicle runs a red light. Until they can do that, these red-light cameras needs to be thrown out.

CSI Des Moines, Part 2

In followup to the CSI Des Moines post yesterday, here's a story in the Des Moines Register from today:

Martin Sinclair Duffy is in the Polk County Jail because of an astute probation officer and Iowa legislators who authorized money to expand DNA testing and a state DNA database.

Officials say that even a few years ago, Duffy probably wouldn't have been tested. They say the money, which funds the logistics of testing and processing criminals' DNA, has expanded the state's DNA computer database and dramatically increased the number of convicts whose DNA matches that taken in crimes to which they may not have been linked.

DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, contains our unique genetic code and transmits the hereditary pattern.

Six years ago officials in Iowa began working on a way to pay for a DNA database. A law intended to broaden Iowa's database passed four years ago, but the statute was contingent on finding money for it and it was largely ignored in a series of cash-strapped state budgets.

Fred Scaletta, spokesman for the Iowa Department of Corrections, said that before July 2005 the law required that only certain criminals - those convicted of felonies or misdemeanor sexual offense - provide DNA samples.

When legislators budgeted money to begin building that database, officials started by collecting samples from those who met that criteria. Even so, the Department of Corrections had a limited number of DNA kits with which to take samples, so they began testing the inmates as they were leaving prisons.

As more money became available, samples were taken of inmates entering the system. Then officials began taking samples from everyone currently under supervision. Finally, they started taking samples from people arrested on lesser crimes if they had a previous felony conviction or misdemeanor sexual count on their record.

And that's why they asked Duffy for a sample...

But Michael Gartner getting nearly a million dollars in corporate welfare from the State to fix up his Principal Pork ballpark and the other $98 million wasted on Vision Iowa pork was more important than financing Iowa's DNA Database.

Dare I say that the DNA Database has achieved far better results than Vision Iowa?

Scott Raeker and Geri Huser Get The Gas Face

Yes, I got the email about the recent Gongol post about HF 36.

Krusty covers it this morning and with good discussion in the comments.

I'm all in favor of limiting campaign donations, sort of like the way Ed Fallon has proposed in the past. You don't want judges essentially buying their seats or old farts getting sweetheart deals.

But to suggest that merely talking about a candidate is some sort of in-kind contribution that merits mountains of paperwork, fines, and jail sentences, is absurd and a clear violation of the First Amendment.

Scott Raeker and Geri Huser, a Republican and a Democrat respectively, are an example of what's wrong with politics today. They want to pass these rules that squelch opinion and violate the Constitution. My opinion is that both should be thrown out of political office and flushed down the toilet.

They get The Gas Face:

Thursday Afternoon Break

CSI Des Moines

From Radio Iowa:

Authorities in central Iowa say they've solved a murder case that's been cold more than two decades. Using D.N.A. evidence, capitol city police on Wednesday charged 46-year-old Martin Duffy of Des Moines with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of 32-year-old Karen Weber of Colfax. Weber's body was found near Prairie City in 1986.

The state crime lab matched Duffy's D.N.A., taken after a 2005 drunk driving conviction, with evidence gathered at the crime scene 21 years ago...

...It's the second case in recent weeks that's led to an arrest after the crime lab waded through old D.N.A. using new technology.

Closing old cases thanks to new technology is always good news.

I don't know if the Iowa Legislature ever got around to funding a statewide DNA database, but it was languishing in the statehouse back in 2005. Projections then was that the DNA database would cost a million dollars the first year and roughly $600,000 a year afterwards. Funny how Michael Gartner got nearly a million dollars in corporate welfare to upgrade his Principal Pork ballpark in 2005. I guess you've got to have your priorities.

Flogging A Dead Horse

From Radio Iowa:

Iowa lawmakers are debating raising the age at which students can legally drop out of school. A student can leave school at sixteen right now, but the Iowa Department of Education has asked the legislature to raise that to age eighteen...

...But representative Art Staed... says the law won't work without giving schools more money to run alternative programs for dropouts. Staed is a seventh-grade social-studies teacher in Cedar Rapids, and says forcing an unwilling student back into a traditional classroom just won't work. "It's almost like flogging dead horses," Staed says.

Staed is correct, although if schools are running alternative programs for dropouts then the students technically aren't really dropouts anymore, are they? The kids are just in a different type of school setting. And that's probably a good thing.

I've always gotten the impression that high school is a waste of time for many kids. The ambitious student graduates early or take college credit courses at the nearby community college. Some sign up for the military at age 17. Others start working for family businesses and eventually gain various skills or work in the trades. But most are just sitting around, texting, and waiting for 12th grade to be over so they can begin their journey into debt hell, aka higher education.

On the other hand, if you're an athlete then the State Board of Education believes that carrying all D-minuses and two F's is perfectly acceptable.

This is just more nanny-state BS, not unlike making children out of 18, 19, and 20 year olds when it comes to having a brewski. If junior wants to drop out of school at age 16 or 17, why should we get in the way?

CIETC: The Publicly-Funded Pinata For Its Executives

GED recipient and former $368,000-a-year CIETC head Ramona Cunningham with Senator Tom Harkin at the dedication of the "Tom Harkin Learning Center" at CIETC offices in October 20, 2004.


The Tax Update Blog has some questions concerning the CIETC indictments:

WHAT ABOUT "PROJECT DESTINY? The proposal to boost the local sales tax rate from 6% to 7% was deferred when the CIETC scandal first hit the news. Boosters thought it was unlikely that voters would want to send more money to local government when Ms. Cunningham's $360,000 compensation was still fresh. Now the trial and the stories of taxpayer-financed gambling junkets will be in the news on a regular basis. Continuing coverage of county and city fiscal incontinence isn't likely to get voters excited about sending more money to Mr. Vlassis and his associates.

ARE THERE MORE CIETCS? CIETC was a "28E" organization. Last month the Des Moines Register reported:

Although 28-E organizations are publicly funded, they receive very little public scrutiny. State officials are not even sure how many there are in Iowa. By some estimates, there are more than 1,000, and at least 100 of those have annual budgets of more than $100,000.

Obscurity enabled shenanigans at CIETC to continue for two decades, according to the charges. How much tax money is going down other ratholes?

WHY IS A FORMER CIETC DIRECTOR WHO TOOK THE 5TH STILL ON THE PRAIRIE MEADOWS BOARD? I'm all for the exercise of constitutional rights, but if you can't talk about your work on one agency board because of self-incrimination problems, it doesn't seem you should be on another board that handles billions of dollars of cash annually.

WHERE IS THE MONEY? The CIETC board held its meetings at the Prairie Meadows casino. The indictment says the executive director liked gambling junkets. Perhaps that gives the forensic accountants a place to look.

All I can say is: keep digging. We haven't hit the bottom of this scandal yet.

Iowa National Guard Recruiting Numbers Keep Going Up

From the Daily Iowan:

UI senior Andrew McElmeel said he felt a desire to take part in the war effort so much that he volunteered to be deployed overseas as soon as possible.

"I've always wanted to go into the military," he said. "It's also an awesome way to knock off some [college debt]."

Though the Bush administration's plan for Iraq - which calls for an additional 21,500 troops in the embattled country - has elicited vows from political opponents who say they won't support the commander-in-chief's proposal, recruitment numbers in Iowa show a steady increase in the number of people signing up for duty.

In 2004, 1,076 enlisted in the Iowa National Guard. The following year, 1,193 men and women did the same. Another 1,337 soldiers joined last year

Meanwhile, the Des Moines Register and John Carlson continue to accentuate the negative.

Funny how the media is always seem to be able to find an anti-war mother of somebody in the military.


Related: "I am not a leftist, rabble-rousing peacenik"

Will Iowa Be Soft On Kansas Legislative Democrats Who Drive Drunk?

From the Kansas City Star:

Already charged with assaulting an abortion opponent at the Kansas State Fair, a House member has acknowledged being charged in Iowa last month with drunken driving.

Rep. Vaughn Flora, D-Topeka, apologized to his constituents in a statement released Tuesday night, several hours after declining comment to a Topeka Capital-Journal reporter who questioned him about the Iowa case.

Flora, 62, was charged with misdemeanor operating a vehicle while intoxicated and interference with official acts following an incident Dec. 17 in a parking lot in Ames, Iowa...

...In Iowa, Story County Attorney Stephen Holmes said Ames police officers found Flora behind the steering wheel of a minivan in a convenience story parking lot the evening of Dec. 17.

Flora “had a very strong odor of alcohol,” watery and bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and difficulty with motor skills, according to a police affidavit.

Holmes said Flora failed field sobriety tests, but Flora’s blood-alcohol level couldn’t be determined because he refused to submit to a “chemical test,” meaning he wouldn’t perform a breath test or allow blood to be withdrawn to determine whether he had alcohol in his system.

The interference charge is tied to Flora’s arrest, Holmes said, when he pulled away from arresting officers.

Flora, asked Tuesday if he intended to resign in light of the Iowa charges, emphatically replied, “No.”

Typical.

Maybe We Should Put Cameras In Chuck Grassley's Office

From Radio Iowa:

Republican Chuck Grassley says he's again going to appeal for passage of his bill to put television cameras in federal courtrooms...

...Grassley says having cameras in courtrooms at the state level for many years has been a successful venture and it should be translated to the federal courts. He says "The bill would let federal trial and appellate judges open their courtrooms to broadcasters, just like 48 states including Iowa do, and Iowa's been doing this for about 30 years and it's worked very well there." Grassley says passage of the legislation would make the federal court system more open, adding, "Openness improves public understanding." He says the cameras won't interfere with proceedings and if they do, the judges will have the option of having the cameras switched off in extreme cases.

It's too bad the public doesn't put a camera in Chuck Grassley's office.

Then we could have seen him make that deal with campaign contributor, fellow Republican, and con artist David Oman when Oman got that $50 million deficit-financed pork to burn on building the rainforest in Iowa. Or maybe we could have listened in on the phone conversation just prior to Grassley updating the legislation concerning where the rainforest money can be spent from Johnson County to anywhere in Iowa.

The Case For Executing Archie Brooks

Holy shit, this goes all the way back to 1980.

From the Des Moines Register:

The following is a timeline of CIETC’s history:

September 1981 -- For the second year in a row, the U.S. Department of Labor gives what it calls a “non-passing grade” to Central Iowa Employment and Training Consortium’s an annual report card. The department faults the consortium for an inability to handle complaints from people who say they’ve been unfairly terminated from a jobs program. Board chairman Archie Brooks says the problem will be corrected.

April 1982 -- The U.S. Department of Labor claims that CIETC and another job-training agency are responsible for almost $1 million in misspent public money. “Somebody in that group owes us some money,” says William Hood of the department, citing “widespread violations of the law.” The federal money had been given to CIETC, which was to oversee its use for job-training programs handled by the Central Iowa Regional Association of Local Governments. CIRALG, which was once headed by CIETC chairman Archie Brooks, allegedly misspent the money and CIETC didn’t monitor the situation to prevent it from happening.

September 1982 -- Department of Labor officials review the books of CIETC and announce “serious problems.” CIETC is accused of inadequate accounting guidelines and inadequate oversight of spending. Brooks disputes the claim.

December 1982 -- A plan to repay the federal government is proposed by CIETC: The eight counties and 81 cities that participate in CIETC and CIRALG will chip in and pay back a total of $368,000 -- much less than the $618,000 federal officials claim is still owed. A variation of that plan is eventually agreed to, though the repayment will take years.

Look at these dates: 1980, 1981, 1982...

Look at the scandal: inadequate accounting and oversight.

Look at the remedy: county and city taxpayers have to pay back the Feds.

Fool me once...

I think the Feds should just take everybody involved with CIETC out back, give them a blindfold and a cigarette, and shoot 'em in the head.

First up, Archie Brooks.

I'm completely serious.

That would send a message, wouldn't it?

I just hope that whatever sentence Archie Brooks gets, he's in prison until he dies. Preferably in a painful and prolonged manner.

There's Pound-Me-In-The-Ass Federal Prison Space For Archie Brooks, Ramona Cunningham, And Others

GED recipient and former $368,000-a-year CIETC head Ramona Cunningham with Senator Tom Harkin at the dedication of the "Tom Harkin Learning Center" at CIETC offices in October 20, 2004.

From the Des Moines Register:

A federal grand jury today indicted four people on fraud and conspiracy charges for their roles in the CIETC salary scandal. Another former executive pleaded guilty to two federal charges.

The indictments come 10 months after the now-defunct Central Iowa Employment and Training Consortium, a Des Moines job-training agency, came under scrutiny from federal investigators over the use of taxpayer money to pay top executives and others $1.8 million in less than three years. Those to be indicted are:

• Former Des Moines City Councilman and CIETC chairman Archie Brooks, who approved the most questionable expenditures.

• The agency’s former chief executive Ramona Cunningham, who was paid $368,000 in one year alone.

• Karen Tesdell, CIETC’s former accountant. She was paid $129,168 last yar, which auditors called excessive.

• Jane Barto, Former deputy director of Iowa Workforce Development. She resigned after auditors alleged that her friendship with top CIETC officials might have undermined her agency’s attempts to oversee CIETC.

The 26-page indictment outlines 27 counts of conspiracy, fraud and obstruction against Cunningham; 26 counts against Tesdell; 19 against Brooks and two against Barto.

The four will be arraigned on Jan. 25. The single most serious charge, faced by all except Barto, carries a maximum 10 years in a Federal pound-me-in-the-ass prison.

I see where Tom "Rubber Stamp" Vlassis hasn't been charged.

Yet.

Nothing on crooked dunderhead Steven "Ako Abdul-Samad" Green either.

I am happy to see GED recipient and former $368,000 a year CIETC head Ramona Cunningham get indicted.

Best of all, perennial Des Moines thug Archie Brooks was busted.

I don't know what else to say. Good work, Feds!

Former CIETC COO John Bargman Is Going To A Federal Pound-Me-In-The-Ass Prison

GED recipient and former $368,000-a-year CIETC head Ramona Cunningham with Senator Tom Harkin at the dedication of the "Tom Harkin Learning Center" at CIETC offices in October 20, 2004.

From the Des Moines Register:

The former chief operating officer of the now-defunct Central Iowa Employment and Training Consortium pleaded guilty today to conspiracy and related federal charges as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors that will include his cooperation with a grand jury investigation into alleged misspending of taxpayer money at the agency.

John Bargman’s plea came less than 90 minutes before federal authorities are scheduled to unveil the details of several indictments involving “a major public corruption and federal funds fraud case.”

The charges against Bargman — conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government and misappropriation of federal funds — are punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The conspiracy charge also carries a $250,000 fine.

Under federal guidelines, Bargman will likely be sentenced to between 37 and 46 months behind bars and be ordered to repay as much as $400,000.

Prosecutors said Bargman hid what he knew was an exorbitant salary and lied to others about how federal grant money was spent at the agency...

...Bargman was released on his promise to appear in court. His attorney, Alfredo Parrish, declined comment.

Watch this:

Iowans Beware: Fake Lotteries Are A Scam, Too

From the Mason City Glob Gazette and with the ironic headline of Warning: Lottery scams out to bilk Iowans:

Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller warned Iowans today to be on the lookout for fake lotteries seeking to steal thousands of dollars from victims who think they’ve won a jackpot.

In many cases, victims are told by mail or e-mail that they’ve won a cash prize and are asked to wire money to pay taxes and handling fees up front. They may also receive a counterfeit cashier’s check for a portion of their “winnings.”

But there is no prize and victims lose the $2,900 to $4,500 they usually are asked to pay up front. Miller and Iowa Lottery CEO Ed Stanek said today they are receiving numerous complaints from Iowans who have received solicitations.

Next week, Tom Miller will be warning Iowans about how some politicians wasted all the tobacco settlement shakedown dough on money pits like the Iowa Communications Network and other unrelated things. And remember that in 1996 the taxpayers were told that they would no longer be burdened to support the medical expenses of smokers. That was before Christopher Rants got his hands on the money.

"I am not a leftist, rabble-rousing peacenik"

From the Centerville Daily Iowegian:

I never expected to hear that my daughter had been arrested. Especially since she is in her 40s, close to finally obtaining her PhD and is the mother of four grown sons. As far as I knew, she was home studying and working.

Jeri Lynn was arrested last weekend standing up for her beliefs; putting her principles out there for the world to see. She and several others, along with Cindy Sheehan, were arrested on the road leading to President Bush’s ranch in Crawford, Texas. They were rolled over on the pavement and handcuffed, then taken to a cold holding cell in the Crawford Jail where they slept the night on a concrete floor...

...Civil disobedience is a hard action to defend. I am very much against the war in Iraq but I have never gone out of my way to break the law - just to make a point. But shouldn’t the people who believe this war is not right stand up some way and record their dissent?

I keep hoping some of our leaders will start shouting from the rooftops that our troops should come home. I keep hoping religious leaders will start speaking openly about the need for peace in the world. Instead, no one is saying anything. Or doing anything.

Sometimes I think it might be better if we did institute a draft - because then there would be people in the streets protesting. And even Congressmen and women might start paying more attention, if they thought their sons or daughters might be leaving for Iraq...

...Are we all so helpless that only 30 percent of us support this war - but the 70 percent of us who don’t can’t even raise our voices in protest?

I am not a leftist, rabble-rousing peacenik. I am just an old lady who has always tried to be a law-abiding citizen, one who does all the things you’re supposed to: work, contribute, vote and try my best to stay out of trouble.

But this time I just have to say to my jailbird daughter, “Well done!”

And to her son, my grandson Cody, who served for a year in Iraq with the Army, I am proud of you, too.

And what has Jeri Lynn Reed been studying for her PHD at the University of Oklahoma?

Focus: Transnational agricultural modernization, particularly Mexico, and the relation of Texas and Oklahoma Progressives to the national movement

Dissertation: "The White Folk Tenants of Texas: Cotton, Race and Modernization in Progressive-Era Texas and Oklahoma"

She's also the recipient of a 2003 Herbert Hoover Travel Grant in order to study Radical Capitalists in the Progressive Southwest.

Her short vitae shows she's been at the PHD thing for about 8 years now. Must be that high tuition thing causing the delay in finishing it.

Required Reading For Tuesday

Roth & Company's Tax Update Blog ("AMT: It's the Dishonesty"):

The AMT has provided cover for sleazy tax policy ever since it was enacted. It works like this: a politician promises a tax benefit. The tax benefit is written so that it doesn't work for AMT.

When the technicians compute the revenue effect of the tax break, they take into account that it won't work for AMT. This makes the tax break much less costly than it would be otherwise.

The politician gets to brag about a brave new loophole, and the taxpayers think he's a great guy, or gal. Then they complain about how that darn AMT got them. It's the ultimate bait-and-switch of tax policy.

This trick has been part of every major tax break in the last 20 years, and many of the minor ones. Perhaps the biggest example is the 2001 Bush tax cuts, which reduced the top regular tax rate from 39.6% to 35%. AMT rates weren't reduced, so many taxpayers had their regular taxes cut, only to pay AMT. Other examples of this are the deduction for state and local sales taxes, the hybrid car tax credit, and the research credit.

Like any bad habit, this one is catching up with Congress; absent new legislation, up to 20% of tax filers will pay AMT for 2007. The politicians are making loud noises about repealing AMT, but they can't afford to. If the Bush tax cuts are to be kept in place, the AMT will provide $1.3 trillion of tax revenue in the next 10 years. So don't believe any politicians who promise to repeal AMT; they'll get it back from you somewhere else. They have to.

Indexing the AMT yearly to inflation when it was enacted, back in 1969, would have eliminated a lot of today's headaches.

Don't forget that Chuck Grassley, Iowa's own fauxscal conservative, has had 20 years to get the AMT problem fixed. He didn't. Grassley was too busy getting $50 million for con artist and political contributor David Oman to burn, ostensibly to build that rainforest.

Seriously, folks, Steve King should challenge Grassley in 2008. Anybody would be better than Grassley. Yes, even Steve King.

Everybody Remain Calm, Nobody's Going To Buy E85

From the Des Moines Register:

The rush to build ethanol plants is raising concerns about whether drivers will buy all that biofuel.

At the current construction pace, within the next few years the production capacity will close in on the limit of how much ethanol can be used as a 10-percent additive, called E10, in gasoline.

The industry is counting on boosting the sales of a higher blend of ethanol, E85, a fuel that is 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, and is looking for Congress to help increase its availability and use. One bill introduced by Sen. Barack Obama, D.-Ill., a possible presidential candidate, would create a new tax credit to cut the price of E85.

But finding an E85 pump will continue to be difficult. Wal-Mart and other major retailers won't offer the fuel until mid-2008, at the earliest.

Iowa, the nation's No. 1 maker of ethanol, has staked a big slice of its economic future in the industry's growth.

That Register...

Look!!! Everyone!!! Barack Hussein Obama is coming to save the day!!! Everybody have an Obamagasm!!!

And how about that subtle Wal-Mart bashing...

Oh, don't worry Iowans. If E85 does become a hit (and it won't) Tom Harkin is still around to screw you save the day by having his wife's oil company buddies import millions of gallons of hooch from rainforest-destroying Brazil.

Show Me The Money

In response to the post A Financial Barrier Is Interest? comes this email from a reader who shall remain anonymous:

I work at [an institute of public higher education]. Each semester there are students who have signed up for classes and never attend any of them. When I ask about them, many applied for financial aid, received it, to never attend. While they may go on probation, they just were paid to attend classes they never will.

Another problem with the loan situation is a student I know who is 35 years old. He has attended at least three different [institutes of public higher education], enrolled in various programs and never finished them. He currently has a loan debt of $18,000 and has yet to receive a certificate...

Financial aid is not a barrier to education. The costs have certainly increased and this has little to do with the access to aid. I don't know where this cost is going as few salaries at my school for us lower people have increased the 50 - some percent these past years.

Iowa residents help fund and subsidize the state universities and community colleges. Over the past five or six years, these amounts have been cut everywhere and tuitions jacked up.

Politicians point to the aftermath of the recession in late 2000/early 2001 and the economic impact following the terrorist acts on 9/11/01, but the past 5 years have also shown a misplacing of priorities on the part of the Iowa Legislature and former Governor Vilsack.

While university budgets were being slashed, Michael Gartner got nearly a million dollars to renovate his baseball stadium. This was just a fraction of the $99 million in corporate welfare doled out since June of 2003.

What's Deadlier Than Being An Iowa Soldier In Iraq?

Why that answer would be: driving in a car during a snowstorm in Iowa.

From WOI-TV:

At least seven people died in traffic accidents as the first major snowstorm of the season dumped over six inches of snow on the state.

Elect me to Congress and I'll de-fund the building of more roads in Iowa to stop this carnage. Enough people have died just trying to get from Point A to Point B.

MLK Turning Over In His Grave

From the Des Moines Register:

Today's MLK celebrations

...MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY CELEBRATION — 2-4 p.m. today, Central Library, 1000 Grand Ave. Includes a talk by Ako Abdul-Samad, a presentation by Miss Black Iowa...

I guess all that hubub over the line "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character" was just a bunch of bullshit, especially considering how the talk at the library is by the crooked dunderhead Steven "Ako Abdul-Samad" Green and the presentation isn't by Miss White Iowa.

Black Ice On Martin Luther King Day

Headline in the Des Moines Register on Martin Luther King Day:

URGENT: I-80/35 north of DM covered in black ice

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr MC Serch:

Black cat is bad luck, bad guys wear black
Musta been a white guy who started all that
(make the gas face!) for those little white lies
My expression to the mountainous blue eyes
Then form a face, and shake my skull cap
Dismiss the myth, that evil is not black
But opposite spectrum, this done by red man
With horns on his head, laid down the ill plan
Got all his helpers, said, make it snappy!
Tell all the people that their hair cant be nappy!
Blonde and blue-eyed, or dark-skinned half a g
A disease, created by leprosy
Dont speak of bleach, bend them to right
Say, it was night way before the light
Put aside spooks, serch leaves a trace
Ive set em correct with the effect of the gas face

A Financial Barrier Is Interest?

Updated below:

From the Des Moines Register:

Rebecca Wilson has waited tables, washed dishes, baked cookies and worked as a chemistry lab assistant to pay for college.

The University of Northern Iowa senior will still graduate with about $12,000 in student loan debt. Wilson supports a proposal from Democrats in Congress that would save future college students more than $4,000 a year in interest in need-based loans...

...Democrats plan to propose legislation this week cutting interest rates in half on subsidized Stafford undergraduate loans, from a fixed rate of 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent by 2011.

The proposal - one of a handful of issues Democrats have vowed to raise in their first 100 hours in session - would affect more than 50,000 Iowa undergraduates who took out subsidized loans in 2004-05 and about 5.5 million students nationwide, according to the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.

Once fully implemented, these cuts will save the typical borrower - with $13,800 in need-based loan debt - approximately $4,400 in interest costs over the life of the loan.

"It clearly makes college more accessible," said U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack, a Democrat from Mount Vernon.

Financial barriers will prevent at least 4.4 million high school graduates from attending a four-year public college over the next decade, and prevent another 2 million high school graduates from attending any college at all, Loebsack said

With all the ways to save for college available over the past couple of decades: mutual funds, UGMA/UTMAs, 529s, pre-paid college tuition, and so on, I find it difficult to believe that cutting the interest rate on student loans is going to make college more "affordable" to some kid.

I think most parents are just a bunch of selfish bastards who can't be bothered to save a single dime for their children's college tuition. And they justify it with bullshit statements like, "Well, I had to work and take out loans myself...." I have no problem with teaching a child about sacrifice, but if the end result is 15 to 30 years of $300-to-400+ a month student loan payments then I don't think it's a wise idea in the long term.

Sure, the rich can write a check and send their kids to whatever school, but what about the working poor or the middle class??? Well, are you deaf? I was just talking about how parents have mutual funds, UGMA/UTMAs, 529s, pre-paid college tuition, and so on, at their disposal today. Sure, 529s have been around for roughly a decade, and pre-paid college tuition is a more recent scheme, but everything else has been around, in one form or another, for years. You've got 18-23 years to save for junior's college. If you can't save a dime over that course of time then you're lazy, selfish, or just plain stupid about money. And you probably hate or resent your kids.

Update:

Common Iowan replies:

State 29 disagrees with this legislation and basically says that if people take out students loans then they are too stupid to realize they need to save for college. State 29 completely ignores the fact that tuition has doubled over the past 5 or 6 years while income for middle class families have been stagnant. These families could have been saving for college, but when tuition increases so fast over such a short period of time, the only thing that can be done is to take out loans. This legislation helps ease the burden of the loans.

This legislation is just a bandaid attempt to solve the issue of student loan debt. The real issue is the dramatic increase in college tuition and decrease in state funding for higher education. This will continue to be a problem until we make the decision that it is important to have affordable college education and invest in our future.

I do not disagree with this legislation. Actually, I wholeheartedly support it. Anytime interest rates can be cut, I'm on board for that. The problem I have is that politicians are selling this as a way to make college more "affordable", which is sort of like saying that buying a new 12 mpg Ford F-150 pickup with 4 doors, leather, and V8 engine is going to save you $5900 in interest over the next 84 months while you pay off the $35,000 price tag.

The other problem I have is that funding of a child's college education should primarily be the responsibility of the parents. I can't tell you how many parents I've encountered over the years who refuse to save any money for college. You should hear the excuses! Oh, little Johnny is smart, he'll get scholarships. Mary will get an athletic scholarship. We'll just worry about it then. They won't appreciate it as much if we pay for it. My parents didn't save for me, so why should I save for them? It's obnoxious. These are probably also the same people who are in debt hell for buying new homes with new furniture and new cars and new shit all the time. Or they have an ex-wife and ex-kids to support.

As far as the price of tuition going up, 529s are a way to help temper the increases in tuition. The College Savings Iowa's Aggressive Growth fund, around for about 5 years, has an annual rate of return of just over 11%. Expect to see these type of long term returns rise over the next few years as the dot-con crash days of 2001-2003 disappear over time. Over the course of a child's first 18-to-22 years, you should see performance in the 8% to 12% range for balanced, index, and growth funds. It's better than nothing. It's certainly better than saddling junior with debt until he sees gray hairs.

Finally, and this is pointed at the politicians, there is no correlation between tuition costs and enrollment numbers. Don't lie to us and say that rising tuition rates are hurting the number of people wanting to attend college because it's just not the case.

Related: On Higher Education And Debt

Coal Chamber

From the Mason City Glob Gazette:

Chet Culver challenged Iowans to follow the lead of history’s risk-takers and transform their state into the “energy capital of the world” as he became Iowa’s 40th governor this morning...

...“Well, my fellow Iowans, this is our time,” Culver, a Democrat, said in a text of his inaugural address released before the 9 a.m. ceremony. “It's our time to accept the challenge, to explore and discover Iowa's unlimited potential. It's our time to win the race to become the energy capital of the world.

“There is an energy frontier open before us, and we must explore it immediately. America and the world are counting on us,” Culver said.

From the Iowa DNR web site:

Total original coal reserves of Iowa are estimated to have been 7,366.58 million tons, of which 3,510.60 million tons, or 48%, are classified as measured and indicated reserves in seams greater than 14 inches thick. An additional 3,855.98 million tons are classified as inferred reserves. Approximately 56% of the total coal reserves (4,118.49 million tons) occur in beds greater than 28 inches thick that underlie 12 counties: Appanoose, Jasper, Jefferson, Lucas, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, Polk, Van Buren, Wapello, Warren, and Wright. Of this coal 73% is considered to be strippable.

Historic production from 10 counties having the highest total production (Monroe, Polk, Appanoose, Mahaska, Marion, Lucas, Boone, Dallas, Wapello, Jasper) is estimated to be 8% of the state's original reserves; in eight of these counties (Monroe, Polk, Appanoose, Mahaska, Marion, Lucas, Wapello, Jasper), historic production is estimated to be 20% of the original strippable reserves. Statewide, an estimated 95% of the original reserves remain in the ground.

What happened to coal mining in Iowa?

Iowa coal mining grew rapidly from 1870 to 1920. The graph, "Coal Production in Iowa, 1860 - 1938, " shows the decline of coal production after 1920. Mining declined for several reasons. The railroads began buying coal from other states such as Illinois and Kentucky. As a result, the mining industry in Iowa was thrown into competition with the national markets. In addition, Iowans began looking to other energy sources for home use such as electricity, natural gas and fuel oil.

And today:

# The combined direct and indirect contributions of the coal industry to Iowa's economy are more than $1 billion.

# Using more than 20 million tons, Iowa ranks 18th in coal use.

# About 85% of the electricity used in Iowa is produced by coal.

# Iowa does not produce coal.

# Iowa has 19 coal-fired power plants.

The Coal Palace, built in 1890 in Ottumwa, Iowa. Designed to advertise Iowa's prominence as a coal-producing state, the Coal Palace housed an exhibition of of Iowa products in 1890 and 1891. The Coal Palace was dismantled in late 1891 after the close of the exposition.

And When We Get Behind Closed Doors

From the Des Moines Register:

Des Moines Water Works General Manager L.D. McMullen has requested discussion about his salary be conducted behind closed doors.

McMullen is paid $212,070 a year plus a $20,000 contribution to his retirement account...

...A survey published by the American Water Works Association in August showed the average salary range for the top executive of a water department was between $86,843 and $123,413.

McMullen has asked Water Works board members to close the meeting based on Iowa law, which allows public boards to exclude the public in such discussions “when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputation.”

Take it away, Dolly Parton:

Governor Culver Took The Oath Of Office Today

Iowa's smartest governor yet:

No, It's Not Another Vietnam

From the Iowa State Daily:

At 6 p.m. Thursday, protesters from near and far gathered along Grand Avenue, by the 5th Street intersection, to publicly display their refutation to the escalation in the war in Iraq. The peaceful assembly was a reaction to President Bush's address to the nation Wednesday evening, during which he disclosed his decision to send more than 20,000 additional troops to Iraq. The movement was initiated by an organization called MoveOn, which encourages Americans to involve themselves in the political process at the civic level...

...The crowd peaked at over 100 people

Wow, about 100 people on a college campus protesting the war! It's another Vietnam!!!

Meanwhile, at the Des Moines Register, a letter by the aptly-named Eloise Cranke:

It's unconscionable! We have just mourned the deaths of 3,000 U.S. soldiers, a number that has already risen again, and now President George Bush is talking about sending more troops to the slaughter

For losers like Eloise Cranke, and most media outlets, any military death is simply an excuse to retreat, give up, wave the white flag, surrender, pull out, and quit. It doesn't matter what the number is.

What can you say about the Looney Left? They're all a bunch of cheese-eating surrender monkeys who love terrorist-sponsoring dictators, think the corrupt UN can do no wrong, and have no problem "talking" with fascists who think the Holocaust didn't happen and that the Jews are responsible for all the problems in the Middle East. Shows you what they think.

Meanwhile, look at the intellectual depth of this letter writer to the Register, Michael Shank of West Des Moines:

Regarding the news Jan. 1 that 3,000 Americans have now died in the Iraq war: No one has benefited from this war except companies like Halliburton.

That's so idiotic and shallow, but then Iowans elected a congressman in the last election whose first order of business concerning the war is to sue Halliburton.

The Minimum Wage Contest

From the Greg Alan blog:

I have a nice crisp $100 dollar bill (and possibly more) to spare and I'm offering a challenge...

...All anyone has to do to claim the $100 dollars IN CASH is the following:

Find me one or more actual human-being Iowa citizens raising a family of one or more children who works an average 40-hours a week - while earning the minimum wage (excludes waiters/waitresses).

Once again, to make that clear...the winner of this challenge must meet ALL of the following criteria and contest rules as outlined:

1. Person must be human.

2. Person must be a citizen of Iowa and the USA (no illegals).

3. Person must be the sole breadwinner of their family. Defined as: the single and only source of income in the family.

4. Family must consist of themselves, 1 or more children, and spouse or partner (includes non-traditional arrangements).

5. Person must work an average of 40-hours per week for a period of at least 1 month.

6. Person must earn exactly $5.15 per hour as an hourly wage during the same period of time.

7. Person cannot be a member of a wait staff or any other occupation excluded from current federal minimum wage regulations.

8. The prize awarded will go to the first person to forward me the name of a confirmed qualified employee as determined by the receipt time stamp on the original email sent to my email address: greg@gregalan.net

9. If the unthinkable happens and there happen to be two individuals in the same household who meet all of the criteria above, an additional $100 dollars will be awarded.

10. Contest deadline. Contest eligibility ends on the day the President of the United States signs a bill into law enacting an increase in the minimum wage.

11. Contest rules and eligibility subject to alteration at any time should the author and provider feel or suspect anything nefarious.

Additionally, once confirmed, I will contact and/or meet with the person you identify and appeal to their employer personally on their behalf for a raise...and GIVE THEM a $100 dollar bill as well. So we're talking about me giving away a possible $300 dollars (including possibility #9 above).

I will keep tabs on any entries and give regular contest updates on this blog as the contest progresses. Please forward this link to anyone else you think might be interested in the contest by using the Email Post tool or write to me and I'll forward it for you. You may also forward it to any politician such as Governor, Governor-elect, State Representative, State Senator, US Senator, or US Congress member or their staff. After all, this is a challenge - and I'm seeking the widest possible number of contestants.

Contest email address (put "contest" in the subject line if possible)...is: greg@gregalan.net

I'm serious...this is a real offer to anyone who wants to take me up on the $100 Dollar Minimum Wage Challenge.

That's a really generous way for a hard-working poor person supporting a family to earn some extra cash on the side.

Keep me posted on how it goes.


Related: Shutup, Focker

Tom Harkin Wants To Defund Our Military In Iraq

Tom Harkin, as part of a joint resolution with Senator Arlen Specter, on July 18, 2002:

"Whereas Iraq has consistently breached its cease-fire agreement between Iraq and the United States, entered into on March 3, 1991, by failing to dismantle its weapons of mass destruction program, and refusing to permit monitoring and verification by United Nations inspections; Whereas Iraq has developed weapons of mass destruction, including chemical and biological capabilities, and has made positive progress toward developing nuclear weapons capabilities...

...Whereas this resolution takes no position on whether such authorization should or should not be granted by Congress: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress consider and vote on a resolution authorizing the use of force by the United States Armed Forces against Iraq before such force is deployed against Iraq."

Tom Harkin, three months later, voted to authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq.

And now there's the Tom Harkin as of January 11, 2007:

Harkin is cosponsoring legislation that says no money can be spent to send more troops to Iraq unless Congress first approves the President's plan for an escalation of forces.

Harkin is saying that no money should be spent for troops in Iraq unless Congress approves the Bush escalation. Harkin opposes the Bush escalation.

It'll be curious to see if Harkin continues to hang our troops out to dry, or if he'll eventually give in and vote to give them some money, with or without the Bush escalation plan going forward.

Regressives, take heed.

Whatever Happened To.....

Iowa Ennui and Side Notes?

Iowa's Biggest Problem

From the Iowa City Press-Citizen:

Iowa's seven members of Congress have sent a letter to the CEOs of Mediacom Communications and the Sinclair Broadcast Group asking the two companies to agree to binding arbitration to end their ongoing contract dispute.

Sinclair, the owners of broadcast stations KGAN in Cedar Rapids and KDSM in Des Moines, pulled their stations from Mediacom cable lineups on Saturday after the two companies couldn't reach an agreement on how much Mediacom would pay Sinclair to carry the company's signals.

Honestly, now.

It's a couple of TV stations that you can receive for free by putting an antenna on the back of your TV set.

Yeah, kids, TVs used to have antennas. This was back in the day when Des Moines had four TV channels and people weighed a whole lot less.

How to solve the problem: drive down to Radio Shack, buy an antenna, give them your phone number, install the thing, and your problem is solved.

This is a big deal?

They have to involve all five congressmen and both senators?

It's amazing that the Islamofascists haven't invaded our country, raped our wives and daughters, cut off our heads, and flown more airplanes into buildings if this is a big deal. But the Islamofascists are too busy fucking goats and creating weapons-grade plutonium in Iran to be any more motivated.

Shutup, Focker

From the Des Moines Register:

Labor activists offered a different perspective at a Statehouse rally Wednesday to urge support for the proposed minimum wage increase.

"As a nurse, I've seen many families talk about how raising a family on the minimum wage of $5.15 is next to impossible," said Mike Glynn, a Des Moines nurse and member of the Service Employees International Union.

Shutup, Focker.

I would, just once, love to have some union thug produce a "family" where the breadwinners are earning minimum wage of $5.15 an hour. I don't think it can be done. Although according to Mike Gronstal The Liar, some 70,000 to 100,000 families in Iowa are headed by somebody who makes $5.15 an hour.

The only people, that I'm aware of, who earn minimum wage in Iowa are work-study students, a handful of teenagers, the 14 and 15 year olds at Dairy Queen, people in certain paid lines of part-time work who don't do it necessarily for the money, and adults who are meth addicts/child beaters. And the meth addicts/child beaters had their children taken away by the State.

Steve King Sues Democrats

From the Des Moines Register:

A Republican congressman who contends that Iowa state officials are in violation of Iowa's English-language law said he filed a lawsuit in state district court on Wednesday.

U.S. Rep. Steve King said he sued Gov.-elect Chet Culver, the former secretary of state, and current Secretary of State Michael Mauro, contending they placed illegal voting forms on the secretary of state's Web site.

I've got a question for you people. How did Iowa handle voting forms some 70, 80, or 100 years ago? Did the Secretary of State go to the local printer and get translations for all the German, Italian, Croatian, and Czech immigrants? This is kind of important because Iowa had a hell of a lot more German, Italian, Croatian, and Czech immigrants 100 years ago than all the Mexicans, SE Asians, and Bosnians it has today.

The Legacy Of Tom Vilsack

Two updates below:



Every newspaper and obsequious reporter has gone goo-goo and ga-ga over Tom Vilsack's latest Presidential campaign speech, also known as the Condition Of The State speech.

You won't hear any criticism of Vilsack with regard to some of his legacies. I'm just pulling these out of my memory:

• Appointing Michael Gartner to state boards.
• Corporate welfare (Vision Iowa).
• Touchplay
  
• Ongoing polluting of Iowa's rivers and streams by factory farmers.
• An out of control deer population that is killing people and ruining livelihoods.
• The draining of the Senior Living Trust.
• Allowing the fraudulent spending of the tobacco shakedown money.
• Expansion of gambling.
• ISU tuition has gone up 87% from 2001 to 2006.
  
• CIETC
• Appointing Jonathan "I'm Gay" Wilson to legally whitewash the CIETC scandal.
  
• Trashing Wal-Mart after helping them out for so many years when it was politically expedient for him to do so.
• Teacher pay fell from 35th to 40th.
• Proposing budgets that went up nearly twice the rate of tax revenue.
• Appointing a bunch of rich and catty bitches to the Iowa Board of Parole who gave a rich female killer a break while trashing a poor and abused woman who killed her husband.
  
• Giving tax breaks to the rich for questionable projects.
  
• Believing that government should have the power take away your private property through eminent domain and give it to some out-of-state developer so they can build another strip mall.
  

Got any more to add? Email state29@gmail.com and I'll tack them on to the list.

Update #1:

How could I have possibly forgotten the following:

• Gave sex offenders and other felons blanket citizenship rights, including the right to walk into an elementary school on election day and vote after rejecting 24% of applications between 1999 and 2005.
  
• Wanting to import 300,000 illegals to Iowa for slave labor and votes.
• Wanting to give illegals a driver's license (and a Motor Voter card, wink wink...)
• He destroyed public records by being supposedly ignorant about how to use email in the year 2003.
• But he can operate two Blackberry devices.
  
• Blamed the theft of his son's automobile at Terrace Hill on security staff rather than the fact that junior left the keys in the car.
• Offered a $95 million taxpayer-financed bribe to Whirlpool in order to keep Maytag in Newton.
• Signed the "English-only" bill in Iowa, but later publicly regretted it despite 81% of Iowans supporting it.
• Wants Iowan taxpayers to spend $180 million in corporate welfare in order to entice gas station owners to sell E85, a fuel that has so far been a complete failure.
• After a prison break at Fort Madison, Vilsack recommended tearing the place down and building a new one. Vilsack was way off on what a replacement prison would cost.
• Appointed a judge who was soft on drunk/drugged drivers who kill and appointed a Iowa Supreme Court justice who basically paid for his seat.
• Vilsack appointed three of the five State Board of Education members who thought that a student-athlete with four D-minuses and two F grades in classes should be able to continue to participate in sports.
  
• Despite no military experience whatsoever, Vilsack was theorizing how to conduct the war in Iraq in 2005.
• Vetoed legislation that would have raised fines for polluters.
  
• He is sort of in favor of bringing back the draft, or at least some kind of forced conscription.

Update #2:

• On the murder of 5 year old Evelyn Miller, Vilsack said (via Radio Iowa):

  "...Vilsack reviewed five-years-worth of files kept by Department of Human Services social workers who investigated complaints about the child's welfare. On Monday, Vilsack said the complaints came from family members who had 'an ax to grind' and whose 'credibility' was 'a bit suspect.'"

I can't believe I forgot Vilsack's totally callous reaction to the complaints about Iowa DHS following Evelyn's death. With Vilsack, everything is political. What a slimy piece of shit.

Raise High The Cigarette Tax, Lawmakers

From the Cedar Rapids Gazette:

Two key Democratic lawmakers today launched an effort to establish universal health care coverage for all Iowans that likely will require a $1-per-pack increase in the state cigarette tax to implement.

There's always an alternative to paying a higher price for cigarettes: steal them!

This is from Minnesota Public Radio on May 19, 2006:

One way to avoid paying high prices for smokes is to steal them. Minneapolis police say over the last month, they've had about a dozen "crash and grab" robberies, where thieves ram a typically stolen car into a storefront, then dash inside to grab goods off the shelves...

... In these crimes, Minneapolis Police Lt. Gregg Reinhardt says the thieves seem to be targeting cigarettes.

"A couple of stores they've smashed their way into are strictly tobacco stores. The other convenience stores that they've broken into, and they we have video surveillance of, they jump right to the cigarette counter, and they're either climbing over the counter or grabbing for those items," he said.

Reinhardt says the thieves aren't stealing the cigarettes to smoke, but rather to sell.

"A cigarette is basically instant cash. You can go into a number of businesses and just sell them outright. People will pay $10 a carton or maybe $20 a carton...

...When smokers spend $4 to $5 a pack for cigarettes in Minnesota, a good chunk of that price is taxes and fees...

...Critics say cigarette taxes hit low-income people disproprtionately: they're more likely to smoke and the taxes take up a bigger portion of their income...

The increase in the price of cigarettes isn't just hitting smokers in the wallet -- it's hurting some tobacco shops, too. Some tobacco store owners say smokers who used to buy three or four cartons at a time have cut back to one or two.

Some say they don't see some of their customers at all anymore, since many are now buying their cigarettes online or through mail-order houses to save money. Others are going to Canada or other states, where the taxes are lower.

One shop owner quoted a tobacco distributor who said there are businesses just across the border in Wisconsin that used to sell about 400 cartons a week that are now selling 2,000 a week.

Same thing with Iowa convenience stores on the border with Minnesota.

Basically, Minnesota Public Radio, hardly a right-wing pile of hot air, says that raising taxes causes crime to go up and business to tobacco retailers to go down.

Even far-lefty Rekha Basu is against raising the cigarette tax.

I think this notion of using a cigarette tax increase to "pay for" whatever is absurd. Iowa got millions in extortion money from tobacco companies thanks to Tom Miller's shakedown, and most of it was fraudulently spent on things other than health care thanks to Christopher Rants and others.

Spinner McLeod's Fines To Be Spent On Legal Help Against Crooked Brokerage Firms

From a press release by Fordham University:

Fordham University School of Law received a $492,250 Law School Securities Arbitration Clinic Grant from the Office of the New York State Attorney General on Dec. 6., to help small investors pursue arbitration claims against brokers and brokerage firms with whom they have disputes. The Law School will provide advice to, and direct legal representation of, investors who cannot afford legal services, and will conduct outreach to investors who may not be aware of their legal options...

...The money comes from a fund established for New York state law schools to support the legal claims of small investors, and it is overseen by the Attorney General's office. Funding was provided by the settlement with Clark McLeod, former chairman and CEO of McLeodUSA.

It's a shame that Clark McLeod isn't sitting in a Federal pound-me-in-the-ass prison.



Related: Clark "Spinner" McLeod, The Broadbandit, Pays $4.4 Million Fine

With Democrats Fully In Charge, Buildings Crumble And Reporters Hurl

From Kay Henderson's Radio Iowa blog:

About 12 minutes into Vilsack's speech I had to leave the balcony and adjourn to a nearby restroom on the third floor to retch. (This was not related to the content of the speech, but the dust content of the air.) As I was returning to my Radio Iowa perch in the balcony, I grabbed the arm of the balcony chair on the aisle and it lifted in my hands. It was not bolted down. I was saved from tumbling by a woman who grabbed my arm.

I think Vilsack should propose that the Statehouse be torn down and replaced with a much safer building at a fraction of the final price. He has a knack for that sort of thing.

Although, to paraphrase today's campaign speech, he'd rather just cut and run out of Iowa.

Culver Gridlock

From the Iowa City Press-Citizen:

A special passenger train carrying passengers from Des Moines to Iowa City for Gov. Chet Culver’s inauguration will block downtown traffic for “extended periods of time” on Thursday.

The train will block traffic on Dubuque and Clinton streets at the Wright Street railroad crossings from 4 to 5 p.m. and from 10 to 11 p.m. The train is dubbed the “Inaugural Special,” a free train service specifically for the governor-elect’s Iowa City inaugural reception and concert...

...The train is 1,000 feet long

And how is everybody going to get from the train station down to Hancher Auditorium? They won't be walking, that's for sure.

It's going to be a mess.

Minimum Wage Lies And Ignorance

The Des Moines Register has a big story on the minimum wage bill being the first one introduced in the Iowa House yesterday.

State Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal offers up this preposterous lie in the story:

"What difference will raising the minimum wage make? To most Iowans, the answer is 'Not much.' But to the 100,000 to 125,000 Iowans who earn the minimum wage - 70 percent of whom are family breadwinners - raising the minimum wage will make a big difference," Gronstal said.

That's complete bullshit and a total lie.

Proponents of raising the minimum wage like to lie about their figures. It's likely Gronstal The Liar is including everybody earning up $7.25 an hour., or perhaps even a higher figure. "Family breadwinners" certainly includes a spouse working some part-time job, regardless of what the main breadwinner is earning. I can't imagine there are 70,000 to 80,000 Iowans who are the head of a household earning $5.15 an hour. The few who do are meth addicts and child beaters.

Also, in case you missed it, Christopher Rants wrote a column and did some followup at Krusty's this past weekend.

In the comments was this question directed at Rants:

I'd love to hear Mr Rants talk about the minimum wage as it relates to union contracts.

Are any State employee union contracts tied to the minimum wage?

If so, and if a COLA increase got slipped into the Iowa minimum wage bill, would that mean that taxpayers would be giving state union employees a big hefty raise every year?

Rants' reply:

Regarding the impact of the minimum wage on union contracts – specifically the state’s contract – I honestly don’t know, but I’ll find out on Monday. Look for the answer in the coming week on my own web site. I do know that many contracts will base starting salaries, or other salary steps on an escalating percentage of the minimum wage. For example, there is a little known clause in Iowa code that says all casinos have to pay wages at least 25% higher than the minimum wage. I know that one has already done the math, and an increase in the minimum wage will cost them over $2 million – not because they pay anyone minimum wage, but all their hourly pay levels are set as a percentage of it.

Make no mistake, the real impact to business owners of raising the minimum wage is not from those making that amount, it’s from those above it. When you raise salaries for entry-level employees, you typically have to raise them for the salary levels above.

Rants was the head of the State Senate for how long? And he doesn't know if any State employment contracts contain provisions that specify multipliers of the minimum wage? But Rants knows everything about the legalized loansharking business.

It's not likely that Rants will investigate this and put his findings on his web site. It's been sitting in mothballs and 404 errors since June.

Pork: The Other Biofuel

GED recipient and former $368,000-a-year CIETC head Ramona Cunningham with Senator Tom Harkin at the dedication of the "Tom Harkin Learning Center" at CIETC offices in October 20, 2004.

From the Biofuel Review:

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), a national industry trade association with nearly 1500 members nationwide, today praised U.S. Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) for introducing the Biofuels Security Act of 2007.

The American Coalition for Ethanol is essentially The Ethanol Mafia.

Here's more from the press release:

Introduced today by Senator Harkin and co-sponsored by Senator Lugar, the legislation includes these provisions:

* Setting new benchmarks for the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), reaching 30 billion gallons per year by 2020 and 60 billion gallons per year by 2030.

* Requiring all U.S. automobiles to be flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) by 2017, capable of running on gasoline or any blend of ethanol up to 85 percent (E85).

* Requiring the major oil companies to carry E85 at half of their gas stations by 2017.

Tom Harkin, surely paid off by some industry lobbying group, is going to enrich them by pushing taxpayer-subsidized ethanol down the throats of an American public that doesn't want it. E85 has been a huge failure in Iowa, yet outgoing Governor and Presidential asterisk Tom Vilsack wants to spend nearly a fifth of a billion dollars subsidizing failure.

Why? So Harkin's union thug campaign contributors at "domestic" automakers can thwart CAFE fuel mileage standards by sticking $100 worth of technology into every car which will be paid for by you whether or not it's needed or wanted.

And if American farmers can't produce enough hooch (and they can't), Harkin plans to screw Iowa farmers and ethanol plant investors by eliminating tariffs on imported ethanol, mostly from Brazil. Nobody told you that, did they?

Meanwhile, Harkin the Hypocrite will continue complain about the windfall profits of oil companies while collecting zillions of dollars from his wife, Ruth, who was a director at ConocoPhillips.

Finally, Harkin and Lugar completely bastardize the meaning of the word "security" by naming the bill The Biofuels Security Act of 2007. What an utter scam of spin.

No 25% Dildo Tax Legislation Offered Up By Democrats, Yet

The Political Forecast lists and links to some of the initial bills introduced in the Iowa House.

It's good to see that one of the earliest bills is a cap on the interest rates charged by LoanMax, the predatory car-title loan industry in Iowa that feeds off the ignorant poor.

I'm waiting for the Democrats to bring back the 25% dildo tax that was introduced in the 2004 session.

Regressives Pissed At Loebsack For Not Cutting And Running

Iowa regressives are pissed that Congressman Loebsack isn't voting to cut and run in Iraq.

Then the Political Madman adds:

Congressman Loebsack, if you or someone from your staff is reading this, listen closely because I'm only going to say this once. You were narrowly elected over a popular 30-year incumbent based largely on your views on specific issues, one of which was the war. If you intend to walk back to the middle on this, then you shouldn't get too comfortable in Washington, because you'll be back in Mt. Vernon before you know it.

Wow, the regressives sure are touchy about their boys. One perceived misstep, regardless of the political reality, and they're ready to throw Loebsack overboard.

And if I remember correctly, both Jim Leach and Dave Loebsack had rather similar positions on the Iraq War.

On a serious note, I've worked both with and against Dave Loebsack, and I know him to be a great person with tremendous intelligence and a wealth of policy experience. I could care less how he drives or pays his taxes, and you shouldn't care either.

187

Today's date is January 8, 2007.

1/8/7 = 187




Slightly related: John Edwards Plays The Crack Music Nigga

FUH2

The Political Forecast on the IDOT's reported shortfall for road building and maintenance in the coming years:

All that is certain is that this report and the impending debate on how to finance some of the shortfall will be quite heated and controversial. I think there is certainly some legitimacy in a discussion about raising the gas tax since it hasn’t been touched in over 15 years. But there is more than just a tax increase needed to fix the shortfall. Part of the fixes to the problem include an overhaul in registration fees for pick-up trucks as well as examining overall how Iowa’s roadways are used and if they’re used effectively. We are the crossroads of the country and the overall usage from commercial exchange proves that. Inherently, that means that a disproportionate amount of money should be spent by the government in Iowa to provide for the infrastructure necessary for people across the country to receive the goods and services they desire. This isn’t an easy fix.

The IDOT needs to generate another $200 million a year. A large chunk of this amount could be generated by eliminating the tax break that pickup truck owners get by paying just a flat $65 registration fee. I've mentioned this before.

It's unfair that some $35,000+ Dodge Hemi Quad Cab driver getting 11 mpg should pay $65 every year while a family in a 41 mpg Toyota Corolla can pay nearly $200 a year.

I'd rather see license registration fees change to reflect gas mileage. Lower them on economy cars and jack up the fees on gas guzzling pickup trucks and SUVs.

But I could see how the Legislature could abuse such a change. The Ethanol Mafia would have to get their 2 cents in by allowing a break for unused FFVs that never receive a drop of hooch. You could see that happening in a flash.

Cops Hate Iowa's Weird Sex Offender Residency Law

From the Des Moines Register:

Monitoring sex offenders has proven to be a costly and often frustrating task for the state and law enforcement for more than a decade, and last year most of all. In the wake of two particularly heinous child murders in 2005, the state pumped more money into tracking those convicted of sex crimes and enhancing Iowa's sex offender registry. But top law enforcement groups - including sheriffs, police and prosecutors - also complained loudly that the state's fledgling 2,000-foot law was largely ineffective and a drain on resources.

Ed Fallon was the only member of the Iowa Legislature to vote against this stupid, arbitrary, and pointless law. When Fallon defended his position on TV, he got shit all over by Register columnist David Yepsen.

Well, Yepsen, nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah, Ed Fallon was right.

And don't forget that Governor Culver wants to keep this failed law on the books.

If I were her, I would have shot him sooner"

Dixie Shanahan (now Dixie Duty), after her first husband beat her up

A lengthy story in the Sunday Des Moines Register on the Dixie Shanahan sort-of commutation, mostly from the angle of residents in the town of Defiance.

Key quotes:

"He deserved it," said Doug Green, who moved to town four months ago but already knows the many details of the case. "If it was me, I would have deserved it."

And:

People who do answer questions from reporters about Duty don't use the word "murder."

Sure, a jury found Duty guilty of second-degree murder in April 2004. But those interviewed instead say Duty "killed him" or "shot him."

Charlene Carl calls it "necessary manslaughter."

"No one blames her for it," said Carl, who adds that her own children loved when Duty baby-sat them.

"If I were her, I would have shot him sooner."

Related: Tom Vilsack Sort-Of Commutes Dixie Shanahan's Sentence

Tom Vilsack Sort-Of Commutes Dixie Shanahan's Sentence

Dixie Shanahan (now Dixie Duty), after her first husband beat her up

From the Des Moines Register:

Governor Tom Vilsack today announced his decision to commute the sentence of Dixie Shanahan Duty.

She must serve at least 10 years.

Duty was convicted in 2004 for killing her abusive husband and leaving his body in a bedroom in their home for a year.

Scott Shanahan’s corpse rotted in the master bedroom for 14 months while his wife and children lived there.

Duty’s 50-year sentence, with a mandatory minimum of 35 years, was commuted to a 50 year sentence with a mandatory minimum of 10 years.

After the paperwork arrived at the prison in Mitchellville Friday afternoon, Duty immediately telephoned her second husband, Jeff Duty, then called her lawyer, Chad Primmer of Council Bluffs.

“She just kept crying and saying how happy she was,” her lawyer said.

Duty offered a public statement through Primmer:

“I’m flabbergasted. I’m overcome with joy. I’m almost at a complete loss of words for how grateful I am to Governor Vilsack. I want to thank him from the bottom of my heart. “

This comes just after she lost custody of her three children to her sister in Texas.

And 6 months after all the Vilsack-appointed bitches on the Iowa Board of Parole gave Dixie a bunch of shit for not taking a deal.

What do I think? Dixie Shanahan Duty still got a crappy deal with the Vilsack commutation. 10 years is way too long for a woman who suffered from years of mental and physical abuse.

Now where's Vilsack on the Tracey Dyess case?

Fauxscal Conservative

The Tax Update Blog demonstrates just what a phony fauxscal conservative Chuck Grassley has been over the past 20 years.

I still think Steve King should challenge Grassley in 2010 rather than Harkin in 2008. King's a nut, but he'd be a vast improvement over Grassley regarding fiscal matters.

Christopher "Car Title Loan" Rants To Write For Krusty Konservative

From Krusty Konservative:

Starting this weekend, and kontinuing throughout the legislative session, House Minority Leader Christopher Rants will be authoring an exclusive post on Krusty Konservative...

...I encourage you to make komments in response to his posts, and it is my hope that people will be respectful to him, and avoid any personal attacks that some of you are known for.

I've got a couple questions directed towards Rants.

1. Why did an organization Rants is heavily involved with take $40,000 from car-title loanshark kingpin Rod Aycox, a fella with known ties to people involved with organized crime?

2. What's conservative about a business designed to prey upon the dumbest of the poor with 360% interest rates?

If there's one good thing that will come out of Democratic rule of the Iowa Legislature and Terrace Hill, it's the hope that the car-title loansharking industry in Iowa will be eliminated.

Fire All Greedy Lawyers

$210 an hour whitewashing lawyer Jonathan "I'm Gay" Wilson (left). GED recipient and former $360,000-a-year CIETC head Ramona Cunningham with Senator Tom Harkin (right) at the dedication of the "Tom Harkin Learning Center" at CIETC offices in October 20, 2004.

From the Register:

The attorney for the Central Iowa Employment and Training Consortium says the state improperly rejected the agency's request for payment of $1,193 in legal expenses.

The state agency that provides funding for CIETC is Iowa Workforce Development. Workforce Development spokesman Kerry Koonce this week said the agency had rejected CIETC's request for $1,193 to pay for legal services. Koonce said the request was rejected because it was tied to a letter that CIETC attorney Jonathan Wilson wrote and submitted to The Des Moines Register in late May.

Wilson said that the bill in question was actually for a variety of services he and his colleagues performed for CIETC, and that it included roughly an hour and a half of his time spent reading and reviewing a Register-authored editorial about CIETC and then crafting a response to be forwarded to the CIETC board.

Wilson should start reading blogs that are critical of CIETC and then crafting long emails and comments in response. Then he could really jack up his billable hours.

I could then see the headline in the Register:

"Blogs Costing Taxpayers Hundreds Of Thousands Of Dollars In CIETC Scandal"


Related: Jonathan "I'm Gay" Wilson Bills Iowa Taxpayers $1193 for Writing A Letter To The Des Moines Register

Register: Pull The Plug On CIETC

GED recipient and former $368,000-a-year CIETC head Ramona Cunningham with Senator Tom Harkin at the dedication of the "Tom Harkin Learning Center" at CIETC offices in October 20, 2004.

From the Register Editorial Board:

Enough is enough. It is time to put the government organization formerly known as the Central Iowa Employment and Training Consortium out of its misery...

...It's long past time to pull the plug on this disaster. [Below] are the names and numbers of members of the Regional Workforce board. Call them and demand they do the sensible thing:

Quit wasting more taxpayer dollars. Just pay up.

- Cy McDonald, Madison County Board of Supervisors, (515) 462-3225
- Dave Reed, Boone County Board of Supervisors, (515) 433-0500
- James Strohman, Story County Board of Supervisors, (515) 382-7202
- Howard Pothoven, Marion County Board of Supervisors, (641) 828-2231
- Mark Hanson, Dallas County Board of Supervisors, (515) 993-5806
- Bob Sandy, Warren County Board of Supervisors, (515) 961-1030
- Max Worthington, Jasper County Board of Supervisors, (641) 792-7016
- Mayor Frank Cownie, City of Des Moines, (515) 283-4944
- Angela Sanders, Polk County, (515) 248-2292
- Michael Galloway, Polk County, (515) 243-7611
- Cyril Mandelbaum, Polk County, (515) 222-6203
- Merrill Stanley, City of Des Moines, (515) 283-4141
- Rick Clark, City of Des Moines, (515) 283-4141
- Angela Shutts, Polk County, (515) 288-6041

(It's worth noting that many of the board members were not serving when the excessive salaries were paid. They were appointed afterward to clean up the mess — and that's what they should do.)

Funny how the Register's Editorial Board doesn't bother to whack Tom Vilsack against the head for appointing Jonathan "I'm Gay" Wilson as the legal whitewasher.

What's the unemployment rate in Iowa? 3.4%.

Do we need CIETC now? Other than to keep a bunch of no-good and worthless inbred Democrats living high on the hog and burning taxpayer money, I don't think it's ever been needed.

Democrats Can Do Whatever The Fuck They Want, So Shutup About It Already

From the Des Moines Register:

Gov.-elect Chet Culver is no longer considering for the key post of policy director a top aide who amassed dozens of traffic violations in recent years and who filed his 2005 state tax return months late.

But John Hedgecoth, a top aide to Culver in the secretary of state's office, remains under consideration for other jobs in the administration despite the violations, aides said Wednesday...

Hedgecoth is on a payment plan with the Iowa Department of Revenue after filing his 2005 state tax return in December, Dillon said.

Hedgecoth also had his Iowa law license suspended for half of 2006 after failing to respond to a complaint filed against him with the Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Board.

His law license has been reinstated, although the complaint is pending...

...A chronic speeder until recently, Hedgecoth has had a valid driver's license since October, when it was reinstated after being suspended last year for failure to pay a traffic fine.

The suspension was his eighth in four years, including three for driving with a suspended license and three for being a habitual traffic offender.

According to Iowa court records, Hedgecoth's driving record includes at least 26 violations since 1993 - 16 since 2002 - most of which were for speeding.

And you can't make this shit up. This is from the Political Madman:

On a serious note, I've worked both with and against John Hedgecoth, and I know him to be a great person with tremendous intelligence and a wealth of policy experience. I could care less how he drives or pays his taxes, and you shouldn't care either.

And from the Political Forecast:

I’m with Kyle on this one. John Hedgecoth is a decent man who has plenty of invaluable policy and state political experience. I’ve worked with him on the Culver Campaign and he was a great asset there. You shouldn’t really care how he drives or how he pays his taxes.

Of course, when Republican carpetbagger Mary Ann Hanusa was running for Secretary of State, the Political Forecast had an issue with her car sporting Virginia license plates.

And so did I.

I think somebody with a suspended law license, suspended driver's license, a habitual speeder, and who doesn't pay his taxes on time is somebody who doesn't have his shit together. You want somebody that bad in charge of influencing government policy? I don't care how smart or friendly he is, or what party he belongs to, the guy is a serious fuckup.

How To Do More With More

From the Iowa City Press-Citizen:

The start of budget talks prompts a similar policy question the Iowa City Council has faced in recent years: how to provide more services without hiking city taxes.

Last time I looked Iowa City residents had access electricity, water, a sewer system, garbage pickup, police, a fire department, recycling, a jail, public transportation, and even non-city taxpayer-provided services like a free medical clinic. What sort of extra services do residents need?

Then there's this:

Under the proposed property tax rate, a homeowner of a $100,000 home would pay about $809.09 in city taxes - up from $795.58 this year.

Are there any $100,000 single-family homes left in Iowa City?

According to Realtor.com, there are 3 for sale under $100,000.

Above $100,000, there are 398 for sale.

Meanwhile, over at the Political Forecast and Common Iowan, they're chanting slogans about wanting to raise taxes by repealing all the Bush tax cuts.

I guess these "progressives" are in favor of increasing the tax rate on lower income people by 50%. They also want to bring back the marriage penalty. Anybody with children will see their child tax credit cut in half. Widows on fixed incomes will see dividend taxes go up. Families investing for their children's college educations will no longer be able to take the money out without a huge tax hit. And the death tax, which hasn't prevented the Kennedys or the Rockefellers from passing on money to their coke-snorting heirs, will be back.

Of course this is the same bunch who, upon getting political power in Iowa, immediately want to raise taxes on tobacco, gasoline, and everything else that poor people disproportionately spend their money on.

I wish progressives would be a little bit smarter and concentrate on things that will empower them for the 2008 elections. Here's a short list of things I think we can agree on:

• Uncovering and exploiting earmarks that are obvious pork spending (the Rainforest and the Bridge To Nowhere were both done by Republicans, ya know...). But that means Tom Harkin will have to ratchet back the bacon.
  
  
• Targeting Republican fauxscal conservatives in Congress. Progressives should denounce the rubber stamp wing of the Republican Party. It worked with Jim Nussle, didn't it?
  
  
• If you really want to bring all the troops home, start providing some numbers. And I don't mean how much the Iraq War is costing taxpayers every year. Also use the figures we spend on military bases in Germany, Japan, and other countries. It's been over 60 years since World War 2 was finished. Time for those countries to pony up for their own defense, the mooches.

I don't think progressives can be so disciplined, even if they agree with me on the above. They're out for blood.

Caucus Commando, Part Two

The Political Forecast on the proposed Caucus Concert:

Today, instead of [The Des Moines Register] writing an actual story on the widespread derision of the plan, they gobbled up their entire Iowa Ear column saying it was just bloggers deriding the plan. But who do they quote in the piece? The folks at Hotline On Call — those are the bloggers deriding the plan. What a crock of shit. I know for a fact that several on the left found the idea ridiculous, not to mention that State 29 found the idea stupid as well and who knows where to place him ideologically except for the left. Seriously? Can’t they just, I don’t know, attempt to contact the people who left comments on their stories or the bloggers who have torn the idea apart for some comments. Evidently not. With all the attention it has been given, it looks like the Register is getting ready to stamp their sponsor seal of approval on to the project behind the scenes.

That's not how I read the Iowa Ear column in the Register. It read more like a combination of bland reporting followed by outright mocking. Although the mocking part seemed forced and lame, like Ken Fuson had contributed it all.

Besides, why would the Register bother to quote real bloggers about reaction to stupid ideas like a proposed Caucus Commando concert starring Britney Spears? The Register believes that bloggers are "humorless, thin-skinned and have a grandiose sense of their own importance." So fuck them, I'm too busy to answer their email anyway.

[insert laugh track here]


Related: Caucus Commando

Tom Vilsack: The Education President

From the Iowa City Press-Citizen:

Gov. Tom Vilsack is calling on the Board of Regents to increase the salary for the University of Iowa president.

Vilsack said raising the pay would help attract top candidates.

"We had no problem paying for a basketball coach and a football coach," Vilsack said during a meeting at The Des Moines Register on Wednesday. "We ought not to have a problem, for sure, paying for a great president."

[Insert laugh track here]

Kirk Ferentz is getting paid about $4.7 million a year to coach the Hawkeye football team to a 2-6 record in the Big Ten Conference and a loss at the Alamo Bowl. Ferentz replaced perennial winner Hayden Fry, who earned about $264,000 in his final year as coach in 1997.

Steve Alford, the Hawkeye men's basketball coach, is getting around a million dollars a year to currently have the second-worst overall record in the Big Ten. Alford couldn't even beat previous coach Dr Tom Davis's Drake Bulldogs this year. Dr Tom still has a better percentage winning record than Alford. Always will. And Dr Tom was able to fill the Carver-Hawkeye Arena for most games. For all that, Dr Tom was paid about $250,000 in his final year as coach in 1999.

And Vilsack is the same governor under which state teacher pay plunged from 35th to 40th nationwide during his two terms in Terrace Hill.

Sorry, Vilsack, but this "paying for a great president" talk is just bullshit. You had a great president in David Skorton, but you decided to have the Regents send a message because Skorton exercised his opinions about your buddies at Wellmark. Do ya know what I mean?


Related: Iowa Measures It's Penis Size According To A University President's Salary

The Mathematically Worst-Case Scenario

From the Quad City Times:

Davenport’s speed and red light cameras will remain operational, and data will be collected and saved on offenders despite Tuesday’s ruling that the city camera ordinance is “of no force and effect.”

...Since the cameras became operational in 2004, it has issued 16,878 citations and collected more than $1 million. Of that, the city has put $558,659 in its general fund and paid $453,000 to two vendors — Nestor Traffic Systems of Providence, R.I., and Redflex Traffic Systems of Scottsdale, Ariz.

The plaintiffs in the latest camera case — Monique Rhoden of Rock Island and Curt Canfield of Davenport — are seeking class-action status for their suit and seeking a refund of all money collected.

[Davenport corporate counsel Mary] Thee and [Davenport city administrator Craig Malin] said they don’t expect the city will have to pay a refund, based on past precedent in Iowa case law regarding tax and fine collection. However, it is unclear whether any money could be recouped from the two vendors if a court orders a refund.

“In the worst-case scenario, the city could face paying back up to $1.2 million,” Malin said. “That’s the mathematically worst-case scenario, and I don’t anticipate we will be anywhere near that.”

See what happens when you run government like a business?

Davenport's Traffic Cameras Ruled Illegal, Part 2

From the Quad City Times story:

Every motorist who has received a citation from Davenport’s red light and speed cameras may get a refund after a court ruling Tuesday that found the machines violate Iowa motor vehicle laws.

District Court Judge Gary McKenrick ruled in favor of plaintiffs Monique Rhoden, Rock Island, and Curt Canfield, Davenport, and found the city does not have the authority to issue an ordinance that conflicts with state motor vehicle code...

...Richard Davidson, one of the Davenport attorneys representing the plaintiffs, said the judge agreed with a motion they filed for summary judgment. In that motion, the plaintiffs argued that because the ordinance imposes a civil infraction against the owner of the car it conflicts with the state motor vehicle code.

The City of Davenport was issuing tickets against the owner of a vehicle based on the license plate, rather than trying to determine who actually was driving.

I'm not a lawyer, but I think Davenport is going to have a tough time appealing this one.

I predict a chilling effect for law enforcement revenue enhancement.

Er, except in Clive, where the red light cameras continue to struggle.

Don't forget to read the comments on the Quad City Times story! There's over 100 comments as of 11am! Lots of fun reading for your lunch hour.


Related: Davenport's Traffic Cameras Ruled Illegal

Davenport's Traffic Cameras Ruled Illegal

Via the Greg Alan blog, this is from the Cedar Rapids Gazette:

The ruling was issued Tuesday by District Court Judge Gary McKenrick, who agreed with the plaintiffs' argument that the city doesn't have the authority to adopt an ordinance that conflicts with the state motor vehicle code.

According to state law, people who speed or run a red light must be issued criminal citations. The city treats citations issued by the cameras as civil matters. Plaintiffs' attorneys also argued the city was breaking state law by issuing the citations to the vehicles' owners instead of the drivers...

Richard Davidson, one of the attorneys representing two drivers ticketed by the system, said he will file a motion in coming weeks to make the case a class-action lawsuit. If approved by a judge, the city may have to refund an estimated 14,000 people who received citations from the
cameras.

City officials said they will meet soon to decide whether to keep the cameras, which have padded the city's coffers. Officials recently announced plans to use $470,000 in camera fine revenue to help fund a new police officer spot, create a juvenile crime unit and increase neighborhood enforcement.

Naturally, the city plans to appeal.


Related: Davenport's Red Light Cameras Earn More Money Than Slot Machines

Meet The New Boss

The South Of Iowa blog isn't very impressed with the new Culver-appointed head of the Iowa DNR, Rich Leopold.

Jonathan "I'm Gay" Wilson Bills Iowa Taxpayers $1193 for Writing A Letter To The Des Moines Register

$210 an hour whitewashing lawyer Jonathan "I'm Gay" Wilson (left). GED recipient and former $360,000-a-year CIETC head Ramona Cunningham with Senator Tom Harkin (right) at the dedication of the "Tom Harkin Learning Center" at CIETC offices in October 20, 2004.

From the Des Moines Register and also at Mainstream Iowan:

In May, Wilson wrote a pro-CIETC letter for publication in The Des Moines Register. State officials say Wilson's law firm billed CIETC $1,193 for the time he spent writing and reviewing the letter.

Then CIETC asked the state to reimburse the agency for the expense using job-training money. State officials say they refused that request. Wilson has argued that state officials should not make public his law firm's bills to CIETC.

- On Sept. 21, the CIETC board met in closed session to discuss "legal strategy." After that session, the board publicly approved a resolution authorizing Wilson to "speak for CIETC in written and verbal communications." CIETC pays Wilson $210 an hour.

- On Sept. 22, Wilson sent an e-mail to CIETC board members with a copy of another letter he wanted published in the Register. The letter took issue with an editorial suggesting that CIETC was entirely to blame for the alleged misuse of taxpayer money.

How arrogant can you get?

Don't forget that Governor Tom Vilsack personally appointed Wilson to whitewash the CIETC scandal.

I wonder if The Real Sporer would like to add a few more Commandments to his list?

Caucus Commando

From the Des Moines Register via the Political Forecast:

Des Moines-area tourism officials have launched an effort to attract “A-list” rock stars, comedians and other Hollywood types for what they hope will be a nationally televised show to kick off the 2008 Iowa caucuses.

“It could be a really big deal,” said Greg Edwards, president of the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The bureau’s film commission wants to put together the show for December 2007 or January 2008. The aim is to spark nationwide appreciation and understanding of the presidential-nomination process.

No performers have been booked, but organizers say names like pop princess Britney Spears and patriotic country western star Lee Greenwood are on their early wish list.”

I agree with the Political Forecast when he says: "What the fuck are they thinking? Honestly!"

Just what Iowa needs, Britney going caucus commando.

Whenever politicians use movie stars and pop singers, it's always a cringe-worthy situation. Like last week with John Edwards playing some Kanye West tune at his rally in Des Moines. Do you really want to be associated with a rapper who says nigga nigga nigga all the time?

The Economy Sucks

Senator Chuck Grassley Will Mourn President Ford By Watching TV

From Radio Iowa:

State offices will be open today but all federal offices will be closed to mark a day of mourning for former President Ford, who died a week ago at age 93. There will be no mail delivery today and commodities markets will also be closed.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is in Washington DC but says he won't be able to attend Ford's funeral. Grassley says he'll watch it on TV instead. He says he would have attended the service in the Capitol Rotunda but couldn't change his plans.

Grassley's plans were to watch TV today?

[Grassley] says he has a special allegiance to Ford, who was president when Grassley was first elected to the U-S House in 1975. "He healed the nation at a time when it was being torn apart by Vietnam and by the Watergate scandal. He accomplished some good things in foreign policy. He stuck to his principles as a fiscal conservative by vetoing a lot of big spending bills by the Congress. And I think he did bring about healing."

Some examples of Ford's foreign policies include cut and run:

The Ford Administration saw the final withdrawal of American personnel from Vietnam in 'Operation Frequent Wind', and the subsequent fall of Saigon. On April 29 and the morning of April 30, 1975, the American embassy in Saigon was evacuated amidst a chaotic scene. Some 1,373 U.S. citizens and 5,595 Vietnamese and third country nationals were evacuated by military and Air America helicopters to U.S. Navy ships off-shore.

Green-lighting the Indonesian invasion of East Timor:

In his meeting with Indonesian dictator Suharto, Ford gave the green light through arms and aid to invade the former Portuguese colony East Timor. Though causing little response from the media, the invasion resulted in the massacre of between 100,000-200,000 people: around a third of the population of the country.

Signing the Helsinki Accords.

The wimpy, Carter-like response to the