Sunday Morning Coffee is politics, religion, gossip and news. You know, the stuff that makes you crazy(er). I'll talk about what went on last week and take a peek into the next several days...offering my opinion along the way. And I'm interested in yours. You can leave a comment here or reach me on Twitter @MichaelLibbie or my personal Facebook Page is right here. Grab a cup...
Rick "I've Had A Calling" Perry
Well, what else could go wrong. Let's elect another person from Texas as president only this time we'll get us a real "Bible Banger". That should go over well. Speaking of Governor Perry we thought this slam by Steven Colbert on WOI-TV5 was...great. Steven wanted to run some "SuperPAC" ads in the Des Moines market that said folks shouldwrite in Rick Parry (with an "A") at the Iowa Straw Poll. My friends at WOI-TV5 said the ads would "confuse our viewers". Here is that clip:
| The Colbert Report | Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| Colbert Super PAC - Confused by Rick Parry with an "A" for America | ||||
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The gang at Channel 5 doesn't give Central Iowans much credit huh? Well, maybe they have a point. 51% of the GOP likely caucus goers believed President Obama isn't an American Citizen. And they gave Michele Bachmann the win during the Straw Poll. Good call WOI-TV5...I think I would have done the same thing.
Speaking of Religion (I was you know...)
The Iowa Republicans had themselves quite a revival yesterday during the Iowa Straw Poll. There was music, prayer, and collections. Oh...and...Ron Paul came in second. It is said that Bachmann purchased 6,000 tickets and Paul 4,000 for their supporters....at $30 each. It's neat to see these "small government - anti-tax" folks write checks for themselves and pay for votes. The really big winner yesterday was the Iowa Republican Party they made a boat-load of cash. That's good news for my friends in the GOP...cause there won't be many fund raising events in the future. Right. The odd thing was I didn't see any results for Butter Cow 2012.... Here is the full story from our friends at the Des Moines Register. Oh...and Tim Pawlenty...quits.
Take Me Out To The Ballgame...
Last week I went to the Iowa Cubs baseball game as the invited guest of some really rich people who have a sky-box and...everything. I was the "Token Democrat" who listened but spoke little. I got to see some of my very Best Friends Forever...there was Linda Upmeyer and Governor "For Life" Terry Branstad and a slew of "heavy hitters" talking politics. I was standing outside Principal Park when the Governor pulled up and the first to welcome him to the game. We chatted for several seconds (He's not the same Terry Branstad I remember...) then he went to get his tickets to the game. This is where it got...odd. The Governor and his aide walked over to an Iowa Cubs employee working a computer. The young man directed them to the "Will Call" window for their tickets. So there's the Governor of the State of Iowa standing at the end of a 20 person line waiting to get tickets to a ball game. I was stunned...had I been the young man I think I would have gone over and picked them up or opened the door or something other than send him to a line. I tweeted about it (using @IowaCubs) and ten minutes later an Iowa Cub's employee was shouting in his phone, "We did WHAT to the Governor?" Oh my.. (Photo: Yes, that is The Famous Chicken and the Cubs runner was safe. Cubs won... 14 - 7...yikes!)
The Iowa State Fair
Today is the fourth of eleven days and the weather has been fantastic. We went on Thursday and Friday afternoon to do some work for a client and have a little fun at the same time. Friday was "East Side Night" and the police made only 40 arrests. East Side Night brings out an interesting mix of folks, many sporting "mullets". Last year there was a "dust-up" at a nearby convenience store where some people were shouting "Kill Whitey!". Last night some "copy-cats" from West Des Moines decided there should be a "West Side Night". Folks showed up with vodka in their Gucci Handbags.
I did notice something interesting Friday. Boots. Women of all ages wearing...boots. It might have been due to the Grandstand act that evening (country act Jason Aldean) or it might be a new trend? But why tell you about it when I can show you some images. Yes, you can click on them to enlarge... This just in: Wonder if our friend KHenri might help these ladies with some additional glam for the boots?
Bottom line...we like.
Speaking of the Grandstand...
Tonight's show has been cancelled. Sugarland, who was to appear tonight, was the headline act at the Indiana State Fair. During the intermission the overhead rigging on the stage collapsed and four people were killed...40 injured. Sad...very. The band cancelled tonight's event. Here is that story from our friends at the Detroit Free Press.
Partly Personal - Gale McKinney
Gale and I have been close friends for over twenty years and have had some great times. I caught up with him at his State Fair Booth for The Iowa Sportsman where we shared gossip about some of the folks he works with and old friends from the Fort Dodge area. His folks are well and still living on the family farm in Creston. It was a great visit and we'll see each other soon when his son Patrick gets married. We also talked about dove hunting in Windsor Heights. I'm baiting right in front of the DNR... ;-)
Speaking Of The Iowa Department of Natural Resources
How is it that a government body like the DNR is in the business of publishing a magazine and butting into the private sector? It was something we talked about. Iowa Outdoors sells ads, sells subscriptions and competes with other Iowa based private businesses. If we're going to have a little "less government" maybe we should start...there?
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
If you caught any of the major network newscasts last week you no doubt saw the clip of Mitt Romney being heckled by some folks. At the center of the engagement was the question, "Are corporations people?" Here is the clip...
The folks doing much of the shouting were these two guys. On the left is Matt Denner of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement. And, in case you're wondering they also heckled Debbie Wasserman Schultz the Chairwoman of the Democratic Party. You might say they are "equal opportunity hecklers". Anyway, I caught up with them on Friday afternoon as they made their way through the fair asking people if, indeed, corporations are people. I couldn't find their video post but I'm sure it will show up.
The Morning After...
Like a "one night stand" they have left us. Iowa has been awash with politics during the past two months and the Republicans have been everywhere. They are now headed east... (Overheard at the Des Moines Airport via Twitter: "The security lines are really long. Damn politics and their all headed east!") Now that the Iowa Straw Poll is over and my friends in the GOP are counting the cash it's time for the Democrats to make some noise. Coming up in September is the Annual Tom Harkin Steak Fry featuring special guest Paul Begala. Should be fun. At least Tom holds things on Sunday so I can go...
Advertising & Politics
Here is something interesting. I had coffee with a friend who is in the advertising agency business. He told me two of his clients have decided to pull their ads from the local television evening newscasts. "The air is so toxic that my clients want nothing to do with the six and ten o'clock news. We're looking at spending that money elsewhere maybe Iowa Public Television." Hmmmm....
Thanks for coming by and having a jolt of Sunday Morning Coffee. I get to have two of our grand-daughters over for Sunday Morning Brunch. This is Jovie...who has in her mind that she'll become a State Fair Queen. She is off to a good start. And this is Taylor who was sharing some chocolate milk with Zaydee at the Patio Bar. Precious...and we are so lucky.
Have a fantastic Sunday! - Michael
Hey Michael,
Maybe Keelia needs to get the word to these ladies what she can do to help enhance this trend. Here is a link about the boots she just did for a photographer in Palm Springs - http://khenri.wordpress.com/2011/08/10/what-went-out-to-palm-springs/
Chris
Posted by: Chris Juhl | 08/14/2011 at 08:37 AM
Chris, THAT is a great idea!! We will pass the word. Thanks for reading and for the comment!
Posted by: Michael Libbie | 08/14/2011 at 09:37 AM