Three things you should never discuss is what Sunday Morning Coffee is all about. Some political stories, you may have (or may not) have seen. We'll have a coordinated attack on religion because, as everybody knows, Christianity is being attacked from all sides. And for balance I'll also attack Jews, Muslims and maybe a Taoist. Oy! And gossip? I'll just make something up and see if it sticks. Seems to work for Donald Trump. Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee!
It's All About the Iowa Caucus
Iowa tends to be a place of moderation. Unless, of course, you happen to live in Northwest Iowa (The 4th Congressional District) where people there seem to love the craziness of Rep. Steve King (R-IA). (Side note. If you have not read "Steve King Could Use the N-Word Daily and Still Get Elected Here" by Douglas Burns of Carroll...it's worth the trip.) Anyway, back to being moderate. Gov. Terry Branstad is well liked. Nearly 6 years ago the Iowa Republician Party dusted Gov. Branstad off and ran him against Gov. Chet Culver because they couldn't find anybody else. He was elected in a landslide because many people think of him as sane. However he full body embrace of Donald Trump has some wondering what the hell is going on? Now we know. It is the Iowa Caucus. Gov. Branstad and the Iowa GOP are not leaving anything to chance and want to cozy up to The Donald should he win and declare Iowa finished with it's first in the nation status. Now we get it.
Let's Go Deeper
I referenced the article by Douglas Burns from The Daily Times Herald. If you did not go check it out you missed the sub heading about Rep. King being a "mirror" of the population. He is right. Don't think so? Ask your white neighbor while you quaff a PBR. "So, Hank, what do you think about them niggers?" See what happens. I'll tell you what will happen...nothing your friend "Hank" will look at you and smile. The gig is up friends. Why is it that in 2016 white politicians can get away with code words to outright bigoted references to minorities, religious or skin color, and not be called out? Because they are saying out loud what many white people would only say to their best friend over a beer in their kitchen. If you deny that you are denying reality and you should be ashamed. As my friend Desmund Adams says, "We can do better!"
Social Media & Claire Celsi
I have a friend who is attempting to oust Iowa House Member Peter Cownie (R-West Des Moines). Claire Celsi is a gritty, no nonsense candidate who has come up with, what I think, is a great use of social media (Facebook) to forward her campaign. Cownie has a bit over $115,000 cash on hand while Claire has a little over $30,000. That 4:1 ratio doesn't leave much room for big spends so Claire has been posting daily, long form encounters she has with voters as she knocks doors in House District 42. They are wonderfully written accounts of voter interaction. And, no, she does not win each voter over to her side but, I promise, it is an interesting read. Go ahead join up with Claire or...better yet send her a donation!
So About Ankeny and Heather Matson
A couple of weeks ago I met Heather Matson at a fund raising event. She is one of several Democratic Women working to turn the Iowa House Blue in November and she's doing a great job in fund-raising. (And I really like her campaign logo!). Thanks to the Iowa Starting Line and friend Patrick Rynard we got a peek into her finances and those of her opponent Kevin Koester who has a really outdated website... In fact the entire article is an excellent view of dollars donated in Iowa.
Iowa State Representative Kevin Koester my latest "Just Like Trump" candidate in the spotlight this week.
Speaking of Trump
This week Mr. Trump held an unimpressive campaign event in Des Moines. Those who were present said he read, mostly, from prepared text, the crowd was small and didn't much match what we've seen in other parts of the nation. Are Iowa Republicans failing to unite with their party leader? Not Gov. Branstad who crowed, "Now is the time for all Iowa Republicans to unite behind Donald Trump!" Weary...but then there are those caucuses.
And just how crazy is it that Trump has decided to pick a fight with the parents of a deceased American? If you were paying attention to the media this past week the attacks on Khizr Khan and his wife continued. One wonders that if the Khan family were Christians if the attacks would have continued. Of course they would not. Why? Because Mr. Trump is just saying what so many think, or say, over that PBR. We now know that Mr. Trump is not running against Hillary Clinton he is running against reality and using xenophobia as his running mate.
Damn Labor Unions
So, how was your raise this past year? Anything close to getting a 22% bump? More than likely not. However that is exactly what the unions representing more than 30,000 American Airlines employees receive when the airline settled a contract with the Transport Workers Union and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers last week. The raises, by the way, go into effect immediately.
The next thing you know these damn unions will demand that children are no longer employed long hours in coal mines...
400 Million Dollars
By now you know that President Obama ordered $400 million dollars in cash to be put on an airplane and sent to Iran. You know that because Fox News beat it into the ground for days. It was all presented as a ransom payment. A nefarious deal between President Obama and them Muslims. Even Mr. Trump said he saw video of the evil event. Except he didn't. But, no matter, those loyal to crazy embraced the story and ran with it. Except it isn't a new story. The White House held a briefing, back in January, on the $400 million, what was really already Iranian money, that was being returned to the country as part of the negotiated nuclear settlement that ended the Iranian threat. If you want to read the story you may do so here.
Imagine The Outrage
I had a friend suggest to me how outraged the citizens of this nation would have been had then Sen. Barack Obama took to the DNC stage back in 2008 with five children from a combined three wives. Let that sink in for a minute. You know you would have been...outraged.
Partly Personal
Last week we celebrated the birthday of my bride... Folks ask me how old she is or when she was born. The simple answer is, "I don't know" and I really don't. I have it written down someplace along with her social security number. The important thing is that I remember the date in August. If I forgot that I would be in real trouble.
Last week I attended a party thrown by my friend Beau Fodor. It was to be a Disco Party Against Discrimination and we were encouraged to come in costume. The event was called One Love, One Hope, One Iowa and we had a great time! Lots of like minded people came by proud to show their support for our LGBT Community and others where hate seems to be the common thread of conversation.
The one thing that didn't happen was that state wide One Iowa didn't help support or reference or share. I don't get the politics of organizations...as Sec. Clinton likes to suggest we are Stronger Together.
Thanks for reading and have a great week!!
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