Day Two of the Government Shutdown in America. The party that controls the House of Representatives, the United States Senate and the White House can't run the country. We'll all remember this in the Fall. Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee a look at stories you've seen and, perhaps, some you've missed...all laced with my commentary. Enjoy and let's go!
Eric Says
Last night Eric Trump said, on Fox (of course) that the shutdown of the government is "really a good thing". He said it was all due to Democrats who are jealous of his father and the breakneck speed at which he is impacting the nation. He went on to say, "The only reason [Democrats] want to shut down government is to distract and to stop his momentum. My father has had incredible momentum. He’s gotten more done in one year than arguably any president in history. How do [Democrats] divert from that message? ... They obstruct, they distract, they try to place blame.”
The brilliant young Trump was filling in for his father at a $100,000 a plate fund raiser at Mar-a-Lago in celebration of a full year of crazy.
Working Crazy Hours
Meanwhile "45" spent most of yesterday in the White House Residence and finally walked into his office about 2:30 in the afternoon. As you know he stayed in D.C. rather than jetting off to Mar-a-Lago so that, according to his press office he "Could stay on top of the government shutdown and press for a resolution to the crisis imposed by Democrats". Isn't that nice. With hours like this I just don't see how he is holding up.
Speaking of "holding up" suspect those who paid $100,000 for dinner figure they got held up when they got Eric and not "45". It's only fair.
One Hundred Billion Dollars (More)
At the crux of the shutdown is the Republican demand that your government spend one-hundred billion dollars MORE on military spending. Let me help you with the numbers. The current military budget, through September of this year, is $824.6 billion. The U.S. military spending is larger than the next nine countries...combined. And the GOP wants to shell out an additional $100 billion bringing the total spent close to the trillion dollars now spent on social security. Meanwhile millions go without health care, we rape people going to college with obscene costs and interest rates that are not negotiable. We watch as thousands of Americans die from inaction on mental health care. We don't fund early childhood education. And the GOP is now willing to let government workers go without pay, allow citizens to wallow without services all to fuel a bloated military spending program and...wait for it...build a damn wall between the U.S. and Mexico. The rest of the world looks at us like we have lost our mind...and, indeed, we have.
Iowa and "45"
This is rich... Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) gets peppered by white-rural voters in Northwest Iowa about the stability of "45" and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) says, "I'm tired of talking about his (45's) statements." and Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) sits next to the "Groper in Chief" smiling and nodding her head in agreement. Lemmings...all. That's about all you need to know when it comes to "45" and the fawning going on in the Hawkeye State. (Photo - Omaha World Herald)
Trouble In River City?
I was in Mason City over the weekend and heard from some local Democrats there that they are concerned, very concerned, about the future of State Senator Amanda Regan (D-Mason City). One told me, "The Republicans are very good at raising money and then hiding their agenda from the voting public. I would not be surprised that they will go up on TV early with a massive buy so they can buy this seat and that would be tragic for Iowa." Regan is in her 4th term as a highly effective legislator for Northern Iowa and currently represents Franklin, Butler and Cerro Gordo counties. In redistricting she lost the Charles City area which could hurt her in the vote. The numbers don't look good. Republicans hold a nearly 2,000 voter edge in Franklin County, nearly 3,000 more in Butler County and in Cerro Gordo Democrats have a tiny majority of just 874 voters. Key to this election will be to expose the GOP agenda with ruthless clarity and convince the people they are voting against their own best interests when they elect Republicans.
Speaking Truth to Power
Monday was the 29th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration in Des Moines. Attending and offering speeches were Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) and "acting" Lt Gov. Adam Gregg (R-IA). One of the awards went to Rekha Basu of the Des Moines Register who had some pointed words for the current administration...who was seated just behind her. Following the event she had this to say for the Business News Hour:
You should have heard the entire acceptance speech...she did not back down.
Speaking of She
While I was out of town doing work in Mason City for the Jewish Congregation there thousands gathered at the Capital in Des Moines for a revival of the Woman's March. While 26,000 did not show several thousand did and the focus has shifted from anger and outrage pointed toward "45" to hard work and voter registration going into the 2018 elections.
Wish I could have been with my sisters and brothers at the event because, from all reports the group was energized and committed to take action going forward. My friend Al Womble took some great photos and, thanks to him, I "almost" felt like I was there.
This is so important so vital and so critical that we band together all across the state and nation to reverse the direction of our beloved land. (Photo of Jodi Sussman Stanfield by Al Womble)
Speaking of She - Part Two
Did you see the picture on the front of Time Magazine? Yep, THAT Time Magazine... It was in celebration of so many women running for public office and there, on the cover, was my friend Theresa Greenfield who is running to unseat Rep. David Young (R-IA) in November. It is a crowded field with seven candidates but what energy they are all showing as we head to the primary in June. Nice!
Nope Ain't Gonna Do It...
Just so you know I am not going to write about State Rep. Chip Baltimore (R-Boone) and his arrest for DUI last week. It would not be fair to point out that he, who has been leading the charge for increased penalties for drunk driving, was picked up at 4:00AM and flunked the drunk test. That would not be a fair thing to do and I ain't gonna do it. Call me "Fair and Balanced".
Taxes and Chuck
I got my email notice last week from the Chair of the Appropriations Committee of the Iowa State Senate Charles Schnieder (R-WDM). He is all in on cutting the taxes of "hard working Iowa families" and offers up a skewed GOP version of taxes in Iowa. Saying that the marginal tax rate of 8.98% on earnings of over $70,785.00 is, "a 'sticker shock' that has a detrimental impact on job growth". Well, hold on that old "trickle down" theory is bunk but it makes for good copy. Job growth in Iowa has not been stunted and every week you and your administration hand out millions of dollars in our "taxes" to already successful corporations who pay little or no taxes. The reality of the matter is that in Iowa our tax rates range from .35% to 8.98% on income OVER $70,785.00 while in Minnesota the tax rates there start at 5.35% and run up to 9.85% on incomes OVER $156,911.00. If you were really concerned about "hard working Iowa families" you would do away with things like "right to work" laws that impact workers. You would not have voted against allowing cities and counties to increase the minimum wage by exercising their local option. You would support teachers and public education in Iowa. THAT's what you should be doing. Weary... It all makes for good GOP talking points but the moment you think that Charles and the Republicans are "all in" for working families is the day I want to sell you a bridge. Please....
Partly Personal
There are some Sunday Mornings that I swear I'm not going to write this piece. No, really...it is so damn depressing to see what people believe. Again, it would have been nice to have hung out with friends here in Des Moines yesterday and I am so pleased so many of you took the time to do that and that you are committed to changing things in Iowa and the Nation. Carry on...and I'm with you!
Something funky going on with my fonts today...grumble!
Thanks for reading and have a great Sunday!!! Oh yeah....FOOTBALL today. I'm in!
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