SundayMorningCoffee

Sunday Morning Coffee 25 October 2020

Only two months before Christmas Day 2020 where, according to the best estimates, nearly 400,000 Americans will not be gathered around friends and family because they are dead. Dead...  Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee my weekly opinion piece where the President of the United States tells people that on November 4th the conversation about COVID19 will, "go away".

Fight Like Hell

There are just 8 days before the November Election...eight days to fight like hell for sanity and the soul of our nation. I doubt many people out there are "undecided". I mean, really, how can you be "undecided" at a time like this?  It's either four more years of failure or the promise of restoring dignity to not only the White House but also the United States Senate. That's why, yesterday, people all over the nation were making phone calls to people who had not yet requested a mail in ballot.  That is why yesterday, rather than observe Shabbat, I was on the phone getting people to understand that here in Iowa they had until 5PM to request an absentee ballot so they could vote by mail. There were dozens of others doing that work and now comes the "Great Ballot Chase" where we make sure those ballots are turned in.  It is a massive effort and nothing will keep us for working...daily to restore our nation.  And, you can count on the fact that we're not done. There are more elections to come and Democrats are fired up and so done with being "nice". If you are a politician with an "R" behind your name we will work against you...every...single...day.  End of rant.

It Ain't In The Bag

We've seen victory slip away before and that's why the word has gone out that even though Joe Biden is leading in the polls and in key battleground states this is not a done deal. Just yesterday as early voting began Republicans turned out in mass to vote in Florida. Older, white voters are hitting the voting booths beating the number of younger voters of color. That is a problem. And, if it is happening in Florida it is happening elsewhere. 

You have to understand that fear is a great motivator and the president has been stoking fear for months and months. Some people believe it and they are...scared. (Photo: NPR)

Honey, I Love You...

There are parents and grandparents out there that say that to kids every day. They may not be political. Hell, they may hate politics and they may have made the decision to not vote.  While they may want a living wage, affordable health care, the right to marry who they love, desire a clean environment, a good education and a good paying job they are turned off and will fail to vote.  Here's the deal...they have also abdicated their right to tell kids they love them. How can you love a child and turn your back on their future? Wanna clue me in on that.  If you really love your kids...you will vote for their interests.  That is reason enough to go to the polls.

All In

Yesterday Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced that she will fall into line with the other Republicans and vote to confirm the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the United States Supreme Court. Was there really ever a doubt? While Democrats often fight with each other you can always count on the GOP to circle the wagons and do their duty. The hypocrisy of her and this crowd is numbing.  

But, you already knew that.  No surprise here at all.

Business and Politics

Many of you know that I've hosted Insight on Business the News Hour for the past twelve years. First on radio then on a daily podcast and today a mix of both. When I was doing the newscast on local radio the stories tended to be, well, local. Now that the reach is world-wide the stories tend to drift in that direction. However, and you can check the "tape", I try very hard not to inject my personal politics into the stories I share. That's not my job.

And, that's why I'm always stunned when business people, especially in this divided nation, decide to play politics with their business. For example during every election season you can count on Republican candidate signs to spring up outside of Heartland Plastic Surgery that is run by Eugene J. Cherny, M.D. I suspect that Dr. Cherny knows his target demographic and they are not Democrats but wealthy members of the GOP. Why else would you display your allegiance to the public? Hey, that is his right. If you don't want Democrats as clients...just chase them away...or hope they don't notice or care.

The owners of Clive Power and Equipment on University Avenue were once in the same boat. But, interestly, this year there is not a political sign to be seen in front of their store on University Avenue in Clive, Iowa.  I used to do business there but after a couple of election cycles I decided to move my dollars elsewhere.

But then yesterday, in an article by Liz Lenz and posted to Iowa Capital Dispatch, came the news that Midwest grocery store CEO Randy Edeker shared his political/social views in a video sent directly to employees of HyVee. To be clear, for those of you from outside of the Midwest, HyVee runs about 265 stores in multiple states. The message was clear: Vote for the president because if you don't taxes will have a negative impact on our business.

This at a time when grocery store profits are through the roof. Why?  COVID19. More people are staying away from restaurants and cooking at home. So, more COVID19 is good for business?

But, wait, I'm getting ahead of my skis. 

What Randy is really worried about are his taxes. You see Edeker makes a ton of money and he knows that if Joe Biden is elected his taxes are going up. And, they should. Meanwhile profits at HyVee continue to climb. For example they have made the corporate decision to move away from name-brands and load the store with their private labels. Why? Profit.  Private label products yield 35% profit margins compared to 26% for national brands, according to U.S. Online Grocery Shopping Takes Off but Remains a Challenging Channel, a report from Mercator Advisory Group. Here is a link to that story in Supermarket Perimeter.

So, why am I sharing all of this with you?  Because we also have choice. My choice is to stop doing business with Edeker and his company. Not another dime...and know that I've been a loyal HyVee shopper for decades.

Oh, one other thing. If you read the story by Liz (you can do that right here) you will note that HyVee gave the Iowa Democratic Party $10,000 last year. Know why? Because Democrats across the state were up in arms when Randy and his company hosted the president at an event and sent the GOP cash. Pressure from the Polk County and Iowa Democrats at a meeting with HyVee demanded some fairness. 

Not another dime Randy.

Partly Personal

Wow!  My Bride has been saving stuff for over a year in an effort to transform our bedroom into an"island retreat". Last night was the big reveal. I was blown away.  I didn't think to snap a photo so you'll have to wait for that but...wow! She has an amazing talent. I know how hard she worked on making this special and it truly is.  I'll share what she shares soon. Just wanted you to know.  I'm pretty lucky.

Thanks for reading and have a great Sunday! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday Morning Coffee 18 October 2020

Snow on the ground in Central Iowa...why not...right?  Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee a look at some of the political stories you may
have seen, or missed, all laced with my commentary. Let's go...

The Colonoscopy 

I wonder what she saw? Oh, sorry, I'm talking about Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) who is so far up the presidents butt that she must have had a good look. As you may know "45" was in Iowa at a coronavirus rally last week and who was there giving him an adoring look and a full throated , maskless, endorsement?  Yeah...her. I've been asked by several this week who is going to run against Governor Reynolds in 2022. Other than State Auditor Rob Sand (D-IA) who I think will...I'm not sure. I do know that former U.S. Senate candidate Admiral Mike Franken has been talked about.  If you have a better suggestion let's get going the election isn't that far off and this woman has to go.

Wichita, Kansas 

Speaking of "going" did you hear about the "wack-job" who was arrested yesterday because threatened to kidnap Mayor Brandon Whipple because of a "mask mandate" in that city? The hate out there is real. After all when domestic terrorists got together in Michigan and planned for the kidnapping of that state's governor. You know there are deep troubles.

Speaking of Michigan

I thought this is an interesting take on that domestic terrorist issue there. My brother says he "understands" what is going on and here is his summation:

"Imagine living in a small town where the economy has been decimated. You don't have a job or really any future for a job. Maybe you spent some time in the military, because that was the only option for you being white, poor and uneducated. But then you get out. Perhaps bounce from one low paying job to another and the frustration builds so you seek the comfort of others who feel they have been marginalized. Once the Commander in Chief gives the green light to "LIBERATE MICHIGAN" you take is seriously and start to put a plan in operation. I get it. I don't agree but I do know there are those people out there and they long for a civil war."

No Love, No Tacos

Did you see that Marshalltown, Iowa made CNN?  It's the story about Alfonso Medina and his restaurant, La Carreta, which has been serving Mexican food for 20 years. Not long ago Medina put a sign outside of his restaurant that speaks to issues of equality. i know you've seen them...they are all over the Des Moines Metro.

That simple act resulted in a number of hate messages on social media and letters, unsigned, that were directed at Medina and telling him that they were angry at him for the sign and that it "insults and disrespects Christianity and America."

In response Medina wrote on Instagram, "We're sorry your burrito had to get political, but it was the only way y'all would listen. No love, no tacos."

Now there are t-shirts with that message and Medina has put up a billboard with those words. It's sort of a movement. Now Alfonso says he will close his restaurant on Election Day and pay his people their wages so they can go and vote. "It's what we should do across the U.S. because it's important that we vote."  If you want to read the CNN story, here is that link.

Gotta go to Marshalltown!

No, It's Not...

I was on the phone last week with a friend who was telling me that now, with the COVID19 cases going down in Iowa, we should be rounding the bend and things will soon get back to normal. At first I thought he was joking and when I said that wasn't the case he insisted that he had heard the pandemic in Iowa was under control. I suspect he is watching the governor and her mighty team as they continue to downplay the virus and that's troubling. I did get a text from him later in the day saying, "I was wrong COVID19 cases in Iowa are rising." And, that is just one person...there are thousands of others who are being misled.  At least he looked it up.

Partly Personal

I've not held a person to person interview for my newscast, Insight on Business the News Hour, since the middle of March. That has turned out to be a blessing of sorts. Sure, from time to time I would do a phone interview with someone from a different part of the country from where I was at the time but, for the most part, I was tied to my geographic location. With COVID19 I became "liberated" and had to do all of my interviews in a virtual environment. It's been really fantastic. But, I do miss that personal interaction.

That's why my visit last week with my dear friend and former State Representative Helen Miller (D-Fort Dodge) was so wonderful. We talked a bit about politics, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) made a stop at her home before the primary, and then spent a delightful thirty minutes talking about the Iowa State Parole Board which she chairs. I learned much and it was so neat to connect and yes, we wore masks and were socially distant.  But I did get her to remove her mask for this shot and a video that will be sent to Charles Clayton who is running for the Iowa House in Fort Dodge.  Thank you Helen...for so much.

And, thank you for reading...have a great Sunday and...VOTE!

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday Morning Coffee - 11 October 2020

Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee and there are now 22 days before the November election. Twenty-two days before we take the first step in tossing "45" out of office. Make no mistake this is critical to our nation. Stuff to talk about...let's go.

Why "45" is Ducking

As you know the second presidential debate has been cancelled. While Joe Biden was a go with the townhall type virtual format "45" said he would not participate. Know why?  Remember 2016 when he walked around the stage attempting to intimidate Hillary Clinton? Sort of like one of the mob bosses on The Sopranos. In a virtual townhall he would not be able to do that plus, the moderator could cut his mic and move on. This guy is a thug and a bully and he's not up to having any sort of civil discussion on the issues.  Why? Because he loses at each turn. Twenty-Two Days...my friends.

Is He or Ain't He?

Is the president of the United States infectious or isn't he? Well, nobody is saying but he has been cleared to do campaign rallies where there is no social distancing and just a smattering of masks. You know what would happen if somebody held a huge gathering, who was just diagnosed with COVID19 and paid no attention to the rule of law?  Lock him up.  But, meanwhile some are suggesting this is a good thing...fewer rabid Republicans will be good for our nation.

Meanwhile, just like the Italian dictator Mussolini "45" stages a rally at the White House.  Of course he is immune to The Hatch Act.

Weary...and Twenty-Two Days. 

Words Matter

I can't take credit for this...blame it on my brother.  The other day he sent me this very simple text about the words we use to describe various people and it is telling right to our core sin.

• Black Folks with Guns - Gangs
• Brown Folks with Guns - Gangs
• Muslim Folks with Guns  - Terrorists
• White Folks with Guns - Militia

It's time the media stop using the word "militia" which gives these terrorists cover. They are domestic terrorists we are so very weak when it comes to calling out white folks that mean to do harm.

Except in Michigan

Well now...what do we have here?  A whole group of domestic terrorists being charged with, "Oh my, I thinks I may have the vapors..." a Terrorist Plot to kidnap and then kill Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI). (Go ahead, look it up. "vapors")  I remember a two-word tweet sent out by "45" that said, "Liberate Michigan!".  Remember?  Well it looks like his minions took the bait.  The thug in the White House once again. Twenty-Two Days! (Image: CBS News)

Lemme Tell You About Michigan

It is a hotbed for this domestic terrorist stuff. Make a trip to places like Grand Rapids and you'll see it first hand. Michigan has always been a place where anti-government folks have flourished. I know.  I lived there and so remember the cult of Amway and how many of those people were connected with the John Birch Society.  I know because they tried to recruit my parents. Some of their best friends were in that movement.  I remember the pamphlets that were left at our home...or the booklets that were in the homes of some of our friends. It was at a time when Americas were told to be afraid. Be very afraid of people in Unions because they were Commies. Be very afraid of Catholics. Be very afraid of Jews. Be afraid and then mobilize and strike them down.  Sound familiar?  Twenty-Two Days....

THEY Are AFRAID of You

It's why the Republicans are doing everything they can to obstruct your right to vote. They know they are on the wrong side of history. They know you want to turn out in massive numbers to give "45" and his crew the boot and so they are making it harder and harder for you to vote.  It's happening in Florida, Texas, Georgia, Missouri and many other states that for years have concocted ways to infringe on the right to vote. From Poll Taxes to Literacy Tests they have always sought ways to keep folks in their place. But, now the sheets have been removed and we know them for what they are. 

The best news is that many of the U.S. Senate seats that should have been a slam-dunk for the GOP are now in play. Arizona, Texas, South Carolina, Alaska, Iowa, Montana...all of them two months ago were "safe seats". That is no longer the case as pissed off Americans are voting with their dollars and their feet. Twenty-Two Days...

Theresa Greenfield

I remember sitting in a Hy-Vee conference room two years ago. We had just concluded a meeting of the Windsor Heights Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Theresa, who was on the Board, stayed behind. I got up and closed the door and she looked at me and said, "What do you hear?"  I told her I was hearing rumblings that she was going to run for the U.S. Senate. While she didn't admit to that with words her smile was all I needed to know.

I tell you that story because of the lies the Republicans are telling about her. I was there when the company she worked for made the decision to attempt to bring Aldi to Windsor Heights...something, by the way, I was in favor of.  However it was the City that put the nix on that move. They didn't want yet another grocery store in Windsor Heights...let alone a store that would bring "those people" closer to the core of the city.  Colby Interests had long sought to remodel their aging buildings and so with leases running out that is what they did. They did not "tear down" small businesses they improved the area. They sunk thousands of dollars into aging structures that are now home to many new small businesses that are locally owned.  You might want to read that again...."locally owned". and even better than that "minority owned".  

They are, as usual...lying to you. I know.  I was there as not only the president of the Chamber but then the Executive Director of the same.  Twenty-Two Days...  If you can...send her some money.  Here is that link.

In Addition - You Can Make a Difference

Look, I know how hard it is to run for office and today, given COVID19 it's worse than ever. Democrats are not permitted to knock doors. Why? We care too much about our fellow citizens...full stop. So we've got to find other ways to put candidates in front of the voters. I get it, many of you have already voted but if you have not yet stepped up with a donation...please do.  Here are some folks I know who are committed to work on behalf of you and your family.  Click on their name and then...donate.  Thank you!

    Congresswoman Cindy Axne

    Candidate J.D. Scholten

    Candidate Rita Hart

    Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer

    Iowa State Senate Candidate Rhonda Martin (Urbandale)

    Iowa State Senate Candidate Sarah Trone-Garriott (Clive, Waukee, WDM, Windsor Heights)

    Iowa State Senate Candidate Warren Varley (Adair & Guthrie Counties, all of Dallas County and some of Polk County)

    Representative Jennifer Konfrst (Windsor Heights)

    Candidate Charles Clayton (Webster County, Fort Dodge)

    Representative Sharon Steckman (Mason City)

There are many, many more...help if you can!  Twenty-Two Days....

Partly Personal

I was at a girls softball game yesterday. It was a great day to watch our granddaughter play...and did she ever. One of the teams they faced was an undefeated group of girls from the Quad Cities. It was the "normal" gathering of parents and grandparents until their "boom box" started belting out a song that was clearly a pro "45" rap piece. Clearly.  The song went on for a bit before the inning started and I heard one of the parents yell, "Yes we're patriots of America that's why our uniforms are red, white and blue!"  At a girls softball game...

Nobody said anything but the attitude of superiority was palatable. Their yelling and cheering...just was louder and more obnoxious than what is normal.  In the end they were handed their first defeat of the season. I felt bad for the young ladies...but...yeah...Twenty-Two Days.

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful Sunday.

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Sunday Morning Coffee 4 October 2020

For those of us who have been on the campaign trail these past, nearly two years, it's amazing to know that right now millions of Americans have already voted and that the general election is just a month away. So much has happened in this time period and the past seven months have been surreal. Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee, a mixture of news and comment.  Let's go:

The Official Super-Spreader Event

First up, I do not delight in the fact the president has been hospitalized with COVID19. I'm a bit dismayed at the mean posts I've seen over the weekend. But I understand. Here is a man who flouted safety, who made fun of masks, who said the virus would be gone by Easter (uhm, that would have been LAST Easter) and who delights in the throngs of people that follow his lead and gather in large groups without masks and without social distance.

All of that has led to what many believe was a massive and official super-spreader event at the White House. The president, eager to put COVID19 on the back-burner, held a reception at the White House to introduce his choice for the Supreme Court. It was designed to take the coronavirus off the front page and deal with a campaign promise. Washington D.C. has a rule that no more than 50 people may congregate together in one place. Of course the president and his minions ignored that advice. Now many who attended have tested positive.

That and the recent presidential debate where the president's supporters/family waved off masks offered to them is the reality of this truly horrible man who cares nothing about you or your family. It's all about him and the optics. (Image: Business Insider)

And Sympathy...

And now...he wants your sympathy. Just weeks ago COVID19 was a hoax now he sends out Tweets that sound like he is in sympathy with those millions of people who have contracted the disease and the 205,000 Americans who have died. It's all about him. Never forget that he cares little because it's just not in him. Oh, and never expect the truth.

What About The Court?

With the number of GOP senators testing positive for COVID19 there could be a stall in the rapid confirmation process for Judge Amy Coney Barrett. You see the Judiciary Committee needs to meet and vote (and unlike the House they must be in person) but if the members of the committee are out for the next couple of weeks that could push the process back until after the election and, given the numbers I'm seeing, the Democrats may very well take the Senate which would mean a lame-duck session truly open to the ire of the American people...

Joe Biden

Meanwhile for the next month my posts will not be about how awful "45" is but how wonderful Joe Biden and his plans are. If you follow my Twitter Feed @MichaelLibbie you know that the trolls come out every time I post negative things about the president so I'm going to focus on what Joe and the other down-ballot Democrats have going for them that lacks among the crowd in the GOP.  Should be great fun and if you're on Twitter come along for the ride.

Meanwhile the Polls

Joe Biden has widened his lead in the first poll taken following the hospitalization of the president. Fifty-one percent of respondents now back Biden compared to 41 percent who support the president, according to the Reuters-Ipsos poll released this morning. Four percent are backing a third-party candidate while another 4 percent are undecided.

Women, Work and COVID19

Women are leaving the workforce is stunning numbers. Between August and September, nearly 1.1 million workers ages 20 and over dropped out of the labor force, meaning they are no longer working or looking for work. Of those 1.1 million workers, 865,000 of them were women, a number that is four times higher than the number of men who also left the workforce. Go ahead, read that set of numbers again.

Emily Martin of the National Women's Law Center said that as families struggle to figure out how to keep their jobs while also making sure their children are cared for and they are learning it is women that are being pushed out of work.

While all women are undoubtedly feeling the brunt of today's pandemic, Martin adds that Black women and Latinas are still seeing the highest rates of unemployment...saying,  "This is demonstrating the ways COVID19 is deepening the already sharp inequities in our economy."

Given the stress so many women are under given jobs, family, education, social...it's a real issue for families.

Charles Clayton

I've been trying to hype the various candidates across Iowa that often don't get much press. One of them is Charles Clayton who is running for the Iowa House in House District 9 (Fort Dodge & Webster County). He not only has a legacy of community service he will, according to Minority Leader Rep. Todd Prichard (D-Charles City), "...bring a wealth of first hand information and experience in dealing with at risk kids that will be a huge asset to the House."  Click on the audio link below for his story.

IOB 1 October 2020 Charles Clayton

Thanks and, yes, chip in if you can!  We can win that seat.  His opponent is tied to the hip of the current governor and her botched job and far right agenda. And, Fort Dodge...get your Mayor to post a sign in his yard. It matters.

Partly Personal

Winning in November is up to each of us. We need to turn out the Democrat votes across America, in our states, our counties and in our neighborhoods.  It is not too late to make this happen.  Reach out to your friends and neighbors who are Democrats and make sure they vote. Ballots are being sent out this week and REMEMBER that you have two weeks, at least, to request an absentee ballot from your county auditor. 

Let me share this story with you.  A month ago here in the Village of Windsor Heights 400 Democrats had requested a ballot. Now we have a bit more than 1,800 registered Democrats in this little town. A big lead over the Republicans. Our job was to connect with each of them and get them to request a ballot. I can share with you that by going out and doing drives and leaving registration information with them at the doors of those who had not yet requested a ballot that as of 29 September over 1,200 had done so. Today we're reaching out to the remaining 600 with a flyer and phone calls to get them to vote in person or by mail.  I did not chair this project but Allison Engle of Windsor Heights did and she has done an amazing job.  YOU CAN DO IT...it matters.

OK, it's off for a softball game and then the Business Week in Review heard today at Noon on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. And, yes, they stream if you want to listen in.

Thanks for reading and have a great Sunday!