SundayMorningCoffee

Sunday Morning Coffee 17 November 2019

Sitting here writing this long before the sun comes up on a November morning. It's Sunday Morning Coffee with the political news you may have seen, or missed, all laced with my commentary. It's what I get to do before the house comes alive on a Sunday Morning...

Impeachment

It's no secret. I loath our current president. Clearly unfit to have been elected he has continued to abuse his power and bring disgrace to the Oval Office by his constant lies and his demeaning of others. None of it is "presidential". The man can not be trusted, unless you wish to place your trust in evil. He has surrounded himself with others equally evil...think Stephen Miller...and the American people are now being treated to the unvarnished truth of what he has done and how he has tried to conceal his acts. If he were in the military, rather than its Commander in Chief, he would have been drummed out of the service long ago.

Whatever comes from this impeachment effort one thing is certain. The Democrats will not face the backlash that they had once feared. Why? This isn't about a president who perjured himself over an encounter with a White House aide this is about how the President of the United States pressured another government and held back vital military aid in an attempt to feather his own political nest. While both are wrong one is sexy and the other clearly an abuse of power and an impeachable offence. (Image: U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch at the Friday hearing from CNN)

It is telling, in this instance, that the president did not act alone but was assisted by others, not only in the demand, but also in the coverup. While the Democrats may not get a single Republican to join them in the vote for impeachment the GOP will be led into the 2020 election by a mortally wounded politician at the top of the ticket. Bring it on.

Oh yeah...Roger Stone is going to jail. How many does that make my friends? "Lock him up!" 

Louisiana

While you were sleeping another one of 45's minions went down in defeat. Gov. John Bel Edwards (D-LA) defeated Eddie Rispone in a close election. 45 had made two trips to Louisiana in support of Rispone who fawned over the president at every turn. Edwards is now the second Democrat to defeat a Republican who was closely tied to the president. And, both won in southern states that went heavy for 45 in 2016. To be clear, Edwards isn't my "flavor" of a Democrat but last night in his victory speech he promised to increase workforce training, invest more in education, including early childhood education, work to improve health care, raise the minimum wage and advance major infrastructure projects. (Image: John Bel Edwards victory speech from L.A. TImes)

Iowa is Diminished

As word spread of the untimely death of Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady people of faith and values struggled to come to grips with the fact a true champion of thoughtful and compassionate justice is gone. We are all diminished to have lost such a fine person. I knew Justice Cady long before he went to the Supreme Court from our time together in Fort Dodge, Iowa. We often met at like minded events that championed justice and equality. It was no surprise that he wrote the decisions of the Court on gay marriage and abortion rights. Justice Cady was a person who truly felt equal means equal and believed that it was wrong to foster social conservative religious beliefs onto others. We last spoke at a holiday party where the conversation was not on legal matters but on family and the future of Iowa. He will be missed.

Now we will face yet another gut check as Gov. Kim Reynolds (D-IA) a champion of "45" and Rep. Steve King (R-IA) will move to replace Justice Cady.

The Death Penalty

Capital punishment has been banned in Iowa since Gov. Harold Hughes (D-IA) signed a bill that abolished the death penalty in 1965. Yesterday during a meeting of the West Des Moines Democrats attorney Ivan Webber told the group about the non-partisan, Iowans Against the Death Penalty and offered a warning that even though many do not remember a time when the death penalty was enforced there are still people in the Iowa Legislature that are more than willing to bring it back.  (Image: Gov. Harold Hughes from the Des Moines Register)

It is, my friends. a chilling reminder that elections do have consequences. It would serve us well to keep informed and to fight any attempt to bring the death penalty back. I get it that it's not top of mind right now...but we should be prepared.

Gun Violence in Iowa

Here is another issue for you to chew on. Over the years I have attended more than my share of vigils commemorating the deaths of people who were gunned down in mass shootings. Each time the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa called for people of faith and various backgrounds to come together and stand against gun violence be it mass shootings or domestic shootings or suicide. In answer to the latest round of mass killings Connie Ryan from the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa met with others including Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad (D-DSM) and made the decision that while vigils are important...action must replace the activity of prayer and supplication. Over the past several months people have been gathering to work together on economic and political answers to stem gun violence. 

I recently sat down with Connie and recorded this interview which will air later today on News/Talk 1540 KXEL and is part of our Radio Blog. Again, if you want to listen, just click the player:

Partly Personal

I truly believe that life does not consist of haphazard coincidences but that things happen for a reason. This past week I had several personal interactions with people who enriched my life. One of those dealt with what was supposed to be a business conversation that turned into a heartwarming discussion of faith, family and friendship. I think the message here is to always be mindful and responsive to those seemingly random events that can put us in touch with others and allow us to grow.

Suspect you realize that you'll be hearing more and more about my campaign to represent you in the Iowa State Senate District 22 (Clive, Waukee, West Des Moines & Windsor Heights). It's what consumes a great deal of my time. I'd like to thank the Iowa Landlord Association and the West Des Moines Democrats for allowing me to speak this past week. More of those events will happen on a regular basis. If you would like to learn more about what this campaign is about I'd invite you to drift past the campaign website: LibbieForIowa.com and if you are compelled to help a guy who is "Working for Working Families" let's visit and perhaps you might consider a donation to the campaign.

My thanks to Cityview's Business Journal for naming me one of the "19 People Who Made a Difference in 2019" the award event was held over a week ago but I failed to mention it last week. If you would like to see the list of people with whom I shared this honor with here is a link to the article in the most recent issue.

Finally (gosh this section is getting sorta long!) I'll be a guest tomorrow morning in the 8:00AM hour on Iowa Live which can be seen online and on CW-Iowa 23. I'll be chatting with Michele, Lou and Jackie about a host of items including how podcasting has become a "go to" media of choice for many who are time starved. And, how Insight on Business the News Hour came to be and how it continues to grow.

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful Sunday!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday Morning Coffee 21 April 2019

For those of you celebrating your religious holiday today may you have a Happy Passover and a Happy Easter. The fact that the two holidays are happening on the same weekend is rare but not without president. What it may do is call more attention to the fact of the linkage of the two holidays. But, you didn't come here for that...let's go.

Your Dues is Due

Speaking of faith, the United Methodist Church is going through a dues issue. According to the Associated Press dues collection by the UMC is down this year by about 20%. Reason?  The recent flap regarding LGBTQ individuals being banned from serving the church has some of the more liberal congregations withholding their support. In the same report the AP discloses that when the vote was taken the ban won by a vote of the delegates 438-384. However the U.S. delegates overwhelmingly voted against the ban but when votes came in from Africa and the Philippines it was enough to enact. It would seem that, perhaps, the church is headed toward a split much like what happened with the Lutherans several years ago...over the same issue. (Photo UMC Church Fort Collins, CO - The Coloradoan)

The Mueller Report

Not much more can be written about this that has not already been done by hundreds of pundits. Smoking gun? Nope. Wack job in the White House. Yep...but we already knew that. What is troubling is how far Attorney General William Barr has gone to be, not the attorney for the American people but the attorney for "45". We now know that the four page "summary" was an attempt to provide cover to the president and was inaccurate and misleading on many fronts. Of course now that Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) has issued a congressional subpoena for the unredacted report we'll see how this plays out. But, I wouldn't expect Barr to cooperate. More likely we'll see more stalling.

What Is Next

If I were running a campaign I wouldn't bring up the president unless asked and then only respond in an oblique way. Why? I'm convinced that the vast majority of Americans are weary of focusing on this man and that by doing so we miss the opportunity to hammer home on those "kitchen table" issues that impact their lives. So, what are they? Let's go:

Health Care

There is not a hotter topic among businesses and families than the current broken and obscene health care system in this country. Small businesses, and even some larger ones, are getting hammered by 15 to 24 percent increases in health care insurance rates every year. It is not sustainable...period. I don't care if you work in a cubicle or on the farm you realize you are one medical bill away from poverty. That is not how it should be in this country.

Let me share with you just how obscene our current system is. Last week David Wichman the CEO of UnitedHealth Care, which insures some 49 million Americans, said that Medicare for All would "disrupt the health care system and provide major increases in costs without providing more care to American families". No, really, the guy that last year had a compensation package of $17.3 million actually said that. And, know what? Health care STOCKS lost about $29 billion in value over the next two days because investors are getting the hint that our current system is unsustainable and are bailing.

I want you to think about that for a moment. Publicly traded companies exist for the sole purpose of returning a profit to investors. That your health care insurance company cares more about its investors than your health is obscene. $29 billion would go a very long way toward fixing what is broken..

Education

Democrats need to take this seriously and hammer it home day after day after day. The GOP has gutted educational spending in every state they control and now the focus is on diverting tax dollars to private religious or for-profit schools. I have no problem if you want to send your kid to the religious school be it Catholic, Protestant, Islamic or Jewish but you should pay for it...not the American people. Democrats must return to solutions that end the pain of school loans that burden people for decades without being able to negotiate rates while also holding up the Trade Unions and their excellent programs that provide training in jobs that actually pay better than many that require a Bachelor's Degree.

Living Wage & Collective Bargaining

Enough killing off working families with law that allow states to be "Right to Work". It is corporate slavery and it is wrong. For three weeks I have asked you to defend your view that people should not be paid a living wage or be allowed to join unions and collectively bargain for wages and benefits and try to square that with the teachings of your church. Not one of my conservative friends care to debate this issue because they know they are wrong. When more people make more money they will spend it and that will lift the economy of everyone. It ain't that hard.

Equal Pay - Equal Work

This, too, isn't hard and most Americans believe that if you put in a day of work you should be paid equally be you a woman, man, black white or green. Enough of subjecting non-white males to lower pay just because you can. Americans know what is fair and what is not and the system that pays others a fraction of white men is just plain wrong.

Voting Rights

This one really pisses me off. One of the political parties in the United States tries everything they can to suppress the vote and it is happening right in front of your eyes. Americans don't approve. It doesn't matter if you live in Elkader, Iowa or Los Angeles, California the people smell the rottenness of voter suppression and they need to be assured their vote matters.

Reproductive Rights

I get it and so do you. When a bunch of men make rules about what a woman can or can not do when it comes to health care is like slave owners telling their property what they can and can not do. Most people believe these are issues that are best left to the people who are impacted at the moment. Do I support choice. Yes. Would I counsel my daughter to, at all costs, avoid an abortion. Yes. But in the end that decision is not mine.

What Doesn't Play Well

This is going to upset some folks but there is an issue that doesn't play well. That is the question of guns. The Democrats are never, never going to swing that argument in rural parts of the country especially if the focus of the issue is banning. However most Americans, rural to urban, think that sensible gun laws like background checks, insurance policies and keeping firearms out of the hands of unstable individuals makes sense. I'd leave it at that. Oh, one more thing. Know why some uphold the whole gun debate and cling to the Second Amendment? The firearms industry is a $52 billion business. Now you know.

Partly Personal

It's been "lotsa matzah" over the past couple of days. Friday night our family Seder lasted well into the late night. Last night I was honored to lead a Community Seder for the Jewish Congregation of Adas Israel in Mason City where about fifty people came to experience the Passover. As always, there were many who had never been to a Seder and I hope they came away from the three hour service with a better understanding of their faith as well as mine. There is great responsibility when it comes to teaching and when you add religion to the mix it becomes even more important to be as clear as possible.  It was a good night.

Political gossip is that Rep. Linda Upmeyer (R-Clear Lake) may be leaving the Iowa Legislature. The story is that she has accepted a big-time job with a right-wing organization and will spend her time lobbying at the Statehouse. Stay tuned. 

Thanks for reading and have a fantastic Sunday.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday Morning Coffee - Daylight Savings Time Edition

You too huh? THAT was a short night...Welcome to the 10th day of March! The coffee is on and much to share. Some of these stories you may have seen others perhaps you've missed but, not to worry, they are all laced with my commentary. Why? Because it's what I do...let's go!

The Iowa Poll

The guy who leads the pack of presidential hopefuls in the new Des Moines Register/CNN/Mediacom Iowa Poll isn't in the race and the guy who comes in second isn't a Democrat. Hey, but, it's Iowa and it's early. The poll conducted by the ever spot on Selzer & Co. finds that former Vice President Joe Biden, who people close to him say he is 95% sure to jump in the race, is favored by 27% of likely caucus goers. Meanwhile Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) comes in a close second at 25%.

Again, it's very early but a couple of things jumped out about the numbers. For all the talk about new, young, fresh faces in politics these two men are not any of those things. But, what they do have, as articulated by many of the respondents, is experience something that is sorely lacking in the White House today. 

And, for all the talk about choosing a female to run for president the ladies trail by a bunch with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) coming in 16 percentage points under Sanders at 9%.

The poll says Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) is in fourth place with 7%, Beto O'Rourke (who has also not announced but we hear it is coming this week) gained 5%. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) tie with 3%. No other candidate gets more than 1 percent including NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA) who were not named as a "first choice" by any respondent to the poll. 

Here is something else: Former Congressman John K. Delaney, who will be on CNN tonight and yes, I'm going to his "Watch Party" at the Star Bar this evening, polls at 1%. Even though he has been running ads for months, has a number of offices in the state and an aggressive staff Delaney has not budged from an earlier poll.

If you can get through the pay wall here is a link to the story.

And, remember...it's very early.

My God...SOCIALISM!!!

It's been a hoot to see how my Republican friends turn themselves into pretzels over the fact the nation seems to be moving further to the left. Every chance they get they shout "SOCIALISM" furthering the old and tired scare tactics they are so good at. Want to know why people are fed up with the way things are?

• A Failed Healthcare System - There is not another industrialized nation on the planet that has such a messed up system as ours. The for profit health care delivery system in the United States failing millions of people and our outcomes are worse than some emerging countries...and people know it. 
• Income Inequality - Last week the heiress of the Disney company said, "Not even Jesus Christ was worth 500 times that of his employees." OK, there is lots wrong with that but the fact is that when corporate CEOs are paid 700, 600 and 500 times that of the wages of their median employees something is very, very wrong...and people know it.
• Corporate Taxation - When the story broke that Amazon paid zero in taxes it sorta struck a nerve. While cities and states line up to throw your tax dollars at a company who doesn't pay a cent for the infrastructure they use every day it gets under our skin...just a bit.
• The Endless War - We're done...OK? People are tired of this government writing blank checks to fund a war that has been going on for nearly 20 years. Even the Russians wised up and got the hell out of Afghanistan. Funny thing that we can spend trillions on this endless war but we can't fund a decent health care system for our citizens. 

That is just four of, perhaps, ten reasons why this nation is casting an eye toward other countries who seem to have it figured out. 

Notice Something?

I'm over 700 words in and barely a swipe against "45". Know why? I'm done with him too. We can not believe one word the man says, he continues to embarrass this nation he is a crook a lier and a racist. Why waste space on covering what he says or does. Pointless and the faster the rest of the country comes to that conclusion and focuses on positive steps to replace the dignity of the office of the President of the United States the better off everybody is. Just think...reality TV...which is also phony.

Busy Turning The Clock Back

Even while the rest of the nation is moving further the left the Iowa Legislature, which is controlled by Republicans, are doing their very best to turn the clock back and help this state become a  shadow of what it could be. How?

• Tax Dollars for Private Schools - Really? Think about that for a moment. Why the hell would we give one penny to any religious or for profit school where they can pick and choose who goes to that institution? Proponents point to the fact that graduation numbers are higher at religious schools. Hell yes...the legislature has been methodically starving our public school system for years. Cleary they don't see the importance of education...at least not public;
• The Death Penalty - Really? Are you honestly so full of blood-lust that you think we need to become Texas or Alabama or Arkansas? Really?;
• Guns - Never mind you are. The Iowa GOP wants guns everywhere on everybody because you should be afraid...very, very afraid and besides the government is out to get you and you need protection against those "black helicopters". So very weary;
• The Judicial System - Chuck Schneider and his cronies in the Iowa Senate are still miffed that the judicial system in Iowa isn't like the clown courts of other states where the ruling party gets to play loose with the law. Again a solution in search of a problem;
• Abortion - Oh yes...that again. Now the Iowa Legislature wants to pass a constitutional amendment that would ban the right of a woman to have control over her body. Just stop it.

Elections have consequences and they are being played out every day under the golden dome...and not for the betterment of our state.

Just Settle The Case!

Anybody else think it is odd that just days before an attorney was going to file two harassment cases against the now ousted director of the Iowa Finance Authority, Dave Jamison, the state rushed in to settle at the tune $4.1 million? I wonder who didn't want Mr. Jamison on a witness stand? I wonder who didn't want to be compelled to sit down for depositions?  Never mind...it's nothing. 

Meanwhile published reports say there are several more harassment cases pending against department heads who have not yet been fired by the governor. We got us a mess kids...

Partly Personal

Daylight savings time is finally here and we can stop hibernating. By this time a couple of years ago I'd already put dozens of miles on my bike. Itching to get out there again...soon. However this ice ain't so safe especially with those skinny road bike tires.

Speaking of bicycles....

Yesterday there was a celebration at Bike World in Des Moines honoring John Karras the co-founder of RAGBRAI on his 89th birthday. In this short clip you'll hear Bike World owner Forrest Ridgway talk about how much RAGBRAI has meant to Iowa and then John has something to say: 

John Karras 89th Birthday March 2019

Photo: Forrest celebrating with friends at the event, John and the RAGBRAI executive director, TJ Juskiewicz and, of course the cake with images of the soon to be built statue that will be in Water Works Park which honors Donald Kaul and John Karras. For more about that and how you can help here is a link. You can click on the photo to enlarge. 

Thanks for reading and have a great Sunday! 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

 

Sunday Morning Coffee - The Victim Edition 7 October 2018

Well, that was quite a week. Republican senators said that Dr. Christine Blasey Ford was "creditable" in her assertion that Judge Brett Kavanaugh assaulted her some 35 years ago. The senators also said they feel badly for women who are treated in such a fashion. The senators also said "their guy" was the victim of a "smear campaign" by Democrats.

Finally we now know what the real problem in America is! It is not that black men are disproportionately incarcerated and that black teens have an unemployment rate of near 20%. It is not that Latinos are paid less than their white or black fellow workers. It is not the fact that one in five women in the United States will be raped in their lifetime. It has nothing to do with the fact that 67% of women murdered by men are in an intimate relationship with their killer. None of that. The real issue that confronts us is that white men are victims.  Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee...let's go.

Defending the Real Victims

No doubt you are feeling much more at ease now that the eleven men on the Judicial Committee have thrown off their oppression and pointed out who the real victims are. White men are under attack and it has come down to "45" and his minions to protect and defend them. To help them through their troubles and reassert their dominance in society. Just like Christians are under attack so too are white males. The next time you see a white male in public please...show a little more respect. Show some compassion for crying out loud. If not how can this nation survive? 

Never mind that men are paid close to 20% more than female workers for the same job. The reason is clear: We are victims and it takes more of our hard-earned money to gain respect and dignity. 

Word up: This is real and "45" has weaponized the idea of white male victim-hood and the base is responding in a major way. So much so that there is real doubt of any "blue wave" in November. Write that down someplace too.  

Meanwhile in Maine

Just because I am interested I looked it up. There are more Democrats in Maine than Republicans.  Why does that matter?  Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) offered a passionate speech from the floor of the U.S. Senate. For over 40 minutes she attempted to put her party and her gender aside and offer her support and compassion for Judge Kavanaugh. It was never in doubt. She watched and listened to women who told her amazing stories of abuse as dozens of women descended on her Washington D.C. office. She, mindful of a potential over-turning of Roe v. Wade, understood the women who told horror stories and sympathized with them. But in the end she sided with the real victim.  It wasn't long after her speech that Sen. Collins started to rack up some formidable opposition to her 2020 race. One of the most intriguing names floated is Ambassador Susan Rice. Whoever the yet-undetermined Democratic is he/she will hit the ground running with a war chest of more than $2.9 million.  

The sums raised so far should make an impact in the 2020 election. Collins’ last opponent, Democrat Shenna Bellows, raised about $2.35 million total in 2014, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Collins raised about $6.23 million in the same election. Meanwhile her office has cast the fund raising effort as a "bribery attempt". We'll see if the passion continues past the Saturday vote.

Thirty Days

Democrats have thirty days to turn back decades of oppression aimed at the workers in Iowa a state where "right to work" really means right to steal. The right to steal your time and talent. The right to fire you for nonsense reasons. The right to impoverish generations of hard working Iowans. One of the first things Gov. Fred Hubbell and the new Democratic Iowa House should do is take on "right to work" and abolish this worker/slave act. Non-Right to Work states have higher incomes, lower poverty rates and fewer on-the-job worker injuries. It is time to put working families ahead of corporate profits.

Oh Wait, Vote Tomorrow

Here is Iowa we can vote starting tomorrow. Early voting opens up here and if you've turned in a request for an absentee ballot the county auditor will be mailing those ballots out tomorrow.(Actually tomorrow is a federal holiday so no postal service.) You can then fill it out and mail it back or head into your county auditor office and vote there. Me? I requested a ballot the first week of September and I see, by tracking it, it is to be mailed tomorrow. I'm in. You? 

BTW, don't let that link to the current Secretary of State's office get to you. Vote for Deidre DeJear...starting tomorrow.

Rob Sand for State Auditor

Down ballot races don't get much notice. However, democratic candidate for State Auditor, Rob Sand, is attempting to change that. He has visited all 99 counties and has done countless campaign appearances. He, last week did an interview on WHO Radio with Jeff Angelo and this week he is slated to go on the show of the realtor turned radio guy Simon Conway. That should be good. Meanwhile Rob has a message for Iowans about the mess that is the for-profit managed health care system here. Governor Kim Reynolds and the GOP will do everything they can to make sure he is defeated because he has promised to "Wake Up the Watchdog" and subpoena the records of the managed care companies who have been unable and unwilling to come clean with Iowa taxpayers. Make it happen. Rob will also be a guest on the Business News Hour this week. Watch our Facebook Page or Twitter @IOB_NewsHour for more. 

Partly Personal

Speaking of the Business News Hour last week I interviewed Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) about Amazon and the move to increase their minimum wage to $15 an hour. Congressman Khanna represents Silicon Valley and he teamed up with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to put pressure on Jeff Bezos to, "do the right thing" and raise wages at a company that is work a trillion dollars. While investors didn't much like that (they never seem to be in favor of paying people because it detracts from the profit line) Amazon did raise the wage but, the very next day took back a benefit to "pay for the wage increase". If you are interested in that brief conversation here is the link to the interview.

Speaking of interviews that tend political...this week I'll visit with Congressman John Delaney (D-MD) about his presidential run and that should run on Wednesday. Congressman Delaney has an interesting story and was so very impressive in his speech last week to the Polk County Democrats. It will be great to visit with him about business and public policy.

I didn't make it to the Iowa Democratic Party Fall Gala last night and I'm kicking myself today. With everything going on I simply missed out. I understand Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) hit it out of the park. We'll, no doubt, be seeing more of Senator Booker in the coming months. He's not hiding the fact he is eyeing a 2020 presidential bid. 

It is going to be a crowded field.

Thanks for coming by and have a wonderful Sunday!  

 

 

Sunday Morning Coffee - The Rotten Edition 24 June 2018

Can you smell it? There is something rotten in America. The putrid stench of the Trump Administration is invading every corner of our nation and while reasonable, but misguided, people cling to the notion that things will get better they are fooling themselves. The most corrupt administration in over 150 years continues to double down on its divisive tactics proving this is not one nation...but a fractured society that only a revolution in November will fix. And, the interesting thing this issue of lies goes all the way from Washington D.C. to your local city council. It's time to fix this mess. Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee...gosh such a somber note huh?  

Mind Numbing Isn't It?

Growing up we were always told to respect authority. From my first boss, Margaret at Capes Ice Cream Shop, to the President of the United States...authority demands respect. While we may not agree with the decisions of those "in power" it was important for us to respect the office which they held. That has all changed. How can you respect an office when the placeholder finds it impossible to tell the truth? It is truly mind numbing as to what we have become. And failing to tell the truth seems to be in vogue especially among the political class. (We'll get to that in a minute.) If you wish, click though to this story from the Washington Post. They have been tracking the "Lies of 45" since the beginning. It's a long list. This president and his ilk are responsible for the destruction of truth on a scale we have not seen...perhaps ever. Truly mind numbing.

Crops Rot in California

Forbes, hardly a liberal publication, had a story last week about the rotting farm fields of California. It seems the "Zero Tolerance" policy of this administration on immigration is taking its toll on...lettuce. Farmers in the San Joaquin Valley report that migrant labor, the staple of crop production there, is disappearing due to the crack-down on migrants who may be here without papers. But, it's not just California. Other states that count on migrants to do the "hand work" of production report the same issue. But, the problem is much deeper than immigration. The issue might well be our nation's demand for cheap food. You see the San Joaquin Valley is also some of the poorest parts of California where in six counties families live well below the poverty line. I suspect that if farmers there were paying a livable wage they would not have to use migrant labor and those of you who are so worried about "being left behind" might want to migrate there and take up farm work? 

Eight Minutes 

The audio of a child separated from his mother by government forces lasted for eight minutes. In that eight minutes we heard the pain and fear associated with the malignancy of hate. And, it was that eight minutes that galvanized, yet another, outrage against this president and his truly awful administration from the Oval Office to Terrace Hill in Iowa where a sitting governor continues to applaud the actions of "45" and his ilk. Think of it...camps. Internment camps being constructed by the United States Military and private contractors to put people behind barbed wire. And, we're not done. At last count some 2,300 children are missing. The government of the United States of America ripped these children away from their parents and cast them to the wind. Nobody knows. Imagine, for just a moment being a small child and being transported, under the cover of darkness, thousands of miles away from your family. It really doesn't get any more cruel than this. Those of you who applaud these actions will, one day, regret your callous and inhumane support of tyranny. America is better than this and, quite frankly...better than you.

Meanwhile Laura Ingram says detention camps run by U.S. government forces are really like summer camp. (Cartoon - Tim Lloyd) Welcome back Tim!! 

We can't make this stuff up.

Oh, Canada Too

Did you hear about the young woman who went for a jog on the beach only to be detained by United States government forces for two weeks? The incident happened at the U.S. / Canada border a couple of weeks ago. Cedella Roman, 19, was visiting her mother from France when she went jogging last month just south of White Rock, British Columbia. She jogged right into Blaine, Washington and into a cell where she spent two weeks under the watchful eye of U.S. government forces. Roman, a French citizen, was not carrying any papers but even after those identity papers were in the hands of government forces she remained in detention for another two weeks. Welcome to Amerika friends. U.S. government forces said it is the responsibility of people to be aware of their surroundings.  In case you were wondering there are no warning signs posted in the area where Cedella was jogging. I wonder if Cedella were white if she would have remained in detention for as long? Or maybe it was that "French Thing". They are, after all, our enemy now.

Iowa Politics

If you thought the most recent Iowa legislative session was bad for Iowa hang on...the Iowa GOP has even more fun in store next year and if what happened in 2018 wasn't enough to scare the crap out of you... But, wait! Before we go on, let's review what Sen. Charles Schneider (R-Clive) and his cronies in the Iowa Senate and Rep. Linda Upmeyer (R-Clear Lake) offered us just a few months ago.

• The nation's most restrictive anti-abortion law which an abortion time limit of about six weeks often before a woman even knows she is pregnant;
• Cut services to the people in need and give more to the wealthy of Iowa;
• Lower revenue so that when it comes time to continue the attack on education, health care, housing and equal rights there is an excuse;
• Failure to provide assistance to those struggling with pain and other health concerns by tanking a reasonable piece of medical marijuana legislation;
• A state budget that is wrought with implied failure for the future.

And they did it in broad daylight and lied each step of the way. Here is the deal. If you don't get your ass to the polls and stop this come November our great state will continue to slide further into becoming the Mississippi of the Midwest.

Yeah that. Oh there is more. Did you know that new House Rules forbid the use of graphs and info-graphics during debate. "Don't confuse us with the facts..." Want proof? Ask Rep. Sharon Steckman (D-Mason City). 

Partly Personal

We live free, we think, from attacks by government forces. However the sound and images that are coming from our border are having an impact in our home. This past Thursday morning my 10 year-old grand-daughter who lives with us came into the kitchen shaking her head. I asked her, as I always do how she slept. She looked at me and said, "I had the worst dream last night it was really scary. I had a dream that the police came and took me away from my mom and put me in a jail and I couldn't get to her."

Ten years old, white, living in the burbs...

Yeah, all of this isn't having an impact on our lives. It's all just another lie. Something is rotten in America and you know it.

Thanks for reading... 

 

Sunday Morning Coffee - The Vacation Edition 27 May 2018

Happy Memorial Day Weekend. May you have a safe, memorable time with family and friends. I understand that in Iowa we're in the middle of a heat-wave. Here on Anna Maria Island it's rained for several days and some folks wearing sweatshirts. Go figure. Because this is the Vacation Edition of Sunday Morning Coffee I'm going to cut it a bit short. I know...slacking right?

Nothing Changes

I just read, this morning, that since taking office "45" has lied or misrepresented facts about 2,500 times. And so it goes. But here is something that should be an outrage among Americans on this Memorial Day. When this nation rips children out of the arms of their mothers and then admits they have no idea where the children have ended up it is as if we are lifting up Germany in the 1930's and 1940's. Not sure about you...but my Father didn't spend years fighting, in uniform, against this sort of tyranny and have this nation end up as it has. 

But, then again, there is so much to be outraged about. If only we cared as much for kids once out of the uterus. 

Obama in Re-Run

This morning NBC News reported that dozens of former Obama officials are running for office this year in opposition to "45" and his policies.

At least 64 former Obama staffers are running for federal, state or local office this year, according to the network, which cited numbers obtained from the Obama Alumni Association.

The group said it expects that number to rise as more Obama alums contact it about their bids. Some states also have yet to hold primaries, giving more former staffers the chance to announce campaigns.

At least 28 of those Obama officials are running for the House of Representatives, according to NBC News, which said five have won their primaries so far and one has lost.

The Blue Wave - A Ripple?

Over the past several weeks it is becoming more clear that the projected "Blue Wave" may turn out to be a ripple as polls suggest more Americans are becoming comfortable with the policies of this White House. Let it be said that the public is an informed public ain't quite accurate. But, that depends on who you listen to. And the Right-Wing Controlled Media is banging that drum loudly. One of the biggest concerns is that the Democrats can't create any traction beyond party regulars. "A lack of a unified message other than anti-Trump" seems to be one of several issues.

So, what do YOU do? Knock doors, involve people in sane and rational discussions, consider what America could be rather than what it is becoming. Point to the lack of progress and what it can mean if we back-slide. So much to do...and we don't have a bunch of time.

Endorsements

I see where the Des Moines Register has endorsed Fred Hubbell in the Iowa Democratic Primary. They did say if they could endorse for other offices they would: Andy McGuire for "Governor of Health Care" and John Norris for "Governor of Rural Development". Whomever wins in June needs to be able to bring along voters from Rural Iowa and that is going to take some solid work. I've committed to my long-time friend John Norris and because he was named as the "second choice" outside of Fred and Nate Boulton it might be enough for him to catch on. We'll see. 

The other endorsement was for Cindy Axne for Congress in Iowa's Third District. The winner of the primary will go up against Rep. David Young who, if Cindy wins the primary David will once again represent Iowa in Washington. What she did...and did not do when Theresa Greenfield fell into trouble with ballot signatures should be enough to disqualify her from consideration. It did for me. Sorry...but calling it as I see it.

Partly Personal

I'm out. Our final day on the Island and back tomorrow. While here I learned much about the business community here and governance. It's been fun and I'm grateful for my hosts here at The Island Coffee Haus. Bev and her crew have allowed me to write, record and post up the Business News Hour each day. Thanks so very much.

May you have a wonderful Sunday...and a memorable Memorial Day. Let us not...forget.

Thanks for reading...

 

 

 

Sunday Morning Coffee Strong Content Edition - 6 May 2018

I don't always "name" each weeks edition of Sunday Morning Coffee but today seemed different. Maybe it's because I think we need to look beyond the sensational headlines of the past week and come to the agreement that we're pretty much screwed if we fail to vote these bastards out of office in November. Sorry...see already strong. My name is Michael Libbie and I get to write this political blog each Sunday morning...it's a hobby? Let's go!

Different Shades of Truth

I do not trust a word that comes out of the mouth of the President of the United States and neither should you. This weekend I heard a commentator say, "It's not that the president is lying it's just that he sees different shades of the truth." I guess if we were talking about "Joe - The Guy Who Cuts My Hair" and his passion for mendacity that would be one thing. However, "45" is the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES and we, and other nations know that what ever he says it is a lie. That my friends is damaging to much more than just the kook who occupies 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. It is a question of national security. 

My good friend Desmund Adams once said about equality, "Equality is equality; there are no shades of being equal." Same goes with the truth.

Farmers & Soybeans

Last week in a financial impact statement we learned about the numbers that accompany a 25% tariff on soybeans. China, as we already know, is buying soybeans from Canada and Brazil forgoing the United States. The impact of that decision is stunning. Last year China purchased $14 billion in U.S. soybeans. This year the projection is a drop of $4.5 billion in sales because of the tariff. That should really help the rural economy that is already reeling from low commodity prices. Many of my farmer friends voted for "45" in 2016 because, "He tells it like it is!" I'm here to suggest that nothing could be further from the truth...and you are about to pay the price.

Wages & Inflation

Working hard? Can't seem to get ahead? Putting in more hours and failing to see the reward? There is a reason for that. Stick with me because this gets into the weeds. The U.S. added 164,000 jobs in April (lower than the 194,000 projected) and unemployment ticked down to 3.9% the lowest it has been in 18 years. Meanwhile, and this is IMPORTANT...wages in the U.S. rose by 0.1%.  This is NOT the way it normally works. Low Unemployment = Higher Wages...but it's not happening. And to put icing on the cake inflation is expected to increase by 2.45% in 2018. 

So?

So...annual wage growth year over year from 2017 is only 2.6%. This means wages are stuck even though corporations are sitting on trillions of dollars and about to receive even more money in light of the recent tax reductions.  Stay with me because it's about to get interesting and it impacts you and your quality of life.

Economists say there are two reasons wages are not moving higher while unemployment is at an 18 year low:

• Returning to the Workforce - There were so many people displaced during the Great Recession that many are still entering the workforce so employers don't have to pay more; 
• Technology Replacing Workers - Because there is more and more automation happening in nearly every line of work from legal to hamburgers business is finding they can do more, or the same, without increasing wages and off-shore to technology.

I'm calling "bullshit" on number one. But, hey that's just me.  Here is the real story. This is why wages are down and you are working more and can't get ahead.

In 1979 34% of the workers in the United States belonged to a labor union. That number, in 2017, shrank to just 10%. In two independent studies it was estimated that if the U.S. had the same labor union strength as in 1979 wages for non-college educated workers would be ten to twelve percent higher for union and NON-UNION workers then they are today.

Yet you continue to bash unions. You continue to elect union-busting politicians. You continue to vote against your own interests. You get...what you vote for.

One more thing. Just to drive it all home. The gas you put in your vehicle has increased in price...in just one year...by 20% and food is projected to increase by 2.4% this year.

Kiss your savings (if you have any) goodbye.

Odd Bedfellows

So the Governor of Iowa fires a department head in a split second due to allegations that he is sexually harassing women in the workplace. No independent study. No investigation. BAM...fired. For years rumors have been circulated about the two when they were county treasurers and had a "very close relationship". It's just odd....just odd. I would suspect nobody wants to talk about the past because it just might impact the future? 

The Wrecking Ball

The Iowa Legislature packed up and when home but not before they took a giant wrecking ball to our economy and to health care. And, there is more to come. Sen. Charles Schneider (R-WDM) said so in his closing remarks. Now that they have tanked the future of services in Iowa (and become the New Kansas) and decided that women should not call the shots when it comes to their reproductive rights and made it tougher to vote and to maintain a union they are not done. Look for school vouchers to be the first thing this bunch tees up next year. Further crippling our public school system. Look for them to come back and attempt to limit the rights of transgender citizens. Look for them to continue to policy of throwing major dollars toward already successful corporations. Look for them to further reduce support to community colleges and look for them to continue to stall when it comes to medical marijuana. 

That is unless you do your damn job and turn aside these masters at the wrecking ball. We've got a great list of candidates who have come out to challenge the Republicans that have turned this state from leading the nation to following Mississippi. But you must vote and move progressives into the statehouse. It's up to you.

Three Hours in Des Moines

I attended a meeting last week hosted by the Des Moines Human and Civil Rights Commission. Joshua Barr, the commissioner, assembled about 17 people representing various groups in the Metro. Chief Dana Wingert, DMPD, John Sarcone, Polk County Attorney, Wayne Ford, Izaah JB Knox, teachers, students and community leaders all to discuss and come up with workable solutions to violence in the Metro. The group came up with three action steps moving forward:

• Create a List - There are a stunning number of good things happening between the police and people of color yet we tend to focus on the negative...or at least that is what gets the headlines. The group is compiling a list of progressive work being done now and our goal is to share that with the entire community. Even if just to say, "We're working on it."
• Economic Security - The group came to the realization the only way to combat poverty is to increase the economic opportunity of our citizens. When the unemployment rate for in Polk County is 2.8% and the unemployment rate in the African-American Community is close to 14% we've got an issue that needs to be resolved;
• Education - The group believes that education with regard to bias needs to start much earlier than high school and they are working on a plan to engage social responsibility and tackle bias in our education system at a much earlier age.

Meet Karin Derry

Let's start here. I want to introduce you to Karin Derry (pronounced Dairy) a wife, mom and, up until 2016, pretty much out of the loop when it came to politics. That changed when she saw who was elected to the White House and packed some gear into a van and headed to Washington D.C. for the Woman's March. She is now running to replace one of the most obnoxious politicians in Iowa in House District 39 - Johnston, Urbandale, Grimes, Jefferson Township (Polk County). I caught up with Karin in West Des Moines at the Polk County Democrats Booth and asked her about...her. (Click the audio link for more)

Karin Derry 5 May 2018

Here is the deal. We have to fight evil and support those candidates, no matter where they are. Candidates who will reverse the Wrecking Ball the GOP has fostered on Iowa. We have 95 candidates seeing state office. Democrats are competing and going after 54 Republican legislators. We have done a great job in recruiting excellent people and it is up to YOU to make it happen. 

Partly Personal

My Bride and I attended a Kentucky Derby Party yesterday. It was a great adventure and the conversation was energizing. Business people, civic leaders, educators, physicians gathering to watch the race and engage in thoughtful dialogue. I am a mint julep virgin...until yesterday. I know shameful, right? I figured "When in Rome...." So, stepped up and the bartender created a masterpiece. No, really. I thought I would dislike it as I'm not a bourbon drinker but this was amazing. And, it knocked me on my ass. One drink and I was reduced to water for the rest of the evening. I have NO idea what the hell the deal was. Somebody suggested it was the mixture of sugar and booze. I dunno but whoa! Just a heads up for next year.

We did go out to the horses and I was able to capture Georgie in her Kentucky Derby dress and hat...  Hey it's the Derby.

Thanks for reading and have a great Sunday!   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Politics, Religion and Sunday Morning Coffee

Welcome to Sunday and Sunday Morning Coffee my weekly look at some of the political news stories you may have seen or, perhaps, missed along with some commentary. Sometimes fun sometimes not-so-much but it is worth your time. Grab a cup and let's get started! Oh, one other thing...remember when it snowed in Iowa?

Net Neutrality 

On Thursday the FCC stuck a dagger into the heart of Rural America when they voted to end what has become known as Net Neutrality. The FCC voted along party lines to squash the Obama Administration rule that said the Internet should be regulated just like other basic utilities. Already much of the rural parts of our nation are lacking high-speed connections and this decision could make that worse. Then there is putting all the power into the hands of Internet Service Providers (ISP's) to create fast and slow lanes. If you've got the cash and can pony up to put your website on a "fast lane" your business won't suffer the "buffering wheel of death". If not...sorry sucker. Congratulations to the Trump Administration for pandering to your base...oh, wait...maybe not so much?

Senate Tax Plan

Get ready to bend over. For those of you who follow my daily business news broadcast Insight on Business the News Hour you know we do a daily market report. You know, what happened on Wall Street and why. So, perhaps unless you are also tracking the markets, I might have a pretty front row seat to the GOP Tax plan and exactly who it will benefit. Here is the deal: Whenever there was any doubt that the tax cuts proposed by the Republicans looked to be in jeopardy the stock market took a hit. When it looked like, as it did on Friday, that it was going to be clear sailing for the tax cuts to major corporations the markets went wild. Now, let's pause for a moment and consider your investment portfolio. You do trade in the markets on a daily basis...right? You are pushing your business profits into buying your own stock...right? Oh, no? Hmmmm... Well those that do are giddy that you are going to pick up the tab for their plush life and the $1.5 trillion it will add to the deficit. And know what? They are not even trying to hide it. They do not care and you are going to get screwed. Unless. of course, you think getting an $800 a year tax break (maybe) is just ducky.

Alabama

While many of us were surprised at the outcome of the U.S. Senate race there don't pat yourself on the back too hard. Senator-Elect Doug Jones (D-AL) is a gift and a lesson in hard work, getting out the vote and what happens when the GOP puts up a lousy candidate. We can all learn something about hard work, messaging, getting the right candidate at the right time but the fight is not over. There is 2020 coming up and the Alabama and RNC will not take this defeat easy. Look for a solid Republican to challenge Jones in two years...and win back that seat. It will happen IF we let one day go by where we're not working it to save this nation from the evils of the GOP. By the way this victory came on the first night of Chanukah and the 25th Anniversary of the marriage of Doug and Louise. Nice! (Photo: Louise Jones & Doug Jones - BBC)

Meanwhile

Notice how long it took for the Christian Right and those followers in the GOP to distance themselves from Roy Moore? Correct...they didn't. These are the same people who voted for a thrice married, adulterer who bragged on tape that he grabbed women by "the pussy". Who has lied his ass off on a regular basis, has more then 10 women accuse him of sexual harassment...the very same people. You have to understand Christian Family Values stop when it comes to their own. Last week the CEO of the Iowa based Christian based Family Leader was on public radio talking about the sanctity of marriage and the perverse nature of people who are LGBT and how it is the church and only the church that stands in the way of our nation falling under the spell of Satan.

Uhm...you already have and he is sitting in the White House. (Cartoon - Tim Lloyd)

Northwest Iowa

While we were celebrating the Jones win in Alabama we got beat here in Iowa as GOP State Representative Jim Carlin (R-Sioux City) won an open Iowa Senate seat over former school superintendent Todd Wendt of La Mars. However, and this is important to note, in that district there are 17,677 registered Republicans, 8719 registered Democrats and 13,117 no-party voters. Yet for all of those lopsided numbers Wendt lost by only 603 votes. This special election could have been a win for Iowa Democrats if we had flooded the area with volunteers. True the campaign lasted only about three weeks but...as we saw in Fairfield last fall it can be done. Trouble was hardly any Democrat I spoke with over the past week knew anything about the race. In his win Carlin beat the drum for tax reform for business saying, "Iowa needs to be more business friendly!" Parroting the lie being told about corporate taxes here. While it is true our 12% rate is the highest in the nation very few, VERY FEW, corporations pay that rate. If they do, they need a new accountant. What else can we expect from Carlin? The usual crap-storm from the Republicans: "pro-life efforts and more choice in education".

Mental Health in Iowa

While business groups like the Greater Des Moines Partnership and the Iowa Chamber Alliance are pushing hard for "tax reform" (See above) they are mostly silent on what has become one of the biggest drains on business productivity in Iowa. Nobody seems to want to talk about how poor our mental health care is. Nobody wants to talk about how Iowa is dead last in the nation with regard to the number of state mental health beds per 100,000 residents. Nobody there wants to talk about how massive tax gifts to already wealth corporations have drained our state budget to the point that we are letting people die on a regular basis because of the lack of treatment. Nobody... Look, I am a business person, I do a business news broadcast, I am all in when it comes to capitalism. But capitalism without heart is evil. If you've got ten minutes take a listen to this radio conversation I had with Peggy Huppert from the National Alliance on Mental Illness - Iowa Chapter. At least we are talking about it.

Kim and Steve

Last week we learned that Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) will stay cozy with Congressman Steve King (R-IA) who is one of the biggest embarrassments in the Hawkeye State. Like "45" King blasts away with racist remarks, outlandish comments, support for Confederate ideals...the list gets long. Yet the people in the 4th District seem to like him and that is exactly why Reynolds is keeping him on her campaign team. Birds of a feather it would seem. Let that sink in for a moment. Here is a prediction: Reynolds may win the upcoming primary against former Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbet but it will be bruising and it will sow enough doubt in moderate Republicans, thinking Independents and Democrats to sweep her out of office next year. Write it down...but we've got work to do.

Partly Personal

Today is the 5th day of Chanukah. If you are celebrating may your light shine brightly. If not...well, heck it's a great story of how the weak kicked the ass of the powerful. You can leave it at that and, if you want, make something political out of it.

The photo of the four kids was two grand-children and seven years ago...last night I got to play Dreidel with all six of them. Now THAT was worth everything.

BTW - My Bride has knocked herself out creating a holiday home for everybody. Sort of the way it should be?

Have a wonderful Chanukah, Sunday and week....shop a bunch...the economy is counting on it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday Morning Coffee 19 November 2017

While you were sleeping the coffee was brewing. Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee! My name is Michael Libbie and I get to write this political blog about stories you've seen or might have missed all laced with my commentary. Sometimes fun often serious but mostly meant to inform. Grab a cup and let's wade through what we know and what we can only suspect.

Elections and Spilled Milk

This weekend I was sitting with four people who voted for "45" in November. Shocking, no? I know this because they freely admitted to the act, mostly as if they were at confession. I know all four of these folks well. Two are retired with one on Medicaid and two are actively working at what might be called blue-collar jobs. The one thing they share is a deep faith in evangelical Christianity  When I asked "So, how is all of this working out for you?" I got the same answer, "I held my nose and voted for him because I didn't like Hillary." That was the common thread. The other was that they are disappointed in how "45" has conducted business. Would they vote for him again? "It depends on who is running against him." I then asked about Alabama and Roy Moore...

Distractions

My four friends said they are not sure if Moore, who was booted out of running the Alabama courts twice, is guilty or not of molesting children. One said they would offer him the benefit of the doubt the other three others said they didn't know enough about the case to offer an opinion. But they were quick to suggest that, "They are ALL guilty of something!" I hear this a bunch. When confronted about the failure of the GOP to deliver on anything other than Jesus (and they fail at that too) many who voted for "45" simply play the "AltGuilt" card rather than face the reality they actually voted against their own interests. When I asked about the tax cut plan being laid out in Washington they said it was not a good idea because it favored the rich over the working class. At least they got that right. (Cartoon: Tim Lloyd)

The Vote

Write this down someplace. Roy Moore will win in Alabama because he is running in Alabama.

The Vote Part Two

This weekend former president Bill Clinton said he doesn't think the public outing by former FBI Director James Comey about the re-opening of the email investigation on October 28th cost Hillary Clinton the election. The master of words did say it only made a difference because the public had been so ginned up by the story. "If the voters hadn't been told that the email...was the most important issue since the end of World War II, I doubt the FBI director could have flung the election at the end." He has a point. The GOP used that story over and over and over...remember "lock her up"? 

Family Values

It's pretty stunning that my friends in the Orthodox Jewish community support folks like "45" and Roy Moore. Oh, you didn't see the rabbi fawning over Moore last week at a rally? That was shocking...to a point. One of the things most folks don't know is there is a very strong bond between the Orthodox Jews and the Christian Right. The reasons? Abortion, Homosexuality and the strong tie between Israel and Jesus. You see, for the "Second Coming" to happen there must be an Israel. Which begs the question, Why would G-d need a second chance?  Anyway my friends seem to forget the rest of the Torah. You know, those pesky parts about caring for people, all people and that grabbing pussy isn't nice.

Which Brings to Mind Al Franken

Now it's one of ours. Are women to be...believed? It's an honest question. For centuries it has been suggested that women lack the ability to simply tell the truth while men, it is assumed, are always spot on. I'm not making this up. (More on that in a moment.) The #MeToo movement has heated up yet many deny the ability of women, who come forward to out their attackers, to tell the truth. There are "doubts". Unless you have "proof". Why is it that we fail to believe women who, at great risk, come out and share their stories about these sexual attacks? Could it be the same inbred hostility that denied women the right to vote because they would never be able to understand the complexities of politics? It's not a stretch. Here is an amazing article from The Atlantic that details centuries of doubting women because...well...because they are...women. Al, sorry pal, you blew it. And, of course, "45" could not help himself...

Mental Health & Iowa

Last month I had a long conversation with Polk County Sheriff Bill McCarthy about his jail. We talked about how it has become the first stop for the vast majority of people who have been involved in crime and suffer from mental illness. NAMI Iowa held a forum last week that talked about the sorry state of mental health in Iowa. Last Friday my friend Dave Price from WHO-TV13 hosted a televised forum on mental health. On December 5th there will be a mental health forum hosted by the Des Moines Register and Des Moines University. We talk...a lot...about mental health and then do...nothing. It's sort of like guns. We talk a bunch about the murders in our nation (mass or those pesky 'one-offs') and we do nothing. Nothing. Don't you think it might be time for us to vote for mental health rather than just talk about it? I know many of you who read this post attend political events. Why not ask the question the next time you are face to face with a candidate, from any political party, what THEY intend to DO about the 900 pound gorilla in the room. I don't care if they are running for what office. Make them answer the question and not simply talk about it.

David Young

It's true, Rep. David Young (R-IA) can tell a good joke. I've seen him in action. He is also really, really good at voter outreach. He should be having worked for Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) for years. He also doesn't give a damn about you, your family, your ability to put food on the table. If he did he would not have voted for the GOP "money grab" last week that will continue to cripple Iowa families. The same is true for Rep. Steven King (R-IA) and Rep. Rod Blum (R-IA) they simply do not care. One of the things that voters don't know is that these guys are much more concerned about getting re-elected than being straight with voters. Cut the corporate tax rate, when the vast majority of corporations don't pay anything close to the tax rate. Repeal the estate tax because rich folks will benefit. It's all about the money and rich donors that foot their campaigns. 2018 can not come soon enough but we need to work it every day...every single day. (photo: Iowa Starting Line)

Economics - A Lesson

OK, time to get into the weeds a bit. Perhaps you have heard the U.S. Central Bank (The Fed) has, as one of it's closely watched benchmarks, the inflation rate. They say they three things; the unemployment level, the economy and the inflation rate are what they are watching so they may raise interest rates from historic low levels. Of the three it is the targeted inflation rate of 2% that eludes them. The Fed just can't figure out why the inflation rate is stuck below 2%. But, it's not and anybody that actually buys stuff knows it. You see the inflation rate is calculated by averaging some 300 categories of goods and services. When we start to look at specific costs, and who is buying what, we get a better picture of inflation at the personal level. For example if you are a man and buy shirts and sweaters you know prices in 2017 are down by 8.3%. If you buy fuel you know that that has risen by more than 10%. If you buy health care insurance you know that it has risen. Rents are up by 3.7%. Entertainment is up by 3.1%. So, what is holding back inflation? Slow wage growth. Wages today are 1.7% below what they were in 2009. Yet corporations are sitting on vast amounts of cash. What are they doing with it if not increasing wages? Reinvesting in stock options and handing out huge bonuses to management. Never mind...sorry I brought it up.

Partly Personal

Iowa is a hot mess and it is about to get even worse. The Iowa Legislature is set to come back and erode your freedom even further. They are coming back and making sure you continue to live pay check to pay check. They are coming back to make sure you can't or won't vote. They are coming back to hand out even more money to corporations that already have more than the GDP of California. It is obscene and you will vote for them. 

I'm writing a book. I had a long conversation with my friend Dave Price last Wednesday (Dave is writing a second book) and I shared with him my struggle in writing a book. I had, last year, considered writing a book on marketing/advertising/branding and calling it "Five in 25 - Five Things Any Business Can Do in 24 Hours to Recharge their Brand and Sell More Stuff". It comes from the title of a presentation I've done for several years. But...it seems that everybody already knows everything about advertising/marketing/branding. Doubt it? Just ask them. No really...from professional services to retail the people making or selling stuff already know everything they need to know. Even if they don't. So...

The book I'm working on is titled "You Don't Know Whatcha Don't Know" - 100 Things You Don't Know But Think You Do" or at least that is the working title. This should be fun.

Thanks for reading!  Stay safe out there! 

 

 

 

Sunday Morning Coffee - Memorial Edition 28 May 2017

Back from vacation and back to brewing up Sunday Morning Coffee! If you've come by before you know this is a post about some news stories you may have seen and some you might have missed. Some of the stuff that has gone on over the past week is funny some of it is sad and disturbing but it's all worth a quick review.  Grab a cup and welcome back!

Montana Doesn't Care Either

Back in the "old days" if you grabbed a woman by the pussy, incited violence in public or assaulted another person while running for public office the political party would throw you under the bus. That is no longer the case. The majority of voters in Montana proved that "nothing really matters" this past week. 377,465 people voted and Republican Greg Gianforte (R-MT), who body-slammed a reporter the day before the election is being sent to congress winning 50.2% of the vote. It should be noted that before he takes his seat in the United States House of Representatives he has a court date in Bozeman. It was also the most expensive political race in Montana. And the wealthy businessman Gianforte had plenty of help:   In the final days of the campaign, outside spending rose to $7.2 million, with more than $1 million coming right at the end. Outside Republican groups spent significantly more than their Democratic counterparts -- $5.6 million to about $1 million. Oh, and Greg said he was sorry.

The Art of the Saudi Deal

Last week President Trump made good on his promise to put America first by agreeing to supply the progressive nation of Saudi Arabia $110 billion of U.S. arms with options running as high as $350 billion over ten years. Of course the arms dealers and manufacturers are cheering...hell it will save hundreds of jobs so who cares if one of the most regressive nations on the planet and the mother country of the majority of terrorists from 9/11 is the buyer.  Cash is king. But, there could be an issue in congress as Republican Rand Paul (R-KY) and Democrats Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Al Franken (D-MN) introduced a resolution of disapproval in the Senate to force a vote on whether to block part of the sale.

Back In the US(SR)

You don't know how lucky you are...boy. President Trump invaded Europe and lectured there on behalf of the 36% of you that think he is doing a great job as the leader of the free world. Here is an overview: Germany - Bad, France - Weak, Great Britain - Courageous and Montenegro - Don't Give a Damn, Get Out of the Way!

Oh, and climate change...it's a hoax.

Meanwhile back in Trumpland there are even more troubling issues between the Jews (Kushner & Ivanka) and Russia. The Washington Post has reported that Mr. Kushner had attempted to open up some back-office communication with Vlad and the gang at the Kremlin. For this Jew it's odd how some forget the history. Mother Russia has not always been kind to our people but maybe by sucking up we hope it gets better?

And then there is the Trump Budget which kicks thousands out of jobs, reduces health benefits for millions and offers the wealthy more money. So, how is that working out for you? (Cartoon - Tim Lloyd)

We're screwed...

Mr. Branstad Goes to China

Speaking of getting screwed our "Great Leader" has left the corn and cows for rice and tea...and just in time. Stuff is sort of closing in on Mr. Branstad and it's a great idea to take that slow boat to China and leave the cleanup for our first female "Great Leader" Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA)!  At her first press event she called out for lots of things like, "  "I won't stop working until every Iowan ... has the same opportunity to succeed, have a satisfying career, raise a family and have a great quality of life." OK, we're in.  So, how are we going to do that? Here is a list:

• Reduce funding for public education;
• Funnel public money to private religious and charter schools;
• Reduce access to mental health care;
• Stop paying medicaid health-care providers;
• Send millions of dollars to already wildly successful corporations;
• Cut taxes for corporations and shift that burden to Iowa families;
• Make sure every woman carries every fetus to birth no matter what;
• Reduce efforts to curb water pollution and expand contamination levels of our rivers and lakes;
• Build one, maybe two, private for profit prisons...heck Iowans have to live SOMEWHERE...

Welcome to Terrace Hill.

He'll Be Back...

No doubt Ambassador Branstad will return...soon...to Iowa so he can take part in the Trump Rally in Cedar Rapids. It was to have been held later this week but there's stuff going on on in D.C....some tiny little things...that will keep the president busy for a bit. So, they have "rescheduled" the "love fest" for later in June. That's nice...

Joy Corning

Iowa's second female Lt. Governor died last week and many in the Democratic Party mourned her passing. True, Joy Corning was a Republican but, and you know it is true, she would never make it on a slate of GOP candidates under this group of "socially responsible holy rollers". She was a champion of choice and women's health care so she supported and was on the Board of Planned Parenthood. She worked in the immigrant community for social justice and she truly cared about the LGBT Community and worked for inclusion in all manner of public and private life. I saw her not long ago and she was in a unique "sisterhood" with former Lt. Governor Jo Ann Zimmerman and  Lt. Governor Sally Pederson. Sad...truly but...there is more.

Don Avenson

He was called "Big Don" and he truly was an impressive figure in Iowa politics. Rep. Avenson (D-Oelwein) was the Speaker of the House from 1982 to 1990. I first met him in Oelwein shortly after I moved to Iowa. A co-worker had moved there to join a radio station and when I followed in 1979 Don was in the Iowa Legislature. His booming voice and ready smile was captivating. In later years he moved into public policy and remained a close friend of another giant of the time Jerry Fitzgerald of Fort Dodge whom he was with on the night he died of a heart attack in Nebraska. It was during those years I became involved in Iowa politics and it was truly...fun on both sides of the aisle and things got done.  But...we're not done.

The Vilsack Family

The pain of losing a child and grand-child is so great that even trying to understand and comfort those left behind is difficult if not impossible. We all love our children and our children's children and to have them snatched from our life is cruel and mystifying. There are no words other than...strength.

Partly Personal

I don't want to leave the impression that I am/was super tight with all of the family members above. However, in Iowa and if you are even just a little involved, you spend time and conversation with folks like them. When tragedy strikes those good times and conversation come rushing back...even if we've not thought of them in years.

This is Memorial Day Weekend and if we go about our business without remembering why we get a three-day holiday it does a disservice to those who served and serve today. This was always a "big day" for our family. My Father z"l  and Mother z"l made it a point to be at the VFW a couple of times during the weekend. Dad and I would be out washing and waxing the car while listening to the Indy 500. In the warm weather of Michigan he would be shirtless but never talked about the scars on his body that came from blistering shell casings that hit his chest in those Navy gun turrets. Every once in a while I'd reach for the scrapbook of black and white photos from his three years of service in the South Pacific and wonder what it was like just 15 years prior when the entire world was aflame. Fifteen years...it was...fresh but we never spoke of it. Ever. I sort of wish we had but it seems to me now that there was honor in remaining silent and going about building a successful life for your family. Thank you...

And, thank you for coming by...have a memorable Memorial Day.