SundayMorningCoffee

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! 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Sunday Morning Coffee 3 March 2019

Let's hope this business of "March coming in like a lion and going out like a lamb" holds up. Dang, it's cold this morning but, here, the coffee is HOT! Sunday Morning Coffee starts brewing long before the sun comes up, at least in the winter. It's my weekly look at the news stories you've maybe seen and some you may have missed all laced with my commentary. It's what I get to do.  Let's go!

CPAC

Yesterday in a profane laced address to the Conservative Political Action Committee "45" was on a roll for over two hours and largely off script. How is this...coming from the President of the United States of America, "You know, I don't know, maybe you know. You know, I'm totally off script right?" He went on, "This is how I get elected by being off script and if we don't go off script, our country is in big trouble, folks."

What the hell does THAT mean?

He went on to say the investigations of him are "bullshit", mocked his former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, said the Democrats "are socialists" said National House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Shiff (D-CA) is "Little Shifty" and "These people are sick. They're sick."

I'm old enough to remember when the office of the President was, at least in public, something that garnered respect. No longer, it seems.

One other observation: Over two hours of calling people names, making fun of energy solutions, saying "those people hate America". It reminds me of the 1930's when Adolf Hitler or Benito Mussolini would gather thousands of people who would stand for hours listening to the deranged "off script" speeches that also called people names, derided the opposition and spewed hate.  History has a way of repeating itself.

Oh, But There Is More

Last week Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) actually wanted to talk about the ballooning deficit that has been created under the Republicans by out of control spending and tax cuts that created more wealth for the wealthy. But, and we all knew this was coming, those things are not the problem. Nope, not at all. The real problem that has created the massive deficit are "runaway entitlements". You know the stuff that actually cares for people like Social Security, Medicare, college grants, Medicaid and SNAP (food stamps). 

And then out comes Alan Greenspan last week and, on cue, says the reason we have high deficits that will, in his words, "bring on rampant inflation" are...wait for it..."Democrats unwilling to rein in entitlements." 

There you have it. I promise you that the GOP will try to hammer home that if it were not for old, sick, out of work, under employed, unemployed lazy shiftless people in this country everybody would be living the high life. 

And you know what? Many will buy into that flawed logic. Especially lovers of the Grover Norquist Elixir. 

Michael Cohen

"He is a racist, he is a liar and he is a cheat." I think I'll leave it right there. But it does beg the question, "We all knew that, what else have you got?"

Walk Away

For weeks we had to endure the hype: "45" was headed to Vietnam to meet with the dictator of North Korea and it was going to be "massively successful" worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize. So the president flies halfway around the world and, in the end, doesn't even have lunch. 

Then at a press conference "45" says that North Korea wanted all the sanctions removed before they started their efforts to denuclearize their country. So he "walked away". Meanwhile North Korea held their own press conference and called the president a liar saying they only wanted "some of the sanctions removed" and the deal was they would start the process of tearing down their facilities.

Who do you believe?  Given the track record...ya gotta go with North Korea. (Photo: NBC News) 

I'm on my second pot of coffee...you?

Uncle Joe and Mike Pence

The fur is flying. Last week former Vice President Joe Biden said that current Vice President Mike Pence is "a decent guy". That brought out the long knives. Here is the quote, "The fact of the matter is it was followed on by a guy who's a decent guy, our vice president, who stood before this group of allies and leaders and said, 'I'm here on behalf of President Trump,' and there was dead silence. Dead silence."

Mr. Biden was referencing an event where Mr. Pence said that he brought greetings from the president of the United States and was met with stone cold silence. That, my friends is what international leaders think of "45". 

Clearly he was making reference to the lack of foreign policy and tried not to be too hard on the current VP. But he was taken to task by some folks for saying that this "decent guy" is an evil person when it comes to the LGBTQ community. 

Mr. Biden said he was sorry for saying "decent guy".

BTW: When "Uncle Joe" announces his candidacy this month...all the air will go out of the race. Watch my children...

Beto

I have it on good authority, as of yesterday, that former Congressman Beto O'Rourke (D-TX) will announce his candidacy for president and be in Iowa within two weeks. 

Book it.

That would make it three: Three candidates that could and would defeat "45" in 2020: Biden, O'Rourke or Sanders.

This is going to be fun to watch.

School Nurses

My state senator Charles Schneider (R-Clive/WDM/Windsor Heights) really, really wanted to get rid of school nurses. He and his GOP caucus thought, for a bit, that would be a great way to help our schools and our school children. And he was right. Push the responsibility of dispensing epipens, insulin and medical care to the school teachers. After all they don't do anything all day but infuse our precious kids with socialist propaganda. And, when you think about it every one of them are living on the backs of hardworking taxpayers. It's about time we make them work for a living... Weary. Thankfully somebody decided to  pull the draconian bill. Maybe it was...Chuck. 

Now to defeat this crazy idea of using taxpayer dollars for private schools. You wanna send your kid to a private school...pay for it.

Guns and Knives

There is an old saying, "Don't bring a knife to a gun fight."  That is a true saying and something that legislators in Iowa agree with. Suspect you know that you can pack a gun into the Statehouse if you have a permit but they will confiscate your pocket knife. I'm not making that up. It is good that the Iowa Legislature has adopted that old saying and put it into practice. Let that be a lesson for each of you. 

But Guns in Jails...

Seems a person headed to jail in Polk County, Iowa was that close to sneaking a gun into jail with him. This guy drives into a snowdrift, the police show up and arrest him for being drunk and having some "Mary Jane" with him. So. off to jail he goes where at the booking they find a .32 caliber handgun in his sweatshirt. Oops!  Seems the deputies that "patted him down" missed it...it was small.

Partly Personal

Last week our 10 year old granddaughter came to my office with a globe. She and my Bride go out to eat at an "ethnic" restaurant each month but...before going...Jovie has to research the food, the area where it comes from, the language of the people there and more. Then she gets to write a brief story about what she has learned. Pretty cool...huh?

So, she comes to me with this globe and says, "Zayde, where is Puerto Rico?" I said, "Look just south and east of Florida." She looks at me like I have a third eye and says she has no idea where Florida is. Stunned I ask her to point to the United States and she points to Russia. (well...that is profound when you think about it). I asked her if she learns geography in school. "Nope."

This sixty-seconds turned into a fifteen minute conversation about the world, the countries, the continents all winding up with pointing out where Puerto Rico is.

The next day was Parent/Teacher Conferences.  Lucky me...right?  I had to ask about geography...I mean...along with leftist propaganda do they teach it?

They do and I was relieved and Jovie said, "Oh, that! Sure we learn about that I just didn't know the word geography."

My bad...

Finally, I think it is a GO! Last week I mentioned that I had been invited to participate in an effort to help create a Black Business Incubator program in the Metro. We had our first meeting and we're moving forward. People from the community as well as the Iowa Workforce Development and the Small Business Administration met and are making plans to bring this together. I am so stoked. You see, I believe there is only one way to reduce the cycle of unemployment and under-employment and that is through economic development in a very broad sense. Stay tuned...

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful Sunday! 

 

 

 

Sunday Morning Coffee 24 February 2019

It's Sunday...again! Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee a look at some of the political news stories you may have seen, or missed, along with my personal commentary. Why? I dunno it just seems like the right thing to do each week while I wait for everybody to get up? OK then...let's go.

Liar in Chief

I have friends who are Republicans. No, really, I do. But what I do not understand is how they can listen to "45" lie every day - every single day - and just accept it. And it isn't just little lies. They are, daily, misrepresentations of the facts and when caught he shrugs it off and goes on to the next lie. And you people accept it? Or perhaps you are so in love with him "draining the swamp" that you forgive? 

Let me give you one, just one example. The other day "45" said,"Everybody knows we need a wall. We have apprehended more people than we have in may years." But the truth is that the number of people trying to cross to southern border illegally has decreased from 1.6 million in 2000 to 400,00 in 2018. Somebody want to 'splain that?

One more? He also said about voter fraud, "...look what's happened in California with the votes, when I look at what happened, you know there was just a case where they found a million fraudulent votes."

Ah, nope. There is simply no evidence of voter fraud. Well, unless you look at what happened in North Carolina where the GOP congressional candidate hired folks to rig the election through ballot tampering.

But, you folks seem to love him. I remember a day when "conservatives" considered themselves the be the "moral majority". Another lie but hey...it's what they do.

The Latino Vote

There are growing concerns among some pollsters that "45" will pull out a victory in 2020 because Latinos will jump in to support him. I'm not making this up. Three recent polls show Latino support of "45" growing. A January NPR/PBS News Hour/Maris Poll showed that 29 percent of Latinos "strongly approve" of the president with another 22 percent "approve" giving "45" a +51%.

OK...why? Maybe it is because Latinos are growing weary of inaction among Democrats? For years Democrats have been crowing about DACA and "pathways to becoming legal" yet the party is focused on gun laws, abortion and investigating the president.  

Of course the follow up question was about voting and 27% said they would definitely vote for him but a whopping 68% said, "No way". Still....

Taxes

Refunds, so far this year, are 17% lower than what they were in 2018. Mostly because Americans lost a basketful of deductions and did not increase their withholding to compensate. That is going to be an issue for the GOP as more and more working families come face to face with the reality that the 2017 Jobs and Tax Act really benefited the wealthy. But, I do love their answer to the issue: "People are getting more money in their paychecks so they can invest in the stock market. After all since January the Dow has gone up 11%." 

Does anybody see that as a completely tone deaf response?  Weary....

Bernie

Last week Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) announced he is, once again, taking a shot at a presidential bid. On cue the response from many was that he isn't a Democrat and "I'm only voting for a Democrat!" and "His policies have already been adopted by others..." and my favorite, "Just what we do not need an old guy running for office."

Of the three it is the last comment that is the most disrespectful.

To my friends who are under 40: There are cultures where age is given honor. Not simply because the people are older but because they have gained a lifetime of experience and wisdom. In our culture we give lip-service to older people but the moment we have the opportunity to hustle them off to a "care-center" or a "senior center" we're all over that. 

I suspect that once Vice President Joe Biden announces we will hear that same tired line about age and not give a rats ass about wisdom and diplomacy. Something that, by the way, seems to be lacking in every announced candidate to this point. I don't hear much about foreign policy from the current slate of Democrats. But maybe that's because I'm old and my hearing isn't as good as it was I was 30 and knew...everything.

The Church

Dear Catholic Friends...you've got a major problem on your hands and I'm not sure there is an answer. The stories of child abuse coming out with a steady drip has got to be taking a toll on one of the worlds largest faith groups. And the recent story about the stated "policies" about what to do with priests who father children hasn't helped. So, one has to sit back and ask the question..."Why?".

What is it about the Catholic Church that leads to all of this?  I could take a stab at it but I'm not a Catholic...not even a Christian so I'll let you mull that over but I'll give you a hint. It may have something to do with the natural order of humans...your turn...and let me know if you have an answer.

Black Unemployment

Maybe it's because I spend much of my day absorbing and then writing news content for the Business News Hour. That is the set-up for this: Last week I was in a conversation with a caucasian women about Black Entrepreneurship in Des Moines. I told her that I had recently gotten a call from an African-American friend to join a group who are wanting to put together a Black incubator where people could work on their business ideas. She looked at me and asked a very direct question, "Why you? You're not Black."

Very observant and a good question. So I answered her by talking about the serious issue of unemployment in the Black Community of Des Moines where up to 15% of the folks are out of work or severely under-employed. She was shocked. "What? in a city that has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation?"

Yes. And, maybe that was why I was asked to join the group. Because I know that stat and because I agree with the organizers that the only way to break the cycle of unemployment, under-employment and poverty is through economics. I'll let you know more in the weeks ahead but do know that I was honored to have been asked to attend.

Not Perfect Enough

It's interesting to watch the "circular firing squad" take form. It happens all the time. The moment a Democratic candidate announces his or her run for office out come the guns taking aim because the candidate isn't perfect enough. Stop it people...let's let this play out for a bit. If you folks want to learn something from our GOP friends it's that they stick together even if their candidate isn't "perfect". That is not to say we shouldn't look into records and votes but hold off a bit before you take aim. We've got a very long way to go and while I don't fault people for choosing sides and candidates but leave your knives at home. You can be assured that the Republicans will be out in force against any and all of them. We shouldn't be helping.

Partly Personal

I was bummed that I could not attend the event last night to hear Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) at a fund-raiser for the Iowa Black Democratic Caucus. I see, by posts on Facebook, it was a great event and congratulations!

Today, with the work for the broadcast done for News/Talk 1540 KXEL, I'll be heading to the Iowa Asian-Latino Coalition gathering to hear New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and maybe...just maybe...get some audio for the Business News Hour. Mayor de Blasio didn't have much to say to the media when he was in town for the Progress Iowa event.  But, maybe this time as he explores a run for the White House?

Some loyal readers have suggested that I should turn Sunday Morning Coffee into a podcast. Hmmmmmmm let me think on that.

Daughter and grand-daughter have been really sick this weekend. It's that time of year...be careful out there.

That's it...have a great Sunday and thanks for reading! 

 

 

Sunday Morning Coffee - 16 December 2018

It's been quite a week. The most gun deaths since records have been kept. A child dying in federal custody. A president awash in legal and moral issues. A first lady complaining. Another cabinet member, and a cowboy at that, riding out of town. A job opening in the White House that nobody really wants. And, that's just at the federal level. Meanwhile a congressman from Iowa gets schooled about the iPhone and the failure of our health system gets placed front and center. Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee...where to start.

A Dead Child

Just, for a moment, try to understand why a father and his seven year old daughter would travel from a remote area of Guatemala to the U.S. border with Mexico. No doubt it was for the same reason many of your ancestors left their world in Europe for a new beginning in America. We can quibble about legal or illegal all day but the fact that people from outside of our borders see the United States as a place of refuge and opportunity is not in question. If there is anything that is illegal about the humanitarian crisis on our southern border it is that the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue has decided that following U.S. law when it comes to asylum seekers should be put aside. Why? Because they are brown people who do not speak English and that works with his base.

And then, when a tragedy like this unfolds, blame the father of Jakelin Caal Maquin for having the audacity to seek a better life. Meanwhile new reports quoting the father indicate Jakelin did drink and eat during their journey and that the journey was mostly by bus. An investigation is on going. Meanwhile, the lamp has been dimmed.

39,773

That is the number of deaths, attributed to guns, in the United States for 2017. The vast majority of those deaths (23,854) came from suicides and of that number white men and white women contributed to a total of 21,740 of deaths. However it is white males that dominated the statistic as 18,759 of them took their own lives with a firearm. Might that say something about our focus on mental health or a widening gap in our society awareness or on our fascination with gun ownership?  I dunno...but it is frightening.

Meanwhile of the 39,773 people who lost their lives due to guns 7,661 black men died as a result of homicide. White men number 4,289 and white women 1,395 while the number of black women killed numbers 843.

Plainly put 109 people died every day of the year in 2017 due to gun violence. And we do...nothing.

Seat Belts

I remember the debate well. My Father z'l worked in the auto industry in Detroit. It was 1968 and the automakers were fighting to keep the United States from mandating seat belts in vehicles. For years lobbyists from Detroit descended on Washington D.C. to plead their case saying that seat belts would prove to costly, would not cut motor vehicle fatalities, that had risen to over 52,000 deaths that year alone. The federal government, that year, mandated seat belts and in coming years automakers have worked on creating safer vehicles including over the shoulder belts, air bags and headrests. 

In other words...we actually did something and last year fewer people died in vehicles than died due to guns. So, don't tell me we can't enact sensible gun laws even when the minority says we should not.

Health Care Insurance

The debate continues over the Affordable Care Act which, in the end, is not so "affordable" and getting worse. The recent ruling by a judge in Texas saying that the ACA is unconstitutional, which of course will be appealed, may shine a light once again on the horrible condition of health care in the United States. We live in a nation where spending on health care is out of control and the outcomes continue to go south. Our health care insurance system is a model of inefficiency and a disaster for our national productivity. It is, in a word, unsustainable.

If you are fortunate enough to have health insurance from your employer consider yourself lucky...for a bit longer because it is not going to last. Your employer has been getting rate increases of 10, 15, 22 percent every year. Some take the hit but a growing number of employers are passing those costs on to you in increased payments and deductibles. At some point, and in the very near future, business is going to say, "Enough! We have had enough!" and you, my friend, will be faced with finding your own way forward.

It is time to give the health care insurance industry the boot and demand that the federal government offer a plan that covers each and every American. It works in other nations and it would work here too. However, way too many of our political class are groveling at the feet of the sinful insurance industry. It's time to change direction.

Meanwhile In Iowa

The state budget will be stretched even further as this past week we learned that the cost of insuring children in moderate income households here will go from $7 million a year to $37 million a year in the next two years. Meanwhile the revenue estimating committee says state income will start to shrink during that same time period as revenues from tax dollar decrease. 

The buzzards have come home to roost. I have written, for what seems like years, that continued financial gifts to already successful companies combined with the insanity of lowering taxes on corporations and the wealthy, combined with shifting taxes from corporations to individuals, combined with continued attacks on workers rights to organize and bargain would...at some point...come back to haunt us.

That time...my friends...is now.

Jobs, Education and Healthcare

In less than a month the GOP will come back to the Iowa Legislature and demand more cuts in taxes, more cuts in education, more cuts in health care. At the same time they will attempt to pass legislation that will do more harm to Iowans. Every lying Republican that ran for election said mental health was important. Said education was important. Said jobs and wages were important. They are lying to you because their actions, clearly, do not match their words.

Those three issues, if the Democrats pound on them every day of the session. At every community meeting. At every town hall. At every meet and greet. At every event where a presidential wanna-be comes sashaying into our midst. Jobs, Education, Healthcare...three simple yet effective topics Democrats win with. Why...because actions speak volumes. Best of all by sticking to finding logical solutions to those three issues our friends in Rural Iowa will come to understand that it really is people over corporations and that when we all win...we all win.

Partly Personal

There was half a day last week when I had a taste of "retirement". For some reason is was a particularly quiet day. There were no deadlines, my broadcast interviews were already "in the can", I didn't have any pressing meetings. Nada...I sat in my office, feet on the desk and thought, "Hmmmm...retirement?".

Nope. That lasted exactly sixty seconds and the next thing I knew I was writing a new blog post for a client, researching a topic on the economy and making notes for the next broadcast. Maybe it was all a reflection on the fact that a long-time friend, Dave Busiek the News Director over at KCCI-TV8 hung up his career after nearly 40 years in the business. He had been news director there since 1990. Times change but Dave's commitment to his craft never wavered. So, I thought about that a bit...and then went back to work.  I wish him well but decided I'm not there yet.  Way too much to do.

Besides, in a poll out today Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden lead all contenders in the 2020 race. Retirement? Nah...

Thanks for reading and have a great Sunday!

 

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday Morning Coffee 18 November 2018

It's been an interesting week watching the election that keeps on giving. You would think that a nation such as ours would have it figured out how to run an election. The patch-work of rules and regulations from state to state is astounding. Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee just more political stuff to get you started into the week before Thanksgiving...

Thanksgiving Shopping

OK, so it isn't political but really?  While more and more national chains have figured it out that Thanksgiving really should be about the holiday, friends, family and lots and lots of carbs there are some stores that put profits ahead of tradition.  Or maybe it really is the tradition to shop on Thanksgiving?  But, in case you're wondering here is a list from People Magazine stores open and closed.  You are welcome!

Remember to Rake

How nice. After hurling insults at the National Park Service, firefighters, the State of California and the people who chose to live in the hills "45" made a trip to Northern California to survey the area being blackened by the deadly wildfires and the scene of over 70 tragic deaths. He offered some advice to the people who are in charge of the earth. “You gotta take care of the floors. You know the floors of the forest, very important,” "45"told reporters, as Gov. Jerry Brown and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom stood nearby. “You look at other countries where they do it differently and it’s a whole different story.  I was with the president of Finland and he called it a forest nation, and they spend a lot of time on raking and cleaning and doing things and they don’t have any problem. And when they do, it’s a very small problem.”

He did not mention anything about climate-change or the $1 billion Gov. Brown had already authorized to clean up the forest. Or that the fires in Southern California are not in forests. Or that the climate in Finland is a bit different than in drought plagued California.  Never mind...just send in the rakes. Weary...

The Master Race

Just when you thought it could not get more odd.  Last week Leavenworth County (Kansas) Commissioner Louis Klemp sparked some outrage as he made a statement about a "master race". Klemp, who was appointed by the Republican Party, made the comments, which were recorded on camera, as an African-American woman was presenting for a landscape and architectural firm.“I don’t want to think I’m picking on you because we’re part of the master race,” Klemp said last Tuesday. “You know you got a gap in your teeth you’re the master. Don’t ever forget that.” 

Gov. Jeff Colyer (R-KS) called for the resignation of Klemp who, it appears, has been in some trouble before. Like when he he said Confederate General Robert E. Lee was a “wonderful part of history.” 

Isn't That Nice?

Days after the election here in Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) who was elected to her own four year term (She had been elevated from Lt. Governor when then Gov. Terry Branstad (R-IA) decided to take a slow boat to China and accept an ambassador job.) said that Congressman Steve King (R-IA), the bombastic racist the folks in Northwest Iowa love to listen to and re-elect, should make a decision about who he should support,  “I think that Steve King needs to make a decision if he wants to represent the people and the values of the 4th District or do something else, and I think he needs to take a look at that.” 

The funny thing is that she did not dare say anything like that prior to the election because the folks who love Congressman King may have turned on her.  Besides, the congressman was part of her election team.  Say it with me...Weary.

We've Got a Problem

Several months ago I was visiting with a non-profit leader in a very white part of the Des Moines Metro about race. This person told me that when the issue of racial tension was brought up during a board meeting a board member said, "Racial issues? Here? We don't have any racial problems in our community."

Sort of reminds us now of Facebook, "Russians using Facebook. Nah, not here. Not us!" Even when they knew the truth.

Trouble is, my bet is that the person who made that remark doesn't have a clue. However now that we've had two incidents of implicit bias in the western suburbs involving citizens and the police maybe it's time we recognize the problem?

Black folks walking in white neighborhoods seems to spark concern. So, white folks call the police about "suspicious activity". The black folks are simply doing their job and before you know it we've got body cameras, cell phone video and folks going to jail. 

We've got a problem.

Now What?

The democrats have taken the majority in the U.S. House. Now what? Are we going to get our shit together and move some mountains or are we going to do business as usual?  We elected you to do something and if you need some starter ideas...here you go:

• Gun Safety - Call it out. This nation is crazy-nuts when it comes to guns. There is no reason that we should have semi-automatic weapons in the public. If that is too much for you step aside;
• Climate Change - The rest of the world gets it. When will you pass legislation that demands the United States gets serious about this? If that is too much for you...step aside;
• Education and Student Debt - Tell us why the federal government should profit on the backs of students and be one of the forces that puts so many young people on the wrong side of debt. If it is too much for you to write legislation that fixes this...step aside;
• Economic Pornography - Really? You think it's OK for executives in this nation to make 359% more than the average worker? Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) have a bill that changes that. If that is too much for you...step aside;
• Health Care - You ran on it. Now...fix it. Tell us why it is OK for insurance companies to profit off of a healthcare system that is sick and killing people. Tell us why it's OK for pharmaceutical companies to rip off consumers in this country when the same drugs can be  purchased in Canada for a fraction of the cost. It is time for Medicare for All. If that is too much for you...step aside.

That is just a tiny list. I have more if you really want it. We worked for you. We campaigned for you. We now want you to get to work. If that is too much for you....step aside. (Cartoon - Tim Lloyd)

Partly Personal

This weekend I was in Mason City doing my work for Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa and checking out of the hotel late on Saturday when a man approached me and said,"When is the next edition of The Business News Hour?" I was surprised to learn that he not only subscribes but also knew about our Sunday broadcast on News/Talk 1540 KXEL out of Waterloo. Nice...and thank you. And, just because....here is a link to the Radio Blog and a link to one of the podcast platforms on Podbean. We're on....like six.

Last week I learned that I'll be traveling to Mobile, Alabama for some work. Never been there and doubt I'll see much. Usually have to stay in the hotel working...but hey, it's a living.  Also grateful to be headed to New York for the New York Newspaper Association annual meeting. Thank you.

Have a great Sunday and thanks for reading. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get Out the Vote Edition - 4 November 2018

Fall back you know...but not here we're moving forward!  Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee my early morning look at politics (everything is you know) laced with my commentary. It's what I get to do while you catch that extra hour of sleep. Starting thought: This is not about persuasion it is about turning out the vote. I'll share why in just a moment. So, take a seat, grab a cup and let's go!

Thirteen Dead

In one week we witnessed thirteen people murdered in the United States of America because they were not white Christians. Let that sink in for just a moment. Thirteen people killed; eleven in a house of worship, "All Jews must die!" and two at a grocery store, "White people don't kill white people."

This is the legacy you are passing on to your children and it is being fueled by people like Congressman Steve King (R-IA) and the 45th president of the United States. And we are willing to give them a pass.  Why?  Because we are afraid. Fear is a great motivator and when leaders spew hate toward individuals who are not like the majority population. Some will take action. From raiding a pizza parlor to gunning down Jews, African-Americans, Sikhs and Muslims in their houses of worship...or at a grocery store.

This election is not about persuasion because those who follow individuals like King and "45" don't care. They are afraid. This election is about getting people who are sick and tired of the crap we're being fed by hate-mongers to get off their butts and vote. Don't let this continue.

Race Baiting

Consider this: Thirty years ago Al Campanis, the then general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, was asked by Ted Koppel (ABC News - Nightline Host) why there were so few black managers and no black general managers in baseball. Campanis responded, "...they may not have some of the necessities to be, let's say, a field manager, or, perhaps, a general manager". Campanis was fired less than 48 hours later. 

Black people are not...qualified.

Now consider what "45" said this weekend in Florida as he spoke about Andrew Gillum who is running to become the first black governor of that state, "Andrew Gillum is not equipped to be your governor. He’s just not equipped. It’s not for him. It’s not for him."

And people still support him and his tribe...people like King in Iowa's 4th District, people like Rep. David Young (R-IA) in Iowa's Third District and Rep. Rob Blum (R-iA) in Iowa's First Congressional District.

Go...vote.

Why It Does Not Matter

Followers of the current administration are simply delusional. This weekend "45" told a crowd that, "Congress has already spent $5 billion for the wall and it is being built!" Except it isn't true. But, ask those who line up with every word "45" says...and they say the media is lying. This is not about persuasion...this is about getting out the vote.

Even in Great Britain

Maybe I'm just a bit too sensitive on this antisemitism thing but, I found this interesting. Last week a branch of the Labour Party in Great Britain voted down a resolution to condemn the murders of eleven Jews at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. Why? Because the majority of those voting objected to there being too much, "antisemitism this and antisemitism that" in the wording of the resolution.

Weary. Isn't it nice to know that many Americans do not stand alone?

Your Paycheck

It was big news on Friday as the Labor Department announced that in October the U.S. added 250,000 jobs. But what was not covered is the average work week for non-farm employees is 34.1 hours and the average work week for production and non-supervisory employees remained at 33.7 hours. 

Yes, we are hiring people...but for full time jobs that pay well?  Not so much.

Finally let's talk about your paycheck. Everybody was so excited on Friday that wages grew year over year by 3.1%. That is the largest increase in wage growth since 2009. But, wait just one second. Inflation or the Cost of Living is now pegged at 2.3%. When you do the math wages over inflation rose by just .8%.  I know boring pesky numbers...but here is the kicker:

Corporate Profits & Employees

You would think that with the huge corporate tax cuts passed by the GOP in December that corporations would be sharing some of that wealth with their workers. They...are...not. 

Corporate tax cuts have enabled companies to boost profitability. But companies are spending a lot of their extra cash on stock buybacks and dividends, leaving only a little extra for workers.

It’s part of a long-term trend. Workers no longer get the same “piece of the pie” as they did from the 1950s up to the 1990s. Labor’s share of business income has declined steadily since 2001 and fell sharply during the Great Recession. While corporate profits have rebounded since then and hit new highs. Doubt me? Just look at the markets. Over 80% of the corporations reporting profits for the S&P 500 have beat profit expectations.

What's in your paycheck?

Vote and Support Unions.

It's All Bullshit

Sit down to watch television and you are slapped across the face with more lies from the GOP then I can remember. You would think that Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) was hiding under every bush in the nation...waiting to spring her "liberal agenda" on unsuspecting poor white folk. Oy!

And, when it's not "The Evil One" of Congresswoman Pelosi it's just made up bullshit. Kenan Judge is running for the Iowa House in District 44. There are some pretty smart people living in parts of Clive, Waukee and West Des Moines so they could not be fooled by the crap that is running all over local television linking Kenan to State Sen. Nate Boulton (D-DSM) and fuzzy, made up, words about sexual harassment. How low does Bergman and her cronies go?  Kenan has four daughters and, really?  Really?

 

It's all crap.  This is why you must vote. It is not about persuading your nutty uncle who clings to fear. This is about getting out the vote.

Same goes for Karin Derry. The attack ads against her are just crap.

Same goes for Heather Matson...more junk.

And, that ad for Rep. Peter Cownie (R-WDM) with four women (bad actors by the way) talking over a cup of coffee that says "government run health care will result in a massive tax increase" is just...BULLSHIT. It's an attack ad on Kristin Sunde in House District 42 in West Des Moines and it is bogus. 

The reality is that total health care spending by the federal government would come in $303 billion less by 2032 than if we keep in place the same, awful by the way, health care system we have in place today. Here is just one, of many, articles and Business Insider is not known as a "liberal rag". Please... 

And, on top of that, YOU would be paying far less in healthcare costs then you do today and you would have better access.

But...fear and lies from the GOP just may work IF you fail to get out the vote.

Partly Personal

OK, I've calmed down. Sorry for the rant and, yes, I've already voted and worked the phones and knocked on doors and will do more of the same between now and the end of Tuesday voting. It is what we've got to do in the face of so many lies and dishonest tactics. We really do deserve better. Don't you think?

Final thought about the election: I have known Fred and Charlotte Hubbell for years. Been to his home a number of times and visited with him often. Fred and Charlotte are really wonderful, thoughtful people who, I believe, will work for all Iowans. His plans on government accountability, fiscal responsibility, health care and education will help move Iowa forward. Forward so we can reclaim our spot as a truly great place to live and work and build an educational system that is the envy of America. 

But, he can not do it alone. He is going to require your vote and he is going to require you to flip the Iowa House and...with lots of luck the Iowa Senate. Do not let fear and lies win the day. We are better than that. Join me in forging a new path forward.

Hey, thanks for reading. Have a great Sunday...and VOTE!  

 

 

 

 

Sunday Morning Coffee - 21 October 2018

It's "crunch time" in America. In many states voting has already been underway and the number of people going to the polls early is stunning. Motivated by the belief they can make a significant change in the direction of our nation people are voting. But, it will take every one of us, leaving none on the sidelines, to alter the course of the United States. And, make no mistake this isn't just about the mid-terms for D.C. this is for the soil and water commission, the county auditor, state legislature, governor and yes...congress. If you give a damn...knock doors, phone call...and get out the vote. Don't wake up to disappointment on November 7th. Sunday Morning Coffee is served.

It's The Money

On October 2nd a journalist who wrote for the Washington Post entered the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Turkey and by accounts from the Turkish government was beaten, tortured and dismembered. The Saudi government said, after he was reported as "missing" that he had left the embassy. Lie. Then they said they didn't know. Lie. Then they finally, on Friday, said he died in a fist-fight. Lie. Meanwhile "45" is playing along. Why? Clearly Jamal Khashoggi is "an enemy of the people" and that is reason number one. The second is money. When pressed "45" told America that "we have lots of business relationships" with Saudi Arabia. And, as late as last night "45" praised Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman as being a "strong person" with "very good control".

How disgusting.

But it's all about the money. People with a memory might recall that this "great friend to the United States" was the "mother-ship" for the terrorists who took the lives of 2,996 people on September 11, 2001. Now that Mohammad bin Salman has given women the right to drive he is a "great reformer".

It's all bullshit...all of it. "45" cares more for tyrants than the truth. But, let's move on.

We're Gonna Get High, High, High....

While you were painting your nails or turning a wrench Canada legalized recreational marijuana. Just thought I'd throw that in. 

Real Class

There is a new book out by the former White House Photographer Pete Souza. "Shade: A Tale of Two Presidents" looks at the reality of Presidential contrasts. The book contains over one-hundred images of President Obama alongside tweets, news headlines and quotes that have come to define the current occupant of the White House. The contrast could not be more clear. Yep, we have the book.

Meanwhile "45" goes to Montana where he delights the crowd with his crowing about a candidate there "body-slamming" a journalist. You see, it's all normal. All of it. Normalize bad behavior and people think it is fine to "grab pussies", "punch the bum" and "body-slam" journalists.

Real class you have there Trump Nation. As our friend Tim Lloyd draws...Hulk Hogan might have more class.

Weary...so very weary.

The Iowa Embarrassment 

There are lots of things I'd change about Iowa. We, at one time, had a national test named after our state. We, at one time, welcomed people who didn't look or sound like us to live among us. We, at one time, had principled and thoughtful people representing us in Congress. Republicans like Dr. Greg Ganske or Jim Leach went to Washington and, while I may not have always agreed with their position, they were dignified representatives of our state.

Now we've got Congressman Steve King (R-IA). What the hell is the matter with you people in the Fourth District? Like "45" this guy can do and say anything. Even support a white nationalist for the Mayor of Toronto who recently has claimed that Canada is going through a "white genocide". 

I know many of you respond to the tactics of fear. I get that and you think by voting for this guy you will be safe. What the hell is the matter with you people?

Today J.D. Scholten is traveling with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and there will be some major crowds. They will be in Fort Dodge at 10:30am and in Ames at 3:00pm. Now, if you all get people to go vote...that would bring a sea-change and it just might restore some dignity to Iowa.

Partly Personal

This weekend (Friday and Saturday) I was in Mason City, Iowa at Adas Israel for services and for a Torah Study. On tap was the Torah Portion Lech Lecha ("go for yourself"). It is in the Book of Genesis chapters 12-17. It is called Lech Lecha because in the first sentence God tells Abraham to "go for yourself" to a new land. Get the hell out of this rotten place and create kindness.

In the two hour conversation the group never got more than three sentences into the reading and the discussion about who Abraham was, what he did and how that impacts us today.  

Now in my 31st year of leading that congregation this past Shabbat was amazing. From naming babies to listening to people talk about kindness and what God calls on all of us to do.  Pretty cool.

Did I mention that Canada legalized pot?

Gotta go...softball today. Have a wonderful Sunday and thanks for reading.  And...be nice?

 

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 - 25 August 2018

Fear is so very powerful and politicians use it wisely but sometimes they overreach. Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee my look at some
of the stories you may have seen or, perhaps, missed. All laced with my commentary. My name is Michael Libbie and this is what I do early on Sunday Morning... So much going on so let's get started. One other thing...thanks to my many "proof readers" who pointed out that last week I jumped forward an entire month to September. To be honest...almost did it again this week. Thinking I'm trying to rush to November. 

Senator John McCain

This one really hurt not because of politics but because he was a person of honor. Unlike so many he, I believe, told the truth. Sure he had some issues and our politics were not always in alignment but he was an American hero...  One thing I'll never quite understand is how and why he chose Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) as a running mate. Just never truly understood that one. Big regret on my end was not stopping into his office when I was in D.C. two years ago.  A missed opportunity. 

It Was a Bad Week

If you think "45" had a bad week with his "fixer" pleading guilty, his former campaign chair getting convicted, a guy by the name of Pecker cooperating and fighting with his own Justice Department consider who had a worse week. Think about it for a moment. Ready?

• Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) who does not have the guts to stand for what is right and he chairs the Judicial Committee;
• Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) who squeals with delight anytime "45" does something evil;
• Congressman David Young (R-IA) who hides behind funny stories and will not debate Cindy Axne outside of "friendly turf";
• The Entire GOP House and Senate who are gutless in the face of constitutional obstruction;
• Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) who didn't miss a beat when it came to an immigration cheap-shot in the wake of a murder.

And that's just the beginning. Cowards...each and every one. They have made a "blood oath" to a lying, race bating, sexist and all around despicable politician in the name of party loyalty. Forgetting they are elected to serve all the people. You might call them "endangered" as the vote is coming friends. Remember them all.

One other reality from last week. There are "Rats" and they are talking.  Think for a moment where have you heard that kind of talk before? Ahhhhh....yes.  Gangster movies. "Those dirty rats!"  Our President is a gangster...but we already knew that.  Cartoon - Tim Lloyd (and welcome back!)

Politicizing a Murder

Let's spend a moment on this. Family members of slain University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts have come out forcefully to demand politicians not turn her death into a political side show. But, it's too late. The keyboard was hot as politicians decided to use this for political gain. From "45" to Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) to Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) and a handful of race bating members of the Iowa House and Senate all taking their turn at saying the death was preventable if only we round up every Hispanic seen on the street. Legal, it would seem, and those here illegally. 

It was so bad that, in Iowa, several Latino celebrations were cancelled. Fear is truly a powerful weapon.

My friend Art Behn wrote on Facebook:  "I don't know the man charged with killing Mollie Tibbetts. I know he's Hispanic and undocumented. I also know that he is innocent until proven guilty. I know that more than one Latino Festivals have been cancelled tomorrow. I know that the killer of 52 people in Las Vegas was a white American. I know that white Americans killed school kids at Sandy Hook and Parkland. I know that you cannot damn an entire people for the actions of a single individual. Come on America, we're better that that."

Are we? 

Think for a moment how the narrative would change if the killer were a white male. Would we have talked about the issue of male aggression on females in our society? How do we square featuring the immigration status of one suspect in a case with a female victim with the reality that women in America between the ages of 18-24, like Tibbetts, are most likely to experience abuse from an intimate partner, and on average 2-3 women per day are murdered by intimate partners in the US. Indeed, if the President or the other elected officials wanted to focus on data about how to keep women safe, they would invest in domestic violence prevention. Instead what we do is look away and this White House and his cronies refuse to grant asylum to immigrant women fleeing domestic violence.

I think, Art, I've answered the question.

The Immigrant Worker Lie

You have been told that people who come to this country are taking  jobs away from the native born population. It is a lie. The truth is many of the jobs documented or undocumented immigrants take are jobs shunned by the native born population. Want proof? The Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) has never seen a pro-business policy they don't like. Even if it is something that creates even more stress among working families. Think the awful corporate tax cuts and the millions of tax dollars thrown at already successful companies. But, that is another story. Mike Ralston is the President of ABI and was quoted in the Des Moines Register last week as saying many of his organizations 1,500 members would like to see expanded immigration policies especially for highly skilled people. However the reality is even at the low skilled positions native born people don't want to work shoveling out manure, caring for hogs, working in meat and food processing companies. So, business and industry look the other way when they hire workers. Especially when it comes to checking on their status using E-Verify.  From the report, "Federal data show that 3,123 Iowa employers participate in the program. But the state is home to 51,427 employers with two or more workers, according to Iowa Workforce Development.

That means that just 6 percent of Iowa businesses use E-Verify."

The fact is, according to the report, Iowa's economy depends on its 84,000 immigrant workers — including those here without legal documentation. Want to bus them all out of the state or nation? Who is going to step up and take that job?  I'll wait for your answer.

How About That Raise?

I get it. You go to work every day. Some of you like what you do, others detest it. But still you work at the sales counter, in the cubicle, on the farm, on the telephone poles and any number of jobs that American's do. And each year you hope that your employer will allow you to be better compensated for the work you are doing. But, sadly, the raise (if you got one) doesn't help you keep up with cost of living.

How do we know this? Federal data says wages for the past year increased by 2.7% yet inflation...you know the cost of the stuff you buy/rent/use increased by 2.9%. You are not getting ahead...you are treading water.

But, not all are as unlucky as you. Last week Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) approved a whopping 7.5% raise to the two for profit managed health care companies overseeing, what some say, is a miserable job of caring for Iowa's poorest population. Last year they got a 3.3% increase. Two years and 10.8% increase in your tax dollars going to help these private, for profit companies screw up the system. 

How about that raise?

Speaking of Raises

Early next month Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is going to introduce a Bill that requires employers that have more than 500 employees to pay for federal assistance like food stamps, housing and medicaid. No, really. It's a 100% tax on large corporations whose employees are being paid so little that they must turn to the government for living expenses. So, if an Amazon employees gets $300 a month in food stamps Amazon gets dinged $300 to cover that cost. Currently a bit over $150 billion is spent propping up the lives of low-wage workers. This is his way of forcing livable wages out of companies that are making billions. For example, last year profits for Amazon were $3 billion yet one in three Amazon workers in Arizona receive food stamps. This should be interesting. 

Partly Personal

Yesterday Iowa said goodbye to former Congressman Leonard Boswell (D-IA). The ironic thing was just hours before the funeral his beloved wife Dody passed away. Yesterday it was a duel funeral. I could not attend....wish I could have but work forced me into staying in Des Moines. I understand it was quite the event and so many showed to offer their support. My friend Kerry Bowen made the trip and had asked me to ride along. Thank you Kerry for all you do for so many.  

Also it looks like my friend Al Womble is running to become the Third District Chair here in Iowa. Al, if you know him, is the very positive guy who gives of his time and talent in taking photos of just about every Democratic event in the district. I can't remember when the election is but Al is not only qualified he has the energy. Go get 'em Al.

Can I brag on our grand-daughter Jovie for a moment?  Yesterday she played in two softball games. She is a catcher and does a great job. Her team won the first game 10 - 1. But in the second game, in the final inning they were down 1 - 5. Her team clawed back three runs to make it 4 - 5. Jovie was up and there were runners on third and second. There were two outs and the count was 3 - 2 (three balls two strikes against her). The pitch and Jovie hit a line drive to center field and drove in two runs to win the game 6 - 5. Yeah...that! 

Finally, last week for Insight on Business the News Hour we went "Out to Lunch" with Third District Congressional Candidate Cindy Axne. Our "Out to Lunch" feature is when we go to a locally owned restaurant and have lunch with a thought leader and talk business, politics and more. If you want to listen in to what was going on at Vino 209 just click this link and you'll go right to our Podcast Page. 

Thanks for reading...I know LONG today.  Enjoy your Sunday!  

 

Sunday Morning Coffee - Under Your Tree 24 Dec. 2017

We have snow in Des Moines. No, really, and folks are waking to the reality of shoveling a bit, sliding into telephone poles and humming White Christmas. Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee (and you thought I'd take the day off) my look at stories you may have seen or, perhaps, missed all laced with my commentary. No time to spare...let's get started.

Dr. William J. Barber II

This morning, when I opened up my Twitter page (@MichaelLibbie) I saw this quote from Rev.Dr. Barber, "The first Christmas was celebrated in a stable, because there was no room in the inn for Mary and Joseph. Today North Carolinians celebrate the holiday season by standing with those pushed to our society's margins because of where they were born. Undocumented and DACAmented students in NC are not eligible to receive the same educational rights as others. Instead, they must pay prohibitive out-of-state tuition, sometimes four times as much, although they have lived and paid taxes in NC most of their lives. During this holiday season, we demand equal education for all!"

And then, this:

"Every extremest politician be they Democrat or Republican and every silent clergy person forfeit the right to claim that we love God and we celebrate Christmas until we, as a nation, do right and just to immigrants and refugees. We forfeit the right to claim to know what Christmas is all about. To claim there is no room in America for immigrants whether they be students or otherwise is as immoral, as inhumane, as sinful as it was when no room was first said to Jesus, to Joseph and to Mary. Making children's lives uncertain, making human beings lives uncertain, making immigrants have to find sanctuary in churches, just to be safe, because of their race, because of their immigration status is as un-Christian and un-Christmas-like as the actions of Scrooge in the Christmas Carol. America is a nation of immigrants and former slaves and America will never fully prosper until we do right by all of her people."

While you are wishing friends and family "Merry Christmas" it might be fitting and proper to consider Dr. Barber's words. But, enough joy...let's move on.

Never Forget

Just hours after "45" signed the tax cut bill he, according to two people who were at the event, told friends gathered at his Mar-a-Lago resort hours after signing the Bill, "You all just got a lot richer". 

This was what it was all about. Massive wealth headed toward already wealthy people while our children go hungry. Our roads decay. Our people work for low wages all so that those that have...get more. Merry Christmas...

Senator Sanders and Health Care

This morning Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said that "45" should, "stop bragging" that more Americans are losing health care insurance as a result of the GOP Tax Law. "Instead of bragging about more Americans without health insurance, we should join every other major country on Earth, guarantee health care for all people and end the absurdity of paying twice as much per capita for healthcare, as every other major nation," Sanders told CNN's Jake Tapper on "State of the Union.  

He is so right. What is it with the absurd notion that health care is a privilege and not a right. At some point in the future people will look back on this entire thought process and damn us all for believing it is OK for us to not care for each other.  Oh, have I wished you a Merry Christmas?

It's All Bullshit...All of It

Business groups in Iowa are lining up their wish list for the 2018 legislative session and at the top of each is a plea that the politicians who will gather for the opening session on 8 January will lower the corporate tax rate because, "It sends a signal to businesses that we don't want you in Iowa because we're gong to tax the hell out of you." It is all bullshit and know what...they will lower the tax rate for corporations in Iowa and then stick it to you by cutting services, education, medical care, roads, public safety. You name it it's all on the chopping block. 

Oh, but you love your elected leaders because twice a year they will attend your event, smile and be nice. Just so you know, that too is all bullshit. Sorry to be so angry about this but it is true. People like Sen. Charles Schneider (R-West Des Moines) do not give a rip about anybody other than those who tug on their leash. And there will be plenty of tugging going on come January.

When the hell are you people going to demand that these people must be kicked to the curb? They have made a disaster out of our state budget. They have decided that $7.25 an hour is a living wage. They have done their damnedest to break collective bargaining. They have stuck it to homeowners with their commercial property tax shift...and you all seem to just sit back and take it. 

True there are "pockets" of resistance. There are some principled and progressive people who have organized but we need more of you to join us. Put away the smiles and get angry at the way we are being raped. Merry Christmas...

Partly Personal

This past week I attended several political functions. The Polk County Democrats held their central committee meeting on the same evening that Sen. Janet Peterson (D-Des Moines) held a fund-raising holiday party. I was able to make both. The mood at the holiday gathering was truly upbeat. Over at the central committee meeting folks left saying they may have to stop coming because of the rancor displayed there. People, we have work to do and it is time to put away the knives. I swear...we love to eat our young.

Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-New York) was in Des Moines for the 5th Annual Progress Iowa Holiday Gathering. (I believe I have been to every one over the past five years.) He then made a stop to meet and greet some Polk County Democrats at The Republic on Grand. New York is a world away from Des Moines and seeing the mayor with a staff of three people and an added security detail drove that home. I was asked about my community and when I said that Windsor Heights had five city council members, all of whom are either registered as Democrats or tack left, and that we elected a new mayor who favored the Tea Party I was asked, "How is that working out?" I don't know mayor...but let's catch up in six months. It should be interesting.

Congratulations to ISEA President Tammy Wawro who received a Progress Iowa Award for her work to assure collective bargaining rights for teachers across the state. So many friends there including Rep. Mark Smith (D-Marshalltown) who told the gathering, "We are going to be competitive in all areas of the state in 2018. If you want to run for office, come and see me!" Sen. Janet Peterson (D-Des Moines) also fired up the crowd by saying she is looking forward to gaining more Democrats in the Iowa Senate and spoke about the close election in NW Iowa as a sign we are gaining the attention of thinking Iowans.

Thanks for reading and, oh yes, Merry Christmas!