SundayMorningCoffee

Sunday Morning Coffee 21 November 2021

Chilly day in Central Iowa so it's time for some hot Sunday Morning Coffee! Politics and opinion with a dash of religion to make it all interesting. Thanks for coming by!  Let's go!

Open Carry

It was interesting how the defense attorney for Karl Rittenhouse played the jury. Oh, no, wait. That was the judge the "other" defense attorney for Rittenhouse. What the decision says is that open carry at a protest wrought with unrest is lawful and if you want to exercise your Second Amendment rights go for it. And, if somebody objects just shoot to kill. It's no wonder other nations look at the U.S. and shake their heads.  However that rule is only for white folk vigilantes who wish to engage demonstrators with deadly force. You people of color...don't be pickin' up them arms you is likely to be killed first and questions be asked later. Questions like, "What the hell did that boy think bringin' a gun to our insurrection? Well, we ain't gonna know 'cause the somofbitch is dead." Welcome to America....

Meanwhile in Georgia

The trial against the three white men who ran down Ahmaud Aubrey and killed him with a shotgun blast while he was jogging in his neighborhood mirrors what happened in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It's yet another case of white folks going hunting. That is bad enough but when, in jury selection, perspective jurors were asked if they supported Black Lives Matter or thought the Confederate Flag was a racist symbol. Well, you get a panel of eleven white folks and one African-American. "See we're fair down here in Georgia!" Oh, and please we need "more bubbas" and "less black pastors in the courtroom" says the defense attorney.  Welcome to America...Part Two.

Roads, Bridges and Economics

It's comforting to know that the three Republicans representing Iowa in congress voted against fixing our dealbated bridges. After all, we need that money for tax breaks for the rich. Same goes for roads, "Roads? No this is a giant government take over of our fair system of states rights." Where have we heard that before?  And, as for delivering broadband to rural parts of Iowa the Republicans, Randy Feenstra (R-IA) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and Ashley Hinton (R-IA) think it's better to keep Iowa out of the economic opportunities broadband represents. They, it would seem, long for a time when the roads were dirt and the bridges were covered and that pesky internet stuff didn't exist. Back when America was...great.

The Insurrection 

What insurrection? To give you a glimpse at how far Iowa has slid into the abyss allow me to bring you some of the results from the latest Iowa Poll that was published in the Des Moines Register this morning. I'm doing this for you because I know you don't read the Des Moines Register...hardly anybody does. But, I digress.

The headlines reads, "Half of Iowan's say Jan. 6 riot at U.S. Capitol was 'an insurrection and a threat to democracy". That would indicate that about half of Iowans either don't care or they think it's just fine to storm the capital and kill folks. Sobering?  It gets worse.

Twenty-two percent said it was, "...an unfortunate event, but it is in the past and we should move on". Eighteen percent of Iowan's believe it was a "political protest protected by the First Amendment". Another nine percent of Iowan's don't know what to think. So, let's do the math kids.  (Remember when Iowa had math?) That would be 49% of the people surveyed are pretty much OK with what happened when a bunch of folks where whipped into a frenzy by Republicans to subvert the free and open election of the President of the United States.

But...it gets better...or worse...if you will.

From the Des Moines Register: Kevin Butters, a 57-year-old poll respondent from Ankeny, is among the Republicans who say the events of Jan. 6 were protected political protest. He concedes that people probably should not have entered the Capitol that day, but he questions who exactly the intruders were. “I want to know who those people are, that were breaking in,” he said. “It could be BLM. It could be antifa. I don’t know who it is. … I don’t think they were (Trump supporters), but I don’t know that.”

Right...those hysteric people carrying flags with the name of the 45th president were from BLM.

Not to worry kids...our educational system is in great hands.  Let's move on.

Ban the Books!

As long as we're talking about education, or what is left of it in Iowa, let us turn our attention to the rantings of one state senator by the name of Jake Chapman (R-Adel).  Adel, by the way, is best known for its sweet corn feed than its ability to elect competent government officials. Jake was at a Johnston School Board Meeting. Remember, Chapman is from Adel about 27 miles away but Johnston is now fertile ground for "silly talk" given the recent school board elections there. (Photo: Des Moines Register)

Anyway Chapman says he thinks books that raise serious questions about racial division in the United States are obscene and that there should be penalties for teachers who distribute this information. Meanwhile other folks are wringing their hands over books that contain stories about LGBTQ children and parents. They too must be banned from the school library.  Chapman says his next stop with his "Ban the Book Bus" will be Waukee.  

While Iowa is banning books and throwing teachers in jail we might want to break out the "brown-shirts" and have us a good old book burning.

Partly Personal

It's Thanksgiving Week and Polk County, Iowa is trending at an 8% positivity rate for COVID-19. Should make for a nice family gathering with folks that are unvaccinated.

Meanwhile, I was in Mason City this past Sabbath for my work with the Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa. Two interesting things from that adventure: 

We had a really nice group of people visit the synagogue from a nearby church. Kids and adults sat through the Friday evening service and got a quick overview of what Jews do and believe. I honestly love having folks come to learn and I recently taught a five week class for the North Iowa Area Community College on "Judaism - Faith & Culture" I've been doing things like this for over 35 years or more. Anyway one of the adults asked me this, "Do Jews celebrate Thanksgiving?" I was a bit taken back. My simple answer was, "Well, yes I believe that most Jews in America do celebrate Thanksgiving because it is an American holiday. They unlikely celebrate Thanksgiving in France or Israel."  Another person wanted to know why there were no crosses in the sanctuary but there was a Star of David. That too was pretty easy.

The second thing that happened is scary. On the Sabbath (Shabbat or Saturday) we hold a two hour study of the Torah Portion of the week. We've been doing this for years and the people who come consist of Jews and non-Jews. It's a non-threating environment designed to allow people to learn and share their experiences and to point to how the bible impacts our lives today. We were about twenty minutes into the class when a woman joined us who is an outspoken anti-vaxxer in the community. The Board of Adas Israel has said that only those who are vaccinated may come to the study.  I asked the woman if she was vaccinated and she said, "No I am not." I shared with her the Board's rule and she stood up and said, "I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ will protect me from everything and I do not need a vaccine in my body."

OK...

Thanks for reading and have a great Sunday...and may you have a safe and meaningful Thanksgiving. 

Sunday Morning Coffee 15 November 2020

Hello and welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee a weekly look at some of the stories you've seen, or missed, all laced with my commentary and opinion. It's what I get to do...and thanks for reading.

Now What?

Early each Sunday Morning, long before the sun is up, my first thought is, "What will I write about this week?". With the news coming so fast that you feel like you are drinking from a firehose...the options are many. I could write about the absurd reality of a government that fails to govern. I could write about the wishful thinking of over 70 million Americans who believe their "dear leader" and say the election was stolen and that the president will prevail. I could write about the failure of Democrats, in my home state of Iowa, to connect with the voters here.  There is much to consider.  But, let's start with this....

The Dead and Dying

In my career as a Jewish spiritual leader and the former president of what was Iowa's largest continuing care community I have been at the bedside of countless of people who are dying. On a very personal level, I was there, attempting CPR on my Father z"l as he died. I was there, in my home years later, watching my Mother z"l slip away and telling her what a beautiful First Day of Spring it was. It was awesome and it was awful.  But, I was there.

Today, with the death toll in the United States rising, families are not there to say their goodbyes.  If lucky, they may have had some brave and dedicated health care worker hold up a phone or a tablet so they might, in a virtual way, be there. The toll on humanity is like nothing we have witnessed in our lifetime. The dead are...dead.  The living are traumatized.

Numbers, it would seem, mean nothing. But as the pandemic rages more and more of us are coming face to face with the reality that a person we know and love will soon be gasping for air.

While Nero fiddles we debate wearing masks. We debate closing up shop. We debate how many can be together. Is it 25, 20 or in the words of Abraham as he attempted to defend the people of Sodom, "What if twenty (righteous people) would be found there?' And He said, "I will not destroy on account of the twenty." So he said, "Let not my Lord be annoyed and I will speak but this once: What if ten would be found there?" And He said, "I will not destroy on account of the ten." (Gen. 18:31-32)

What We Should Do

We should stop playing with death. Look, the reality is that we can beat this and save our economy. Because, my friends COVID19 is the economy. As the weeks slip by and more people become infected and die we will be forced into action. We should take the offensive.

Money right now is...cheap. The Fed has said they will keep interest rates at near zero. Now is the time for Congress to get their head out of their ass and pass a massive aid package that rescues small businesses, bars, restaurants, nursing homes, schools, manufacturing facilities, food processing centers. Keep their employees whole and then...stay home.  Stay home until there is a proven vaccine. We don't need but ten righteous United States Senators to make this happen.

But, Don't Count on It

However power and politics are far more important than people. That is why, if you are reading this, click these two links and send some cash to our friends in Georgia. Rev. Raphael Warnock is right here. And, Jon Ossoff is right here. I've talked to my friends in Georgia and what they need is money. The two GOP senators are lying to the electorate. They care nothing about the people. They, at every turn, are instilling fear with profound lies about the two men who can fight for the people of the United States. It has come to this.

Right now...do it. I get it. We've been through a bruising election and here in Iowa we have failed the future. But we can bend the specter of death and save our people. It is that...critical.  You can give to Rev. Warnock here.  And you can give to Jon Ossoff here.  If every Democrat in Iowa puts up $25 and we do that in Missouri and Minnesota and in Michigan and Wisconsin and Pennsylvania we can save humanity. We just need time...and time is running out.

Partly Personal

I know...I'm in a mood. Let me explain.

Last week as I was preparing my writing about the Torah Portion for my congregation, Adas Israel, I learned the tragic news of the death of Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks the former Chief Rabbi (22 years) of Great Britain. He was 72. He died on Saturday the 7th of November (Shabbat) of cancer. The fact that I learned about his death days later is an embarrassment. You see, I was preoccupied with the election. I was preoccupied with the pandemic. I was preoccupied with my job. I was preoccupied about a worn out alternator on my vehicle. I was not paying attention.

Why is this such a big deal?  Let me tell you a story:

Rabbi Sacks was an amazing man rooted in Modern Orthodoxy. He traveled all the time...especially among the colleges and universities of the world...explaining in very profound ways...the meaning of faith and of Judaism. He was a person who wrote and spoke about the goodness of religion be it his or others. 

I was honored, in 2008 to have Shabbat dinner with Rabbi Sacks in Israel. We were in a room with 200+ other Orthodox men and women and, rather than sitting at the "head table", he decided to sit among the people. Fate stepped in and he sat at our table.  I remember he was intently interested in our personal stories...both secular and religious. I didn't know much about him at the time. And when it was his turn at the podium he gave a powerful and insightful address of hope and faith. I was taken back.

For years I would read his works and tailor my sermons or lectures with bits that I gleaned from this great person. But, in the past several months, I became preoccupied with other things and so, to my embarrassment, I did not know of this great loss.

There is a lesson here. We can spend our time listening to noise or we can spend our time working to preserve hope and love and kindness.  This doesn't mean that I don't cringe at the failures of our political or religious leaders. It simply means that we must fight harder. We must pay attention. We must, as we are told, "Love the stranger in your midst for you too were once a stranger..."

Thanks for reading.

Sunday Morning Coffee 5 July 2020

And Good Morning from a city that is under a severe air quality warning. Fireworks residue. It's another installment of Sunday Morning Coffee where I get to comment on the news stories you've seen or, perhaps, missed. I was going to call this the Bullshit Edition but, at the last moment decided not to.  Ready?  Let's go!

Grateful for Mt. Rushmore

Besides the utter bull that "45" spewed from his lying ass mouth I did learn some things. You see, I've been to the Black Hills, a couple of times, and I never knew about the Supreme Court decision that said the United States was wrong and the land which was given in a treaty to Native Americans stands. In other words friends...it ain't Caucasian land.

The Sioux Treaty of 1868 established the Great Sioux Reservation including ownership of the Black Hills, and set aside additional lands as "unceded Indian territory" in areas of South Dakota, Wyoming, and Nebraska, and possibly Montana.^[c] It established that the US government would hold authority to punish not only white settlers who committed crimes against the tribes, but also tribe members who committed crimes and who were to be delivered to the government rather than face charges in tribal courts. (Wikipedia)

In the United States v. Sioux Nation of Indians the court, in 1980, ruled in favor of the tribes and said they should be compensated. The fund has now grown to over one billion dollars but the tribes say they don't want it...they want their sacred land back.

So, yes...I did learn something...and now, perhaps so have you.

Also From South Dakota

As supporters of the traitor currently occupying the White House passed by the Native Americans who were onsite demonstrating about that very issue you can hear them mocking the people and shouting "Go back to where you came from!" (A common utterance from the lemmings.) Except they were already home. It was the dumb caucasians that were trespassing. Isn't history great?

Meanwhile the woman who is governor of South Dakota declared her freedom and said that there would be no social distancing going on, not in her state and not at this event. Masks were optional but, I guess, to wear one is a sign of weakness. Weary.

Joe Biden Losing It!

Over the past several weeks "45" continues to troll Vice President Joe Biden and his minions have taken up the cause to declare that Biden is not fit to become president because he has lost his mental acuity. While that, of course, is pure bullshit (see I really should have called this the Bullshit Edition) it plays well with his ill informed base hoping (they don't pray you know) that it will stick. 

Well now...ain't that the pot calling the kettle black. "45" can't string together a logical sentence when off script and he is off script often. Unless you linger over what Stephen Miller (the Hater in Chief) must have written for the South Dakota speech.  But...I digress.

So on 30 June Vice President Biden held a press conference. The folks at Fox News were eager to point out it was his first in 90 days. I doubt that is true...but then again it is Fox News.  So, how dies Joe Biden fare when asked a question. Is his answer incoherent? Does he wander? Does he search for missing words?  Well...let's see. I know this is long but this guy is on his game.  Check it out and pay close attention to the first five minutes as he talks about Russia, Putin and placing a bounty on U.S. service personnel. 

Remember when "45" and his minions are speaking they are dishing up bullshit.

So Much Winning!

Yes, the United States is still number one when it comes to COVID19 infections and deaths. Congratulations...makes one proud huh? You do realize there is no ability to sugar coat this. Which is why "45" and his crew are choosing to avoid the issue as much as possible. It is an utter failure of leadership. Elections do matter. Ask the family members of the, now over, 130,000 Americans who have died.

Meanwhile here in Iowa a new batch of 567 new COVID19 cases as of yesterday and now 721 deaths. Just yesterday there were 134 hospitalizations with 40 in ICU. But here is the kicker: 18 patients were admitted in the past 24 hours. So much winning....

I Now Have a Name!

Finally. You know, all this time I had considered myself to be an American. However, last evening "45" labeled me as being different. From his bullshit speech: "We are now in the process of defeating the radical left, the marxists, the anarchists, the agitators, the looters, and  the angry mob."

Isn't that nice?  But, now I'm confused...which am I?  OK, I'll pick one...I am an agitator.  Fits...yes?

Statues 

Because I am a Caucasian I never gave it much thought. In many cities and states there are statues that have been erected to celebrate losers and traitors. Think of that for a moment. A bunch of white folks get together, raise some money and then put up a monument to traitors. Not sure but I think the United States might be the only nation that does this sort of thing. 

That this is somehow about "heritage" is more bullshit this is about a myth. A myth that millions died to expose. It is really about how white folks who were willing to go to war with members of their own nation to uphold owning other humans who were the backbone to their agricultural economy. That, my friends is the unvarnished truth and the "whitewashing" that has gone on for decades is finally being exposed.  Now my Caucasian brothers and sisters are having their eyes opened, perhaps for the first time, and see the ugliness others have had to endure.

We truly are in a battle for the soul of this nation. And those of you who fail to see that are on the wrong side of history. If, truly, we are to live up to "...all men are created equal..." then we've got lots and lots of work to do. Unless, of course you believe that some are more equal than others.

Then there is this, the Lincoln Emancipation Memorial. I have seen it but never through the eyes of a Black person. The memorial was erected long ago and much of the money came from African Americans who, in some way, wished to pay homage to the Emancipation. The final design, however, was not what had been expected and was created by a Caucasian artist...and no doubt would be horrific to Lincoln.

I know...agitator right?  However what is interesting is that Lincoln set the date for full emancipation of the slaves as the year 1900 and even offered passage back to Africa. No...really.  Here is a compelling article that is worth a read. See what you learn here?

Vote, Vote, Vote

Tomorrow, Monday the 6th of July, is the first day you can request a ballot to vote in the November Election. Yes...tomorrow. How does all of that work?  There are, for residents of Polk County, Iowa, three easy steps: 1) Request your ballot; 2) Receive your ballot and 3) Mail it in.  Here is a link to the Polk County Democrats website with easy steps to make sure your vote happens this November. Go..get it done starting TOMORROW. And, yes, I'll be agitateing about this daily. BTW...look for signs springing up in all 177 precincts in Polk County as of tomorrow. Yeah...we're serious about this.  Have to be.

Partly Personal

My bride went camping over the weekend. Camping. Meanwhile my Shabbat was wonderful. I had found a book I thought long lost and was able to do some in depth learning. It is called a Chumash (Hebrew for "Five") which contains the first five "books" of the Torah. You might say the Bible. Plus the Chumash also has commentary from the great rabbis and the Haftorah portion for each weekly Torah portion that is read. While I own several other Chumashim this particular Chumash has works from the Lubavitcher Rebbe a great and wise man known for his kindness. It was a great find!

In addition I found a book printed in 1954 called The Jews of Des Moines. It is a fascinating read that details the early years of Jews migrating to the Iowa Territory as early as 1834. Anyway it was a wonderful day. Zero social media, zero work.  I had almost forgotten how superior that truly is.

Softball today...and there will be social distancing.

Have a wonderful Sunday and thanks for reading.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday Morning Coffee 28 April 2019

It is a failure of leadership. That, in just a few words, describes how America has descended into chaos domestically and internationally. Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee my weekly look at the stories you've seen, or perhaps missed...all laced with my commentary. So much to cover this morning, long before the sun comes up.

Terrorists

The phone call came early yesterday afternoon. The caller, clearly identified on my cell phone, was my friend Max Knauer. Max and I don't do "chit-chat"; when we talk it is about substance. When I saw the name I knew it was important. He said to me, "I don't know if you heard, but just moments ago the news indicated there was a shooting at a synagogue in San Diego. I thought you should know." I did not know and I am grateful for friends like Max.

So, we are here yet again. A terrorist attack on a house of worship. A terrorist who feels compelled and emboldened because he believes he is getting messages that embraces the warped logic that White America is being marginalized. Those messages come from the highest places in the United States Government. On the very day of the killing in the Chabad Synagogue in San Diego the current occupant of the White House was in Wisconsin beating the drumbeat of hate and discontent in an off rails the event that lasted nearly ninety minutes.

Hate breeds hate and fear is a great motivator. All of this lies at the feet of a deranged president who goes out of his way to cast aside any form of respect...unless it is directed to other deranged "strong-man" dictatorships. 

Meanwhile

At the same time that Jews were being gunned down in California a group of white nationalists "stormed a bookstore" in Washington D.C. There author Jonathan Metzl, a professor of sociology and psychiatry at Vanderbilt University who released his book “Dying of Whiteness: How the Politics of Racial Resentment Is Killing America’s Heartland” was present for a reading. They faced the attendees, shouted into a megaphone and chanted "This land is our land!"

After the incident Metzl told the Washington Post the event was "symbolic". “It was very symbolic for me,” he told the paper. “In case anybody’s wondering what’s happening right now, they’re illustrating my point.”  Here is a link to the story. 

None of this is...normal. Or rather...it wasn't at one time. To prove my point:

According to the Anti Defamation League (ADL) the number of anti-Semitic incidents was nearly 60 percent higher in 2017 than 2016, the largest single-year increase on record and the second highest number reported since ADL started tracking incident data in the 1970s.

Rural Voters Summit

Yesterday I attended the Rural Voters Summit in Stuart, Iowa. The event was organized by my friend Al Womble, chair of the 3rd District Democrats. It was a morning where the several hundred in attendance listened to a panel talk about winning back the rural vote in 2020. The ideas and energy was captivating. My friend John Norris gave a stemwinding address at the end of the panel discussion that demanded the state party start to pay attention to rural counties rather than the failed effort fo concentrate efforts in the five or six "urban" centers of the state. It resonated and the crowd was on their feet. (Click on the image to enlarge.)

On hand to speak were 2020 presidential candidates Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Andrew Yang. Of the three it was Rep. Swalwell that seemed to connect well with the audience. Usually subdued, Swalwell, was animated and outspoken about his mission to resurrect the "four freedoms" espoused by President Franklin Roosevelt in his State of the Union speech on January 6, 1941. They are:

• The freedom of speech and expression;
• The freedom of having the ability to worship;
• The freedom of want;
• The freedom from fear.

Swalwell added what he calls a "Fifth Freedom" or the freedom to dream which is really a message of hope. 

What Does Science Say?

In 2016 the State of Iowa saw more counties flip from Democratic to Republican than any other state in the nation. Counties that voted for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 moved by double digits to elect "45".  Those were rural Iowa counties. Just last week a study from Iowa State University was released that attempts to explain what happened. Did voters switch because of economics? Did they switch because of the candidate? What "kitchen table issues" were on the minds of rural voters? 

The researchers concluded that it was none of those factors but it had everything to do with buying into the fear of immigration, religion and losing a "way of life" that compelled Iowans to cast votes for "45".

From the survey,  “At the gut level, people react to identities and protect those identities more than their livelihoods,. They’re worried about the use of the English language, religion or whether immigrants share our values and vision of America.”

I asked the panel on Saturday morning to react to that statement. After a stunned silence, which told me more than the words that followed, I heard "I have never asked, in the course of doing my job as a firefighter what religion or background a person is. I just do my job." Good answer...but he was talking about...him. Not addressing the real question. 

Want to see the press item on the study and read for yourself? Here you go.

Remember, fear is a powerful motivator. 

Deporting Veterans

He showed up at the Rural Voter Summit dressed in his Marine dress blues. A stunning figure at an event that was mostly...tan. He didn't say much but listened to the panel and the speeches. He was on a mission. His mission was to speak to the three candidates that had come to Stuart, Iowa and get them to pledge to stop the deportations of armed service veterans. Some 3,000 such former service personal who have, over the years, been deported to Latino nations.

Meet Manuel Valenzuela a veteran of the Vietnam War who now is fighting a war to bring back thousands of veterans who have been booted out of the country. His story is compelling. He told me in an on the spot interview that I'll put together later that he decided to dress in his uniform because without it, "...I'm just seen as a dirty Mexican. But, with the uniform on, people show respect."

Valenzuela says that both he and his brother Valente received deportation notices and he is actively fighting them. I asked him what had they done because we are told only "bad people that should not be in this country" are being deported. Manuel said that he, his brother and other suffer from PTSD. His brother's crime was to fire a gun. His crime was a traffic ticket.

If you want more here is a link to their website. 

I had no...idea. Did you?

The Iowa Legislature

It's over...except for the lawsuits. The Iowa Legislature finally quit on Saturday morning before they could do any more damage to the state. In some tawdry decisions the GOP controlled legislature seemed to be preoccupied by sex. No dollars for transgender surgery, even though the money is federal dollars. They cut the funding for Planned Parenthood sex education efforts seemingly because the GOP wants more children born to teen and pre-teen girls so they can kick them to the curb later. They decided that the attorney general of Iowa was just too independent and now want him to ask the governor if he can go after bad actors. They politicized the Iowa courts and decided that local control isn't such a good idea after all.

It was a mess. Voting has consequences.

Oh, in the final hours they did up the potency of CBT...guess one thing went well.

Partly Personal

I really like Passover and that holiday ended last evening. More than any other Jewish holiday it is Passover with all it's dietary rules that speak volumes about obedience and learning and freedom and spring. While it is a bit sad the holiday is over this morning I will savor a bagel with cream cheese, onion and lox. Yeah...a bagel.  It's sometimes the little things.

Thanks for reading and have a great Sunday!

Sunday Morning Coffee - 14 January 2018

Where does one begin? It's been another wild week from DC to Hawaii. Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee my weekly political blog with some of the stores I know you've seen and others you've perhaps missed; all laced with my, sometimes, acerbic commentary. Why? I dunno but I'mm sure glad you take the time to give it a quick read. Let's get started!

The Office of the President of the United States

At one time in my life I remember telling people who hated George W. Bush that is was not right to defame the president. That we can disagree with him but to cast hateful stones was not in keeping with honoring the office. All of that has changed over the past year. We now have a person who is a clear and present danger to our nation occupying the White House. His most recent "Shithole" comment should be enough for Republicans to disavow him but they do not. Why I do not know...they must be scared. However there is a line coming out of the GOP and this administration that could become useful for you any time someone asks you about why you hit somebody or why you make disparaging remarks to your boss or why you do anything that is inappropriate like grabbing someone by the genitals. Just make like Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) or Attorney General Jeff Sessions and say, "I have no recollection...." Fill in the blank. It's your "Get Outta Jail Free Card". You are welcome.

 

But you do have to love the First Amendment. The video above, complete with Poop Emojis was, last night, projected on the Trump Hotel in Washington, D.C.

We Need More White People!

Clearly that is what "45" meant when he offered up his comments about Haitians and the entire continent of Africa. "Bring us more white people, enough with all these colored folk. They are not the type of people we need in this country..." Is what he meant to say. And, where do we start? How about "Normay" (as the White House spells Norway) or how about Sweden? Those are countries where there are lots and lots of white people. Trouble is...Norwegians and Swedes wouldn't want to leave their highly developed nations to come here where a mad-man is living in the White House. 

Speaking of mental health how about this comment on ABC News this morning where mental health professional Dr. Allen Frances said about "45": "It's an insult to the mentally ill to say that the reason he shouldn't be in office is mental illness. He's a bad person, he's an ignorant person, he's impulsive. He's been like this his entire life." (Cartoon - Tim Lloyd)

Let's Make Some MORE Money!

Maybe you missed this one. Last week the Department of Education decided to hire two firms collect from you deadbeat people who owe student debt. It's a contract that could mean millions of dollars in profit. The funny thing is that one of the companies, Performant Financial Corporation is a company that Education Secretary Betsy DeVos invested in just prior to becoming the Secretary of Education for the United States of America. The contracts are worth an estimated $400 million bucks. See you chumps...THIS is how it's done. And you're working 50 and 60 hours a week. They are laughing at you.

Birther Joe is Back!

And there is this tidbit from Arizona where pardoned Birther Senate Candidate Joe Arpiao said about the error in Hawaii that sent out a warning of an incoming ballistic missile alert last week. He was pointing to the state and saying about the "fake birth certificate" of President Obama. "They can't even solve that case. There is something wrong with their (Hawaii) government." Gosh, maybe it's all them Asian looking people? 

Let's Go to White Iowa!

Yesterday Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) kicked off his traditional 99 County Tour. That is, for those of you reading from outside Iowa, what the Senator likes to say he does. Except that he really doesn't do public events in all 99 counties. He, for example, avoids Polk County (Des Moines) like the plague and holds invite only events there. But I digress... Sen. Grassley was in "Trumpland" where voters in Harrison County went for "45" by a 65% margin and where, yesterday, he was peppered by those good white Republicans with questions about the stability of the president as well as if Grassley was stonewalling the Russia investigation.  If you want to read about it here is a link to the story by Des Moines Register reporter Jason Noble. They be getting feisty out there even in the "safe" areas. (Photo: Des Moines Register)

Mental Health Part Two

Blah, blah, blah...it's just talk and talk is cheap here in Iowa where we rank 49th in the nation in the number of state mental health beds. Everybody is talking about it. Business groups hold panel discussions, advocacy groups hold town hall meetings and political forums where people gather and...talk. Blah, Blah...Blah. What? Put more money into caring for people with mental illness? Treat mental illness, as Dr. Andy McGuire says, "like the disease it is"? Nah, let's just talk about it. What the Iowa legislature should do is tomorrow carry forward legislation that puts money into care and treatment programs. But, nah... Let's continue to fill our jails and prisons with people who are sick but that's the only place we have for them. Makes total sense. Weary....

Partly Personal

Last week I was at an event put on by Iowans Supporting Israel. It is a non-partisan, non-profit, group put together by Democrats and Republicans who...well, support Israel and Iowa ties there, and here. The speaker was Steve Gar and while I had my audio equipment with me I failed to catch his entire presentation. Steve is what some have dubbed "The Jack Bauer of Israel". He is a counter terrorism specialist who is on call 24/7 to respond to terrorist attacks there. It was spellbinding. I was able to capture this short interview for the Business News Hour. If you listen you'll note that it comes to a very abrupt end.

Finally, if you have not yet picked up Promise Me, Dad by former Vice President Joe Biden...do it. It is an amazing read. 

Thanks for reading (and listening) and have a superior Sunday!

 

 

 

 

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Politics, Religion and More - SMC 7 January 2018

Happy New Year and for those of you who STILL have your Christmas Tree up...get 'er down! Yesterday was Epiphany ya know. Welcome to a later than usual Sunday Morning Coffee. I know, slept in...don't judge. Let's get started with some of the stories you might have seen or perhaps missed but all laced with my acerbic comments. Hey, it's what I do.

 

The Book That Shook

We all know how badly "45" desires to be admired and loved. Yet, on a daily basis, he goes out of his way to earn the disrespect of the majority of Americans. Last week "Fire and Fury" the "behind the scenes book about "45" was all the rage. People lined up at book stores all over the nation to grab a copy. Meanwhile "45" and his minions fought back with calls of "fake book" coming from the president as well as his former staffers. Yet, others who are no longer in the White House, confirmed that author Michael Wolff had unprecented access to the administration and could be seen wandering the halls of the White House undisturbed. Don't you get weary of this mess? 

The Wall and DACA

There is a deal cooking in D.C. that could result in a multi-billion dollar "wall" along the southern border of our nation. "45" and others in congress are now cooking up a deal which would allow congress to fund this insanity while passing some sort of protection for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). I do not trust it mostly because I do not trust anything this administration says. However they have Democrats in a bind. Agree to the demands of a wall and increased border security or face the possibliity that thousands of "dreamers" would be deported. It is a cruel joke on the backs of "national security". Oh, and yes "45" said yesterday that Mexico will "in some form" pay for the wall. 

Let's Move On...

Here in Iowa the final GOP controlled legislative session kicks off tomorrow as legislators file back into their chambers to do as much damage to this state as possible. Expect the Democrats to put up a fight but they will be unable to block further destruction to our state budget, working families, health care, mental health delivery, wages, public safety, education and collective bargaining. Last year was just a warm up session for more outrageous legislation that will come in the days ahead. The stunning thing is that Republicans are headed back into session with their heads held high and clearly oblivious to what Iowa has become. I've heard it suggested that Democrats should "work with Republicans" to accomplish legislation that is agreeable to both parties. And, what would that be? Oh...wait...is the die cast for lowering corporate taxes? My bet is it is. Business groups are clamoring to reduce what is, on paper, the nations highest corporate tax rate of 12.5 percent saying it is a disincentive for business to move or expand here. It's bullshit...all of it. But, my bet is that Democrats will cave just like they did four years ago with the lowering of business property taxes which shifted the burden to chumps like us with higher property taxes and destroyed city budgets. Watch and see...

eanwhile Sen. Janet Peterson (D-Des Moines) and Rep. Mark Smith (D-Marshalltown) have their work cut out for them. As minority leaders in the Iowa Senate and Iowa House they are busy finding candidates who will tackle the task of running this year and in the future. As Rep. Smith said at a recent event, "If you are interested in running for the Iowa House come and see me. We will be competitive all across the state only if we can field the candidates." If you are so moved...let's get going!

From The Gossip Line

The story last week was that former State Senator Jack Hatch might be wanting to run for a seat in the Iowa Senate. The person who shared that with me says that he would primary Sen. Tony Bisignano (D-Des Moines). I dunno either but it was juicy enough to share.

Communication and Branding

It would seem that, at least, the Polk County Democrats are attempting to get serious about their message to the general public. Yesterday there was a long session on that and the use of social media to drive the progressive agenda in each of the neighborhood groups organized over the past several years. The goal is to better unify the message being shared with now over 9,000 people who are impacted by the various groups on Facebook. When you count the individuals on Twitter the number gets even larger. Here, however, is the challenge: The vast majority of people involved in the local Democratic neighborhood groups are not very well equipped in the area of public relations and social media. Yesterday was a great start and I'm hopeful that more people will come to understand that we need to not only reach out by using social media tools but also in an effort to recruit more people face to face. (Photo: Al Womble)

First In The Nation

I had a conversation with a self-described "Old School Democrat" last week who told me that if Iowa wants to retain its position on the national stage with regard to the Iowa Caucus we're going to have to change how it is done. "The rest of the nation looks to Iowa as a joke. We have a system that was designed by politicians which has become arcane and irrelevant to a vast majority of Iowans and the rest of the nation." He went on to say, "The younger people in this state want a simpler system and instant gratification. The caucuses last year were a mess because people were frustrated with not being allowed to have their vote counted because of the silly percentage system that is used. We are going to have to change this or lose thousands of future voters." Wow, quite an indictment. But he may be on to something. Meanwhile the Iowa Democratic Party and the Polk County Democrats are busy holding caucus training sessions in an effort to mitigate the frustrations of many who attended last in 2016. We better get it right because next year promises to be very, very busy.

The image here is the new logo for the Polk County Democratic Party...pretty cool huh?

Partly Personal

Many of you know that for the past five years, along with my real job, I also write, deliver and host Insight on Business the News Hour. It's the only daily, hour-long business news broadcast in the Midwest and it has been rewarding in allowing me to, not only, share the business news of the day but also engage in long-form business interviews with people from start-ups to well established corporations. It's something that has been recognized by the Iowa Broadcast News Association as a "best of" the past two years and I'm grateful. Over these past five years we've worked hard to stay OUT of politics and stick to business. However, as we have seen over the past year, politics and business is so entwined it's often hard to separate them. This year we're changing things up a bit by doing interviews with political candidates starting with Iowa's Third Congressional District. We have already had Eddie Mauro on the air. Heather Ryan is scheduled for this week and next week Austin Frerick will join us. Between now and the June Primary we hope to have each of the seven candidates in studio. I'll keep you in the loop.

The question is, "Can a journalist be both a media person AND a candidate?" It's a question I've wrestled with for some time and I'll be giving it a much longer look in the coming weeks. I think, based on my recent run for City Council in Windsor Heights, it can be done. So, what to do....you'll be among the first to know as I ramp up the social media content once again. Hey, it's what I do...

Thanks for reading and have a great Sunday!  

 

 

Sunday Morning Coffee - The New Year's Eve Edition

Happy New Year...well, almost! It's nearly 2018 and that means....MID-TERMS and here in Iowa, Mark Smith (D-Marshalltown) and the Iowa House Minority Leader is also looking forward to kicking some GOP tail this fall. What could be better? Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee my weekly look at some of the stories you've seen or, perhaps, missed...all laced with my commentary. Why? I dunno. It just helps keep us all focused perhaps? Enough banter let's get going!

Robert Reich and Newsweek

Love, love this piece by Dr. Reich: "Trump Voters, He's Taking You for Suckers". It is so damn good. Here is just a sample of what "45" said during the campaign, that so many bought into and what he is actually doing. Ready? This is....sooooo good: 

1. He told you he’d cut your taxes, and that the super-rich like him would pay more. You bought it. But his new tax law does the opposite. By 2027, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, the richest 1 percent will have got 83 percent of the tax cut and the richest 0.1 percent, 60 percent of it. But more than half of all Americans — 53 percent — will pay more in taxes. As Trump told his wealthy friends at Mar-a-Lago just days after the tax bill became law, “You all just got a lot richer.”

And there are nineteen more just as yummy. If you want to check it out here is the Newsweek link and here is the Robert Reich Blog...which I hope you subscribe to.  I had the opportunity to talk with Robert Reich a couple of years ago during the Working Family Summit in Ames. If you want to listen to that conversation here is a link.

"He Is A Superstar"

For those of you, and I'm in that group, who think former Vice President Joe Biden is an amazing person, in office or out, check out this article from former DNC Chair Ed Rendell who says that if Biden runs in 2020 he would beat the pants off of "45". He is right you know. As a side note I am trying to get through "Promise Me, Dad" the latest book from Joe Biden about his family and his son, Beau Biden. It is an honest look at the back-story of a family struggling to cope with loss. When I say I am "struggling" it's true. There are parts of the book that are often so very painful. But, at the same time so very real and what so many families go through. Pick it up...good stuff.

There is a lot of love for Joe Biden here in Iowa and while some will, no doubt, say, "But, he is too old to run for President!" let me remind you that Joe is just a year-and-a-half older than "45". And, unlike "45" what a strong hand at the wheel to get us out of the mess we've been handed. The human, wisdom and strength of Joe Biden would be so very welcome. But, we're getting ahead of ourselves.

Look Who's Back!

Every so often my friend, Tim Lloyd, writes a piece for us that is just so fun. If you've been with us for awhile you know all about his character I.M. Stupid. No? Have a listen:

Tim Lloyd IM Stupid Dec 2017 New Years Eve

Now, wasn't THAT fun?

Drug Pricing in America

Last week, on The Business News Hour, we had a story about a 40 year-old cancer drug that has seen a 1,400% price increase over the past four years. That's right a drug that has been around for four decades has gone from $50 a capsule to $768 a pill. I am not making this up. The drug was called, by Bristol-Myers-Squib, lomustine. The drugmaker sold lomustine or CeeNu in 2013 to a little known company in Miami called NextSource. They promptly started to raise the price of the drug, they say, "...to cover the cost of research and development". Except the drug, which is out of patent protection, has been around for decades. Oh, and there is no generic match...yet.

This is what they are doing to you and your family. And this rape is considered "good business" by the GOP and by many in the Democratic Party who are all on the take and in bed with Big Pharma. And are you really going to sit back and take it? I truly hope not. This is not health care this is the outright rape of our nation. "Just lay back and take it...bitch" seems to be the message we're getting. Had enough yet?

If you want more here is a piece called "When Your Medication Costs More Than Your Mortgage". Where you will learn that the 10 leading pharmaceutical companies spend more on advertising, lobbying and marketing than they do on research and development. Now you know.

Speaking of Business

There is going to be an early morning forum on Mental Health in Iowa offered up by The Greater Des Moines Partnership and The Business Record. It's scheduled for 10 January. Our friend Peggy Huppert from NAMI-Iowa is on the panel. I truly hope she does not "hold back" and let's business know how disgusted we are with their support of the Iowa Lawmakers who continue to throttle health care so they can push mo-money to already successful companies. If you wish to go, here is the link for registration...and it is free to attend. Hoping enough people attend so they have to move it to a larger facility. Maybe somebody in business might get the "wake up call".

If you had not heard her talk about mental health in Iowa and the crisis to business...have a listen.

Eddie J. Mauro Interview

We're into our 5th year of our radio broadcast, Insight on Business the News Hour. Over the years I have tried to stay clear of politics. However 2017 proved to me that the intersection of business and politics is...in a word...busy. Politics has a very heavy impact on business and for that reason I've decided to open our daily news hour to interview the seven Democratic hopefuls who are running to represent Iowa in the Third Congressional District. Our first conversation was with Eddie J. Mauro. If  you would like to listen to us talk about health care, education, immigration and more here is that link.

Partly Personal

Here is hoping you and your family have a safe, healthful and happy 2018. We've got lots and lots of work to do between now and next year and, if we work it every day, we'll make progress on health care, education, equality, immigration, a living wage, food insecurity, climate change and so many more progressive ideals that truly help our nation grow and prosper. But it all starts at the local level. If you have ever considered challenging the "ruling class" I hope you'll take the plunge. It ain't easy but it is rewarding to be able to stand up and fight for those without voice. We'll see if Facebook allows me to change my political page name. Hang on...I'll let you know.

May you have a wonderful New Year's Eve and a better 2018. Thanks so much for reading. Have a fantastic Sunday.  

 

 

 

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 - Tired Yet 12 February 2017

Politics and Religion two of my favorite topics...mostly because my Mother told said,"Never talk about politics or religion!" Why? Because most folks know squat about the subjects and make up their mind based on emotion rather than intellect so when you question their politics or religion it is an attack on their emotion and folks tend to get angry. Silly...no?  Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee...a shortened version today because "they" are making me tired.

Deportations and Being King

No, not Steve King (R-IA) but King Trump who has yet to figure out that there are actually three branches that make up our republic. Let's review fifth grade civics: There is the Executive Branch of which Mr. Trump is the "Supreme Leader". There is the Legislative Branch which is controlled by "wack-jobs" who seem intent on trashing liberty and the Constitution because they want, so badly, to get along with the "Supreme Leader". There is the Judiciary which may be our only hope for sanity.

Which gets me to Deportations. It was bad enough under the Obama Administration as ICE carried out thousands of round-ups. Today the Trump Administration has stepped up their efforts to rid the United States of dangerous mothers and fathers who came to this nation in search of a better life for their family and, to get a job, used a phony social security number. Really? This is keeping America safe? Weary... Oh, and "The Wall" just came in at $6.7 billion more than forecast. See you are tired too...right? 

Decisions, Decisions

This past week the United States Senate (see above) had a tough job on their hands. They had to choose a leader for the Justice Department and for the Education Department. Actually the "Supreme Leader" had already made the choice in a former friend of the KKK and a person who knows squat about public education. But, never fear the "lock-step" GOP fell into line and confirmed both Jeff Sessions and Betsy DeVos. I am fortunate enough NOT to come from Alabama, that beacon of racial equality, so I can't speak directly to the life and times of Mr. Sessions. However, I am from Detroit, Michigan and have a long history with the DeVos ( Amway and The John Birch Society) Family. What a train-wreck. The "Supreme Leader" went out to find the individuals who have little to no experience in protecting the public and put them in charge. Please... (Cartoon - Tim Lloyd)

Meanwhile In Iowa

The working class people who ran to the polls to elect Terry Branstad are being rewarded. Isn't it grand? Gutting of unions, taking away local control of governments, taking away health care, slashing mental health care, killing public education...it's a full throat attack on the people of Iowa. In the meantime you can count on more and bigger gifts to already successful businesses and continued attacks on "working folk". Elections have consequences and you are about to find out just how much Iowa will be more like Kansas. But, hey, you voted for it. Weary...

Jack Hatch

Some of you know that I do a daily (M-F) business news broadcast in the Des Moines Metro. In the three and a half years we've been on the air I have prided myself in, largely, staying clear of politics. I leave the "toxic talk" to those blithering idiots who get big ratings by filling your head with lies and deception. But, hey, it's America! No, we stick to business. But, sometimes something from the world of politics comes along that we feel has merit for a broad discussion. Enter former State Senator Jack Hatch (D-Des Moines) who has written a book, "No Surrender - Building a Progressive Agenda for Iowa with the Five Securities". You can buy it here.  The book, in the words of some long-time Democratic Party activists, has "pissed lots of people off". For me...that would be a good thing. I invited Jack to the broadcast for a conversation. Have a listen:

IOB 8 Feb 2017 Jack Hatch

Partly Personal

Sunday Morning Coffee is a bit late, and short, today. Need a little "down time". You see, once a month I head to Mason City, Iowa where I conduct services, do a bible study for the Jewish (and Christian) Community of Adas Israel and visit folks in the hospital and nursing homes.
BTW Adas Israel is one of only 13 active synagogues in Iowa. In case you were wondering. Got home last night and my Bride had plans for hooking up stuff she purchased. It was a long day.

But, more important is the fact that today is our granddaughter's Birthday Brunch, Taylor is now eight and smart and beautiful and wonderful!  So it's up early to get things done around the Libbie Compound and off to Brunch. I hope you understand.

Have a great week and thanks for reading!  

 

 

 

All That and a Cup of Coffee - SMC 5 February 2017

So much going on that it's sometimes hard to keep up. Maybe that is the strategy? Time for Sunday Morning Coffee some political news stories you may have seen or missed all laced with my personal opinion. Why? Because once a week it's "Fun and Awe". Let's go!

Stay Out...Well, Maybe

Banning travel to the United States from seven nations that have a majority population of Muslims isn't such a popular move as evidenced by scores of protests in the U.S. and around the world. Then when the Trump Administration doubled down and said that Christians from those countries could enter but not them folks who don't pray to Jesus...well that was enough to ensnare us in that old "Establishment Clause". On Friday a federal judge in Seattle issued a nationwide restraining order halting the travel ban and then, today, the federal appeals court denied the Justice Department's request to reinstate the "Let Them Christians in But Keep Out them Muslims Act of 2017".  Sometimes the law does work.

Used Car Sales

There are a couple of things most people dislike. Stuff like having a root canal or shopping for a car...new or used. One can hurt like hell the other, not so much because they use Novocaine and sometimes gas. But at least you know it's coming. Last week Mr. Trump signed an executive order requesting the Department of Labor check to see if they could lay off telling your financial adviser to work in your best interests rather than their own. On the surface the ruling that financial folks should work in the investors interests, formed by the Obama Administration, sounded like a good idea until you get lawyers involved. Here is the problem: What if your financial adviser works in your best interest but you don't think so and you sue? Wouldn't happen? Please... If you, the person who is being advised with regard to financial matters, can't tell if you are being sold a bill of goods maybe you've got the wrong adviser? This went down in my world over the past two weeks and because I could smell something fishy...I ended that relationship because I took the time to check things out.  Sometimes we have got to ask the tough questions.

Still putting the fox in charge of the chicken coop has never worked....and the Big Banks, as evidenced by this week's cartoon by Tim Lloyd pretty much sums it up.  

Uniting the Nation

The population isn't happy and Donald J. Trump has done what I did not think he could do...unite the nation. Millions of people have joined the active resistance against, not only Mr. Trump, but the Republicans marching in goose step with their supreme leader. It has been an amazing thing to witness. When you get 25,000+ men and women to a day of protest at the Iowa State Capital and millions in Washington, D.C. "somethings happening here"...  Wait! How about a musical interlude?

Feel better?  As I was saying, Trump is uniting the nation in a resistance movement I've not seen since the 1960's. Here in Des Moines every Democratic Neighborhood Group that was formed last year is now reporting record numbers at their meetings. There isn't a day that goes by where we don't see people in the streets, at the state capital, at federal buildings protesting and it is starting to work. Keep it up.  Thank you Mr. President.

When the Pot Calls the Kettle Black

The Republican controlled senate thinks they can tell you that "sh*t doesn't stink" as they stand in a pile of poo. That's what is going on as they tell you that it is unfair the Democrats are boycotting hearings and talking about tanking the nomination of Judge Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. If we get in the "Way Back Machine" you might remember that it was the Republicans that didn't allow even a hearing on Judge Garland when President Obama nominated him to the Supreme Court. And the GOP is pissed off that the Democrats actually are demanding that this nominee get the 60 votes that were required for every Obama nominee...just like the Republicans demanded. Don't you love it?

But, and this is important, you also need to stay focused on what is happening in your backyard:

Meanwhile In Des Moines

Tomorrow (Monday) it looks like the GOP controlled legislature will send out their anti-workers bill in an effort to cripple unions and the workers who are paid livable wages and have protection because they are in a union. The Republicans hate that. You see in their world the goal is to keep wages and benefits as low as possible so more dollars are directed to the bottom line. Why? Come on...investors are demanding a return. "More for me and less for those stinking workers." So, when the GOP floats that balloon you should be poking holes in it. We hear one of the ways they intend to crush the unions is to make it more difficult for unions to collect their dues. It's what they did in Wisconsin and if you liked that...welcome to Iowa. Charles Schneider (R-WDM) we will be watching, 

Got a Coat Hanger?

Iowa is about to return to the days of "Coat Hanger Abortions" by denying Planned Parenthood funding. Even in the face of the fact there are fewer and fewer abortions happening in the state. Of course we know that the majority of work done by Planned Parenthood is providing low cost medical care and contraception and THAT is the reason we have fewer abortions. But the Governor and his cronies have made a promise, "We love us them kids before they is born. We loves them so much we want more of you poor folk to have chillen so we can deny them access to public schools and push them into poverty and then into for-profit prisons."

Think this doesn't matter?  Try this article from the New York Times about what happens in places like Tennessee when faced with tough decisions. Welcome to...Iowa? 

Gotta love those guys. 

Keep 'Em Dumb and on The Farm

The Republicans in the Iowa Legislature continue to do their best to defund public schools. Tomorrow (Monday) Iowans For Public Education will hold a news conference that is intended to share with you the need to have strong public schools to ready our kids for the workforce. The event will take place at 10am in the Iowa State Capital, Room 15 off of the Legislative Dining Room. You are invited to attend. They are supporting three basic issues:

•  Full funding for public education SSA (Supplemental State Aid) – state aid is now set at 1.1 % for 2017-2018 and after seven years of cuts, districts are being starved of operating funds. This is a statewide crisis in districts large and small.
• Rejection of school vouchers, also known as “ESAs.” Public school funds should not be used for private schools or unregulated home schools.
• Preservation of Iowa Chapter 20 – Collective bargaining is an essential system that keeps our teachers and districts able to reach mutual agreements that avoid strikes and provides our teachers good benefits and retirement security.

The photo is of my friend Claire Celsi speaking to a packed room of Polk County Democrats on Saturday morning. If you want more information or want to help you can reach Claire now at 515-554-6754.

He Has Pissed Some Folks Off

And, I like that. Former State Senator Jack Hatch has written a book, "No Surrender - Building a Progressive Agenda for Iowa with the Five Securities" that maps out a progressive agenda for Iowa and calls out a system that has been more intent on keeping power-brokers in power than in doing what is right by the people of Iowa. In his book he doesn't just bitch about the problem he offers action steps to put the Democratic Party of Iowa back on a progressive course of action that will not only build success politically but also resonate with the people who are negatively impacted by regressive actions on the part of the GOP.

I was at his book signing this weekend and if you are interested in reading and then doing you can buy Jack's book here. And, while we do not "do politics" on The Business News Hour Sen. Hatch will be my guest on Tuesday afternoon talking about the impact politics has on business. You'll be able to hear that about 5:15pm on AM-940 and FM-104.5. And we'll post the Podcast as well. 

Partly Personal

We did it. After weeks of practicing our dance moves it was off to the Father Daughter Dance in Urbandale last night. Jovie had a great time and the place was packed with Dads and Daughters. As with any "date" it was off to dinner following the dance which, by the way, was fueled by tons of sugary snacks...

The last dance at the event was something about "Butterfly Kisses". Damn. "No, Jovie I just have something in my eye."

Thanks for reading and have a great week!