SundayMorningCoffee

Sunday Morning Coffee 27 June 2021

Welcome back to Sunday Morning Coffee a thoughts and opinion piece I've written for years.  The stories you've seen or, perhaps, missed all laced with my commentary. It's what I get to do. 

Dominion Voting Machines

The circus continues as the "My Pillow Guy", Mike Lindell and conspiracy theory lawyer Sidney Powell had their day in court last week. It's part of the one-billion dollar defamation suit brought against them and former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani  by Dominion Voting Systems. The three are accused of spreading tales that the machines were a design created by former Venezuelan  dictator Hugo Chavez and flipped votes from "45" to President Biden. That is was all a huge conspiracy. Rudy didn't go (He, no doubt, was licking his wounds for having his New York attorney license revoked.) but Lindell and Powell argued that what they said is true and the case should be tossed out.  

In November we'll celebrate the one year anniversary of the election of Joe Biden and we're still talking about this silliness?  Weary. (Photo: Chicago Tribune)

Oh, but wait!  I hear the Dickenson County GOP has as their headliner for a fund-raiser the one and only Sidney Powell.  Isn't that special?

"We have a deal!"

President Biden exited the White House with lawmakers last week to announce a deal had been struck for the trillion dollar infrastructure bill to pass the U.S. Senate. What happened on Wall Street?  The markets celebrated. Wait! I thought the rich folks would balk at the deal because it means higher taxes? Oh but there is, tucked into the language of the deal, an opportunity for private businesses to get a piece of the action and not buy building roads and bridges but by owning a bit of the action.  Folks on the left are worried this will mean if you want to cross the river you'll have to pay a toll to some venture capitalist group and not the state.  Stay tuned.

Mafia in Ohio

The former president, who speaks more like a mob boss, was in Ohio last night repeating his lies and taking swipes at everybody under the sun...but praising himself. It was the same old crap we have heard so many times in the past. We even got to hear chants of "Lock her up!" referring to Hillary Clinton. Really, is that all you've got? It was quite a show as "45" was in town to back a GOP congressional candidate in a Republican primary. The sitting congressman voted to impeach "45" so the mob boss comes out swinging. What a total disgrace to the presidency.  But, the good news? He may be returning to the campaign. Wouldn't it be great to beat his ass again?

Remember When?

It wasn't that long ago that the governor of Iowa, Kim Reynolds (R-IA) said the kids at the U.S. Mexico border were not something she was interested in. "It's not our problem.", said the governor and tool of the former president. But all of that changed last week as she seeks to score political points with the base she shares with "45".  She, "...at the request of Texas and Arizona" has sent state troopers to the border to "help with the situation there". What a joke but, hey we've got all kinds of cash in the bank because we're not spending any on education, health care, child care....you know the story.  My gosh people...this woman has got to go. (Photo: The Nation) 

Iowa, The Red State

Ruby red to be exact...if we are to believe the Iowa Poll that has been dribbling out results all week. It seems the majority of you love Sen. Jodi Ernst (R-IA). Well, if you are a man or somebody that lives in a rural part of the state. Why?  Not sure but guessing you guys think she is cute and the rest of you don't understand a thing about policy...or lack of it. Same can be said for the current governor. She gets high marks for making Iowa more like Alabama every day.  Isn't that...special?

Critical Race Theory

Gotta love white people...or maybe not so much. So many are getting their panties in a knot because black folks, and their allies, want to talk about the truth behind the Original Sin of America. So, they are running for school boards and packing school board meetings and passing laws (thank you Iowa!) to "defund education" in case somebody spills the beans. No matter the fact that no public school teaches CRT.  Meanwhile I had to explain to my granddaughter why there is a whole month devoted to Black American education and experience. I think she is starting to catch on. (Photo: New York Times)

Lack of Empathy

Last week my brother wrote me about this issue and I thought it was so profound.  The issue came up when we were discussion the theory that once somebody "get theirs" they then fail to care about others. The "I've Got Mine Syndrome". Check this...

When Noah came out of the ark, he opened his eyes and saw the whole world completely destroyed. Noah began crying for the world and said, “Master of the World! If you destroyed Your world because of human sins or human fools, then why did you create them? One or the other You should do: either do not create the human being, or do not destroy the world!…” 

The Blessed Holy One answered Noah, “Foolish shepherd! I lingered with you before the Flood and spoke to you at length so that you would ask mercy for the world! But as soon as you heard that you would be safe in the ark, the evil of the world did not touch your heart. You built the ark and saved yourself. Now that the world has been destroyed you open your mouth to utter questions and pleas.” Zohar (M’oray Ha’aish Parshat Noach)

 

Partly Personal

 

It was pretty amazing. I was last in front of my Mason City congregation in March of 2020. This past Sabbath I went back and it was rather emotional to be back in the synagogue. Services were special, new people came and our Midrash (Study Session) on Shabbat (Saturday) went much longer than usual. It was great to be back...

 

The that did take me out of circulation and I was not able to be home to great the newest member of the family..."Camper"!  Yes, a new puppy is here. She is a beauty and my Bride has plans to train her so she can take her...you guessed it...camping. Of course Yofi isn't too sure this is a good idea...but we think she will come around. We're becoming quite the multi-cultural family as this little Aussie will no doubt add to the experience.

 

Thanks for reading and have a great Sunday!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday Morning Coffee 25 April 2021

Welcome back and glad you're here. I've only got about a hour to get this out. My Bride is camping so I get all of the farm chores. Today in Sunday Morning Coffee there are so many questions and the answers, it would seem, may be the same.  Those damn Republicans. Let's go!

Val Demings

Last week I was on Clubhouse (an amazing platform by the way) for a session of what is called "News, News, News". It's where a couple of hundred people are on the call and the moderator asks for somebody in the room to call out a news headline and then it is discussed for, like, sixty seconds. As you can imagine...it moves pretty fast. One of the headlines was, "Congresswomen Val Demings (D-FL) is said to be eyeing a statewide office." So we launched into the discussion: Would it be against Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) or Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)? The pundits on the call leaned toward Rubio citing the current senate makeup and her time in congress. I like that link. Demings has had experience in education and she was the police chief for Orlando before going to congress. And, if you remember she was one of the folks vetted by President Biden to serve as Vice President.  Her tiff a week ago with Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) made national news too.  Hmmm.... (Image: US News)

Vice President Harris

By now y'all know that I was a Biden supporter during the primary. That decision was made based on some personal experiences as well as the urging of my friend, former governor and now Secretary of Agriculture (again) Tom Vilsack. During that primary campaign I went to a number of events that featured then Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) and I was so impressed with her raw passion and her ability to connect. So when she was chosen by President Biden to become the Vice President...that was a good thing...for me.  And, it is turning out to be a very good thing for the nation.

It's being reported that as the verdict in the Derek Chauvin was being read that Biden and Harris were together (as they often are) and it has been reported there was a visible sense of relief when the three guilty verdicts came in. Then the president and vice president went to the Oval Office to call the Floyd family. It was then, where Vice President Harris's words of comfort and understanding of the situation, shined like no other Vice President before could have done. She spoke as a person of color who knew, exactly, what the family was feeling and what millions of others face each day. It was a moment.  (Image: 3 July 2019 Media Scrum West Des Moines, Iowa)

Voter Suppression

Isn't it odd what is going on in Arizona as the Cyber Ninjas, selected by the Arizona GOP to "audit" the 2020 ballots, do their work. Mind you the Florida company is headed by Doug Logan a supporter of "45" who has repeated all manner of conspiracy theories about the election and was an advocate of the "Stop the Steal" movement. The Arizona Democrats, on Thursday, filed suit to stop the sham and on Friday, Judge Christopher Coury of the Maricopa County Superior Court granted their request for a pause until evidence can be presented at an 11:00 a.m. local time hearing on Monday. (Image: Crunchbase)

Mind you this "audit" has no legal ramifications. Joe Biden still won Arizona. It is being done, I believe, as a test case to see just how far these Republicans can go to make sure your vote is tainted. It's that simple.

Meanwhile in Iowa

Looks like Secretary of State Paul Pate (R-IA) has broken the recent voter suppression law here by marking perhaps thousands of voters "inactive" because they failed to vote in the November 2020 election.  Linn County Auditor Joel Miller found that Pate had been tossing voters from active to inactive when the law that was passed did not consider the 2020 election but elections in the future. I swear these Republicans will do anything to make sure you don't vote.  It's a big story and one that you won't find anywhere other than Bleeding Heartland.  So...read it. 

Nah, Keep 'Em...

It seems that thousands of Iowans are getting their wish. They don't want to get the vaccine so the state, late last week, informed the Feds that they didn't have to ship some 21,000 doses into the Hawkeye State. Nice. Thank you for being idiots. Thank you for not giving a damn about your fellow citizens. Thank you for making sure our economy tanks.  And, thank you Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) for making this a political football so your base continues to follow you.  Sure, on Thursday she opined to Iowans, "So, what are you waiting for?"  Strong words governor.  You are so...strong.

Partly Personal

Sorry this is so short this morning. "Farm Duty" here as my Bride decided to leave town and go...camping. Camping...in a tent. Outside. In the woods. Camping. She said, before leaving on this latest round of pioneering, "So, why don't you go with me?"  Me in a tent in the woods?  Nope ain't gonna do it. As I've said many times before, "My people camped for 40 years in the wilderness. We've had enough of camping thank you very much."  But she is having a great time...so there is that. Meanwhile our granddaughter was here, baked me a cake and cleaned the Cowboy Room and the Kitchen...spotless. Wondering if "G" might consider staying in the woods for an extended period of time. I've got Jovie.

Finally, did you know you do not have to refrigerate butter? No, really. I had no idea until last week when I read this. To be honest, I should have known. When I was a kid we always had butter on the table in a round dish with a cover (I have searched and searched for that dish here but...no luck...and had to go buy one.) And on the farm, where we made our own butter, we had it sitting out but not as long because it was not pasteurized.  My brother makes bread each week and I put a schmeer on a piece and WOW!  Restaurant quality my friends!  But, remember it's got to be real butter and not margarine.  You are welcome!

Thanks for reading and have a great Sunday. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday Morning Coffee 7 February 2021

Welcome to the Sub-Zero Edition of Sunday Morning Coffee where the sun is not yet up and it's -4 degrees Fahrenheit. So, how about some hot coffee to get you all steamed up?  Let's go!

The Cost of Lying

The lie started well before the 2020 election as the man in the White House told America the election would be rigged. Following the Joe Biden win the lie became the daily drumbeat that has divided the nation and proved the former president simply quit doing the difficult task of...governing. Meanwhile the lie that misled millions of Americans, undermined the faith in our electoral system, sparked a deadly riot has also left you and I with a growing bill. The Washington Post calculates that the government has spent north of $519 million dollars on legal fees due to dozens of baseless lawsuits, protection for poll workers, costly repairs to the Capitol and thousands of National Guard troops still roaming Washington D.C. Thought you might like to know.

Loyalty

Many have claimed that the Republican Party is fractured and has no clear direction. Don't believe it. The GOP is firmly in the grasp of the former president and they continue to worship at his feet. The recent side-show of Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Green (R-GA) the condemnation of Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE) and the censure of Cindy McCain of Arizona are all proof of that fact. It reminds me of The Godfather and, in a way, it truly is. Meanwhile the GOP isn't taking any chances as Republican controlled state houses have introduced close to 100 bills to make voting more difficult. If they learned anything from 2020 it is that when people are allowed to vote it's not good for their candidates especially in areas that have large numbers of non-white voters.

Impeachment 2.0

There is little doubt how the U.S. Senate will vote when it comes to the second trial of for former president. The only question is, how long will it take?  The trial is set to begin on Tuesday and there is no chance that two-thirds of the Senate will vote to convict. However, what will be on display will be a recounting of the incitement that led to destruction and murder.  The impeachment managers will lay bare the facts that should, under normal conditions, be a slam dunk for impeachment. However, rather than drag the trial on I suspect it will be done in less than a week. But...get the popcorn ready.  One interesting note, the attorney for the former president has requested the trial be paused from Friday evening until Saturday evening so that he may honor Shabbat. Well, at least he has that going for him.

Returning to Normal

A recent Gallup Poll shows that President Biden enjoys a 61% approval rating. While some of that may be due to the traditional "honeymoon bump" we haven't seen a number like that for years. One reason I believe is that, rather than "rage tweeting" in the middle of the night, President Biden is known to leave the White House living quarters to visit with the overnight staff.  Just poking his head in to ask about family and offer his gratitude for their efforts.

Meanwhile the White House is pitching the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan to...get this...Americans. The president has re-launched the weekly presidential address but it's not a stiff and formal event and it's been re-branded as "A Weekly Conversation". It's Joe calling regular folks who are hurting because of the pandemic and promising to help make their lives whole once again.  Here is the call from yesterday:

 

In case you are wondering the four minute call to Michele Voelkert, who lost her job due to COVID19  and wrote to President Biden, was tapped by her husband and then sent to the White House.  Jen Psaki, the White House Press Secretary (Who, by the way, is no stranger to Iowa), says this will become a regular event each week. Watch for it.

Speaking of Iowa

It's over. The long hard winter of COVID19 has left the Hawkeye State and we are free. Or, so Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) would have you believe. Late Friday afternoon the governor proclaimed that Iowans could return to "normal" in bars and restaurants without masks and zero restrictions on capacity. That decision was met with an avalanche of head-scratching from everybody with an ounce of scientific sense. And it played to national news as Forbes noted last night that #CovidKim was trending on Social Media. Upcoming events such as the Iowa Deer Classic that will draw thousands to Des Moines no longer has to be bothered by masks, or hand washing or social distancing. The Iowa Restaurant Association is giddy over the decision as it's executive director Jessica Dunker said to the Des Moines Register that the new order comes just in time and, "...may well give us the lift we need to be able to see this thing to the other side." She went on to say,  "Quite frankly, it allows us to go back to doing business at a really critical time. We are … one day before the Super Bowl, which opens up a lot of businesses for crowds to come in and safely watch the big game."  (Image: Brian Duffy)

Huh?

Oh, but wait just a minute. Mayor Frank Cownie of Des Moines said in a release late yesterday that nope the mask mandate is still in place within the city. As the Des Moines Register reports:

"Cownie's mask mandate requires all people in Des Moines to wear face coverings such as cloth masks, surgical masks, plastic shields or other protections that cover the nose and mouth when in a public place and where social distancing is not possible.

This includes restaurants and bars when not seated at a table, fitness centers, retail stores, public transportation or private car services, and other businesses."

Memo to #CovidKim:  Same story in Iowa City.  Your move.

Meanwhile...

All of this at a time when Iowa can't get it's act together when it comes to vaccines and the death toll is now above 5,100. The state is ranked dead last in its vaccination response, 12th in hospitalizations and 49th in the death rate. (I'll have that interview this week on the Business News Hour with the annalists from Wallet Hub.) Here is that story if you want to read.

It's awful what is being done here...awful.

Right to Work

If you know me you know I support workers right to join and pay for union activities. And if you are a Methodist, Catholic, Jew or Southern Baptist your "discipline" also supports unionization. Doubt me?  Look it up and yes, I've written about this in the past. 

However, based on the responses I've received on my personal Facebook Page many of you don't know about where "Right to Work" came from and it's racist and anti-sematic origins:  It seems that one Vance Muse a wealthy conservative from Texas spawned the idea in the 1940's to (get this) combat the idea that, "From now on, white women and white men will be forced into organizations with black African apes whom they will have to call 'brother' or lose their jobs."  And, that is just one quote from the founder of The Christian American Association as he and they railed against workers, Jews, African Americans and others.  It's quite a story.

In other words Right to Work is simply a vestige of the Jim Crow South which has now invaded 26 states...including, sadly, Iowa.

It's Black History Month...and I thought you might like to know.

 

Oh, and this week some 9,000 workers at an Amazon Fulfillment Center in Alabama are voting on joining a union. I truly hope it is successful.

 

Partly Personal

 

Doing chores here at the Animal Farm takes a bit of time each morning. Reminds me of my days on the real farm but their are fewer critters and they are smaller.  Point is that all this week we're going to see below zero temps. Please, please bring your critters inside or make sure they have a safe place to get out of the cold.  At these temps it doesn't take long for them to freeze up. From blanketing your horses to coats for your dogs.  Just do it...

 

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful Sunday.  Oh yeah...there is that football game later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

Sunday Morning Coffee 29 November 2020

It's the final Sunday of November 2020...like you needed to be told...let's get into some Sunday Morning Coffee and enjoy a bit of time
together. Here is hoping you had a meaningful Thanksgiving and that you and yours are well. Tough times friends.  So, we'll start out with a slight twist this morning and look to sports rather than politics. Let's go!

OK, This is Serious

COVID19 has, once again, hit the National Football League. Early on Saturday it was reported that the Denver Broncos will lack a quarterback for their game against the New Orleans Saints. You see, all the Broncos QBs are ineligible due to coming into contact with each other. It seems Drew Lock, Brett Rypien and Blake Bortles were, at some time last week, with QB Jeff Driskel who tested positive for COVID19 on Thursday. The team will play today but it's up in the air who will handle the snaps.  See, told you this is getting serious.

Meanwhile the Thursday night game was moved to Sunday and now the unbeaten Pittsburgh Steelers will face the Baltimore Ravens on Tuesday evening. Why not...it is 2020.

But the big Midwestern Game is this evening between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers. Oh yeah.... Sorry for the divergence let's claw our way back to politics.

He's Running!

The "Clown Car" that has been running around shouting about voter fraud is running out of gas. Crazy Uncle Rudy continues to show up and make a us wince at the antics. Meanwhile its looking more and more like "45" will run again in 2024 and some are suggesting that he will announce his candidacy on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2021. All of which makes sense. But you've gotta be thinking that that move will frost others, in what once was the Grand Old Party, as they were frothing at the mouth to run. Mike Pence always the bridesmaid never the bride.

Obama

Speaking of Mike Pence what a sorry bastard he is. This weekend MSNBC has been running a four-part special "Obama" and it was enlightening. Lots of great stories that I'd missed and some familiar bits that still resonate. One of those misses was just how badly then Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN) wanted to defeat the Affordable Care Act. The special showed speech after speech of how the six term congressman bellowed about the "socialist takeover" of health care.  He was...and no doubt is...a true believer in denying health care to Americans. You can hide a bunch behind that label of "Caring Christian".

Shit Hole Country

Remember when "45" blasted third world nations as "shit hole countries"? I know, it's hard to keep up but now I wonder if, because he is so very good at projecting, if he were really foreshadowing the United States? Millions are ill with COVID19, the economy (it is not Wall Street) is in shambles and about to get worse, unemployment continues to rise, those on extended unemployment will lose benefits the day after Christmas, putting political pals in charge of the Pentagon, AstraZeneca last week admitted they gave only a half-dose of their vaccine to some study volunteers...and the Broncos don't have a quarterback.

Yikes!  What have we become under this mad-man? Looks a hell-of-alot like some shit hole county and this guy wants to run for president...again. Heaven help us. (Image - East Bay Times)

America Did Fail Our Kids

Looking back at the election it's easy to see we've got a bunch of work to do as we head into 2022. That the Democrats failed to hold a number of seats in the House and failed to take out Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and capture the Senate is an abject failure. Sure, we were able to elect Joe and Kamala but really kids...what the hell? I live in Iowa and here the state not only went for "45" but we also were not able to hold but one of the Democratic House Seats with Congresswoman Cindy Axne cruising to victory because of Polk County. If the party doesn't change direction look for disaster in the Mid-Terms.  That change needs to come in the form of local organizing now. Enough of this waiting for the DNC to tell us what to do it's clear they haven't got a clue.  As the great Congressman Thomas "Tip" O'Neill (D-Mass) said, "All politics is local." and that means that we can rise only on drilling down to what our folks want at the local level.

Let me give you but one example: If I hear one more Democrat utter the words "defund the police" I'm gonna lose it. Those three words were used as a billy-club against us. Come on, there must be some smart people out there...someplace. Weary.

Partly Personal

A couple of weeks ago I was on a call with members of the Iowa Democratic Black Caucus. I joined this group months ago because I believe in the idea of being an ally to the cause of equality...real equality. There is no way I can feel what it is like to be Black in America but I can do what I can to help fix what is an awful history...past and, frankly, present.  There was a discussion about story telling, letting the people know who and what the Iowa Democratic Black Caucus is about and what folks on the local level can do to move forward in the fight for equality. I had an idea and privately shared that with some in leadership positions. Crickets. OK, maybe it wasn't such a good idea. I dunno...maybe.

It was a weird Thanksgiving. I suspect, judging from my social media feeds, it was much the same for you. Usually our table is lined with family and friends this year it was just me and my Bride...and the dogs. It was beautiful and meaningful and loving.  Meanwhile millions of people ignored the advice of the experts and traveled. I can only hope and pray that those decisions don't come back to bite us in the weeks ahead. I know you are weary of this and I know that it could have been different if only we had taken COVID19 seriously at the beginning. But, now is not the time to give up. Take care of yourself and those you love...by refusing to gather. We need more time.

Thanks for reading... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday Morning Coffee 1 December 2019

Snow...as I write this it's snowing in Central Iowa. Might have to brew a second pot and put a log on the fire.  Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee my weekly look at the news stories you may have seen (or missed) all with my, often, acerbic commentary. Let's go:

He Will Say Anything

It really is astounding. "45" will say anything, mostly lies, and people swoon. I don't get it and suspect you don't either. But, beyond the lies and the dishonesty in business and government the Republicans stick with him. Perhaps out of fear. Perhaps out of ignorance. When faced by reality his supporters shrug and say silly things like, "He's doing what he promised to do."  If this person gets another term it will, I believe, sink our democracy. We've got to move on.

Voting for "45"

it's a fun new game here in Iowa where Sean Bagniewski, the chair of the Polk County Democrats, continues to ask, publically, if current elected officials are going to vote for "45" next November. So far, from what I'm told...crickets. It's fun to see then squirm.

And The Beat Goes On

The House Intelligence Committee will begin reviewing a report tomorrow on the committee’s investigation into "45's" dealings with Ukraine. The committee is then expected to consider and adopt the report Tuesday evening. The report and any minority views will be sent to the House Judiciary Committee, which could draft articles of impeachment against the president in the next few weeks.

Sixty-Four Days

We're just 64 days away from the Iowa Caucus. 64 days. Sixty-five days from now we'll be reviewing every aspect of the event. Campaign staff, many of whom we've gotten to know well, will be moving on to New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nevada and beyond. It's such an honor to live in a place where we get to experience this process and get so close to the candidates. If you live here you know what I'm talking about. 

Field organizing is going to be full on over the next two months. Our phones will light up with text messages...and that's OK with me. It's all going to be over way too soon.

Shooting in The Big Easy

Eleven people are reported injured in New Orleans early this morning. Eleven people. Meanwhile yesterday a man was shot in Dallas as he sat in his car. Some guy opened the passenger side door and just fired. And then in Chicago one person died and four others wounded in a shooting there. Remember, we don't have a gun violence issue in America.

Election in Des Moines

Voters in Des Moines, Iowa will, once again, head to the polls on Tuesday to select a mayor and two city council members. The runoff, which was required after none of the candidates received more than 50% of the vote back in November. If you want to listen to an interview I did for Mayor Frank Cownie you can do so here. If you would like to listen to my conversation with challenger Jack Hatch that is here.

The race has been really ugly with plenty of scrappy ads by Jack Hatch that surprised some. Meanwhile the TV time purchased, lately, by Frank Cownie have been upbeat. Sort of "stay the course" message. Whatever happens on Tuesday it will cost Des Moines about $85,000. It's the price of democracy.

Partly Personal

I know...not much today. I have an excuse and she is sitting on my lap. Her name is "Tinker" and the rescue tells us she is six. She is a "special needs" dog who, we are told, suffered a fever as a puppy which caused her to lose her balance. So when she walks she looks like somebody on Court Avenue at 2:00AM. Her former owner was told by family members that he had to get rid of her. They were going to take her out and shoot her but somebody thought of a rescue center. And now she is with us. She's pretty clingy but that's OK. It's what we do...

I spent several hours on Thanksgiving helping others prepare a dinner and then serve it to some people in a drug and alcohol recovery center here in Central Iowa. It was a humbling experience. The stories were both shocking and sad. I am grateful that they allowed me to join them. It made a huge impact.

This coming Wednesday evening I'll be at a Flip Senate District 22 event in Clive with the Southeast Dallas County Democrats. It takes place at  Rookies Sports Bar & Grill - 2180 Northwest 156th Street. It's a fund-raiser for the eventual candidate that will seek to "Chuck Chuck" in November. Should be a good time.

Later this afternoon I'm headed to a "Meet & Greet" for Kimberly Graham who is running to represent Iowa as our next United States Senator. She will be with Rep. Cindy Anxe (D-IA) and I'm looking forward to the visit.

Two quick reminders: I'll be speaking to the Clive Democrats on Tuesday the 10th at Wobbly Boots in Clive about my campaign and then on December 21st the first of several "Town Hall Events" where my goal is to bring people together to listen to issues of importance to Iowa and to my Senate District 22. That event will be in West Des Moines at the Public Library starting at 10:00AM. 

Sorry for a short cup today...but next I've got to finish my broadcast for News/Talk 1540 KXEL that airs this afternoon at 2pm. Yikes!

Have a wonderful Sunday and thanks for reading!