SundayMorningCoffee

Sunday Morning Coffee 25 February 2024

Good Sunday Morning to you and welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee my weekly bit of news you love or love to hate. Before I share some remarkable news about President Biden and his accomplishments during his first term I've got a question, "Why does Iowa hate folks with disabilities?".

Early this morning I read a shocking story in the Des Moines Register authored by Rep. Josh Turek (D-Council Bluffs) about the abysmal record the Governor and the Iowa Legislature have when it comes to caring for the 15% of Iowans who are disabled. (If you want to do that math that means roughly 465,000 Iowans are disabled.) Josh should know a thing or two about being disabled as he is wheelchair bound and has been for years. He is also the only permanently disabled person in the Iowa Legislature. Some highlights:

• The Home and Community Based Services Medicaid waitlist grows by 1,000 people each year and is one of the longest in the country;
• Folks with intellectual disabilities are on a six-year waitlist plus an additional 14 months to qualify. These are people who need services such as personal care, food preparation and home modification. Who, while they wait, must go without or pay out of pocket;
• Median earnings for Iowa's disabled workers rank 47th out of 50 states largely due to the state's harsh Medicaid restrictions;
• Medicaid is severely limited in earnings to poverty and limited to $12,000 in total assets or $13,000 if married;
• "Iowa keeps our disabled in poverty and unemployed.";
• Defunding the AEA will keep services from children with disabilities and special education needs;
• "Last year Republicans  passed a bill to make it more difficult to receive SNAP food benefits. 46.7% of those on SNAP in Iowa have a disabled member in the household";
• The denial rate for wheelchairs and medical services has increased by 850% since the privatization of health care in Iowa.

He ends with, "Clearly the condition of the state for the disabled in Iowa is terrible. And until the focus in Iowa becomes on helping people instead of politics or profits, it will not improve!"

Chew on that with your toast and eggs this morning....

President Joe Biden

Meanwhile, President Biden has been working in support of the American People with policies and programs that actually make the lives of our people...better.  Consider:

He stopped a 30-year streak of federal inaction on gun violence by signing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that created enhanced background checks, closed the “boyfriend” loophole, and provided funds for youth mental health.

Joe made a $369 billion investment in climate change, the largest in American history, through the inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

And, yes, President Biden ended the longest war in American history by pulling the troops out of Afghanistan.

So, the next time somebody says, "Gosh, I'm not sure what this president has done for America.." Remind them that he truly is the best  president in our recent memory when it comes to getting stuff...done!

Enjoy your Sunday and keep the pressure on...

 

 

Sunday Morning Coffee 6 June 2021

And, Good Morning! Grab a cup of Sunday Morning Coffee some of the political and social news you might have seen, or missed, all laced with my, usual, acerbic commentary. It's what I get to do once a week.  Let's go:

No Apology

It was a stunning piece of news. Between 1890 and 1969 some 150,000 indigenous children of Canada were forced to attend state-funded Christian schools, the majority of them run by Catholic missionaries. The idea was to subject these kids to indoctrination so they could be assimilated into Canadian society.

Recently ground penetrating radar was used to confirm the remains of 215 children at the Kamloops Residential School in British Columbia...operated by the Catholic church. For its part the Canadian government has admitted that physical and sexual abuse was rampant in the schools with children beaten for speaking their native languages and has made apologies.

Meanwhile Pope Frances, today, said it was "a sad affair" and "This sad discovery increases the awareness of the sorrows and sufferings of the past."  But, no apology for the actions of the church. 

So, the U.S. isn't the only nation guilty of such things...  Remember though "Manifest Destany"...so it must be OK.

15%

It's a big deal. Last week the G-7 met and agreed to a minimum of a 15% tax on sales and profits by corporations that are selling or located in what has been called "low tax sanctuaries". Those would include many nations in the Caribbean. In Europe the corporate tax rate is all over the board from Hungary at 9% to France at 31%. The goal here is to tax companies such as Facebook and other internet corporations who have managed to set up shop in one location or another to avoid paying up. The proposal now goes to roughly 21 other nations for approval.  The Biden Administration has wanted a higher tax rate but asked that 15% be the minimum.  

Back On Stage

Well that went...well. Former President 45 was back on stage yesterday kicking off a national tour to promote lies. (It's what he does best.) Of course, he continued to spread the "Big Lie" and give himself credit for a whole bunch of stuff that either never happened or was a major failure. Think COVID-19 reaction and "Infrastructure Week".

The amazing thing is that people still fawn over him. Look, this is not only scary but dangerous for our nation. We have seen this playbook before in 1930's Germany where the people who felt they had been given a raw deal fawned over a hateful man with crazy ideas. I suspect the former president has Mein Kampf bookmarked. No, wait...that would assume the man can read. (Image: BBC)

Those Crazy Democrats

Meanwhile it's pretty nutty in the U.S. Senate as today CBS Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) was asked about his stand on bipartisanship. Here is what he said, "I think Senate Republicans want bipartisanship." Host John Dickerson: "Well, they haven’t shown that yet, McConnell says he’s 100% focused on blocking Biden agenda & the GOP restructuring of voting laws state-by-state is..."  Manchin: "Yeah, but I think deep-down they want it."

Denial is a river in Egypt. 

Making the Rounds...

The first announced Democrat to run against Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA), Dave Muhlbauer is making the rounds of Polk County Neighborhood Groups. Muhlbauer, a farmer from Southwest Iowa announced his candidacy last week knows he's got to be out there early and often. An interesting side-note. Grassley who is 87 has served in the U.S. Senate since 1981 which is longer than Dave Muhlbauer has been alive.

So, there is that.

Thank You Todd Pritchard

Last week Iowa House Minority Leader Rep. Todd Pritchard (D-Charles City) announced that he was leaving that leadership position following three sessions in the minority. It was rough duty having to go up against the anti-democratic group in the majority. Imagine every day having to face people who are simply not lined up with reality. From health care to taxes to guns to education the Republicans continue to tear down this once great state.  Democrats will choose a new leader on June 14 and I have a suspicion of who that might be but keeping my thoughts quiet until she lets me know she is in the running.  Hint, hint...nudge...nudge. 

Just Being There...Works

Last week I had the opportunity to hang out with the Clive Democrats and the amazing Lila Starr who chairs that group. She and Hope Johnson, who is running for the Clive City Council, were working the booth during Food Truck Friday sponsored by the Clive Chamber of Commerce. 

This is just one of dozens of registration events going on in Polk County each week.  Are we signing folks up?  Sure. But, what is so powerful about this is simply being seen.  Letting folks know in places that had been "ruby red" for a very long time that Democrats are alive and active and working on the issues the vast majority of Iowans believe it and desire.  Change can happen we've just got to stay at it.

Partly Personal

My Bride left me on Thursday. Well, it's not really that dramatic. She and some other "ladies" went to Arkansas to go...camping. Arkansas! Camping! I have no idea where she went but it took her nearly 10 hours to get there. Due home sometime later today.  Safe travels.  BTW...for their last day of "camping" one of her new friends had a contact so they spent the final day and night at a resort...with a hot tub and all the finer things of life. No...charge.  Pretty sweet. THAT'S the kind of "camping" I could go for.

While the cat is away the (very cool) Cats will play. My brother, Yoni, came over last evening and cooked supper. I didn't have to do anything but mix the drinks. He is a wonder in the kitchen. The meal was amazing: Roasted and stuffed Portobello mushrooms, seasoned baked potatoes, stuffed and roasted onions and flank steak that had been pounded very thin, rubbed and marinated for 24 hours.

I gotta tell you...it was delightful.

We then watched a couple of episodes of The Kominsky Method featuring Alan Arkin and Michael Douglas. If you get a chance...watch. It is part comedy and part drama but it is all good. I was turned onto the series by a member of my congregation in Mason City who raved about it and said, "Oy, it is such a reminder of so many of my friends. You have got to see it!" Thanks Peter. One thing to know. If you have some reference to older Jewish men and can appreciate the humor...it is  priceless. 

Finally our son, Aaron, was over on Friday afternoon when it was 90 degrees to install a "motion detection security light" on the side of the house. Georgie wanted one and on Monday she and I attempted to put it up but...fail.  I asked Aaron to do it (he is way more handy than I and 30 years younger) and BAM!  Took him about 20 minutes. But, yes, it was hot and yes...it does work.  Thank you! 

Thanks for reading and have a great Sunday!

 

Sunday Morning Coffee 20 December 2020

It's the week of Christmas and may those of you celebrating have a meaningful event. Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee my weekly look at the political (and sometimes religious) news stories out there and offer my own, usually acerbic, commentary. Hey, it's what I get to do long before the sun comes up.  Let's go!

Bye Mike

Last week, in the first official word from the U.S. Government Secretary of State Mike Pompeo put the blame of the massive security breach squarely on Russian hackers and orchestrated by that government. Then along comes "45" and says, nope..."China!". In a classic move the president, who prefers Twitter to actually having a policy wrote:  “The Cyber Hack is far greater in the Fake News Media than in actuality. I have been fully briefed and everything is well under control,”. He also claimed the media are “petrified” of “discussing the possibility that it may be China (it may!).” Expect Mike to be packing his bags and joining the massively incompetent Attorney General William Barr as the revolving door continues to spin. (Image - Financial Times) 

Money, Money, Money, Money...

If we can believe what we are hearing from the U.S Senate it looks like we're on track for an agreement on yet another stimulus roll out. As of this morning the final stamp is being put on a $900 billion package that will include an additional $300 in weekly unemployment benefits, funding for schools, small businesses, health care workers and another round of stimulus checks. Out of the deal is money for state and local governments and liability protections for businesses and other entities operating during the pandemic. In celebration I bring you the 1973 hit by the O'Jays. You are welcome and TURN IT UP! (And, I promise it will be an ear-worm for you all day.)

What may have moved the ball is that last week the U.S. added yet another 885,000 new requests for unemployment benefits. That is up by 23,000 over the prior week and a clear sign that the economy is in rough shape.  Money in the hands of people who will actually spend it, rather than buy stock, moves the economy forward. It ain't that hard to figure out.

Careful What You Name It

It looks like "Operation Warp Speed" hit a speed bump. Seems that states are getting a fraction of the number of Pfizer vaccine vials they were first promised. There was lots of finger pointing going on including Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) who has a Pfizer production plant in her backyard but was shorted about 40% of what was promised. After several days of "Whack-a-Mole" we learned, on Saturday, that, well, we goofed.  General Gustave Perna, chief operating officer of Operation Warp Speed, apologized for a "planning error" that caused dozens of states to expect more vaccine doses than they'll actually get. He took full blame and said he is fixing it. Meanwhile the Moderna vaccine has been approved by the FDA and it, unlike the Pfizer model, can be shipped and stored at temperatures much less than the -75 degrees celsius...which should be much better news for rural areas of the country.

Careful What You Name It II

Just so you feel better Vice President Mike Pence last week rolled out the answer to a question that nobody has been asking. We now know that the couple of dozen people who are the United States Space Force will be called "Guardians". Isn't that nice and don't you feel so much more, well, protected?  For the record, you might wonder what the duty of the Guardians might be so, here you go: "Provide freedom of operation for the United States in, from, and to space. Provide prompt and sustained space operations." Sort of like NASA and the Air Force but hey...we needed more drama in 2020.

More Help for Georgia

In case you had not heard "45" is headed back to Georgia to help the two crooks running for re-election there. Birds of a feather I suspect. If it's like the last time he will give the candidates a couple of minutes to state their case and then rail against the election, the media other members of the GOP...you know the drill.

Iowa Will Remain Red...Forever

Not to scare the hell out of you but in talking with several folks this past week, who are connected Democrats, I'm being told that Iowa will remain firmly in the GOP fold for decades to come. The conversation centered on the miserable job Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) is doing here. Favorite under the desk deals for cronies, the mishandling of the COVID19 response, her continued attack on collective bargaining all get a "I don't care" response from Independents, Republicans and even a few Democrats. "People like her because, just like many of them, she reflects their inability to understand the role of government and voters have been told for decades, in Iowa, that government is bad and we just need to do the right thing as individuals."

While two or three counties in Iowa will remain Democratic strongholds that ain't playin' in the rest of the state. And, when you figure that, even in Polk County, we lost two Democrat seats in the House.  Ouch. "I really don't see any person being able to take on Reynolds and win much less Grassley. Stick a fork in it...or maybe move."  Looks like we might need the Guardians.

What Will Win?

The Democrats are, right now, working on plans and policies aimed at Rural Voters. No, not kidding. We've really got to have a better policy brief other than, "You folks are dumb shits." That never plays well. Here's something that you might not realize. There are, right now 24 counties in Iowa where the majority of folks are living below the federal poverty line of $26,200 for a family of four. Let that sink in. And, if you are counting we don't have that many urban counties so...it's not that we city folk are all causing so much economic pain. Nope the win-win is in a number of economic efforts that we can and should be talking about. Want a quick list:

• High-Speed Internet - Look, I've been on this for well over a decade. This can be a game changer for everything from entrepreneurs who live in rural Iowa but do business on a global scale to hospitals and schools that are, often, the backbone of our small communities. In addition we're seeing remote work as a big win for people and corporations. You don't have to shell out $4,000 a month for a studio apartment in San Francisco to work in Silicon Valley. Ask the folks in Jefferson, Iowa. 
• Food Security Measures - We've all heard that, "Iowa feeds the world..." But, it seems that we can't feed ourselves correctly. Fast, cheap food from the local convenience store only increases obesity and health problems associated with a lousy diet. We can do better;
• Life Skills Education - Oh yeah....we're hot on STEM but can you balance a check-book or understand the economics of money? How about learning how to actually cook something rather than heat it up in the microwave? (See point two above.) I think we can educate folks on both life skills and stuff like science, technology, engineering and math.  Ya think?
• Reimagine Crumbling Infrastructure - We should have a "Marshall Plan" to rescue our small towns that are crumbling along with the roads and bridges that connect them. This is going to take money and more then lip service. Think of how we can be helpful rather than hurtful. Having lived in Rural Iowa I can tell you there is a solid quality of life there...but you've got to have access and infrastructure for it to be successful.
• Embrace Small Faming - I've lived on what once called a "diversified farm". There was a time the only reason we would go to the grocery store was to buy a box of Fruit Loops. Not kidding. I'm not suggesting that we get back to "Green Acres" but our current agricultural policy is "big is better". Think of that for a moment. The farmer needs to get bigger and bigger so that he/she can beg massive agricultural corporations to offer pennies on the dollar when it comes to commodities. Who is getting wealthy here? It ain't the farmer. And what is being produced from the commodities is, once again, high calorie/low nutritional value products. There is a market for good food but these farmers need a lane in which to sell it.  The road-side stand doesn't cut it...we need transportation answers and market stability measures for small diversified farmers".

Hey, just me...spitballing. You are welcome to join the conversation.

Partly Personal

This would have been the weekend when our home would be buzzing with activity. Family and friends would pour in from several states and we would celebrate the holidays with massive food events, tell stories, share some wine (and booze) and catch up on our lives. Not this year. We, like so many other families, have made the decision to avoid the crowded space. The safety of others is, frankly, more important than having a two day party. Will it work? I hope so. You see, now that we're seeing vaccines roll out...our job is to buy time. We do that by staying out of harms way refusing to "roll the dice" and by doing that slow the spread and get the time we need to create a solid holiday gathering in 2022.

Here is wishing you your family health and happiness.  Thanks for reading. 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday Morning Coffee 22 November 2020

Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee my weekly review of the news stories you may have seen, or missed, all laced with my commentary. It's what I get to do and, what the hell, it makes my Republican friends...angry.  Truth hurts. Let's go...

Fifty-Seven Years

Take another look at the date. It was 57 years ago today that President John F. Kennedy was murdered in Dallas. If you are old enough to remember that date you, no doubt, know exactly where you were when you heard the news.  I was in a 7th Grade English class when the teacher walked out of the room. She had been called out by the principal who was, I learned later, going to each classroom the share the dreadful news. When she came back in the room tears were rolling down her face and she told us, between sobs, that the president had been killed. School was dismissed and the nation mourned those four days until the burial on the 25th. Such was November 22, 1963.

What Is The Matter With You?

It is Thanksgiving week and millions of Americans are traveling for the holiday. Never mind that we're experiencing 200,000 COVID19 cases a day and that death is taking out roughly 2,000 a day. Yet...you are traveling for the holiday like nothing is going on? The denial is stunning but even more is the selfishness. "I wanna to see my kids." "I wanna have a nice dinner with friends and family." Well, know what? I would like to see you alive and not burdened with thousands of dollars in medical bills.  I would like you to actually think about others that you may come into contact with following your family-spreader adventure of turkey and ham or whatever you are planning.  Weary. (Image - Chicago Tribune)

Michigan

I've written before about how my home state of Michigan is a looney bin of right-wing nut jobs. Last week several GOP state legislators were summoned to the White House to talk...turkey.  It's the latest ploy of a desperate president attempting to stage a coup. After their meeting the Michigan legislators were photographed downing Dom Perignon at the Trump Hotel in D.C. The champaign goes for $750 a bottle. Two things stand out: 1) How much tax money went to the maskless party and who paid? 2) Do you see the hypocrisy of this crowd as thousands line up in a "bread line" in Dallas?  Here's the deal.  If you support this mob if you vote for these people you are enabling the worst of us.  Seriously?  How can you call yourself a "Republican"...you are part of the problem. (Image - KXAN)

The Election

I was going to write about the foolishness but decided against it. We've all been watching the clown show for days. The G-20 did have a meeting to talk about COVID19 and the world response. The president took a pass and went golfing.  And 70,000,000 voted for this guy. Says volumes.

North Dakota

You might have heard about this place. It is a country just south of Canada that is the leading the nation when it comes to COVID19 infections. In fact North Dakota last week reported more coronavirus deaths than any other state or nation. More than one in 1,000 people there have died. Nobody much cares because not many people live there...and there is soon to be even fewer.  Sad, but true. Right now there are 75 striking Teamster Local 120 workers on a picket line outside of Cash-Wa a food distribution center that supplies products for 10,000 restaurants, hotels,hospitals and schools in several states. The company is privately owned by the Henning family and Tom Henning is the CEO.  The workers there have been without a contract since March. They are working in unsafe conditions with no temperature checks, no hand sanitizer stations no social distancing. 

North Dakota, like Iowa, is a "Right to Steal" state where union activity is frowned upon and strikes are rare. The media is concerned about food shortages...now. Meanwhile we're learning that here in Iowa Tyson supervisors were making bets on how many people would test positive in their stinking meat processing facilities. Not caring one bit about the people working there. Let that sink in. 

Teamsters Local 120 represents 11,500 workers in the Midwest. There should be a way to contribute to their strike fund.  If I find a link I'll pass it along. 

Georgia

As long as we're talking about what is possible here, once again, are the websites so you can send a donation to Rev. Raphael Warnock and his election bid for 5 January and for Jon Ossoff. BOTH are solid Democrats and with their win we can move forward in the U.S. Senate and help Joe Biden and Kamala Harris carry out the work that needs to be done in this nation.  So...please take a moment and chip in for victory.

Partly Personal

I worry. Maybe it's a Jewish thing? I dunno but I worry about you. I worry about my co-workers, friends, family and the thousands of people I've come into contact with over the years. I just want you to be safe and healthy. And I worry that you are not paying attention. I worry that following Thanksgiving we'll see yet another surge of infections and then, because of the Christmas Holiday we'll see even more. Oh, yeah...then we've got New Year's....  Please wear a mask, refrain from gatherings, wash your hands. If you want to do something positive write and call your U.S. Senator and demand they take this seriously and pass a stimulus bill that can help America stay whole. We need...the time.

Thanks for reading.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday Morning Coffee - 22 March 2020

Shaved, showered and in the office before 6:00AM. Yikes!  Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee my weekly look at the political (and sometimes religious) news you may have seen or missed all laced with my commentary. Why? Because it's what I get to do and have been for well over a decade. BTW: Thanks to all of you who have been faithful readers forever. OK, let's go!

No Words

It escapes me how rudderless our nation is. Every day the president gets up to present an "update" on Covid-19 and every day his staff or the real leaders in the room have to walk-back or "clarify" what he just said. Last week was a real trip when NBC White House correspondent, Peter Alexander asked the president what he would say to Americans who are "scared". What happened next was astonishing as "45" lit into Alexander. Instead of answering, the president responded by rejecting the question ("nasty"), attacking Alexander ("terrible"), and assailing NBC News' parent company Comcast ("Con-Cast").

Trouble was the question was what we call a "softball". Alexander was lobbing a question that would have allowed the president to be, well, presidential. But, as usual..."45" failed.  When the very same question was put to Vice President Pence, the very same question, Pence answered it with calming tones. (Image - NBC News)

Fox News About Face

I have friends who accuse me of never paying attention to their favorite network. "I bet you've never even seen Fox News!" and "Me? I play Fox News 24/7 it's the only news I trust. I wish you would too, you might learn something." Little do they know that I do pay attention...big secret kids...I'm in the news reporting business so, yes, I do pay attention. 

Two stunning developments over the past three weeks: 1) The talking heads on Fox have gone from denying the seriousness of Covid-19 to declaring it real and a danger. You, no doubt, have seen the tape. 

No wonder my Fox loving friends have, for weeks, disputed the danger. 

Fox News Part Two

And, this one is also pretty good. This morning Fox News had this breathless headline, "Cuomo's Coronavirus TV Briefings May Have Biden, Sanders Worried" with this lead: "Have Democrats found an alternative to Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders for the party's 2020 presidential nomination?" 

Uhm, the answer is..."No" but it does sow some hope in the minds of those who are scared to death that their great leader will go down in November to (gasp) a Democrat.

Two Weeks Behind

Meanwhile why is Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) always two weeks behind in her handling of the Iowa outbreak? At first I figured she was taking her ques from Fox News but lately it's becoming clear that she may be hoping this will all go away. Here is what she should be doing: 1) Call on the National Guard to implement more bed capacity it's what they do, 2) Take a lesson from Washington State and start, now, taking over additional bed space in hotels, casinos, etc. 3) Put the state on a lock-down as has been done in other states.

I get it she does not want to panic the public but...guess what...they already are.

Meanwhile this pandemic is accelerating a divide in our state and nation. Those that can "work from home" are doing so but there are thousands of individuals who can not. In addition we have a vast homeless population where "staying isolated" is not an option. Homeless shelters and workers there are in grave danger. Maybe I missed it...but what's the plan there?

Hand Sanitizer

I've gotta ask: So if a number of Iowa distilleries can produce gallons of the stuff and hand it out for free where is the commercial grade stuff? I get it that panicked citizens have hoarded it in their garage (along with boxes of toilet paper) but...seriously? Folks that usually make booze seem to be able to get this done and long lines of people show up to get a bottle in places like West Des Moines and Cedar Rapids. Good PR for them but still...

BTW just what the hell are you folks going to do with all that toilet paper? Really. The other day I watched two women fighting over the last package of 24 rolls...

Guns & Ammo

Folks are also hoarding ammunition. Last week we had a story about how retail centers are running out of ammo as worried citizens rush out to buy what they can. Because I'm sort of curious about that I called a couple of folks I know who might have been among those stocking up. When I asked "Why?" this was my answer: "I've got to be prepared. You know once they shut down the grocery stores I've gotta protect my stuff from looters."  Nah, governor...nobody out here is panicked at all.

The Republican Primary

Usually my friends in the GOP march lock-step together however I recently learned that in Iowa State Senate District 22 there will be a primary. District 22 is made up of Clive, Waukee, West Des Moines and Windsor Heights...and yep, I'm a Democrat running there. Anyway, on the final day candidates could announce a woman by the name of Porsha Hart filed. Porsha lives in Waukee and is challenging the current mayor of Clive.

Iowa Restaurants

Yesterday I interviewed Jessica Dunker the President/CEO of the Iowa Restaurant Association about that industry and the hit it is taking because of Covid-19. I'll air that segment tomorrow but here are some stunning take-a-ways: 

• There are 155,000 restaurant workers in Iowa;
• Second largest employment group in the state (Healthcare #1);
• Roughly 80,000 of those people are now unemployed.

And that is in the first week. She told me that if you are unemployed due to closures that the Iowa has waived penalties and you should, immediately, file for unemployment. In addition she is working on finding a way for restaurant owners who have business disruption insurance being able to make a claim. It seems that pandemics are not covered. What this will take would be a waiver and then the federal government to step in and assist. Stay tuned.

Partly Personal

I am on the phone a ton. I make at least fifty to sixty calls each day, sometimes more. I've noticed something interesting. Phone calls that might have taken three or four minutes to complete are now stretching seven to ten minutes in length. This isn't scientific but it is, I think, a reaction to people wishing to stay connected.

I've taken part in a number of Zoom conferences last week. One was with leadership from the Iowa Democratic Party on strategic ways in which to engage voters ahead of the primary election in June and the general election in November. Lots of ideas and there needs to be as we are restricted in voter contact including speaking opportunities and door-to-door canvassing. It's a whole new world. But, we must continue to work, daily, on voter interaction. I know I've ramped up not only calls but also other ways to introduce myself to voters and share the message that we must...must find ways to work for working families in Iowa. If you are interested here is my website.

Finally, on Friday night my friend Max Wellman held a "virtual jazz session" from Noce a great club in Des Moines. He and bassist Steve Charlston and singer Tina Haase Findlay performed for three hours on a live stream from the club. And, yes, people watched. During the event there were over 300 people tuned in to watch and listen. That, by the way, is more people than what the club holds. It was very cool. There are a number of these virtual sessions going on and it was great that some "locals" could also join in. Thank you.

Thanks for reading and stay well.

 

Sunday Morning Coffee 7 July 2019

Trying to figure out what to blame this very late edition of Sunday Morning Coffee on...  I've got it.!  Independence Day! Yeah...a holiday in the middle of the week tossed up everything. Actually my Bride and I were up late enjoying a perfect Iowa night.  So gotta blame this on...the weather.  Not to worry, it can handle it!

The Military and "45"

So many things to say about the efforts by "45" to embrace the military on the 4th of July. But let's just leave it at this. There are two reasons why the president spent your tax dollars to do his Salute to America honoring the very military that he dodged out of because of "bone spurs". 1) His base LOVES the military and the might. Just like they love the concentration camps that now are in every state in the union. It's all about power and might makes right. That is not to say others do not appreciate how the military protects and defends but with "45'" there is a deep desire to bow to his base...besides who might take him on for this.  It was a win/win for him. 2) He controls the military. That is the bottom line about this president...he loves controlling others. Be it the military, people he sues, his business deals or people seeking asylum from the horrors of their own nation. Control kids...control.

Jews Arrested in Rhode Island

Last week while we, in Iowa, were watching or walking in parades hundreds of Jews descended on an immigrant concentration camp in Central Falls, Rhode Island and staged a peaceful protest. "Outside the Donald W. Wyatt detention center inmates can be heard from the street...banging on the windows and walls. The mass of people  protesting called out, 'We hear you!"

That was the scene as the Jewish group, Never Again is Now staged, along with others all over the country, peaceful protests against the abusive conditions for migrants and asylum seekers. Saying they could not stand by as the necessary ingredients for an American Holocaust emerge.

Liza Burkin a 30-year-old urban planner from Providence said, "I am Jewish, and I refuse to be a good German." She and 17 others were taken into police custody for refusing to move away from an entry zone for the detention center. As she was led away she said, "We are focused way too much on the end of the Holocaust and not as much on the beginning and this is directly comparable."

It has come to this...

The Marshall Plan

What we are doing with regard to migrants and asylum seekers is evil and it is costing the United States millions and millions of dollars. Much of that money going to private contractors who are in bed with "45" and his cronies. It is a scam of monumental proportions and we are fighting the wrong war. What this rich nation should be doing is invoking a Marshall Plan for Central America.

A little history: The Marshall Plan was an American initiative passed in 1948 to aid Western Europe in rebuilding their economies after World War II. The U.S. gave over $12 billion (roughly $100 billion in 2019 dollars) to help create the thriving economy that is now Europe.

Imagine, for a moment, if we took that road with Central America. If the United States really wants to shut down the flow of migrants and asylum seekers we need to look at the root cause for them coming here. It's economics kids. If only we had the guts to admit it.

Meet Andrea Love

Last week the West Des Moines Democrats held a massive picnic and fund-raiser. On hand were presidential candidates Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and her husband John as well as former congressman and Navy Admiral Joe Sestak.  It was a big deal...as other candidates came to speak which included home-town Congresswoman Cindy Axne (D-IA) who is seeking re-election in Iowa's Third Congressional District. 

Months before the WDM Dems contracted with Hy-Vee, a chain of grocery stores based in West Des Moines, to handle the food. When it was exposed that Hy-Vee gave $25,000 to the Republican Party of Iowa Victor Dutchuk of the WDM Dems met with others and the decision was to move away from that agreement and find another source to handle the food prep and service. That is where Andrea Love and her business Dinner Delights came in. Spend just a minute with Andrea here: (Just click the audio link)

Andrea Love Dinner Delights July 2019

There are more than a couple of ways to resist and do good at the same time.

Partly Personal

It was a heck of a week. Along with the West Des Moines Democrats picnic I helped out a fellow Democrat get to meet other Democrats in Central Iowa. Former Navy Admiral and Pennsylvania congressman Joe Sestak announced his candidacy for president just two weeks ago after learning that his daughter had, once again, beaten brain cancer. With no staff, or much knowledge of Iowa, he dove in and asked if I'd offer some help.  So, and while I'm not working for Joe, I felt it was important for people to get to know him. So we did the WDM Picnic and then he went on to march in the parade there. On the 4th I walked with him in the, very long and HOT, Urbandale Parade and then peeled off to do Windsor Heights Parade on behalf of the Windsor Heights Democrats. Did I do one selfe of any of that?  Nope! Oh my! But do want to thank my friend Dylan Funk for taking loads of shots on Wednesday during the WDM event.  Thank you my friend.

Then it was on to a great evening of music by Abby Normal at Nights in the Heights.  Yep, slept very well on Thursday night.

I was honored to have been asked to sit for a photo with a candidate for the Urbandale City Council Larry McBurney. Things are changing in Urbandale as Democrats compete in partisan and non-partisan elections. For many, many years Urbandale was considered a safe haven for the GOP. Not any longer and the same is happening in other communities as neighborhood groups associated with the Polk County Democrats continue to grow and become major activists. It's always about organizing. If you need proof...be in Ankeny this coming weekend. 

Finally...it happened again. "Daisy" is a mascot of the Polk County Democrats and she has been making the rounds at various functions. My friend, Wendell Eck created a float for "Daisy" and she's been in several parades. A couple of weeks ago she fell from her perch and broke her leg. I picked her up the day before the Windsor Heights Parade...took her to the event. After the parade and on the way back to the staging area one of the straps that held her down came loose and...yes, "Daisy" fell once again.  So, it's back in the repair shop and finding a better way to anchor her.

And, yes, I feel lousy that it happened on my watch.

Thanks for reading and have a great Sunday! 

 

Have You No Decency? - SMC 20 August 2017

It is the final day of the Great Iowa State Fair and perhaps that should have been in the title of this weeks Sunday Morning Coffee however we've gotta roll with what we've got. Thanks for coming by for some news stories you may have seen and some you might have missed all with my commentary. Sometimes fun often serious grab a cup and let's go!

The Secret

Over the past week I had to opportunity to work the Iowa Democratic Party booth at the Iowa State Fair. For those of you who are not familiar both the GOP and the Democrats have the same size booth at the entrance to the Varied Industries Building. I was able to watch people line up to have their photo taken with not one but two life-size cut-outs of "45" in front of a huge banner that screamed "Stand With Trump". Given all the crap that has been going on, especially during the past week, one would think it might be difficult to "Stand With Trump" but people kept to have their photo taken with the "Cardboard King". I heard them talk about the "fake media" and Hillary and how our "culture is being eroded" and how Ron Corbett would make a better governor because, "he knows politics". The secret is Republicans have no decency. None. They will say and do anything...and as our contributor Tim Lloyd notes "They have made their bed..." and we must continue to remind voters that their lack of decency, their callous disregard for the rule of law, their primary focus on race baiting and division must not be ignored. When you look at a Republican you are, today, looking at evil. No matter if they wear a fancy suit or a pretty dress. When they "Stand with Trump" they are embracing evil and we must not give them a pass.

The RepubliKlans

Call me slow. I had never heard of this term until this week. However, this week has been unique in our nation. So unique that some major magazines had some interesting covers depicting the times we are in. Not since the Democrats of the south stood in opposition to freedom have we seen times like this. And, they are so damn open about it. No secret that the sheets are out and here, thanks to CNN are those covers.

The Difference in Timing

Notice how long it took "45" to call out the terror in Charlottesville vs. how long it took him to tweet about Barcelona? Remember fear is a great motivating factor and "45" cares nothing about the people who do not make up his base. Always remember that.

Guns and The Fair

We're already gearing up the next Iowa Legislative Calendar and be advised that allowing anybody and everybody to carry firearms at the Iowa State Fair is going to be a priority in the next session. Rep. Matt Windschitl (R-Missouri Valley) has already said he will introduce a bill to allow you and your friends to carry during the State Fair. Last session that language was taken out so the GOP could get enough votes to allow you to carry "wherever in the hell you wanted to carry". All of this was in reaction to a stabbing during the fair. So, "Law abiding men and women of Iowa have a right to defend themselves!" No word on if either of the individuals, Yuri Green, 17, the "stabber" and Tay Ronce Denton, 21, the "stabbie" were "law abiding men" prior to this event...the second in two years...and we've still got one more night to go!  Just thinking...hundreds of drunks at the Bud Tent...what could go wrong?

Iowans Supporting Israel

Until two months ago I had no idea this organization existed. Should have...but didn't. It is a non-partisan organization that was co-founded by highly placed Republicans like Matt Strawn and Democrats like Tom Henderson. This past week we went to a meeting where Rep. David Young (R-IA) spoke about his recent visit to Israel. (Photo: Iowans Supporting Israel) About 30 GOP House Members and the same number of House Democrats went on the trip. While traveling separate they did come together for two days to learn and share their experiences. It was an emotional speech from the Congressman and, once again, I was reminded of what so many people say about Mr. Young: "But, he is such a nice guy!" And I think he is...but his politics hurt Iowans. I can not for the life of me get it. How can these "nice people" embrace such evil in the White House and vote to strip Americans of health care, be against voting rights, and vote to cut taxes on the wealthy while sticking it to the rest of us. Somebody got an answer?  Anyway, if you want to learn more about Iowans Supporting Israel here is a brief interview we did for the Business News Hour with another founding member, attorney "Bud" Hockenberg:

IOB 16 August 2017 Bud Hockenberg

Women in Urbandale?

Last week my friend, and he is, Urbandale Mayor Bob Andeweg posted this photo on his LinkedIn profile. Nice selfie of the folks that serve one of my favorite communities in the Des Moines Metro. However, it got me to wondering if there are any women in Urbandale. I know I've seen them around the HyVee and the Funky Zebra but in the City Council? Hmmmm....anybody want to run?

Partly Personal

The final day of the Iowa State Fair...whew! What a run. Just a "heads up" and something I've noticed over the past 10 days...if you shake hands with a man during the fair I suspect there is an 80% chance that he didn't wash his hands after taking a leak. Best to simply...wave?

The Windsor Heights Foundation is today sponsoring the Annual Ice Cream Social. This is where the foundation pays for ice cream and (I think) the Windsor Heights HyVee provides bowls and spoons...we provide toppings and about 30 homes here in The Village host their neighbors and friends. It's such a cool (excuse the pun) event and one of the things that makes living here so very nice. If you drive around The Village today you'll see these signs announcing the Ice Cream Social...neighbor to neighbor. What a neat idea but I wonder if they got a...permit? Which brings me to this:

Meanwhile the City (Not to be confused with "The Village) of Windsor Heights has trouble, it would seem, with free speech. City workers removed and then threatened residents with fines for posting signs on their homes or in their lawns that were critical of the city and the sidewalk issue. I am not making this up. On Monday the Iowa ACLU weighed in demanding the city recant and allow citizens the right to post whatever in the hell they want to post. You know...that old "free speech" thingy. The City Council is going to take up the matter tomorrow evening. I get to be there to offer a brief Windsor Heights Chamber update. Sometimes you just can not fix...silly.

Thanks for reading and have a fantastic Sunday!

 

Politics, Religion & Gossip - SMC 7 August 2016

Three things you should never discuss is what Sunday Morning Coffee is all about. Some political stories, you may have (or may not) have seen. We'll have a coordinated attack on religion because, as everybody knows, Christianity is being attacked from all sides. And for balance I'll also attack Jews, Muslims and maybe a Taoist. Oy! And gossip? I'll just make something up and see if it sticks. Seems to work for Donald Trump.  Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee!

It's All About the Iowa Caucus

Iowa tends to be a place of moderation. Unless, of course, you happen to live in Northwest Iowa (The 4th Congressional District) where people there seem to love the craziness of Rep. Steve King (R-IA). (Side note. If you have not read "Steve King Could Use the N-Word Daily and Still Get Elected Here" by Douglas Burns of Carroll...it's worth the trip.) Anyway, back to being moderate. Gov. Terry Branstad is well liked. Nearly 6 years ago the Iowa Republician Party dusted Gov. Branstad off and ran him against Gov. Chet Culver because they couldn't find anybody else. He was elected in a landslide because many people think of him as sane. However he full body embrace of Donald Trump has some wondering what the hell is going on? Now we know. It is the Iowa Caucus. Gov. Branstad and the Iowa GOP are not leaving anything to chance and want to cozy up to The Donald should he win and declare Iowa finished with it's first in the nation status.  Now we get it.

Let's Go Deeper

I referenced the article by Douglas Burns from The Daily Times Herald. If you did not go check it out you missed the sub heading about Rep. King being a "mirror" of the population. He is right. Don't think so? Ask your white neighbor while you quaff a PBR. "So, Hank, what do you think about them niggers?" See what happens. I'll tell you what will happen...nothing your friend "Hank" will look at you and smile. The gig is up friends. Why is it that in 2016 white politicians can get away with code words to outright bigoted references to minorities, religious or skin color, and not be called out? Because they are saying out loud what many white people would only say to their best friend over a beer in their kitchen. If you deny that you are denying reality and you should be ashamed. As my friend Desmund Adams says, "We can do better!"

Social Media & Claire Celsi

I have a friend who is attempting to oust Iowa House Member Peter Cownie (R-West Des Moines). Claire Celsi is a gritty, no nonsense candidate who has come up with, what I think, is a great use of social media (Facebook) to forward her campaign. Cownie has a bit over $115,000 cash on hand while Claire has a little over $30,000. That 4:1 ratio doesn't leave much room for big spends so Claire has been posting daily, long form encounters she has with voters as she knocks doors in House District 42. They are wonderfully written accounts of voter interaction. And, no, she does not win each voter over to her side but, I promise, it is an interesting read. Go ahead join up with Claire or...better yet send her a donation!

So About Ankeny and Heather Matson

A couple of weeks ago I met Heather Matson at a fund raising event. She is one of several Democratic Women working to turn the Iowa House Blue in November and she's doing a great job in fund-raising. (And I really like her campaign logo!). Thanks to the Iowa Starting Line and friend Patrick Rynard we got a peek into her finances and those of her opponent Kevin Koester who has a really outdated website...  In fact the entire article is an excellent view of dollars donated in Iowa.

Iowa State Representative Kevin Koester my latest "Just Like Trump" candidate in the spotlight this week.

Speaking of Trump

This week Mr. Trump held an unimpressive campaign event in Des Moines. Those who were present said he read, mostly, from prepared text, the crowd was small and didn't much match what we've seen in other parts of the nation. Are Iowa Republicans failing to unite with their party leader?  Not Gov. Branstad who crowed, "Now is the time for all Iowa Republicans to unite behind Donald Trump!" Weary...but then there are those caucuses.

And just how crazy is it that Trump has decided to pick a fight with the parents of a deceased American? If you were paying attention to the media this past week the attacks on Khizr Khan and his wife continued. One wonders that if the Khan family were Christians if the attacks would have continued. Of course they would not. Why? Because Mr. Trump is just saying what so many think, or say, over that PBR. We now know that Mr. Trump is not running against Hillary Clinton he is running against reality and using xenophobia as his running mate. 

Damn Labor Unions

So, how was your raise this past year? Anything close to getting a 22% bump? More than likely not. However that is exactly what the unions representing more than 30,000 American Airlines employees receive when the airline settled a contract with the Transport Workers Union and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers last week. The raises, by the way, go into effect immediately. 

The next thing you know these damn unions will demand that children are no longer employed long hours in coal mines...

400 Million Dollars

By now you know that President Obama ordered $400 million dollars in cash to be put on an airplane and sent to Iran. You know that because Fox News beat it into the ground for days. It was all presented as a ransom payment. A nefarious deal between President Obama and them Muslims. Even Mr. Trump said he saw video of the evil event. Except he didn't. But, no matter, those loyal to crazy embraced the story and ran with it. Except it isn't a new story. The White House held a briefing, back in January, on the $400 million, what was really already Iranian money, that was being returned to the country as part of the negotiated nuclear settlement that ended the Iranian threat. If you want to read the story you may do so here.

Imagine The Outrage

I had a friend suggest to me how outraged the citizens of this nation would have been had then Sen. Barack Obama took to the DNC stage back in 2008 with five children from a combined three wives. Let that sink in for a minute. You know you would have been...outraged.

Partly Personal

Last week we celebrated the birthday of my bride... Folks ask me how old she is or when she was born. The simple answer is, "I don't know" and I really don't. I have it written down someplace along with her social security number. The important thing is that I remember the date in August. If I forgot that I would be in real trouble.

Last week I attended a party thrown by my friend Beau Fodor. It was to be a Disco Party Against Discrimination and we were encouraged to come in costume. The event was called One Love, One Hope, One Iowa and we had a great time! Lots of like minded people came by proud to show their support for our LGBT Community and others where hate seems to be the common thread of conversation.

The one thing that didn't happen was that state wide One Iowa didn't help support or reference or share. I don't get the politics of organizations...as Sec. Clinton likes to suggest we are Stronger Together.

Thanks for reading and have a great week!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Politics, Religion, Gossip - SMC 08/11/13

Sunday Morning Coffee is my regular look at the world of politics and religion with some gossip thrown in for flavor.  My name is Michael P. Libbie and if you want to comment here, feel free.  And/Or let's connect on my personal Twitter Feed @MichaelLibbie and my personal Facebook Page which is right...here.  Lots going on, as usual...so let's get with it.

Don't Talk About It!

That's the message conservative talk show folks are sharing with their listeners/viewers about President Obama and his call to jump-start the economy by putting people back to work.  The right-wing pundits tell us it is simply a re-hash of old policy ideas.  Well, could be...but you guys didn't listen the first time out so we're giving you another shot.  I know, you don't believe it but a strong Middle Class is what makes America great...ya know the 99%.

Is She?

"Madam President" came to Iowa last week.  No, not an actually person but a town-hall meeting with an all female panel designed to push to nation towards a female president.  One of the panelists US Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) said it was important to discuss the future of the 2016 presidential election now so that in 2017 the nation gets to say, "Madam President to Hillary Rodham Clinton".  Of course Mrs. Clinton has not yet announced but it is widely expected she will.  A woman in the White House?  Perhaps, but Iowa needs to do a better job at electing Iowans who are female.  Joining the panel was Staci Appel who is running against Rep. Tom Latham (R-IA) but absent was State Sen. Jodi Ernst (R-Red Oak) who is one of many Republicans wishing to become the states junior senator when Tom Harkin (D-IA) retires in 2014.  Wonder why she wasn't invited...

In A Related Story

Iowa Republicans are having a fit.  Seems NBC and CNN have scheduled a couple of films about Hillary Clinton. A.J. Spiker, Iowa's GOP Party chairman has said, "I will not sign the Iowa GOP up to co-sponsor debates with NBC or CNN unless they pull their upcoming films on Hillary Clinton."  Whoa...A.J. undies in a knot about Hillary? It wasn't that way back in 2008 when a film, which really was a hatchet job on Mrs. Clinton, aired.  In fact the GOP called that a fair and balanced report on the, "...real Hillary Clinton".

The Christians Are At It Again

Last week The Family Leader ginned up (sorry...) Iowa Christian Conservatives and speaker after speaker cried out to Jesus to find a way to "take our country back".  Back from those of us who are not Christian or back to those glorious years of discrimination like 1950?  On hand for the gaiety (sorry again) where such stellar examples of Christianity like Donald Trump and the ever lovable Rep. Steve King (R-IA).  However the best line came from Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) who said, "I'm here to tell you to get involved and to challenge today's postmodern culture." What ever in the hell that means.  But this was the classic: "America needs one nation under God and if we were all angels, we would need no government."  I'm telling you the man is daft.

Wanna Go For A Swim?

It's a good thing the weather has been cool.  Here is Iowa the lakes and rivers are so filled with chemicals that we get routine postings about the inability to use the water for swimming.  Now there seems to be crap (literally) in some swimming pools which are not being identified by the Health Department.  We were told, back in July, this situation was under control.  Except last week there were more folks who had fallen sick to an infectious parasite. More chlorine please...

Head Shaker of the Week

Let's say you work for a company that has as its job the health and safety of ill or infirm people.  It takes special training to be good at your job.  However you see that supervisors short cut that training and forge names on state-required training documents.  You, being a dedicated humanitarian, report the infraction and your reward is to be...fired.  Thinking that's wrong you have to go to court.  The Jury agrees and awards you damages.  But hold on...the company appeals to the Iowa Supreme Court where the majority affirms the lower court ruling but three justices  agree with the company. Dissenting Justice Edward Mansfield writes for himself and Justice Thomas Walterman and Justice Bruce Zager that the ruling, "sweeps away previously clear legal standard and replaces it with a series of platitudes about health, safety and welfare."  Platitudes about health, safety and welfare be damned!  It gets better.  You see Justices Mansfield, Walterman and Zager also believe that upholding decisions where the court awards damages to fired whistle-blowers could, "...be a new cost of doing business in Iowa."  Nice that the court is also part of economic development.  Weary...

Selling Iowa

I've written about how the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Gov. Terry Branstad (R-IA) love to hand out mountains of cash to already successful companies in bribes to get them to our expand to our state.  However, I had no idea the governor was, in effect, trampling on the State Constitution and bet you didn't either.  My friend Richard Doak writes in the Sunday Des Moines Register about exactly which sections of the Constitution we've decided no longer apply. It's a great piece and if you can get through the pay-wall well worth your time to read, "Salesman In Chief".

Senator Harkin and Social Security Reform

Last week Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) came to Des Moines to talk about the need to reform social security.  You see, it's all the rage among Republicans who wish to cut benefits and privatize the program to "save it".  Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) has once again concocted the scheme and folks on the Right, who have already forgotten the trouncing they got back in November, seem eager to support it.  Sen. Harkin has a different plan and he outlined it here:

 

Congress is on vacation for several more weeks.  Time for you to make contact and ask them if they will support SB 567 or why in the hell they want to cut benefits and promises to our seniors.  Never mind, I already know.

Partly Personal

The Iowa State Fair is here and that means several trips to savor the flavor of this wonderful event.  Except this year we're savoring less.  I LOVE the State Fair Cheese Curds until we learned that each curd...each...carries 102 calories!  So a basket of 18 means you'll consume 1,836 (delicious) calories!  Opt for the sweet-corn at 105 and only one. 

Mom had her hair done last week!  I know, that seems to be a small deal but to her it was back to feeling better.  She is still recovering under the care of the folks at Edgewater and I am grateful.  She has been gone from her home for nearly two months...and eager to get back.  We hope so too.

Thanks for coming by and have a fantastic Sunday!

 

 

 

Politics, Religion, Gossip - SMC 07/14/13

This is Sunday Morning Coffee, my weekly brew about the world of religion and politics with a little gossip thrown in for...flavor.  My name is Michael Libbie and if you want to leave a comment here, feel free.  And we can also hook up on my personal Twitter Feed @MichaelLibbie and my personal Facebook Page is here.  Let's get to the coffee:

Food Stamps & Respect

Last week Congress gutted the food stamp program from the Farm Bill.  Why?  Mostly because Republicans hate people.  Let me clarify that.  Republicans hate people who are of color, poor, disadvantaged, urban, young, old...  In other words folks who are disposable.  Yet it is this same gang of politicians who demand "respect for life".  I'm often asked why I dislike Republicans and the simple answer is their duplicity.  Let's not feed the people...even when they work several jobs and still can't make it.  How do you folks sleep at night?  Never mind...I know, it's easy when you are so out of touch with reality.

Speaking of Reality

Here is something for you folks living in the GOP suburbs to consider.  When the folks you dislike so much don't have food.  When the people you don't see in your grocery stores, country clubs, neighborhoods can't eat because for some odd reason you think it is not the responsibility of the government to assist the the disadvantaged and only right when the government subsidizes the wealthy...they are coming to your part of town to take what you have so they can sell it.  Sure we can build more prisons, and we do, but that's not going to solve the problem.  But you can move...further away.

MSNBC Ratings

Last week my friends from the Right were nearly orgasmic as they crowed about the recent ratings drop from Left leaning MSNBC.  Stuff like: "MSNBC is not fair and balanced and America knows it." and, "There simply are not enough libs out there to support the ideology." and, "The hosts are simply too smart and well educated for the liberals to understand." and my personal favorite: "This proves America is a Christian nation that disapproves of the liberal agenda!".  No, what this proves is that it's hard to gin up rabid support of a progressive agenda when 1) The progressive base is more than disillusioned by a president who continues to seek compromise rather than carry out his mandate; 2) lousy decisions by the screwballs who make programing calls like moving Ed Schultz to weekend duty and 3) the lack of major political issues that can mobilize people like the run up to the 2012 election.  Is MSNBC done?  Nope, because somebody there must realize the mid-term elections are just around the corner.  Watch my children...

Time Out

Let me give you a breather from all the hot stuff and offer up this graphic done by my friends at Raygun of Des Moines.

I thought it was fun.  My conservative friends think not.  That's the other reason I don't mix well with conservatives...they can't seem to loosen up and have a little fun.  Speaking of Governor Branstad (R-IA) he has been on vacation in Europe.  Miss him?

Told Ya...

Weeks ago I wrote that State Senator Jodi Ernst (R-Red Oak) would throw her purse in the race for the US Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA).  BAM!  At the urging of her fellow Republicans, and no doubt Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds (R-IA) who proceeded Ernst in the state senate, she is in the hunt.  Along with being a proud member of the NRA Senator Ernst, in 2013, co-founded the Iowa Prayer Caucus. It is what she calls a "bipartisan caucus devoted to protecting the religious liberties of Iowans".  Unless, of course, you happen to be a Muslim?  Never mind...

Meanwhile - Where is Bruce Braley?

Everywhere.  Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Waterloo) is running for the US Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) and during the recent congressional break he cross-crossed the state to meet, march and raise funds from supporters. Braley raised $1.25 million for his campaign in the second quarter of 2013 and continues his single focus on getting elected.  Meanwhile the crowd of Democratic contenders in the 1st Congressional District is getting more crowded.  Along with State Rep. Pat Murphy (D-Dubuque), Cedar Rapids City Councilwoman Monica Vernon and Cedar Rapids attorney Dave O’Brien are running, while Rep. Anesa Kajtazovic (D Waterloo) and former legislator Swati Dandekar of Marion have formed exploratory committees. Braley says he is not endorsing anybody and that is wise given the field. However, Monica Vernon has surprised some with her aggressive fund raising and the list of folks supporting her. This could be fun to watch.  BTW, professionally, I'm a little surprised by the lack of any solid websites by O'Brien and Vernon.  Odd...and unfortunate.

Simply Irresistible

Last week the Iowa Supreme Court said it was OK to fire a long term employee if that employee is found to be sexually irresistible by the employer. (I was wondering why Hooter's closed.) The all male high court had decided to take another look at their ruling from December and decided they made no error even though the original decision caused a public outcry. Justice Mark Cady, whom I know, described the "relationship" between Fort Dodge dentist James Knight and his long-term dental assistant Melissa Nelson as a "consenting personal relationship" even though Mrs. Nelson continued to object to the flagrant sexual advances.  Knight fired Nelson after his wife found out about text messages they had shared.  Justice Cady said those harassing messages from Knight were simply (ready?) "banter".  Women already walk a fine line in the workplace and it's an awful ruling that, no doubt, businesses welcome?

Water, Water Everywhere...

...but not a drop to drink...goes the "old saw".  The Des Moines Water Works has spent over $375,000 since this past spring on nitrate removal.  Last week Bill Stowe, CEO and general manager of the utility asked Central Iowa residents to restrict their water usage because they can't keep up.  What's the problem?  Nitrate levels are climbing to 10 parts per million a level the EPA says is a danger.  The high nitrate levels were caused by the state's soggy spring following a drought. A deluge in water washed fertilizer off the farms and into the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers which are used to provide drinking water to the Metro.  A friend of mine suggested the state needs to "get tough" with regulations aimed at reducing chemical fertilizer applications.  That ain't gonna happen...not in Iowa.

Don't Eat Your Vegetables!

I was going to title this, "Got the Runs?" but...nah.  At least 45 Iowans have gotten sick by eating, what public health officials say is fresh vegetables tainted with cyclospora a nasty bug that can give you diarrhea for up to two months.  Yikes!  The story is that the produce was likely shipped into Iowa from another state or...country where the human feces laced veggies originated.  Nice huh?

Des Moines Farmers Market a Hoax?

It seems that not all the "farmers" at the Des Moines Downtown Farmers Market are...farmers.  My friend and long-time real farmer Larry Cleverley tells me that, by his estimate, about 30% of the "farmers" selling produce each Saturday actually buy their stuff from wholesalers or low cost grocery centers and then jack up the price and pretend it's home-grown.  I asked Larry to point out the real farmers and he was happy to do so.  Gosh...if you can't trust a farmer what is this world coming to?

It's Cool to be Rich!

In today's Des Moines Sunday Register there is a great article by my friend Donnelle Eller that tells us that "wealthy Iowans" saw "...a nearly 82% income boost from 2000 to 2010".  Best quote is from Charles Leibold, senior managing director of Bankers Trust wealth management services who said, "Over the last couple of years, they've (the wealthy) clawed their way back pretty nicely."  Uhm... "clawed their way back"?  Here, if you can get through the pay-wall, is the exclusive story.  Meanwhile those shiftless, lazy folks making $49,000 and less saw their income go down by 7.1% during the same period.  Let them eat cake!  (But don't buy it with food stamps!)

Partly Personal

By this time next week RAGBRAI will have started its 407 mile trek across Iowa.  My bride is doing the entire route...again.  In training for the event she has lost over twenty pounds and is feeling great.  Congrats!

We have a wonderful family and last week our son Aaron did something I was really proud of...he purchased a new road bike.    He said he was frustrated that I was doing 20+ miles and averaging 13 mph while the best he could do was maybe 7 mph on his off-road bike.  He visited with Justin at Bike World and BAM...new bike.  What is really neat, at least for me, is that his new bike is a carbon copy of mine.  That's just pretty cool. Here's a photo of the new wheels along with his first set of wheels from the mid 80's.  Check those SHORTS!

Mom is headed home!  Looks like we'll spring her from the skilled nursing facility at Edgewater mid-week.  She's anxious to get out and, frankly, I'm anxious to see how she does "on her own".  Which really isn't but we'll see how it goes.  At least the daily commute for me will be down to less than five minutes.  I'll keep you posted.

Thanks for coming by and have a wonderful Sunday!  -  Michael