SundayMorningCoffee

Sunday Morning Coffee - Independence Day 2021

I know, you're wondering what happened to the morning edition of Sunday Morning Coffee. Well, I decided to declarer my independence from an early morning rise and sit outside with a cup and read the paper. I know, how dare me!  Anyway, that's the story and let's get to it!

What No Paper Towels?

The tragic events of ten days ago at the Surfside Condo has riveted the nation. We now count 24 dead and still 121 people unaccounted for after the collapse of the building. Today efforts there paused so demolition could be planed for the rest of the building. Meanwhile, in stark contrast to what we have witnessed before, President Biden went to Florida and told the people there that he was there to make sure they received everything they need to get through this.  "Whatever you need. I think I have...no, I know I have the power to make it happen. Just tell me what you need."  Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), fierce critic of the president, looked shaken as he sat next to Biden who then touched DeSantis' arm and said, "No, really, whatever you need."

Come on Mr. President...all they really needed was...paper towels. (Photo: CNN)

So refreshing to see empathy from our leadership.

COVID-19 Surge

It's happening and we were warned. A number of states are seeing increasing numbers of hospitalizations and deaths due to the more highly contagious Delta Variant that is sweeping through states with low vaccination numbers. And, where are they? In mostly GOP states that rushed to "normalize their economy" ahead of getting the majority of people vaccinated. And, here we are at the 4th of July which, mark my word, will become a national super-spreader event. Good luck.

Deaths in Windsor Heights

Yesterday was "Parade Day' in the communities of Waukee, West Des Moines, Windsor Heights and Urbandale. Back in 2019 I was involved in several of those events on behalf of my friend former congressman Joe Sestak (D-PA) who waged what was nearly a one-man attempt to win the democratic nomination. I came to admire him and his family. 

This year I drove a truck in the Windsor Heights Parade. Next to me was a friend who lives in a senior community here. She told me that a husband and wife who lived in her community and were both fully vaccinated in March had just been hospitalized with the Delta Variant. She died four days ago and he is on a ventilator.  I should have asked about pre-existing conditions but I didn't. The message here is that we're not done with this yet. Social distancing, masks indoors and getting a vaccination matter.

Partly Personal

OK...I'm tired. My bride recently got a new puppy and I took two days on the couch while "Camper" was dealing with separation anxiety. Another reason Sunday Morning Coffee is late.  She (Camper) is doing better and we may be able to retire to the bedroom this evening.  Stay tuned.

Finally a huge shout out to my friends who make up the Polk County Democrats. After being humiliated at several other parade events because of their low numbers the Polk County GOP decided they would encourage their followers to
"show up" at the parades and beat back the Democrats. Well, so much for that. Yesterday, for example, in Windsor Heights (Where just four years ago maybe five of us would show up marching with a banner.) we had dozens of Democrats show up including Congresswoman Cindy Axne and her family. We had a great time and it was wonderful to see such a turnout. There were more of us...just off to the right. We couldn't fit them all in.  Thank you Sean Bagniewski, Polk County Democratic Chair, for your help.  And to each of the candidates and their supporters. It was quite the site in our little community!

At the end of the parade, and after depositing several people back to their vehicles at the start of the event, I was left with two teenage girls to lift Daisy off of the float and get everything back in the storage garage we've got. Uhm...could we do it without another accident which, back in 2019, resulted in Daisy having a broken leg and missing an ear?  Success! Sabrina and Jovie were major helpers and...Daisy isn't light. So a really good day all around.

Then it was off to the 4th of July Event at Colby Park where The Faculty Lounge Band had folks dancing.  My Bride is the person who organizes the bands, food trucks, etc. and it all came off without a hitch.  Nice job Georgie!

That's a wrap...I know...short.  But it is Independence Day!  Thanks for reading! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday Morning Coffee - 11 October 2020

Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee and there are now 22 days before the November election. Twenty-two days before we take the first step in tossing "45" out of office. Make no mistake this is critical to our nation. Stuff to talk about...let's go.

Why "45" is Ducking

As you know the second presidential debate has been cancelled. While Joe Biden was a go with the townhall type virtual format "45" said he would not participate. Know why?  Remember 2016 when he walked around the stage attempting to intimidate Hillary Clinton? Sort of like one of the mob bosses on The Sopranos. In a virtual townhall he would not be able to do that plus, the moderator could cut his mic and move on. This guy is a thug and a bully and he's not up to having any sort of civil discussion on the issues.  Why? Because he loses at each turn. Twenty-Two Days...my friends.

Is He or Ain't He?

Is the president of the United States infectious or isn't he? Well, nobody is saying but he has been cleared to do campaign rallies where there is no social distancing and just a smattering of masks. You know what would happen if somebody held a huge gathering, who was just diagnosed with COVID19 and paid no attention to the rule of law?  Lock him up.  But, meanwhile some are suggesting this is a good thing...fewer rabid Republicans will be good for our nation.

Meanwhile, just like the Italian dictator Mussolini "45" stages a rally at the White House.  Of course he is immune to The Hatch Act.

Weary...and Twenty-Two Days. 

Words Matter

I can't take credit for this...blame it on my brother.  The other day he sent me this very simple text about the words we use to describe various people and it is telling right to our core sin.

• Black Folks with Guns - Gangs
• Brown Folks with Guns - Gangs
• Muslim Folks with Guns  - Terrorists
• White Folks with Guns - Militia

It's time the media stop using the word "militia" which gives these terrorists cover. They are domestic terrorists we are so very weak when it comes to calling out white folks that mean to do harm.

Except in Michigan

Well now...what do we have here?  A whole group of domestic terrorists being charged with, "Oh my, I thinks I may have the vapors..." a Terrorist Plot to kidnap and then kill Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI). (Go ahead, look it up. "vapors")  I remember a two-word tweet sent out by "45" that said, "Liberate Michigan!".  Remember?  Well it looks like his minions took the bait.  The thug in the White House once again. Twenty-Two Days! (Image: CBS News)

Lemme Tell You About Michigan

It is a hotbed for this domestic terrorist stuff. Make a trip to places like Grand Rapids and you'll see it first hand. Michigan has always been a place where anti-government folks have flourished. I know.  I lived there and so remember the cult of Amway and how many of those people were connected with the John Birch Society.  I know because they tried to recruit my parents. Some of their best friends were in that movement.  I remember the pamphlets that were left at our home...or the booklets that were in the homes of some of our friends. It was at a time when Americas were told to be afraid. Be very afraid of people in Unions because they were Commies. Be very afraid of Catholics. Be very afraid of Jews. Be afraid and then mobilize and strike them down.  Sound familiar?  Twenty-Two Days....

THEY Are AFRAID of You

It's why the Republicans are doing everything they can to obstruct your right to vote. They know they are on the wrong side of history. They know you want to turn out in massive numbers to give "45" and his crew the boot and so they are making it harder and harder for you to vote.  It's happening in Florida, Texas, Georgia, Missouri and many other states that for years have concocted ways to infringe on the right to vote. From Poll Taxes to Literacy Tests they have always sought ways to keep folks in their place. But, now the sheets have been removed and we know them for what they are. 

The best news is that many of the U.S. Senate seats that should have been a slam-dunk for the GOP are now in play. Arizona, Texas, South Carolina, Alaska, Iowa, Montana...all of them two months ago were "safe seats". That is no longer the case as pissed off Americans are voting with their dollars and their feet. Twenty-Two Days...

Theresa Greenfield

I remember sitting in a Hy-Vee conference room two years ago. We had just concluded a meeting of the Windsor Heights Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Theresa, who was on the Board, stayed behind. I got up and closed the door and she looked at me and said, "What do you hear?"  I told her I was hearing rumblings that she was going to run for the U.S. Senate. While she didn't admit to that with words her smile was all I needed to know.

I tell you that story because of the lies the Republicans are telling about her. I was there when the company she worked for made the decision to attempt to bring Aldi to Windsor Heights...something, by the way, I was in favor of.  However it was the City that put the nix on that move. They didn't want yet another grocery store in Windsor Heights...let alone a store that would bring "those people" closer to the core of the city.  Colby Interests had long sought to remodel their aging buildings and so with leases running out that is what they did. They did not "tear down" small businesses they improved the area. They sunk thousands of dollars into aging structures that are now home to many new small businesses that are locally owned.  You might want to read that again...."locally owned". and even better than that "minority owned".  

They are, as usual...lying to you. I know.  I was there as not only the president of the Chamber but then the Executive Director of the same.  Twenty-Two Days...  If you can...send her some money.  Here is that link.

In Addition - You Can Make a Difference

Look, I know how hard it is to run for office and today, given COVID19 it's worse than ever. Democrats are not permitted to knock doors. Why? We care too much about our fellow citizens...full stop. So we've got to find other ways to put candidates in front of the voters. I get it, many of you have already voted but if you have not yet stepped up with a donation...please do.  Here are some folks I know who are committed to work on behalf of you and your family.  Click on their name and then...donate.  Thank you!

    Congresswoman Cindy Axne

    Candidate J.D. Scholten

    Candidate Rita Hart

    Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer

    Iowa State Senate Candidate Rhonda Martin (Urbandale)

    Iowa State Senate Candidate Sarah Trone-Garriott (Clive, Waukee, WDM, Windsor Heights)

    Iowa State Senate Candidate Warren Varley (Adair & Guthrie Counties, all of Dallas County and some of Polk County)

    Representative Jennifer Konfrst (Windsor Heights)

    Candidate Charles Clayton (Webster County, Fort Dodge)

    Representative Sharon Steckman (Mason City)

There are many, many more...help if you can!  Twenty-Two Days....

Partly Personal

I was at a girls softball game yesterday. It was a great day to watch our granddaughter play...and did she ever. One of the teams they faced was an undefeated group of girls from the Quad Cities. It was the "normal" gathering of parents and grandparents until their "boom box" started belting out a song that was clearly a pro "45" rap piece. Clearly.  The song went on for a bit before the inning started and I heard one of the parents yell, "Yes we're patriots of America that's why our uniforms are red, white and blue!"  At a girls softball game...

Nobody said anything but the attitude of superiority was palatable. Their yelling and cheering...just was louder and more obnoxious than what is normal.  In the end they were handed their first defeat of the season. I felt bad for the young ladies...but...yeah...Twenty-Two Days.

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful Sunday.

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Sunday Morning Coffee 2 August 2020

Welcome back friends and foes to Sunday Morning Coffee...some of the political stories you've seen or, perhaps, missed all laced with my commentary. Why? I dunno but it appears that some folks enjoy reading this.  If you wish to share, please do and if you have a comment feel free to unload.  Let's go.

We Keep Winning

The most recent figures indicate over 154,000 Americans have died due to both COVID19 and the awful response cobbled together by federal and state governments. Here is Iowa, where we love our hogs more than our people, the coronavirus has killed 872 people and infected nearly 45,000 Iowans. But, hey, it ain't no big deal...right? Unless, of course, one or two or three of those who have died are friends or family members. Then it's kind of personal. Besides it's much more important to save the economic fabric of our state and nation. Oh, wait, that's right, we have failed there too as our national GDP fell by 32.9% in the second quarter.  Pass the vodka.

Speaking of Vodka

Liquor sales are, get this, down. Seems that folks are drinking more in the luxury of their homes (if they have one...more on that in a moment) however even a spike in liquor and grocery store sales doesn't make up for the lost consumption in restaurants and bars. Where, by the way, in a recent survey 62% of Americans say they are avoiding those establishments as well as coffee houses.

Home Sweet Street

It's over for most. Talking about the moratorium on evictions. Back in the day, when the brightest among us thought COVID19 would be a passing fancy, there was legislation enacted that banned forced eviction. Hell, even the "eviction courts" closed down. But now it's "Open for Business" and the lousy thing is folks that are unemployed have now lost the extra $600 a week in benefits which was keeping so many afloat. We are such a caring nation...."Let them eat cake" comes to mind. (Image: Waco Times Herald)

Lazy Ass Americans!

You hear it all the time from the lemmings who follow "45" and his evil bunch. "Everybody knows that that extra $600 a week in unemployment benefits keeps people from going back to work. We've gotta shut it down and make America work again!" Well, guess what... that is not accurate. Last week I reported on a Yale study that says the additional unemployment benefit does not keep people from going back to their jobs at any higher rate than folks not receiving the benefit. But, I know, who the hell is going to believe a bunch of scientists and economists when it is so much easier to spew stuff out of your ass. Weary.

One more thing...just to drive all of this home. There are, today, not enough open jobs out there to absorb all of the unemployed workers. Many businesses are finding out they can continue, even at a reduction in income, because their employment expense isn't as high as it once was. And, if you've got over 24.5 million (and that is a low number according to some) unemployed and only 15 million jobs...well, do the math. Here, if you wish, is an interesting article on that point. 

Dear Vlad, I Like You...

The evil that sits in the White House tweeted out more policy the other night. He is ordering 12,000 troops currently stationed in Germany to leave. On the surface it is yet another attempt to punish our allies and offer a gift to Vladimir Putin, who, by the way, just insured his presidency (dictatorship) until 2036. Something that "45" envies and would love to do. It's all about "Germany not paying its fair share to NATO" said the president. But the real reason is yet another gift to the Kremlin who is making all sorts of political hay about the decision saying that fewer Americans in Europe is good for the stabilization of that region. Sort of like fewer Russian troops in Ukraine might offer some stabilization? Weary.... (Image: USA Today)

Meanwhile on Thursday former Vice President Biden tweeted, "You won't have to worry about my tweets when I'm president."  I like that.

Did I Mention...

That Iowa now has over 870 deaths due to COVID19. So much...winning.

Louisiana 

Speaking of winning the state of Louisiana is now a "hot spot" with escalating coronavirus cases in what is being called a "second wave". The state now leads all other in the number of cases per 100,000 residents. And that number is: 2,463 per 100K. But, unlike other states this is now the second wave. Louisiana, back in April, was reporting 237 cases per 100,000 residents. Gov. John Bell Edwards (D-LA) took a bunch of flack when he imposed a "stay at home" order back in the spring. So the state relaxed those orders under pressure by business and industry groups and now we have...this.  Edwards is continuing restrictions on bars and a mask mandate and has not ruled out further restrictions.

Meanwhile in Iowa

The grocery store chain, Fareway based in Boone, Iowa, has decided it will not take back cans and bottles due to a "significant health risk to employees". But here Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) is demanding that schools reopen with students in the classroom. Meanwhile the Des Moines Public Schools wants to push back the opening date by two weeks and do virtual teaching. We'll see how that plays out.

Also, the City of Urbandale passed a resolution, that was signed by Mayor Bob Andeweg, to "encourage the use of face coverings". Sort of like encouraging you to obey the speed limit because as we have all learned "speed kills". But, clearly not COVID19.

I dunno either.

Give Me Liberty of Give Me Death

OK you got your wish. Yesterday a friend sent a video out to my Bride of a long, long line of cars parked near his neighborhood. Was somebody sitting shiva?  No...it was a pool party. But hey, why not.  Adventureland in Altoona is promoting "Reclaim Your Summer Concert Series". What could go wrong?  But, I did think the act that played this past Friday was inspiring: Arch Allies & Hashpipe: A Weezer Tribute".  Prophetic?

Partly Personal

The libraries are still closed and that sucks. But, it makes sense. Who in the hell would want folks to learn stuff.

Do you get trolls?  I do...and it's kind of fun, really. Folks make some of the most outlandish statements and then, given time, how foolish they end up being.  One guy posted that we are "no longer calling this a pandemic because fewer people are dying".  Stuff like that. I never respond...why feed them? But it is an interesting glimpse into the alternative reality in which they live.

Black Lives Matter - Did you notice that since the "goon squads" from the federal government left Portland things have calmed down?  One of the things that is disturbing to some is that BLM is worried that focus is being lost. Maybe but I can tell you the passion is still high in Des Moines. Last week the Windsor Heights Democrats heard from Kameron Middlebrooks the president of the Des Moines NAACP who gave an passionate response as to how the "majority culture" can support their drive for economic security and several other "game changers". It really was good and I would encourage any group to see if you can get Kam in on a ZOOM meeting.  You will not regret it. Also, membership in the Des Moines NAACP is only $30 a year.  Here is your link to join...  Join us.

Thanks for reading and have a great Sunday!

Sunday Morning Coffee 18 August 2019

It's the final day of the Iowa State Fair where, according to the count of corn kernels placed in mason jars outside the local NBC affiliate the current occupant of the White House has an approval of 49.2%. Within striking distance of a lock on a second term. Just in case you've run out of stuff to worry about. Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee! You know what we do here so...let's go!

"It's Like a Fire Hose!"

Those are the words to describe the political news cycle. "45" and his gang of swamp-dwellers feed us so much crap that it's hard to keep up and make no mistake this is a thought out strategy. If you drown people in wacky stuff 24/7 enough people will believe some of the lies (just enough) and others will tune it out.

Already I've seen this among some pretty well informed people who have told me, "I'm out. The news is way to depressing. The lies and the hate and the trampling of the Office of President is more than I can take. I just don't watch, read or listen much anymore and my life is much happier."

Have you ever read "Mein Kampf"? Perhaps you should...it is a blue-print for much of what we see today.

(Photo Credit - Scot Duke Marketing)

The Ultimate Hypocrisy

Last week "45" traveled to Pennsylvania for, what was supposed to be, a major policy address on jobs. It was really just another campaign rally that more resembled the 1940 Rheinmetall-Borsig Works Speech where the then leader of Germany attacked everybody from the media to his political opponents and laid blame of the Second World War on the British. Oh...the lies.

Seems that workers at the Royal Dutch Shell petrochemical plant were told to show up and if they didn't attend they had to use paid time off or go without pay. A memo obtained by CNN from a worker laid out the issue. Of course Shell is denying that. The White House has no  comment but this is what was said by the Union: "This is just what Shell wanted to do, and we went along with it," Ken Broadbent, business manager for Steamfitters Local 449. (Photo Credit - Daily Sound)

So the guy who leads the party that has made every effort to strangle organized labor gets labor to say, "...we went along with it". Where is the guts?

BTW this plant does employ lots of people....and when they are finished with the construction the giant factory will turn out tons and tons of...wait for it...PLASTIC. Just exactly what we need.

Remember: Money Talks - Principal Takes a Back-Seat.

Wind and Cancer

Last week Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA), a day after she was at the Iowa State Fair touting wind energy, told the media that she needed time to gather together, "...stakeholders to take that information and then try to confirm or deny or whatever we need to do with it going forward.” 

She was talking about the Madison County (Iowa) Board of Supervisors who swallowed, in total, the fraud sputed by "45" that windmills cause cancer. Earlier this year Reynolds declined to say that "45" was wrong. Meanwhile Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) said the president's statement was "idiotic".  Well, there is that.

Speaking of Energy

As you know farmers LOVE "45". They voted in massive numbers to elect the man who has been called the "most dishonest person ever to occupy the office" given his passion for lying about nearly everything. Now what is so interesting to watch is how this president has "played" our friends in agriculture. Just this week the administration more wavers to oil companies to avoid blending billions of gallons of ethanol into their products. (Photo Credit - Washington Examiner)

The wavers were to have been directed to small oil refineries however "45" and his cronies in the EPA have been granting massive numbers of exemptions to large companies which will contribute, even more, to the hollowing out of Rural Iowa. Farmers are already under pressure from the tit-for-tat trade war with China and by China finding other sources for communities. This is just another knife in the back. You can not trust...ONE WORD.

Hates Puppies

I think it is important for you to know that Chuck Schneider (R-WDM) the current president of the Iowa State Senate refused to allow a bill that would protect companion animals to come up for a vote in the Iowa Senate. Why does Chuck hate puppies? I dunno...maybe because his "minders" have some sort of twisted logic that dogs and cats are somehow tied to pigs and cattle? This is a photo of our rescue dog, Yofi, who had boiling water poured on her when she was just 8 weeks old. That's why no hair on one side of her body and a lack of an ear...yeah...that. 

The GOP loves to use the "slippery slope" argument. You know, "If we allow the government to mandate seat-belts it's a slippery slope to other regulations that will cause  automakers to go out of business." Yeah...that logic. And I was there...from Detroit...remember?

It's this sort of "logic" that is so out of touch with the values of Iowans. Just like Jake Chapman (R-Adel) representing Senate District 10 out of Adel, Iowa who never met a gun he didn't love even though the vast amount of people in our state want to see some restrictions.

From hating puppies, education and working families to loving guns this crowd has got to go. They do not represent us.

Voting...matters.

Partly Personal

I was at a couple of political events this past week. There was a fund-raiser with the Southeast Polk County Democrats in Waukee, the selection process of which 2020 hopeful to support going forward for the Asian Latino Coalition...Congratulations Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), the West Des Moines Democrats monthly meeting, the fund raiser for Congresswoman Cindy Axne (D-IA) the Clive Democrats monthly meeting, the Urbandale Democrats Fearless Fighter Women's Award Event and another presidential town hall last evening for 2020 hopeful Admiral Joe Sestak which was held at Fox Brewery in West Des Moines.

It's what one does I guess....I don't play golf.

My friend Jerry Uhlman who travels to nearly every Democratic Event in Polk County took this photo of our eleven year-old granddaughter Jovie as she was listening to Admiral Sestak. She is not only a beautiful young lady her heart is also full of love. Thank you Jerry!

When people ask me why I would run for the Iowa State Senate and put myself out there...this is the reason. It is all about making sure families...all families...have a shot at a better life. If we, as a state, don't start to put families first we'll continue to see a decline in our our values. That has got to stop.

Thanks for reading and have a great Sunday and final day of the Iowa State Fair!   

Sunday Morning Coffee - 28 July 2019

The sun has just come up on yet another Sunday!  Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee my look at the political news stories you've seen (or missed) along with my commentary. It's what I get to do as the sun rises.  Grab a cup and let's go!

Hate and Discontent

I've been around a bit. I've had to listen to many presidents talk about things I was not in agreement with. Kennedy and Cuba, Johnson and Vietnam, Nixon and Vietnam...the list gets pretty long. But, never have we...or I...had to deal with the personal attacks and corporate attacks on Americans that spew from the keyboard of the current occupant of the White House. The vicious attacks are coming from what can only be described as a petulant child...but one that is supposed to be above this trash. He may be your president he is not mine. I am ashamed. 

Elijah Cummings

The Baltimore Sun editorial board didn't hold back. The paper ripped "45" as the "most dishonest man to ever occupy the Oval Office". The editorial was in response to a tweet where "45" referred to Rep. Elijah Cummings' (D-MD) 7th congressional district as a "rat and rodent infested mess."

In a scathing column, the editors of one of the country's oldest newspapers wrote that "45" had more power to affect immediate change in Baltimore than Cummings does. 

And then the Baltimore Sun unloaded:

"[W]e would tell the most dishonest man to ever occupy the Oval Office, the mocker of war heroes, the gleeful grabber of women’s private parts, the serial bankrupter of businesses, the useful idiot of Vladimir Putin and the guy who insisted there are 'good people' among murderous neo-Nazis that he’s still not fooling most Americans into believing he’s even slightly competent in his current post."

"Or that he possesses a scintilla of integrity. Better to have some vermin living in your neighborhood than to be one."

I could not have said it better.

Got...Stock?

All the talk is about the booming economy and that Wall Street has never seen such days of glory. How much stock do you own? How many thousands of shares of Facebook or Ford Motor Company are in your portfolio? That's what I thought. Sure you "may" have a 401k which is a nifty tax option for some companies and the value of that has increased. But, it has increased for years. The dirty secret of the Wall Street Boom is stock buy-backs. Companies are buying back their own stock and increasing the value and the market goes up.

Want proof? According to Federal Reserve data compiled by Goldman Sachs, over the past nine years, corporations have put more money into their own stocks—an astonishing $3.8 trillion—than every other type of investor (individuals, mutual funds, pension funds, foreign investors) combined.

And why? What do you think all of this does for CEO compensation? Here is an example:

Craig Menear is the chairman and CEO of Home Depot. On a conference call with investors in February 2018, he and his team mentioned their “plan to repurchase approximately $4 billion of outstanding shares during the year.” That day, he sold nearly 114,000 shares, netting $18 million. The following day, he was granted 38,689 new shares and promptly unloaded over 24,000 shares for a profit of $4.5 million. Though Menear’s stated compensation in SEC filings was $11.4 million for 2018, stock sales helped him earn an additional $30 million for the year. Menear pocketed $41.4 million.

By contrast, the median worker pay at Home Depot is $23,000 a year.

Now, how many CEO's does Home Depot have? One. How many workers does Home Depot have? 400,000 and my bet is they...more than Mr. Menear...are responsible for of the U.S. economy than is he.

Poor People's Campaign

Which brings me to this: Last week I went to church. I've not been to church in a very, very long time. Synagogue yes...church...not so much. I went to the closing session of the Disciples of Christ annual convention to hear Rev. Dr. William Barber II preach about rising poverty in the United States and the moral obligation of the people of faith to reverse the trend.

According to Dr. Barber there are 140 million Americans or 43% of the population living in poverty struggling to live paycheck to paycheck. They are spending close to 50% of their income on housing which leaves precious little for transportation, child care, health insurance prescription drugs and food.

Let that sink in.

And it's getting worse.

Meanwhile the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania continues to brag about the "tax cut" he rammed through in 2017 that went stright to the pockets of the wealthy, enabled corporations to buy-back their own stock and sent the deficit further into the red.  

And now, in response, he and the GOP want to strip another three million Americans off of food stamps.

Two things:

Here is a link to the Poor People's Campaign - A National Call for a Moral Revival and they now have chapters in 43 states. Find yours.

Here is a very brief interview with Steve Roach Knight the Director of Communications for the Poor People's Campaign. By the way...I was the only media person that covered the rally on the west side of the Iowa Statehouse this past Wednesday. Nobody else it seems...cared. Click the link below for this brief conversation.

IOB 25 July 2019 Poor People Steve Roach Knight

Partly Personal

It is done. RAGBRAI 2019 is in the books and my Bride made it back...safely. For that I am grateful. I'm also grateful that this year was not as deadly as in past years. Georgie tells me, however, that every day of the event there are ambulance sirens screaming along the route. Scary my friends.

Yesterday I made it back from my work in Mason City just in time to person a booth for the Polk County Democrats at the Italian-American Heritage Festival in Des Moines. We had a good turnout. But, I want to share with you a conversation I had with a well known Republican who stopped by the booth.

Mike Carver is a long time Urbandale City Councilman. We have been cordal over the years and I have appreciated his service to his community. Mike came over to the booth yesterday and said, "So this is the Democrat booth? I am so tired of all the complaints the Democrats have. I'm really tired of it."

Now is not the time to play nice and I did not. Here is my portion of that exchange:

"Mike, I know how you feel. I'm tired too. I am tired of the voter suppression you and your party support. I am tired of the massive tax breaks to already wealthy companies your party supports while thousands in Urbandale live paycheck to paycheck. I am tired of this governor who just gave an 8.6% raise to the private, for-profit insurance companies that fails to deliver service to the over 500,000 Iowans on Medicaid and/or fail to pay for the services delivered. I am tired of having my tax dollars spent to cover the costs of settlements over sexual and discriminatory practices that involve members of your party."

I think he was a bit stunned. Democrats don't talk like that...but we should. We should be telling truth to power each opportunity we have. No more timid, nice cocktail chatter.

In closing I asked Mr. Carver if he had received an 8.6% raise in his social security check. He said, "I don't know." and walked away.

I wish Mr. Carver a good retirement from his service on the Urbandale City Council. Judging by the candidates running for three open seats there I suspect there will be a change in direction in that community coming soon...very soon.

Thanks for reading and have a great Sunday! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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! 

 

Sunday Morning Coffee - 12 May 2019 Happy Mother's Day

It is the day set aside to honor mothers and if you don't your butt is in huge trouble. Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee where the political, cultural and religious news stories get my, often, caustic reply. Why? Because it's raining now, it's early and this is what I get to do. Grab a cup and let's go!

Tax Returns

We know in our hearts that the mob boss who lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is dirty. Every day it's like a bad re-run of the Sopranos. There are a couple of reasons he is fighting like hell to keep his tax returns from being seen by anybody: 1) He ain't as rich as he says he is; 2) Money laundering; 3) Never paid a dime in taxes or 4) Even as he boasts about giving money to charity he has not. He has played the game for a very long time and to take something as mundane as this to the Supreme Court when Congress has made a rightful and legal request to produce stinks and shows his true colors.  But, we really didn't need this to prove that he is dirty. Did we?

Pay Up!

The trade war with China continues unabated. Just about the time we thought it might be over we're all in for really ramping it up. Last week "45" told us that China was paying the tariffs...no, he really did say that. ""China has been paying tariffs to the USA" he tweeted last Sunday. And, of course that is bunk...just another lie. Who is really paying and will be paying are you who buy the stuff. And, what is worse...or better depending on your view...people in counties that overwhelmingly voted for "45" are getting hammered the hardest. Why? Because they tend to be poorer counties and rural counties and we all know how hard the ag community is getting skinned. 

Now that the tariffs have just been increased and more on the way get ready to cough up mo-money. To this point retailers have either loaded up on products at the lower tariff rate or split the cost with wholesalers so as not to hit the price tag on stuff you buy. That is...over. Watch and see how this plays out. Happy Mother's Day.

Is There Anything...

Any normal president would have approval numbers that would be in single digits as a result of the inability to govern let alone the crassness of this guy. But his base loves him and, in fact, we've seen his approval numbers climb. It's simply another oddity that cannot be explained. "His people" simply love the guy as evidenced by this clip from Saturday Night Live and nope, there is nothing he would do that would cause the GOP to distance themselves. Sad, but so true.

 

Told ya and what a great bit of work by Kyle Mooney (Chuck Todd), Beck Bennett (Mitch McConnell), Cecily Strong (Susan Collins) and Kate McKinnon (Lindsey Graham). Strong nailed Collins and her wacky style. Good stuff..go on, watch again.

Sucking The Air Out

Since announcing his candidacy former Vice President Joe Biden has sailed to the top of the polls and now enjoys a 31 point lead in the latest South Carolina Post Courier-Change Research Poll. Thirty-one points. The poll, which was released this morning, indicates Biden has a wider approval rating in South Carolina than in other parts of the nation. In second place is Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) at 15% followed by Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA). According to the article the only Biden weak spot is among younger voters ages 18-34. They prefer Sanders, whose progressive stances on health care and economic reform appeal to millennials.

Told you this would happen...Happy Mother's Day.

Two Interviews

Last week I had the opportunity to visit with former HUD Secretary and former Mayor of San Antonio Julian Castro. If you want to listen to that exchange here is a link. Also last week the Iowa Asian/Latino Coalition hosted former Texas Congressman Beto O'Rourke. If you wish to listen to that piece here is a link.

What If They Had...

Back in the day, before Terry Branstad took a slow boat to China, he offered up a gift to Iowans and by a stroke of the pen moved the Medicaid coverage for hundreds of thousands of Iowans to private, for-profit companies. The result has been tragic and the current governor, fashioned in the image of Ambassador Branstad, is loath to fix the mess her boss left behind.

Now, because yet another private for-profit insurance company is bailing on the money losing venture, there is a "road show" going on where supporters of this adventure from hell are telling Iowans that everything is going to be hunky-dory as another company, hoping to score major dollars, is swooping in.   (Photo: Des Moines Register)

So, what if....what IF we could turn the clock back and give Iowans the opportunity to have weighed in on the change before Branstad made the switch.

Think it would have happened?  I don't and that is exactly why there was zero input on this decision. Yes, voting does matter...and so too does having strong candidates. But, I'll leave that alone...

Partly Personal

I know, there is so much going on and you're only getting half a cup but...it is Mother's Day and I gotta go.  

Which brings me to this: The Urbandale Public Library is closed today for Mother's Day. I think that's great. But, here is the question: Will the Urbandale Library be closed on June 16th? Any bets?

Two weeks ago, after Joe Biden entered the race, I posted on my personal Facebook Page that I was so done with Democrats talking about "another old white man" entering the race. The ageism and racism in those comments pissed me off. We should be focusing on policy and electability. Turns out even the Bible has some instruction on this issue.

I'm in my 31st year of leading Congregation Adas Israel of Mason City, Iowa. (I know...right?) Weddings, funerals and monthly I travel there for services on Friday night and then lead a Torah class on Shabbat (Saturday) where people from all faiths gather to learn more about what the Torah has to say about life today. 

This past week the Torah Portion was Kedoshim (Holy). You can find it in Leviticus 19-21. It starts out with G-d telling Moses to tell "the entire assembly of the Children of Israel" to be holy, "for I am Hashem, your G-d, and I am holy."

Still with me?

Then the portion goes into lots of ways Jews must behave to become "holy".  It really is a fascinating read. 

Then comes this in Lev. 19:32, "In the presence of an old person shall you rise and you shall honor the presence of a sage..." The rabbis say this is really two commandments. The first is to show respect to anyone over the age of 70 and the second is to show honor to wise scholars. Why? Because they have experience and wisdom. 

I'm not saying I'm in Camp Biden but I am saying that we might want to hold our tongue...especially among my Jewish friends who took my comments to task. The Torah says...different. If you want to attack policy...it's fair game.

Happy Mother's Day...and thanks for reading! 

 

Sunday Morning Coffee - 9 September 2018

This is what I do at 6am on Sunday Morning!  Yikes, right?  Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee my weekly look at some of the political stories you may have seen or some you might have missed. All laced with my commentary. Why? Now, THAT is a good question. Maybe by the end of this I'll have that figured out. In the meantime...grab a cup.

Boone County Democrats

Yesterday morning there was a parade in Boone, Iowa for the Annual Pufferbilly Days Festival.  I was not there but I did watch a brief video posted on their Facebook Page. I counted nine Democratic entries...nine in Boone, Iowa. We are 58 days away from Election Day and it is beginning to feel like 2008 again. Not that we have a dynamic contender like Barack Obama in the race...but we do have engagement. Momentum has been building for months and organizers have been hard at work getting people signed up for the voting process. And, it shows.
Congratulations Boone County for showing the way!

Speaking of President Obama

Silence is not, in this case, golden. We have wondered where and when Obama would start to speak out and last week it finally happened. In a speech in Illinois he said he had been trying, as has been the precedent, to stay out of politics and allow his successor to govern. But, now, he too has called on Americans to become better than what we have seen coming out of the White House. He asked that we reclaim our sense of goodness and dignity and turn back the meanness that has become standard fare from the current president. We truly are better than that... (Photo - Urbandale 2012)

Oh, The White House

Who do you believe? "45" says things at the palace are going really, really well. And, if it were not for his enemies, like the media, men, women, Democrats, the clergy, Bob Woodward, Canada, Europe, China...everything would be just ducky. Oh, wait. It seems "somebody" in the White House is also working against "45". So, who is the mole? Who did write that piece published by the New York Times? Or was it "fake news" designed to cast our
attention away from something else? The times we are living in are extraordinary. (Cartoon - Tim Lloyd)

Meanwhile it looks like the hand-picked conservative judge nominated for a life-time appointment to the Supreme Court has some problems. We have now learned, thanks to leaked emails from Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), (Who, by the way, will headline the Iowa Democrats Fall Gala on October 6th) that Judge Brett Kavanaugh has issues when it comes to minorities and that he, in fact, lied to Congress when he was confirmed as a federal judge.  

That is not all. The Democrats know they don't have enough votes to defeat Kavanaugh but if they can swing Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) on the issue of treatment of Native Americans and abortion as well as Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) the nomination is dead. The Democrats know that and they have been working it...hard. Now we watch to see if it has worked.

Cory Booker

Just a quick follow up. Here is what Sen. Booker said after he was threatened by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) the number two leader of that chamber,  "A senior senator who is in leadership, I think he's the number two in leadership has, in effect, called for my expulsion from the United States Senate and and again I just say, 'Bring it.' If he wants to go through that process I fully accept responsibility for what I have done, and again I'm new in this place. This senator has been around a long time. He's in leadership. I think he was just like a lot of bullies are, a lot of talk and no action. And so let's see what he does. I'm willing to accept responsibility for my actions, but I don't know what, I don't know what that senior senator will do." 

Read that again: "Bring it...I think he was just like a lot of bullies are, a lot of talk and no action." Yikes! (Photo - AP)

Booker knows that he can not "play nice" with this crowd and he is willing to buck the system. Democrats are looking to not "play nice" but want a fighter. How do we know? Just look at Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rather than Joe Crowley. Andrew Gillum rather than Gwen Graham. Ayanna Pressley instead of Michael Capuano. They want someone who will take the fight to Republicans -- and to "45" in particular. Someone who will stand toe-to-toe with "45" and tell him, to his face, why he deserves to be impeached. Someone not afraid and meek. 

Bring it.

Iowa and November

Which brings us to the governors race here in Iowa. In every interview, at every stump speech Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) brings up the fact that U.S. News and World Report said that Iowa is the number one state in the nation in which to live. She hammers that home at every opportunity. Yet she ignores the fact that 37% of Iowans can't afford the basic costs of living. In 2016 that number was 31%. She ignores the fact that we have more job postings then we do people. She supports giving less funding for public education which has caused teachers to abandon their jobs in search for better pay. She supports giving already wealthy corporations more and more tax incentives even in the face of reduced services. She applauds a broken Medicaid system and shovels more money to private for-profit insurance managers.

Meanwhile where is the fight from Fred Hubbell? I dunno. We've got 58 days to call out the failures of this governor and her lackey legislature. It's clear that playing nice ain't gonna get the job done. We "played nice" in 2016 and we all know what that got us.

Partly Personal

Yesterday I got to watch my grand-daughter Jovie play softball. It was early in the morning, we were all wearing jackets and she...rocked as catcher and batter. She had several base hits, drove in a couple of runs. Two games and it was cool. Her reward was a taco. She didn't ask for much...right?

Watched the Iowa/Iowa State game yesterday. Yikes...what a show. Kirk and the gang didn't make it easy but we'll take the win. So much for the vaunted Iowa State offence. Didn't show yesterday. But what a defensive game. If you love low scoring this was a treat. In the end the Hawks won 13 - 3 and advance 2 - 0.

Tonight at sundown begins Rosh Hashanah the Jewish New Year. No fireworks, no champagne, no party hats...just prayer that the year 5779 is sweet. I'll be off to Mason City and Adas Israel later today. If you are celebrating...l'shana tova...  Happy New Year and thanks for reading. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flags & Eid al-Fitr - Sunday Morning Coffee 10 June 2018

The coffee has been brewing all week and now, in many places across the country, we begin the march toward November. Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee my weekly (some say weakly) look at politics all laced with personal commentary. This week, I should remind you we have two holidays on Thursday. The first is Flag Day in the United States. In our community on each national holiday the fire department delivers flags and flag poles placed at the curb. A slight annual charge gets the flag in front of your home. Then on Thursday evening begins Eid al-Fitr the end of fasting for the holy month of Ramadan. World wide Muslims fast during the daylight hours and this holiday breaks that fast. Enjoy.  OK, let's get to it!

Our National Nightmare Continues

The conference in Canada was to have been about equality. Equal rights for women, minorities and the LGBTQ Community. Also on the docket was dealing with climate change. Much of that changed when "45" decided, just a day in advance of the G7 Conference, he wanted to lay down more economic sanctions (tariffs) against our allies. So, once again, things were derailed. For those of you applauding this "America First" agenda please understand it is going to cost you thousands. But, I get it...you don't care if what you are buying costs more. "It's all about America first!" I get it, if you are a farmer and can't find a buyer for soybeans, apples, pork that's OK because we'll eat it all ourselves and it is "America First". Or let's say you make Jack Daniels and you've been slapped with a 20% tariff for product going to Mexico into a market that in one quarter had seen a 15% bump up in sales. Forget about it. Lay some of those people in Tennessee off...it's "America First"! 

It's just economics kids...just economics.

In Late Out Early

I found this interesting and totally on point. It seems that as late as Thursday "45" was asking his staff if it was really necessary for him to attend the G7 Conference in Canada. They pressed him, it is reported, that it was sorta important. So he went...but like the total self-absorbed person he is...arrived late. Then suggested that his buddy in Russia should once again become a member state at the conference (Russia was kicked out of the G7 when they invaded and annexed Crimea.) and then left early before the conversation on climate change. Why? This was simply economics and equality in business. Something that this president has no time for. There are bigger headlines in Singapore. Oh and "45" said the U.S. would not sign off on the official communique coming out of G7 and then insulted Justin Trudeau by calling him "weak".

Meanwhile Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) delivered this stinging rebuke of "45" and these crazy policies tweeting late on Saturday, "To our allies: bipartisan majorities of Americans remain pro-free trade, pro-globalization & supportive of alliances based on 70 years of shared values. Americans stand with you, even if our president doesn't." 

Canada

I grew up next door to Canada. Detroit was just minutes away from Windsor, Ontario and our family would visit often. I remember the fear so many in America had when Canada decided in 1965 to change their flag. I'm not making this up. Many saw this flag change as a symbol of support for the Soviet Union...those "dirty commie bastards!" "After all," the conspiracy theory went, "the primary color is RED and we all know what THAT means!" 

And you think things today are crazy. You should have been around then when we were practicing ducking under school desks during drills in fear of an atomic bomb attack.

Canada is a proud and beautiful country. It is clearly more progressive than the United States unless you venture "out west" where things get a bit more conservative. The point is that while Canada protects its dairy farmers (just like the U.S. does with minimum price controls) this president feels empowered to insult their leader and their nation. In substance Justin Trudeau runs circles around "45" and because of that the "Bully in Chief" thinks it is necessary to degrade one of our strongest allies.  Our next president is going to have to make the rounds in a "Forgiveness Tour".

Want a Cake and Eat it Too?

Last week the Supreme Court sided with Colorado baker Jack Phillips who denied a same sex couple a wedding cake saying it was against his deeply religious belief to support, in any way, a same sex wedding. Meanwhile this is the same court that finds against, what are called, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity laws...you know...bathroom bills and the like. So the question must be asked, "Does the SCOTUS want their cake and eat it too?" Thinking that is going to become a problem moving forward.

Kidnapping in the United States

And it continues. The "Zero-Tolerance" program of "45" and his crowd where children are removed from their parents and sent to camps in far-flung parts of the United States should be an outrage for us all. But it's not. Sure there are some, but very few, that are pointing out this human rights violation. Just this weekend Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash) spent hours at a detention center near Seattle with women who have "no idea" where their children are being kept. “A huge number of them are mothers whose children were taken away from them when they were apprehended at the border or when they turned themselves in,” Jayapal said. “They literally never had a chance to say goodbye to their children. Some of the children are as young as 6, perhaps younger. These women have no idea, in the vast majority of these cases, where their children are,” she added.

The image is of Rep. Jayapal getting arrested during a protest of civil disobedience in Seattle. Imagine...somebody that truly gets involved...

Meanwhile those of you who voted for "45" see no problem with this and besides, "Who in the hell is this Pramila Jayapal? She don't sound American!"

Ahhhh....America.

Meanwhile in Iowa

The stage is set and the voters have spoken. Early on the race for the Democratic nomination for Governor was pretty clear. The fear that the decision would go to convention turned out to be baseless. In the end Fred Hubbell received the overwhelming support of the majority of the voters. Some, who had voted for Nate Boulton, would, perhaps, have liked to have their early vote back. But, now it is time to gear up for a bruising campaign. Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) and her ilk will double down on her "likability factor" while ignoring how fiscally incompetent she and her party are. Nobody will dare bring up the past dalliances or the deaf ear of this current governor...or will they? You can bet the GOP will attempt to paint Fred as "out of touch" with rural voters however the numbers from the primary tell a different story.

Needless to say I'm all in...let's go. To fail to elect Fred and a Democratic legislature would be devastating to the vast majority of Iowans no matter how "likable" you find the current occupant of Terrace Hill.

Juneteenth 

It's nearly here. Coming up on Thursday evening the 14th will be the Iowa Juneteenth Community Builders Appreciation Banquet with keynote speaker Soledad O'Brien. The event will be held at the Olmsted Center at Drake University. Tickets are $50 and you can get your ticket here.  See you on Thursday evening as we celebrate and engage and work to build a better community for us all.

Partly Personal

Several years ago when I started to become more active in politics in and around the Greater Des Moines Metro I was told that Urbandale was a "no go zone" when it comes to Democrats. After all the vast majority of political leaders in that community are Republicans. But, over the years things have been changing. It started when State Rep. John Forbes (D-Urbandale) was elected to the Iowa House. John, a former president of the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce and business owner would "seem" to be cut from the GOP cloth. But his sense of business, fairness and progressive values won the day. Much of that boosted the emerging group of activists now known as the Urbandale Democrats. Their numbers have swelled, as have the number of Democratic Neighborhood Groups across the Metro. 

So, why the buildup?

Today the Urbandale Democrats are holding their Annual Flag Day Event and I'm hoping you'll join me there. There will be food and fun, candidates and an interesting guest. The Metro will welcome Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-TX) to Iowa. I've had the opportunity to meet both he and his older brother (by a minute) Julian Castro the former mayor of San Antonio and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under the Obama Administration. 

This will be the first large gathering in the Metro post primary. Tickets are just $20 and you can get yours at the door. Hope to see you later this afternoon at the UAW Local 450 Hall starting at 4PM. BTW - Tickets are FREE for Veterans. 

Thanks for reading and have a great Sunday!  

 

 

 

Sunday Morning Coffee Strong Content Edition - 6 May 2018

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

Different Shades of Truth

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

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

Farmers & Soybeans

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

Wages & Inflation

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

So?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kiss your savings (if you have any) goodbye.

Odd Bedfellows

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

The Wrecking Ball

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

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

Three Hours in Des Moines

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

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

Meet Karin Derry

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

Karin Derry 5 May 2018

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

Partly Personal

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

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

Thanks for reading and have a great Sunday!