The New “Open Threads” Topic
Here's a great little idear that came in from the grassroots today (thanks, Bev!). Why not create a topic in the Topics component in the right sidebar of Blog for Iowa for posts that don't really fit any of the current main blog posts but, nevertheless, need to be seen?
This will work a little bit differently from the way Blog for America uses open threads. Of course, Blog for America has a much higher traffic volume than we have, so they need frequent Open Threads. (More on that tomorrow, as I file our one-month anniversary report!)
We, on the other hand, as Bev pointed out, need a place to go where off-topic posts will not get lost.
So, I've added the Topic “Open Threads” and you can go there to post about anything at all. That will be the central location where we can keep track of such things.
Of course, I would like to add, just FYI, that I do see all the new posts in the comments each day because there is a feature on the control panel that lists all the comments in chronological order. But the Open Threads topic would allow everyone else to track idears, too.
So, consider this the Open Thread. For easy access, this post will appear on the main blog and in the Open Thread topic at the same time.
One last note to facilitate using Blog for Iowa: when clicking on a link on Blog for Iowa, use this system to open the link into a new window.
Right click, Open in New Window
That way, you won't have to reload the blog over and over again.
Blog For Iowa 
Linda-all:
I am now receiving emails, as you probably are too, from ACT, MoveOn, etc. re: May 8th and Iowa grassroots voter mobilization.
I received a t/c from Alec Johnson:
Des Moines Regional Director
America Coming Together
1500 Locust Street
Des Moines, IA 50309
website: http://www.iowa.act4victory.org
email: aljohson@act4victory.org
Now my question, what are your thoughts as to which groups we work with and how and will we be doing somethings as democracyforiowa?
I guess I would like to hear what others think and plan to do. I told Alec I wanted to work locally in NW Jasper County and Newton.
He said he would check back with me.
So, May 8th… what are you all planning to do?
Bev
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Right now, it looks like we are organizing the May 8 activities through our DFIA Meet Ups, which will meet May 6.
When I was looking into it, it looked like there was one central location through which to register for all the groups. (Look under the Meet Up topic.) I had not seen the link you posted here before. You bring up some good questions.
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Hi Linda; well, for me, this is the same old problem…no Meet Ups for Jasper County…well, I have one name to work with and I will keep trying to find some more…wouldn't it be wonderful to see a Meet Up for Newton, Iowa?????? Yes!!!!! Bev
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An idea for DFIA. I have made a formal request of Gov. Dean to make an appearance in north Iowa in support of Iowa Senate candidate John Drury. If I get this successfully pulled together whats the interest in having a DFIA mini convention. This would be timely with the upcoming election and would give us a chance to meet. Although I know north Iowa is not conveniently located to everyone; Clear Lake is a great summer spot to meet….and I would be willing to organize it all.
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Darrell,
DFIA mini conference and Howard Dean in Iowa! I vote YES!!!
Alta
altaprice@mailblocks.com
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Darrell,
That sounds good to me! I will try my darnedest to be there if it works out.
Kevin Powell
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Linda:
Where can we get democracyforiowa TShirts
and are there buttons such as:
Ask me how to register to Vote…
or
Are you registered to Vote
etc.
and democracyforiowa buttons.
Thanks! Bev
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Linda, me again….
I have a comrade now…so DFI now has 2 people in Jasper County and we are working on some more.
We are going to participate in AmericaVotes activities on Saturday May 8th. ACT office in DSM is sending flyers for us to distribute in Newton on Saturday. I am excited about getting started.
New subject: there is a national health care group working to have an activity June 19th…
contact bridgingthegap@imahealthcarevoter.org
Any comments about this group?
Sincerely
Bev
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Bev–
I've asked Karene Nagel, our DFIA Meet Up Coordinator to look into this. She's the one who got the other buttons. Hope to hear from her soon!
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Thanks for the alert. I'll look into this. I did see some info on it today.
And congratulations on finding a new DFIAer in Jasper! Good job!
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Dear Linda:
I attended the Hunter College School of Social Work graduation last night and was able to take a picture of my daughter Amy and her friend, Siena Shundi, DFA NYC and a real activist in the Dean group here. I told her (Sienna) I would post it to you to put on the Iowa DFIA site and she seemed pleased! Will tend to this when I get back next week.
Thanks for your email giving me guidance on how to access my account…I figured it out now.
Later,
Bev
P.s. Several women and I will be writing letters to Missouri “unmarried women” to encourage them to register to vote for the Democrats….this is through Mainstreet Moms Opposing Bush of which Mothers Opposing Bush (Annapolis group) is a spin off. It looks like the Moms groups have a good influence of Dean people!
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Linda: While all focus is on Boston, we are taking our eyes off the ball re: Afghanistan.
I noted this headline this am:
The international relief group M
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Linda;
Need the blog's help:
How to answer this question:
Need your advice/help:-) I want to try and educate my father about
Georgh Bush and why he shouldn't be re-elected. I want to do it in a way
where he will be open and receptive to hearing what I have to say but I
need help organizing my argument. My dad is a lifelong Republican and in
my opinion, doesn't vote on the issues, he voted for W because he too was
a Republican. My dad watches a lot of Fox News and we know about their
biases which my father buys into. Do you remember what the connection is
between Fox and Bush? Doesn't his cousin own part of Fox or something?
I guess what I wanted your help with was.. if you had to give the top 5
or 6 reasons (as simplified as possible) why George Bush shouldn't be
re-elected, what would they be? My father is a smart person but just
“old-school” and I think he would listen to me if I had some good points.
Thank you all…
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OK, I'll see what I can come up with.
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I just heard the news today. Evidently a commision that reviewed the intelligence that led up to the Iraq War came to the conclusion that the intelligence was a complete failure. So how can we trust the word of Shrub that Iran wants to build a nuclear weapon.
To read the commission's report visit:
http://www.wmd.gov/report/index.html
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well, speaking of democratic power…Chuck Larson Jr., typical republican with skeletons in the closet. Went to Iraq for a photo opp., the guy has the nerve to buy an expensive Rolex before deploying to wear over to Iraq. He has his own trailer in Iraq with sat dish, tv, and phone service while the rest of the soldiers suffered. He would buy dvds' on the blackmarket for $2 and resell them to soldiers for $3 or $4 bucks. Who was he looking out for over there? Himself. Bad for Iowa, Bad for America. Typical fake (as compared to a few not so fake) republicans.
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Grassley wil be in my county for his annual visit June 3. I would love to greet his audience with a flyer about his record as Finance Chair–especially regarding Social Security or repealing the estate tax or any of his other bad acts.
Does anyone know of such a flyer already produced? If one were produced we could use it all over the state.
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well ask chuckie larson, jr. about grassley…he can't stand the man, called him every name in the book.
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In Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin adopted the following resolution at their state convention:
CALLING ON THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO INITIATE IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST PRESIDENT BUSH, VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY AND DEFENSE SECRETARY RUMSFELD FOR HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS
WHEREAS, the Downing Street Memo shows that Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld began planning and executing the war on Iraq before seeking Congressional and UN approval;
WHEREAS, UN weapons inspectors showed prior to the invasion that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq; and
WHEREAS, there is further mounting evidence that the Administration lied or misled about “mushroom clouds,” “connections to 9/11,” and “war as a last resort” as they sought UN, Congressional, and public approvals;
THEREFORE, RESOLVED, the DPW asks Congress to immediately begin impeachment proceedings against President Bush, Vice President Cheney and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld.
The resolution alledges that the Bush administration “lied or misled” Congress and the American people concerning the justification for the war. The “Downing Street memo” and reports from U.N. weapons inspectors are mentioned as evidence of deception.
Newly elected state party Chairman Joe Wineke said,”Democrats, not only in Wisconsin but throughout the U.S., have been outraged by what we believe has been a clear cover-up of why the U.S. went into Iraq,” and that the resolution expresses “the sense of frustration that Democrats in Wisconsin have over fighting a war for the wrong reasons.”
Charles Franklin, a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor does not think the resolution will be successful and said that even if the House of Representatives began impeachment proceedings against the president and vice president,”I don't think you can impeach the secretary of defense”.
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Hi,
Everyone here who hasn't should go to http://tools.democracyforamerica.com/housevote/ and vote for Bruce Braley. Bruce is the only candidate from his district from this site who's talked about among progressives, but tired old Bill Gluba has somehow gotten more votes than him. Right now Bruce is in 11th and if he makes it to the top 10 he gets to go on to the next round. WE NEED TO HELP HIM.
For those of you who don't know about him, go to his website http://www.brucebraley.com.
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Where is everyone? I posted over at the Democratic group on Yahoo and NO ONE has even responded to it.
Why are we not more mobilized?
DAILY things happen in this horrific administration, and I can't even find anyone local to discuss the issues with!
As I type this, Steve King (gag me) is filling people full of crap about Iraq. I could only stand a few minutes of him, but did hear him say how we are “sealing up the victory” or some such nonsense.
Where is our outrage???
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Hello, all.
I will become an Iowan on November 30 (or after 30 days thereafter when I actually register to vote/car/license, etc.). I'm moving to Des Moines from Houston, TX and taking a position at Drake University.
Looking to find ways to connect into the progressive community in Iowa and info sources to get tuned into candidates, issues, and the Iowa political scene. Suggestions — especially for web sites — will be MUCH APPRECIATED.
Thanks!
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Hi everyone, I wanted to post a comment about an issue going on here in Iowa right now that many people probably don't know about. Recently a plant that produces cattle feed was built in a residential area of Jefferson, Iowa enticed by the city of Jefferson to bring more industry to the town. However, shortly after the plant opened neighbors within a mile radius started getting sick, plant and wildlife started to die and disappear, paint began to peel on vehicles, windows and siding began to pit and corrode, and outdoor pets became sick and began to die such as small kittens and dogs.
The DNR has found several times that the plant was emitting way over the legal limit of hydrochloric acid into the atmosphere, but the plant has never faced any fines or repercussions and the city that brought the plant in to the town in the first place will do nothing to help the problem. A couple hundered of the local residents have began working on a lawsuit but it looks like they'll have a long road ahead of them, so in the mean time they are faced with a choice: Move and live, or stay and slowly die from the hydrochloric acid poisoning. Not to mention the fact that their property is now basically worthless since no one in their right mind would move into the area.
You can find several articles taken from the Des Moines register over the last year that goes into detail about this issue as well as phone numbers and addresses for the city, mayor, and all of the city councilmen at http://www.iowahealthinsurance.biz/articles/soychlor.htm
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Help our enviornment, save yourself some change, and help the US towards Energy Independence. Get some solar-powered Christmas lights this year. Some places are:
http://www.solarilluminations.com
http://www.taylorgifts.com
http://www.siliconsolar.com/solar-christmas-lights.php
http://www.christmascarnivals.com/christmas-lights/solar-powered-christmas-lights.html
Check them out, then help the planet *grin*-thanks for reading.
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US President Tim Kalemkarian, US Senate Tim Kalemkarian, US House Tim Kalemkarian: best major candidate.
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How about another post on the “best campaign blogs”? The last one I found here was in 2004. That was a good one, and I would like to see more of these.
I feel candidates are still not effectively using blogs to connect with the voters. The campaign blogs should really not just be limited to the campaigns, but provide a longterm way for politicians to educate people on the issues and provide their insights on political topics. I feel this kind of blogging could help reduce the need for money and advertising in campaigns.
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Hi i'm not much of a farmer but i am an avide hunter and i didnt know how this would work but me and my dad were just going to let anyone who had a deer problem or wanted people to come and bow hunt to thin out their herd i would be more then willing to do so thanks for your time sincerly jason grandon
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