“Randi Rhodes Number-one ranked progressive radio talk show host, political commentator, entertainer, and writer. The Randi Rhodes Show was broadcast nationally on Air America Radio, and Premiere Radio Networks from 2004–2014. Rhodes represents aggressively independent media.
The Miami Herald described her as “a chain-smoking bottle blonde, part Joan Rivers, part shock jock Howard Stern, and part Saturday Night Live’s ‘Coffee Talk’ Lady. But mostly, she’s her rude, crude, loud, brazen, gleeful self.”
Rhodes and her show won numerous awards for journalism and broadcasting, including Radio Ink’s Most Influential Woman, Radio Ink’s Most Influential Women’s list (multiple years), TALKERS magazine’s Woman of the Year, and the Judy Jarvis Memorial Award for Contributions to the Talk Industry by a Woman.”
2. Donate to the following groups working to register voters in Georgia. Let’s make sure these community groups have the resources they need to do everything possible to get out the vote:
A message from the Chair and Executive Director of Iowans for Gun Safety
We know that we will have a legislature and a governor that are in the corner of the NRA for the next two years. You should know that the Legislature is poised to present Iowa voters with an important question on the November 2022 ballot: should Iowa join the likes of Alabama, Louisiana and Missouri in passing a “strict scrutiny” amendment to Iowa’s constitution that will make it even harder to pass reasonable measures to protect the public and our communities from the dangerous use of guns?
It is also likely that the legislature and the governor will continue to advocate for more guns in more places. While just a few years ago we would have been shocked to see protestors at our Capitol in Des Moines openly carrying firearms with the incontrovertible intent to threaten others, we now have to ask not if but when this will happen in Des Moines – unless we join together and make our view clear that this scene is simply not acceptable in Iowa.
This is, yes, a request to support us with your donation. But given the challenges that lie ahead, we are also looking for individuals to help us in a variety of ways and on terms each individual chooses. If you are interested in bringing your talents and skills – research, communications, technical support – to Iowans for Gun Safety, please contact us.
Our goal is to be a bigger and better voice in Des Moines, particularly in a time when gun rights advocates seem unwilling to address the real public health and safety issues that guns present. Please help us by donating online or send a check to: Iowans for Gun Safety, P.O. Box 8834, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404.
Finally, to those who have contributed in the past, thank you for your support and for your confidence in us to continue the work to make Iowa a better and safer place to live.
“Iowans need relief. Chuck Grassley & Joni Ernst are failing them.”
“As the pandemic continues its uncontrolled spread, Americans are also facing a flatlining economy. Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans are dead set on blocking robust relief for people who are unable to pay rent, put food on the table and are struggling to make ends meet. At the same time, we’re seeing skyrocketing unemployment and businesses closing,” said Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse. “New polling makes clear what we’ve known all along — Americans want and need comprehensive COVID relief immediately. Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans are destroying our economy by obstructing meaningful measures to control the virus and provide economic relief to Americans.”
Nine months into this pandemic, Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans are sabotaging our economic recovery.
Historic levels of unemployment.
Thousands of small businesses closed for good.
Uncertainty about the future of our economy.
Millions of Americans have fallen into poverty.
Millions of hardworking families need meaningful relief now, but Mitch McConnell and Republicans in Congress are making things worse, refusing to take action that could get this virus under control and save lives and American jobs.
They are blocking real relief like a second stimulus check for qualified Americans, health insurance coverage for those laid off and urgent aid for Red and Blue states to pay for first responders and essential workers.
Without this robust relief package, our economy faces the prospect of another great recession that will hurt families and businesses.
Tell Mitch McConnell and Republicans in Congress that they must work with Democrats to take strong action now to combat the virus and fix the economy.
Rita Hart for Iowa Statement on State Certification in IA-02
“The process must continue to ensure all Iowans’ voices are heard”
WHEATLAND, IOWA — Rita Hart for Iowa campaign manager Zach Meunier issued the following statement on the latest phase of the race for Congress in IA-02:
“Throughout this entire recount process, our goal has always been to ensure that Iowans’ votes are thoroughly and fairly counted. When we began this recount, Rita Hart was down by 47 votes. As more Iowans’ voices were heard, the margin has narrowed dramatically and is now down to a mere 6 votes — making this the closest congressional race in recent history, and one of the very closest in the last hundred years.
This is despite the fact that, at every turn, the Miller-Meeks campaign has sought to keep legitimate votes from being counted — pushing to disqualify and limit the number of Iowans whose votes are counted.
Under Iowa law, this recount process was designed to count ballots that had already been tallied, meaning that additional legal ballots may have yet to be counted. Over the next few days, we will outline our next steps in this process to ensure that all Iowans’ voices are heard.”
Iowa Sierra Club invites you to our first in a series of webinars about the People’s Budget on Thursday, December 3, 2020 at 7:00pm.
A large number of Sierra Club issues require some involvement with Iowa’s state budget. From supporting the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture to cleaning up our waterways to funding the Iowa Department of Natural Resources conservation priorities, all arrows point at the state budget.
Budgets reflect theories of government. Iowa’s political conversation rarely moves beyond the notion that governments primary responsibility is to grow the economy. Hence we give corporations tax breaks, but slash funding for health care, environmental protections and public interest research at our three state universities.
We hold a different view of government and that is government is the trustee of all the things we share – public roads and bridges, water, wildlife, air, public universities, state parks, education and public health. There is little or no economic activity without the public goods provided by things like roads, water, and education. Therefore, protecting, enhancing and restoring our shared public wealth is the central responsibility of government. We must tie the budget to our priorities.
On the webinar you’ll learn about our budget priorities and the ways our current budget undermines public services and our natural resources. We hope you’ll join us and our guest speakers for our first People’s Budget webinar on December 3, 2020 at 7:00 pm.
The speakers are Carolyn Raffensperger and Jeani Murray.
Carolyn is executive director of the Science and Environmental Health Network. In 1982 she left a career as an archaeologist in the desert Southwest to join the environmental movement. As an environmental lawyer she specializes in the fundamental changes in law and policy necessary for the protection and restoration of public health and the environment. She has dedicated the rest of her life to ensuring future generations inherit a habitable planet.
Jeani Murray is an effective, strategic leader with strong political, management, communication, advocacy and legislative experience having served as a Chief-of-Staff on Capitol Hill, a National Field Director for a major public interest non-profit, Executive Director of the Iowa Democratic Party, and a Campaign Manager. Additionally, she has worked in key roles on a variety of federal and local campaigns. Jeani will discuss dark money forces that have taken over our state capitols.
I ran across this on the internet last week. Since we are enjoying a holiday weekend, I thought it might be nice to expand our thoughts into what could be.
In earlier post WWII days many in the US dreamed dreams of an America with citizens who lived fulfilled lives. At that time Europe was in tatters from WWII. Yet some 70 years later, Scandinavian countries (with the exception of Sweden’s crazy approach to the corona virus) pursue the idea that humans can achieve some form of happiness.
In the mean time, under Republican rule, once again the US descends towards a third world existence for many of its citizens.
The day before Thanksgiving we had a demonstration of why Republicans have had reshaping the court system, especially the Supreme Court, as their laser beam focused objective. In shooting down a directive by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to try to combat the corona virus by limiting crowd sizes of religious gatherings to 10 in designated red zones and 25 in designated orange zones. Religious gatherings were not banned, nor were they limited by denomination.
Yet SCOTUS voted 5 to 4 to overturn Cuomo’s directive as being opposed to the first amendment. So now religion overrides public health. Religious gatherings continue to be among the most productive of super-spreader events. There are alternatives to gathering together in tight groups. You would think religious organizations would be interested in keeping their congregations alive and healthy.
Religious groups are among the most ardent of Republican loyalists. Getting a victory to practice as they please is the culmination of the refusal to even give Merrick Garland a hearing. It is also the culmination of placing two very poorly qualified judges – Kavanaugh and Barret – on the bench. Expect those two to follow the party line with little deviation. Will poisonous snake handling be making a comeback?
ARRRRGH!
Dear Leader held a kind of press conference Tuesday where the big news was less what he said and more what piece of furniture that made the event sort of a farce?
States in what three with supposed close races for president certified their votes last week, pretty much scoring the presidency for Joe Biden?
What former administration official did Dear Leader pardon last Wednesday?
In an unexpected bit of humor last week, presidential attorney Rudy Giuliani held yet another news conference while what rolled down his face?
As witnessed in the past couple of weeks, what force of nature is spurring emigration from Central American countries?
Fox News Channel settled a lawsuit out of court over a false story concerning the death of what former DNC staffer?
An Iowa non-profit announce a massive effort starting in the spring to replace the huge amount of what destroyed by the August 10th derecho?
Tomorrow the Office of the First Lady will preview the 2020 holiday decorations. What VIP will skip out on this preview?
November 29, 1989. The first of the Russian satellites to break the chains of communism when what country repealed the constitutional clause that gave power to the communists?
President-Elect Joe Biden received congratulations on his election from what major world leader?
What major soccer star died during an operation last week ending a tumultuous life?
What country did the above soccer star come from?
Spurred by new rules on Twitter that call for tweets to be judged for veracity, the right wing world is flocking to what RW version of Twitter?
As Biden secured enough electoral votes to win the presidency, what stock index broke an all time high as it crossed the 30,000 barrier?
Maybe America’s first superstar, what genius writer was born in Missouri on the Mississippi some 185 years ago tomorrow?
Quick – what is the name of the woman who is head of the General Services Admin. who was holding up transition funds for Biden until early last week?
Janet Yellen was announced as the first woman to head what cabinet department by PE Biden last week?
Colorado Rep.-elect Lauren Boebert has asked permission to be able to do what on the Capitol grinds that is now disallowed?
Iran vowed retaliation after it’s what was assassinated Friday near Tehran?
Scotland became the first country ever to make products relating to what female condition free to Scots?
Answers:
The tiny desk that he sat at. It looked like a desk for a grade schooler
Georgia, Pennsylvania and Michigan
Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn
Giuliani was sweating and his hair coloring was running down his face
Hurricanes
Seth Rich
Trees – the non-profit is Trees Forever
The First Lady
Czechoslovakia
President Xi of China
Diego Maradonna
Argentina
Parler
DJIA
Mark Twain
Emily Murphy
Treasury
Carry a gun
Top nuclear scientist
Tampons and other related material for periods.
tip of the hat to EarlG on democraticunderground.com
As Donald Trump tries to steal the presidency from a brutal loss and while Kim Reynolds fiddles with your lives as she dare no step on the toes business corona virus new cases and deaths are just plain sky rocketing out of control.
The sad thing is that this is exactly what was predicted 8 months ago as scientists begged the current president to show some leadership and do a couple of simple things. The most simple thing scientist begged for – and are still begging for – is to make wearing masks mandatory.
So here we are in the United States of America, the most technologically advanced nation and the richest nation the world has ever seen, literally being done in by the corona virus because of the negligence of our leadership.
These numbers come from https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/If you scroll down past the list of states you will find charts that give us daily past numbers for cumulative corona virus cases in the US. By scrolling your mouse across the chart you can get whatever information you want.
For instance if you want to know how many new corona virus cases in the US for the month of November you find the find the number for October 31 and subtract it from the latest number for November. In this case it will be approximately 13,500,000 minus 9,439,000 (the cases up to Nov.1) and you get 4million cases.
Let that sink in. Four Million cases of corona virus in the US in November! And now, following a mass spreader event such as Thanksgiving and early Christmas shopping over this past weekend, expect even higher number of cases o be coming soon. So what will we have in December? Five million? Six million?
We know that neither Trump nor Reynolds will do anything of any substance to lower the numbers. Thus huge December numbers is all but inevitable. By the time President Biden is inaugurated he will be left a huge mountain to subdue.
You can help. Do just what we have been told to do for the past 8 months by the science community. Stay home whenever possible. If you go out WEAR A MASK! Ask your friends and loved ones to please wear a mask also! Stay a good distance from other people when interacting. Keep your hands washed and don’t touch your face.
If members of your family do not have masks, wouldn’t a mask as a Christmas present really say “I care about you.”
We are our brother’s keeper. Working together we can make great inroads on stopping the virus simply by taking the precautions listed above to stop the spread. As the old saying goes are you part of the problem or part of the solution?
As the illustration at the top of this story shows, we have been down a similar road before and beat the enemy. Together we can do it again!
Thom Hartmann does a Democratic post-mortem with Indivisible Director Megan Hatcher Mays.This video is about 9 minutes.
Last week I discussed the proliferation of conservative media, particularly talk radio, in rural areas throughout the country including Iowa. Progressives have no such corresponding reach and thus give rural areas and small towns over to conservatives pretty much 365 days a year. Conservative TV pretty well fills in the empty spots in those areas.
Hartmann and Mays discuss this at the end. However, Mays brings up an issue that most of us seem to gloss over. Although she doesn’t say it quite this way, the issue is that the right wing media has defined progressives stands on issues for the public long before any progressive candidate knocks on the publics door or runs a commercial on the radio or TV.
Much like the myth of the inner-city welfare queen that Ronald Reagan created out of whole cloth, right wing media has created myths about Democrats out of whole cloth. The constant pounding day in and day out of the myths that Democrats will take peoples guns and will enact laws that will suspend freedom (without ever defining what that means) and are socialists! I doubt any Republican can truly define what socialism means. It is just one of the large number of scare words.
None of that is true of course. But when it is propagandized 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on some 1500 radio and TV stations around the country that reach into every nook and cranny of the US, by the time a Democrat knocks on a small town door, the profile of that candidate has already been written by the opposition.
Just a couple of weeks ago Matt Sinovic of Progress Iowa held a press conference where he rolled out polling that indicated overwhelming favorable ratings for progressive issues. Blogforiowa reported on the press conference here.Notably the progressive issues scored high for people identifying themselves as both Republicans and Democrats.
Megan Hatcher Mays goes into this pre-defining of Democrats at about the 5 minute mark. For one thing Democrats need to learn to speak loudly about our accomplishments. I have no idea why we are so reluctant to bring up what great work we have done in bringing about things like greater voting rights, higher pay, more accessible health care and many other victories for people. We were never reluctant to point out that Democrats brought the country Social Security, Medicare, fair wages and the 40 hour work week.
Democrats need to be proud and loud! What we stand for is what the vast majority of the country has demanding for decades. Yet somehow – through the nearly monopolistic control of the media – the right wing in this country has been able to disconnect electing Democrats from the country realizing the goals they want their government to achieve.
Meanwhile the monopolized media spins a web of mythology of a Republican Party that is in tune with working men and women. Of course nothing could be further from the truth. The working person’s biggest single enemy is the Republican Party and the super rich and the corporations that control the Republican Party.
We also have a myth that Republicans are the best caretakers of the public monies. Even a cursory exam of national and state administrations show that the rich do extremely well under Republicans while the vast majority of us suffer. When a Republican leaves office, the country or state is usually broke and in a crisis. What Trump is leaving Biden is pretty typical.
Yet a vast US media has been able to create the myths of a kind and gentle Republican Party that looks out for the little person while they have also created the myth of a Democratic Party that is nearly an enemy of the people. For many, perception – no matter how divorced from reality it is – is reality. Even when top Republicans are fostering policies that are killing us and bankrupting us.
Once again ever the vaunted public radio comes in for criticism in this area. Its political reporters often talk of “government” as being unresponsive, or “congress” as not doing what Americans want (these are examples I have heard in the past two weeks). This only adds to the myth that has been created by right wing media. In both cases the reporters were talking about a corona virus relief bill that has been passed by Democrats but stopped dead by Republicans. Yet Republicans are not singled out and there is innuendo that somehow Democrats are partially to blame.
Republicans are constantly running for all offices every day of the year. They have media laying groundwork for them every day of the year. Democrats run for office part time and mostly during the political seasons around elections. I know it is a heavy lift, but I believe we must meet the effort the competition is putting out.
Iowa newspapers are being challenged to survive the digital age as well as the pandemic. Art Cullen, editor of the Storm Lake Times; Ty Rushing, managing editor of the N’West Iowa Review; Doug Burns, co-owner and columnist for the Carroll Times-Herald; and Bob Leonard, news director for KNIA/KLRS radio, discuss the situation in Iowa and the importance of local news to the community. Part 1 of Small Town Perspectives can be viewed here. Please subscribe to your local paper!
Governor Kim Keynolds: (515) 281-5211 U.S. Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 Iowa Members of Congress - Rep. Randy Feenstra (R) - Rep. Ashley Hinson (R) - Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R) - Rep. Zach Nunn (R) Iowa US Senators - Senator Joni Ernst (R) - Senator Charles Grassley (R)
November 30, 2020
