Video: Iowa Agriculture Secretary Candidates Debate On Iowa Press

Posted on October 5, 2018 by Trish Nelson
Posted in Blog for Iowa | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Iowa GOP, Reynolds, Hubbell, And Grassley

Posted on October 4, 2018 by Trish Nelson

Highlights of Iowa’s Pulitzer prize winning colunnist Art Cullen’s recent piece in the Storm Lake Times. Read the entire article here. 

http://www.stormlake.com/articles/2018/09/26/reynolds-trouble

Iowa Republicans, Reynolds, Hubbell, and the first rule of survival

“Sexual harassment is the order of the day in the Senate. The Iowa Finance Authority is a sordid mess. Iowa State University is being purchased on annual payments from the Koch Brothers. North Lake Manor is closed because of Medicaid reform. The state is losing more than $100 million per year because of it. Our rivers are polluted and our schools are falling behind.

“We assume that politicians of either party will take care of their donors and the powerful. That is the first rule of survival. Take Hubbell’s lack of transparency as part of that cold fact. But at least he has enough money to tell the Koch Brothers where to go, and he won’t tolerate the hothouse that is the Senate, and he will straighten out our budget and get school appropriations growing again. We know that. And, we know that Kim Reynolds will do whatever she is told by the people who own her. And that she will continue to make a hash of things in the Statehouse. That’s why Hubbell holds a lead, however slim… (more)

Chuck Grassley’s legacy

“Chuck Grassley playing the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee last week would have been good for a slapstick laugh among the fumbling, mumbling, fidgeting and getting played by a witness. Except, it really is serious business. There is justice in that the Iowa Republican’s craven quest for power, now realized, meets him with humiliation as he defends a process meant to ramrod through an ideologue put up by a corrupt administration. Grassley used to be a better politician than this.  (more…)

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Watch Reynolds Dodge Yepsen Question About Republican Plan To Cut IPERS Benefits

Posted on October 3, 2018 by Trish Nelson

Video length 1:29.  Subscribe to the Iowa Senate YouTube page.

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Five Things Individuals Can Do Today To #STOPKavanaugh

Posted on October 2, 2018 by Trish Nelson

Action alert from Indivisible.

Think one week isn’t enough for an investigation of Christine Blasey Ford’s allegations? Think Brett Kavanaugh proved he can’t be an impartial arbiter on the nation’s highest court?

Here are five things you need to do RIGHT NOW to help #STOPKavanaugh and #SaveSCOTUS!

1. PROTEST: Join CPD Action to #StopKavanaugh in DC this week. Sign up and more information here: https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLSfe1qMxy2BFypszJo…/viewform

2. CALL YOUR SENATORS: It’s time to demand Kavanaugh’s withdrawal!

Find your senator: http://bit.ly/2p9QDkq
Judiciary Committee: (202) 224-5225

Script: My name is _____________, and I’m from _______________. I’m calling to tell the senator that I want him/her to demand Kavanaugh’s withdrawal unless there is a full investigation of ALL three of the accusations made against him. Kavanaugh has also lied under oath, his appointment will jeopardize both public safety and health and he has said he believes presidents shouldn’t be investigated or held accountable to the law. He is UNFIT for a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court.

3. SHARE this script with 5 family members or friends and personally urge them to call. Use this link: http://bit.ly/2OsLuis

If you have ANY contacts in Maine, Alaska, or Arizona, now is the time to personally reach out and urge them to contact their senators’ offices to demand Kavanaugh’s withdrawal.

4. We have ONE MONTH until the midterms. We need YOU to help #VoteThemOut. Find a candidate to volunteer with here: https://indivisible435.org/endorsements/ or here:https://swingleft.org/about

5. Last but not least… DONATE to Ady Barkan’s Be A Hero Fund to pressure Sen. Susan Collins! https://bit.ly/2MZuhR6

Find more scripts on other issues here: https://indivisiblenationbk.org/

Posted in Blog for Iowa | Comments Off on Five Things Individuals Can Do Today To #STOPKavanaugh

Democracy In Peril

Posted on October 1, 2018 by Trish Nelson

Yes this is a money ask, but even if you cannot donate to this important cause, you should read this note from John Kerry.  Our Democracy has many problems, but partisan gerrymandering has to be one of the top priorities we need to solve if Democracy is going to survive.

Friend,

Our democracy is in peril as never before.

I’m not just talking about President Trump — although he certainly plays a very big role. He campaigned arguing the system is “rigged,” and he was right about that, if nothing else.

But he was not right about it in the way he meant. In fact, Donald Trump is the beneficiary of a rigged system that makes politics ugly and makes governing nearly impossible.

The system is rigged. In state after state, voters’ voices are being drowned out because of years of purposeful, partisan, polarizing Republican gerrymandering. Instead of voters electing their representatives, representatives are picking their voters. That’s not how our process was designed to work.

To make our democracy the best it can be, we need to focus on fixing structural issues like gerrymandering.

That’s why I support the work of the NDRC and former Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr., who are implementing an ambitious and comprehensive strategy to end gerrymandering. But their strategy can only work through the participation of thousands, even tens of thousands, of grassroots activists across the country. Will you be one of them by making a donation today, friend?

Want to know how bad Republican gerrymandering has gotten? Let’s take a look at a couple of swing states. (And believe me, I know a thing or two about swing states!)

First, Ohio: the quintessential swing state, a place I spent a lot of time. It’s split about 50-50 between Republican and Democratic voters, but because of gerrymandering, Ohioans are represented in the U.S. House by 12 Republicans and only 4 Democrats. Next, North Carolina: 10 Republicans and 3 Democrats in its House delegation. Pennsylvania: 12 Republicans and 6 Democrats. The list goes on.

The consequences of gerrymandering don’t end with the maps. When Republicans have an overwhelming, safe majority, they can ignore the will of the people and ram through unpopular legislation, like voter suppression laws that further disenfranchise voters and skew elections. They listen only to the most extreme and the most partisan agendas — those which rule the roost in their highly polarized districts. When Republicans are allowed to get away with rigging maps and suppressing the vote, our democracy is threatened. Because of gerrymandering, the most extreme candidates have the loudest voices in our politics. And we all know how that ends. It ends with a Congress out of touch with the American people and state legislatures out of touch with their states.

But we can’t just despair. That does nothing to solve our challenge. Too much is at stake. Instead, we must fight. Here’s the truth: The governors and many of the state senators in charge of redistricting in 2021 will be elected in 2018. The NDRC has already won substantial victories in their fight against gerrymandering, but if they are going to make progress toward securing fair maps before 2021 redistricting, they need to make serious gains in November. But that’s going to take a sustained effort, which is possible only if they have support from people like you.

Will you make a donation to help the NDRC fight for fairness in our elections?

Thank you,

John Kerry
68th Secretary of State
2004 Democratic Presidential Nominee

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Reminder: Early Voting Starts Monday October 8th

Posted on September 30, 2018 by Dave Bradley

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The Iowa legislature under Republican control did all they could to limit turnout in Iowa. Among their ploys to blunt the turnout is to shorten the length of time for absentee voting. In previous years it would start 40 days prior to Election Day. That has been cut to 30.

Therefore absentee voting begins Monday October 8th this year. Absentee ballots may be requested now through October 27th. From the Secretary of State’s office:

Absentee Voting by Mail

Registered voters may request an absentee ballot to be sent to them by mail. You must complete an absentee ballot request form and return the original, signed form to your county auditor. The request form does not need to be witnessed or notarized.

Someone who will be 18 years old by the date of an upcoming election may request an absentee ballot if he or she is pre-registered to vote.

Request Deadline for Mailed Ballots

The request form must be received in the county auditor’s office by 5 p.m. on the Friday, eleven days before the election. If the request is for the general election, the deadline to request a ballot by mail is the Saturday, ten days before the election.

If the request is received so late that it is unlikely the absentee ballot can be returned by mail in time to be considered for counting, the county auditor will enclose a statement to that effect with the absentee ballot.

Receiving the Ballot

After receiving a request form, the county auditor will mail the voter a ballot.

With the ballot, the county auditor will include instructions on how to mark the ballot as well as how to return the ballot.

Returning the Ballot

You can return your voted absentee ballot by mail. Absentee ballots received in the county auditor’s office by the time the polls close on election day are eligible for counting. Absentee ballots received after the polls close on election day must be postmarked by the Monday before election day or earlier and received in the county auditor’s office no later than noon on the Monday following the election. For school and some city and special elections, the return deadline may be earlier. Read the instructions sent with the ballot.

Voted absentee ballots cannot be delivered to the polling place on election day. If you have not returned your absentee ballot on election day, you have the following options:

  1. Deliver your voted absentee ballot to the county auditor’s office before the polls close on election day,

  2. Surrender your voted absentee ballot at the polls and vote a regular ballot, or

  3. Vote a provisional ballot at the polls if you cannot surrender your voted absentee ballot.

Note that beginning October 8th voting can be done at your county auditor’s office during office hours. Be sure to bring ID.

While some counties may have satellite voting during this period all counties will be open for voting during office hours. 

Posted in #trumpresistance, 2018 Election Campaign, Blog for Iowa | Tagged | Comments Off on Reminder: Early Voting Starts Monday October 8th

Sunday Funday: Kavanaugh’s Problem Is Kavanaugh

Posted on September 30, 2018 by Dave Bradley

 

Trevor Noah recapitulates Thursday’s hearing – 12 minutes

Despite his claims that all his problems are caused by someone else, Brett Kavanaugh’s problems have been mostly caused by Brett Kavanaugh. There were so many inconsistencies, lies and refusals to answer in his testimony Thursday that even Satan himself would be embarrassed by it. Yet for Republicans who have sold their souls to have power, all was well.

One of the most startling statements Kavanaugh made was that his problems were caused by “revenge on behalf of the Clintons.” Really, Brett? I know that sells on the right, but you are touted to be intelligent. You said so yourself about 20 times Thursday. Yet you believe such total BS? He should be disqualified just on that statement.

His performance Thursday would disqualify him for an entry position at McDonald’s. Still, the vast majority of Republicans will approve him for a seat on America’s highest court. It was also pretty obvious that if liberals happen to stumble into HIS court they are not only not welcome, but may end up in jail just for being liberal.

The hurricane of bad news continues:

  1. The magazine America rescinded their endorsement of Kavanaugh. This magazine is published by what Catholic order of priests that taught Kavanaugh in high school?
  1. Quick now, was the UN General Assembly laughing AT our Dear Leader or laughing WITH our Dear Leader?
  1. Asking about possibly drinking to a blackout what senator did Kavanaugh respond to with a derisive “You’re asking about blackout. I don’t know – have you?”
  1. Monday Americans flocked to their news sources as who was summoned to the White House?
  1. Another woman claiming sexual harassment by Brett Kavanaugh hired what media savvy Democratic attorney as her attorney this week?
  1. The FCC voted this week to not allow what government entities to charge telecoms for adding 5G upgrades to existing infrastructure like telephone poles?
  1. Kavanaugh claimed boofing is a drinking game. Is it?
  1. A major case on the SCOTUS docket that really concerns Dear Leader is Gamble v. US. Gamble deals with what aspect of the 5th amendment?
  1. What daughter of a former president revealed that she was raped and did not tell anyone for decades?
  1. In Colorado, a group of teens Wednesday smashed a van into a pot store and stole merchandise from the display cases. What was in the merchandise they stole?
  1. An updated “Murphy Brown” premiered on CBS Thursday. What political figure guest starred as a person looking for a secretarial position?
  1. In Missouri, senate candidate Josh Hawley claims he supports forcing insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions despite his role in what lawsuit?
  1. Similarly, in Iowa what congressional candidate claims he supports coverage of pre-existing conditions despite his several votes to end the ACA?
  1. Dunkin’ Donuts is changing its name to what?
  1. What major entertainment figure was sentenced to 3 to 10 years in prison for rape?
  1. In remodeling their house, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford had what unusual feature built in her house?
  1. In a rambling and unfocused news conference Wednesday, Dear Leader said he rejected a meeting with what country about trade negotiations?
  1. What four Democratic senators walked out of Judiciary Committee meeting Friday in protest?
  1. What US senator was chased from a fancy Italian restaurant by protestors shouting “We believe survivors!”?
  1. A federal judge restored the Endangered Species Act for Yellowstone Park in time to stop a hunt for which animal?

Malcolm Nance:

“Trump destroyed the Presidency. Destroyed the Congress. Destroyed NATO & the Atlantic Alliance. Destroying the FBI & Justice. The Supreme Court will be lost tomorrow. The national recalibration starts November 6th.”

Answers:

  1. The Jesuits
  1. Dear Leader was laughed At, despite what he said.
  1. Amy Klobuchar
  1. Rod Rosenstein
  1. Michael Avenatti
  1. Municipalities – they will lose over $2 billion in revenue
  1. No, nor is Devil’s triangle. Both are sexually related
  1. Double jeopardy – trying to stop a case in federal court also being tried at the state level
  1. Patty Davis (daughter of Ronald Reagan)
  1. Oregano – the store kept no real product (marijuana) on display
  1. Hillary Clinton
  1. The state AGs lawsuit to stop the ACA
  1. David Young
  1. Dunkin’
  1. Bill Cosby
  1. A second front door – an escape hatch of sorts
  1. Canada. Canada said no such meeting had ever been scheduled
  1. Senators Harris, Hirono, Blumenthal and Whitehouse
  1. Ted Cruz
  1. Grizzly Bears

It is hard to see Republican mothers say about Brett Kavanaugh “What boy hasn’t done that?” Really scares you to think what kind of sons they are raising.

GET

OUT

THE

VOTE!

Posted in #trumpresistance, Blog for Iowa, Humor | Comments Off on Sunday Funday: Kavanaugh’s Problem Is Kavanaugh

Judiciary Debacle Makes Me Up My Donations

Posted on September 29, 2018 by Dave Bradley

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Watching the debacle taking place in our nation’s capitol Thursday tells me that we must not let Republicans win this year. Not at the national level, but also at the state level where they have restricted voting and will probably do so to an even greater degree if Republicans remain in control.

I so wish Grassley were on the ballot this year, but he isn’t. In Iowa we only have the opportunity to change the US House. But there we do have the chance to maybe pick up 3 seats while keeping Dave Loebsack in his seat.

If you can, help out Cindy Axne, Abby Finkenauer and JD Scholten.

Especially do not forget to donate and help out state house and state senate candidates in your area. Turning the state government back into Democratic hands will be necessary to reverse the insane Medicaid privatization policy of the Reynolds regime. It will also be necessary to bring back union rights in Iowa, help restore Iowa schools and possibly forestall some potentially bad changes to IPERS. 

This is the year to dig a little deeper. The stakes have never been so high.

Let’s give Grassley a thank you for helping elect Democrats this fall. I jest.

Posted in #trumpresistance, 2018 Election Campaign, Blog for Iowa, Iowa Legislature | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Judiciary Debacle Makes Me Up My Donations

Watching Grassley Lead The Ford “Hearing”

Posted on September 29, 2018 by Dave Bradley

Image (2) Grassley-Trump-and-the-Courts-300x170.png for post 33907

So I am writing this a couple days ahead of time. However, I can’t help but comment on Grassley’s handling of the Ford “hearing” and the whole general tone of their Kavanaugh rush through Grassley’s committee.

Pretty obvious the plan was for Grassley to set a tone of intimidation from the start. After a bumbling reading of his opening statement, Grassley turned the floor over to Senator Feinstein of California. Feinstein made a comment that Grassley disagreed with and immediately interrupted her. Once again he took on an intimidation pose and raised his voice to Feinstein.

Feinstein stood right up to Grassley and gave it right back to him. I believe what Grassley objected to was Feinstein’s statement that there was no FBI investigation. This was a theme that the Democrats on the committee would heaven back to over and over. She did not back down on this point.

One of the worst decisions made by Grassley was to try to soften the visual of old white angry men intimidating the female witness, so the Republicans on the committee brought in a female hired gun to do their dirty work. Once that was announced the visual that many got in their mind was of the angry old white men hiding behind a woman. A beard if you will.

The hired gun, the beard, was a woman prosecutor from Arizona. As she began her questioning it appeared that the hired gun did not seem to understand what her job was. Before the first break, the prosecutor, Rachel Mitchell, asked questions to establish the truth. The truth made the Republicans look really bad. If their hired gun was shooting, she was shooting blanks.

During Senator Durbin’s questioning, he once more brought up the lack of an FBI investigation. Grassley nearly exploded, interrupting Durbin. Grassley stated in a near yelling voice that the lack of an FBI report was due to a lack of time caused by evidence (Ford’s letter) not being introduced in time. This is of course not true.

Following the break it appeared that the Republican hired gun had been given instructions to be harder. Mitchell tried in various ways to undermine Ford’s credibility but was unable to do so.

Remember Grassley also refused to bring in any other accusers, thus making the whole event into a total “he said, she said” process. Also put yourself in Dr. Ford’s shoes. They tried from the start to intimidate her without creating that visual. 

It was frankly almost humorous to see Republican senator after Republican senator yield their time to their hired gun. Coward after coward after coward too gutless to stand up to this woman.

Grassley’s gambit – at least the opening piece – failed miserably. 

Across America women and men who had been raped, molested or put in uncomfortable positions by men of power or knew someone who was, bonded with Dr. Ford. It was reported on social media and on regular media that women and some men across America were crying as Dr. Ford testified.

Grassley’s job was to get Kavanaugh through the senate and do it quickly. It is looking like he will fail.

Even if Grassley doesn’t fail in his assigned mission and Kavanaugh is confirmed, this whole sham of a confirmation process has exposed the true Republican Party to the country. It is ugly. It is a party of huge money and mostly old white guys doing all they can to hang on to their power and privilege. It is ugly.

As I finish this, Brett Kavanaugh is on my TV screen yelling and occasionally crying as he presents his apparently very well rehearsed opening statement. I am guessing that much like typing in all caps, yelling makes things more true.

Posted in #trumpresistance, 2018 Election Campaign, Blog for Iowa, Charles Grassley, Republican Policy | Tagged , | Comments Off on Watching Grassley Lead The Ford “Hearing”

Video: Christine Blasey Ford’s Full Testimony

Posted on September 28, 2018 by Trish Nelson

ICYMI.  Must see.

Posted in #trumpresistance | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Video: Christine Blasey Ford’s Full Testimony