The Iowans Are Fired Up

Posted on September 8, 2016 by Trish Nelson

duPosted on DemocraticUnderground (DU)

womanofthehills journal

American Indians have fired up the Iowans to stop the DACL – non violent training this Sat
Sat, Sept 10 – the Iowans are gathering for non-violent training

Here’s the schedule for Saturday morning at the Mickle Center:
8:00 – 9:00 a.m. – Breakfast (our treat!)
9:00 – 11:30 a.m. – Nonviolence training
11:30 – 12:00 noon – Lunch (also on us)
12:00 – Leave for direct action

We’re fired up! Our first mass direct action against the Dakota Access/Bakken Pipeline on Wednesday, August 31 blocked the movement of pipeline construction equipment in Boone County for nearly two hours. Over 100 people participated and 30 were arrested. Our efforts made national news!

Dakota Access is feeling the heat, and we MUST keep the pressure on!

More and more Iowans are upset at how Dakota Access is treating farmers, landowners and our Native allies. More and more know that this pipeline will exacerbate the climate crisis and poison our water.

They are ready to put their bodies on the line to stop pipeline construction and send a message to President Obama that he needs to tell the Army Corps of Engineers to do its job.

Please come! We need you. Our water and land need you. The planet needs you.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1197336950288602/
Questions? Contact Ed Fallon at ed@boldiowa.org or (515) 238-6404.

Donate: http://bit.ly/BakkenPledgeFund

Sign the Bakken Pipeline Pledge of Resistance: http://bit.ly/bakkenpledge

Keep up to date on FB: https://www.facebook.com/iowabold/

Posted in Bakken pipeline, Fallon Forum | Tagged , | Comments Off on The Iowans Are Fired Up

Local Meetings In Iowa To Organize Against Trump

Posted on September 7, 2016 by Trish Nelson
dog whistle politics

dog whistle politics

Action alert from DailyKos and MoveOn.org:

Activists and organizers all across the country are fired up and ready to give it their all to stop Donald Trump and to win a progressive Senate majority in 2017.

Iowa is so important to this fight, and for the next two months, we will be working with members like you to turn the Senate blue. There’s a big opportunity coming up tomorrow for you to get involved.

Daily Kos is partnering with MoveOn on their United Against Hate campaign. Talented and passionate organizers are ready to do whatever it takes to make sure progressives show up in November and push us towards big Democratic wins. But we can’t do this without you.

The United Against Hate campaign is kicking off next week with barnstorm organizing meetings TOMORROW, and you’re invited to one in Iowa City. Will we see you there?

Yes, I’ll be there!

Wednesday, September 7 at 6 p.m. (local time)
Robert A Lee Recreation Center – Mtg Room B
220 S Gilbert Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
Saturday, September 10 at 3 p.m.
Hosted by Valerie S.
Marion Public Libarary
1095 Sixth Ave
Marion, IA 52302Click here to RSVP!
We’re building an unprecedented cutting-edge program to do what’s been proven to win elections: Have meaningful conversations at the door with Democratic voters who might otherwise stay home, and make sure they get out and vote in November.

We don’t just want to defeat Trump. We want to show that Americans overwhelmingly reject his politics of fear and hate. Trump’s America is not welcome, and we will not stand for politicians who peddle fear.

There’s a lot of work ahead of us, and it won’t be over on November 9th. We need a stronger progressive movement, one that can sustain the political revolution. We need to win this election and hold our next president accountable to progressive values.

It’s time to get to work.

RSVP for a barnstorm today to get plugged in to the United Against Hate campaign in your community.

Keep fighting,
Irna Landrum, Daily Kos

PS: You can also look for all the barnstorm events happening near you here.

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The Corporate Power Henry Wallace Warned Us About

Posted on September 6, 2016 by Trish Nelson

If you haven’t yet, after viewing the video, read the Lewis Powell Memo (the Powell Manifesto) here

 

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Labor Day: The Official Start Of The Campaign Season

Posted on September 5, 2016 by Trish Nelson

moyers and coOnce upon a time, in a faraway land called America, Labor Day marked the start of the traditional start of campaign season. Selected by their respective parties’ summer nominating conventions, the presidential candidates would then barnstorm the country for three months — a reasonable time for the electorate to evaluate their personalities and platforms. And then it would be over, until about four years later.

It seems hard to imagine today. Hillary Clinton has been a declared candidate since March 2015. Donald Trump has been a declared candidate since June 2015, which actually made him one of the later entrants into the Republican field. And, of course, many candidates start running long before they make their intentions official.

In almost all other advanced democracies, the official campaign season is short — a few weeks, at most two months. Not here. Here we spend endless news cycles obsessing over every last thing our candidates say. And good luck trying to escape the advertisements. American politics, it is often remarked, has become a permanent campaign.

This has five harmful consequences for American democracy.

Read the entire story at http://billmoyers.com/story/labor-day-official-start-campaign-season/

 

Posted in 2016 Election Campaign | Tagged | Comments Off on Labor Day: The Official Start Of The Campaign Season

Iowa Senate Democrats Hold Hearings On Medicaid Mess

Posted on September 4, 2016 by Dave Bradley
Iowa Capitol

Iowa Capitol

Who can forget what a huge hurry Gov. Branstad was in to turn Medicaid administration over to privatized companies last summer and fall despite warnings that the companies were in no way ready. He couldn’t wait to hand out taxpayer money over to his cronies. Now we are approximately 4 months into Branstad’s ridiculous experiment in taking something that works and making it not work.

This may be what Republicans call a success, but for thousands of Iowans including hundreds of providers it is a disaster. These are real people we are talking about who have pain and who have medical conditions that need attending to. But to Republicans they just seem to be part of their social experiment of making a buck off of everything.

Here are the videos of the hearings held in Des Moines Monday August 29th. They are long but quite informative:

1) Listening Post part 1 (60 minutes)

2) Listening Post part 2 (51 minutes)

3) Oversight Hearing part 1 (58 minutes) – Actual meeting starts @8 minutes in.


Note: Documents mentioned in this video can be found at https://www.legis.iowa.gov/committees…

4) Oversight Hearing part 2 (2 hours 35 minutes)

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Will Labor Rise Again?

Posted on September 4, 2016 by Dave Bradley

Happy labor day

As America takes its annual weekend to celebrate Labor a person who pays attention to the issues of the day can’t help but wonder what the Labor movement must do to resurrect its fortunes in the United States.

Those who look back to the 1950s as the time when “America was great” seldom mention that one of the reasons that America was great was labor unions and the good wages and benefits negotiated for workers by those unions. At that time what is known as “union density” – the percent of total workers in unions – stood at around 35% According to the NY Times:

The Bureau of Labor Statistics said that the overall unionization rate last year was down from 12.3 percent in 2009 and 20.1 percent in 1983, when there were 17.7 million union members. The peak unionization rate was 35 percent during the mid-1950s, after a surge in unionization during the Great Depression and after World War II.

BLS statistics from earlier this year reiterate the downward trend in union membership:

The union membership rate–the percent of wage and salary workers who were members of unions–was 11.1 percent in 2015, unchanged from 2014, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The number of wage and salary workers belonging to unions, at 14.8 million in 2015, was little different from 2014. In 1983, the first year for which comparable union data are available, the union membership rate was 20.1 percent, and there were 17.7 million union workers.

But there is a bright spot in the public sector:

• Public-sector workers had a union membership rate (35.2 percent) more than five times higher than that of private-sector workers (6.7 percent).

• Workers in protective service occupations and in education, training, and library occupations had the highest unionization rates (36.3 percent and 35.5 percent, respectively).

As unions have dwindled so has the American paycheck. Where once a single worker in a household could earn enough to sustain that household, now two earners can barely do so.

Labor unions have been battered by a huge headwinds since Ronald Reagan became president, the first of which was Reagan’s betrayal of the air traffic controllers union after the union felt Reagan would not bother them if they struck. We all remember what happened next.

Since then the battles that moneyed interests had against labor have become an all out war. Some of the tactics that have been used in this war has been to send jobs overseas, end union shop states, the rise of consultants whose business is to stop unions, the enticement of foreign workers to enter our country and be exploited with lower wages and with the dawn of the computer age the use of robots or electronics to replace human workers.

However while the future is not exactly bright right now, there are some silver linings out there. Now more than ever, voting for Democrats at the federal, state and local level has never been more important. So be sure to vote and vote with your best interests interests in mind. Once we elect a progressive slate to congress, to the presidency and to the state house we will need to hold their feet to the fire to make sure our needs are met.

Posted in Economy, Labor | Tagged , | Comments Off on Will Labor Rise Again?

Sunday Funday: Labor Day Edition

Posted on September 4, 2016 by Dave Bradley

labor movement

Labor day is the traditional kickoff for the campaign season since the official election day is now about 9 weeks out. However with early voting in many states that window has shrunk to 4 weeks or so. So the candidates will be on high energy from here on out, as if they have not been already.

Which brings us to the goofiest event of last week. As usual it involves Trump and another assault on the American people. I only bring it up because there has never been a more appropriate place for Molly Ivins most famous line. At the time she said it she was talking about a Pat Buchanan speech. However I think had she seen the Trump display Tuesday she no doubt would have reiterated her comment that “it probably sounded better in the original German.”

August is supposed to be a quiet month. Wha’ happen? Were you paying attention?

1) What message did Mexican President Nieto deliver to Trump concerning Trump’s wall?

2) U of Iowa grad Gene Wilder died last week. What other comedian did he team with in a series of very funny films?

3) What Western state Republican senator is warning his fellow western state senators to distance themselves from Donald Trump?

4) What New England governor responded to a series of really bad stories about him and his race relations by saying he would no longer speak to the press?

5) Voting in Iowa starts later this month. What date does voting begin in Iowa this year?

6) Democrats in Iowa gathered in Des Moines last Sunday in a new annual event hosted by Progress Iowa called the what?

7) Tomorrow is Labor Day. Most other countries celebrate a day for their workers on a different day than us. What other country celebrates labor Day on the first Monday of September?

8) What other day celebrates workers elsewhere in the world?

9) “Maybe he should find a country that works better for him.” This was Donald Trump’s reaction to a protest being staged by what athlete?

10) Sept. 2, 1962 Russia agrees to send arms to Cuba. The US discovers these shipments leading to what nail biting international showdown?

11) Labor Day began as a protest / campaign with what goal for workers?

12) The actual first Labor Day was celebrated Sept. 5, 1882 in what major US city?

13) What company was handed a $13B tax bill by the EU last week?

14) Jet Blue airlines flew someplace that no American airline has flown for over 50 years last week. Where did Jet Blue fly to?

15) U Wisconsin-Madison was named by the Princeton Review as the nation’s #1 party school yet again. What school came in last for the 19th consecutive year?

16) What state was the first to adopt Labor Day as a state holiday?

17) Dilma Rousseff was impeached and removed as president of what country?

18) Before Donald Trump’s visit to a black church in Detroit yesterday, it was revealed that the questions and answers for his interview were entirely what?

19) Iowa state senate Democrats held a listening post on Medicaid last Monday. While they did that the Branstad Administration released a report that stated the error rate was close to what under the new system?

20) Today is a big day in the Catholic Church as who is declared as a saint today?

Xtra credit) The Trump campaign just hired David Bossy. Bossy has spent most of his life doing what?

The greatest thing about college football is cool weather is just around the corner.

1) Mexico will NOT pay for it. period

2) Richard Pryor

3) Jeff Flake of Arizona

4) Paul LePage of Maine

5) September 29th

6) Corn Feed. food and politics – a great combination.

7) Canada

8) May 1 – international workers day

9) Colin Kaepernick. hey Trump – ever heard of free speech?

10) the Cuban Missile Crisis

11) the 8 hour working day

12) New York City

13) Apple

14) Cuba

15) Brigham Young

16) Oregon

17) Brazil

18) scripted. This was reported by the NY Times

19) zero. Based on the listening post, it is once more very hard to believe Branstad

20) Mother Theresa

Xtra credit) chasing the Clintons and making up false stories about them. Very Preidential, Donnie

Have a safe holiday. We need each of your votes this year.

Posted in Humor | Comments Off on Sunday Funday: Labor Day Edition

Grassley’s Huge Lame-Duck Session Flip-Flop Proves What We’ve Thought All Along

Posted on September 3, 2016 by Dave Bradley
Patty Judge can help end the Republican gridlock in Washington

Patty Judge can help end the Republican gridlock in Washington

Grassley’s SCOTUS Obstruction Only About Politics

www.ProgressIowa.org

For Immediate Release: August 30, 2016

Contact: Pat Rynard, 515-868-5665

DES MOINES – In a story published in the Mason City Globe Gazette, Senator Chuck Grassley left open for the first time the possibility of confirming Merrick Garland during a lame-duck session of Congress. This is a 180-degree switch from his previous adamant denials that only a new President’s nominee should be considered.

From the article:

“Grassley said the only way his stance could change is if a large number of senators strongly urged him to consider the nomination during a so-called ‘lame-duck session’ of Congress, during the time after the Nov. 8 election and before the new Congress takes office in January.”

Matt Sinovic, Executive Director of Progress Iowa, released the following statement:

“Senator Grassley’s flip-flop on a lame duck nomination is an outrageous, cynical switch that proves his Supreme Court obstruction was always about politics. This is a big development in Grassley’s Supreme Court saga. He’s argued for months that he wants the people to decide the next nominee. Now it seems if the people don’t decide the way he’d prefer – by electing Donald Trump – then Grassley will hold hearings on Garland. Or maybe he’s gotten cold feet about Trump, who Grassley did not appear with on stage at Joni Ernst’s Roast and Ride this weekend.”

“And Grassley’s explanation – that he could only be convinced if fellow Senators urge him – is exactly how we got into this mess in the first place. Grassley let extremists in the Republican Party pressure him into the longest-ever Supreme Court obstruction. Now he’s saying he’ll be pushed into doing the exact opposite.”

“The only consistent theme from Senator Grassley in 2016 has been his playing politics with our courts. This is simply his most egregious political posturing yet.”

“Senator Grassley must stop playing these political games, and immediately end his unprecedented obstruction of the Supreme Court. It’s long past time for him to do his job and hold hearings for Merrick Garland.”

###################################

To this we must add that we have always suspected that should Hillary Clinton become president, Chuck Grassley and Republicans will make an immediate about face to pass Garland’s nomination. This will be the Republicans first salvo in their war to stop the new Clinton Administration from doing anything. This will be the same tactic employed against Obama, only much more virulent.

The obstruction that Republicans have employed against Obama will seem tame compared to the tactics they will employ against Clinton. Expect the media to fully back the Republican obstruction just as they are currently doing all they can to trash Clinton’s campaign while making Trump’s extreme right wing views seem to be middle of the road in this campaign.

Our country can’t afford to continue to ignore problems such as inadequate healthcare and global warming much longer. Grassley should be retired. Voters wold do well to give Clinton a congress she can work with. Iowans can do their part by pulling the lever for Monica Vernon in the first district, Dave Loebsack to return in the second district, Jim Mowrer in the third district and Kim Weaver in the fourth district to finally replace Steve King.

Posted in 2016 Election Campaign, Charles Grassley, David Loebsack, Jim Mowrer, Kim Weaver, Monica Vernon, Patty Judge, Republican Obstruction, SCOTUS | Tagged | Comments Off on Grassley’s Huge Lame-Duck Session Flip-Flop Proves What We’ve Thought All Along

Hillary Clinton To Visit QCA On Labor Day

Posted on September 3, 2016 by Dave Bradley

Stronger Together

From WQAD News:

Hillary Clinton to stop in Quad Cities on Labor Day


HAMPTON, Illinois — Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton is making a stop in the Quad Cities on Labor Day.

The Clinton Campaign announced the visit on Tuesday, August 30th, 2016. The stop will be at the 49th Annual Salute to Labor Event at Illiniwek Park Riverfront Site in Hampton, Illinois on Monday, September 5th, 2016. A time has not be set yet.
Clinton made a stop at this same event last year on Labor Day.

Clinton and Kaine are also scheduled to make stops at the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Labor Day Parade and the 11th Congressional District Community Caucus Labor Day Festival in Cleveland, Ohio.

According to the Clinton Campaign, “Clinton and Kaine will deliver remarks about their plans to build an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top, and celebrate the contributes of American workers and organized labor.”

So if you are looking for someplace special to go on Labor Day, this could be fun!

Times have not been announced as of this posting.

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Friday #nobakken Action Alert

Posted on September 2, 2016 by Trish Nelson

Bakken Pipeline Proposed RouteAction Alert from Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (CCI)

In the largest act of civil disobedience on the pipeline issue in Iowa to date, 28 everyday Iowans took an arrest blocking the roadways into Dakota Access’s worker staging area outside of Boone.

Over 150 of you were there to send a powerful message to Dakota Access and other decision makers that resistance to the Bakken pipeline – from North Dakota through Iowa – is strong and growing. 

We gathered to say NO to Big Oil, and to stand up for our land, water and democracy. Thank you to everyone who drove from near and far to make today a huge success.

Check out photos from the day here and stay tuned for more planned actions.

BUT we need you with us this Friday when we meet Dakota Access head on in court to determine whether Big Oil can restrict our right to future protests and acts of civil disobedience.

Can you join us? Meet us Friday at the CCI headquarters (2001 Forest Ave, Des Moines) at 12:30 as we prepare to head downtown to the U.S. District Court to tell Dakota Access and the public that we won’t be silenced. RSVP here.

Again, bold action doesn’t come without a cost. We anticipate our legal fees for fighting Dakota Access in court will cost between $5,000 -$10,000. Chip in here to help with legal fees.

I’m inspired. I hope you are, too. This may be our first act of peaceful civil disobedience on the Bakken pipeline, but it won’t be our last. 

Onward!

Adam Mason
State Policy Organizing Director

P.S. A fundraiser page to support bail and other legal fees for those arrested will be posted soon. Stay tuned. 

Posted in Bakken pipeline, Climate Action, Corporate Greed | Comments Off on Friday #nobakken Action Alert