Grassley Public Appearances This Week

Posted on May 31, 2016 by Dave Bradley
Got something to say? here's a chance

Got something to say? here’s a chance

Hard to believe that congress is off again this week. But with the Republican leadership they have, they are doing nothing anyway.

With some time off Chuck Grassley will be making a very few public appearances Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. If you want to ask him about his obstruction of perhaps about signing that letter to the leaders of Ioran telling them that he and other senators will try to negate any peace treaty after the election, here is his schedule:

Wednesday


Wayne County Town Meeting
Wednesday
10:15-11:15 a.m.
Wayne County Courthouse
100 North Lafayette Street
Corydon

Davis County Town Meeting
Wednesday
2:00-3:00 p.m.
Mutchler Community Center
900 East North Street
Bloomfield

Thursday

Keokuk County Town Meeting
Thursday, June 2, 2016
11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Keokuk County Courthouse
Courtroom
101 South Main Street
Sigourney

Friday

Humboldt County Town Meeting
Friday, June 3, 2016
Humboldt County Town Meeting
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Humboldt County Courthouse
Courtroom
203 Main Street
Dakota City

Posted in 2016 Election Campaign, Charles Grassley, Republican hypocrisy, Republican Obstruction | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Grassley Public Appearances This Week

Thom Hartmann, Thomas Frank – Listen Liberal

Posted on May 31, 2016 by Dave Bradley

26 minutes

On a weekend of remembrance this video featuring Thom Hartmann and Thomas Frank discuss where the Democratic Party has been and where it is going. Liberals seldom see the light of a camera in our current main stream media so we must share among ourselves on what is still a neutral internet.

Hartmann and Frank discuss the past of the Democratic Party and where they have strayed and how they are returning.

Thom Hartmann can be seen daily online at https://www.freespeech.org/ from 11AM – 2PM central time or on direct tv on channel 348 or dish tv on channel 9415 or on Roku. If you have cable check their lineup for FSTV.

Posted in 2016 Election Campaign | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Thom Hartmann, Thomas Frank – Listen Liberal

Cemeteries And Decorations

Posted on May 30, 2016 by Paul Deaton
Photo by Paul Deaton

Oakland Cemetery 2012

BIG GROVE TOWNSHIP, Iowa — A couple of years ago the Solon American Legion moved their annual Memorial Day commemoration from Oakland Cemetery to the new service memorial at American Legion Field.

As remaining World War II veterans depart on their long journey after this life, the new field is level, lessening the possibility of a fall for increasingly fragile nonagenarians.

The annual event seems better attended since moving to town.

The township trustees consider the condition of the cemetery before Memorial Day and the legion adorns its roadway with full-sized American flags with the names of local veterans on each flag post. We want the cemetery to present well regardless of where the event is held. After inspections, we decided it looked good for the holiday, although the trash barrels needed emptying.

Memorial Day began as Decoration Day in 1868 — a remembrance established by the Grand Army of the Republic to recognize union soldier deaths while defending against the rebellion. Confederate women had begun decorating graves during the earliest years of the long war that took 620,000 lives. It was traditional to visit the family cemetery and enjoy a picnic lunch and family reunion near remains of the departed. It took an act of Congress (the National Holiday Act of 1971) to sort out differences and competing claims of the remembrance. In many places traditions have vanished as family cemeteries gave way to cremation and burial in larger, public and commercial places of rest.

Just as grilling at home or at a park supplanted picnics near the deceased, and Memorial Day gets confused with Veterans Day, not many here think about what divided the North and South in the 1860s. Neither is there common cause in the deaths perpetrated by our modern national militarism. Our constant state of warfare has become a part of background noise many people try to ignore.

My ancestors and shirt tail relatives in Virginia fought on both sides of the Civil War and those roots provided me a form of ethnic identity — an indigenous culture shared by a localized clan of kinfolk. I’m not sure such culture is even possible today.

As for this Memorial Day, I’ll be working a shift at the home, farm and auto supply store and unable to attend the commemoration.

Memorial Day will start the summer vacation season, like it does for most Americans, and be a chance to relax after getting the garden planted. The bloody wars our country has fought and continues fighting will seem distant for a while… almost an abstraction. I’m not alone in that. Even drone pilots can go home after a shift to spend time with their families.

Memorial Day is part of a procession of life events that helps things seem stable and predictable. We want that as politicians and corporate news media slam us with bad news and frightening potentialities every time we tune in on a device. The idea that the dead don’t move unless someone made a mistake, and that grave decorations aren’t intended to be permanent provides comfort.

On the way to my shift I’ll stop briefly at the cemetery and pay my respects to neighbors killed in action, most of whom I didn’t know. Such deaths seem tragic and complex — clouded in a present that assigns new values to them. I’ll stand in silence on the hill among old oak trees considering the meaning of honor and valor and why it’s still important. I hope that’s decoration enough.

Posted in Progressive Community | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

FDR – 1936 – “I Welcome Their Hatred”

Posted on May 29, 2016 by Dave Bradley

3 minutes

Sometimes looking back helps clear up the vision as we look forward.

From an FDR campaign speech nearly 80 years ago at Madison Square Garden (October 31, 1936). Some things just never change:

“For nearly four years you have had an Administration which instead of twirling its thumbs has rolled up its sleeves. We will keep our sleeves rolled up.

We had to struggle with the old enemies of peace—business and financial monopoly, speculation, reckless banking, class antagonism, sectionalism, war profiteering.

They had begun to consider the Government of the United States as a mere appendage to their own affairs. We know now that Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob.

Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me—and I welcome their hatred.

I should like to have it said of my first Administration that in it the forces of selfishness and of lust for power met their match. I should like to have it said of my second Administration that in it these forces met their master.”

Something to consider on a Memorial Day weekend.

Posted in Peace, war | Tagged , , | Comments Off on FDR – 1936 – “I Welcome Their Hatred”

Johnny, We Hardly Knew Ye

Posted on May 29, 2016 by Dave Bradley

The American song that celebrates the heroic warrior returning from battle “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” is thought by many to be a rewrite of the old Irish anti-war song “Johnny, I hardly Knew Ye.” This weekend Americans remember the sacrifices of the men and women who have served their country in war and peace.

Today is also the 99th anniversary of the birth of John F. Kennedy. Kennedy was a veteran of World War 2 who knew the horrors of war and thus fought for peace.

Below is a video containing excerpts from Kennedy speeches on a variety of subjects including war and peace. You may note that issues from 50+ years ago still plague us. about 7 minutes

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Sunday Funday: Memorial Day Edition

Posted on May 29, 2016 by Dave Bradley
pretty much says it all from one who knew

pretty much says it all from one who knew

Were you paying attention?

1) Which old foe of the US had a US arms embargo against them lifted last week?

2) One of the most severe food crises in decades appears to be gathering steam on what continent?

3) “Give me liberty, or give me death!” Happy 280th birthday today to what revolutionary figure who spoke those words?

4) It is incredibly hot in India and critters get cranky. A camel did what to his owner after the camel was left out in the heat all day?

5) Sometimes the campaigns get silly, we hope anyway. What businessman was floated as a possible veep for Hillary Clinton?

6) The Chilcot Report in Britain, to be released in July, may lead to calls for investigation of what former Prime Minister for war crimes?

7) The US Supreme Court threw out a Virginia congressional map for what is known as what practice?

8) Schools in 20 states were disrupted Monday by what?

9) At a rally in North Dakota, Donald Trump stated “ You have to be,” what “to be great?”

10) In the ironically ironic file. Who was fired as Baylor’s president this week due to ignoring a sex scandal in the Baylor football program?

11) Federal prosecutors will seek the death penalty for Dylan Roof. What did Roof do?

12) The Center for Disease Control released smoking data for 2015. What percentage of people currently smoke in the US?

13) At the Iowa Republican state convention last week Chair Jeff Kaufmann claimed that Donald Trump was “a heck of a lot better than “ who?

14) Baltimore Police Officer Edward Nero was found not guilty in the highly publicized death of who?

15) President Obama, on his trip to Asia, visited what infamous site Friday?

16) What percentage of Americans smoked fifty years ago?

17) Donald Trump picked up another notorious endorsement when what embattled Pharma CEO endorsed him?

18) In SCOTUS news, a death sentence in Georgia was nullified because the jury was what?

19) According to a GAO report released this week, the computer systems that launch nuclear missiles are run by what outdated technology?

20) The Federal Reserve released a study Wednesday that showed that nearly half of America’s households would struggle if they had an unexpected expense of how much?

21) One question on Memorial Day. When did Memorial Day become an official federal holiday?

It is somewhat surprising that the anyone is still smoking tobacco in this country.

Answers:

1) Vietnam

2) Africa due to climate change

3) Patrick Henry

4) bit his head off and killed him

5) Mark Cuban

6) Tony Blair

7) gerrymandering

8) robocalled bomb threats

9) wealthy. So Jesus Christ, Mahatma Ghandi was not great

10) Ken Starr – the lawyer who relentlessly pursued Bill Clinton’s sex life.

11) Last June, Roof went into a black church in South Carolina and murdered 9 members in a racially motivated attack

12) 15% – the lowest ever and dropping fast

13) Hillary Clinton – and he said it with a straight face

14) Freddie Gray

15) Hiroshima where the first nuclear bomb used in war was used

16) 42.4%

17) Martin Shkreli the ‘pharma bro’ who jacked the prices of needed drugs through the roof

18) all white with blacks purposely excluded from serving – Thomas dissented

19) the old 8 inch floppy discs that really flopped

20) $400 in unexpected expenses.

21) Memorial Day was not an official federal holiday until 1971.

Smoking costs the US well over $300 billion per year in lost work days and medical expenses.

Have a safe and solemn holiday all.

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

Iowa’s GOP: Party First

Posted on May 28, 2016 by Dave Bradley

garrison keeler on republicans

Recent actions within the Iowa Republican Party serve to illustrate that their focus is totally on party with little thought of the consequences for the state and the country. Actions by Republican office holders and candidates taken individually are often head slappers, but viewed collectively the pattern emerges that allegiance to party is much more important than the good of the state or country.

The most glaring example of their party first mentality is Iowa’s oldest politician, Chuck Grassley. Taking his orders from Mitch McConnell, Grassley has willingly taken up a potential career suicide mission blocking the nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court. Actually Grassley has made it his mission to block any Obama nominations to any federal bench, thus creating a federal judicial emergency. However, nominations to the Supreme Court are more in the open than the other federal court nominations and any monkeying with the standard procedure becomes big news.

I would daresay that Grassley is fully cognizant that he has bent the rules way past a tipping point. He appears to feel he can get away with it based on his personal popularity at home and a bet that the voting populace will not revolt. Grassley’s very cynical move to put party first may well be a bad bet on his part. Thanks to Iowa’s status as the first in the nation presidential test, most Iowans like to pride themselves on their political savvy. One way that savvy shows up is when Iowans call out BS on the part of politicians. Iowans across the spectrum have called BS on Grassley on this.

Heck, when Grassley tries to defend his position in public it doesn’t even sound like he believes what he is doing is right, but he is taking orders.

Another excellent example is 3rd district congress member David Young switching his vote from yea to nay on concerning LGBTQ protections in a defense spending bill. Republicans suspended the clock on the vote and six Republican members were “persuaded” to change their votes. As explained in a dailykos article concerning this switch:

“Oh, and if you’re wondering why the GOP was so insistent on making sure the Maloney amendment failed, Rep. Charlie Dent, one of the provision’s Republican supporters, explained that the more conservative members of his party didn’t want to get stuck voting for a defense bill with a pro-LGBT amendment attached to it. So House GOP leaders figured they’d sacrifice a few congressman in bluer seats to protect the ultra-wingnuts from possible primary challenges. The Republican war rages on—and only Democrats stand to benefit.”

Finally there is the question of the GOP’s presidential choice with Donald Trump. Trying to cover Trump’s huge inadequacies as a presidential candidate Republicans in this state have come up with a clever little slogan – “Anybody But Hillary.” Really?

Donald Trump himself has created enough division not only in his own party but throughout the country with his speeches that endorse hate for groups based on their religion or origin and denigrate women. Trump has also offered an economic plan that could trigger the worst depression ever. This from the same party that gave us the Great Depression and the Great Recession.

Anybody? How about word salad Palin? She almost became vice-president within a heartbeat of being president. Yet to hear her speak it is quite clear she has little idea what she is talking about.

Anybody? David Duke maybe? Would Republicans back a man who is openly racist?

Anybody? Bobby Jindal was among the choices for president this year. This is a person who led Louisiana for 8 years and left it in tatters.

Really Republicans, it is way beyond time to put away trite phrases and show concern for the country. Time to stand up for the people of the United States. Lincoln showed the way. Believe me, Donald Trump is no Lincoln. Sadly Trump even pales in comparison to George W. Bush a president who gets plenty of votes when people talk about the worst president ever.

Posted in 2016 Election Campaign, Charles Grassley, Republican hypocrisy, Republican Obstruction, Republicn Policy | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Iowa’s GOP: Party First

Branstad Doesn’t Veto Medicaid Oversight

Posted on May 28, 2016 by Dave Bradley

medicaid

A couple of interesting items that took place Friday.

Governor Branstad signed the Medicaid oversight bill Friday. Since Branstad pushed the privatization and prioritization of Iowa’s medicaid program through as if he answered to no one there was much trepidation that he would veto the bill that established much needed oversight.

In a statement released yesterday, Progress Iowa executive director Matt Sinovic said:

“We’re glad Governor Branstad listened to the will of Iowans and the legislative process. Progress Iowa is pleased that Govenor Branstad both signed all of the Medicaid oversight provisions into law and did it in a relatively timely manner on this Friday. The Governor’s privatization scheme remains a serious mistake that has caused a multitude of problems for the 560,000 Iowans who depend upon it, but at least we can move forward with some semblance of oversight and transparency.”

Muscatine Campaign Office Opens

In an unrelated but interesting event, the Muscatine County Democrats opened their office in Muscatine for the 2016 campaign season. Such events are usually ho-hum affairs with the same folks attending that attend most such events.

However last night’s opening drew over 60 people, many of whom were new faces. There was an electricity in the room as guest speakers Sen. Bob Dvorsky and Sen. Joe Bolkcom spoke on behalf of Muscatine’s senate candidate incumbent Sen. Chris Brase. Both spoke of Senator Brase’s tenacity in getting the aforementioned oversight bill put together and then passed.

The crowd was then treated to a speech by Congressman Dave Loebsack who spoke on how important this election is at both the state and national levels.

The significance was in the size of the crowd on a Friday evening of a holiday weekend and the mix of the crowd which was younger than the normal crowd. Let us hope this bodes well for this year’s campaigns.

Senator Chris Brase

Senator Chris Brase

Posted in 2016 Election Campaign, Branstad, David Loebsack, Progress Iowa | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Branstad Doesn’t Veto Medicaid Oversight

Reminder: Primary Election June 7th!

Posted on May 28, 2016 by Dave Bradley

voter's question

We have a very important race in the Democratic Party this year. We need Democrats to vote to choose the opponent for stumbling Senator Chuck Grassley.

In case you feel that you may forget to vote on June 7th, you can vote early at your county’s auditor’s office during normal business hours.

If you want to vote absentee, you can download an absentee ballot request form here fill it out and take it to you county auditor’s office by next Friday at 5PM. But since you have to make the trip to the auditor’s office anyway, you may as well vote while you are there.

Just be sure to vote in the June 7th primary. Then it will be time to get to work for our candidates from the courthouse to the White House.

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Time To End Our Insane War On Ourselves

Posted on May 28, 2016 by Dave Bradley

warren burger on guns

Yet another extremely sad story of death by guns in America. The Sandy Hook massacre produced the same punch in the gut response. Tragedies like these are preventable.

As we remember those who lost their lives in war, also remember those who die at home in what seems to be an undeclared war on America by Americans. 33,000 a year is a lot to lose with another 100,000 injured. The devastation for families, loved ones and acquaintances is indescribable. Add to that the hospital bills and the loss of earnings for those who survive but are crippled. It is time for America to address this problem.

“On April 9, 2013, we had to watch my sweet, beautiful, 6-year-old boy take his last breath,” Christine Holt told a judge during a sentencing hearing in 2015, according to the Asbury Park Press. “We used to imagine what he would be like when he got older and grew up. Now all we can do is imagine what he could have been.”

This week’s court proceeding, NJ.com reported, unfolded in less than two hours and included more wrenching testimony from Brandon Holt’s mother, who recalled encountering her badly injured son; he was gasping for air after being shot, his eyes open, his mouth bleeding, according to NJ.com.

“I was rubbing his legs, telling him to breathe,” Christine Holt said. “I kept telling him I loved him.”

So far in 2016, at least 95 children younger than 18 have picked up a firearm and accidentally shot themselves or someone else, according to data from Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun-control group funded by former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. The advocacy group, which compiles shooting data using news reports, found that 278 such shootings occurred in 2015.

Join the effort here

Posted in gun control | Tagged | Comments Off on Time To End Our Insane War On Ourselves