Branstad To Iowans: Be Afraid Of Refugees

Posted on November 17, 2015 by Trish Nelson

branstad2A sad day for Iowa.  Yesterday, Gov. Branstad ordered all state agencies to halt any work on Syrian refugee resettlements immediately, “in order to ensure the security and safety of Iowans” in light of the Paris attacks.

Let’s look at this in a broader context.  More than 32,000 people per year are killed by guns in the United States.  Yet we’re supposed to be afraid of a bunch of refugees because of a terrorist attack in France that while a tragedy, as all violence is, resulted in about the same number of deaths that occur by guns in the U.S. approximately every two days.

But at least Branstad’s approach to keeping out refugees is equal-opportunity rejection.  Jeb! wants a religious test.  Here’s what President Obama has to say about that.

 

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Drake University Democratic Debate

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Paul Deaton
Photo Credit Cedar Rapids Gazette

Photo Credit Cedar Rapids Gazette

The winner in last night’s debate at Drake University’s Sheslow Auditorium was the American people as Hillary Clinton, Martin O’Malley and Bernie Sanders discussed, and actually debated issues that matter. This is in sharp contrast with the multi-level Republican debates.

Only 700 people had tickets to attend, so I closed the door of my study, put on my headphones and shut down all browsers except the CBS live stream. I took notes using Microsoft Outlook.

It is ironic that Twitter, a debate co-sponsor, was pretty useless once the questioning began. With an avalanche of more than a thousand Tweets per minute, it was more than a person could comprehend, let alone participate effectively in. I opted to listen to the actual debate.

From here, the race is between Clinton and Sanders. Martin O’Malley had his last chance to gain traction in the race, and he whiffed.

One of O’Malley’s campaign taglines is “new leadership.” He failed to demonstrate it last night. When directly asked about his lack of experience in international affairs, O’Malley dodged the question. He won’t break loose from low polling numbers by dodging key questions. Without more support, he lacks a path to win any of the four early states.

As noted previously, it is hard to find fault with O’Malley’s core positions. The trouble is with his narrative. His style of using personal anecdotes, pointing to what he did in Maryland, is part of the reason he isn’t getting traction despite solid Democratic policy positions. O’Malley says the country needs new leadership, but doesn’t provide meaningful evidence to back up his assertion he has that capacity.

Then there were two.

There is a lot to like about both Clinton and Sanders. As with the results of a single poll, there is not as much meaning in a single debate performance as some supporters assert. At the same time, Clinton is the better debater and it showed.

Clinton’s response to the question about her campaign contributions from Wall Street demonstrated her mastery of the debate form. She began with a curious statement about needing to “do more” to regulate Wall Street. She didn’t say the words, but essentially lit the fuse for Sanders and O’Malley to go off on their position of re-instating Glass Steagall. Clinton’s position is re-instating Glass Steagall is not enough, and she was able to frame the discussion on her terms.

Reforming Wall Street and reducing the influence of money in politics is Sanders’ signature issue. It appeared Clinton got Sanders’ goat because he brought Glass Steagall up in the next question even though it wasn’t the topic. As long as there is money in politics (which there will be forever) and presidents appoint financiers from Goldman Sachs and J. P. Morgan Chase to key positions in their administration (which Sanders said he would not do), the appearance of impropriety will exist. Clinton didn’t shake this completely, but defended herself well in the debate.

The other topic where Clinton was able to frame the debate to her advantage was about increasing the minimum wage. Sanders and O’Malley support the Democratic party platform plank to raise minimum wage to $15 per hour. Clinton supports $12 per hour.

In asking the question, Kathie Obradovich of the Des Moines Register gave framing favorable to Clinton, mentioning the concerns of Alan Krueger over raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour. Insiders would have known Clinton’s deviation from the party platform and that her position is partly a response to Krueger. As Clinton pointed out during the debate, Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Krugman agrees with her. While both Sanders and O’Malley piled on Clinton, she maintained the upper hand on this topic.

A couple of people remarked in social media about Sanders’ increasing hoarseness during the two hours. I was reminded of John Kerry having the same issue with losing his voice on the trail in 2004. Kerry made the decision to send running mate John Edwards to an event in Cedar Rapids so he could save his voice for an upcoming debate. It’s insider baseball, but as I listened to Sanders I thought he should have backed off some of his events the previous day to save his vocal chords. He was able to adequately speak, but the hoarseness was a distraction. Clinton was not without fault in this regard. She sounded like she needed a drink of water as her laughter cackled across the stage after her competitors said things she must have thought were outrageous.

Tony Leys of the Des Moines Register made this comment on Twitter:

Some don’t want to hear it, but the Democratic primary debates are about Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada period. While Sanders’ reference to bloated spending on the nuclear weapons complex may provide traction in New Hampshire, Clinton was the only candidate to use the reality of Terry Branstad’s Iowa effectively.

There are two more national debates before the Feb. 1 Iowa caucuses.

Posted in 2016 Election Campaign, Iowa Caucuses | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Electric Car Emissions vs. Gasoline

Posted on November 15, 2015 by Dave Bradley

Thought this would be of interest to folks here: (about 2 minutes)

Posted in Environment | Tagged | Comments Off on Electric Car Emissions vs. Gasoline

Rob Hogg: Medicaid Mess And More

Posted on November 15, 2015 by Dave Bradley
Rob Hogg

Rob Hogg

Robb Hogg newsletter Nov.13

MEDICAID MESS

Governor Branstad’s current push to privatize Iowa Medicaid has upset many Iowans. Critics say it tries to do too much too fast, and is too disorganized, and does not accomplish any public benefit. Last month, I asked Governor Branstad to show the documentation on how this change would save money without cutting benefits or access to health care. He said he had no documentation.

I hope we can slow down or stop Governor Branstad’s proposal. If you agree, please take a moment today to sign a petition urging a six month delay until July 1, 2016. The petition can be found at www.IowansForQualityMedicaid.com.

Let’s take time to get this right.

CEDAR RIVER WATERSHED COALITION

I am attending the Cedar River Watershed Coalition meeting today in Waterloo, where the focus is on urban measures to reduce the risk of future flood damage. Although it has been more than seven years since the Flood of 2008, recent flood damage in South Carolina and Texas underscores the ongoing need for flood preparedness. If you would like to be involved in the Cedar River Watershed Coalition, please contact Mary Beth Stevenson at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources at marybeth.stevenson@dnr.iowa.gov.

CLIMATE SOLUTIONS TOUR

As part of a “climate solutions” tour, I visited facilities this week in Cedar Rapids (solar-powered electric vehicle charging stations), Pella (green buildings), Coon Rapids (land management), Carroll (solar-powered green building), Ames (biorenewable research), Decorah (solar power), and Charles City (ethanol plant and wind farm) to highlight the fact that climate solutions work for the environment and for our economy.

We need to act to address climate change, and the good news is we have solutions that work. Please speak up with federal and state elected officials to urge their support for public policy that promotes clean, home-grown renewable energy and other solutions to climate change.

INDEPENDENCE MHI VISIT

On Wednesday afternoon, November 18, I will be visiting the Independence Mental Health Institute as part of my service as chair of the Senate Government Oversight Committee. It is critical that we have facilities and programs that are working to meet the needs of our most vulnerable Iowans. I look forward to learning more about what the Independence MHI is doing and how it is serving the people of Iowa.

Posted in Climate Action, Environment Iowa, medicaid expansion, Rob Hogg | Tagged | Comments Off on Rob Hogg: Medicaid Mess And More

Sunday Funday: The Actress Speaks The Truth Edition

Posted on November 15, 2015 by Dave Bradley

Lawrence eviscerates Republicans

1) The password to access the wifi for journalists covering the Republican debate Tuesday was what?

2) Aung San Suu Kyi appears ready to head the government of what country despite not being elected?

3) Last Saturday a guitar once used by what rock start sold for $2.4 million at auction?

4) The president of what university resigned Monday in response to racial tensions?

5) The Obama administration appealed a negative ruling by the 5th District Court directly to the Supreme Court on what issue?

6) After a long study the Obama administration finally announced that it would killing what international project?

7) Wednesday was the biggest online shopping day in history due to what holiday created by Chinese merchant Ali-Baba?

8) On this date in 1777 our first constitution, known as what, was adopted by the Continental congress?

9) As of Monday what two states bordering Iowa sell medical marijuana products?

10) What professional group filed suit against the Branstad Administration to stop the rush to managed care for Iowa’s medicaid program?

11) Iowa saw some rare November events Wednesday as what ripped across Iowa?

12) The SCOTUS granted certiorari for a case out of Texas concerning what divisive issue Friday?

13) What group of workers went on strike Tuesday in their “fight for $15?”

14) What former German Chancellor and architect of the European currency system died last week?

15) A man was arrested outside the White House fence when he deployed what weapon and fired at the White House?

16) As of March of 2016, Sony will no longer make what recording medium that is has manufactured for 40 years?

17) Joe’s Crab Shack announced it will test what new policy for its workers at 18 of its stores?

18) The announcement of the retirement of Wyoming’s only representative has what former Wyoming senate candidate thinking about running?

19) November 19th, 1863, what speech that becomes one of the basic statements of America is delivered?

20) The Iowa Utilities Board held a very well attended meeting in Boone Thursday concerning what issue?

Uh-oh! Big trouble in Paris! Pay attention!

Answers:

1) stophillary

2) Myanmar aka Burma

3) John Lennon

4) Missouri

5) His executive order on immigrants

6) the Keystone pipeline

7) “singles day” 11/11

8) Articles of Confederation

9) Minnesota and Illinois. But they only sell to citizens of their states

10) the Iowa Hospital Association

11) strong storms including tornados

12) access to safe abortions

13) fast food workers

14) Helmut Schmidt

15) a slingshot

16) beta-max tapes

17) pay it’s workers a decent hourly wage and no tipping

18) Liz Cheney

19) The Gettysburg Address

20) the Bakken pipeline.

The glide path to the holiday season is on. Adjust lives accordingly.

Posted in Humor | Comments Off on Sunday Funday: The Actress Speaks The Truth Edition

If Republicans Hate Government, Why Do They Run?

Posted on November 14, 2015 by Dave Bradley

fugelsang republicans love government

Where ever two Republicans get together one topic of conversation is bound to be how bad the government is. The complaint is always too much government meddling in the wrong things. They almost sound anarchist in their desire to dismantle government. Yet they have built quite an election machine with the express purpose of running government from the schoolhouse to the White House and every stop in between.

The targets for their wrath over the years have been welfare programs, dismantling any social programs such as Social Security and Medicare and any regulatory programs.

Education has been one of the very biggest targets. What they have done to education is quite illustrative of why they really do not want to destroy government as their rhetoric would indicate. Rather than divorcing government from education, Republicans have come up with ingenious ways to milk federal dollars from the system and steer them to the wealthy.

Similarly Republicans see all levels of government as steering utilities that direct tax dollars from the poor and middle class to the elite – those captains and generals of industry who need an infusion of government dollars to be successful.

Iowans have one of the greatest examples of this going on right in front of their eyes with the actions of Terry Branstad in recent months. Vetoing money for schools one day and in the space of a couple months turning around to give businesses a tax break of almost equal cost, without even any input from the legislature. At nearly the same time, the governor created a method for private companies to siphon off dollars meant for the health care of Iowa’s poorest citizens and redirected it to private companies. And so money targeted for public good ends up in the pockets of private companies.

Thus Branstad illustrates how Republicans view government – it is an institution to be used to take from the poor and give to the rich using methods that can be created on the fly when needed.

Posted in Big Government, Branstad, Education, medicaid expansion, Republicn Policy | Tagged | Comments Off on If Republicans Hate Government, Why Do They Run?

Joni Ernst And The Koch Brothers

Posted on November 14, 2015 by Dave Bradley

joni ernst the perfect Koch investment

A true tale with foreboding for the 2016 election.

From politico.com comes the story of how Joni Ernst became the darling of the Koch brothers and how they disguise their involvement through layers of operatives:

Until now, little has been known about the secretive role played by the Kochs’ donors and operatives in boosting Ernst. The Koch network has focused primarily on policy fights, mostly leaving the spadework of recruiting and nurturing candidates to the party.

But the network’s financial support for Ernst ― detailed here for the first time ― offers the first signs of a move into GOP primaries. The Kochs and their allies are investing in a pipeline to identify, cultivate and finance business-oriented candidates from the local school board all the way to the White House, and Koch operatives are already looking for opportunities to challenge GOP incumbents deemed insufficiently hard-line in their opposition to government spending and corporate subsidies.

The ambitious effort, spearheaded partly by a for-profit consulting firm called Aegis Strategic that’s backed by the Koch network, is one of several ways in which the brothers and their allies are seeking to influence the types of candidates who carry the GOP banner. The network has taken on a vetting role in the GOP presidential primary, offering favored candidates access to its donors and activists. And some within the network have even advocated targeting from six to 12 GOP House members who have run afoul of the Koch orthodoxy on fiscal issues and who are facing 2016 primary challenges, sources told POLITICO.

<>

In the Ernst race, the Koch support included hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of television ads funded by undisclosed donors and tens of thousands of dollars in direct campaign contributions. The spending would have been difficult to trace back to the Koch network during Ernst’s campaign, but details are expected to emerge this week when the central Koch nonprofit, Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce, files its tax disclosures.

Below is the youtube video of Ernst’s participation in a Koch sponsored senate candidates panel. The transcript is found here.

Throughout the story and the video, there is little doubt that the Koch brothers will use their money to change the USA from a democracy to a form of government controlled by those with the means to pump vast amounts of money into the process or an oligarchy. For them it is not a patriotic gesture, but an investment. They have already spent massive millions through various front organizations and have announced they intend now to spend billions. But though they will spend billions they can expect a return on investment of even more billions.

The Kochs are certainly not the only rich people with a desire to control the the most powerful nation in history through the investment in political candidates. Many pundits have noted that the current Republican debates have less to do with informing the public and much more to do with the individual candidates selling themselves to a rich backer such as the Kochs, Shelly Adelson or Peter Singer.

As noted by Iowa’s experience, even though a candidate holds truly anti-people positions, packaging and advertising and great television presence are much more important than policy. As our junior senator works on destroying Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the ACA and pensions, few Iowans will even notice because we will be treated to carefully choreographed public appearances and TV ads that will tout Ernst as an “All-American Girl.”

Let what happened to Bruce Braley be a guide to what could happen across the US next year from the county to the White House. There will be a huge amount of money to pave over the negative aspects of candidates while leaving any policy positions left unspoken. The constant barrage of meaningless ads will be hard to beat. The money from many billionaires will be combined with one goal: electing representatives, senators and a president that will deliver government for the rich.

If this happens, America will finally be totally divided into the haves and have-nots. All the work that went into slowly evolving a real democracy for all will have been squashed in less than a generation with a few people with lots of money and their willing stooges.

Just to hedge their bets because they can’t buy elections outright, the wealthy have had their stooges work on fixing elections for decades. Last week’s outcome in Kentucky was a fine example of that. If you can’t control elections through a simple purchase, then you make it really hard for your opposition to vote. When they do vote, the districts are so gerrymandered as to make their chances of winning slim. And of course when all else fails, the old standby of easily hackable electronic voting machines can still deliver an election in the pinch.

Posted in 2014 Election Campaign, 2016 Election Campaign, Bruce Braley, Clean Elections, Corporate Greed, Joni Ernst, Koch Brothers, money out of politics | Comments Off on Joni Ernst And The Koch Brothers

The Facts About CAFOs Speak For Themselves

Posted on November 13, 2015 by Trish Nelson

factory farm map

CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation) proliferation is ruining Iowa. Jefferson County Farmers and Neighbors are fighting hard to save what we have left. Please share this article and help them get the facts out about CAFOs.

jfaniowa.org

Letter to Editor Submitted in Response to Burlington Hawkeye Article

In the October 11, 2015 edition of the Burlington Hawkeye, business editor Rex Troute published a column, “Tired of the Tears Over Big Hog Operations.” The article was in response to the JFAN Annual Meeting. You can read a hard copy PDF of the article here.

In response, JFAN submitted the following letter to the editor. As of November 9, the letter has not been published. We are sharing it with you in full below.

The Facts About CAFOs Speak for Themselves

by Diane Rosenberg | Executive Director, Jefferson County Famers & Neighbors, Inc.

Rex Troute says he’s tired of the “crying over modern hog production, ” that we can’t go back to the old days, and should just accept industrial farming in order to efficiently “feed the world.” Anyone can throw out platitudes to make their point, however statements have more significance when they are backed by medical, scientific and environmental research. The Jefferson County Farmers & Neighbors Board of Directors takes exception to Mr. Troute’s comments and offers the following facts.

We’re going to have to change the way we raise hogs in Iowa because industrial hog production is destroying rural Iowa and infringing on the inalienable rights of thousands of Iowans to clean air and water and a good quality of life. And, yes, there are alternatives to CAFOs.

To address several of Mr. Troute’s points:

1. It’s a false argument to say rejecting CAFOs is just yearning for the “old days.” Many Iowans reject CAFOs because of the harm they cause to health, the environment, property values, rural economies, and quality of life – all documented in 50 years of scientific research.

2. Alternatives to CAFOs do exist. One example is raising hogs in hoop house operations using deeply bedded straw. Iowa State University researchers have found that the cost of raising hogs is comparable to CAFOs. The benefits? They employ more people, cost less to build, don’t need confinement pits or prophylactic antibiotics, and are humane. In fact, consumers are getting wise, increasingly demanding humanely raised, non-CAFO meat, opening up more opportunities for traditional producers.

3. There is no evidence that independent, traditional pork farmers can’t produce enough food without CAFOs. 80% of the world produces its food without the benefit of industrial agriculture reports the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. Until the agribusiness expansion pushed out independent farmers, thousands of traditional family farms produced plenty of food for the US and beyond. Yes, we have a larger population to feed than 30 years ago. But had agribusiness expansion not decimated independent producers, the number of farmers would have grown to meet the demand, and rural communities would be robust.

3. The foul, debilitating stench from CAFOs is vastly different than the “smell of money” produced by traditional farms. Today’s hog manure putrefies for 6-12 months in underground pits devoid of air and light. It produces over 300 chemicals including 150 gases. Hydrogen sulfide and ammonia are among the worst, causing headaches, nausea, vomiting, confusion and respiratory ailments – all documented by peer-reviewed studies.

4. That some hog waste wound up in streams when hogs were on pasture is a typical industry talking point. But it’s an indisputable fact that the DNR documents a three-fold increase in impaired waterways over the last 15 years as CAFOs continue to replace traditional farms.

The health, wealth, future, and even heart and soul of rural Iowa are being sacrificed for corporate profits. Iowa needs more people crying for a change otherwise Iowa risks becoming the nation’s “throwaway state” for the benefit of agribusiness interests.

Posted in Environment, Factory Farms (CAFOs), Farming, Local Control | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The Facts About CAFOs Speak For Themselves

Un-Koch Your Campus

Posted on November 12, 2015 by Trish Nelson

unkoch my campus

Visit the website Unkochmycampus.org.  In Iowa I found ISU, Cornell College, St. Ambrose Unversity, Buena Vista University, and Northwestern College on the list.  Click on the link to see if your college takes Koch money.

 

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On Being A Veteran

Posted on November 11, 2015 by Paul Deaton
Tank Hill, Fort Jackson, S.C. ca. 1978

Tank Hill, Fort Jackson, S.C. ca. 1978

My 1975 enlistment in the U.S. Army had everything to do with how screwed up the military was coming out of Vietnam. I asked myself, if regular people didn’t step up and fix the mess, who will?

I almost didn’t get in.

Enlisting for OCS (Officer Candidate School), the people who interviewed me before signing me up said, “If he washes out of OCS, then he’ll serve six years enlisted.” They said that right in front of me.

Perhaps my shoulder-length hair didn’t indicate “officer material.” I suspected then, and now, the reason they gave me a chance was because I met the qualifications on paper and they had a quota to fill during a time when public sentiment toward soldiers was as low as we consider Washington lobbyists, corrupt politicians, rats and blue green algae today.

I got in and breezed through basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina on the infamous “Tank Hill.” I remember standing at attention in front of our barracks with some of my mates while General Omar Bradley, the “G.I.’s General,” was driven by in the back seat of a car.

Next was Fort Benning, Georgia for OCS where the company commander tried to ditch me, drug testing me almost daily for a while. Even if I was a user, how was I supposed to get illicit substances when locked up on base for the first eight weeks of training without visitors? Regretfully, I brought some No-Doz with me from Iowa, which was discovered and confiscated (I think) during one of the repeated inspections of my personal gear. I made it through OCS and was commissioned a second lieutenant, with Mother coming down to pin on my gold bars. It was a big deal at the time.

From Benning I took leave and drove home in my brand new pickup truck. A half dozen of us newly minted lieutenants went to the car dealership in nearby Columbus to leverage our buying power. It was a brand new yellow Chevy Luv. After a week or so at home, I drove to Charleston, South Carolina, stopping overnight at a high school friend’s home in Terre Haute, Ind. My vehicle was loaded in Charleston to Bremerhaven, Germany, and I flew to Frankfurt am Main, arriving at my unit in Mainz-Gonsenheim just before the Christmas holiday.

I was assigned to a mechanized infantry battalion as a platoon leader and swear every soldier assigned was either on drugs or selling them. One-by-one people were caught and sent home or to the stockade. On Friday nights I remember catching people using heroin and running them down to the Military Police station. The charges almost never stuck, and if they did, when the soldier was released, he was required to see a drug counselor. It turned out the counselor was also a drug dealer.

In Germany we did most of our practice maneuvers in the winter to minimize what was called maneuver damage to the German countryside. Soldiers used every excuse possible to avoid going out for the sub-zero degree training. It turned out a group of them was dealing drugs and pimping prostitutes across the street from the base. The ring leaders needed trusted lieutenants to stay back and tend the business.

I served three years as an officer, becoming a company executive officer and battalion adjutant, and then got out. I liked the military because one always knew where one stood in the social pecking order. We wore that on our sleeves. It was some of the hardest work I ever did. I felt fully engaged in trying to do something positive for our country.

The mess I encountered didn’t get straightened out until later. I could see the beginnings of it from the group of officers coming to Europe from TRADOC. The unstated mission that everyone knew was to transition the Army from it’s post-Vietnam condition into a force with operational tactics designed to fight for oil in the Middle East.

Things were getting tense in Iran toward the end of my tour of duty. Evacuations had already begun through nearby Wiesbaden. When I asked a group of officers for a volunteer to go to Iran, no one raised their hand. As we used to say, “the balloon was about to go up.” Less than a month after I returned to Iowa, 52 hostages were seized at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.

I don’t understand veterans recognition in the 21st Century. Everyone thanks veterans for their service if they know he or she served. At the grocery store there was a sign in the window advertising a free breakfast for veterans on Nov. 11. Do they think we can’t afford to make our own?

I’m sure they mean well, but to me, it is one more thing on a list of grievances with the rampant militarism and imperialism that characterizes the United States today. I didn’t defend my country for a free meal on Veterans Day.

Whether my military service was a success or a failure, I don’t know. I’m glad I served. It’s what somebody who is a nobody, just clay going to clay, can do to serve a greater good.

We can better thank veterans by taking care of their trauma from serving… and by giving peace a chance.

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