Trish Nelson continues her summer break on RAGBRAI, sending these photographs from Butler County, home of those great Butler County Democrats. Safe travels and have fun!
Butler County Democrats on RAGBRAI
Butler County Democrats Parade Float
Butler County Democrats
Demanding Solutions in Butler County
Butler County Democrats
Photo Credit: jameswebb.com
Many Democratic caucus goers are dismissive of former U.S. Senator Jim Webb’s chances in the Feb. 1 Iowa caucuses. The recent Quinnipiac University poll shows 84 percent of registered Iowa voters haven’t heard of him, while the same numbers for his competitors are Clinton 9%; Sanders 39%; O’Malley 82%; Chafee 87%.
One argues that as he meets voters, he also might win them over, but Webb’s strategies and tactics are held close to the vest and there is a lot of work for him to do before Labor Day to catch up with Clinton and Sanders. What we see is the happy face of Iowa organizer Joe Stanley showing up at multiple events per day since Friday’s IDP fundraiser, regularly posting about them on social media, and zinging other candidates with social media barbs like this:
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js“Webb also proved himself a serious person,” said John Deeth of Webb’s performance at the cattle call o’candidates the Hall of Fame Celebration had become. Webb had his chance to make a first impression.
While this author is a natural Iowa constituent of Jim Webb, Webb’s hesitancy to act on climate, support the UN approved agreement that blocks Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon, and service in the Reagan administration are all problematic for different reasons. I’m not making anything of it, I’m just sayin’ he’s not playing caucus the expected Iowa way.
At the same time, I believe Webb’s stock is on the rise after the Hall of Fame celebration and here’s why.
1. The IDP should blow up the coordinated campaign, as I have written previously. Whether that’s possible, I’m not sure, but Webb’s true maverick stance indicates if anyone can do it, he has a chance.
2. He turned down an opportunity to speak at cattle call #2, the Aug. 4 Iowa Democratic Wing Ding, which is currently sold out.
Aide for @JimWebbUSA confirms he won’t be at @iowawingding w Clinton Sanders O’Malley & Chafee, due to “another trip in the works for then.”
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) July 22, 2015
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Coupled with the idea that he has to win some of the four early states, Webb will be pressed for time. One more appearance at a multi-candidate event in front of party regulars would have diminishing returns. Especially since the first cattle call is on C-SPAN, available for viewing as people decide for whom to caucus.
3. If Deeth’s characterization is accurate, Webb must have a plan to turn out his voters caucus night. Not much public evidence of a plan today, but there must be one if he’s serious and I think he is.
There is a flight from partisan politics and a focus on getting things done in the community. This is reflected in the fact that the largest registered voter block is No Party (705,658), followed by Republicans (609,020) and Democrats (584,737), according to June numbers from the Iowa Secretary of State. As 2008 unforgettably demonstrated, a key tactic to winning the caucus is turning out your voters and making sure as many as possible are people who don’t usually caucus. With same day registration, any eligible voter can turn up and participate.
It’s going to take more than Joe Stanley’s happy face to develop and execute a Webb ground game. Given the fact he’s still in the race after lengthy deliberations, he may be better served keeping the strategy and tactics of this to his small circle of trusted advisers who have been with him for many years. In political campaigns, there is little reason to do what the other folks do, and that Webb sets his own direction has been his hallmark.
4. Webb is an experienced, disciplined tactician. When George Allen stumbled, Webb seized the opportunity and won election to the U.S. Senate from Virginia. The same Quinnipiac poll that showed Webb unknown to most Iowans, showed Democrats very beatable by some of the Republican field. It is way too early for polls to mean much, but the media picture and polling is not always what matters 6+ months from the caucus.
That Webb has proven able to seize opportunity in a developing ground situation, and make the most of it, provides his campaign something Clinton’s massive campaign staff and Sanders’ tent revival congregation seem much less likely to be able to do: pivot on a dime. In my experience in campaigns, this skill matters a lot, and can be a deciding factor as it was in the Virginia senate race.
5. Finally, Webb’s veteran status matters. So many years after the fall of Saigon, I believe Webb and people like him did their best in a bad situation.
At the same time, they pursued the war, fought its battles and are culpable. Maybe if we had read more stories about company grade officers like Jim Webb instead of William Calley public opinion about Vietnam would be different.
The public view of veterans has changed. Regardless what one thinks of our endless wars, the politicians who promote them, and the soldiers who fight, get wounded and die in them, battlefield valor is something rare and recognizable. No question Jim Webb has it and lives a life of principle.
The more people learn about him, they will see this characteristic, and maybe get off their duff on caucus night and stand for him. There is more hope of that today than there was a week ago.
Both Iowa Senators, Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, said they would use the 60-day evaluation period congress mandated for their approval of the agreement between Iran and the P5+1 states (United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China and Germany) to reign in the Iranian nuclear program and prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. Their full statements on announcement of the agreement are below.
Many of their colleagues have already spoken against approval of the agreement, so a modicum of discretion to study the agreement is both needed and represents Iowa as well as can be expected from our two current senators.
President Obama campaigned on the idea of talking to Iran, something his predecessor was unwilling to do. He not only initiated discussions, he was a driving force behind rallying our allies to enter into negotiations to bring Iran into compliance with the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty to which they are a party. The United Nations approved the deal on Monday.
Here are some facts:
1. This is not, as Senator Ernst said, “the Obama administration’s nuclear deal with Iran.” Germany and the members of the United Nations Security Council reached this agreement.
2. Israel, while a U.S. ally, is a scofflaw in the community of nations by virtue of its nuclear weapons program. They are not party to the NPT, nor have they officially acknowledged their nuclear weapons program. Israel is the preeminent leader in covert nuclear weapons programs.
3. If the Congress seeks to stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons, killing the Iran deal is the wrong way to do it. “If the Congress kills this deal, there will be no restraints—none whatsoever—no inspections, it’s over, and the sanctions will disappear,” said Secretary of State John Kerry to Steve Inskeep on Monday. “Because our colleagues who we negotiated with will say, ‘Well, look, the United States Congress killed this, we didn’t—but now everybody’s free to do what they want.'”
4. The agreement is not about trusting Iran. “You can’t trust Iran,” said Kerry, “and nothing in this deal is based on trust. We trust that we have the ability to enforce this deal; we trust that the deal, if implemented, will do the job. And if it’s not implemented, we trust that we have every option available to us that we need.”
5. The deal does not empower Iran, enabling them to have greater influence in the Middle East. Kerry told Inskeep,
Iran without a nuclear weapon is a very different Iran than one with one, and this is why many of us are so amazed at the reaction of some people.
Israel, for instance, is much safer without an Iranian nuclear weapon. And we believe that what we have done in this deal—and even before this deal, in the last two years—is roll back Iran’s nuclear program. Before we became engaged with Iran, they had a two-month breakout time. Now they’ll be going to a year breakout time. Is Israel safer with a year, or aren’t you? I mean, this is pretty straightforward.
So, the fact is, we’ll have inspectors in the country; we’ll have restraints on what [Iran] can do, in terms of levels of enrichment, restraints on the size of their stockpile, restraint on their research and development. Clearly people are safer with those restraints in place—and forever, for lifetime, they have to live up to the access under the additional protocol of the IEA, they have to have huge restraints on the uranium production and other things.
So I believe over time we will show people in the Congress and elsewhere in the country that Israel, the Gulf states, the countries in the region are much safer with this deal than without it.
Now it the time to weigh in on the Iran deal with Senator Grassley here, and Senator Ernst here.
Senator Chuck Grassley statement on the Iran deal:
“I’ve always been skeptical about an agreement with Iran that fails to fully dismantle its nuclear program. This is a country that sponsors terrorism and has a history of hiding its nuclear program from outside inspectors. I’m concerned that Iran’s relief from international sanctions could offer a lot more carrot than stick. That would open the spigot to support Iran’s terror activities and nuclear capabilities, threatening our national security and the security of our allies in the region.
“It’s important that under the legislation Congress passed, the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, Congress will have 60 days to review the agreement before the President could waive any congressionally imposed sanctions on Iran. Under the act, Congress will review every line of the agreement before approving or disapproving the deal. We need to understand all of the components of the agreement. Does the deal allow for anytime, anywhere inspections, including military sites? When and how will sanctions be lifted, and what process exists for re-imposing sanctions, should Iran violate the deal? Will sanctions on conventional arms and ballistic missile technology be lifted as a result of the agreement? Will this deal prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons capability and improve the security of the United States and our allies? These are just a few of the questions that come to mind.”
Senator Joni Ernst statement on the Iran deal:
“The 60 days will allow Congress and the American people to thoroughly scrutinize every aspect of the agreement with Iran. While I am still reviewing the details, I have very serious concerns that this agreement concedes too much to Iran and will ultimately strengthen the pathway for Iran to achieve a nuclear weapon. The bottom line, Iran must never be allowed to develop a single nuclear weapon – not now or at any point in the future.
“Iran is the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism and has aligned themselves with groups that are hostile to the United States and our allies. Therefore, we cannot afford premature sanction relief which has helped to curb Iranian support of terrorist activity. We cannot trust that Iran won’t use additional resources as an opportunity to fund terrorism and other proxy groups which pose a direct threat to our allies and national security interests in the region.
“Iran’s quarter century effort to obtain a nuclear weapon and long-standing support for terrorism will not subside overnight. We also cannot trust that Iran is complying with limitations on their nuclear program without stronger inspections. It is paramount that we are able to verify and enforce every aspect of Iranian compliance in order to confront and contain their nuclear ambitions.
“Iran is one of the greatest threats to peace and stability of our time, and we have a duty to stand behind our friends and closest ally in the region – Israel. The stakes are too high for the United States to risk any mistakes in an agreement with Iran. I look forward to carefully reviewing this deal in Congress to make sure we preserve our own national security and the pursuit of stability in the world.”
IDP Hall of Fame Press Pass
The corporate media deserves criticism.
Occasionally they redeem themselves, as in Margie Mason’s coverage of slavery on Indonesian fishing boats for Associated Press, but mostly its people produce hack work and appear to do what they must to get through the day and draw a paycheck. Political writers can be the worst of the lot.
I secured a press pass for the Iowa Democratic Party Hall of Fame celebration July 17 and sat among them for a few hours.
It is important to exclude some Iowa reporters from a blanket condemnation. At the event I saw Dean Borg of Iowa Public Television, James Q. Lynch of Source Media, and O. Kay Henderson of Radio Iowa, all of whom had had long days, and whose work is important and anything but journalistic sausage. I also think highly of Ed Tibbetts of the Quad City Times, Kathie O’Bradovich of Gannett, Art Cullen of the Storm Lake Times and Bret Hayworth of the Sioux City Journal. There are other good journalists missing from this inoculation, and I have no criticism of bloggers like me who work for beer money or no compensation at all. What went on behind the press pen in Cedar Rapids confirmed my worst fears.
Behind the Confinement Fence
The press area at the Cedar Rapids Convention Complex was very much part of Iowa, including the fencing which surrounded the confinement. It was the kind one buys at the farm and fleet store or Theisen’s to fence in livestock. One entered through a private door to the platform where more than a dozen video cameras were configured on tripods. In front was a long table with chairs placed as closely as possible together. My movements were restricted the way pigs and chickens are in concentrated animal feeding operations. By arriving early, I got a center seat and an electrical outlet to recharge my mobile phone. I was happy just to be there.
The first faux drama had to do with Hillary Clinton. A reporter from a large news organization asked in a tone of moral outrage if I’d heard the Clinton campaign wouldn’t allow the participants in the pre-event rally on First Avenue talk to the press. My moral outrage having been burned up during the early George W. Bush years, I have been paying attention to the media’s favorite story, how “Hillary hates the press.” I simply said, “no I hadn’t,” not about to encourage her.
The person next to me was having trouble connecting to the Internet. I looked at her laptop screen and she appeared to be connected. Unsatisfied, she ended up calling her IT department and taking her computer outside the confinement. I hope she’s alright. Another journalist quickly filled her slot.
Before the event, in a bit of local color I glanced two seats over and noticed John Deeth was using a Windows machine. The author of Linux Monday responded:
Busted. You caught me in Windows https://t.co/mR95h67ibf
— John Deeth (@johndeeth) July 17, 2015
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I don’t think he had any choice, as he previously explained how Microsoft killed Linux on netbooks.
“I didn’t expect to see you in the press section,” said a prominent Hillary Clinton supporter involved with a local quilting project.
Throughout the build up to the main program people stopped by and chatted, having noticed me in the cage. A woman took a long video while walking the length of the press confinement, the way one photographs a group of zoo monkeys.
A state legislator offered to pass us food through the bars as press was excluded from the dinner. Now one knows that press descriptions of the “rubber chicken dinner” have more to do with their feeling of sour grapes about being excluded. From the look of things, these folks with their fancy bottled water and expensive clothing could afford their own dinner. Of course, I ate before arriving so as not to be distracted while observing the event. That is too practical for this crowd.
What was worse, other than the articles written during and after the event, was the constant chatter about set shots and internal company politics. Some were focused on anything but the proceedings on stage, to the point where I was surprised the press corps stood up for the pledge of allegiance. Some were paying attention, but I came away believing many stories had been set long before party chair Dr. Andy McGuire opened the proceedings.
I’d do it again given the opportunity. The best preparation is to go in having a plan and then work the plan despite the distractions. Importantly, pay attention to the actual event, something apparently not possible for many in the national press corps.
Listen live Mondays at 11 am
DES MOINES–In a move with few precedents, former legislator and crusader for social and environmental justice Ed Fallon has threatened to subsist on squirrels and weeds. Either that or seek work with a major corporation–his email, written in obvious frenzy as he waited to be served at Ritual Cafe, depicting the uncertainty of his future.
While many agreed there were plenty of noxious weeds needing mitigation, crossing the squirrel line has some in Des Moines upset.
“I encouraged Ed to seek a path of non-violence,” said Des Moines Catholic Worker Frank Cordaro. ” I suggested he witness against torture with us, rather than torture squirrels.”
At this time Fallon’s future remains uncertain. Here is the text of his plea for financial help to continue his work.
Dear Friends,
Moment of absolute candor: For the past thirteen months, I’ve worked full-time as an unpaid volunteer for justice, the environment, our democracy and other critical causes near and dear your heart and mine.
It hasn’t been easy, but I am encouraged by the feedback I receive from you and many others. I don’t like to toot my own horn, but I’m told what I have to offer Iowa and our country is unique. My three decades of political activism have given me connections, experience and a valuable platform from which to get things done on the pressing challenges of our time.
I live simply and resourcefully. Yet, I can’t continue to work 50-60 hours a week as a volunteer and make ends meet. If the work is to continue, I need a whole bunch of you to step forward and support my work financially, ideally by becoming monthly supporters.
Please consider $10, $25, $50 or $100 a month, as your resources allow.
Click here to support the Fallon Forum, one of the only independent talk shows in Iowa. Your backing helps me and my production team provide cutting-edge programming with great guests, including today’s line-up: Attorney Wally Taylor discussing coal-fired power plants; Des Moines MPO’s Gunnar Olson and Windsor Heights Mayor Diana Willits discussing the complete streets initiative; Mississippi attorney Joe Murray discussing the role of the media in presidential politics.
Click here to support Climate Action NOW!, the successor to the Great March for Climate Action. Your backing allows our climate activism to bear fruit, including publishing a book based on my walk along the pipeline route; helping landowners and others get their voices heard in deliberations on the proposed pipeline; bird-dogging presidential candidates on climate issues; and two other major initiatives in the works that will be announced soon.
I want to continue fighting for you, our environment and our country – and I want to continue to do it full time. I’d rather not take a job at Monsanto, Exxon or Goldman Sachs, or live in a tent by the river and subsist on weeds and squirrels.
If enough of you step forward, I won’t have to.
So, do it for the squirrels and become a monthly supporter today. Thanks!
{Reminder: FILE A PETITION TO INTERVENE ON THE PIPELINE!! You have until July 27 to get the full volume of your voice heard in Iowa Utilities Board deliberations on the proposed Bakken Oil Pipeline. Click here for a copy of the petition.}
Join us live every Monday from 11 a.m.-noon on KDLF 1260 AM (Des Moines) and online. Call 515-528-8122 to add your voice to the conversation. The program re-broadcasts Wednesday on KHOI 89.1 FM (Ames) at 4 p.m. and Wednesday on KPVL 89.1 FM (Postville) at 7 p.m. Podcasts available, too.
Thanks – Ed Fallon
Iran deal built on verification, not trust
By Brittany Kimzey
As a young activist fighting to eliminate nuclear weapons, I’m often faced with pessimism. Apathetic peers, skeptics who call me naïve, and cynics who believe that complete disarmament is impossible.
But the reality is different.
A growing majority of Americans support a world free of nuclear weapons. Through my work with Global Zero, I find more people every day who are taking concrete actions for a nuclear weapons free world. The only thing holding us back is political will.
Our nation stands on the brink of a monumental agreement that will bring us closer to the elimination of nuclear weapons. Months of tense negotiations between Iran and the United Nations Security Council plus Germany have yielded a deal to halt Iran’s nuclear weapons program. Beyond preventing a tenth country from possessing nuclear weapons, the deal reduces the risk of a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. If the deal fails, Saudi Arabia will likely develop their own nuclear weapons, with Egypt not far behind. Thus, the deal with Iran sets a precedent of peaceful, hard fought diplomacy that promotes security in the region, and takes us closer to a nuclear weapons-free future.
Cynics are quick to point out the dishonest actions taken by Iran in the past. Fortunately, this deal is built on verification, not trust. The deal enacts an indisputable verification system that will constantly monitor all nuclear sites in Iran and any potential suppliers. Additionally, it eases only select sanctions related to Iran’s nuclear weapons program. These sanctions will snap back into place if Iran violates any part of the agreement. In the past, skeptics of the Global Zero movement have pointed to Iran’s nuclear weapons program to justify their opposition to disarmament. They said Iran would never agree to freeze its nuclear program, let alone roll it back. This deal proves them wrong.
Like so many others right here in Iowa, I hope to live in a world, where every person’s human rights are recognized and respected. A safer, peaceful, and more secure world free of nuclear weapons. The Iran deal demonstrates that, through effective diplomacy and multilateral leadership, we can make this world a reality.
Unfortunately, it’s not the people but Congress who determine whether we accept a deal with Iran and begin to realize our dreams of a nuclear-weapons free world. Our future rests upon their shoulders.
On the precipice of this historic deal, I find no other cause to be as urgent, no other action more critical, than the fight for global zero.
I call on Senators Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley to join me and so many other Iowans in supporting the deal with Iran.
~ Brittany Kimzey is a Global Zero Action Corps Leader based in Iowa City).
From Rep. Kirsten Running-Marquard
On July 2nd, Governor Branstad vetoed $56 million in urgently needed school funding. The money was approved by lawmakers in a compromise during the 2015 legislative session.
In an effort to restore school funding, I and other lawmakers are calling for a special session of the Iowa Legislature to overturn the veto. For a special session to occur, two-thirds of Iowa lawmakers (67 in the House/34 in the Senate) must formally request one. Above is my official petition.
Iowa school leaders say the result of the $56 million veto will be larger class sizes, fewer teachers, and higher property taxes. A petition from Iowans to lawmakers calling for a special session was also launched last week and has already gathered over 5,000 signatures. Anyone interested in signing the petition can go here.
The state just ended the fiscal year on the June 30th with a 6% increase in revenues and collected a record $8 billion for the first time in Iowa history. Over the last five years, school funding has slipped to about 1.85% annually, including one year when the Republican party and Governor Branstad left schools with zero. That’s compared to average increases of about 6% in the 1980’s to 4% in the 90’s.
Separately here is an analysis from Iowa Policy Project:
Some folks may buy into Gov. Branstad’s line about spending “one time money” as a solid reason for a line item veto. But as often happens, Republican “logic” falls apart under scrutiny. Mike Owen of Iowa Policy Project provides just such scrutiny:
Set aside for a moment that it can be quite sensible to use one-time funds for ongoing expenses. It depends on the circumstances. Set aside the fact that Iowa revenues and projections are strong and that state money seems to be available on an ongoing basis for corporate subsidies if not for restoring repeated shortfalls in education funding.
In the case at hand, the Governor vetoed one-time funds — for public schools, community colleges and the three regents universities — that ironically would have been spent in line with his own stated concern. The $55.7 million in one-time funds for local schools and area education agencies would have supplemented regular funding, set at 1.25 percent growth per pupil, all part of a package negotiated by the split-control Legislature.
Here’s the oft-stated concern about one-time funds, in a nutshell: You don’t spend one-time money on things that commit you to the same or greater spending in the future, because you don’t know whether the funds will be there later on.
For K-12 schools, the legislation specifies that funds “are intended to supplement, not supplant, existing school district funding for instructional expenditures.” It goes on to define “instructional expenditures” in such a way that assures the funds are for one-time uses that carry no additional commitment beyond the FY2016 budget year.
So, you can add to one-time expenses that you would have had to leave out, for purposes such as textbooks, library books, other instructional materials, transportation costs or educational initiatives to increase academic achievement. You can’t plan on having the same funds available in the following budget year.
For community colleges and the regents, each section of the bill included this stipulation: “Moneys appropriated in this section shall be used for purposes of nonrecurring expenses and not for operational purposes or ongoing expenses. For purposes of this section, ‘operational purposes’ means salary, support, administrative expenses, or other personnel-related costs.”
With or without the one-time funds that would have helped school districts, the legislative compromise ensures the continued erosion of the basic building block for school budgets, the per-pupil cost.
For the last six budget years, per-pupil budget growth has been above 2 percent only once. Once it was zero, and schools for the coming year are at 1.25 percent. This does not come close to meeting the costs of education at the same level year after year.
Supplemental State Aid (formerly termed “allowable growth) defines the percentage growth in the cost per pupil used to determine local school district budgets, which are based on enrollment. For FY2016, the Legislature and Governor have set the growth figure at 1.25 percent. Though state law requires this figure to be set about 16 months before the start of the fiscal year, the issue was not resolved until last week, when the Governor signed the legislation, and the fiscal year had already begun. The Senate passed 4 percent growth for FY2017 and the House 2 percent, but no compromise emerged and that remains unsettled. The education funding vetoed last week by the Governor affects separate one-time spending that would not have affected future budgets.
May have to be quarantined
The clown bus traveling to and from Ames had to stop several times to be disinfected. It seems a very virulent virus has infected the bus that is being used for a comedy act known as “The Republican Presidential Candidates Over-The-Top Clown Tour.” The virus is known simply as the Donald. The Donald has in recent weeks really bit the clown known as JEB! in the butt several times wreaking havoc on JEB!’s ability to think and speak. The Donald bug has also bitten clowns Marco and Randy. It has also caused havoc with the drivers and organizers of the tour to the point that about all anyone can talk about is the Donald.
artist’s rendering of virus
(photo from dailykos.com)
There is concern that if the Donald is allowed to live until August 6th, it may get out of its container and infect the general public.
Please exercise caution if you see this virus.
Hey time to see if you were paying attention
1) The New Horizon probe flew by Pluto this week giving earthlings a sense of pride. When was New Horizon launched?
2) What Iowa congressman is pushing a House resolution that states may “refuse to recognize or license same sex marriages?”
3) July 19th & 20th, 1848 a very important meeting was held at Seneca Falls, NY to discuss what issue?
4) In a speech Monday candidate Hillary Clinton said she would work to change the tax code to encourage what method of rewarding employees easier?
5) Former Rep. Michael Griffin (R-NY) was sentenced Friday to 8 months in prison for what offense?
6) For the first time, coal was not the major source of electricity in the US. What replaced coal as the major source of electricity?
7) Three officials of what association were removed for their part in helping with interrogations using torture?
8) Well, Republicans sort of got their wish. Where was President Obama Thursday?
9) Huffington Post decided that whose presidential campaign fit better in their entertainment section instead of their political section?
10) AFSCME and 20 legislators filed suit against Gov. Branstad over what issue?
11) RAGBRAI kicked off in Sioux City this morning. Can you remember the two DM Register columnists that started this annual event as a kind of challenge between themselves?
12) After being called a dwarf, did this put on a little girth. What is 50 miles larger than previously believed?
13) NOAA reported last week that a what is expected to continue throughout next winter and early sprain in North America?
14) The Iran deal was announced late last week. Up to now which Republicans have endorsed it?
15) What family is out of work after cable channel TLC cancelled their show last week?
16) July 15th came and went in Texas without incident despite fear that what was going to happen?
17) Iowa’s DOT is reminding motorists to check for what before they leave their cars during this hot summer?
18) While Greece’s financial difficulties grab headlines, what major governmental bankruptcy is looming in the US?
19) German Chancellor Angela Merkl got really bad press last week when she responded negatively on national TV to a young girl’s plea to do what?
20) At 94 years old Oscar Groening has been sentenced to 4 years in prison for his role as an accountant at what prison in WWII?
BTW normal disinfectants only make the Donald virus begin to shout how great it is.
Answers:
1) January 15, 2006
2) Steve ‘cantaloupe calves’ King
3) women’s rights
4) profit sharing plans
5) Tax fraud. The threat to kill a reporter wasn’t tried.
6) Natural gas
7) American Psychiatric Association
8) El Reno prison in Oklahoma. Just visiting, though.
9) Donald Trump
10) closing of mental health institutes in Clarinda and Mount Pleasant
11) Donald Kaul and John Karras
12) Pluto
13) an El Nino – winter may be warmer.
14) None that I have heard of.
15) the Duggars
16) military Operation Jade Helm would be a cover for a takeover of Texas by the Obama administration. (quit laughing)
17) Check to make sure you didn’t leave your baby in the hot car.
18) Puerto Rico
19) The girl was a Palestinian refugee and she wanted to stay in Germany to attend college.
20) Auschwitz.
The ban on use of products from cannabis plants is particularly baffling in the medical area. Based on some myths that came into popular lore in the first half of the last century, laws were created that all but banned research on medicinal uses for cannabis in the US. Other countries are throwing off their self imposed shackles of fear and are studying what applications there could be for cannabis derived medicines.
Cannabis derived medicines have been shown to have real promise in helping control seizures in children which can be life saving. This is one place where the Iowa legislature to their pride legalized use of the medication yet to their unending shame refused to legalize ownership of the medicine.
Just a short list of some of the medical conditions that cannabis medications can treat:
glaucoma
arthritis
stop cancer from spreading
epilepsy
decreases anxiety
slows the effects of Alzheimer’s
Crohn’s disease
As I said, that is just a short list. A lengthier list with some discussion can be found here. Just the other day a new study was released that that showed that marijuana products rich cannabidiol oil sped up the healing of bone fractures. Imagine what that could mean for older folks who just broke a hip or a leg. In a story in the SFGATE Oscar Pascual summarizes the findings of a study done at Hebrew University in Jerusalem:
“CBD markedly enhanced the biomechanical properties of the healing femora after 8 weeks,” researchers reported.
Researchers also evaluated the administration of both CBD and THC, but did not find it to be more advantageous than CBD by itself.
“CBD alone is sufficiently effective in enhancing fracture healing. … Multiple experimental and clinical trials have portrayed CBD as a safe agent suggesting further studies in humans to assess its usefulness for improving fracture healing,” the study concluded.
CBD-rich cannabis could prove beneficial for bones as well as joints, as patients with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis are now reportedly using medical marijuana for pain relief.
So once again we appeal to those in congress and in legislatures throughout the country to stop this insane war on the cannabis plant. Let Americans use applications derived from the cannabis plant to enrich our lives through medicines, agricultural (especially needed in mono-cultural Iowa) and industrial uses.
Let me remind you that those who form the biggest lobbies against cannabis tell us quite a story about why it remains illegal and un researched in the US:
the pharmaceutical industry – cannabis may be able to displace billion dollar drugs
the alcohol industry – pretty obvious I would say
the police union
private prison corporations
prison guard unions.
Way beyond time to throw off the shackles of ignorance, Iowa and America.
Pre-Hall of Fame Rally
CEDAR RAPIDS–It was a great night for Iowa Democrats as the state party hosted five announced presidential candidates during its annual Hall of Fame celebration at the Cedar Rapids Convention Complex yesterday.
Former Cedar Rapids mayor Kay Halloran, one of seven inductees, received the outstanding supporter award. Congressman Dave Loebsack reminded the audience of her work dealing with the record 2008 flood that had much of downtown Cedar Rapids under water, including significant damage to the venue where first in the nation Iowa held the event.
Lincoln Chafee, Hillary Clinton, Martin O’Malley, Bernie Sanders and Jim Webb spoke in alphabetical order by last name.
This post captures fleeting reactions before they disappear into the ether of a busy life. No analysis of policy here. C-SPAN live streamed the event and has the video up here.
Because this is Iowa, I have heard all of the candidates, except Chafee, in person before. This was Chafee’s first trip to Iowa since announcing.
Both the audience and candidates were reasonably “Iowa Nice.” The candidates gave speeches reflecting Democratic values, serving them up like a rarified buffet in the desert of corn and soybeans that is Iowa. The majority of the audience stayed until party chair Dr. Andy McGuire wrapped things up. While Hillary Clinton left immediately after her speech according to reports from the national media, the four other candidates stayed to hear the last words, and some mingled with the audience afterward.
The playing field is not level, despite the use of the alphabet to set the speaker order. It is reflected in how candidates approached their speeches.
Lincoln Chafee and Hillary Clinton were the only two to acknowledge the inductees to the Hall of Fame–the nominal reason we gathered.
Bernie Sanders briefly acknowledged he was in Iowa, and could have given the same speech anywhere and probably has. The audience did not mind, supporters responding as if in church to his every jeremiad. Chafee had a wrestling connection, he was a wrestler and knew of Iowa’s program, Clinton talked about current Iowa issues, particularly the recent closure of two state-run mental health facilities, O’Malley talked about the Newton Maytag closure in the context of NAFTA and his opposition to the TPP, and Webb also briefly acknowledged he was in Iowa. Points to Clinton for weaving important current Iowa issues into her speech.
Clinton and Sanders said very little about their resume to be president. Chafee, O’Malley and Webb spoke about their credentials as if they were applying for a job. Name recognition is always an issue in campaigns, and at this event, Clinton and Sanders had it and could focus their speech in other areas. The others did not and made their case via qualifications.
Chafee, Clinton and O’Malley gave props to President Obama. Sanders and Webb did not. Webb has concerns about the recently negotiated agreement between the P5 + 1 nations and Iran to shut down Iran’s growing nuclear program. He carefully articulated his position without criticizing the president.
The surprise was none of the five mentioned two important words: Tom Harkin. The group of moneyed Democrats who could afford the minimum donation is well familiar with Harkin and how he speaks. Clinton, Sanders and Webb served in the U.S. Senate with him. It was brilliant that Clinton wove some classic Tom Harkin into her speech, talking about how the Republicans want to take the country backwards, and Democrats want to move forward. Clinton didn’t mention Harkin, but her speech reflected Harkin-like phrasing with which audience members are very familiar. From an oratory perspective, Clinton gave the best speech.
There were no “yikes moments” for the five, and only a naysayer couldn’t find something positive in each of the candidates. Next comes the organizing where Clinton, O’Malley and Sanders are ahead of Chafee and Webb. As Loebsack said during his remarks, the caucus season has officially begun.
