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Despite the increasing attacks on public education by politicians and corporate actors with deep pockets, everyday Iowans know that strong public schools are a cornerstone of our communities and democracy. By organizing in our neighborhoods and at local school board meetings, we can create positive, common sense solutions to address the real issues our schools are facing.
Sarah Corkery Ia-02 congressional district candidate speaks at the Iowa State Fair (1:15)
From The Little Village:
The U.S. House Democrats’ campaign arm announced Monday it is making $27 million in new ad reservations in the lead-up to the 2024 general election, including more than $2.5 million in Iowa media markets.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) announced the ad buys as part of an “offensive push” ahead of the November election. It is focusing on districts Democrats believe they can gain ground in, like areas former President Donald Trump lost in 2020 that have seats currently held by Republicans in California and New York. Markets in Iowa and Pennsylvania that the committee categorized as “red-leaning districts with vulnerable Republicans” are also being targeted, according to the news release.
The largest Iowa ad reservation was in the Des Moines media market, located in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District, for $1.55 million. Democrat Lanon Baccam is challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, a Republican. Election forecasters have rated the race as leaning Republican.
The DCCC has also made advertising buys in the 1st Congressional District with $534,000 for the Cedar Rapids market, and in Davenport at $438,000. Democrat Christina Bohannan is challenging U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, the incumbent Republican.
Great news. I for one have never thought Iowa should be a “red” state. Not too long ago Iowa was pretty swingy with a population that leaned toward being fair. The MAGA party in no way treats people fairly. Iowa is led by a MAGA governor who takes food from children and reproductive rights from women. I believe we are due for a swing back to fairness. This investment by the Democratic Party will certainly help.
Christina Bohannan (30 seconds):
Rita Hart Calls Attention To Iowa State Quarter:
During the roll call of delegates for the nomination of Kamala Harris for President. Rita Hart spoke for Iowa. Since I can’ find a video of her short part, this comes from my memory. WhatI believe I heard her say was that Iowa was proud of its commitment to education as witnessed by the schoolroom on the back of its state quarter.
So I took a look online and, by golly, there is the 2004 Iowa quarter with a one room schoolhouse on its obverse to symbolize Iowa’s commitment to education. (Sorry I can’t seem to get a picture of the coin to show here).
As I noted that was 2004. In the intervening 20 years, MAGA Governor Kim Reynolds and her legislative henchmen have been able to totally upend that picture by changing Iowa’s education funding to support private (mostly religious) schools that subsidize privatized education for Iowa least needy as public schools starve.
Please remember that in 2026. MAGA politicians feed the rich and starve the poor.
In case you missed it, here is the next president accepting her party’s nomination. Blew me away. The speech is about 40 minutes long with some serious celebrating at the end:
I can sum up the difference between the two party’s nominees speeches thusly:
Convicted Felon: “I”
Current Vice-President: “We”
I still can’t believe that Iowa’s MAGA Party is supporting a convicted felon for public office. I can’t believe that MAGA candidates in Iowa proudly and loudly support a convicted felon. That alone tells me they do not believe in what America stands for. When you commit crimes you show remorse and pay the penalty. You do not get elected to the highest office in the land so you can do more and bigger crimes! Are you nuts, MAGAs?
The lowest moment of the week and maybe of the whole MAGA movement was MAGA supporters dissing VP candidate Tim Walz son, Gus, when he stood up crying and cheering for his dad. How effing low can you go, MAGAts? Gus Walz has a neurodivergent learning disability. MAGAts chose to bully him after his display of emotion. Is there no depth to which MAGAts will not descend?
On to the puzzle – lots of stuff happened last week. BTW – DNC will refer to the just ended Democratic National Convention:
A) Speaking of not going back, women at the DNC wore white in honor of what?
B) Ukraine surprised everybody, including Putin, by following their counter invasion of Russia with what military action?
C) Climate Change is real. Nusantara is a new capital city being built by what country because its current capital city is sinking into the sea?
D) Another MAGAt low for the week: Wisconsin senator Ron Johnson said VP candidate Tim Walz purposely married his wife on the anniversary of what event?
E) In an unusual case of Iowa AG Brenna Bird not using her office for political purposes. She filed lawsuits against three companies who failed to do what?
F) In Michigan, a veteran self-published a book recounting his part in the January 6th coup. What happened to him?
G) What unexpected player has stepped forward in an effort to lead possible negotiations in the Russia – Ukraine conflict?
H) How low can MAGAts go? Part 2: MAGAts are carrying what JD Vance (uh) product in their pockets?
I) What US private citizen is privately negotiating with Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu in violation of the Logan Act?
J) Quotes from the DNC: Who said “Donald Trump fell asleep in court and woke up a convicted felon.”?
K) How low can they go? Part 3: What MAGAt congressman is using his House committee to investigate Tim Walz trips to China to show Walz is a double agent?
L) Breaking from the political, scientists unveiled a microscope that is so fast that it can actually see what microscopic particles move?
M) Quotes from the DNC: Who said: “Since the end of the Cold War in 1989, America has created about 51 million new jobs. Democrats 50, Republicans one.”?
N) What MAGA citizen operative tried to go undercover at the DNC, but was humiliatingly outed by a 12 year old boy?
O) Disgraced MAGA politician George Santos made the news last week. Why?
P) In a move that could greatly affect US supply chains, what country ordered railway workers back to work following a short work stoppage?
Q) Weighing in at just short of 2500 carats (2492 carats) the second largest diamond ever was found in what country?
R) Quotes from the DNC. Who said “Kamala Harris has a resume. Donald Trump has a rap sheet.”
S) How low can they go? Part 4: Who said last week: “In her speech yesterday, Kamala went full communist,”?
T) Finally, what minor 3rd party candidate dropped out Friday to support Trump in return for a promised role in future Trump administration?
So, a bit of news: Today I became a US citizen.I now get to choose between “first female” or “first convicted felon” president.
It doesn’t seem as hard as the MSM are making it out to be. – BoxofFrogs19
Judicial Retention vote following Gay Marriage ruling in 2011 2:25)
For those of you who have been around Iowa for a while, you may remember the incredibly forward looking decision made by the Iowa Supreme Court on April 3, 2009 that allowed same sex partners to marry. To remind you, the name of the case was Varnum v. Brien
There was reaction around the state from relief from many on the left to outright rage, predictions of hellfire and promises of revenge from the right. Iowa’s pope, Bob Vander Plaats, got right to work on that revenge. How dare some one live in his state in a way he disapproved of? How dare the state allow it to be legal.
And so the idea of using Iowa’s judicial retention vote to remove some of the offending judges – the judges who were by law up for a retention vote anyway – was employed. In the election, Justices David L. Baker, Michael Streit and Marsha Ternus were removed in retaliation for their votes in the Barnum case.The decision in Barnum had been unanimous, but no other justices were removed in later retention votes.
So what does that have to do with the coming election? Well, judicial retention is still a part of Iowa elections. On the back of the ballot this year will be a chance to vote on the retention of Justice David May who was recently one of the 4 votes in a 4 – 3 decision to make Iowa’s abortion laws one of the most restrictive in the country. We now outlaw abortion after only 6 weeks, a time when many women are not even aware they are pregnant.
And now, in response, some women are taking a cue from what Iowans for Freedom accomplished in 2010. They’re encouraging others to turn the page on the November ballot — literally — to the side where judicial retention votes are, and vote against Justice David May. He’s the only one who voted for the six-week ban who’s up this year.
The victims now will be untold numbers of pregnant women and girls, and children born to people ill-equipped to care for them.
Another way of looking at this is that while Iowans can’t vote the leader of this assault on women’s freedom out of office, you can vote one of the offenders of that freedom out. Also, don’t forget that you can vote any republican legislator out of office also. They were the henchmen who did Reynold’s bidding.
As for me, firing the legislators who put this harmful law in place is most important. However the rules for judicial retention have been there for 60+ years. This is as good of a reason to fire a judge as I have seen.
Former Lt. Gov. of Georgia Geoff Duncan (4 minutes):
I have been looking for a platform to express my incredibly astute general observation of the Democratic National Convention. I finally decided that someone allows me to post on this platform so I am going to make use of it.
My observation is simply this: Everyone gets to play. Whether the cameras pan out or close in to take a group close-up, whatever section they take a picture of the group is diverse. All mixed in like a delicious salad with a huge list of ingredients that are all tossed together to make a delightful dish.
Not that I am any deep thinker noticing nuances and projecting some mysterious universal meaning on to them. However, since the drivel that the corporate media feeds us daily never seems to capture my full attention, I often find my mind wandering. One place that it wanders to is whether the promises of America will ever be fulfilled.
Like most in America I have been a consumer of media from my early days, which now covers many decades. My memories of media go back to the back and white TV days. While the medium was black and white, the actors and hosts and moderators were almost all white and male. The civil rights movement and the women’s movement of the 1960s highlighted this imposed reinforcement of the predominant prejudices of the day.
As a youngster I often wondered if this milieu would ever evolve. Certainly music, in particular rock and roll broke barriers, but the powers that be did a very good job of containing their influence. As youngsters like me moved into careers it seems our beliefs and interest in breaking such barriers got co-opted by the paycheck.
There was some movement but it was glacial. Blacks in media were often portrayed as criminals or sidekicks. Women often had light roles as stories were still built around the white male. However, much as the 1950s were a boiling pot that simmered below the surface that exploded into the 1960s, we seem to be seeing that the Obama years of progress that led to the retrenchment. Of the Trump years is now about ready to explode into a surge forward.
As the pot gets ready to blow, in the background we are are seeing women and minorities taking leading roles. In the movies and on the TV screens we see more and more female and minority leads. And in Democratic politics, we are seeing an absolute kaleidoscope of leadership.
So what has really caught my eye at this year’s DNC is the crowd shots. The mixed salad of people that makes up today’s Democratic Party is extremely exciting. It is looking like the promise of America that it is the land of opportunity for anyone willing to put in the work seems to finally be coming true. A country where sex, skin color, religion or background doesn’t make a difference.
I realize we are not here, that there is a long way to go, but it sure looks like we are really headed to fulfilling that long ago promise of America. Now since we have reached this far, we simply can’t go back. We must build on this great base for an even better future.
Having a society where all are contributing and in turn are respected as contributing citizens is the ultimate goal. It is time to leave the right wing’s politics of division behind, way behind in the dustbin of history where it belongs.
The difference of the Democrats party with its kaleidoscope of people and backgrounds working together is the future. The MAGA party and its white, male narrow scope is the past.
In 1974, music writer Jon Landau saw a relatively unknown musician in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and wrote for an alternative paper: “Last Thursday, at the Harvard Square theater, I saw rock’n’roll past flash before my eyes. And I saw something else: I saw rock and roll future and its name is Bruce Springsteen. And on a night when I needed to feel young, he made me feel like I was hearing music for the very first time.” The review helped to catapult Springsteen to stardom.
After three days at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, I feel like I have seen the political future and its name is the Democratic Party. But rather than feeling like I’m hearing politics for the first time, I am hearing the echo of political themes embraced in the best moments of America’s past. (my bolding – ed.)
Join in and get ready for the exhilarating ride into the future.
Hat tip to Paul Deaton for forwarding this article by John Stoehr. Below is an excerpt. Click on the image to read the entire article. Haven’t come across anyone who nails our media problem so perfectly.
“Even if I agreed that candidates who want to be president should be regularly subjected to media scrutiny, I don’t think this press corps, as it is currently organized, is able to. There are exceptions, of course, but this press corps is generally not equipped to scrutinize candidates on matters of fact and substance. I say this because this press corps has conspicuously traded matters of fact and substance for vibes.
It didn’t matter what Joe Biden did – pull the country out of a pandemic, dodge a recession, tame inflation, grow jobs, grow wages, enforce anti-monopoly laws, revive every single one of the so-called “left behind” counties that voted for Trump in 2016 because of “economic anxiety” – it didn’t matter what Joe Biden did. The press corps decided nothing was more important than his age, and lo! 2024 became an election about vibes and vibes ended his candidacy.
Vibes are this press corps’ forte, not fact and substance. If fact and substance were its strength, there would have been a different reaction to The Disaster Debate during which Biden talked about policy and issues while Trump didn’t bother. Trump was incoherent and false, but he came off as confident and strong, and he came off that way, because the press corps’ forte isn’t fact and substance.
If fact and substance were important, there would also have been a different reaction to Biden’s NATO press conference last month. He did it after the Disaster Debate to show he still had what it takes. He talked for an hour about foreign affairs, international laws and war. But this press corps didn’t hear any of that after Biden said “Vice President Trump” by mistake. There’s no grace for the old in Washington, nor is there interest in anything but vibes in the Washington press corps.”
Ryan Melton is a democrat running for congress in IA-04. It’s not easy making the case in Iowa’s 4th district but Ryan Melton is working hard to do just that. Please support his campaign. Democrats need to connect with voters throughout our state.
Anna Banowsky, House District 92 Democratic Candidate
Editor’s Note: Following are excerpts from a press release from the Anna Banowsky campaign. If you don’t know of Banowsky, she made a big splash by moving to conservative Washington County, Iowa and getting involved in Democratic politics. This week she is attending the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago, while at the same time running for state representative in House District 92. At 26 years, she is one of the youngest Iowa delegates to the DNC. She even rode the train to get from Iowa to Chicago!
Washington, IA – When Anna Banowsky moved into her new home in Washington, Iowa to pursue a graduate degree in the archaeological study of the Roman Eastern Mediterranean, she discovered that it would be tougher to be a young woman in Iowa than it used to be.
Extreme Republican politicians in Des Moines have been busy making it harder for Iowans to get a good education and a good job and raise a family here.
That’s when Anna realized that she would also have to get to work fighting for reproductive freedom, well funded public schools and adequate mental health care across the state. That’s why she decided to get busy running one of the most-watched State House races in Iowa.
Now, Anna Banowsky is a candidate for Iowa State House District 92 (Washington and Johnson Counties), as well as one of Iowa’s youngest delegates to the Democratic National Convention, and the first from Washington County.
**ANNA FACTS**
Name: Anna Banowsky
Pronouns: She/Her
Age: 26
Residence: Washington, Iowa
Occupation: University Teaching Assistant and Archaeologist
Special area of expertise: Roman archaeology with a special emphasis on the intersections of religion and politics in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Memberships: UE Local 896-COGS Union (University of Iowa), enrolled member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Society for American Archaeology, American Academy of Religion, Classical Association of the Middle West and South, Society of Biblical Literature
Dog’s name: Clio
Favorite movie: Jurassic Park
As a Delegate: Anna Banowsky is one of the youngest delegates to the national convention from the state of Iowa, and the first from Washington County (that anyone can remember).
As a Candidate: Anna is seeking Iowa’s 92nd House seat, which includes all of Washington County and part of Johnson County.
Campaign Slogan: Anna NOW
Legislation she’d like to pass: “Right to Repair.” Anna says: “If you pay for something, you should be allowed to work on it, use it, and make it your own without voiding the warranty – that goes for everything from John Deere tractors to home printers. Home printer ink should not be $40! Give me the cheap printer ink refills!”
Governor Kim Keynolds: (515) 281-5211 U.S. Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 Iowa Members of Congress - Rep. Randy Feenstra (R) - Rep. Ashley Hinson (R) - Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R) - Rep. Zach Nunn (R) Iowa US Senators - Senator Joni Ernst (R) - Senator Charles Grassley (R)
Blog For Iowa 