The worst.
29% of the respondents, serving in various branches of the armed forces, said the U.S. should leave Iraq “immediately,” while another 22% said they should leave in the next six months. Another 21% said troops should be out between six and 12 months...
Iowa City has been judged the top city in Iowa for free wireless Internet by a Web-based director of Wi-Fi hotspots.
McGuire supports abortion rights and has been active in promoting Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa, a part of her resume that could help Blouin with women voters...
'Scuse me while I kiss this guy
Hey! Creatures! Leave them kids alone!
The Sex Pistols have refused to attend their own induction into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In a handwritten note posted on their website, they called the institution "urine in wine".
"Were not your monkeys, were not coming. You're not paying attention," continued the statement.
"You blogging?"
"Yeah."
"Sweet."
Edwards will speak at Vito's Restaurant, on the pedestrian mall. The event begins at 11 a.m. In addition to Edwards, 2nd District congressional candidate David Loebsack will speak.
"It has been a very long time since Iowa raised the minimum wage," said Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City, who is co-sponsoring numerous bills. "Iowa has a lot of people struggling from paycheck to paycheck, and putting money in their pockets is a way to help this."
Iowa's minimum wage is pegged to the national figure, at $5.15, last raised in September 1997.
Friends,
Below are two opportunities to support Ed Fallon's bid for Governor. He is the most progressive candidate in the field. If those who support his politics could support his campaign, he would have a fighting chance. Please offer him a chance to win.--Karen
I. Health Care Tour - Iowa City
Friday, February 24, 2006 - 1:30 PM
University of Iowa
Iowa Memorial Union
Ed will outline his "Triple AAA" plan for Health Care for Iowans
II. The Get 10 to Win Program
Ed Fallon is a Democrat who supports truly democratic ideals: universal healthcare, voter-owned elections, and fully-funded education, to name a few. He's been a state legislator in Des Moines for 14 years, and now he's ready to be governor. He got elected with the support of the peace, land use, and sustainable agriculture communities, and he's gained popularity with progressives of all stripes, including those prioritize civil rights. He's running a
grassroots, clean-money campaign: nothing from PACs, paid lobbyists, or big donors. And now he's asking for our help. Rather than bombarding Iowans with ads, he plans to build a grassroots network of supporters.
If you support Ed, and if you know other people who support him, you can help the campaign. They're calling this effort "Get Ten to Win," and it simply consists of telling the campaign who plans to vote for them. This will be the foundation of their voter-turnout drive (plus they won't have to try to persuade you if they know you're already on board).
So, if you think you have even an hour to spare, email volunteerATfallonforgovernor.org, and say "I can Get Ten!" If you can do more, you should. They can always use help with mailings, calls, and other miscellaneous tasks on the campaign trail. Again, just email volunteerATfallonforgovernor.org. Their office phone number is 515 244 3113, and the new-and-improved campaign website is www.fallonforgovernor.org.
South Dakota became the first U.S. state to pass a law banning abortion in virtually all cases, with the intention of forcing the Supreme Court to reconsider its 1973 decision legalizing the procedure.
State legislatures in Ohio, Indiana, Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky also have introduced similar measures this year...
The law awaits the signature of Republican Gov. Michael Rounds and people on both sides of the issue say he is unlikely to veto it.
Johnson County Republicans have lashed out at Pulkrabek, arguing that his advocacy of changing the penalty for having small amounts of marijuana from a serious to simple misdemeanor is reckless.
"It's a very irresponsible position to take," said Johnson County Republicans head Todd Versteegh of Oxford. "If he wants to be sheriff, he needs to enforce the laws on the books."
Aspects of the proposal have gained the support of Democratic Johnson County attorney candidate Nick Maybanks.
"I agree with the sheriff; there are times we can use a citation in lieu of jail time for small amounts of marijuana," he said. "We're dealing with critical jail overcrowding. We're getting to a point where we have to make tough choices."
Maybanks' opponent, Assistant Johnson County Attorney Janet Lyness, did not immediately return phone calls for comment Tuesday.
A short time later, Culver asked Blouin whether Iowa pharmacists should be required to dispense the so-called "morning-after pill." Blouin said the issue was a federal matter, which prompted Culver to ask"So do you favor dispensing the morning-after pill to women in Iowa, yes or no?" Blouin replied, "I'll tell you, you tell me why you screwed up on the constitutional amendment."
"Dueling?!? You mean like with guns!??"
"Uh, huh..."
The next big development in the campaign may also be Blouin's to make. It comes when he chooses a running mate. He's expected to do that before the June primary, and when he does, he'll enjoy a nice boost of publicity, just as his rivals have. He's also expected to name a pro-choice woman, a move that may finally get the abortion issue behind him.
"While I personally oppose abortion, I will not impose my personal beliefs on the women of Iowa. I will veto any legislation which restricts choice, and I will support and sign any legislation that enhances choice."
"I'm the root node kid and you're just a leaf,
so show me respect before i remove you in log n time,
cause you know my trees are balanced all the time,
man, ill eliminate you like dead code,
I don't discriminate; I'll delete your node"
Bob Vander Plaats will end his bid for the Republican nomination for governor Wednesday and become U.S. Rep. Jim Nussle's running mate, party leaders said Monday.
The Nussle campaign told high-ranking party members Monday of the decision by the campaigns to join forces, ending what some believed could have become a bitter primary battle between the eight-term congressman from Manchester and the Vander Plaats, a Sioux City businessman...
The North Carolina Republican Party asked its members this week to send their church directories to the party, drawing furious protests from local and national religious leaders.
"Such a request is completely beyond the pale of what is acceptable," said the Rev. Richard Land, head of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.
During the 2004 presidential race, the Bush-Cheney campaign sent a similar request to Republican activists across the country. It asked churchgoers not only to furnish church directories to the campaign, but also to use their churches as a base for political organizing...
Richard Bright, a character actor who appeared in all three "Godfather" movies and more recently on "The Sopranos," was struck and killed by a bus Saturday, New York police said.
Bright played mob enforcer Al Neri in the "Godfather" movies, a bodyguard to the Corleone family patriarchs played by Marlon Brando and Al Pacino...
And while ousting Leach has proved an insurmountable task for past hopefuls, Loebsack and company say the absence of a major national campaign and a growing distaste for what they characterized as quiet ambivalence will leave Leach looking from the outside in this fall.
"There's no doubt in my mind whether I can do this," said Loebsack, a Cornell College professor of political science who says he's got the expertise and the wherewithal to avoid an elongated learning curve on Capitol Hill.
The Russ For President meetup will be held in Iowa City on Feb. 26th at 3:00.
In a move to protect New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation Presidential primary, the House yesterday passed a bill that lets the Secretary of State change filing deadlines any time he thinks it necessary.
In the second of a two-day session, the House passed the bill on a nearly unanimous voice vote.
Rep. James Splaine, D-Portsmouth, who sponsored HB 1125, said the bill “will make it very clear to the national parties, but more importantly to other states that we are ready to do what we need to do.”
He said the secretary of state already has the power to set a primary election date.
“This kind of completes the package and closes the door,” Splaine said. “This will make sure all political parties in all the 49 other states get the message that we are living up to our first-in-the-nation tradition in 2008, 2012 and beyond.”
Vice President Dick Cheney, while hunting wild geese in the Rose Garden, accidentally shot President Bush twice, once in the heart and once in the head. "I didn't really shoot the President twice," said Cheney. "The second time I shot him, I was president. It wasn't until my third shot, where I accidentally shot my own foot, that I had shot the president twice.
I was officially injured and unable to govern, when Dennis Hastert came in, and stepped on the butt handle of the rifle causing it to swing up like a rake and shoot his hair off. I guess I'm officially responsible for that too, meaning I shot the acting president for a total of three occupants of the oval office. I'm not proud, but it is a record."
Americans have seen photos of Israel's wall in the West Bank. It looks much like the old Berlin Wall, which was built to keep people in. Israel's wall is supposed to keep terrorists out. It is labeled a defensive wall.
Americans will recognize its shape: It is gerrymandering, the redrawing of boundaries for political gain. Israel drew this new line and, as you might expect, every square inch of the gain is Israel's. The wall does not loop into Israeli territory to favor Palestinian towns. Here it loops into Palestinian territory to favor two Israeli settlements, Zufin and Alfe Menashe. These land claims act as pincers, squeezing Qalqilya into a congested enclave...
Johnson County Supervisor Rod Sullivan, speaking on his own behalf, opposed consideration of a sales tax, saying it would have a disproportionately negative effect on the county’s poorest residents.
Johnson County Democrats will have a great opportunity this week to hear Ed introduce his plan for universal Triple-A health care in Iowa: accessible, affordable, and adequate for all.
Ed is barnstorming Eastern Iowa with eight events in two days. At each, he will speak about the problems with Iowa's health care system, and why we can't wait any longer to fix it.
So please come see Ed.
Friday, February 17th
1:30 p.m. Memorial Union at Univ of Iowa
There will also be a pancake breakfast on Saturday Morning, Feb. 18th, at 10:30 at 200 S. Summit St. Call 325-6765 to RSVP and find out more.
"A civil union set of rights would honor that. It doesn't have to be marriage and I don't think it should be marriage," he told reporters today. "I think marriage is already defined and I don't think we need to change it and I don't think we need a constitutional amendment to change it."
Vilsack said he would sign legislation that would establish civil unions in Iowa, but added "I don't think it's likely to happen" in the current General Assembly.
Honest talk on taboo topics
Thank you, Lonny Pulkrabek, for having the guts to stand up to the drug war mentality by calling for more sensible penalties and policies for small-amount simple drug possession and public intoxication ("White responds to marijuana ideas," Feb. 10).
It's regrettable that lame duck county attorney J. Patrick White is hostile to reform. The candidates to succeed him, Janet Lyness and Nick Maybanks, should be asked about this issue at every candidate forum. So should our legislators and legislative candidates -- and they should not be let off easy with non-answers about how this won't reach the floor.
Sheriff Pulkrabek has taken a step forward in promoting sensible discussion of this taboo topic, and Iowans should take advantage of the opportunity.
John Deeth
Iowa City
Justice System Needs Fresh Ideas
As a Prosecutor, I know the County Attorney can and should do more to ease jail overflow and spearhead a new method of processing criminal cases through our system.
Sheriff Pulkrabek bravely approached the Iowa Legislature and told them that we need to change the way we process low-level alcohol and drug offenses. Despite criticisms to the contrary, the Sheriff is not proposing that we ignore laws against excessive drinking or use of illegal drugs. The Sheriff has the best interests of the community in mind, as do I. I contend it is time we take a serious look at the way in which low-level alcohol and drug offenses are overwhelming our system, burdening our overcrowded jail and taking the focus away from more serious, violent offenders.
Since I announced my campaign, I have consistently advocated for fresh ideas. Like Sheriff Pulkrabek, I believe that Johnson County ultimately needs a new correctional facility. This facility could include a detoxification/treatment center along with additional space for violent offenders. In the meantime, police should be encouraged to cite and release marijuana offenders on a promise to appear in court and we should investigate alternate placement for non-violent intoxicated persons.
I also believe we should supplement jail diversion programs already implemented by the Sheriff with court-diversion programs that permit low-level offenders to avoid incarceration and a criminal record by remaining arrest-free during a period of probation, seek treatment and perform community service. The community is safer from these offenders when we give them a stake in their own success, rather than the current "assembly-line" justice that incarcerates, fines, convicts and forgets about them until they offend again.
Our current system is failing. Not only would these programs cost less than incarceration, they would more effectively encourage responsibility and compliance with the laws.
Nick Maybanks
Democratic Candidate for Johnson County Attorney
Coralville
The South Dakota House overwhelmingly passed a bill Thursday that would ban nearly all abortions in the state, ushering the issue to the Senate.
Supporters are pushing the measure as a means of drawing the attention of the U.S. Supreme Court, hoping to set up a legal challenge that ultimately will result in reversal of the high court's 1973 decision legalizing abortion.
Rep. Roger Hunt, R-Brandon, said the recent appointment of two new members on the Supreme Court and the prospect of one or two more replacements within a few years as older members retire makes it a good time to mount a challenge to the earlier Roe v. Wade decision.
"It is important, I believe, at this time in our history to protect the life of the unborn," he said.
The Iowa City district opted to ask voters for a $39 million bond issue in 2003 rather than a local option tax, sensing voter opposition to a sales tax. Voters approved the bond issue to pay for new schools and remodeling of others.
Iowa City school board President Pete Wallace said he is unsure if opposition to a sales tax has waned.
Iowa Civil Rights Commissioner David Leshtz, who was present at the meeting, said he and the rest of the commission have recommended that the state expand its law to include sexual orientation for the last five years.
And although legislation has been proposed, it has never been voted on, because Republican leaders have not allowed it through either house of the Legislature, said Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City.
"We just have not gotten debate on it," he said. "The majority party has been unwilling to bring it to the floor."
Supervisors were initially concerned money would limit their ability to enforce a human-rights law, after Iowa City said it would charge $40,000 annually to contract investigation services.
The law gained unanimous support when the County Attorney's Office offered to take up case investigations specific to the county's inclusion of sexual orientation and identification, which could not be forwarded to the state.
"If we find out the number of complaints are higher than we thought, I'm going to come back and ask you to fund it," Assistant County Attorney Janet Lyness told the supervisors.
She said she could have a measure ready for approval in a month.
"I don't agree with Lonny's apparent position on marijuana," White said. "I think (changing marijuana laws) sends exactly the wrong message. We've spent years telling people not to get into the drug culture."
White said he recommends that officers arrest and book for indictable level offenses, and that while a detoxification center is a good idea, it is not financially feasible.
Rep. Vicki Lensing, D-Iowa City, was part of the panel Pulkrabek spoke to. She said she was unsure what changes would occur or how quickly they would happen, but that it was important to get the viewpoint from a law enforcement official.
"It raised a red flag that this is something we have to deal with. I understand they have some things they really struggle with, especially in Iowa City. If they don't bring it to our attention, how are they ever going to get changes?" Lensing said.
The Iowa State Education Association has become way too partisan. It's basically a subsidiary of the Iowa Democratic Party, and that partisanship is hurting education in the state. No interest group in a state as closely divided as Iowa can expect to be effective if it works only one side of the street.
Johnson County's top lawman urged state lawmakers Wednesday to decrease the criminal penalties for possessing a small amount of marijuana, a move that would essentially make penalties for such an offense comparable to getting a speeding ticket.
Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek suggested decreasing the crime from a serious misdemeanor to a simple misdemeanor and for a violation to result in a ticket.
"It's not that I don't want to get tough on crime," he said. "I want to save the jail space for the serious offenses that are out there."
Students found stumbling home after a long night sampling the Pedestrian Mall's liquid offerings or those with an affinity for grass of the herbal variety have a new friend - and his name is Lonny Pulkrabek.
Nowhere has the failure of the Bush approach been more evident than in Iraq. This is a war that did not need to happen and one from which we should begin to disengage immediately. Our troops have successfully laid the groundwork for the Iraqis to construct a political system of their choosing. The costs of a continued U.S. presence will far outweigh any conceivable gains. Nor should the removal of American combat forces from Iraq be followed by any kind of permanent or semi-permanent base presence in that country or even a redeployment "on the horizon" as called for by Congressman Murtha. The continued presence of U.S. troops near Iraq would only bring more instability to the region and place U.S. troops at constant risk from enemies of America. Complete disengagement from Iraq in the next year will serve to enhance America’s security.
"Think Bob Vander Plaats is ready to drop his bid for governor to become Jim Nussle's running mate? He says no, but there's talk of it in Iowa GOP circles."
Swisher said Rants received more than 76 percent of tobacco-related contributions to Iowa House members in 2004...
"Like the Zionists who claimed that Palestine in the 1940s was 'a land without people for a people without land', so the Afrikaner settlers spread the myth that there were no black people in South Africa when they first settled in the 17th century..."
Can you discern the difference between songs encoded at 128, 192 or even 320kbps and the original sound recording?
Audiowise, we are only now reaching the point of what we already knew. While the entertainment industry has spent two decades reselling us higher fidelity versions of our music and movie collections, this is one evolution where, for the time being at least, less is definitely perceived to be more.
Dear Activists,
The Official Agenda is not on their website yet, but the Johnson County Board of Supervisors will be discussing a county wide Human Rights Ordinance at their meeting on Thursday February 9th at 5:30 p.m. All friends of civil rights must be there. We can make a difference if we act with precision and dedication. Many different organizations have a lobbying day in Des Moines and Washington, DC, and we shall have our day. February 5th through 9th is hereby Johnson County Human Rights Ordinance Lobbying Week.
Sunday Feb 5th is Planning Day: Let's meet 1pm at the Iowa City Public Library, Meeting Room A, and work out the details of Human Rights Ordinance Lobbying Week. This meeting will last 59 minutes or less. Come if you can.
Monday Feb 6th is E-mail Day: E-mail the Johnson County Board of Supervisors
http://www.johnson-county.com/supervisors/board.shtml
and demand that they take action to at the very least investigate the need and feasibility of a county wide Human Rights Ordinance. Also e-mail the County Attorney, Assessor, Auditor, Recorder, and Treasurer, and any candidates for any of these ofices. These folks are in regular contact with the Supervisors and should stand up voice their support.
Tuesday Feb 7th is City Council: The Human Rights Ordinance is not just a County issue. Every city in Johnson County will be effected. Did you know that on January 24, 2006, North Llberty City Councilor James Moody was appointed "to review the necessity of a human rights policy".
http://www.northlibertyiowa.org/city/council/minutes/jan2406.htm
Every City should be doing this. So, attend your City Council meeting or e-mail your Councilors and DEMAND that they take a stand in favor of a county wide Human Rights Ordinance.
Wednesday Feb 8th is Outreach Day: Outreach to friends, family, and strangers on the street. Advise them of the Board of Supervisors meeting, ask them to attend, and ask them to sign the petition if they cannot.
Thursday Feb 9th is Board of Supervisor Meeting Day: Go to the meeting and show your support for a county wide Human Rights Ordinance. The meeting starts at 5:30 pm. Can we squeeze 500 people into the chambers and the lobby? Can we get 5,000 people to sign a petition? If this is important to us, let's make it happen.
Thanks for reading, and we'll see you on Sunday to plan.
The price of blasphemy is death. And among many in the Muslim world it is not sufficient that those rules apply in their countries. They should apply everywhere. European governments are supposed to clamp down on their presses to heal the breach.
So liberal mores versus theocratic mores. Where's the possible compromise? There isn't any. On the face of it this gets portrayed as an issue of press freedom. But this is much more fundamental. 'Press freedom' is just one cog in the machinery of a society that doesn't believe in or accept the idea of 'blasphemy'.
I know not all Muslims embrace these views. More to the point, it's not only Muslims who do. You see it among the haredim in Israel. And I see it with an increasing frequency here in the US. Is it just me or does it seem that more and more often there are public controversies in which 'blasphemy' is considered some sort of legitimate cause of action - as if 'blasphemy' can actually have any civic meaning in a society like ours.
"I know there's been some speculation out there, but he has nothing really to add to or subtract to -- we basically don't wish to make any comments on this," said Gregory Wierzynski, Leach's chief of staff. "He's obviously flattered by the rumors, but he's not sought this job and he's proud and pleased and happy to be representing those people of the 2nd District."
Leach, 63, who has served in Congress since 1976, lives in Iowa City and is up for re-election this fall. Wierzynski said of the possibility of the search committee approaching Leach, "I think we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
Regent Amir Arbisser of Davenport said that he has heard the same rumors and that Leach has talked with some officials close to the situation. Arbisser called Leach a good friend, but he said he has not talked with him about the UI opening.
Arbisser said although he thought Leach has many skills that would make him a good president, not having a background in academic or hospital administration would be too much to overcome.
So the gerry index can be calculated using this equation:
I=(L/A)/(X/A)=L/X
Where I is the gerry index, A is the area of the district (e.g. square miles), L is the length of its boundary, and X is the length of the boundary of a circle of the same area A.
It ranges anywhere from 1, or perfectly smooth, on upwards. By experimentation, it seems a rating less than 2 is okay. Between 2 and 2.5 is suspect. Anything above 2.5 runs a high chance of being gerrymandered...
“We remain morally opposed to reinstating the death penalty in Iowa,” Sen. Keith Kreiman, D-Bloomfield, the Judiciary Committee co-chairman, and Sen. Robert Dvorsky, D-Coralville, said in a joint statement.
“We also reiterate that there are not enough votes to pass such legislation in the Judiciary Committee or in the full Senate. Instead, we hope the Senate will focus its attention on issues that unite us,” the Democrats said.
So when the preacher comes to get me
And they shave off all my hair
Could you take that long walk with me
Knowing hell is waitin' there
Could you pull that switch yourself sir
With a sure and steady hand
Could you still tell youself
That you're better than I am
The owner of the state's largest car title loan company has over the past year poured more than $54,000 into Iowa politics, while legislation to place restrictions on the controversial industry has languished.
One of Aycox's most vocal opponents, state Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City, said the donations affect lawmakers' thinking.
"When Aycox flies into the state in his own airplane and drives around and sprinkles money around, people begin cooling off about standing up for average people," Bolkcom said. "This is a rather blatant example of what would appear to be Mr. Aycox investing in his ability to continue to make these abusive loans and to take advantage of people."
In another race in eastern Iowa, a Democratic challenger raised more than the Republican incumbent during the fall. David Loebsack of Mount Vernon filed reports showing he raised $42,000 during the quarter and has $86,000 cash on hand. He raised $95,000 in 2005.
But Rep. Jim Leach of Iowa City, the Republican incumbent in the Second District, raised less than $22,000 during the period, though he has $122,000 cash on hand. Leach raised $186,000 in 2005.
