My top story of the week, of course, was Anesa Kajtazovic making her formal congressional announcement. My unrestrained glee was enough to earn me a .Gif-t Shop mention, but I'm not the one who said “We just need to get her a constitutional amendment so she can be president.”
Meanwhile her primary rival Swati Dandekar picked up a key legislative endorsemenet - from a Republican.
The Kajtazovic announcement is a narrow winner for story of the week over Ben Affleck as Batman. But everyone knows the REAL Batman is Adam West.
Terry Branstad and his omnipresent junior partner ("Rising Star") Kim Reynolds rolled out The Worlds Biggest County Chair List. Bleeding Heartland caught the omissions. A few names missing from our county: Supervisor John Etheredge, Senate candidate Royce Phillips, 2012 House candidate Steve Sherman.
Speaking of Reynolds, what's the word on that rumour that Branstad 6.0 is only going to be Branstad 5.5?
Speaking of chairs, one county chair quit the GOP entirely. Oops, that's a co-chair. I've long been puzzled by Iowa Republican habit of calling heir number two officer a "co" chair rather that a "vice" chair. Finally someone made a pilot/co-pilot analogy and it made sense.
The Iowa Republican was the top story on Politico... Maybe KCRG & KWWL should read some blogs, as they seemed to think Kraig Paulsen was still "considering" a 1st CD run two weeks after he's said no and announced for re-election instead.
Fast developments in the House 33 special where Des Moines City Council member Brian Meyer drops in (after getting squeezed out of his legislative job by new Democratic leader Mark Smith) and all the other Democrats drop out. And Republicans called a convention presumably so they can nominate a dude from the audience again. Still funny.
The worst.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Dandekar Gets Odd Quasi-endorsement
Swati Dandekar just picked up what looks a lot like a legislative endorsement from the northern tier of the 1st CD, from State Rep. Josh Byrnes of Osage.
Just to clarify: Byrnes is a Republican. Dandekar, at least according to the Federal Elections Commission report, is a Democrat.
Via Facebook, Byrnes:
But you have to get a nomination first, and Byrnes is also correct that "Democrats see her as being too moderate and not liberal enough." And he left out the I ♥ Nukes part and the Voting Against Marriage Equality part and the Risked Senate Control By Resigning And Taking A Six Figure Job From Terry Branstad part.
Republicans have a field of past losers in this race, and their preferred candidate, Speaker Kraig Paulsen, opted out. (Not that you would know from watching KWWL and KCRG yesterday; they still had Paulsen as "considering" the race even though he announced otherwise a couple weeks ago.) So maybe this is the Republican strategy in the 1st CD: nominate the most conservative Democrat? Sounds like a supervisor primary in Johnson County.
Or maybe, as even objective journalist James Lynch said, Dandekar's best option is to cross over?
Just to clarify: Byrnes is a Republican. Dandekar, at least according to the Federal Elections Commission report, is a Democrat.
Via Facebook, Byrnes:
So I have been watching the race for the 1st Congressional District unfold and I just wanted to share some insight to my Democratic friends. Of the Democratic candidates who have announced, Swati is the best choice. When I was a freshman legislator, one of Senator Dandekar's bills was sent over to House and assigned to me. She treated me with respect and was nothing but great to work with. I have nothing but utmost respect for Senator Dandekar. I have been told she has a tough road ahead of her in the primary because Democrats see her as being too moderate and not liberal enough. Swati is pro-business and pro-economic growth. We need to send more moderates to Washington D.C. as its the only way we can begin to fix the disaster we call the federal government.Byrnes is correct in that Dandekar "has a tough road ahead of her in the primary." Perhaps he thinks this helps. Perhaps, no probably, Dandekar thinks it helps, because her whole pitch is that she's an "electable" moderate (in a district with a good on-paper Democratic lean).
But you have to get a nomination first, and Byrnes is also correct that "Democrats see her as being too moderate and not liberal enough." And he left out the I ♥ Nukes part and the Voting Against Marriage Equality part and the Risked Senate Control By Resigning And Taking A Six Figure Job From Terry Branstad part.
Republicans have a field of past losers in this race, and their preferred candidate, Speaker Kraig Paulsen, opted out. (Not that you would know from watching KWWL and KCRG yesterday; they still had Paulsen as "considering" the race even though he announced otherwise a couple weeks ago.) So maybe this is the Republican strategy in the 1st CD: nominate the most conservative Democrat? Sounds like a supervisor primary in Johnson County.
Or maybe, as even objective journalist James Lynch said, Dandekar's best option is to cross over?
w/ Paulsen out, Iowa GOP hoping to recruit @SDandekar4Iowa to run against @MonicaVernon? ;-) #iapolitics #ia01And you thought he was joking. As for me, Swati remains my sixth choice out of five, just below Sharp Sticks In Eyes.
— James Lynch (@smg_lynch) August 7, 2013
House 33: Game Over
The House 33 special election moved quickly to the clerk hiring stage as Des Moines City Council member Brian Meyer announced his candidacy.
Two declared candidates, Karl Schilling (who announced within the hour of Kevin McCarthy's resignation) and Joe Henry, dropped out and endorsed Meyer. A third possible contender, Felix Gallagher, had not formally announced.
UPDATE: This Civic Skinny item explains everything:
The election proper is set for October 22. Still wondering why, in a seat that's entirely in the Des Moines city limits, Terry Branstad didn't just combine it with the November 5 city election. That worked in 2001 in a Cedar Rapids seat.
Two declared candidates, Karl Schilling (who announced within the hour of Kevin McCarthy's resignation) and Joe Henry, dropped out and endorsed Meyer. A third possible contender, Felix Gallagher, had not formally announced.
UPDATE: This Civic Skinny item explains everything:
Word is that Marshalltown’s Mark Smith, who bested Des Moines’ Rick Olson, 24-20, in the caucus vote to succeed Kevin McCarthy as head of the Democrats in the Iowa House, has let go McCarthy’s key aide, Des Moines City Councilman Brian Meyer. The move has surprised — and upset — some Democrats. …In a footnote to the race in this solid Democratic district, the Republicans announced their nominating convention for September 4, same date as the Democrats. The Republicans also had a convention in this seat last year. In one of the wackiest moments in a very wacky year for Iowa Republicans, they literally nominated an audience member - and he was actually a better choice than the announced contenders. Story never gets old.
The election proper is set for October 22. Still wondering why, in a seat that's entirely in the Des Moines city limits, Terry Branstad didn't just combine it with the November 5 city election. That worked in 2001 in a Cedar Rapids seat.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Kajtazovic Official Today
Today is the Official® rollout of the Anesa Kajtazovic congressional campaign, with a four stop announcement tour of the 1st CD. It's still a milestone, even though it had been pretty clear since very early in the three week 20 county "listening tour" of the district that this was going to happen.
The launch got a head start Sunday morning with a half hour KWWL interview. With some obligatory "When?/Soon" out of the way, longtime anchor Ron Steele got Kajtazovic to open up more than usual about her personal history:
KWWL
(The photo above is from the day the Kajtazovic family, including a then 10 year old Anesa, left a Bosnian refugee camp for Waterloo.) The interview also focused on health care and immigration reform.
This marks five Democratic candidates now Officially® in for the open 1st District, prompting speculation that no one will hit the required 35% in a primary and the nomination will be settled at a convention.
I'm not as convinced of that. Three of the five share the same geographic base in Linn County. After her Senate control risking resignation in 2011, Swati Dandekar is toxic to the Democratic base, and she has to compete for the "moderate" support she claims as a strength with compelling Republican contests: the GOP's one congressional primary and the Senate race. And her immigrant/American Dream story is neutralized, or more likely trumped, by Kajtazovic's more compelling version of the story.
Unlike Dandekar, who took a high dollar job from Terry Branstad when she resigned her seat, Monica Vernon is at least moving in the right direction. But her relatively recent (2009) switch from the GOP to the Democrats still has activists wondering. And Attorney Dave O'Brien offers little compelling reason for his run.
Between them, the three Linn candidates splinter their geographic base. That leaves the lone candidate from Dubuque - Pat Murphy - and Kajtazovic, the only Black Hawk contender.
Last time the seat was open in 2006, Bruce Braley won the Democratic primary with just 36% in a field with three serious contenders and one Some Dude. It was largely a "friends and neighbors" contest, where candidates rolled up big margins on their home turf. Rick Dickinson won 61% in Dubuque and an amazing 80% in Jackson, while Braley scored 68% in Black Hawk.
Scott County, no longer in the district, was largely neutralized. Davenport's Bill Gluba won, but Braley held his own while Dickinson was wiped out. Linn County plays that role this time.
The gender factor is in play here. Iowa Democrats are desperate to break out of the never elected a woman status we share with only Mississippi, and they don't want the Republicans to do it first with Joni Ernst in the Senate race. Democratic women serious about this are worried about the three women splitting the vote. My suggestion: look to the geography and look to the woman who doesn't have to share a large home county.
So I see someone coming out of this primary with more than the 35%, and I say this race comes down to Murphy and Kajtazovic. And you know where I am on that.
UPDATE: While I missed the events (a full day of Human Being stuff for me) I caught up with Kajtazavic by phone on the road from Cedar Rapids to Dubuque for the fourth press event. (There's a fifth stop tonight, at Jackson County's central committee meeting; one of the 1st CDs medium size counties.)She said attendance from the public, including voters from neighboring counties, was good at the first three events.
"I bring a perfect mix of experience and a fresh outlook," she said in distinguishing herself from the rest of the crowded field. That crowd has led to a lot of speculation about a nominating convention, but Kajtazovic sees a path to an outright primary win with both first place and the required 35%.
"I'm from the second largest county, and we have tremendous support there, overwhelming support," she said. "This campaign will be grassroots, one voter at a time." She said she's also heard positive feedback on her "Steele Report" comments on campaign finance reform.
Full statement from Kajtazovic campaign:
The launch got a head start Sunday morning with a half hour KWWL interview. With some obligatory "When?/Soon" out of the way, longtime anchor Ron Steele got Kajtazovic to open up more than usual about her personal history:
KWWL
(The photo above is from the day the Kajtazovic family, including a then 10 year old Anesa, left a Bosnian refugee camp for Waterloo.) The interview also focused on health care and immigration reform.
This marks five Democratic candidates now Officially® in for the open 1st District, prompting speculation that no one will hit the required 35% in a primary and the nomination will be settled at a convention.
I'm not as convinced of that. Three of the five share the same geographic base in Linn County. After her Senate control risking resignation in 2011, Swati Dandekar is toxic to the Democratic base, and she has to compete for the "moderate" support she claims as a strength with compelling Republican contests: the GOP's one congressional primary and the Senate race. And her immigrant/American Dream story is neutralized, or more likely trumped, by Kajtazovic's more compelling version of the story.
Unlike Dandekar, who took a high dollar job from Terry Branstad when she resigned her seat, Monica Vernon is at least moving in the right direction. But her relatively recent (2009) switch from the GOP to the Democrats still has activists wondering. And Attorney Dave O'Brien offers little compelling reason for his run.
Between them, the three Linn candidates splinter their geographic base. That leaves the lone candidate from Dubuque - Pat Murphy - and Kajtazovic, the only Black Hawk contender.
Last time the seat was open in 2006, Bruce Braley won the Democratic primary with just 36% in a field with three serious contenders and one Some Dude. It was largely a "friends and neighbors" contest, where candidates rolled up big margins on their home turf. Rick Dickinson won 61% in Dubuque and an amazing 80% in Jackson, while Braley scored 68% in Black Hawk.
Scott County, no longer in the district, was largely neutralized. Davenport's Bill Gluba won, but Braley held his own while Dickinson was wiped out. Linn County plays that role this time.
The gender factor is in play here. Iowa Democrats are desperate to break out of the never elected a woman status we share with only Mississippi, and they don't want the Republicans to do it first with Joni Ernst in the Senate race. Democratic women serious about this are worried about the three women splitting the vote. My suggestion: look to the geography and look to the woman who doesn't have to share a large home county.
So I see someone coming out of this primary with more than the 35%, and I say this race comes down to Murphy and Kajtazovic. And you know where I am on that.
UPDATE: While I missed the events (a full day of Human Being stuff for me) I caught up with Kajtazavic by phone on the road from Cedar Rapids to Dubuque for the fourth press event. (There's a fifth stop tonight, at Jackson County's central committee meeting; one of the 1st CDs medium size counties.)She said attendance from the public, including voters from neighboring counties, was good at the first three events.
"I bring a perfect mix of experience and a fresh outlook," she said in distinguishing herself from the rest of the crowded field. That crowd has led to a lot of speculation about a nominating convention, but Kajtazovic sees a path to an outright primary win with both first place and the required 35%.
"I'm from the second largest county, and we have tremendous support there, overwhelming support," she said. "This campaign will be grassroots, one voter at a time." She said she's also heard positive feedback on her "Steele Report" comments on campaign finance reform.
Full statement from Kajtazovic campaign:
State Representative Anesa Kajtazovic (D-61) announced today that she will be running for the open 1st Congressional District seat being vacated by Bruce Braley. She is currently serving her second term in the Iowa House representing part of Waterloo, Gilbertville, Washburn, parts of Jesup and La Porte City in Black Hawk County.
In 2010, Rep. Kajtazovic became the youngest woman elected to the Iowa legislature at the age of 24. She said she knocked on over 7,000 doors and made over 2,000 phone calls to receive 59% of the vote over longtime Waterloo mayor, John Rooff. In the legislature, she currently serves on Appropriations, Commerce, State Government, Veteran Affairs and Economic Development Budget-Sub committees. She previously served on Ways and Means and Local Government. She's part of American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) and NewDeal Leaders.
She's been part of bi-partisan international delegations to China and Taiwan. Last year, she was named one of Courier's 20 under 40 award recipients and one of three legislators awarded to be part of the Council of State Governments BILLD program. During her time in the legislature, Rep. Kajtazovic championed for education, access to quality and affordable health care for all Iowans, renewable energy, preserving our natural resources, growing jobs in Iowa, and campaign finance reform laws.
“I am running for Congress in Iowa’s 1st district because I believe that government should make people’s lives better. Washington needs transformational leadership and I will bring a fresh perspective to solve the gridlock and bring about meaningful reform for the middle class,” Kajtazovic said. “I live and breathe those middle class values and you can count on me to work tirelessly to ensure all Iowans get the opportunities they deserve.”
Rep. Kajtazovic, said her listening tour reinforced that Iowans are ready for a new generation of leaders to step up to solve the challenges and strengthen the declining middle class.“Through my listening tour of the 1st Congressional District, many expressed a need for a new generation of leadership. Leadership in the mold of Tom Harkin and Bruce Braley that makes economic security and a growing middle class our number one priority.”
Kajtazovic wrapped up her listening tour on August 5th in Waterloo during which she visited all 20 counties in the district. She used the tour as a chance to talk to voters to assess her potential run and to gauge their most pressing issues. “This process should be about the people and for me the people were the most important metric in deciding to run,” Kajtazovic said. “The support and encouragement from people across the district is absolutely there. I’m here today because I believe Iowans are looking for new leaders—leaders with new ideas and vision; leaders with records of success and innovation; leaders who will stand on principle yet compromise to get things done for the common good.”
“I've seen the challenges and opportunities. I'm an example of the American Dream. Only in America could a 10-year old refugee rise up, graduate from college with a double major in 3 years and then be elected to a state legislature at the age of 24.”
Kajtazovic graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a double major in Business and Public Administration. “Education has provided me with opportunities that I would have never had otherwise. I credit a great deal of my success to the exceptional education I have had through the public education system, so I understand the vital need education plays in a thriving economy in the 21st century. We must invest in education and make quality education an affordable option for our people.”
Kajtazovic and her family immigrated to Waterloo in 1997 from war-torn Bosnia. She describes their coming as a second chance at life and a shot at the American Dream, which she exemplifies. She attributes her success to her parents instilling in her that with hard work anything is possible in this country, but she is aware that attaining the American Dream is becoming increasingly difficult for middle class Americans. “We must keep the American Dream alive and we can do that by providing all Iowans and all Americans with a fair shot,” Kajtazovic said. “Working families are struggling and I will make it my priority to give them a voice.”
“At the end of the day I am a Bruce Braley Democrat and when elected I will grow on his progressive legacy. Bruce has been a great champion of Democratic values and middle class ideals and you can expect the same commitment from me.”
Monday, August 19, 2013
Events This Week: August 19-25
Back to school, as Iowa City district students return Wednesday. In the Deeth-Steele-Cox home this means our guys are the Big Kids at their respective schools: sixth grade at Horn and eighth grade at Northwest. Double school transition next year.
Back to school week also means the school board election kicks up a notch. Candidate Jim Tate is hosting an event Thursday 5-7 at the Wildwood Smokehouse and Saloon. Donations not required but welcome.
Karla Cook is hosting a pair of listening posts: 4 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday A at the Coralville Library and 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at the Iowa City Public Library. Brian Kirschling has three: From 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, at the Shimek Ice Cream Social; 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the North Liberty Rec Center, and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, at Coaches Corner.
Three more justice center forums this week:
2nd CD Democrats are hosting a day-long workshop in Oskaloosa Saturday.
State labor activists get to see Howard Dean in Des Moines Wednesday.
And look for an Official announcement out of Waterloo soon...
Back to school week also means the school board election kicks up a notch. Candidate Jim Tate is hosting an event Thursday 5-7 at the Wildwood Smokehouse and Saloon. Donations not required but welcome.
Karla Cook is hosting a pair of listening posts: 4 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday A at the Coralville Library and 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at the Iowa City Public Library. Brian Kirschling has three: From 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, at the Shimek Ice Cream Social; 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the North Liberty Rec Center, and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, at Coaches Corner.
Three more justice center forums this week:
Monday, August 19, 2013, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PMFriday night Terry Branstad makes a fundraising stop in Solon for Bobby Kaufmann. Also on hand: State Rep. Guy Vander Linden.
Coralville Public Library
1401 Fifth Street, Coralville
Supervisors Neuzil and Etheredge
Friday, August 23, 2013, 9:00 – 10:30 AM
Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center, Assembly Room
28 South Linn Street, Iowa City
Supervisors Rettig and Harney
Sunday, August 25, 2013, 4:00 – 5:30 PM
Johnson County Administration Building, lower level conference room
913 South Dubuque Street, Iowa City
Supervisors Harney and Sullivan
2nd CD Democrats are hosting a day-long workshop in Oskaloosa Saturday.
State labor activists get to see Howard Dean in Des Moines Wednesday.
And look for an Official announcement out of Waterloo soon...
Sunday, August 18, 2013
The Week In Review: August 12-18
The State fair led off the week with a bloody Butter Cow and ended up with Scott Brown, so from bad to worse. But in between Minnesota's Amy Klobuchar stepped just far enough over our northern border to get CSPAN interested.
Contrary to rumor I was NOT at the Republican fundraiser Friday. That was an imposter. But there IS some news from the Local GOP: Tiffin's Royce Phillips pre-announced his candidacy for open Senate District 39 Friday. Formal events are planned for 8/26 in Sigourney, Washington and North Liberty. Congrats to a stand-up guy and good luck but not TOO much good luck (offer expires June 3, 2014). I'm willing to endorse Royce's primary opponents if it helps.
Other legislative races:
The Read Of The Week (Over 140 Character Division) comes from ThinkProgress:
Contrary to rumor I was NOT at the Republican fundraiser Friday. That was an imposter. But there IS some news from the Local GOP: Tiffin's Royce Phillips pre-announced his candidacy for open Senate District 39 Friday. Formal events are planned for 8/26 in Sigourney, Washington and North Liberty. Congrats to a stand-up guy and good luck but not TOO much good luck (offer expires June 3, 2014). I'm willing to endorse Royce's primary opponents if it helps.
Other legislative races:
- Looked like a smooth Republican transition in House 18: Nancy Boettger announced her Senate 9 retirement, Rep. Jason Schultz promptly announced for Senate, and Holt simultaneously announced for the House seat. But there will be a primary; Dillon Malone of Dow City, who's 21 and clerked last session, is in.
- There's now a THIRD candidate in open House 91, where Mark Lofgren is leaving to challenge Dave Loebsack. Mark Cisneros announced this week, joining Mark LeRette and Emily (daighter of) Lofgren. Two Marks and a Lofgren. That's going to cause a little confusion, mind if we call you Bruce? It also increases the odds of Emily Lofgren not getting through the primary, which would be a serious ding for Dad going into the congressional race.
- Democrat Liz Bennett is in for open House District 65 in Cedar Rapids, the Tyler Olson seat.
Yes, we will be @seattlehempfest .But we'll be giving out @Doritos & #Marijwhatnow literature. Please make a note of it. See you Saturday!
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) August 14, 2013
The Read Of The Week (Over 140 Character Division) comes from ThinkProgress:
We progressives can talk about global warming as much as we want as long as we don’t propose anything that might actually solve the problem in a timely fashion. In this view, any climate proposal other than long-long-long-term research and development is automatically just a big government power grab.Because housing jobs & health care would make too much sense, the Iowa City Council is working on a new anti-homeless ordinance. Can't let human misery get in the way of selling diamonds on the Ped Mall, can we.
That’s it. That is the logic behind the pervasive view on climate change on the right: We don’t like the solutions to this problem, so we officially declare this not to be a problem.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
And then he's going to California! And Texas! And Oregon! And Michigan!
"4. No politician goes to Iowa by accident. NONE." That's one of Chris Cillizza's "5 immutable rules of politics" posted just this past Monday, after a weekend of especially intense Republican activism in Iowa.
Now the Democrats are laying down their Just In Case Hillary Doesn't Run markers in Iowa. Amy Klobuchar hops across the Minnesota border to Mason City Friday, and Joe Biden is lined up for the Harkin Steak Fry next month.
But today, a news flash out of 2003:
Kidding aside, Dean is still a popular figure with the left of the party, and not only for his peaked too soon presidential campaign. Dean led the Democratic National Committee for four years, with a successful 50 State Strategy that led the party back to congressional control. And let's be honest, in 2008 Barack Obama debugged a campaign plan that Howard Dean beta-tested.
That was Howard Dean: just a little ahead of his time. The Scream Speech - artificially filtered audio to begin with (the infamous sound bite starts at 0:55) - took on a life of its own as an Internet meme, as shorthand for Dean supposedly being too "radical," too "dangerous," too... "crazy" to be trusted with the presidency.
Those themes were in the air here in Iowa in the last weeks before the 2004 caucuses. Remember, The Scream was after the Much More Important Third Place Finish. Pile-on attacks from other candidates, combined with strategic Anyone But Dean alliances among the other contenders (anyone else remember the Kucinich-Edwards pact? We Deanics do) scared just enough people into playing it safe. We have to nominate the electable candidate! They can't attack John Kerry, he's a war hero! Dean's too... risky. If you know what I mean.
Those "risky" ideas, like getting out of Iraq, are mainstream now. Indeed, Dean's cutting edge 2003 support of civil unions for gay/lesbian couples would now be seen as unacceptably conservative in a Democratic primary contest.
In a country that honored Richard Nixon as an elder statesman, no one is beyond redemption, except John Edwards. What did Howard Dean really do, anyway? He got excited in front of a crowd and tried to be heard. Dean Sixteen might be redemptive for more than just the candidate. There's a heavy faction of Iowa caucus haters on the left of the Democratic Party, like Markos Moulitsas and Rachel Maddow. And the roots of that hate stem back to caucus night 2004, when Iowa scuttled Dean, the most viable anti-war candidate.
Despite Rule 4, sometimes a trip to Iowa is just a trip to Iowa. And a labor conference focused on state legislative races is pure 50 State Strategy. I don't actually expect Dean to get into the race. What I expect to see is a bipolar race along the lines of 2000, with Clinton as the Gore-like prohibitive favorite with solid establishment support. Someone get to play Bill Bradley in this scenario, and Dean would be well positioned for that role.
Now the Democrats are laying down their Just In Case Hillary Doesn't Run markers in Iowa. Amy Klobuchar hops across the Minnesota border to Mason City Friday, and Joe Biden is lined up for the Harkin Steak Fry next month.
But today, a news flash out of 2003:
Howard Dean is returning to Iowa, the birthplace of his innovative 2004 presidential campaign — and the site of his amplified death wail.And then he's going to California! And Texas! And Oregon! And Michigan!
Mr. Dean’s main topic will not be the White House, but rather the state house, according to an aide at Democracy for America, the group the former Vermont governor founded after his failed bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. Mr. Dean plans to speak at the Iowa Federation of Labor convention in Altoona on Aug. 21 about his group’s effort to elect more Democrats to state legislatures.
The group’s “Purple to Blue” campaign has focused on five races in Virginia this year, but will expand to other states in 2014.
“This isn’t the last you’ll be hearing of Dean and Democracy for America in Iowa leading up to 2016,” the aide said.
Kidding aside, Dean is still a popular figure with the left of the party, and not only for his peaked too soon presidential campaign. Dean led the Democratic National Committee for four years, with a successful 50 State Strategy that led the party back to congressional control. And let's be honest, in 2008 Barack Obama debugged a campaign plan that Howard Dean beta-tested.
That was Howard Dean: just a little ahead of his time. The Scream Speech - artificially filtered audio to begin with (the infamous sound bite starts at 0:55) - took on a life of its own as an Internet meme, as shorthand for Dean supposedly being too "radical," too "dangerous," too... "crazy" to be trusted with the presidency.
Those themes were in the air here in Iowa in the last weeks before the 2004 caucuses. Remember, The Scream was after the Much More Important Third Place Finish. Pile-on attacks from other candidates, combined with strategic Anyone But Dean alliances among the other contenders (anyone else remember the Kucinich-Edwards pact? We Deanics do) scared just enough people into playing it safe. We have to nominate the electable candidate! They can't attack John Kerry, he's a war hero! Dean's too... risky. If you know what I mean.
Those "risky" ideas, like getting out of Iraq, are mainstream now. Indeed, Dean's cutting edge 2003 support of civil unions for gay/lesbian couples would now be seen as unacceptably conservative in a Democratic primary contest.
In a country that honored Richard Nixon as an elder statesman, no one is beyond redemption, except John Edwards. What did Howard Dean really do, anyway? He got excited in front of a crowd and tried to be heard. Dean Sixteen might be redemptive for more than just the candidate. There's a heavy faction of Iowa caucus haters on the left of the Democratic Party, like Markos Moulitsas and Rachel Maddow. And the roots of that hate stem back to caucus night 2004, when Iowa scuttled Dean, the most viable anti-war candidate.
Despite Rule 4, sometimes a trip to Iowa is just a trip to Iowa. And a labor conference focused on state legislative races is pure 50 State Strategy. I don't actually expect Dean to get into the race. What I expect to see is a bipolar race along the lines of 2000, with Clinton as the Gore-like prohibitive favorite with solid establishment support. Someone get to play Bill Bradley in this scenario, and Dean would be well positioned for that role.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Polk's Fitzgerald Out for Secretary of State
Via Facebook, Polk County Auditor Jamie Fitzgerald announces he's NOT running for Secretary of State:
Fitzgerald stepped up to auditor in 2007 by appointment when his predecessor Mike Mauro was sworn in as Secretary of State. Fitzgerald has won two terms in his own right since.
Mauro, who lost to Matt Schultz in 2010, has not ruled out trying to get his prior job back but is reported leaning against.
Today, I am formally announcing my decision to not run for Iowa Secretary of State in 2014.Brad Anderson remains the only announced Democrat, and has strong support from party leaders.
My decision comes after countless discussions with my family, friends, colleagues and other supporters. Timing was one of the biggest factors to my decision. My wife and I will have all four of our children in high school this year, including two seniors! Our children (like most) are involved in many activities - both academic and athletic - and like all parents, I want to be as involved as much as possible including attending all of their events.
I am deeply humbled by the many phone calls, texts and emails encouraging me to pursue the office over the past few months.
It is an honor and privilege to lead a great staff in the Auditor’s office and to serve all voters of Polk County. I love my job as Auditor and look forward to continuing to work hard for our taxpayers.
Fitzgerald stepped up to auditor in 2007 by appointment when his predecessor Mike Mauro was sworn in as Secretary of State. Fitzgerald has won two terms in his own right since.
Mauro, who lost to Matt Schultz in 2010, has not ruled out trying to get his prior job back but is reported leaning against.
North Carolina Nudges Caucus Date
It's hardly the most important thing in North Carolina's new vote suppression law. And it's definitely not the biggest problem the Iowa Caucuses have had lately. We may well find ourselves voting in a June primary between Hillary and That Dude In Federal Prison Who Got 41% Against Obama In West Virginia. (Shout out to blogger/operative Shane Vander Hart, who goes where few other Iowa Republicans are going and calls for a Kent Sorenson resignation).
I feel a little bit "How will this affect me, Al Franken" bringing it up. But buried in the new North Carolina election bill, outlined very well here, is an effort to move the state earlier in the presidential primary process.
The new law ties the primary date to its neighbor South Carolina, which has established itself as First In The South and has been a critical state, especially on the Republican side, back to about 1980. Current protocol, agreed to by both parties, sets South Carolina as the fourth and last "early carveout" state, following Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada.
Despite our recent problems, potential candidates (with one very notable exception) and the national political media are still proceeding on the premise that Iowa is first. Last weekend of course was Vander Plaalooza. And while Hillary has things frozen on our side, Amy Klobuchar is coming to the Wing Ding Friday, and Joe Biden is literally - LITERALLY! -speaking at the Harkin Steak Fry next month. (We need to keep the Steak Fry or something like it going post-retirement.)
So the caucuses are coming Soon. How soon? Josh Putnam at Frontloading HQ does a better job than anyone at tracking the maneuvering and scheduling. He's assembled a calendar for 2016.
It's extremely tentative, like the extended weather forecast or your flight departure time. Putnam's good but he's not Nate Silver good. He's got Iowa tentatively slotted in for the evening of Monday, January 18, 2016.
That's Martin Luther King Day. We caucused on MLK Day in 2004, and again in the off year cycle in 2006. There was some grouching from the African American and civil rights communities about having to choose between the caucuses and MLK events. The Democrats tried to paint a happy face on it with an approximate spin of: participating in the caucuses is a great way to honor Dr. King. Whole thing is kind of ironic when you remember that one of the raps against the caucuses is that Iowa is Too White.
Right now the Democratic higher-ups seem more concerned about landing on a Saturday instead. Again the nationals, armed with Stephen Bloom's notoriously anti-Iowa article from late 2011, will wonder why Too Christian Iowa is worried about the Jewish Sabbath. I doubt the Republicans are; most GOP events I've attended in the last few years include a prayer that's specifically "in Jesus' name."
Personally, I'd rather go on MLK Day or a Saturday than on the insanely early January 3 as we did in 2008 and 2012. I live in a college town and the students have been a non-factor those two cycles, scattered and unlikely to attend. But we rank and file activists really have little say in the power struggle to Stay First.
The Republican National Committee meets this weekend and will no doubt have an opinion on North Carolina. Not the vote suppression part, of course, but the primary calendar part will come up.
The most important things Iowa can do at this point are 1) denounce Sorenson loudly and firmly while making the case for what the caucuses really are and should be. Sue Dvorsky does this well here. 2) The Democrats and Republicans need to keep each other in the loop and keep their efforts and scheduling coordinated. Attn A.J. Spiker: First In The Nation is more important that How will this affect me, Rand Paul.
I feel a little bit "How will this affect me, Al Franken" bringing it up. But buried in the new North Carolina election bill, outlined very well here, is an effort to move the state earlier in the presidential primary process.
The new law ties the primary date to its neighbor South Carolina, which has established itself as First In The South and has been a critical state, especially on the Republican side, back to about 1980. Current protocol, agreed to by both parties, sets South Carolina as the fourth and last "early carveout" state, following Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada.
Despite our recent problems, potential candidates (with one very notable exception) and the national political media are still proceeding on the premise that Iowa is first. Last weekend of course was Vander Plaalooza. And while Hillary has things frozen on our side, Amy Klobuchar is coming to the Wing Ding Friday, and Joe Biden is literally - LITERALLY! -speaking at the Harkin Steak Fry next month. (We need to keep the Steak Fry or something like it going post-retirement.)
So the caucuses are coming Soon. How soon? Josh Putnam at Frontloading HQ does a better job than anyone at tracking the maneuvering and scheduling. He's assembled a calendar for 2016.
It's extremely tentative, like the extended weather forecast or your flight departure time. Putnam's good but he's not Nate Silver good. He's got Iowa tentatively slotted in for the evening of Monday, January 18, 2016.
That's Martin Luther King Day. We caucused on MLK Day in 2004, and again in the off year cycle in 2006. There was some grouching from the African American and civil rights communities about having to choose between the caucuses and MLK events. The Democrats tried to paint a happy face on it with an approximate spin of: participating in the caucuses is a great way to honor Dr. King. Whole thing is kind of ironic when you remember that one of the raps against the caucuses is that Iowa is Too White.
Right now the Democratic higher-ups seem more concerned about landing on a Saturday instead. Again the nationals, armed with Stephen Bloom's notoriously anti-Iowa article from late 2011, will wonder why Too Christian Iowa is worried about the Jewish Sabbath. I doubt the Republicans are; most GOP events I've attended in the last few years include a prayer that's specifically "in Jesus' name."
Personally, I'd rather go on MLK Day or a Saturday than on the insanely early January 3 as we did in 2008 and 2012. I live in a college town and the students have been a non-factor those two cycles, scattered and unlikely to attend. But we rank and file activists really have little say in the power struggle to Stay First.
The Republican National Committee meets this weekend and will no doubt have an opinion on North Carolina. Not the vote suppression part, of course, but the primary calendar part will come up.
The most important things Iowa can do at this point are 1) denounce Sorenson loudly and firmly while making the case for what the caucuses really are and should be. Sue Dvorsky does this well here. 2) The Democrats and Republicans need to keep each other in the loop and keep their efforts and scheduling coordinated. Attn A.J. Spiker: First In The Nation is more important that How will this affect me, Rand Paul.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Tech Tuesday: August 13
In my quest for more regular features, I'm dusting off the old Linux
Monday and reviving it as Tech Tuesday. Not quite Twofer Tuesday or even
Taco Tuesday but still useful.
The must read of the week for anyone even remotely connected to technology, which means all of us, is Kids Can't Use Computers... And This Is Why It Should Worry You by Marc Scott. And by "kids" he means Most Grownups Too. Read the whole thing but here's a taste:
And from PC "Mag" (Remember PCMag? Online only for several years) one thing you should know how to do - How to Clone a Hard Drive - and one thing you maybe shouldn't do unless you have some spare liquid nitrogen - How to Overclock Your CPU.
The must read of the week for anyone even remotely connected to technology, which means all of us, is Kids Can't Use Computers... And This Is Why It Should Worry You by Marc Scott. And by "kids" he means Most Grownups Too. Read the whole thing but here's a taste:
There’s a narrow range of individuals whom, at school, I consider technically savvy. These are roughly the thirty to fifty year-olds that have owned a computer for much of their adult lives. There are of course exceptions amongst the staff and students. There are always one or two kids in every cohort that have already picked up programming or web development or can strip a computer down to the bare bones, replace a motherboard, and reinstall an operating system. There are usually a couple of tech-savvy teachers outside the age range I’ve stated, often from the Maths and Science departments who are only ever defeated by their school laptops because they don’t have administrator privileges, but these individuals are rare.Here's one my sons could have told me: Gamers will save the PC. "A growing number of users are migrating to tablets and smartphones as the specs of these devices continue to mature. With that shift, the remaining PC users are going considerably high-end."
Not really knowing how to use a computer is deemed acceptable if you’re twenty-five or over. It’s something that some people are even perversely proud of, but the prevailing wisdom is that all under eighteens are technical wizards, and this is simply not true. They can use some software, particularly web-apps. They know how to use Facebook and Twitter. They can use YouTube and Pinterest. They even know how to use Word and PowerPoint and Excel. Ask them to reinstall an operating system and they’re lost. Ask them to upgrade their hard-drive or their RAM and they break out in a cold sweat. Ask them what https means and why it is important and they’ll look at you as if you’re speaking Klingon.
And from PC "Mag" (Remember PCMag? Online only for several years) one thing you should know how to do - How to Clone a Hard Drive - and one thing you maybe shouldn't do unless you have some spare liquid nitrogen - How to Overclock Your CPU.
Monday, August 12, 2013
Worse Things Than Partisanship
I usually get some criticism for my Objective Voters Guide to school and city elections. They're supposed to be non-partisan, so even mentioning the party IDs of candidates is supposed to be taboo.
But there's worse stuff in this race than partisanship.
Johnson County Republican chair Deb Thornton took a shot at candidate Sara Barron, an out lesbian, via Facebook yesterday.
Thornton writes:
Since partisanship's not so bad compared to that, let's take an Objective look at the other three Johnson County districts.
My wife Koni's alma mater Clear Creek Amana has four separate candidate races, along with a levy renewal. Their system is a little complicated. They have four district seats and three at large seats. Everyone in the whole school district votes on the district races, but candidates have to live in the district.
That prompted a seat switch for incumbent Eileen Schmidt; the line changes were minor but just enough to draw her out of her district. She filed at-large instead and is unopposed; incumbent Aimee Pitlick filed but then dropped out. Schmidt is registered as a Republican. I'm supposed to say the races are non-partisan. But this is the Objective Information people ask for.
The District 3 seat is for a two year term, because it's where Schmidt was paired up with fellow incumbent Steve Swenka. He's running again and facing Lisa Beckmann. Both candidates are registered Democrats.
In District 4, former board member Jim Seelman (registered Republican) and new candidate Malinda Lamb (a Democrat) are facing off. The District 2 seat drew no candidates at all, and the winner will be determined by write-ins.
Three seats are up for grabs in Solon, and two are vacant as incumbents David Asprey and Lianne Westcot step down. Dick Schwab, the unsuccessful Democratic candidate in House 73 last year, is running for re-election. The other registered Dem on the ballot is former Solon mayor Rick Jedlicka. Timothy Brown, Amber Marty and Doug Vislisel are all Republicans; Steve Duncan is an independent.
Lone Tree looks like the quietest race as incumbents Gary Feldman (a Democrat), James Loan and appointee Christina Magruder (both independents) are unopposed for the three seats. But there's a history of write-ins in this district and some have beaten ballot-listed candidates. The Tree also has a revenue purpose statement on the ballot.
And last but not least, all four districts are voting on renewal of the Kirkwood levy. Parts of the county also vote in Kirkwood director district 3 where longtime incumbent Lois Bartelme (a D) is unopposed. Johnson County hasn't seen a contested Kirkwood director race in decades, though Linn County sometimes has contests. There's one up there this year in District 9; Kevin King is challenging incumbent John Swanson.
But there's worse stuff in this race than partisanship.
Johnson County Republican chair Deb Thornton took a shot at candidate Sara Barron, an out lesbian, via Facebook yesterday.
Thornton writes:
Sara, and I'm sure as an open and inclusive person who welcomes all views and believes everyone has a right to their own opinion, to not only have the right to a difference of opinion - but to state it freely - under the first amendment of the Constitution of the United States - that you'll respect my right to believe homosexuality and homosexual marriage is wrong. No, I won't be voting for you - for a wide variety of reasons.I'm all for free speech, and for taking responsibility for what you say. Barron replied:
Yes, and as someone who calls for unity and working together through our differences, I have to admit that my patience for intolerance goes away when it hurts my children or tries to come through my front door.Thornton herself ran for school board in 2007, finishing a distant last place.
Since partisanship's not so bad compared to that, let's take an Objective look at the other three Johnson County districts.
My wife Koni's alma mater Clear Creek Amana has four separate candidate races, along with a levy renewal. Their system is a little complicated. They have four district seats and three at large seats. Everyone in the whole school district votes on the district races, but candidates have to live in the district.
That prompted a seat switch for incumbent Eileen Schmidt; the line changes were minor but just enough to draw her out of her district. She filed at-large instead and is unopposed; incumbent Aimee Pitlick filed but then dropped out. Schmidt is registered as a Republican. I'm supposed to say the races are non-partisan. But this is the Objective Information people ask for.
The District 3 seat is for a two year term, because it's where Schmidt was paired up with fellow incumbent Steve Swenka. He's running again and facing Lisa Beckmann. Both candidates are registered Democrats.
In District 4, former board member Jim Seelman (registered Republican) and new candidate Malinda Lamb (a Democrat) are facing off. The District 2 seat drew no candidates at all, and the winner will be determined by write-ins.
Three seats are up for grabs in Solon, and two are vacant as incumbents David Asprey and Lianne Westcot step down. Dick Schwab, the unsuccessful Democratic candidate in House 73 last year, is running for re-election. The other registered Dem on the ballot is former Solon mayor Rick Jedlicka. Timothy Brown, Amber Marty and Doug Vislisel are all Republicans; Steve Duncan is an independent.
Lone Tree looks like the quietest race as incumbents Gary Feldman (a Democrat), James Loan and appointee Christina Magruder (both independents) are unopposed for the three seats. But there's a history of write-ins in this district and some have beaten ballot-listed candidates. The Tree also has a revenue purpose statement on the ballot.
And last but not least, all four districts are voting on renewal of the Kirkwood levy. Parts of the county also vote in Kirkwood director district 3 where longtime incumbent Lois Bartelme (a D) is unopposed. Johnson County hasn't seen a contested Kirkwood director race in decades, though Linn County sometimes has contests. There's one up there this year in District 9; Kevin King is challenging incumbent John Swanson.
Smokey and the Bran-Dit
Jack Hatch is on the air insanely early with the first ad in next year's gubernatorial race. It's fish in a barrel, poking fun at Terry Branstad's, um, rate of progress:
This ad is running in the right month, but the wrong year.
The odds are that Branstad's speeding incident - yep, we know HE wasn't driving but people tend to do what the boss tells them - is the only thing happening right now that weak voters will remember, even with a prompt like this ad, in a year. There's an abuse of privilege, rules don't apply to me angle that irks Regular People. And the ongoing lawsuit will keep it in the headlines.
This is a general election negative spot. But you have to get to the finals first. Democratic activists will chuckle at this, because they loathe Branstad. But you could just as easily slap five seconds of Tyler Olson on the end of this ad. I see nothing in here that would make a Democratic primary voter choose Hatch over Olson. The race is still at the young guy from Linn, old guy from Polk stage.
This ad is running in the right month, but the wrong year.
The odds are that Branstad's speeding incident - yep, we know HE wasn't driving but people tend to do what the boss tells them - is the only thing happening right now that weak voters will remember, even with a prompt like this ad, in a year. There's an abuse of privilege, rules don't apply to me angle that irks Regular People. And the ongoing lawsuit will keep it in the headlines.
This is a general election negative spot. But you have to get to the finals first. Democratic activists will chuckle at this, because they loathe Branstad. But you could just as easily slap five seconds of Tyler Olson on the end of this ad. I see nothing in here that would make a Democratic primary voter choose Hatch over Olson. The race is still at the young guy from Linn, old guy from Polk stage.
Events This Week: August 12-18
Today's the first day for candidates to file for city council in Iowa City and University Heights. Will we avoid an Iowa City primary for the first time since 1991? The Rumour Mill only tells me about six candidates. I spell Rumour Fleetwood Mac style.
District B has at large incumbent Terry Dickens vs. Royceanne Porter. In the at large race it's incumbent Susan Mims, pseudo-incumbent Catherine Champion, Kingsley Botchway and Rockne Cole (Cole signs already spotted on the north side). If that field holds, no primary. Too late to launch a serious campaign, but still plenty of time for Some Dude to get the signatures and force an extra election.
The UH has not had a primary in living memory, but expect hotly contested polarized races there until St. Andrew Church is bulldozed and something, big or small, is built on the city's one vacant lot.
Iowa City's hottest club is Bob's Your Uncle on North Dodge, where Janelle Rettig is hosting a campaign event Tuesday from 5 to 7. According to Rettig, this place has everything:
Summer's almost over: in the Iowa City district new teachers report Wednesday and returning teachers are back by the end of the week.
School board voting also starts Wednesday. The Dvorskys have weighed in on the school board race, as Sue Dvorsky posts:
In other candidate coffees, Jason Lewis Thursday from 6 to 7:30 PM at the North Liberty rec center. Lewis gets an endorsement from Jim Throgmorton of the city council, who's also backing incumbent Karla Cook; "Not yet sure about the 3rd position. Need to learn more."
Since Ashton Kutcher gets me record traffic, I need to mention his big premiere Friday as the title character in "Jobs."Or if you're into more local films, it's Landlocked week.
Planning to make this a regular feature, too, in fact I already started on next week. (Now that I'm taking ads I'm obsessing about traffic.) I'm happy to add your events if I've missed any; comment and I'll update. Inclusion isn't endorsement. Example: The Johnson County GOP's Reagan Society dinner this Friday night with speakers Mary Mosiman and - interesting - Mariannette Miller-Meeks... I may editorialize, approximately as I have above.
District B has at large incumbent Terry Dickens vs. Royceanne Porter. In the at large race it's incumbent Susan Mims, pseudo-incumbent Catherine Champion, Kingsley Botchway and Rockne Cole (Cole signs already spotted on the north side). If that field holds, no primary. Too late to launch a serious campaign, but still plenty of time for Some Dude to get the signatures and force an extra election.
The UH has not had a primary in living memory, but expect hotly contested polarized races there until St. Andrew Church is bulldozed and something, big or small, is built on the city's one vacant lot.
Iowa City's hottest club is Bob's Your Uncle on North Dodge, where Janelle Rettig is hosting a campaign event Tuesday from 5 to 7. According to Rettig, this place has everything:
I've heard from 5 of the 9 Iowa City School Board Candidates that they will be attending the Rettig for Supervisor Gathering on Tuesday. They all seem like really decent caring folks and are interested in talking with you and other people. Those I've heard from are James Tate Sara Barron Tuyet Dorau Jason T. Lewis and Chris Lynch. I also know that Kingsley Botchway running for Iowa City Council will be attending. Representative Tyler Olson will be there to talk about his race for Governor. Add in the elected officials expected to stop by Rod Sullivan Terrence Neuzil and you will have plenty of people to lobby and twist their arms. If you know other candidates, please invite them. All are welcome, so please bring friends. Having this event is all about building community and finding common goals to work on. I hope you can make it to visit with some of these candidates in person.Wearing her work hat, Rettig, and the other supervisors, are hosting a series of listening posts on What To Do Next after the two Justice Center defeats. The first in a series of seven meetings was held Saturday and two more are scheduled this week:
Tuesday, August 13, 2013, 7:00 – 8:30 PMSummer parade season ends Saturday in Lone Tree (Baja Johnson County). That's in open Senate District 39 so maybe we'll get some hints on who's running.
North Liberty Community Center, Classroom C
520 West Cherry Street, North Liberty
Supervisors Neuzil and Sullivan
Wednesday, August 14, 2013, 10:00 – 11:30 AM
Solon Public Library
320 West Main Street, Solon
Supervisors Neuzil and Rettig
Summer's almost over: in the Iowa City district new teachers report Wednesday and returning teachers are back by the end of the week.
School board voting also starts Wednesday. The Dvorskys have weighed in on the school board race, as Sue Dvorsky posts:
Bob and I have decided to cast our 3 votes for incumbent Tuyet Dorau, and newcomers Chris Lynch and Sara Barron. We will be hosting coffees for each of them, to give our friends and neighbors a chance to meet them, and hear their ideas. Mark your calendars for 8/14 6:00 p.m. for Sara Barron. That one will be hosted by my sister Melissa Anne Mandernach (509 5th Ave Coralville), then meet Chris Lynch 8/17 9:30 a.m. here at our house. Bring a friend, and get involved in the conversation!The Dorau event was this past Saturday. Interestingly, Dorau and Lynch are the two candidates registered No Party. They're also the two candidates from Coralville. East sider Phil Hemingway is a Republican; the other six including Barron are Democrats. Non-partisan race but objective information.
In other candidate coffees, Jason Lewis Thursday from 6 to 7:30 PM at the North Liberty rec center. Lewis gets an endorsement from Jim Throgmorton of the city council, who's also backing incumbent Karla Cook; "Not yet sure about the 3rd position. Need to learn more."
Since Ashton Kutcher gets me record traffic, I need to mention his big premiere Friday as the title character in "Jobs."Or if you're into more local films, it's Landlocked week.
Planning to make this a regular feature, too, in fact I already started on next week. (Now that I'm taking ads I'm obsessing about traffic.) I'm happy to add your events if I've missed any; comment and I'll update. Inclusion isn't endorsement. Example: The Johnson County GOP's Reagan Society dinner this Friday night with speakers Mary Mosiman and - interesting - Mariannette Miller-Meeks... I may editorialize, approximately as I have above.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
The Week In Review
Best news of the week: The dean of Iowa journalists, retired AP reporter Mike Glover, is back in the ball game at iowahorserace.com. One more site to visit first thing every morning.
Good news for the many Democrats running in the 1st CD: House speaker Kraig Paulsen, the GOP's most viable candidate, is out. Multiple reports that Black Hawk County's Walt Rogers is interested. Second term legislator, exactly the same length of service as Anesa Kajtazovic. Though the Gazette's James Lynch joked:
Mernon, I mean Vernon, Dandekar and Kajtazovic were all on hand for the EMILY's list Madame President forum Friday in Des Moines. This led to another round of Hillary 2016 speculation, and navel gazing from state and national media, about Clinton's problems in the 2007-08 caucuses. I took a look at Clinton's caucus failures the day before her third place finish. Hoping she fixes those failings before the 2016 caucuses…
…if there even ARE 2016 caucuses. We may well be choosing between Hillary and That Dude In Federal Prison in a June primary. Thanks, Kent. To the national folks it's not the Iowa Republicans who screwed up 2012; it's IOWA. Rachel Maddow bashed us three nights running. Don't forget, the Daily Kos wing of the party is still mad that Iowa scuttled Howard Dean in 2004. The Scream, which I still occasionally use as a ringtone, happened AFTER the Much More Important Third Place.
Mark Smith is the new House Democratic leader, winning what looks like it was a contested fight with Rick Olson of Des Moines. That common name will likely cause as much clutter in my Goodgle News Alerts as his predecessor, Kevin McCathy, did; there's a California congressman in the House GOP leadership who share's McCarthy's name. (I also learned there is another Steve King, from Colorado, who is an awful lot like our own Steve King who is NOT running for president. And there's always New York's Peter King, who is also capable of calculated outrageousness.) But near as I can tell Kajtazovic is unique.
The convention for McCarthy's House seat is now contested. Latino activist Joe Henry has jumped in alongside Karl Schilling who based on his announcement minutes after McCarthy's resignation appears to be the pre-selected successor.
Terry Branstad set the date for the McCarthy special for October 23. That's just two weeks before the November 5 city election. The district is entirely in the city of Des Moines. Why not just combine the legislative special with the city election? That's what Tom Vilsack did in 2001 for a Cedar Rapids legislative vacancy. It meant keeping the polls open till 9 across Cedar Rapids, rather than the usual 8 PM city election close. But that's still cheaper than a whole additional election. Since Polk County has cities with both primary and runoff provisions, this could mean the auditor has to manage five separate elections, some overlapping, between September and December.
Other legislative races:
In the governor's race Jack Hatch will be up on TV soon, and he picked up an endorsement from fellow Des Moines Senator Matt McCoy. So how much of the primary with Tyler Olson of Cedar Rapids split out - on East vs. Central lines? Hint to all candidates: Johnson County outperforms in contested Democratic primaries, because our courthouse races are a big draw. In both 1998 (Vilsack-McCormick) and 2006 (Culver-Blouin-Fallon) Johnson was the number two county in the state, ahead of larger Scott and Linn.
Locally: Sign wars are heating up in the Iowa City school board race. Of the nine candidates, Phil Hemingway is the only one not to form a campaign finance committee, required after $750 of fundraising or spending. But he's got plenty of home-painted signs on the east side. Also noted in school races: Former Iowa House candidate Dick Schwab is seeking re-election to his Solon school board seat.
The "21 makes Sense" (sic) committee reorganized this week. Not only are the supporters of lowering the bar admission age back to 19 incapable of returning phone calls to reporters; the previous committee, Yes for Entertaining Students Safely (YESS, not nearly as good a name as 2007's Student Health Initiative Taskforce) just closed its accounts last month. The previous campaign leader, bar owner Mike Porter, has moved out of state, successfully driven out of business by the city and University. "All it took for Iowa to become the top party school in the country was for me to leave town," he posted on Facebook. "I guess i was holding the party scene down too much. Hahaha"
I guess so, Mike: “Of course I’m drunk, it’s Thursday night in Iowa City.” (In what may be an effort to keep up, Iowa State is offering students $1000 to NOT live in the dorms.)
Site notes:
1. I may start doing a post like this regularly.
2. Blogs are pretty old school in the Twitter Era, but before that we geezers used to have these things called "personal home pages." I hosted mine with my Internet service provider. They followed in the footsteps of GeoCities and pulled the plug on this service on August 1, with enough notice that I was able to save what I needed. I used this space to host some photos back in the Iowa Independent era (2007-08) and I haven't and probably won't take time to update those links. So some of my archives will have little red Xs where there should be pics.
3. Also, after the Ashton Kutcher traffic spike, I decided after a lot of thought to host ads. These are not necessarily endorsements.
Good news for the many Democrats running in the 1st CD: House speaker Kraig Paulsen, the GOP's most viable candidate, is out. Multiple reports that Black Hawk County's Walt Rogers is interested. Second term legislator, exactly the same length of service as Anesa Kajtazovic. Though the Gazette's James Lynch joked:
w/ Paulsen out, Iowa GOP hoping to recruit @SDandekar4Iowa to run against @MonicaVernon? ;-) #iapolitics #ia01The author of the faux "Vonica Mernon" account found this funny.
— James Lynch (@smg_lynch) August 7, 2013
Mernon, I mean Vernon, Dandekar and Kajtazovic were all on hand for the EMILY's list Madame President forum Friday in Des Moines. This led to another round of Hillary 2016 speculation, and navel gazing from state and national media, about Clinton's problems in the 2007-08 caucuses. I took a look at Clinton's caucus failures the day before her third place finish. Hoping she fixes those failings before the 2016 caucuses…
…if there even ARE 2016 caucuses. We may well be choosing between Hillary and That Dude In Federal Prison in a June primary. Thanks, Kent. To the national folks it's not the Iowa Republicans who screwed up 2012; it's IOWA. Rachel Maddow bashed us three nights running. Don't forget, the Daily Kos wing of the party is still mad that Iowa scuttled Howard Dean in 2004. The Scream, which I still occasionally use as a ringtone, happened AFTER the Much More Important Third Place.
Mark Smith is the new House Democratic leader, winning what looks like it was a contested fight with Rick Olson of Des Moines. That common name will likely cause as much clutter in my Goodgle News Alerts as his predecessor, Kevin McCathy, did; there's a California congressman in the House GOP leadership who share's McCarthy's name. (I also learned there is another Steve King, from Colorado, who is an awful lot like our own Steve King who is NOT running for president. And there's always New York's Peter King, who is also capable of calculated outrageousness.) But near as I can tell Kajtazovic is unique.
The convention for McCarthy's House seat is now contested. Latino activist Joe Henry has jumped in alongside Karl Schilling who based on his announcement minutes after McCarthy's resignation appears to be the pre-selected successor.
Terry Branstad set the date for the McCarthy special for October 23. That's just two weeks before the November 5 city election. The district is entirely in the city of Des Moines. Why not just combine the legislative special with the city election? That's what Tom Vilsack did in 2001 for a Cedar Rapids legislative vacancy. It meant keeping the polls open till 9 across Cedar Rapids, rather than the usual 8 PM city election close. But that's still cheaper than a whole additional election. Since Polk County has cities with both primary and runoff provisions, this could mean the auditor has to manage five separate elections, some overlapping, between September and December.
Other legislative races:
- Council Bluffs Finance Director Art Hill (R) announces in Senate District 11.I My bet is this means retirement for GOP incumbent Hubert Houser, though I've seen no announcement.
- Rob Hogg announced for re-election in his Cedar Rapids Senate seat.
- Bob Anderson, state central committee member and former Johnson County Republican chair, is now being openly called a candidate in Senate District 39, where Sandy Greiner is retiring. Anderson will face Michael Moore of Washington in a primary. The name Royce Phillips, Tiffin city council member and former mayor, is also being tossed about…
In the governor's race Jack Hatch will be up on TV soon, and he picked up an endorsement from fellow Des Moines Senator Matt McCoy. So how much of the primary with Tyler Olson of Cedar Rapids split out - on East vs. Central lines? Hint to all candidates: Johnson County outperforms in contested Democratic primaries, because our courthouse races are a big draw. In both 1998 (Vilsack-McCormick) and 2006 (Culver-Blouin-Fallon) Johnson was the number two county in the state, ahead of larger Scott and Linn.
Locally: Sign wars are heating up in the Iowa City school board race. Of the nine candidates, Phil Hemingway is the only one not to form a campaign finance committee, required after $750 of fundraising or spending. But he's got plenty of home-painted signs on the east side. Also noted in school races: Former Iowa House candidate Dick Schwab is seeking re-election to his Solon school board seat.
The "21 makes Sense" (sic) committee reorganized this week. Not only are the supporters of lowering the bar admission age back to 19 incapable of returning phone calls to reporters; the previous committee, Yes for Entertaining Students Safely (YESS, not nearly as good a name as 2007's Student Health Initiative Taskforce) just closed its accounts last month. The previous campaign leader, bar owner Mike Porter, has moved out of state, successfully driven out of business by the city and University. "All it took for Iowa to become the top party school in the country was for me to leave town," he posted on Facebook. "I guess i was holding the party scene down too much. Hahaha"
I guess so, Mike: “Of course I’m drunk, it’s Thursday night in Iowa City.” (In what may be an effort to keep up, Iowa State is offering students $1000 to NOT live in the dorms.)
Site notes:
1. I may start doing a post like this regularly.
2. Blogs are pretty old school in the Twitter Era, but before that we geezers used to have these things called "personal home pages." I hosted mine with my Internet service provider. They followed in the footsteps of GeoCities and pulled the plug on this service on August 1, with enough notice that I was able to save what I needed. I used this space to host some photos back in the Iowa Independent era (2007-08) and I haven't and probably won't take time to update those links. So some of my archives will have little red Xs where there should be pics.
3. Also, after the Ashton Kutcher traffic spike, I decided after a lot of thought to host ads. These are not necessarily endorsements.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Steve King Wants You To Break The Law
There was too much crazy at the famIly leader summit today for me to even scratch teh surface. But even above that din, one speech stood out to me. You guessed it, Iowa's Own Steve #NoAmnesty King.
See, the man who wants "Enforce The Law" to be immigration policy, today said that churches should violate the tax code and politicize the pulpit:
So, does that same logic apply to sanctuary cities, or churches aiding the undocumented community? Oh, forgot. We have "no moral obligation" there.
See, the man who wants "Enforce The Law" to be immigration policy, today said that churches should violate the tax code and politicize the pulpit:
“And when we lean across our backyard fence, or when you step up to the pulpit or when you sit in the pew, when you profess the things that we believe in, and you’re a 501(c)3 and you’re afraid of the IRS, just go ahead and defy the IRS on that,” he said to cheers and applause.
So, does that same logic apply to sanctuary cities, or churches aiding the undocumented community? Oh, forgot. We have "no moral obligation" there.
Friday, August 09, 2013
A 21 Side Bar
Lost in the coverage of the Iowa City council's vote to put 21 Bar back on the ballot for a third time: a concurrent vote to reaffirm the council's support of 21, and how that illustrates the dysfunction of Iowa City's electoral system.
Putting the issue on the ballot is kind of a neutral thing. Sure, the council could have seen the error of its ways and repealed 21, but deferring the question to the voters is fair enough. But then immediately re-affirming support for the ordinance? Unanimously?!?
To the untrained eye this contest looks one-sided. The Yes/19 campaign is inept and invisible, unable to even return reporters' calls. "21 Makes Sense" (sic) has the same all star names it got in 2010 and blanketed the news with its rollout Wedneasday. But this isn't a landslide issue. Don't forget that in 2010, 21 barely survived, just 52-48% (scroll all the way to right).
We're in a town-gown polarized community, so polarized it's unhealthy. There was only one precinct in town that had anything resembling that citywide 52-48 margin - an area that transitioned from student to townie housing. Other than that, the student precincts voted overwhelmingly for 19 and the townies nearly as strongly for 21. The net result: a close race.
Yet the council is governing like it has landslide support on this issue. Which, regardless of what you think of the bar issue itself, is my point.
Set aside the bar admission age issue for a moment. I'd like to; I'm a little too... passionate about it, and I'd really rather someone else, someone with hair and without grandchildren, made the case for my side. For the sake of argument, go to Your Special Place and insert any other bipolar question. Packers-Bears. Mary Anne or Ginger. Cats or dogs. All issues with strong feelings and substantial support on both sides.
To get elected to the city council in Iowa City, you have to win a city-wide election. I'm not going to try to explain the screwy pseudo-district and primary system here; I did so elsewhere recently. Point is, to get a seat you have to win city-wide. And townies flatly refuse to vote for student candidates. In 2011 Raj Patel ran a serious well-funded campaign at age 20 with significant townie support, and he still couldn't get votes east of Governor or west of Sunset.
There's loads of research and history showing that at-large electoral systems have long been used as a tool to dilute minority votes. And Iowa City has not elected a student to the city council since 1979. (No, middle-aged Michelle Payne taking a class doesn't count.) 48 percent of the votes for 19 bar? Zero percent of the votes when the city council reaffirms it.
I'm not asking for a forfeit-style win. A majority, however slim, supported 21 last time. But in a fair system that more accurately reflected voter sentiment, that council vote would have 4-3 or 5-2, not 7-0.
The other communities I've lived in were all college towns in Wisconsin, of similar size to Iowa City. Their city councils were a larger body, a couple dozen members each, elected from wards about the size of our precincts. Each town had two or three students on the council. They didn't run the show, but they had a seat - a VOTING seat - at the table, and from time to time their concerns were addressed or at least heard.
That's the model I'd like to see here.
The city charter is up for review next year. I'm planning to apply for the Charter Review Commission. And without too much bragging, I think I'm highly qualified. What do you think my chances are?
Putting the issue on the ballot is kind of a neutral thing. Sure, the council could have seen the error of its ways and repealed 21, but deferring the question to the voters is fair enough. But then immediately re-affirming support for the ordinance? Unanimously?!?
To the untrained eye this contest looks one-sided. The Yes/19 campaign is inept and invisible, unable to even return reporters' calls. "21 Makes Sense" (sic) has the same all star names it got in 2010 and blanketed the news with its rollout Wedneasday. But this isn't a landslide issue. Don't forget that in 2010, 21 barely survived, just 52-48% (scroll all the way to right).
We're in a town-gown polarized community, so polarized it's unhealthy. There was only one precinct in town that had anything resembling that citywide 52-48 margin - an area that transitioned from student to townie housing. Other than that, the student precincts voted overwhelmingly for 19 and the townies nearly as strongly for 21. The net result: a close race.
Yet the council is governing like it has landslide support on this issue. Which, regardless of what you think of the bar issue itself, is my point.
Set aside the bar admission age issue for a moment. I'd like to; I'm a little too... passionate about it, and I'd really rather someone else, someone with hair and without grandchildren, made the case for my side. For the sake of argument, go to Your Special Place and insert any other bipolar question. Packers-Bears. Mary Anne or Ginger. Cats or dogs. All issues with strong feelings and substantial support on both sides.
To get elected to the city council in Iowa City, you have to win a city-wide election. I'm not going to try to explain the screwy pseudo-district and primary system here; I did so elsewhere recently. Point is, to get a seat you have to win city-wide. And townies flatly refuse to vote for student candidates. In 2011 Raj Patel ran a serious well-funded campaign at age 20 with significant townie support, and he still couldn't get votes east of Governor or west of Sunset.
There's loads of research and history showing that at-large electoral systems have long been used as a tool to dilute minority votes. And Iowa City has not elected a student to the city council since 1979. (No, middle-aged Michelle Payne taking a class doesn't count.) 48 percent of the votes for 19 bar? Zero percent of the votes when the city council reaffirms it.
I'm not asking for a forfeit-style win. A majority, however slim, supported 21 last time. But in a fair system that more accurately reflected voter sentiment, that council vote would have 4-3 or 5-2, not 7-0.
The other communities I've lived in were all college towns in Wisconsin, of similar size to Iowa City. Their city councils were a larger body, a couple dozen members each, elected from wards about the size of our precincts. Each town had two or three students on the council. They didn't run the show, but they had a seat - a VOTING seat - at the table, and from time to time their concerns were addressed or at least heard.
That's the model I'd like to see here.
The city charter is up for review next year. I'm planning to apply for the Charter Review Commission. And without too much bragging, I think I'm highly qualified. What do you think my chances are?
Wednesday, August 07, 2013
Why Sorenson Matters
If you haven't read it yet, I want you to leave this page right now and read Craig Robinson's piece from yesterday in TheIowaRepublican, "The Payoff - Details Revealed on Sorenson's Deal With Ron Paul." Get another cup of coffee, it's a long read. But do it.
You're back. All done? You didn't? Do what I told you.
Still didn't? OK, the tl;dr version for those with short attention spans.
It's no secret that TheIowaRepublican and the current state party leadership have a relationship of mutual loathing. And someone with an axe to grind against Sorenson and the state party was obviously a great deal of help to Robinson. But Craig's point of view and his long standing as a top level party activist takes nothing away from this solid work of journalism. My beret is tipped in salute.
This is not how we play in Iowa. This is something out of Boss Hogg or Boss Tweed.
You're not supposed to be able to buy an Iowa state senator under the table. And you still can't. That is, unless the state senator is as shameless and self-centered as Kent Sorenson. He's a disgrace even to those who share his hard-right views. He permanently damaged the standing and reputation of one of the state's leading home-school activists, letting her take the fall for the improper use of the group's email list that was not for sale at any price. And how much of Michele Bachmann's fall from favor, while certainly deserved, between October and December was because her state chair was secretly looking for a sweeter deal?
This is important to Democrats, too. It's important to all Iowans.
Iowa's special first in the nation place in the presidential nominating process is already in serious danger. The too close to call, flip-flopped 2012 Republican caucus result was just bad luck. But the aftermath - the removal of the competent Matt Strawn as party chair and his replacement by A.J. Spiker and the Ron Paul faction, the Paul-dominated national delegation that bore no resemblance to the results, the end of the long-standing courtesy of talking to the other party before setting caucus/convention dates, the Iowa GOP's recent ranking as one of the most disfunctional state parties in the country - has been a disaster.
Sorenson's aberrant behavior - the list stealing ("alleged"), the last-minute disloyalty, and now the FOR SALE sign - has made it worse. He has soiled the work of generations of sincere, hard-working Iowa activists of both parties, paid staff and volunteers, who have poured their essence into making the Iowa caucuses what they were supposed to be: a national version of the town meeting, with Iowans standing in as trusted, lucky, and fair surrogates for the entire nation, sizing up would-be presidents on the merits, one to one.
Sure, there were occasional shenanigans from out of staters, and some body-checking by the locals. But by and large we played fair. National operatives, even presidents, come and go. But the Iowa political activists of both parties knew we had to stay here and work with our neighbors.
And that was what we had going for us. Sure, we were a long way from the beltway, too old, too cold, too white, too ethanol and notch-baby obsessed. Our process was too weird. But we played fair.
We were seen as honest brokers. And most of us still are. But Kent Sorenson has damaged that reputation, and in doing so has damaged every Iowan: every Republican, every Democrat, and every independent who's crossed over or even thought about going to a caucus.
And of COURSE the official Iowa Republican Party leadership has been silent since the story broke in the wee hours of Tuesday morning. Nothing from the party, nothing from Spiker. That's because Sorenson can do no wrong now that he's part of what TIR's Kevin Hall calls "Big Liberty," the Ron/Rand Paul faction in control of the party apparatus.
Something has to happen. Sorenson's legislative colleagues need to make sure this can't happen again. The Republican PARTY won't do anything, but there are enough fair-minded legislative Republicans outside the Spiker faction who, alongside Democrats, can take action. We have a tradition of working together for the caucuses, and it's time to revive that tradition.
As for Sorenson? Silence from him as well. At a minimum, he needs to stand down from his re-election race next year. If not, a primary challenge is in order.
An immediate resignation would be more appropriate.
You're back. All done? You didn't? Do what I told you.
Still didn't? OK, the tl;dr version for those with short attention spans.
Documents obtained by TheIowaRepublican.com suggest that State Senator Kent Sorenson sought and likely received financial compensation from Ron Paul’s 2012 presidential campaign before he ditched Michele Bachmann just days before the Iowa caucuses.The allegations are documented in meticulous, mind-numbing detail.
To date, only Sorenson’s dealings with the Bachmann campaign have been made public. New information has been provided to TheIowaRepublican.com that details the courting of Sorenson by the Paul campaign, which began in October 2011, long before his public endorsement of Congressman Ron Paul on December 28, 2011.
In total, the asking price for Sorenson’s defection was $208,000. That’s $88,000 for Sorenson, $20,000 for (Sorenson’s clerk and right-hand man) Chris Dorr, and $100,000 for (a) newly created state PAC.
It's no secret that TheIowaRepublican and the current state party leadership have a relationship of mutual loathing. And someone with an axe to grind against Sorenson and the state party was obviously a great deal of help to Robinson. But Craig's point of view and his long standing as a top level party activist takes nothing away from this solid work of journalism. My beret is tipped in salute.
This is not how we play in Iowa. This is something out of Boss Hogg or Boss Tweed.
You're not supposed to be able to buy an Iowa state senator under the table. And you still can't. That is, unless the state senator is as shameless and self-centered as Kent Sorenson. He's a disgrace even to those who share his hard-right views. He permanently damaged the standing and reputation of one of the state's leading home-school activists, letting her take the fall for the improper use of the group's email list that was not for sale at any price. And how much of Michele Bachmann's fall from favor, while certainly deserved, between October and December was because her state chair was secretly looking for a sweeter deal?
This is important to Democrats, too. It's important to all Iowans.
Iowa's special first in the nation place in the presidential nominating process is already in serious danger. The too close to call, flip-flopped 2012 Republican caucus result was just bad luck. But the aftermath - the removal of the competent Matt Strawn as party chair and his replacement by A.J. Spiker and the Ron Paul faction, the Paul-dominated national delegation that bore no resemblance to the results, the end of the long-standing courtesy of talking to the other party before setting caucus/convention dates, the Iowa GOP's recent ranking as one of the most disfunctional state parties in the country - has been a disaster.
Sorenson's aberrant behavior - the list stealing ("alleged"), the last-minute disloyalty, and now the FOR SALE sign - has made it worse. He has soiled the work of generations of sincere, hard-working Iowa activists of both parties, paid staff and volunteers, who have poured their essence into making the Iowa caucuses what they were supposed to be: a national version of the town meeting, with Iowans standing in as trusted, lucky, and fair surrogates for the entire nation, sizing up would-be presidents on the merits, one to one.
Sure, there were occasional shenanigans from out of staters, and some body-checking by the locals. But by and large we played fair. National operatives, even presidents, come and go. But the Iowa political activists of both parties knew we had to stay here and work with our neighbors.
And that was what we had going for us. Sure, we were a long way from the beltway, too old, too cold, too white, too ethanol and notch-baby obsessed. Our process was too weird. But we played fair.
We were seen as honest brokers. And most of us still are. But Kent Sorenson has damaged that reputation, and in doing so has damaged every Iowan: every Republican, every Democrat, and every independent who's crossed over or even thought about going to a caucus.
And of COURSE the official Iowa Republican Party leadership has been silent since the story broke in the wee hours of Tuesday morning. Nothing from the party, nothing from Spiker. That's because Sorenson can do no wrong now that he's part of what TIR's Kevin Hall calls "Big Liberty," the Ron/Rand Paul faction in control of the party apparatus.
Something has to happen. Sorenson's legislative colleagues need to make sure this can't happen again. The Republican PARTY won't do anything, but there are enough fair-minded legislative Republicans outside the Spiker faction who, alongside Democrats, can take action. We have a tradition of working together for the caucuses, and it's time to revive that tradition.
As for Sorenson? Silence from him as well. At a minimum, he needs to stand down from his re-election race next year. If not, a primary challenge is in order.
An immediate resignation would be more appropriate.
Tuesday, August 06, 2013
King For President? Ha!
Let's discard THIS little rumour promptly:
Iowa Rep. Steve King, whose hard line immigration rhetoric has angered some of his fellow Republicans and delighted Democrats eager to keep Hispanic voters in their fold, is quietly planning meetings with political activists in the early presidential primary state of South Carolina, CNN has learned.
If these meetings are so quiet, why am I hearing about them on CNN?
If King is curious about seeking the Republican nomination in 2016, as his visit to South Carolina suggests, he would certainly face difficult odds.
King, though, would have a national platform to discuss his policy ideas and might appeal to elements of the Republican base that remain firmly opposed to the immigration reform bill – "amnesty," in his words - that recently passed the Senate.
Which he already has.
Let me tell you something, national media. We've just seen this here in Iowa. Only it wasn't with the presidency. It was with the US Senate race.
King hemmed and hawed and hinted, but probably never had any intention of giving up his House seat for the Senate race. But while that possibility was still out there, the checks rolled in and the spotlight stayed on Steve.
Because that's what it's about. It's about Steve.
So what if his song and dance froze the Republican Senate field for months, helping push top tier candidates out and giving Bruce Braley a head start. It was good for Steve King.
Donald Trump has to visit Iowa whenever The Apprentice is getting ready to announce another season. Sarah Palin hints that she may run for this office or that right when it's time for a TV deal or when she's finished coloring another book.
And Steve King has to say something "crazy" and/or hint at higher ambitions to stay in the spotlight. With the Senate race and governorship off the list, a "presidential bid" is the next logical move.
King isn't crazy. He's very calculating. I can guarantee that King will make some "controversial" statement when he's in South Carolina. He's probably already perfected the sound bite.
Don't get me wrong. I think his xenophobia, his loathing of Hispanic America, his "no moral responsibility" attitude, those are all real. I think his preferred "No Amnesty" solution to immigration is the mass deportation of 11 million undocumented Americans. And then he won't have to Press One For English anymore.
But the "outrageous" statements are part of the act. King knows he's addressing a niche in America, a sad, sick niche that shares his views, and he gives them just enough meat to keep them coming back, without an honest, straightforward detailing of his policies. He can't just come out and say "Round `em up and ship `em back to Mexico." That would cross lines of political correctness that even conservatives have been forced to reluctantly accept. But that niche audience can read King's intent between the lines.
The exit strategy for Steve King isn't a Tom Tancredo style presidential run. It's Fox News. It's talk radio.
Which, if Democrat Jim Mowrer has his way, will be coming to a station near you in January 2015.
Iowa Rep. Steve King, whose hard line immigration rhetoric has angered some of his fellow Republicans and delighted Democrats eager to keep Hispanic voters in their fold, is quietly planning meetings with political activists in the early presidential primary state of South Carolina, CNN has learned.
If these meetings are so quiet, why am I hearing about them on CNN?
If King is curious about seeking the Republican nomination in 2016, as his visit to South Carolina suggests, he would certainly face difficult odds.
King, though, would have a national platform to discuss his policy ideas and might appeal to elements of the Republican base that remain firmly opposed to the immigration reform bill – "amnesty," in his words - that recently passed the Senate.
Which he already has.
Let me tell you something, national media. We've just seen this here in Iowa. Only it wasn't with the presidency. It was with the US Senate race.
King hemmed and hawed and hinted, but probably never had any intention of giving up his House seat for the Senate race. But while that possibility was still out there, the checks rolled in and the spotlight stayed on Steve.
Because that's what it's about. It's about Steve.
So what if his song and dance froze the Republican Senate field for months, helping push top tier candidates out and giving Bruce Braley a head start. It was good for Steve King.
Donald Trump has to visit Iowa whenever The Apprentice is getting ready to announce another season. Sarah Palin hints that she may run for this office or that right when it's time for a TV deal or when she's finished coloring another book.
And Steve King has to say something "crazy" and/or hint at higher ambitions to stay in the spotlight. With the Senate race and governorship off the list, a "presidential bid" is the next logical move.
King isn't crazy. He's very calculating. I can guarantee that King will make some "controversial" statement when he's in South Carolina. He's probably already perfected the sound bite.
Don't get me wrong. I think his xenophobia, his loathing of Hispanic America, his "no moral responsibility" attitude, those are all real. I think his preferred "No Amnesty" solution to immigration is the mass deportation of 11 million undocumented Americans. And then he won't have to Press One For English anymore.
But the "outrageous" statements are part of the act. King knows he's addressing a niche in America, a sad, sick niche that shares his views, and he gives them just enough meat to keep them coming back, without an honest, straightforward detailing of his policies. He can't just come out and say "Round `em up and ship `em back to Mexico." That would cross lines of political correctness that even conservatives have been forced to reluctantly accept. But that niche audience can read King's intent between the lines.
The exit strategy for Steve King isn't a Tom Tancredo style presidential run. It's Fox News. It's talk radio.
Which, if Democrat Jim Mowrer has his way, will be coming to a station near you in January 2015.
Monday, August 05, 2013
We Are The Champions
It's been 28 long seasons since the Chuck Long led Hawkeyes topped the rankings. But after years of effort, and despite an intense counter-effort by UI administrators and the Iowa City Police Department, the Princeton Review has finally named the University of Iowa the nation's Number One Party School.
The ranking is a cold hard slap in the face to the University administration, in about Year Six of its long range plan: 1) get Big Brother Bluto arrested, so he goes home to Schaumburg and tells Little Brother Flounder not to go to Iowa 2) Replace Flounder from Schaumburg with international students who aren't seen anywhere but the library and the dorm.
University officials and Students were quick to react:
It's also a slap in the face of the ICPD and the now-unanimously pro-21 (disappointed, Throg) City Council, and it comes at an interesting time. They're scheduled to take the final vote tomorrow night to put the 21 Bar question on the ballot for the third time in six years.
And if you think the UI administration pulled out all the stops, and sometimes crossed a few lines of use of public resources on a political campaign, in 2010 when this was last on? Imagine how heavy handed they'll be THIS year with Iowa at Number One.
They may win and keep 21, of course, if only because the team pushing the 19 side this time is spectacularly inept.
But the continued rise of UI up the party school list, despite all efforts by the civic fathers and mothers, illustrates the futility. 18 year olds are adults, and young adults want adult fun. Each time this question has come up, the administration and the council, and even the legislators, have dodged the question at the core: the unfair and unworkable 21 year old drinking age itself. Once again, Iowa City has the opportunity to have this discussion in the context of an election. The anti-jail folks made the justice center elections a forum for debate on bigger picture issues. Fine. Let's do that here, too.
The ranking is a cold hard slap in the face to the University administration, in about Year Six of its long range plan: 1) get Big Brother Bluto arrested, so he goes home to Schaumburg and tells Little Brother Flounder not to go to Iowa 2) Replace Flounder from Schaumburg with international students who aren't seen anywhere but the library and the dorm.
University officials and Students were quick to react:
It's also a slap in the face of the ICPD and the now-unanimously pro-21 (disappointed, Throg) City Council, and it comes at an interesting time. They're scheduled to take the final vote tomorrow night to put the 21 Bar question on the ballot for the third time in six years.
And if you think the UI administration pulled out all the stops, and sometimes crossed a few lines of use of public resources on a political campaign, in 2010 when this was last on? Imagine how heavy handed they'll be THIS year with Iowa at Number One.
They may win and keep 21, of course, if only because the team pushing the 19 side this time is spectacularly inept.
But the continued rise of UI up the party school list, despite all efforts by the civic fathers and mothers, illustrates the futility. 18 year olds are adults, and young adults want adult fun. Each time this question has come up, the administration and the council, and even the legislators, have dodged the question at the core: the unfair and unworkable 21 year old drinking age itself. Once again, Iowa City has the opportunity to have this discussion in the context of an election. The anti-jail folks made the justice center elections a forum for debate on bigger picture issues. Fine. Let's do that here, too.
Friday, August 02, 2013
School Board Scorecard
School board filing ended yesterday and you'll need a scorecard to keep track. Nine candidates have filed for the three Iowa City school district seats on the September 10 ballot. Unlike 2011, when there was a separate race for one two year term, it's all one contest, top three win. One seat is open as incumbent Sarah Swisher is not running.
School board is a non-partisan office. Yet the most common question I get about school, and city, candidates is: "which ones are the good Democrats?"
"Good" is subjective, but affiliation is purely objective. We're in a polarized era so the label has some meaning. There's Republicans who I'd trust in local office who I'd never support for, say, the legislature. I've once or twice voted for a registered Republican for school board, though if I remember right it was more a matter of voting AGAINST someone else.
In any case, in the interest of Objective Journalism and giving my readers of all parties what they want, I offer some indisputable facts about the nine candidates, continuing a tradition. I also offered links to sites if I can find them. (Phil, Gregg: Will add on request.)
Interestingly, no one from North Liberty filed. As for who wants to close what school? As a Miller-Orchard resident and former - FORMER - Roosevelt parent, I have a certain detachment from that question.
Sara Barron
Age: 36
Residence: Southeast side
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Electoral History: First run.
Karla Cook
Age: 67
Residence: Far east side
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Electoral History: Incumbent, elected to two year short term in 2011.
Tuyet Dorau
Age: 35
Residence: north Coralville
Party Affiliation: No Party. Sometimes claims to be a Democrat but changed to No Party in 2008.
Electoral History: Incumbent, elected in 2009.
Gregg Geerdes
Age: 53
Residence: Manville Heights
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Electoral History: First run.
Phil Hemingway
Age: 54
Residence: East side
Party Affiliation: Republican; only one in race.
Electoral History: Fifth place of eight candidates in the 2011 four year term race. Just 89 votes behind Patti Fields for the fourth and final seat.
Brian Kirschling
Age: 41
Residence: Newport Township just north of city limits
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Electoral History: First run.
Jason Lewis
Age: 42
Residence: Twain neighborhood
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Electoral History: First run.
Chris Lynch
Age: 45
Residence: north Coralville
Party Affiliation: No Party
Electoral History: First run.
Jim Tate
Age: 40
Residence: East side.
Party Affiliation: Democrat.
Electoral History: Last of eight candidates in 2011 race.
School board is a non-partisan office. Yet the most common question I get about school, and city, candidates is: "which ones are the good Democrats?"
"Good" is subjective, but affiliation is purely objective. We're in a polarized era so the label has some meaning. There's Republicans who I'd trust in local office who I'd never support for, say, the legislature. I've once or twice voted for a registered Republican for school board, though if I remember right it was more a matter of voting AGAINST someone else.
In any case, in the interest of Objective Journalism and giving my readers of all parties what they want, I offer some indisputable facts about the nine candidates, continuing a tradition. I also offered links to sites if I can find them. (Phil, Gregg: Will add on request.)
Interestingly, no one from North Liberty filed. As for who wants to close what school? As a Miller-Orchard resident and former - FORMER - Roosevelt parent, I have a certain detachment from that question.
Sara Barron
Age: 36
Residence: Southeast side
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Electoral History: First run.
Karla Cook
Age: 67
Residence: Far east side
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Electoral History: Incumbent, elected to two year short term in 2011.
Tuyet Dorau
Age: 35
Residence: north Coralville
Party Affiliation: No Party. Sometimes claims to be a Democrat but changed to No Party in 2008.
Electoral History: Incumbent, elected in 2009.
Gregg Geerdes
Age: 53
Residence: Manville Heights
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Electoral History: First run.
Phil Hemingway
Age: 54
Residence: East side
Party Affiliation: Republican; only one in race.
Electoral History: Fifth place of eight candidates in the 2011 four year term race. Just 89 votes behind Patti Fields for the fourth and final seat.
Brian Kirschling
Age: 41
Residence: Newport Township just north of city limits
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Electoral History: First run.
Jason Lewis
Age: 42
Residence: Twain neighborhood
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Electoral History: First run.
Chris Lynch
Age: 45
Residence: north Coralville
Party Affiliation: No Party
Electoral History: First run.
Jim Tate
Age: 40
Residence: East side.
Party Affiliation: Democrat.
Electoral History: Last of eight candidates in 2011 race.
Thursday, August 01, 2013
August Johnson County Democrats
I've had such an insane schedule today I haven't had time for more than 140 characters on the Kevin McCarthy resignation. And I still don't because we're at our monthly Central Committee meeting.
We're in North Liberty, the biggest city in the open Senate District 39. Our big name guest is Tyler Olson.
We're greeted by North Librty city council's Gerry Kuhl. North Liberty is a big emphasis for us this fall. We're also having an ice cream social Sept. 16 with Dave Loebsack.
Olson is first up. A lot of us just arrived from Olson's meet n greet in Coralville. He's offered to do Q and A, always risky in the People's Republic.
"Is Iowa going to move forward, or are we going to rehash the same arguments we've had for the last 30 years?"
"More and more people are looking for a place to LIVE, and then a place to work. Quality of life is a big opportunity for Iowa."
"We should be competing on the value of the people we have here, and using that as a tool for our economic development. We need a progressive governor who understands how the world is changing."
Chair Mike Carberry asks about mental health funding and Branstad veto. "The funding was there when we transitioned from a county to a regional system, and he vetoed that funding," tying the veto to the closing of the Abbe Center in Cedar Rapids. "We're spending the money to treat people, we're just doing it in the justice system." (Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek backs him up on that; when dual diagnosis is included as much as 70% of justice spending may be mental health related.) Olson said in his new job for Atty Gen Tom Miller Kevin McCarthy will be working on this set of issues.
(Tangent: Miller also announced for re-election today. Early speculation: McCarthy getting groomed for 2018 AG run?)
Janelle Rettig follows up: "Our ability to fund that won't be possible with your vote" on property tax bill (which Hatch also made.) Olson: Tried to target tax credit to small business. "That part is good." So is earned income credit. "Overall I felt like those credits were good, the bill was presented as a whole." Rettig: what will you do to support cities and counties? "I've had proposals to allow more local control, I'd be willing to look at it again."
Olson (and Bob Krause) will also be on hand for a Johnson-Cedar County "unity event" Saturday 5 PM in West Branch, at HD73 candidate Dave Johnson's home 326 N 4th. Joint County event ≠ Johnson Campaign event despite location. There are rumors of other candidates. Also noted: GOP incumbent Bobby Kaufmann is having a $ raiser next Wednesday at the family farm with Grandpa Grassley, Grandson Grassley, and Kraig Paulsen. And ther are reportes Branstad is coming in later in the month for a high dollar event in Solon. Whoever the Dems nominate needs to get their hands on that level of money.)
Other electeds not yet named on hand: Brad Kunkel (Solon city council) Mitch Gross (Coralville council). Candidates: Jim Tate, Sara Barron, Jason Lewis (school board), Kingsley Botchway (Iowa City council). For the record: Rettig biked from Iowa City to the North Liberty meeting. Pulkrabek did not but he did ride all of RAGBRAI including the Century Loop.
Also on hand is Washington County Dems chair Richard Gilmore. He says he's here on "a party building mission. I haven't YET announced my candidacy." Washington County is another big part of open Senate District 39. He's also run for office before (a loss for county supervisor).
We elected three new central committee members and took one resignation so a net +2.
Fall BBQ set for October 13 at the fairgrounds. We're making a wish list of keynote speakers and twisting the arms of the statewide candidates. Several arms have already been successfully twisted. This is a public meeting, but there's no other media here and I don't have to tell you EVERYthing.)
School candidates speak: Tate, Barron, Lewis in that order. Filing deadline was today and I will talk about that tomorrow.
We're in North Liberty, the biggest city in the open Senate District 39. Our big name guest is Tyler Olson.
We're greeted by North Librty city council's Gerry Kuhl. North Liberty is a big emphasis for us this fall. We're also having an ice cream social Sept. 16 with Dave Loebsack.
Olson is first up. A lot of us just arrived from Olson's meet n greet in Coralville. He's offered to do Q and A, always risky in the People's Republic.
"Is Iowa going to move forward, or are we going to rehash the same arguments we've had for the last 30 years?"
"More and more people are looking for a place to LIVE, and then a place to work. Quality of life is a big opportunity for Iowa."
"We should be competing on the value of the people we have here, and using that as a tool for our economic development. We need a progressive governor who understands how the world is changing."
Chair Mike Carberry asks about mental health funding and Branstad veto. "The funding was there when we transitioned from a county to a regional system, and he vetoed that funding," tying the veto to the closing of the Abbe Center in Cedar Rapids. "We're spending the money to treat people, we're just doing it in the justice system." (Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek backs him up on that; when dual diagnosis is included as much as 70% of justice spending may be mental health related.) Olson said in his new job for Atty Gen Tom Miller Kevin McCarthy will be working on this set of issues.
(Tangent: Miller also announced for re-election today. Early speculation: McCarthy getting groomed for 2018 AG run?)
Janelle Rettig follows up: "Our ability to fund that won't be possible with your vote" on property tax bill (which Hatch also made.) Olson: Tried to target tax credit to small business. "That part is good." So is earned income credit. "Overall I felt like those credits were good, the bill was presented as a whole." Rettig: what will you do to support cities and counties? "I've had proposals to allow more local control, I'd be willing to look at it again."
Olson (and Bob Krause) will also be on hand for a Johnson-Cedar County "unity event" Saturday 5 PM in West Branch, at HD73 candidate Dave Johnson's home 326 N 4th. Joint County event ≠ Johnson Campaign event despite location. There are rumors of other candidates. Also noted: GOP incumbent Bobby Kaufmann is having a $ raiser next Wednesday at the family farm with Grandpa Grassley, Grandson Grassley, and Kraig Paulsen. And ther are reportes Branstad is coming in later in the month for a high dollar event in Solon. Whoever the Dems nominate needs to get their hands on that level of money.)
Other electeds not yet named on hand: Brad Kunkel (Solon city council) Mitch Gross (Coralville council). Candidates: Jim Tate, Sara Barron, Jason Lewis (school board), Kingsley Botchway (Iowa City council). For the record: Rettig biked from Iowa City to the North Liberty meeting. Pulkrabek did not but he did ride all of RAGBRAI including the Century Loop.
Also on hand is Washington County Dems chair Richard Gilmore. He says he's here on "a party building mission. I haven't YET announced my candidacy." Washington County is another big part of open Senate District 39. He's also run for office before (a loss for county supervisor).
We elected three new central committee members and took one resignation so a net +2.
Fall BBQ set for October 13 at the fairgrounds. We're making a wish list of keynote speakers and twisting the arms of the statewide candidates. Several arms have already been successfully twisted. This is a public meeting, but there's no other media here and I don't have to tell you EVERYthing.)
School candidates speak: Tate, Barron, Lewis in that order. Filing deadline was today and I will talk about that tomorrow.
The Rhetoric of the Registration Form
Secretary of State Matt Schultz is rolling out new voter registration forms today, and cynical political observers will see an agenda behind the new layout.
I am, of course, a cynical political observer, but I’m also an auditor’s office staffer, so this form is one of the tools of my trade. The revision is the first since January 2008, when the Greens and Libertarians were added. That was a big win for the third parties, but a relatively minor edit. This revision is a top to bottom rewrite.
Here’s a couple links to compare the old and new versions.
I’ve registered tens of thousands of voters over the last 20 years and I can tell you: people completing a form instinctively want to fill in their name first. But the new form actually moves name lower, a third of the way into the form.
Instead, in what looks like the idea here, two checkbox questions are bumped up from the bottom to the top, and a third is added. As of today, the first thing you’re asked when you register to vote in Iowa is if you are a US citizen. The third box is the newly emphasized question: “If you have previously been convicted of a felony have your rights been restored?”
This new focus addresses twin bugaboos of Schultz and the right, as they make massive attempts to “prove” that voter fraud is rampant in Iowa in their push for photo ID.
(Tangent: The second checkbox question is just dumb: “Will you be 18 years of age on or before Election Day?” Which Election Day? My county has six this year. And your birthdate allows us to determine your age by a complex mathematical formula called “subtraction.” Unfortunately, this wording is required by federal law.)
After you’ve checked these boxes you’re asked for an ID number and your birthdate. This was the point that led the ACLU to challenge an earlier draft of the form; this version is marginally more clear about which ID number to provide. These items were at the very top of the January 2008 form.
The old form had spaces for both a phone number and email. The new form has just one space for “either” and also more strongly emphasizes that these items are optional, which will likely discourage people from providing them.
That’s been an increasing trend. In my county 43% of voters have left the phone number field blank, up from 28% a decade ago. Many of the remaining numbers are likely bad. Voters don’t re-register just because they dropped their land line and went cell-only. They re-register to change address or, occasionally, party (usually when it’s required at a primary or caucus, and only rarely as a Political Statement).
Even if you leave this space blank, you won’t keep campaigns from interrupting your dinner. In the era of Big Data, both parties have nationalized their files, and they’ll find your contact information someplace else. But you will make it harder for your auditor’s office to contact you if you make a “your vote won't count” kind of mistake, like forgetting to sign an absentee affidavit.
The address section is the lone improvement I see. The new form makes it more clear that “alternate address” is meant for post office boxes. And attention students: unless you want your voter card and ballot sent to Mom and Dad back home in Aurora, don’t put down their address.
The new form changes the layout of party affiliation from rows to columns, and lists No Party (Iowa's legal term for "independent") in front of, rather than below, the major parties. I’m curious to see if the layout change impacts registration trends, though there are so many other variables that it would be next to impossible to isolate this one factor.
At the bottom of the form you’re asked to sign, swearing to an oath that includes all the same questions about citizenship, age and felony status that are so emphasized at the very top.
The new emphasis on felonies and rights restoration could have a chilling effect for some voters. Under the last four secretaries of state, of both parties, the de facto penalty for the simple mistake of trying to register without knowing your rights weren’t restored was a simple Sorry But No.
But in the Schultz Administration, fear of prosecution for an honest mistake is real. I’ve seen it. During the presidential election I helped a man who had completed all terms of his sentence but wasn’t sure his rights had been restored. He’d paid his debt to society and wanted to vote. But faced with the risk of additional prosecution, he didn’t want to take the chance.
And yes, he was black. Just saying.
Maybe I’m making a big deal out of a little thing. It’s just a form, nothing like the serious Southern vote suppression efforts in the few weeks since the Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Act ruling.
But we’re just one state senator away from similar efforts in our state. And the layout changes are a tangible reflection of Schultz’s attitude. The way he sees it, the first thing about the job isn’t helping people vote – it’s stopping people from voting.
I am, of course, a cynical political observer, but I’m also an auditor’s office staffer, so this form is one of the tools of my trade. The revision is the first since January 2008, when the Greens and Libertarians were added. That was a big win for the third parties, but a relatively minor edit. This revision is a top to bottom rewrite.
Here’s a couple links to compare the old and new versions.
I’ve registered tens of thousands of voters over the last 20 years and I can tell you: people completing a form instinctively want to fill in their name first. But the new form actually moves name lower, a third of the way into the form.
Instead, in what looks like the idea here, two checkbox questions are bumped up from the bottom to the top, and a third is added. As of today, the first thing you’re asked when you register to vote in Iowa is if you are a US citizen. The third box is the newly emphasized question: “If you have previously been convicted of a felony have your rights been restored?”
This new focus addresses twin bugaboos of Schultz and the right, as they make massive attempts to “prove” that voter fraud is rampant in Iowa in their push for photo ID.
The way Schultz sees it, the first thing about the job isn’t helping people vote – it’s stopping people from voting.
As a professional bureaucrat, I guess it makes sense to move boxes labelled “If you answered No to any of the questions, do not complete this form” from the bottom to the top. But it’s not the warmest welcome to the democratic process.(Tangent: The second checkbox question is just dumb: “Will you be 18 years of age on or before Election Day?” Which Election Day? My county has six this year. And your birthdate allows us to determine your age by a complex mathematical formula called “subtraction.” Unfortunately, this wording is required by federal law.)
After you’ve checked these boxes you’re asked for an ID number and your birthdate. This was the point that led the ACLU to challenge an earlier draft of the form; this version is marginally more clear about which ID number to provide. These items were at the very top of the January 2008 form.
The old form had spaces for both a phone number and email. The new form has just one space for “either” and also more strongly emphasizes that these items are optional, which will likely discourage people from providing them.
That’s been an increasing trend. In my county 43% of voters have left the phone number field blank, up from 28% a decade ago. Many of the remaining numbers are likely bad. Voters don’t re-register just because they dropped their land line and went cell-only. They re-register to change address or, occasionally, party (usually when it’s required at a primary or caucus, and only rarely as a Political Statement).
Even if you leave this space blank, you won’t keep campaigns from interrupting your dinner. In the era of Big Data, both parties have nationalized their files, and they’ll find your contact information someplace else. But you will make it harder for your auditor’s office to contact you if you make a “your vote won't count” kind of mistake, like forgetting to sign an absentee affidavit.
The address section is the lone improvement I see. The new form makes it more clear that “alternate address” is meant for post office boxes. And attention students: unless you want your voter card and ballot sent to Mom and Dad back home in Aurora, don’t put down their address.
The new form changes the layout of party affiliation from rows to columns, and lists No Party (Iowa's legal term for "independent") in front of, rather than below, the major parties. I’m curious to see if the layout change impacts registration trends, though there are so many other variables that it would be next to impossible to isolate this one factor.
At the bottom of the form you’re asked to sign, swearing to an oath that includes all the same questions about citizenship, age and felony status that are so emphasized at the very top.
The new emphasis on felonies and rights restoration could have a chilling effect for some voters. Under the last four secretaries of state, of both parties, the de facto penalty for the simple mistake of trying to register without knowing your rights weren’t restored was a simple Sorry But No.
But in the Schultz Administration, fear of prosecution for an honest mistake is real. I’ve seen it. During the presidential election I helped a man who had completed all terms of his sentence but wasn’t sure his rights had been restored. He’d paid his debt to society and wanted to vote. But faced with the risk of additional prosecution, he didn’t want to take the chance.
And yes, he was black. Just saying.
Maybe I’m making a big deal out of a little thing. It’s just a form, nothing like the serious Southern vote suppression efforts in the few weeks since the Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Act ruling.
But we’re just one state senator away from similar efforts in our state. And the layout changes are a tangible reflection of Schultz’s attitude. The way he sees it, the first thing about the job isn’t helping people vote – it’s stopping people from voting.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Nothing Happened Yesterday
Yesterday was an interesting day considering that, by the time it ended, nothing had happened.
For a couple hours, we thought something really big had happened.
At roughly 11:50 AM the national political press, ever eager for signs of life in the 2016 presidential campaign, had picked up on an obscure announcement on the University of Iowa's Welcome Back Week calendar: Newark NJ mayor Cory Booker was giving a lecture in Iowa City - IOWA! - on August 29.
Like an obscure Illinois state senator in 2004, Booker is being mentioned as a potential presidential candidate even before his extremely likely election to the US Senate in an October special election.
That time frame is important to our non-story here. Booker announced his run earlier this year, as a primary challenge to ailing nonagenarian incumbent Frank Lautenberg, who soon after announced his retirement. But then Lautenberg died moving Booker's campaign time frame up a year as even the most casual political news observer would know.
By 12:33 PM, a Booker campaign spokesman was saying the Iowa speech was not on Booker's schedule. UIowa stuck by its schedule and left the speech announcement on its web site till at least 1:30 PM, but by 1:37 the Booker announcement quietly vanished. Later in the afternoon the university offered the weak excuse that Booker's people had never told them of the cancellation.
Likely scenario: the University scheduled Booker early in the year, before Lautenberg's death, then never followed up when the New Jersey political situation changed. Now, I know everyone's not a political junkie like me (or you, because you're reading me). But you mean no one in the University's PR or lecture teams was following the news about the prominent national figure who was supposed to be the keynote speaker for the entire first week of school? No one stopped to think, "mayyyybe we should check in and see if this is still a go?"
It's another biiiiig win in media relations for the Sally Mason administration - perhaps the most derpy moment since December when the University president told a room full of reporters, "Don’t believe everything you read in the newspaper.”
The botched Booker announcement would be a national embarrassment -- IF the political press didn't have a gnat-like attention span. Right now they're focused on Hillary Clinton's eating schedule: lunch with Obama yesterday, breakfast with Biden today. What next? they ask. Well, there's an open speaking date in Iowa on August 29...
The other nothing that happened didn't happen late last night in Council Bluffs. Mike "Governor" Gronstal announced to a crowd of hometown Democrats that he was NOT going to seek the demotion from Senate majority leader to actual governor. He probably heard the sighs of relief from the two declared candidates who were in the room, Tyler Olson and Bob "Also Running" Krause.
This particular nothing is not a huge surprise. But the non-announcement was a necessary pre-condition for movement in the governor's race. My bet is more than a few prominent names were waiting on an official No from Gronstal before making a commitment to either Olson or Jack Hatch. With the field now set, look for those endorsements to start.
For a couple hours, we thought something really big had happened.
At roughly 11:50 AM the national political press, ever eager for signs of life in the 2016 presidential campaign, had picked up on an obscure announcement on the University of Iowa's Welcome Back Week calendar: Newark NJ mayor Cory Booker was giving a lecture in Iowa City - IOWA! - on August 29.
Like an obscure Illinois state senator in 2004, Booker is being mentioned as a potential presidential candidate even before his extremely likely election to the US Senate in an October special election.
That time frame is important to our non-story here. Booker announced his run earlier this year, as a primary challenge to ailing nonagenarian incumbent Frank Lautenberg, who soon after announced his retirement. But then Lautenberg died moving Booker's campaign time frame up a year as even the most casual political news observer would know.
By 12:33 PM, a Booker campaign spokesman was saying the Iowa speech was not on Booker's schedule. UIowa stuck by its schedule and left the speech announcement on its web site till at least 1:30 PM, but by 1:37 the Booker announcement quietly vanished. Later in the afternoon the university offered the weak excuse that Booker's people had never told them of the cancellation.
Likely scenario: the University scheduled Booker early in the year, before Lautenberg's death, then never followed up when the New Jersey political situation changed. Now, I know everyone's not a political junkie like me (or you, because you're reading me). But you mean no one in the University's PR or lecture teams was following the news about the prominent national figure who was supposed to be the keynote speaker for the entire first week of school? No one stopped to think, "mayyyybe we should check in and see if this is still a go?"
It's another biiiiig win in media relations for the Sally Mason administration - perhaps the most derpy moment since December when the University president told a room full of reporters, "Don’t believe everything you read in the newspaper.”
The botched Booker announcement would be a national embarrassment -- IF the political press didn't have a gnat-like attention span. Right now they're focused on Hillary Clinton's eating schedule: lunch with Obama yesterday, breakfast with Biden today. What next? they ask. Well, there's an open speaking date in Iowa on August 29...
The other nothing that happened didn't happen late last night in Council Bluffs. Mike "Governor" Gronstal announced to a crowd of hometown Democrats that he was NOT going to seek the demotion from Senate majority leader to actual governor. He probably heard the sighs of relief from the two declared candidates who were in the room, Tyler Olson and Bob "Also Running" Krause.
This particular nothing is not a huge surprise. But the non-announcement was a necessary pre-condition for movement in the governor's race. My bet is more than a few prominent names were waiting on an official No from Gronstal before making a commitment to either Olson or Jack Hatch. With the field now set, look for those endorsements to start.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Porter Announces For City Council
The Iowa City Council District B race won't go uncontested after all. Community activist Royceanne Porter announced yesterday she's seeking the open but not really open seat:
It's official! After consideration of the request to run for City Council for Iowa City, Iowa I have decided to move forward and launch my campaign!!! I will be a candidate for District B and I am looking forward to a positive and successful outcome! I will be seeking your support as I endeavor to represent our community on City Council.
Porter is opposing Terry Dickens, currently serving in an at-large seat but running this year in District B. Seat switches like that have been rumored in the past, but my research tells me this is the first time it's actually happened since the present district system was established in 1975. The current District B incumbent, Connie Champion, is retiring. Her daughter Catherine Champion is running in the at large race.
Still with me? Hang on, it gets weirder. Iowa City's hybrid district/at large system is almost as confusing to new voters as the Iowa Caucuses.
It's official! After consideration of the request to run for City Council for Iowa City, Iowa I have decided to move forward and launch my campaign!!! I will be a candidate for District B and I am looking forward to a positive and successful outcome! I will be seeking your support as I endeavor to represent our community on City Council.
Porter is opposing Terry Dickens, currently serving in an at-large seat but running this year in District B. Seat switches like that have been rumored in the past, but my research tells me this is the first time it's actually happened since the present district system was established in 1975. The current District B incumbent, Connie Champion, is retiring. Her daughter Catherine Champion is running in the at large race.
Still with me? Hang on, it gets weirder. Iowa City's hybrid district/at large system is almost as confusing to new voters as the Iowa Caucuses.
- The city elects seven council members: three in this year's cycle, four in 2015.
- Two at large members are up each cycle. You can vote for two and top two win each time. This year, Dickens and Susan Mims (seeking re-election) are up, but as noted Dickens is trying to swap seats. In 2015, it's Matt Hayek and Michelle Payne.
- The District B seat, roughly the east side, is also up this year. In 2015, Rick Dobyn's District A seat (roughly the west side) and Jim Throgmorton's District C (north side and downtown) are up.
- The city also has a primary system. It's not a partisan primary so you don't have to declare a party.
- A primary happens on October 8 if five or more people run at large. Right now we're at four announced candidates at large: Mims, Champion the younger, Kingsley Botchway and Rockne Cole.
- A primary also happens if three or more candidates run in a district seat. As noted we're now at two in District B: Dickens and Porter. If there aren't enough candidates, the primary doesn't happen. This is also different than a partisan primary, which has to happen whether or not there are contested races.
- Iowa City hasn't avoided a primary since 1991. For some reason, the city council race has historically been more attractive to, um, unusual candidates than, say, a legislative race. We've had several primaries with five at large candidates, one of whom is clearly very weak or sometimes not even actively campaigning. It's a free country.
- If there's a primary, you can only vote for two at large and one in the district. You're not picking which four (or two) go on, your picking which two (or one) you want.
- Now THIS is the most confusing part. If there is a primary in a district seat, only voters in the district vote in the primary. The WHOLE city votes on both the at large AND the District B in the November 5 election.
- And oh, yeah, there's that little bar issue, too. This week the council voted to put 21 Bar on the ballot for the third time rather than repealing it themselves. They also, the same night, voted to ease the 500 foot distance requirement for new bars EXCEPT in downtown. One standard for old people, another for young people.
- The 19 Bar guys clearly aren't interested in my help. (Maybe I have an ego, but I like getting called. Even if I won't be with you, I might be less against you.) They must expect young voters to just magically appear. I'll still vote to repeal 21, sure, and probably write something, and take a yard sign if one is offered. But this isn't really my fight. If they can't get their 21 and 22 year old friends to support them - and the prevailing attitude among the juniors and seniors has been: I got mine, screw the freshmen - then they don't need a grandpa on board. I have better things to do in support of young people, and probably with a better chance at success.
- Theoretically, University Heights could also have a primary, but this hasn't happened since at least 1977 (as far back as I've seen records) and may never have happened. Almost happened in 2009; one more candidate for mayor or council would have done it.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Why State Troopers Drive The Governor
Terry Branstad and his team have let SpeederGate drag on for three long weeks, in a classic example of bad messaging. The incident, involving a fired state trooper who reported the governor's van traveling at close to 90 MPH, brought with it a lot of face-palming, and we Democrats are reveling in the schadenfruede. When the other team makes an unforced error, you take the base.
But the controversy about why Terry Branstad's driver gets to speed when the governor is running late, while the rest of us get pulled over and ticketed, begs a question.
Why is it that state troopers drive the governor around, anyway? A lesson from Iowa history shows that the governor's safety on the road is a serious issue.
On the night of Sunday, November 21, 1954, Governor William Beardsley was driving from Ames to Des Moines. The governor and first lady Charlotte Beardsley had paid a weekend visit to their son, Dan, at Iowa State. This was pre-interstate, so they were on old Highway 60.
Beardsley was in his final weeks as governor. The former state legislator, who had defeated incumbent Robert Blue in the 1948 Republican primary, was voluntarily stepping down after three two-year terms, and getting ready to hand off to another Republican, Leo Hough. He was looking forward to returning to his farm and pharmacy back home in New Virginia. But he never had the chance.
That night, the governor, at the wheel, crashed into the back end of a truck. The first lady was seriously injured. Governor Beardsley was killed.
"The people of Iowa have lost a devoted public servant whom they elected three times as Chief Executive of their State," said President Eisenhower in an official condolence.
Ironically, Beardsley was known for roads and highway issues during his term:
Beardsley was an enthusiastic road builder and successfully persuaded the General Assembly to adopt a road-building program. In 1953 he reported that "there has been more construction of highways during the last twelve months than in any other given period in the history of our state."He was especially proud of the miles of farm-to-market roads that had been built. Highway safety was another keen concern of Beardsley's. The Iowa State Highway Patrol was expanded, and emphasized safety education as much as law enforcement. Driver training classes in the high schools turned out safe drivers.
Lt. Gov. Leo Elthon succeeded Beardsley as governor for a few weeks. Elthon had been re-elected - this was back before governor and lieutenant governor were a ticket - so he went back to being lieutenant governor once Hough was sworn in as scheduled.
After that, state troopers took over the job of driving the governor.
So SpeederGate isn't just a question of privilege for the powerful, though that's certainly an issue. This is a matter of the governor's safety, bigger than anyone's personal taste or distaste for the present occupant of the office, bigger than anyone's party agenda. The people have chosen the governor, any governor, to a position of great responsibility, and that power should be handled responsibly.
But the controversy about why Terry Branstad's driver gets to speed when the governor is running late, while the rest of us get pulled over and ticketed, begs a question.
Why is it that state troopers drive the governor around, anyway? A lesson from Iowa history shows that the governor's safety on the road is a serious issue.
On the night of Sunday, November 21, 1954, Governor William Beardsley was driving from Ames to Des Moines. The governor and first lady Charlotte Beardsley had paid a weekend visit to their son, Dan, at Iowa State. This was pre-interstate, so they were on old Highway 60.
Beardsley was in his final weeks as governor. The former state legislator, who had defeated incumbent Robert Blue in the 1948 Republican primary, was voluntarily stepping down after three two-year terms, and getting ready to hand off to another Republican, Leo Hough. He was looking forward to returning to his farm and pharmacy back home in New Virginia. But he never had the chance.
That night, the governor, at the wheel, crashed into the back end of a truck. The first lady was seriously injured. Governor Beardsley was killed.
"The people of Iowa have lost a devoted public servant whom they elected three times as Chief Executive of their State," said President Eisenhower in an official condolence.
Ironically, Beardsley was known for roads and highway issues during his term:
Beardsley was an enthusiastic road builder and successfully persuaded the General Assembly to adopt a road-building program. In 1953 he reported that "there has been more construction of highways during the last twelve months than in any other given period in the history of our state."He was especially proud of the miles of farm-to-market roads that had been built. Highway safety was another keen concern of Beardsley's. The Iowa State Highway Patrol was expanded, and emphasized safety education as much as law enforcement. Driver training classes in the high schools turned out safe drivers.
Lt. Gov. Leo Elthon succeeded Beardsley as governor for a few weeks. Elthon had been re-elected - this was back before governor and lieutenant governor were a ticket - so he went back to being lieutenant governor once Hough was sworn in as scheduled.
After that, state troopers took over the job of driving the governor.
So SpeederGate isn't just a question of privilege for the powerful, though that's certainly an issue. This is a matter of the governor's safety, bigger than anyone's personal taste or distaste for the present occupant of the office, bigger than anyone's party agenda. The people have chosen the governor, any governor, to a position of great responsibility, and that power should be handled responsibly.
Monday, July 22, 2013
I was wrrrrrrrrrrr
Jim Mowrer gave me a call last week. As you know, and as he knew, I was initially quite dismissive of his chances when he announced his candidacy against Steve King. But I'm willing to talk to just about anyone (though Pat Murphy still hasn't called).
And I'm even willing to reconsider sometimes.
Jim Mowrer's a serious guy. He had a serious enough military career, in war and in the Pentagon, that he didn't need to come home to run a hapless race. And he's looked at the numbers, daunting as they are in that red district, close enough to see a path to victory.
That path runs through his fellow veterans and through the independents and even Republicans who are tired of having a congressman who's all talk and no action.
(Speaking of which, King did some more talking this weekend on, of all places, Univision, where he came as close as ever to admitting that No Amnesty = Mass Deportation. “American citizens and legal Americans do not have a moral obligation to solve the problem of the 11 million people that are here unlawfully." See? Even on his signature issue, he is fighting to do nothing.)
Where I was wrrrrr was in my assumption that Democrats had made their strongest possible effort in 2012. And Christie Vilsack was, indeed, King's strongest challenger yet.
But strongest YET is different than strongest POSSIBLE. Vilsack ran a decent campaign, but it was a conventional campaign and in many ways she was a conventional candidate.
Steve King is an unconventional politician, and it's hard to attack an unconventional target with conventional weapons. So... why not something different? You know I'm all about the young candidates.
Insert megabytes of arguments here about where Christie Vilsack should have run (but remember that Boswell lost). And several high-level Iowa politicos have successfully moved, as long as there was some plausible overlap of territory. But even Vilsack's biggest supporters will concede that her ties to the 4th District really just her ties to the state as a whole rather than anything specifically northwest.
Mowrer is genuinely rooted in the district, on a family farm in Boone. His military veteran background (and, sadly, his gender) can reach voters Vilsack couldn't.
Sure it's a tough fight. But King is about to take center stage in a way he hasn't before. If he fails to kill immigration reform, it's a sign of a shifting mood even among Republicans. And if he succeeds, it just underscores that he's all about nothing getting done.
And in a seeming paradox, the off-year may actually help Democrats; unlike the rest of the state the district is so red that the big presidential year turnout helps the GOP more. And Democrats? In Steve King's district, Democrats will be ready to vote.
And I'm even willing to reconsider sometimes.
Jim Mowrer's a serious guy. He had a serious enough military career, in war and in the Pentagon, that he didn't need to come home to run a hapless race. And he's looked at the numbers, daunting as they are in that red district, close enough to see a path to victory.
That path runs through his fellow veterans and through the independents and even Republicans who are tired of having a congressman who's all talk and no action.
(Speaking of which, King did some more talking this weekend on, of all places, Univision, where he came as close as ever to admitting that No Amnesty = Mass Deportation. “American citizens and legal Americans do not have a moral obligation to solve the problem of the 11 million people that are here unlawfully." See? Even on his signature issue, he is fighting to do nothing.)
Where I was wrrrrr was in my assumption that Democrats had made their strongest possible effort in 2012. And Christie Vilsack was, indeed, King's strongest challenger yet.
But strongest YET is different than strongest POSSIBLE. Vilsack ran a decent campaign, but it was a conventional campaign and in many ways she was a conventional candidate.
Steve King is an unconventional politician, and it's hard to attack an unconventional target with conventional weapons. So... why not something different? You know I'm all about the young candidates.
Insert megabytes of arguments here about where Christie Vilsack should have run (but remember that Boswell lost). And several high-level Iowa politicos have successfully moved, as long as there was some plausible overlap of territory. But even Vilsack's biggest supporters will concede that her ties to the 4th District really just her ties to the state as a whole rather than anything specifically northwest.
Mowrer is genuinely rooted in the district, on a family farm in Boone. His military veteran background (and, sadly, his gender) can reach voters Vilsack couldn't.
Sure it's a tough fight. But King is about to take center stage in a way he hasn't before. If he fails to kill immigration reform, it's a sign of a shifting mood even among Republicans. And if he succeeds, it just underscores that he's all about nothing getting done.
And in a seeming paradox, the off-year may actually help Democrats; unlike the rest of the state the district is so red that the big presidential year turnout helps the GOP more. And Democrats? In Steve King's district, Democrats will be ready to vote.
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