21 Bars Get Busy

21 Bars Get Busy



Not as high profile as the Obama meeting but the committee for the 21 bar referendum got together last night. Only the Daily Iowan picks up on it - is that what we can expect for the fall? - but they did get Leah Cohen to call them "prohibitionists." Iowa City locals will recall that Cohen, owner of Bo James, fell about 50 votes short of bumping off Mike O'Donnell in 2001. Mike later switched to anti-21, which helped him beat 21 bar leader Rick Dobyns in `05 after Dobyns placd first in the primary.

---

Quick links:

Edwards picks up some Vilsackers; the few big names from Johnson and Linn don't appear. Essential Estrogen says this is bad for the caucuses; I see the point but mildly disagree. I think the county chair types can be fair even if committed; we're not talking Chicago Alderman Louie Kneecaps here.

The Dems have finally found the phrase that pays: "Fully Funded Withdrawal." Some Progressive Caucus names here; will watch this one closely.

Interesting national numbers on immigration: Support for letting folks stay in the US and get on a citizenship path has stayed roughly steady in the 60% range but there's a recent spike in the GOP base, unworkable "deport everyone" position. Jonathan Singer at MyDD:

No doubt those speaking out in opposition to creating a realistic fix to the problem of having 10 million or more people living inside our country's borders unlawfully are among the loudest -- or at the least know how to play to the media to offer the portrayal that their numbers are greater than they actually are. And in fact, many in Congress -- to many Democrats, included -- have become timid on the issue of immigration reform as a result.

But the numbers speak for themselves. Americans want a comprehensive reform of the nation's immigration policy -- one that includes a path to citizenship.

It's the classic strength of position curve that drives so many of our issues: the vast majority that support a citizensip path do so mildly, while the minority have anger and energy on their side. See gun control, stem cells, choice, etc. for more examples. And get ready for that Tom Tancredo surprise.

Grassley Office Arrests And The Efficacy Of Protest

Grassley Office Arrests And The Efficacy Of Protest

Civil disobedience is a powerful, legitimate takes a fair amount of nerve and I tip my hat to the folks who got arrested at Chuck Grassley's offices yesterday. Yet I'm not sure how much they accomplished.

I leave aside the alienation effect. I admire protest but I acknowledge that some people reject the tactic and question its legitimacy.

(Aside: for the worst writing in the Iowa blogosphere you can't beat James Eaves-Johnson's From Right To Left at the Press-Citizen. No link love for his simplistic arguments and blatant Israel pandering.)

The success of protest depends on how you define the target. If the goal is publicity and attention to Grassley's pro-war policies, they were a success. Front pages, and here I am writing about it. But if the idea was to actually persuade Grassley, then it was a waste of time.

Attempts to persuade seated politicians only work on small to medium size issues. On the hot buttons issues, on questions of basic philosophy, politicians are either firm or, if not, they are hurt more by the obvious pandering (see The Entire Career of Mitt Romney for details).

There's also a certain lack of credibility. Oh, so lefty students are protesting Grassley on the war? Like they were ever gonna vote for him anyway? Even if he flips on the war he's still an anti-choice, cut taxes for the rich conservative.

The only way to deal with politicians who can't be persuaded is to work around them, persuade the larger public, and defeat them. That's why I've chosen to focus my activism on electoral politics.

Chuck Grassley has not had a well-funded, top tier race since he was first elected as a challenger in 1980. That's a whole generation ago - literally, as the son of the incumbent he beat is now our governor. He's held public office continually for two generations - literally, as his grandson now holds his old legislative seat. Fifty years in office with perhaps three serious races (1958, 1974, 1980 - one for each rung of the ladder.) Just the kind of candidate whose campaign muscles atrophy.

It's long past time for someone to really take on Grassley, and the candidate is waiting in the wings, just off a presidential race that never really got off the ground. I hope Tom Vilsack keeps his profile high and close to home the next couple years on the sidelines, and gears up for a big return to the ball game in 2010.

Loebsack home from Iraq

Loebsack home from Iraq

Loebsack said seeing the situation in Iraq for himself reinforced his belief that it was proper for Congress to oppose the troop increase.

“Yeah, I do even more so, believe that it was the right thing to do,” he said. “I don’t see how escalation is going to accomplish what we want.”

But he also said he was "amazed" by the spirit and dedication of U.S. troops deployed in the war zone. All those involved are 'giving it their best,' including the troops, said Loebsack. 'They are doing their job ... they're there to do a job and they take it seriously and I am amazed they manage to do it in the face of all this.'

No one asked about the nonbinding resolution passed by the House this month opposing President Bush’s decision to deploy 21,500 additional combat troops to Iraq.

Loebsack said the troops weren’t interested in politics. “‘We’re just here to do our job,’ is what they told me.”

As a next step he said he is looking toward helping support legislation by Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., that will put conditions on money for the war and "we can begin to be serious about disengagement and send a very serious message to George Bush, not just a nonbinding resolution."

Profiles In Contrast

Profiles In Contrast

"This is a rare Saturday vote. We’ve had only a handful of votes on Saturdays in the last 20 years. Even though I had to cancel a couple of speeches in Iowa, this is the place to be because the War on Terrorism is the most important issue facing Americans"
-Chuck Grassley, speaking today in Washington DC

John McCain in Des Moines today blasted the Democrat-controlled Senate leadership for calling a Saturday session to debate a "meaningless resolution" of disapproval for President Bush's Iraq war strategy.

"It's insulting to the public and our soldiers to pretend we're discharging our responsibility in any meaningful way."

Thanks to O. Kay for pointing this out and pushing the objectivity envelope.

Vote was 56-34, but needed 60. Ten absent, including McCain. Washington Post adds to his sense of false priorities (i.e. me, me me):

Most Democrats were already seated at their desks when the roll call began shortly before 2 p.m. The only Democrat who missed the vote was Sen. Tim Johnson (S.D.), who is recovering from brain surgery. Democratic Sens. Robert P. Casey Jr. (Pa.) and Max Baucus (Mont.) canceled plans to visit Iraq this weekend and were present on the floor. Their traveling companions, GOP Sens. Jon Kyl (Ariz.) and Bob Corker (Tenn.), went ahead with the trip and missed the Senate action.

All actual Democrats voted to stop the surge - Joementum, of course, showed his true colors and voted like a Republican. But seven GOP senators defected from the Bush line:

Norm Coleman of Minnesota, Susan Collins of Maine, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, Gordon Smith of Oregon, Olympia Snowe of Maine, Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania and John Warner of Virginia. All but Snowe and Specter could face the voters in 2008.

Norm Coleman. How will his vote affect me, Al Franken?

Biden Goes To Work, McCain Goes To Campaign

Biden Goes To Work, McCain Goes To Campaign

I've dissed Joe Biden's long-shot candidacy recently but give him credit: he's cancelled some (all?) of his Iowa campaign events in order to participate in the Senate vote on the anti-surge resolution. He also had to cancel a Marshalltown event Friday due to an unscheduled plane stop reports Common Iowan.

But John McCain? He's skipping work, blowing off the most important Senate debate of the year, and sticking to his full weekend campaign schedule. And Straight Talk (sic) Iowa Style is damn proud of it:

The foolish cowardice of Senate Democrats will not keep John McCain from hearing out the good people of Iowa.

Here's more credit where credit is due: the 17 House Republicans who crossed party lines to vote against Bush and the surge.

Castle (DE)
Coble (NC)
Davis (VA)
Duncan (TN)
English (PA)
Gilchrest (MD)
Inglis (SC)
Johnson (IL)
Jones (NC)
Keller (FL)
Kirk (IL)
LaTourette (OH)
Paul (TX)
Petri (WI)
Ramstad (MN)
Upton (MI)
Walsh (NY)

Saving their own butts or principled opposition? Some of each, perhaps, but they did the right thing. Two Dems went the other way: Jim Marshall (GA), who's in one of the gerrymander districts, and museum piece Gene Taylor of Mississippi, who votes like an old fashioned Southern conservative Democrat but resisted many attempts to get him to cross over in the Gingrich-Hastert era.

Loebsack Going To Iraq

Loebsack Going To Iraq

Part of an Armed Services Committee trip next week:

"Since being sworn in to Congress I have attended many briefings on Iraq, and one thing is clear, the current conditions are dire and quickly deteriorating," said Congressman Loebsack. "But the knowledge obtained in these briefings pales in comparison to what is gained from being on the ground and meeting with the soldiers currently serving."

"I am going with a bipartisan group of Congressmen to Iraq to speak directly with our brave soldiers on the ground and thank them personally for their great commitment, service and sacrifice. Additionally, I hope to gain a better perspective on how to best end this conflict and bring our troops home safely," Congressman Loebsack declared.

Loebsack on Surge, Vilsack on Leno

Loebsack on Surge, Vilsack on Leno

Debate on the anti-surge resolution continues, and everyone is stating their case. Here's Dave Loebsack:

For too long Congress refused to stand up to the administration. Our actions today must mark the beginning of Congress's oversight role, not the end.

The time has come to tell President Bush enough is enough! Last November, the American people spoke. They spoke loudly and clearly on a number of issues but none more passionately and forcefully than the war in Iraq. The American people, long before this debate this week, decided that the misadventure in Iraq must end.

More from Loebsack later today says the in box:

Rep. Dave Loebsack to comment on President Bush's plan to escalate the war in Iraq Friday, February 16. The footage will be sent from Washington, D.C. via satellite FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16 FROM 4:30 - 5:15p.m.

The Reg provides handy-dandy complete statements from all five Iowans. And the Iowa Senate lends its support on a voice vote.

But will the House sign on too? Pat Murphy doesn't think so, and he's not sure on stem cells either: "At this point, I don't know if we have enough votes to pass it." Well, why not?

---

All the papers have their reviews of Vilsack on Leno which I missed apparantly he did a bit where the security guards didn't recognize him and repeated the basic bits - rock solid, never been ahead and never lost, etc. for a new audience.

Maybe more significantly, the Vilsackers are phonebanking and my phone rang yesterday with the basic pre-caucus call. The Ex Guv is coming to town March 2 to the Hamburg Inn, which I could actually see from where I was standing in the laundromat. It was a decent earnest kid for hire on the other end; I felt more informed than the caller but then I'm probably not a typical call.