September Johnson County Dems

September Johnson County Dems

7 PM and greetings from the Coralville Library where we Johnson County Dems are meeting this month. Not our usual spot but we have to mix it up once in a while.

Elected officials are few and far this month: Lonny Pulkrabek. We have city council candidate Dan Tallon as well. (UPDATE: Now Mary Mascher too)

Don't forget the Harkin Steak Fry with him, Al Franken. Sunday, September 13th, Warren County Fairgrounds, Indianola.

The JC Dems BBQ is Saturday Oct. 24 in Hills. Congressman Dave will be there, Tom Fiegen and Bob Krause will be there (Ed Flaherty suggests this is the first in a series of Goodbye Grassley parties), other speakers TBA. 2 to 6 pm, sneak out early to catch the Hawks 5 PM kickoff.

The IDP's Jefferson-Jackson is not yet scheduled. Some grumbling about a potential conflict... but that's a given every year. Let's say a state party gets, say, Joe Biden on October 24. They're not going to say "Sorry, Mr. Vice President, there's a schedule conflict with a local event."

A nice pat on our own backs for the Curt Hanson win, which is getting a lot of attention in the national blogosphere.

The JCDems website is new and improved.

Sheriff Lonny is Our Featured Speaker. We're getting a jail update: FY09 prisoner transport costs about $1 million. "The jail dominates the conversation, and that's what I know, but the courthouse also has some serious space issues that need to be corrected." Such as lack of privacy for attorney-client discussion, space for judges, document storage (the floor is sagging from the weight of the documents) and retrieval. "I believe the best solution is a justice center with an addiion to the current courthouse." Says most prefer a downtown location. One common entrance for screening. "Having it all under one room improves the efficiency of the sheriff's office while we're moving people back and forth."

"But something came up with the Press-Citizen building. I was not included in the initial discussion." "The P-C is such a unique building that it could easily be converted into a jail and sheriff's office." Lonny says the jail studies have been good but the courthouse study not so much. "They didn't address the existing courthouse and I don't think anyone has fathomed not using the existing courthouse."

So now architect is comparing costs between the downtown option and the PC option. "Splitting the jail and courthouse is efficiency-wise, not good. I don't think it's the best option but $13 million is a lot of money and the transport costs may not be equal to that 13 million."

"I don't think we can have a plan for a bond referendum in late 2010. And we're still not out of this recession. We may be ready in 2011. I don't think anyone in the room will raise my hand and say 'please raise my taxes $500 a year.'"

Committee starting to do more work on outreach.

Q and A. Current jail is 92 beds (proposals are 250 to 350) It was designed for 46 and then they double-bumked. "There are many programs I could do and I have volunteers ready to do it but we don't have space." Average load is 150-170.

What about the block north of the jail? Lonny: University doesn't want to give it up.

What about the slope west of the courthouse? Lonny: That'll be looked at along with the post office parking lot and the P-C. "But keep in mind our beautful courthouse would be surrounded on three sides." Sheriff says Mental health diversion is going well. "Jails and prisons are the largest mental health care providers. Some of the people we have in our jail are severely mentally ill but no one else wants to deal with them, and it's sad." Also touts substance abuse assessment. "it gets people out of jail and keeps them from getting re-arrested."

How many are there because of drugs, and would it help to legalize or decriminalize marijuana? "I don't believe in decriminalizing, but I want the legislature to create another level of charges for smaller amounts." Simple misdemeanor for first offense small amount (vs. serious misdemeanor.) "Janet Lyness doesn't disagree with me on that as strongly as our former county attorney did." "Meth is by far absolutely the worst drug that has come to man."

Long long discussion of meeting schedules. We settle on September 24 for the "October" meeting.

We vote to love us the public option. And a moment of silence for Ted.

Council candidate Dan Tallon: "Hawkeyes fight with their Tallons." Guard member last three years, third year student. "I want to be a student friendly voice but I want to be more than that." "I pay more tha my mother's mortgage for half the rent on my apartment." Wants more open information on rental properties as condition of permits. Also interested in disability transportation and public safety issues.

Mascher: thanks everyone who helped Curt Hanson. "That was an enormous win." Early vote did it. Hanson on marriage: "he supported the right for people to vote on whether they wanted a constitutional convention." (Which of course happens automatically in 2010.) Also plugs Sarah Swisher for school board. "She really is concerned about the equity issues in our district."

With that, we're adjourned.

Republicans Mad At Obama Kids Speech

"Republicans must want kids to flunk out then."

One of my first school memories was seeing a picture of the President on the kindergarten classroom wall.

It was Nixon.

My formal education ended more than two decades later in my grad-school flame-out under Bush 41. 1969 to 1992, and lots of Republican presidents, with only a four year Jimmy Carter interregnum during high school.

Now our new president wants to talk to kids in school and Republicans, still suffering the hydrophobic denial of their loss last fall, are crying foul and demanding that parents actually keep their kids home for the day rather than subject them to Obama propaganda. Or Obamaganda if you will.

"The ICCSD can make better use of instructional time than spoon-feeding whatever manipulative dogma is being promoted by the current federal administration to young children," our local friends at Coralville Courier write, demanding parental permission and decrying the lack of "pre-screening." (Hint: Get on the White House press e-mail list; you'll soon have all the transcripts of presidential remarks as prepared for delivery you can pre-screen.)

So what awful message does our Dear Leader offer our innocent young ones? It appears he'll be indoctrinating kids to... stay in school?

"President Obama will make the short trip across the Potomac River on Tuesday to deliver a message to students to make the most of school. encourage students to maximize their educational opportunities.

The speech, the main event in an administration-wide effort to promote education, will be given at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Va. It will also be broadcast live on C-SPAN and via webcast, as students gather in assemblies to watch."

Dangerously radical! He must have got the idea from William Ayers! The home-school demographic must be a really big part of the dwindling GOP base.

Hard work and education. Working hard and pulling yourself up by your bootstraps even. Can you think of anyone especially well suited to deliver that message? Maybe, I don't know... the son of a single mom who grew up to go to Harvard Law and become... President of the United States?

And that's what it's really about. It's not the message, it's the messenger. Whether it's birthers or deathers or objections to innocuous remarks, Republicans are sparing no effort to deny Obama the legitimacy of the Presidency. No matter how non-controversial and positive the textual message, the subtext is the same one I got in kindergarten: "this man is the leader of our country." And that's the part they object to.

I think I just accidentally compared Obama to Nixon.

Hey, it sucks to lose an election. I've been on that side more often than not. But this time my guy got the most votes and Presidents get to use their bully pulpit. It's one of the perks. Sometimes they even get to use it to set a positive example for children. Reagan gave a widely broadcast speech to children after the Challenger went supernova. W told school kids to stay off drugs (insert your own snarky punchline here). And of course he read that My Pet Goat book too.

So Obama wants to tell kids to stay in school, he's the president, he gets to do that. When Sarah Palin's president she can tell kids to make the most of their education by transferring to five different colleges. When Mike Huckabee's president he can tell kids to study really hard in creation science class.

My nine year old education expert is in the office with me as I write, doing homework. I explain the so-called "controversy" to him. "That's... kinda weird," he says. "The Republicans must want kids to flunk out then." Only nine and I already have him good and indoctrinated.

Oasis Beatles Ripoff List

The Oasis Beatles Ripoff List

It's a 1995 flashback as eternally battling brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher of Oasis get into an offstage fight. One smashed guitar later Noel announces he's "leaving the band" which is kind of like Chrissie Hynde announcing she's leaving the Pretenders.

The Gallaghers are so famous for their fights that back in the glory days of Britpop a single was released of a fight they had during an interview--and it hit the charts. They also had several breakups and temporary departures during that era, and any breakup of a family act is temporary at best.

Liam and Noel may have been the only Celebrity Deathmatch contestants to fight in real life. Youtube yanked it but you can take your chances with this spotty server based in Vietnam:



(bonus: before the Gallaghers you get the Governator)

But if there's one thing Oasis is more famous for than its fights, it's the ways they copied the Beatles. So this gives me an excuse to run the long-brewing Oasis Beatles Ripoff List.

Now, I'm a obsessive Oasis fan--you'd have to be to be able to compile this. They still have it, or had it; their 2008 album Dig Out Your Soul was a good listen. I'm not talking so much about the general vague Beatlish sensibility or the habit of burying classic songs on rare B sides. I mean the blatant obvious cringe-inducing copyright infringing references. I mean, if it was great once, it's good a second time, innit?

The blatant lyrical references start with the very first single, "Shakermaker," which somehow manages to include the phrase "yellow submarine" for perhaps the second time in the history of the English language.

Noel has acknowledged that Liam's ability to enunciate the word "shine" ("shiiiiiiiiine") exactly like John Lennon in "Rain" led him to work the word into as many lyrics as possible. See "Rock 'n' Roll Star," "Up In The Sky," "Cigarettes And Alcohol," "Slide Away," "Acquiesce," "Hello," "Some Might Say," "Fade In-Out," and "All Around The World," among others.

"D'You Know What I Mean?" squeezed in back to back Beatle titles AND throws in a Dylan nod as well:

The blood on the trax and must be mine
The fool on the hill and I feel fine

Plus the video recalls the "I Am The Walrus" scene from "Magical Mystery Tour."

Speaking of the Walrus: it was an Oasis concert staple, a B-side, and the grand finale of their 1996 concert video (performed with Beatle impersonators in full Sgt. Pepper regalia). Other Beatle covers include "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away" and "Helter Skelter."

"Helter Skelter" also gets a lyrical reference in "Fade In-Out," which throws in "blinded by the light" for good measure.

"All Around The World" (last heard in telephone ads) has a long "na na na" ending deliberatively evocative of "Hey Jude," while "Be Here Now" asks: "Sing a song for me one from 'Let It Be'" although I'm willing to pretend that's a Replacements reference.

"Don't Look Back in Anger" directly quotes Lennon both lyrically ("start a revolution from my bed") and musically (imagine all those opening piano chords... in a different song)

Oasis wanders "down the long and winding road" in "My Big Mouth." The road is also winding in "Wonderwall," which of course was the title of a George Harrison solo album.

This lyrical list is not necessarily comprehensive; see here and here if you want to find more.

But other moves were even more blatant. Their live performance of "Live Forever" featured a stage backdrop of photos of deceased rock stars: Hendrix, Joplin, Vicious, and an incongruous Martin Luther King. The grand finale, of course, is Lennon, as Liam turns to do a we're-not-worthy bow and Noel plays the rest of the song facing Lennon, back to the crowd. The "Live Forever" single, meanwhile, features a cover photo of Lennon's childhood home.

Liam Gallagher once in a fit of ego (he has many) actually claimed to be a reincarnated Lennon, despite being born eight years before John's death. He even went so far as to name his first son Lennon.

OK, Noel, Liam, we get it. You're really, really into the Fab Four.

But the list has to be capped by their 2005 drummer decision. Unable to actually go back in time and become the Beatles, they did the best they could and recruited their generational peer Zak Starkey--son of Ringo. Perhaps until Noel simmers down Liam will carry on the Oasis franchise with Julian Lennon on guitar.

Hanson Wins

Hanson Wins by 107

Dems win the proxy war in House District 90:

Curt Hanson (Democrat) 3932
Stephen Burgmeier (Republican) 3825
Dan Cesar (Fourth of July Party) 40
Douglas William Philips (Nominated by Petition) 242
Write-In Votes 7
Total Votes 8046

Winners: Democratic GOTV, a likable candidate who taught half the district how to drive, Pat Murphy and the House Dems, labor (now remember that) and the Big Lug.

Losers: National Organization for Marriage, National Organization for Marriage, a not so likable candidate, the GOP backlash, Burgmeier as a challenger for Becky Schmitz next year, National Organization for Marriage.

Draw: Third party conservative independent candidates who bashed Burgmeier for not being socially conservative enough, and then were more than the margin.

Two from Iowa Republican

Two must-reads from Iowa Republican

Always keep an eye on what the other team says:

It's Election Day in House District 90 and in and amongst the GOP messaging Craig Robinson notes the Dems have a 1,000 vote lead in absentees.

Steve Deace has "8 Simple Rules: If Branstad wants to unify the Republican Party" which can be swiftly summarized as "Be Bob Vander Plaats."

Swisher proposes year-round school

Swisher proposes year-round school

Iowa City School board candidate Sarah Swisher is proposing a pilot program of year-round school in two of the district schools.

"As soon as August of 2010, Kirkwood Elementary School in Coralville and Grant Wood Elementary School in Iowa City should begin a year round calendar of operations," reads a release.


“It is time to promote year round programming in this district. This alternative calendar will serve as a magnet to attract students from other elementary schools and to retain students in challenged schools.”

Swisher says most year round schools function with a quarterly calendar with several weeks of break between each session. "At Polk Elementary in Cedar Rapids, the year round programming has resulted in unique private and public sector partnerships to create intensified academic and art programming during the 'intersession.'”

School board candidates meet for a forum tonight at 7 p.m. at the district offices.

Proposed Federal Law May End Late Primaries

Proposed Federal Law May End September Primaries

Ballot Access News points us to a NYT piece that says pending legislation may put an end to September primaries.

The second Tuesday of September is school board election day in Iowa (only in odd years now), but it's also long been the second busiest day of the primary calendar for state and congressional races. Our neighbors in Wisconsin and Minnesota pick their nominees on this late date.

But Sen. Chuck Schumer tucked a provision into a defense bill to require states to mail general election ballots to overseas and military voters at least 45 days before a general election. New York State election officials say this means the primary will have to push back at least to the last week of August.

Iowa's been a June primary state since we started having primaries in 1908. We did September primaries in 1966 and 1968 and August 1 in 1972. The moves were due to the court-ordered redistricting battles of the era.

Growing up in Wisconsin September seemed really late for trying to get the party's act together after a primary. But that's not even the latest date; Hawaii has traditionally gone in late September and Florida has seen October runoffs.

My beef with Iowa's primary date is less about how early or late and more peculiar to my hometown: it tends to be either a week before summer classes start or the second day of class, and UIowa types (students, yes, but staff too) are out of the loop and either gone or just getting back. So the date sneaks up on people.

Of course, that's only my second biggest complaint about Iowa's primaries; blatant crossover by How Soon Can I Switch Back Republicans tops my list...

Media Monday

Media Monday

The latest journalism obit, this time from Mother Jones which posits the NPR pledge drive model:

Many Mother Jones readers already help by writing checks beyond the price of a subscription; it's those checks­ that pay for our reporters and earn the attention of the Times and others who have spotlighted our reader-supported model as one promising avenue for journalism.

What it's going to take is for many more Americans to decide that quality reporting—be it on local school boards or Iraq or climate negotiations—is as vital to their lives as box scores and celebrity spats.

With print paper readers getting older and older, serhaps expanding the obituaries would be a good, if only stop-gap, move for newspapers. Of course, it has its limits; I used to work for a radio station that read obits on the noon news and the joke around town was that we were losing listeners as they died of old age.

While we're on the subject of obits, the Old Gray Lady looks at the Obama haters and the age gap.

Meanwhile, the mostly free craigslist is thriving and here's a look under the hood.

And has Facebook jumped the shark? Seriously, I'm not interested in your Farmville score...

University Heights election

University Heights election looks hot

University Heights, the geopolitical island on Iowa City's west side. looks to have its hottest city election in ages this fall.

Development and re-development issues at the St. Andrews Church site and Olive Court, and apartment vs. home owner questions, seem to be driving the action. The neighborhood pot has also been stirred to some extent by the Roosevelt School closing.

Incumbent mayor Louise From faces a challenge from former school board member Alan Leff, who was also the UHeights city attorney until recently.

In the race for five two year council terms, all five incumbents - Andrew Dudler, David Giese, Stan Laverman, Brennan McGrath, and Amy Moore - are running again. Former council member Patricia Yeggy is attempting a comeback after two years off. The four first-time challengers are Zlatko Anguelov, Michael Haverkamp, David Pedersen and Larry Wilson.

Kanner Never A Student

Kanner Never A Student

Our first ever town vs. gown city election is already producing misleading information from official sources, as witnessed by today's Press-Citizen:

City clerk Marian Karr said the most recent elected city councilors who were enrolled as UI students were Steven Kanner from 2000-03 and David Perret from 1976-1983.

Registrars at both the University of Iowa and Kirkwood Community College report that Kanner was never a student, either during his campaign or council tenure.

Kanner was 39 when elected in 1999 and was sworn in a week after his 40th birthday. Hardly the profile one thinks of when one thinks of "student." (Perret was 26 when first elected in 1975.)

The "mistake" seems like a dog-whistle for the townies: Kanner, who won by only two votes in 1999, was widely portrayed as an uncooperative gadfly during his one term. (Disclaimer: I voted for him and helped on the campaign a bit.) Calling Kanner a "student" seems like an effort to tar 2009 student candidates Jared Bazzell, Jeff Shipley and Dan Tallon with a guilt by association brush. Why not just put up Dickens and Mims yard signs at City Hall?

Iowa City Primary

Looks Like Iowa City Has a Primary

On deadline day a third student, Dan Tallon, filed for the at-large race, setting up a likely city-wide October 6 primary to eliminate one of the five candidates.

I say "likely" because the city clerk is still checking signatures on Tallon's petitions, and if someone bails by Tuesday's drop-out deadline the primary gets nixed.

Presumably townies Terry Dickens and Susan Mims will get through the primary, and it'll be one of the three students (Tallon, Jeff Shipley and Jared Bazzell) who gets knocked out. But that still sets up a town vs. gown November 3 election, which we've never had before.

Tallon addressed the Council last month (page 49 of this 58 page pdf transcript) in opposition to the Field House liquor license denial (which passed unanimously).

District B candidates Mark McCallum and incumbent Connie Champion go straight to the November ballot.

University Heights barely dodges a primary with two candidates for mayor and ten for council. One more in either and they would have had their first primary in memory.

Clips on Filing Deadline

Clips on Filing Deadline

While we wait for this afternoon's Iowa City filing deadline, here's some clips:

Not the Onion: Illinois Republicans forget flag, pledge allegiance to guy wearing flag shirt

Digby looks at Obama's left flank and sees Ralph Nader:

Obama mobilized a whole lot of young people who have great expectations and disappointing them could lead to all sorts of unpleasant results. Success is about more than simply buying off some congressional liberals or pleasing the village. It's worth remembering that a third party run from the left is what created the conditions for eight long years of Republican governance that pretty much wrecked this country.

After 2000, what is it going to take for the Democrats to realize that constantly using their base as a doormat is not a good idea? It only takes a few defections or enough people staying home to make a difference. And there are people on the left who have proven they're willing to do it. The Democrats are playing with fire if they think they don't have to deliver anything at all to their liberal base --- and abandoning the public option, particularly in light of what we already know about the bailouts and the side deals, may be what breaks the bond.

Nirvana's Krist Novoselic writes again on Washington's top two primary:

Most people don't understand the merits of the latest court challenge. I found this out during my short-lived candidacy a few months back. People asked me about my protest, and I'd find myself explaining basic concepts on how the right of free association is derived from the First Amendment of the constitution and why it's important. Most people come around and agree, but some can't get past the antiquated notions of party members as "hacks" or "party bosses."

Voters originally passed the top-two because they hated exclusive, pick-a-party primary ballots. Since then, most people haven't given the new election law and the legal trouble it's in much thought. Voters just want more choices. A simple way settle the court hassles, while preserving the wide-open choices in the primary, is to drop the "prefers party" business and instead have authentic party candidates on the ballot. And if you think those party candidates are hacks, don't vote for them. Under such a primary scheme, as I propose, you could vote for whomever you like.

The myth of saving the planet by unplugging your chargers - debunked.

Biden 2016!

Kennedy first senator with web site

Kennedy first senator with web site

Via Reddit: The first member of Congress with a website was... Ted Kennedy. 1994:

Champion, McCallum, Bazzell, Shipley File

Iowa City Council: Champion, McCallum, Bazzell, Shipley File

Developments in the Iowa City Council race the day before filing deadline: one expected, two not:

Two students get into the at large race: Jeff Shipley and Jared Bazzell filed.

Bazzell has been involved with the James Gang community group, and Shipley is the current nonvoting "student liaison" to the city council.

If the field stays is it is, it sets up two downtown business types (Terry Tickens and Susan Mims) vs. two students, and if all else is equal and until I learn more I'd lean towards the kids. We haven't had a student on the council since David Perret in the 70s and even he was a townie/student.

Student campaigns have notoriously tanked in the recent past, whether from the right (John Lohman, 1997) or the left (Brian Davis, 2001; Rachel Hardesty 2003). None of them made it past the primary. But if there is no primary, we'll get to see how a student does in a city general election. Without the massive motivator of the 2007 21 bar measure, what happens to turnout?

In my college towns in Wisconsin we had a true ward system with councils of a couple dozen members, and we always elected a student or three from an all-dorm district. Hmmm...

Connie Champion filed for re-election in District B. There had been retirement rumors after Mark McCallum announced his candidacy, but those didn't last long. McCallum has still not, months after announcing, opened a campaign finance committee, but he filed late Wednesday.

Champion would be the first council member elected to a fourth term since Iowa City went to its current hybrid district/at-large system in 1975. Dee Vanderhoef tried for a fourth term in 2007 but lost.

If Iowa City winds up with no primary, it would be the first time since 1991 (and we had a school bond vote in October of that year anyway). But as of Tuesday afternoon University Heights, the other Johnson County city with a primary system, had two candidates for mayor and nine for five council seats. Three for mayor or 11 for council would mean a primary--and it's been at least 30 plus years since that's happened...

Harkin the Senior Junior Senator

Harkin the Senior Junior Senator

I can't add anything eloquent to the eulogies of Ted Kennedy. So I'll fall back on trivia.

After 23 years John Kerry is the senior senator from Massachusetts. That makes Iowa's Tom Harkin, sworn in one day after Kerry, the junior senator with the highest seniority. Or the senior junior senator.

At least until Grassley has to run next year.

Technically, it's a tie, as Jay Rockefeller was sworn in the same day as Harkin. But Harkin's ex-House status outranks Rockefeller's ex-governor status. (Correction: Rockefeller got sworn in two weeks late in 1985, choosing to complete his term as governor. Either way Harkin's ahead.)

So Iowa ranks near the top in collective seniority, but still far behind West Virginia with Rockefeller and all-time Senate longevity champ Robert Byrd.

It's a far cry from Iowa's revolving door senator days of the 1970s, when retirements (Hickenlooper, Hughes) and defeats (Miller, Clark, Culver, Jepsen) saw no Iowa senator re-elected from 1966 to 1986.

School board lines shaping up

School board lines shaping up in Johnson County

School elections are harder to handicap than partisan general elections. Turnout is low, voter cues like party are absent, and factors like local geography play a bigger role.

The September 8 school board election may also sneak up on people thanks to calendar quirks. It's immediately preceded by Hawkeye home opener weekend and Labor Day on Monday.

In another complication the ballot for the Iowa City district includes two candidates -- Josh Kaine and Jeffrey Manthey -- who quit the race after the deadline.

Geography may play a bigger role than usual in the Iowa City contest. Anne Johnson of North Liberty is campaigning on the third high school issue, and incumbent Mike Cooper is also from rural North Liberty.

Despite the board's high profile decision to close Roosevelt Elementary after the 2010-11 school year (full disclosure: I'm a Roosevelt dad) no one from the Roosevelt parent's group emerged as a candidate. The only candidate identified with the older elementary schools is Sarah Swisher of the Longfellow neighborhood, and several of her signs have popped up near Roosevelt.

Signs don't vote, goes the old saying, but a commonly seen cluster is Cooper, Johnson and April Armstrong. The three are also hosting at least one joint coffee.

Partisanship may also play a role in the officially non-partisan election. Even mentioning affiliations in a non-partisan context is controversial. "It isn't the party that matters at the board level," writes mid-term board member Patti Fields, who's also an active Democrat. "It is about the work and dedication. Give me a candidate that represents more than one issue and understands the hard work involved."

That said, it's no secret that Swisher is a former Johnson County Democratic Party chair. Tuyet Dorau has also had some Democratic involvement, though she's currently registered with no party (as is Johnson). Dorau was also seen working the crowd at Rep. Dave Loebsack's health care forum, which produced a Democratic-leaning crowd.

Cooper, Armstrong, and Jean Jordison are registered Republicans, though none are highly identified with the local GOP (as was, for example, 2007 candidate Deb Thornton).

Voters can vote for three candidates, but don't have to use all three choices, lending a "Survivor" aspect to the proceedings: a vote for your second or third choice could push your first choice to an off-the-island fourth place.

Unlike the other Johnson County school districts, Clear Creek Amana has three separate contests this year for three seats. Elections almost always break out on Clear Creek vs. Amana lines, even 15 years after the two districts merged. It makes me wonder how my father-in-law, former CCA superintendent Bob Steele, ever managed to shoehorn the two districts together.

District 2 incumbent Kathy Zimmerman won 97 percent in the Amana precinct last year, where she ran for a special one-year term as part of the transition to four year terms. And that 97 percent isn't unusual for Amana; I've seen 99 more than once. Zimmerman's opponent, Eileen Schmidt, ran last year for a different seat as a write-in, and won 82 percent in Tiffin despite not being on the ballot.

Clear Creek Amana has often seen write-in campaigns, which usually play out below the radar. There will be at least one write-in winner: District 4 incumbent Mike Croco moved out of the school district and no one filed for the seat.

At large CCA candidates Barbara Kounkel and Aimee Pitlick are both first-time contenders. Pitlick signs have popped up in the Tiffin and Oxford area.

Solon has seen a series of high turnout elections in recent years after a battle over school library books that were seen by some as too gay-friendly. David Asprey almost defeated Dick Schwab in 2005, then won a seat in 2006. He's up again this year, along with his former campaign manager Lianne Westcot, who was appointed to the board last year after board member Ben Pardini's death. Schwab, meanwhile, is attempting a comeback after a year off the board.

With four candidates in a vote for three contest, the Survivor aspect in Solon means people may vote to block--that is, vote for the three other candidates to prevent their least favorite candidate from winning. That may help the fourth candidate, Gene Lawson, who's not prominently identified with either side.

Lone Tree is simple: Three seats, three incumbents running for re-election. Lone Tree has seen write-in races, but those were in city elections during a contentious era on the city council.

The regional and partisan splits may ripple into the Kirkwood levy question. In the 2005 Solon contest, the Yes totals on a Kirkwood bond measure and a Solon school levy almost exactly mirrored Schwab's vote, while the No count lined up with Asprey's numbers. And if a partisan, tea party dynamic turns up in Iowa City, the mood may be reflected in the Kirkwood levy totals.

Mims Files for City Council

Mims Files for Iowa City Council

We knew this was on the way but former school board member Susan Mims has made it official and filed for Iowa City council. That brings the official at-large field to two for two seats, along with businessman Terry Dickens, with no more rumors in the air just three days before the filing deadline.

Over in District B (basically everything east of Governor), we may see a race with Mark McCallum announced and incumbent Connie Champion reportedly running. But neither has filed yet.

The Iowa City district system is convoluted; the whole city votes on the seat but the candidate has to live in the district. However, if there's a primary, only the district votes in the primary. Got it? It's also called a primary but it's not a party primary; still with me? I can think of a lot of other ways to do it: Partisan elections, a true district system... but for now this is what we've got.

It'll take one more District B contender (assuming McCallum and Champion both file) or three more at large to trigger an October 6 primary. If the field stays this small, it would be the first city election since 1991 with no primary.

So progressives, time to step up. I don't want to write myself in but given the city's current priorities I may have to.

Iowa State Dumps Dorm Land Lines

Iowa State Dumps Dorm Land Lines

Which makes sense since I know no one under 30 who uses a land line, and that age line keeps creeping up.

My first dorm phone number was one digit off Domino's. We used to take orders. The fun part was a half hour later when they'd call back and demand free pizza (this was back in the days of the 30 minute guarantee, before too many drivers got killed and the liability costs overtook the free pizza costs.)

Linux Monday: The Economics of Free

Linux Monday: The Economics of Free

On the net, the default price is zero, and Linux and open source fit well into that ideology. Old media, not so much. Journalism and the music industry are struggling. They face much the same dilemma: when the product is free, how do you make money?

Journalism is adapting from a pay model that's as old as the printing press, and digging in its heels with ridiculous plans like the Associated Press' scheme to charge bloggers $12.50 for a five word excerpt. And the music industry has yet to accept that recordings are no longer the money making product, but have become a promotional item that sells concert tickets and t-shirts. Instead, they prefer to sue their own customers.

The Linux community, 18 years in, is dealing with the economics of free much better than the old media. In part that's because open-source has always been about free.

"In the past, the media was a full-time job," says Wired editor Chris Anderson. "But maybe the media is going to be a part time job. Maybe media won't be a job at all, but will instead be a hobby." And indeed, that's how it started for me, as a just for giggles pastime that got serious and eventually (for a year and a half) turned into a paying gig.

That's sort of how Linux grows and grows: a geek needs a driver for one odd piece or hardware, and learns some marketable skills in the process.

But still, doesn't somebody have to feed the beast with some $$$ at some point?

"Basically it's a sophisticated variation of a loss leader, like giving away razors so you can sell blades," writes R. McDougall at Climbing The Hill:

No matter what you make, someone will always either manage to break it; or find some flaw they would like improvement in -- especially as time and market conditions change. So you sell support and contract upgrades.

But since everyone else can just take a copy and distribute it themselves, won't you have endless competition?

Well yes, but the hard truth is that's probably in your own long-term best interest. There is collective benefit to having competition.

As the creator of the software you have competitive advantage amongst any pretenders; you know it best, and your superior skill will tend to win out in the end. So the only people you are really competing against are other experts.

"Decide what it is you do that provides value to someone with money," McDougall concludes. It seems that if the main product is free, the money is in the niches.

Which is part of why I believe that ultimately it will be political interest groups that finance journalism. Just as software has expanded from the either/or Mac/Windows "choice" to the plethora of Linux distributions, TV has expanded from the Big Three to hundreds of channels.

That means there's no market for namby-pamby neutrality anymore. The indifferent and undecided aren't watching news at all anymore. Walter Cronkite's avuncular that's the way it is has been replaced by the open advocacy of Olbermann and Maddow, Limbaugh and O'Reilley. When they get the facts right, it still functions as journalism. It's still the traditional model of advertiser support, though the ads are more niche-oriented. But perhaps the model will shift to the more overt partisan press we see in other countries.

That model it makes us, the sudience, do some of the work of weighing the competing ideas, just like we Linux users have to do a little of the work on our end. You may not have to compile the whole package, whether that package is a story or a program. But you'll be expected to play at least some active role and be informed about what you're using.

Loebsack town hall

Loebsack Iowa City town hall

9:10 and after 45 mins of the UI wifi staring at me like a giant middle finger, I gave up so I'm on the phone. (The site was moved from the library to the UIowa campus because a bigger crowd was expected, but the UI campus is wifi-unfriendly to the general public, you need a university ID. A long time pet peeve.)

The crowd is split but intermixed. The Dems have preprinted Obama font signs; some say THANK YOU

The Rs are more handmade a big banner from the gallery says “it's not about health care, it's about govt control of your life”

I count maybe 300 people so far

Ed Flaherty has a GRASSLEY RETIRE sign

One woman with a "Obama is not my doctor" shirt

Crowd old by Iowa City standards (If you're coming here from outside Iowa: Iowa City is home to the University of Iowa, the ur-liberal college town. 70% for Obama last fall.)

A lot of Dems wore their Obama campaign gear but no one in Loebsack gear.

School candidate Tuyet Dorau here

There's a small cluster of leading local Rs. Deb Thornton has an "unemployment, change is wonderful" sign.

Some sign war in gallery, as Dems are seated near R banner.



One R banner says “look up FASCISM in the dictionary” so we're officially in the over the top rhetorical zone.

I'll go on a limb and say Dems outnumber Rs, but Rs disproportionately represented for Iowa City

Loebsack staffer struggles with audio and says “we might not be able to please everyone.” Kind of a meta statement I think. Crowd decides they would prefer shouting to the sound system--again a meta statement...

Loebsack introduced, far more cheers than boos.

Loebsack asks for opinions and not just questions. holds up phone book sized bill.

“I voted for HR 3200” (applause) and got an amendment on direct care workers underpaid and under appreciated

“There's nothing partisan about preexisting conditions” applause

caps on catastrophic (I think I typed that wrong and meant no) and real chance for uninsured to get insured

Q and a starts. First woman wearing flag hat and is anti choice anti euthanasia. Scattered applause.

Dave: nothing forces any provider to do abortion or provide any coverage. There's a lot out there about the bill that isn't true. Hyde amendment applies to this bill.

Nothing in this bill applies to euthanasia (applause) Some politicians stoking those fires (not named)

Crowd about 500, room full.

Next ? preexisting conditions

Dave: there is nothing in this bill that would stop you getting covered.

Dave says bill won't kick in till 2013 but they are trying to speed it up.

Next ? unfunded liabilities Medicare social security and prescription.

I see Tom Fiegen here (US Senate candidate)

? becomes a deficit question, some shouting in response “have a heart” says one “get a job” in response.

Dave says we'll fully pay for this deficit neutral; some scoffing from Rs.

Dave notes he'll be a first time grandpa this fall.

“I take responsibility for my spending votes we had to deal with the issues immediately” some shouts but I can't get details. (I'm seated first row)

Dave "so far of the five forums I've had this one has had the least interruptions" audience applauds itself.

next ? preventive care.

Dave says its included and gets applause from Rs for phrase “personal responsibility”

Single payer ? gets big applause.

Dave says HR676 is Medicare for all (big applause) I'm a cosponsor. It's publicly funded private care

Someone angrily yells "socialism!" and gets applause in a “that's a good thing” way. Welcome to Iowa City

Dave says I can't tell you about the hypothetical “will I vote for 676” if it gets to floor … but again I'm a cosponsor. (Laughter)

Question about insurance administrator salaries and suggestion to use use credit union as model.

Paul McAndrew (politically prominent Dem attorney) gets random pick. (Questions have been written and names drawn at random, staffer brings mike to original questioner and lets them speak.) McAndrew: I can't afford to insure small business employees.

Dave: Business will have to provide but smallest are exempt from having to cover. Level of exemption raised from 250k payroll to 500k. Small business owners tell me they want single payer (applause) that would level the playing field for them. Small biz can also get aid for part of costs.



Shouters shushed down, they seem isolated. The conversation has never been stopped and Dave just rolls with it.

Big applause at words “public option”

“When I was elected I had a a choice of 12 or 14 health care plans. It's a good deal and I want everyone to have the same deal.”

More shouting: “a bunch of professors have indoctrinated my daughter” from the same woman who shouted socialism

Dave says co-ops still not well defined and I still have ?s.

Shouting escalates a bit but none of it is coordinated, no chants etc

Dave says there are three separate house bills multiple senate bills.

Scattered boos at the name Grassley.

Will the public option cover all?

Dave: no coverage for illegal immigrants; applause from Rs but some Dems grumble.

Dave: Congressional budget office estimates that by 2019 only 4% on public option consumer makes choice. Tax dollars start public option but after that premiums will pay.



another wellness comment from audience

Someone shouts "run against Grassley", so let's start that rumor.

We have us a deather! Scattered applause and boos as he goes on. Dave and staff says let him finish.

The guy goes on for quite some time audience gets impatient. It finally ends with how do you pay.

Dave keeps composure and emphasized choices. “But I respectfully disagree that everyone will go on public plan.” The guy shouts “are u calling me a liar”

Dave says this will not lead to rationing (applause) I won't vote for anything that'll lead to rationing or euthanasia and the President won't sign anything like that, that's not what's in here (applause and shouts)

Last ? hospice care

Audience member shouts “we want your health care,” which I think is what Dave said

10:43 and done. Most of crowd stayed to end so a jam at exits; if there's a riot outside I don't know about it.

Afterword: No riots seen on the way home. An aside to the UI tech staff: why do you let your wifi connect just enough to change my Windows configurations, but then lock me out at the end? If you're going to demand a password, ask for that first so I don't waste my time.

Update: Gazette and PC say 700 people.