Bleeding Heartland - Recent Comments

This law doesn't even impose much of a burden

Dameocrat — Sat, 25 May 2013 16:59:43 GMT

It is simply a minimal requirement to make sure children are being looked after and not abused.

This country is becoming unrecognizable because of anti-government demagoguery. The neoliberal in the democratic party play a part in it. Our food is hardly safe to eat anymore because we can't ask food processors to be inspected by the fda or the usda for fear that it will make their business less profitable. Chicken processors, who have earned no trust, from the public are being allowed to self-inspect. Google Decoster Farms.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/he...

This was done by Obama, with the blessing and encouragement of Tom Vilsack. Given the people who now lead the Democratic Party of Iowa should we be surprised? Jerry Crawford, the chosen spokesperson for Iowa democrats, is a lawyer for Decoster Farms. He is the Ed Rendell of the Iowa Democratic Party! He is a kingmaker and he insures that democrats here stand for absolutely nothing!

My cousin Carleen came home from a restaurant with Salmonella disease, and has spent a week in the hospital over it.

Now young girls can't expect an education because they have no rights what so ever compared to their parents, even if their parents are abusive an sexist.

to clarify

desmoinesdem — Sat, 25 May 2013 13:07:02 GMT

Iowa governors have line-item veto power only regarding appropriations bills. This bill includes some education appropriations, so Branstad would be able to strike one or more provisions without rejecting the whole bill--but that's not true of most bills that reach his desk.

I can't imagine Branstad vetoing this part

desmoinesdem — Sat, 25 May 2013 13:02:00 GMT

of the education reform bill.

I know a lot of homeschoolers, and most of them are truly dedicated to their children's education. However, there's no doubt in my mind that this law will fail some children of lazy or abusive parents calling themselves homeschoolers.

On Facebook one of the homeschoolers I know even questioned the wisdom of removing the reporting requirement.

It's sad that House Republicans insisted on this provision. I suspect that Democrats gave in because the Rs moved in their direction on some of the budget issues, and also because they wanted some deal involving the federal Medicaid money.

Very true

ModerateIADem — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:24:45 GMT

If Schultz runs I think he has done enough for Santorum and to raise a fuss about different issues in order to be for the front runner. If I were him I would wait for a Branstad or Grassley retirement.

Spiker could do well. You are right on the numbers. I think you've got a lot of Ron Paul people in Iowa that don't realize they are Ron Paul people yet. I don't think people realize that the unemployment rate would skyrocket if a Ron/Rand Paul budget would do what they want to do to the Armed Forces in particular. These kids who join the military and then worship the idol that is Ron/Rand Paul don't realize that they may not be able to find a job if he got control.

I'm waiting to hear Spiker's stance on immigration. Illegal immigration is still an issue a lot of people are concerned about here, whether it is a legit concern or not. His stance on immigration could deflate his candidacy before it ever gets off the ground.

as for Schultz

desmoinesdem — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:14:48 GMT

I agree with you, it makes more sense for him to run for re-election. But Craig Robinson is more plugged in with Republicans and thinks there's a 90 percent chance Schultz will run for Senate.

if it's Ernst

desmoinesdem — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:13:41 GMT

against three or four men in a primary, I like her chances.

It's hard for me to imagine a Washington insider like Young winning the GOP primary. He has worked in the U.S. Senate for 17 years. I just don't see it.

Even if the Ron Paul faction unites around any candidate (Spiker or someone else), that may not be enough to deliver victory in a primary. There may be as many as 200,000 GOP primary voters next June--a lot bigger than the Iowa caucus-goer universe.

Young

ModerateIADem — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:12:41 GMT

From the perspective of wanting Braley to win for sure I might want one of the more conservative candidates to win the primary. If I am hoping for a good government Republican to win the primary I think David Young would be my best bet.

I want both of Iowa's Senators to be functional and answer the phone when people call. I don't see how Young gets out of a primary. He can't brag about helping an elderly constituent with their Medicare Part D issue and expect to get applause for that.

In fact Spiker may be the only male candidate that can beat Ernst if all these other people really take a look at it. The Paul wing is such a wild card. I don't think Ernst would be able to out crazy Spiker, thus forcing her to run closer to the "center" and making another candidate irrelevant. I think our SOS will run for re-election.

I think so too

desmoinesdem — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:46:23 GMT

I don't understand where he thinks his path lies. But if he can raise money with Grassley's help, I'm sure plenty of consultants will be happy to help him spend the money in a hopeless cause.

Young

rockm — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:03:09 GMT

TIR is reporting Young is in and had assembled a team of consultants. I doubt an inside the beltway guy has much of a shot. Shooting fish in a barrel for any opponent.

I haven't heard anything

desmoinesdem — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:48:40 GMT

Seems like the speculation is centering around various state legislators. I'm interested to see if anyone from outside politics like Fred Hubbell will run.

Culver

ModerateIADem — Thu, 23 May 2013 18:54:27 GMT

Culver doesn't need the aggravation. It is my view that he governed from the center in a world dominated by people who despised him on both sides. Run in 2018 if you must, but if I were Chet I'd make as much money as I could and just enjoy family life.

Culver probably entertained running for the U.S. Senate in his mind, but we know he wouldn't be given a fair shake on the blogs. Primaries are dominated by activists, people that are upset and don't like the direction of the state.

culver

natewithglasses — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:08:09 GMT

Earlier in the year I heard more rumblings about a Culver comeback run, but haven't heard a thing since. Still any talk of that?

do you happen to know

desmoinesdem — Thu, 23 May 2013 01:11:27 GMT

whether the yellow flower in the last photo of last week's diary is early buttercup?

thanks!

desmoinesdem — Thu, 23 May 2013 01:06:43 GMT

I didn't think of that. In my Iowa wildflowers book (arranged roughly by when they bloom), spiderwort is past the section with most of the spring flowers. It says it blooms June through August. Since this one bloomed a little early despite the cold spring, do you think it's a hybrid rather than a "real" wildflower?

Runkel and Bull say spiderwort is officially known as Tradescantia ohiensis. Also "blue jackets, cow slobbers, Job's tears, Ohio spiderwort, and widow's tears."

That blue flower

conservative demo — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:08:05 GMT

is SPIDERWORT.

IIRR the proper name is Tradescantia virginiana (??).

They are gorgeous perennials for the garden and can be found at the garden centers in blue, a really-dark violet, a lighter violet, pink, a very-delicate blush, white, and possibly even more colors.

The wild ones along the highways and railroad tracks are always that blue one. Among my colored ones from the garden centers I do also keep one of the blue wild ones that I dug along a RR track many years ago. BTW, that wild blue one grows taller than the hybrid domestic ones.

They have notoriously weak stems and I prefer to help support each heavily flowering plant with three bamboo plant stakes arranged in a triangle around each plant and garden twine strung around the three stakes.

They grow like mad and should be divided every couple/three years.

Blah

ModerateIADem — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:42:30 GMT

Do Ernst and the DSCC have another funding mechanism? I know that the Tea Party and Progressives kind of unite in their confusion as to why some people either 1. live in rural America 2. genuinely care about economic development there.

President Obama put together a commission on the highway trust fund for example and they had some interesting proposals. I'll have to do some digging and see what I can find.

I'm not necessarily for the increase if other options can be found, but it is is irresponsible to take the option off the table.

other people will raise money for her

desmoinesdem — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:18:15 GMT

if she becomes the establishment favorite. She will need money to introduce herself to voters statewide.

I haven't heard anything new about Latham. I think he would only reconsider if the polling of their primary candidates looks dire next winter.

Although her proofreading may have gotten low scores

zeitgeist — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:34:06 GMT

"Releated Headlines"?

Ernst

rockm — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:21:16 GMT

I wonder about her ability to raise money, and since she is from southwest Iowa, she isn't very well known statewide. Also, not that it matters one whit to Iowa voters, she is a climate change denier. At least she drives a hybrid. At this point, I'm still betting Matt W. is the ultimate nominee. Anything new on Latham reconsidering? I don't see Whitaker or Ernst beating Braley at this point, but obviously a long, long way to go.

wouldn't surprise me

desmoinesdem — Wed, 22 May 2013 11:30:48 GMT

if it is too much coincidence for the Iowa Civil Rights Commission as well.