Essential Estrogen

Sen. Hillary Clinton will be the special guest at Iowa Sen. Staci Appel's first ever pork dinner.

The event will be held on June 9 from 4 to 6 p.m. on the Indianola Fairgrounds in the Lester Building, 1400 West 2nd Ave. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children 10 and under.

Contributions and ticket requests should be mailed to:
Senator Appel's 1st Annual Pork Dinner
10901 180th Ave.
Ackworth, IA 50001

Appel is a member of the Democratic Party and represents Senate District 37 which includes Winterset, Macksburg, Indianola and Norwalk.

Two state district court clerk's offices will soon be paperless.

Beginning later this year, everyone using the court system in Story and Plymouth counties will be required to file court documents electronically. Once filed, the documents will be found online and viewed by anyone with access to the Internet.

The two offices were chosen by the Iowa Judicial Branch as pilot sites to test an electronic document management system. The system will enable electronic filing of, and online access to, entire court documents and files.

"This is something which has been discussed in the Iowa Judiciary for about 10 years," said Rebecca Colton, assistant to Chief Justice Marsha Ternus. "We were ready to roll it out about seven years ago, but then budget cuts hit. Just last year we were able to regroup and begin rolling this out again."

According to Colton, this change will help keep expenses down while making the courts more efficient.

"We aren't going to try and go back in time to create an archive of documents," she added. "Everything going forward, however, will be electronic."

Three counties -- Clinton, Plymouth and Story -- applied to be pilot sites. A committee of judges, lawyers and court personnel evaluated the applicants based on county population, support of courthouse staff, potential effect of additional workloads on customer service and employee stress, and the ability of local lawyers and court personnel to adapt to changing practices and procedures.

"Moving the Iowa court system to electronic filing and digitized records is the most ambitious challenge the judicial branch has ever undertaken," said State Court Administrator David Boyd. "This is an exciting, albeit daunting, project. [The system] will not only change the way we do our business, it will change the way most tasks are performed by everyone involved in processing cases, including attorneys and judges."

Specifics on the rules for electronic filing (PDF file) are available on the judiciary site. They were compiled by the Iowa Supreme Court in January when public comment was requested.

Court officials anticipate that the system will be installed at the two pilot sites by early 2008. Once the testing phase is completed, the system will be installed in the appellate courts then gradually expanded to include all district courts, a process that will take about five years if everything goes as planned. Court officials estimate that the total cost for a statewide system would be about $19 million. Ongoing operating costs will be partially offset by fees paid by people filing documents with the courts.

Don't have a ticket for the big Democratic dinner in Cedar Rapids tonight? No problem.

C-SPAN coverage of the Iowa Democratic Party's Hall of Fame dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. (Iowa time). The first speaker out of the gate is our own U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin.

Others expected to provide remarks are Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards and Bill Richardson.

The event is being held at the Crowne Plaza Five Seasons in downtown.

Iowa Rep. Ro Foege (D, Mount Vernon) was named co-chair of the new Affordable Health Care Commission by Speaker of the House Pat Murphy.

A new commission will be established as part of House File 909, signed into law by Gov. Chet Culver last week. The Health and Human Services appropriations bill included the creation of a Legislative Commission on Affordable Healthcare for Small Businesses and Families. Governor Culver approved an appropriation of $500,000 to cover the costs of the Commission.

The Commission will review, analyze, and make recommendations on issues relating to the affordability of health care for Iowans including:

• The benefits and costs of requiring all residents of Iowa to have health insurance coverage, including but not limited to individual mandates and proposals from other states.
• The benefits and costs of providing health insurance coverage to all children in the state, with a particular emphasis on children's health issues.
• Uninsured and underinsured Iowans with a special focus on determining the characteristics of the such populations, why such persons are uninsured or underinsured, and the most effective and efficient means to provide insurance coverage to such persons, including through government programs.
• Major factors and trends that are likely to impact the cost of premiums and affordability of health care during the next ten years, including the effects of mandates, levels of coverage, costs and pricing of treatments, cost-sharing and cost-cutting measures, cost-shifting measures, collaborative opportunities, subsidies, reinsurance plans, risk pooling, and wellness and disease prevention initiatives.

The Commission is required to complete its deliberations in December 2007 and submit a final report to the general assembly for consideration during the 2008 Legislative session. The Commission plans to hold their first meeting in June and will continue to meet monthly in locations across Iowa.

Saturday was an interesting day of dualities in Cedar Rapids. On one hand, you had this huge, commercially oriented banquet being held at a downtown hotel. In front of the hotel, campaigns reserved street parking for cranes, flatbed trailers and buses plastered with candidates' names. Inside, staffers were instructed to line up and race into the building to compete for sign placement.

Just a few blocks down the road, however, there was this amazing, family-friendly festival known as the Cedar Rapids Pride Fest. Music played. Children danced. Pets barked and sniffed each other. People lazily made their way from booth to booth. A group of volunteers stood on the stage, waiting for a train causing sound-system problems to move away from the park, so they could begin a song.

Even when New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, the only presidential hopeful to appear in person at the festival, made his appearance, the festival and it's population didn't change. Instead of being mauled by a hungry crowd, he moved to shake hands with those attending. He graciously signed copies of his book and even bottles of the salsa that bear his name and image. (For those who are looking to try it for the first time, the initial sweetness is quickly replaced by a slow, building burn.)

My two daughters (ages 15 and 7) and I arrived at the Pride Fest shortly after it began. There had been rumors on the grapevine of a protest, although the exact nature of what was planned wasn't known. As it turns out, however, the protest contingent was so small that I hadn't noticed parking just down the block from them. We walked past the four individuals holding "repent or perish" signage and a blow horn. Fortunately, they were too distracted by a man describing his version of Christ to take notice of us.

Within the confines of Green Square Park, the protesters' blowhorned shouts were barely audible between entertainment and announcements over the event's sound system. We passed several booths before I was asked to put out $10 for a couple of bratwursts and a hamburger. It didn't look so much different from any festival scene in Iowa. Couples holding hands walked past. Booths offered merchandise for sale. (That cost me another $40.) Some people sported political buttons or stickers while others opted for religious or philosophical sayings.

Early in the day, rumors flew that both Gov. Richardson and Sen. Hillary Clinton would be dropping by. Once I spotted Clinton's Iowa Campaign Manager JoDee Winterhof in the crowd without the senator; however, I knew we'd not be seeing Clinton in person. It didn't take long for others around us to catch on as well. As Winterhof took the stage, I watched two women take Hillary buttons from their shirts and drop them into a nearby garbage can before moving along to the beer tent.

In addition to Clinton and Richardson, candidates John Edwards, Sen. Chris Dodd and Sen. Joe Biden were in town Saturday to attend the Iowa Hall of Fame dinner. Only one, however, took time to brave the intermittent rain and speak in person to those who attended the Pride Fest: Gov. Bill Richardson. He not only spoke and worked the crowd but signed copies of his book, jars of his salsa and whatever else was thrust in front of him.

"This event fit in well with the governor's campaign strategy," said Richardson's Iowa Communications Director Tom Reynolds. "We want to meet as many potential caucus-goers as possible and shake as many hands as we can. We want caucus-goers to have the opportunity to meet and hear Governor Richardson."

For his efforts, Richardson was able to garner one-on-one campaigning with more than 250 gay and lesbian activists. He highlighted his progressive record of supporting legislation to further protect civil rights for the LGBT community. In all, he spent almost an hour at the event.

"The governor has a long and consistent track record of fighting for gay and lesbian civil rights and fighting against discrimination," Reynolds added. "As president he will continue to work to ensure each and every American is treated with respect."

(Author's note: Since my camera fought the rain and the rain won, my sincere thanks to Pride Fest organizers for allowing use of their photographs in this post.)

Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign is reporting JoDee Winterhof, who had been serving as Iowa campaign director, will move into a senior strategist role. The state director spot will be filled by longtime Vilsack supporter and staffer Teresa Vilmain.

Winterhof will become a primary surrogate in Iowa and will continue outreach efforts with women and other constituency groups. Vilmain will be responsible for day-to-day operations of the campaign in Iowa.

Vilmain has worked on the campaigns of many Iowans including Tom Vilsack, Tom Harkin and John Culver. She worked the (Bill) Clinton 1992 and 1996 campaigns as well as the 2000 Gore attempt. She worked on Vilsack's team earlier this year. Her national roles have included stints at the Democratic National Committee and EMILY's List.

The last line of the press release indicates Clinton plans to return to Iowa this weekend. No specific details, however, have been released.

Chris Street, field organizer with the John Edwards for President campaign, is organizing a relief effort for the residents of Fruitland.

The following items are being collected:

• Tarps
• Bungee Straps
• Flashlights
• Rope
• Laundry Soap
• Fabric Softener
• Toiletries

Donated items should be delivered to the campaign's Davenport office, 1225 E. River Dr. (One River Place building, 2nd floor, entrance in the back).

Supporters were in Fruitland today and plan to return later in the week to help with removing debris and tree branches.

Today, Gov. Chet Culver appealed to the federal government for disaster assistance. Tornadoes cut a 16-mile path of damage from Grandview through Fruitland and into Muscatine last Friday. The state reports an estimated $2.7 million in damage to public buildings, parks and recreation facilities. There has not yet been an overall estimate on damage to private property, including more than 100 homes.

More information is available by emailing Chris.

What follows is a press release from my very good friends at Iowans for Voting Integrity. It's important so perk your eyeballs and read attentively!

CITIZENS' GROUP PRAISES IOWA PAPER TRAIL VOTING BILL
Next Step is National Legislation To Protect the 2008 Elections

A citizens' advocacy group praised legislation signed by Governor Culver on Friday. Senate File 369 clears the way for an end to paperless electronic voting in Iowa by November 2008, and would eventually make voter-marked paper ballots the universal standard in Iowa elections. Iowa is the 30th state to enact a law require a voter-verified paper record of each vote cast. Earlier this month, the governors of Florida and Maryland signed legislation to require voter-marked paper ballots throughout their states. Other states have implemented paper trails without passing legislation.

Thirteen states, including Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Texas, are likely to use paperless electronic voting extensively in the 2008 Presidential election unless federal or state legislation intervenes. Almost 30% the nation's voters cast their ballots on paperless electronic voting machines in the 2004 Presidential election.

“Iowa's new law is good news for Iowa, but in national elections, we don't just depend on our state's voting systems,” said Iowans for Voting Integrity co-chair Sean Flaherty.

Paperless electronic voting has come under intense criticism by computer scientists and voter advocacy groups in recent years. Last year a task force of computer scientists that included Microsoft's former chief of security and experts from institutions such as Stanford, MIT, the University of Iowa, and government laboratories, concluded that all electronic voting systems “have security and reliability vulnerabilities that pose a real danger to the integrity of local, state, and national elections.”

The task force called strongly for voter-verified paper records and routine hand audits to verify electronic vote tallies.

Federal paper trail legislation is moving forward. HR 811, a bill to require a paper trail and routine hand-count audits in federal elections by 2008, now has 216 cosponsors in the House of Representatives and is expected to get a vote in the next couple of weeks. Iowa Representatives Leonard Boswell, Bruce Braley, and Dave Loebsack are cosponsors.

“If Iowans want a verifiable Presidential election in 2008, they should call their Congressman, even if he is already a cosponsor, and tell him to pass HR 811, “ Flaherty said. “Do we really want to have another Presidential election that can't be independently verified?”

----------

1 - Source: http://www.verifiedvoting,org. Site notes the states that have passed laws, or required paper trails, and notes the addition of Maryland and Florida to roster of paper-trail states.

2 - Source: “Building Confidence in U.S. Elections.” The Carter-Baker Commission on Federal Election Reform, pp. 25-26. http://www.american.edu/ia/cfer/report/full_report.pdf

3 - Source: “The Machinery of Democracy: Protecting Elections in an Electronic World.” The Brennan Center Task Force on Voting System Security, page 3. http://brennancenter.org/presscenter/releases_2006/pressrelease_2006_0627.html

Has it really only been a few weeks since I wrote This I Know? Sometimes, when I look back on the Supreme Court decision to uphold a law which placed women in danger, it seems like it must have been a very long time ago... or maybe just a dream.

While I was off doing other things, it seems the folks in the pro-life camps are having some stress. A coalition of evangelical Protestant and Roman Catholic groups is attacking Focus on the Family founder James Dobson. (And really, who could be more deserving?) At the heart of this disgruntlement is the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act.

An open letter to Dobson ran as a full page ad in the Washington Times on May 30. Signed by the president of Colorado Right to Life, Human Life International, American Life League and the director of Operation Rescue, this can hardly be construed as some liberal attempt to stir the pot.

...Following your example, many national ministries have spent years using the PBA ban to motivate financial donations, all the while misrepresenting the legal effect of the ban. Today millions of Christians, including your own staff, have been deceived. ...this ban cannot prevent a single abortion... The truth is, there is nothing new with this ruling that is good, no precedent, no defense of life, only brutality and death..."

In as much as I do like seeing the truth about this court ruling come to light within the money-hungry pro-life movement, there is still one very large piece of the puzzle they are missing: In their quest to prevent a family from deciding what is in its best interest, they are placing a life in greater risk. This ban has effectively told women that the government does not care about her life, only the potential life within her -- even if that potential life is expected to never take one breath of air.

Don't believe me? Read what Focus on the Family Vice President Tom Minnery said in the Post article:

"The old procedure, which is still legal, involves using forceps to pull the baby apart in utero, which means there is greater legal liability and danger of internal bleeding from a perforated uterus. So we firmly believe there will be fewer later-term abortions as a result of this ruling."

Back up and read it again if you need to do so. Minnery is saying that he understands the other procedure which has the same end result for the fetus is still legal and a more dangerous alternative for the woman. Matter of fact, he's counting on it as a part of his political strategy.

Let me also help out the pro-life crowd with another piece of information they've been withheld: Elective late-term abortions were already illegal. Wow... maybe those women having late-term abortions weren't happy about them. Maybe it wasn't something they did for convenience. Maybe it was actually done with the blessing of their husbands and doctors because it was medically necessary and in the best interest of the family.

Once again, my thanks to all the pro-life people out there. Your donations and shouts from the rooftops have been successful... just not in the way you intended. No fetuses will be saved because of your efforts; however, there is a real possibility that more women will suffer and, perhaps, die. I guess that's what they get for getting knocked up with severely disfigured and terminally ill fetuses.

But you shouldn't take my word for it. Here's an article by Rebecca Vesely which outlines how the remaining legal procedures are more harmful to women ... and may actually result in more fetal deaths after reproductive organs are damaged. If you're still confused what this might really all be about, be sure to check in with Dahlia Lithwick at Slate.

The ironic twist in all this is no matter how much I want to go to the chalk board and write "I Told You So" about a million times, those four words won't do a thing to help the women who will be physically and mentally hurt by this ruling.

Some links:

• The Carpetbagger Report
• Vanity Press
• Colorado Confidential (Cara DeGette)
• Pandagon
• Ann Telnaes
• Raven's Musings On Life
• Wonktown
• Debate Link
• Balkinization (Marty Lederman)

Just a quick note that it's official: The two biggest things to ever happen in Ann Althouse's life are Jessica Valenti's breasts.

Who knew the Politico was so hard up for site visits that they'd stoop to a discussion of boobs -- well, real ones, not just the regular Republican politicians.

Speaking of boobs (I swear I've never used that word so much before this post... but now I can't seem to stop myself), did you see what Focus on the Family Vice President Tom Minnery was quoted as saying in the WaPo?

Has there ever been a time that you stopped yourself from writing or saying something because you knew someone was not going to like it? This has almost been one of those times for me.

Back when I chaired my very first major political event in Iowa, a person I adore and trust told me to quit being so nervous. "When it's all said and done, everyone pats each other on the back and says 'good job' regardless of how the event really went," he told me. He was right. Democratic political events are just as much a celebration of the doing as they are of the finished product.

It is that particular knowledge that has me hesitating when this column has been on the tip of my fingers since Saturday night's Democratic Hall of Fame in Cedar Rapids. On one hand, I have valid points to make about those who attended. On the other hand, I have no desire to trample on those who put their hearts and souls into planning this event. On this, the third day of my internal deliberation, I have come to the conclusion that saying what needs to be said outweighs the potential offense to the organizers.

I sat in the room Saturday night and, for the first time since attending political functions, was embarrassed to be there. It had nothing to do with the signs that plastered every inch of wall space. It had nothing to do with meal or the vast diversity of the crowd. The press had nothing to do with it. I didn't mind paying for my own drinks, and I was able to move past the sheer lunacy of the marching bands, coordinated cheers and staff approaches. So let me be clear with exactly who and in what my disappointment lies: a banquet room full of kindergarten students would have been more respectful.

This event was billed as the Iowa Democratic Party's 2007 Hall of Fame. It was a time, according to the program, when the party would celebrate and honor the achievements of our own members. Awards were presented to Gov. Bob Fulton, Roxanne Colin, Ed Campbell, Phyllis Thede, Ken Sagar, Cheryll Jones, Dori Rammelsberg-Dvorak, Warren Yaple and Megan Simpson. All of these people, as evidenced by their nomination and appointment, went above and beyond for the Democratic Party in Iowa.

Knowing this, why did many of those in attendance treat these individuals in such a disrespectful manner?

When Sen. Tom Harkin spoke, the audience calmed and listened. As each of the presidential hopefuls took the podium -- people most of those in the audience had already heard speak half a dozen times -- members of the audience quieted and listened. But when the very people we had come to honor were called to the front of the room, those in attendance seemed to think it was social hour. Many clamored around a presidential hopeful as he or she attempted to exit the main banquet room. Some called for autographs or requested photographs be taken of them with a candidate. Still others turned to their table mates and began to discuss the news of the day. It became a time when people in the audience felt they could get up and move about the room.

It was the most disrespectful display I have ever witnessed.

Former Gov. Fulton, who arguably had the best message of the night as he explained how government and bureaucrats are undeserving of the bad reputation they've been given, was difficult to hear as conversations sprang up throughout the room and as those in attendance clamored for photographs and autographs from Sen. Chris Dodd as he made his way from the room. Campaign staffers for Sen. Hillary Clinton, anticipating their candidate's upcoming entrance, made their way to supporter tables to offer last-minute instructions. Wait staff continued to spirit away salads, salad dressings and roll baskets to make way for smothered chicken and veggies. Only people at the front few tables stood to applaud when Fulton completed his acceptance speech as 2007 Hall of Fame Outstanding Elected Official.

I was hoping the dinners and clanking silverware were the distraction, but the circumstance replayed itself with Sen. Clinton and Outstanding Supporter Roxanne Conlin, then with Sen. Edwards and Outstanding Supporter Ed Campbell, then with Gov. Bill Richardson and all the Democratic Achievement Awards, and finally with Sen. Joe Biden and the scholarship recipients.

This is not a complaint against the IDP or the staff members who organized this event. This is a complaint against those who attended not to celebrate our state party and honor our volunteers, but to get another glimpse, handshake, autograph or photograph with a national political figure.

Here in Iowa, political junkies are fortunate to have many opportunities to behave as teenagers at their first Stones concert. This should not have been one of them.

Unlike Rudy Giuliani, Sen. Chris Dodd thinks Iowans are important.

The Dodd campaign has announced the senator will return this weekend to meet with citizens in Waterloo, Waverly, Mason City and Sioux City in a series of "Kitchen Table" conversations and town hall meetings. The presidential hopeful will be discussing plans to end the Iraq war and America's energy policy.

Saturday, June 9

• Waterloo Community Kitchen Table
  Steamboat Gardens Family Restaurant, 10:30 a.m.
• Kitchen Table with the Knitting Ladies of Waverly
  Kepford Home, noon
• Mason City Town Hall
  Chicago Dog Pizza, 3 p.m.
• Sioux City Democrats Truman Club Meeting, contact Taylor West for more information

Sunday, June 10

• Sioux City Cathedral of the Epiphany Street Fair
  Cathedral of the Epiphany, 10 a.m.
• Sioux City Town Hall
  Morningside College Elwood and Grace Olsen Student Center, 12:30 p.m.

No doubt the knitting ladies in Waverly will be happy to see Dodd since he had to cancel a previous meeting with them. I wonder if Lois will make her mini-cupcakes again? Actually, maybe Dodd should bring them as a peace offering.

Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign just announced it would not be participating in the Ames Straw Poll.

Indicating the campaign did not see the event as "a meaningful test of the leading candidates' organizational abilities," Campaign Manager Terry Nelson made the national announcement.

His words were quickly followed by Dave Roederer, Iowa Chairman for John McCain 2008: "This weekend, Senator McCain will hold his 20th town hall meeting in our state. His straight talk on the challenging issues facing our country continues to resonate with Iowans and we are confident that his commitment to restraining government spending, protecting traditional values and defeating Islamic extremists will ultimately lead him to victory in the caucuses."

McCain's announcement comes just hours after a similar one by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd (from Connecticut) have agreed to participate in a presidential debate conducted in Spanish.

The debate is scheduled for Sept. 9 at the University of Miami and will be hosted by Univision Communications, Inc., the nation's largest Spanish-language broadcaster. The network's programming is available in most Iowa markets via cable and satellite television.

Univision press statements indicate this is the first presidential debate conducted in Spanish. Simultaneous translation, however, would be provided to candidates and viewers.

News of the debate comes just weeks after Univision's highly successful citizenship drive was scheduled to move from a pilot program in Los Angeles to a national campaign. During the program in Los Angeles, citizenship applications jumped 123 percent compared with the same period in the previous year. Meanwhile, applications increased 59 percent in areas not targeted by the campaign. A large surge in the Hispanic voting bloc could sway not only the 2008 elections but also the upcoming presidential preference primaries and caucuses. Consider that these new citizens often favor Democratic candidates by a 2-to-1 margin, and that President George W. Bush claimed narrow victories in heavily Latino states in 2004.

In 2003, the U.S. Census reported the Hispanic population had become the largest minority in the nation, and it projected Latinos will make up 25 percent of the U.S. population by 2050.

As Alexander Bolton aptly points out, this places many of the hopefuls -- especially the 'front-runners' -- in a bind. Candidates fluent in Spanish would speak directly to the audience in that language. Non-speakers would have their responses translated. Further, the debate is being hosted live in Florida, a key primary state in 2008, where Hispanics or Latinos make up nearly 20 percent of the population.

In contrast, the U.S. Census estimates there are roughly 120,000 individuals in Iowa who are of Hispanic or Latino origin. This constitutes nearly 4 percent of the state's population. That figure, however, is expected to nearly triple by 2030. The Pew Hispanic Center reported in October 2006 that only one-third of Iowa's existing Hispanic population were at least age 18 and a U.S. citizen eligible to vote.

Richardson, who is fluent in Spanish, is the nation's only Hispanic governor. He was born in California, but spent his early childhood in Mexico City.

Dodd, although not Hispanic, is also fluent in Spanish. While serving in the Peace Corps, he lived in the Dominican Republic.

The company has invited Republican presidential candidates to a debate — also in Spanish — on Sept. 16. There is no word yet on which candidates, if any, will appear.

First here's a shout out to my best bud who is having a really hard day... dry off and head to a hotel for a warm, clean shower! Tomorrow is another day...

You've probably noticed some new functionality here. We should have a detailed post about the changes soon.

There's a new link on the blogroll! Iowa's own Charlotte Eby has launched a blog. She's a hard worker and proven writer (been doing it for a living for quite a while now) so head over and give her a warm welcome.

It's great to have another dynamic woman in the Iowa blogosphere!

Nate Whitney over at A Man With a Fork In a World of Soup is celebrating his first ever work as a columnist and as a member of the editorial board. Congratulations!

Drop by Bleeding Heartland where desmoinesdem has a post of the tributes to Steve Gilliard. Steve was the publisher of The News Blog and we send our condolences to his family as we know his voice will be missed.

Century of the Common Iowan has the skinny on an event jointly hosted by I-Renew and Iowans for Sensible Priorities this Saturday.

Here's one of the "wow" stories I read this week, courtesy of The Good Reverend: It seems a teenager's photo was stolen from the internet and used as the cover for a skin flick. As if mothers, fathers, aunts and uncles didn't have enough to worry about.

PopPolitics.com has the video of Stephen Colbert getting a "Feminist Chicks Dig Me" shirt from Jessica Valenti, author of "Full Frontal Feminism" and, of course, one of our favorite blogs.

Michael Vocino let's everyone know in a pretty in-your-face way what he thinks of James Holsinger (nominated for surgeon general).

Ladies (and, I guess, probably some of the men too), toss out those outdated thongs. Style Smart will tell you all about the latest trend in underpants, the C-string.

Apron Thrift Girl has an excellent review of the book "Garage Sale America" by Bruce Littlefield. Of course, I always find something I like over at her place -- no bartering required!

Our latest online fascination is a little social bookmarking site (we know... we know... another one!) known as sk*rt. We found it by way of dare to dream.

The Disabilities Caucus of the Iowa Democratic Party is hosting an afternoon of fun, food and friends today.

Learn what the Disabilities Caucus has been doing for the benefit for the community and all Iowans by coming to Columbus Park, corner of SE 2nd and Indianola Ave. in Des Moines from noon to 3:00 pm. This location is accessible through the number eight bus route.

There will be free food, free drinks, free music and some special guests. Persons with disabilities and anyone interested in disabilities issues are welcome to attend. Questions concerning this event or the Disabilities caucus should be directed to IDP Outreach staff, (515) 244-7292 or lbrown@iowademocrats.org.

A new website to highlight the need for sustainable communities and working with government to bring about progressive change.

Former state lawmaker Ed Fallon and longtime activist Lynn Heuss sent a letter to supporters this morning about the public launch of the site -- www.IMforIowa.com -- as part of an initiative he began during his gubernatorial campaign in 2006.

"One of the key strategies of our 'Independence Movement' is to advocate for sustainable living," Heuss said in the announcement. "What we mean by that is: we believe in supporting communities and neighborhoods that support themselves -- that have a vibrant downtown or shops within walking distance from housing with locally-owned businesses that provide goods and services to residents. Not only does this have a significant and beneficial impact on the local level by supporting the people who own the businesses who then support the community, it is where we all have the opportunity to address national and global problems like reducing our use of fossil fuels if we aren't driving as far to shop."

Fallon, a former representative from Des Moines, and Heuss request that site visitors provide contact information for businesses such as grocery stores, restaurants, barbershops, hardware stores, pharmacies and more in their community. The businesses, however, must be locally owned and "big box" stores are excluded.

The goals of the initiative, however, are loftier than just creating a list of locally owned businesses. The group plans to actively advocate for progressive legislative changes and progressive legislators -- especially in the realm of Voter-Owned Iowa Clean Elections (VOICE), local control over factory farms and universal health care.

In an earlier letter to supporters, Heuss, also of Des Moines, explained how she came to believe working from within government system was the best way to bring about change.

"My greatest cause of frustration," she wrote, "was the seeming lack of compassion and concern by those in politics for the well-being of the poor. I had, up until my conversation with Ed, simply believed that one could work more effectively for justice through religion. Naively, I didn't anticipate the level of politics involved in our religious institutions. That, then, is what led me to jump back into governmental politics with both feet, including working on Ed's gubernatorial campaign, as his clerk for the 2006 session, and now I'M for Iowa. If it takes getting involved in the system to change it -- I decided I wanted to be part of the solution, not part of the problem."

As stated on the organization's website, I'M for Iowa is developing a network of Iowans working for:

• Independence from special-interest campaign contributions
• Independence from poverty, injustice and discrimination
• Independence from fossil fuels
• Independence from government subsidies for big business, from risky ventures that waste our tax dollars while failing to deliver on promises of economic prosperity, and from national chains that exert a stranglehold on our communities
• Independence from government officials who operate without the public's interests in mind, often behind the closed doors, and with a lack of integrity and accountability

To tackle that agenda, I'M for Iowa plans to recruit and assist progressive candidates, provide grassroot support for legislative initiatives to enact VOICE, provide leadership to encourage changes in personal habits and public policies related to global warming, broaden the base of the movement through public speaking and media events, and to network with Iowans concerned about these issues.

Sometimes it's easy to think that we're being active when we sit behind a computer screen checking the blogs, posting information and taking part in online activities. There is, however, a whole world out there to explore and some great people you might never meet if you don't get up, go out and participate in offline life.

With that in mind, a wealth of opportunities are taking place over the next few days. No doubt there is something for everyone of you. So, get out there!

Saturday, June 9

• 8:45 a.m. - McCain Campaign Town Hall - DMACC Newton Conference Center, 600 N 2nd Ave., Newton - Sen. John McCain will campaign during this breakfast and town hall meeting.
• 9:00 a.m. - Democracy for Iowa Progressive Organizing Meeting - Iowa City Public Library, 123 S. Linn St., Iowa City - Conference runs from 9 to 3. Networking of individuals from progressive groups and organizations from around the state in order to forward a progressive agenda.
• 9:00 a.m. - Conservative Breakfast with Tom Tancredo - Family Table, 511 Hawkeye Ave SW, Le Mars - for more information contact Angie Weaver, 712-260-2584
• 11:00 a.m. - Meet and Greet with Tom Tancredo - Pizza Ranch, 119 Albany Ave NE, Orange City - for more information contact Angie Weaver, 712-260-2584
• 11:15 a.m. - Obama Walk for Change Canvass Kick-Off - Dubuque (call Nick Meyer, 563-249-6541, for more details - This the National Walk for Change Canvass Kick-Off. Organizers say that everyone who participates in the canvass will have an opportunity to see Sen. Barack Obama.
• 2:00 p.m. - Celebration of Sustainable Community - Cedar Rapids Peace Center, 1029 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids - Local foods potluck, community concert and movie event to raise money for a sustainable living conference coming up in October. Suggested donation is $5 per person or $10 per family.
• 2:00 p.m. - Patriotic Reception with Tom Tancredo - Clay County Administration Building, 300 W 4th St., Spencer - for more information contact Angie Weaver, 712-260-2584
• 3:00 p.m. - Ice Cream Social & Educational Meet and Greet - Hoover House, 102 W Main St., West Branch - Free ice cream, renewable energy and sensible priorities. I-Renew is joining with Iowans for Sensible Priorities to discuss the problem of dependence on fossil fuels and to provide solutions. Clips from "Why We Fight" by Eugene Jarecki will be shown as well as "Kilowatt Ours" by Jeff Barrie. Free and open to the public.
• 4:00 p.m. - Sen. Staci Appel's Pork Dinner - Indianola Fairgrounds, 1400 W 2nd Ave, Indianola - Special Guest Sen. Hillary Clinton. Tickets $15 for adults, $5 for children 10 and under
• 6:00 p.m. - Buena Vista County Legislative Review - Allee Mansion in Newell - guests include Rep. Gary Worthan and Sen. Chris Rants
• 6:00 p.m. - Town Hall Meeting on Illegal Immigration with Tom Tancredo - Best Western Inn, 2023 Seventh Ave N, Clear Lake - for more information contact Jeff Mosiman, 641-583-0650
• 6:30 p.m. - Story County Democrats - Prairie Moon Winery, 3801 W 190th St., Ames - Sen. Hillary Clinton will keynote this fundraiser.

Sunday, June 10

• 1:00 p.m. - Capital City Pride - State Capitol to Simon Estes Amphitheater, East 1st and Locust, Des Moines - Des Moines' LGBT community hosts this parade which begins at the State Capitol and continues to the amphitheater (where many festival activities will take place)
• 3:00 p.m. - Presidential Picnic - Charles City Middle School, 500 N Grand Ave, Charles City - Sponsored by Chickasaw, Floyd, Howard, Mitchell and Winneshiek County GOPs. $10 per ticket for meal and meet and greet with Congressman Tancredo, Congressman Hunter and Governor Thompson

Monday, June 11

• 9:15 a.m. - Brownback Breakfast with Conservative Leaders - Larsen Pavilion, 900 Larsen Park Rd., Sioux City - More information contact Bryan Sanders, 913-909-3632
• 11:30 a.m. - Iowa GOP Chairman's Luncheon - Sioux City Convention Center, 801 4th St., Sioux City - All presidential hopefuls invited, Brownback confirmed
• 4:00 p.m. - Reception for President of the Senate Jack Kibbie - Quality Inn, Room 203, 929 3rd St., Des Moines - For more information contact Zach, zcummings@iowademocrats.org
• 4:00 p.m. - Brownback Coffee - The Coffee Copany, 6110 NW 86th St., Johnston - for more information, contact Devon Gallagher, 570-401-4378
• 5:00 p.m. - Iowa GOP Chairman's BBQ - 621 E 9th St., Des Moines - All hopefuls invited, Brownback confirmed
• 7 p.m. - Concerned Democrats of Polk County - Senior Center on Forest and MLK in Des Moines - Teresa Baustain, attorney with the Iowa AG's office, will speak on the U.S. policy of holding detainees without trial or right to Habeas Corpus

  7:05 p.m. - DMARC Food Pantry Night at the Iowa Cubs - Iowa Cubs Stadium in DM - Bring three food items in exchange for one general admission ticket. The GA ticket may be upgraded to reserved grandstand for $2

Tuesday, June 12

• 10:00 a.m. - Brownback Tours Moundview Manor - 2501 Highway 13, Marion - for more information contact Emma Nemecek, 319-286-9475
• 11:30 a.m. - Iowa GOP Chairman's Luncheon - Cedar Rapids Marriott, 1200 Collins Rd., Cedar Rapids - All hopefuls invited
• 1:00 p.m. - Health Care and Public Benefits Issues - Done over the Iowa Communications Network - Free seminar for older Iowans and their caregivers. This one will cover Medicaid and other payment options for nursing home care, elderly waiver home care benefits, programs to help pay Medicare premiums and other health care expenses, Medicare Part D prescription drug plans and other payment options.
• 4:30 - Fundraiser for Senators Tim Rielly, Brian Schoenjahn, Tom Hancock and Bill Heckroth - 400 Westtown Parkway, Suite 200, West Des Moines - for more information contact Zach, zcummings@iowademocrats.org
• 6:30 p.m. - Beginning Genealogy Class - Iowa Genealogical Society, 628 Grand Ave, Des Moines - Free class offered by IGS - more info on www.iowagenealogy.org