September 2007 Archives

Here's your earworm: Colbie Caillat -- "Bubbley"

Thanks to everyone who came out and watched Hairspray last night. What a terrific, feel-good flick! What a great time with friends!

And, in honor of the messages in Hairspray, go read why Kate Harding thinks BMI is a crock.

Pete Abel has an excellent post about freedom of speech. Also be sure to check out this great post at Tiny Cat Pants. Excellent points all the way around.

There's a really, really great post at alphabitch about the problems and issues in Jena. She equates what's going on there now to what happened previously in New Jersey. She also takes a nice (and deserved) swipe at the Fox News Falafel Boy Wonder.

Sars at Tomato Nation is at it again. This time, we can raise money for charity and force the all-day wearing of a tomato suit... and it will be filmed. Juicy!

If you need some help figuring out all the social networking sites, Waking Vixen has a great primer.

Are any of our readers going to New Orleans?

Iowa's recent shame made it all the way to:

• Tennessee Guerilla Women
• The Carpetbagger Report
• Higgaion
• Total Drek
• The force that through...
• The colossus of Rhodey
• Leiter Reports
• mister pissed
• God is for Suckers
• Liberal Values
• Panda's Thumb
• One Good Move
• The Lippard Blog
• Cynical-C
• Friendly Atheist
• Rhymes with Right

David Barnhart has joined the presidential campaign of New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton as Iowa caucus director. As a part of his duties, Barnhart will devise and implement the campaign's get-out-the-caucus strategy.

"I am honored to be joining Senator Clinton's Iowa campaign," Barnhart said in a prepared statement. "She understand the change Iowans and Americans across the country need and she has the strength and experience to deliver."

Barnhart has worked in politics for the past seven years. He served as the get-out-the-vote director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, leading the Democrats in gaining 31 new seats in the U.S. House in 2006. He was the field director for Sen. John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign in Missouri and, prior to that, was a regional field director for Kerry's caucus campaign in Iowa. Barnhart is a princple at Dewey Square Group.

"I am thrilled to add David Barnhart to our team," said Clinton. "David has had great success in Iowa in the past and he brings tremendous leadership and experience to our campaign."

The position of caucus director for the Clinton campaign became open earlier this month when Angelique Pirozzi vacated the post. To date, neither the Clinton campaign nor Pirozzi has discussed exactly what transpired.

Pirozzi was announced as part of the staff on Feb. 15. She had worked on the Clinton/Gore campaign in New Hampshire in 1996 and served as deputy caucus director for Iowans for Gore. During the fall of 2000, she was tapped to direct the Democrats' coordinated campaign in Wisconsin. She worked first as Sen. John Kerry's caucus manager in Iowa and then as Get-Out-The-Vote director.

Neither the folks who advocate abstinence-only education nor those who support comprehensive sex education were pleased when a re-authorization of abstinence-only funding through Title V was not a part of the compromise Children's Health Insurance Program bill. It seems Congress could only respond by sticking to the status quo.

As Wendy Norris of Colorado Confidential reports, last night both houses of Congress approved the program's second emergency 90-day extension.

Title V, Section 510 is one of three federal funding streams for abstinence-only sex education. It is paid to state departments of health that, in turn, re-grant the money to organizations throughout the state. The other two streams -- Community-Based Abstinence Education (CBAE) and Adolescent Family Life Act (AFLA) -- are granted directly to organization and bypass state control.

Until recently, Title V was the only funding for abstinence-only education in Iowa, providing roughly $318,000 per year in matching funds to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. Earlier this month the Administration on Children, Youth and Families (Family Youth Services Bureau) announced a $600,000 non-matching grant to Bethany Christian Services of Northwest Iowa. The grant to Bethany will be used to pay for a project entitled "Keyed-In to Abstinence."

There are strict guidelines associated with monies from Title V, Section 510 -- guidelines that many believe should be changed to ensure medically accurate information is provided. The U.S. House, following the first three-month extension of the Title V abstinence-only program, approved changing the language within the guidelines so that they would be less strict. This change, along with a program reauthorization under the new guidelines, was attached to the House version of the Children's Health Insurance Program bill. The reauthorization and enhanced guidelines, however, were not included in the recent compromise bill. Even if it were, however, that bill remains under threat of presidential veto.

Many who support abstinence-only sex education, such as televangelist Pat Robertson, have been calling on constituents to demand that Congress not only continue to fund Title V, Section 510, but to keep the strict guidelines that do not require medically accurate or science-based content.

"Is this another legacy of the Democratically controlled Congress?" asked Robertson during a Sept. 20 broadcast. "Let's have more sex in the schools. Are they saying our kids are like little animals and they are going to go breed like bunnies so we might as well give them condoms? I think that's the message, but that isn't the message that we need to send.

"Sexuality is a sacred thing. It is the creation of human life, made in the image of God. It's a very important thing. It isn't just something where you hook up with this one and then you hook up with that one. But, that's the message. It is on college campuses. It is in these schools, and the educators are buying into it. If you want to fix some of this you'll stop the teachers from pushing that thing that was going on -- I think it was a program called SIECUS by Mary Calderone and it must have been 30 or more years ago that was free sex and the whole thing. That's Planned Parenthood's plan -- to have kids have as many babies as they can, then we can start sterilizing them."

Opponents of abstinence-only education have also had strong words, most of which have been directed at Congress.

"First, Congress funds the abstinence-only programs," said Advocates for Youth President James Wagoner. "Then, they commission a study that showed the ineffectiveness of the programs. Then, they ignore the findings of the study. And, now, they continue to fund the programs. Their actions defy logic and common sense."

The stakes are high because the guidelines that govern Title V, Section 510 also govern the other two federal funding streams. Had the Title V stream been allowed to expire, the guidelines would have remained in place for the remaining to streams. Had the changes suggested by the House of Representatives been signed into law, all three streams would have come under the mandate of providing medically and scientific accurate curricula and added requirement of proof that the programs being taught reduce pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS rates.

Advocates for abstinence-only education have vowed they will continue to fight for nothing less than abstinence-until-marriage education without a comprehensive component. Advocates for science-based sex education have also vowed to continue to fight for what they believe is necessary and potentially life-saving information for America''s youth. Since the emergency extension only takes the program through Dec. 31, there's little doubt Congress and the public will be hearing more in the weeks to come.

If you're expecting to see SpongeBob SquarePants this Saturday, you'll have to tune in to Nickelodeon a little later than usual. The children's broadcaster will be suspending programming on all of its networks -- Nick, Noggin, Nick GAS and Nicktoons -- for three hours in honor of the fourth annual Worldwide Day of Play and in a continued effort to get children off the couch.

After the programming fast and, no doubt, the celebrated return of he who lives in a pineapple under the sea, the finale of "Let's Just Play Go Health Challenge" will air. The program features two 13-year-olds who took a six-month challenge to be more active and get healthier. Kenderick from Arkansas and April from Pennsylvania have led the way as nearly 750,000 children have pledged to lead healthier lives through the Nickelodeon website.

Nickelodeon launched this campaign four years ago when research indicated a significant decrease in the amount of time kids spent being physically active each day. While there is no single reason that the state of active play in America has reached an all-time low, several factors contribute. Latchkey kids spend a lot of time unsupervised. Physical education classes and school recess time have declined. Many families focus on academic success or excellence in a single sport. Communities have also been limited and are no longer able to offer as many after-school programs.

During downtime, the networks will direct kids via an animated loop to go outside and be active in celebration of Worldwide Day of Play. The Nick networks will return to the air at 2 p.m. CST

What Can You Do for Three Hours?

Hosted play events will be taking place during the outage across the nation, although organizers are quick to stress a simple trip to a local playground or hike around the neighborhood are also highly recommended activities.

One of the largest Iowa opportunities is being hosted by the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois. Girls in first through fourth grade are invited to attend an organized play event at Jones Memorial Park in Cedar Rapids from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. Participants will play games and relay races outside and learn about healthy foods they can make themselves. Girls do not have to be Scout members to attend.

Because the Boys and Girls Club of Cedar Rapids isn't open on Saturday, young people there are celebrating the Worldwide Day of Pay today. They've played volleyball and dodgeball in the gym, are making their own healthy snacks and will have an afternoon of free play activities

The Stoney Point YMCA in Cedar Rapids is offering a free swim from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday. The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art will have free admission for children under 18 and is planning a day of family activities beginning at noon.

“Childhood obesity is one of our nation’s leading epidemics,” said Jennifer Koopmann, American Heart Association Marketing Director, “The work we are doing with our partners here in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City to celebrate Go Healthy Month will help engage kids in the issue by showing them how they can incorporate healthy eating and physical activity into their everyday lives. We also want kids to know that pledging to Go Healthy can be easy and fun.”

Since there is no list or calender showing all the scheduled events, organizers suggest parents phone their local organizations and facilities to find out what is planned.

The Problem is Large and Growing

Childhood obesity is one of the nation's leading health threats, according to the American Heart Association of Iowa. Roughly 12 million kids are overweight and 12 million more are at risk of becoming overweight. More children are developing conditions and diseases that have previously been associated with adults, such as type 2 diabetes. If obesity continues to increase, many believe the current generation of children will become the first in American history to live shorter lives than their parents.

Government statistics show that Iowa's youth are especially at risk and vulnerable to the potential chronic diseases and lifestyles that come from a lifetime of obesity. Shaping America's Youth recently held and Iowa citizens' summit on childhood obesity. While gearing up for that event the group announced that more than 30 percent of low-income children between the ages of 2 and 5 in Iowa are either at-risk for becoming overweight or are currently overweight. Among a sample of Iowa third, fourth and fifth graders, the group concluded that nearly 40 percent are at-risk for becoming overweight or are currently overweight.

While obesity rates nationally are increasing for all age groups, Iowans have been on the thicker side for several years. In 2002, the Center for Disease Control announced that 61 percent of Iowa adults were overweight or obese. This was a 79 percent increase in the occurrence of obesity in the 12-year period between 1990 and 2002. Iowa State University Extension service reports that one in four Iowans (24.9 percent) is now in the "obese" category, and the rate of those in the "overweight" category is increasing.

Currently, 12.5 percent of Iowa's children are overweight, according to a study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This places Iowa roughly 2 percent below the national average, but those numbers can be deceiving.

Children ages 10 and 11 -- the age at which children are most apt to be overweight, according to the study -- Iowa ranks above the national average, with 22.4 percent of children considered overweight. In the next age group of 12 to 14, Iowa's children were significantly less likely to be overweight. Those ages 15 to 17 in Iowa, however, were on par with a national average of about 10 percent being overweight.

The William J. Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association partnered in May of 2005 to create a new generation of healthy Americans. Together they formed the Alliance for a Healthier Generation with a goal to stop the nationwide increase in childhood obesity by 2010, and to empower children to make healthy lifestyle choices. Last year, Republican presidential hopeful and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee joined the team by appearing in public service announcements on Nickelodeon. Earlier this month, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger also joined the team while highlighting a local school and announcing his own challenge for a healthier generation.

"Initiatives like the Alliance for a Healthier Generation are providing the framework for a healthier America. I am thrilled to join with President Clinton and the American Heart Association because in California we are already doing everything the Alliance supports," said Schwarzenegger while visiting the school with President Clinton. "The foundation for a healthy lifetime is built in the habits we learn as youth. They give us the strength and the confidence to achieve more, to feel better and to succeed. These healthy habits can help give our children the future they deserve."

An opinion released by the Iowa Supreme Court this morning affirms the decision of the district court that videotaped statements from Jetseta Gage, then 10, can not be used in a sexual abuse trial against the brother of her convicted murderer.

In its opinion, the court holds that James Bentley, a former resident of Vinton, has the constitutional right to confront witnesses. Gage was found dead in an abandoned Johnson County mobile home in late March 2005. James Bentley's brother, Roger Bentley, was later convicted in the girl's grizzly murder and is currently serving two life sentences in prison.

James Bentley was arrested in the fall of 2004 in the sexual assault of a then unidentified 10-year-old Cedar Rapids girl. He was charged in November with felony sexual abuse over allegations that he assaulted the girl we now know to be Gage repeatedly over a two-year period in both Benton and Linn counties. At the time of Gage's kidnapping, rape and death, James Bentley was in the Linn County jail.

He had previously went to prison in 1993 for a Johnson County burglary and served nearly three years. In 1997, he was arrested in Linn County for third-degree sexual abuse and lascivious acts with a child, but was found not guilty on both charges.

Both of the Bentley brothers gained access to Jetseta Gage and her siblings when the mother, Trena Gage, became friends with James and, according to court documents requesting a paternity test, became intimately involved with him. Trena's friendship with Roger Gage continued after brother James had been accused of sexually molesting Jetseta and of sexual exploitation of both Jetseta and a much younger female sibling, Leonna. The sexual abuse to Jeseta, according to prosecutors, continued over an extended period of time.

Jetseta's videotapped interview was completed at St. Luke's Child Protection Center in November 2004, just days before James Bentley was arrested on the sexual abuse charges. The trial, however, was not set to begin until May 2005 -- two months after the girl was found dead.

In June, James Bentley was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Linda Reade to 100 years in federal prison for six counts of child pornography and sexual exploitation. The charges stemmed from the time when Bentley was allowed to be caretaker over Jetseta, then 9, and her then 13-month-old sister in his Cedar Rapids home. He was found guilty of taking pornographic pictures of the girls engaged in sexually explicit conduct. It is doubtful, according to Linn County Attorney Harold Denton, that Bentley will be released from prison since there is no parole in the federal system.

Although Jetseta had been murdered prior to that trial, two of Bentley's previous victims testified he had repeatedly sexually abused them. One of the victims, now 21-year-old, said she was abused at age 12. The second victim, a 15-year-old girl, testified that she was abused by Bentley when she was between the ages of 3 and 6.

The sexual assault case against Bentley will now come back to Linn and Benton counties for possible remand to trial.

"We will be once again looking over the evidence in the case," said Denton. "With that review of the remaining evidence, we'll decide where we will go from here."

Half a year ago Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller made public his request for increased funding for drug treatment. Saturday, thanks to the federal government, at least a portion of his wishes will be coming true.

A new federal grant will help the Iowa Judicial Branch fund three new family drug courts and expand two existing courts. Family drug courts emphasize treatment for drug-addicted parents in hopes of keeping family units in tact. The project ensures that children have immediate access to services while parents are in family drug court. Also, parents continue to receive support and monitoring once treatment is complete.

In February when Miller outlined a three-prong approach of enforcement, treatment and prevention as the ideal in the fight against drugs in Iowa, he said "the number one thing we can do to fight crime is fight drugs and the number one thing we can do to fight drugs is to do a better job with drug treatment."

In his plan, he suggested an additional $3 million was needed for expansion of drug courts to each of Iowa's eight judicial districts.

"Drug court programs especially tailored to the specific needs of families, juveniles and adults in local communities have shown success in Iowa," he said. "Because these programs are proving their effectiveness, the state should ensure their continuation and expansion. Drug courts are effective because the combine the authority of the court with the effectiveness of drug treatment. The court ensures that there is a strong incentive for clients to complete treatment and stay clean. Defendants hear the message that failure to comply will result in sanctions."

The family drug court model created in Des Moines by Judge Karla Fultz maintains a 75 percent success rate in family reunification and sobriety.

This Saturday Joan Ohl, commissioner of the Administration for Children, Youth and Families, will present a grant of $500,000 per year for five years to Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Marsha Ternus. The judicial branch will work with the Iowa Department of Human Services, the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Office of Drug Control Policy to implement the family drug court program in seven Iowa counties. Representatives from the offices of Sen. Chuck Grassley and Sen. Tom Harkin are expect to attend the ceremony along with state officials.

The grant will fund "Parents and Children Together: A Family Drug Court Initiative" in Wapello, Polk, Linn, Scott, Woodbury, Cherokee and Ida counties. The program will focus on the welfare of children with parents who have substance abuse problems, specifically, methamphetamine addiction.

Ohl will also present a similar grant to Upper Des Moines Opportunity, Inc., a regional partnership formed by nine rural northwest Iowa counties. The partnership will use the grant to allow child welfare, substance abuse and community support services to increase access, availability and outreach programs. The services will provide assistance to children who are in out-of-home or at-risk of placement as the result of a caretaker's substance abuse.

Iowa Rep. Roger Thomas, D-Elkader, has become the tenth member of the Iowa legislature to endorse Delaware Sen. Joe Biden for president.

Crediting Biden's successful Senate passage of an Iraq federalism plan yesterday, Thomas says he believes Biden to be the best choice to lead the nation.

“Sen. Biden showed true presidential leadership yesterday with the passage of his Iraq amendment” Thomas said. “He worked with members of both parties in building a consensus, ultimately giving them the confidence to do the right thing and begin to shift the direction of U.S. policy in Iraq. I know the people of Iowa respect that kind of presidential leadership.

“In the time I’ve spent with Sen. Biden, I’ve been fortunate to get to know him on a personal level – and continue to be moved by his determination, caring personality and boundless knowledge of the key issues of the day. As chair of the Economic Growth Committee here in the state, I believe we need a president who has a deep understanding of the real economic circumstances most Americans are confronting.”

Thomas serves on the Local Government, Veterans Affairs and Ways and Means committees and as chairman of the Economic Growth Committee. He was first elected to the state legislature in 1996.

This endorsement increases Biden's lead in the Iowa House. His nine supporters from that side of the Capitol is well above the other Democratic hopefuls. In the overall numbers game, Biden is now tied with Illinois Sen. Barack Obama for the second-place slot when it comes to Iowa legislative endorsements. New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton maintains her lead with 16 endorsements.

Here's your chance to meet the Essential Estrogen ladies! (And, really, who could pass up an opportunity like that?) An extremely diverse group of females -- ages 7 to "don't you dare ask" -- is going to the movies on Saturday night in Cedar Rapids and you're invited to come and join us.

We'll be watching the new Hairspray flick... and probably dancing and singing along from the audience. No doubt it will be a night to remember. If you'd like to find out exactly when and where, please send me an email.

Although a meeting with Iowa's senior citizens began with Rep. Tyler Olson providing an overview of accomplishments from the last legislative session, it ended with him gaining insights into elder abuse.

"People not only came, but they had a lot of questions and comments," said Olson, a Democrat who represents Cedar Rapids. "I hadn't heard as much about elder abuse as I heard this morning. There were a couple of comments during the discussion, but also two or three people caught me before the meeting and told me I needed to work on it."

Elder abuse is one of those issues that too often not openly discussed, said retiree and Johnson County AARP Chairwoman Eve Kasserly.

"Elder abuse is a dirty secret we don't talk about," she said during the forum. "It is like child sexual molestation was 20 or 30 years ago. We want to believe that something like that couldn't possibly occur, so we just sweep it under the rug and pretend it doesn't happen. That doesn't make it go away."

Kesserly says one of the strongest things a perpetrator has in his favor is that victims will blame themselves.

"The seniors -- and even children who are abused -- would still rather be with the person who has abused than go out into the world alone," she said. "For seniors, there's also the issue of embarrassment. Like abused women, they often don't know what else is out there. So, [they often stay with] they devil they know."

Following the forum, Kesserly spoke at length about elder abuse and why she believes it should be a focus of the legislature.

"When it comes to elder abuse, anyone under the sun might be a perpetrator or a victim," she said. "If we live long enough, we all have the possibility of being victimized. The few outstanding cases we read about in the newspaper every now and then -- such as the old lady who is tied to a chair on her front porch when the family leaves for vacation -- aren't typical. Most the cases aren't that outstanding."

Abuse against elders can be mental, physical or financial. The latter was one of five priorities highlighted recently by the Older Iowans Legislature when they met earlier this month, Kasserly said.

"Name calling is one area," Kasserly said. "Another area is financial abuse. Often times as a person gets older, he or she is not so good with the numbers anymore and has to rely on others for help with bill paying and balancing checkbooks."

When older Americans turn to friends and family members for help with finances, there is always a possibility for abuse. The end result not only hurts the individual, but often becomes an added expense for taxpayers.

"Let's say that I'm having trouble with my finances and I turned to my cousin who lives across the street," Kesserly explained. "I give the cousin power of attorney and she sees this as an opportunity to raid my savings account, my checking account and maybe to claim my assets by changing them over to her name. Eventually she can get me artificially qualified to receive assistance -- something you, as a taxpayer, will pay for -- even though I might be able to pay for my own nursing home or medical care."

In addition to elder abuse, Olson says another issue brought to his attention because of the forum is the plight of older Iowans who suffer from mental illness.

"We need to look at what specifically we are doing for older Iowans and their needs when it comes to mental health," he said following the forum on Wednesday.

In addition to Olson, Iowa Department of Elder Affairs Director John McCalley and AARP Iowa Associate Director of Advocacy Anthony Carroll were a part of the panel that listened to the concerns of the senior citizens who gathered at the Witwer Senior Center in Cedar Rapids.

Local resident and former Linn County Supervisor Jean Oxley said she was pleased that Olson would organize such a forum to both listen and provide information to constituents.

"This was very well received," she said. "We need to address senior issues. I was very glad to hear the input from our director of the Department of Elder Affairs and the AARP office. I also certainly commend Tyler Olson for organizing this. We do need to talk about home and community-based services to all our legislators. It saves money -- particularly in the Medicaid funding, which always gets overdrawn."

So, let's get the big question out of the way right up top: Strongest performance came from former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards. A close second was Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd. Following equally close in third was Delaware Sen. Joe Biden.

Edwards did well for himself on several occasions. The one that stood out to me most was when he discussed his vote on the Iraq war and how he learned from his mistakes. (By the way, he owes a big head nod to former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel for bringing up today's Senate resolution regarding Iran.) He scored points here for not only once again announcing to the world that he made a mistake, but for pointing out that the mistake had bettered him -- that is, that he now understands the Bush Administration cannot be handed the trust of the American people or of the Congress.

Dodd was overall intelligent, sharp, comfortable and genuine. He did well by being himself and being comfortable in his own skin. His answers on Social Security -- even if his statements were later mis-quoted by others in the debate -- and on Chinese imports were good moments. If he had a down-beat during the night it was that he refused to follow-through on his own previous comments about why Republicans want New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to be the nominee. If the answer is what I think it is, he should have said it: Of all the people standing on this stage and of all the people who stand on the stage during the Republican debates, there is only one person who has the ability to motivate the conservative base and that person is Clinton.

I would have placed Biden higher in the standings tonight except for two things. First, he didn't rally around his own victory today in the Senate. He's been preaching on the Iowa stump now for weeks that he's the candidate who can bring Democrats and Republicans together and create progress. Today he was afforded a very rare real-life example and he didn't take advantage of it as he should have. Second, there are some clear and concise differences between him and the others on that stage on more than just stances on Iraq. He needs to bring those to the front as forcefully as he has foreign policy. So long as he continues to preach only on that one topic, he will continue to be equated as a candidate for secretary of state.

The weakest performances of the night belong to Clinton and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama. Clinton was weak on several areas, but especially on Social Security. After so many years of the Bush Administration, the American people want clear answers. We want to know what our next leader thinks about important issues. We don't want to hear that our next leader is just going to set a table and accept opinions.

Clinton also loses points for the "go ask my husband" answer to the Presidential Library question. As she pointed out so aptly in answer to a different question, he's not on the stage.

Obama had some good moments. At one point he turned Clinton's stump statement about being glad so many are now interested in health care because it's been "a lonely road" and turned the tables. He alluded to the closed door meetings held so many years ago and said perhaps, she would have not been so lonely if she'd left the door open.

Despite that, Obama completely fumbled when he indicated he did not go to civil rights disputes in Jena because he was in Washington, D.C., casting votes on the Iraq war. He indicated that his votes on Iraq were "critical." Even as he said it, he paused, but then continued on. He must have realized in that moment exactly what he'd done: indicated that the issues in Jena were not critical. The fumble was complete when he neglected going back and correcting himself.

You will never hear me call for the ousting of either Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich or Gravel from the forums or debates. Although I believe many blogs will be calling for them to no longer be a part of the process, I have always believed and continue to believe that everyone deserves a seat at the table. The problem is not with the number of candidates, but with the number of topics being discussed.

Also, I realize that New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is climbing in the polls here in Iowa. For a while, he was rising on my personal presidential totem pole as well. Now, however, I'm not quite sure what I think about him. I don't agree with his belief in the economy as a cure-all for the nation's ills. I do like his stance on immigration, especially when he speaks about encouraging Mexico to provide for its own people. More and more, I'm not agreeing with his stance on Iraq. Inasmuch as I want this war to end, I also do not want to see my now 5-year-old son fighting over there 15 years from now.

As for the debate itself, I could have done without the "faith and politics" question -- especially since Tim Russert seems to equate "faith" in America with only one sacred text. Someone should have made the evening really interesting -- Gravel -- by reciting the Song of Solomon right there on prime time. Another useless question was the "Sox or Yankees" stupidity. Quite frankly, I bet we have men and women serving in Iraq who dream of the day when the only thing they have to worry about is who is going to win a baseball game.

For those interested in reading more of my thoughts as well as those of some other folks, visit the liveblogs at Iowa Independent and Back Roads to the White House. Links to the blogs of those participating at Back Roads: The Media Lizzy Show, Policy Media, TJ Sullivan in LA, UI Election 2008, RealClearPolitics Politics Nation Blog and Politisite.

The U.S. Senate voted 75 to 23 today to pass Delaware Sen. Joe Biden's amendment that provides for regional autonomy within a federal system. The amendment also calls for the support of the United nations and Iraq's neighbors to help implement an end to the civil war.

Speaking on behalf of his eight colleagues in the Iowa Legislature who have endorsed Delaware Sen. Joe Biden for president, Iowa House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy issued the following statement regarding the Senate vote:

“Joe Biden’s leadership on Iraq is the central reason why I endorsed him for president. Today, in a truly historic moment, the United States Senate passed an amendment sponsored by Sen. Joe Biden that puts forth a political solution to end the war in Iraq. Sen. Biden’s persistent leadership on ending the war finally gives Americans hope that the United States can put itself on track to leave Iraq without leaving chaos behind in the region. The overwhelming bipartisan support of the amendment – which both Senators Harkin and Grassley voted for – underscores Sen. Biden’s ability to unify our leaders on the most important issue facing the country.

"Today’s vote resulted in an overwhelming 75-23 majority, with over half of the Senate’s Republicans joining Democrats in support of Biden’s amendment. For over a year and a half, Sen. Joe Biden has been promoting a political solution in Iraq based on a federal government called for in the Iraqi constitution. His plan calls for a decentralized, federal system in Iraq, which would give its people local control over the fabric of their daily lives, including police, jobs, education and government services.

“In recent weeks, nine Iowa legislators have endorsed Joe Biden for President. While we all may have some varying reasons for doing so, we share one common belief and that is that Joe Biden is uniquely qualified to end this war in Iraq. Time and time again throughout his 35-year career in the Senate, he has rolled up his sleeves, worked across the aisle, and brought people to a consensus. Today was just another example of his ability to be a true leader. The Senator’s ongoing leadership and victory today in the Senate will translate well with Iowa caucus-goers.”

McCarthy is joined by eight Iowa legislators in his support of Biden: Sen. Joe Seng (Davenport), Speaker Pro Tempore Polly Bukta (Clinton), Rep. John Whitaker (Hillsboro), Rep. Doris Kelley (Waterloo) Rep. Lisa Heddens (Ames), Rep. Jim Lykam (Davenport), Rep. Mike Reasoner (Creston), and Rep. Dick Taylor (Cedar Rapids).

I've been extended an invitation by M.E. Sprengelmeyer of Back Roads to the White House to join in a live blogging event tonight with Rep. Tom Tancredo, Sprengelmeyer, Elizabeth Blackney of The Media Lizzy Show and whatever other special guests may show up. I'll also be doing double-duty as John Deeth live blogs at Iowa Independent.

We'll be stopping all intake of fluids at 5 p.m. just as added assurance that we can bring you all the action (snarky or not), non-stop from the start of the debate on MSNBC to the finish. Democracy is so much better with friends, so drop by and join in.

On the heels of a canceled special appearance at Des Moines Roosevelt High School, Dr. Alveda King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., will meet with supporters of Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback this Friday in West Des Moines.

King, a noted anti-abortion activist, has been scheduled to speak at several venues during a tour of the state. Her appearance at Roosevelt was canceled, according to principal Kathie Danielson, following complaints from parents and when a review of the material showed the planned speech dealt with both civil rights and anti-abortion issues.

"Of course for public schools, any time there's any discussion of a controversial issue like sex, religion, in the school, we want to give our parents the option of asking that their student not attend," she told the Register yesterday.

King is the daughter of slain civil rights activist Rev. A.D. King. She has dedicated her life to anti-abortion causes and founded King for America, Inc. to "assist people in enriching their lives spiritually, professionally, mentally and economically."

"Defending the life of innocents is the most basic civil right, and I'm proud to support Dr. Alvada King and her efforts on the pro-life issue, civil rights and helping people in need," said Brownback.

The meeting with Brownback supporters to discuss civil rights and anti-abortion causes will be held on Friday from 11:15 a.m. to noon at the Brownback for President Iowa headquarters, 2700 University Ave., Suite 206, West Des Moines. King has formally endorsed Brownback in his bid for the White House.

King will speak at Iowa State University tonight and at Drake University on the racial implications of abortion on Thursday night. Her visit is sponsored and organized by Iowa State University Students for Life, the Iowa State Committee on Lectures and Drake University Respect for Life.

Iowa House Speaker Pro Tempore Polly Bukta, D-Clinton, has become the ninth member of the Iowa legislature to endorse Delaware Sen. Joe Biden. With the addition of Bukta, the campaign's endorsement list includes five members of the Iowa House Leadership.

Biden was one of four candidates to attend Bukta's annual corn boil held in August. Biden was the final speaker of the day and many in the stands at Riverfront Stadium in Clinton had moved to the grounds, most scampering after New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards on a quest for pictures and autographs.

On that day, Biden spoke forcefully about his plan for Iraq and his reasoning for voting to continue funding.

"The truth is that when we voted several months ago on dealing with whether we were going to fund the troops another six months -- the truth is I was the only Democrat to vote for it," he said. "I know a lot of you are angry. Every other Democratic candidate running for president was among the 14 'no' votes. I was told that voting to fund the troops could cost me the election here in Iowa. But, ladies and gentlemen, the truth is as long as there is a single American troop in Iraq... we have a sacred obligation to protect them."

Bukta, who organized for Biden during his previous run for the White House, is a strong legislative figure in Clinton and the surrounding area and, as such, was wooed by many presidential campaigns. The decision, she said, came down to loyalty and experience.

“I’ve known Joe Biden for over 20 years," she said. "His loyalty and honesty are second to none - and those are two critical qualities I am looking for in the next President. However, perhaps even more important to me, is how we are going to bring our men and women home from Iraq safely. Joe Biden is the only candidate with a thoughtful and sensible political plan to do just that.”

Bukta, a lifelong educator, recently retired after 33 years in the Clinton Community School District, where she taught 5th grade. She currently serves on the Education, Transportation, Veterans Affairs and Local Government Committees.

“Polly represents the best our party has to offer” said Biden. “She is a mom, a school teacher, and a leading legislator in Iowa. She is a woman who knows what it takes to bring both parties together in delivering results for Iowa’s families.”

Although it seems Cedar Rapids resident Alice Dahle has been fighting for ratification of the Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination Against Women her entire life, she says her passion for the international rights of women is something into which she has grown.

"It's hard to tell you of one trigger or something that began it all," she said while arranging CEDAW advocacy papers in a file folder on her kitchen table. "My world view started out as: 'Things are not fair here.' Gradually, I began to see patterns of unfairness and what made sense to me, and what became a passion for me was people that took advantage of women because they thought they could."

Something Isn't Right Here

"I grew up on a farm in northwest Iowa," she said. "I knew that something wasn't right. I knew I was treated differently from my brothers and that women were always expected to serve the coffee and the food at the church events. I was always a little bit of a rebel about that type of thing from the beginning."

In fourth grade, she began corresponding with a young man who lived in Morocco. By the time she graduated from high school, she says her best friends were the exchange students. Her first trip overseas came when she went home with an exchange student from Uruguay.

"My mother's guardian was a woman from Des Moines who had earned law and medical degrees in the 1920s," she said. "She became the president of the International Women's Medical Association, and she used to travel all over the world in that capacity, working on behalf of women. She also worked a lot with wives of alcoholic Italian laborers in Des Moines and she was very concerned [with their welfare]."

At that time, the Catholic Church was strongly opposed to birth control and the Italian families were often large. The men, suffering from alcoholism, would often use their paychecks to buy liquor instead of taking care of family and home.

"I watched poverty," Dahle said. "And that was a major influence in my life."

In the late 1960s, Dahle attended college at the University of Iowa and had a front-row seat to observe and participate in the women's movement.

"I adored Joan Baez, and I knew Bonnie Koloc personally because she lived on the same floor of the residence hall," she said. "I became more politicized at that time... although I was still very naive."

She minored in Russian during college and was able to travel to what was then the Soviet Union.

"I traveled there for the summer as an exchange student," she explained. "After being told all the time while I was growing up about what evil and dangerous people the Soviets were, I went over there and found them to be very cordial -- poor -- but very hospitable, generous and everything I had been told they weren't. I never had any fear of them anymore after that.

"I came back very changed about my view of the world and who was dangerous and 'us and them.' I saw the people with power and the people without power as allies rather than the Americans and the Russians and the Chinese and so-forth."

Once she earned her degree, she was offered a job at Pioneer Seed Co. in Des Moines. She soon married a young man originally from South Africa. Her association with him and his family offered an even deeper understanding of not only apartheid, but of human rights.

"Apartheid and the women's movement have a lot in common," she said. "It's the power and the oppressed. I saw so many connections about what we were not able to go back to in South Africa and what I'd been thinking all along about women and power in this country."

Her husband was also offered employment with Pioneer Seed Co. and was told he'd need to travel to either Brazil or France to set up a research station. The couple traveled to Brazil and lived there for two years.

"That was another part of my education about what happens to women in poverty," she said. "There was one woman, in particular, who use to scrub our floors that was just a real eye-opener for me."

This Is My Obligation

As an exchange student in the Soviet Union, Dahle had few resources and began collecting all types of literature -- fliers, pamphlets, brochures -- written in Russian because she couldn't afford to buy books. She had these papers, some of which were "blatant propaganda," with her while living in Brazil. A friend who lived in the same apartment building warned her to keep the documents hidden as they would be very offensive to Brazilian military dictatorship in place at that time. The papers were boxed up and placed on a shelf with books in Portuguese and English hiding them from view.

"The whole time I was in Brazil, I was very concerned about who might come in and see what was in my bookshelves," she said. "While we were living there, the archbishop of San Paulo decided that he was going to divulge what he had observed in Brazilian prisons."

Time magazine ran the clergyman's investigation that showed wide-spread torture, faulty record-keeping, the government's shortcomings and the national spy network used to control civilians. Before reading the article, Dahle had no idea exactly how bad the justice system was.

"I was so naive," she said. "When I came back I realized that here I was able to speak out and I had an obligation to do so."

She joined Amnesty International in 1981 and attended the 4th World Conference as its representative.

"I feel very connected to women," she said. "To me it's not out there or us here as opposed to someplace else. I feel very connected to other women in the world. An affront to them is an affront to me. But if we don't speak out for them, it could happen here. It's just like what happened to the Jews in the Holocaust. You have to stop it where it happens or it will be on your doorstep.

"This isn't just selfish motivation, I feel it personally when this happens to my community -- my sisterhood."

28 Years And Counting

CEDAW, often described as an international bill of rights for women, was adopted in 1979 by the United Nations General Assembly. It came into force at roughly the same time Dahle became involved with Amnesty International. Although originally signed by President Jimmy Carter in 1980, it has never been ratified by the Senate. The United States is among eight nations that have not ratified the treaty. The other seven are Iran, Tonga, Qatar, Somalia, Nauru, Sudan and Palau. The United States is both the only western country and the only industrialized nation that has not ratified CEDAW.

The Convention defines discrimination against women as "...any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field."

Dahle, who is the Iowa coordinator for the Stop Violence Against Women campaign, says the organization and network behind it are working with senators across the nation to both bring CEDAW out of committee and to ratify.

"It's getting down to such a small minority of countries now that have not ratified that it is quite embarrassing," she said. "It also makes my work on behalf of women's human rights with Amnesty International more difficult because it is very hypocritical of me to ask other governments to abide by the standards set out by CEDAW when my own government won't sign on to it."

It has primarily been members of the Repbulican Party who have opposed CEDAW. Their opposition has evolved over the years from fear of international interference to fear of what some individuals or groups may try to accomplish within our own country with the document.

"If the United States does not ratify this, it undermines our ability to use the document in support of women's rights everywhere," she explained. "When we go to international conferences that have anything to do with women's rights the United States is marginalized right now. The U.S. delegation sits off to the side and is not consulted, is not able to make any statements, does not really have any authority because we have not signed on to this treaty."

Dahle says that when she attended the 50th session on the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations, the U.S. delegation was "very quiet, not involved and not consulted."

"I asked them what non-governmental organizations like Amnesty International and the UN Association could do help them get the U.S. off the very brief list of countries that had not yet ratified CEDAW," she said. "They said that they were studying it for implications for abortion and prostitution. That was really all they had to say at that conference about anything even though the focus of the conference had nothing to do with either abortion or prostitution."

Such strict attention by the U.S. delegation to those two topics while ignoring whatever might be being discussed continues to undermine credibility, says Dahle.

"The U.S. delegation really was irrelevant at the conference," she said. "They did not come prepared with any backing from treaties that we'd signed on to internationally or credibility from other delegations from other countries because we don't sign on to these treaties. They didn't really have any other agenda than to make sure that abortion or prostitution got any support there."

A bright spot, however, could be the U.S. stance on human trafficking.

"Human trafficking is one issue on which the U.S. has been on the right side," Dahle said. "Unfortunately, the U.S. delegation was so isolated due to lack of credibility that they could not be effective on this issue."

Dahle and other like-minded individuals continue to actively push for ratification of CEDAW. Senators throughout the nation are being contacted as are presidential hopefuls. The hope is that the Senate will bring CEDAW out of committee and to the floor in the spring. Dahle says each of the Democratic presidential hopefuls will vote in support of ratification. She says she's exceptionally happy with Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, who has not only pledged support of CEDAW, but has fought for women's rights throughout his career. Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd has been another advocate. Illinois Sen. Barack Obama will support it, but isn't as educated as some of the others about the issue, she says. Dahle says that she's had conversations with New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign to express disappointment that Clinton hasn't been more of an advocate. Dahle has not personally been able to speak with any of the Republican senators and is not currently aware of their opinion on ratification.

"I think wherever you are and whatever your passion is, that is where you can be the most effective," she said. "I don't think everybody has to be an internationalist to be part of the solution or to be connected with everyone else. I'm passionate about this because this is where I feel the connection and the urgency. That's what drives me."

The City of Iowa City, the University of Iowa and the Johnson County Attorney's Office will host a public meeting to address the increase in assaults on women in the Iowa City area over the last year.

The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Englert Theatre, located 221 E. Washington St. in downtown Iowa City. The purpose is to share what officials at all agencies are doing to address the attacks, clarify how citizens can assist in creating a safer community and provide opportunity for public comment.

Panel members are Iowa City Police Chief Sam Hargadine, Assistant Vice President and Director of University of Iowa Police Charles Green, Iowa City Councilwoman Amy Correia and University of Iowa Student Government Vice President Carole Peterson. Janet Lyness, attorney for Johnson County, will moderate the discussion.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney will be airing a new ad soon -- as soon as supporters tell him which one.

Touting his latest ad, "Change Begins With Us," Romney sent a letter to supporters this morning asking that they visit his site and cast a vote for one of nine finalist ads.

"A few weeks ago I announced an innovative new approach to campaigning," he wrote in the email message. "I told you I wanted America to create my next television ad. During the past few weeks there have been responses from all across the country."

The finalists feature Romney discussing government waste, Ann Romney discussing the couple's family life, a collage of supporters in various fields highlighting Romney's accomplishments, a volunteer from the Salt Lake Olympics, Romney's resume, photos from the campaign and Romney's reasoning for running for the White House. Much of the audio used in the ads has been previously used by the Romney campaign as a part of its YouTube channel.

The winner of the poll, according to the email, will become the official campaign television ad. The voting ends at noon eastern tomorrow.

If you hop over to Iowa True Blue today, you'll see that former Iowa Democratic Party Chairman and longtime Iowa activist Gordon Fischer has now officially endorsed Illinois Sen. Barack Obama:

When I relaunched this blog six weeks ago, I shared my four goals: (1) to be positive; (2) to address the negative influence of Big Money in politics and need for campaign finance reform; (3) to show how "ordinary" people can reach extraordinary results through politics; and (4) to show why politics is important.

I came back to these same four goals again and again over the past several months as I reflected on the outstanding Democratic field of candidates for president and considered whom to support. Who could make people feel positive and hopeful about our future? Who would take a meaningful stand about how money can negatively influence the political process? Who would inspire a whole range of Democrats -- young and old, party establishment and first-time caucus-goers -- to get involved? Who would help remind us of the good that we can accomplish through politics?

Clearly, the candidate with the greatest ability to achieve all these goals is Barack Obama...

You can read his entire endorsement by following the link above.

What's most interesting about this endorsement is that it is Gordon's second for the 2008 presidential race. Obviously, his first choice -- former Gov. Tom Vilsack -- is no longer in the race... at least for himself. Still, it is interesting to turn back the wheels of time for a look at what Fischer had to say back then:

Prediction: Tom Vilsack Will Be The Next President of the United States

Flat out.

Now, this will sound like I'm bragging, but I'm really not. I am a quite humble person (frankly, I have many, many, many reasons to be humble). But I do have a solid track record for accurate predictions.

In 2005, before spring training, I predicted the Chicago White Sox would win the World Series.

In 2006, as you can see from this site, I was pretty dead on with my political prognistications.

I will write much, much more over the coming days, weeks, and months, but a few reasons for my prediction (in absolutely no particular order):

1. Tom Vilsack's personal story is simply incredible, and will both help readily distinguish him from the pack, and allow him to connect with working families.

2. He has never run in an election he was favored to win, but has never lost an election.

3. On the stump, when he is on, Tom Vilsack is as good or better as any politician out there.

4. He helped -- in fact, I think he was the single biggest reason -- Iowa turned from purple to solid blue. That's a huge feather in his cap, and one that will attract Dems nationally.

5. Tom Harkin. He is simply amazing, and will be a gigantic help.

6. Ditto Sally Pederson and Jerry Crawford.

7. He is a governor. The last time a sitting member of Congress was elected President? John Kennedy in 1960. With all due respect to the other candidates, that is no historical accident.

8. Not only is he a governor, Tom Vilsack has been a great Governor. Especially on issues like schools, health care, clean air and clean water, jobs, and other issues Dems are really passionate about.

As I said, I'll be blogging much more about this, obviously, but for now, I'm predicting it flat out: President Vilsack.

I'm not saying Fischer is without right to change his mind. Nor am I saying that his endorsement of Obama is any less heartfelt or sincere than his endorsement of Vilsack. I just think it is an interesting turn of events, especially given that at least two of the individuals he names as reasons for his previous support are now marching with another campaign. Most interesting of all, however, has to be the fact that there is absolutely no mention of his previous endorsement during today's posting. Surely he didn't think we just forgot.

~*~*~ UPDATE ~*~*~

NBC/NJ's Carrie Dann also remembers the past and points out how Fischer criticized the Obama campaign in June for not attending the IDP Hall of Fame in Cedar Rapids.

This is worthwhile to mention because Obama has been feeling a little heat over skipping the AARP/IPTV "Divided We Fail" forum and campaigning in Georgia instead.

Here's your earworm -- Hairspray, You're Timeless To Me:

You're like a fatal disease, babe... but there's no cure, so let this fever rage.

Here's M.R. Field's write-up on the Des Moines Public Schools Board meeting, held on Sept. 18.

Bleeding Heartland hopped on the restore habeas train.

Century of the Common Iowan opines on why Iowa should remain first in the nominating calendar.

Cyclone Conservatives attended the Barack Obama event at ISU yesterday and has a nice write-up.

Claire at the Demo Memo thinks Hillary's health care plan serves the wrong people.

The Last Link has some video -- Broadband over Powerlines -- that you should watch.

I totally missed Nancy Raffensperger Newhoff taking over at the Courier. Fortunately, Charlotte Eby did not. This should be a good move for the paper.

Lisa has the latest on women's music and events. The part that stuck out most to me? Queen Latifah is coming to Hancher on Oct. 1!

Dana Boone has been doing some great work at Iowa Independent and her latest piece discusses the added stigma black people feel when they need help with depression. Great work & well worth the time it takes you to read it.

I guess I'll be needed to take Midwestern Wilderness from the blog roll -- and I'm really, really sad about that. The good news, however, is that I get to add Iowa Voice, and that all of MW's content has been rolled over there.

Of course, Sporer is doing his Sunday thing, reviewing the talk shows. Another perspective is available at firedoglake.

If you are in need of something odd, but entertaining, may I suggest visiting the top 20 most bizarre experiments of all time? From elephants on acid to the initiation of heterosexual behavior in a homosexual male... there's something for everyone.

Jill at Feministe has big news... wait for it... Anti-Choicers lie. Shocking!

Annie Friedman has a great piece on the American Prospect about the goings-on in Aurora, Ill. and what it matters. Read it.

Post-Haste Taste takes us on a cider pressing adventure -- the pictures left my mouth watering.

Another really interesting write-up by Bernie Heidkamp at Pop Politics on how the modern horror film -- especially the haunted houses types -- have become an allegory of gentrification. Yeah, I know it sounds high-brow, but it's really a wonderful and fairly easy read.

My friend M.E. Sprengelmeyer has a post about Obama doing his own thing. I've taken some hits this week for posting that I thought the strategy of not showing up for the AARP was very risky. After reading M.E.'s report, it seems I'm not the only one who thought so. (Although I'm gonna check and see when Yepsen came to that conclusion...) One thing M.E. doesn't mention -- and, gosh darn it, it kinda puts the whole thing in another light... Obama took a pass on the AARP so that he could raise funds in Georgia. First a $25-per-person event and then a more private $1,000-per-person event.

And, finally, in a move that I'm sure will bring a smile to my friend Dave's face, NE Iowa Progressive has set up a BlogTalk Radio account and will host the first show tonight at 6 p.m.

Abstinence-only funding through Title V, Section 510 has been on life-support since June. Today it seems that Congress is prepared to unplug the equipment.

Officials in the office of Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, have confirmed that language regarding the reauthorization of the program -- previously attached to the Children's Health Insurance Program bill by the U.S. House -- was not included in the final language of the compromise bill issued today. The action leaves Congress a nine-day window to reauthorize this stream of federal funding for abstinence only education.

The Iowa Department of Health receives roughly $318,000 in yearly funding through Title V, Section 510. Nationwide, the program provides more than $40 million a year in matching funds to states. The state hardest hit, if the program expires on Sept. 30, is Texas, which garnered nearly $5 million for state-run and/or state-approved abstinence-only sex education programs. The program allows states to reissue funds to community-based programs that, in turn, provide abstinence-only education to schools, civic groups, churches and parents.

Before a recent $600,000 grant to Bethany Christian Services of Northwest Iowa from the Administration on Children, Youth and Families (Family Youth Services Bureau) was announced, Title V was the only federal funding stream for abstinence only education in the state of Iowa. The grant to Bethany is non-matching and will be used to pay for a project titled "Keyed-In to Abstinence."

The prospect of Title V, Section 510 language surviving the conference committee of the U.S. House and Senate was dim from the beginning. In addition to reauthorizing the program for another five years, members of the House changed federal guidelines that govern not only that particular funding stream for abstinence education, but also all three streams of funding. The new guidelines were less strict and called for information distributed through the programs to be medically accurate and research-based -- something Republican legislators have previously opposed.

As it stands now, however, even if this avenue of funding expires, the original guidelines remain in place for the remaining two streams -- Community-Based Abstinence Education, originally known as Special Projects of Regional and National Significance-Community-Based Abstinence Education, and the Adolescent Family Life Act, a part of Title XX. Under Title V funding, states ultimately decided which programs received funding. For both CBAE and AFLA, however, all decisions bypass the state approval process. Between the remaining two programs, the federal government distributes more than $120 million.

Peace, as evidenced by the Cost of War rally in Cedar Rapids today, is proving to be a common interest for people of many varied backgrounds.

"The measure of a great nation is not its great wealth nor its great power, but what a nation does with that wealth and power -- whether it creates great misery and destruction or whether it creates great joy," said Wendy Barth, president of Women for Peace Iowa.

While Barth and members of area peace organizations have been protesting the Iraq war before it even officially began, others who attended today's rally are relative newcomers.

Young mom Jessica Pannell attended the rally today and spoke about her own anti-abortion believes carry over into her thoughts on the war.

"I believe we should try to protect life at every stage from birth to death," she said. "That includes especially our young men. I believe that if we are serious about protecting life that we will protect the lives of our soldiers and protect the lives of people abroad."

Clergyman Blair Frank said he came out because of a fundamental disagreement with current foreign policy.

"I'm here because I believe war is wrong," he said. "It isn't the answer. I feel that more people are going to give voice to that, but that some people are afraid. And I think that we can overcome the fear as we realize that we are more alike one another than we are different. There are people all across the spectrum of society that are being adversely affected by war. We are now starting to hear the voice -- and it's going to grow."

Karl Knutson, a retired school teacher, said he was happy to be at the rally, but was disappointed more people didn't show up and express their opinions.

"I saw the small item in the paper that there was a rally to try to get out of Iraq. If I'm close to any of those types of events, I try to attend," he said while noting that he was on the 1st Avenue bridge in Cedar Rapids for the vigil that noted the fourth year of the war. "I was disappointed with turnout that night and I'm disappointed in many ways with turnout today too. I'm still hopeful that someday there will be more people that will see the light and and not support this horrendous war."

While organizers said they would have obviously like to have filled downtown with individuals calling for an end the war, they also said gathering roughly 25 people to rally and deliver petitions to legislators on a workday wasn't insignificant.

The rally was organized by Women for Peace Iowa to both call attention to the war and for delivery of a petition to the offices of United States Sens. Tom Harkin and Chuck Grassley and Congressman Dave Loebsack.

Text of the petition:

Mandate for Peace

Petition to stop funding war and fund a safe withdrawal.

To Our Senators and Congressman,

I oppose the war in Iraq. I believe this war violates American values, wastes taxpayers' dollars, harms the Iraqi people, fuels anti-American sentiment, and makes us less safe. I believe the best way to end the war is to stop funding it. Congress should provide funding only as needed for safely withdrawing all of our troops (all by the Embassy guards) out of Iraq and out of the region. Support the troops; bring them home safe, now.

Amy Logsdon of Iowa Citizen Action Network said her organization is involved because the most Americans are opposed to the war.

"We've gotten involved in the efforts to end the war in Iraq because we believe in government of the people, by the people and for the people," she said. "We call on our Congressional representatives to to stand with the people and not stand in lockstep with the president on this immoral and wrong-headed war."

Sue Dinsdale, who heads up Iowa operations for Iraq Project and has a son who has completed tours of duty in Iraq, says she's involved because she has to be in order to bring about an end to this war.

"I am traveling across the state to visit Sen. Grassley's office ... to let him know how we feel," she said. "I got a call during this rally today and heard that he had voted, once again, wrong on the Levin-Reed amendment. That just reinforces how important it is that everyone needs to speak out and make their voice heard."

The petitions were circulated by Women for Peace Iowa over a 20-day span and contained roughly 750 signatures. None of the lawmakers were in their offices when the petitions were delivered, but many in attendance spoke with staff about their personal concerns in relation to the war.

"This is what you do when you are in a democracy," said local activist and Women for Peace Iowa member Judith Pedersen-Benn. "It is important to make sure our representatives understand what we want."

There was a distinct disconnect last night at the AARP and Iowa Public Television "Divided We Fail" Democratic presidential forum between what happened on the stage for broadcast and what happened throughout downtown Davenport following the event.

Several times during the public broadcast New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson took swipes not necessarily at the two higher-polling candidates on the stage, but at those who are polling below him in Iowa. The sparks began about 30 minutes into the programming when Richardson discussed why he would be the best candidate to implement a health care plan.

"I think I'm the only one here who has ever dealt with health care directly as a governor," said Richardson during the forum. "In my state, we had to face the Bush cuts on Medicaid and what we did is make up for that shortfall. I was able to ensure children under five. We increased the number of immunization and removed junk foods from schools. We have dealt with, first of all, insuring kids, working people and then the chronically unemployed. I believe by the year 2009 we will have ensured everyone in my state."

Richardson went on to say the states can't fix the health care system alone.

"There has to be universal health care," he said. "There has to be a national plan because the states are getting short-changed. In the absence of any federal action or any federal leadership, the last time we debated universal health care in the Congress was 15 years ago. It has to happen. We need somebody who can get it done and I've had to deal with this directly as a governor."

Moderator Judy Woodruff then asked Delaware Sen. Joe Biden if a government-run, single-payer system was the answer instead of shoring up the current system. Biden first answered the question by stating that he believed a single-payer system was not the answer, gave a quick plug for campaign finance reform, then took exception to Richardson's remarks.

"My good friend from New Mexico -- God love him," said Biden. "His state is a couple of million people. Give me a break! You can pull that together. Pull together 300 million people. That's like saying I played half-back when I was in high school so I can play in the pros."

Using criticism that had previously been lain on his own door-step, Biden then stated that Richardson is "a great governor and would make a great secretary of state." In case anyone missed the self-depreciation part of that, he spelled it out for everyone.

"I love Hillary Clinton," Biden said. "I've been getting beat up because I'm always saying nice things about her. They think I want to be her secretary of state. But, let's be frank about this. What's changed to make you think that Hillary is going to be able to pull together 15 percent of the Republicans to join her?"

Biden, on a roll, then took swipes at all the other candidates on the stage -- except Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd.

"What's changed to make you think John [Edwards], who couldn't get the Patients Bill of Rights passed when he was in charge of it in the United States Senate, is going to be able to pull over 15 or 20 people?" Biden asked. "I don't question the integrity of a single person on this stage, but what's the record of being able to get folks in those red states to vote for this stuff? Folks, think about it. There is no possibility of getting any one of our plans unless you get 15 or 20 percent of the Republicans to join us."

The disagreements between the candidates continued throughout the remainder of the broadcast. Richardson disagreed with Dodd's plan for corporate carbon taxes. Biden took exception with Richardson's assertion that economic growth was an answer for the nation's ills. While there were small swipes here and there between former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards and Clinton, the night belonged to Richardson, Biden and Dodd as they exposed their differences and expressed their passions to a very receptive audience.

Following the forum, Dodd remained fired up and said the American people were tired of talk without action.

"Results matter," he said. "People want to to know not only how good of a fighter you are, but they want to know whether or not you can produce. Most people know how to fight, but not everybody knows how to win. People, I think, are tired of the fighting and want results. They don't want to go year-end and year-out hearing the same debate every time about education, health care, the war in Iraq -- they want you to get it done. The people want leadership that knows how to do it not just with talk, but with proven ability to make it happen."

Dodd added that it was time to "get the damn job done or people are going to be really hurt in this country." That's one of the reasons why, he said, so many Americans remain undecided.

"It's their health care," he said. "It's their kids' educations. It's their jobs. The American people don't want anymore fooling around. They want someone who can make something happen -- who has proven he can make things happen."

For all the distance candidates were placing between themselves on stage, however, the after-receptions throughout the area did not reflect divisiveness. At a local brewery staff and supporters from the campaigns of Edwards, Dodd, Biden and Richardson sat together with smiles on their faces while the forum was re-hashed. While every individual was quick to tell you that his or her chosen candidate had the best performance, there was an under-current of good will toward all the Democratic hopefuls and their accomplishments on the stage. Most were exceptionally pleased with the turnout, the forum, the discussion and the more relaxed atmosphere of this forum when compared with the more strict debate events of recent weeks.

If there were sour grapes, they were for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama for declining to participate and toward organizers for not allowing Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich or former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel to participate.

"We are here even though Dennis was not invited," said Marcos Rubenstein, Iowa spokesman for Kucinich, as he handed out informational flyers outside the event. "It is clear that he was not invited because he's the only one proposing single-payer, universal health care. Dennis is a national leader and they are using a bunk excuse for him not be invited. This is clearly a political exclusion. I hope that from now on [such events] will be a little more fair and inclusive."

Gravel, who was also not invited, did not have anyone on the ground at the event.

Tommy Vietor, Iowa spokesman for the Obama campaign, said prior to the event that their campaign reaches out to senior citizens daily.

"We've also held a number of senior-issue focused events and will hold another on Friday," he wrote. "In June, Obama hosted a roundtable discussion in Story City about how his prescription drug plan would save seniors as much as $157 billion over the next decade. In May, he held an event at the Polk County Central Senior Center to discuss reforms to the Medicare Advantage program that would help prevent seniors from being defrauded. And in April, Obama met with seniors at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown."

Last night Obama presented comments to a $25-a-head event at the Georgia World Congress Center that organizers said drew 2,200 supporters. A private, $1,000-per-person event followed, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

AARP and Iowa Public Television will return again next month to host a forum for the Republican presidential hopefuls in western Iowa. Although all of the candidates have been invited to participate, only former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Arizona Sen. John McCain have confirmed they will be in attendance.

I'll have extended commentary on the "Divided We Fail" Democratic presidential forum held in Davenport tomorrow... uhmm, I guess it will technically be later today. Until then, however, you can read the live blog on Iowa Independent and look at the photos below.

Take a pinch of Martin Luther King Jr. Add a cup of Zig Zigler. Stir well while waving essence of Oprah Winfrey over the top and you'll come close to the mixture presented by author and educator Stedman Graham during the Diversity Leadership Conference in Cedar Rapids.

Pulling from his latest book, "Diversity: Leaders not Labels," as well as other recent works, Graham primarily spoke about the individual responsibility involved in one's attitude and responses to diversity.

"When we talk about diversity, we are talking about how to self-actualize yourself as a human being," Graham told roughly 500 conference participants Wednesday at the Crowne Plaza Five Seasons. "That means you get past the small stuff. You have to get past race; get past gender. You get past all the historical garbage that keeps you in a box."

Picking up on the name of the organization hosting the conference, Graham said, "Diversity Focus is an investment in yourself." Graham is pictured above with Alfred Ramirez, executive director of Diversity Focus.

"It is an investment in education," he said. "It's about talent development, skills, performance, results and excellence. In essence, what we are talking about is how to become the best you can be."

Despite what your life's work becomes, he says, excellence must always be a priority. People should never get so caught up in day-to-day living, he said, that they forget to think and grow.

"The world will say to you, 'You don't control your life. You don't control your own mind. So, I have to define you,'" he said. "The world puts you in a box and labels you so that when someone looks, you can be identified by the label you've been given."

Labels, according to Graham, can be about gender, race, socio-economic level, personal possessions, family, friends and much more. Personal experience, he says, has taught him that the world will always try to label and define individuals.

"I know this is true," he said. "People have been trying to put me in a box and define me by my relationship [with Winfrey]. But I don't let the world define me. I define myself. Whenever you turn your power over to someone else to define you, they will always define you as less than them. Never turn your power over to someone else to determine your potential and your destiny."

The first step to realizing your own potential, according to Graham, is to recognize your own loves and passions in life.

"You can organize your whole life around love," he said. "No matter what your history was like -- no matter what you've went through -- none of that is about your passion. Write down everything you love. Look at yourself as a whole person and you diversify your whole life -- everything that possible for you as a human being."

While doing this exercise, thoughts should not be focused on a job.

"Anybody can get a job," he said. "I'm talking about getting a life."

Creating a vision for life, developing a plan and listening to guiding principles are also stops along the road to defining yourself, according to Graham.

"Whatever you focus on -- whatever you put your energy in -- it expands," he said. "If you look at the glass as half-empty, that's exactly what you'll get."

Graham is chairman and chief executive officer of S. Graham & Associates, a management and marketing consulting company. His clients include Merrill Lynch, Wells Fargo, Georgia Pacific, Hyatt Hotels, CNN, the U.S. Olympic Committee and the U.S. Department of Education. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago where he teaches a leadership course based on his nine-step process. And he is a visiting professor at several colleges and universities throughout the country.

Diversity Focus is a nonprofit organization devoted to enhancing the diversity of the Cedar Rapids-Iowa City corridor. It was founded in 2005 to integrate and coordinate existing community efforts and create new ones.

Iowa's Economic Development Board provided incentives to five businesses who have their eye on modernization and increased job opportunities.

Gerdau Ameristeel in Wilton, BiOva LLC in Malcom, Beneficial Technologies LLC in DeWitt and Quaker Oats in Cedar Rapids received awards based on proposals for increased productivity. Air Control Incorporated is planning a new facility in Clinton and also received an award.

“Our state continues to see growth in advanced manufacturing and new technology,” said Mike Tramontina, director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development. “More and more companies are recognizing Iowa’s advantages in skilled workforce and quality of life and are choosing to locate here.”

The state is partnering with Gerdau Ameristeel’s Wilton steel mill as it competes for up to $65 million in corporate funding for equipment upgrades designed to increase production at the plant. Gerdau was awarded $1 million from the Community Economic Betterment Account and tax benefits from the High Quality Jobs Creation program. The award is based on retention of a minimum of 240 jobs, with 169 qualified jobs at an average wage of $19.83 per hour.

The company had previously qualified for retraining assistance of $3.1 million from the Iowa Jobs Training Program. Gerdau Ameristeel is the second largest mini mill steel producer and steel recycler in North America with 19 steel mills in the U.S. and Canada.

BiOva, whose technology was developed at the Iowa State University Research Park, is investing more than $1.5 million in an egg shell processing facility in Malcom which will create 20 jobs, three of which pay an average wage of $32.05 per hour. The company was awarded $80,000 from the Economic Development Set-Aside program and tax benefits from the High Quality Jobs Creation program. BiOva's patented process extracts a high grade of calcium and other products from egg shells and membranes on an industrial scale. The value-added derivatives will be used by other companies as ingredients in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and health foods.

With the increasing demand for tanks for the ethanol industry, Air Control is planning to construct an 18,000 sq. ft. building to house an expansion of metal fabricating operations in Clinton. The company was awarded $50,000 from the Economic Development Set-Aside program and tax benefits from the High Quality Jobs Creation program. Air Control is creating 14 jobs paying an average wage of $15.36 per hour and making a capital investment of more than $1 million.

Beneficial Technologies was awarded Enterprise Zone tax benefits to expand production of dried lime products near DeWitt, a $2.2 million investment that creates 11 jobs with wages exceeding the program requirement. The lime will be used by ADM’s planned Clinton Electric Cogeneration Plant for environmental control measures.

Quaker Oats is proposing a more than $16 million expansion of oat milling capacity in Cedar Rapids. Enterprise Zone tax benefits were awarded to the project which creates 11 jobs paying an average wage of $24.44 per hour.

“Iowa’s economy is strong and these projects will make our state even stronger,” Gov. Chet Culver said in a prepared release. “We are working hard every day to aggressively recruit companies to locate and expand in Iowa, creating high-quality careers for Iowa families.”

Congressman Bruce Braley introduced a piece of legislation this morning that would require the federal government to write documents in simple, easy-to-understand language.

The Plain Language in Government Communications Act -- HR 3584 -- is a bipartisan bill that targets tax returns, federal college aid applications and Veterans Administration forms. Basically, any form, publication and publicly distributed document must be provided in a "clear, concise, well-organized" manner that follows the best practices of plain language writing. A complete description of the Federal Plain Language Guidelines is available online. There are also examples of before-and-after applications of the initiative.

"Anyone who's done their own taxes knows the headache of trying to understand pages and pages of confusing forms and instructions," said Braley, who represents Iowa's 1st District. "There is no reason why the federal government can't write these forms and other public documents in a way we can all understand.

"Writing government documents in plain language will increase government accountability and will save Americans time and money. Plain, straightforward language makes it easy for taxpayers to understand what the federal government is doing and what services it is offering."

The bill has been referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

A jury verdict in Northern Iowa District Court was a long time coming for eastern Iowa ironworker Edward D. Heaton. He filed a civil rights case with the court in June 2005 and waited more than a year while the cogs of justice turned. Despite a November 2006 jury verdict ordering the plaintiff in the case to pay more than $150,000, Heaton continues to wait as the case now heads to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.

The case originally contained five complaints against the Weitz Co., an Iowa-based construction business. Three of the five complaints were removed in summary judgment by U.S. District Court Judge Linda Reade. But Heaton's claims of retaliation after refusing to tolerate discrimination based on national origin were heard before a jury.

Heaton, who is of Italian and Hispanic descent, became a journeyman ironworker after completing an apprenticeship program in 1992. Eight years later, Heaton moved from California to Iowa and became a member of Ironworkers Local 89 in Cedar Rapids. In October 2000, Heaton was sent by the union business agent to work at Weitz, where he started as a journeyman ironworker -- an entry-level position in the trade. Roughly six months later, Heaton was promoted to foreman. In December 2002, he was promoted to general foreman.

Court documents state that Weitz Vice President Micheal Novy "handpicked Heaton to be a superintendent" and, on Jan. 6, 2003, Heaton became a superintendent ironworker. As one of three such superintendents, Heaton reported directly to Novy, who was based in Cedar Rapids.

Being promoted through the ranks is typically preferable to company and worker because the employer has some assurance of having the most highly skilled laborers supervising their construction jobs and the worker isn't necessarily subject to frequent layoffs between jobs.

At the point of his promotion, Heaton had no disciplinary problems or derogatory evaluations from Weitz. Things began to change in spring 2003, according to court documents, when a Teamster superintendent directed other union members to go to Heaton and tell him that he was a "f---ing spic." In addition, the same superintendent stated the only thing worse than having his daughter marry a black person -- referred to with an expletive -- was if she were to marry a "f---ing spic like Heaton."

Heaton subsequently complained to Weitz personnel officials about the derogatory and racial comments. Heaton requested the superintendent stop the behavior and requested that his complaint be kept private from Novy, whom Heaton believed was a personal friend of the superintendent. The complaint, however, was handed directly to Novy for investigation.

A week later, Novy informed Heaton that the Teamsters superintendent had been fired. Court documents state that Novy told Heaton he hated to let the superintendent go because he was a long-time employee and Novy knew him personally.

The situation escalated when a different Weitz project manager referred to Heaton as a "spic" during a disagreement over union jurisdiction on a job site. Such disputes are common, according to court findings, and rarely result in disciplinary action. Nonetheless, the other project manager asked Novy to fire Heaton.

Heaton was called into Novy's office, told to take his final two paychecks and that his employment was terminated. When Heaton questioned the disciplinary action, and asked whether he was being fired because of his earlier complaint against the superintendent, Novy rescinded the termination.

Things deteriorated further with crew members being pulled from jobs that Heaton supervised. In October 2003, Novy gave Heaton an ultimatum: He could either take a demotion to journeyman or be laid off. During that conversation, according to court documents, Novy told Heaton that "things are catching up to you." Rather than be demoted to an entry-level position with little job security, Heaton took time off and waited for a superintendent or foreman job to become available. Although other superintendents were still working, Heaton was not recalled for a high-ranking position.

The following January, Heaton filed a complaint with the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission, claiming retaliation. A year later, in January 2005, two high-ranking ironworker positions opened at Weitz. Neither was offered to Heaton, so he filed a second complaint of retaliation with the same commission. He later contacted an attorney and began a formal civil rights case against Weitz.

The jury verdict handed down by the U.S. District Court for Northern Iowa totaled $137,070.44 and included lost wages of $47,537.44, lost health insurance benefits of $4,800, lost pension benefits of $11,413, and past emotional damages of $73,320. The jury also awarded $25,000 in punitive damages.

Weitz moved for a new trial, but federal Judge Reade concluded "the evidence presented at trial was sufficient to support the jury's awards of emotional distress damages and punitive damages." Weitz appealed.

The case will soon be before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Briefs are due in early winter. Oral arguments should be heard midwinter with a decision expected in early spring 2008. Individuals associated with the case declined comment, pending outcome of the appeal.

The presidential campaign for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has a new State Leadership Committee hitting Iowa streets and a new ad hitting Iowa airwaves.

The leadership team -- members outlined below -- will advise the campaign and organize in local communities. The first test of the organization will come this Saturday when members will organize a statewide canvass.

The ad, entitled "Believe," details Obama's experience taking on lobbyists and bringing politicians together on issues.

While there is no denying that Obama has a strong organization in Iowa, it remains to be seen if he will finally be the politician who can translate support from younger voters into Iowa caucus-goers. Older Iowans are typically the ones who come out on cold winter nights to support their candidates.

Given that, it's difficult to understand the political strategy that has gone into the Obama campaign's decision to not attend the AARP/Iowa Public Television Democratic presidential forum tomorrow night in Davenport. Earlier this evening when I asked Obama's Iowa team to explain the decision, I was emailed a copy of an Aug. 18 memo by Campaign Manager David Plouffe that read, in part:

...Unfortunately, we simply cannot run the kind of campaign we want and need to, engaging the voters in the early states and February 5 states, if our schedule is dictated by dozens of forums and debates. Ultimately, the one group left out of the current schedule is the voters and they are the ones who ask the toughest questions and most deserve to have those questions answered face to face.

Therefore, after this week, we will only be attending the DNC debates through the sanctioning period of December 10, Univision, and the two Iowa debates previously mentioned. [The two debates scheduled for December -- I believe those are the Brown and Black and the Register/IPTV that has been pushed back due to possible caucus date changes.] Candidate forums -- where candidates appear sequentially will be considered, but we are unlikely to accept many of these. Instead, Barack will spend his time answering questions directly from the voters in places like Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nevada and elsewhere. We simply cannot continue to hopscotch from forum to forum and run a campaign true to the bottom up movement for change that propelled Barack into this race.

...

Many friends and terrific organizations are sponsoring or planning to sponsor debates and forums. So this was not an easy decision for us to execute. But it simply won't work to navigate this one by one. We felt we needed to make our approach clear and consistent.

I think this approach will be better for the voters and the campaign.

Iowa spokesman Tommy Vietor added that the Obama campaign reaches out to senior citizens daily.

"We've also held a number of senior-issue focused events and will hold another on Friday," he wrote. "In June, Obama hosted a roundtable discussion in Story City about how his prescription drug plan would save seniors as much as $157 billion over the next decade. In May, he held an event at the Polk County Central Senior Center to discuss reforms to the Medicare Advantage program that would help prevent seniors from being defrauded. And in April, Obama met with seniors at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown."

Regardless, it remains difficult to understand why any campaign would want to pass up an opportunity to speak before this many people who are nearly guaranteed to be active caucus participants come January (or whenever).

Given that one of the widest criticisms of Obama has been a perception of lack of experience, not attending such forums only enhances and gives spark to rumors that he isn't ready and doesn't have the ability to share the stage -- that the campaign might be worried his inexperience will show through.

The 2004 election was unprecedented. That is, we put our nominee out there so early in the game and ahead of the national nominating convention, that we opened him up to major ugliness. It was bad, but at least both Sen. John Kerry and then Sen. John Edwards had completely offered themselves up to the people of Iowa and New Hampshire throughout the vetting process.

If the other candidates decide to take a page from the Obama strategy guide, we will end up with little more than a media-anointed nominee with a fat wallet and the possibility of some noisy skeletons in the closet.

I'm sure each campaign gets more appearance requests than it can handle. Truth be known, if I thought it'd be worth a shot, I'd invite them all to come visit my Girl Scout troop for the evening. It must be nothing short of a nightmare to try and balance the schedule of a sitting United States Senator with the desires of not only Iowa and New Hampshire, but Nevada, South Carolina and all the other states participating in the "ad buy" primaries set for Feb. 5. When all is said and done, that's the exact reason campaigns hire experienced schedulers and network exceptional surrogates.

The campaign blowing off my Girl Scout troop would be disappointing... the campaign blowing off the senior citizens actively involved with AARP is potentially disastrous.

Iowa Leadership Team

Alburnett - Liz Belden
Ames - Thomas Harrington, Wayne Clinton, Jan Bauer, Hector Avalos, Jose Amaya
Anamosa - Cecelia Parks
Bellevue - Lynn Wacker
Bettendorf - Dennis DeDecker
Buffalo Center - John Ralls
Burlington - Nancy Schulte, Andy Anderson, Pat Anderson
Carroll - Dr. Steven Kraus
Cedar Falls - Michael Blackwell
Cedar Rapids - Peggy Whitworth, Dale Todd, Libby Slappey, Tyler Olson, Sarah Olson, Jesse Martinez, Charles Crowley, Lu Barron
Center Point - Mickey Dunn
Centerville - Jim Jameson
Chariton - Buzz Malone
Clear Lake - Mario Rodriguez
Clinton - Charlie Sheridan, Conner Anderson
Clive - George Appleby
Columbus City - Frank Best
Columbus Junction - Frank Jamison
Coralville - Carol Kula, Sue Dvorsky, Bob Dvorsky
Council Bluffs - Janet Sutherland, Ryan Sewell
Creston - Marsha Wilson
Dakota City - Terry Kocher
Davenport - Janet Woods-Bragg, Henry Vargas, Roger Kirk, Vera Kelly, Ida Johnson, Karen Fitzsimmons, Bill Gluba, Tom Engelmann, Ethelene Boyd, Lisa Arbisser, Amir Arbisser Decorah - Matt Perkins, Amy Perkins
Denison - Richard Meyer
Des Moines - Rose Vasquez, Savan Thongvanh, Rev. H.I. Thomas, Eric Tabor, Phil Roeder, Dolph Pulliam, Diane Pickle, Alba Perez, John Norris, Tom Miller, Jim Maloney, Sharon Malheiro, Abby Longstreet, Tom Hockensmith, Justin Gross, Willie Glanton, Nolden Gentry, Carlos Garza, Jacquie Easley, Christopher Diebel, Brendan Comito, Frank Chiod, Som Baccam, Pamela Bass-Bookey, Rev. Derek Bastian, Nancy Bobo, Harry Bookey, Rev. Toussaint Cheatom
Donnellson - Michael Bennett
Dubuque - Ruby Sutton, Greg Simpson, Ruth Scharnau, Ralph Scharnau, Art Roche, Joyce Monahan, Katie Determan, Thom Determan, Rev. Ken Bickel
Eldridge - Frank Wood
Essex - Bob Chambers
Fairfield - Jay Mattsson
Fort Dodge - Helen Miller, Dr. Ed Miller
Ft. Madison - Marjorie Marsh, Gordon Liles, Cheryl Liles, Grace Harris, Lois Eichacker
Glenwood - Mike Godbout
Hampton - Vern Harper
Holstein - Lori Sokolowski
Iowa City - Ross Wilburn, Damon Terrill, Pauline Taylor, Dick Myers, Dianne Dillon-Ridgley, Rev. Orlando Dial, Amy Corriea
Kalona - Kay Ciha
Keokuk - Mike Short, Geoffrey Mitchell, Kevin Kull, Justin Tuck, Jane Babcock
Keosauqua - Mary "Twyla" Peacock
LeClaire - Linda Newman, Cathy Bolkcom
Letts - Tom Furlong
Logan - Gary Altwegg
Luana - Pat McNally
Manchester - Robin Stone, Eric Solomon, Estella Michels, Seth Cobb
Marion - Gretchen Lawyer
Mason City - Phil Sanchez, Blake Dirksen
Missouri Valley - Lyle McIntosh
Montrose - David Ireland, Ronald Dinwiddie
Mt. Pleasant - Monie Hayes, John Zimmerman
Muscatine - Chris Clark, Phyllis Avesing, Bonnie Adkins
New London - Karen Osborne
North Liberty - Steve Sovern, Bonnie Sovern
Northwood - Brett Blix
Shenandoah - Brian Kingsolver
Sigourney - Susan Conroy
Sioux City - Corey Munson, Pat Johnson
Story City - Rich Olive
Tipton - Douglas Simkin
Urbandale - Rev. Keith Ratliff
Walker - Patricia "Ann" Gerdts
Washington - Fred Stark, Holly Soborof, John Greener, Linda Boston
Waterloo - Louise E. Porter, Abraham Funchess, Belinda Creighton-Smith
Waukee - Mike Fitzgerald
Webster City- Howard Hunt, Doug Bailey
West Burlington - Roxy Riessen, John Riessen
West Des Moines - Richard Wilkey
Winthrop - David McElroy

The Generation Iowa Commission will host an open forum on Tuesday, Sept. 25, at Drake University.

"The goal of the open forum is to find ways to make Iowa a more attractive place for young people," said Commission Chairman Kyle Carlson in a prepared statement. "This interactive forum gives young Iowans an opportunity to be decision-makers and explain why they will stay in Iowa or plan to leave."

Drake University students and Des Moines metro-area young professionals are encouraged to participate in the forum.

Prior to the open forum, the commission will hold its monthly meeting where members give reports on progress and handle administrative business.

“Iowa is a great place to live, and there are a million things we could do to make the state even better,” said Commission Vice-Chairwoman Rachel Judisch of Lake View. “We want to know, ‘If you were in charge, what would you do different to make the state better?’”

In April, Culver signed HF 617, better known as the "Generation Iowa" bill, into law. The commission, composed of 15 young Iowans ages 18-35, was established to advise and assist in the retention and attraction of young adults to Iowa. The commission must submit a written report with their findings to Governor Culver and the legislature by January 15, 2008.

The cloture vote on the Leahy-Specter-Dodd amendment to restore habeas corpus will take place this morning in roughly one hour. That give you, my dear readers, one hour to light up the phones in the beltway.

Sixty votes are needed to overcome a filibuster -- right now, 54 have gone on record as voting to restore.

It is going to be a close vote. The Republicans aren't telling constituents how they will vote prior to the fact. Our voices, however, are making a difference.

Tools are available on restore-habeas.org to show which lawmakers will be supporting the legislation and which ones need to hear from us. Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley is currently in the "maybe" pile and could use some calls.

The presidential campaign for Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd has announced an expansion of its Iowa leadership team with county chairs for 20 more of Iowa's counties.

"This group of talented and dedicated people are one more piece of the strong, tested organization the Dodd campaign is building on the ground in Iowa,” said Taylor West, Dodd’s Iowa spokeswoman. “Caucus support isn’t bought with money and celebrity – it’s earned by committed leaders spreading Senator Dodd’s message of proven leadership from neighbor to neighbor. The campaign is honored to have the support of this well-respected group, and we look forward to working with them across the state.”

• Polk County
  • Dick Murphy, Des Moines, Polk County School Board and returned Peace Corps volunteer
  • Rose Mary Pratt, Des Moines, Democratic activist and former staff member in the office of Gov. Tom Vilsack
  • John Tekippe, Waukee, International Association of Fire Fighters Local 4 President
• Linn County
  • Rick Scofield, Marion, IAFF Local 11 President
  • Jerry Vuichard, Cedar Rapids, IBEW Local 1362 Business Manager
• Scott County
  • Jose Bucksbaum, Davenport, Affirmative Action Chairman for the Scott County Democratic Central Committee
• Johnson County
  • Pat Harney, Iowa City, Johnson County Supervisor
  • Eric Nurnberg, Iowa City, IAFF Local 610 President
• Black Hawk County
  • Tom Powers, Waterloo, IAFF Local 66 President
  • Dr. A. Frank Thompson, Cedar Falls, Treasurer and former president of the United Faculty at the University of Northern Iowa
• Dubuque County
  • Helene Magee, Dubuque, Publicity Co-Chair for the Dubuque County Democratic Central Committee
• Story County
  • Mike Bryant, Ames, IAFF Local 625 President
• Woodbury County
  • Rob Marqusee, Sioux city, Woodbury County Director of Rural Economic Development
• Pottawattamie County
  • Justin James, Council Bluffs, IAFF Local 15 President
• Clinton County
  • Joel Atkinson, Clinton, IAFF Local 609 Vice-President
• Cerro Gordo County
  • Jerry Taylor, Mason City, Democratic activist and member of the Cerro Gordo County Democratic Central Committee
• Des Moines County
  • Diane Ehret, Burlington, teacher and Democratic activist
  • Al Pealer, Burlington, veteran and former VFW Post Commander
• Dallas County
  • Bob Skow, West Des Moines, former state representative and Chief Executive Officer for Independent Insurance Agents of Iowa
• Warren County
  • Kevin Middleswart, Indianola, Warren County Supervisor
  • Scott Voogd, Indianola, teacher and Democratic activist
• Lee County
  • Bill Olmsted, Keokuk, Kiokuk City Councilman
• Muscatine County
  • Mark Butterworth, Muscatine, small business owner and retired teacher
• Marshall County
  • Wayne Sawtelle, Marshalltown, Marshall County Democratic Central Committee Vice-Chairman and former political director for Iowa Professional Fire Fighters
• Webster County
  • Ernest Kersten, Fort Dodge, Webster County School Board and Democratic activist
  • Mary B. Wilson, Fort Dodge, retired teacher and former member of the Webster County School Board
• Wapello County
  • Marlin Hesse, Ottumwa, Democratic activist
• Marion County
  • David Isgrig, Pleasantville, Superintendent of Pleasantville Schools

New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has launched a new ad in Iowa and New Hampshire and will hold a live, national webcast tonight touting her newly released health care plan.

Yesterday, Clinton was in Des Moines to launch her health care plan that includes mandatory coverage for all Americans. The webcast tonight (sign up on the campaign site) will begin at 8 p.m. Clinton is expected to field answers to questions about the plan.

The new ad is a 30-second spot dubbed "Health Care Plan." It details the candidate's experience on the health care issue, focusing on her efforts to pass universal health care in the early 1990s and her work with the Children's Health Insurance Program.

Text of the ad:

Voice Over: She changed our thinking when she introduced universal health care to America.

She changed the lives of six million kids when she championed the bill that gave them health insurance.

And she changed future generations by pushing the drug companies to lower the cost of vaccinations.

Now she has a health care plan that lets you keep your coverage if you like it, provides affordable choices if you don’t and covers every American.

So if you¹re ready for change, she’s ready to lead.

HRC: I¹m Hillary Clinton and I approved this message.

Things move fast in Iowa. Within minutes of New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's unveiling of a mandatory health insurance plan in Des Moines critiques were rolling in from rivals on both sides of the political fence.

"While she talks about the political scars she bears, the personal scars borne by the American people are far greater," said Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, who is also seeking the Democratic presidential nomination. "The mismanagement of the effort in 1993 and 1994 has set back our ability to move toward universal health care immeasurable. We've known what the problems have been for nearly 15 years, and what the solutions could be. What's been missing is leadership that knows how to bring people together and get the job done."

Dodd went on to add that affordable health care will take more than leadership "that simply knows how to fight -- it will take leadership that knows how to bring people together and win."

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama said Clinton's plan was similar to his, rolled out earlier this year. In addition to pointing out the differences between the two plans, Democratic contender Obama also alluded to Clinton's failed plan during the 1990s by stating that no plan could be enacted without "an open process."

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards stayed on message by strengthening the ropes he's forged to tie Clinton to Washington insiders.

"The cost of failure 14 years ago isn't anybody's scars or political fortune, it's the millions of Americans who have now gone without health care for more than 14 years and the million more still crushed by the costs," he said. "So I'm glad that the architect of the 1993 plan has another care proposal -- and if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then I'm flattered. But unless Senator Clinton's willing to acknowledge the truth about our broken government and the costs of health care reform, I'm afraid flattery will get us nowhere."

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican presidential hopeful, didn't let the fact of the nomination process still being underway prevent him from attacking the Democratic front-runner for what he termed "a reprising of 'Hillarycare.'"

"In her plan, we have government insurance instead of private insurance," he said. "In her plan, it's crafted by Washington; it should be crafted by the states. In her plan, we have government Washington managed health care. Instead, we should rely on the private markets to guide health care."

It was roughly 13 years ago that Clinton's first effort at improving health care was abandoned. Today in Des Moines, she rolled out a plan with little in common with her earlier effort.

The centerpiece is an "individual mandate," requiring everyone to carry health insurance -- similar to most state's requirement of auto liability insurance. Obama's health care plan is now the only within the Democratic field that does include such a mandate.

Clinton's plan does not dismantle, but instead builds on existing employer-based systems. People who receive insurance through the workplace could continue without interruption. Businesses would be required to offer insurance to employees or contribute to a government-run pool that would help pay for those not covered. There is also a tax subsidy component to help small businesses afford worker coverage.

Those not covered -- or not covered adequately -- by employers, would be offered enhanced versions of either Medicare or the health insurance plan currently available to federal employees. Clinton stressed today in Des Moines that no new government bureaucracy would be created with her plan.

"Don't let them fool us again," Clinton said. "This is not government-run. There will be no new bureaucracy."

Such assurances, however, were not good enough for former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani who attacked her plan as "socialized medicine." In a released statement, the Republican rival said the Clinton plan would raise taxes and create health care delays that have "plagued state healthcare patients in Canada and Britain."

The Clinton plan comes with a $110 billion per year price tag. According to Clinton aids, it would be paid for, in part, by ending some of the Bush-era tax cuts for people making more than $250,000 a year.

Rep. Leonard Boswell, who represents Iowa's 3rd Congressional District and chairs the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry, will be honored tomorrow at the Rayburn House Office Building by the National Farmers Union.

In appreciation of his efforts on behalf of America's farmers, ranchers and rural communities, NFU will give Boswell the Golden Triangle Award. The award is NFU's highest honor and is presented to select members of Congress or the White House administration in recognition of outstanding leadership on issues affecting rural America.

Recipients this year were chosen for their leadership on a variety of issues such as support for emergency disaster assistance for producers that have suffered from devastating weather circumstances, the promotion and production of fuels from the farm, and need to develop fair agriculture trade agreements. This year, the award will be presented to 28 members of United States House of Representatives.

"The NFU continues to protect and enhance the economic well being and quality of life for family farmers and their communities," said Boswell. "I'm truly honored to receive this award from them."

The award will be presented during a Congressional reception tomorrow night. In past years Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin and Sen. Chuck Grassley have also received this award.

A few of my photographs from today's Harkin Steak Fry. There's 30 here, so please patient while the page loads.

We're having a Saturday earworm and linkfest this week because of the Harkin Steak Fry tomorrow.

Here's your earworm -- "Ladies' Choice" from Hairspray:

A group of us trekked off to the local theater last night to watch the new movie Hairspray with Nikki Blonsky, Zac Efron, Queen Latifa, John Travolta (in drag!), Elijah Kelley, Amanda Bynes, Michelle Pfeiffer, James Marsden and so many more. We'd been planned this trip since the movie came to theaters, but just finally found a night when we could get together. It was *so* worth the wait!

As with the original Hairspray, it is fun, but filled with wonderful under-tones of messages about body image, race, friendship and life. I laughed out loud more than once, giggled uncontrollably at parts (especially when a woman a few rows in front of me started laughing so hard she was snorting), and had shivers during the almost gospel feel of the march to the television station.

For those who haven't heard, the big state rivalry is over and the Clones have bragging rights.

There's some quick thoughts on the presidential calendar over at the corner, with talk of the compression making Iowa and New Hampshire even more important.

Jaime Mulligan gives a report of recent faith forums held by Barack Obama in Iowa. There's also news of four Iowa lawmakers that have come out for Obama.

All Things Democrat says phone calls from folks in Iowa led to a post about the end of Iowa. Quite frankly, I don't agree with the article -- I have not seen a complete separation of the field and don't think we will until the few weeks prior to caucus night -- but the article is thoughtful and worth a read.

Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal is hopeful that new Senate Minority Leader Ron Wieck will be someone who will work with the current majority.

"Sen. Wieck's voting record suggests that he is capable of crossing party lines to support bipartisan solutions and to set aside partisan bickering in the best interest of our great state," Gronstal said. "For example, Sen. Wieck supported Democrat-led efforts during the 2007 session, including making tuition more affordable for Iowans attending community college, private colleges and state universities; expanding job-creation efforts across the state, including in rural Iowa; increasing accountability in political campaigns; improving safety for IOwa children riding in cars; developing a better plan to ensure the safety of our roads and bridges; protecting Iowa consumers from certain predatory lenders; and ensuring the integrity of voting machines across the state.

"I look forward to working with Sen. Wieck during the 2008 session on more initiatives that will make Iowa an even better place to live, work and raise a family."

Cyclone Conservatives has news of the upcoming GOP presidential debate to be held in Iowa and broadcast on Fox News.

Iowa State University is now offering registrations for Girls Career Conference, slated for October.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney issued a statement on the Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid in Wright County:

"This incident underscores the pressing need to strengthen the enforcement of our current immigration laws. I strongly disagree with the other candidates in this race who are dismissive of increased enforcement efforts and continue to defend sanctuary city policies that weaken our border security efforts and create zones of protection for illegal immigration. Those policies are wrong and the defense of such policies highlights how a 3 million illegal immigrant problem became a 12 million illegal immigrant problem."

Chris Woods is so shocked by the recent endorsements from the Iowa Legislature for Sen. Joe Biden that he's resorted to reader opinion that the good will was purchased. For what it's worth, I think that plays only a very small part... although we must remember the same was said about the Culver-Blouin gubernatorial race and we saw how many legislators ended that day with egg on their face.

Towleroad picked up the information about the group who has launched a campaign to impeach District Court Judge Robert Hanson following his ruling last month that legalized gay marriage.

HispanicTips has information on the Minutemen coming into Iowa -- now with chapters in 11 counties.

Nice post from Adam Nagourney on It's My Life, It's Now or Never about voters in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Blues Historian has info about the Blues event at the State Historical Society -- with lots of great photos too.

Claire at Demo Memo sums up my thoughts on Bush's speech -- Same crap, different day.

Moe has some excellent shots of a Eastern Tiger Swallowtail at Midwestern Wilderness.

You've got to read the great post at Red Hog Diary about his daughter, Courtney, coming home for a few days. Excellent work.

Lauren at Feministe has the audio clup of Kathy Griffin's Emmy acceptance speech where she not only refused to thank Jesus, but pointedly explains that "no one had less to do with this award."

And feministing picked up on Fred Thompson's belief that women who have 2nd or 3rd trimester abortions should do jail time.

The presidential campaign staff of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is minus a deputy state director and caucus manager today.

Angelique Pirozzi, who had previously worked Iowa for Al Gore and John Kerry, has left the Clinton staff. Chris Cillizza reports that he contacted campaign spokesperson Mo Elleithee, but was not told the nature of the departure.

Pirozzi was announced as part of the staff on Feb. 15. She had worked on the Clinton/Gore campaign in New Hampshire in 1996 and served as deputy caucus director for Iowans for Gore. During the fall of 2000, she was tapped to direct the Democrats' coordinated campaign in Wisconsin. She worked first as Sen. John Kerry's caucus manager in Iowa and then as Get-Out-The-Vote director.

This is the first major staff change for the Clinton campaign in Iowa since early June when Iowa Campaign Director JoDee Winterhof left her position to serve as a surrogate and longtime Tom Vilsack supporter Teresa Vilmain was brought in to run the show.

Margaret Sanger, advocate for the legal distribution of birth control in the United States, died two years before I was born. Despite the fact that the paths of our lives never crossed, I've benefited throughout my life from her relentless work on behalf of all American women.

She was the founder of the American Birth Control League, which eventually became Planned Parenthood. After watching her mother nearly die following childbirth and suffering her own experiences with the same, Sanger became an advocate of universal access to birth control. She was also an avid defender of free speech and was arrested at least eight time for expressing her views.

"Women must not accept, she must challenge," Sanger said. "She must not be awed by that which has been built up around her, she must reverence that woman in her which struggles for expression."

As a tribute to her relentless work on behalf of women, she remains, to this day, one of women most vilified by those who oppose contraception. Some, it seems, would prefer to rewrite history to their own liking.

For instance, beginning in 1980 -- a full 14 years after Sanger's death -- the following quote was attributed to her: "Black, soldiers and Jews are a menace to the race." There is simply no way, unless we buy into there being a fax machine in the after life, that Sanger could have said that.

Also, what many conveniently forget, or refuse to explain, is that during Sanger's lifetime the phrase "race" was used not to describe a certain type of person (i.e., black, white), but to call upon the "human race" as a whole. When Sanger used the phrase "racial betterment," she was not discussing any single group, but all of us -- the betterment of the human race.

There are several books available at your local library if you wish to learn more about her life and her work. In addition, and also in honor of Sanger's birthday, Gloria Feldt has column available on RH Reality Check. Feldt is a three-time author and a former president of Planned Parenthood. She continues to serve on the board of the Women's Media Center.

Happy birthday, Margaret.

Squeezed between two powder kegs of anti-abortion activity, most Iowans continue to follow presidential candidates around the state without much knowledge or thought given to the battles being waged to the east and south, just hours from their homes.

"I tend to see both ends of the spectrum as wrong," said Lori Cavanaugh as she waited tables in a diner off Interstate 80 in eastern Iowa. "I don't know what's going on in the neighboring states and, honestly, I don't care much. I believe most of us are somewhere in the middle and that our laws will continue to reflect that."

Despite her initial response, Cavanaugh said she was "shocked" to learn that the Missouri Legislature passed a bill that reclassified Planned Parenthood and other abortion clinics as "ambulatory surgical centers." Whether or not the change was done for safety or to circumvent a woman's legal right to abortion is now the subject of a federal lawsuit.

Darren Eldermann, 24, a student and part-time convenience store clerk, said he was equally "stunned" to learn that thousands of anti-abortion activists had recently flooded Aurora, Ill., to challenge the opening of a Planned Parenthood facility there.

"I have a lot of friends who rely on Planned Parenthood for medical services like birth control and tests," he said. "What's worse is that I'm from Illinois and I didn't know anything about it."

Missouri Rules on Hold

The changes in Missouri require all clinics that perform five or more abortions a month to be registered under existing guidelines for "ambulatory surgical centers," which mandate standards ranging from hallway widths to parking lot sizes to facilities for personnel. Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri joined with Dr. Allen Palmer, a St. Louis County physician, on Aug. 20 to challenge the new rules in court.

The plaintiffs contend the new restrictions would force closure of clinics in Columbia and Kansas City. Palmer, who performs early-term abortions, states in documents filed with the court that the same restrictions don't apply to other private physicians who perform minor surgery in their offices.

“This onerous legislation has nothing to do with protecting women’s health and safety," said Peter Brownlie, chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri. "This is a blatant attempt to close down clinics and deny women their right to health care. Planned Parenthood remains committed to providing needed reproductive health services in Missouri. We are going to court to make sure that women throughout Missouri can get the health services they want and need. We will not stand by and allow politicians to intimidate women and create more barriers to their ability to get health care.”

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Ortie Smith extended a temporary restraining order that is blocking the new law. The extension was given to allow more evidence and testimony to be submitted.

Disruption in Aurora

There is a real potential for violence in Aurora, Ill., as city government officials debate the legitimacy of a building permit application used to erect a Planned Parenthood facility. Instead of using the often-volatile name of Planned Parenthood, the group used the name of a subsidiary, Gemini Development Corp. The city gave approval for the building last November, and the facility is currently operating under a temporary occupancy permit.

The medical complex is scheduled to open next Tuesday, although a delay is considered likely while the city continues its investigation. The facility will offer reproductive and women's health care services -- 10 percent of which is expected to be abortions. Currently, women in the area needing an abortion are forced to travel to the north side of Chicago, roughly two hours away by car.

Members of the Aurora City Council met Tuesday to discuss the ongoing investigation into the city's rules for building permits. Bill Wiet, chief of staff for Mayor Tom Weisner, said that if the investigation shows laws have been followed, "the city will be obligated to issue a final occupancy permit."

Emotions have escalated since anti-choice groups began protesting the facility in mid-August. Eric Scheidler, spokesman for Chicago's Pro-Life Action League and affiliated with Fox Valley Families Against Planned Parenthood, has been heading up the protests against the clinic. On Aug. 30, he raised the stakes a notch by informing The Daily Herald that protesters were no longer interested in just the facility.

"If you're going to be involved in a business as shameful as Planned Parenthood... one of the consequences of that is that your neighbors will know you're working for an abortion clinic," he said.When asked how he and the protesters will know who is employed by the clinic, he said, "We'll deal with that when (it opens)."

Such remarks prompted Michael Walsh of Aurora to submit a letter to the editor of the Beacon News.

"Is it true that Scheidler... believes it is acceptable to picket the homes of employees working for the new clinic?" he wrote. "What moral compass is this gentleman using that would lead him to this conclusion? These individuals are not breaking any laws, nor should they be subject to this type of harassment simply because their career choice is not in line with another person's views, or in this case those of the Pro-Life Action League."

While most protests and rallies have been conducted by anti-abortion activists, Planned Parenthood supporters also stood and held up signs and presented their thoughts at Tuesday night's council meeting.

For the most part, the protests and rallies have been peaceful. Both Planned Parenthood and the anti-abortion groups involved, however, say protests of this intensity and size haven't been seen since the 1990s, when Operation Rescue toured the nation, blocked access to clinics, and threatened clinic staff and patients.

It is yet to be seen if the call issued today by eastern Illinois religious leaders to spend Sunday as a day of prayer in support of Planned Parenthood will lessen or intensify the debate surrounding the facility.

"To deny women access to, and choice about, abortion, to contraceptives, to sexual education, is essentially to deny them their moral standing," said the Rev. Larry Greenfield, executive minister of the American Baptist Churches of Metro Chicago. "To deny somebody choice is contrary to what I believe to be the teachings of Jesus."

Peace. What is it really? How do we make peace and what does it look like? Does working for peace consist solely of public protest? If we're not comfortable carrying signs and risking possible arrest, what can we do to help wage peace in our communities and around the world?

On Sunday, the United Nations Association - Linn County Chapter, and Women For Peace – Iowa, will host a free public forum -- "Peace One Day - A Citizens Forum of Concrete Steps for Achieving Global Peace." Activities are sponsored, in part, by Peoples Church.

The event will consist of a brief film, a discussion with experienced community leaders who are actively pursuing peace, and an information fair. The latter will make available handouts and show displays that will provide a range of information on peace activities covering awareness, advocacy, activism and even lifestyle changes. Informed peace workers will be on-hand to describe their experiences and answer questions about what some local faith communities, non-profit organizations and individuals are doing to achieve peace one day. The focus is on concrete steps that one person can take, either alone or with others, to make this a more peaceful world.

The free, nonpartisan event will be held at the Cedar Rapids Public Library, 500 1st St. SE, in Beems Auditorium. Anyone interested is invited to attend.

Some people will tell you that they have a soundtrack for their life. They relate certain experiences or events with this song or that artist. I'm not one of them. My life flips through my mind as seasons.

I can tell you the weather on every significant day of my life in vivid detail. For instance, I remember the exact glare of the ice on the side of the road just before my oldest daughter was born. If I pause a moment, I can still see the billows of my own breath as I walked into the hospital and feel the sting of the cold on my eyes. I know every snowflake that fell outside the hospital window as my second daughter was born. In contrast, I watched trees and shrubs renew their commitment to life as I sat in the hospital, on bedrest, before my youngest son arrived.

This relationship with nature hasn't just been limited to my children. I can tell you how tiny, thin clouds sprinkled the sky when my friends and I crossed the stage and received our high school diplomas, how the rain spit in my face the last time I spoke to my father before his death, and how the grass-dotted mud slithered from under my feet at the cemetery the day I buried my mother. If I breathe deeply, I can still smell the crape myrtle bushes the wind pushed through my hair the first time I fell in love and how the sun heated the rock beside the lake the first time he kissed me.

So, you'll no doubt find it strange that I have no memory at all of the nature of the weather on this date nine years ago. On that day -- the day my son was stillborn -- I couldn't tell you if it was warm or cold, rainy or sunny. For me, it was as if nature walked away.

The few people with whom I've shared this observation have replied that I must have been in shock -- that the trauma of what happened was so great that my body shut out everything else around it. Others believe that I couldn't have concentrated on nature when I was obviously so focused on God. Nine years later, I still think that nature just couldn't bear to watch or provide a memory access point over which I would have no control. I think nature understood that there are some memories that shouldn't be allowed to sneak up on you.

I have very few memories of that morning at all, despite the times I've sat up all night trying to draw some to me. I do remember how it began -- the dizzy, sick feeling and then crawling on hands and knees to my husband and telling him something was wrong. I remember driving to the hospital, although I don't remember getting into or out of the car. A nurse helped me out of my night clothes and into a hospital gown. There were tests -- a check for a heartbeat, an ultrasound. Although I knew something was terribly wrong, I just kept telling myself, "It's OK. We're full term. They can fix it." I've since learned that death, much like life, can never be fixed.

There were IV fluids and more IV fluids and a doctor, covered in blood, whom I didn't recognize. Someone kept yelling at me to push. I didn't want to. Since my prayers weren't being answered -- the ones screaming in my head to please take me instead of him -- I mostly just wanted to die along with him. But I was too weak to follow-through, and he was born. Then silence and emptiness swallowed us all in one moment.

Nature returned days later at the funeral, sending warm beams through stained glass in an attempt to warm me. I could see, but not feel. So I watched as the leaves grew brittle and danced in the wind. Snow came and went and then came again. Cardinals darted dizzily outside my windows, confused by the empty feeder.

I felt guilty those few times that I could detect the sun warming my arm or leg while I sat in the car, watching a much-too-fast world speed by. I'm not sure how long I went through life like that. But there did come a day when I felt the sun on the top of my head and I didn't resent it. There came a day when my daughter took me by the hand and led me into the rain and we danced -- slowly at first -- and then laughed in amazement as the raindrops soaked our clothing and streaked our faces. I don't think she could tell which ones were my tears.

I sat outside last night although it was much too cold and I had to coerce the dog to be a foot warmer. I had hoped to see a shooting star, spot some out-of-season wildlife or otherwise witness some unique event so that I would know I'm on the right path. I didn't. Our lives, although full of drama, aren't a Hollywood production. Sometimes, on the best of days, it rains. Other times you feel warmth radiating from your bones while it snows. Still other times, like last night, you just get a clear, star-filled sky.

At the end of the day, I don't think it is important for us to know what was playing on the radio or whether the sun peeked through the curtains. What's important is that, regardless of the tune, we sing along. What's important is putting your toes in the mud, feeling the heat of the sidewalk and, yes, even getting drenched in the rain.

Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd has gained his first endorsement in the Iowa Senate. Jeff Danielson, a firefighter in Cedar Falls and Navy veteran, serves as Iowa Senate president pro-tempore. In addition to his endorsement, he will serve as co-chair of Dodd's Iowa steering committee and as a member of the national steering committee.

“When it comes to protecting this country and strengthening our communities, proven leadership and experience matter,” said Danielson. “I am supporting Chris Dodd, because he is the candidate I trust to keep America safe and keep our middle class families strong. Time and time again, Chris Dodd has shown not only that he has thoughtful, bold ideas, but that he has the ability to pull people together to get them done.

“With the stakes so high for our country in this election, Chris Dodd is the proven leader we need in the White House and the proven winner we need as our Democratic nominee. I am proud to be endorsing Chris Dodd, and I’m ready to go to work across this state on behalf of his campaign.”

Danielson, 37, has represented Iowa Senate District 10 since 2004. His election to the Senate leadership by his peers last year made him the youngest President Pro-Tem in Iowa history.

Danielson's endorsement comes just weeks after the International Association of Fire Fighters announced their support and endorsement of Dodd for president. The fire fighters in Iowa quickly followed suit.

“Jeff Danielson is one of the most respected leaders in the Iowa Senate, and I could not be prouder to have his support,” said Senator Dodd. “As a Fire Fighter, a Senator, and a veteran, Jeff knows on a very personal level about the responsibility we have to protect our communities and to strengthen our families. He will be a tremendous asset to our campaign as a leader, a representative, and an adviser.”

Senator Danielson is a native of Waterloo, Iowa. He served in the Navy from 1988 to 1994, including two six-month deployments in support of U.S. operations in the Middle East. After leaving the Navy, Danielson became a professional Fire Fighter in Cedar Falls. While working and raising a family, Jeff used the G.I. Bill to earn an Associate of Arts from Hawkeye Community College, and both a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration and a Masters in Public Policy from the University of Northern Iowa. Danielson and his wife, Kim, have two children.

Dodd has also been making some waves in the blogosphere in recent days for his very public remarks regarding opponents Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama in relation to their perceived back-tracking on Iraq.

"I was disappointed that Senator Obama's thoughts on Iraq today didn't include a firm, enforceable deadline for redeployment, and dismayed that neither he nor Senator Clinton will give an unequivocal answer on whether they would support a measure if it didn't have such an enforceable deadline.

"It is clear to me - especially after yesterday's testimony - that half-measures aren't going to stop this President or end our involvement in this civil war. I thought it was clear to Senators Obama and Clinton as well after they finally came around to supporting the Feingold-Reid measure and voting against a blank-check supplemental spending bill this spring. If 'enough was enough' then, why isn't it after the bloodiest summer of the war?

"Senator Obama has a gift for soaring rhetoric, but, on this critical issue, we need to know the substance of his position with specificity. Without tying a date certain to funding how does he plan to enforce his call for an immediate redeployment?

"The only specificity Senator Obama offered was a call for a new constitution, but that will do nothing other than provide the Iraqis and the Bush Administration another excuse to delay -- the ink is barely dry on the constitution they have.

"It is going to take bold leadership to change our course in Iraq. We need to do more than write letters to the President, we need to be clear with him.

"I urge Senators Obama and Clinton not to backtrack on the need for a firm, enforceable deadline and state clearly and directly whether they will support an Iraq measure if it does not include one."

The folks over at Connecticut Local Politics picked up on Dodd's statement and mixed in some of his remarks during the testimony of Gen. David Petraeus.

Dodd also chimed in with more of his own words as a guest blogger at The Huffington Post, and garnered over 200 comments for his trouble.

David Lightman, Washington bureau chief for Courant, provided a recount of the testimony in an article later that same day.

The following day, Dodd picked up more press in the form of a MyDD diary entry that praised the politician for his stance on the Cuba trade embargo.

All around it's been a solid two weeks for the Dodd campaign and, rumor has it, there are more endorsements to be announced, including at least one member of the State Central Committee.

And, on a much more personal note, happy birthday to Grace Dodd, who is celebrating her sixth birthday today. As the Irish like to say: May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be always at your back, the sun shine warm upon your face, the rain fall soft upon your fields and, until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand. If that's too deep for you, Gracie, just know that someone who lives relatively close to Nebraska is hoping your day is filled with the brightest of everything -- and a really great new toy or two.

On one hand, Gold Star mom Debbie Lee and military mom Deborah Johns told participants at a rally in Cedar Rapids that they were tired of hearing about "red and blue" states. On the other hand, both made a point of calling out specific Democratic leaders by name.

The two were a part of the "Fight for Victory Tour" promoted and hosted by Move America Forward. The tour is a cross-country, pro-troop caravan featuring 27 stops between Sept. 3 and 15.

Johns, who is completing her fourth bus tour across the nation, says she's learned a lot about American government while she has traveled.

"In going across the country I've learned a lot from Democrats, Republicans and Independents," she said. "I've learned even more from the hearts of the American people who continue to say that they support the United States of America, our troops and our efforts to win the war in Iraq and the greater war on terror."

When politicians talk about ending the war in Iraq, Johns says she wants to tell them "not now, not ever, no retreat, no surrender."

"And, I want to tell them that if they don't understand that message... then my words back to the politicians who want to continue to divide the United States, instead of support the United States, is to tell them 'hasta la vista, sayonara, so long, goodbye, and see you later.' Because this is the United States of America -- our red, white and blue -- the land of the free and the home of the brave, and what part of that does Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry and John Murtha not support and do they not get? If they do not want to support the American people and our troops then they should go live somewhere else."

Johns went on to discuss the current controversy surrounding the MoveOn ad featuring Gen. David Petraeus. She said that when Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., was asked to renounce the full-page ad that appeared in the New York Times, "the best he could muster was 'Gen. Petraeus is a good soldier.'"

"It is time for us to call for the resignation of the likes of Harry Reid, John Kerry and Nancy Pelosi," she said. "Enough is enough. If they cannot support our leaders and support our troops, then they've got no business trying to serve our country in Congress. They need to step down, and they need to resign."

Our enemies, says Johns, don't differentiate between Republicans and Democrats.

"You know the terrorists that are trying to kill our brave men and women overseas didn't stop to ask if the person in their cross-hairs was a Democrat or a Republican before they pulled the trigger," she said. "Nor did those evil men who flew the plane into the Twin Towers stop that day to inquire if their innocent victims voted for George Bush or not. To our enemies we are all the same. We are all Americans. So, I don't want to hear any more about red states and blue states, because we are not a collection of 50 red and blue states. We are one country -- the red, white and blue -- one nation under God, and these colors don't run."

Gold Star mom Lee, who spoke with many pauses as she was overcome by emotion, also believes the war in Iraq must continue until democracy flourishes and victory is claimed.

"I remember that day -- why that flag is flying at half-mast today -- when we were attacked," she said. "We came together as a nation. We were on our knees again and we were one nation under God like our founding fathers desired for us to be. I remember watching the news and, on the bottom, across the screen would scroll verses from the Bible of hope and encouragement."

Lee says that because of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, the United States again became a nation of givers.

"That's what Marc did," she said. "Many people have said that terrorists took my son's life. But you can't take something from someone who gives it to you. That's what all of our troops are doing. They've signed a blank check to America."

Lee says she's also upset that politics are playing such a major role in the outcome of the war.

"I am so sick and tired of the people in Congress -- whether they are on the Democratic side, the Republican side or the Independent side -- who continue to try to divide this nation," she said. "That's not what we're about. And, just like Deb, I call for those people in Congress who have defamed the character of David Petraeus ... they need to apologize to him."

Above all else, she says, she continues to use her voice because her son cannot use his and because she believes good is coming from the work the troops are doing in Iraq.

"Because of our troops who have served in the past, who are currently serving and who are willing to go back for four tours -- just like Deborah's son -- we are making a difference," she said. "The surge is working."

Johns, who serves as the organization's director of military relations, was the lead spokesperson for the "You Don't Speak for Me, Cindy" tour, which crossed the nation in 2005 and ended in Crawford, Texas, near Camp Casey. Her son, William, a Marine, has served three tours of duty in Iraq.

Lee's son, Marc Alan, was the first Navy Seal to lose his life in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He died Aug. 2, 2006 while on patrol in Ramadi. She appeared at the 2007 Country Music Awards, where Tim McGraw presented her and other Gold Star parents a song, "I'm Already Home."

~~Update~~

There's a post at NE Iowa Progressives that discusses the event this same group had earlier in the day in Des Moines.

A nine-month gambling investigation ended yesterday when the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and members of the Bettendorf Police Department seized just over $6,000 in cash, a poker table and various poker chips and playing cards as a part of an undercover sting operation.

A former Isle of Capri-Bettendorf poker room dealer, Tammy Louann Proulx, was hosting illegal poker games at her home in Bettendorf. Proulx, 38, was issued police citations for felony betting and gaming, keeping a gambling house and possession of a controlled substance.

Nine additional individuals were issued police citations for misdemeanor gaming and betting. One other individual was cited for interference with official acts. Those 10 were cited and released.

Law enforcement officials say the investigation remains active and other individuals may be charged.

The U.S. Department of Justice has just announced that the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls will receive a grant of $999,909. The funds are earmarked for reduction of violent crimes against women under a flagship project.

UNI will serve as the lead institution for this new project that involves the creation of a Regents Campus Gender Violence Prevention Task Force. Participation will also include Iowa State University in Ames and the University of Iowa in Iowa City.

"Iowa's universities are taking much-needed action to educate our students and communities about reducing campus violence against women," said Sen. Tom Harkin, who supported this grant as part of his continual efforts to end violence against women. "They are doing the right thing in implementing vital programs that increase safety. Violence against women remains a major problem, but with these funds we can help women get the support they need to overcome these terrible acts."

The UNI flagship project will use funding to support the creation of the task force to coordinate a wide variety of initiatives. Those include implementing a mandatory new student education program, enhancing campus police training, developing courses and curricula to better include information on victim services and gender violence prevention, and creating a statewide Men's Gender Violence Prevention Institute.

"As a dad of a female college student, I truly recognize the importance of providing institutions with the proper resources to reduce violent crimes against women," said Rep. Bruce Braley, who represents Iowa's first district that includes Cedar Falls and the UNI campus. "By creating a task force that examines the pattern of violence on Iowa campuses, police and school administrators will be able to work towards reducing these crimes and can better provide students with the information they need to be better educated and aware of the issue."

UNI will also partner with the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Seeds of Hope, the Cedar Falls Police Department and the Attorney General's Victim Assistance Division.

While varying political climates and limited funding may have affected Tanager Place in Cedar Rapids during the past 128 years, the organization's focus has never shifted away from children and families.

"Tanager Place is a very unique organization -- it's one of the oldest organizations in the state of Iowa," said George Estle, chief executive officer, during a house party at the home of Kathy Bass Monday night. "We are one of the few remaining agencies that focuses on kids."

While most other agencies during the past 20 years have diversified their human service offerings due largely to evaporating funding, Estle says Tanager Place has made a point of branching out while maintaining the same roots.

"I think what's important about us is that while we have changed and while the environment around has has continued to change for kids and families, we've stayed true to trying to figure out what's in the best interest of kids," he said. "If you look at what we do today, we serve about 2,000 kids a year."

The agency began in 1879 as an industrial or alternative school. From there it transformed into more of a settlement house and then into an orphanage and was known as the Children's Home of Cedar Rapids. Today Tanager Place is home to a wide variety of services, utilized by families and children throughout the region. The services include a psychiatric treatment center for children, supervised apartment living, special needs adoption, a care facility for the mentally retarded, foster care program and Camp Tanager. The 50 people gathered at the house party, however, were there to learn more about the expressive arts program.

"The expressive arts program is a very unique program and probably our signature program at Tanager Place," Estle said. "This is primarily because no one else does it because there is no funding for it. It's one of those programs that works very, very well with the types of children we see. If you can imagine a 10-year-old that's lived seven different places... [that child] has learned not to trust adults and hasn't developed an ability to have a positive relationship with adults. Communication can be tough."

Expressive Arts Therapy uses graphic art, drama, music and creative writing to allow victims of neglect and abuse a non-threatening outlet for their emotions and internal conflicts.

"Sometimes when the children put that feeling out there -- that creative writing or piece of art -- it becomes less threatening to them, too," he said. "It's a very important communications tool that we've used for over 20 years at Tanager Place. Just like our other programs, we do it and we continue to support it because it works."

Because the program is not state or federally funded, Tanager relies on private donations for its continuance. Last year, the agency partnered with local artists to present a program called "Reflections" that showcases the drama, music, writings and art of the Tanager Place children.

"What we've done with the Reflections program is try to create a connection," said Joan Hackbarth, director of community relations. "The stories of the children we serve are so unique and complex that it is difficult for someone from a 'normal' background to understand, but the community needs and deserves to hear from these children."

On Oct. 18, the Urban Theater Project will once again take to the stage of Theatre Cedar Rapids and present an original production inspired by the words and art of Tanager Place children who have participated in the expressive arts program. Preceding the performance, local artists will auction original pieces inspired both by their own childhood experiences and children in the expressive arts program. All proceeds -- whether from ticket sales to the program or from auction purchases -- benefit the expressive arts program at Tanager Place.

For more information on Reflections or on Tanager Place, contact Hackbarth at (319) 365-9164.

Over 350 of Iowa's school districts have a ballot out today for potential members of their school board. These are the individuals that shape our school districts and make important decisions for our children and our communities.

As I reported Friday the Iowa Association of School Boards has worked hard to ensure that qualified candidates will be located on the ballot and to increase voter turnout, which has been declining.

If you do not know where your polling place is, there is a form available on the Iowa Secretary of State's site that can help.

While Iowa is accustomed to making national news, the last thing we want is the type of attention Missouri City garnered in April. A Mr. Joe Selle was running unopposed for City Council, a seat he'd previously been appointed to fill. When the votes came in, however, he didn't get any -- not even one for himself. The Associated Press reports that turnout was better down the road in Ward 2, where two people cast a ballot.

Those of you who have visited rallies by the many presidential hopefuls crossing the state know that education is a hot topic of conversation. Today, then, is our opportunity to place our words into action. Go vote.

The morning noise level at the Blue Strawberry in Cedar Rapids didn't seem bother Chicago attorney Judy Gold or the local women who came to discuss Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and his bid for the White House.

Gold, who served as chief of policy for Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and chairwoman of the Illinois Commission on the Status of Women, is an attorney in private practice. She came to Iowa, however, as a listening ear for the Obama campaign, which she serves officially as the chairwoman for the Women's Policy Advisory Group.

Thirteen women came to this session of the "Hear from the Heartland" listening post and spoke about everything from recent Women's Equality Day activities to the issues of health care and education to the war in Iraq. Most of those in attendance, however, seem to have women's issues -- in particular the issue of women's reproductive health -- at the front of their thoughts.

"I was the Democratic chair for Voters for Choice -- an independent pro-choice political action group," Gold said during her introduction. "Also, many years ago when I was a child, I became involved by working on women's issues by working with a group called the Women's Issues Network, a multi-issue organization in Chicago."

She went on to add that while working for Obama she has "never had to leave her feminist credentials at the door."

"I had the opportunity to work with Barack very closely on some issues like creating an earned income tax credit in Illinois and passing a state version of the violence against women act which was called the Gender Violence Act," she said. "I can say to you without any reservation that Barack is fantastic on women's issues."

The listening post was set so that Gold could hear from local caucus goers -- not all of whom at the table were Obama supporters -- and take what they said back to headquarters for use in shaping both national and campaign policy.

"I have a strong belief that women's issues aren't just the substantive issues that we think of as women's issues," Gold said. "I would like to hear from you about any issues that are of concern to you. If you are a woman, the things that concern you are women's issues."

Following that, Gold asked if there was an issue that women needed to hear Obama discuss more or present more in-depth.

"I know when my husband and I were making phone calls, my husband was asked by another man about Obama's position on abortion," said Marlene Schmidt, who is currently a retiree, but worked in accounting for years. "My husband was not able to answer that, and I am also not real clear on what Obama's position is on that."

When asked to clarify whether or not she knew Obama was in favor of abortion rights, Schmidt said she did not, probably because the issue is not a priority for her.

"He is pro-choice," said Gold. "If he were not, I wouldn't be here. So you think this is something that needs to come out more? I'm curious to hear what everyone else thinks."

Around the table, the women expressed mixed emotions on whether or not Obama should give more voice to his stance on abortion.

Retiree Sue Jergensen said the issue is "a sticky wicket" and probably not something the campaign wants to push.

Cedar Rapids attorney Gilda Boyer explained that she'd like to see the campaign not only make more statements on abortion but to offer more information on all the issues that surround women's reproductive health.

"What has happened with this administration is not just a subversion of Roe but a total subversion of reproductive health care rights for women," said Boyle. "We have incompetents in control of the Food and Drug Administration. We have blockage of emergency contraception, which is insane. We have this whole moralistic attitude toward women's health care that is not science-based. In my book, what needs to happen is a broad conversation."

The issue of abortion alone is still very polarizing, she said, but there are other aspects of reproductive health care that are not taking place.

"There has not been a big discussion on what has happened with health care for women and reproductive health issues," she said. "This is a conversation that has been taken away from us, and the language and the words have been misused."

As evidence of that fact, Gold told those in attendance that a woman currently serving in the U.S. military cannot get an abortion in a military hospital even with her own money.

"If that woman is sexually assaulted in the line of duty and becomes pregnant, she would have to go state-side with her own money to get an abortion," she said. "It is extremely important to me that we have a president who is going to stand up and say, 'not on my watch.'"

Most of the women agreed that more should be said about the complete package of reproductive health and cited their experiences during the 2006 Iowa gubernatorial race as evidence of women seeking a candidate that supports access.

"I'm not sure if I want him to bring this particular issue to the front," said Jergensen. "I know it is important, but I also want him to be elected. I think the campaign needs to ensure that it is important in the state of Iowa. I know he is very good at speaking, so I know he will know what to say and how to say it. I'm just not sure if it is politically to his advantage to emphasize this issue."

One of the oldest participants around the table, Muriel Rogers, said what buried Mike Blouin in the gubernatorial race was that women didn't feel he could be trusted to protect their rights.

"I was in the room at a Blouin event," she said. "The women sitting next to me listened to him, and once she realized he wasn't pro-choice then turned to me and said, 'Wait a minute. What am I doing here?' There were several of us who didn't quite understand Blouin's point on this issue and, once we heard it, we left. I think that was true across the state."

Obama's campaign will continue this listening tour during the coming weeks and will hear from Iowa caucus-goers in many different small groups as they being construction of additional white papers on the issues.

Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Nebraska, announced today that he would not be seeking a third term in the United States Senate and, further, that he will not seek any office in 2008. His announcement was made to the Omaha Press Club this morning.

Hagel was first elected in 1996 and was subsequently reelected in 2002. Prior to that he served as a successful organizer for the presidential campaign of Ronald Reagan. Following Reagan's inauguration, Hagel was named deputy administrator of the Veterans Administration. His career ended there following comments by then director Robert Nimmo that funding cuts should be done because veterans were "greedy" and that Agent Orange was akin to "teenage acne."

Between the VA and the Senate, Hagel co-founded Vanguard Cellular, a mobile phone manufacturer that, in turn, ensured the financial success of him and his family. He moved from Virginia back to his home state of Nebraska in 1992 to become president of the McCarthy Group, an investment banking firm. In addition, he served as chief executive officer of American Information Systems, Inc., a voting machine manufacturer that later changed its name to Election Systems & Software. ES&S machines are currently used by many Iowa county auditors.

Over the past two years, Hagel has become a thorn in many Republican sides. He has publicly acknowledged his support of an immediate troop withdrawal and supported legislation proposed by the Democrats to require such a withdrawal within 120 days. On the issue of immigration, Hagel supports a "pathway to citizenship" as well as a "guest worker program" for undocumented workers. Earlier this year, he worked with Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Massachusetts, to support the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007, a piece of legislation the Republicans in Congress strongly opposed.

When Hagel was first elected to the Senate in 1996, he indicated that he would retire in 2008. His morning remarks to the press club are re-printed below:

“I will not seek a third term in the United States Senate, nor do I intend to be a candidate for any office in 2008. It has been my greatest honor and privilege to serve my country and represent my fellow Nebraskans in the U.S. Senate. My family and I will be forever grateful for this opportunity and the trust placed in me by the people of Nebraska. It has enriched all of us.

"I have always tried to live up to the promise I made to the people of Nebraska the day I announced my intention to seek this Senate seat. On March 30, 1995 I said, “I intend to be a Senator all Nebraskans can be proud of.” I hope I’ve done that, and made some contributions to our state and country along the way. History will sort that out.

"I am proud of my Senate record and deeply grateful to all those who helped get me there and keep me there, and those who have worked so hard for the people of Nebraska—my staff. I would like to particularly thank Mike McCarthy, Ken Stinson and Lou Ann Linehan. I owe a great deal to these three individuals.

"I would have been unable to do my job without the love, wise perspective and constant encouragement of my wife Lilibet, my daughter Allyn and my son Ziller. My appreciation for their support is immeasurable. I would also like to thank my brothers, Tom and Mike, for their constant support and occasional brotherly constructive evaluations.

"I said after I was elected in 1996 that 12 years in the Senate would probably be enough. It is. I have always believed that democracies work best when there is a constant cycle of new energy and ideas, and fresh leadership.

"I will leave the Senate with the same enthusiasm, sense of purpose and love of my country that I started with. I leave maybe a little wiser, surely a little more experienced and with a very respectable amount of humility.

"Public service has always been a big part of my life, and I hope to have another opportunity to serve my country in some new capacity down the road.

"This afternoon, my family and I will return to Washington, and I will go back to work. I look forward to working as hard in the remaining 16 months of my Senate term for the people of Nebraska as I have over the last 11 years.

"Thank you."

It is expected that current Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning -- the youngest AG in the state's history -- will run for Hagel's seat. Bruning announced formation of an exploratory committee for the seat in mid-March and told the Lincoln Journal Star that he would oppose Hagel in a primary if necessary due to strong displeasure over Hagel's stance on Iraq.

Several politicos are sending out their statements about Gen. David Petraeus' and Ambassador Ryan Crocker's testimonies before Congress today. Here's a listing of those I've received and I'll update with others when/if they arrive:

Rep. Bruce Braley, representing Iowa's 1st District:

"President Bush justified his 'surge' of 30,000 additional US troops into Iraq by saying it would give the Iraqi government a chance to achieve political reconciliation. Now, eight months later, our troops on the ground have done everything we've asked them to do, but the Iraqis aren't any closer to reaching political reconciliation than they were in January.

"Today, General Patraeus asked for more time for the President's plan. But how do we expect anything to change in Iraq if we continue the same old strategy?

"You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. All the troops and all the time in the world can't make the Iraqis reach a political solution for their country -- they have to do it themselves.

"It's time to show the Iraqis that we are serious about their taking control of their own country. I agree with the conclusion reached by the Iraq Study Group long ago: we need a timetable to redeploy our troops and turn Iraq over to the Iraqis."

Sen. Tom Harkin, representing Iowa:

"Today, General Petraeus once again came to Capitol Hill to ask Congress to prolong our involvement in Iraq's civil war. His assessment of the situation in Iraq was positive, but not independent. The simple fact is that asking General Petraeus to evaluate the surge he has overseen in Iraq is like asking a college student to grade his own term paper.

"In 2004, when General Petraeus was charged with training Iraqi security forces, he made a similar positive assessment of the situation in Iraq in a Washington Post op-ed. He said then that Iraqi forces were stepping forward, leading their country and that they showed a determination and desire to accept the full burden of security tasks for Iraq. That was nearly three long years ago, and we have come to find out differently. Most importantly, since the general's encouraging news in 2004, we have lost nearly 2,700 more American troops in this conflict.

"The Bush administration and Senate Republicans have continually asked the American people to wait until September to evaluate the effectiveness of the surge that began last January. Well, September has come and the situation in Iraq is the same: the Iraqi government has still failed to make progress towards reconciliation and our troops are still policing a civil war that requires a political, not a military, solution.

"Tomorrow will mark the sixth anniversary of September 11, a day on which barbarity and hatred came to our nation's shores and was met by heroism and bravery to make all Americans proud. This anniversary is a stark reminder of why we must combat terror as effectively as possible.

"The simple truth is that America cannot be as safe as it should be when our troops remain mired in a civil war in Iraq that has no foreseeable end. It is time to pursue a different strategy and redeploy our troops. It is unwise and it is immoral to ask our brave young men and women to continue putting their lives on the line when the Iraqi government cannot do the most basic work necessary to bring their country together.

"Evidence from the recently released GAO Report and the National Intelligence Estimate overwhelmingly show that the Iraqi government has failed to make political progress, the very thing which this latest surge was supposed to enable them to do. Our brave troops' professionalism, capability, and courage are unparalleled. However, our outstanding troops cannot end Iraq's civil war. Only Iraq's government can do that and they so far have refused to take the actions needed to do so.

"Congress must take the necessary steps to require the Bush Administration to redeploy our troops so that we can pursue a smarter campaign against the terrorists who threaten us."

Rep. Dave Loebsack, representing Iowa's 2nd District:

“I welcomed the opportunity to hear directly from General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker. They provided invaluable insight into the state of military operations and political progress in Iraq. I strongly believe the American people deserved to hear an honest assessment of the progress and challenges our military is experiencing.

“I have been working to change the way business is done in Washington, and ensure that Congress fulfills its oversight responsibilities. My amendment to the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Act, which was passed by the House in May, would require this report be updated and resubmitted every six months so that Members of Congress and the American people are continually updated on the situation in Iraq.

“I have every confidence in the young men and women serving with honor and distinction in our nation’s military forces. However, the General and Ambassador made it clear that the Iraqi Government and regional leaders have shown little interest in or ability to reconcile their difference.

“I was disappointed to hear General Petraeus report that we will still have at least 130,000 troops on the ground next summer. Our troops have performed admirably, but no military strategy will create an environment where the Iraqi Government feels compelled to take responsibility for its nation’s future. Political reconciliation is necessary to create a stable civil society and political structure, and yet this goal seems painfully out of reach for the Iraqi Government.

“Four and a half years after the start of the war the President is still stubbornly pursuing a failed strategy. We can no longer afford to keep our combat troops on the ground while the Iraqi Government continues to make empty promises. We must immediately chart a new course in Iraq so we can begin to bring our troops home safely and responsibly.”

Sen. Chris Dodd, representing Connecticut and a Democratic presidential hopeful:

"The fact that there are questions about General Petraeus' report is not surprising given that it was brought to you by this White House. In contrast, independent report after report indicates that the whack-a-mole strategy has made this the bloodiest summer of the war. And by the General's admission, the so-called surge has not achieved its goal of political progress. But even more fundamentally, debating the merits of a tactic when the strategy that underlies it is failed is nothing more than a distraction from the work that needs to be done to bring this war to a close."

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a Republican presidential hopeful:

“Today, General Petraeus provided the first look at a strategy that is getting results and an Iraq that is making progress.

“This is only the beginning, which is why we need to continue to listen to the assessment of General Petraeus and others on the ground so we can decide the best course of action going forward.

“The Democrats and MoveOn.org are doing a disservice to Iraq’s long-term future by jumping to political conclusions in advance of the General’s report. These times call for statesmen, not political rhetoric.”

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democratic presidential hopeful:

"I am saddened, but not surprised, by the recommendations of General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker on Iraq. I do not question the integrity or competence of these gentlemen, but the strategy George Bush and Dick Cheney have asked them to execute has failed. The course General Petraeus has recommended we take-- more of the same-- is unacceptable, irresponsible, and dangerous.

"Numerous independent reports confirm the obvious: we are not making real progress in Iraq. Our troops are dying and stuck in the middle of a civil war. The Iraqis will not take the necessary steps toward political reconciliation until we make it clear that we are leaving their country for good. Meanwhile, al-Qaeda has regrouped to its pre-9/11 strength. It is time we put the safety of our troops and the protection of our national interests before the legacy of Bush and Cheney.

"The only responsible option that remains is to get all of our troops out of Iraq as soon as possible. Only when all of our troops are out can the hard work of diplomacy begin.

"I have challenged the other major Democratic candidates to tell the American people how many troops they will leave in Iraq and for how long. The American people and I still are waiting for an answer. The other major candidates have suggested that they will leave some troops behind indefinitely. That idea does not make sense. What can a smaller force accomplish that a larger force could not? The other major candidates have gone so far as to suggest pulling out our combat troops and leaving tens of thousands of other troops behind. This policy would be gravely irresponsible. Why would we leave behind tens of thousands of unprotected troops?

"More and more experts are coming to the same conclusion that I arrived at months ago. Several defense experts, including former Clinton National Security Advisor Sandy Berger and former Reagan defense official Lawrence Korb, have agreed publicly with my assessment that we can get all of our troops out quickly. During this war, we have rotated 240,000 troops in and out of Iraq in just three months-- I am confident that we can get 160,000 out safely within six to eight months. The only responsible option we have in Iraq is to get all of our troops out now."

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican presidential hopeful:

“Today’s testimony from General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker confirms the progress being made by our troops in Iraq. This is good news for Americans and Iraqis. The importance of a successful conclusion to Iraq must be weighed in light of the global threat of violent Jihad and terror. America must continue its commitment to the strategy General Petraeus is executing.

“Americans owe a debt of gratitude to General Petraeus, Ambassador Crocker, our troops and the diplomats who are risking their lives to make success and progress possible. The integrity of General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker were on display today. Now it is time for Senator Clinton, Senator Obama and Senator Edwards to display their own integrity by expressly disavowing the baseless attack on General Petraeus by MoveOn.org.”

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, a Democratic presidential hopeful:

"I said over two weeks ago that General Petraeus needed to answer three questions in his report: Has the surge produced progress toward the political solution that's the only answer in Iraq? If not, when will it? And if the answer to these two questions is no, then what is the plan for our brave troops in Iraq? Last Friday, General Petraeus answered the first question when he wrote in a letter to the troops that his plan for the surge to produce political progress 'has not worked out as we had hoped.' Now, more than ever, we need answers to the other two questions.

"Congress must now decide whether they will serve the American people or simply follow the same Beltway mentality that has led to more inaction on Iraq. Even in the face of rising American causalities, greater civil unrest and no political progress, the Congress continues a false debate about whether President Bush should be granted more time. President Bush's Iraq strategy has failed, and Congress must not cave. Congress must support our troops by using every tool available to force the president to agree to a withdrawal.

"It's been reported that General Petraeus may propose the withdrawal of a single brigade by the end of the year in exchange for keeping the failed surge going another six months. This would not be the withdrawal the American people voted for. It would instead be another excuse for the administration to buy time until President Bush is out of office and can pass Iraq onto the next president.

"Congress must stand strong for the American people and tell the president: no timeline, no funding. No excuses."

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Republican presidential hopeful:

"I appreciate Gen. Petraeus' candid, compelling testimony before a joint House committee this afternoon, along with the insights of Ambassador Crocker. I look forward to their continued testimony tomorrow.

"I have deep respect and admiration for both of these outstanding men, who have staked their lives and reputations on a successful outcome in what, I believe, is the defining battle, not only of our time, but for Western civilization itself.

"From their testimony, it is clear that the surge is working; their military objectives are being met; and that a quick or precipitous withdrawal will have dire consequences, not only in terms of massive human suffering in Iraq – but for the region. Undoubtedly, Iran would be a winner in this scenario – rendering the whole world vulnerable. This scenario is unacceptable.

"General Petraeus stated that we cannot win in Iraq solely in Iraq and that we must continue to engage in a host of initiatives in neighboring countries, as well as cyberspace. I agree with Gen. Petraeus and believe a strong policy of engagement with countries in the region is critical.

"Gen. Petraeus testified that U.S and coalition forces have dealt a striking blow to Al Qaeda, in Iraq, which is a part of the larger international Al Qaeda network. On the eve of the sixth anniversary of the 9-11-01 terrorist attacks on America, we are reminded of this imperative: We must continue to wage an aggressive war on global terror to prevent future attacks.

"Both Gen. Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker have served our country with honor – and showed tremendous professionalism today. Winning this war is of utmost importance to America and our future – and we must get it right. I look forward to their continued analysis and recommendations."

Sen. Barack Obama, representing Illinois and a Democratic presidential hopeful:

"Changing the definition of success to stay the course with the wrong policy is the wrong course for our troops and our national security. The time to end the surge and to start bringing our troops home is now – not six months from now. The Iraqi government is not achieving the political progress that was the stated purpose of the surge, and in key areas has gone backwards. Our military cannot sustain its current deployments without crippling our ability to respond to contingencies around the world. It’s time for a change of direction that brings our troops home, applies real pressure on the Iraqis to act, surges our diplomacy, and addresses Iraq’s urgent humanitarian crisis. I can only support a policy that begins an immediate removal of our troops from Iraq’s civil war, and initiates a sustained drawdown of our military presence."

Rep. Dennis Kucinich, representing Ohio's 10th District and a Democratic presidential hopeful:

“This report to Congress represents a 4th quarter strategy to delay the inevitable. General Petraeus has been tasked with stalling Congress to keep the troops in the middle of a civil war.

“General Petraeus has failed to give Congress an independent assessment of the Iraq War. His statement sounds like the President’s talking points.

“Congress should not be mollified into accepting pre-surge troop levels. His talk of troop reductions is simply a dilatory tactic to mislead Congress. That is not progress, but a continuation of the failed strategy that has led us to our current predicament. The only worthy response is for Congress to demand the withdrawal of all troops.

“We do not have to fund the war. We must tell the President NO to any additional funding. No legislation is required. No vote is required. We have the money to bring the troops home. It does not require a vote. The only thing required is honesty, integrity and a willingness to end the war.”

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, representing California's 8th District and Speaker of the House:

“Last November, the American people voted for a New Direction in Iraq, but the President chose instead to escalate the war by reverting to a ‘surge’ strategy that had failed four times before. The President promised the American people that this surge would be a short-term effort to provide space for political reform and national reconciliation in Iraq. Today, despite overwhelming evidence that neither goal has been achieved, General Petraeus testified that the surge would last at least until next summer. This is simply unacceptable.

"At home, an overwhelming majority of Americans want us to responsibly redeploy our troops so we can begin to address the dire readiness state of our military and refocus on fighting terrorism around the world. Standing in the way is the stubborn refusal of President Bush to change course, regardless of the facts.

“The President’s strategy in Iraq has failed. It is time to change the mission of our troops to one that will promote regional stability and combat terrorism, so that the numbers of our brave men and women in uniform in Iraq can be reduced on a much more aggressive timetable than the one outlined today by General Petraeus.”

Rep. Roy Blunt, representing Missouri's 7th District and House Republican Whip:

“The testimony delivered this afternoon by Gen. Petraeus and Amb. Crocker was as sensible as it was straight-forward - an even-handed assessment informed by the facts as they exist on the ground, not the politics as they exist in Washington.

“These two honorable, eminently qualified public servants imparted on us today the importance of building on our current progress in Iraq, and avoiding the consequences that would be sure to follow a precipitous withdrawal of support forces from the region. In my view, we should fully and carefully weigh this testimony before rushing to legislative judgment - but we should also reflect on what was said here today and take its observations seriously.

“Not a single member of this institution wants to see our troops stay in Iraq one day longer than is necessary - and today General Petraeus made clear his intention to suggest a modest drawdown of troop levels in response to the successes he believes we have achieved in recent months. It’s a recommendation this president will likely take a close look at, and coming from a man of Gen. Petraeus’s caliber and experience - it’s one that deserves our serious consideration as well.

“Today’s testimony reminds us that our progress in Iraq has not come without a price. That’s why it remains more important than ever that Congress work together to craft a policy worthy of our troops’ continued sacrifice, and consistent with their single-minded determination to succeed.”

Sen. John Kerry, representing Massachusetts:

“It spoke volumes today when General Petraeus said the Iraqi politicians have been sitting on their thumbs while American soldiers sweated it out all summer. Nothing today suggested that President Bush’s eight months of escalation have done anything to achieve political progress in a deadly civil war. The three recent independent reports – from the General Accounting Office, the National Intelligence Estimate and the General Jones Commission - all say the opposite. I am looking forward to hearing from both of these public servants tomorrow during the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee hearing.”

Sen. Claire McCaskill, representing Missouri:

“When President Bush asked the American people in January to support a new way forward, he said this surge was going to be about giving the Iraqi people a chance to stabilize. He set forth himself in that speech in January nine benchmarks that he said he would hold the Iraqi government accountable for.

“Unfortunately, so far, we have not heard enough about why these benchmark aren’t being met, and why is it that we have been able to sacrifice as a country now on the ground for longer than our troops fought in World War II, why is it that the Iraq government cannot take meaningful steps towards securing their own country and living with each other.

“I think there is some good news in what General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker have said today – the fact that they acknowledge that drawing down troops is the right way to go.

“But unfortunately, I don’t think there has been enough conversation yet about something other than the two extremes. I don’t think any of us in Washington want an expeditious drawdown of all our troops in Iraq. And on the other hand, I don’t think most people in American want us to continue to stand in the middle of a civil war. I think there is something in between. I will look forward in the hearing tomorrow, I will look forward to questioning General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker, as I know many other senators will, about what would be in between.

“I think the logical thing is to change the mission, to change our mission from securing Iraq and providing stability to that nation to what we really should be doing which is fighting terrorism. We should be fighting terrorism in Iraq with our troops on the ground, but at a much lower level than we have now. And we should be refocusing our troops in other areas of the world where terrorism continues to be a problem, and in fact is growing because we are bogged down in Iraq. There is a better way than what we are doing now.

“I think that General Petraeus – although I think he is an honorable man, and I think both he and Ambassador Crocker are giving their best judgment – they own this strategy on behalf of the commander-in-chief, and they are obligated to defend it. I think there has to be somewhere in between the president’s stubborn opinion that nothing should change and the position of some on the left who believe everything has to change tomorrow. We’ve got to find that middle ground. It’s important to the American people, it’s important to the men and women risking their lives.”

Rep. Peter Welch, representing Vermont:

"Iraq is in the middle of a civil war that cannot be resolved by the United States military. The uneven progress reported by General Petraeus is tactical progress in service of what is the President's failed military policy. While our soldiers have bravely and characteristically done the job they have been asked to do, they cannot continue to referee a civil war or bring about the political and economic reforms necessary for stability in Iraq.

"Just last week the nonpartisan GAO reported that the Iraqi government has failed to deliver on nearly every benchmark of success put forth by President Bush. The Iraqi Parliament has not passed needed legislation to promote Sunni-Shiite reconciliation, Iraqi security forces remain dominated by sectarian militias, and reconstruction funds are still sitting idle in Iraqi bank accounts. Only in the Bush administration can a failing grade be considered a success.

"It is long past time to end this war and bring our troops home. Regrettably, the President continues to cling stubbornly to his failed policy and appears intent on running out the clock on his presidency rather than admitting the need for a change in course. Congress must use the power of the purse to force a change of policy and end this war."

Rep. Jay Inslee, representing Washington:

“Whether we leave in six weeks, six months or six more years, the result is going to be the same – a result decided by Iraqis. We’ve got to get over the Six-Month Syndrome – that if we just stay another six months with another 600 American soldiers dead, that somehow democracy suddenly will blossom in Iraq.

“We may have had a reduction in violence in some parts of Iraq, but we haven’t advanced in solving difference between Shiites and Sunnis in the last six months or five years. No amount of the administration’s smoke and mirrors can hide one fundamental fact: that there hasn’t been political reconciliation in Iraq, just a continuation of the president’s ruinous policies.

“No matter how effective our military is, it cannot solve the political problems in Iraq. The destiny of Iraq cannot be decided by American soldiers – it only can be determined by the Iraqi people and their leaders. Only Iraqis can forge political compromises necessary for long-term success. That’s why we need a timetable for redeployment in an orderly fashion.”

Sen. Richards Shelby, representing Alaska:

"The Congressional testimony today by General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker confirmed what I saw first-hand in Iraq last month - the surge appears to be working and our troops' morale remains high. However, we must remember there are limits to what our military can do and I remain deeply concerned about the Iraqis meeting their responsibility.

"I firmly believe the Iraqi government must do more to beef up its police force and military presence. In the near term, while I remain open to supporting a reduction of forces, I continue to believe it should be the military commanders and not 535 Members of Congress that should make that recommendation."

Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr., representing New Jersey:

“General Petraeus’ report to Congress was an utter disappointment. Rather than deliver a credible assessment of the situation in Iraq, General Petraeus donned the President’s rose-colored glasses to report a partisan perspective that runs contrary to this federal government’s own independent analysis of America’s military and political accomplishment in Iraq.

“The Petraeus report is just the latest smokescreen in this administration’s public relations campaign to distort the failed foreign policy it implemented to initiate and drive this war.

“The American people are tired of deception and gimmicky military maneuvers. As conditions in Iraq grow deadlier and more costly, we demand immediate relief for our troops. American casualties have grown fifty-six percent higher than in 2006. 264 U.S. troops were killed in July and August of 2007, marking the bloodiest summer since the start of the war. Tax payers continue to pay $3,816 per second to fund the war.

“But instead of addressing such troubling figures, the administration has the audacity to highlight an alliance our military has developed in the sparsely populated Anbar province--home to a mere five percent of the total population.

“Americans are not looking for reasons to keep our troops engaged in Iraq through the summer of 2008, as General Petraeus suggested. A majority of Americans are looking for strategic ways to immediately withdraw them. General Petraeus wasted a unique opportunity to reverse the course in Iraq and stem the deadly results of one of the worst foreign policy blunders in American history.

“We don’t need any more pyrrhic victories or photo opportunities. The mission has not been accomplished. It has only been complicated by the President’s wicked political considerations.”

The 16th annual I-Renew Energy Expo "Harvesting Clean Energy" was hosted by the Iowa Renewable Energy Association and held this past weekend at Solon High School, a facility built with green and energy efficient technologies. There were workshops and speakers on a wide variety of topics and a large booth area where those attending could gain information on Iowa and national groups, green technologies and the latest energy news.

"The United States is projected to need 1,300 to 1,900 new power plants over the next 20 years, which is about one power plant per week," said Kate Schwennsen, who served as the keynote speaker on Sunday afternoon. "Most of this new energy will be needed to operate buildings. By the year 2035, three-quarters of the built environment in the United States will be either new or renovated. It will also lead to the creation of more livable and likeable communities."

Schwennsen is an associate professor of architecture and the associate dean for academic programs in the College of Design at Iowa State University. Her keynote address focused on how buildings are the world's single biggest source of emissions and energy consumption and how designing smartly -- in ways that are more environmentally, economically and socially sustainable -- will lead to considerably less energy consumption and carbon emissions.

The event was sponsored in part by Iowa Energy Center, Alliant Energy's Second Nature Program, Frontier Natural Products and EcoEnergy LLC. There were more than 80 workshops and 70 exhibitors present at this year's event.

On a more personal note, the event was much more pleasurable for our family because of children's activities. On Saturday children were instructed on creating a model solar car. On both Saturday and Sunday RE Advocate Dan Alway assisted the children in creating hot water solar bags and there was a general art room where children could create works of art.

Well, I'd planned to live-blog the presidential forum hosted by Univision tonight at the University of Miami. It doesn't look like that's going to be entirely possible. I had expected both Spanish and English, but it looks as if this is Spanish-only. I will attempt my best, but I'm quite sure it won't be good enough for a discussion on the issues.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson just went off about having to speak English while answering questions. He and Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd are the only ones who are fluent in Spanish and I can see why he might be upset with not being able to answer for himself and having to rely on a translator. (The silver lining, I guess, is that Richardson can tell if the translator is doing a good job.)

The candidates are all answering in English, although their remarks are being over-cast by translators in Spanish. It is difficult to hear anything -- mostly just bits and pieces of the English coming through, if even that.

Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich just received several rounds of applause for his views on Iraq and ending the war now. Illinois Sen. Barack Obama all scored big on this question based on audience response.

Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards is speaking now. Big applause as he finishes up. New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton also discussed the troop surge and earned big applause at finish.

Richardson just spoke about the surge in Iraq, but I honestly couldn't hear a word he said. He did earn applause at the end. Now former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel is discussing terrorism and why Osama bin Laden has not be captured. He earned applause on and off throughout. I caught bits and pieces of him speaking angrily about government agencies.

Dodd is answering the same question, or at least a close variation. The same subtitle is at the bottom of the screen: "Terrorismo." He is cut off (ran out of time?) and applause continues as the moderators move to a question for Obama, Clinton and Dodd on immigration (inmigracion).

Obama answers and is also told to stop, that his time is up. Moving on to Clinton.I wish I could tell you what she just said. The audience sure seemed to like it.

Dodd answering now -- and he also gains nice applause following his answer. Commercial/potty break.

Here, tonight, I've discovered yet one more time in my life I regret taking years of French instead of Spanish. Before the night's over, I'll probably be reduced to describing what each candidate is wearing.

The show is back and there is a beautiful stage background. The moderators, according to the title at the bottom of the screen, are continuing to ask about immigration: "Inmigracion: Trabajaria en reforma migratoria?" Kucinich is answering and receiving applause sprinkled throughout his answer -- big applause at the end.

Same question is to Richardson -- "freedom, diversity" I hear him say. He's discussing our nation's relationship with Mexico and how jobs need to be created there. If the bits I'm picking up are correct, this sounds like a portion of the stump speech he has given in Iowa. Lots of laughter and applause at the end.

Same question to Edwards. I still think he should have his eyes checked. Maybe the bright lights hurt them, but he really seems to blink a great deal. His right eye looks like its lid is sitting lower. Polite applause for Edwards when he finishes answering.

Gravel's translator is quite good -- trying to raise his emotion level to match Gravel. That's no small feat. Applause once during answering and once afterward for Gravel.

Clinton, of course, has a female translator. I can't make out even bits of what she's saying, although she has great hand gestures while talking. The gestures are very open, at one point extending her left arm up and out rather like the statue of liberty.

Same question to Dodd. He's also very animated with lots of hand gestures. His voice is going up as he discusses the money being spent in Latin America as compared to the money being spent in Iraq. The audience loves what he had to say.

The audience was quiet as Obama responded... reverent might be a better word. He received good applause following his answer.

Staying on the topic of immigration, we're back to Gravel. Suspenderia las redadas federales? Gravel is keeping his voice controlled this time and receives applause when he is complete.

Richardson has same question or a close sister. The screen bottom remains the same. Richardson is raising his voice now... speaking forcefully with direct hand gestures. He looks relaxed tonight, but more so than he has in previous debates.

New question concerning immigration for Edwards: Son necesarios trabajadores indocumentados? (Is that a question about deporting undocumented workers?) Edwards blinking is really bothersome. Even if he were speaking in English, I think I'd be transfixed by his eyes. Time's up for him in this round and he receives nice applause from the audience.

Kucinich, who has by far received the most audience response tonight, is answering now. He gets fired up at the end of his answer and gets appropriate audience response.

New question to Clinton: Como frenaria sentimientos antihispanos?

Clinton also looks really relaxed tonight. She's literally leaning with her right arm on the podium, using her left to make gestures and sometimes patting the top of the podium.

Same question to Obama and he receives nice applause at the end.

Edwards is up again and also answering the "anti-hispanic" question. He receives applause after his first sentence or two. He's now giving a portion of his Iowa stump speech and ticking off those his administration would help -- the poor, the disenfranchised. Good applause when he is done.

We are moving on to Latin America topics. First question to Richardson: "Amenaza tendencia izquierdista a EE.UU.?" I don't have even a guess on this one. Richardson mentions Chili in his answer -- that's the only piece I picked up. Polite applause when he is done.

Dodd has the same question. "We need to engage," says Dodd. This should be a topic he does really well with given his Peace Corps service in Guatamala. Big, big positive audience response when he completes.

Question to Edwards: "Considera a Chavez un dictador?" Edwards took a few moments to consider this question before he began answering. Edwards' answer includes thoughts that the United States should be a force for good in Latin America. Polite applause when he is complete.

Gravel has the same question. His translator is once again working to keep up. Gravel is a very animated speaker and his voice is escalating as he talks. Something at the end about "You don't... with your enemies."

Question to Clinton: "Que pasaria en Cuba sin Fidel Castro?" She says, "That requires us to work with the entire hemisphere." She's discussing "misguided bullying policies" and gets HUGE applause and response from the audience.

Same question to Dodd. It's very difficult to hear anything Dodd is saying in English with the translator speaking. The audience, however, is responding. "We need safety and security," he says.

Back to Kucinich with a question about education: "Que puede hacer para frenar la desercion escolar?" He receives a big audience response in the middle of his response and keeps going. "If you don't stand for education, what do you stand for?" He receives probably the biggest response of the night so far with his answer on this question.

Same question to Obama. He is hitting on early childhood education and school construction. For the first time tonight -- at least I think it was the first time -- he receives audience response during his answer. He is also given good audience response at the end.

Richardson has a new question: "Reduciria educacion bilingue la desercion escolar?" He receives a big "hoot" from the audience in the middle of his response. From the bits I can hear, I believe he is discussing initiatives used in New Mexico.

Commercial/potty break -- take two.

That was a quick break. Back with a question to Obama on the Medica (healthcare?): "Por que es tan dificil el acceso al cuidado medico." He receives a big response and continues and then receives a big response at the end.

New question to Richardson: "Como resolveria el problema en un ano?" He is talking about lowering Medicare from 65 to 55 and hammering on early prevention. He is also interrupted with audience response and receives a big response at the end too.

New question to Dodd: "Como incluiria a los indocumentados?" He's hitting his experience with the Family Medical Leave Act and receives an amazing response in the middle of his answer. A big finish for Dodd and he receives good audience response for his efforts.

Question to Clinton: "Que aprendio para tener exito?" I think she made a quick joke/witty remark at the beginning based on the audience reaction, but I'm not sure what it was. She has both hands and arms going during this response, no longer leaning on the podium, no longer smiling. Good response for her answer when she is complete.

Question to Gravel: "Como aplicaria su experiencia personal en la solucion?" I can't hear a word Gravel is saying in English, but his hands are going up and down as he makes his points. Lukewarm applause for him when he completes.

Question to Edwards: "Es necesario aumentar impuestos?" He said one sentence and was given a good audience response. He is discussing universal healthcare and seems to be hitting on drug companies. "We need to do this to bring about the change we need for universal healthcare." Nice audience response at the end for him.

Question to Kucinich: "Por que nadie lo puede arreglar?" For what it is worth, Kucinich and Gravel are the only candidates to be wearing red tonight. All others, including Clinton, are decked out in blue. He says "We need to challenge the insurance companies." He gets a big response at the end and the moderators need to remind him his time is up.

A question on the economy (economia) for Clinton: "Como evitaria que propietarios pierdan sus casas?" I know Clinton mentioned Chris Dodd in her answer... that came through loud and clear. Not sure if she is agreeing with him or attacking him. Audience responds with polite applause when she is done.

Same question to Obama. The camera keeps pulling back while Obama is talking to include both Obama and Clinton in the same shot. No clue what Obama said, but he receives polite applause when he is done.

Question to Richardson: "Caul es la mayor contribucion hispana?" Richardson begins by saying he believes Latinos are the heart of America. Good question for him because he can continue to include himself in his answer... "we are this... we are that..." It allows him to make a major connection to the audience that others are not afforded. He's now being cut off and the question goes to Dodd.

Dodd is discussing the American dream and how it applies to all people. "It should not be denied to anyone." Loud applause for Dodd.

Same question to Gravel who is answering slow and deliberate, with lots of hand gestures for good measure. Now his voice is beginning to rise again. Good applause for Gravel when he is done.

Same question to Edwards who is discussing "richness, depth and diversity." Just my guess here, but I bet he's mentioning his father the mill worker during this answer. Applause for Edwards when he complete.

Same question to Kucinich. This is about all people everywhere, he says. He adds that we need to unlock the power of the human heart. Loud applause for him once he completes.

Same question to Obama. I believe Obama is drawing together how all families are the same -- no matter their color they "are waving American flags." Nice applause for him once he finishes.

Same question to Clinton. I believe she will be the last to answer this question. She also appears to be drawing the similarities between all the people in America -- their values, their wish to provide for families, etc. Really huge response for Clinton once she finishes.

The two moderators are center screen and I'm thinking this might be the end of the forum. It will be interesting to see if any of the talking heads pick up on anything done during this forum tonight or if it will simply be ignored because of the language differences.

Since I cannot tell you who did the best on the issues, I will tell you that I think Kucinich and Dodd did the best based on audience response. Two others high in the rankings are Richardson and Clinton. The audience seemed almost cold to Obama and Gravel. They were lukewarm to Edwards and that surprised me.

As far as I can tell, no candidate made any serious gaffes... at least there was no outward booing from the audience. I'm not sure how the Latino community in Iowa and elsewhere will react to Delaware Sen. Jo Biden not participating in this forum.

Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, has some new shoes to fill in the beltway this fall.

Shortly before the August recess, Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minnesota, who serves as chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, tapped Braley for service as the vice-chairman of the subcommittee on highways and transit. Braley will serve as second-ranking majority member of the subcommittee, led by Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon.

"I am excited to be named vice-chairman of this subcommittee," Braley said. "It will allow me to have greater input on important transportation projects in Iowa and across the country. I look forward to working to promote the increased use of renewable energy and helping Chairman DeFazio tackle the important issue of highway safety in the wake of the Minneapolis bridge tragedy."

House rules require a vice-chairman from the majority party to be named to each committee and subcommittee to preside when the chair is not present.

Braley made history in January when he became the first freshman congressman from Iowa picked to chair a committee or subcommittee since 1959. He will continue to serve as chairman of the Subcommittee on Contracting and Technology, which is under the House Committee on Small Business.

"These committee assignments allow me to have a direct impact on the needs of eastern Iowa, from strengthening our economy on the Small Business Committee, to promoting ethanol on the Transportation Committee, to investigating government waste, fraud and abuse on the Oversight Committee," he said.

Although 364 Iowa school districts will have school leaders on the ballot this Tuesday, if history is any indicator, only about 6 percent of eligible voters will take time to voice their opinion. A new initiative launched by the Iowa Association of School Boards hopes to change that.

In 2000, an IASB survey indicated average voter turnout for school board elections hovered around 10 percent and was on par with general elections. The same survey this year indicated the number had slipped to about 6 percent.

"When these numbers from the auditors came back showing that -- depending on district -- turnout numbers ranged from about 4 to 6 percent it was disconcerting," said Jennifer Huffman, communications specialist for IASB. "You don't want to just assume the decrease represents a citizen's lack of awareness for the importance of school governance or a lack of interest in public education."

Huffman says the decrease in voter turnout combined with a difficulty some districts were having finding qualified candidates have led to some county auditors and state legislators to call for a change in the school board election process.

"There are some who have expressed a desire to combine the school board elections with November general elections," she said. "For many reasons, IASB wants the school board elections to remain annually in September."

Non-matching school and city boundaries, voters living in unincorporated areas, partisan politics being a part of general elections and potentially high turnover rates for school board members are just a handful of the reasons the IASB lists for keeping the school board election process in September. In order to keep the elections where they are, Huffman says the ISAB began discussing what they could do to increase voter turnout. A key component to that discussion was the fact that many school districts were having trouble convincing qualified candidates to run for the no-pay volunteer post.

"Back in April or May we began brainstorming the types of things we could be doing throughout the year to encourage people to run for school board," she said. "We partnered with the Farm Bureau, parent-teacher organizations and local chambers of commerce and requested they encourage their civic-minded membership to run for school board. The second part of the campaign we decided to invest some money -- something we had never done before -- for a radio campaign."

The 60-second radio spot, developed by Brownfield Communications as a part of IASB's "Care About Children" program, has been running on more than 70 stations throughout 93 counties since Aug. 27. Radio was chosen both because of it being economical and its ability to reach some of the state's rural areas. The ad highlights four of Iowa's school districts in an attempt to bring awareness to the varied and positive roles school boards can play within a district and a community. Those districts are Ogden, Sioux City, Louisa-Muscatine and Mount Vernon.

Listen to the ad:

Huffman says the four districts were chosen based on their individual excellence and innovative initiatives.

"Sioux City earned last year's T.E. Davidson Award, which goes to a school board every year that we recognize for its accomplishments and increasing student achievement," she said. "The Mount Vernon board was this year's recipient of the award for the stellar things they are doing in their district. We highlighted Ogden because they are one of the early pioneers for working within their community and with their community partners to set up a preschool program within their school system. Louisa-Muscatine has just been doing amazing things with technology in their schools."

In addition to the ad buy, Huffman emailed a copy of the audio file to many key members throughout the state and asked them to forward the file to their friends and neighbors. While not everyone who received the ad ended up forwarding it along, she says some good has still come from the grassroots effort.

"We have some school districts who have placed the file on their websites," she said. "These are baby steps. I knew we weren't going to increase voter turnout to 15 or 20 percent in a three- or four-month period of time and with one radio campaign. It's still a new and valuable way to present what school boards are doing for their districts. Hopefully, they'll be fired up and wanting to do more of it."

At the end of the day, Huffman says she is just hoping the work the IASB has done to find qualified candidates and to increase awareness of school and student excellence will translate to more people coming to polls on Tuesday.

Karen Hanretty, deputy communications director for the Fred Thompson presidential campaign, wrote on The Hill's Political Pundit that "it's time to put America first and make Iowa go last."

This move, she said would bring about an end to expensive ethanol subsidies and allow those monies to be used elsewhere, indicating infrastructure as her preference.

Hat tip to Jay Wagner at Iowa Independent.

Assistant House Majority Leader John Whitaker, D-Hillsboro, announced his support of Delaware Sen. Joe Biden. All the goodies on this endorsement were written up by T.M. Lindsey at Iowa Independent. It's a good endorsement for Biden both on the Iowa and the military fronts since Whitaker's son is currently serving in Iraq.

Dean Barker of Blue Hampshire has formally endorsed Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd. While this probably won't get a whole lot of play here in Iowa, it's an important endorsement for Dodd in the Granite State.

Gov. Chet Culver is announcing today the launch of five new AmeriCorps in Iowa, bringing the total number of programs serving the state to 13.

"AmeriCorps members are tackling our toughest problems, strengthening our communities and improving the civic life of our state," Culver said in a prepared statement. "I congratulate all of the organizations receiving these grants and thank all those who have answered the call to service by joining AmeriCorps."

The new programs will focus on reducing child abuse, mentoring of adjudicated delinquents with learning disabilities, enticing volunteers, serving under-resourced urban communities and expanding services to victims, offenders (upon re-entry) and their families.

"AmeriCorps is a grant-funded program," said Kristin Honz, program officer for the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service. "The new projects that are funded receive their resources from the federal funding agency. These organizations applied last winter and were notified earlier this spring and summer that they were selected."

She added that all Iowa programs start on Sept. 1, so the press release about the new programs was timed to be in conjunction with the start dates.

The five new programs are AmeriCorps Partnering to Protect Children (statewide child abuse prevention), Each One Reach One AmeriCorps Program (correctional services in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City), 2007 Planning Grant (Graceland University outreach), Iowa Campus Compact (Wartburg College outreach), and AMIGOS - Woodbury County Services Project (Siouxland Human Investment Partnership in Sioux City).

Often described as a domestic Peace Corps, AmeriCorps is a federally funded program that enables Americans ages 17 and over to commit a significant amount of time to voluntary service designed to meet community needs. In exchange for one year of service, AmeriCorps members receive a small living allowance and an education award to help finance their college education, vocational training or assistance in paying off student loans.

AmeriCorps is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service. The Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service oversees the program as well as other volunteer and service opportunities in the state. More information can be found by visiting volunteeriowa.org or by phoning 1-800-308-5987.

It's a story that catapulted Iowa into the national spotlight, changed state law and continues to draw awareness to human trafficking. It's a recurring nightmare for parents across the nation... and a living nightmare for Noreen Gosch that has unwillingly launched her into a life of public service.

On this day 25 years ago, Johnny Gosch left his home to work his Des Moines Register paper route. What happened after that has been the subject of speculation. According to Noreen Gosch, two men approached him, he was thrown into a vehicle and kidnapped.

"Last September I received a packet of photographs," Gosch said during an abuse prevention conference in Cedar Rapids. The image of a young boy, hog-tied and wearing only his underpants and socks illuminated the wall beside her. "This is my son Johnny near the time when he was kidnapped. His is still 12-years-old in this picture."

Gasps and sobs filled the hotel conference room on that day in May, but Gosch stood in quiet testimony to what she believed happened to her son 25 years ago.

"I knew immediately it was my son and it has also been confirmed by forensic specialists at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children who have examined and compared [the photos] with existing pictures I had," she said.

West Des Moines police are no longer tracking the origin of the photos, reports the Register. They stopped after a Florida investigator said the photos stemmed from a case he investigated prior to Johnny's disappearance.

Early this morning, Gosch wrote a personal note to her son on the website she created in his honor.

"You are loved and missed by all of your family," she wrote. "It is important for you to know that we have tried everything possible to bring resolution to your case, to make it safe for you to live your life. All of the information which we have researched and collected has been given to the FBI, it is in their hands now... If nothing is done then we will all know that they did not go forward with it.

"My hope is that the latest report saying you are still alive is true and that one day we will be able to see each other again."

She also posted a list of the things she knows 25 years after her son was kidnapped. She begins the list with noting how it all feels "like it was yesterday."

Gosch believes her son was taken for the purpose of satisfying pedophiles, that he was sold into a human trafficking network. She's had reports that he is alive and living in fear his life will be ended by those who wish to silence his knowledge of the trafficking network. And, of course, that the photos sent to her last fall are of her son and were taken shortly after he was kidnapped.

A month after Johnny was taken, Noreen founded The Johnny Gosch Foundation and developed a program called "In Defense of Children." She has toured the nation, providing nearly 1,000 personal appearances on missing children, law enforcement, human trafficking and overall awareness. On July 1, 1984 a bill she authored -- the Johnny Gosch Bill -- was passed into Iowa law. It mandates immediate police involvement when a child is missing. It has since been adopted by eight additional states.

That same year, she traveled to Washington, D.C. and testified before Congress as a part of hearings on organized crime. Her testimony led to death threats and also, in part, the eventual establishment of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. She was invited by Pres. Ronald Reagan to the opening and dedication of the center.

She has also worked on two documentaries, one for HBO and another for the State Department. Her story and Johnny's story was the focus of a book, "Why Johnny Can't Come Home" that originally published in 2000.

A graduate of Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School has died from injuries he received while serving in Iraq.

Army Sgt. Kevin Allan Gilbertson, 25, is the son of Don Gilbertson of Palo and Keeley Unash of Cedar Rapids, the Gazette is reporting this morning. Nina, his wife, and the couple's 8-month-old son, Tommy, live in Germany.

Gilbertson was on foot patrol during his second tour in Iraq when he was shot by enemy forces on Aug. 29 in Ramadi. He was taken to Landstuhl in Germany where he subsequently died. Funeral arrangements are pending at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home.

As always, our deepest condolences and heartfelt thanks to the family.

John Miller is reporting for the Associated Press that IDAHO (not Iowa) Republican (not Democratic) Sen. Larry Craig is reconsidering his decision to resign from his post on Sept. 30.

A spokesperson for the senator is citing legal reasons for the change of heart.

On Aug. 27 Roll Call reported that Craig had been arrested for lewd conduct in a men's bathroom at a Minnesota airport on June 11, and that he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct on Aug. 8. As a result of the controversy surrounding his arrest and guilty plea, Craig announced his resignation from the Senate at a news conference three days ago on Sept. 1.

In other more important news, Mattel has issued its third toy recall.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Mattel announced the new recall just minutes ago. The recall includes roughly 700,000 Chinese-made toys that have excessive amounts of lead paint. Most are Barbie accessory toys that were manufactured between Sept. 30, 2006 and Aug. 20, 2007. It also includes 8,900 different toys from the Fisher-Price brand that were sold worldwide during July and August.

Lead can cause brain damage when ingested by young children.

Iowa's unemployment tax rate table will remain unchanged for 2008. This marks the sixth consecutive year the overall rate has remained steady, according to state officials.

Iowa Workforce Development is the state agency charged with collecting unemployment insurance taxes from employers and operating Iowa's unemployment insurance payment programs for workers. Unemployment tax rates are based on wages and recent unemployment benefit payments. Due to the design of Iowa's unemployment tax system and Iowa Workforce Development's oversight of the trust fund, no increase is anticipated.

In the state of Iowa, there are eight tables that each have 21 rankings. Rates vary from 0 to 9 percent on table one and 0 to 7 percent on table eight. Table one collects the most tax, and table eight collects the least tax. The table in effect is determined by a formula that considers the total funds available to pay benefits on the rate computation date, the total wages paid by all contributory employers during the first four of the five calendar quarters immediately preceding the rate computation date, and the highest 12 consecutive month benefit cost ratio during the 10-year period ending on the rate computation date. The bottom line is, in calendar 2008, the tax rate will continue to be calculated by using table six.

"The state has our commitment to carefully manage the trust fund in the coming year to continue this beneficial trend for Iowa businesses," said Elisabeth Buck, director of Iowa Workforce Development. "Iowa has one of the lowest unemployment insurance tax rates in the nation. Nearly half of our employers have a zero percent rate, and, of the remaining employers, over 75 percent pay less than 1 percent."

At the beginning of the year, Iowa Workforce Development launched the Unemployment Insurance Tax System, which allows employers doing business in Iowa to electronically file the quarterly employer's contribution and payroll report and pay unemployment insurance contributions online. Many employers throughout the state have logged on to take advantage of electronic filing and online bill-pay services.

As if my children didn't have enough national deficit to pay off, Reuters is now reporting that former Iowa Republican Congressman Jim Nussle has been confirmed as the nation's new budget director by a vote of 69-24.

Nussle will replace Rob Portman as the director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Prior to the confirmation, presidential candidate and Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd issued the following statement:

“The first way out of a ditch is to stop digging. Unfortunately, appointing Jim Nussle as OMB Director is another example of President Bush digging our nation in deeper. As a Congressman, Mr. Nussle has a long record as one of the chief architects of the President’s failed economic agenda. Under this President’s watch, our nation has squandered its surplus and has run record deficits. At the same the President’s economic policies have failed the American people. The typical American family earns less in real wages today than they did when the President took office. More Americans are without health insurance and for those that are fortunate to have health insurance, it has never been costlier. The cost of sending your children to college – the key for their economic security and the nation’s future prosperity – is skyrocketing and is in danger of becoming out of reach for many families. Gas prices have more than doubled, our roads and bridges are literally collapsing and the President fails to fully fund our nation’s infrastructure. Of course, the President still refuses to include the real costs of the war in Iraq in his budget.

“Congressman Nussle’s record in support of the President’s failed economic policy inspires little confidence that he will do what is really needed for America. Instead of continuing to pursue failed policies, we need to do an about face. The budget is a set of priorities, and this Administration’s priorities are all wrong. Until the Administration realizes this, I do not think we will see the change that America needs to put us back on the right track.”

To date, no formal statements on the confirmation has been release by the presidential hopefuls. They'll be posted here as they come down the pipe.

~~~UPDATE~~~

The Register is reporting that both of Iowa's Senators, Chuck Grassley and Tom Harkin, voted to approve the confirmation.

~~~UPDATE~~~

Radio Iowa ran the following statement from Nussle:

"I am humbled and honored to be confirmed as Director of the Office of Management and Budget. I thank the U.S. Senate for their broad, bipartisan support and will continue to work with members in both chambers of Congress on the important responsibility of delivering results for taxpayers.

"I look forward to helping to develop and implement the President's agenda by working with Congress on our common goal of balancing the budget and making government more efficient. This includes working with our agencies to ensure they are well managed so that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely, or not at all.

We also need to hold the line on spending to maintain a pro-growth, low-tax environment that allows American workers to keep more of their hard-earned money. I am also committed to continuing efforts with Congress to responsibly address our Nation's biggest long-term fiscal challenge – the unsustainable growth in entitlement spending. It's a privilege to have the opportunity to work on these important issues on behalf of the President and with a tremendously talented group of professionals at OMB. As always, I want thank my family for their ongoing support of my public service."

While polls in Iowa and the nation don't show their chosen candidates as front-runners, former Minnesota Congressman Rick Nolan and Iowa Rep. Mike Reasoner say the American people should stop and remember history.

"Of course there is some concern there," said Nolan, who has been traveling Iowa as a surrogate for Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd. "But, having said that, this time four years ago Joe Lieberman was the leading Democratic candidate here in Iowa, and shortly after that Dick Gephardt was the leading candidate and then Howard Dean was the leading candidate. The same has been true for other Democratic candidates -- Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, John Kennedy. Dodd is now right about where all of those winners were."

Reasoner, D-Creston, has been stumping on behalf of Delaware Sen. Joe Biden and also believes the lessons of four years ago are important.

"I believe, if you look back, Howard Dean was the odds-on favorite as the Democratic Party's nominee," he said. "John Kerry was not necessarily the person to beat. Likewise, John Edwards was not a front-runner. They were both back in the pack, but then they emerged in the late fall before the caucuses four years ago. That's exactly what I think you're going to see Senator Biden do, too."

Confidence, said the surrogates, comes from knowing Iowa will lead the nomination process.

"As we -- people around Iowa -- take our time and get to know our candidates, I think you'll see that instead of having the candidates as a group, individuals will begin to stand out," Reasoner said. "It won't be because they are on television or because of their star name, but because of what they have to say."

Rock stars and their tendency to fade was also on Nolan's mind.

"Iowa has a way of teaching everybody some hard lessons," Nolan said. "We have a great staff and some incredible volunteers here in Iowa. It seems to me after going around the state that Chris Dodd is on everyone's short list although not on as many people's first-choice list as I'd like to see. Many of the people who have chosen one of the big three -- or rock stars -- are very loosely committed to them."

An August poll conducted by AARP supports Nolan's assertion. A total of 5,000 AARP members were surveyed, and two-thirds were found likely to change their candidate preference as more is learned about other candidates' positions. Among Democratic participants in Iowa, more than seven in 10 say they are very (31 percent) or somewhat (46 percent) likely to change their candidate preference as they learn more about the issues between now and the caucus.

When poll participants were asked to rate candidates on how well they have addressed the issue of ensuring all Americans can build financial security for their entire lifetimes, 61 percent said they didn't know enough about Biden's stance and 65 percent said they didn't know enough about Dodd's stance to offer a rating. Ratings in relation to candidate stance on health care met with similar results. Dodd's stance was unknown to 61 percent, and Biden's stance was unknown to 58 percent of those surveyed.

"Should any of these others falter as the frontrunners have historically tended to do here in Iowa, I think we are well placed," Nolan said. "I think we're poised to make something happen."

Iowa's expertise in retail politics is what both makes the difference and confuses the rest of the nation, says Reasoner.

"You see not only the senator but members of his family and individuals speaking on his behalf going around the state to meetings in cafes, living rooms and meeting halls," he said. "Historically Iowans don't get together in groups of 400 or 500 people. Normally, you have five, 10 or maybe 20 people at a time. That's how we've traditionally conducted our caucuses. That's how we get to know our candidates, and that's how we get to identify with them. Just because someone is on television constantly and has name recognition right away doesn't mean that person will have a great caucus night. We want to know what that person has to say. We want to know how that person stands on the issues important to America."

Former Iowa Rep. Ed Fallon will once again take to the Iowa airwaves as he guest-hosts the Mickelson in the Morning show on WHO 1040 AM and WMT 600 AM for a third time this Friday.

The show runs from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and will focus on whatever callers decide is important. Numbers to call the show are 515.284.1040 or 800.469.4295 (toll-free). Fallon says he'll do his best to get every caller on the air, but also warns that the phone lines can get very busy.

Fallon and Lynn Heuss are responsible for I'M for Iowa.

A friend emailed a "Survey for Us Adults" to me two weeks ago and, today, sent me a threatening follow-up message (cleaned up to remove the curse words):

Look, woman, I know you're busy. We're all busy. But if you don't take five minutes and answer my survey, I'll never share lattes or shop Tommy with you again. And, because you took your time about it, I now demand you post it on EE. You really don't want to feel my wrath, do you?

There was more but, as you can see, not only is does an excellent shopping buddy hang in the balance, double-mocha lattes are at risk too. No doubt this is going to help my blog rankings on the search engines...

What bill do you hate paying the most?

Insurance

Where was the last place you had a romantic dinner?

You do know that I have three children? Uhmmm... I honestly don't remember.

Last time you puked from drinking?

This is either going to be a boring survey or a replay of Gonzales' Congressional testimony... I don't remember that either. Years ago.

When is the last time you got drunk and danced on a bar?

Why? What did you hear?!

Name of your first grade teacher?

Mrs. Martin. I have a picture in my scrapbook of being spanked on my birthday by her. (Let's see a teacher get away with that today!)

What do you really want to be doing right now?

Flying through the mud in the Jeep, finding some quiet and remote area and setting up camp

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

It changed all the time. That's probably why I enjoy being a reporter so much. Each day I get to meet and learn something new.

How many colleges/universities did you attend?

Two: a community college during summer and university in winter. I'm working on number three.

Why did you choose the shirt you have on right now?

Well, it's a cami and it doesn't need a bra.

What do you think about the current gas prices?

How in the world am I supposed to give a survey-like answer to that question? I'm thankful I don't have to commute everyday.

If you could move anywhere and take someone with you, where and who would you take?

Of course, where ever I go, the family goes. I'd really enjoy moving close to the beach in Oregon... maybe Seaside or Canon Beach... and it would be a hoot to live closer to my sister Peggy.

First thought when the alarm went off this morning?

I don't use an alarm clock. My body wakes up without one.

Last thought before going to sleep last night?

It's 4 o'clock already?!

Favorite style of underwear?

That's a secret between my husband and I

Favorite style of underwear for the opposite sex?

Again, a secret

What errand/chore do you despise?

Washing dishes

If you didn't have to work, would you volunteer?

Absolutely. I'd go nuts if I had nothing worthwhile to do.

Get up early or sleep in?

Stay up late

What is your favorite cartoon character(s)?

Speed Buggy and/or toys from the Island of the Lost Toys

Favorite thing to do with a member of your own sex?

Talk! Road Trip! Shop! Eat Out!

Have you found real love yet?

Oh yes

When did you first start feeling old?

I don't feel old, but I realized I'd been around a long time when I heard the songs I enjoyed in high school playing on the instrumental station.

Favorite 80's movie?

Anything with the brat pack

What do you get every time you go into Sam's Club?

I don't go to Sam's Club. I would go to Costco, but we still don't have one here.

Beach or lake?

Vacation or residence?

Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual?

No, but I do think it's been an exclusive club for too long.

Favorite guilty pleasure?

Two guys -- Ben and Jerry.

Favorite movie you wouldn't want anyone to find out about?

Rocky Horror Picture Show, but only live

Cowboys or Indians?

Yum!

Cops or Robbers?

Neither

Who from high school/college would you like to run into?

You know... that guy I did that thing with

What radio station is your car radio tuned to right now?

Z-102.9 -- however, my daughter picked the station

Norm or Cliff?

Cliff

The Cosby Show or the Simpsons?

Cosby Show

Worst relationship mistake that you wish you could take back?

It's been so long ago that I don't think I'd change it.

Do you like the person who sits directly across from you at work?

I guess if you call Iowa City sitting directly across from me, I like Deeth just fine.

If you could get away with it, who would you kill?

I don't think I could kill anyone -- unless the person had hurt my children, then I'm nearly positive I could become very violent.

What famous person(s) would you like to have dinner with?

Marie Wilson, Bette Midler, Janet Evanovich

What famous person would you like to sleep with?

Well, that's pretty personal!

Have you ever had to use a fire extinguisher or its intended purpose?

No.

Last book you read?

The last Harry Potter.

Strangest place you've ever brushed your teeth?

A bathroom somewhere in New Mexico that had nasty, horrible sulfur water.

Do you have a teddy bear?

Define "have"

Somewhere in California you've never been and would like to go?

Along the 101

Do you go to church?

Sometimes

At this point in your life would you rather start a new career or a new relationship?

Neither

Just how old are you?

Old enough

Now that I've completely this totally silly exercise, when do I get my latte?

Oh, I've been instructed to add that "all other Iowa bloggers are encouraged to also complete this survey so that we piss ant readers can know them better."

The Diocese of Davenport released a letter yesterday stating that one of its priests, Very Rev. Gerald Stouvenel, was placed on administrative leave July 27. The letter was released by Davenport Bishop Martin Amos and stated that Stouvenel will remain on leave until investigations regarding sexual abuse are complete.

"According to the diocese of Davenport policies relating to sexuality and personal behavior, I have placed Father Stouvenel on administrative leave effective July 27 while a full investigation is being done regarding the credibility of the allegations," Amos wrote.

Amos also encouraged prayer for "all people who have been abused and for the people affected by abuse."

Four people have come forward to claim that Stouvenel molested them more than 30 years ago when they were minors. No criminal charges will be filed since the statute of limitations -- 10 years after the victim's 18th birthday -- has passed.

The claims appeared as part of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy case filed by the diocese in October 2006. Just this week the bankruptcy judge provided the religious group more time to file its reorganization plan. The plan must now be provided by Oct. 1 and approved by the court no later than Nov. 30. The plan is required to describe how the diocese will pay its creditors, most of whom are abuse victims.

The bankruptcy case began amid mounting clergy abuse lawsuits -- claims that had already cost the diocese more than $10 million. More than 150 claims from alleged abuse victims have been filed in the case. It was the nation's fourth diocese to seek court protection.

Stouvenel served the SS Mary and Patrick Parish in West Burlington for 13 years and currently has duties at parish offices that serve the Fort Madison Catholic Community. Although The Hawk Eye is reporting that Rev. Troy Richmond will take over Stouvenel's duties as temporary pastor during the investigation, community documents have not reflected this change.

Stouvenel also served on the Diocesan Youth Ministry Committee of the Diocesan Board of Education as one of six deans. Stouvenel represented the Keokuk Deanery and, based on internet archives, was listed with that title on the Davenport Diocese website as late as yesterday. According to the Quad-City Times, he also served on faculty at Assumption High School. He was ordained on Aug. 12, 1972.

The Davenport Diocese has more than 100,000 members in 22 Iowa counties.