October 2007 Archives

Tonight was a great evening to spend with family and friends. We hope you and yours had as nice of a time as we did while marching from house to house and room to room.

A tradition for our family is a visit to a local convalescent home. It's a way to honor and remember our ancestors, bring joy to local people of all ages and -- because it is Iowa -- keep warm.

My personal ritual is to write a note to myself that lists the things I wish to eliminate in the new year and then burn it. The list was shorter this year, but, I think, held much more substance than in previous years.

Also, I had a leaf fall from a tree today and land on my shoulder. This, according to a guru friend, is a special sign of good fortune and good health in the coming year.

Does your family have Samhain or Halloween traditions?

Last weekend, Women for Obama groups in 29 Iowa communities hosted Women for Change events. At each organizing event, local women met with undecided friends and neighbors in their community to discuss why they believe Obama is the best candidate to transform the country and bring an end to "politics as usual."

“If we want to make progress on health care for all and quality education for our children, then we need a president who can work in a bipartisan way to fight for women and actually get things done,” said Cedar Rapids resident Libby Slappey. “Barack has a proven track record of working across the aisle to pass tough legislation and I’m confident he’s the best candidate to fight for me, and women across America, as President.”

While traveling in Iowa, Obama joined a conference call with women attending the events to speak with them directly about his vision and making progress on the challenges women face. Women on the call discussed the need for accessible health care coverage, child care services, and education. Obama talked about his plan to save the average American family up to $2,500 a year in health care costs and his commitment to health care for all by the end of his first term as president.

“We know there is still a problem when a working mom can lose her job if she takes time off to care for her sick child,” he said. “As president, I will work to enforce the Equal Pay Act, fight job discrimination, and improve child care options and family medical leave. Ensuring that every American has equal rights and opportunities, regardless of gender, has been a priority of mine throughout my political career, and will remain a top priority in my administration.”

Earlier this month, 150 women gathered in Des Moines for a day-long Women for Obama training. Throughout the day, the women learned organizing techniques they can use in their communities. The events are one of the several ways in which women are taking an active role in the Obama campaign by reaching out to their friends and neighbors.

In the last few months, several influential Iowa women have agreed to play a prominent role in Obama’s Campaign including Rep. Pam Jochum, Rep. Janet Peterson, retired Iowa Supreme Court Justice Linda Neuman, Rep. Helen Miller, and Rep. Elesha Gayman.

The presidential campaign for New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has announced the endorsement of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the nation's largest public sector union.

In total, AFSCME represents more than 1.4 million workers. The union has said it has plans to activate a 40,000-member voluntary force and launch a get-out-the-vote effort in Iowa, where it represents 30,000 workers.

The union raised eyebrows early in 2004 when it withdrew its endorsement from former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean. The group, along with the Service Employees International Union, had endorsed Dean in November 2003 when he was the Democratic presidential candidate front-runner in terms of both national polls and fund raising. The endorsement was withdrawn when Dean failed to produce results in early states including Iowa and New Hampshire.

"Clinton has the leadership, ideas and strength to lead America in a new direction and her commitment to working families is unparalleled," said Danny Homan, AFSCME Iowa Council 61 president. "We face serious challenges at home and abroad, and she is the best candidate to restore middle class economic progress, support our soldiers and veterans, and improve the quality of life for all Americans.”

Gerald W. McEntee, AFSCME president, said after 10 months of polling and interviewing members and scrutinizing candidates' records, Clinton stood out from the pack.

“We had the most talented and diverse field of Presidential candidates we’ve seen in years," he said. "But when all was said and done, among our members Hillary Clinton clearly emerged as the best candidate to take back the White House for America’s working families."

Clinton has also been endorsed by the American Federation of Teachers, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, National Association of Letter Carriers, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers and the United Transportation Union.

For those interested in debate coverage, Deeth was in the driver's seat at Iowa Independent with some of us chiming in from the peanut gallery. Commentary was also to be had at the Back Roads to the White House.

There are also, of course, some solo thoughts from Yepsen at the Register.

No doubt there will be more analysis and commentary posted in the morning... well, later in the morning anyway.

My thanks to the organizers of the Biden watch party in Cedar Rapids for allowing me to sit in, use up their bandwidth and share jokes, applause and jeers.

8 a.m. Update

Commentary has been posted by Chase Martyn and T.M. Lindsey over at Iowa Independent. Iowa Liberal has a few thoughts about policy coverage in general.

In addition, iPol has the spin cycle.

10 p.m. Update

More Iowa blogs have chimed in during the day and I wanted to be sure to list them here.

Century of the Common Iowan has thoughts on the winners and losers from the debate.

Babblemur & Akaoni hand it all to John Edwards. Likewise, the folks at Iowa for Edwards were quite happy with their candidate's performance.

iPol says Joe Biden earned the best moment of the night.

Barack Obama's visit to Cedar Rapids Monday, Oct. 29, was a work in contrast as the candidate began the tour discussing his plans for Social Security and ended it on the MTV/MySpace stage, answering questions from college students.

Liz Belden, an Iowa senior who receives Social Security, was happy to start the day with a discussion of the benefits for older Americans.

"When they first started talking about privatizing Social Security, I was against it," she said. "It wasn't too long after that the stock market took a huge plunge. I knew that if a lot of people had invested their Social Security that they would have lost their money. So, I completely agree with Sen. Obama's plan to protect and secure those funds."

Likewise, Chinese international student Elaine Chen, who is not a citizen and will not be taking part in either the Iowa caucuses or the general election, said she was glad to have the opportunity to hear from the Illinois senator and learn more about the American system of government.

"I'm from a different system of government," said Chen, for whom English is a second language. "I want to know how everything here works. This has been a lot of listening -- an exercise for me. But I think it was all very good."

She added that Obama was very "talkative" and that she was happy to hear him discuss many global issues.

Securing a Future for Older Americans

Cedar Rapids retired middle school teacher Myrna Cooney provided the introduction for the Illinois Senator during the morning campaign stop at the Cedar Rapids Public Library.

"I declared for Barack before he declared he was running for president," she said. "I started talking about his authenticity. I sensed his ability to listen to people and to see the common needs that we share. Because of this, I know he will keep our interests at heart."

Obama told the audience of about 150 that he knows social security is often on their minds.

"The issue is a personal one for me," he said. "As most of you know I was raised mostly by a single mom with the help of my grandparents."

Obama said his grandparents worked hard their entire lives and they, like many in the audience, "earned a secure retirement." That secure future is now being threatened by rising costs and government mismanagement, he added.

"Here in Iowa, 95 percent of seniors rely on their monthly Social Security checks," he said. "So, we know what a difference it makes in people's lives. We also know that the system has some problems. Some argue that the problems are so severe that Social Security is fundamentally broken. This is the argument that George Bush was trying to make when he was seeking to privatize the system. That is an exaggeration. It is not true. The underlying system of Social Security is is sound."

According to Obama, the problem is a projected cash shortage that could be solved, but the situation is time-critical.

"If we do nothing, annual surpluses will end in 2017 and the trust fund will then be exhausted by around 2040," he said. "The question is how do we solve this problem. You might remember that this question came up in the last presidential debate. When Sen. [Hillary] Clinton was asked about it, she wouldn't say what she thought we should do. The other day here in Iowa she skipped another chance to answer a direct question on this issue."

Refusing to answer questions -- especially about Social Security, he said, is politics as usual. Then he took advantage of an opportunity to take a direct swipe at Clinton, the junior senator from New York and his most direct opposition in the bid for the White House.

"Conventional thinking in Washington says that Social Security is the third wheel in American politics," Obama explained. "It says that says that you should hedge or dodge or spin on this issue, but, at all costs, don't answer the question. In fact, there was some chatter on the Sunday morning news programs where it was said that it is good politics not to talk about it. But I reject that notion. I think that on issues as fundamental as how to protect Social Security, candidates for president owe it to the American people to tell us where they stand. Because I don't think you're ready to lead if you can't tell us where you're going."

Obama says his approach to Social Security is to steer away from privatization and to raise the $97,000 income cap on the tax.

Speaking to Young Voters

The roughly 250 students who gathered in the Coe College auditorium for the MTV/MySpace presidential candidate forum saw someone a little different than did senior citizens and supporters at the library. Somewhere along the mile-long route between the two locations, Obama lost his tie, although he continued to wear the same dress shirt and dark suit.

The forum -- the second in a series for the cable network and social networking internet site -- featured questions both submitted online and from students in the venue. Those listening were encouraged to answer polls throughout the event to determine how closely Obama's views matched their own.

Obama faced a wide variety of questions including same-sex marriage, foreign policy, immigration, the separation of church and state, waste exportation, net neutrality and No Child Left Behind. The one question which seemed to give the candidate the most pause, however, was what many might consider a softball.

"If you were given the opportunity to make a movie about your life or some aspect of it, what would you call it and who would you cast as yourself and your wife?" asked Tara, a reporter for the Coe College Cosmos.

Obama had not missed a beat when discussing the possibility of a Kurdish state in the Middle East. Ditto when confronted with electronic waste shipped to other countries by the United States. This question, however, left him stuttering for several beats -- and appealing to one of the co-hosts as a time-stalling measure -- before he answered and indicated that the title of his current book, The Audacity of Hope, would be his preferred movie title.

"In terms of who would play me... uhm... I suppose Denzel is already taken," he said. "Will Smith is a possibility because his ears match mine. In terms of my wife, there's nobody that good lookin' -- so, she'd have to play herself."

The question, however, that hushed journalists in the press room was asked by Jeanice Perez, a Minnesota resident who's father was deported to Mexico three years ago.

"I just want to ask a question on immigration because it is very personal to me," she said. "A few years ago my dad was deported, and I've seen first-hand how it can really destroy a family. What are your thoughts and feelings on granting amnesty to illegal immigrants who have been deported but have legal family here?"

Obama said the situation Perez outlined is one of the reasons America has to fix the current immigration system while securing the nation's border.

"We've got 12 million people who are here and we're not going to be deporting all of them," he said. "What we are doing is selectively deporting one or two or 50 or 100, but that's not a way to solve the long-term problem. So, I am a strong supporter of a pathway to legalization for the 12 million people who are already here -- most of whom are here just because they want to provide a better life for their children and their grandchildren."

Those individuals who came into the country illegally would have to pay a fine, would need to learn English and would be placed at the "back of the line" when applying for citizenship. America should be "a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants," he added.

Following the forum, Perez said that she appreciated Obama's response to her question and personal struggle.

"Even though I was a daughter of an illegal immigrant that doesn't mean that I don't support protection of our borders," she said. "It's just hard when you are in a position where you build a life here in the United States and you've paid dues."

Perez said her father had come to America as a young man and had lived here for 18 years.

"He built his life here and it was just heartbreaking because there was no warning and there were no questions asked," she said. "They just came, took him and he was thrown into a country nowhere near where his family was. He was just dumped there. It was very disheartening to see how people are treated when they don't belong."

Her father, she said, is now living in Mexico, keeps in touch with his family here and "is doing the best that he can."

"He has more faith in this country than I used to -- than I did," she said. "He loves this country. It just amazes me and I ask him, 'How can you love a country that doesn't love you?' He says this is the best country in the world."

We can all now officially mark our calendars. Iowa Democrats and Republicans will caucus on the same night: Thursday, Jan. 3, 2008.

The Democratic State Central Committee held a conference call tonight in which membership overwhelmingly agreed to the recommendation put forth by Chairman Scott Brennan. As many have reported, this is the earliest date the caucuses.

Danny O'Brien, Iowa State Director for Sen. Joe Biden's presidential campaign issued the following statement in response to the vote:

“From the day he announced his candidacy, Sen. Biden made it clear that Iowa would be at the center of his campaign strategy. Its retail tradition of politics, meeting voters face to face in their living rooms, diners and union halls provides a level playing field that offsets the effects of celebrity and money. Over the last nine months his commitment to the Iowa caucuses has only grown stronger as Democrats across the state have demonstrated their seriousness in electing a candidate who can win the 2008 general election. Sen. Biden looks forward to a strong showing in the January 3 caucuses that will propel him toward the Democratic nomination.”

JoJo - Too Little Too Late:

Jen at Feministing took offense at a letter/ad sent out by Louisiana State Senate candidate Yvonne Dorsey. There are some scans on the site if you click over. Evidently the main bone of contention is the use of hearts at bullets on the text. My feeling is that it looks a little junior high, but also goes with the the slogan of "brave heart, bold voice."

Red Hog Diary has a write up about the concluding ceremonies of the World Food Prize Youth Institute.

There have been lots of reports about the Democratic State Central Committee conference call scheduled for tonight. It is likely, I think, that the SCC will vote to put our caucus on Jan. 3 along with the Republican Party of Iowa. Also of note, however, is a feeling of disenchantment that this is something being shoved down the throats of the SCC membership.

I guess all questions -- or at least the most immediate -- will be answered once the call concludes tonight. I have expressed my displeasure that this meeting is being done via a conference call in lieu of a face-to-face meeting. I have no first-hand knowledge if others were also dismayed or joyful over the process of the meeting. My thought is that deciding the date of the first-in-the-nation caucus is one of the most important that will face the membership of the SCC -- and not something that is only important in political circles. Because of that, I wanted a face-to-face meeting.

Oh well, you win some, you lose some...

Iowa for Edwards is reporting that the former North Carolina Senator is the first -- at least on the Democratic side -- to speak to caucus-goers in all 99 Iowa counties. Congratulations!

Tony has some interesting thoughts on the subject of electability.

Mainstream Iowan says that social conservative religious leader Don Wilton supported Mitt Romney before he didn't.

Adam has a great video at Iowa Independent showing Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd being interviewed in both Spanish and English.

Charlotte has candidate statements in relation to Magtag closing in Newton.

The folks over at Happy to be from Iowa are asking for a list of 10 bad habits. Not sure if I can come up with 10, but here are mine:

1. Inability to say 'no' -- I've got to quit over-extending myself.
2. Book addiction -- If it was just me, the cupboards would be bare, but the book shelves would be full
3. Smoking -- ugh, I know
4. Procrastination -- I'm sure I'll have time to do that tomorrow.
5. Organization by stack -- I need a better system than having the Girl Scout pile, the work pile, the client pile and the home pile.
6. Chips -- Man, I love chips. Need to eat more veggies.

The Demo Memo draws a line between the California fires and global warming.

Desmoinesdem at Bleeding Heartland wrote this so I didn't have to. Rock on.

Probably most of you have had opportunity to hear the unfortunate events which led to the arrest of 47-year-old Craig McCullough of Cedar Rapids. If you haven't here are the highlights:

• Boy meets girl.
• Boy buys girl.
• Boy travels to downtown building with girl.
• Boy blows girl up.
• Boy removes trousers.
• Boy lies with fully-inflated girl.
• Boy gets caught.

While there are several things of... ahem... interest in the Gazette article about the incident -- such as a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agent finding boy and girl in a compromising position and the fact that McCullough's home was only a mile from the public location -- the most interesting comes in the last paragraph:

McCullough was convicted in 2004 of burglarizing Just For Me bridal boutique, 709 Third Ave. SE. Officers found him in a nearby alley carrying a mannequin wearing a bridal dress shortly after the burglary occurred.

A healthier Iowa is only five steps away. That's the message Lt. Gov. Patty Judge is hoping will spread throughout the state.

Judge and local pediatric nurse practitioner Sharon Yearous held a meeting Friday morning at Mercy Medical Complex in Cedar Rapids to provide the public a view of the recommendations that came out of Judge's Commission on Wellness and Healthy Living. Yearous, a past president of the Iowa School Nurse Organization and an employee at Xavier High School, was one of five commission members who presided over town hall meetings before meeting as a group to develop the wellness plan.

"At the two town hall meetings held in the 2nd Congressional District, there were numerous topics brought up," Yearous said. "I agree with Lt. Gov. Judge when she says that our report is not all-inclusive. There were so many things that were brought up and every point was important. But, as a commission, we had 10 town hall meetings and we had to sort through all the verbal dialogue. The report reflects the steps that we came up with as most important, that should be focused on at first."

Across the state, the commissioners held 10 town meetings that were attended by 459 Iowans. The comments and documents collected from Iowans at those meetings were used to develop the commission's recommendations.

The five steps outlined by the commission are:

1. Remove unhealthy food from schools.
   • Create the HealthVend Program, a revolving school loan program that will allow schools to purchase vending machines that carry only healthy foods.
   • Improve school lunches to provide more fruits, vegetables and lean meats.
2. Improve the health of Iowa's children.
   • Set physical activity requirements for Iowa's schools.
   • Encourage wellness amongst students, including well-child screenings.
3. Encourage more Iowans to quit smoking.
   • Give communities the authority to pass local smoke-free ordinances.
   • Expand smoking cessation programs.
4. Encourage physical activity for seniors.
   • Work with the Department of Elder Affairs and the Department of Public Health to expand physical activity programs for Iowa's seniors.
5. Promote wellness efforts among Iowans.
   • Encourage Iowans to get regular health screenings, including mental, dental, cancer and other preventative steps, and work with the Department of Public Health to connect them to those services.
   • Create a wellness website where individuals can learn about successful wellness efforts across the state, and create their own personal wellness plans, including information on healthy eating, physical activity and health screenings.

Although the commission is providing its findings to the public and the state legislature, there are not current plans to seek money allocations from the state.

"At this point we have not asked for allocations," said Judge. "That is the next step. We are sharing with you the findings of the commission and the commissioners will now put their heads together again and decide what we need to do. They will determine if there are requests or legislative needs."

Judge said the individuals in her Wellness and Healthy Living Commission will now meet with legislators who have been serving on the Affordable Health Care Commission.

"We will try to see what direction they are going," she said. "The legislators have been dealing more with the cost and the insurance aspects. We think there is some room for us to bring these recommendations to the legislators who have been interested in health care."

In addition to Yearous, those who also served on Judge's commission are former Sen. Maggie Tinsman of Bettendorf, Marion County Public Health Director Kim Dorn of Oskaloosa, businessman Art Silva of Sioux City, and Dr. Seldon Spencer of Ames. Spencer, an Ames neurologist, served as the group's chairman.

"The commission is not disbanding because they've given us the report," Judge said. "The issues will continue to be discussed with the commission and ideas formulated as to where we can go and what we should do to address some of the major problems. The five steps are a starting point. Wellness is not going to be fixed in a year. We are not all going to be lean and mean and running machines in a year. But, we can start.

"We can all do better. We all need to do better. This all begins one step at a time."

Every four years Americans hear how the younger generation is going to make its voice known at the polls. While the country has yet to see young people truly come out in force, Iowa's Secretary of State, Rock the Vote and Public Interest Research Group's New Voters Project are teaming up to encourage participation in the caucuses.

Endorsed by both the Iowa Democratic Party and the Republican Party of Iowa, the Rock the Caucus program will use an educational curriculum, volunteer leaders and peer-to-peer outreach to mobilize both high school and college students to caucus for their chosen candidates.

"Rock the Caucus will mobilize a new generation of caucus-goers in Iowa," said Secretary of State Michael Mauro. "Through this exciting new partnership -- which pairs high schools and college campuses with nonprofits and the state -- we can set our youngest citizens on a life-long path of political engagement."

Rock the Caucus will secure pledges from high school seniors and college students to caucus and bring their friends to the caucuses. In high schools, Rock the Vote, the Secretary of State's office and participating teachers and administrators will participate in a mock caucus. The programs curriculum will also be used to teach potential caucus-goers how the process works. On college campuses, Iowa PIRG will recruit hundreds of students leaders known as "Caucus Rock Stars," who will get 20 of their peers to pledge to caucus.

"Across the nation, young voters turned out in large numbers in the 2004 and 2006 general elections -- the first step to continuing that momentum in 2008 is mobilizing voters in Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucus," said Heather Smith, executive director of Rock the Vote.

Young men and women who are 17 can participate in the Iowa caucuses so long as his or her 18th birthday is before the general election in November. Despite this, only 288 people 18 and younger took part in the 2004 caucuses. That's less than a quarter of one percent of the total turnout.

Young Iowans, according to recent polling, are up for grabs on both sides of the political aisle. Young Democrats are most supportive of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, with 40 percent of those polled indicating her as their choice. Sen. Barack Obama netted 23 percent and former Sen. John Edwards earned 15 percent of those polled. On the Republican side, 22 percent of young people said they support former Gov. Mitt Romney and 24 percent indicated they support Fred Thompson. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Sen. John McCain and former Gov. Mike Huckabee were in a dead heat with each garnering nine percent.

"Young people will vote if they are asked to," said Sujatha Jahagirdar, program director for New Voters Project. "It's up to the candidates to sit up, take notice and reach out to young voters."

Polling from Rock the Vote indicates young people are engaged in the 2008 elections, but need to hear from candidates on top issues such as education and college affordability, jobs and the economy, health care and Iraq.

"Young voters need to hear real answers and concrete plans this election," Jahagirdar said. "By hitting the pavement in Iowa, we'll ensure that this demand is heard loudly and clearly at caucus time."

If the crowd at the announcement reception for Rep. Swati Dandekar is any indication, her upcoming pursuit of a seat in the Iowa Senate will continue to be as bipartisan as her past successes in House District 36.

Dandekar's special guest at the reception in a Cedar Rapids home was Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal. He told those in attendance that Dandekar's run had both his blessing and his support.

"I can't tell you how excited I am to have Swati running for a seat in the Iowa Senate," Gronstal said at the Oct. 18 reception. "I'm serious. There was something said before about how many more Democratic members do we want in the Iowa Senate. Thirty-one -- and this is the 31st seat. We want to win this seat. It is the next one on our list."

Gronstal added that he's pleased with the Democrats currently serving in the Senate and that he and the leadership plan to bring back those incumbents.

"That's how we do it," he said. "We don't come in and say that there are six places where we have a chance and then spread resources out to all six of the places. We come together, see the seats we have and ask who's going be our next. Once we have enough resources to insure that one will be there, then we look to see who's going to be next.

"As you know, we now have 30 seats in the Senate. Swati is going to make that 31. We are committed to this race."

The Democrat from Council Bluffs also joked about being warned that there would be Republicans at Dandekar's reception.

"Both my parents were Republicans," he said. "I came from a long line of Republican bankers. I was 14-years-old before I knew damn Democrat was two words."

Dandekar explained to Gronstal and to the nearly 100 people who came to the reception that she has been able to be successful and work for Iowa because of the support of her friends in the district.

"Senator, these are my friends and they are always there for me," she said. "That's why I love Iowa. Fifteen years back we had a chance to move to Florida and I told [my husband] that I was not leaving Iowa. He said 'But you left India for me.' So I told him that once was enough. I am not leaving Iowa. I tell everyone that Iowa is really my home. My friends are my family here."

Dandekar has represented Marion and the surrounding area in the Iowa legislature since 2002. She was the first Indian born American citizen in the United States to win a state legislature seat. Shortly after Sen. Mary Lundby announced in late July that she would not run for re-election in Senate District 18, Dandekar announced she would launch a bid for the Senate. Lundby will pursue election to the Linn County Board of Supervisors.

In a telephone conversation this morning, Senate Minority Whip Mark Zieman of Postville said that only one person on the Republican side had thus far launched a public bid for the seat. Marion banker Joe Childers has announced that he will seek election and has created a website as a part of his bid.

"I know of the one, but I'm not sure if others have also expressed interest in the seat," said Zieman, who admits he's been more focused on harvesting his crops than he has on politics. "We're going to have a meeting next week and I should know more after that."

Just one day remains before the start of the Divided We Fail presidential candidate issue forum on health and financial security in Sioux City. Due to lack of Republican candidate participation, the format of the forum has changed into more of a town hall meeting.

Arizona Sen. John McCain and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee will individually discuss the issues for a total of 35 minutes. The format will also include opening remarks, questions from moderator Dean Borg of Iowa Public Television, Sioux City Journal readers and those selected in the audience.

Unfortunately, this event will no longer be aired by PBS, but there is a live webcast for those who wish to follow along.

Until then, here are opening remarks as emailed out by the McCain campaign:

U.S. Senator John McCain will deliver remarks to an international relations forum at the Des Moines Embassy Club today, Wednesday, October 24th at 6:30 p.m. CDT in Des Moines, Iowa. Below are McCain's remarks as prepared for delivery:

It is routine for policymakers to focus on the events of the day, and nowhere is this truer than in the Middle East, where we confront immediate crises and challenges. It is imperative, however, that U.S. foreign policy not merely lurch from crisis to crisis, but rather approaches events in the Middle East in strategic fashion, with not only our short term objectives in mind, but our medium and long terms ones as well. It is this strategic approach to the Middle East that I would like to discuss today.

The old Middle Eastern order is gone. The "strategic stability" many Americans thought existed throughout the 1990s was exposed as a myth in the attacks of September 11, 2001. We learned then that our notions of regional power balances, of bonds of friendship among governments that engender peace and stability were necessary, but by no means sufficient. We found that American national security depends critically not only on the assiduous management of regional power, but also on the state of domestic affairs in the countries of the region, including those we consider friends.

Today we face a Middle East that remains fraught with challenges. The defeat of the Taliban and Saddam Hussein regimes, and Iran's play for regional domination on the back of high world oil prices and a covert nuclear weapons program, creates new power equations in the region. Some of these trends pose a long-term danger to our vital interests, as our allies and our adversaries perceive a weakening of our will in the face of uncertainty about our commitment to victory in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Make no mistake; we have core interests in the Middle East that must be protected. Middle East energy continues to fuel our economy and our allies', and we remain extremely vulnerable to oil supply shocks. The emergence of terrorist groups and the spread of violent radical ideology in the region and beyond threaten Americans abroad and at home. Shipping lanes vital to global commerce cross the region and we hold the security of our chief regional allies as critical to American global engagement.

The debate over America's future engagement in Iraq and elsewhere seems increasingly disconnected from larger regional trends. Democrats call for a rapid withdrawal of American forces with no consideration for how this would impact America's position in Afghanistan, our ability to manage the dangerous challenge from Iran, the stability of the Gulf, and sentiment on the Arab street. We need a new strategic framework in which to think about a region that has drawn us into three major wars in one generation, that produced many of the terrorists now waging a global war against America, and that has seen, in the past year alone, conflict in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine and Syria.

Recent military successes in Iraq have created new opportunities for a broader strategy that would anchor Iraq in a stable region that is at peace, a region in which Iran's adventurism is firmly contained, and a region in which economic growth and political liberalization can break up the stagnant nature of many Middle East systems. The first goal must be to create a new regional balance of power to address the rise of Iran's revolutionary, hegemonic challenge. Elements of this new balance should be:

• an Iraq that can rule itself, defend itself, enjoy peaceful relations with its neighbors, and represent all its citizens;
• constructive new leadership by our allies in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan to stabilize Iraq and invest in its future as a functioning, unified state;
• the isolation of Iran, using all the instruments of our and our allies' national power;
• intensified pressure on Syria to decouple it from Tehran and Hezbollah and compel it to make a strategic choice for a new relationship with the Arab states and Israel;
• an Israel that is secure and enjoys peaceful relations with the Palestinians and with all its neighbors;
• the success of Turkey as a vibrant Muslim democracy, a continuing friend and treaty ally of the United States;
• the consolidation of state control and reconstruction in Afghanistan, making it an oasis of stability rather than a magnet for foreign intervention and terrorism;
• a greater role for our democratic friends in Europe and India who share our concerns about jihadist terrorism, state failure, weapons proliferation, and the danger a nuclear Iran poses to our shared interests in the region;
• a new economic and political framework for a dynamic Mediterranean community tying North African economies to the West;
• the launch of a Middle East free trade area to tie all countries that do not sponsor terrorism and who are not involved in nuclear proliferation into greater webs of trade and finance with each other and the global economy, laying the foundation for a prosperous future that encourages reform, innovation, and opportunity rather than the despair on which terrorists prey; and
• a continuing dialogue with key partners in the region about the benefits of political liberalization.

A failed Iraqi state would create a vacuum at the heart of the Middle East that serves as a breeding ground for terror, exports instability to its neighbors, draws them into its internal conflicts, intensifies Sunni-Shiite rivalry across the region, and enables the expansion of Iran's influence. By contrast, if, a decade from now, Iraq has a representative government that controls all its territory, has reconstituted its potentially dynamic economy, and has emerged as a constructive regional leader, that Iraq would balance Iranian power and influence neighbors in the direction of liberal reform. That Iraq could prove a more attractive partner to Syria than Iran, decoupling those countries from each other and the dangerous game they are playing in Lebanon and beyond. It would also be an important partner with Turkey as Muslim democracy. Combined with a prosperous North Africa in the west, a progressive Turkey in the north, and the stabilization of Afghanistan in the east, a stable, cohesive Iraq at the center of the Middle East would help that region chart a path of reform and moderation.

Obviously, this future will not be easy to achieve. But it should be our goal. Getting there requires many steps, including a major effort to involve Iraq's constructive neighbors to invest in its success. Today, our allies the Saudis sponsor Sunni insurgents in Iraq in what they view as a proxy struggle against Iranian-backed Shiite militants for control of the country. In so doing, they are hedging against the possibility of our failure in Iraq, rather than contributing to our success. We must demand much more from them in our common goal to contain Iranian influence in Iraq and stabilize it as a unified state. Egypt, a leader in the Arab world, has been missing in action in shaping the course of the new Iraq. I understand that these regimes have concerns about the implications of a Shiite-governed democracy in their midst. But they should understand that the prospect of a failed Iraqi state that exports terrorism, acts as a proxy for Iran, or simply inflames intra-Muslim sectarianism and radicalism, poses a direct threat to their internal security and, indeed, possibly even their survival.

The rise of Iranian power, and America's renewed commitment to a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, give us more in common with our Arab allies. These shared interests provide the foundation for concerted action throughout the region. With Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the Gulf states, our diplomacy must forge a coalition that links the future of a cohesive, strong Iraq to a broader strategy to prevent the extension of an Iranian sphere of influence into the heart of the Arab world. Such a coalition requires a new American military commitment to the region, in the form of security assurances to our allies, possibly including deterrent commitments to defend them against a nuclear Iran, and in the supply of defense materiel and technologies. Such a coalition may also require intensified American economic assistance to our allies in ways that encourage reform and economic integration with each other and the West. As we work to stabilize Iraq and isolate Iran by strengthening friendly states along its periphery, knitting together our allies in new webs of military and economic cooperation is essential to containing Iranian influence and building the prosperous future that is the surest source of enduring security in the region.

Syria sponsors Baathist insurgents in Iraq, supports extremists in the Palestinian territories, is a conduit for manpower and materiel flowing to Hezbollah in Lebanon, and has been implicated in the assassination of leading political figures in Beirut in an effort to thwart Lebanon's democratic future. Syria's national interests seem to run counter to such policies, as breaking out of Tehran's embrace and enjoying peaceful relations with Israel and its Arab neighbors is a far surer path to security. With our Arab allies, we must change Syria's calculus in ways that lead it to judge its regional interests differently than it has in recent years. We can do so not through unilateral concessions or unconditional negotiation which minimize our influence but rather by presenting a new package of carrots and sticks. Working with our European allies, this would involve substantial pressures on Damascus should it continue down its present course, including closing down its access to the international banking network, and but also leave open the prospect of closer economic and political ties should Syria pursue a path of reform, make peace with Israel, and end all support for terror. If Syria's leadership faces no costs for its destructive policies, it will not change course. Making clear that Syria has great incentives to join the region's constructive partners, but will face greater isolation should it continue its current policies, will aid our efforts to contain Iranian influence, check Hezbollah terror, enhance Israel's security, and stabilize Iraq.

There can be no secure future for the region without a secure Israel living in peace with neighbors that recognize its right to exist. U.S. policy must ensure that Israel retains its qualitative military edge within a fluctuating regional balance of power characterized by potential nuclear threats from Iran and Syria and their sponsorship of terrorism against Israeli civilians. History shows it is Israeli weakness, not Israeli power, which destabilizes the region by tempting its neighbors to maneuver against it. Only a strong Israel can have the confidence to strike a permanent peace with the Palestinians, a peace I will seek as President. But such a peace can only come when Palestinians abandon terror as an instrument of policy and show a capacity for self-government. Palestinian leaders must be willing and able to make real compromises instead of using maximalist positions to preserve power. The international community must do more than support the status quo, and truly work to build a responsible Palestinian political order.

Turkey is one of America's most important allies: it is a thriving and progressive Muslim democracy that provides a model for other states struggling with reform and modernization. It is a critical member of NATO that has anchored the stability of Europe's southern flank for six decades. It is a front-line state on Europe's border with the Middle East, giving Turkey today a role akin to West Germany during the Cold War, and it shares a border with Iraq, making it key to stability there. As a maturing democracy, however, Washington will have to get use to voices in Ankara that do not always agree with us. Turkey will no longer be a predictable "yes, sir" partner to the United States. But if we work hard at our relationship, Turkey can become an indispensable cornerstone to a new Middle East.

I was disappointed that many in Congress were ready to legislate a historical judgment of the Armenian genocide whatever the cost to our relations with Turkey. Soon after failing to defund the war in Iraq, they could gravely imperil the pivotal role Turkey plays in supplying American forces in Iraq. Turkey is essential to stabilizing Iraq, containing Iranian power, and encouraging economic and political reform in the Arab world. We should be strengthening our partnership, not erecting new barriers to it. Ankara has an equal responsibility to the judgment of history with respect to the events of 1915 and to the project for a new Iraq today. A unilateral, large-scale Turkish military intervention would destabilize northern Iraq and spur the fragmentation Turkey wishes to avoid. At the same time, we must work seriously to rein in PKK terrorism that is a legitimate concern of Turkey.

I would hope that all who remember 9/11 understand that failure in Afghanistan is not an option. The world must stay engaged there as long as it takes to ensure that it does not revert to a Taliban-run terrorist safe haven. Iran is projecting influence in both Afghanistan and Iraq in ways that challenge friendly governments in those countries. Jihadists everywhere draw inspiration from the Taliban's survival. American credibility, the containment of Iran, and our hope for lasting regional peace demand the Taliban's permanent defeat. NATO's future is at stake in Afghanistan, as is the security of the 80 percent of Afghans who voted for a democratic future.

Our military recommitment to Afghanistan must begin with greater troop contributions by NATO members and an end to the limitations that hinder their combat operations. We should intensify our training of the Afghan national army, including inviting Afghanistan to join NATO's Partnership for Peace to institutionalize our train and equip programs. We must expand our police training programs, provide greater resources for judicial reforms, and work with our partners to boost reconstruction. The international community should set benchmarks for Afghan governance and hold the government to them. We must also strike a new deal with Pakistan that ends the sanctuaries for Taliban and al Qaeda fighters on Pakistani territory. We will not succeed in Afghanistan if our enemies enjoy safe havens, where they will also threaten Pakistan's own ability to ward off an internal Islamist challenge as well as its neighbor's.

A new Middle East must encompass reform-minded North African states whose proximity to Europe provides a pathway for rapid economic progress and integration with the West. Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and a Libya truly committed to political reform and an end to terrorism could form the southern tier of a new, energetic Mediterranean community that could also tie Israel, Lebanon, and perhaps Egypt into common markets and institutions with Europe. NATO could forge or expand new security ties with these countries. A Mediterranean economic and political community could help put North African and Levant nations on a fast-track to closer engagement with the West in ways that stabilize the broader region and provide a model for their neighbors. Europe is worried about the problems posed by immigration from this region; the best solution is creating new opportunities within those countries in education and economics. People do not emigrate when they see a bright future for themselves at home. While there have been the beginnings of efforts from NATO, the G8 and the EU, I believe we need to go further with a far greater sense of urgency.

Ultimately, what we may need in the Middle East is a security structure, perhaps an institutionalized forum at which security issues can be addressed and rules of behavior hammered out. One model to look at might be the ASEAN association of Southeast Asian countries. Over time, such a forum might engage in arms control, develop norms for regional behavior, and exchange information on borders and transnational security threats. Lessening regional insecurities is a critical first step in preventing a domino effect of the spread of nuclear weapons technology generated by Iran's own program. Given the deep political fissures in the Middle East, we should not hope for too much too fast from such a structure. Yet some basic security architecture could help stabilize a region still reeling from past conflicts.

New roles for the EU and NATO in the Mediterranean highlight the importance of increasing our allies' stake in securing a new Middle East. This is particularly true of our friends in Europe and India who share our interests in defeating global terrorism, ensuring security of energy supply, containing Iranian influence, and shaping a new future for a dangerous region on their own doorsteps. We especially welcome France's new leadership in the region under President Sarkozy, as well as Tony Blair's leadership on Palestinian institution-building. Beijing also has a critical stake in Middle Eastern energy supplies, which are vital to its continued rapid economic growth. As China matures as a world power, we will expect it to play a role consonant with its responsibilities. These must include delivering Khartoum on a lasting peace in Darfur, reducing arms exports to rogue regimes, and pressuring, not protecting, Tehran from international demands to end its nuclear weapons program.

With our allies, America should lead in the creation of a Middle East free trade area tying the region's economies to each other, to the West, and to the dynamic economies of Asia. As we have seen in Lebanon, the expansion of a middle class, nurtured by growing economies, will inevitably create pressures for political reform within autocratic states. It is past time for all people in the region to enjoy the fruits of economic modernity that have transformed Asia, for instance, beyond recognition.

If the United States does not actively promote a new balance of power in the greater Middle East that safeguards our interests and values, others -- including Tehran, Iraqi insurgents, and the terrorists of Hezbollah and al Qaeda -- will fill the vacuum. The grave difficulties we have encountered in Iraq are cause for reflection, but not for retreat. Our allies and adversaries are watching closely. They see our commitment to Iraq as a test of our broader commitment to the region and its security. Tehran would like nothing more than unconditional, high-level negotiations with America on the future of Iraq and the region -- negotiations that would signal that a strong Iran, not a weakened America, is the power of the future which nations must increasingly accommodate -- at our expense. Iran is working to defeat America in Iraq. Any regional conference on Iraq's future cannot include states that want to destroy, not stabilize, the unified state of Iraq.

The future of the Middle East will be forged by America and our partners in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Afghanistan, and elsewhere -- not by tyrants in Tehran and Damascus, not by the Taliban, and not by jihadists. While we must work to build a new security and economic structure, we cannot ignore the need for our partners to begin the process of political liberalization. Change is inevitable in the Middle East and the failure to recognize it will only lead to greater problems. Prudently managed, reform in the Middle East will lead to greater, not less stability over the long run.

But, in the short run, we can and must prevail in Iraq to build a new regional order on the ashes of the old. Two generations of Americans have already fought wars in Iraq; we cannot condemn a third to the same fate by letting that country become a failed state in which we must again intervene to secure our vital interests. Anchoring Iraq in a stable, prosperous region must be the purpose of American grand strategy in the Middle East.

In an effort to make sure retroactive immunity doesn't make it out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, the folks at Chris Dodd's site have put a handy citizen-generated whip count:

If the immunity can be stripped there, it will have to be offered as an amendment to the overall bill.

On the site there is a list of the senators that serve on the Judiciary Committee. Citizens are being asked to call and inquire as to whether the legislator opposes the measure that includes retroactive immunity and then report back.

If you are already aware of what's going on, you can stop reading now (and make a phone call or two). If this isn't making sense to you...read on.

If this legislation is passed, telephone companies would be granted retroactive immunity for any role they planed in the Bush administration's warrantless eavesdropping program -- a project carried out by the National Security Agency. The White House and the companies are lobbying aggressively for immunity.

Dodd has said he will place a "hold" on the latest FISA bill that would include amnesty for the telecommunication companies that "enabled the President's assault on the Constitution by illegally providing personal information on their customers without judicial authorization."

I've often wondered why, by and large, feminist women are happier women. I think at least part of the answer lies with a study highlighted by Live Science that shows that having a feminist partner is directly linked to healthier, more satisfying and more romantic relationships.

The original Rutgers University study, which surveyed 242 college undergraduates and 289 older adults, was published in the psychology journal Sex Roles which does not, unfortunately, offer an online version. Still, if you are in a place where you can lay hands on the journal, I highly recommend you do so.

Here are the findings as reported by Live Science:

• College-age women who reported having feminist male partners also reported higher quality relationships that were more stable than couples involving non-feminist male partners.
• College guys who were themselves feminists and had feminist partners reported more equality in their relationships.
• Older women who perceived their male partners as feminists reported greater relationship health and sexual satisfaction.
• Older men with feminist partners said they had more stable relationships and greater sexual satisfaction.

While the study doesn't attempt to go into the reasoning behind this, I have a few ideas. First, I think humans like equals and aren't really keen on viewing a subordinate in a romantic fashion. That is, people like to be appreciated for their talents and skills -- no matter what those might be. To constantly have to fill a single role, however, is tiring and can be, at times, over-whelming. It's an extremely rewarding thing in a relationship when a man and a woman come together on equal footing and with mutual respect.

As for the pure sex aspect, most feminist women I know are extremely in tune with their own bodies. Most know exactly what they like and want sexually and aren't afraid to communicate those desires with their male counterparts. On the flip side, most of the feminist men I know appreciate being able to talk about sex openly with their partners without fear of being shoved nose-first into the naughty-naughty corner. My belief is that there is less shame in feminist relationships.

While he's not willing to name names, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee says his presidential campaign is picking up momentum in Iowa and that he anticipates significant endorsement announcements will be made late this week.

"We've had a big weekend -- in fact, quite a big week -- beginning with the new poll numbers that came out in Iowa last week, showing that we had virtually tied in second place," Huckabee said during a conference call Monday evening, Oct. 22. "I think that was somewhat surprising to many people, but, frankly, not so surprising to us. We have sensed a growing momentum and that was even before Sen. [Sam] Brownback dropped out of the race."

In a Rasmussen poll from mid-October, Huckabee received support from 18 percent of those polled. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney topped the list with 25 percent while Fred Thompson had 19 percent. In addition, Huckabee said his Iowa campaign is now reaping the benefits from the Senator's departure by picking up previous Brownback supporters.

"Our Iowa people tell us that many of his supporters have called and they are coming on board with us," he said. "That's a very good piece of news and we think that our numbers in Iowa will continue to climb."

The campaign is also touting the results of the Family Research Council's Values Voters Summit held in Washington D.C. over the weekend. Although former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney won the straw poll with 1,585 of the total 5,576 votes cast, Huckabee, who spoke last and gave a speech the Associated Press described as a "fiery sermon," earned a close second place finish. When the poll results were separated into groups who voted online and those who attended the summit, Huckabee won support of more than 50 percent of those at the event. Romney, in contrast, pulled only 10 percent of the summit attendees.

"In the overall, [Romney] slightly edged us with 30 votes, but that was with two weeks of email and mail ballots that could be encouraged in," Huckabee said. "For us, the significance was that the people who actually made the effort to get to Washington, bought hotel rooms and airplane tickets and sat through speeches -- we had more votes than all of the other candidates put together and a five-to-one margin over the nearest vote getter. That was extremely gratifying."

For those who watched Huckabee's performance in Iowa during the state party's straw poll fund raiser, the results of summit participants isn't necessarily surprising. Unfortunately for the Huckabee campaign, however, success in straw polls has not yet translated into donations or significant endorsements. (He took in roughly $1 million during third quarter fundraising and while that figure is the most he's raised thus far in the race, it fell well behind the $5 million raised by Congressman Ron Paul, whom many consider to be much less viable.) The tide may be turning in Huckabee's favor.

"All along people have said 'You have to have this much money to be competitive' and they've been quite wrong about it," Huckabee said. "Every figure that has been thrown out there we have not met, but we are gaining ground. We've stayed on our feet. I think I'm the only campaign that has never had a retreat and has never had poll numbers that were better in the past than they are now."

Huckabee said that because of recent good news, his campaign is now seeing the type of results in a week that would have previously been expected in a three- or four-week time frame.

"We're at several hundred thousand dollars just from these last few days," he said. "I have no idea what today is bringing in, but it has been pretty phenomenal."

There was one more piece of good news that Huckabee said speaks directly to campaign momentum: An announcement by Chuck Norris -- or "Walker, Texas Ranger" for TV Land viewers. The martial arts star, a long-time evangelical, writes a weekly column for WorldNetDaily. His entire Sunday article was spent on an endorsement of Huckabee, whom he described as "the only one who has all of the characteristics to lead America forward." The attention did not go without notice.

"One of the things that's getting lots of attention and that we're real happy about is the endorsement of Chuck Norris," Huckabee said. "That just happened -- it was something that came out of the clear blue. I've not had a chance to visit with him or talk with him. I heard about it and checked out the comments he made -- it was very gratifying."

Huckabee said that there is "no truth to the rumor -- yet anyway" -- that if he is elected president, Norris will be appointed head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

"Who knows? Crazier things have happened," he said.

Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd continues to tout his years in public service and his record of accomplishments in this new ad that begins airing tomorrow:

While the Dodd campaign is all a-buzz about his record of results, folks on the Internet are all a-twitter about his recent statements on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Earlier today he was part of a live chat with Jane Hamsher of firedoglake.

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act by a vote of 417 to 0. The bill was originally introduced by Congressman Leonard Boswell and directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop and implement a comprehensive suicide reduction program.

“It is almost with relief that we are passing this bill today,” Boswell said in a prepared statement. “There are thousands of veterans out there who need our help.”

The bill not only requires the VA to develop a program to address the rate of suicide among veterans, but also requires further research, peer counseling, family education and involvement, and education of all staff at the VA.

“The purpose of this legislation is simple—to improve early detection for incidence of suicide among veterans and to provide those veterans with the assistance they need,” said Boswell while speaking today on the House floor in support of the bill.

Joshua Omvig was an Iraq war veteran from Grundy Center who took his own life in December 2005 after an 11-month deployment. The final bill as approved by the House includes minor changes by the Senate.

“I’m very pleased that both chambers have passed H.R. 327, and it’s now ready to be signed by the President,” added Boswell. “A recent article in USA Today reported that the number of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder from the VA has jumped almost 70 percent in the past year. The time to act is now.”

Boswell also made a point of thanking Omvig's parents.

“I commend Joshua’s parents, Randy and Ellen Omvig, who have suffered this personal tragedy, but have helped endless veterans and their families,” he said. “They have advocated for improving all mental health services at the VA and have assisted countless veterans navigate the VA system.”

The President is expected to sign the measure into law.

Members of the U.S. Senate may vote on whether Judge Leslie Southwick will sit on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals as early as today. Due to concerns based on Southwick's judicial record, a coalition of over forty groups that oppose the nomination is encouraging citizens to contact their legislators.

Southwick wrote or joined opinions pertaining to race discrimination at work, to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and to jury selection claims.

• In one case he joined in an opinion reinstating an employee who was fired after calling a colleague a "good ole n****r."
• In other, he joined a concurrrence that argued that losing custody of a child was the "consequence" of a mother's "choice" to be in a same sex relationship.
• In addition, his record of employment law, consumer rights and workers' rights show that he is more likely to find in favor of big business than injured plaintiffs.

Southwick's record as a judge on the Mississippii Court of Appeals has not demonstrated a commitment to protecting the rights and civil liberties of ordinary Americans. His record raises serious questions in relation to his approach to legal issues crucial to women, including discrimination on the basis of race, gender, and sexual orientation, other legal protections for workers, violence against women, and Congress's power to protect the public.

If you believe that prior to being confirmed to a lifetime seat on a federal court, a nominee should be required to demonstrate a commitment to protecting rights and civil liberties, please contact your senator today.

It's been nearly three years since police Altoona responded to a report of a body on public property just north of Interstate 80. The body was Lance Morningstar, 53, of Des Moines, who had been reported missing by his son the previous October.

Shortly after the investigation began, law enforcement knew they were dealing with a homicide. Morningstar, identified by dental records, died from at least one gun shot wound.

Earlier today, the Altoona Police Department, Polk County Sheriff's Office and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation announced an arrest had been made in connection with the ongoing investigation. Louis E. Woolheater, 42, has been charged with first degree murder and currently resides in the Polk County jail pending $500,000 bond. Officials in Beaumont, Texas, where Woolheater was incarcerated on federal weapons charges, have allowed him to return to Iowa in order to face the murder charge.

According to a press release from the Division of Criminal Investigation, additional arrests are expected in conjunction with the case. Police would not speculate as to the number, nature of charges or timing of the anticipated arrests.

Have I ever wrote about how much I truly dislike reality television?

Of the roughly 5,500 members of the Writers Guild of America members who voted this weekend, 90 percent said they approved an authorization to strike if a deal cannot be reached with employers by Halloween. The union has roughly 12,000 members total and Guild officials told the Los Angeles Times that the referendum had record turnout.

The Guild has not authorized such an action since 1988, when a nearly six-month strike cost the entertainment industry half a billion dollars -- and, most importantly, first bridged the way for network television to start offering reality television shows that require no writers.

The disputes have formed over the writers' lack of compensation from DVD sales. Obviously, the writers feel they should be compensated while executives are not so inclined.

For their part, network executives have been preparing for a strike for months and say they will be ready should a walkout happen. They've ordered an unusual number of pilots for next year and have lined up a plethora of reality TV shows, sports programs and shows culled from their libraries to fill the airwaves during a strike.

Oh well, come All Saints Day at least we should have a better of idea of exactly if and when the boob-tubes should be tossed out the nearest window. In the interim we can all ponder the fact that Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore is gay.

Just five short months ago, Iowa native Sara M. Taylor bowed out of her appointment as White House political director, a position in which she answered directly to Karl Rove. Back then she said she was searching for normalcy. Yet, according to a document filed with the federal government at the end of August, Taylor intends to begin lobbying for Ames-based Renewable Energy Group, Inc. Specifically, she will seek to influence in the areas of energy and agriculture with the registration documents highlighting the Energy Savings Act of 2007, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007, Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007, Energy and Advancement Act of 2007 (no link found), and Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007.

Given that Taylor was in Washington, D.C. during the month of July, testifying before a Senate panel that was investigating the firings of several U.S. attorneys, her search for a life outside of the beltway was extremely short-lived.

That same month, Taylor was announced as a partner in BlueFront Group, a private sector advertising and public relations firm. Other firm partners are:

• Sam Dawson -- former National Republican Congressional Committee senior consultant and former senior political adviser to both President George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush.
• Patrick McCarthy -- former deputy communications director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee and former communications consultant to Sen. Strom Thurmond's reelection campaign. He also served as a senior staff member for Minnesota Gov. Arne Carlson.
• Mike McElwain -- former political director for the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Jon Downs, an executive director in two states for Bush-Cheney 2000 and previous member of the Office of Congressional and Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of Justice, serves as BlueFront's creative director.

While all of this may seem more than enough for any one person, the Washington Post reported just days ago that Taylor has signed on with "Designated Market Media, a leading Republican media consulting firm." Although this firm touts the same players as BlueFront, this agency handles political advertising. (BlueFront limits itself to corporate and nonpolitical contracts.)

There continues to be speculation about this new venture, which the Post credits with wins in "closely contested House races in Ohio, New Mexico and New York last cycle." Some believe that the company is the newly resurrected phoenix of Dawson McCarthy Nelson Media and that Taylor is taking over the reins for Terry Nelson, who was implicated during both a New Hampshire phone-jamming scandal in 2002 and as an unindicted co-conspirator in Tom DeLay's money-laundering scheme.

Nelson was since hired by Working Families for Wal-Mart and John McCain's Straight Talk America PAC. He was subsequently fired from the Wal-Mart organization after he was found to be connected with a controversial ad that ran against Harold Ford Jr. in Tennessee. In July, Nelson left the McCain campaign following a second quarter of weak fund raising.

A connection between the two marketing groups is further forged by an Associated Press article that announces Taylor's recent registration as a lobbyist. In the article, Randy Skoglund, a person described as a "principal with Revere Strategy Group LLC," is quoted as saying that Taylor is an employee of Renewable Energy Group. Skoglund was found during 2002 Minnesota court proceedings to be only playing the part of an independent contractor for Dawson McCarthy Nelson Media.

To complete the connection, however, the information provided by the Post about the successful House races must be followed. Two of these are extremely easy to track down:

Deborah Pryce, R-Ohio, spent several thousand dollars with Dawson McCarthy Nelson Media. Pryce garnered 110,712 votes. Her challenger, attorney Mary Kilroy, received 109,657 votes.

In an article listing what he believes are the best ads of the 2006 campaign cycle, the Washington Post's Chris Cillizza highlights an ad for Heather Wilson, R-New Mexico, and notes that Dawson McCarthy Nelson "made the ad and all of Wilson's spots -- some of the best commercials of the cycle." The final vote for the seat was 105,986 to 105,125. In addition, Wilson paid Dawson McCarthy Nelson at least $50,000.

The New York contest is much more difficult to come by. The closest race with a Republican victor was that of Jim Walsh. He defeated challenger Dan Maffei by a vote of 105,235 to 101,322. There are no campaign expenditures to Dawson McCarthy Nelson, but Walsh did pay nearly $1 million to Cookfair Media Inc.

Additional research turned up that Dawson McCarthy Nelson Media represented a total of 11 candidates during the 2006 election cycle -- none of which were running in the state of New York. Three of the candidates the firm represented -- David Kramer (Nebraska, U.S. Senate), Will McBride (Florida, U.S. Senate) and Bill Dix (Iowa, U.S. House) -- lost their bid during the primary contests. Of the remaining eight, the firm split with half winning and half losing their contests. Winners were Wilson in New Mexico, Pryce in Ohio, Peter Roskam in Illinois (House District 6) and Thelma Drake in Virginia (House District 2).

Since it might be of interest to Iowans, I'll note here that the firm represented Jeff Lamberti in his unsuccessful bid for House District 3. Other losses came in Colorado (Rick O'Donnell) and Wisconsin (Mark Green). The final candidate the firm represented was Texan Tom DeLay, who dropped out of the race following a successful primary.

There were three house races in New Mexico. Of those, Republicans won two. The only close race was Wilson's. In Ohio, 11 of the 18 Congressional seats were won by Republicans. Of those, only two were close races. Payne hired Dawson McCarthy Nelson while the other close winner, Jean Schmidt, worked with Wenzel Strategies out of Toledo, Ohio along with other smaller firms. The races in both Illinois and Virginia were equally close, 51 percent victories.

Given all of this I can only conclude that the Washington Post was incorrect when it stated that the states were New Mexico, Ohio and New York, and that Dawson McCarthy Nelson Media has been reborn as Designated Market Media.

What Taylor will or won't do next isn't going to be nearly as easy to figure out.

If you count yesterday's visit from former Ambassador Tom Dodd, the Political Science Club at Coe College has had representatives from four presidential campaigns visit their weekly meeting at Brewed Awakenings in Cedar Rapids. That's the good news. The not-so-good news for the students is that they've yet to have a Republican campaign stop by.

"We've had representatives from the campaigns of Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Barack Obama also visit," said Bruce Nesmith, who teaches political science at Coe and is the faculty adviser for the club.

Nesmith says having representatives from the various presidential campaigns visit is important for these students, all of whom are highly interested in politics and foreign policy.

"For a lot of students who are interested in political activity, the next step is to become part of a campaign," Nesmith said. "What I'm really hoping for them to see is the opportunity of learning how these people -- who aren't terribly older than they are -- how they got where they are. What do they do? What types of things do you do as personnel on a campaign?"

Tom Dodd, who is currently touring Iowa on behalf of his brother, Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, was a different type of visitor from what the students had previously encountered. He served as U.S. Ambassador to Uruguay from 1997 to 2001 and then as ambassador to Costa Rica until 2005. Last year he authored a third book, "Tiburcio Carias: Portrait of a Honduran Political Leader," about the longest-serving head of the Honduran government. In addition, Tom Dodd serves as adjunct professor in the school of foreign service at Georgetown University and has previously taught at the Escuela de Estudios Superiores in Mexico.

The former ambassador discussed how the life of the younger brother he refers to as "Christy" and his own have often been on parallel tracks, despite a 10-year age difference.

"He went into a life of politics and got interested in Latin America as a Peace Corps volunteer," Dodd said. "I went into academic life. But we interact a lot because of his work with the Foreign Relations Committee. I've watched him build many bridges between United States and Latin America leaders. I also watched him build bridges -- such as trade agreements -- among and between Latin American leaders."

Dodd discussed at length the differences between his experiences abroad throughout the years and how the reputation of the nation has been tarnished in recent years. He also discussed his perceptions of life in Washington, D.C. and how things have changed between the two major political parties during the current administration.

"The most telling change in Washington is that years ago, when my father was in the House and in the Senate, there would be debates on the floor and they'd be tough fights between the Democrats and the Republicans on tough issues," he said. "There were bitter disputes, but, at night, in the homes of members of the House and the Senate, you'd find Republicans and Democrats sitting together and eating spaghetti or pasta at the dining room table. Today, members of both parties barely even acknowledge each other in the elevator. Something is wrong... something is really wrong."

Dodd points to a lack of commonality between the men and women currently serving in Congress as at least a portion of the problem.

"Back in those days you had so many who had served in the military or the Peace Corps or in AmeriCorps or similar organizations," he said. "They had shared experiences. They had a foundation that they could build on and forge relationships across the aisle. That seems to be lacking in Congress now."

Nesmith, who plans to caucus but is currently undecided as to whom he will support, says he thought Ambassador Dodd was "great."

"Tom Dodd was funny," Nesmith said. "He wasn't too partisan. They told me that he was very interested in talking about his own career and I think he did that well. He was a good diplomat. I think his preference clearly showed, but it wasn't too abrasive about it."

Alex Kaminski, a junior and political science major at Coe, asked several questions of the former ambassador and said he was satisfied with the answers he received.

"His answers were very well developed," Kaminski said before heading back to campus. "They weren't really off-the-cuff and he didn't babble on for a long time about nothing just so he could be saying something. I thought it was refreshing that he said 'I don't know' to a question. That was nice."

That's fairly high praise when you consider that Kaminski is currently supporting Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo, a Republican in the race for the White House.

"I come as a part of the group and talk to whoever is there," he explained. "I think it's important to find out what everyone's point of view is."

Sen. Sam Brownback's campaign for president has announced that there will be a press conference at 3:45 p.m. (CT) today in the senator's home state of Kansas.

As many blogs have already reported -- and I think the hat tip for being first goes to the Politico -- it is anticipated that Brownback will drop from the national race.

If he does drop from the race today, many Iowa supporters who had signed on to his campaign will once again be put on the political shelf. Some of the most prominent include Iowa Family Policy Center president and former state representative Chuck Hurley, Iowa Right to Life president and executive director Kim Lehman, Grace West Church pastor Bob Deever, Dan Logan of Scott County, Jasper County businesswoman Denise Shannon, Casey's General Store founder Don Lamberti, Dubuque County anti-abortion activist Ellen Markham, River Life Ministries pastor Francis Frangipane, Monroe First Baptist Church pastor Jack McCullough, West Des Moines Crossroads Fellowship pastor James Peterson, Des Moines County physician Dr. Jerry Yancy, Council Bluffs Heartland House pastor Jim Kohl, Pottawattamie County Republican official Jon Jacobsen, former Polk County chairman Kevin McLaughlin, Scott County anti-abortion activist Luana Stoltenberg, State Sen. Mark Zieman, Scott County anti-abortion activist Mary Ann Logan, attorney in Linn County Matt Rassmussen, Linn County anti-abortion activist Michelle Howe, Iowa Sen. Nancy Boettger, Des Moines Walnut Creek pastor Nick Bal, Marion City Councilman Nick Wagner, Des Moines Kingdom House of Prayer pastor Randy Bixby, Des Moines Calvary Apostolic Church pastor Rex Deckard, Marion Wind and Fire Ministries pastor Ric Lumbard, Marion homeschoolers Mark and Marie Scherbaum, Johnson County activist Randy Crawford, Clay County activist Tim Frank, and Ames Stonebrook Community pastor Tim Borseth.

In addition, the following members of the Brownback staff will be searching for new employment if the announcement is made today: Iowa Political Director Jay Heine, Regional Field Director Devon Gallagher, National Grassroots Director Jason Jones, Iowa Caucus Director Billy Valentine and Communications Director John Rankin.

In contrast, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has filed candidacy papers with the New Hampshire secretary of state. More than 75 supporters joined him at the agency's office. Ruth Griffin, an influential woman in New Hampshire GOP political circles, endorsed Huckabee at the filing.

Griffin served as executive councilor from 1987 to 2006 and was the first woman to serve in the house, senate and executive council. She was a two-term Republican National Committee member as well as a member of two Constitutional Conventions. She currently chairs the Portsmouth Housing Authority and is the regional director of the National Foundation for Women Legislators.

Two days ago -- although I only read it today -- a post was made to the official blog of former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel on the Democratic National Committee's party builder network that reads as a direct message to Sen. Barack Obama and former Sen. John Edwards.

In the post, Gravel (or perhaps an official in the campaign) urges Edwards and Obama to continue "to upbraid Hillary Clinton for going along with Bush's impending attack on Iran." In the next sentence the media is accused of "not doing it's job, once again."

The post quickly discusses Seymour Hersh's expose that claimed the Pentagon plans to attack Iran and the media's lack of attention to the issue. After that, the post centers directly on Clinton:

"Despite what Hillary claims, Congress gave Bush the green light to attack Iran when they labeled the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRG) a terrorist organization. Bush can now attack the IRG as a counter-terrorism measure. All he needs is a "Gulf of Tonkin incident" in Iraq that can be tied to the IRG, and he will begin bombing IRG facilities in Iran. Of course Bush will disregard Hillary's resolution demanding he check with Congress before attacking Iran. No president since James Polk has felt the need to check with Congress before "defending" American troops.

"What makes Hillary believe a congressional resolution will prevent Bush from doing anything? A war on Iran has been a neocon dream for decades and Bush sees himself as a modern-day messiah ridding the world of evil-doers. Throughout his presidency, Bush has consistently disregarded checks and balances. He defied a Supreme Court decision banning torture simply by ordering his Justice Department to secretly issue a go-ahead. (The MSM also dropped this story.)

"After Bush launches the planned strikes on the IRG, Iran will hit our naval forces in the Persian Gulf and our troops in Iraq. Within an afternoon, we will be at war. Bush might later ask our rubberstamp Congress for a show of support. But by then any opposition will be moot. The Iranian navy will cut the oil supply of the European economies and a worldwide depression will hit American markets. Other regional powers, including Saudi Arabia and Israel, might be drawn into the war. Within weeks tens of thousands will be dead and that's only the beginning."

Gravel suggests two action items:

1. Challenge Bush and Clinton on the stump -- and challenge Clinton directly during the debates
2. Inform the American public and encourage public outcry

And, just in case my Iowa friends have been so busy chasing presidential candidates that you've missed the latest news, be aware that General Dan McNeill is saying that a shipment of hi-tech roadside bombs intercepted in Afghanistan were from Iran. The drums of war are beating loudly in the United States as Bush issued a warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying Iran having the knowledge to create a nuclear weapon could cause World War III.

New Hampshire State Rep. Julie Brown, who is now serving her tenth term in office, has thrown her support behind former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and his race for the White House.

"I believe Mike Huckabee has the moral character and vision to lead our country, and he espouses everything I believe in; God, country, and family," said Brown. "I am proud to endorse his candidacy for President of the United States."

Brown was one of only two Strafford County Republicans to be voted into a statehouse seat during the November election -- the first time since 1874 that Democrats took control of both chambers. She sits on the Children and Family Law Committee.

Huckabee's other Strafford County endorsements are former county finance chairman Dan Philbrick and Sheriff Wayne Estes.

"I am honored to have Representative Julie Brown's endorsement," Huckabee said. "She has been a true Republican leader in Strafford County -- and I'm deeply gratified to see the caliber of support that my campaign is attracting. I look forward to working with Julie and the other members of our Strafford County leadership team toward a successful primary day in the Granite State."

First into the email box is Congressman Leonard Boswell:

"It's a sad day for America when blind allegiance to an out-of-touch administration takes precedent over the well being of our nation's children. Again, I am disappointed that the President would choose to 'leave children left behind' when it comes to health care."

Congressman Bruce Braley:

“I am extremely disappointed that Republicans in Congress have blocked health care for millions of American children. This bill would’ve had a huge impact on our state, giving health insurance coverage to 26,000 more Iowa children—and 3.8 million more American kids—for the first time.

“Children’s health care is a moral issue. The kids who benefit from this program are those whose parents work hard but can’t afford the high cost of health insurance. These are middle class families, but they’ve been left behind by our broken health care system. Their children don’t deserve to be left behind too.

“It’s frustrating that the Republicans blocking this bill are willing to stand with the President over the health of America’s kids. I’ll be working to ensure that no child currently covered by Iowa’s HAWK-I program has their insurance endangered by the President’s veto. I also expect the issue of kids’ health care to be considered by Congress again soon.”

It was one of those events unique to Iowa's retail politics. Two men, each hoping to be the next person to lay claim to the nation's highest office, stood behind wooden lecterns with campaign signs taped to the front. Campaign signs were also attached to the front of the stage. Behind, a banner proclaiming the home county organization hung on the yellow stage curtain, only slightly off-center.

The audience of roughly 400 sat in not-so-comfortable wooden chairs at West High School auditorium and minded their manners so that the most information possible could be provided in a limited event time-frame. Although the entire balcony had been reserved for members of the media, the sound crew and I had the run of the joint. The lone cameraman was a student from the University of Northern Iowa who raced to this point and that point throughout the event, seeking the best shots and lighting.

More than half of those in the audience had arrived by caravan after spending one-on-one time with the candidates at receptions at downtown Waterloo businesses. If being so close to a presidential candidate was an unusual thing for members of the audience, none of them let on. Of course this could have been because more supporter meetings and dinners with the candidates were held after the forum.

Having only two candidates -- Delaware Sen. Joe Biden and Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd -- participating in the forum was not disappointing for a Communications Workers of America member who traveled over two hours to attend.

"I think that these two candidates are the most qualified," said Laurie Soroka, a Biden supporter who drove from Des Moines. "These two are the ones who will be be able, on the first day of their administration, to lead. They won't be in training. So, I wasn't disappointed that the others weren't here."

Waterloo resident Kay Hoffman felt differently.

"I am disappointed," said Hoffman, an undecided Iowan with a history of making up her mind just before caucus night. "I had heard that [Rep. Dennis] Kucinich was going to be here tonight. And although I may never vote for Kucinich, I'd still like to hear what he has to say.

"I'm going down my list. I heard [former Sen. John] Edwards speak the last time he was here. Now I've heard Biden and Dodd. I haven't been able to get to Hillary Clinton's or Barack Obama's events yet -- but I intend to."

The lack of candidate participation in the event wasn't because the local Democrats didn't try. Invitations to the forum were sent out Feb. 23, said Black Hawk County Chairwoman Pat Sass, and follow-ups with all the Democratic candidates were made monthly. One campaign sent their final regrets at 8 p.m. the night before the event.

The candidates who did show pointed to the importance of all Iowa caucus-goers and to Black Hawk County.

"I came here because it is important," Biden said between speaking to undecideds and entering a private meeting. "Look, this is a Democratic county. These people asked us back in February to come and I think the more exchange of ideas, the more debates we have, the more people learn about us. I'm sorry the rest didn't show up. I'm glad Chris did."

"Black Hawk County Democrats are great people and this is an important community for us," Dodd said after his appearance on stage and before meeting with undecided voters. "These types of forums are tremendously important -- and you got more than 30 seconds to answer a question. That's always helpful because audiences get to hear more from you. So, I'm grateful to the Black Hawk County Democrats, the fire fighters and others that made it possible for Joe and I to be here tonight."

Although it might seem unusual to those outside of Iowa to hear opposing candidates openly praise one another, the appreciation and respect Biden and Dodd have for one another took center stage at the forum. Such accolades were welcomed by the audience.

"I came here tonight hoping to hear intelligent answers and explanations for things, which is something we haven't heard from some of the other candidates," said Soroka. "One thing I did not want to hear was them insulting one another or the other candidates."

Not surprisingly, Soroka said she wanted to hear the candidates discuss broadband internet connectivity.

"High speed internet is very important," she said. "It relates to all the issues that were discussed -- even Iraq as far as security. It relates to education, to health care, to all those things. They both touched on that."

Primarily because of a recent family health care crisis, Hoffman said she wanted to hear more about coverage for all Americans.

"I think anything we could hear from this party would be better than what we've heard the last eight years," she said. "I'm all for health insurance for everyone. Not because I don't have health insurance. I do. My husband just went through a three-year and four-month siege of pancreatic cancer. So, I know how important insurance is. I would like to see everybody have health coverage because I know we could not have gotten through without it."

Biden said he was pleased that he and Dodd were able to go more in-depth on their plans for for health care and education.

"There was a larger discussion on education because Chris and I both agree on it," he said. "There was also a larger discussion on health care. I think people got more exposure to our views."

Dodd stayed on message by stating he was happy those in attendance had opportunity to think about his and Biden's accomplishments.

"I think it is important, as people are evaluating candidacies, that they can see results," he said. "It's important to know what people have done in their lives. Who are they? What do they care about? Where have they dedicated their time and efforts? That will give you a better sense of what type of president the candidate is apt to be. I'm proud to say that the things I've engaged in over the years have changed America and made it better. I want to continue that work as president."

Many Iowans will join in demonstrations and vigils as a part of the International Day of Action for Peace scheduled on Oct. 27. The day has been organized by several national, regional and local organization as a time to hear the voices of those Americans who want an end to the war in Iraq.

United for Peace and Justice, the largest anti-war coalition in the nation, has set 11 regional centers in New York, Boston, New Orleans, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Jonesborough, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Chicago, Philadelphia and Orlando. In addition, many cities are conducting smaller gatherings for those who are unable to travel.

A peace rally and march has been scheduled in Des Moines. Participants will gather at Nollen Plaza in downtown at 4 p.m. and will march to the Capitol. The names of Iowans and Iraqis who have lost their lives will be read. A procession of 50 flag-draped caskets will be carried by up to 300 casket bearers. The group will be led by veterans opposed to the Iraq war. Speakers and music will be followed by a candlelight ceremony calling for peace and an end to the war.

The Des Moines event is sponsored by the Progressive Coalition of Central Iowa and co-sponsored by the Methodist Federation of Social Action, Des Moines Catholic Peace Ministry, Des Moines Catholic Workers, Des Moines Ecumenical Peace Committee, STAR*PAC, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Code Pink, Iowa Peace Network, Cedar Rapids Women for Peace, Iowa Physicians for Social Responsibility, Nebraskans for Peace, Ames Alliance for Global Justice, Ames High School Progressive Club, Ames Time for Peace, the Iowa National Organization for Women and Central Iowa Operation Democracy.

A number of buses have also been arranged to take Iowans to the larger demonstrations in Chicago. Women for Peace Iowa has a bus leaving from Cedar Rapids that morning, stopping in Iowa City and then proceeding to Chicago. A peace groups in Waterloo, Dubuque and Cedar Falls also have buses traveling to the event.

Information on finding a bus, driving directions and more can be found on the Oct. 27 Mobilization - Chicago blog.

Here's the press release by the Iowa GOP:

Earlier tonight, the Republican Party of Iowa's State Central Committee voted to hold its first-in-the-nation caucus on the evening of January 3, 2008.

"With under 80 days to go, this is a huge help to our counties and county chairs to get the ball rolling and start organizing. They have 1,784 precinct caucus meetings to run, thousands of volunteers to recruit and our presidential candidates deserve a set date," said Executive Director Chuck Laudner. "This is a definitive year for Iowa, and it is crucial that RPI, the State Central Committee and our county organizations run a smooth, successful caucus."

The Republican Party of Iowa will continue to communicate and work with the Iowa Democratic Party over the coming months to plan the Iowa Caucuses and ensure we maintain our first-in-the-nation status.

Here's the Iowa Democratic Party's official response:

The Iowa Democratic Party is planning for a January caucus that is run professionally and with integrity. We will decide our caucus date based ultimately on what is best for the people of Iowa and the Democratic Party.

State Chair Brennan, the State Central Committee, Governor Culver and Senator Harkin will continue to work with the pre-window states and the Democratic National Committee to determine a date that maintains Iowa’s important role as the First-in-the-Nation Caucus.

Ongoing disputes over the Iraq war between Democratic presidential hopefuls Sen. Joe Biden and Gov. Bill Richardson are commonplace on the Iowa campaign trail. Barbs of words have been launched from both sides, during public appearances as well as through official campaign press releases.

Although candidates in a primary will typically try to to keep personal attacks at a minimum for fear of such disagreements coming back to haunt them during the general election, the Iraq war is a major bone of discontent throughout the country and a cornerstone of both candidates' campaign strategy in Iowa and in the nation. It's also the primary issue for one South Carolina legislator who now stands in the middle of the Biden-Richardson conflict.

Rep. Fletcher Smith Jr. represents Greenville County in the South Carolina Legislature. He has served in the state legislature since 1997 and is an attorney, husband and father to two children. He is also a former co-chair of the Bill Richardson for President campaign in South Carolina and now one of seven Democratic legislators in the state who have pledged to support Biden for president.

"I was supporting Gov. Bill Richardson and it became clear to me as the campaign started to progress that his policy on Iraq -- or lack of policy -- was not the policy I could support," Smith said Friday night after the Black Hawk County Presidential Forum in Waterloo. "I thought troops couldn't be brought out of Iraq in a six-month period of time and I don't think it is appropriate to leave our equipment there. I don't think it is appropriate to leave those people unprotected in the Green Zone. We are also placing our military in harm's way when we evacuate in a Vietnam-style way."

As his discontent grew, Smith began researching other candidates' plans for Iraq.

"Sen. Biden just fortuitously had a plan that was supported by both Democrats and Republicans in the United States Senate that federalized Iraq and separated the parties," he said. "The plan has a weak central government that can dampen down the civil war, protect our vital interests in the area and keep our commitment to the Iraqis. So, I changed."

Once Smith decided he was leaving Richardson's team, he had some calls to make.

"I first had to talk with the people I was working with," he said. "I tried to contact the governor for several weeks and his staff, for some reason, insulated him from my calls. Finally, when I told one of his operatives that I was changing anyway, I got a call from the governor. We talked about it. I told him I was leaving and that I was going to endorse Sen. Biden because I thought that he had a real plan that could work and that he reached across party lines. That's why I'm with Joe Biden today."

Smith, an African-American, said he had no qualms supporting Biden despite the media hype the candidate created the day he announced his White House run.

"I hope I'm articulate and clean," said Smith before letting go an easy laugh. "And, I think Sen. Biden is articulate and clean. That was not a slur on the basis of race at all. As a matter of fact, the NAACP president has said the same thing about black candidates. I think we want candidates who are articulate, clean and moral. We could use a new president of the United States who's articulate and clean."

While Smith switched candidates based on his primary issue of the Iraq war, he says that he believes Biden is the best person to lead the nation on domestic issues.

"Joe Biden was for civil rights when being for civil rights wasn't cool in this country," he said. "I wouldn't be a black state representative if he hadn't voted for the extension of the Voting Rights Act to make sure that we had diversity in our society. Also, I like his policy in regard to health care because he's going to bring universal health care to our nation's citizens -- especially those who are most vulnerable like our young people and our senior citizens. This is a man who understands, who grew up humbly. He understands what it means to be humble in society and that you must lift people up and not tear people down. That's why he ought to be president of the United States."

Despite attempts to veer the interview toward discussions of how the campaign is shaping up in South Carolina and strategical differences between what's happening on the ground there and here in Iowa, Smith would not be moved from his role as advocate.

"Things are going very well [in South Carolina]," he said. "I think Sen. Biden is going to reverberate and resonate very well in our state. He's had a good relationship with the United States senators in our state. Sen. Fritz Hollings was a good friend of his who fought against poverty in our state. I expect Sen. Biden to win South Carolina. We are going to do everything we can to win South Carolina for him and he's going to do very well there.

"In this time of our nation's history, we need the man with the experience, the courage and the determination who has sound and sober and sensible policies such as Joe Biden to lead our country in the 21st century," he said. "We can't afford on-the-job training. This man will be president on day one, after he takes the oath of office. We can all be proud of the fact that we have an American like Joe Biden running for the presidency of the United States."

Smith spent the past weekend campaigning in Iowa on behalf of Biden. In addition to the Black Hawk County event, he also attended the seventh annual Sisters on Target Leadership Banquet in Des Moines. Although future trips into Iowa have not yet been scheduled, campaign staff anticipates he will visit again before caucus night.

The Richardson campaign has announced a new co-chairman of its South Carolina efforts. State Rep. Ken Kennedy, D-Williamsburg, who has served in the legislature since 1991 has joined with former congressman Butler Derrick to endorse Richardson. Kennedy cites Richardson's plan for Iraq as one of his key reasons for joining the campaign.

"Bill Richardson is the only major candidate who understands that we cannot leave our troops in harm's way in Iraq any longer," Kennedy said. "As a sitting governor and world-renowned diplomat, I know that Bill Richardson has the experience to get our country back on track. I am proud to join the Richardson team and look forward to increasing support for Governor Richardson around South Carolina."

There is no word yet if Kennedy or Derrick will be used as surrogates for the campaign in Iowa.

From the National Women's Law Center:

Tomorrow, Oct. 17, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on the nomination of former U.S. District Court Judge Michael Mukasey to replace Alberto Gonzales as Attorney General. When asking questions of the nominee, the Committee should keep women in mind.

As the nation’s chief law enforcement officer, Judge Mukasey would have a number of responsibilities that have a particular importance to, and impact on, women. For example, he would be responsible for representing the federal government in court and determining whether the Department would urge the Supreme Court to reverse or narrow critical precedents. The constitutional right to privacy and Roe v. Wade are under increasing attack, and we need an Attorney General that will not attack this vital protection for women. The Attorney General can affect other aspects of a woman’s right to privacy as well. For example, former Attorney General John Ashcroft sought to obtain the medical records of over 1000 women who had abortions in order to defend the federal abortion ban legislation. It is essential that Judge Mukasey state that the Department of Justice will respect women’s medical privacy under his leadership.

In the same way, Judge Mukasey, if confirmed, would be responsible for enforcing current laws that help women, such as the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act and the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). FACE makes it a federal crime to use, threaten or attempt force to injure, intimidate, obstruct or interfere with providers of reproductive health care services or their patients. VAWA provides federal funding to local law enforcement, domestic violence shelters, and advocacy coalitions and service providers. The Senate needs to make sure that Judge Mukasey will use the Department of Justice’s resources to enforce these important laws.

The Department of Justice is also charged with enforcing federal antidiscrimination laws, but over the past six and a half years, the number of cases brought to eliminate discrimination in the workplace, in education and in housing has declined dramatically. It is essential that Judge Mukasey commit to rebuilding the reputation of the Department as a champion of fair play and equal opportunity in these areas.

The newly-created position of infrastructure and transportation coordinator at the Iowa Department of Economic Development has been filled by Thomas W. Hart, a former Scott County Supervisor and Davenport native.

As part of his duties, Hart will target the industries of bioscience, information technology and advanced manufacturing for economic growth while working to improve the state's transportation and infrastructure.

Hart is a graduate of St. Ambrose University. He was the youngest elected official in 1973 when, while a sophomore in college, he was elected to serve on the Davenport City Council. He continued in public service and was elected to the board of supervisors in 1978 and, subsequently, to three terms as mayor Davenport. As mayor, he concentrated on issues related to the economy such as a new interstate exchange, beautifying the riverfront and reinvesting in downtown.

In May of 200, he became president of the Quad City Development Group and assumed the role of senior vice president for public policy this year. He is in his second term on the Iowa Department of Transportation Commission. He served as the commission's chair in 2005 and 2006.

Hart has been marred for 31 years to Jane Domeraski, a Davenport art teacher. They have two adult children.

Some days you way up ready to face the day and other days you wake up with the day facing you. Today I've had the latter, so they'll be no earworm and linkfest this Sunday.

I have some things to write up, but we're having minor personal crisis at home -- the writing will have to wait.

This is my final video clip from the Black Hawk County Democratic Presidential Forum held on Friday night in Waterloo. In the clip below, Sen. Joe Biden and Sen. Chris Dodd discuss global warming and the environment.

There are five additional clips currently on the site -- one with the candidates discussing their plans for Iraq, another discussing health care, a third where they discuss economic security, a fourth with a discussion of Medicare reimbursement, and the fifth clip that has a discussion of minority disparities.

A fifth video clip from the Black Hawk County Democratic Presidential Forum held on Friday night in Waterloo. In the clip below, Sen. Joe Biden and Sen. Chris Dodd discuss minority disparities.

There are four additional clips currently on the site -- one with the candidates discussing their plans for Iraq, another discussing health care, a third where they discuss economic security, and a fourth with a discussion of Medicare reimbursement.

A fourth video clip from the Black Hawk County Democratic Presidential Forum held on Friday night in Waterloo. In the clip below, Sen. Joe Biden and Sen. Chris Dodd discuss the issue of Medicare Reimbursement -- an issue of special significance in Iowa.

There are three additional clips currently on the site -- one with the candidates discussing their plans for Iraq, another discussing health care, and a third where they discuss economic security.

A third video clip from the Black Hawk County Democratic Presidential Forum held on Friday night in Waterloo. In this clip, Biden and Dodd first joke about the stage being crowded and then get down to business in a discussion of economic security.

There are two additional clips currently on the site -- one with the candidates discussing their plans for Iraq and another discussing health care.

A second video from the presidential forum hosted by the Black Hawk County Democrats in Waterloo on Friday night. In this clip, Sen. Joe Biden and Sen. Chris Dodd discuss health care.

There is a previous clip in which Dodd and Biden discuss their plans for Iraq.

The Black Hawk County Democrats hosted a presidential forum last night. Although all candidates were invited, the only ones who elected to participate were Delaware Sen. Joe Biden and Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd.

I apologize in advance for not zooming in on the speakers. For some reason, I thought it would be better to frame the entire stage. Dodd is on the far right, Biden in the middle and moderators on the left. Despite the limited visual quality, the audio is good and why I'm sharing it.

In this clip, the two senators discuss their plans for Iraq.

Iraq war veteran and Purple Heart recipient Iowa Rep. Ray Zirkelbach has endorsed Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd for president. He cited Dodd's clarity and leadership on working to end the war and his record for results for bringing real change to America.

“I know all too well the cost of war, and I know that this war must end,” said Zirkelbach in a prepared statement. “I've seen first-hand the disastrous effects that a lack of clarity from leadership can bring.

“Chris Dodd is the only candidate that is offering clarity and speaking with conviction on what we need to do to end this war. That's why I trust him to get the job done and that's why he's earned my endorsement.”

Zirkelbach is an Iowa National Guardsman in the First Battalion of the 133rd Infantry, which returned from nearly two years of service in Iraq in August of this year.

“I am deeply honored to have earned the support of such a fine man, public servant, and patriot as Ray Zirkelbach,” said Dodd. “Ray understands first-hand the situation on the ground in Iraq, and he agrees with me that there is no military solution to this conflict.

“It will take clarity and leadership to end this war – not half-measures or hedging statements. Ray can trust me to lead, get results, and get the job done.”

Zirkelbach represents House District 31, covering Jones County and portions of Dubuque County. Born in Manchester and raised in Scotch Grove, Zirkelbach now lives in Monticello with his wife Emily and their young daughter, who was born while Zirkelbach was serving in Iraq.

Dodd has now garnered three endorsements from members of the Iowa legislature -- Zirkelbach, Sen. Tom Hancock and Sen. Pro-Tempore Jeff Danielson.

Robert O. Garrison is stepping down as chief of the Iowa State Patrol, but will continue to serve the state in the role of chief of security, a newly created position in the Department of Corrections.

"Although Garrison will end a very rewarding and successful law enforcement career with the Department of Public Safety, his leadership and value to the Department will long be acknowledged and remembered. We wish him the same success as he begins a new career with the Department of Corrections,” said Department of Public Safety Commissioner Gene Meyer.

Garrison will begin his new assignment with the Department of Corrections in mid-December. At roughly the same time, Meyer hopes to name a new State Patrol Colonel.

Garrison was sworn in as the 12th chief of the Iowa State Patrol by Commissioner E.A. "Penny" Westfall of the Iowa Department of Public Safety on October 1, 1999. A native of Emmetsburg, he joined the Iowa State Patrol in 1975. In December of that year, Garrison graduated from the 3rd Iowa Department of Public Safety Basic Academy.

As a state trooper Garrison was stationed at Stanwood from 1975 to 1984. He also served as an assistant district commander, a patrol training coordinator and an assistant administrator of the Plans, Training and Research Bureau in the Office of the Commissioner of Public Safety.

Garrison returned to State Patrol Headquarters in June of 1993, and was promoted to lieutenant in November of that year and named the Patrol’s Planning and Training Officer. The following year he was named post commander and, three years later, he was promoted to captain. In January 1999, he became executive assistant to the Commissioner of Public Safety.

Garrison has undertaken a wide variety of special projects and assignments over the years, including serving as commander of the Department of Public Safety Academy from 1989 through 1993, serving as a member of the Iowa State Patrol Tactical Team from 1978 to 1985, serving as an Iowa State Patrol hostage negotiator from 1987 to 1992 as well as serving as RAGBRAI traffic control coordinator in 1993.

Prior to joining the Iowa State Patrol, Garrison graduated from Emmetsburg Public High School, obtained his diploma in nursing from Iowa Lutheran School of Nursing in Des Moines and served as a nurse and director of ambulance services at Palo Alto County Hospital in Emmetsburg. While a member of the Iowa State Patrol, he has continued his education, receiving both a bachelors and masters degree in nursing from Drake University.

"The Department of Corrections is extremely fortunate to have recruited someone with such an extensive and honorary public service background to join our team,” said Corrections Director John Baldwin. "Garrison’s extensive law enforcement experience and proven administrative leadership abilities will ensure and improve prison security measures that will continually need to address the increasing challenges related to public, staff and inmate safety."

Garrison’s duties as security chief include statewide oversight of security operations in all prisons and in all security levels, correctional accreditation and assistance to field operations. He will also oversee and coordinate institutional security audits and best practices in regards to security operations. This position oversees statewide committees and ensures implementation and compliance with state and federal regulations. Garrison will develop, and monitor compliance with, DOC policies, procedures and practices related to security operations. He will promote and support the Iowa Department of Corrections mission, vision and leadership development throughout the institutional and community based operations.

The following is the scheduled list of caucus trainings set by the Iowa Democratic Party for temporary precinct chairs.

• Saturday, Oct. 13
  • Cedar Rapids -- 10 a.m. -- Plumbers and Pipefitters Training Center, 5101 J St. SW
  • Charles City -- 2 p.m. -- Charles City Library, 106 Milwaukee Mall
• Sunday, Oct. 14
  • Burlington -- noon -- Burlington High School, Room 314
  • Iowa City -- 1 p.m. -- Iowa Memorial Union, Iowa Room (355)
  • Fort Madison -- 4 p.m. -- Fort Madison High School, 2001 Avenue B
• Tuesday, Oct. 16
  • Marengo -- 6 p.m. -- Iowa Valley Jr/Sr High School, 359 E. Hilton, St.
• Saturday, Oct. 20
  • Independence -- 10 a.m. -- Buchanan County Extension Building, 1413 1st St. W
  • Volga -- 10 a.m. -- Volga Civic Center, 507 Washington St.
  • Grinnell -- 10 a.m. -- Joseph Rosenfeld Center, Room 209B, 1115 8th Ave.
  • Indianola -- 3 p.m. -- County Administration Building, 301 N. Buxton Ave.
  • Decorah -- 3 p.m. -- Decorah Public Library, 202 Winnebago St.
• Sunday, Oct. 21
  • Des Moines -- 1 p.m. -- State Historical Center, 600 E. Locust St.
  • Marshalltown -- 5:30 p.m. -- UAW Local 893, 411 Iowa Ave. W
• Saturday, Oct. 27
  • Osceola -- 10 a.m. -- Southwestern Community College, Osceola Center, 2520 College Dr.
  • Creston -- 10 a.m. -- Summitt House Senior Center Apartment Housing, 509 N Maple
  • Shennandoah -- 3 p.m. -- Depot Deli, 101 Railroad Ave.
• Sunday, Oct. 28
  • Mason City -- 1 p.m. -- Cerro Gordo County Courthouse, 220 North Washington Ave.
• Saturday, Nov. 3
  • Clinton -- 10 a.m. -- County Administration Building, 1900 North St.
  • Sigourney -- 10 a.m. -- Sigourney Public Library, 720 E. Jackson St.
  • Bettendorf -- 10 a.m. -- Steelworkers Hall, 880 Devils Glen Road
• Sunday, Nov. 4
  • Sioux City -- 1 p.m. -- Sanford Community Center, 1724 Geneva St.
  • Webster City -- 5:30 p.m. -- Webster City Fire Station, 919 Superior St.
• Saturday, Nov. 17
  • Audubon -- 10 a.m. -- Audubon Courthouse, 318 Leroy St.
  • Carroll -- 10 a.m. -- Carroll Moose Lodge. 200 E. 5th St.
  • Guthrie Center -- 3 p.m. -- Mary Barnett Memorial Library, 400 Grand St.

Iowans are by and large straight-forward people. Given that, it should come as no surprise that to the average Iowan, the Michigan ballot situation seems pretty cut and dry: Democratic presidential hopefuls who honor their four-state pledge and support the nomination calendar won't be on Wolverine State's ballot. As with most things in life, and especially politics, the situation is more complicated.

Five individuals connected to five different campaigns have confirmed -- but only under condition of anonymity -- that the situation that developed in connection with the Michigan ballot is not at all as it appears on the surface. The campaign for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, arguably fearing a poor showing in Michigan, reached out to the others with a desire of leaving New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton as the the only candidate on the ballot. The hope was that such a move would provide one more political obstacle for the Clinton campaign to overcome in Iowa.

Despite speaking in confidence, sources were quick to point out that the discussions were not the final deciding factor when candidates' names were removed from the ballot.

"Yes, such discussion did take place," said one national staffer, "but that doesn't mean we were influenced by it. The decision to pull from the Michigan ballot -- or other renegade states' ballots for that matter -- was made the day we signed the pledge with the four early states."

A contact within a second campaign agreed.

"The belief that this would somehow hurt front-running Clinton in Iowa was icing on an already sweet cake," he said. "The real meal, however, is the good-will the move generates not only in Iowa, but in all the states who are playing by the DNC rules and that don't appreciate all of this jumping and chaos."

Candidates who remain on the Michigan ballot are Clinton, Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel and (not by his own choosing) Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich. A person close to the Dodd campaign said the push to make Clinton look bad in Iowa and the feeling of being played "like a political pawn" were items discussed by the campaign. But, standing on principle isn't always a comfortable position.

"The campaign did what it thought was right," the source said. "The hope is, of course, that since we were the first to sign the pledge letter and that because we have been so adamant in support of the first states -- especially Iowa -- that those who caucus and vote in the early states will know we support them and their place in the process."

To further drive home their support of Iowa being first, the Dodd campaign is planning several multi-day trips by the senator to the state. A different campaign staff person has estimated that Dodd will be on the ground in Iowa more than 20 days each month between now and caucus night.

It is undoubtedly a gamble for the Dodd campaign. The residents of Iowa and New Hampshire are known for their tenacity when it comes to their status of first caucus and primary in the nation. But Dodd isn't the only candidate with his dice on the table.

Clinton, who recently took the lead in Iowa polling, must try to balance opinions in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada with those of voters in other states. While a first-place finish in Iowa can't really provide her the boost it could to other candidates, a poor showing would put a damper on her nearly established inaugural parade across the nation.

The remaining campaigns have just as much -- if not more -- at stake. For them, the cards are on the table and it's Iowa or bust. Further, there are some campaigns who may now have to shrug off perceptions by one of the top-tier campaigns that they will act more as allies than as foes -- so long as Clinton is the target.

Iowa Rep. McKinley Bailey, a Iraq war veteran, today announced he will be supporting Delaware Sen. Joe Biden in the race for the White House.

"After returning from serving in Iraq, I quickly grew frustrated by my impression that leaders in both political parties did not understand the fundamental challenges to ending the war in Iraq," said Bailey. "When I first learned of Sen. Biden's plan, I realized that was the ticket - a political solution, not a military one. I am endorsing him because from day one, our next president must make decisions on the direction in Iraq and I am convinced Senator Biden has the knowledge and experience to bring our troops home without leaving a situation that requires another generation of Americans to return in a decade."

Bailey was a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division and led his Tactical Signals Intelligence Intercept team on more than 100 combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. At the University of Iowa where he earned a degree in international studies, Bailey founded and served as president of the university Iowa Veterans Association.

"We are excited to have McKinley join the Biden team here in Iowa," said Majority Leader McCarthy. "His work with veterans as well as his own service to our country will prove invaluable to helping Joe Biden win the Iowa caucuses."

Elected in 2006, Bailey's district includes Wright, Hamilton, and Webster counties.

Bailey has videotaped his endorsement of Biden:

Three Democratic presidential hopefuls will be picking up endorsements from Iowa legislators today and tomorrow and, if the grapevine is to be believed, there will be news from a fourth hopeful next week.

The campaign for former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards announced this morning that Sen. Daryl Beall, D-Fort Dodge, has endorsed its candidate.

“We need John Edwards in the White House,” Beall was quoted in the press release. “He will work every day to build an America we can be proud of – an America that is respected around the world and an America where hard work is valued once again. John Edwards has the right combination of proven experience, passion and vision to be a great president. He also has the ability to reach out to and attract support from independents and even cross-over Republicans to be the president of all Americans. I am proud to be a part of John Edwards’ campaign and look forward to working to make him our next president.”

Beall represents Iowa's 25th district and is the chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee and the International Relations Committee. He is vice-chair of the Local Government Committee and a member of the Economic Growth, Education and Transportation committees.

“Daryl Beall is a true Iowa leader and I am proud to have his support,” said Edwards. “Throughout his career, Daryl has worked hard to build a better life for the people of Iowa. He has been a strong advocate for those who are often forgotten by Washington – our veterans, our children and the less fortunate. His leadership and experience will be valuable assets to my Iowa campaign and I look forward to working with him to change our country.”

Delaware Sen. Joe Biden is about three hours away from what his press release dubs a "significant endorsement today in Des Moines." The event will be taking place at 2 p.m. on the steps of the Capitol. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy will be making the announcement on behalf of the candidate.

Tomorrow, news is expected from Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd and next week Illinois Sen. Barack Obama is supposed to be dropping some names. So far, Iowa legislators appear to be doing what they can to spread the love around. That being said, however, many remain unattached in the presidential dating game.

The presidential campaign for Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich believes it has complied with the requirements supplied to its campaign by the Michigan Secretary of State and is now considering its legal options in an effort to be removed from the state's Jan. 15, 2008 primary ballot.

Ken Silfven, a spokesman for the Michigan state office, said earlier this morning that the Kucinich campaign did not follow proper procedures while submitting an affidavit to remove the candidate from the ballot. Specifically, according to Silfven, Michigan law requires an affidavit be signed by the candidate and notarized.

The campaign contends that it followed the directions supplied by the Michigan agency.

In a Sept. 13 letter to the Kucinich campaign, Secretary of State Terri Land wrote, "If you do not wish to appear on Michigan's Presidential Primary ballot, you may withdraw by filing a sworn statement expressing your desire to have your name removed from the ballot. The affidavit must be on file with the Michigan Department of State's Bureau of Elections no later than 4:00 p.m. (E.S.T.) on Tuesday, October 9, 2007."

The Kucinich campaign faxed a letter, notarized by Justice of the Peace Alan Greene and signed by Campaign Manager Mike Klein. The Michigan office acknowledges this document was received with a 3:02 p.m. time-stamp.

"I am the national campaign manager for Dennis Kucinich and I am responsible for all ballot access activity for the campaign," wrote Klein. "I affirm with this notarized statement that we do not want to participate in the Michigan Democratic Primary."

Roughly 30 minutes later, the campaign faxed a second letter, this one signed by Kucinich. This letter reads, "With this communication I affirm that I wish to withdraw my name from the ballot of the Michigan Democratic Primary."

The second statement came from the Congressman himself "to attest to and corroborate the legitimacy of the sworn statement by his campaign manager -- just in case there were any questions as to whether Klein had the authority to submit a sworn statement on behalf of the candidate," said Andy Juiewicz, the campaign's national spokesman.

The Michigan Bureau of Elections has indicated that in order for Kucinich to be removed from the ballot, his campaign will need to begin litigation. Juniewicz says that is something the campaign will consider.

"We believe we have complied with the language, the intent and the spirit of the legal requirements that were supplied to our campaign in the September 13 letter," he said. "It is unfortunate that the Republican Secretary of State's office has chosen to interpret this matter differently."

Despite an announcement on the presidential campaign website for Dennis Kucinich stating that an affidavit for withdrawal had been filed with the Michigan Secretary of State's office shortly before deadline yesterday, officials in Michigan indicated that, at this time, the Ohio Congressman will remain on the Democratic primary ballot.

"Michigan law clearly outlines the procedure to be followed if a candidate wishes not to appear on the ballot," explained Ken Silfven, a spokesman for the office. "An affidavit has to be signed by the candidate and notarized. The first affidavit received by our office was signed by the Kucinich campaign manager. While the second affidavit received in our office did contain the candidate's signature, it was not notarized."

Silfven said the first affidavit was time-stamped by his office at 3:02 p.m. -- roughly an hour prior to the filing deadline.

"At that point our office contacted the campaign and explained the procedure and why the document was not acceptable," he said.

The second affidavit was time-stamped at 3:38 p.m.

Silfven added that Kucinich will appear on the state's Democratic primary ballot. The only way the candidate could be removed is through litigation, he said.

Attempts to contact the campaign both yesterday and this morning have been unsuccessful.

Four of the Democratic presidential hopefuls -- Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards -- have successfully filed affidavits with the Michigan Secretary of State. They will not appear on the state's primary ballot.

New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd and former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel took no action to have their names removed.

The controversy stems from Michigan's refusal to follow the nomination calendar set over a year ago by the Democratic National Committee. That calendar allowed four states -- Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina -- to operate outside a set window of primary and caucus activity. All other states were placed behind a start date of Feb. 5, 2008 -- a date now claimed by more than 20 states for their contests.

The Michigan legislature decided the state would move beyond the Feb. 5 start date and hold its contest on Jan. 15, 2008. Florida has also moved outside of the calendar window and was subsequently sanctioned by the DNC's rules committee for doing so. That committee has yet to meet on the topic of Michigan's move, but many expect the same sort of disciplinary actions -- a refusal to seat delegates at the National Convention -- to be taken against the Wolverine State.

All of the Democratic presidential hopefuls except for Mike Gravel signed a pledge with the four early states indicating that they would not campaign, advertise or otherwise participate in contests that violated the DNC rules. While the pledges were more of a gentleman's handshake than a binding contract, many are crying foul on Clinton and Dodd for remaining in the Michigan contest.

Text of Pledge Letter

WHEREAS, over a year ago, the Democratic National Committee established a 2008 nominating calendar;

WHEREAS, this calendar honors the racial, ethnic, economic and geographic diversity of our party and our country;

WHEREAS, the DNC also honored the traditional role of retail politics early in the nominating process, to ensure that money alone will not determine our presidential nominee;

WHEREAS, it is the desire of Presidential campaigns, the DNC, the states and the American people to bring finality, predictability and common sense to the nominating calendar.

THEREFORE, I [Candidate's Name], Democratic Candidate for President, pledge I shall not campaign or participate in any state which schedules a presidential election primary or caucus before Feb. 5, 2008, except for the states of Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina, as "campaigning" is defined by the rules and regulations of the DNC. It does not include activities specifically related to raising campaign resources such as fundraising events or the hiring of fundraising staff.

Democratic leaders in Michigan have stated that they will continue to plan their primary contest for Jan. 15, regardless of who is on the ballot. It is unclear how the latest turn of events might influence the flow of other early contests, including the Iowa caucuses.

Republican presidential hopefuls have signed no pledge to the early states and held a debate yesterday in Dearborn, Mich. Speculation is that some Democrats in Michigan -- especially Democratic-leaning independents -- might by-pass the beauty contest and instead cast votes in the state's Republican primary.

Iowan Jack Engstrom spent more than an hour listening to Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd speak and answer questions during a campaign stop in Fairfield. The undecided caucus-goer didn't have much to say during the event, but nodded in agreement as Dodd made points on Iraq, recent votes in the U.S. Senate and domestic policy.

"I haven't decided who I'm going to support," Engstrom said as he was leaving. "But I'm very impressed with Chris Dodd."

Engstrom, like most Iowans, has had an opportunity to meet most of the candidates, but he said he does not plan to make a caucus night decision until he's heard them all. The candidate he hasn't had opportunity to see in person is Delaware Sen. Joe Biden.

"This was my first time seeing Chris Dodd," he said. "Before tonight I had read one flier and it didn't impress me much when I first saw it. The flier alluded to John F. Kennedy and so-forth. Now, having seen Dodd, I can buy into that association more and in a way I couldn't by just having seen the flier. He is historically well read and, I think, he tries to live the legacy of America being a great nation."

After hearing Dodd speak, Engstrom made a point of meeting the senator one-on-one.

"I felt that his opinions were well-reasoned, based on experience and in-line with what I also believe," he said. "I went up and shook his hand and told him that I commended him on his intelligence, his passion and his commitment. What I found appealing: a combination of his opinions on many issues. It's also his character and his ability to put that into constructive action. He obviously feels deeply about these issues and I think that type of passion, intelligence, commitment and heart could bring us in a good direction and might even strike a nerve in the republic."

Fairfield resident Carole Simmons said she was happy to hear Dodd speak on foreign policy.

"I came tonight so I could ask about Iran," she said. "I haven't heard the major front-runners talking about Iran and, you know, it is easy now to say Iraq was a mistake. It looks like we're just about to make another huge, colossal, stupid mistake in Iran if the White House gets its way. I was glad to hear Dodd say that absolutely we need to be following diplomacy and not just rushing off to throw our weight around."

The vast majority of Dodd's public remarks were spent on foreign policy. Many of the questions he fielded after his speech were follow-ups to his statements on Iraq, the recent action by the U.S. Senate to declare Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organization and foreign policy as a whole.

"The most important job of America's president is to keep us safe and secure," Dodd said. "[The president] should keep us less vulnerable and less isolated around the world. And I believe very strongly that over the last six years -- and especially during the last four and a half years during this conflict -- that we are less secure, less safe, more vulnerable and more isolated as a result of our continued military presence."

Dodd had strong words not only against the current administration's foreign policies, but for New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards for their response during a recent debate. Dodd said he was "stunned" when the other candidates did not agree they would have combat troops out of Iraq the end of their first term as president.

"I fully expected by the time they got to me -- because normally they don't get to me [in the debates] very quickly -- that the question would already be adequately answered," he said. "I was stunned that the so-called three leading candidates for this nomination answered that they would not make that commitment. That's six or seven years from now. I will tell you this evening -- just as I said at Dartmouth -- absolutely. I hope we don't have to wait for 2009, much less 2013. I believe this tactic of our military presence is a massive mistake for this country and it ought to end."

The Dodd campaign has indicated that, barring any emergencies in the Senate, Dodd will be spending a vast majority of his time in the Hawkeye State between now and the caucuses.

I promise this will be my last post on the Michigan primary ballot situation -- at least for tonight. I just received the following statement from Mark Daley, Iowa communications director for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, and wanted to add it to the conversation:

"We are committed to honoring Iowa's role in the nominating process. We will support the pledge and not campaign or spend money in states violating the DNC rules. We did not take action to remove the Senator from the ballot in Michigan."

According to the presidential campaign website of Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich, he will not appear on Michigan's primary ballot.

The Kucinich for President campaign announced this afternoon that it has filed an affidavit with the Michigan Secretary of State's office officially requesting that the name of Ohio Congressman and Democratic Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich be withdrawn from the Michigan Democratic primary ballot.

The sworn statement requesting withdrawal was submitted via fax by Kucinich National Campaign Manager Mike Klein shortly before today's 4 p.m. deadline.

At the same time, the Kucinich campaign issued the following statement on behalf of the candidate, who is campaigning in Arizona today:

"We signed a public pledge recently, promising to stand with New Hampshire, Nevada, South Carolina, and the DNC-approved 'early window', and the action we are taking today protects New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary status, and Nevada's early caucus."

The statement continued: "We support the grassroots nature of the New Hampshire, small-state primary, and we support the diversity efforts that Chairman Dean and the DNC instituted last year, when they added Nevada and South Carolina to the window in January 2008. We are obviously committed to New Hampshire's historic role."

Klein, who recently moved to Dover, NH to run the national Kucinich campaign, added, "We will continue to adhere to the DNC-approved primary schedule."

If this news is confirmed by the Michigan Secretary of State's office tomorrow, then the only Democratic candidates who will appear on the Michigan ballot are New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd and former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel.

Today, the campaigns of New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd refused to follow the rules established by the Democratic National Committee regarding the Democratic presidential primary calendar, and announced that they would participate in the Michigan primary contest. Biden for President Campaign Manager Luis Navarro issued the following statement:

“Every campaign made a pledge to the four early states to support the calendar created by the DNC that placed a premium on retail politics and provided a level playing field for candidates, regardless of money or celebrity. Now that these contests are fast approaching and with the final dates of the Michigan and New Hampshire primaries still in doubt, the Dodd and Clinton campaigns have chosen to hedge their bets, thereby throwing this process into further disarray. In doing so, they have abandoned Democrats in Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina.”

Earlier today, the Biden for President Campaign announced that their candidate would not participate in the Michigan State Democratic Primary and that formal steps were being taken to remove his name from the ballot in that state. The campaigns for New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards have also removed their candidates names from the ballot in Michigan.

Spokespersons for the campaigns of New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd have confirmed that the candidates will appear on the Michigan Democratic primary ballot.

In a phone call just moments ago, Dodd's Iowa spokeswoman Taylor West confirmed that the campaign will remain on the ballot.

The Detroit Free Press broke the news the Clinton would remain on the ballot.

“This won’t take away from Iowa one bit,” said former Michigan Gov. Jim Blanchard, who is helping to run Clinton’s campaign in Michigan.

No word yet from the campaigns of Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich or former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel. The campaigns for Barack Obama, Bill Richardson, Joe Biden and John Edwards have requested they be removed from the ballot. The deadline for further action is just over 30 minutes away.

Currently, the only Democratic presidential candidates who will be appearing on the Michigan primary ballot are New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich and former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel. By the end of business hours, however, that could all change.

A Michigan Department of State spokeswoman has confirmed that the office has received affidavits from the campaigns of former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and a letter from the campaign of New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson requesting their names be removed from the contest.

The campaign for Delaware Sen. Joe Biden issued a press release this afternoon indicating that its candidate had also taken "formal steps" to be removed from the ballot.

“Today’s decision reaffirms our pledge to respect the primary calendar as established by the DNC and makes it clear that we will not play into the politics of money and Republican machinations that only serve to interfere with the primary calendar,” said Luis Navarro, Biden's campaign manager.

The remaining candidates have until 3 p.m. (Iowa time) today to indicate if they want their names removed. Information requests have been made of the outstanding campaigns.

The move follows action by Michigan legislators to move their primary date to Jan. 15. The vast majority of Democratic presidential hopefuls -- Clinton, Obama, Edwards, Richardson, Biden and Dodd -- signed a pledge with Iowa and other early states that they would not campaign in states that jumped outside the contest window set by the Democratic National Committee.

It is likely that the candidate boycott will influence the upcoming decision of New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner -- and that decision will likely influence the date of the Iowa Caucus.

This is the best clip from the Colbert Report ever. Listen and watch as Stephen explains the Rush Limbaugh "phony soldiers" comment.

Iowa state Sen. Tom Hancock announced this morning at the State Capitol in Des Moines that he is endorsing Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd for president.

Hancock represents Senate District 16 that includes Delaware, Dubuque and Jones counties. He is past president of the Iowa Fireman's Association, a 15,300-member organization of emergency service providers throughout the state.

Hancock's statement from this morning is as follows:

“Chris Dodd, more than any other candidate in this race, offers leadership that has brought people together and gotten real results that have made our country a better place,” said Senator Hancock.

“I had not intended to endorse a candidate for the caucuses, but I am compelled to speak out today because of Chris Dodd’s leadership and record of results on the issues to which I’ve dedicated my life’s work.

“As my friends and family know, Iowa Emergency Services is my second family. After talking with Chris Dodd and reviewing his Congressional record, I feel like Chris Dodd is a member of that family. I am confident that as our next President, he will continue his commitment to our nation’s security and First Responders.

“It was Chris Dodd’s leadership that ensured that fire fighters across the country would have the resources they need to protect our communities – before the attacks of September 11th made that a priority for others. It was also Chris Dodd’s leadership that brought us the Family and Medical Leave Act, which has already protected 50 million Americans against losing their jobs when they care for newborn children or sick family members.

“During a time like this in our country, with so many challenges ahead of us, we can’t afford any more fighting or division. We need a leader who can bring people together and get results that put our country back on track. The more I have learned about and talked with Chris Dodd, the more it has become clear that he is that leader.”

Hancock joined the Epworth volunteer fire department in 1968 and worked his way up through the ranks to become fire chief in 1987. During his tenure as president of the Iowa Fireman’s Association, he served on Gov. Tom Vilsack’s Homeland Security Advisory Board. Hancock currently serves as chair of the Justice Systems Budget Subcommittee and vice-chair of the Natural Resources & Environment Committee in the Iowa Senate.

“I am honored to have Tom Hancock’s support in this campaign,” Dodd said in a prepared statement. “As a Senator, an emergency volunteer responder and a deeply dedicated member of his community, Tom understands that we have to bring people together to get real results for change in our country. As a respected leader across this state, he will be an incredibly powerful voice and valuable asset for our growing campaign.”

Dodd has also been endorsed by Iowa Senate Pro-Tempore Jeff Danielson and the International Association of Fire Fighters.

In a move that may be the first of its kind in national history, Republican presidential candidate Sen. Sam Brownback and Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden will share the stage in Des Moines on Friday.

The two will appear together to outline the Iraq plan they co-sponsored in the U.S. Senate along with California Sen. Barbara Boxer, who is not in the race for the White House.

"Joe and I might be running for the nomination of two different parties, but we agree on one thing: the American people want progress in Iraq and this represents a viable way forward to stability and success," Brownback said in a prepared statement. "Decentralizing power in Iraq offers the best chance for Iraqis to live in a peaceful, united country where they can resolve their differences. It is time to begin the political surge we desperately need to help stabilize Iraq so we can get our troops out of harm's way."

Two weeks ago, a strong, bipartisan majority of senators voted 75 to 23 to support the Biden-Brownback-Boxer Amendment, the only Iraq-related policy plan adopted by the U.S. Senate this year. The amendment calls for a political solution in Iraq based on a decentralized, federal system of government. Iowa Sens. Chuck Grassley and Tom Harkin both supported the amendment.

"Partisan politics must not come in the way of finding a solution to the war in Iraq," Biden said. "The overwhelming majority of Americans want us to get our troops out of Iraq as quickly as possible without leaving chaos behind. I look forward to joining Senator Brownback next week in Iowa to explain how the Biden-Brownback-Boxer amendment makes Iraq the world's problem while establishing a political solution that gives Iraq's warring factions breathing room to resolve their differences."

The event will be hosted by the Greater Des Moines Committee on Foreign Relations and held at the Wakonda Country Club, 1400 Park Ave. The public is invited to attend. Lunch will be available for $25. For more information or reservations, contact the committee at (515) 282-8192.

Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd spoke at length about Iraq, Iran and U.S. foreign policy during a campaign stop last evening in Fairfield. A video clip is below and -- you know the drill by now -- I'll have a formal write-up soon.

One of the first rules of public speaking is to know your audience. On the campaign trail in Iowa no one does this more consistently or effectively than New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Clinton and her "Middle Class Express" rolled into Cedar Rapids this morning and pitched to a predominately pro-union crowd at Veterans Memorial Coliseum exactly what it wanted to hear.

"I believe the middle class is the backbone of our economy, the key to real growth, and the guarantor of the American dream," she said. "America is only as strong as our middle class. I judge the health of our economy by asking whether or not our middle class is expanding and getting ahead. This administration has failed the test. Mine will not."

Al Loukota, who served in World War II and has been affiliated with the Sheet Metal Workers for over 50 years, says he agrees with everything Clinton has to say.

"Whatever I heard today from her is on the right track," he said following Clinton's prepared remarks. "I hope for the best for all of us -- because we've got to have a lot of help. It's important for people to have a good union job."

Cedar Rapids residents Wilda Ralston and Betty Clark agreed and said they are ready to caucus for Clinton.

"I like that she says we need to get jobs back in the United States, rather than overseas," said Ralston while Clark nodded her agreement. "I also liked what she had to say about health care. There was so much of what she said today that I agree with."

Clark says that Clinton "has just got it all right."

"I didn't hear anything I disagreed with," she said. "I plan to keep volunteering for her."

When asked if they were ready for caucus night, both women excitedly answered that they were.

"I think if we would have had a woman a long time ago, we probably wouldn't be in the mess that we're in," Ralston said.

Her remarks in Cedar Rapids came one day after a Des Moines Register poll showed her taking the lead among Democratic hopefuls in Iowa. Nearly 30 percent of the 399 Iowans polled gave Clinton their support in the poll. Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards received 23 percent and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama garnered 22 percent. All of the three front-runners were within the 4.9 percent margin of error.

Clinton didn't seem overly interested in the Democratic horse race. The other candidates were not a topic of discussion during her remarks. The current White House administration and former Republican-led Congress, however, were fair game.

"If anyone tells you the Republicans are the party of fiscal responsibility -- just roll your eyes," she told the audience.

Clinton also chose to quote Stephen Colbert of Comedy Central fame as a part of her attack on the administration.

"This administration doesn't make decisions based on facts," she said. "This administration makes facts based on decisions."

Clinton told the audience in Cedar Rapids that she will be rolling out more detailed plans in relation to the nation's economy in the coming days.

Nearly 300 undecided caucus-goers and supporters of former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards braved unseasonably warm temperatures when they filed into Vernon Middle School's gymnasium in Marion on Saturday afternoon. Many were expecting to hear the Democratic hopeful's patent message of hope. No one, however, was expecting him to be accompanied by arguably the campaign's best and most respected surrogate speaker, Elizabeth Edwards.

Not only did Elizabeth provide the introduction of her husband -- "the love of her life for the past 30 years" -- but she gave an audience member her thoughts following a question and performed "mommy walk" duties with Elle Marie, a fussy 4-month-old.

"[Elizabeth] just came up to me and told me to sit down and listen to her husband while she walked the baby around," said excited mom Angela Barltrop. "It was pretty neat. She told me that she needed her baby fix."

Elizabeth, who raised four children of her own, looked quite comfortable as she spent several minutes walking and bouncing the baby, who nearly immediately quieted and calmed. While she walked, she often stopped and exchanged words with members of the audience.

"I don't have the opportunity to hold babies very often," she whispered as she passed. "I'm loving this."

John Edwards gave his wife a quick smile when she began walking with the infant, but otherwise didn't let the incident distract him from the point of his visit.

"Our country needs a big change across the board," he said. "The Bush years have been great for oil companies, big insurance and drug companies, and military contractors, but not for regular Americans. From universal health care to making trade deals work for American workers, as president, I will stand up to the special interests and fight for hard-working families."

This type of tough talk was something Linn County Auditor Joel Miller wanted to hear during the event.

"John Edwards has been leading the way all the way through the campaign," Miller said before Edwards arrived. "I hope to hear more of that -- see more of him taking a stand, and being the first to take a stand, on the issues."

While Miller focuses personally on a wide variety of issues including health care, the war in Iraq, the environment, and the economy, he says there really wasn't a single stance that led him to support Edwards.

"The thing that I like about John Edwards is that he is a fighter," Miller said. "He has been hitting the issue head-on. He's been speaking the truth. He's out there and doing the things that I think he needs to do as a leader -- and I think he is best leader amongst the candidates. I want to see strong leadership and I want to see someone who knows where he's going and he definitely knows where he is going."

Kay Lammers, who sits on the Marion City Council and is trying to decide between three of the presidential candidates, asked Edwards "what good it would do to bring the unions back strong if all of the jobs are in Mexico."

"I just feel that NAFTA was a mistake and we cannot lose anymore of jobs to foreign countries -- that's part of our health care problem," she said. "I thought he had a very good answer. He didn't answer me about not giving Halliburton any government contracts. But I'm talking about that type of company -- we give them everything and they pull up stakes and go to a foreign country. We have to either penalize them or force them to pay when they bring their goods back into the United States just like any other foreign company. We simply cannot afford to bleed any more jobs out of this country."

Don White wanted to know how Edwards would deal with global warming and other environmental issues.

"What he said fell right in line with what I believe," White said. "I believe we need to tie economic development to green collar jobs because that type of work has to be done in America. You can't outsource something that needs to be done here, where you generate or produce the energy. I believe -- although I don't know all the details of Edwards plan -- that we can do it with renewable energy sources. We can do it without petroleum and without coal."

Perhaps the most probing question came from a man who wanted to know what a Democratic nominee Edwards would do differently than previous Democratic nominees, when faced with similar a similar circumstance.

"If you are the Democratic nominee, and you find yourself in the position of Al Gore in 2000 or John Kerry in 2004 at the end of a very close election and there is all sorts of voting irregularities and there are suspicions of whether or not things are fair, what would you do?" asked the man. "Would you fight? If the newspapers are calling for you to concede the race, would you? Would you do what Al Gore did or would you have acted more like Kerry?"

Before Edwards began to answer the question, he motioned back to Elizabeth.

"You'll have to wait for me, then you can talk," he said while looking behind him to where Elizabeth sat. He then turned back to the audience and smiled. "Elizabeth wants to say something," he said and those in the gym laughed and clapped their approval.

"Will I fight?" Edwards asked back. "Yes. Absolutely -- with everything I've got. Not for me, but for all the people in America who need us to stand up -- for all those people who voted who deserve to have their vote counted."

Edwards added that he was not in favor of electronic voting machines and, as president, he "would want to lead an effort to get us back to paper ballots."

When Edwards finished, he passed the microphone to Elizabeth.

"The votes don't belong to Al Gore or John Kerry or John Edwards," she said. "They belong to you and it can't be our decision not to count your vote. It belongs to you and the promise was made to you that your votes would be counted. That's the first thing -- it should never have been the candidate's decision if the votes were counted.

"The second thing is this is the reason we need to nominate John. The truth of the matter is that you hear Democrats all the time say that we should win all the same states. After 2000, they said, 'and Florida.' And now they say, 'We need to win all the states and Ohio.' Why in the world would we take such a chance when we have a candidate who, in the battleground states, is by far the most electable candidate?"

Elizabeth went on to say that, when husband is the likely nominee and placed against the likely Republican nominee, he wins nearly every state. In the same situation, she said, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton wins less than half and Sen. Barack Obama wins less than a third.

"You want a cushion in the event that there are shenanigans someplace?" she asked. "This is the guy you need. What's more than that, we need to campaign everyplace. Howard Dean is right. We need a 50-state strategy. Are we going to win Utah? Not likely, but that doesn't mean we don't play there and that doesn't mean we don't fight there. You know in 2004 we didn't run a single television advertisement in the state of North Carolina and there was a North Carolinian on the ballot. Why? Because the pubahs in Washington all decided that we can't win the state of North Carolina."

An audio clip of the above exchange can be accessed below:

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards has picked up one more Iowa legislator, bringing his total endorsements out of Des Moines to eight.

Iowa Rep. Nathan Reichert made the announcement today as a part of Edwards' four-day campaign visit.

“I am proud to endorse Senator Edwards and stand with him in his campaign to transform our country,” Reichert said. “John Edwards has a vision to change America – and specific plans to make that happen. On every issue, from Iraq to health care to education, John Edwards has come out with a detailed plan to help regular, hard-working Iowans achieve the American Dream. I admire his commitment to ensuring fairness for regular people and can’t wait to help him win the Iowa caucuses.”

Reichert has represented Iowa's 80th district, an area that includes Muscatine County, since 2005. He is a member of the Agriculture, Appropriations, Commerce and Natural Resources committees.

He is joined in his endorsement of Edwards by Sen. Keith Kreiman of Davis County, Rep. Wes Whitead of Woodbury County, Rep. Andrew Wenthe of Fayetee County, Rep. Ro Foege of Linn County, Rep. Art Staed of Linn County, Rep. Geri Huser of Polk County and Rep. Kurt Swaim of Davis County.

"I am honored to have Nathan's support," Edwards said in a prepared statement. "He has been a leader in the fight to make sure every Iowan gets a great education, has quality health care, can work at a good paying job and has the opportunity to succeed. I look forward to working with Nathan in the coming months as we continue to reach out to caucus goers and work to build One America."

Here's your earworm: Katharine McPhee - Love Story

Catherine Morgan at Informed Voters has a list of over 100 women who are blogging on politics. Go check it out and find some new favorites.

Cara at The Curvature has a provocative post about how those opposing abortion are using an obscure Kansas law to petition for a grand jury. Those pushing the use of taxpayer funds for the witch hunt want to "make sure" that Overland Park Planned Parenthood and Dr. George Tiller.

There's another nugget of information in that post that I plan to track down in the next week: The state of Michigan has cut funding for Planned Parenthood by 40 percent (over $700,000). As a result, four clinics are closing. This combined with the truly horrid economy in Michigan is not good news. Many there are already dependent on the free medical services Planned Parenthood provides.

There is also an excellent post at In Women We Trust that discusses how women bloggers can come together to improve the state of public opinion on climate change.

PunditMom points out that only 15 Republicans need to move their support in order to override the recent presidential veto of the Children's Health Insurance Program. Further, she gives us a list of those who -- although they've said they will stand with the president -- might be swayed by public outcry back home. Finally, there is a list of those Democrats who voted against -- all from southern states except Ohio's Dennis Kucinich and Indiana's Baron Hill. We need to send a clear message to all of these individuals that our children are more important that their comfy Congressional seats. Also, I wonder if anyone has looked at Oklahoma, Florida, North Carolina, Georgia and Mississippi to see how much SCHIP funding goes into those states and how many children will be on their own if Congress does not override the veto.

Cruise over to Liberal Common Sense to hear about a U.S. sailor who is facing the possibility of his wife being deported while he is sent back to serve in Iraq. Also, don't forget to read the lone comment... Wow! Looks like something is striking way too close to home.

Build Peace has the goods on how Newt Gingrich is using Second Life. It seems the conservative rented Capitol Hill for a public announcement -- something that had not previously happened in SL and came complete with the creation of "free speech zones." Ugh!

And, before I turn my eyes back to the Hawkeye State, there is an important post at Chronicles of Dissent that discusses how Medford, Oregon is outsourcing libraries.

David Yepsen with the Des Moines Register offers his thoughts on recent poll numbers in Iowa that show Hillary Rodham Clinton leading the Democrats and Mitt Romney leading the Republicans. As an interesting side note, I was part of a Democratic focus group for the Washington Post Friday evening -- the second time this particular group of people had been brought together for a political discussion -- and supporters for Clinton, John Edwards and Bill Richardson were strikingly absent. There were three Obama supporters, two Dodd supporters, two Biden supporters and three undecideds.

Of course, Terry McAuliffe, national chairman for Clinton's campaign, isn't ready to have such high expectations. Can't say I blame him.

Speaking of Yepsen, Don McDowell at Cyclone Conservatives thinks the Register columnist is disappointing. This news comes after reading a column in which Yepsen calls for Republicans and Democrats in Iowa to caucus on separate days. I read the column. I agree with McDowell.

Around Des Moines has information on the upcoming Reggie's Sleep Out and has a running list of the stories being released by the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence as a part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This is the actualization of the program we featured in July.

All the information on the upcoming panel discussion at Drake on sustainability is available by visiting Blog for Iowa.

Claire at the Demo Memo notes that Sen. Larry Craig from Idaho has decided to stay in the Senate. She believes Craig's decision will lead to a GOP groundswell against him. Perhaps this will be the case on the ground in Idaho, but I don't see Republican Congressional leaders doing anything more than trying to sweep it under the rug and raise the terror alert level. Mainstream Iowan is calling for Craig's resignation.

John Deeth has lots of coverage from the Johnson County Democrats BBQ last night. The family and I went, but went as spectators -- I didn't even take the camera out. To be honest, it all seemed a bit confused and disorganized.

I saved the best for last...

My friend Tony Loyd has an amazing post that I should have noted last week: Inequality in Iowa. Go read it -- lots of great information to be had there.

Democratic presidential hopeful and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards made an appearance in Marion today in the Vernon Middle School gymnasium (which explains the reverb on the audio). Elizabeth was also present at the rally, although she's not featured in this short clip where Edwards discusses health care.

As is typical, I'll have a formal write-up soon.

Iowa peace activist Frank Cordaro has received 30 days in the Polk County jail after pleading guilty to criminal trespass.

Cordaro and two other defendants -- Renee Espeland and Aaron Glynn, a senior at Hoover High School -- appeared today to face charges following the Sept. 21 occupation of Sen. Chuck Grassley's office. The three adults had joined the high school student-led occupation that grew out of the student group "Students Beyond War." It was a planned act of civil disobedience in protest to the Iraq war and to demand that Grassley stop voting to fund war operations.

The judge, according to an eye witness, responded harshly in an attempt to deter further acts of civil resistance. Espeland and Glynn each received fines of over $300 and were released. Cordaro was taken into custody, his sentence beginning immediately.

Peace activists throughout the state are now considering an organized response.

Domestic wire tapping. Abu Ghraib. Phone calls claiming John McCain provided half the DNA for an illegitmate brown child. Equal pay. Elimination of the White House Office for Women's Initiatives and Outreach. Guantanamo. Pat Tillman. The "Patriot" Act. Rush to war. Falsehoods to make rush to war more efficient. Reclassifying the previously declassified. Katrina. Valerie Plame. Halliburton and no-bid contracts. Blackwater. Brushing off the International Court of Justice. Fallujah. Osama bin Laden. Citizens arrested for t-shirts. Diebold. Jack Abramoff. Voter purging. "Healthy" forests. "Clean" skies. My Pet Goat. Reclassifying government whistleblowers as "leakers." Extraordinary Rendition. Delaying reports showing students in Charter Schools performed less proficient than those in public schools. Re-Calculating the Charter School assessments when they looked bad. Ban on military women and dependents from obtaining abortions at military hospitals, even if they pay with their own funds, even if they were raped in the line of duty. Tax breaks for the wealthiest 1 percent. Nonexistent WMDs. Canning health care for our most needy. "Mission Accomplished." Jose Padilla. Loyalty Oaths at political events. Classifying fast food jobs as manufacturing jobs. Tainted Barbies. The Military Commissions Act of 2006. Redesigned OSHA workplace safety posters with small hotline numbers and no regional contact information. Enron. Terry Schiavo. Intelligent Design. Mike Brown. The Downing Street Memo. TALON. Coal Executive Richard Stickler and his troubling mine safety record given a recess appointment to head the Mine Safety and Health Administration. Jerry Thacker. "Bring it on." Ken Lay. Scooter Libby. "Bin Laden Determined to Strike Inside U.S." Former Wal-Mart attorney Paul DeCamp and his record of urging restrictions to the Fair Labor Standard Act's overtime pay given a recess appointment to head up the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division. Harriet Myers. Samuel Alito. Jeff Gannon. Revoking rule to reduce acceptable levels of arsenic in drinking water. Armstrong Williams. A fake turkey dinner. Karen Ryan reporting. Secrecy. Signing Statements. Mark Foley. Altered Health and Human Services reports on racial and ethnic disparities in health care. Global gag rule. Habeas Corpus.The Axis of Evil. Extended deployments. Repealing the corporate Alternative Minimum Tax. Walter Reed Medical Center. Crumbling infrastructure. Alberto Gonzalez. Abortion Non-Discrimination Act. Signing statements. K Street. Tom Delay. Revisions to Title IX interpretation. Faith-Based Initiatives. Ricin. The International Mother and Child HIV Prevention Initiative. Anthrax. The Department of Health and Human Services illegally paying the salary of former Medicare chief Thomas Scully, who threatened to fire veteran Medicare actuary Richard Foster if he told Congress that the administration's Medicare prescription drug legislation would cost $100 billion more than the White House said. Abstinence-Only Sex Education. Elimination of the annual Equal Opportunity Survey by the Labor Department. The proposed Sunset Commission. No Child Left Behind. No School Left Funded. RNC email addresses for White House employees. RNC email servers purged. The so-called Partial Birth Abortion Ban. Habitual audits of Advocates for Youth, STOP AIDS and SIECUS.

Americans, true to our historical indifference and patience, sit at a slow simmer while the rest of the world boils over. Pundits, activists and even administration supporters are wondering what will it take. What will be last straw to strike the camel's back and spark Americans to action?

While we all sit back -- in between peeling open our bags of chips, slurping our sodas, playing with our tainted Chinese-manufactured toys, and watching the latest reality show, of course -- here are a couple more to add to the outrage list.

Been Advocating for Peace? Canada Border Patrol Might Refuse Passage

Retired U.S. Army colonel and former diplomat Ann Wright was denied entry to Canada. Why? She and Medea Benjamin, co-founder of Code Pink, were refused at the border because their names have been added to the FBI's National Crime Information Center database.

The two have taken part in several non-violent protests of the war -- Wright even quit her diplomat gig in opposition to the Iraq war -- but neither woman has ever been convicted of anything more serious than a misdemeanor. Both have previously visited Canada for anti-war meetings, often at the invitation of Canadian activist groups or political parties.

Further, the two activists met yesterday with a diplomat at the Canadian embassy in Washington. Tristan Landry, a spokesman for the embassy, said the two were given "no apology and no invitation to Canada."

Wright said they were told that they were "not even eligible for rehabilitation," a process that takes five years and requires fines to be paid.

The Strong Winds in Iowa? That's the White House Spinning.

It seems the Bush Administration was for torture both before and after they said they were against it. Hop over to the N.Y. Times to read about the latest Justice Department memo on "severe interrogations."

And, if this was actually a joke, the punch line would be the the Bush Administration's spinning. In December 2004, the Justice Department publicly declared torture as "abhorrent." Roughly two months later, a new opinion was issued -- but only on a need-to-know basis. The new document, according to the Times and the officials they interviewed, offered an expansive endorsement of the harshest interrogation techniques ever used by the Central Intelligence Agency.

Later that same year, even as Congress moved to outlaw torture, the Justice Department put forth another secret document. The Times staff notes that most lawmakers did not know this document existed. (Wonder which ones did.)

Congress and the Supreme Court have intervened repeatedly in the last two years to impose limits on interrogations, and the administration has responded as a policy matter by dropping the most extreme techniques. But the 2005 Justice Department opinions remain in effect, and their legal conclusions have been confirmed by several more recent memorandums, officials said. They show how the White House has succeeded in preserving the broadest possible legal latitude for harsh tactics.

...

After the Supreme Court ruled in 2006 that the Geneva Conventions applied to prisoners who belonged to Al Qaeda, President Bush for the first time acknowledged the C.I.A.’s secret jails and ordered their inmates moved to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. The C.I.A. halted its use of waterboarding, or pouring water over a bound prisoner’s cloth-covered face to induce fear of suffocation.

But in July, after a monthlong debate inside the administration, President Bush signed a new executive order authorizing the use of what the administration calls “enhanced” interrogation techniques — the details remain secret — and officials say the C.I.A. again is holding prisoners in “black sites” overseas. The executive order was reviewed and approved by Mr. Bradbury and the Office of Legal Counsel.

But what really makes the White House spin the punchline of this sick joke is the public statements of "we do not torture" combined with Bush's own signing statements. He issued one of those in conjunction with the torture bill, indicating from the get-go that he wouldn't be bound by that law.

I guess the word torture has gone the way of sexual intercourse. That is, it all depends on your definition.

To date, I've only heard two candidates speak out against this latest outrage. Illinois Sen. Barack Obama gave it a one sentence allusion during his appearance in Waterloo yesterday. Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, to my knowledge, has been the only of the presidential hopefuls to issue a formal statement:

"The law is crystal clear - torture is illegal. It is 'abhorrent' that the Bush Administration would publicly disavow torture, while its Office of Legal Counsel is secretly interpreting settled law to reach the opposite conclusion. It is imperative we understand the extent of this deception. The Office of Legal Counsel must release how many other secret opinions they have produced during the Bush Administration that justified violations of the Constitution, federal statutes, the laws of war, and international human rights.

"Congress's Constitutional authority is the power of the purse. And should the Justice Department not comply, I intend to use that authority by drafting legislation defunding the Office of Legal Counsel."

Senator, since we are in fact discussing my wallet, may I be one of the first to give you permission to slam it shut at will.

~~~Update - 4:09 pm~~~

I just received the following statement from Delaware Sen. Joe Biden:

“This is an outrage and an embarrassment to the nation and is further proof that you cannot trust this Administration. Before these memos were drafted, the Administration publicly denied their use of torture and now it is clear to all that they were not telling the truth.

”These abhorrent policies have made us less safe in the world. The shirking of responsibility by this White House, from blaming Abu Ghraib on lower-level officers and firing others for their own incompetent Iraq policies, is a disturbing pattern of behavior that must come to an end.

”We need a change of direction in America. The American people need a White House they can be proud of here at home and one that commands respect abroad. As President, I will make that change my first priority.”

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama outlined his plan for utilizing the National Guard responsibly, his comments coming on a visit to one of the poorest sections of Waterloo Thursday.

Introduced by a local Army reservist and speaking to an audience of roughly 300 people at the Boys and Girls Club, the Democratic presidential hopeful centered his remarks around Iowa's 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment that is headquartered in Waterloo. Although members of the Ironman Battalion have been stateside since July, while in Iraq the service men and women learned from friends and family back home that their deployment had been extended.

"It's time to use the guard and reserves responsibly," Obama said. "No more unpredictable deployments. No more extended tours. No more failures to plan, to communicate down the chain of command, or to reset the equipment that we've left in Iraq. When we've got service-members who have to find out that their tour has been extended in a phone call home, we're not keeping that trust, and we're not keeping this country safe."

The Iowans were deployed to Iraq during March and April of 2006 and given the task of convoy security. The group provided securty for more than 500 combat patrols and escorted a total of 62,000 trucks over 4 million miles in the Al Anbar province. Two members of Company C -- Sgt. 1st Class Scott Nisely, 48, of Marshalltown and Sgt. Kampha Sourivong, 20, of Iowa City -- were killed during combat near Al Asad, Iraq in September 2006.

Obama's white paper on the National Guard and Reserves calls for improved mental health services, replacement of lost or over-used equipment and enhanced services for military families. He also would elevate the chief of the National Guard to the rank of four-star general and make that person a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Instead of trying to steer the conversation around Iraq and the current state of foreign policy in America, Obama led head-on into what many believe to be one of his strongest talking points.

"In the rush to go to war in Iraq we were failed by a president who didn't tell the whole truth," Obama said. "We were also failed by the media and the Congress. Let's be clear, without that vote, there would have been no war."

From domestic needs at home to failed national security, Obama hammered out a laundry list of items, which he eventually lumped into one phrase: "the cost of war."

"The right person to end this war is the person who had the judgement to oppose it from the beginning," he said. "There is no military solution in Iraq -- there never has been. That is why from day one I'll begin removing troops from Iraq immediately."

Obama promised to begin pulling out troops at the rate of one or two regiments a month while sending humanitarian relief into the country.

"Have no confusion," he said, "I will end this war."

While the announcement of Obama's plan for guard members, reservists and their families was the focus of the event and the primary reason the campaign chose Waterloo, campaign officials said there was more reasoning behind their exact venue choice within the city.

"We've been wanting to do an event in this particular neighborhood," said Josh Earnest, Iowa communications director for the campaign. "In addition to discussing the plan for the National Guard -- which is important locally because of the headquarters being in Waterloo -- the senator also plans to take questions from the audience and reach out to this segment of the population."

At least some of the rally attendees were a bit surprised when they heard the subjects to be discussed. Obama supporter Dr. Michael Blackwell, who stresses that through his organization affiliations he continues to work for the benefit of all the Democratic campaigns, was one person who spoke candidly following the event.

"I didn't know ahead of time that he was going to focus on foreign policy and deal with the situation in Iraq," he said. "That being said, I thought it was good to hear him really focus on it and take the time so that we could hear more than just a 60-second soundbyte. He really described his assessment of the situation, what he's done in the past and what he would do if he were to be elected president."

Blackwell said that he also would have liked, especially in this particular neighborhood, to have heard Obama discuss his politics of hope.

"In the question-and-answer portion he did try to address concerns about jobs, economic development and health care," Blackwell said. "So, he did touch upon those, but not as the central part of his speech. I have looked on his website and I have heard him in more private settings talk about jobs and training and education that would hopefully lead to better employment opportunities for the poor. I know his heart is there and that he's done that type of work in Chicago. But, yes, it would have been nice to hear that today since there are people in Waterloo who need to hear that and be encouraged. There are a lot of working class, unemployed and under-employed people here."

Waterloo resident Louise Miller said the portion of the event that meant the most to her was the part on domestic policy.

"There are just so many people that do not have health care," she said while holding open the facility door so others could exit. "Senior citizens especially rely on Social Security and have limited opportunities."

She admitted to being a member of the "Obama Mamas" -- something the button pinned to her jacket already proclaimed -- and then explained why she was supporting Obama.

"When you start listening [to all the politicians], you have so many saying so many different things that you don't know what is right and what isn't," she said. "You've got to just try and weigh it and determine which way you are going to go. Obama. I like the man himself and I think he is doing the best at getting his message across. It seems to me that he is saying what the people want to hear."

In a move that this reporter has not seen at an Obama event, staff members performed a brief question-and-answer skit before the event began that could have been dubbed Iowa Caucus 101. The hard ask for support, however, came from the man himself.

"We want you to sign a supporter card," he told the audience before beginning his prepared remarks. "We're going to have the exits covered as you leave so that we can at least ask you to sign a card. Also, if you have already signed a card, we want you to be a precinct captain."

The ask, however, did not come without a promise.

"I will not be a president who shortchanges governors like Chet Culver here in Iowa who are working hard to keep their people safe," he said. "I will not be a president who sends our guard off to fight in a misguided war while telling governors and state legislators to hope that a big snowstorm won't hit next winter or that a tornado won't come through town. I will not be a president who extends tours for our guard units overseas while Americans are stranded on rooftops right here at home."

Tonight, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced eight new recalls stemming from violations of lead paint standards.

KB Toys -- Wooden Toys

About 10,000 units of the Wooden Pull-Along Alphabet and Math Blocks Wagons, Wooden Pull-Along Learning Blocks Wagons, 10-in-1 Activity Learning Carts and Flip-Flop Alphabet Blocks are being voluntarily recalled by KB Toys, Inc.

Surface paints on the toys can contain excessive levels of lead.

Descriptions:

Wooden Pull-Along Alphabet & Math Blocks Wagons and Learning Blocks Wagons -- The recalled wooden toy wagons have 28 blocks and a pull string. The wagons measure about 7½" x 13" and have blocks with letters, words, numbers, or pictures on them. "First Learning" or "My Kidz" are printed on the products' packaging, in addition to UPC #834162002158 or #834162002165.

10-in-1 Activity Learning Carts -- The recalled activity carts are three dimensional learning toys with various activities. The cart measures about 17¼" x 16½" x 7¾". "First Learning" and UPC #834162002127 are printed on the products' packaging.

Flip-Flop Alphabet Blocks -- The recalled wooden toys have blocks that flip with letters, words, numbers, and pictures on them. The toy measures about 10 1/8" x 10¾" x 2¾". "First Learning" and UPC #834162001212 are printed on the products' packaging.

Sold at: KB Toys stores nationwide. The Pull-Along Wagons were sold from August 2005 to August 2007 for between $9 and $13. The 10-in-1 Activity Learning Carts were sold from August 2006 to September 2007 for about $30. The Flip-Flop Alphabet Blocks were sold from August 2006 to September 2007 for about $7.

These toys were manufactured in China. Consumers should immediately take the recalled toys away from children and return them to any KB Toys retail store for a store credit.

Pictures of the recalled products are available on the CPSC website.

Kids II -- Baby Einstein Color Blocks

This recall involves the surface paint on the blue block included with the Baby Einstein Discover & Play Color Blocks, Model 30726 and Model 30881. The blocks are made of soft textures and come in different colors. Only date codes of GE7, GF7 and GG7 are included in this recall. The model number and date code are printed on the labels affixed to the green-colored block.

Roughly 35,000 units were sold at various retailers and specialty stores nationwide from June through September for between $10 and $13. They were distributed by Kids II Inc. and manufactured in China.

Consumers should take the recalled blue block away from children immediately and contact Kids II, 866.203.6788, to receive a free replacement of the affected block. A picture of the toy is available on the CPSC website.

Eveready Battery Co. -- Toy Flashlights

Over 75,000 of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" Medallion Squeeze Lights were sold nationwide between September 2006 and October 2007. Surface paints on the leather strap attached to the medallion squeeze light contain excess levels of lead. Consumers should take the recalled light away from children immediately and contact the firm, 800.925.0628, to receive a voucher for another Energizer-brand product.

The lights were imported by Eveready Battery Co. and manufactured in China. A photo of the flashlight is available on the CPSC website.

Dollar General -- Tumblers

Dollar General Merchandising is recalling about 63,000 Frankenstein tumblers that were sold in September 2007 for $1 each. The product is a green, plastic, Frankenstein head-shaped tumbler. It was manufactured in China.

Consumers should immediately take these tumblers away from young children and return them to the store where purchased for a refund or replacement product.

Toys "R" Us -- CKI Children's Decorating Sets

About 15,000 children's toy decorating sets imported by Toys "R" Us and manufactured by CKI Toys of Hong Kong (actual manufacturing completed in China) are being recalled because surface paint on the back of the mirror contains excessive levels of lead.

These Totally Me! - Funky Room Decor Sets are designed to make various room decorating projects and include a clock, clock movement, satin fabric, round box, door hanger, mirror, paper mirror frame, glitter gluej, sticker sheet, foam shapes, sequins, seed beads, elastic cord, fabric flowers and gem stones. The mirror is the only part affected.

Consumers should take the recalled products away from children and return the item to the nearest Toys "R" Us store for store credit.

Dollar General -- Key Chains

Nearly 200,000 key chains with a coiled cord and a metal charm with an engraved inspirational word are being recalled by Dollar General for high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.

The key chains were sold at Dollar General stores nationwide from June 2005 through August 2007 for about $1. They were manufactured in China.

Consumers should immediately take the key chains away from young children and return them to the store where purchased for a refund or replacement product.

Antioch Publishing - Bookmarks and Journals

About 150,000 bookmarks and journals imported by Antioch Publishing have excessive levels of lead. Paint on the spiral metal bindings of the journals, clip on the bookmarks and the clear coating on the marquis bookmarks and bracelets all contain excessive levels of lead. They were manufactured in China.

The character-themed bookmarks and journals include the following designs: Winnie the Pooh, lady bug and flower, hope and courage, star, sun and rainbow, sun and moon, coffee, follow him and cross, monkey and bananas, dragon, hugging cat, mother's touch, breast cancer, cherry blossoms, sweetheart and sassy.

Consumers should immediately take the bookmarks and journals away from children and contact Antioch, 800-543-1515, for a refund.

Sports Authority -- Aluminum Water Bottles

Over 11,000 Alpine Design Aluminum Water Bottles have surface paint that contains excessive levels of lead. The items were sold at Sports Authority and come in different colors -- silver, blue, red, blue with pink flowers, red with the image of a mouse or blue with the image of a zebra. They measure between six and 10.5 inches tall. The product was manufactured in China.

Consumers should stop using the product immediately and return it to a Sports Authority store for a full refund.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

The presidential campaign for New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is launching a new television ad today in Iowa and New Hampshire that details the candidate's record on the issue of health care.

The 30-second spot, entitled "Stand By Us," describes Clinton's efforts to pass universal health care in the 1990s and her work in relation to the Children's Health Insurance Program -- an expansion of which was recently vetoed by President George W. Bush despite Republican lawmakers such as Iowa's own Sen. Chuck Grassley calling on him to approve the bipartisan measure. Although the U.S. Senate passed the measure with a veto-proof majority, the House vote was much closer.

“With the stroke of a pen, President Bush has robbed 10,500 uninsured Iowa children of the chance for a healthy start in life and the health coverage they need but can't afford," said Clinton in a prepared statement following the veto. "These children are invisible to this president, but they aren't invisible to the American people or to the overwhelming bipartisan majority in Congress – and they aren't invisible to me. I was proud to help create the Children's Health Insurance Program during the Clinton Administration, which today provides health insurance for six million children.”

Although Clinton is first with a new ad, she is not the only presidential hopeful to issue a public comment following the President's action.

"At a time when we’re spending billions of dollars on a war that should never have been authorized and giving billions in tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans, today’s veto of this bipartisan plan shows a callousness of priorities that is offensive to the ideals we hold as Americans," said Illinois Sen. Barack Obama. "But George Bush doesn’t have the last word, and I will keep fighting for the Republican votes needed to override his veto.”

Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd questioned the President's priorities.

"This President's priorities are unconscionable," Dodd said. "With the resources it takes to execute just over 3 months of the Iraq War, we could fully fund the expansion of health care for needy children that Bush vetoed. Indeed, today's veto is another reminder that this war is not only adversely affecting our security but also adversely affecting our other top priorities, and it's time for Congress to do what it must do to end it."

John Edwards, although no longer a voting member of the Senate, expressed his dismay not only with the President's decision, but with the Republican presidential hopefuls who support the veto.

"Today, we have witnessed a president that has turned his back on health care for children," said Edwards. "Not surprisingly, in George Bush's administration, corporate cronies and insurance industry allies always come first, while children's health care comes last. In an America where nearly 9 million children don't have health coverage, Congress must do what is right and fight for these children and override Bush's cruel veto.

"Even more shocking is that Republican Presidential candidates, including Fred Thompson, Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Mitt Romney are all lining up with President Bush and against health care for our children. Instead of threatening the health care of children, it's time for Bush, and Republicans like McCain, Giuliani, and Romney to start picking on someone their own size."

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson also did not let his inability to vote in Washington prevent him from voicing his displeasure.

"The Grinch came three months early this year and stole children's health care," said Richardson. "Unfortunately, this is no fairy tale, and unless Congress overrides the President's veto, it will not have a happy ending. President Bush's veto is irresponsible. It is outrageous. It is simply immoral. Of the many shifting rationales the President has offered for vetoing this bill, one is that it will burden private insurance companies. That sums up everything we need to know about this President. Choosing between insurance companies and children should not be hard."

Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, like Dodd, drew attention to the money being used in Iraq as a part of his statement.

"With one stroke of his pen, President Bush has denied health insurance to 3.8 million kids who were due to get it under this bipartisan expansion of the Children’s Health Insurance Program," Biden said. "He’s willing to spend billions and billions of dollars in Iraq, but he’s not willing to invest in our kids’ healthcare. It is unconscionable and wrong. Every child in this country should have health insurance. The President’s veto is a tragedy for the millions who don’t."

Republican hopeful and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said the bill took the wrong approach, but refused to refer to it as bipartisan legislation.

"I agree with the President that this legislation – while well intentioned – took the wrong approach," he said. "The Democrat SCHIP expansion bill would take children out of private insurance and put them into government insurance. It was a flawed approach. The right course is to get all children and all citizens insured with private, market-based health insurance."

A close look at the websites for Republican candidates Fred Thompson, John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Ron Paul and Sam Brownback produced no official statement in relation to the veto.

Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for president, voted against the measure in the House because he said the bipartisan plan did not go far enough.

Senior staff additions, more field organizers and new Iowa field offices have been announced by the Richardson for President campaign.

"The Richardson for President campaign in Iowa is growing stronger from top to bottom," said Jim Farrell, new deputy state director. "If Americans want to end the war in Iraq, we must get all of the troops out of Iraq -- in months, not in years. Bill Richardson is the only candidate who will do it."

Farrell previously served as Bill Bradley's Iowa communications director in 2000. He was the late U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone's communications director, worked on the Clinton 1992 and 1996 campaigns and served in the press office of former Veterans Administration Secretary Jesse Brown. Most recently he served as executive director of the Montana Democratic Party during the successful campaign of U.S. Sen. Jon Tester.

David Rogers, newly named political director, is a native Iowan and left a position as field organizer for Iowans for Sensible Priorities to join the campaign. In 2004, Rogers served as Iowa state director for Dennis Kucinich's Presidential campaign and later served as Kucinich's national advance director. He recently ran two congressional campaigns in western Iowa.

Richardson's new caucus director, Shari Fitzgerald, is a seasoned Iowa political operative who has been involved in every caucus since 1972. She was part of Dick Gephardt's 2004 and 1988 presidential campaigns, Bill Bradley's 2000 presidential campaign, President Carter's 1976 and 1980 campaigns and has served on the Democratic State Central Committee.

T.K. Anderson, newly announced deputy political director for eastern Iowa, has served as president of the Davenport NAACP for two terms and also as its political action chair. Anderson served two terms on the Davenport Civil Rights Commission, has been a candidate for the Scott County Board of Supervisors and has worked with the Tom Harkin, Tom Vilsack and Chet Culver campaigns. He is a Vietnam veteran and an experienced community and grassroots organizer.

Lauren Rose will take over as Iowa communications director. She replaces Tom Reynolds, who was promoted within the campaign to serve at a national level. Rose most recently worked for a national Democratic direct mail firm. In 2004, she worked in the South Carolina press operation of Gen. Wes Clark's presidential campaign, as well as on numerous campaigns in Texas.

Scheduling and advance will be handled by Valerie Herold. She served on the Virginia Coordinated Campaign in 2006 during Sen. Jim Webb's successful campaign and for Kerry-Edwards 2004 in Florida. Herold was a field director for Clinton-Gore 1996 in Florida, and worked for Treasury Secretaries Rubin and Summers.

The staff will join existing State Director Robert Becker, who was Bill Bradley's Polk County field director in 2000, Brad Frevert, and Phoebe Silag. Frevert serves as Iowa field director and is a native Iowan. He is also a veteran of the Tom Harkin and Tom Vilsack campaigns in 2002 and Kerry-Edwards 2004 in Iowa, and was previously the Iowa Democratic Party's field director.

Silag continues to serve as deputy Iowa communications director and is also a native Iowan. She is a graduate of the University of Iowa College of Law, a veteran of the Culver-Judge 2006 gubernatorial campaign and ACT in Iowa 2004.

The campaign is now operating 15 field offices in the state: Des Moines, Ames, Marshalltown, Davenport, Burlington, Ottumwa, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Dubuque, Waterloo, Mason City, Fort Dodge, Council Bluffs, Sioux City, and Storm Lake. Currently, more than 70 organizers are employed in Iowa.

Lots of little bits of information floating around my desk and email inbox that deserve a mention and there are way too many pieces for me to write individual posts on each one. So, here's an all-in-one condiment (catsup) posting.

Ladies, Vote for Clinton or Burn in Hell

While these weren't the exact words spoken by former Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsack while stumping for New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton last week in Iowa, it isn't such a long stretch, at least in my opinion.

According to the National Journal, Vilsack's exact words from the stump were: "I think there's a place in heaven for women who support women."

Just When You Thought a Tenderloin Sounded Good

If you're planning a trip to Solon for dinner at Joensy's you might -- or might not -- want to know that the Johnson County Health Department has shut the restaurant down because "it posed an imminent health hazard." A county health inspector reported live cockroaches on food preparation and other surfaces, thick piles of food and grease on the floor, door gaps that could allow pest entry, a dead rodent and various piles of trash.

The Gazette interviewed owner Brian Joens who stated the reports were exaggerated. It is unclear when the restaurant will reopen.

Iowa Legislators Are Good Value

The Washington Post is reporting that Delaware Sen. Joe Biden might have misused PAC funds while running a presidential campaign. Although there doesn't seem to be enough information in the article for the reader to do much more than speculate, there is an implication that the support of some of Biden's Iowa legislators was purchased for $500. Shoot, if I'd known they were that inexpensive, I'd have bought me a legislator years ago.

Another tidbit buried in that story: "Michael Toner, a former Federal Election Commission chairman who in 2003 wrote the regulation governing how politicians can use their leadership committees, said it is "very dangerous to be operating a leadership PAC while simultaneously running for president." Toner was formerly chief counsel of the Republican National Committee and now works for GOP presidential hopeful Fred Thompson."

Is it really appropriate to use a pundit -- even one who formerly held a position on the FEC -- to discuss something that may adversely affect a candidate from the other party? Seems to me that it would be difficult to remain an unbiased opinion when your guy might one day be going head-to-head against the guy on which you are commenting.

Mike Huckabee Legislative Endorsements

The presidential campaign for Republican Mike Huckabee announced three legislative endorsements. The group will co-chair a Legislators for Huckabee Advisory Committee and work to promote the former Arkansas governor to others in Des Moines.

Sen. David Hartsuch of Bettendorf, Rep. Carmine Boal of Ankeny and Rep. Dwayne Alons of Hull made public their support of Huckabee.

Outbreak of School Bomb Threats?

There was a recent bomb scare in New London and two previous ones at Burlington High School. Wednesday morning students were evacuated at Washington High School in Cedar Rapids when a student reported that s/he overheard other students discussing a bomb on campus. Police were called, but no evidence of a bomb was found.

I'm not sure how common bomb threats are at high schools, but four since the beginning of the year doesn't seem right to me.

Regents Lose Their Head

Current Iowa Board of Regents Executive Director Gary Steinke will be leaving the group to lead the Iowa Association of Independnet Colleges and Universities. He will begin his new assignment on Nov. 1 and has indicated pay was a factor. He earns roughly $150,000 per year as head of the regents. No word on how much he'll be paid for the organization that represents 29 private institutions.

Obama Gains Another

Iowa Rep. Pam Jochum of Dubuque has confirmed that she'll be endorsing Illinois Sen. Barack Obama for president.

It appears that most Iowa legislators are following leadership's suggestion that they spread the wealth in terms of presidential endorsements.

Legislature Considers Withdrawal

Iowa's lawmakers will investigate Bank of America's credit card promotions to college students at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University. Hearings of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee are scheduled for Oct. 29 and 30 on the marketing agreement between the credit card company, alumni organizations and the schools. Individuals who spent the most were provided exclusive access to university facilities, coaches and athletes.

Made in Iowa -- Unfortunately

Three years ago, Iowa law enforcement shut down about 125 methamphetamine labs each month. That figure is now down to about 12 labs per month. The decline is due, in large part, to a law that only permits purchase of one box of medicine containing pseudoephedrine each day.

The Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement believes, however, that some are skirting the law by visiting several different stores to purchase the product. Since it takes just over 40,000 milligrams of pseudoephedrine to create an ounce of meth and since a box of medicine contains about 350 milligrams of the drug, it would take someone quite a few trips to gather enough to create the drug. Despite the obvious time consumption some are advocating the current law that requires purchasers sign a log book should be expanded to include a computer system that would automate the log books and allow both pharmacists and law enforcement to share the information.

There is no word yet on how much such a computer system would cost, but the expansion is expected to be a topic of conversation with the state legislature convenes in January.

Republican presidential hopeful and Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback discussed the bipartisan plan for a three-state solution in Iraq while meeting with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani today in Washington, D.C.

"In my meeting with the Iraqi president, he indicated strong support for a federal Iraq," Brownback said. "Decentralizing power in Iraq offers the best chance for Iraqis to live in peaceful, united country where they can resolve their differences. The American people want to win in Iraq and this represents a viable way forward to stability and success."

Last week Brownback and Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, a Democratic presidential hopeful, played leading roles in creating a broad coalition of senators from both sides of the aisle. The final vote was 75-23 in favor of a three-state political solution for Iraq. The plan is the only Iraq-related policy the Senate has adopted this year and calls for a loosely federated central government in Iraq with three semi-autonomous states for the Kurds, Sunni and Shia.

While some may consider Brownback and Biden strange bedfellows, both lawmakers are known for their ability to hammer out compromise bills that gain bipartisan support. Brownback worked with the late Sen. Paul Wellstone of Minnesota to author and promote The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. Although Biden's original Violence Against Women Act was passed mostly along party lines, his latest proposed enhancement -- a domestic violence volunteer attorney network to represent domestic violence victims -- has Republican Sens. Arlen Specter and Ted Stevens as co-sponsors.

Iowa's federal lawmakers have issued statements in regard to the president's veto of the Children's Health Insurance Program, a program that would extend health insurance to more than 25,000 additional Iowa children.

Statements by Congressmen Bruce Braley and Leonard Boswell were printed earlier today.

Congressman Dave Loebsack:

“We have a moral obligation to protect and nurture our children and provide them with every opportunity to succeed. By vetoing this overwhelming bipartisan legislation, President Bush has broken this promise, jeopardizing the future health coverage for millions of low-income children.

“In Iowa, HAWK-I provides health benefits, including doctor’s visits, vaccinations, prescription drugs and other critical services, to over 37,000 lower-income children. With the health, well-being, and future of our children are at stake, President Bush has shown complete disregard for the needs of hardworking, tax-paying, low-income American families.

“Even if the President disagrees, the health and wellbeing of Iowa’s children is of the utmost importance. I will not let the President’s politically misguided veto endanger the HAWK-I program or the health of Iowa’s children.”

Senator Tom Harkin:

“Just two short days after the President declared October 1st Child Health Day and recognized the important role CHIP has played in helping poor children stay healthy, he has decided to turn his back on the health of millions of American kids. The CHIP bill has the overwhelming support of Democrats and Republicans, nurses, doctors, teachers and health insurance companies, for one reason – because it works. Once again, President Bush’s rhetoric fails to match his actions, and this time it is at the expense of children across the nation. I pledge to work with my colleagues in the Senate to continue fighting for working families by overturning this veto.”

There is not any statement in relation to the veto on Congressman Tom Latham's site or Congressman Steve King's site. King's site continues to prominently feature his his challenge to Iowa Gov. Chet Culver for a debate on SCHIP (known locally as HAWK-I). King also asserts that the expansion would make it easier for illegal immigrants to get taxpayer funded health insurance.

While Sen. Chuck Grassley's site also does not reflect a statement on the veto, his views toward the SCHIP bill stand in stark contrast to Republican counterpart King.

When the U.S. Senate passed the bill, 67-29, Grassley said, "The legislation gets the children’s health insurance program back on track by making states enroll low-income children and cutting off adult coverage. About half the new money is just to keep the program running for the kids already on it. The rest goes to enroll more than 3 million new kids. The compromise bill we voted on today kept all the key provisions of the Senate bill, including a cap on new spending of $35 billion. The legislation sunsets in five years. The support of 18 Senate Republicans for the bill is testament to the strength of the bill and the success of the program. A lot of misinformation has been spread about this bill. But in Iowa, you can’t call a cow a chicken and have it be true. Along with keeping SCHIP going, Congress needs to pass tax incentives to help more low-income families get health insurance, and I’ll be working on those policies this year with Republicans and Democrats in the United States Senate.”

Grassley went even further in his remarks on the Senate floor regarding the passage of the bill:

Mr. President, the Congress is poised to pass the reauthorization and improvement of the children's health insurance bill on a substantial bipartisan basis. In the House of Representatives, 40 Republicans who had voted against the House bill voted in support of this compromise bill. The Senate is, once again, poised to pass this bill with strong bipartisan support. This is a bipartisan compromise. It has broad support from Republicans and Democrats. It will help as many as 4 million low income uninsured children. About half the new money is just to keep the program running. The rest of the new money goes to cover more low income children. It provides better options for families to afford employer coverage. It takes even more steps to address crowd out. It phases adults out of the program. It discourages states from covering higher income kids. It rewards states that cover more of the lowest income kids. It puts the lowest income children first in line.

Here's what it's not: It's not a government takeover of the health system. It does not undermine immigration policy. It's not expanding the program to cover high income kids. It’s a good bill. I urge my colleagues to support this important bill for children.

Yesterday, the Ranking Member of Senate Budget Committee made some remarks on the Senate floor about the children's health insurance bill pending before the Senate. I would like to address the issues raised by my friend and colleague, Senator Gregg. Senator Gregg repeatedly referred to the children's health insurance bill as leading to a nationalize system of health care. He said, “The goal here is to radically expand the size of a public insurance program to families who are doing quite well - families making up to $80,000 who may not have children or whose children may already be insured by the private sector - because they want to move more people onto the public insurance system because they want to have a nationalized system.” Mr. President, I have one simple question to ask all the critics of this bill who, when confronted with the actual policies in this compromise respond by shrieking: “$80,000!! $80,000!!!” And that question is - if this bill became law tomorrow, how many families earning $80,000 a year would be eligible for CHIP. The answer is: None. As they say in baseball: You can look it up.

I have one simple question to critics who, when asked to respond to what is actually in black and white in the bill, react by screaming: “National health care! Socialized medicine!” And that question is -- under what contorted reasoning is a capped block grant inclusive of policies that prohibit new waivers for parents, phases childless adults completely off the program and limits matching funding for higher income kids, nationalized health care? I guess you can call something, anything you want, but in Iowa you can't call a cow a chicken and have it be true.

Now, on the issue of the so-called "Budget Gimmick" that the Ranking Member of the Budget Committee also spoke to, I have this response. Senator Gregg said yesterday, “There’s the problem that there is a scam going on, a scam in this bill as to how it's paid for. This chart reflects the increased cost of the bill as it goes forward, but in order to adhere to their own budget rules, which they claim so aggressively to be following, such as pay-go, they have to take the program in the year 2013 from a $16 billion annual spending level down to essentially zero. In other words, they are zeroing out this program in the year 2013. That's called a scam.”

Now, Mr. President, I am a proud member of the Senate Budget Committee. I believe in fiscal discipline and spending restraint. I agree that under a Republican controlled Congress, spending was out of control. Part of the reason why Republicans lost control of the Congress is because we were unable to control spending. I believe that part of the reason that the President is threatening to veto this bill is that he is trying to play catch up for failing to veto six years of spending bills. I agree that fiscal discipline ought to be applied to spending bills and that we should pay some attention to the level of spending and to how spending is financed. Don't get me wrong, that is a good thing. But the place to start is with Appropriations measures, NOT the SCHIP bill.

So let me focus on the criticism that has been made about how this SCHIP bill is financed. We need to step back and look at the whole picture. The SCHIP program is a pretty small part of that picture. The thing about SCHIP is that it is not like Medicaid or Medicare. It is not a permanent program. Medicare and Medicaid are permanent programs. They are entitlements. SCHIP isn't. Now, there were some who wanted to turn SCHIP into an entitlement program. The House bill would have lifted the cap on the national allotment for SCHIP and extended the program forever. I fought hard to maintain the block grant for SCHIP and to ensure that the program did expire, so that in the future, Congress can evaluate and improve SCHIP, just as we are doing now. So, despite the best efforts of House Democrats, under the compromise bill when the program expires, it truly ends.

SCHIP is an expiring program. Let me say that again; SCHIP is an expiring program. While I know most of us in this chamber would no sooner let the Department of Defense expire than we would let the SCHIP program expire, that is a simple fact. And because it is an expiring program, it is subject to a very particular budget rule. That budget rule says that CBO must score future spending for the program based on the last year of the program's current authorization. So the baseline for SCHIP for next year is $5 billion. For the next five years, the baseline for SCHIP is $5 billion. For the next ten years, the baseline for SCHIP is $5 billion. It is actually $5 billion a year forever. That's right, forever!

According to CBO, over a million children would lose coverage if we simply reauthorized SCHIP at the assumed baseline. Who among us would go home and tell your constituents you voted to reauthorize the SCHIP program, but over a million kids lost coverage. That is not politically viable. During consideration of the Senate Finance Committee bill, there was an SCHIP alternative that included an increase in SCHIP spending of $9.5 billion over five years. Even the Members who opposed the Finance bill acknowledged that $5 billion was not enough. Everyone knows that the current baseline is not realistic. That created a hole in the budget we had to fill. So, what did we do? We filled it. It's that simple. We had to comply with the budget rules. So we did. Do those budget rules make sense? Well, that is a question for the Budget Committee, not the Finance Committee. The Budget Committee sets those rules and they are not for the Finance Committee to change.

There is another budget rule the Finance Committee was required to follow. That rule is called PAYGO which people around here know is short for "pay as you go" financing. It means that the bill needs to cover its six-year cost and the 11-year cost. And that makes sense after all. This bill proposes new spending and we should pay for it. And this bill does. This bill complies with those budget rules. It complies with the PAYGO requirement.

Now, the SCHIP reauthorization we are debating is only a five-year authorization. As I think everyone knows, the bill is paid for with an increase in the tobacco tax. This is just like the original SCHIP bill when it was created under a Republican-controlled Congress in 1997. Now, just like in 1997 when Republicans did it, we had a problem with how the tobacco tax works. The revenue from the cigarette tax is not growing as fast as health care costs. So that means the revenue raiser is not growing as fast as the cost of SCHIP. So the Finance Committee did what it was required to do to comply with the PAYGO budget rule. The Finance Committee bill reduces SCHIP funding to just below the funding that is in the current baseline.

That means that the Finance Committee in five years will have the same problem we faced in putting this bill together today. It will have to come up with the funds to keep the program running. It is true we are covering even more low-income kids in this bill. That's a good thing. Assuming that Congress does not tackle the increasing problematic issue of health care costs across the board, the Finance Committee, in five years, will have a bigger hole to fill. They will have more kids to keep covering and health care costs will be even higher than they are today. That is for the Finance Committee to face in five years. That is just like the job the Finance Committee had today to continue SCHIP. This is really nothing new. Now, my friend and colleague, for whom I have great admiration, has, once again, distorted the so-called “cliff” in the compromise CHIP bill. He has, once again, produced a chart that shows a dramatic decline in funding for this program.

Here is the chart used to raise the issue about financing of the compromise bill which is largely the Senate Finance Committee bill. It shows only the funding in the Finance Committee bill. The approach this chart takes reminds me of the story of seven blind men trying to describe an elephant. Each described a different part of the elephant: tusk, tail, ear, leg, but none could describe the whole elephant. They couldn't see the whole picture. We need to look at the whole picture. As we all know, the SCHIP program was created to supplement the Medicaid program. The goal of the program was to encourage states to provide coverage to uninsured children with incomes just above Medicaid eligibility. So to put my colleague's concerns in perspective, we need to look at the whole picture. We need to look at SCHIP spending as it relates to Medicaid spending. I'd like to draw your attention to this chart. So everyone can fully appreciate the consequences of our SCHIP bill in the context of the Medicaid program which it supplements, I want you to take a close look at this.

Let's start with this tiny little green line at the bottom. You have to squint to see it. The green line here represents the SCHIP baseline under current law. As I have already discussed, it is $5 billion each year for the next ten years and forever actually. Now let's look more closely and honestly at the actual problem we are facing. This massive orange area above it is Medicaid. No one needs to squint to see this. This is projected Medicaid spending for the next ten years. It’s a lot bigger than SCHIP. Then on top of that, we are looking to add new spending to SCHIP. The new spending is represented by the little blue line right here. Again, you almost have to squint to see it. As you can clearly see, costs are growing at a rapid pace overall. The overwhelming driver of the cost is not the relatively small increase and then decline of CHIP spending under the compromise bill - that is a blip on the radar compared to the massive increase of Medicaid spending.

We have a big problem here, Mr. President and it is not going away. Entitlement spending is ballooning out of control and in future years, if we do not act, we are going to struggle to keep these programs afloat. When you look at the whole picture it puts things into perspective. Now, remember all that fire and brimstone about the awful cliff in the compromise bill? The way that it continues to be described, you'd think the world was about to end. Now, looking at the big picture, where exactly is that cliff you might ask? Again, you'll have to squint, really hard but if you strain your eyes and look really closely, right here, that little dip just to the right of the dotted vertical green line is what my good friend from New Hampshire is so exercised about.

So this little blue line is what this debate is all about. This little blue line is the funding in the compromise agreement. This little blue line is what all the fuss is about. Seems like a whole lot hollering is going on over a dip that is hard to even see.

Let me tell you what the Compromise Agreement -- this little blue line -- is not. This is not a government takeover of health care. This is not socialized or nationalized medicine or anything like that. This is not bringing the Canadian health care system to America. This is NOT the end of the world as we know it. To suggest that this little blue line and this tiny dip is the dismantling of the US health care system boarders on the hysterical. While I concede that allotments under our bill in the years beyond the five year reauthorization do behave as described in my friend's chart, I don't think it warrants the heated rhetoric we are hearing today.

SCHIP is not the real fiscal problem here. The problem is that big, big orange area. It's Medicaid. Senator Gregg and I worked together in the Deficit Reduction Act to try to reign in egregious Medicaid spending and I am proud of the work we did. We also found out how hard it is to dial back entitlement spending. Even in a Republican-controlled Congress and even with the special procedural protections in a reconciliation bill, we only succeeded in shaving off $26 billion in Medicaid spending over a 10-year period. The problem of entitlement spending is still out there and SCHIP is a pebble next to the boulders that are Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

I am very hopeful that once we are done with the CHIP debate, we can roll up our sleeves and get down to the business of tackling health care reform on a much larger scale. I know that Senator Wyden wants to take this on, and I want to join him in this bipartisan effort. As I have said many times, I had hoped that we could have used the debate on SCHIP to focus on these larger issues of health care reform and the uninsured. I tried to engage my colleagues on the other side.

I was repeatedly thwarted in that effort and told that SCHIP had to get done first. Well, hopefully we can get SCHIP done and then turn to the bigger issues, so that the next time the Congress has to tackle CHIP, this big orange block won't be so huge. So, in closing, I appreciate my friend's remarks. They are not without some merit. But put into context, I don't think they fit the crime we are accused of here. I yield the floor.

The dark blue signs on the hotel wall read "Fred Thompson." The stickers peppered on suit jackets and light sweaters and the marquee outside read the same. The introduction by the local county chairman was for Fred Thompson. Despite all of this, however, today's political show in Dubuque was owned by children -- especially the former Tennessee senator's young daughter, Hayden.

Thompson entered the room with his wife, Jeri, and Hayden by his side. As he moved to the front of the crowd of roughly 100 Iowans, the young girl remained by his side even as members of the staff motioned toward a chair on the sidelines, next to her mother.

After a few introductory comments, Thompson turned to his daughter and asked, "Are you going to go sit with your Momma, or are you enjoying the limelight here?"

The answer came quickly and clearly: "I'm enjoying the limelight." And, so, she remained by his side for most of his 40 minutes of remarks.

Hayden, although the most public child in the room, was hardly the only young person in attendance -- or the only one who wanted a piece of the limelight.

To Thompson's far left sat Jennifer Maki, a teacher at Hillcrest on Campus School, and several students enrolled in her elections class. As a part of their studies each student had been assigned a Republican and a Democratic candidate to follow and had presentations fr