Essential Estrogen

A few days ago while writing a piece about Christie Vilsack, I promised to return with more information about one of her pet projects. Today is the day! So, I invite you to meet one of Iowa's most prominent women of the 1800s, Arabella (Belle) Babb Mansfield.

Mansfield passed the bar exam on June 15, 1869 to become the first woman licensed to practice law in the United States. That however, is only one chapter of her story.

She was born in Sperry (Des Moines County) and graduated from Iowa Wesleyan College in 1866. She taught briefly at Simpson College in Indianola and then began studying law with her brother in the Ambler Law Office in Mount Pleasant. In June of 1968 she married John Mansfield, a professor of science at Iowa Wesleyan.

In June of the following year, she was admitted to the bar. The Henry County attorneys who examined her wrote, "Your committee take unusual pleasure in recommending the admission of Mrs. Mansfield, not only because she is the first lady that has thus applied for this authority, in the State, but because in her examination she has given the very best rebuke possible to the imputation that ladies cannot qualify themselves for the practice of law.”

Unfortunately, she never practiced law in the traditional sense. It is likely that she was too involved with women’s issues at the time. Not only was she the first woman admitted to the bar, but she was a strong advocate for women’s voting rights. In l871 she served as a delegate to the 2nd Iowa Woman Suffrage Convention in Des Moines. Also in the early 1870s she traveled extensively in Europe observing the courts of London and studying law in France.

In the late 1880s when her husband accepted a position at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana she served as professor and dean, but returned often to Iowa Wesleyan to teach and lecture during the fall semesters. In the summer of l893 she addressed the National League of Women Lawyers at the Chicago World’s Fair, where she was officially acknowledged as the first woman to be admitted to the bar in the U.S. She was inducted into the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame in l980.

As Christie Vilsack wrote in a letter last month, visitors seeking Belle in Mt. Pleasant will be sorely disappointed. There is only a small conference room named in her honor on the second floor of the Iowa Wesleyan Library.

"I want young women who consider attending Iowa Wesleyan to know that this community has always nurtured women who achieve," Vilsack wrote.

The short-term goal is to create a nationwide grassroots fundraising campaign to raise $250,000 for two projects -- a bronze statue on the Iowa Wesleyan campus and a yearly symposium.

Those who would like to contribute can send donations to: Iowa Wesleyan Foundation, 601 North Main, Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641. Further information can be found by viewing Belle Babb Mansfield Project brochure.

There's a quick and interesting read in the Quad City paper today about one of Iowa's newest Democratic Congressmen, Bruce Braley. It seems that Braley, a freshman from Iowa's first district, chaired a House meeting. While this may not seem like a big deal, the article states that historians at the paper "could not find any Iowa freshman to chair a subcommittee back to at least 1959."

EE is also happy to note that the 'initial chairing' was done in order to take testimony from female business owners in reference to the difficulties they've faced in winning federal contracts. The hearing coincided with the Women's Chamber of Commerce conference. Braley has stated that he plans to push government agencies to lower barriers and reach out to female-owned companies, especially those in the midwest.

We'll be holding you to that promise, Bruce!

A military recruiter has come under scrutiny following a heated email exchange which she initiated. According to reports, a male civilian placed his resume on Careerbuilder.com where it was noticed by Army Recruiter Marcia Ramode. Ramode sent an inquiry email to the civilian who responded that he was not interested in a position and that he was gay.

What followed was a three-day email exchange in which Ramode, using her official military account, labeled the civilian as "disgusting and immoral" and tells him to "migrate to another country." (All the while using some of the most horrible grammar I've ever seen. When I first read the emails, they were so horrible I thought it must be a joke. Sadly, it isn't.)

In one email the recruiter states (capitals and all): "YOU GO BACK TO AFRICA AND DO YOUR GAY VOODOO LIMBO TANGO AND WANGO DANCE AND JUMP AROUND AND PRANCE AND RUN ALL OVER THE PLACE HALF NAKED THERE AND PRACTICE YOUR GAY MORALS OVER THERE THAT'S WHERE YOU BELONG."

More information available at The Frontlines and Pam's House Blend.

The good folks over at IowaPolitics.com (We just discovered today that EE is included in their blogwatch -- THANKS!) have the full text of Sen. Staci Appel's comments on Election Day Voter Registration.

Here's a taste:

...While access to participate in our democracy is important, it is equally critical that we maintain the integrity of every vote.

This proposed legislation is quite strict. It requires an individual to provide proof of residence with a photo id in order to register and vote on Election Day. It also requires the individual to sign a written oath testifying that they have not already voted in any other precinct.

This legislation I believe with the proper safeguards and training is an effective way to improve voter access and participation...

Marie Wilson and all the great people at The White House Project have finished up training sessions in Minnesota.

The sessions were held over a three-day period in Chaska at the Conference Center. For those interested in running for office (soon or someday) the information provided is extremely valuable. There are two more training sessions planned this spring. The next will be April 27 to 29 in Mableton, GA and the final will be May 19 and 20 in Denver, CO. Applications are being accepted for both sessions.

For those who want a sneak peek of the program, several video clips have been posted.

If you haven't already, head over to Crooks and Liars and check out the video of Ann Althouse and Jessica Valenti. Wow.

Planned Parenthood has formed a Pill Patrol and needs volunteers to sign up and check local pharmacies for emergency contraception.

Let me first tip my largest brimmed sun bonnet with a big pink remembrance ribbon to Molly Ivins. My sodas have less fizz since she's been gone.

As some of our readers have commented in email "this *deleted expletive* blog is supposed to be *deleted expletive* covering *deleted expletive* women in *deleted expletive* Iowa politics" and we've "not uttered one *deleted expletive* word on the *deleted expletive* problem with *deleted expletive* Dawn." For reading ease, please note that each deleted expletive in the quotes above began with the letter F. For our ever-loyal - however foul-mouthed - readers, please be aware that, after the first few launches, additional f-bombs are left without a target.

For the record, we have made three separate posts featuring Rep. Dawn Pettengill. We doubt, however, the quantity of mentions is the crux of the recent correspondence.

Exposed for the entire state in first the Cedar Rapids Gazette (no online version available) and then in the Des Moines Register, is the fact that Pettengill hasn't been winning many popularity contests with the Democratic leadership.

Rep. Dawn Pettengill said she takes pride in being an independent thinker.

Independent thinking, closely held personal beliefs and a keen sense of what will play best back home are all important traits for a legislator. As evidence, have a look at one of Iowa's most prolific politicians, former Rep. Jim Leach of the 2nd Congressional District. While Leach didn't have the high-energy and tenacity of Pettengill, he did possess something she has not yet discovered: political respect.

For the 2006 election, Pettengill raised $89,121. Of that amount, $39,422 (or just over 44 percent) came from the Iowa Democratic Party and her local Democratic Central Committee. Her next largest contributor was general trade unions including Hawkeye Labor Council, Iowa Federation of Labor and Cedar Rapids Building & Construction Trades Council. Pettengill also had no problem accepting contributions from the steelworkers, roofers, electrical workers, ironworkers and auto workers. To bring it all home, well over 50 percent of the money she used to fund her campaign came from organizations she knew actively sought advancement of certain issues.

What Leach understood -- and what Pettengill evidently does not -- is a politician can break from his/her political tribe in as much as the overall good of "them what brung ya" is addressed. Most special interest groups, whether they be filled with church or workplace activists, are forgiving of politicians who vote to protect their future political aspirations.

When the brick wall is reached, however, and your individual vote is key to failure or victory, those who helped you get where you are today will be upset, concerned and, yes, even a bit angry if you -- a politician who has happily taken not only money but also gifts of people and time -- decide you'd rather sit this one out.

Sounds harsh? Well, there's a simple way for any politician to head off to office without such stress. Don't take special interest money. Don't take it first hand, second hand or even third hand. Don't take money from groups who are going to expect you to address issues in a way you know you will not.

If you looked over our three linked articles referring to Pettengill then you already know that two out of the three are positive of both her and some key things she's working to accomplish. Our belief in those areas hasn't changed. Our overall impression of Pettengill has. She chose to go to the dance. She chose which date she'd ride with and who she'd place on her dance card.

Tear-stained or dry-faced, it's now decision time. Leave the dance or take the hand of them that brung ya and cut a rug.

Delaware Sen. Joe Biden is proud of the fact that he hasn't changed much since 1994.

"If I could wave a magic wand," he told the standing room only crowd in Cedar Rapids Sunday night, "the one thing in world politics I would do would be the empowerment of women."

Biden was responding to an audience member who questioned what could be done about the declining status of women in Iraq.

"I don't want to empower women because they are sweet and nice," he added. "It needs to be done because that's 51 percent of the world's population and because it would better us all."

Although the primary topic for Sunday's stump speech was the Iraq War, the U.S. Senator and author of the 1994 Violence Against Women Act often answers audience questions or follows a train of thought which leads him to discuss women and/or women's issues. On his campaign site he states that writing the VAWA was the most proud moment of his entire career. The legislation helped set up shelters and a national hotline where women who are abused can get help. In addition, the courts were empowered to protect women being stalked.

Following his public remarks, Biden spoke privately about the recent Supreme Court ruling. Pointing to his opposition of Justice Samuel Alito and Chief Justice John G. Roberts (not to mention Robert Bork), he said, "As president I would be prepared to nominate individuals who would respect a woman's right to privacy."

Biden, during his speech, said the one thing that needs to happen in the coming months was the "pricking of the consciousness of the nation."

He walked into the audience and placed a coffee cup in the middle of a round table. "That's what we have to do," he explained. "A leader has to be able to listen to all of these people at this table, each of them with their own opinions and find that one common thread they all agree on."

He pointed to the coffee cup and added, "Once you have the thing they can agree upon, you start building around that to bring them together."

He agreed to expand on this thinking as well after the event.

"We need to stop saying 'red' and 'blue' and thinking in those terms," he said. "We also need to stop buying into the false divisions which have been put out there. We have to reach out to one another and work together."

“The world taught women nothing skillful and then said her work was valueless. It permitted her no opinions and said she did not know how to think. It forbade her to speak in public and said the sex had no orators. It denied her the schools, and said the sex had no genius. It robbed her of every vestige of responsibility, and then called her weak. It taught her that every pleasure must come as a favor from men and when, to gain it, she decked herself in paint and fine feathers, as she had been taught to do, it called her vain.”
~Carrie Chapman Catt, 1902, in a speech before the the National American Woman Suffrage Association

Women are the original multi-taskers. By either design or necessity, we have learned not only to balance the various aspects of our lives, but to take information from two seemingly unrelated aspects and make them compliment one another. That is, we've taken experiences from the playground and applied them to our first job. We've taken experience from grade school and applied them to our marriage. We've taken experiences from church and applied them to work. There isn't a single part of our life which has stood without impacting another.

It is impossible to celebrate our mothers or our lives as mothers without taking a moment to consider how that very important life role has helped to shape who we are and what we do.

"My mother was hard working, had a great sense of humor, enjoyed life, always tried to fix what was wrong, and loved herself," said Iowa Rep. Helen Miller. "I work hard for my constituents, do my work with humor -- makes it easier for everyone, allow no one to steal of compromise my 'joy,' do my best to put and keep things 'right,' and take care of myself physically, emotionally and psychologically. These are not bad traits for any line of work including, but not limited to, parenting and legislating.

"I see my legislative role much like that of a parent working to do her best for individuals and groups who may be needy, confident, pushy, sensitive, unreasonable, helpful, angry, and more. It helps to call upon memories, analogies and quotes from my child-rearing days -- those child-rearing days are not unlike my work now. It was necessary then and it is necessary now to constantly maneuver through unfamiliar territory in terms of attitudes, beliefs, personalities, situations, people and places. All my children, by the way, turned out just fine."

Her follow legislator Rep. Vicki Lensing agrees.

"Becoming a mother is life-changing and the only training we have is what we know – from our own mothers and women in our lives that have taught, modeled and influenced us," she said. "It brings us skills, strengths and weaknesses. It releases within us feelings that we have never felt before in quite the same way as motherhood brings to us.

"As a mother, I found new depths of patience and understanding, of hope and pride, of vulnerability and acceptance that I do not have all the answers and that I cannot be there always and a bottomless sense of responsibility and accomplishment for this person before me."

Lensing also agrees there are many roles women hold -- the exact "list is unique and endless for each of us" -- and each role impacts our decision making and forces us to look beyond ourselves.

"As mothers, we are obliged to role-model, to make rules and to see each child as an individual – and sometimes these duties are in conflict with one another," she added. "Decisions that are clear cut and easy in the office become blurred at home – priorities take on a new ranking after motherhood – and emotions run under the surface as we view the world as a mother, wanting to protect and nurture our children in a place that is not always safe, certain, secure or predictable. Unconditional love and acceptance become second nature as a mother."

She summed it up by saying, "As a legislator, I have to study, question, understand and make policy that impacts all Iowans. This job includes many of the skills I have learned as a mother. As for my personal identity, I see myself as being more than a mother – but the impact of this role adds to who I am. I think it adds depth to who I have become – because my role as a mother continues to change as my children grow up and that forces me to continue to grow and learn as a person. I may stumble along the way but it brings a sense of accomplishment of which I never dreamed."

We wish all the women out there -- mothers or not -- the happiest of days. In the coming years, may we learn to live and lift our voices in sweet harmony.

More than 1,500 Iowa women caucus goers have agreed to make public their support of former Sen. John Edwards.

The list of women, which represents all 99 counties and more than 800 precincts, was made public today during a Town Hall event in Des Moines. The campaign also announced a statewide leadership team of 31 business, education, law government and community leaders who will advise Edwards and the campaign on issues of concern to women.

"This is a major sign of support for us," Sen. Edwards said in an exclusive following the event. "To have a women's organization with more than 1,500 caucus goers from every county and more than 800 precincts shows that we're getting traction here. More importantly, it shows that the issues I'm focused on -- from universal health care to ending poverty to raising the minimum wage -- are important to people in Iowa.

"These women are from every corner of this state and every walk of life, but they share a commitment to changing America and setting a new direction for our country."

Members of the leadership team are:

• Roxanne Conlin, Civil Rights Attorney and former Iowa Gubernatorial Nominee, Des Moines
• Laura Foell, Former Sac County Supervisor, Schaller
• Celia Rangel, President Quad City Mexican American Organization, Davenport
• Connie Smith, Teacher, Sioux City
• Georgia Robertson, Boone County Democratic Party Chair, Boone
• Beverly Strayhall, Healthcare Activist, Davenport
• Tena Hinkel, Monona County Recorder, Mapleton
• Lena Avila Robison, Investigator for Iowa Civil Rights Commission, President & Founder of Latinos Unidos of Iowa, Des Moines
• Jeannette Kline, President of Burlington Iowa State Education Association Chapter, Burlington
• Tammy Kesterson, Iowa Democratic Party State Central Committee Member, Marengo
• Joy Lowe, Community Activist, Waterloo
• Patricia Schaefer, Mayor, Morning Sun
• Rosemary Schwartz, Former Benton County Democratic Party Chair, Vinton
• Jan Horton, Webster County Treasurer, Fort Dodge
• Rebecca Cole, Former Hamilton County Supervisor, Jewell
• Jody Ewing, Iowa Democratic Party State Central Committee Member, Onawa
• Janet Adams, Former State Representative, Webster City
• Sally Steffen, Former County Wapello County Supervisor, Ottumwa
• Denise Hocraffer, Wright County Democratic Party Chair, Clarion
• Dori Rammelsberg-Dvorak, Democratic Party Activist, Clutier
• Melva Lewis, Retired Teacher, Former Iowa State Education Association Executive Board Member, Bettendorf
• Anne Travis, Iowa State Education Association Executive Board Member, Sidney
• Ruth Moorberg, Iowa State Education Association Executive Board Member, Esterville
• Pat Steinfort, Community Activist, Mason City
• Joan Amos, Chariton City Council, Chariton
• Peg Dunbar, Former Bremer County Democratic Party Chair, Waverly
• Allison Schultz, President, Clarke College Democrats, Earlville
• Sara Hansen, Iowa State Education Association Executive Board Member, Marshalltown
• Kas Kelly, Muscatine County Supervisor, Muscatine
• Laurie Schipper, Executive Director, Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Ankeny
• Kathleen Graves, Emmet County Democratic Party Vice-Chair, Estherville

“John is a thoughtful, compassionate and strong leader who will make it his mission to see that women have the same opportunities as men – from education to health care to employment,” Roxanne Conlin, a member of the leadership team and a former Democratic nominee for Governor, said in a press release. “He will stand up to Republican attacks against a woman’s right to choose. He will end the war in Iraq, start bringing our troops home, and most importantly, bring our nation together to make progress for all Americans.”

During the Town Hall, Sen. Edwards detailed his plan to improve the lives of women at work and at home. In doing so he called for:

• Guaranteeing health care for 95,000 Iowa women who lack insurance.
• Ending poverty – helping the 179,000 Iowa women who now live in poverty. John Edwards has called for an end to poverty within 30 years, with policies rooted in the core American values of work, opportunity and responsibility.
• Supporting strong families by expanding the Family and Medical Leave Act, investing in child care for working moms and increasing long-term care options available to families.
• Raising the minimum wage. In Iowa, women account for 61 percent of minimum wage workers.
• Passing pay equity legislation and providing additional funding for women-owned businesses. Today in Iowa, women earn 75 cents for every dollar earned by men.
• Protecting a woman’s right to choose and codifying Roe v. Wade into federal law.

The Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State University and the League of Women Voters of Ames, Iowa, are sponsoring Ready to Run: Campaign Training for Women on Friday, June 1. The workshop -- which is designed for anyone considering seeking public office or working on a campaign -- will take place from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Scheman Center at Iowa State Center in Ames.

"The workshop presents a unique opportunity for potential candidates to hear directly from prominent elected and appointed women leaders, campaign consultants and party officials about how to literally get ready to run," said Dianne Bystrom, director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics at ISU. "It offers two tracks -- one for those who have made the decision to run for office and one for those who want to learn more about getting involved politically -- as well as joint sessions on media training and fund raising."

Bystrom reports that the following political figures will participate in the workshop: State Representatives Beth Wessel-Kroeschell (D-Ames) and Carmine Boal (R-Ankeny); former State Sen. Maggie Tinsman (R-Davenport); Ames Mayor Ann Campbell; Des Moines City Councilwoman Christine Hensley; Story County Supervisor Jane Halliburton (D-Ames); Mary Ann Spicer of the Iowa Employment Appeal Board; Diane Crookham-Johnson, former Finance Chair for the Republican Party of Iowa; JoDee Winterhof, Democratic campaign strategist and Iowa Political Director for Sen Hillary Clinton's campaign; and Karen Slifka (senior advisor with Sen. John McCain) and Joe Shannahan (former press secretary for Gov. Tom Vilsack), principals with the Lincoln Strategies public affairs firm in Des Moines.

Some topics that will be covered include positioning yourself for public office, developing a campaign plan, fund raising, interactive media training, and navigating political parties.

Registration forms and scholarship applications are available through download online at: www.las.iastate.edu/CattCenter. Registration is $75 before May 21 and $100 after that date. There is a $25 non-refundable deposit due at the time of registration. Checks should be made payable to the Carrie Chapman Catt Center.

Ready to Run was established by the Center for American Women and Politics at the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. The Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics and the League of Women Voters of Ames have adapted this program to encourage women in Iowa to seek public office.

For those who enjoy getting out and viewing summer tourism campaigns put together in Iowa's cities and towns, I invite you to come to Marion and visit "Art in the Pots." You won't be disappointed with the art or with the town.

As a part of the Marion Arts Festival earlier this month Marion unveiled abstract sculptures created by local artists (sponsored by local businesses). The dozen or so displays will remain available for public viewing throughout the summer and into the early fall. Self-guided tour brochures are available at downtown merchants.

The display featured at the top right of this post was created by Karen Hoyt and Francis Marion Intermediate's fourth grade students. This past Wednesday the art, "Honeycomb, Woncha Be My Baby," sponsored by Irwin's Clothing and J.D. Schlotterback Iowa Realty won "Best in Pot."

Special thanks is extended to the Marion Chamber's Special Events Committee who organized the street art and the Marion Arts Festival jurors for judging "Best in Pot."

Here are a few more of the beautiful pots currently available for viewing in downtown Marion:

"B and B"
Artist: Gary Bolden
Sponsored by Marion Brush MFG

"Diversity of Culture"
Artist: Tom Newport
Sponsored by Diversity Focus

For those who haven't heard: This presidential election season is different.

For those Iowans who haven't heard: Roughly 25 million Americans will be able to cast votes in 2008 Presidential preference primaries without consideration of which candidates earn Iowa bragging rights.

In 2008, two caucus states will go first - Iowa and Nevada - on Jan. 14 and Jan 19, respectively. They will be closely followed by New Hampshire with the nation's first primary Jan. 22 and a Democrats-only primary in South Carolina on Jan. 29. Only recently, the legislature in Florida moved its primary to Jan. 29, although there is still discussion about whether the Democrats will remain on that date or they'll move further back into the field and switch to a caucus. While no date has been set for the South Carolina Republican primary, state party leaders have indicated they will schedule the vote prior to any other southern contest (including Florida).

The first Tuesday in February, the fifth, became the first date all remaining states (which did originally include Florida) could schedule their Presidential Preference contests. It didn't take long for many states to decide they wanted to be first out of the gate. The entire state of Idaho and Democrats in New Mexico will be holding caucuses on Feb. 5. Alabama, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Utah are the 11 states holding their primaries on that date.

The work-in-progress calendar of primaries and caucuses maintained by the National Association of Secretaries of State shows Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Texas as states with primaries that are considering a move to Feb. 5. In addition, caucus state Colorado is also considering a move to Feb. 5, according to NASS.

Compared to the first Tuesday, the remainder of February is quiet. Louisiana will hold primaries on Feb. 9. Democrats in Maine will caucus on Feb. 10. Maryland and Virginia will host primaries on Feb. 12 and Wisconsin will follow suit on Feb. 19. Democrats in Hawaii and Idaho finish off the month with their caucuses on Feb. 26.

So where are all these million of votes which might be cast prior to the Iowa caucus? As the saying goes, timing is everything.

While votes may have not been counted in other states, there will have most definitely been votes cast prior to Iowa's current caucus date of Jan. 14. Voters in five of the Feb. 5 primary states -- California, Illinois, New Jersey, Oklahoma, and Utah - will be able to cast ballots well before Iowans begin lining up at their caucus locations through the advent of early and absentee voting.

According to one Iowa political insider, all the Presidential campaigns are aware -- or at least should be aware -- of the absentee ballots that will be cast prior to the Iowa caucus. "This dynamic, however, is so new and untested," the source said, "no campaign is going to discuss its particular strategy in dealing with it."

California, in particular, poses a unique opportunity to presidential hopefuls. As of November 2006, the state had nearly 4 million voters signed up to be permanent absentee voters. That is, nearly 4 million California voters will have an absentee ballot automatically placed in the mail to them on Jan. 7, 2008. According to an official in the California Secretary of State's office, military and overseas ballots are to be mailed beginning Dec. 7, and California plans to do "as much as possible" to boost its primary into the national spotlight.

It's difficult to know exactly what the impact will be, especially since two of the states -- Illinois and New Jersey -- will be hosting their first presidential preference where early voting is allowed without excuse. New Jersey has just under 5 million voters registered. Of those, just over 2 million, or 48 percent, participated in the Nov. 2006 general election. While the Division of Elections does not maintain statewide totals of the percentage of population to vote absentee, the clerk's office in Bergen County (the county with the largest population) reports roughly 6 percent of the county voted by absentee in 2006 -- only one year after the legislature allowed "no excuse" absentee voting.

While Illinois allows those with a valid excuse to vote by mail or in person 40 days prior to an election, in 2005 the state also began offering unqualified early voting 22 days prior to an election. This means that the state's 7 million registered voters will have an opportunity to cast an early ballot prior to the start of the Iowa caucus and, because of the newness of the program, there is no historical indicator of how many will vote early.

Given California's permanent absentee voters and traditional percentages of individuals who cast "no excuse" absentee votes; however, it would not be unlikely to see 5 million absentee votes in the can prior to the start of the Iowa caucus.

Carrie Giddins, communications director for the Iowa Democratic Party, agrees there will be absentee ballots cast prior to the Iowa caucus; however, she takes offense to the 25 million figure. "You're looking at total registered voters across those five states," she said. "Not everyone is going to vote. And of those who do vote, not everyone is going to vote absentee -- and not everyone who votes absentee is going to do so prior to the Iowa caucus. There's one line of thinking which says many of the absentee voters will hang on to their ballots to see what happens in Iowa.

"No matter how many absentee votes are cast," she added, "the results of those ballots will not be announced prior to the Iowa caucus."

Former U.S. Congressman and state party chair Dave Nagle says he isn't sure what dynamic will play out in the 2008 elections.

"Of course having the calendar so front loaded is a major disadvantage to candidates who are without major funding," he said in a phone interview on Tuesday. "Coming in fourth in Iowa caucuses is no longer good enough. If a lesser candidate wants to continue, the campaign will have to climb into Iowa's top three.

"The fear for both sides of the aisle is that you end up a year out from the actual contest with a 'wounded duck' who has not been throughly tested. That could actually intensify late state activity although historically those types of late rallies haven't been successful as some of the later voters may view the early front runner as inevitable."

Nagle finished by saying what could really be "devastating to Iowa" would be if those front states begin releasing their absentee ballot return totals prior to the caucus.

Of those states considering a jump to Feb. 5 (or earlier), five could have additional influence due to their absentee balloting and/or early voting practices. Arizona, Kansas (which has only held two presidential preference primaries -- 1980 and 1992), North Carolina, Oregon and Texas all will potentially play a larger role if their contests move forward.

Since all the crystal balls seem to be malfunctioning when it comes to Iowa and the 2008 elections, no one can say for sure if the current and possible calendars will push Iowa to a position of more importance or bring to a close the state's leading role in presidential politics. There is one thing, however, of which all Iowans can be sure: No one can vote absentee in our caucus.

Iowa lawmakers will be honored for helping to prevent discrimination against gays and lesbians as well as mandating that the state's school districts establish anti-bullying policies.

The awards will be presented Friday during Iowa's Matthew Shepard Scholarship Awards Dinner at this Friday at the Hotel Fort Des Moines.

"I am extremely honored to have been a part of this legislation being passed," said Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, D-Ames, who served as floor manager of the anti-discrimination measure (SF 427) during House debate this session. "It has been such a good feeling to work on this and to watch all the individuals who fought for its passage truly celebrate each step in the process. I did work hard and I did my part, but I was just doing my job."

Although Wessel-Kroeschell doesn't have a personal story behind her work on the bill, she has spent a number of years studying the issue and working for its passage.

"This is a measure which has been around for a number of years," she said. "It passed the Iowa House in the 1980s and then passed the Iowa Senate in the 1990s. This year marked the first time it gained approval from both houses and made its way to the governor's desk."

During the 1990s fight for the bill, Wessel-Kroeschell was a clerk for former state legislator Ralph Rosenberg. As proof that all things come full circle, Rosenberg will be enforcing the legislative changes as director of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission.

Despite 18 states -- including Iowa neighbors Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin -- having similar laws and Democratic majorities in both chambers of the Iowa Legislature, even this session the bill did not come without compromise. In the final days, Minority Leader Chris Rants of Sioux City put forth an amendment, which limited the scope of "gender identity" and inserted a provision to prevent any claims against Iowa's Defense of Marriage Act.

Speaking last week on Iowa Public Television's "Iowa Press," former legislator Chuck Hurley, president of the Iowa Family Policy Center, continued to denounce the new law despite the addition of the amendments. He contends the measure -- which he dubs as "legislative and cultural malpractice" -- gives gays and lesbians special rights.

"All the historians are in agreement that when a culture finally adopts acceptance of this behavior," he told Associated Press senior political writer Mike Glover in an exchange on Iowa Press, "it's one step away from the end of that culture."

"This isn't about special rights," Wessel-Kroeschell said Wednesday. "It is about -- and has always been about -- ending discrimination and providing equality for everyone."

Joining Wessel-Kroeschell at the awards dinner will be Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal of Council Bluffs, Speaker of the House Pat Murphy of Dubuque and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Des Moines. They are all mentioned in the event program along with Senate President Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg, Senate Assistant Majority Leader Mike Connolly of Dubuque, Rep. Mary Mascher, D-Iowa City, and Rep. Roger Wendt, D-Sioux City.

Iowa's Matthew Shepard Scholarship Program also will award 18 scholarships to openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender high school students at the dinner. Recent graduates from high schools in Fort Dodge, Marshalltown, Johnston and Cedar Falls will receive full scholarships (worth roughly $30,000 each), and 14 others will receive smaller awards.

The scholarships are named in memory of Matthew Shepard, a University of Wyoming student who was kidnapped, beaten and left to die in freezing temperatures in 1998 because he was gay. The program honors Iowa high school students who work to promote tolerance and non-discrimination in their schools and communities. Many of the scholarship recipients are teens who worked for both the anti-bullying and anti-discrimination legislation that passed this session.

In addition to awarding the scholarships and honoring the lawmakers, the program includes recognition of the best high school Gay-Straight Alliance and best college LGBT group in Iowa. Entertainment will be provided by the Des Moines Gay Men's Chorus under the direction of Rebecca Gruber.

It is alive!

Those who were around Iowa in 2004 may remember the First in the Nation web site put together by the Iowa Department of Economic Development: IowaCaucus.org

Yup, someone took the old girl into the back room, fluffed up her dress, applied some new war paint and sent her back out to the greeting line.

This morning Gov. Chet Culver's office announced the launch of the site, now dubbed "Iowa Caucus 2008: First in the Nation." It will once again serve as a statewide, non-partisan resource for news media, campaign staff and the public on the caucus, Iowa quality of life and something called "Iowa's new economy."

Iowa ranks 'first in the nation' in the production of ethanol, E-85 and biodiesel fuels, and is third in wind energy production. The state was also ranked first by Forbes Magazine in overall quality of life.

"The Iowa Caucuses give us an opportunity to showcase the state's strengths on a world stage," Culver said in a released statement. "Most Americans know that the state is 'first in the nation' in the presidential campaign, but may not be aware of Iowa's leadership role in renewable energy or our top ranking in quality of life. It's time for Americans to learn what 21st century Iowa has to offer."

The change to the informational site has taken place within the past two weeks. Google's cached version from May 18, while missing graphics, shows the 2004 text.

Content has been updated to reflect present-day information, but the types of content offered haven't changed much. Caucus facts, major employers, candidate information, links to caucus experts and state fact sheets remain a part of the offerings.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sen. Chris Dodd's presidential campaign has completed hiring regional field staff in Iowa and now has a director in eight major regions of the state. While other national campaigns in Iowa have managed to locate at least one women to serve in mid-level field staff positions, none are listed in the Dodd lineup.

Dodd's field team is overseen by Ben Rohrbaugh. As Iowa field director, Rohrbaugh will be directly responsible for coordination of the eight regionals. He comes to the Dodd campaign following a successful run as the field director for Chicago city clerk Miguel del Valle. He has previously served on Congresswoman Melissa Bean's re-election campaign, the Christine Jennings recount in Florida, and the John Kerry campaign in Michigan.

He will be joined by David Joseph who will be serving as Iowa director of voter contact. Joseph most recently served as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's Indiana director of finance and voter contact for the successful campaigns of Reps. Joe Donnelly, Brad Ellsworth and Baron Hill. He previously served on John Kerry's presidential campaign in Michigan and Dick Gephardt's Iowa caucus bid.

The following field directors already have or soon will be establishing campaign offices throughout the state and coordinating local campaign and volunteer activities in their respective regions.

• Mario Piscatella will serve as the northwest Iowa regional field director. Piscatella most recently served as senior advisor and strategic director for Pete Ashdown's U.S. Senate campaign in Utah.
• Greg Neil will be the southwest Iowa regional field director. He previously served as a field organizer for Indiana Congressman Baron Hill and Chicago City Clerk Miguel del Valle.
• John Yaggi will be the north central Iowa Regional field director. Yaggi has served on the campaigns of Kentucky gubernatorial candidate Bruce Lunsford, Indiana Congressman Baron Hill and Chicago City Clerk Miguel del Valle.
• Justin Lindsay will serve as the Polk County regional field director. He has previously directed field and coordinated field programs in Michigan, as well as working on the John Kerry presidential campaign in Michigan and the Christine Jennings recount effort in Florida.
• Rich Wilkins will be the Waterloo-Mason City regional field director. He previously served on several state and federal campaign in Pennsylvania, including the John Kerry presidential campaign.
• Ben Young will be the Cedar Rapids-Iowa City regional field director. He previously worked for Arkansas Congressman Marion Berry, as well as on the campaigns of Indiana Congressman Baron Hill and Arkansas Congressional candidate Jan Judy.
• Kevin McTigue will serve as northeast Iowa regional field director. He previously served as a field coordinator for Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell's re-election, field director for Virginia delegate Vivian Watts and Michigan volunteer coordinator for John Kerry.
• Chris Bowen, a native of Burlington, will be the southeast Iowa regional field director. He most recently served as a regional field director for the Iowa Democratic Party in 2006 and worked for Gov. Chet Culver's primary campaign.

No one is for sure if the Clinton presidential campaign's announcement of former Vilsack staffer Dusky Terry joining her staff had an impact on Dr. Maya Angelou's public endorsement. Of course, as Iowans we like to think it does.

Angelou's endorsement was made public last week at a "fundraiser hosted by women of color," according to the campaign. In the video, Angelou speaks about her fondness for Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Angelou is -- without a doubt -- one of the greatest voices of contemporary literature. Throughout her life, she has filled many roles including poet, educator, historian, best-selling author, actress, playwright, civil-rights activist, producers and director. She is know for the autobiographical writings, I know Why the Caged Bird Sings and All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes. Her volume of poetry, Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'Fore I Die was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. She has also read her poem On the Pulse of Morning during Bill Clinton's 1993 presidential inauguration. It was only the second time in history a poet had been asked to read at an inauguration.

Clinton viewed the video for the first time at the fundraiser where more than 300 women had gathered. The star-struck event also included Representatives Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas, Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio, and Nydia Velasquez of New York, and Grace Napolitano of California. The audience heard from several other Clinton supporters including actress and foster care advocate Victoria Rowell and Mary Wilson of the Supremes.

At roughly that same time, Iowa officials for the campaign were making the announcement that Terry had been named a senior adviser to Clinton's Iowa effort. He is expected to advise the campaign on political organizing, outreach and policy.

"I am honored to be joining Senator Clinton's Iowa campaign," Terry said in a prepared statement. "She shares the values of Iowa Democrats and is committed to earning their support."

Clinton's Iowa State Director, Teresa Vilmain added, "I am thrilled to add Dusky Terry to our team. He brings strong leadership and experience working in Iowa politics."

A lifelong Iowan, Dusky Terry has worked in Iowa politics for the past nine years. Terry joined Vilsack's gubernatorial campaign in January of 1998 during Vilsack's successful bid to become Iowa's first Democratic Governor in over 30 years. Terry then served in the Governor's office as a policy adviser and subsequently policy director overseeing Vilsack's policy and legislative agenda. Terry unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for secretary of agriculture in 2006 before he joined Heartland PAC Iowa in July of 2006. Most recently, he served as the State Director for the Tom Vilsack for President campaign in Iowa.

One woman is part of a group of three Decorah police officers, one DeWitt police officer and one Decorah volunteer firefighter who will receive the Sullivan Brothers' Award of Valor in a ceremony this Thursday. Officer Sara Stinson will be joined by Chief Tom Courtney, Captain Warren Leeps, volunteer firefighter Jeff Ode and DeWitt Sergeant Marc Swingle when the honor is presented by Gov. Chet Culver at the State Capitol.

The award was known as the Governor's Award of Valor until 2004 when former Gov. Tom Vilsack decided to rename the award after the five Sullivan brothers of Waterloo who were killed serving on the same U.S. Navy ship during World War II. The change was prompted by the U.S. Mint's refusal to feature the brothers on Iowa state quarter.

Regardless of the change of name, the award recognizes peace officers and firefighters who "distinguish themselves by the performance of an heroic act ... where the person was fully aware of the threat to his/her personal safety." During the 30 years the award has been presented, 54 men and women have been honored -- nine of those posthumously. Nominees must meet strict guidelines and a background investigation.

Stinson, Courtney, Leeps and Ode responded to a Jan. 12 report of an automobile accident. When they arrived, a single car was in the ditch along the road, engulfed in flames and smoke. It was quickly determined that a person remained in the vehicle.

The driver, 84-year-old Olive Sims, was conscious but unable to help with her rescue. In addition, the flames were spreading from the engine into the passenger compartment. The group worked together to pull Sims from the vehicle and moments later the place where she had been sitting broke into flames. She suffered very serious injuries from the collision, but escaped with her life thanks to the bravery of the responders.

The incident was caught on tape by a dashboard camera in one of the police units.

Swingle responded to an unknown problem 911 call. He was headed up the walkway to the home in question when he heard a gunshot coming from inside. He took cover and looked through a glass door to find a man on the floor with a face wound. The injured person, who had not seen Swingle, lifted a gun to his head and cocked it. In a split-second decision, Swingle opened the door and took the gun away from the elderly man. His bravery and quick actions prevented the man, later learned to have a terminal illness, from taking his own life.

The awards will be presented in the governor's formal office at the State Capitol. The four from Decorah will be honored at 12:30 p.m. and Swingle will follow at 1 p.m.

Iowa Workforce Development, in partnership with Lee County Economic Development Group, received a “2007 Excellence in Economic Development” award from the International Economic Development Council. A panel of economic development experts selected the winners and awarded the Laborshed Study the excellence award in the population category of 50,000 to 200,000. The official award will be presented during the 2007 IEDC Annual Conference this September.

“Laborshed studies provide community economic developers and existing or prospective employers a flexible tool to understand the local labor market and make informed expansion and site selection decisions,” indicated Iowa Workforce Development interim director Dave Neil.

A Laborshed is defined as the area or region from which an employment center draws its commuting workers. Laborshed studies show the distribution of the workers irrespective of natural or political boundaries. Laborsheds also address underemployment, the availability and willingness of current and prospective employees to change employment within the workforce, current and desired occupations, wages, hours worked and distance willing to commute to work.

The IEDC is the world’s largest organization for economic development professionals, with over 4,500 members from 18 different countries. Iowa is represented with 88 different member organizations.

The State Historical Museum Atrium in Des Moines will be the spot for a state policy meeting with a dual focus.

Denise O'Brien, who made an unsuccessful bid for Iowa secretary of agriculture in 2006, will discuss the road map for agriculture. Iowa Rep. Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque, will follow with a discussion on Voter Owned Iowa Clean Elections legislation.

The event will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on July 12. Sponsors are Women's International League of Peace and Freedom, The League of Women Voters, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Progressive Coalition of Central Iowa, Oxfam, Iowa Farmers Union, Iowa Citizen Action Network and Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement.

Having long considered steadfast anti-abortion views as one of his best campaign assets, Republican presidential hopeful Sen. Sam Brownback will up the ante this week when he brings two well-known activists into Iowa to campaign at his side.

Today the Brownback campaign announced a "Pro-Life,Whole-Life Tour" featuring Bobby Schindler, brother of the late Terri Schiavo, and Francis Bok, an escaped slave from Sudan.

Bobby Schindler, brother to the late Terri Schiavo, gave up his teaching job at Tampa Catholic High School after his sister's husband received court permission to remove her feeding tube while she was in a coma caused by severe brain injury. Bobby now travels across the world telling his sister's story and describing the impact of euthanasia. Bobby is the author of "A Life That Matters" and the executive director of the Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation.

Francis Bok is an escaped Dinka slave from Sudan. At the age of seven he was abducted in a Sudanese government raid held in bondage in northern Sudan for nearly a decade. Bok was forced to sleep with cattle, endure daily beatings and eat rotten food. Since then he has dedicated his life to speaking on behalf of those who are still in bondage: "What good is my freedom if my brothers and sisters around the world are still not free?"

Stops on the tour are all free and open to the public.

Friday, July 13 @ Council Bluffs
Gabriel's Corner Pregnancy Counseling Center, 131 S. 16th St.
12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

Friday, July 13 @ Sioux City
Home of Marge Stanek, 5500 Wild Rose Lane
5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 14 @ West Des Moines
Brownback for President Iowa Headquarters, 2700 University Ave., Suite 206
9 to 10 a.m.

Saturday, July 14 @ West Des Moines
Crossroads Fellowship Church, 1200 60th St.
11 a.m. to noon

Saturday, July 14 @ Ames
Brown for President Office, 526 Main St.
2 to 3 p.m.

Saturday, July 14 @ Cedar Rapids
Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel, 350 1st Ave NE, 16th Floor
6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 15 @ Bettendorf
Home of Ron and Lynelle Stahlhut, 5439 56th Ave. Ct. East
2 to 3 p.m.

Veteran journalist Helen Thomas is worried about what she describes as the current "chipping away" of individual rights by the Bush administration and the U.S. Supreme Court."

"I've had my eyes and ears on the White House for years, and I've never seen it in worse shape," Thomas said recently while in Des Moines where she was keynote speaker for the annual luncheon of Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa. "The rights of the individu