Print: March 2007 Archives

Not much time today, but we'd be remiss if we didn't acknowledge the great work which has been accomplished.

As you may have read in today's Register, the Iowa Pharmacy Examiners Board has dropped a proposed conscientious objection clause which would have allowed a pharmacist to refuse to fill any prescription on moral or ethical grounds.

The board voted unanimously to withdraw the section after hundreds of Iowans wrote letters against it. While we at EE would love to take credit for the surge of interest, the applause belongs primarily to Planned Parenthood. If you are inclined to offer more than your thanks, please consider stopping by the PP Spring Book Sale in the 4-H Building on the State Fairgrounds sometime between now and 6 p.m. on Monday. Proceeds will be used to support the education and community outreach programs.

While the section has been set aside for now, don't count it on it staying that way forever.

State regulators said they plan to revisit the issue. They also said the matter could wind up in the Legislature.

While everyone knows we Iowans are all about the warm fuzzies, yesterday's Vilsack endorsement of the Clinton Campaign may have been less about the fuzz and more about the dough.

According to a post at the NY Times, the Clinton Campaign has agreed to help 'erase' at least a portion of the $430,000 debt Tom Vilsack accumulated in his own Presidential bid. The politicians are pointing to past personal connections (Christie Vilsack's brother, Tom Bell, served with Clinton on the Watergate Committee), but the public doesn't seem to be convinced.

A random poll of four people on the streets of downtown Cedar Rapids this morning showed that while all believed the endorsement was done for monetary gain, none found it shocking. "It's politics," said one woman while she laughed and walked away. "What do you expect?"

Another gentleman lamented the irony of Vilsack's recent calls for clean elections and grassroots politics while planning to back "one of the largest political machines in the world."

Iowans still remember when Vilsack took employment opportunities with MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co. as a consultant on renewable energy and Drake University Law School as a visiting professor. In short, Iowans know their former Governor was not left penniless when he walked out of Terrace Hill two months ago.

While it will still be interesting to view the financial papers filed by the Vilsack and Clinton campaigns at the end of the month (made available April 15), don't expect any big revelations as to where the money came from and where it went. Chances are, the strategists have already decided not to let loose any funds until after the March 31st deadline, ensuring nothing will be reported until the next cycle. Even then, it will probably be buried under salaries, with Vilsack then paying his vendors from his private pockets. (Wonder how much a national chairman and Iowa Co-Chairwoman make?) The campaigns are no doubt hoping that most will forget by mid-summer and no one will take the time to dig deep enough to make the connections.

Those interested may also wish to view the two letters Tom Vilsack signed recently. The first requests money for his own campaign and the second requests the same for the Clinton campaign. The first letter went into the mail late last week and the second was an email blast by the Clinton Campaign just moments after the endorsement was official.

Be sure to read the second and let us know your thoughts on this statement:

Today, Christie and I made a contribution to Hillary's campaign, and we did it for two reasons.

Does that say/read what I think it says/reads?

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 group of 20 women from the University of Iowa are spending spring break in Louisiana, but it's not what you think.

The group is working through Volunteers of America of North Louisiana to spend their vacation helping Hurricane Katrina evacuees living in Shreveport. They have recently been working on a Habitat for Humanity home in Bossier City and have also spent time in local food banks.

The Shreveport Times has a brief article about the Iowa students along with a photo of them working in the food bank.

I was just over at the DMR looking at the total list of bills which survived funnel week when I spotted this:

"Banning hunting of live animals with an Internet hookup"

Wow. Granted I'm not the most savvy person when it comes to the latest advances in hunting, but this one had me Googling. Nope. I didn't find one survival tip on how to use your net connection to bag a buck.

Re-Reading... banning hunting of live animals with an Internet hookup... Hmmm

I realize Iowa has an alarming deer population. Most any given morning, you can see a family or two while running along the Des Moines river trail. So, yes, we and the deer are kinda co-habitating the same spaces. I had no idea, however, that the deer (or any other animals) had net access. If they do, I think someone should look into it. No doubt those furry critters are snagging someone's wifi.

Anyone want to enlighten me as the to the true nature of this, no doubt, highly important piece of legislation?

Three high school girls from a New York City suburb were suspended for saying the word "vagina" during a reading of The Vagina Monologues. According to the school's principal Richard Leprine, the word was not appropriate at a community event open to children. (I know there's a pun in there somewhere...)

Eve Ensler, author of the play, has surfaced to defend the girls and use of the word for female genitalia.

According to reports in the Des Moines Register last weekend Iowa Rep. Janet Petersen took a few moments -- during labor -- to speak on the phone with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. Two hours following the phone call, the legislator gave birth to a healthy son, Buck Henry (7 lbs, 3 oz.).

Not only do we send kudos to the entire Petersen family, but we're very impressed with Janet's ability to multitask!

Newspapers in Tennessee, Pennsylvania and Michigan have pulled conservative commentator Ann Coulter's syndicated column following her comments at the CPAC, according to an article at Fox News. In addition, it was reported that three companies - Verizon, Sallie Mae and NetBank - have dropped their advertising from Coulter's site.

You'd think Ann would have learned a few things following the "spawn of satan" comment. which got her dropped from USA Today.

Prominent feminist and long time abortion activist Kate Michelman has not only endorsed former Sen. John Edwards, she took to the stage at a California rally to assert "as a lawyer, as a husband, as a father of two daughters, he understand the reality of women's lives. He understands the centrality of women's lives and experience to the health and well-being of society as a whole... He understands that on an extremely personal level."

Needless to say, the comments weren't met with only cheers. Some have commented that just as Toni Morrison christened Bill Clinton the first black president, Michelman is attempting to dub Edwards our first woman president. It is obvious to most, however, that Michelman still has a difficult time swallowing Clinton's 2005 speech.

Despite what you might have read in email this week, staring at a woman's breasts is not a form of exercise which will add years to your life.