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This is "Irritable and Sarcastic?" McCain at Des Moines Paper

CitizenSugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:45:53 -0700

If I had a dollar for every time my mom said to me, "it's not what you say, it's how you say it," I'd be able to finance the bailout all by myself. That in mind, the coverage of John McCain's appearance in front of the Des Moines Register editorial board flummoxes me. The AP I mean god bless 'em, they're quick and fair — but the headline, "McCain turns irritable, sarcastic in interview" set my expectations high.

They provided a series of quotes, which reading them coupled with the headline made me nervous. McCain said:

Really? I haven't detected that in the polls, I haven't detected that among the base. If there's a Georgetown cocktail party person who, quote, calls himself a conservative who doesn't like her, good luck. I don't dismiss him. I think the American people have overwhelmingly shown their approval.

And:

The answer is that most of my life, in serving my country, I have had health care. I did go for a period of time when the health care wasn't very good.

This plus Jonathan Martin saying a "feisty McCain duels," with the Register and calling him "emphatic, combative, and at times surly" and "hard-edged," I was expecting fireworks of an apocalyptic magnitude . . .

You've seen "what" he said — to see the "how" part,

Should the Law Consider a Striptease Performance Art?

LibertySugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:45:35 -0700

The future of (public) nude dancing in Iowa depends on the legal answer to one question: is stripping art? Iowa's ~~strip clubs~~ performing arts centers are under legal attack, after an underage patron's performance sparked a court battle. Iowa's public indecent exposure laws forbid all-nude strip clubs, but artists still dance naked at "performing art centers."

Back in 2001, the underage niece of a sheriff decided to bare all at the establishment Shotgun Geniez, dragging the owner into court to argue that the law does not apply here because it exempts theater, concert hall, art center, and museum performances.

The club in question, which usually prevents under 18 year olds from entering, sells posters and provides sketch pads for patrons. While the owner argues that she did not violate Iowa's public indecent exposure law because the dancing is art, the prosecution says the facts are clear: an underage girl stripped, case closed.

If the case makes it up to the state supreme court, there may be a state-wide decision regarding whether naked dancing equals art. How do you think the court should treat subjective standards like "art" and "indecency?"

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Iowa's Citizens Tell Congressmen to Lay Off Immigration Raids

CitizenSugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 08:00:52 -0700

About 1,000 Iowans marched in protest yesterday over working conditions at the same meatpacking plant in Iowa where an immigration raid this Spring that led to the arrest of almost 400 people. The incident has left local residents pleading with their congressmen to stop with the raids. This weekend residents told their representatives that the sweep damaged the small town more than it helped, and tore families apart.

The raid was the largest of its kind in US history, and the testimony over the weekend showed the huge emotional toll it took on the community. Those testifying both skewered immigration officials and Homeland Security for inhumane tactics, and leveled criticism at the plant for taking advantage of the workers.

At the end of the hearing, Rep. Gutierrez agreed, "This is wrong. We've taken men and women who want to work and made felons out of them." One local union official said the blame would be better placed with the owners who hired and took advantage of the workers rather than the illegal workers themselves, "the family that owns that place, they're the ones who should be prosecuted."

The mayor issued the definitive statement, and urged them to take the message back to Washington that raids don't work, "this raid did nothing for this community. It downgraded us substantially. It caused people to suffer, and it caused our reputation to suffer clear across the country."

Is he right? Do immigration raids do more harm than good?

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Think Food's Spendy Now? The Flood Just Made It Worse. . .

CitizenSugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 09:00:10 -0700

Although help to those affected by the horrible damage in the heartland will most likely be forthcoming, relief to the rest of the country due to skyrocketing food prices may not. Sixteen percent of Iowa farms have been destroyed and their entire crops demolished following the severe flooding.

The devastation has in turn caused record high market prices of corn and soybean products. The prospects of the smaller amounts of grain yields shocked the market where corn prices rose to nearly 8$/bushel; four times the amount of its usual price and a new record. World corn prices have now risen to 90 percent higher levels than just one year ago.

One Iowa mayor put the cost of the hit on the heartland plainly. He said that even after the floodwater recedes, affected farmers would have to work the rest of the year to clear silt, tree limbs and other debris before they can plant next year. "There's going to be absolutely no farming this year. They've lost it. It's gone. Nothing at all. No beans, no corn this year." That's a reality that will show up in every shopping cart for a long while to come.

While beginning the onerous task of rebuilding lives washed away by the Midwestern floods, survivors got visits from two high profile guests yesterday. To see who,

Mighty Mississippi River Bursts Its Banks Forcing Rescues

CitizenSugar — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:00:03 -0700

Despite backbreaking teamwork to sandbag the riverbanks, the Mississippi River broke through an Illinois levee forcing nearly half a dozen people to be rescued by helicopter. However, because the federal government learned from a 1993 flood in the same area and planned for a repeat, the damage could have actually been much worse.

After the 1993 Mississippi flood, President Clinton purchased much of the low-lying land buying out more than 9,000 homeowners. The land was turned into parks and underdeveloped areas creating much less of a risk when the next flood — like this one — occurred.
The buyout plan moved whole communities including Rhineland, MO and Valmeyer, IL. FEMA also spent $1.6 million to move the resident of Elkport (whose population then numbered 80) and razed the remaining buildings. The ones who remained are paying the price today as their town is now completely inundated with water.

The National Weather Service predicts crests in the next few days along the Mississippi River near St. Louis to approach those 1993 levels. In Canton, MO, the river might reach 27.7 feet high, more than 13 feet above the flood stage.

Though 1993 preparations controlled some damage, area residents are still hurting. Reports of raw sewage and farm runoff in floodwaters raise concerns about public health, and some long-time river dwellers are calling it quits. One woman who's 83, said, "I'm not going back after this one." It was the third time she'd been flooded out of her home since 1965.

Given the sheer number of recent weather-related disasters, is emergency response after the fact enough? Do we need more planning like the 1993 buyout to minimize disaster's affect?

Souce

Bush Says Funds Available For Midwest Floods

CitizenSugar — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:10:54 -0700

Bush Says Funds Available For Midwest Floods US President George W. Bush on Tuesday said there was enough money in a government relief fund to handle the flooding disaster in the Midwest and he planned to go to Iowa this week to review the damage. On his first day back from a trip to Europe, Bush said the government had enough money in its Disaster Relief Fund to handle the problems caused by the worst flooding in the region in 15 years.

36,000 Iowans Homeless as Floodwaters Recede

CitizenSugar — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 08:55:59 -0700

36,000 Iowans Homeless as Floodwaters Recede Floodwaters began to recede Sunday in Iowa's two largest cities, Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, and the Iowa River crested in Iowa City after swamping part of the University of Iowa, but many communities face daunting cleanup. About 36,000 Iowans in 11 counties are homeless, Gov. Chet Culver said Sunday. In Cedar Rapids, 25,000 people were forced from their homes. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is taking applications for disaster assistance.

Front Page: Gaza Blast Kills 5, US/Iraq Talks Stall, Midwest Pounded

CitizenSugar — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 06:55:45 -0700

Gaza Blast Kills 5: A large explosion in Gaza yesterday killed at least five Palestinians, including several Hamas militants and a baby girl. Despite the death and destruction of a residential building, responsibility is unclear. Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza, first blamed the blast on an Israeli air strike, causing them to fire rockets and mortar rounds at Israeli towns and villages around Gaza. The Israeli military has vehemently denied any involvement in the explosion.

US/Iraq Talks Stall: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki declared that talks with the US aimed at reaching a long-term agreement allowing US forces to remain in Iraq have "reached an impasse". According to Maliki, the US demands compromised Iraqi sovereignty. President Bush has said he wants an agreement by the end of July, as the UN mandate for US forces to be in Iraq expires at the end of 2008. Maliki said of the proposal, "We cannot allow US forces to have the right to jail Iraqis or assume, alone, the responsibility of fighting against terrorism."
Midwest Pounded: Iowa's Cedar River broke its banks yesterday, forcing the evacuation of thousands of homes and causing a railroad bridge to collapse. Officials estimated that 100 blocks are underwater in Cedar Rapids, where preparations weren't enough to hold back the water. The sheriff said of the weather crisis, "We're just kind of at God's mercy right now, so hopefully people that never prayed before this, it might be a good time to start." Estimates show that 3,200 homes were evacuated and 8,000 residents have been displaced. This news comes after a deadly tornado hit an Iowa Boy Scout camp, and a similarly deadly twister tore through Kansas, leaving residents to dig out of the destruction.

To see an exclusive, first-hand photo account of the Kansas aftermath,

Front Page: Tornado Kills Boy Scouts, US Releases Tape of Strike, Toddlers Starve in Indonesia

CitizenSugar — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 06:54:17 -0700

Tornado Kills Boy Scouts: Four people were killed and 48 injured after a tornado tore through a Boy Scout camp in western Iowa last night. The victims included three 13-year-old scouts and one 14-year-old scout according to an executive with the Mid America Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The scouts at the devastated camp, aged 13 to 18 were participating in a leadership training course at the camp and "were some of the top scouts in the area,” according to a Homeland Security spokeswoman. Tornadoes also touched down in Kansas, Minnesota and Nebraska last night, killing another two in Kansas.

US Releases Tape of Strike: The US military has released the tape of the attack on the Pakistan border that killed 11 Pakistani soldiers and led officials to describe it as a "cowardly" act. The footage released by the Pentagon shows black-and-white aerial footage with narration describing the video. The narrator repeatedly notes that there are no military structures or outposts within the impact area. A Pentagon spokesman yesterday said they had "every indication we have at this point is that this was, indeed, a legitimate strike in defense of our forces after they came under attack."
Toddlers Starve in Indonesia: At least 21 toddlers have died of malnutrition in Indonesia in recent months as a food shortage threatens the lives of thousands more. The shortage brought on by floods and drought has led to an additional 116 youngsters being admitted to hospitals in critical condition, according to the head of the local health department. He said, "we urgently need medicine and nutritional foods to save the children. We are racing against time because they need nutritious food within 30 days if we want to save their lives."

Record Flooding Puts Mississippi River on Lock Down

LibertySugar — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 03:00:43 -0700

As all three of the Midwest's major rivers — the Missouri, Illinois, and Mississippi — rise above flood level, residents face record flooding and mandatory evacuations. Today the US Army Corps of Engineers plans to close nine locks and dams on the upper Mississippi River.

Closing the locks means that the economic repercussions of the flooding will rise along with the rivers — the decision will halt traffic on 200 miles of prime commercial waterway. Good thing gas is cheap, so they can just use roads to transport all those goods!

As for some good news, Iowan volunteers who filled and piled up sandbags in downtown Cedar Falls, Iowa, have been able to protect their city's center. You can see them at work in the pictures below. 200 locations have been flooded across the US, and flood warnings have been issued in Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Oklahoma, and Montana, according to the National Weather Services. Are you seeing any flood action near you?

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Huge Storms Swipe Iowa and Minnesota Killing Eight

CitizenSugar — Mon, 26 May 2008 07:04:59 -0700

Storms brought huge hail, heavy rain and tornadoes to Iowa and Minnesota this weekend, killing at least seven people in Iowa and one 2-year-old in Minnesota.

The raging storms left parts of towns reduced to rubble and heavy rain and lightning continued with wind gusts of 70 mph. The National Weather Service pegs the storms to a massive warm system that had been centered over the southern and western great Plains several days ago. Moving north into Minnesota and Canada, the cold high that followed sparked severe storms.

Nearly 100 people have died in tornadoes so far this year — the biggest death toll in a decade — and the danger has not passed yet. Tornado season typically peaks in the spring and early summer.

Source

53 Immigrants Held For Ransom in Phoenix, 300 in Raid in Iowa

CitizenSugar — Tue, 13 May 2008 06:00:58 -0700

We talk a lot about illegal immigration around here, but this story really puts a human face on the situation and shows the extent of the problem. It doesn't look good for anyone involved. Arizona authorities recently found 53 illegal immigrants being held prisoners in a Phoenix home by suspected smugglers holding them hostage for more money.

Among the group of rescued immigrants were two 13-year-old girls and a mentally disabled man. There were three women, and the rest were men, according to officials. The group had all had their shoes confiscated and were packed in with very little food or water. It's thought that smugglers wanted an average of $2,500 for the release of each person. To see the huge raid in Iowa,

Headline: Huckabee Leaves Iowa and Rakes It In

CitizenSugar — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 11:32:20 -0800

After his decisive victory in the Iowa caucuses, Mike Huckabee jetted away from the Hawkeye state in what could be the most profitable flight in history. Buoyed by the fabled Iowa "bounce," Huckabee's campaign netted $350,000 smackers while the candidate flew to the next contest in New Hampshire.

Though the extra cash is useful, it's worth noting that Clinton and Obama are expected to report fourth quarter earnings of $20 million each, while Mitt Romney banked $62 million (including $17 million of his own loot,) in the first three quarters, and in the 2004 primaries Kerry and Bush raised $250 and $280 million respectively.

You know, in case you ever thought $350,000 was a lot of money.

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Check This: Obama Prevails as the Anti-Hillary Candidate?

LibertySugar — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 15:55:36 -0800

Last night, 68 percent of Iowa's Democrats did not vote for Hillary Clinton. The characterization of Hillary as the inevitable nominee now appears obviously foolish (or at least a little premature).

Barack Obama scored significant momentum with his win, and still-deciding voters looking for an "anything but" alternative to Clinton might ditch Edwards as an option.

Even if some potential voters previously only saw Obama as a favorable second choice to Edwards, they might ultimately bolster Obama and avoid splitting the anti-Hillary vote between the two, risking a Clinton victory. Among her own party, a candidate's likelihood of beating the polarizing Clinton may be just the ticket.
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Check This: Did Edwards Benefit From Second Choice-Syndrome?

CitizenSugar — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:08:23 -0800

Since the dawn of time—okay, since the dawn of this campaign which is practically the same thing, we've been trained to expect the big Hillary/Obama showdown. This neck-and-neck binary has spawned a lot of passionate supporters—as well as just as fervent detractors.

For voters heading into the caucuses supporting a candidate who would be proven "unviable," (R.I.P, Chris Dodd, Joe Biden,) and forced to reassign their votes--did Edwards reap his second-place victory as a second-choice candidate?

Apparently, yes, for many Iowans stuck between Barack and a Hard Place, the choice was John Edwards.

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Check This: Will Obama Regret Not Placing Second?

CitizenSugar — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:03:19 -0800

Like people who pray to win the lottery and then watch their lives fall apart when they do, sometimes it's best to be careful what you wish for. Obama's win in Iowa could be just such a conundrum. His decisive victory places him in the perilous "front runner" position bringing with it even more scrutiny than he's already wading through.

Why? To find out, please

Headline: Hillary Comes in Third?!

CitizenSugar — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 06:28:42 -0800

It almost doesn't matter who won (Barack Obama with a huge 38 percent of the vote). The real story is that the long-supposed front runner leaves Iowa this morning with a bronze medal.
In her speech thanking voters, though certainly not conceding anything, Hillary mildly rebuked the Iowa Caucus system for its inaccessibility to those who work nights or are in the military. No mention though of the possibility that the out-in-the-open, stand-under-a-sign phenomenon of the Democratic process might have, given her polarizing nature, scared skittish voters into the trendier (or kinder and gentler) "change" groups under the Obama and Edwards signs.

To find out what happened, please

Headline: Bye-Bye Freddie?

CitizenSugar — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:35:17 -0800

I'm going to go ahead and reckon that it's bad news when the story dominating your news cycle on Caucus Day is speculation as to when you're dropping out. I'd say there's a pretty good chance your schedule's gonna clear up tomorrow.

A pretty baffling long-shot (though certainly not entirely unappealing) candidate from the beginning, Fred Thompson may put an end to his casual campaigning soon, given expectations of a poor showing during tonight's caucuses. It's speculated that he'll throw his support toward John McCain — and you'd better believe that announcement and endorsement will happen riiiiight when McCain will be able to ride it home to a strong showing in New Hampshire.

I can't say it hasn't been fun, Fred. We'll catch you on the repeats!

Source

Headline: Caucus Time! Are We There Yet?

CitizenSugar — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:01:00 -0800

If the campaign has been a marathon so far (that, uh, we're just getting to the starting line of?!?), Caucus Day in Iowa is that last .2 of the 26.2 miles that almost break you. Unlike all-day primaries, the caucus goods don't get rolling until 7 p.m., so bloggers, anchors, and pundits are left spinning their wheels, throwing out bizarre canned pieces, and getting a little punchy waiting for the witching hour.

Here are some "waiting for the bus" reports:

Wanna know what to get Hillary? (Or Mitt?) Chocolate-covered chocolate, apparently.

Bloggers lose their minds (albeit entirely humorously) right along with the sleep-starved candidates. . .

. . . And plain give up posting "news."

And here's the piece de resistance to hang it up and drink some cocoa, from Big Head DC . . .

Pass the marshmallows.

Check This: Too Many Good Options for the Dems?

LibertySugar — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 15:43:24 -0800

With the Iowa caucus only hours away, there are still so many undecided voters. Iowan Democrats are indicating that their indecision results from an abundance of appealing candidates.

I share that sentiment. In 2004, I felt as if I had to choose the presidential candidate that irked me the least. Neither John Kerry nor George Bush got me too excited. This year, America has the chance to elect the first black president, the first female president, or another very qualified and spirited individual. One thing is for certain — this year my vote will be for a candidate, rather than against a candidate.
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Headline: Republicans Gallop Toward Iowa Finish Line

CitizenSugar — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 14:11:25 -0800

With a grab bag of political strategies, here's where (and why) the Republicans were today:

Mike Huckabee, fresh from his Tonight Show appearance, was up again at the crack of dawn with a speech in Burlington, Iowa, followed by repeat performances statewide. Scrapping for a sprinkle of the dark horse miracle, he's gotta be everywhere all at once, just praying that he doesn't turn into a pumpkin come 7 o'clock.
Mitt Romney's win tonight is less crucial — he's got the bucks and nationwide appeal to carry him through. Nonetheless, he's set to shore up corporate support starting his day with a speech in Des Moines at a more civilized 10:30 a.m., touring the state, then ending up in West Des Moines to wait for the results.
Rudy Guiliani is completing his iron-clad snub of the Hawkeye State by giving speeches in New Hampshire and Florida. He's marching to his own drummer on this one, so I guess we just wait for the inevitable thud tonight and catch up with him next week.
And John McCain, who's only dabbled in Iowa as well, sat out campaigning today waiting for his expected big showing in New Hampshire.

It's certainly been said that Iowa isn't the crucial contest for the Republicans that it is for the Democrats, and maybe this round-up shows just that. If you're following the Democrats free-for-all, here's a little gem: Wanna know who has the busiest schedule tomorrow? Bill Richardson. Hmm...
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Check This: Republicans' Fate in Iowa . . . Meh?

CitizenSugar — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 12:55:36 -0800

On the other hand, the Republicans are perhaps benefiting from a secret ballot caucus that doesn't require them to out themselves in front of their neighbors. A less intimidating process, on top of which is the bonus that the Republican win tonight is not nearly as critical as the Democrats'. Plus, everyone knows Republicans are old folks who've been sitting on their piles of money, caucusing like champs for years . . . right?
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Headline: Desperate For Caucus Virgins

CitizenSugar — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 11:52:25 -0800

First-time caucus goers could be the proverbial straw tonight in the Iowa contests. In the hot, tight, three-way fight for the top, caucus day breaks with Barack Obama holding rehearsals for the Democrats' weird stand-under-the-sign for your candidate routine, Hillary hiring baby-sitters, and John Edwards staying up for days like a frat boy.

It seems like everyone is terrified of the ghost of the Big Dean Caucus-tease of 2004. That's when the legions of new political enthusiasts (then mostly young 'uns) made a big hoopla about voting for Dean, calling themselves hardcore "Deaniacs," and then, um, it was kind of a lot of work to go out to the caucus, and, well, they didn't and Dean was dunzo.

Cut to 2008, and Obama rounding up his own army of first-time "change" voters, Hillary counting on her women over 45 to bravely step into their inaugural fray, and Edwards putting all of his campaign eggs in the rural basket, hoping that his populist message will drive Iowa farm folk out to their first caucus. According to a recent Des Moines Register poll, 72 percent of Obama's supporters are newbies, 58 percent of Hillary's are, as are 55 percent of Edwards'. Those Iowa-newbie numbers are no small potatoes — or ears of corn.

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Headline: Iowa's Independents Going Democrat?

LibertySugar — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 10:33:47 -0800

If more of Iowa's independent voters participate in the Democratic primary tonight, it could be a warning to Republicans. The support of independent voters, which made possible the 2006 Democratic takeover of Congress, may put a Democrat in the White House.

The latest poll by the Des Moines Register indicates that one-third of independent voters will vote Republican, while two-thirds will vote Democrat. Also, if poll predictions prove correct, overall turnout at the Democratic caucus could double the Republican turnout.

As the primary season takes off, we may see indications that crucial swing voters identify with core Democratic ideas — such as ending the war in Iraq and providing greater government support for the middle class.

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