November 2017
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Simplifying The Big Numbers In Government Spending
Back in my working days, back when I supervised The Des Moines Register’s business news staff, one of the columnists confessed to our readers that he had trouble balancing his checkbook. My boss didn’t think a business columnist had any business making such a confession. But the columnist was only admitting what many people, if…
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Ed Fallon’s IDP Fall Gala Criticism Was Ridiculous Garbage
After an enjoyable evening of seeing fellow Democratic friends, watching the seven gubernatorial candidates speak and laughing at Alec Baldwin’s jokes, the IDP’s Fall Gala attendees likely left the event thinking to themselves, “Now, I wonder what Ed Fallon thought of all this.” Fortunately for them, the former legislator chose to share his thoughts on…
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GOP Holiday Tax Plan: Pot Of Gold For The Rich; Coal For Everyone Else
The Republicans have attempted to disguise their so called “Tax Reform” bill as a tax cut for the middle class. They hoped to zip this partisan, budget busting, wealthy rewarding, corporate welfare gimmick through Congress before anyone could see beyond the smoke and mirrors. Fortunately for the middle class, they weren’t quite fast enough in…
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Who Stood Out At Iowa Democrats’ Fall Gala Event
Iowa Democrats had their biggest night of the year on Monday, both in terms of importance and size. Around 3,000 people turned out to see Alec Baldwin and the seven Democrats running for governor, an encouraging sign of excitement and resolve for the party hoping to regain power in 2018. If Democrats are successful next…
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David Young’s Nice Guy Persona Hides His Steve King Voting Record
The Des Moines Register’s editorial on Sunday suggested Congressman Steve King is so extreme he could never be elected in Iowa’s 3rd District, which is currently represented by David Young. They contend that the public in the 3rd District is more moderate because it includes the Des Moines metro. Based on that premise, the Register asks how…
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Early Rally Scenes At Iowa Dem’s Big Fall Gala
It’s the biggest night of the year for Iowa Democrats as activists and donors gather for the state party’s annual Fall Gala event (formerly the JJ Dinner) in Des Moines. Alec Baldwin’s booking for the event, combined with a hotly contested seven-way gubernatorial primary, boosted ticket sales into the thousands. The evening is also one…
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Nate Boulton Finishes 99 County Tour In Kim Reynolds’ Hometown
State Senator Nate Boulton finished up his statewide 99 county tour this weekend, visiting Montgomery and Clarke County with stops in Red Oak and Osceola on Sunday. He’s the first Democratic gubernatorial candidate to complete what Iowa politicos call the “Full Grassley” (or, in this case, the “Full Boulton”). The Des Moines senator began checking…
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Trump’s Support Of Roy Moore Crosses New Lines
I thought I had seen it all in politics, but I guess I haven’t. Also, just to let everyone know, I’m not some Yankee telling Southerners how to run their politics. Chattanooga, Tennessee, right over the Alabama line, is on my birth certificate and I have any number of relatives in that lovely state. However,…
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It Seems Bill Dix Lied About Senate’s Sexual Harassment Report
It’s no surprise that Senate Republican Majority Leader Bill Dix decided to wait until Black Friday morning to release their internal report on sexual harassment. Because it does not look good at all for Dix, who just last week insisted in interviews with the press that sexual harassment issues were not an ongoing issue within…
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John Norris Rolls Out Extensive Leadership Team For Gubernatorial Bid
John Norris announced his new statewide steering committee team for his gubernatorial campaign yesterday, putting out a list of 91 well-known activists, elected officials and party leaders. Some of the most recognizable names include State Representatives Jo Oldson and Marti Anderson, Jess Vilsack, Brad Anderson, Dubuque County Recorder John Murphy, Linn County Supervisor Ben Rogers,…
