Iowa Poll: Newt Gingrich leads three-candidate race in Iowa | Iowa Caucuses

Te fact that Newt Gingrich is leading in Iowa is a testament to the condition of the GOP. With the absence of qualified and forward thinking candidates the turn to one of the most flawed and wrong minded candidates in History. Newt is a tired relic of the 90's witch hunt impeachment happy GOP congress and his ideas go back to the 1890's. Newt's ideas about child labor laws are not only out of touch and racist. http://goo.gl/5Rwsl.
The Republican candidates are so bad that I don't see any way for the President to lose.

Iowa Poll: Newt Gingrich leads three-candidate race in Iowa | Iowa Caucuses:

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Mathis captures seat in Senate, preserving Democrats' control | The Des Moines Register | DesMoinesRegister.com

Mathis captures seat in Senate, preserving Democrats' control | The Des Moines Register | DesMoinesRegister.com:

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Good news virtually everywhere in last night's elections. Here in Iowa Democrats held an open swing State Senate seat to maintain control of the Iowa Senate and keep the GOP out of total control of state government. Former local TV news anchor Liz Mathis has the potential to be a star in the Senate and a good candidate for higher office in the future.

Commit to caucus

Commit to caucus
The 2012 Iowa Democratic Caucus will be held on January 3rd. The caucus will be an important organizing tool for the Obama campaign. Everyone should come out and caucus for the President on the 3rd. The President likes to say that this organization wasn't hatched in the halls of Washington, but in living rooms and backyards here in Iowa. Four years ago, this state made history, proving that ordinary people can do extraordinary things. Caucusing gives us a chance to have conversations and engage with our neighbors and fellow supporters in a dialogue about our country’s future. And it provides us all with an opportunity to hear strategy about moving the campaign forward, get training on the general election, and meet other volunteers in our neighborhoods.

Commit to caucus for the President

Lansing – Less than 24 hours after Senate Republicans passed pro-bullying legislation, the public outcry continues to exponentially grow as Senate Democratic Leader Gretchen Whitmer's floor statement video against the bill has already received more than 11,000 views on YouTube to go along with hundreds of emails that have been sent to her office in support from all around the world.

New Iowa House announcements

Iowa House and Senate Candidates

Two new GOP Iowa House announcements yesterday. North Linn High School teacher Quentin Stanerson has announced for the open 95th District. The  incumbant Democratic Representative, Nate Willems, is running for the Iowa Senate. House District 95 has a narrow Democratic registration advantage and hopefully a strong Democratic candidate will emerge to hold the seat. Meanwhile in House District 30 veteran and business man Jim Carley has announced his candidacy even though it is Rep. Kim Pearson's district. It is likely that Pearson is not seeking reelection due to the fact that she was so far to the right that she was a virtual outcast in the House GOP caucus. With Pearson not running she can devote more time to finding ultra right-wing nutjobs to challenge GOP incumbents throughout the state. House District 30 has an even narrower Democratic registration advantage and Democratic Altoona City Councilman Joe Riding will need a lot of help to take this seat back. Also in HD 76 Republican Mark Dix dropped out and was quickly replaced by businessman David Maxwell.

Iowa House and Senate candidates

I have been attempting to compile a list of all announced candidates for the Iowa House and Senate. SO far I am assuming that all incumbents are running for reelection. I will try and keep this list as up to date as possible. If any announcement information escapes my attention feel free to let me know. Iowa House and Senate Candidates

Obama for America | 2012 | Store | Joe Biden Can Holder

Everyone needs a Joe Biden can coozie

Obama for America | 2012 | Store | Joe Biden Can Holder:

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Michigan Liberal::: Howard Eliot Wolpe, 1939-2011

The first Democrat to represent me in the U.S. House of Representatives, Howard Wolpe passed away yesterday he was a good man and a great Congressman. After having his district dismantled after the 1990 census he chose not to run again for congress. In 1994 he ran for the Democratic nomination for Michigan Governor defeating then State Senator Debbie Stabenow in the primary. After the primary win Wolpe chose Stabenow as his Lt. Governor running mate. Like most Democrats in 1994 they lost badly in the general election. Wolpe went on to be appointed to a diplomatic post in Africa by President Clinton and Stabenow is now the junior U.S. Senator from Michigan

Michigan Liberal::: Howard Eliot Wolpe, 1939-2011:

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Iowa congressman Leonard Boswell, family safe after home invasion at Lamoni farm | The Des Moines Register | DesMoinesRegister.com

I love that my amazing 77 year old Congressman attempted to disarm the intruder, and I am happy that everyone is ok.

Iowa congressman Leonard Boswell, family safe after home invasion at Lamoni farm | The Des Moines Register | DesMoinesRegister.com

The Truth About the Economy

Great post from Secretary Reich

Des Moines Register layoffs

This is what is wrong with the economy not anything about banks or taxes. It is simply the greed of CEO's and shareholders that are more concerned with short term gains rather than the long term health of the companies and the economy. Things need to change. Corporations need to no longer be given more rights than individuals. They also need to be required to have a responsibility to not only their shareholders, but to their employees and their communities. 

from Bleeding Heartland:

"The layoffs are part of 700 job cuts nationwide at newspapers owned by the Register's parent company, Gannett. CEO Craig Dubow was paid $4.9 million in 2010, double his 2009 pay. He also received a cash bonus of $1.75 million for implementing cost-cutting measures, including company-wide layoffs in 2010." 

http://www.bleedingheartland.com/diary/4817/more-newsroom-layoffs-at-the-des-moines-register

Boswell can win

Congressman Boswell may actually be our best hope of holding on to the district. He has represented a lot of the rural areas of the new 3rd district in the past and his blue dog-ish politics and folksy style would play better out there. As an incumbent Congressman he can also raise a lot more money than a new candidate especially now that he has a real challenge. I know that this is a totally unscientific number but if you add up all the 2010 votes for Boswell, Maske, and Campbell and compare to Zaun, Latham, and King then we come up 23,506 votes short in the new 3^rd District. Considering the fact that 2010 was a Republican year and that Campbell and Maske were not well funded serious candidates then we are not in that bad of shape. 

Reasons that the Iowa House is like grade school

1. we say the pledge of allegiance every morning (and a prayer like catholic school)

2. there is recess. (the House will be in recess until 2:30pm)

3. we have assigned seating at little desks

4. there is a cafeteria

5. there is a library

6. people associate in cliques (caucuses)

7. you can get yelled at for being too loud

8. a bell rings several times a day (to announce votes)

9. we have tornado and fire drills

10. you have to go through a metal detector to get into the building

11. Representatives have their own locker to store their stuff in behind the chamber

12. the representatives bring treats to celebrate their birthdays, and love to do show and tell, introducing guests they've brought to the chambers with them

13. You have to be called on to speak or you get in trouble

14. everyone gets really anxious during the last few days for the start of summer

Iowa Bacon Day

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 15 BY COWNIE and OLDSON

 A Resolution recognizing February 26, 2011, as Iowa Bacon Day. 

WHEREAS, the people of Maine have lobster, the people of Idaho grow great potatoes, and the folks of Texas make great chili, we Iowans have bacon nature’s perfect food; and

WHEREAS, whether plain or apple-wood smoked, whether store-bought or artisan-made, bacon is a meat for any meal; and

WHEREAS, as America’s top pork producer, Iowa stands tall as the nation’s source of high-quality bacon; and  

WHEREAS, the 4th annual Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival is set for Saturday, February 26, 2011, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., in Des Moines;

NOW THEREFORE,  BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, That the House of Representatives recognizes February 26, 16 2011, as Iowa Bacon Day and invites all Iowans to take part in the festival and to celebrate bacon. 

 -1- LSB 2302HH (4) 84 jr/nh 1/ 1

These are the kinds of important things we do in the Iowa Legislature.

Old Posts about Michigan Governors

Lessons from the past: Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates 1948 - 2006

1948, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58

Gerhard Mennen (Soapy) Williams

G. Mennen Williams was one of the people that made Michigan a 2-party state again. Before his election as Governor, the republicans dominated state government. He accomplished many things including the construction of the Mackinac Bridge and refusing to extradite Haywood Patterson, one of the Scottsboro Boys accused of the rape of two white women, although most people believe that the girls fabricated their story to avoid charges of prostitution or vagrancy. Soapy was a big fan of square dancing and really loved calling a square dance. His talent for square dance calling came in handy in budget negotiations with the republican controlled legislature. His talent for square dance calling came in handy in budget negotiations with the republican controlled legislature. When campaigning for his first term in 1948 Soapy campaign retail style across the state in his old DeSoto convertible. He would appear and community festivals, county fairs, and of course called square dances. Another of the taglines of the Democrats of the times was a worker in every precinct, a candidate for every office.

John Swainson

1960-62

Governor John Swainson’s story is probably one of the most impressive and sad stories in Michigan political history. Swainson was only 35 when he was elected Governor making him the second youngest Governor in Michigan history. His rise to the Governorship was fast and impressive. Swainson served as a combat infantryman in General Patton’s division in Word War II. When a nearby army jeep hit a German Landmine Swainson was badly injured. One of his legs was blown off below the knee and the other had to be amputated at an army hospital. Swainson was then sent to the Percy Jones U.S. Army hospital in Battle Creek