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