Iowa Presidential Watch
Holding the Democrats accountable

Q U O T A B L E S

August 19, 2005

"You've got a new president, a new opportunity to do something bold here. Why not take that opportunity and do something bold? Iran is going to be a major influence in the future of Iraq It already is. Who are we kidding when we think that they're not? They are.” said Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE).

"I would start engaging with American face-to-face dialogue. We're not at negotiations yet, but opening that dialogue. This is a process. This needs to work. Every side has to give something here," said Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE).

"It's fairly cautious because you don't know who's going to get in to stay," said Steve Grubbs, a former Iowa Republican Party chairman who was quoted in the LA Times regarding the early presidential dance. "If you get out there with someone who doesn't stick with it, suddenly you're sort of at the end of the line for someone you may sign up with ultimately."

"Because this happened in a previous administration, the Pentagon right now is trying to get their hands around what actually happened and who was involved," Rep. Curt Weldon said about the Pentagon’s investigation of Clinton era lawyers regarding the blocking of operation Able Danger.

"The [9-11] commission's refusal to investigate Able Danger after being notified of its existence, and its recent efforts to feign ignorance of the project while blaming others for supposedly withholding information on it, brings shame on the commissioners, and is evocative of the worst tendencies in the federal government that the commission worked to expose," Rep. Curt Weldon said.

"We are convinced that the overwhelming scientific evidence indicated that climate change is taking place and human activities play a very large role," Sen. John McCain said.

"It seems to me the American people never really forgave the Democrats for being right about Vietnam," Democrat political consultant Paul Begala writes.

J U S T P O L I T I C S

Stem cell breakthrough

CNS News is reporting that British scientist have discovered a new type cell that makes stem cell research obsolete:

American and British researchers say that they have found, in umbilical cord blood, a new type of cell -- neither embryonic nor "adult" -- which is more versatile than the latter while avoiding the ethical dilemmas surrounding the former.

And in a further development, the scientists have found a way to mass-produce the new cells, sidestepping the problem of limited supply of embryonic cells.

No help – no money

The NY Times reports that countries not willing to help out America received foreign aide cuts:

Three years ago the Bush administration began prodding countries to shield Americans from the fledgling International Criminal Court in The Hague, which was intended to be the first permanent tribunal for prosecuting crimes like genocide

The United States has since cut aid to some two dozen nations that refused to sign immunity agreements that American officials say are intended to protect American soldiers and policy makers from politically motivated prosecutions.

To the Bush administration, the aid cuts are the price paid for refusing to offer support in an area where it views the United States, with its military might stretched across the globe, as being uniquely vulnerable.

Brownback in Iowa

Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KAN) is visiting the Iowa State Fair and is expected to be judged on his presidential talent.

John Edwards is in Waterloo, Iowa today.

Fined for GOP donations

The Washington Post reports on the Federal Election Commission imposed fines for contributions to Tom DeLay:

The Federal Election Commission yesterday fined Westar Energy Inc., two former corporate officers and the firm's lobbyist a total of $40,500 for their roles in channeling contributions to House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (Tex.) and other Republicans.

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