GENERAL:                                                                                                                   Thursday, April 3, 2003

Quotes of the day – and of the war – from the commanders: U. S. Brigadier General Vincent Brooks – “The Baghdad Division has been destroyed.” / Iraqi President Saddam Hussein (or his living double) – “Victory is at hand.” Saddam (or his living double) might be better served, not to mention being more accurate, if he’d turn on a television – or just look out his Baghdad window. Morning newscasts say Americans close enough to see Baghdad skyline, moving on Saddam International Airport…

Other interesting morning quotes: “Not the major Democratic candidates for president, all of whom have backed George Bush again and again. Not even our party, which right now represents no one and betrayed us all.” For more on comments from DraftGore.com, see below …

The bad news on the Iowa caucus front – now that the Dem wannabes have money in their bank accounts (such as the $8M Kerry has on hand or the  $7.4 million Edwards raised prior to Monday’s filing deadline), it probably won’t be long until at least one of them starts tormenting all Iowans by running TV and radio spots. 

(Iowa Pres Watch Note: That’s the problem with the Dem caucuses – all Iowans, including GOPs, will be subjected to their collective ridiculousness via the airwaves.) 

Any guesses about which Dem candidate will launch first media blitz to get jump on the opposition? Maybe Dean – who raised $2.6 million during the Jan.-Mar. period and reportedly has $2 million on hand – will be the first to acquaint Iowans with his antiwar stands…

National Weather Service in DSM issued a “hazardous weather outlook” this morning, saying scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop in parts of central/southeast Iowa tonight. Storm spotter activation may be required tonight southeast of a Waterloo-Des Moines-Atlantic line. 

CANDIDATES/CAUCUSES:

Kerry apparently isn’t going to settle for second best in the Dems’ fundraising derby. Kerry not only reported that he raised about $7M during the first quarter FEC disclosure period, but he transferred $2.9 million from his Senate account for a campaign total of $10 million during the period – leaving him with $8 million cash on hand. 

(Iowa Pres Watch Note: How Kerry spends it, however, is probably more important than what he has in the bank – and then there’s always the question about how much Heinz money will be allocated to elect Kerry?) …

This could be interesting: The president has invited Edwards – along with Elizabeth Dole – to join him on a flight to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina today. At least all three – Bush, Dole and Edwards – are supporters of the Iraq initiatives …

Considerable speculation that Gephardt has made a major breakthrough in South Carolina by apparently attracting the support of Dem Congressman Clyburn – the state’s most influential black politician. Headline on TheState.com (The State, Columbia) online – “Clyburn’s blessing give(s) Gephardt a boost” Excerpt from Lee Bandy’s account: “Call it what you want. Most veteran observers saw it as an endorsement of Democratic presidential candidate Dick Gephardt…Clyburn introduced Gephardt. Here’s what he said: ‘I now occupy the fourth-ranking position in the Democratic Party in the House of Representatives. I would not be there in that position were it not for the blessing, the hands-on blessing, that I got from Dick Gephardt.’ …Formal endorsement or not, Gephardt certainly has to be pleased with Clyburn’s remarks. They could set him on his way to winning the all-important black vote – and the primary. For now, Gephardt is in the catbird seat.”…

Gephardt may be out getting endorsements and raising money, but he’s sure not voting in the House. His string of missed votes continued yesterday when the House voted 411-11 – over the objections of Federal Reserve Chairman Greenspan – to raise the limit on deposit insurance coverage from $100,000 to $130,000. Kucinich – along with all five IA congressmen – supported the bill, while Gephardt was recorded as “not voting.”…

From Jennifer Harper’s “Inside Politics” column in yesterday’s Washington Times: “The California-based Draft Gore group does not have the blessing of Al Gore in their efforts to hoist him onto the 2004 presidential ticket. Their depiction of Mr. Gore as a pacifist champion of the downtrodden is not necessarily Democratic material right now. ‘With our nation at war and Americans under increasing repression at home, who will stand up for us? Not the major Democrats for president, all of whom have backed George Bush again and again. Not even our own party, which right now represents no one and has betrayed us all,’ the group states at its Web site (www.draftgore.com) …Mr. Gore, according to press accounts, had no comment.” …

Good news for Republicans: The National Republican Congressional Committee raised a record $22.1 million during the past quarter – from Jan. through 3/31. 

IOWA POLITICS:

The range of issues that attract Chuck Grassley’s lawmaking attention sometimes amazes even veteran Grassley watchers, such as the hearings his Finance Committee has been conducting into charitable organizations that auction off donated cars. The Congressional Budget Office reported this week that charities often reap less money from the donated cars than the donors expect and Grassley said it is “disturbing” the charities only get pennies for every dollar of value in the vehicles…

And now, what’s Leonard Boswell to do? Boswell – IA’s lone Dem congressman – is scheduled to visit Cuba next month, but relations have soured since he made the announcement of his trip. The latest from VOANews: “The U. S. and Cuban governments are exchanging angry comments after the second hijacking of a Cuban airliner to the United States in the span of two weeks. Cuba said U. S. immigration policy is encouraging the incidents, while the Bush administration said Cuban police should clamp down on airport security, rather than political dissidents. The two hijackings have further complicated a U. S. -Cuban relationship already close to an all-time low because of what officials [at the U. S. State Department] say is the most severe crackdown on dissents in Cuba in many years.” 

MORNING SUMMARY: 

Morning headlines all focus on “swift” movement toward Baghdad, failure of Republican Guard defenses. A couple examples –

 QCTimes.com (Quad-City Times) top headline: “U. S. forces swiftly roll over elite Iraq troops”  

Des Moines Register top front page headline: “Iraqi resistance falters…U. S. losses of copter, jet temper successes”…

Creighton University (Omaha) economist Ernie Goss says the Iraq war is taking a toll on the economy in Iowa and the eight other states he surveys on a monthly basis. Goss told Radio Iowa the first quarter was not good for the nine midwestern states and the second quarter also is down. He said the Iraq situation is having a negative impact on export orders, which in turn hurts the overall economy. Another problem: Lagging sales for farm implement dealers and farm equipment manufacturers also are not doing well…

Daily Iowan (University of Iowa) reports the university’s fund-raising arm – the UI Foundation – will eliminate 10 employees, primarily because of a $58 million loss in the endowment. The foundation’s senior VP, Alan Swanson, said the cuts are necessary to balance the organization’s budget, which is dependent on endowment money invested in the stock market… 

Vilsack, after stopping to visit son in London, scheduled to return to Iowa today. He has been on a trade trip to Germany – where the state and German drug manufacturers formally agreed to work together on biotechnology development. Vilsack also reported German-based Bayer Corp. will consider Iowa when seeking locations for research expansion. The Quad-City Times reported that Vilsack indicated he expects an announcement soon about the City of Davenport’s discussions with a German bank interested in helping finance a venture-capital fund for value-added agriculture.

WAR/TERRORISM:

WHO Radio talk show host Mickelson said yesterday he is pleased Pfc. Jessica Lynch has been freed in Iraq, but the fact she was ever taken captive should “cause us to rethink why she was there in the first place.” Mickelson, who has questioned putting women into combat zones since Iraq operations started, said “it is absolutely mind-boggling” and “it’s bizarre” that women in the military were put in harm’s way. He said: “For the record here, she should not have been there in the first place.”…

Referring to polls indicating one-third of French want an Iraqi victory, Mickelson said it may be time to bring home the remains of American war dead buried in France. “With one-third of the French rooting for Saddam,” he said, “we should consider bringing them home.” France poll also shows another one-third support American-Britain actions in Iraq. 

(NOTE: GOP IA Congressman King is one of three co-sponsors on legislation – H. R. 1265 – that would provide for removal of remains of any U. S. servicemembers and others in American cemeteries in France or Belgium to be transported to a location in the U. S. for reinterment.)

FEDERAL ISSUES: 

After a personal meeting with the president and VP Cheney, Grassley reported that GWB continues to want the entire $726 billion tax cut proposal that has been cut in half by the Senate. In the Des Moines Register, the Washington Bureau’s Jane Norman reported that Grassley said after the meeting: “It’s a tough job to get above $350 billion, but it seems to me that we’ve got to find the votes to do it.” Grassley also made a pitch to balance out inequities that exist in Medicare reimbursements to the states – and got a commitment the White House staff will work with Grassley’s staff to reduce the disparities. Norman reported it was the first time Grassley and the president met one-on-one in the White House, and the first such meeting since they campaigned together in IA prior to the 2000 GOP caucuses. Grassley said he didn’t feel slighted by the fact they haven’t met earlier…

Senate Republicans yesterday lost – on a 51-48 vote – a fourth attempt to cut off a Democratic filibuster against the Estrada judicial nomination. As usual, four Democrats joined Republicans in attempting to end the filibuster. The only senator to miss the vote: Kerry, who was campaigning in New Hampshire …

Both Sens. Grassley and Harkin agree on something – and take some credit for including $98 million for an Iowa project in the supplemental bill GWB requested for war and homeland security costs. The funds are for continued renovation of the national animal disease complex in Ames. Grassley said the appropriation was necessary because of bioterrorism threats and Harkin called Senate Appropriations Committee approval of the funding “a huge win for food supply safety.” The Ames complex includes the National Animal Disease Center, the Center for Veterinary Biologics and the National Veterinary Services Laboratories.

STATE ISSUES: 

When Vilsack returns to the governor’s office after his European trip, he will find legislation awaiting his signature to provide $16.5 million to restore funding for several environmental programs. The money for the projects – which comes from state gaming revenues – was terminated on Monday because of an on-going dispute (which now appears to be headed to the U. S. Supreme Court) between the state and IA’s three racetrack casinos. Legislators, on rare unanimous votes in both chambers, transferred funds from the state’s cash reserves to continue the programs… 

Lt. Gov. Pederson is encouraging IA lawmakers to pass a bill that would force insurance companies to cover mental illness just like any physical illness. Radio Iowa reports that Pederson says mental illness is more common than cancer, heart disease and diabetes, and that 31 other states have laws requiring insurance companies cover mental health treatment. O. Kay Henderson’s coverage says GWB supports similar legislation on the federal level, but Pederson said the state shouldn’t wait for the feds to act.

OPINION:  

Des Moines Register on state legislative issues: “Help (don’t hinder) city-county mergers…Lawmakers should let local voters decide whether their councils will be partisan.” & “Losing ground on class size…The goal is stalled because budget shortfalls eliminate teachers.”…

Columnist David Yepsen writes about efforts to revitalize Des Moines’ east side…Are these alleged Iowans Dean or Kucinich supporters? – 

From the Register’s “Voices of Iowa” anonymous, call-in column: “With the bloodshed of the war – Bush was elected and we got gore!” – 

Des Moines woman & “I wonder if we would be at war now if we had had an honest election two years ago.” – 

Des Moines lady…A “Review & Outlook” essay from yesterday’s Wall Street Journal, an excerpt: “The Bush Administration is taking bioterror seriously, most recently by unveiling a compensation fund for emergency workers injured by smallpox vaccinations. Is it too much to ask that Congress and unions do their part? Apparently so. On Monday, several House Republicans joined with Democrats to reject the fund. This is a slap to union leaders who are holding out for more money and scaring their health-care industry members. The fright campaign has been so effective that 10 states have suspended vaccinations and only 25,645 individuals have received a shot – 5% of the 500,000 emergency workers who were supposed to be inoculated by the end of February. The critics claim the Bush fund is too stingy. In fact, the plan would give $262,100 to anyone who is permanently disabled or dies from vaccination – the same amount the Justice Department pays firefighters and policemen injured or killed on duty. Does anybody think cops and fireman are worth less than hospital workers?”

SPORTS:  

Iowa Cubs – the DSM triple-A affiliate of the real Cubs in Chicago – open Pacific Coast League season tonight at Nashville. First home game next Friday (4/11) with Nashville coming to Des Moines. Before season ends around Labor Day expect most – if not all – Dem wannabes to throw out first pitches, sponsor “fan nights” at Sec Taylor Stadium…

Auto racing is expected to begin next year on a new $30 million motorsports/entertainment complex to be located on 226 acres south of Interstate 80 in Newton. Private investors are lining up financial backing to build the facility, which will include a 25,000-seat grandstand that can be expanded and a 3/4-mile to 7/8-mile high-banked oval track...

Figures released yesterday by the University of Iowa revealed that football coach Kirk Ferentz is the university’s highest paid employee, while basketball coach Steve Alford ranks sixth on the UI payroll…

The single-A Midwest League – with four Iowa teams – opens play tonight. The centerpiece game features the Cedar Rapids Kernels (Angels) at Quad-City River Bandits (Twins) in Davenport with the Clinton Lumberkings (Rangers) at Kane County (IL) and the Burlington Bees (Royals) at Peoria (IL). No doubt the Dem wannabes will show at some of the Midwest League home games during the summer.

WEATHER: 

DSM 5 a.m. 63, a few clouds. Twenty-seven degree temperature range across IA this morning – 37 in Estherville to 64 in Ottumwa…

High today 75, partly sunny. Low tonight 42, chance thunderstorms. 

High Friday 48, partly sunny. 

Snow/rain possible Sunday and Monday. 

WHO-TV meteorologist Steve Templeton reports that “cooler air moves in for Friday through the weekend. Rain moves in for a wet Sunday and by Monday morning it may be a light rain/snow mix. No major snow expected in central Iowa, but it’s an indication of how much colder it will be early next week.”

IOWAISMS: 

Despite war and other concerns, life goes on in Iowa – Playboy magazine will be in Iowa City later this month to interview University of Iowa coeds for inclusion in October issue. A Playboy spokesperson says it’s been awhile – 1997 – since UI coeds were featured in the magazine…

Dry conditions persist as state expands number of counties under open burning bans. One-fifth – 19 of 99 – of IA counties stretching from Cass County (Atlantic) in western Iowa to Jackson County (Maquoketa) in northeast to several southeast counties – including Des Moines (Burlington) and Wapello (Ottumwa) Counties – have open burning bans. Quad-City Times reports that firefighters across Mississippi River in East Moline fought a grass fire that spread over 15 city blocks and “raged for more than three hours” – forcing evacuation of several businesses and dozens of homes… 

Customers of Interstate Power and Light will soon be paying higher electric bills. The Iowa Utilities Board has tentatively granted a $28 million rate increase – raising monthly bills for Interstate customers by $2.76 to $4.62.

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