GENERAL:                                                                                                                   Friday, April 4, 2003

Headline – and most misleading, inaccurate observation – of the day:  From VOANews – “Iraq Denies Coalition Troops Approaching Baghdad”… 

Overnight: Allied spokesman says 2,500 from Baghdad Division of the Republican Guard have surrendered…Both House and Senate approve about $80 billion to fund war ops, homeland security and airline assistance. Senate approves on a unanimous 93-0 vote and House by a 414-12 margin. In House vote, all Iowa members supported funding, Kucinich one of the dozen against, and Gephardt misses another vote …

Understatement of the past 24 hours: CBS “Face the Nation” anchor Bob Shieffer on CNN’s “Larry King Live” last night says Iraq is “a very complicated situation.”… 

Saddam International Airport seized. Open the ticket counter and start booking reservations outta there. The war – just as Bush team promised and predicted – going well with certain, known outcome…Some – including Vietnam hero and CA GOP Congressman Duke Cunningham – believe it could have been over sooner with a northern initiative out of Turkey. But, Cunningham’s proposed amendment to hold back $1 billion in U. S. money to Turkey defeated in the House …

Not all college students are supporting or protesting the war. Two Iowa State University students – Ryan Peterson, a 22-year-old senior from Davenport, and Nicholas Jones, 22-year-old junior from Tipton – were arrested, according to media reports, for “growing and selling drugs” out of their on-campus Ames apartment. KCCI-TV (Des Moines) said officers found seven large storage bins in their bedrooms that contained growing psilocybin mushrooms and more than 100 opium pods. They were arrested on manufacturing and possession felony charges and drug stamp violations. Bond was set at $175,000 each and they were being held in the Story County jail – possibly with another ISU student who was arrested on child porn possession charges earlier in the week…

But they weren’t the dumbest arrested in IA yesterday. The major headlines were reserved for an alleged multi-state gambling ring being run out of DSM suburb Norwalk. Eleven arrested – including Indianola High School football coach David Summy. He’s been arrested for illegal gambling in a months-long investigation that covered seven states and involved sports wagering, book making and money laundering. If convicted, Summy – who is also an Indianola teacher – could face five years in the slammer. His career coaching record, over 30 years, is 135-131. Among others arrested: Stanley Walk, 55, of Rock Falls – a member of the Mitchell County Board of Supervisors – and auto dealer Jerry Watters, owner of Watters Autoland in Indianola…

Winter – complete with some possible snow – returning for encore in many sections of Iowa over weekend.

CANDIDATES/CAUCUSES:

Dem wannabes returning to Iowa: Edwards scheduled in state Sunday and Monday, Kerry in eastern IA Sunday and Monday, DSM on Tuesday with Gephardt and Lieberman starting campaign swings in DSM next Thursday …

Paul Harvey told his national broadcast audience yesterday that Dean and Lieberman have each raised $3 million, and Edwards and Kerry have reported $7 million in contributions – adding “early money is supposed to indicate something.”…

Des Moines Register’s Thomas Beaumont reports today that plans have been finalized for Harkin-sponsored Dem presidential candidate debates across IA. The schedule for forums was announced earlier, but Beaumont adds more details and specifics…

New Hampshire media websites – from Concord to Manchester to Berlin – cluttered with reports about Kerry comments that Americans will have to elect a new president to repair and rebuild the nation’s global relationships. The Union Leader headline: “Kerry: America needs a ‘regime change’ too” In Peterborough, Kerry repeated theme he used during California appearances last month – “Just because the U. S. Supreme Court made a decision in its selection, and an error in its decision in the year 2000, doesn’t mean we have to live with it six more years.” In an apparent continuation of his running verbal battle with rival Dem presidential candidate Dean, Kerry said he would appreciate it if those who criticize the military would keep quiet for a while. Kerry, a Vietnam war veteran: “War is tough. Trust the process for a few days. We’re achieving our goals, war is unpredictable.”…

From “Inside the Beltway” column by John McCaslin in yesterday’s Washington Times: “In true Democratic presidential aspirant fashion, Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut seems to be trying to appeal to every shape, size and color. Although one of the Democratic Party’s leading advocates for a strong military defense, Mr. Lieberman yesterday called the Pentagon’s request for wholesale exemptions from environmental laws unjustified and harmful. “The truth is, we can protect our environment and protect our people at the very same time,” Mr. Lieberman appealed to a Senate panel. “We can defend the red, white and blue – and be green at the same time.”… Lieberman allegedly on a West Coast swing – CA and WA --- this weekend. 

(Iowa Press Watch Note: An even more important question – will Joe even be around and/or viable by time Dems in CA and WA cast their votes for the party’s nominee? He’d been better off hopping on a plane with Kerry and Edwards, and getting back to IA this weekend.)…

Antiwar Democrats – which includes a significant bloc of IA Dem caucus-goers – now have another reason to abandon Edwards. During the president’s comments to Marines at Camp Lejeune yesterday he acknowledged Edwards, Elizabeth Dole and three members of Congress who traveled with him to North Carolina.  GWB said the five were “strong supporters of the military.” A sidelight: Media reports indicated GOP Rep. Richard Burr, who is running for Edwards’ Senate seat in 2004, was not among the invited to fly on Air Force One to NC…

Speaking of Edwards’ Senate seat, the headline on an AP dispatch from Scott Mooneyham in Raleigh: “John Edwards to Keep Senate Options Open” Report says Edwards has not ruled out “running for a second term in 2004 if his White House bid falters” and that his “presidential aspirations are competing with the equally pressing task” of shoring up his political operations in North Carolina. Under state law, he could seek both offices – but that’s unlikely… 

CNN reports Sharpton met with Iraq ambassador to the United Nations to discuss treatment of American POWs…

Is Dean trying to deflect attention – or redirect the agenda – away from his antiwar rhetoric and policies? Dean’s website this month emphasizes his commitment to human rights. From Dean’s website: “In April, members of the GLBT (Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, Transsexuals) community across the country will gather to celebrate the historic signing of Vermont’s civil unions bill.”  The website notes that Dean, as VT governor, signed “historic legislation” that guaranteed equal rights for same sex couples – but it was “so unpopular it nearly ended his political career.” So, he is now devoting April to his human rights initiative with “gala events celebrating equal rights for all Americans” and presenting opportunities to meet the wannabe -- him. The first gala: Next Sunday (4/6) in Miami. Other gala events scheduled later in April in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York City. By the way, the next National Dean in 2004 Meetup Day is 33 days way – 5/7. 

IOWA POLITICS:

Partisan sparks were flying yesterday between IA Dem Sen. Harkin and IA GOP Rep. Nussle. Harkin, who was chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee last year, accused Nussle – current chairman of the House Budget Committee – of trying to reopen the farm bill passed last year to cut $18 billion in funding for mandatory conservation programs. He said Nussle was “drastically wanting to change the farm program we passed last year.” Nussle responded on WHO Radio that he has no intention of reopening the farm bill or gutting ag-related appropriations. “All we’re asking them to do is find the waste, fraud and abuse,” he said. Nussle said he was seeking a 1% budget cut – “a cent on a dollar for one year” – which would hardly devastate any programs. Nussle: “Is Senator Harkin telling me he can’t find one penny of waste in Washington?” He cited a study that showed a 9% error rate in the food stamp program, indicating there’s no need to jeopardize programs when fraud and waste are eliminated. WHO Radio farm broadcaster Mark Pearson said – as the station aired comments from both Harkin and Nussle – “I hate to see the Iowa group fall apart like that.”…Harkin must have been on a real partisan – and anti-Nussle – run yesterday.   

Radio Iowa reported that “Harkin says it’s an outrage for the U. S. House to consider slashing benefits to American veterans.” The report says Harkin believes the House budget would “send a terrible message” by cutting veterans benefits by $14 billion. The Radio Iowa report adds: “Harkin says it’s all about Republicans and taxes.  Harkin says Republicans want to cut veterans benefits, school lunch programs and farm programs ‘because they want to have a tax cut…the majority of which benefits upper income people.’”…. 

Even novice political observers probably could have predicted this vote, but when the House Judiciary Committee approved legislation to block antigun lawsuits yesterday IA GOP Rep. King was on the prevailing side. The committee sent the proposal to the full House on a 22-11 vote with all Republican committee members and one Democrat supporting it. The bill, similar to one the Judiciary Committee approved last year, would prohibit lawsuits against gun and ammunitions manufacturers, distributors, dealers and importers for damages resulting from “misuse” of their products.

MORNING SUMMARY: 

Morning headlines focus on Baghdad assault successes. Examples -- 

From Omaha-World Herald online: “Iraq capital in U. S. pincers”  

QCTimes.com  (Quad-City Times) top story: “Allies roll into south sector of Baghdad”  …

Overnight: Des Moines police nab one of their own officers yesterday in a prostitution sting. Arrested Dustin Flynn – one of the department’s bomb experts – and DSM safety administrator Michael Peterson for allegedly soliciting a decoy working with vice officers…

WHO Radio reports state confirmed about 7,500 child abuse cases during 2002 – out of 22,400 reports of child abuse. Officials say the figure are down from the previous two years…

Radio Iowa reports Iowa Lottery and Powerball officials hoping for boost in sales after last night’s TV episode of “Friends” about cast members trying to buy Powerball tickets. The nationwide Powerball lottery is based in West Des Moines…

Authorities are investigating two deaths that were apparently caused this week when grass fires burned out of control. The body of Ellis Francis, 77, was found southwest of Linn Grove after firefighters extinguished a grass fire that also consumed a storage shed. The body of Louis George Hepperly, 87, was found in a ditch he was apparently attempting to burn off near Clear Lake…

The 16-year-old son of the former president of Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) has been charged with possession of cocaine as well possession of marijuana. David Charles England IV, a Johnston High School junior, was charged with possession of marijuana in mid-March – during the same week his father, mother and sister also were arrested on various marijuana-related charges. 

WAR/TERRORISM: 

From the file of stories that would be in the top headlines if it weren’t for dominating war coverage – 

VOANews.com (Voice of America) headline: “Ashcroft Outlines Successes in War on Terror” Ashcroft says more than 3,000 terrorists have been captured since the anti-terror campaign began after 9/11/01. Speaking at a meeting of the “Stand for Israel campaign” -- a group of Jews and Christians who support the state of Israel – Ashcroft said alleged terrorist cells have been broken up in New York, Michigan, Oregon and Washington state. He said: “All of these actions send a clear message to the terrorists, their money men, their suppliers, their sympathizers. This is our message: the rules have changed. We will work with our allies to create a hostile climate for your barbarism. We will hurt you by hunting you down, and you will meet swift certain justice.” …

It appears WHO Radio talk show host Mickelson – and the Wall Street Journal – came to the same conclusion at the same time: That ridding the world of Saddam is more prudent and less expensive than containing him. Mickelson said yesterday it’s “cheaper” to pursue the war than to “isolate” Saddam. An excerpt from the “Review & Outlook” commentary in yesterday’s WSJ: “…perhaps the best way to look at the economics of the war has been suggested by John Cogan. The Hoover Institution economist says the war is an investment. The proper question then becomes what resources are we willing to invest to achieve peace and stability, and a diminished threat from terrorism and terrorist-supporting states. At 1% of GDP, the war looks like a bargain.”…

Comments from BBC Programme Producer Daniel Pearl: “The Home Secretary, David Blunkett, gave a speech in New York last night, saying that news outlets were giving a distorted view of the current conflict. He said the Arab satellite TV station al-Jazeera was ‘linked into’ Saddam’s regime. Not linked enough, it would seem, to prevent one of its correspondents from being expelled from Iraq and another told to stop working.”

FEDERAL ISSUES:

Harkin showed up on the Senate floor yesterday afternoon to thank his colleagues for rejecting a McCain amendment that would have slashed funding for the national animal disease labs in Ames from a bill to provide supplemental war and homeland security funding. If the McCain amendment had prevailed, Harkin said it would have “dramatically cutback” the improvements to the national lab facilities. He also emphasized that it is “a national lab” – not an “Iowa lab” or an “Ames lab.” …

Harkin has been listed as a co-sponsor on legislation aimed at increasing the use of renewable wind energy by giving small producers a 30% federal tax credit. The credit would go to homeowners, farmers and small businesses that install small wind energy systems on their property. Harkin says that – according to the American Wind Energy Assn. – Iowa’s wind energy potential is nine times greater than in California, the state with the most wind power generation to date.

STATE ISSUES:

In this morning’s Quad-City Times, Kathie Obradovich reports that legislative Republicans announced yesterday they plan to push for legislation to replace the state’s complex property tax system with a more streamlined version by 2005…

Vilsack said yesterday he opposes a Republican-developed bill that he believes would impose new restrictions on voting.  Radio Iowa reports that at a time American troops are in Iraq to promote democratic principles “we ought to be doing everything we can to promote democracy in our own country.” The bill – already approved by the House and awaiting debate in the Senate – would tighten absentee voter provisions, close polls an hour earlier and transfer election oversight from Secretary of State Culver – a Dem like Vilsack – to the state Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board. Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson noted that other provisions of the legislation are necessary for the state to qualify for more than $30 million in federal money to buy new voting machines and train poll workers.

OPINION:

Des Moines Register editorials: “It’s not about oil – yet…U. S. must avoid enriching favored companies or launching ‘Operation Iraqi Oil.’…

and about plans for increased wind energy generation in Iowa: “Get more turbines spinning…The big windmills in Iowa are like oil wells that never run dry.”…

Columnist Rekha Basu writes about possible elimination of Chinese program in DSM schools due to budget cuts: “What we’d lose if school Chinese program is axed”…

Columnist Rob Borsellino, headline: “We need a good old sex scandal…World troubles make some nostalgic for the Clinton-Lewinsky mess.”

SPORTS:

Iowa Falls native – and Kansas basketball star – Nick Collison has been named as one of the five finalists for the John Wooden Award that will be presented on 4/12 in Los Angeles. Collison and teammate Kirk Hinrich, a Sioux City native, were both named to the Wooden all-America team…

More honors: Associated Press all-America basketball teams announced: Collison on first team, Pella native Kyle Korver of Creighton to second team, Hinrich makes third team …

How about collecting a top hockey award, too? A former Des Moines Buccaneers hockey player – Peter Sejna, who now plays left wing for Colorado College – is one of three finalists for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award that goes to the “most outstanding college hockey player.” Sejna leads the nation in scoring. The award will be presented next Friday 4/11 during the Frozen Four national tournament activities ...

The day after plans were announced for a new 25,000-seat motorsports/entertainment complex in Newton, officials at the Knoxville Raceway – some 25 miles south of Newton – indicated they will expand seating too. The Knoxville track – home to the prestigious Knoxville Nationals – also will have 25,000 seats after the expansion.

 WEATHER: 

Snow – possibly heavy in some areas – in weekend forecast. DSM 5 a.m. 36, light rain, wind chill 24…Temperatures range from 28 in Estherville and Mason City to 43 in Fairfield, Mount Pleasant and Quad Cities…

High today 40, rain/snow mix. Low tonight 28, mostly cloudy. High Saturday 42, partly sunny.

IOWAISMS: 

The U. S. Labor Department has awarded the state a $108,578 grant for mine safety and education. Iowa has about 269 active mines and about 2,600 miners… 

The Heartland Fish Cooperative held an informational/organizational meeting in Fort Dodge last night to acquaint Iowans – especially the state’s farmers – with benefits of raising walleye, trout and bass in fish farms.

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