GENERAL NEWS:                                                                                 Sunday, April 13, 2003

Palm Sunday – and another day in the real war in Iraq and the Dem political battles for Iowa caucus votes.

… Encouraging – although confusing – news from Iraq battlefield this morning:  Several newscasts say six or seven Americans, who apparently had been listed as POWs or MIAs, found alive by U. S. forces. Franks says they are in “good shape,” but doesn’t know their previous status. CNN reports group of Iraqi soldiers, after being abandoned by their leaders, turned Americans over to Marines. 

… Antiwar protestors lose sign-making war to anti-Masters activists yesterday as feminists gathered to insist Augusta National club admit at least one woman sometime soon – but nobody cares since Tiger is on a charge and CBS runs golf coverage (for fear of protesters against advertisers) without commercials. The winning entry in sign-making competition: “CBS – Constantly Broadcasting Sexism” (Iowa Pres Watch choice for first Augusta National female member: Hillary, who would be a classic first vice-president in the all-male domain.)

… Americans apparently believe Saddam’s plastic surgeon – who, according to numerous news reports, worked on Saddam and his family – has some credibility. Latest Newsweek poll reveals 62% of respondents believe Saddam is still alive – but questions remains about whether Saddam doubles and impersonators had plastic surgery too? Iowa Pres Watch Note: Military and intel may buy plastic surgeon’s story – but IA blue-collar bar crowd doesn’t, figuring Saddam would have wasted anybody who knows what he and sons look like now.) 

… Fairly quiet, light day on Iowa Presidential Watch – and elsewhere – with no candidates in state after Kucinich cancelled planned visit for today and others who were in IA for weekend got desired coverage of their latest main themes and departed (see yesterday’s morning report for Gephardt, Lieberman and Dean, etc., comments), Congress adjourned for Easter recess, Iraq situation – although some hotspots still evident – becoming more manageable and less uncertain, and most Iowans more interested in enjoying outdoor activities than Dem dribble or caucus trivia. Actually, after getting headlines and TV hits in major markets the wannabes in state this weekend devoted more time to the nitty-gritty of Iowa caucus campaigns – meeting Dems (and regular Iowans) on Main Streets, in coffee shops, etc. Communities like Waverly, Muscatine, Grinnell, Charles City, Fort Dodge, Donnellson and Edgewood start surfacing – along with Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs and Davenport -- on candidate schedules

… Freed MIAs or POWs this morning is good news, but so is this: Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch, after days in captivity in Iraq and medical treatment in Germany, back on American soil, in Walter Reed Army Medical Center. TV movies already in production on Jessica rescue, but most fellow citizens are just glad she’s back home.

…War and chaotic postwar concerns should be under control soon as TV promos indicate nation’s ultimate warrior – and national crier – will be broadcasting from Baghdad tomorrow night. Also means new slogan for postwar ops: Never fear because Dan Rather is here.  

CANDIDATES & CAUCUSES: 

…Kucinich was supposed to be somewhere in Cedar Rapids today, but cancelled weekend visit yesterday and today because of House business in DC prior to Easter recess. That didn’t stop Gephardt from continuing his three-day campaign tour -- Register’s Thomas Beaumont reports from Waterloo: “Gephardt said Saturday that the war on Iraq had turned the corner and the nation was ready for Democrats to resume full-scale campaigning to challenge President Bush.”

…Although Kucinich canceled his campaign plans in Iowa, everybody knows where GWB is and how he’s doing – latest Newsweek poll last night indicates 71% job approval rating. 

…Register reports this morning Edwards scheduled to return to IA on Thursday for vigorous full-day campaign swing – Waterloo, Dubuque, Davenport, Clinton, Iowa City and Cedar Rapids. 

… In Des Moines Sunday Register “Roses & Thistles” column this morning, a thistle was awarded to “Kerry, who said in picking Supreme Court justices he would consider only those who would affirm Roe v. Wade – and then denied it was a litmus test. Of course it is a litmus test. All politicians do it; most use code words (like ‘right to privacy’). Kerry just blurted out the truth.”  

… Coverage of Lieberman visit to Fort Dodge – where the 34-member fire department will lose three positions (and police department will be reduced by five) due to budget cuts on 7/1. Yesterday’s Fort Dodge Messenger reported Lieberman made a “push for increased homeland security…that it is shameful that more is being asked of local fire departments yet less funding is being provided.” During visit to Fort Dodge Fire Department, Lieberman said: “More local fire departments have to take on new roles and at a time when you’re asked to do more, you’re losing positions. It’s wrong to have to cut positions when you should be adding them.” In the account by the Messenger’s Dawn Thomas, Fort Dodge Fire Chief John Webster said: “It’s obvious he supports us. It makes you think maybe the region could receive additional homeland security money that could trickle down to us. It could bring more to all of the rural fire departments.” 

… Bonus coverage from New Hampshire: Headline on editorial in this morning’s The Union Leader and New Hampshire Sunday News – “Sen. Kerry’s rights: The right to make an ass of himself” Editorial focuses on (and revisits) Kerry’s “regime change” remark from a week ago – saying he “apparently thought his own military service in Vietnam would somehow immunize him from criticism of his incredibly tasteless Saddam-Bush comparison in the middle of the war.” Key excerpt: “Kerry was in fact a decorated combat veteran…[but] in this war, Kerry seems to be on both sides. He voted for the resolution the President sought to authorize military action in Iraq but then has done little but criticize the President for taking that action.”

… From letter to editor – headlined “Give me some real Democrats” in yesterday’s Des Moines Register: “North Carolina Senator and presidential candidate John Edwards is a quintessential example of the flawed logic that is too prevalent among my fellow Democrats…On the one hand, he waxes eloquent about all of the health, education and environmental needs facing our nation that are not being met because of inadequate funding. On the other hand, he votes to put our nation deeper in debt to finance an immoral, unjust, pre-emptive was in defiance of world opinion. When it comes to a choice between guns and butter, he chooses guns. Paul Wellstone, who before his untimely death was dedicated to inviting Democrats back to the real party, is venerated with words, but seldom with action. I am looking for real Democrats to show up on caucus night.” – Chet Guinn, Des Moines 

…Quote featured on this week’s “Washington Whispers” from U. S. News & World Report: “The reason we need special treatment is because we had special mistreatment.” – THE REV. AL SHARPTON, at an affirmative action rally outside the Supreme Court. Also from Paul Bedard’s “Washington Whispers” column, “Add Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Dick Gephardt to the disciples of the Atkins diet. Described as a ‘diet fanatic,’ the lean Missourian likes the protein one the best. His favorite snack: a $2 low-carb bar.”

…Report on Dean’s campaign appearance in Cedar Falls – AP’s resident caucus-watcher Mike Glover writes Dean “said Friday that the U. S-led war against Iraq will remain a divisive issue for Democrats despite the collapse of Saddam Hussein’s regime.” Dean quote: “All these folks [other Dem candidates] who are crowing about their vote and the outcome are going to learn that the occupation [of Iraq] will be very difficult. That’s probably going to be the next lesson.” Glover reminds readers – and presumably IA Dems – about the four Dem wannabes who supported the Iraq resolution: Lieberman, Edwards, Kerry and Gephardt.

…From overnite email blast by NewsMax.com: “Sen. Hillary Clinton has always offended conservatives and moderates. Now the power-hungry pol has offended the liberal heart of the Democratic party. The White House wannabe is getting a cold shoulder from many friends and family of former Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan after a shamelessly self-promoting stunt exploiting his death.” Report notes Hillary announced death on Senate floor before family ready to issue a statement. NewsMax.com report again: “’That wasn’t hers to announce, it was classless,’ a family representative told U. S. News & World Report. A few more tactless blunders such as that and Hillary’s ascent to the presidency won’t be as easy as she hopes.”   

IOWA POLITICS: 

…IA GOP freshman Congressman King gets top headline – and coverage – in today’s Des Moines Sunday Register Metro & Iowa News section: “D. C. energizes King… Congressman gets firsthand look at political jousting” Report said in four months King as supported a ban on partial-birth abortion, landed a seat on the House Judiciary Committee, spoke in favor of the war on steps of Lincoln Memorial and attended U. S. Supreme Court arguments on an affirmative action case.  

…Boswell-Cuba Watch becomes Harkin-Boswell-Cuba Watch. Over recent days, Iowa Pres Watch has been tracking whether Boswell will proceed with plans for a trip to Cuba, given recent crackdown on dissidents. This morning’s Register reports that Harkin is going to Cuba, too – later this month (4/21-4/25) to promote trade and discuss possible human rights violations. Boswell trip – accompanying an Iowa trade delegation in mid-May – apparently still on. Guv Vilsack cited “scheduling conflicts” and will not join Boswell on next month’s trip.  In related coverage, Register Farm Editor Jerry Perkins writes about his recent Cuba trip, headline: “Listen to voice of Cuba…Support for lifting embargo grows, but dissidents fight for reform first.” 

MORNING SUMMARY:  

Today’s top headlines:

… Des Moines Sunday Register main front page headline: “U. S. scrambles after easy victory” Reports on efforts to speed up security, rebuilding priorities. 

… Omaha World-Herald top online headline: “U. S., Iraqis team to fight looting in Baghdad”

… QCTimes.com (Quad-City Times) top story, headline: “Saddam’s top scientist surrenders to the U. S.”

… Sioux City Journal top online head: “Looting by U. S. troops and Iraqi police”

… Main national story from Chicago Tribune online: “Battle for Tikrit lies ahead”

… Front page headline in this morning’s Sunday Register warns Iowans that “Police seek two who fled Oakdale facility” Coverage says two armed convicts – including a recently convicted murderer – from Sioux City and Mahaska County (Oskaloosa) yesterday escaped from the Iowa Medical Classification Center at Oakdale, near Iowa City.

…New University of Iowa President David Skorton is expected to announce a series of policy changes because of “flaws in the way the university and its athletic department handled the disciplinary case involving Iowa basketball player Pierre Pierce,” according to a report in the Quad-City Times. Skorton is studying recommendations made in two separate reports from university groups charged with studying the school’s handling of the situation. Pierce, a sophomore guard on the Iowa basketball team, was charged with third-degree sexual abuse after an incident at his Iowa City townhouse on 9/7/02.

WAR & TERRORISM: 

… From BBC News: “A colonel in Iraq’s Republican Guard says he received few orders from the country’s leaders during the war. Speaking from his home in a prosperous area of Baghdad, he told the BBC’s Andrew Gilligan that the coalition bombardment of Iraq badly affected troop morale, with soldiers wanting to desert every day. In one of the first insights into how the elite Republican Guard has acted during the war, he said Iraq’s military leaders only agreed to fight the war in the first place because, if they refused, they would have been killed        

 …A small Cedar Rapids business – Clemens Canvas and Mfg. --is working double shifts to fill a big order for the military. Radio Iowa reports the company, which usually makes canvas products like boat covers, has been recruited to manufacture large canvas bags to carry large military communications antennas. The bags for the collapsible 30-foot antennae have pouches for everything the troops need, including a pocket for the mallet to pound in stakes. Company officials says demand has increased 10-fold since the start of Iraq operations since troops have to carry their own communications into the desert.  

…On the North Korea Front: VOANews (Voice of America) reported “North Korea says it is prepared to consider any form of dialogue with the United States regarding its nuclear moves, if Washington is prepared to make a ‘bold change’ in its policy toward Pyongyang. North Korea has previously insisted on bilateral talks with the United States, while Washington has insisted on a multilateral approach. North Korea’s official news agency quoted a foreign ministry spokesman Saturday of saying Pyongyang was ready to discuss the nuclear issue in any dialogue format.” 

FEDERAL ISSUES: 

… After Grassley – in his role as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee – announced that he promised moderate GOP Sen. Snowe he would upport a $350 billion tax cut, House Speaker Hastert said: “With all due respect to Senator Grassley, he is ultimately irrelevant because our agreement was made with the Senate leadership, and they have the power to keep it.” Grassley had assured Snowe that he and Senate Majority Leader Frist would not support a larger cut – either the $726 billion the president had sought or the proposed $550 billion compromise several congressional leaders had been pushing.

IOWA ISSUES: 

…An Iowa State University sociology professor – Matt De Lisi – says Iowa’s prisons are so overcrowded that the state probably will have to build a new prison next year. Radio Iowa’s O. Key Henderson reports that with more than 8,400 behind bars in IA De Lisi says the prison system is 120% over capacity. He said a new prison would cost $84 million to build and about $30 million a year to operate.  

OPINIONS:  

… Des Moines Sunday Register editorial: state issue – “Property-tax reform – this isn’t it” Says state legislators need to go back to drawing board and come up with better concept. 

…Register columnist David Yepsen, headline: “That paycheck is finally yours” Reports that “tax freedom day” for Americans will be next Saturday, April 19 – and that it was last Friday, April 11, for Iowans. 

… From citizen commentary on Sioux City Journal online edition: “The French, Germans and Russians should not have any part of the rebuilding of Iraq. All they want is Iraq’s oil. They could care less about the people of Iraq. Reconstruction should be the responsibility of the coalition forces.” – Robert VanderWeil, Sioux City 

IOWA SPORTS: 

…Former Des Moines Buccaneer hockey player Peter Sejna, who played last season for Colorado College, won the Hobey Baker award that’s given each year to the nation’s outstanding college hockey player. He led the nation in goals and points and was named Western Hockey Association player of the year. Earlier this month, Sejna signed a pro contract with the St. Louis Blues in the NHL. 

… Iowa offensive tackle Sam Aiello – the third Hawkeye player in a week to make the Iowa City police blotter – has been suspended indefinitely by Coach Kirk Ferentz. Aiello was charged with assault causing injury after allegedly jabbing a pool cue in the eye of an unidentified person at an Iowa City bar.                     

…The state’s winningest active girls basketball coach is changing jobs. Radio Iowa reported that West Central of Maynard coach Gene Klinge is leaving to take over the Waukon girls program. He’s compiled a 817-186 record during 41 years at West Central.

IOWA WEATHER: 

DSM 5 a. m. 48, fair. Temps across IA this morning range from 34 in Clinton and Dubuque to 54 in Denison…High today 78, mostly sunny. Low tonight 55, partly cloudy. High Monday 85, partly sunny.

…From WHO-TV meteorologist Brandon Thomas: “We could see a few record highs broken on Monday, with highs in the low/mid eighties. A little cooler on Tuesday, with highs in the mid seventies to low eighties. There is a chance of t’storms Tuesday night, but better chances on Wednesday. Showers and t’storms likely on Wednesday, with highs in the mid fifties to low sixties.”

IOWAISMS: 

… Several baseball legends and Hall of Famers are scheduled to visit the Bob Feller Museum over coming weeks to raise funds for support the museum in Feller’s hometown, Van Meter. Among those scheduled: Yogi Berra, Rollie Fingers, Jim Bunning and Steve Carlton. First up at the museum next Saturday – former Pittsburgh Pirates great Bill Mazeroski, who became the first player to end a World Series with a home run in a Game 7 vs. the Yankees in 1960.

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