GENERAL NEWS:                                                                                 Monday, April 14, 2003

… This morning marks a new record -- two relatively calm mornings in a row in both IA and Iraq. Still work to be done in Iraq with some flare-ups to resolve in Baghdad and elsewhere, but it seems looting spree has subsided – or there’s no more (or at least very few) Saddam statues left to destroy. Iowans bask in summer-like weather (except it’s even better – a couple warm days, but without August humidity), shift into Easter Week mode and have time to reflect on weekend campaign flurry with no scheduled candidate visits in state today. The only remaining question: Did Gephardt, Lieberman, Dean and late-arriving Kucinich say anything enlightening – or even accurate -- during their latest Iowa campaign adventures? (Iowa Pres Watch Note: Don’t miss item below with Dean saying he’s not flaming liberal – but he looks that way because other Dem wannabes have moved to the right.)

… Good morning – Weather forecasters say record high temperatures possible across IA this morning. Authorities continue search for two convicts – described as armed and dangerous -- that escaped from Oakdale corrections facility north of Iowa City, vehicle they used found northwest of North Liberty. Des Moines Register warns DSM drivers to prepare for traffic mess as Grand Avenue section closed today for seven months, headline: “Hope for the best, but get set for Grand snarl” Tough day to stay in Des Moines office buildings with sunny skies, temperatures in 80s and Iowa Cubs playing first day game of season – first pitch just after 12 noon at Sec Taylor Stadium. 

… Kucinich gets even more ridiculous – and not just for his anti-war, create-a-Cabinet-level-Peace-Department rhetoric. After Des Moines Register (and other media) reported yesterday he’d cancelled a Cedar Rapids campaign stop over the weekend, Kucinich surfaces at Des Moines gathering of church and community activists. Further indication he has become more detached from reality: Kucinich dismissed polls showing that Americans – as high as 70% in some polls – support Iraq action, warning the full costs of the conflict haven’t been driven home. (More Kucinich below.)

… Burlington Hawk Eye reports that “bicycle riders can once again ride” across the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad bridge over the Mississippi River at Fort Madison. The Hawk Eye said bicycle restrictions were lifted at 6 p.m. last Friday, but that pedestrian restrictions remain and parking is limited at both ends of the double-deck, swingspan bridge. The bridge – named as one of the nation’s 250 most critical assets – has been under 24-hour observation since 3/24.  The Chicago Tribune yesterday  -- under the headline “U. S. stretched thin to protect the Mississippi” – reported on efforts by 38 Coast Guard regulars and about three dozen reservists to make rounds of the Upper Mississippi region – an area that covers 12 states, 1,900 miles of navigable waterways and 271 bridges.  

…Online “Quick Poll” from the Sioux City Journal: “Should the United Nations play a role in the reconstruction of Iraq?” Yes – 55.8%, No – 44.8%. 

… General Franks made talk show rounds in Kuwait yesterday and said he may be heading to Baghdad in the near future – saying he wants to see how troops and operations are doing, not for a victory celebration or parade. Meanwhile, the White House announces scheduled Bush trip to Canada next month has been postponed – but administration officials insist there’s no connection between the delayed trip and northern neighbor’s failure to join military fighting in Iraq. On other hand, the weekend wasn’t a complete loss for Canada – as Canadian lefty Mike Weir took the green jacket away from Tiger at Masters golf tournament. 

CANDIDATES & CAUCUSES: 

… Coverage of Dean weekend visit to southeast IA: Report from yesterday’s Burlington Hawk Eye – under “Dean critical of ‘Bush light’ backers” headline – said “Presidential contender Howard Dean urged fellow Democrats to stand up for the party’s core values. Speaking to an Iowa Wesleyan College gathering [in Mount Pleasant] Saturday, the former Vermont governor said his views are only considered liberal because other leading candidates have moved so far to the right. ‘And I’m out here selling balanced budgets and a health care system that relies on the private sector,’ Dean said. Although he didn’t mention his rivals by name, he criticized fellow Democrats who voted with Republicans for a controversial tax cut package and backed President George Bush on the war in Iraq. ‘Bush lite is not going to cut it,’ Dean said.” The Hawk Eye reported that Dean spoke Saturday night at a Des Moines County Democratic Party event in Burlington and a dinner in Donnellson sponsored by the Lee County Democratic Party. 

… WHO Radio reports this morning on Kucinich campaign stop in DSM yesterday. The Dem wannabe says he was right all along on Iraq war issue since no chemical weapons or weapons of mass destruction have been discovered. Register – rather than sending reporter – relies on AP coverage. From the Associated Press report: Kucinich said “the fall of the regime in Iraq and the potential of a relatively quick end to the war bolsters his hard-line opposition to the conflict.”

…Leftover from yesterday: Letters to editor in Des Moines Sunday Register – “The blue yard signs showing support for President Bush and our troops are one of the most popular yard signs provided by the Polk County (Des Moines) Republican Party. It’s a result of Senator John Kerry’s [regime change] remark that may well have cost him any chance of success in his presidential campaign.” – Charles Finch, Des Moines. And another view: “I am amazed and saddened that the Republican Party is distributing Bush yard signs to exploit the war with Iraq for political positioning. The signs are rather indicative of why the war is being fought in the first place – it is Bush’s strategy to stay in power.” – Mark Challis, West Des Moines. 

…Headline on coverage from Iowa in yesterday’s Los Angeles Times online edition, “Democrats May Face War Quagmire…Fighting in Iraq threatens to divide the party like nothing has since the Vietnam era, putting its candidates in a political minefield.” Times staff writer Mark Z. Barabak reviews the respective Iraq war positions of the Dem wannabes and interviews several Iowa Democrats about their candidate preferences – and reports, “There are minefields aplenty.” Example: “Sen. John F. Kerry of Massachusetts, who voted to support the war in Iraq, has been pilloried by Republicans for a quip he made April 2 about the need for ‘regime change’ in Washington. It was a line Kerry had used before with little notice – then the shooting started and the rules of the political engagement suddenly changed.” Barabak reports that “the presidential candidates are not the only ones pulled by the crosscurrents of wartime politics.” He notes that Iowan – and antiwar activist -- Diane Krell “said that despite her disappointment with Edwards and other Democrats who backed Bush on Iraq, she has not ruled out supporting one of them if he seems best able to defeat the president in November 2004.” James Peterson, who was seated just a few rows over from Krell at the Des Moines forum, was quoted as saying, “It’s great to win battles. But I want to win the war. And right now the war [for Democrats] is beating Bush and winning the White House.” 

…Headline on column by Bernadette Malone – the newspaper’s former editorial page editor -- in yesterday’s online edition of The Union Leader and New Hampshire Sunday News: “‘President’ Kerry would set bizarre litmus test for judges’ 

IOWA POLITICS: 

…Grassley getting big coverage – and mixed reviews – for role in settling for $350 billion tax cut package, less than half of $726 billion requested by GWB. Yesterday’s Los Angeles Times focused on ME GOP Sen. Snowe, the swing vote in the tax cut negotiations – but also cites Grassley’s role in getting tax cut and budget resolution passed: “Snowe spent all day Thursday meeting with GOP leaders…She dodged reporters. She stayed away from GOP meetings she usually attends. By early evening, she told Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) she would vote against the budget…In the meantime, Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) found a way to win Snowe’s vote. He promised to use his considerable power as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee to guarantee no tax cut bigger than $350 billion would come before the Senate or out of negotiations with the House. The next day, Grassley made his commitment…in a speech on the Senate floor. Only then did Snowe announce her support for the budget. ‘Without Sen. Grassley’s commitment, we would not be passing this budget today,’ Snowe said.”

…Also on Grassley’s role in the tax cut-budget situation, Time magazine’s Margaret Carlson said on CNN “Capital Gang” Saturday night: “Senator Grassley, a huge profile in courage, taken to the woodshed by the White House, and yet came back and did what he did.” 

…And More – Leftover from yesterday’s “Potomac Fever” column in the Des Moines Sunday Register, the Washington Bureau’s Jane Norman wrote that Grassley  “is in trouble again. He’s even got House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, mad at him.” Norman also highlight a dispute between Grassley and IA GOP Congressman Nussle – chairman of the House Budget Committee -- citing Washington Post coverage where “Nussle declared that Grassley’s action was ‘offensive’ and said, ‘Even the French had the courtesy to inform the United States they were not voting with us in the U. N.’” Norman: “…more conflict between fellow Republicans Grassley and Nussle? These bouts are getting regular enough to interest the off-track betting parlors.”

…A ‘Potomac Fever’ paper tiger prediction from Norman: In her column, Norman also touched on the political firestorm Harkin ignited with his comments that Iraq was a “paper tiger.” She noted that Harkin attracted considerable conservative criticism, adding: “Livid as they make conservatives, Harkin’s remarks are often on the leading edge of emerging opinions within his party. Look for a refined version of this argument to come.”

MORNING SUMMARY:  

…Morning headlines:

Des Moines Register top front page headline: “Seven POWs rescued…Americans recount tales of capture, imprisonment”

Main online headline, Quad-City Times: Rare non-Iraq headline, but may be a sign news coverage returning to normal – “Pit bull mauls 3-year-old girl” 

Top online head from Chicago Tribune: “7 U. S. POWs found safe” 

Main national headline from Daily Iowan (University of Iowa) online: “Marines liberate seven POWs” 

Sioux City Journal online headline: “Marines rescue seven POWs” 

Omaha World-Herald top online story: “7 POWs found; Marines assemble at Saddam’s hometown”

… Newscasts over weekend and this morning report Iowa native – Staff Sgt. Jeffery Edward Bohr, 39 – was the only Marine killed during a seven-hour battle near a Baghdad mosque last Thursday. Bohr’s father, Edward – of Ossian in northeast Iowa – said the family withheld information about the death until Jeffery Bohr’s wife Laurie -- a Cedar Rapids native who was driving from IA to Camp Pendleton -- could be notified.  Bohr, who had been an instructor at Pendleton the last four years, also fought in Panama and the Persian Gulf War, and planned to retire in two years.  

… Quad-City Times online headline, “Iowa smallpox-vaccination plans for being fulfilled” Report says Iowa is leading the nation in achieving smallpox-vaccination goals with nearly 500 health care workers inoculated during the past two months.

… Bad weekend – with warm temperatures – for IA motorcyclists. Morning newscasts indicate one killed in DSM area accident and two die west of Hayesville in Keokuk County. 

…Turkey season – for real ones, not the political variety – opens in IA today (through 5/18) with a record number of hunters expected. State DNR officials say they expect the hunter count – which has been in the 40,000 to 50,000 range during the past three years – to increase this year due to growing turkey population. They estimate 200,000 turkeys in the state – or approximately 15 Iowans per turkey. 

WAR & TERRORISM: 

…What a difference a week or two makes in Iraq region. Last week, American couch potatoes consumed with desert war operations featuring thousands of troops – but last evening about two hours devoted on news networks to shirtless snipers firing on Marines. Watching the captured sniper and Marines being chased by journalists after a small-scale operation isn’t quite like awaiting a possible Republican Guard engagement – but was still something that had to be done. More gunfire – and probably more firefights -- last night in L. A. and NYC than in the televised Baghdad firefight. Cautionary note that Iraq operations aren’t over yet, but situation better – for American forces and Iraqis – than a month ago

FEDERAL ISSUES: 

…For the record -- Final Ames disease lab resolution: Despite all the controversy and bickering – a House-Senate feud, internal disputes within IA delegation, Harkin being named “Porker of the Month” by Citizens Against Government Waste, etc. – over $98 million appropriation for the national animal disease lab in Ames, things turned out even better than anticipated. The final resolution: $110 million for renovation of the facility. Newscasts quote IA GOP Congressman Latham as saying the allocation should have been for $110 million all along – so he went to work in the House and got funding approved. Harkin still takes credit, saying the funding was “essential for the protection of our food supply from natural and terrorist causes.”  The $110 million provision was inserted in the $80 billion Iraq war-homeland security supplemental appropriation approved Saturday on a voice vote by the House. The Ames complex includes the National Animal Disease Center, the Center for Veterinary Biologics and the National Veterinary Services Laboratories.

IOWA ISSUES: 

… Radio actuality on this morning’s newscasts features Guv Vilsack urging legislators to do “something bold” this week to create a state economic development fund.  

… Sioux City Journal headline: “Great Lakes museum board takes no stand on gambling debate” Report says the Iowa Great Lakes Maritime Museum board – which oversees the amusement park, maritime museum and welcome center activities  -- heard pros and cons of debate over allowing riverboat gambling in the region. Ended up issuing statement: “The people of Dickinson County should educate themselves and decide whether or not they want gaming in the region. The IGLMM will not take a position, pro or con, at this time, but will continue to closely monitor this issue.’ 

OPINIONS:  

… Des Moines Register editorial headlines – National issue: “Women soldiers meet the test… The war in Iraq further erodes stereotypes about the role of women” Includes photo of rescued Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch…State issue: “Think big, Iowa – for a change…Go for a $1 billion development fund, and finance it with cigarette taxes.”

…Citizen commentary from Sioux City Journal online: “Freedom fries and freedom toast instead of French. What’s next? Why don’t we send the Statue of Liberty back to France? Sound like a good idea to you?” – Charles Siemonsma, Sioux City. 

IOWA SPORTS: 

… Des Moines Register sports columnist Sean Keeler says “two best candidates” to fill Drake men’s basketball coaching job are Texas Tech assistant Pat Knight – son of Bob – and Iowa assistant (and native) Greg Lansing, a former coach at Des Moines Roosevelt whose father Dave coached for 33 years at Mount Pleasant and Harlan.

IOWA WEATHER: 

… DSM 5 a.m. 59 fair. Warm morning with all temps in 50s and 60s – from 50 in Dubuque to 64 in Carroll, LeMars and Audubon…High today 88, sunny. Low tonight 62, mostly clear. High Tuesday 80, chance T-storms. 

…WHO-TV’s meteorologist Brandon Thomas reports: “A little cooler Tuesday with highs in the upper seventies and low eighties. A good chance of showers/t’storms Tuesday night and again on Wednesday, with highs in the mid/upper fifties.  A few showers early on Thursday with highs in the low/mid fifties. Partly sunny on Friday, with a chance of showers/t-storms in the evening. Highs will be in the mid/upper fifties.”

IOWAISMS: 

…Sioux City Journal reports “The tourists are coming! The tourists are coming!” as communities along the Lewis and Clark Trail anticipate increased interest – and tourism – during bicentennial celebration. Michele Linck’s report says that 25 million are expected to visit some point on the Lewis-Clark trail during the 2003-06 observation. Bev Hinds, president of the Sgt. Floyd Tri-State Chapter of the Lewis and Clark Heritage Foundation and a tour guide, said she and other guides are heavily booked for the coming season. The director of the South Sioux City Convention and Visitor Bureau, Donna Goodier, indicated “at least 100 busloads of visitors are signed up for trips to Siouxland this summer.” Some expect 150,000 to 200,000 tourists to visit Siouxland portions of the trail. 

…Classic Iowaism: From yesterday’s Des Moines Sunday Register, Andrew Logue writes about how the Drake Relays – which has run non-stop for past 93 years – kept going through previous (and current) wars. Highlight of Logue’s coverage: “Amos Alonzo Stagg, one of college football’s founding fathers, made a patriotic plea during the 1917 Relays. Stagg arrived in Des Moines with the hope of persuading more than 50 university representatives to continue their athletic programs during the first global conflict of the century. Several schools, including Drake, considered discontinuing sporting events after Congress pass a war resolution two weeks earlier. Stagg, athletic director at the University of Chicago, carried the baton for those who felt events such as the Relays offered a positive diversion.”

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