GENERAL NEWS:                                                                                 Friday, April 18, 2003

… Good Friday.

… Opening Day, Spring racing season, Prairie Meadows, Altoona. Post time: 6:45 p.m.

…  Under the headline “King says Bush’s political power is at peak,” Sioux City Journal staff writer Bret Hayworth reported that GOP Congressman King said GWB “stands with untold political power as the war in Iraq winds down and federal lawmakers would do well to recognize that.” Another excerpt: “King, a Republican from Kiron, contends that Bush ‘has more political power than any president since Franklin Delano Roosevelt at his peak.’ The critics who questioned the need to pursue war without the United Nations and who stand in the way of Bush’s 10-year plan to cut taxes $726 billion may pay a political price,” he said. (More King comments below.) 

… Results from Daily Iowan (University of Iowa) online poll with about 1,000 respondents: Question – “How has the U. S. media coverage of the war been?” Responses – Oversaturated 60%, Appropriate 29%, Insufficient 11%.  

… A native Iowan killed in Iraq – Marine Gunnery Sgt. Jeff Bohr – will be buried wearing a new wedding ring his wife bought shortly before he died. Lori Bohr said her husband wrote that he recently lost his ring and was unable to find it even after a four-hour search. She said he was “really bummed” about losing the ring, so – after reading his letter about being unable to find it – she went out and purchased another ring. The Bohrs would have celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary Sunday. The Bohr family said they will finalize funeral plans over the weekend – but indicated his funeral will be held in his hometown of Ossian with burial in Cedar Rapids. 

… Top, dominant story on morning newscasts across IA this morning – 68 of Iowa’s 99 counties lost population since 2000. Two counties adjacent to Polk County (Des Moines) are biggest population gainers – Dallas (Adel) and Madison (Winterset) Counties. Des Moines Register headline: “Rural population slide grows.” Comment on WHO Radio this morning, “How do you keep them down on the farm once they’ve seen Des Moines? – You can’t.”

CANDIDATES & CAUCUSES: 

… Edwards mixes series of issues, themes yesterday during eastern IA swing. Headline from Quad-City Times on Davenport stop: “Edwards: I’ll take the fight to Bush”… Des Moines Register coverage, headline: “Edwards opposes any new tax cuts” Register’s Thomas Beaumont reports from Davenport that Edwards said “he would refuse to back any new tax cut despite the compromise President Bush offered this week.”… Broadcast reports this morning re Edwards remarks at Cedar Rapids event last night – Edwards said the U. S. has to do some fence-mending with old friends and allies, also must show United States is serious about letting Iraqis govern themselves… Headline in this morning’s Daily Iowan (University of Iowa): “Edwards stands on populist pulpit” He called the Bush administration “the government of the insiders, by the insiders and for the insiders.” DI says Edwards “pledged on Thursday to fight for ‘regular people’ if elected president.”  

… On the Dem money trail – a headline from yesterday’s Los Angeles Times: “Kerry’s $8 Million Puts Him in Front of Democratic Rivals…First detailed look at the presidential hopefuls’ war chests shows Edwards raised more in three months of 2003. Gephardt is third.” Staff Writer Mark Z. Barabak writes: “As the Democratic presidential campaign picks up, Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kerry is on the best financial footing, with more than $8 million in the bank, according to the first detailed accounting of the candidates’ fund-raising performance. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, who raised slightly more than Kerry in the first three months of the year, had $5.7 million on hand. Rep. Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri was third with roughly $5 million.” The Barabak report added: “The rest of the field lagged far behind, with Connecticut Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman spending more than 40 cents on every dollar he raised from January through March.” For example, Dean was fourth on the cash-on-hand list with $2.1 million and Lieberman fifth with $1.8 million in the bank at the end of the first quarter. 

… Star watching. Six more sentences from Barabak’s L. A. Times report: “Actors James Cromwell and Rob Reiner gave $2,000 apiece to Dean. Michael Douglas gave $2,000 each to Dean and Gephardt. Terance Stamp contributed $2,000 to Lieberman. Actress Rita Wilson gave $1,000 to Edwards and Morgan Fairchild gave $500. Among recording artists, Barry Manilow gave $2,000 to Gephardt and David Cosby gave $2,000 to Dean. Joan Jett and Graham Nash gave $1,000 each to Dean and Don Henley gave $1,000 to Kerry.”  

… So this is New Hampshire? New Hampshire reporters – who apparently keep track of such things – have determined it’s been nearly two decades since Graham campaigned in NH, when he made an ’84 trip on behalf of then FL Guv (and pres candidate) Ruebin Askew. Graham – fresh from his California fundraising expedition – arrived in NH yesterday for his first campaign visit to the state, despite The Union Leader senior political reporter John DiStaso reporting that “a few sourpusses” from other campaigns are not “thrilled about still another candidate.” DiStaso wrote that “some made sure we saw yesterday’s Miami Herald report that Graham is calling for potential cruise missile strikes against terrorist camps in Syria and Syrian-controlled Lebanon if the Syrian government does not eliminate terrorist activities.” DiStaso also noted Graham was “the only senator in the race who opposed last year’s congressional resolution authorizing George Bush (43) to use military action against Iraq.” During a campaign stop yesterday, Graham said: “I voted against the resolution to go to war because I thought the priorities were wrong. Syria has harbored some of the most serious terrorist groups in the world. That should be our first priority.” (Iowa Pres Watch Note: Wait until the Dem antiwar doves – Dean, Kucinich, Moseley Braun and Sharpton – see that. It appears Graham is not one of them. With his comment, it sounds like Graham’s ready to go to war – but prefers bombing Syria over bombing Iraq. At this rate, Graham will be propose bombing North Korea before he makes his first campaign trip to IA.)

… Register reports this morning Dean due back in IA next week – 4/25-4/27 visit to include Davenport, Clinton, Cedar County, Fairfield, Peosta, Winneshiek County, Chickasaw County, Floyd County. 

… Quad-City Times reported in yesterday’s online edition that Iowa Democrat chairman welcomes latest developments in the Michigan effort to move up date of 2004 presidential nominating process. Times writer Ed Tibbetts reported, “The Michigan AFL-CIO has asked the state’s Democratic Party to hold its presidential caucuses Feb. 7, after the New Hampshire primary. The decision may help preserve Iowa’s leadoff caucus role next year.” Tibbetts noted that IA Dem leaders “greeted the news favorably” – even as Michigan party activists encouraged DNC head McAuliffe to appoint a panel to study the IA and NH starting positions in the nominating process. Referring to the efforts to schedule the Michigan caucuses on 2/7 – vs. the same day (1/27) as the New Hampshire primary, as some want to do – IA Dem chairman Gordon Fischer said: “It’s very good news; it’s certainly a step in the right direction.” The IA caucuses are scheduled for 1/19/04. 

… On a related matter, Tibbetts also reported “Fischer said he is confident legislation signed Tuesday by Washington, D. C., Mayor Anthony Williams to move the district’s primary ahead of Iowa next year will not be a threat. The decision must be approved by Congress, and Iowa Democrats do not believe that will happen. U. S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, said the state’s role will be guarded, by both Republicans and Democrats. Asked how much of a threat the decision of the Washington, D. C., City Council is, Fischer said, ‘None.’”

… A veteran of Jesse Jackson’s presidential campaigns – Frank Watkins – has signed on as campaign manager for the Sharpton campaign. The Chicago Sun Times reported that Watkins – whose been communications director for IL Dem Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. – was a longtime spokesman for the senior Jackson and worked in both of his presidential campaigns.  

… California Dreamin’ I: Although some numbers from The Field Poll (among registered Democrats) in California have been reported, Iowa Pres Watch notes that – as far as early observers are concerned – the field of Dem wannabes is breaking into three distinct factions. The Big Three with double-digit numbers: Lieberman (22%), Kerry (16%) and Gephardt (12%). The single-digit group: Dean (7%), Sharpton and Moseley Braun (both with 4%), Edwards (3%), Graham (2%) and Kucinich (1%). The third – and largest – faction: Undecided (29%). 

… California Dreamin’ II: An equally – or possibly more – revealing aspect of The Field Poll highlights which of the candidates CA Dems would be inclined (or not inclined) to support. Responses to this question indicate how challenging CA will be for some of the wannabes – since 50% or more have “no opinion” about Dean, Moseley Braun, Edwards, Graham and Kucinich. Lieberman (just 22% with no opinion) is best known – with 42% “inclined” to support him, but 36% “not inclined” to back his candidacy. Gephardt isn’t doing much better – 35% inclined, 31% not inclined, and 34% no opinion. Kerry has a decent 2-1 ration with 43% inclined, 21% not inclined and 36% no opinion. And, then there’s Sharpton, who’s second-best recognized (only 25% with no opinion) among CA Dems – but he only has 14% “inclined” to support his candidacy vs. 61% “not inclined.”

IOWA POLITICS: 

… Boswell Cuba Watch turns partisan. IA GOP Congressman King urges IA Dems -- Sen Harkin and Congressman Boswell -- to cancel planned trips to Cuba to “avoid giving unintended support” to Castro. Morning news reports quote King as saying, “Now is not the time to reward a dictator’s brutal behavior.” Also from the Cuba beat, reports this morning indicate HBO has postponed indefinitely broadcast of Oliver Stone’s documentary on Fidel Castro because of “recent alarming events” in Cuba. The Stone production was to be on next month’s HBO schedule.  

… It’s a borderline call – as in the Iowa-South Dakota border line – whether to include this item in the “Iowa Politics” section, but since Dem Sen Leader Daschle often votes with Harkin (and some Iowans can see South Dakota from their back doors), it fits. Several D. C. media outlets – and probably all media in South Dakota – report on GOP Senatorial Committee poll indicating Daschle could lose to a prominent Republican challenger. Former Republican Rep. Thune, defeated by just 524 votes in last fall’s Senate election, was picked by a 46-44 margin over Daschle. Also in the possible mix, former SD Gov – and now Congressman – Janklow. The Washington Times quoted Stuart Rothenberg, editor of the Rothenberg Political Report, as saying Daschle is “as vulnerable as he has ever been.” And, another Daschle dilemma – The Weekly Standard reported yesterday: “TOM DASCHLE can no longer call himself a Catholic. The Senate minority leader and the highest ranking Democrat in Washington has been sent a letter by his home diocese of Sioux Falls, sources in South Dakota have told The Weekly Standard, directing him to remove from his congressional biography and campaign documents all references to his standing as a member of the Catholic Church. This isn’t excommunication – which is unnecessary, in any case, since Daschle made himself ineligible for communication almost 20 years ago with his divorce and marriage to a Washington lobbyist.” (Just another Daschle-Harkin comparison – both liberal Midwest Dems, both Catholics and both pro-abortion advocates.) 

… Speaking of the Iowa-South Dakota border, the Sioux City Journal reports GOP first-year Congressman King officially opened his Sioux City office yesterday. King, who represents about the western one-third of the state, said it was important to have an office in the district’s largest city as well having access to the “networking” opportunities in the tri-state region (IA, SD, NE).

MORNING SUMMARY:  

… Des Moines Register top front-page headline: “Day by day, a struggle for stability… Troops capture Saddam relative” 

… Main headline on Sioux City Journal online: IA legislative issue, “Senate GOP leader threatens to scrap ‘Iowa Values’ plan” Majority Leader Stewart Iverson of Dows says the major economic development initiative must be resolved by next week – or it’s time to pass the budget and adjourn.  

… QCTimes.com (Quad-City Times), top head: Local topic, “Bolsinger gets 37 years” Reports that 37-year-old John M. Bolsinger – former director of a Davenport-based youth ‘boot camp’ sentenced to spend next 37 years in prison for sexually abusing adolescent boys he was supposed to be helping.

… Main national headline on Omaha World-Herald online: “U. S. special forces capture Saddam’s half brother in Baghdad”

… Daily Iowan top national headline: On Iraq, “Pros behind artifact thefts, U. N. says”

… Chicago Tribune top national online headline: “U. S. chips away at regime”

… Radio Iowa reports this morning that Cedar Rapids schools will cut 83 teaching positions due to budget woes. Contracts terminated for 66 teachers, while other 17 placed on a “recall list” to fill openings that could occur before next fall. 

… One of Iowa’s busiest intersections – the Highway 30 interchange on Interstate 35 near Ames – was closed for about 90 minutes yesterday after sheets of plywood tumbled off a tractor-trailer rig. Radio Iowa reported the northbound semi was rounding the cloverleaf onto Highway 30 when the load shifted and fell off the trailer. There were no injuries, but traffic was disrupted for a few hours on the interchange – which is the most direct route from I-35 to the Iowa State University campus. 

WAR & TERRORISM: 

… Iraq situation probably not as routine or calm – with a few incidents once-in-awhile – as it appears in TV screens, but things going well enough stateside to withdraw National Guard troops and law officials from 24-hour surveillance of two Mississippi River bridges yesterday. The bridges – a Union Pacific span at Clinton and a Burlington Northern Santa Fe bridge at Fort Madison – were listed among the nation’s 250 most critical assets. Officials said they will still be patrolled on a regular basis, but the around-the-clock watches had been dropped. 

… Another report from the North Korean front: VOANews (Voice of America) reported yesterday: “South Korea’s president is dismissing criticism about the format of next week’s talks in Beijing on the standoff over North Korea’s nuclear programs. Some media in Seoul are expressing surprise and anger that South Korea is not being included in the negotiations. South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun on Thursday said progress in resolving the North Korean nuclear dispute is more important than whether his country immediately has a seat at the table. His remarks…come a day after it was revealed that the United States and North Korea will meet next week in Beijing with the Chinese serving as a host and participant.”  

FEDERAL ISSUES: 

… As President Bush renewed his call yesterday for Congress to address – and pass – tax cut legislation upon returning from the Easter recess, IA GOP Congressman King told the Sioux City Journal that Senate Republicans who supported smaller tax cuts have “got to be brought around.” The issue has been – and continues – attracting significant coverage in Iowa because of Grassley’s involvement in agreeing to a Senate version of the legislation that set tax cuts at $350 billion – just less than half of GWB’s $726 billion proposal that was approved by the House. From Bret Hayworth’s coverage: “King was hesitant to criticize Grassley, but said the two Republican U. S. senators who voted for the smaller tax cuts were ‘renegades’ who felt ‘they knew more than the collective wisdom of our entire administration and the House of Representatives and the Republican majority in the Senate. I think they have got to be brought around,’ King said.” He added, “The president, King said, possesses incredible political goodwill ‘to promote the tax cuts that are going to be required to grow this economy. If we do too little, we just as well do nothing.”  

IOWA ISSUES: 

… Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson reported last night that it “appears more likely that Iowans will see a hike in the state cigarette tax or a new tax on Internet sales – or both – but there’s a catch.” The catch, she said, is that Senate Republicans (the majority) “insist that a tax reform bill pass the legislature first.” Henderson’s report quoted Ankeny GOP Sen. Jeff Lamberti as saying tax reform is the Republicans No. 1 priority for “growing” the state’s economy. Lamberti said either tax increase – cigarettes or Internet sales – could pass the Senate, and they’ve at least narrowed the possibilities to two that “can work.” Senate Dem leader Gronstal of Council Bluffs said Republican’s shouldn’t try to tie the issues (tax reform and tax increases on cigarettes or Internet sales) together. GOP Sen Thurman Gaskill may have offered the best observation – that time’s running out since legislators are trying to adjourn for the year by the end of the month. 

OPINIONS:  

… Today’s Des Moines Register editorial, headline: “Tax Internet sales…But there is a surer source of revenue to finance economic-development fund.” Editorial says raising cigarette tax could generate more than $100 million a year for development fund – and Internet sales-tax collections could be used as part of strategy to “build a healthier state budget. It would not be depending on them, however, to replace essential revenue.”  

… Citizen commentary from Sioux City Journal online: “I hope the American people aren’t so fascinated by the war that they haven’t noticed the economy is only getting worse. I agree that Saddam had to go, but G. W. will be a one-term president just like his father if he spends more time thinking about which country is next than he does about our country.” – Paul Craft, Sioux City 

IOWA SPORTS: 

… The 52-day spring racing season at the Prairie Meadows track & casino in Altoona starts tonight, featuring nine or 10 thoroughbred races daily through 6/26. Post times: 4 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 6:45 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 5:15 Sunday. Headline in today’s Register: “Purses a bit lighter, but trainers predict plenty of good races”

… Leftover from yesterday’s visit to Iowa Hawkeye spring practice by ESPN college football GameDay crew – Outspoken former Purdue coach-turned-analyst Lee Corso said: “You know something about me and Iowa? My mom’s from Iowa – Seymour. Know another thing? That’s where I coached my first football game – Drake.” Corso & Co. were in Iowa City as a stop on weeklong tour of spring practice sessions – which included visits to Iowa, Penn State, Oklahoma and Notre Dame. They are scheduled in Columbus today to review Ohio State situation. 

IOWA WEATHER: 

DSM 5 a.m. 43 overcast with haze. Light rain in SW IA this morning with temperatures from 36 in Estherville to 45 in Iowa City. High today 58, scattered T-storms. Low tonight 55, chance T-storms. High Saturday 72, chance T-storms. From WHO-TV’s Ed Wilson: “Cooler temps and a chance for showers through the weekend. The best chance for rain …and it looks heavy at times …will be Friday and Saturday night. Easter will be wet with scattered showers. Some of the forecast models are calling for up to 2” of rain over the weekend.’

IOWAISMS: 

… A dog-gone problem – organizers of the Beautiful Bulldog Contest that kicks off Drake Relays Week in Des Moines next Monday had to turn away potential contestants. They capped participation at 50 bulldogs – primarily due to limited stage space – so some will have to wait until next year and get their paw prints on the applications earlier.   

… A Good Friday tradition will continue this afternoon as members of downtown Des Moines churches reenact Jesus’ walk to the cross for execution. The reenactment walk – which begins at 1:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church – will wind through the city’s downtown area to give Christians an opportunity to reflect on Jesus’ life, as well as concerns about “injustice and prejudice in today’s world.” Among locations included on the walk route: The Polk County Jail, the Catholic Pastoral Center and PACE Juvenile Justice Center.  

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