GENERAL NEWS:                                                                                  Monday, April 21, 2003

… Best – and most appropriate -- event for an Easter weekend: Seven POWs land in Texas, return home Saturday night. Presidential politics important, but bringing the Iraq Seven back to U. S. soil is superior. Cancel “Fear Factor” and “Survivor” because this was real reality TV. 

… Among offerings in this update: Lieberman expected to – finally – get to eastern IA next month…Easter Sunday Summary – Sunday headlines, columnists, etc. DSM Sunday Register columnist rakes talk show host Mickelson over perceived anti-gay comments…Graham commits to NH “work days” …Grassley tax cut decision continues attracting political commentary…Kerry fundraising in AZ when Massachusetts’ first Iraq war casualty buried, Drudge Report says…Dean reappears in eastern IA this week…NJ NOW leader says Scott Peterson – charged with death of wife and unborn child – should not be charged with double murder…AZ gov vetoes presidential primary bill…and more below in today’s morning report. Iowa Pres Watch also has developed a backlog of secondary – but still noteworthy – items that will be included in morning reports throughout the week.   

… Unless there’s been some last-minute second thoughts (or general sanity has prevailed), Sen Harkin – DESPITE U. S. criticisms of Cuba, ignored U. N. requests to send human rights investigators to Cuba, imprisonment of more than six dozen dissidents in Cuba, IA GOP Congressman King’s urging that he not go to Cuba, three executions in Cuba and general dictatorial policies in Cuba – should be leaving for Cuba trip today. 

… Yesterday would have been the ninth wedding anniversary for Jeffery and Lori Bohr, but she spent the weekend making final preparations for his funeral. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Bohr, 39, died from two gunshot wounds suffered in Baghdad on 4/10. His funeral will be in his hometown of Ossian at 11 a.m. Wednesday with burial at 5 p.m. at the Mount Calvary Cemetery in Cedar Rapids.   

… From first 50 responses to an Omaha World-Herald online poll – Are you concerned about the outbreak of SARS? Very much so – 8, Kind of  - 6, Not really – 25, Not at all – 11. 

… Story from this morning’s Quad-City Times and Sioux City Journal online editions, headline from QCTimes.com – “Iowa budget talks are bogging down” Report by Todd Dorman: “Senate Majority Leader Stewart Iverson says Iowa lawmakers have two choices this week. They either can patch up nagging divisions over tax and regulatory reform bills or finish the necessary work on the state budget and head home – even if that means abandoning their grandest economic development plans. ‘We have to see some movement,’ said Iverson, R-Dows, who is eager to trade his Statehouse office for a tractor cab this time of year.” 

… For those who actually spent some family and/or quality time on Easter Sunday, here is just part of the missed political craziness: From New Jersey’s Daily Record – “The head of the National Organization for Women’s Morris County chapter is opposing a double murder charge in the Laci Peterson case, saying it could provide ammunition to the pro-life lobby. ‘If this is murder, well, then any time a late-term fetus is aborted, they could call it murder,’ Morris County NOW President Mavra Stark said on Saturday.” Prosecutors in California – which isn’t exactly a state neighboring New Jersey – have announced they plan to file charges against Scott Peterson for killing both his wife and unborn son. NOW’s Stark said: “There’s something about this that bothers me a little bit. Was it born, or unborn? If it was unborn, then I can’t see charging [Scott Peterson] with a double-murder.” (Iowa Pres Watch Note: OK, Scott Peterson is presumed innocent until proven guilty – but NOW activist Mavra Stark is already guilty of unacceptable insensitivity, misguided liberalism and unbridled enthusiasm for Roe v Wade decision. Unfortunately, most of the Dem wannabes – and the most enthusiastic IA Dem caucusgoers – probably agree with Stark’s viewpoint.)

CANDIDATES & CAUCUSES: 

… Under the headline “Lieberman presidential campaign to pick up pace in Iowa,” the Quad-City Times reports Lieberman “definitely is competing in Iowa and will be coming to eastern Iowa next month, his state director, Ted Osthelder, says.” Coverage by Times’ Ed Tibbetts said Lieberman has been “noticeably absent in this part of the state lately” – especially with Edwards, Kerry and Dean passing through area during the “past couple of weeks.” The report said Lieberman was “to have come here in early February, but understandably canceled after the space shuttle disaster. He plans to return in May and June, Osthelder said. Activists who have been sitting on the sidelines have been eager to get off the bench, so Lieberman’s visit may be in time.” 

… The Drudge Report said last night Mass. Sen – and Vietnam War hero -- Kerry missed the funeral of a home state Iraqi victim to attend a presidential fundraising event in Arizona. The report – filed by Matt Drudge – said: “So why wasn’t U. S. Sen John F. Kerry (D-MA) at last week’s funeral of Matthew Boule, 22, the Dracut, Massachusetts native who was the state’s first soldier to die in the Iraq war? Kerry, the decorated Vietnam War veteran who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, was in Arizona on Tuesday – fundraising and campaigning – the very hour Boule was buried, the DRUDGE REPORT can reveal. Kerry’s office did not respond to a request for comment…Kerry missed the service honoring Boule to speak to the Arizona Democratic Caucus, where he proposed a ‘Veterans Prescription Drug Reform Act.’”  

… Speaking of candidates visiting eastern Iowa, Dean has nearly taken up residence in that area of the state. He’s due back in IA later this week – Friday-Sunday – for a planned eight-county swing after hitting several southeast Iowa counties over the second weekend in April. The main event on Dean’s scheduled: a Clinton County Dem fundraiser at the Frontier Motel in Clinton. (Iowa Pres Watch Note: If the Dean campaign has seen the latest IA population updates, he may decide to just spend with rest of the caucus campaign in eastern sections of the state – with occasional trips into Des Moines and other central IA strongholds.) 

… AZ guv Napolitano vetoed GOP-proposed bill that would have eliminated state’s presidential primary – and reaffirmed her earlier decision to move primary date to 2/3/04. Napolitano says she wants earlier date to attract attention to state, specifically Arizona’s border and water concerns. (Iowa Pres Watch Note: Janet Napolitano is a fool – moving up on the nominating schedule is worthless unless she teaches AZ media, including the Arizona Republic, how to cover presidential candidates. IA and NH media veterans know how to cover candidates – and how the game is played. It takes more than vetoing a bill to generate interest in Dem pres candidates – or to get national media to care. Even Michigan – joining IA, NH and SC – understands the situation and “game” better than Napolitano and AZ media.) 

… P.  S. on above item: There’s a reason most of the coverage of the Dem wannabes comes out of IA, NH and SC. It’s because the locals in those states give candidates coverage – and national media types not only have political contacts on their speed dialing systems, but also know the bars, restaurants as well as bartenders on a first-name basis.

… So, is Graham better qualified to be a dishwasher, firefighter, park ranger or to drive the Cog Railway in New Hampshire? Those, according to several NH media reports, were just some of the suggested options after Graham announced he will participate in “work days” during his presidential effort there. He has used the “work days” gimmick – during which he puts in a shift at an everyday job, a political ploy he’s used in past FL campaigns – and asked NH Dems to suggest jobs he could do during a Concord visit last Friday. (Iowa Pres Watch Note: Iowans wouldn’t be as easily impressed by the “work days” façade – since Harkin employed the political gimmick for years. Besides, the more pressing question about Graham’s candidacy isn’t whether he plans to do “work days” in IA – but whether he expects to show up in Iowa at all?)  

… When senator-wannabes return to the Senate next Monday (4/28), it will be another month until the next recess – when Iowans can probably expect another major round of appearances. Maybe Graham can finally work in a visit. The tentative official schedule for the Senate says the Memorial Day recess is from 5/26-5/30 – but, with weekends included, it’s more like 5/23-6/2. On the other hand, some of the Dem candidates – especially Kerry and Edwards (along with House colleague Gephardt) – aren’t paying attention to the legislative schedule or their congressional obligations.  

… Comments by GOP guests on Sunday talk show circuit will probably allow antiwar wannabes Dean and Kucinich – and Kerry and others – to keep Iraqi war debate alive longer than necessary or desired. IN GOP Lugar, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said on “Meet the Press” yesterday: “I would think at least we ought to be thinking of a period of five years of time. Now, that may understate it.” That’s the theme – indicating the U. S. should be committed to an extended mission in Iraq – Dean, Kerry and Gephardt have emphasized during recent IA visits. Former Sec of State Henry Kissinger, on CNN’s “Late Edition” yesterday, said U. S. troops would likely be in Iraq for longer than two years. 

… Although he’s allegedly retained long-time Jesse Jackson mouthpiece Frank Watkins as his campaign manager, Sharpton refuses to disclose his funding sources. He says he doesn’t have to because he hasn’t formally announced his presidential candidacy. The best coverage – and explanation – by AP’s Sharon Theimer: “He speaks like a candidate, participating in events involving White House hopefuls and even traveled to Iowa, but Al Sharpton is the only one of the nine Democratic candidates who hasn’t filed a presidential campaign finance report. The New Yorker says he doesn’t have to, arguing that he is merely testing the presidential eaters and until he officially announces, he doesn’t have to disclose who is financing his effort or how much he has raised.” (Iowa Pres Watch Note: Watch closely because some media outlets – due to Sharpton’s refusal to disclose fundraising numbers – have already started dismissing Sharpton and now refer to the Dem derby as an eight-candidate competition. Don’t worry about it, however, because the field will grow to nine again when Hart announces his insatiable intentions.) 

… Over the weekend, Senior Political Reporter John DiStaso of The Union Leader and New Hampshire Sunday News wrote: “Five Democratic Presidential candidates spent $78,230 on salaries and consulting fees to 12 New Hampshire staffers and a local paid consultant between Jan. 1 and March 31.” DiStaso reported that Kerry “leads the New Hampshire staff salary parade with $30,772 spent on four Granite Staters.” Lieberman spent $16,906, Edwards $15,789, Dean $11,236 and Gephardt $3,527.

… From Rob Borsellino’s column in this morning’s Des Moines Register: “John Norris – Tom Vilsack’s former chief of staff, former congressional candidate, now running John Kerry’s Iowa campaign – has a bit more than politics on his mind these days. His wife is expecting twins in August. Their first kids.”  

IOWA POLITICS: 

 … Eighteen letters to the editor in yesterday’s Des Moines Sunday Register about Harkin’s ‘paper tiger’ comments about quick Iraq war success. Headline: “Harkin is the ‘paper tiger’…The senator’s assertions are baseless” 

… Harkin should be en route to Cuba today – but questions remain about IA Dem Congressman Boswell’s plans for mid-May visit to Cuba. Boswell, a former Vietnam helicopter pilot, could have spent his time better – and conveyed a more positive message – if he’d gone to Ft. Hood to welcome fellow combat pilots Williams and Young back to U. S. over weekend. A related item: VOA News (Voice of America), headline: “Chavez Opponents protest ‘Cubanization’ of Venezuela” Weekend report says, “Scores of demonstrators lined the streets near the Cuban embassy waving Venezuelan flags and placards denouncing [president Hugo] Chavez and Cuban President Fidel Castro.”

MORNING SUMMARY:   

… Morning headlines: 

Des Moines Register top front-page headline – which (with subheads) has to be one of longest in Register history: “Bush’s plan for Gulf region…1. Present ‘road map’ for Palestinian state, 2. Promote creation of ‘civil society’, 3. Generate prosperity, then political reform, 4. Help in preventing weapons buildup”

Quad-City Times main national online head: “China fires health minister, mayor as SARS intensifies”

Daily Iowan (University of Iowa) top online national story: “POWs celebrate Easter with families, president”

Omaha World-Herald national headline: “2 more Saddam aides captured”

Sioux City Journal online top headline: “Syria agrees to stay out of postwar Iraq”

National head, Chicago Tribune online: “Tensions Seem to Ease Between Syria, U. S.”

… First barge of the season – expected to arrive in Sioux City last Saturday – has been delayed by Missouri River sandbars and low water. The barge, loaded with fertilizer, is now scheduled to arrive at the Big Soo terminal tomorrow. Terminal general manager Kevin Knepper told the Sioux City Journal the barge had been “stuck in the mud. Evidently they spent two days on a sandbar north of Kansas City.”

… A Centerville elementary school teacher was arrested over the weekend and charged with 15 counts of second-degree sexual abuse, according IA media reports. Timmy Wray Higbee, 49, a second grade teacher, faces a maximum prison sentence of up to 25 years on the Class “B” sexual abuse felony charges, 

… Several IA news outlets carried the story of a north central Iowa man who received a Bronze Star last week 60 years after being in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II. James Moline, 79, of Humboldt thought he was attending a reunion of his Marine airborne unit in Fort Dodge – but was honored during a surprise ceremony. Moline grew up in rural Pocahontas County and farmed in the Pocahontas and Humboldt areas all his life after the war.  

… Reversing roles, Iowans invade Kerry country. Des Moines Sunday Register lists names, ages and hometowns of nearly 140 registered to participate in today’s Boston Marathon. Oldest IA men entered: Jim Smedema, 71, Windsor Heights, and Mike Bender, 62, Des Moines. Oldest female entrants: Judy Teeple, 62, and Kay Ralston, 58 – both of Davenport.

Easter Sunday Summary:

Sunday morning headlines…

-- Des Moines Sunday Register: “Echoes of the blasts…Pipe bomb victims of last year look back in wonder, anger” Staff writer Colleen Krantz reports about eastern Iowans injured when college student Luke Helder embarked on nationwide pipe-bomb adventure to create a “smiley face” pattern across the United States.  

-- Sioux City Journal top Sunday online headline: “U. S. captives from Iraqi war return home” Seven POWs return to a jubilant Texas homecoming.

-- Top QCTimes.com (Quad-City Times) Sunday headline: “1 in 3 troop deaths result of accidents” Report says accidental deaths – such as drowning of Marine Bradley Korthaus of Davenport on 3/24 – should remind coalition forces that enemy fire is not only danger troops face in Iraq. 

… David Yepsen column in yesterday’s Des Moines Sunday Register, headline: “Statehouse heroes or duds” Yepsen writes about the challenges facing Vilsack and IA lawmakers on producing on major initiatives during final two weeks of legislative session.

… Columnist Rekha Basu – under the headline, “When talk radio incites” – takes WHO Radio talk show host Jan Mickelson to task in Des Moines Sunday Register yesterday for his “weeklong rampage” about a national Day of Silence that members of Roosevelt High School’s Straight and Gay Alliance participated in on 4/9. Excerpt: “For all the grief and disruption Mickelson caused, maybe he did SAGA a favor. He put a face on the hatred they were trying to expose: his face.”  

… From Sunday’s citizen commentary, Sunday’s Sioux City Journal online: “The more I see and hear about Pfc. Jessica Lynch, the more I realize the power of prayer. I love the Scripture in Psalms 91:11, ‘For He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways,’” – Donna Krohn, Sioux City (The actual wording, according to the New King James Version, is “For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways” – but Donna Krohn’s point was made and received.)

WAR & TERRORISM: 

… Weekend BBC News headline – although situation could change on an hourly basis: “Iraq’s neighbours urge US withdrawal” The story: “The countries neighbouring Iraq have called for the US-led forces that toppled Saddam Hussein’s regime to pull out of the country as soon as possible. They also demanded the speedy formation of a representative government in the country, with a central role for the United Nations – something the United States has already excluded.”

… Headline on VOANews (Voice of America) weekend report: “Medical Thefts in Baghdad Well Organized, Says WHO” The report says: “The World Health organization says it believes the looting of medicines, equipment and hospital records from a Health Ministry warehouse and WHO offices in Baghdad was well organized.” WHO spokesman Iain Simpson says the looted documents recorded disease patterns in various parts of the country, and noted specific needs of hospitals and clinics. 

… Also from VOANews weekend reports, headline: “Arab Foreign Ministers Urge Coalition to Stabilize Iraq, Withdraw” Excerpt: “Foreign ministers from six of Iraq’s neighbors and Egypt and Bahrain urged coalition forces to move quickly to stabilize Iraq and then withdraw, so Iraqis can form their own government. The ministers, meeting in Saudi Arabia, also called for the United Nations to play a central role in post-war Iraq…Prince Saud al-Faisal, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, said Iraq is full of skilled people who know their country’s needs better than anyone else. He said no outside interference would be accepted in Iraqi affairs.”  

FEDERAL ISSUES:  

… Headline from this morning’s Des Moines Register: “Grassley: Tax cut won’t fly in Senate…The Iowan says he backs the president’s proposal, but he’ll take a smaller cut ‘if that’s all we can get.’” Staff Writer Blair Claflin reports on Grassley appearance on ABC-TV “This Week” program: “U. S. Senator Charles Grassley said that while he personally supports a much larger tax cut, there are only enough votes in the Senate right now a $350 billion cut over 10 years.”

… Grassley’s “This Week” comments also were featured as the top item – under the subhead “Grassley’s Promise” -- in the “Inside Politics” column in this morning’s Washington Times.   

… And more: Chicago Tribune headline from yesterday: “Bush faces challenge from GOP legislators…President’s use of power causes rift” Report by Tribune senior correspondent says, “Though he is flush with military success in Iraq and enjoys robust popularity at home, President Bush is also facing opposition from an unlikely source: congressional Republicans. From plans for massive tax cuts to stimulate the economy to dealing with a postwar Iraq, some influential Republican members of Congress have challenged Bush, underscoring a simmering feud over the exercise of presidential power.” An excerpt: “Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), chairman of the Finance Committee, sparked a row in his party when essentially conceded [on the president’s tax cut proposal]. Though the Iowan was quickly criticized by House Republicans, he also appears to have been correct in assessing the political reality. The president said last week that he wanted to see tax cuts of at least $550 billion, but that figure might still prove too ambitious given the demands of [ME Sen] Snowe and [OH Sen] Voinovich. The White House downplayed any notion of a rift.” 

… And, from yesterday’s Washington Times – a headline: “Ads target Republican holdouts on tax package” Report says TV commercials aired over the weekend in three cities in Maine and Ohio comparing two senators from those states to French President Jacques Chirac “because they do not support President Bush’s $550 billion tax cut.” The ads, placed by a conservative pro-economic growth group called The Club for Growth, target Snowe and Voinovich The Times report said the TV spots “compare the senators’ lack of support for the full Bush tax cut to France’s opposition to the war in Iraq.” A Snowe spokesperson said the ad campaign offends many Maine residents because about a third of the state’s population is of French-Canadian descent and noted that the head of the state Republican Party “quickly denounced the ad campaign.” (Iowa Pres Watch Note: An interesting development – the Times coverage twice refers to the president’s tax cut as a $550 billion package. His original request was for $726 billion – which was approved by the House – but the Senate, primarily due to opposition by Snowe and Voinovich, accepted a $350 billion level. Last week, GWB called for quick consideration of the $550 billion proposed compromise when Congress returns to work next week.)

IOWA ISSUES: 

… Headline from yesterday’s Des Moines Sunday Register: “Sweeping proposals in doubt as session nears end…Pledges to create a growth fund and to overhaul the tax system could fail in the final two weeks.” Staff writer Jonathan Roos reports: “The bold changes Gov. Tom Vilsack and legislative leaders promised Iowans in January to spark a sluggish state economy could fizzle as lawmakers near the end of the 2003 session in two weeks. Vilsack’s top priority, a massive new economic development fund intended to fuel growth, hangs in the balance. So do legislative leaders’ plans to make historic changes in two of the state’s biggest and most confusing taxes: income and property taxes.”  

… Quad-City Times reported Sunday that the Iowa House Ways and Means Committee is expected to consider legislation this week aimed at encouraging the construction of more wind turbines in the state. The bill – approved last week by the Senate Ways and Means panel – would give owners of new wind turbines a 1-cent tax credit for each kilowatt-hour they produce and sell. The tax credit would apply to turbines placed in operation between 7/1/04 and 6/30/09. 

OPINIONS:  

… Today’s Des Moines Register editorial, headline: “Don’t blame schools, don’t blame teachers…The achievement gap must be closed, but educators cannot do it alone.” Excerpt: “Still the federal government has chosen to blame the schools. It has imposed a costly, unrealistic, punitive No Child Left Behind Act.” 

… Des Moines Sunday Register editorial from yesterday: “Skip politics – make mergers easier…Lawmakers should resist temptation to create obstacles to city-county consolidation.” 

… Letter to the editor – headline, “War politics” – from yesterday’s Des Moines Sunday Register: “The GOP is doing its best to make hay while the sun shines. They recall how President Bush Sr. failed to ride the bubble of positive publicity after the Gulf War. Once our troops are home and people consider how their pocketbooks are faring, the GOP will experience their own form of shock and awe in 2004.” – Richard Johnson, Burlington. 

IOWA SPORTS: 

… News reports (especially from Des Moines Register and WHO-TV, Des Moines) this morning indicate that Drake University will name University of Nebraska assistant Amy Stephens as new women’s basketball head coach today. She’s also a former Iowa State assistant (1992-94) and compiled a 197-43 record during eight years as head coach at Division II Nebraska-Kearney. Stephens also ranks third on the University of Nebraska’s all-time scoring list.  

… Olympic high jumpers Amy Acuff and Karol Rovelto will meet in a special invitational event at next weekend’s Drake Relays in Des Moines. Acuff is a two-time Olympian and a three-time U. S. outdoor champion, while Rovelto was a member of the 2000 American Olympic team after winning the U. S. trials. Meanwhile, Relays officials have issued their annual warning the event’s string of consecutive Saturday sellouts is in jeopardy. They said that several hundred Saturday tickets in the 18,000-seat stadium have not been sold, which could end the streak of 37 consecutive Saturday sellouts – the world record for track and field events.  

IOWA WEATHER: 

5 a.m. 47, overcast. Strange morning with a 5-degree temperature range across state – from 43 in several western/northern locations to 47 in the east and southeastern sections. High today 62, cloudy. Low tonight 35, clear. High Tuesday 65, sunny. From WHO-TV meteorologist Brandon Thomas: “Sunny on Tuesday, with highs in the low/mid sixties. Partly sunny on Wednesday, with highs in the mid/high sixties. A good chance of rain/t’storms on Thursday, with highs back in the mid/upper fifties. A few showers in the morning on Friday, with highs in the afternoon in the low sixties.” 

IOWAISMS: 

… One of central IA’s most popular weekend events and pres wannabe magnets – Des Moines’ Downtown Farmers Market – will open on 5/10 and continue on succeeding Saturdays throughout the summer, until 10/25. Organizers for the market – located in the Court Avenue district downtown – say early-season growers will offer asparagus, morel mushrooms, rhubarb, radishes in addition to prepared foods and bakery goods.

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