GENERAL NEWS:                                                                            Tuesday, April 29, 2003

… Among the offerings in this morning’s update: Kerry campaign jumps on Dean after former Vermont Guv quoted as saying U.S. must prepare for time it “won’t always have the strongest military.”…Poll: Bush leads Edwards in North Carolina – the state Edwards allegedly represents in the U.S. Senate…During first IA visit, Graham shows he’s lost a step – misrepresents voting records of other Dem senator-wannabes on tax cut plan…Washington Times’ Donald Lambro writes about the “invisible primary” so far… Vilsack says he’s “disappointed” in the highest paid state employee – Iowa State basketball coach Larry Eustachy – after DSM Register published photos of Eustachy at campus party after loss to Missouri…Overnight: A 4.5 earthquake centered in Ft. Payne, AL shakes up southeast U.S. early this morning, no major damage reported yet… If Drudge Report list of stations televising first Dem debate is right, a lot of Iowans – especially in Dem-rich eastern IA – will miss it… Sharpton finally files FEC quarterly report, trails Edwards by approximately $7,285,544…Edwards says most New Hampshire voters are concerned about economy – which, ironically, reflects his campaign priority…Ames officials investigating high school stunt that resulted in injury to rooster in hallways…Hillary book, audio – “Living History” -- due out 6/9…Dean says the war issue has “permanently separated” him from the other top-tier wannabes…IA Congressman King expects the president to fight for tax cuts and said he believes GWB learned lesson from his father about political capital – “use it or lose it.” All these stories below and more. 

… From this morning’s Des Moines Register front page: Duffy cartoon shows a guillotine with “TAX CUT FIGHT” written on the blade. Grassley’s head in the guillotine with Nussle holding release rope to the blade – saying, “OFF WITH HIS HEAD!”…”Coach: Drinking played a role in behavior…ISU’s Eustachy apologizes to fans, state for campus reveling” Register also editorializes that Eustachy “has to go.” (More on Eustachy below.)…”Senators roll out final offer…Gov. Vilsack says Republicans’ proposals on economic development are insufficient.”…”Patch plans to stay on board in D.M.” Jim Patch plans to stay on DSM school board despite calls for his resignation by several community groups, including the NAACP. He’s been criticized for implying that poor and minority students should aspire only to blue-collar jobs. Letter to editor from Patch in today’s Register says he did “not express myself carefully” when he made the comments. 

… From yesterday’s Rob Borsellino column in the Des Moines Register: “Nan Stillians has a new cause. She’s trying to get folks to boycott companies that advertise on Jan Mickelson’s radio show on WHO. Mickelson’s recent rant against gays – and against Roosevelt High School for allowing a gay-friendly club to meet there – got Stillians all worked up. She also wants folks to monitor the show because ‘if he knows he is being monitored Mickelson will tone it down.’ Encouraging more people to listen to the show? I know Mickelson, and I don’t think that’ll shut him up.” It didn’t take long for the anti-Mickelson crowd to get rolling. On yesterday’s program during a discussion on terrorism and militant groups, a caller told Mickelson he is “a present danger in our community” for making his comments about the “Day of Silence” at Roosevelt.

CANDIDATES & CAUCUSES: 

… Graham still has Iowa presidential territory to himself, expected to meet with Guv Vilsack and Dem legislative leaders today. 

… Donald Lambro reported in yesterday’s Washington Times – under the headline, “War gives Democrats ‘invisible primary’ – that the “Democratic presidential contest – so eclipsed by the U.S. war in Iraq that few Democrats can name any of their candidates – is being called the ‘invisible primary.’” Excerpts: “Interviews with Democratic officials confirmed that after several months of campaigning in the early primary states around the country, the contenders and their issues have received relatively little public attention on the national stage…There seems to be a growing consensus among party strategists who have not endorsed any of the candidates that Mr. Kerry is the clear front-runner, with Mr. Gephardt, Mr. Lieberman and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean battling it out for second place. Despite having raised more money than any of his rivals, Mr. Edwards’ campaign has not caught on and his recognition remains in the low single digits in the early primary states of Iowa and New Hampshire.”  

… The on-going – and escalating – two-wannabe feud between Dean and Kerry moved to national defense issues yesterday after a Time magazine report quoted Dean as saying the U.S. should be planning for a time when its not the world’s greatest superpower. The Time article by Karen Tumulty quoted Dean as saying – while campaigning at a Stonyfield yogurt factory in New Hampshire two weeks ago – that: “We have to take a different approach [to diplomacy]. We won’t always have the strongest military.” That was enough to give Team Kerry an opening to go after Dean again – as the two New Englanders battle over New Hampshire primary voters. Associated Press coverage reported that Kerry’s campaign questioned Dean’s “capacity to lead the U.S. military in a sign of escalating tension” in the party’s race for the White House. Quad-City Times, in report by Ed Tibbetts this morning -- Kerry campaign spokesman Chris Lehane said: “Howard Dean’s stated belief that the United States won’t always have the strongest military raises serious questions about his capacity to serve as commander in chief. No serious candidate for the presidency has ever before suggested that he would compromise or tolerate an erosion of America’s military supremacy.” According to polls, the two wannabes are locked in a tight contest in New Hampshire – a state that borders their home states.

… Headline on poll in News & Observer of Raleigh online: “Uphill battle in his home state” which reported that Edwards would lose to GWB if the election were held now in North Carolina. The poll indicated that Bush would have a 58-39 win over Edwards. The News & Observer’s Washington correspondent, John Wagner, reported the “19-point margin is the largest since Edwards entered the race four months ago.” Wagner also wrote that the survey “showed a growing interest” in Dem wannabe Kerry among North Carolina voters. Edwards retained his home state dominance – 43% support for the Dem nomination, although that’s a drop from 51% in January. Kerry, on the other hand, had a 23% showing in the April poll – up 9% from the January sampling. All the other Democrats seeking the Dem nomination are in single digits in North Carolina – Lieberman 9%, Gephardt and Dean 7%, and Sharpton 6%. The rest did not even register 1% in the survey. (Iowa Pres Watch Note: Another possibility -- The North Carolina primary isn’t scheduled for more than a year – May 2004 – and Edwards and Kerry may be well-burnt political toast by then.)

… Drudge Report yesterday reported that more than 35 ABC television stations will carry the SC Dem wannabe debate after the “late news” on Saturday night – but, given the Drudge list, not all IA Dems will see it. On the list Drudge said ABC provided: WOI (Des Moines-Ames), WQAD (Quad-Cities, Davenport and Bettendorf), KCAU (Sioux City) and KTVO (Ottumwa-Kirksville, MO) are scheduled to show debate after the late news. Most prominent among the missing TV stations so far – KCRG (Cedar Rapids) and KETV (Omaha, which serves Council Bluffs and southwest IA) along with Austin (MN) and Sioux Falls (SD) stations that serve parts of Iowa TV market. Most of the stations showing the delayed debate telecast are in early caucus-primary states – but one station won’t broadcast it in a key political city: Washington, D. C. (Iowa Pres Watch Note: The pres watch encourages all ABC stations serving IA to broadcast the SC debate since it has to be better – and funnier – than Red Green show on Iowa Public Television or “Saturday Night Live” on NBC. Before the debate is over, pres watch expects Dean and Kerry to go two-out-of-three in arm wrestling competition.) 

… Too good – and too funny – to be true or ignored. During first visit to IA, Graham yesterday accused other senator-wannabes of voting for a tax cut proposal they opposed. Coverage by AP resident caucus-watcher Mike Glover: “Florida Sen. Bob Graham, in his first visit to the state that launches the presidential nominating season, attacked three Democratic rivals on Monday, claiming they backed a $350 billion tax cut. All three, however, actually voted against the tax cut. Graham, a moderate, was asked how he would distinguish himself from other moderates seeking the Democratic nomination, and he quickly seized on the tax cut. ‘I voted against any tax cut,’ Graham said. ‘It’s irresponsible to be cutting taxes at a time that you’re facing record deficits and a war of undetermined cost.” Graham pointed to North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman and Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry…However, on final passage, Georgia Sen. Zen Miller was the only Democrat that voted in favor of the budget that includes $350 billion in tax cuts.” (Iowa Pres Watch Note: Graham – obviously – has missed an important Iowa Caucus 101 lesson. This is Iowa – not Florida – where election outcomes are recorded correctly and mean something, politicians are held accountable and ridiculed for their missteps, and political has-beens are retired to the nearest pasture. A mistake like this will haunt Graham for months to come – like until next January – in Iowa, and may jeopardize Graham’s vice presidential aspirations.)         

… Although the first-quarter financial reports were due on 4/15, Sharpton finally got around to filing with the FEC yesterday – leaving little doubt about why he was reluctant to submit the report earlier. He only raised $114,456 – leaving him about $7.3 million behind Edwards. Sharpton’s glass, however, is almost half full since he ended up eighth among the nine Dem candidates on the first-quarter fundraising list. Carol Moseley Braun saved Sharpton from being last on the Dem’s fundraising list – since she raised only $72,430 for the first quarter. 

… Few Hampshire media outlets yesterday carried Edwards’ comments from his weekend trip to the state. Edwards said “most of the voters he approached listed the economy as their top concern, which fit with the main message of his visit: President Bush is mismanaging the economy. ‘He’s dealing with serious economic problems by pushing budget-busting tax cuts for the richest people in the country,’ Edwards said.” The AP reported that Edwards said he would “cut taxes for the middle class, while sending $50 billion more to the states to increase jobs, boost homeland security and Medicaid, and meet the federal government’s obligation to fund its education mandates.” 

… Speaking of New Hampshire, a political headline from yesterday’s Union Leader: “Dean sees war as defining campaign events” The report, however, was coverage of Dean’s three-day campaign swing through eastern Iowa during the weekend. AP’s Glover interviewed Dean in Tipton: “In recent weeks, Dean has gotten heavy attention because he’s been among the leading Democrats opposing President Bush’s Iraq policies. Some have argued that an early end to hostilities and a quick ousting of Saddam Hussein would discredit critics of the war. Dean rejected that argument. ‘People asked me in the beginning that if the war went well would my candidacy be hurt because I’ve done so well because of the war,’ he said. …Dean said his views separated him from the other top-tier Democrat candidates. ‘I think I’m personally separated from the other four folks, the leading contenders, by these issues.” 

… Several DC media outlets – and the Memphis (TN) Commercial Appeal  -- report that Congressman Harold Ford Jr. has endorsed Kerry. This is a big deal since Kerry not only gets Jr. – but former Congressman Harold Ford Sr. has signed on too. That gives Kerry access to the Ford organizational and fundraising operations in TN. In his endorsement statement, the younger Ford said Kerry is “the Democrats’ best chance to win the White House.” 

… Mark June 9 on the campaign calendar. That’s the day both the printed and audio versions of Hillary’s long-awaited book – her “complete and candid account” of her White House days for which she got an $8 million advance from Simon & Schuster – is scheduled to hit the market. The 576-page book is titled, “Living History” and – according to amazon.com – the list price will be $28.  Drudge Report does comparison – showing Hillary’s “Living History” title and Katherine Graham’s “Personal History” title.  

IOWA POLITICS: 

… IA GOP Congressman King on Mickelson radio talk show (WHO, Des Moines /WMT, Cedar Rapids) yesterday sidestepped discussing Newt Gingrich’s criticism of State Department – but said he has “questions about some” of State’s actions. He said the U.S. position on the Iraqi war was diluted by efforts to seek a second United Nations resolution. King’s formula for an economic package – cut the budget, cut taxes and “cut our own expense accounts.” He said a 1% budget cut over the next five years would balance the budget, but he’d also take a hard look at homeland security costs. King said he believes several non-security items have been inserted into the homeland protection appropriation and “significant cuts” could be made in that area. Another concern: King indicated he has some concerns about the current Cuban policy and what kind of “contingency plan” the U.S. has for dealing with Cuba in the future. Other issues: King, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, said he “doesn’t have a lot of sympathy” for extending the assault weapons ban that’s scheduled to “sunset” next year… The GOP congressman said he is “very confident” that a tax cut of at least $350 billion will be approved – but he’d like to see a bigger cut and supports Bush’s efforts to increase the tax cut levels. King added he’s also “very confident” that Grassley supports the $550 billion compromise – but that he encountered the “political reality” that two GOP sens would not vote for more tax cuts… In response to question from Mickelson about the president’s political capital, King said, “When it comes to political capital, I think the president learned something from his father – use it or lose it.” He said be believes Bush, as he did during last year’s off-year elections, will put it “on the line” to push for increased tax cut package. 

MORNING SUMMARY:    

… Morning headlines:

Des Moines Register top front-page headline: Register front-page headlines above in “General” section.

Quad-City Times, online headline: Local – “Aid cutback could cost Davenport jobs” Report on impact of state budget cuts on city – Davenport lost $1.7 million when legislature reduced assistance to municipalities. World – “WHO declares SARS contained in Vietnam”

Daily Iowan (University of Iowa) main national headline: “SARS abating in some places” 

Top online headlines, Sioux City Journal: State – “Senate leaders suggest smaller Iowa Values Fund” World – “Iraqi delegates agree to meet again”

Chicago Tribune national online headline: “Former Iraqi Oil Minister Surrenders” 

Omaha World-Herald online national headline: “Iraqis begin to forge new leadership” 

… School administrators and law enforcement officials in Ames are continuing investigation into how a rooster was injured during an apparent student stunt last week at Ames High School. KCCI-TV (Des Moines) said the bird reportedly was let loose with two hens in the halls of the high school as part of what students call a “senior prank.” The KCCI report said the situation “got out of hand when the chickens started getting kicked and injured.”    

WAR & TERRORISM: 

… From the Korean front – again. VOANews (Voice of America) headline: “N. Korea Evades Questions Concerning Nuclear Program” Report yesterday from VOA’s Kurt Achin: “North Korea has again evaded questions about its nuclear weapons program at a meeting with South Korean officials, and instead sought more economic aid from Seoul. So far, the inter-Korean talks have made no progress in defusing tensions on the Korean Peninsula.”

… Also from VOANews: “Castro Strikes Defiant Tone Toward US Criticism” Coverage: “Tensions between the United States and Cuba are at their highest level in nearly a decade. The Bush administration has blasted Cuba’s crackdown on internal dissent, while Cuba has accused the United States of meddling in its internal affairs and provoking conflict that could lead to war between the two nations. Some observers are wondering whether Cuba may be preparing to unleash a mass exodus of asylum-seekers into the Florida Straits.” 

FEDERAL ISSUES:  

… IA Sen Grassley was one of three senators calling for congressional hearings into the arrests of a former FBI counterintelligence agent and an alleged Chinese double agent. In a letter to Judiciary Chairman Hatch, the senators said hearings should be convened as soon as possible into the case involving former FBI agent James J. Smith and Katrina Leung, who has been charged with bring a double agent for the Chinese – and also was Smith’s longtime lover. Grassley, VT Dem Sen Leahy and PA GOP Sen Specter said yesterday the hearings were necessary to “examine whether there are larger security issues that continue to persist” from the Smith-Leung case. Over the weekend, Lieberman urged a Justice Department and FBI investigation into whether any of Leung’s contributions to Republican campaigns came from the Chinese government.

IOWA ISSUES: 

… Dispute between state and Iowa’s racetrack casinos goes before the U.S. Supreme Court today. At stake: More than $112 million in Iowa casino taxes. Racetrack casinos arguing they should not be taxed at a higher rate than the state’s riverboat casinos. 

… Indianola authorities not releasing victim’s name or much other information about a shooting that occurred yesterday morning at Qwest service building on East Iowa Ave. in the city. 

… Talk show host Mickelson sparked a political controversy yesterday by playing audiotape of Iowa City abortion provider offering advice to 13-year-old about how to get a judicial bypass to skirt state’s parental notification laws. Woman on phone also told the girl to “bring cash” so there would not be a “paper trail” created. Mickelson did not have time to expand on discussion, but indicated he will revisit the topic in a future show.  

OPINIONS:  

… This morning’s Des Moines Register editorials: “The Coach who let ISU down: Only one outcome is possible” Editorial about Iowa State basketball coach Eustachy partying with students in Missouri and says, “He has to go.” & “Ban swimming in the lakes…Closing the beaches might be an incentive to get the water cleaned up.” Says instead of banning swimming in lakes in eight state parks off-and-on through the summer when high fecal bacteria levels are found the state should shut them down. & “Sellout to gun-makers…It’s wrong to give them immunity that no other industry has.” Notes U.S. House has approved legislation giving gunmakers immunity – and the “Senate should have the sense to stop this bill – stop it cold.”

… Register political columnist David Yepsen, headline: “Legislature not done? Call a special session” Yepsen says legislature should be called back for a special session if lawmakers don’t complete work on priorities. Excerpt: “Special sessions do cost money, about $30,000 a day in salary and expenses. But if the work can’t be done now, it’s also a cheap price to pay for getting that four-legged stool build for Iowa.” 

IOWA SPORTS:  

… Vilsack said he was “disappointed” in Iowa State basketball coach Larry Eustachy – and expects Eustachy is disappointed in himself – after photos of him attending a campus party appeared in the Des Moines Register. State high school athletic officials told WHO Radio that it will be “harder for our coaches” to emphasize character issues after a photo was published on front page of yesterday’s Register – with four additional photos inside the paper. The photos of Eustachy appeared along with a Register copyright story about his activities at the party – hours after the Cyclones lost 64-59 to the Missouri Tigers in Columbia last January. The Register report said Eustachy told ISU officials he exercised “poor judgment” by attending the party in a student apartment. He is the state’s highest paid employee. 

IOWA WEATHER: 

DSM 5 a.m. 54 overcast. Temps across IA this morning mostly in upper 40s and lower 50s – 43 in Clinton to 57 in Red Oak. Today’s high 68, chance T-storms. Tonight’s low 52, showers & T-storms. Wednesday’s high 75, possibly severe storms. 

IOWAISMS: 

… Reports indicate that thousands of tulips will be in full bloom for one of Iowa’s premier spring events – the Pella Tulip Festival. The 68th festival begins Thursday and runs through Saturday with numerous activities, mostly tied to the community’s Dutch heritage. Two parades highlight the festival – one during the afternoons and a lighted evening parade that starts about 8:30 p.m. Also on the schedule: Dutch dancing and traditional street scrubbing before the parades.

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