Tuesday, March 11, 2003

GENERAL: Basic calm returns to Iowa. Weather improving and after a frenzy of four Dem candidates in Iowa over the weekend, the state – and headlines – are returning to somewhat normal mode…WHO-TV reports it’s been over a week since Des Moines’ temperatures above freezing, but will hit a high in the mid-40s today…Headline across top of Des Moines Register opinion page this morning: “Don’t go to war without U. N. backing” Subhead – “The U. S. has the power to act alone against Iraq. Does it have the wisdom not to?”…Print columnists star today: Des Moines Register’s David Yepsen writes about possibility date for Iowa caucuses will have to be moved up (see below)…Register’s Marc Hansen headline: “Behind coach’s story is a parent’s tale of tragedy” experienced by former ISU assistance basketball coach Randy Brown, who is scheduled for a federal court hearing in DSM today…And, from veteran columnist Bill Wundram in the Quad-City Times – “A 2 a.m. Monday, in the dark of a single candle, 20 of the faithful – from all around the world – gathered to say happy 100^th birthday to our most noted native son. The hour of 2 a.m. was important. It was the precise moment when, a century ago…[jazz legend] Bix Beiderbecke had been born.”

CANDIDATES/CAUCUS: Headline on David Yepsen column in this morning’s Des Moines Register: “First-in-nation caucus will be Jan.??, 2004” Writes about efforts in other states, especially Michigan, to move nominating process ahead and the impact of those actions. Yepsen advises Iowa Dem county chairs booking caucus sites to reserve 1/12 date along with 1/19, adding, “It’s possible the date will have to be changed, as was done four years ago.” …The hospital ward roll call for Dem presidential candidates and prospects grows again. WDEL Radio (Dover, Delaware) reports Biden is “on the mend after having his gall bladder removed.” Report says surgery was Sunday and Biden is expected to remain in Florida, where he was spending weekend with wife and daughter, for “a day or two” to rest and recover. Biden, who’s still a prospective Dem candidate, is third to experience surgery in recent weeks – Kerry has returned to campaign trail (including DSM stop last weekend) and Graham is awaiting medical clearance to begin active campaigning…Another unannounced potential wannabe – Hart – surfaced twice on CNN yesterday to dismiss the Iraq war intentions as a “sideshow.” He claims the administration has “not connected Iraq to terrorism.” On “Inside Politics,” Hart said his timetable – originally set for March – to decide whether to enter the Dem presidential fray has “slipped a month or so” because of the Iraq war possibilities. Instead of making a decision, Hart will undertake an exploratory effort – but added that he had been “saying things differently” than the other candidates. …Gephardt gets solid media run out of Sunday visit to western Iowa with several Iowa TV and radio stations still carrying coverage of his comments through yesterday’s noon newscasts. The most recent coverage: Gephardt saying U. S. should not surrender national security decisions to the United Nations, adding he wants “the United Nations with us” but not making final calls. (Iowa Pres Watch Note: Gephardt media coverage superior to any other Dem wannabes in Iowa so far – significant Sunday and Sunday night broadcast coverage into Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota, big Monday morning print play, and exceptional “carryover” coverage into Monday. Could it be Gephardt – who prevailed in the 1988 Iowa caucuses during earlier presidential run – understands the Iowa media game better than his inexperienced rivals?) … Leftovers: From Chicago Tribune’s Jeff Zeleny report on Gephardt campaign stop Sunday in Sioux City – “Democratic presidential hopefuls remain divided on Iraq. Perhaps no candidate has faced sharper criticism from anti-war Democrats than Gephardt…Democrats from the Woodbury County Truman Club relentlessly challenged Gephardt. ‘What bothers the most is that I see us being the world’s bully. It’s our way or the highway,” said Karen Kenter-Blumberg of Sioux City, speaking loudly to Gephardt.” …Another leftover: A report by the Chicago Tribune’s Dan Mihalopoulos from New York City: “In her first campaign stop here since formally joining the Democratic presidential field, former U. S. Sen. Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois emphasized her staunchly liberal positions on criminal justice issues Sunday at the renowned Riverside Church. ‘It is an oxymoron to say criminal justice with the system we have today,” Braun told about 40 people…”

IOWA POLITICS: Responding to Harkin’s comments over the weekend he was fooled by the Bush administration when he supported the Iraq resolution last fall, KWKY (Des Moines) talk show host Bill Salier said the reality is Harkin “fooled enough Iowans to regain election” for another six-year term. Salier, an unsuccessful candidate for the GOP Senate nomination last year, said Iowans should figure out the Dem senator returns to Iowa “every six years to create a new Tom Harkin.”

MORNING SUMMARY: Top national headlines – Des Moines Register, Omaha World-Herald online, Sioux City Journal online, Daily Iowan (University of Iowa) online, Chicago Tribune online – all focus on United Nations resolution, anticipated opposition from France, Russia…QCTimes.com online (Quad-City Times) top national headline: “Al-Qaida says it will attack U. S. if Iraq war breaks out”…Columbia shuttle astronaut Dr. Laurel Clark, an Ames native, was laid to rest with full military honors yesterday at Arlington National Cemetery. Reports indicated Clark, who died 2/1 with six others when the shuttle broke into pieces, was buried just feet from crew members of the space shuttle Challenger…Mason City Globe Gazette reports this morning that excavation for a $60 million ethanol plant in Worth County  (Hanlontown) will begin 4/1…A MN beef company – P. M. Windom -- has recalled 1,100 pounds of meat that may have been contaminated with E. coli bacteria. It was distributed to wholesalers in IA, IL, MN, WI…Farmers getting concerned about fuel price increases as planting season approaches…Investigation continues into fire that destroyed popular northeast Iowa ballroom – Matters, just north of Decorah – destroyed yesterday, despite efforts by several area fire departments …Electrical problems apparently caused a disruption in operations yesterday at the Iowa Bioprocessing Center in Eddyville. The Cargill-operated corn processing facility usually processes 350-500 truckloads daily. Officials reported about 75 truckloads were in line to be unloaded when the shutdown occurred. UPDATE: Reports this morning the facility is open and operating…This has little to do with the Dem presidential derby – unless one of the candidates is crazy enough to solicit CA Gov. Gray Davis’ endorsement – and even less to do with the Iowa caucuses, but the news is irresistible: The Los Angeles Times poll shows Davis’ popularity has dropped to lowest of his governorship, just 27%. A whopping 64% disapprove of the job he’s doing – and likely to grow as California gas prices hit all-time highs.

WAR/TERRORISM: Several reports Pakistan will abstain on U. N. Security Council vote on resolution setting 3/17 Iraq deadline. U. N. vote on the Iraq resolution not expected until tomorrow, but France and Russia indicating they will vote no…Des Moines Register reports today that “some Iowa peace activists” are planning nonviolent protests if the U. S. invades Iraq…KCAU-TV (Sioux City) reports: “A Siouxland Red Cross spokesperson said that you just never know where a terrorist attack might happen, so Siouxlanders should prepare the same way as they would on a coast.” Reports that one day care provider in area has already made plans with parents in case of attack and has stocked extra food…Also from KCAU-TV online: A promo for the 273 model NBC – Nuclear, Biological, Chemical – “protection shelter system for your family’s safety.” It says: “Do not rely on plastic sheet and tape to protect your family” when the NBC system provides an “air tight structure with radiation resistance.” Available for $7,500.00 FOB, which includes air filtration unit. (To check it out: www.kcautv.com)

(RADICAL) WEBSITE OF THE WEEK: There’s no contest for this week’s choice. It’s MoveOn.org – a site that’s likely to be a frequent “(radical) website of the week” recipient between now and the Iowa caucuses. MoveOn.org was created to fight the Clinton impeachment, but since then has branched out into other areas – primarily to oppose the policies of the Bush presidency. The group’s latest newsmaking exercise came yesterday – showcasing actress-activist Jessica Lange outside the United Nations to render her anti-war rhetoric. (She also was scheduled to appear on CNN last night, but who cared – or watched?) Last week, MoveOn.org placed a quarter page anti-war ad in the Des Moines Register. This is a very activist, very anti-GWB group which, on its website, has a letter visitors can e-sign to oppose even consideration of a second U. N. resolution. MoveOn.org, which was a catalyst for the virtual march against an Iraq war, also has pre-prepared, anti-war posters that can be downloaded by site visitors.

(Iowa Pres Watch Note: Also on CNN, Hollywood Reporter poll indicated 44% might not go see an actor they disagree with – but Lange undeterred. Even CNN anchor Fredricka Whitfield noted Lange, who said she was speaking as a Midwestern mother – not an actress—was “not deterred by the talk of possibly being blacklisted as an actor by taking a very political stance against the Bush administration’s wishes of a possible war…”? So, the Iowa Pres Watch question of the morning is this – how many other Midwestern mothers can go to the U. N. and get coverage on CNN?)

FEDERAL ISSUES: Senate opens debate on legislation (S.3) – sponsored by PA GOP Sen. Santorum – to prohibit “partial-birth” abortions…Re the Estrada Senate filibuster stalemate: In Wall Street Journal, GA Dem Sen. Zell Miller wrote yesterday in an op-ed that Senate is “the only place I know where 59 votes out of 100 cannot pass anything because 41 votes out of 100 can defeat it.” Interesting info from Miller essay: In 1995, Dem Sens. Harkin and Lieberman “introduced a rule change that I believe is the best that’s been proposed. It still kept 60 votes on the initial cloture vote, but decreased it by three votes with each of the next three cloture attempts until finally it got down to a majority of 51. They argued, logically I believe, that it would preserve the Senate tradition while still giving the minority plenty of time to plead its case without blocking the majority forever.”

STATE ISSUES: Several hundred Iowa credit union members converged on the Statehouse yesterday to oppose a proposed 5% tax increase. Iowa Credit Union League has another full-page ad in today’s DSM Register, headline: “A tax increase on credit unions is a tax on Iowans.”…GOP state Rep. Dan Boddicker (Tipton, representing Cedar, Muscatine and Johnson counties) was guest on WHO Radio’s Mickelson talk show yesterday to encourage support for the controversial “live-in boyfriend bill” now before legislature. Under the proposal, judges in joint or sole child custody cases could consider cohabitation as “a substantial change in circumstances and a basis for modification of the custody order.” Boddicker said: “When in doubt, keep the boyfriends out.” On another issue, he said the new state collective bargaining agreement that extends benefits to domestic partners is “outrageous.” Boddicker said it would be fruitless to try to change either the collective bargaining law or the domestic partners benefit provision as long as Vilsack is governor – since Vilsack would have to sign the legislation…WHO-TV (Des Moines) report: Democrat leaders in Iowa Legislature would like to consider a tax on Internet sales, but Republicans reluctant to raise taxes.

SPORTS:  Winners (and advancing) from yesterday’s girls state basketball tournament: Class 1-A – Second-ranked Keokuk Cardinal Stritch, No. 1 Rock Valley, No. 9 SMCT of Sheffield, No. 6 Rockwell City-Lytton. Class 4-A – No. 1 West Des Moines Dowling, Muscatine…The Iowa State women’s basketball team opens play in the Big 12 Conference tournament at 11 a.m. today at Reunion Arena in Dallas. Cyclones (12-15) face Kansas (10-17) – a team ISU defeated 69-44 in regular season game last Wednesday …Former Iowa State assistant basketball coach Randy Brown, who has been charged with possession of possessing child pornography and obstruction of justice, is scheduled for initial federal court appearance today. Brown, a Fort Dodge native, resigned his ISU job last week after the charges were filed.

WEATHER:  DSM 5 a.m. 18 with 6-degree wind chill…Temps range from 30 in Council Bluffs to 10 in Iowa City. Most wind chills above zero in single digits and teens… High today: 45. Low tonight: 28. High Wednesday: 48. Highs for Friday-Sunday in 60s…. WHO-TV meteorologist Brandon Thomas comments: “Mostly sunny Thursday afternoon, with highs in the mid/upper fifties. Sunny on Friday, with highs in the low sixties. It’s about time!”

IOWAISMS: West Des Moines voters go to the polls today to decide what to do with Valley High School. The school district is seeking approval of a referendum to build a new $65 million school, but opponents favor renovating the current Valley building for about $30 million…Report on WHO Radio yesterday indicated farmland values in state are up 4.9% for past six months (and 8.2% for the year) with strongest areas in NE and SW Iowa. Price for agricultural land: $2,629 an acre – almost equaling the high land values seen in the early 1980s. …. Iowa’s metro areas could be growing this spring. The federal government, using latest census figures, will announce new definitions of metropolitan areas this spring. Five areas – Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Sioux City, Waterloo and Iowa City – could add more counties to their metro regions.

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