Thursday, March 13, 2003

GENERAL: Dem presidential candidates aren’t the only ones trying to deceive and dazzle Iowans with well-rehearsed routines. Magician David Copperfield is scheduled into Des Moines for two shows on 3/20. In fact, the Copperfield show sounds a lot like a Dem wannabe news conference in Cedar Rapids or Ottumwa. Title for Copperfield’s show: “An Intimate Evening of Grand Illusion” …Overnight: Major sandstorms in Iraq region impeding military prep operations today…Note to Kerry schedulers: Try Emmetsburg. Pundits are starting to question Kerry’s apparent “scheduling conflict” that will keep him away from St. Patrick’s Day events in Boston next Monday – as if he and his staff didn’t know March 17 was St. Patrick’s Day. Some doubters suspect his anticipated absence due more to continuing questions about his ancestry and even more questionable Irish-American roots – primarily since it turned out his grandfather was Jewish after years of Kerry claiming, including a 1986 Senate speech, he was Irish-American. So, rather than go to Boston, try Emmetsburg – the self-described “Emerald Isle of Iowa” in NW part of the state. If you can’t get there, Des Moines has a pretty good St. Patrick’s Day parade too – starting at noon. By sunset, most participants will believe almost anything and anybody – even a Massachusetts senator…Iowa café coffee conversation today and question of the morning: Which is stranger -- the (now former) Iowa State assistant basketball coach indicted on child porn charges this week or the Des Moines community college president arrested yesterday on drug charges? Who has time to discuss Dem presidential candidates with all this – not to mention possible war and high school basketball tournaments – going on? (More below on community college president arrest.)

CANDIDATES/CAUCUS: Colorado went first and now at least four other states – Arizona, Kansas, Missouri, Utah – are studying proposals to cancel planned presidential primaries next year as cost-cutting moves that could save state taxpayers millions of dollars. GOP-controlled legislatures in the states, proposing less expensive caucuses replace the primaries, face opposition from Dems and in three of the states – AZ, KS, MO – Dem govs could veto the no-primary legislation. In Colorado, where the presidential primary was expected to cost $2.2M, the no-primary legislation became law last week…Hillary, Edwards and Lieberman voted for a provision to make contraceptives more available as Senate Dems continued efforts to whittle away at the “partial abortion” bill. Kerry did not vote on the amendment. Graham and Biden – both recovering from recent surgeries – were absent. The vote was 49-47, but failed to secure 60 votes necessary to waive Senate rules requiring a supermajority on proposals that would exceed the budget. Iowa’s senators split – Grassley “nay,” Harkin “yea.” The breakdown: 42 Dems, 6 GOPs and 1 Ind for with 44 GOPs and 3 Dems opposing. Senate vote on the bill – and anticipated passage – expected today…Graham, however, returned to the Senate yesterday afternoon at the urging of Dem Leader Daschle, who apparently wanted all hands on deck for a vote that was pushed by Harkin reaffirming Roe v. Wade  – which passed 52-46 with support of all four Dem senators seeking the presidential nomination. (Des Moines Register front page headline this morning: “Senate vote is small win for Roe backers…The amendment approved comes a day before an expected ban on ‘partial-birth’ abortion.”) It was first Senate vote for Graham – who flew in from FL to cast it -- since heart surgery.  Overall, Graham left after casting his vote, Kerry missed votes on three other amendments to the bill, Edwards left for a North Carolina campaign stop – but Lieberman made all the votes, although he was voting wrong… Edwards, proving he can find new ways to appeal to voters – even those not born yet – has proposed a $2,500 tax credit for parents who take time off work to care for newborns during a speech yesterday at George Washington University…Sen. Harkin has set specific dates for series of forums (now called, “Hear it from Heartland” forums) featuring Dem presidential candidates – 4/6 Edwards Des Moines, 5/17 Dean Davenport, 6/22 Kerry Mason City, 7/13 Gephardt Dubuque, 8/5 Sharpton Sioux City, and 9/21 Lieberman Sioux City. A drawing was held yesterday for latest entrants in the Dem presidential derby – Graham scheduled in Pottawattamie County (Council Bluffs) in June, Kucinich in Wapello County (Ottumwa) in July, Moseley (no hyphen) Braun in Black Hawk County (Waterloo-Cedar Falls) in August. Specific dates for the final three will be announced later.

MORNING SUMMARY: Morning headlines – Chicago Tribune online top headlines, “U. S. Determined on Iraq Vote This Week” and “France Opposes New U. K. Proposal on Iraq”…QCTimes.com (Quad-City Times) top headline: “Bush claims progress at U.N.”…Top headlines in Des Moines Register and Omaha World-Herald about “miracle” of finding Utah teen Elizabeth Smart alive…A central Iowa drug task force team, armed with a search warrant, entered the Johnston home (value: $304,320) – northwest of DSM -- of Dr. David Miller, the $183,750-a-year president of DMACC (Des Moines Area Community College) yesterday afternoon and arrested him on marijuana trafficking charges. Des Moines Register subhead: “Police say he was smoking marijuana when officers arrived” Agents claim they found nearly five pounds of packaged marijuana and more than 70 young plants in the basement. WHO Radio reports this morning Miller was being held in Polk County jail on $49,075 bond and that he has been suspended with pay from 13,000-student DMACC …Bosnians in Iowa react to Serbian prime minister assassination. Register reports “reaction mixed” in Waterloo…Dubuque Telegraph Herald headline: “Priests seek forgiveness… Archbishop Hanus apologizes for clergy who preyed upon children” Mary Nevans Pederson reports, “Hundreds of Catholic faithful filled the pews [at St. Raphael’s Cathedral in Dubuque Monday night] to hear a solemn message of anguish for sins committed and pain ignored.”…Stock market slump hurting endowment funds at Iowa’s major universities. Regents report indicates Iowa lost about $24 million, Iowa State about $15 million…CNN reports FDA will crackdown on bringing prescription drugs into the U. S., primarily from Canada… Omaha World-Herald headline: “Ag Expo visitors upbeat despite drought” Report says farmers attending the Triumph of Ag Expo in Omaha – which attracted 600 exhibitors – “still put on a pretty good face” despite drought, other farm concerns. Referring to the expo exhibits, one farmer said: “Whether we can afford it or not, we have to look at it.”

WAR/TERRORISM: Morning newscasts: Looks like United Nations may – finally—vote on second Iraq resolution tomorrow. (Iowa Pres Watch Note: In Iowa blue collar bars, the vote has been taken and the outcome is clear – let’s just get on with whatever we’ve going to do or not do. Forget the French and just do something. )…From Paul Harvey yesterday on the Iraq situation: “The longer it is delayed, the more costly it will be.” He expresses concern for U. S. military operating in extreme heat and weather conditions …VOANews (Voice of America) reports Tony Blair is warning of a dangerous division between Europe and U. S. over the Iraq crisis, continuing to urge France and Russia not to veto U. N. resolution. Blair said he believes “passionately that if we end up with Europe and America dividing apart, that will be very damaging for both of us and for the rest of the world.” Poll this week shows just 19% of Britons support going to war without U. N. support. Independent News reports at least 40 MPs call for Blair to resign…Blue Star Banners – issued to show support for loved ones deployed during World Wars I and II -- are making a patriotic comeback in the SW Iowa community of Treynor. KETV-TV (Omaha) reports Darray Tripp wanted to show support for son in Persian Gulf and put a banner on door of her hair salon, and now Roland Burger, a WW II veteran and Treynor Legion post commander, and Legion members are providing banners to area families…From letter to editor in the Iowa State Daily (Iowa State University, Ames), letter by Jennifer Folkerts – a senior in advertising – “Please support our military. They are fighting for all of us so that we can live in a safer nation.”… NewsMax.com launched its “Boycott France” campaign yesterday with a print ad in the Washington Times. In addition, NewsMax reports sending out “several million e-mails” urging Americans to join the France boycott.

FEDERAL ISSUES: DSM Register headline today on story by Washington Bureau’s Jane Norman: “Iowa’s Grassley sees merit in smaller tax-cut plan…A program half as large as the president’s would suffice, says the Finance Committee chairman.”… EPA administrator Christine Todd Whitman visited central Iowa yesterday, predicted her agency will win latest court challenges over new hog lot and animal confinement regulations. She notes “both sides” – Sierra Club on one side, American Farm Bureau on other – have filed lawsuits protesting the regs…Several media outlets report legislation to approve drilling in Alaska wildlife refuge only a vote or two short of passage, and measure could be taken up as early as next week. Vote-counters say 49 senators are committed and VP Cheney, who reportedly is working hard to secure 50^th vote, could cast the deciding vote if supporters can pick up one more vote. Unscientific, site visitor poll on TheIowaChannel.com (KCCI-TV, Des Moines) running 53%-47% for drilling with about 1,500 votes cast…Leftovers from yesterday: Register headline -- “Republicans must curb spending, Nussle says” Jane Norman reports Nussle, chair of the House Budget Committee, said Congress has been aggressive in cutting taxes, “but not as bold as we need to be on the spending side of the equation.”…Also from the Register’s Norman: “Harkin to examine drug plan…The Iowa senator wants to study the administration’s ‘enhanced Medicare’ plan.” Harkin says he is “not going to dismiss it out of hand.”

STATE ISSUES: Vilsack, citing impact on insurance premiums, restates concern about increasing speed limit from 65 mph to 70 mph on Iowa interstates…Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson reports Senate Republicans outlined a tax plan yesterday that would reduce tax burdens on Iowans by $250 million in five years – but also would raise some taxes. The proposal would raise the state sales tax by one-half cent, boost cigarette taxes by 25 cents a pack and utility taxes – which were scheduled to be eliminated – would remain status quo. The centerpiece of the proposal, however, would be a “flat tax” on income that would exclude some 80,000 “working class” Iowans from paying income taxes. Senate Dem Leader Gronstal called it a “Robin Hood in reverse” concept since state sales and cigarette taxes fall on the poor. Sales and cigarette taxes have not been increased in Iowa over the past decade… Meanwhile – and ironically – the state’s powerful seniors lobbying group, AARP, has launched an effort to put pressure on legislators to support a $1-per-pack cigarette tax increase to finance health care programs. AARP cites polling showing “nearly 60%” of Iowans favor cigarette tax increase…Radio Iowa also reports state DNR will conduct six workshops across Iowa this spring to discuss strategies aimed at preventing illegal dumping. DNR environmental specialist says the situation has gotten worse over past decade as cities added fees for hauling away items – especially tires, old appliances—which no longer can be taken to the landfills.

OPINION: Des Moines Register editorials – “Remember Afghanistan? The White House seems to have forgotten promises to rebuild the country.”…”Politicians practicing medicine” – comments on congressional “partial-birth” abortion debate. Key quote: “By banning any procedure, lawmakers are saying they know best how to treat patients and decide court cases. That’s not their job.”…”Welcome to Freedom City, Ia.” Says “it’s only a matter of time until…Iowa’s capital city has to be renamed. Des Moines, after all, derives from French. Freedom City, here we come. Of course, the French connection to Des Moines is a little remote. No one knows for sure where the words Des Moines came from or what they mean.”

COLUMN OF THE WEEK: “Some Democrats speaking with French tongues” Excerpts from Chicago Tribune – www.chicagotribune.com --John Kass column: 

“Frenchacrat. You like my new word? Thanks. I just made it up. We need something snappy to describe some Democrats who sound exactly like the French in opposing President Bush on driving Saddam Hussein and his weapons from Iraq.” Kass identified House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi as a “famous Frenchacrat” and continues, “Another leading Frenchacrat is Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, the South Dakota Democrat. He is now Tom Daschle (Frcrt-S. D.) In October, Daschle voted to authorize unilateral American force against Iraq if Hussein refused to disarm. Hussein continues to refuse. But now Daschle whines and forgets how he voted.”

SPORTS: Winners (and advancing) in girls state tournament action yesterday: Class 2-A:  Fourth-ranked Maquoketa Valley of Delhi, No. 2 Hudson, No. 5 Iowa City Regina, No. 1 Underwood – the four teams play next in semifinals Friday afternoon. Class 1-A (semifinals): No. 6 Rockwell-Lytton upsets No. 2 Keokuk Cardinal Stritch, No. 1 Rock Valley hammers SCMT (Sheffield). Class 1-A championship – Rockwell-Lytton vs. Rock Valley -- 7 p.m. Friday  … Tough decisions for IA basketball junkies today: At 11 a.m., Hawkeyes face Ohio State in opening round of Big Ten tournament in Chicago. At noon, Iowa State meets Texas A&M at Big 12 tournament in Dallas. Or, fans can attend the Class 4-A semi-final games – starting at 1 p.m. – at the girls basketball tournament in Des Moines, with Class 3-A semis tonight. The Missouri Valley Conference women’s basketball tournament also is in Des Moines (at Knapp Center on Drake campus), starting with a noon matchup between Indiana State and Wichita State. Northern Iowa meets Bradley at 2:30 p.m. and Drake vs. SW Missouri State at 8:30 p.m….Drake’s Carla Bennett becomes only third player in conference history as a four-time selection to the all-MVC women’s basketball team. Only Drake’s Wanda Ford and Jackie Stiles of SW Missouri St. have been four-year selections. Other honors: Iowa State guard Jake Sullivan named to third team all-Big 12 men’s team with center Jackson Vroman getting honorable mention. Iowa natives – and Kansas standpoints -- Kirk Hinrich and Nick Collision named to Big 12 first team. On the all-Big Ten team, Iowa’s Chauncey Leslie was a third team pick by the media.

WEATHER: Fog expected to cover most of state this morning as temps hover around freezing…DSM 5 a.m. right at 32, fog/mist, wind chill 23…Temperatures statewide range from mid-20s to mid-30s, wind chills upper teens to mid-20s…High today 45 with morning fog. Low tonight 35. High Friday 65. Chance of thunderstorms Sunday thru Tuesday, highs around 60.

IOWAISMS: The History Center in Cedar Rapids faces foreclosure. Mortgage lender gave the center until 4/5 to make back payments -- $80,000 – but officials believe they can come up with the bucks. The nonprofit center stopped making payments last year while trying to refinance debt of about $1.4 million…The World Pork Expo – which bills itself as the largest pork event in the world – will remain at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in DSM for the next two years. The event, which has rotated between Des Moines and Indianapolis in the past, will be June 5-7 this summer.

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