Monday, March 3, 2003

GENERAL: Fairly quiet news Monday…War possibilities continue to dominate – and overshadow – caucus interest and activities, not to mention there’s still months to go until the actual caucuses. Already, however, indications are this won’t be a typical pre-caucus period – primarily because the candidates are starting Iowa campaigns while the prospect of war looms. Vietnam was a dominant issue in the ’72 Democratic caucuses, but the surrounding debate had been going on for years by then. The Gulf War was in a post-operation mode by ‘92, and the economy and taxes became central issues. This year is different: Dem candidates, and activists, are going into the caucus campaigns with the possibility of a war between now and when they will gather in Iowa precincts on a chilly night next January.

CANDIDATES/CAUCUS: Leftovers from yesterday – the Des Moines Sunday Register had a chart outlining the positions of the first eight Dem candidates (Graham not included) re the Iraq situation. In response to the question “Do you think the U. N. weapons inspections have been effective?” the response – on a 4-4 division -- was predictable. The “YES” respondents: Dean, Kucinich, Moseley-Braun, Sharpton. The “NO” responses: Edwards, Gephardt. Kerry, Lieberman. Edwards was quoted as saying, “Their overall effectiveness has been undermined by the refusal of the Iraqis to cooperate.”

IOWA POLITICS: Des Moines Register columnist Borsellino reports Iowa First Lady will host spouses of the other 49 governors for four days in May…Former Congressman Greg Ganske, Des Moines, is airing spots on WHO Radio giving notice of his return to private medical practice. Ganske, defeated in U. S. Senate bid by Harkin last November, is a plastic surgeon.

MORNING SUMMARY: Online editions of Sioux City Journal and Chicago Tribune have similar top stories: Journal – “U. S. officials working against clock to get information from Mohammed” Tribune – “CIA Races Clock in Mohammed Questioning”…Des Moines Register’s top front page headline: “2 plans for postwar Iraq” – a Los Angeles Times story…Top online story on QCTimes.com (Quad-City Times): “Davenport home values are up; taxes could follow”

WAR/TERRORISM: Des Moines Register reports DSM lawyer – Joe Gunderson -- who chaired Bush’s Iowa 2000 campaign “defended the idea of a first-strike war on Iraq” during forum at Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ in Des Moines yesterday. About 150 attended…Two more Iowa Army Guard units activated: 234^th Signal Battalion – some 480 troops from units in Cedar Rapids, Marshalltown and Clinton. 3654^th Maintenance Company (about 230 soldiers) - units from Knoxville, Chariton and Oskaloosa. They report on Saturday.

OPINION: DSM Register editorial: “Don’t teach to the test…New federal mandates ignore music, art, social studies and critical-thinking skills.”

SPORTS: Rare day in IA with only one major college BB game yesterday – Iowa women (now 14-13) lose to No. 12 Purdue 78-68. Hawks now head to Big Ten Conference tournament vs. Northwestern on Thursday afternoon…Men’s basketball tonight: Bradley at Drake, Northern Iowa at Southwest Missouri State…Grand View College (Des Moines) women’s basketball team hosts St. Ambrose (Davenport) tonight in Midwest Classic Conference championship game. Winner goes to NAIA national tournament in Sioux City.

WEATHER: DSM 5 a.m.18, light snow, wind chill 4 degrees… Temps across IA in teens and 20s with light snow reported in several locations, coldest wind chill in Estherville (-4), but most wind chills in single digits and lower teens …High today 40. Low tonight 20. High Tuesday 25. Snow likely tomorrow.

IOWAISMS: It’s Severe Weather Awareness Week, which has little to do with the actual Iowa caucuses – since they would more likely be disrupted by a January blizzard – but the spring-summer storm season and tornadoes can interfere with campaign plans, schedules and events. The severe weather season also promises some new, interesting adventures for Wabbits (and campaign staffers) not familiar with tornadoes – as the skies darken, Iowans (despite warning sirens and “seek shelter” broadcast warnings) go outside to watch for the funnel clouds, radio stations go to wall-to-wall coverage of “watches” and “warnings,” sirens blare every few minutes, and TV stations interrupt soap operas to pinpoint the storm activity on radar. Don’t miss storm and tornado coverage on WHO Radio – which has something of a tradition of inviting regular Iowans to call in to report what’s happening along the storm path. It’s one of those only-in-Iowa listening opportunities.

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