Thursday, March 6, 2003

GENERAL: Morning Weports getting overwhelming – and longer – but Iowa retains Political Clearinghouse status. (See Candy Crowley report below)…Candidates returning – Dean, Gephardt, Kerry, Kucinich all scheduled in IA this weekend – but Hillary continues to cast big shadow over the 2004 field. From Independent.co.uk this morning: “Hillary Clinton is emerging, among Democrats and political observers, as the favourite to be the candidate for the 2008 presidential race.” Will the Dems concede 2004 to clear way for Hillary’s 2008 run?...Iowa politicians and various interest groups trying to make news before the Dem presidential candidates move in and steal all the media thunder, before Iowa goes with usual wall-to-wall, the-candidates-are-everywhere news coverage. A lot going on in Iowa these days…Iowa City police are investigating reports about American flags being stolen from four local businesses. One local businessperson blamed anti-war activists, but authorities – who have some experience dealing with protestors at the University of Iowa – say anti-war activists usually leave a message… With another tournament coming to congest traffic in Des Moines, the Iowa Department of Transportation is running ads advising those planning to attend the girls state basketball tournament next week to visit special website – www.i235.com -- for road construction and routing information. Interstate 235, which cuts through the center of DSM and is the most direct route to Vets Auditorium, is undergoing a multi-year rebuilding and redesign.

CANDIDATES/CAUCUSES: Des Moines Register headline this morning: “D. C. primary date doesn’t daunt Democrats” Thomas Beaumont reports on Washington’s attempt to move caucus date to 1/13/04. Iowa Dem Chair Gordon Fischer says, “I just don’t think it’s going to come to that. The rules as written are crystal clear.”…State’s nurses and health care professionals have created a group called “Iowans for Health Care.” They are encouraging Iowa elected officials to not endorse any presidential candidates until the Dem wannabes outline their respective health care proposals. So far, Vilsack and 61 IA legislators have signed on to the non-endorsement commitment… Despite the condensed Dem nominating schedule, CNN’s Crowley reports Dem campaign planners still regard Iowa as a “punch-your-ticket” state – if a candidate doesn’t do well in Iowa, New Hampshire and/or South Carolina (a top-three finish in the early states) -- their campaigns and prospects get tougher. The Crowley report says Lieberman may target Arizona for a breakthrough since first three states have regional favorite sons: Missouri’s Gephardt in Iowa, Massachusetts’ Kerry in N. H., Edwards in S. C. (Missouri tentatively scheduled for 2/3, same as South Carolina, but others are basically conceding state to Gephardt)… There’s no escaping interest groups during Iowa caucus campaigns. Yesterday, anti-war group MoveOn.org had ad in the DSM Register. Now comes Free Nations United – a pro-Israel group that will run TV spot in the Des Moines area. The spot refers to Israel as “an oasis of liberty” in the Middle East and “a loyal friend” that depends on U. S. for support…Potential Wabbit Biden on Bush North Korea policy: “We, quite frankly, have no policy on that. There is no policy. I would not call it benign neglect. I’d call it maligned neglect.” …Late February (2/22-23) poll by John Zogby: Sharpton is leading Dem presidential candidate with New York City Democrats. Sharpton got 13%, Lieberman 12%, Gephardt 11%. In statewide N. Y. Zogby survey, Lieberman (14%), Gephardt (12%) and Sharpton (9%). Speaking of Sharpton, an AP report on his candidacy quotes Iowa Dem Party chair Fischer: “Reverend Sharpton may draw people into the caucuses who might not otherwise participate. He obviously brings a different perspective and talks about issues that the other candidates might not be raising.”…While other states are maneuvering to move up the nominating ladder, Delaware is looking into the possibility of delaying a few days. Delaware is now scheduled for the last day of Jan. 2004, but looking into moving to 2/3 – to avoid being overshadowed by regional rival New Hampshire …Yesterday’s leftover: Carol Moseley-Braun is dropping the hyphen. She’s now Carol Moseley Braun, but only in the first reference. On second reference, reporters can just refer to her “Braun.”

IOWA POLITICS: From John McCaslin’s “Inside the Beltway” in the Washington Times: “The kingdom of Saudi Arabia is once again coming under attack on Capitol Hill for its purported links to the terrorist underground. Sen. Tom Harkin, Iowa Democrat, was making the case this week against the United States going to war against Iraq…(Harkin said) ‘It is the Saudis, with their deep pockets, who have been buying and paying for Al Jazeera television with all the inflammatory tirades against the United States and Israel that come across that television station. Not Iraq. It wasn’t Saddam Hussein paying for that. It was the Saudis paying for it.’ In fairness, Mr. Harkin said, the United States should perhaps attack Egypt, too.”…Vilsack’s appointment of former aide John Cacciatore as director of the state’s Office for State-Federal Relations may be in trouble. GOP state senators expressed concern Cacciatore, a former Vilsack chief of staff and campaign manager, would have trouble working with Republican members of the state’s Washington delegation – Sen. Grassley, four of the five Congressmen.

MORNING SUMMARY:  Two stories – death of Iowa State broadcaster Pete Taylor (see sports item below) and trucker going off I-80 Mississippi River bridge – dominate Iowa morning newscasts… Front page headline from Des Moines Register: “Driver, truck cab tumble off I-80 bridge…The pickup hit a semitrailer truck, broke apart, and plunged 75 feet into the Mississippi”…Top Register front page headline: “U. S., Brits escalate patrols over Iraq”…Top headline, Sioux City Journal online: “Three powers vow to stop any U. N. backing for Iraq war” – report on France, Germany, Russia opposition to war…Top Chicago Tribune online headline: “Britain Touts Possible Deadline for Iraq”…WHO Radio talk show host Jan Mickelson yesterday took on NARAL pro-choice commercial, which features “America the Beautiful” in background and employs “freedom of choice” themes. Mickelson calls the spot “cynical” and “a collection of twisted lies” that turns “words upside down,” adding it is “one of the most appalling forms of propaganda.” He noted the spot is “brilliant, but appalling” – that “the people who put it together were probably laughing…wondering if ‘They’ll swallow this hook, line and sinker?’” Mickelson said including “America the Beautiful” in the commercial amounted to “a hate crime…stealing a national symbol.” …While students across country protested war, others from Iowa’s three state universities were at the Statehouse in Des Moines yesterday to protest tuition increases and urge increased state funding.

WAR/TERRORISM: DSM Register has round-up coverage of student anti-war protests in state. Mason City Globe Gazette covers Ash Wednesday Peace Vigil in Charles City. Radio Iowa reports some 150 participated in anti-war demonstration at Grinnell College …Actuality on WHO Radio: Grassley says United Nations waffling on the Iraq situation “kinda gets down to a question of whether the U. N. is going to be relevant?...It seems to me that the U. N. ought to be interested in enforcing international law.” … Front page headline in today’s DSM Register: “Iraq owes $3 billion on ag loans from U. S.”…Possible war impact? Winnebago Industries spokeswoman Sheila Davis blames war uncertainty for dramatic drop in the company’s stock prices. Shares dropped from $50.21 high in late November to $26-$28 range (yesterday $27.36; Tuesday close $26.50) for the Forest City-based motor home manufacturer – which last month was named as the top-seller for a second straight year (10,753 motor homes, 20.4% market share). Davis said: “There hasn’t been much good news.”…From BBC producer Daniel Pearl -- PM Blair yesterday “reiterated his view that the draft second resolution would be voted on at the UN and that he was ‘confident’ it would be passed. One may wonder why the Prime Minister can be so sure of success. Indeed within minutes of his comments the foreign ministers of France, Germany and Russia stood united at a press conference in Paris to declare their hostility to any new resolution. Meanwhile in Washington the Americans are clear that, although they’d like a resolution, ‘it is not mandatory’. So once again Blair stands isolated.” …GOPUSA News yesterday: U. S., British and other intel agencies attempting to verify reports Saddam ordered murder of Iraq’s top missile scientist out of concern he’d reveal details of Iraqi arms violations to U. N. inspectors.

FEDERAL ISSUES:  WHO Radio: Grassley asks General Accounting Office (GAO) to check into possible federal farm payment abuses and loopholes, citing report owners of an Arkansas parcel have received $38M in government payments.

(IGNORED) ISSUE OF THE WEEK: The Social Security for American Citizens Only Act (H. R. 489), sponsored by Texas GOP Rep. Ron Paul. The Liberty Committee statement: “Should illegal immigrants receive Social Security benefits? Yes, according to many politicians, bureaucrats and special interest groups in Washington.” Mexico has been pushing immigrants to get benefits received while working – even illegally – in U. S. Paul’s comment: “Social Security must not become a global welfare system.”

STATE ISSUES: Jobless benefits paid to Iowans during February dropped by $8.1 million from January. Total of $43.7 million went to just over 51,000 claimants. Main reason for drop was one less processing Wednesday in February, but payouts last month up about $1.1 million over Feb. 2002 due to increase in construction workers making claims since month was colder than a year ago.

OPINION: Des Moines Register editorial: “The pope and the president” Key quotes: “It’s an unusual position for an American president to be in – having his intended actions questioned by one of the world’s most admired religious leaders…It’s a stark reminder of how powerful the president of the United States can be. One person, George W. Bush, will decide whether there will be war. If he gives the word, nothing and no one can stop it.”…Register columnist David Yepsen writes about legislative issues.

SPORTS: Pete Taylor –longtime “Voice of the Cyclones” – died at an Iowa City hospital yesterday after suffering a stroke. Taylor, 57, was a former KCCI-TV (Des Moines) sports director and broadcast ISU sports events for more than three decades.  DSM Register headline: “Tears in Hilton (Coliseum) overshadow ISU victory” KCCI website offers opportunity for comments about Taylor. WHO-TV news anchor John Bachman described Taylor as “a true professional – not flamboyant, but very much respected by fans and colleagues alike.”…Basketball: ISU wins twice – men beat Missouri 71-55, women 69-44 over Kansas -- but Iowa men clobbered 82-54 by Michigan State. Iowa and Iowa State basketball teams – both men and women – still have conference tournaments to go, but already eyeing possible post-season NIT bids. …Women’s BB games: At 4:30 today, Iowa opens against Northwestern in Big Ten tourney, Drake at Northern Iowa tonight…Cedar Rapids police have arrested former ISU defensive end Reggie Hayward on domestic assault charges after the mother of his child filed a complaint. Hayward was an all-Big 12 performer and was drafted last year by the NFL Denver Broncos.

WEATHER: DSM 5 a.m. 7 degrees, cloudy with mist…Cold across Iowa this morning. Temps in single digits to teens – from –4 in Atlantic and Audubon to 12 in Fort Madison. Most locations report subzero wind chills… High today 32. Low tonight 22. High Friday 40. Chance of snow Saturday night through Tuesday.

IOWAISMS: Mason City’s first female mayor – Jean Marinos – says she will work with other communities to put together an economic development plan to promote the entire north Iowa region. She was elected in a January special election and sworn in this week…Design for a new bridge over the Mississippi River is causing a flap in Dubuque. Area long-range planning and historic preservation groups protesting design for a new bridge – the U. S. 20 span between Iowa and Illinois – but local officials say the process has advanced beyond further consideration. In the Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, Mary Rae Bragg wrote: “Mayor Terry Duggan defended the process by which a tied-arch bridge design was selected rather than a replica of the cantilever Julian Dubuque Bridge that stands next to where the new bridge will go.”…Ames City Council this week outlawed drink buffet promotions at local bars. West Des Moines and Clive have similar ordinances… Father of a Davenport Assumption High School basketball player has been charged with serious misdemeanor (assault with injury) after allegedly attacking a towel-wearing referee in a post-game altercation last week. Police reports say Daniel Ewen went to the referee’s locker room to confront Timothy McCann of Eldridge, who was wearing only a towel, about a late-game call after Davenport Central beat Assumption 51-50. McCann was treated for minor injuries at an area hospital.

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