GENERAL NEWS:                                                                                     Saturday, May 3,  2003

… Among the offerings in this morning’s update: Dean, in Des Moines Register interview, says Edwards, Gephardt, Kerry and Lieberman are “closer to the president” on tax cut issues than Dean is, saying he’d oppose any additional tax cuts

…Kerry tells reporters any politician who promises to balance the federal budget over the next couple years is “lying to you.”

 …Overnight: NCAA to investigate – Report that Iowa State basketball coach Eustachy paid players

… Only two, Kerry and Kucinich, committed so far to Jasper County (Newton) cattle show next month 

 …Sharpton cancels scheduled IA visit next week

…Lieberman and Graham miss Senate vote on Priscilla Owen judicial nomination

…Doctor Dean helps woman who collapses in ice cream shop in SC

…Is Graham really “Graham crackers” for running against a successful war?

…Grassley request for spy case hearings rejected

… Moseley Braun will be on the stage at tonight’s South Carolina debate, but report questions “why is she in the race?”

…One of two Davenport brothers struck by lightening released from hospital, but the other is still in critical condition

…Another installment in the ex-wannabe (Gray) Davis Watch  -- a study in California political fantasies and ineptness

…Check out the updated Eustachy File: Davenport minor league baseball team calls off “Eustachy night” originally planned for next week

…Gov Vilsack, legislative leaders met yesterday, date for special session to be set next week

… Gephardt missed vote on AIDS prevention bill, but the real news will be if he ever again votes in Congress – at least before he loses the IA caucuses and the Dem nomination

…All these stories below and more. 

… Quick updates: Guv Vilsack says he would call legislators back as early as next week for special legislative session. Morning newscasts say Vilsack is expected to announce date early next week …Des Moines Register headline: “Letter threatens Spirit Lake track team …A message warns an accident will occur at Tuesday’s meet and names specific girls.” District superintendent Timothy Grieves said the school received a letter threatening the track meet, named specific female athletes and an “accident will happen.” …Morning newscasts report the Meskwaki casino and hotel near Tama remains open this morning – despite failure to resolve a power struggle over control of the facilities. The National Indian Gaming Commission said this week the tribe was in violation of the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and gave the tribe until 5 p.m. to correct the violations – which meant returning control of the casino to the elected tribal government.   

… WHO Radio (Des Moines) talk show host Jan Mickelson – noting the rash of recent suspensions around Iowa (such as Iowa State basketball coach Larry Eustachy being suspended from his job) – was suspended yesterday too, broadcasting his program from a yellow bucket suspended from a crane hanging 45-50 feet over the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Mickelson said he was right where a lot of Iowans wanted him – “suspended and twisting in the wind.”  

… But despite being suspended over the Fairgrounds, Mickelson continued to focus on the apparently unending debate over the fate of Iowa State basketball coach Larry Eustachy. He said the situation – especially with Eustachy “fighting” to keep his job – was “turning into big-time power politics, big-money university politics” as the suspended coach engages in a “political counterattack” against efforts to terminate his job at ISU. Mickelson also noted the cultural shift that’s occurred in recent years – under the “old standard” a coach or high-profile leader would have resigned, but “in the post-Clinton era” the accepted approach is to fight back – with Eustachy and his wife Stacy participating in a series of interviews on state and national airwaves. This is, Mickelson added, “sports hardball, political hardball and muscle.” 

… Overnight: Des Moines Register headline this morning – “ISU says Eustachy gave cash to his players …Coach’s rewards for free throws broke NCAA rules” …Headline on Marc Hansen column in Register this morning: “Everywhere you turn, it’s Larry, Larry, Larry” Excerpt: “In case you weren’t aware, the war in Iraq is over. George Bush said so the other night …It’s hard paying attention to the president when you’re really more interested in what’s happening at Iowa State.” (More from the “Eustachy File” below.)

THE EUSTACHY FILE: 
        … Fans of Quad City River Bandits – a minor league baseball team – will be admitted for free next Wednesday night after team officials called off plans for “Larry Eustachy’s Iowa State Night at the Ballpark.” Team President Kevin Krause, in a statement posted on the team’s website, said it was “a mistake. We meant to regard this event as tongue-in-cheek, but really did not think it thoroughly through.” Originally, the River Bandits were planning to offer $2 admission for any fan showing college ID or wearing Iowa State gear – and, once inside, they would be able to buy Natural Light beer for $1. A kissing booth also was planned. Photos published in the Des Moines Register this week showed Eustachy drinking Natural Light and trading kisses on the cheek with coeds at a University of Missouri party. Since then – and since the River Bandits planned “Eustachy night” – the coach has admitted he is an alcoholic and university officials have recommended his dismissal. Krause said: “We did not realize when we planned this event that Coach Eustachy was dealing with alcoholism.” 
        … Radio talk show host Mickelson (WHO, Des Moines/WMT, Cedar Rapids) has invited listeners to send e-mails, which he’s posting on his website. An example: “Eustachy only chose to recognize his alcoholism after he realized the potential of losing his paycheck. His lack of character continued to show as he scrambled to upstage ISU’s 4:30 news conference [during which Athletic Director Bruce Van De Velde announced he would request Eustachy’s termination] with his own, then to watch him pout that he would not leave after failing to uphold his end of the contract confirmed that he is a man without honor.” 

CANDIDATES & CAUCUSES: 

… From this morning’s The State (Columbia, SC) online, headline – “Dean helps woman who collapses by shop” Excerpt: “Democratic presidential candidate and physician Howard Dean on Friday aided a woman who collapsed and struck her head outside an ice cream shop.” Dean helped the woman, who is undergoing chemotherapy treatment, and waited with her until an ambulance arrived. The incident occurred when Dean, on his way to the S. C. Democratic Party’s Jefferson-Jackson dinner, stopped at a Ben & Jerry’s – appropriate for a former VT governor, since the ice cream company was founded there.  

…  Most Dem wannabes in low-profile mode going into weekend, probably prepping for tonight’s South Carolina debate. Next scheduled candidate on the IA political horizon – Kucinich expected to address a “Jobs & Justice Rally” hosted by Cereal Workers Local 110 in Cedar Rapids on Monday night. Other stops on Kucinich’s Monday schedule: Davenport and Iowa City.  

… Kucinich became the sole wannabe survivor on the political horizon for early next week when Sharpton cancelled out of a Davenport appearance. He was scheduled to attend the Iowa Postal Workers convention on Monday, but has opted to appear at a Connecticut event. Kucinich, according to today’s Des Moines Register, still plans to visit the postal workers convention. Edwards’ parents – she was a rural mail carrier – also are expected in Davenport.

… Two of the Dem wannabes – Graham and Lieberman – were among the missing when Senate Democrats blocked floor action on consideration of the Priscilla Owen judicial nomination. The vote: 52-44 with two Dems (Miller of GA, Nelson of NE) joining Republicans, but 60 votes are required to invoke cloture on the nomination. The other Dem senator-candidates, Edwards and Kerry, -- obviously – voted against the Owen nomination. Senate Dems indicated they plan to filibuster her nomination – meaning they would be running duel filibusters against both the Owen and Estrada nominations. Meanwhile, the Washington Times reported yesterday that Senate Republicans are studying strategies to break the filibusters. 

… On another judicial appointment considered later Thursday – confirming Edward C. Prado, Texas, as a judge of the Fifth Circuit – the vote was 97-0 with Lieberman among the three senators who missed the vote.  

… When the House approved legislation this week that promotes abstinence in the worldwide fight against AIDS and advances GWB’s AIDS prevention initiative, the usual Dem suspect – Gephardt – was listed as “not voting.” That’s not, however, unusual given the string of votes Gephardt has missed this year. The unusual thing was that Kucinich joined IA congressmen Latham, Leach, Nussle and Boswell in voting for it. IA GOP Congressman King was one of 40 GOPs to vote against it as the legislation was adopted Thursday by a 375-41 margin. One Democrat – obviously – opposed it, too. 

… Headline from OpinionJournal.com: “Is Graham crackers? …A Democratic candidate runs against a successful war.” The column by assistant OpinionJournal.com editor Brendan Miniter says, “Too bad Bob Graham didn’t open the morning papers before he opened his mouth on Sunday.” Miniter notes that on ABC’s “This Week” last Sunday Graham pointed out that “we have virtually abandoned the war” on terrorism. More Miniter: “Did he miss the Sunday New York Times?” – citing a Times report by C. J. Chivers indicating three manuals were found in Iraq that were “nearly identical to those found in al-Qaeda bases in liberated Afghanistan.” And more Miniter: “Mr. Graham, of course, is also wrong about the Bush administration neglecting Afghanistan. There are still 11,500 U. S. soldiers there hunting for al Qaeda terrorists and Taliban remnants …Why do Mr. Graham and some of his fellow Democrats insist, against all evidence, that the war in Iraq has nothing to do with terrorism? Because they seek to discredit President Bush’s most impressive achievement to date, yet they can’t be seen as opposing the war on terror. Mr. Graham hopes to cover himself by arguing for a different war. If elected president, Mr. Graham promises to bring the international community into the rebuilding effort in Iraq and concentrate on Hezbollah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad and other terrorist groups. He should know that another Democrat tried a similar approach and got trounced. In 1988 Michael Dukakis opposed President Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative, but to avoid appearing soft on defense, he urged more spending on conventional weapons like tanks. Tanks were not kind to the Massachusetts governor that year. Democratic naysaying about a successful war doesn’t promise to be a winning strategy in 2004, either.”    

… Graham update: It would appear Graham still hasn’t read the Sunday New York Times. Yesterday, he said: “The war on terrorism has been on the back burner for the past year. We need to put it on the front burner.” 

… GWB’s landing on Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and nationwide speech Thursday night got “Political Play of Week” recognition yesterday from CNN’s Bill Schneider. He says Team Bush is “determined not to let this war slip off the campaign agenda” and – unlike his father – GWB will “run for re-election as the commander-in-chief.”

… In a conference call from San Francisco that was reported by several media outlets, Kerry said it will take years – regardless of who’s elected president – to balance the federal budget. Kerry: “It’s a matter of political honesty. There is no politician in America who is going to balance the budget this year or next. And any politician who says he is going to do that is lying to you.” He added, “There are deficits as far as the eye can see.” (Iowa Pres Watch Note: Let’s see now, Kerry wants Americans to believe he’s an expert on matters of “political honesty” – the same John Kerry all Massachusetts thought was Irish for all those years, the same John Kerry who told Dem audiences his first Senate speech was on pro-abortion issues? And then, it was revealed his grandfather was Jewish and his first Senate floor speech was in opposition to President Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative.)

… Speaking of Kerry’s commitment to political honesty, the account of Kerry’s distortion of his pro-abortion Senate speech was featured in Greg Pierce’s “Inside Politics” column in yesterday’s Washington Times. Under the subhead “Kerry’s boo-boo,” Pierce summarized the Boston Globes report about Kerry’s assertion that his first Senate speech was about Roe v. Wade. (For more on the Globe coverage, see yesterday’s – 5/2 – Morning Report.)  

… Although Vilsack says he won’t pick a date for the legislative special session until early next week, several media outlets – including the Register – reported yesterday that 5/10 is a possible choice. Some of the Dem candidates may not be real happy or impressed if Vilsack calls IA legislators back for a special session on 5/10 – next Saturday. At least three – Dean, Graham and Kucinich – are expected in to attend a Polk County Democratic event (“Take Back the White House” dinner) at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Kerry expected in on Friday night for Story County Dem event in Nevada. (Iowa Pres Watch Note: Just what these guys need – the media, and most IA political focus and well as reporters, consumed with legislative issues while the wannabes are trying to get headlines and airtime.) 

…  Former Illinois Sen. – and 2004 Dem wannabe -- Carol Moseley Braun will share the stage with the other candidates tonight at the South Carolina debate, “but she has yet to act like a candidate.” That’s the central theme of a pre-debate analysis by AP’s Nedra Pickler, who wrote: “The former Illinois senator is not making regular trips to early primary states. She raised just $72,450 in the first three months of this year, less than any of her rivals. And she has not hired a campaign team, although she says she is beginning to assemble a staff. Which begs the question – why is she in the race?” More from the Pickler report – “Interviews with more than a dozen people who know Braun and have followed her career as she rose to become the only black woman ever elected to the U.S. Senate, then fall in defeat after one term offer many theories. Some say she is determined to clear her name from allegations of misconduct that tainted her Senate term …Others say she wants to be a player in the national politics again …Braun says she is running to win and finds the questions about her viability insulting. She says it takes time to build a campaign because she’s been out of politics for so long …People have been writing Braun off since she entered politics. She overcame opposition from Chicago Mayor Richard Daley’s powerful political machine to win a seat in the state legislature and an election for Cook County Recorder of Deeds.” 

… Dean, realizing Iraq war – and his main issue – is rapidly fading from TV screens and the public memory, tries to shift political gears. He delivers health care speech in New York – where Gephardt transformed himself into a somewhat viable contender and got big coverage with his heath care proposal – but the former VT gov gets only scant notice. He tried to get Bill Clinton involved in battle with Kerry over military preparedness, but Clinton passed. So, what’s a guy to do – call the Des Moines Register’s Thomas Beaumont and try to get a headline. The result: “Dean hits rivals, defends his views on tax cuts” Excerpts from Thursday’s Beaumont coverage: “Some Democratic presidential candidates are angry about what they say is rival Howard Dean’s unfair attacks regarding President Bush’s tax cuts.” Beaumont reported that Dean “defends his accusations” that Edwards, Gephardt, Kerry, and Lieberman “all have supported billions in new tax cuts during times of federal deficits while at the same time campaigning against the Republican president’s domestic policies.” Dean told the Register in an interview: “Obviously, if you support $350 billion worth of tax cuts you’re closer to the president than my position, which is you shouldn’t have any additional tax cuts because it’s bad for the economy.”   

… Jasper County (Newton) Dem officials indicate a slow response to planned cattle show next month with only two candidates – Kerry and Kucinich – committed to attend event. The goal was to attract all or most of the wannabes for a daylong meet-the-candidates show that will be held at Newton High school. But only two have signed up and the Jasper County Dems report they are “close” to getting commitments from Gephardt, Graham, Dean and Edwards. The format for the 6/21 event – which starts at 11 a.m. and continues through the afternoon – is for the candidates to each address the forum and then breakout into individual sessions in classrooms. The Jasper County Dem leaders noted they are working with neighboring counties – including Polk County (Des Moines) – to attract Dem caucusgoers and that a strong union-member representation is expected. 

… More from the ex-wannabe Davis Watch: With the standard disclaimer that CA Guv Gray Davis has little to do with the IA caucuses – outside of the fact he was once (long ago) considered a potential 2004 wannabe and is an easy political target – Iowa Pres Watch can’t resist the column from Monterey by the Wall Street Journal’s Al Hunt: “If California’s capital had stayed on this glorious peninsula instead of moving to desolate Sacramento in 1854, maybe more politicians would be clamoring to lead the most populous state. There just could be a vacancy. Gray Davis, re-elected less than six months ago, faces a recall. Ordinarily this could be lightly dismissed – there have been 31 other attempts to recall California governors, all unsuccessful. But the 60-year-old Davis, besieged first by an energy and now a fiscal crisis, is the most unpopular governor in 55 years, according to this month’s Field Poll.”    

IOWA POLITICS: 

MORNING SUMMARY:    

… This morning’s headlines:

Top front-page headline, Des Moines Register: Local story – “After arrest, teen faces deportation …Leaders, advocates fight to keep girl in D.M.” Report says Karina Ventura, a DSM Lincoln High sophomore, skipped school last week, was arrested for trespassing at Hoover High School, lied about her name – and now faces deportation. 

Quad-City Times online, national headline: “Climber cuts off arm to survive”  

Omaha World-Herald online, national/world headline: “Taiwan scrambles to contain SARS as deadly virus spreads” 

Top headline, Chicago Tribune online: “Court Strikes Down ‘Soft Money’ Ban”

… Omaha TV station KETV reports that a southwest IA teacher – Scott Hecox, 26 – has resigned after being accused of a relationship with a student. Malvern school officials said Hecox had been placed on administrative leave pending investigation of reports he had an intimate relationship with a high school senior. The KETV report said Hecox has submitted a letter of resignation denying the allegations and saying he was falsely accused. Malvern is located between Council Bluffs and Shenandoah.   

… The Quad-City Times reports that one of two Davenport brothers struck by lightening during a hunting trip has been released from the hospital. The brothers – Tim and Brian Carstens – were on an annual hunting trip with 15 other men at a state preserve near Keosauqua in southeast Iowa Wednesday night when lightening struck while they were setting up a tent. Tim Carstens has been released from the hospital, but Brian Carstens remained in critical condition at University Hospitals in Iowa City. 

… A Missouri jury has awarded more than $4 million to a former Union Pacific train engineer from Clinton who claimed he was injured in a May 2001 derailment caused by poor track maintenance. The Clinton Herald reports that Patrick Johnson, 44 – a fourth-generation locomotive engineer – was working in Clinton when a rail broke underneath the train. The report indicated that Johnson was thrown around the cab and a disc in his neck was ruptured. 

WAR & TERRORISM: 

… From the Korean Front: VOANews (Voice of America) reports that “China and South Korea have pledged to cooperate in negotiating an end to North Korea’s nuclear weapons ambitions. The two leaders spoke by phone Friday about the security issue …A statement from the South Korean presidential residence, the Blue House, says the two leaders agree the Korean Peninsula should be kept nuclear-free and that last week’s talks were ‘useful.’ The presidents reassured each other they will continue to cooperate toward a peaceful solution of the North Korean nuclear issue.”

… And from the Kashmir Region: VOANews also reported, “India says it will re-establish full diplomatic ties with Pakistan, after relations between the two countries suffered a serious rift almost two years ago. Pakistan’s foreign minister says his country welcomes the move and hopes talks can be resumed as soon as possible.” Among the goals – resuming commercial flights between the two countries

FEDERAL ISSUES:  

… IA Sen Grassley and two senior senators have been rebuffed in efforts to seek hearings into possible counterintelligence damage after a former FBI agent and his girlfriend – a suspected Chinese spy – were arrested in Los Angeles. In yesterday’s Washington Times, Greg Pierce reported in his “Inside Politics” column that Judiciary Committee Chairman Hatch said the committee was “too busy” to hold hearings on the spy case. Grassley – along with VT Dem Leahy and PA GOP Specter – sent Hatch a letter earlier this week requesting hearings “ as soon as possible” to discuss national security concerns related to the arrest of ex-FBI agent James J. Smith, who worked in Chinese counterintelligence, and Katrina Leung, a longtime FBI informant who has been accused of being a double agent.

IOWA ISSUES:

Sioux City Journal, main online head: “Governor, House leaders map out ‘special’ agenda” Excerpt: “House leaders and Gov. Tom Vilsack outlined agendas Friday for a special legislative session that could go beyond tax reform and the economic development fund left unfinished by the Senate.” 

OPINIONS: 

… This morning’s editorials, Des Moines Register: Local – “Step up for soccer …Some other community should pick up where Urbandale left off.” Urbandale City Council pulled out of soccer stadium deal this week, and Register says another metro community should move forward with the project…National – “We can’t have everything …Listen to all of Greenspan’s advice.” Excerpt: Editorial says Greenspan “said the economy is ready to grow without large tax cuts. In fact, he said big cuts could actually damage the economy if they result in deficits. That had opponents of President Bush’s huge tax proposal cheering.”

IOWA SPORTS:  

… Prairie Meadows regular Terry Thompson is scheduled to be aboard Sir Cherokee during today’s running of the Kentucky. Thompson, although he injured a shoulder in a starting gate mishap on Monday at Prairie Meadows, was at Churchill Downs Wednesday for the horse’s final workout, returned to race at Prairie Meadows and then went back to prepare for the Derby. Thompson, who grew up in Council Bluffs and lives in Ankeny, got the derby ride after guiding Sir Cherokee – a 55-1 long-shot – to a win in the Arkansas Derby last month. 

… The Larry Eustachy saga isn’t the only riveting sports story in IA this weekend. The state’s boxing and hubcap-smashing fans were discouraged by yesterday’s announcement that figure skater-turned-boxer Tonya Harding has withdrawn from an anticipated bout next weekend at the Lakeside Casino in Osceola. Promoters said Harding broke her nose while sparring last week and pulled out of the fight on doctor’s orders. 

IOWA WEATHER: 

DSM 5 a.m. 53 overcast. Temps across IA mostly in 40s this morning – from 39 in Clinton to 53 in Des Moines. Today’s high 68, partly sunny. Tonight’s low 52, chance T-storms. Sunday’s high 68, possibly severe.

IOWAISMS: 

… For those wishing for more fast-paced action than Pella Tulip Time (which ends tonight with the lighted parade), the place to be today is the Mr. and Mrs. Natural Iowa/Central Midwest Bodybuilding & Xtreme Fit Championship in Waukee – just west of Des Moines. The competition is for bodybuilders who eschew steroids and other bodybuilding enhancers. It’s at Waukee High School – with prejudging underway at 8:30 a.m. and the finals at 6 p.m.

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