Daily Report: 2004 Presidential Watch: Republican conservative news on the Democrat caucus, primary candidates national campaigns.

Observation of the Morning:
From James Taranto’s “Best of the Web Today” column yesterday on OpinionJournal.com – “’Fla. Sen. Graham Impresses Republican’ reads the headline of an Associated Press dispatch from Des Moines, Iowa. That’s right, Republican, singular. Graham impresses one guy, and the folks at AP think it’s news. Though you know, they may have a point.”

... While most stories about Dean this morning focus on his health care plan, IA Pres Watch prefers to make sure Dean’s liberal, anti-war (and presumably anti-gun) friends – and support base -- are aware of his firearms position

... Hillary doesn’t drive – and apparently she’s not going to start now

... CBS News reports two-thirds of Americans can’t even name a Dem wannabe

... Iowa Craziness I: Dixie Chicks in Ames last night – sellout Hilton Coliseum, but no immediate reports of further controversial political commentary

... Could planned Fox News Channel-BIPAC debate in SC next year really be a “no-show” event for the Dem wannabes?

... Grassley tells Mexico: pattern of not meeting international trade obligations is unacceptable

... IA GOP Congressman Leach – one of three House Republicans to oppose tax cut – has op-ed in this morning’s Register, saying he voted against tax cut with :great reluctance.”

... Radio talk show host Mickelson – joined by GOP state chairman and state Sen. Larson – continued opposition yesterday to massive Iowa Values Fund economic development plan

... Iowa Craziness II: Morning newscasts -- fed court action expected today on Meskwaki casino dispute. National Indian Gaming Commission demands the Tama casino close, but current tribe leaders ignore them and keep it open

... Wandering Wannabe Wesley Clark tests water in New Hampshire – swims in Manchester YMCA pool – but ex-NATO commander uncertain whether he’s a registered Dem in home state of Arkansas

... Big day for Iowans – and on University of Iowa campus – yesterday: Daily Iowan headline this morning, “Old Capitol gold & shining again”

... Iowa Craziness III: Headlines, newscasts at this time yesterday said Jeff Lebo would be new Iowa State basketball coach, possibly by sunset – but he declined and flew away. WHO-TV reported last night ISU assistant Wayne Morgan, who has been on Cyclone payroll one season, was hired as new coach just hours after Lebo was wheels-up …But the bad news keeps on coming for Iowa State. After ISU was shocked by the death of 23-year-old former running back Ennis Haywood in Dallas over the weekend, the news reports and headlines this morning say late ‘70s star – and all-America -- running back Dexter Green has died of cancer at age 46

... Senate Dems pledge another (their third) filibuster action – this time against White House-backed gun-lawsuit bill

... IA Dem Congressman Boswell, others leave on Cuban trade mission today – as U.S. expels 14 Cuban diplomats for spying

... SC columnist: Edwards “believes it is in his best interest to separate himself from the pack...

... Worries increase about possible West Nile virus situation in Iowa this summer

Pork Barrel Byrd: Citizen commentary from the Sioux City Journal online -- “It is the antithesis of irony when the king of pork barrel, Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia, worries about the cost of a postwar reunion between our troops and their president.” – Loran Joens, Sioux City

Election of the Week: Voters in the Jasper County community of Colfax – population of about 2,300 – yesterday approved a local “hotel-motel tax” (that will be imposed on guests at a motel near Interstate 80 that’s under construction.) Ninety voted – 86 for, 4 against.

... “Dean wants gun laws left to the states” That was the headline on a Kathie Obradovich report in the Quad-City Times from Dean’s IA visit last weekend on an issue that was ignored in most of the media coverage. Even better, he apparently developed his position for political – not ethical or moral – reasons. Obradovich’s report: “Noting that gun issues drive some union members away from the Democratic Party, presidential candidate Howard Dean targeted labor leaders Saturday with a message favoring state’s rights on firearms control. ‘We have 20 percent of our union membership every year who vote against their economic interest because of guns,’ Dean said, adding later that he heard the statistic from an Iowa United Autoworkers leader. The former Vermont governor said he would enforce existing federal laws and he would not call for any to be rolled back. Additional gun laws, he told union members, he would leave up to the states. ‘Most hunters I know don’t think they need an assault rifle to kill a deer,’ he said. ‘But I also believe that every state ought to make their own gun laws.’ Dean told reporters later, however, that he also would support expanding federal laws to require background checks for purchases at gun shows. Other restrictions, such as requiring gun locks, should be up to the states, he said.” Dean made the comments at a district meeting of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades on Saturday in Ankeny.

... Under the subhead “Driving Ms. Hillary,” Paul Bedard reported in his “Washington Whispers” column in U.S. News & World Report: “Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is a lot of things, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. she’s not. Clinton last week attended the Capitol Hill rollout of General Motors’ hydrogen-fueled prototype. But unlike other lawmakers, she begged off an invitation to drive the minivan. It seems odd that she’d pass up some environmentally correct TV exposure, until GM Veep Beth Lowery told us why: The former first lady fessed up that it’s been at least seven years since she last drove and this wasn’t the time to start.”

... And now comes one of the toughest challenges of being an Iowan – no off-color jokes, please – as most Americans can’t even name a Dem presidential candidate while they become household names (and café visitors) in places like Eldon, Strawberry Point and North Buena Vista. CBSNews.com reported last night that the most common response to a question about whether respondents could name “any Democratic presidential candidates” was a resounding 66% that answered, “No, cannot recall any.” That means 34% -- presumably residents of IA, NH, SC and the candidate’s respective home states – could name at least one Dem wannabe. The numbers: 9% know Lieberman is running for the Dem nomination followed by Kerry (7%) and Gephardt (6%). The order – Graham at 3%, Edwards and Sharpton at 2%, Dean at 1% and the others with a combined 4%. (Iowa Pres Watch Note: Watch out – Graham, who just announced a week ago, obviously has captured the momentum while Lieberman continues to build on his 2000 V.P. run. That, by the way, is Sharpton moving up on the outside. Yes, it really is too bad Hillary’s not in the field – yet – because she’d show the wannabes bow to create headlines, not to mention that she’s already well known for various reasons.)

... What if a cable TV network and a statewide business group scheduled a debate in South Carolina early next year – and none of the Dem wannabes show? That, according to published reports in SC and NH, may happen. The Dem candidates have been invited to a 1/29 debate – five days before presidential primaries in SC and other states -- to be carried on the Fox News Channel and sponsored by the South Carolina Business and Industry Political Education Committee (BIPAC). But, former SC Democratic state chair Dick Harpootlian was quoted by AP as saying: “I think it will be a debate that nobody comes to. BIPAC is a known Republican front organization, and the debate will be held by a right-wing network.” Another drawback – the planned 1/29 debate would be only two days after the New Hampshire primary. (For the record, the major pre-caucus debate in IA – the Des Moines Register’s traditional event – is scheduled for 1/4, two weeks before the scheduled caucuses.)

... Chicago Sun-Times columnist Steve Neal – under the online headline, “Battle-tested Kerry emerges as top gun among Democrats” – wrote: “He’s got what it takes. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, who is gaining momentum in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, delivered a winning performance in the first nationally televised debate of the 2004 presidential season. In his closing remarks, he declared that the nation’s next chief executive must take the lead in making health care accessible to every American, improving the quality of public schools, ending the nation’s dependence on foreign energy sources, and ‘making America safer, stronger, and more secure.’ What gives Kerry, 59, an edge over the Democratic pack is that he projects a sense of command and has a record of substantial accomplishment. The former commander of a gunboat on the Mekong Delta has a chance to become the first veteran of the Vietnam War to win the presidency of the United States …Among the reasons that Kerry is gaining momentum is that he is viewed by a growing number of Democrats as their party’s best hope against President Bush. How would Kerry match up? His 1996 re-election provides some clues. Republican Gov. William Weld, who won with 71 percent in 1994, challenged Kerry as his first move toward a presidential bid. Weld led in early polls. But Kerry fought back, waged a terrific campaign, outpointed Weld in a series of debates, and won a third term. If Kerry wins the ’04 nomination, it will be a contest.”

... From Lee Bandy’s column in The State on Sunday, follow-up on Edwards’ actions during debate and events in South Carolina the previous weekend. Veteran political watcher Bandy wrote that Edwards “arrived late for the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner on Friday night a week ago. He shook hands, engaged delegates in one-on-one discussions, and left before the meal was served. The U.S. senator from North Carolina headed straight for U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn’s fish fry, arriving three hours ahead of the other presidential hopefuls. Again, he worked the crowd, spoke to the folks he wanted to see and left before his competitors arrived on the scene. It was all by design. Supporters of U.S. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts were ecstatic. They thought they had something. They collared reporters and suggested they write stories saying that Edwards had written off South Carolina. Of course, that’s not true. Edwards believes it is in his best interest to separate himself from the pack, most of whom have served in Washington for decades. They are career politicians. Edwards, serving his first term as a senator, is not. Many see that as one of his strong suits in the primary campaign. He doesn’t want the baggage associated with being a career politician.”

... Yes, that photo on www.theunionleader.com really was of retired Gen. Wesley Clark, looking a lot like an aging Mark Spitz – and in deeper water than Graham, Edwards, Kucinich, Moseley Braun and Sharpton. CNN war analyst – and former NATO commander -- Clark, who seems to be more consumed with ego-trip political mentions than actually being a Dem wannabe, joked about “testing the waters” in NH – as he swam in the Manchester YMCA pool. The Union-Leader’s senior political guy John DiStaso (unfortunately) drew the Clark assignment and yesterday reported: “He had a candidate’s walk and a candidate’s talk. He even did a candidate’s swim, literally testing the waters at the Manchester YMCA. He didn’t kiss babies, but he did banter with toddlers and a teenager. Former NATO commander Gen. Wesley Clark made it clear yesterday he isn’t a candidate for President. But after he was presented with 1,000 messages from across the country urging him to run by Dover resident Susan Putney of ‘draftWesleyClark.com,” he admitted, ‘It’s pretty hard not to think about this and read those letters.’ Yet Clark said that although he voted on the last Democratic Presidential primary in his home state of Arkansas he didn’t ‘think’ he was even a registered Democrat there.’” Clark said he was in NH as part of his continuing ‘strategic dialogue’ with Americans and to conduct private business.

... Leonard’s Cuban Adventure begins – as U.S. throws out 14 Cuban diplomats for allegedly spying and restricts activities of other diplomats in DC, another sign of increased distrust and dissatisfaction with the island neighbor. IA Congressman Boswell, state ag secretary Patty Judge and a delegation from several IA groups are scheduled to leave today for weeklong Cuba trade mission. BBC News reported yesterday that the United States ordered 14 Cuban diplomats serving at the United Nations and in Washington to leave the country, implying that they had been spying. BBC excerpt: “The Cubans were being expelled ‘for engaging in activities deemed harmful to the United States’ – the usual diplomatic way of referring to espionage.” In Washington, the Bush administration is insisting that Cuban diplomats call the State Department when they need maids, drivers, plumbers, electricians or air conditioning repairmen. AP reported the State Department imposed the demand because U.S. diplomats in Havana have to go through the Cuban Foreign Ministry to obtain such services.

... Top front-page headline, Des Moines Register: ‘Tribe told to close casino …Meskwaki power struggle prompts order” Report on temporary closure order issued by the National Indian Gaming Commission, but tribe leaders keep casino open and say it is “busier than ever.”

... Top story, Quad-City Times online: “Deere earnings rise 80% in 2Q” Report says Deere & Co. produced an 80 percent increase in its second-quarter earnings and record net equipment sales despite the fact that its core market – North American farmers – continues to hold back on buying equipment.

... Daily Iowan (University of Iowa), online headline: State/local – “Old Capitol gold & shining again” After 2001 fire destroyed the dome and cupola, Old Capitol – an Iowa and UI landmark – close to being repaired, canvas removed yesterday exposing new 12,000-pound golden dome with U. S. and Iowa flags back in place.

... Main headline, Omaha World-Herald online: “New $20 still a greenback, but kind of peachy” Report says “a touch of peach, blue and yellow” have been added to traditional green and black on new $20.

... Chicago Tribune, top headline: “Saudis Link at-Qaida Team to Attacks” & “Glenbrook senior fights suspension” Latest installment on Glenbrook North hazing incident.

... KCCI-TV (Des Moines) reports that worries are increasing about the West Nile virus in state this year after Iowa State University researchers indicated possible “bumper crop” of mosquitoes. Excerpt from KCCI coverage: “ISU researchers tracking the virus are seeing thousands of mosquito eggs earlier than usual. And after weeks of rain, a hot spell could be a bad turn of events. ISU entomologist Wayne Rowley is leery of predicting what may happen. He and other scientists were stunned at how quickly West Nile virus spread last summer and how heavily it hit some areas not known as mosquito havens.” The report said two of the 277 deaths attributed to West Nile last year were in Iowa.

... Dixie Chicks in Ames last night. This morning’s Register headline: “Hilton crowd enjoys Dixie Chicks’ music …Fans come for the sound, not the politics”

Iowa Briefs/Updates:

... Radio Iowa reported that while many U.S. troops are returning from Iraq more than 500 Iowa National Guard members are leaving for active duty. Company B of the 1st Battalion of the 133rd Infantry – with units in Dubuque, Waterloo, Hampton, Iowa Falls and Charles City – left Monday evening for Fort Carson, CO, where they will train until leaving for the Sinai Peninsula in July. The mobilization marked the first time since 1941 the entire 1st Battalion, headquartered in Waterloo, has been called to active duty

... The Ames Tribune reported that Iowa State University has launched a $54 million fundraising campaign during the next fiscal year – with $27 million designated for faculty, $14 million for research and programs, and $13.5 million for undergraduate scholarships

... Several news reports that a barge worker – Matthew Miller of Normal, Ill. -- died yesterday after he was hit in the head with a rope at Lock & Dam No. 11 on the Mississippi River. Reports say accident occurred as a group of nine barges waited to go through the lock, located near Dubuque, and a rope snapped loose, hitting Miller.

... From the Korean Front: The Washington Times’ Pentagon specialist Bill Gertz reported yesterday that North Korea’s military fired a laser in March at two U.S. Army helicopters patrolling the demilitarized zone that separates the two Koreas. The Gertz report said two Apache attack helicopters were “illuminated by lasers in early March that had the characteristics of a Chinese laser gun, an indication that North Korea has deployed a new and potentially lethal weapon …The March laser illumination of the Apache helicopters occurred around the time that four North Korean jets intercepted a U.S. spy plane.” Meanwhile, VOA News (Voice of America) reported: “South Korea’s president says North Korea must abandon efforts to build nuclear weapons. The demand comes just after Pyongyang announced it was scrapping an agreement to keep the Korean Peninsula nuclear free. President Roh Moo-hyun says Pyongyang’s pursuit of nuclear weapons will determine if relations between the two Koreas improve,” Roh made his comments during a speech to the Korean Society in New York.

... Grassley has sent a strongly worded letter urging Mexican officials to stop taking actions against U.S. agricultural products that undermine the spirit, if not the letter, of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). In a letter to the Mexican Ministry of Agriculture, Grassley said he was writing “to express my strongest concerns regarding Mexico’s commitment to abide by its agricultural trade obligations” contained in NAFTA. He added: “Mexico has recently undertaken a number of actions against U.S. agricultural products that undermine the spirit, if not the law, of NAFTA. Mexico’s continued pattern of not meeting its international trade obligations is unacceptable.” Grassley said commodities affected by Mexico’s recent -- and threatened -- actions include pork, corn, high fructose corn syrup, beef, rice, apples and dry beans, adding in his letter that the “first four of these products are produced in Iowa, the state I represent in the U.S. Senate.”

... Another filibuster? Senate Democrats – already engaged in filibusters (or filibuster threats) against two GWB judicial nominations – said yesterday they plan to filibuster a proposal that would protect gun manufacturers and sellers from lawsuits that arise because of criminal or unlawful use of their products. The bill, supported by the White House and NRA, passed the House last month on a 285-140 vote – with nearly one-third of Democrats supporting it. (Iowa Pres Watch Note: Maybe Dean was right – see above – by suggesting that Dems are losing votes because of their anti-gun opposition and leanings. It would appear that one-third of House Dems already got the message, too.)

... Iowa GOP chair (and State Sen.) Chuck Larson and talk show host Mickelson (WHO, Des Moines/WMT, Cedar Rapids) continued resistance to multimillion dollar Iowa Values Fund proposal during yesterday’s program, the second consecutive day Mickelson has devoted to the controversial issue. Larson has been in forefront of efforts to oppose the so-called economic development package, while Mickelson has focused on constitutional questions – saying the IA constitution clearly states that the credit of state shall not be “extended in any manner” to corporations or others. Senate President Mary Kramer – a Clive Republican – called in to ensure listeners understood that Larson wasn’t speaking as the party’s state chair, but as a Cedar Rapids senator who’s entitled to his opinions. Larson was on the program for just over an hour – and then Mickelson was joined in-studio by four Republican county chairs that oppose the Iowa Values Fund.

... This morning’s Des Moines Register editorials: “In praise of integrity …Politicians should put conviction before party loyalty, and Jim Leach sets the example.” & “More help for Iowa children? …Iowa’s new human services director faces big challenges but brings a lot of experience to the job.”

... Leach writes an “Iowa View” column in today’s Register: Headline – “Tax cut would widen rich-vs.-poor divide” Leach was one of three House Republicans to vote against the $550 billion tax cut last week. Leach quote: “It is with great reluctance that I oppose this tax cut.”

... Register columnist Rekha Basu, headline: “This is no time to scale back human-rights advocacy” Excerpt: “…state planners and legislators should be getting more responsive to the growing needs and challenges of its population. Instead, the Iowa Legislature appears to be heading in the opposite direction.”

... So what does Iowa State do now? Simple – hire current ISU assistant (and 12-year Syracuse assistant) Wayne Morgan as next men’s basketball coach. Although reports 24 hours ago indicated Jeff Lebo was the “unanimous choice” to become the next Iowa State basketball coach, it would appear this morning Ames wasn’t the “unanimous choice” for Lebo and his wife. They boarded a jet yesterday and went home. Headline on Register sports section this morning: “Iowa State turns to Morgan …One-year ISU assistant will succeed Eustachy”

... Tough week for Iowa State football fans. Earlier this week, they learned of the death of Ennis Haywood – the fifth most productive running back in the school’s history – and then yesterday they found out about the death of 1970s all-America running back Dexter Green – third on the ISU rushing list and second all-time in number of touchdowns scored. Green, 46 and a Columbus, Ohio schoolteacher, died of cancer.

... DSM 5 a.m. 57, mostly cloudy. Temperatures this morning range from 45 in Sioux City to 61 in Chariton. Today’s high 72, scattered T-storms. Tonight’s low 52, scattered showers. Thursday’s high 70, partly sunny.

... Orange City Tulip Festival begins tomorrow. The Sioux City Journal reported that “the klompen – and people who dance while wearing those wooden shoes – will be center stage during Orange City’s 63rd annual Tulip Festival Thursday through Sunday.” Theme for this year’s festival is “Dancing with the Dutch.” More from the Journal: “As part of the theme, an alumni reunion for all who have participated in the senior dance (high school and middle school) will be held during Saturday afternoon’s parade. All former dancers will be invited to join the group, even if they don’t have wooden shoes or a Dutch costume.”