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MORNING REPORT Holding
the Democrats accountable today, tomorrow...forever. Our
Mission: To hold the Democrat presidential
candidates accountable for their comments
and allegations against President George W.
Bush, to make citizens aware of false
statements or claims by the Democrat
candidates, and most especially, to defend
the Bush Administration and set the record
straight when the Democrats make false
or misleading statements about the
Bush-Republican record.
Monday,
May 19, 2003 Due
to the extended coverage of the reports and
headlines from this weekend’s
multi-candidate AFSCME town meeting in Des
Moines, today’s update was delayed to
give those who didn’t get to read it
yesterday an opportunity to review it and
other weekend coverage. It, of course, remains
available in the Morning Report archives.…Tuesday’s
Morning Report also will be delayed a few
hours due to the schedule change. The
Morning Report will return to a regular
schedule later in the week.
…
Update: White House press secretary
Ari Fleischer said today he will resign in
July to enter the private sector.
Fleischer said he wanted to leave the White
House job before the president’s re-election
campaign gears up. AP reported that, although
there are other possibilities, deputy press
secretary Scott McClellan is the likely
successor.
GENERAL
NEWS: Among
the offerings in this morning’s
update: ...
“Washington
Whispers” report – at least three Dems,
including Hillary, fast-forwarding to
2008 campaign ...
During
Davenport televised forum, Dean
heats up rhetoric, attacks against Bush ...
Graham
tells Omaha audience he’s best bet for
Democrats to win White House ...
Kerry
blasts Bush for “disarray” in last
week’s Saudi Arabia bombings ...
George
Will: Edwards has a problem – North
Carolina ...
Report:
Mississippi River 100-year floodplain levels
to change, may impact insurance rates ...
And
on a more immediate possibility – flood
warnings have been issued for eastern IA
locations ...
Another
sure sign that summer is coming: radio talk
show host Mickelson devotes a program
segment to 2003 RAGBRAI adventure ...
Iowaism: Iowan mentioned in New York Times
controversy coverage
All
these stories below and more.
Morning
report: ...
Headline
from the New Hampshire Sunday News online
yesterday: “George F. Will: His own state
is problem for John Edwards in 2004”
Excerpt from Will column – “John Edwards,
North Carolina’s freshman Democratic senator
and peripatetic presidential candidate, has a
problem. It is North Carolina. His term
expires next year. He must decide by the end
of February whether to seek reelection to the
Senate in addition to, or rather than, seeking
his party’s presidential nomination. This
timing is not the problem. The Democratic
nominee may well be known by Feb. 27, or at
any rate by then Edwards may know that he will
not be the nominee. The problem is that
the Democratic nominating electorate
is heavily salted with
liberal activists who are to the
left of the party as a whole. The more Edwards
courts this constituency, which strongly
favors abortion rights, gay rights, gun
control and racial preferences, the more
apt he is to offend North Carolina Democrats,
who are somewhat to the right of the national
party’s center. And he, like all recent
North Carolina senators, operates with a
narrow margin of electoral support.” ...
Paul
Bedard in his “Washington Whispers” column
in U.S. News & World Report – under the
subhead, “Skip to 2008” –
reported: “The crowd of Democratic political
elites – including one former Clinton chief
of staff – who think President Bush is
unbeatable continues to grow. So much so
that much of the buzz in Democratic circles is
who will join Sen. Hillary Rodham
Clinton in the 2008 primaries. We’ve got the
latest two names. First, Wisconsin Sen.
Russ Feingold, who opted out of the
running this time. And Illinois Gov. Rod
Blagojevich. Allies say his father-in-law,
Chicago Alderman Richard Mell, is cheering
a second Bush term. Reason: His son-in-law
wants to run for the White House in 2008 but
not against a sitting Democratic prez up for
re-election.” ...
The
Washington Times reported this morning that Kerry
“blamed the Bush administration
yesterday for not doing enough to prevent last
week’s terrorist bombings in Saudi Arabia, saying
it was not enough to warn that an attack was
imminent and ask for protection …’It’s
the obligation of this administration to make
sure that they are doing something, and you
don’t do it by passing on a communication
and then sitting there. You have to be
engaged,’ Mr. Kerry, Massachusetts
Democrat, said on CBS’ ‘Face the
Nation.’ …The Bush administration
‘got overly focused on Iraq’ and is in
‘complete disarray’ as opposed to the
al Qaeda network, which Mr. Kerry said
‘never went out of business.’” ...
Dean
unloads on GWB in what seemed to be a
made-for-Dean forum sponsored --- and
engineered -- by IA Sen Harkin in Davenport
yesterday. Headline from today’s Des
Moines Register: “Bush’s war stance has
cost U.S., Dean says at forum”
Register’s Thomas Beaumont reported that Dean
“sharply criticized President Bush’s
record on foreign policy during a forum
Sunday, and he also chastised some of his
party rivals for failing to fully oppose the
president’s tax cut. (Iowa Pres Watch
Note: This has become a prevailing Dean theme
over the past week – especially the
attacks on other Dem wannabes for supporting
GWB policies -- which also surfaced during
Oregon and New Hampshire appearances in recent
days.) Dean quote from yesterday:
“The president has used humiliation as a
weapon, not only against our enemies but
against our friends.” ...
Headline
from this morning’s Quad-City Times: “During
Davenport visit, Dean rips into Bush, not
Democratic rivals” Times’ Ed Tibbetts
reported: “The United States will go into economic
depression if President Bush is re-elected,
former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean said in
the Quad-Cities on Sunday. He said the
president has divided the country along race,
income and gender lines, that he’s botched
the job of defending the country and lost
millions of jobs, while giving away billions
of tax dollars to wealthy friends.” ...
Headline
from this morning’s top political story in
New Hampshire’s The Union Leader – “Dean:
Bush reelection will mean depression”
Coverage by AP’s Mike Glover said Dean “asserted
yesterday that the nation will face an
economic depression if Bush is reelected.”
Glover reported that Dean is “sharpening
his attacks” on the president. ...
In
Omaha over the weekend, Graham told 400
Dems at annual Morrison-Exon Dinner that his
candidacy represents the best opportunity to
defeat GWB. World-Herald headline: “Graham
says he is Democrats’ best bet”
Excerpt from Henry J. Cordes coverage: “Not
only did the appearance give the Florida
Democrat access to the media market in
southwestern Iowa, he could also pick up
some key volunteers and support for his bid in
next year’s Iowa caucuses. Activists
from Nebraska often cross the river to stump
for candidates in Iowa’s first-in-the-nation
presidential test …The lawmaker, who has
never lost an election during a political
career that began in 1966, [told the audience]
he was the party’s best hope to unseat Bush.
He cited his centrist political leanings
and proven vote-getting ability in Florida,
the key swing state that Bush controversially
won in 2000. ‘I know I can win the 27
electoral votes in Florida and not have to
rely on the U.S. Supreme Court,’ he
said.” ...
KCCI-TV
(Des Moines) reported over the weekend
that a veteran Iowa sheriff – who has been
charged with theft allegedly involving public
funds – has been keeping a low profile, although
he’s reportedly still on the job and the
county payroll. Excerpts from the KCCI
report: “Where did the sheriff go?
That’s the question many people in Webster
County (Fort Dodge) are asking. That’s
because sightings of Sheriff Charles Griggs
have been scarce to nonexistent ever since he
was charged with theft and tampering with
public records early this week. The
charges came after the state auditor found
more than $10,000 worth of questionable
spending …Griggs hasn’t been placed on any
kind of leave. According to his office, he’s
still on the job …Chief Deputy Jim Stubbs
says he saw Griggs once last week, and that
was the morning Griggs was booked. Griggs
is paid nearly $60,000 a year.” This
morning’s headlines: ...
Des
Moines Register, top front-page headline: “4
arrested in Riyadh blasts …Al-Qaida
links suspected, Saudi official says” ...
Quad-City
Times, main online headline: “100-year
flood levels to change” Report says an
$8 million examination of water flow along
portions of the Mississippi, Illinois and
Missouri rivers by the U. S. Army Corps of
Engineers says the 100-year floodplain is
larger in some areas and smaller in others
than experts once believed. The study
probably will change the federal flood
insurance maps that determine how much
business and homeowners pay for flood
coverage. ...
Top
story, Sioux City Journal online: “Al-Qaida
terrorists arrested for bombings” ...
Chicago
Tribune online headlines: “Fleischer
resigns as Bush press secretary”
&“Saudis arrest 4 in bomb probe” ...
Top
nation/world head from Omaha World-Herald: “Saudi
official ties attack to al-Qaida” ...
The
National Weather Service this morning issued a
flood warning for several eastern Iowa
locations – on the Mississippi River at Dubuque,
the Wapsipinicon River near De Witt,
the Cedar River near Conesville, and
the Iowa River at Marengo. High
water is expected on the Mississippi
downstream from Dubuque.
At McGregor (in
northeast IA) on the Mississippi, the river is
forecast to crest tomorrow morning at 16.7
feet – where the flood stage is 16 feet –
and remain high at least through Thursday
morning. The report said northern areas (Dubuque,
Clinton,
etc.) will see crests tomorrow, but that the
down river IA communities (Burlington,
Keokuk,
etc.) may not have crests until next
Monday. ...
Iowa
talk show host Mickelson (WHO, Des Moines/WMT,
Cedar Rapids) finally addressed
a topic that Iowans really care about – plans
for this year’s RAGBRAI (The
Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across
Iowa). He spent a program segment this morning
discussing RAGBRAI – which begins this year
on 7/20 with about 10,000 riders dipping their
rear tires in the Missouri River and ends 7/26
when they drip the front tire in the
Mississippi. Communities on this year’s
southern IA 450-mile route – Glenwood,
Shenandoah, Bedford, Osceola, Oskaloosa,
Bloomfield, Mount Pleasant and Fort Madison. Iowa
Briefs/Updates: ...
The
Sioux City Journal reported that IA Ag
Secretary Patty Judge has instituted new
measures to prevent the spread of two fatal
poultry diseases. The revised rules,
announced Friday, include registration of
all poultry and domestic fowl at exhibitions,
including county fairs and 4-H fairs. The
effort is meant to stop the spread of Exotic
Newcastle Disease and avian influence, or the
bird flu. ...
VOANews
(Voice of America) – under the headline, “Bush
Administration Trying to Create Dissent, says
Top Cuban Official” – reports that
“a top Cuban official claims the Bush
administration is trying to create dissent by
paying U.S. agents in the communist island
nation. The charge by Cuban legislature
president Ricardo Alarcon follows last
week’s expulsion of 14 Cuban diplomats from
New York and Washington. The Bush
administration claims the diplomats were
spying …Mr. Alarcon called for the lifting
of economic sanctions against Cuba as a way of
easing tension between the two nations.
“The key is in the U.S. hands. Put an end to
the hostility and/or these subversive
activities in Cuba.” ...
VOANews
also reported that “Australia his decided
to create a new security force made up of
military reservists to help police counter
terrorist threats in major cities.
Government officials in Australia Sunday
announced they will beef up security against
terrorism by using the country’s Army
reservists to create new reaction units. The
plan will be fully implemented by late this
year.” ...
From
the Chicago Tribune: Headline – “U.S.
lights up eyes by backing smoking limits …Bush
official now touts global treaty” Reuters
report from Geneva – “The United States on
Sunday said it would fully support a global
anti-smoking treaty at this week’s world
health meeting, startling observers by
dropping its objections to the pact.
‘I’m going to support it, much to
the surprise of many
around the world,’
Health Secretary Tommy Thompson told
journalists on the eve of the World Health
Organization’s annual assembly. Despite
having some of the world’s toughest
anti-smoking rules, the United States, along
with Germany, had opposed a clause to ban
advertising, saying it went against
constitutional guarantees of free speech.
In what appeared to be a reversal on the
Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the
world’s first international treaty on health,
Thompson said he would not call for
alterations to the text.” ...
This
morning’s editorials, Des Moines Register:
State issue -- “Reconsider trust bill …It
would allow an estate to be preserved into
perpetuity, with troubling unintended
consequences.” & Caucus issue –
“Bring on health-care debate …Democrats
running for the White House will give the
nation a real choice in 2004.” ...
Also
from today’s Register Opinion page, headline
on James C. Moore column written for the Los
Angeles Times: “Rove, the co-president …War
crafted as a campaign event” Excerpt:
“Karl Rove led the nation to war to improve
the political prospects of George W. Bush. I
know how surreal that sounds, but I also know
it to be true.” ...
Citizen
commentary from Sioux City Journal online:
“George Bush looked so dashing in his
custom-fitted flight suit. Ah, such
patriotism. George Bush went AWOL from the
Texas Air National Guard. Was that
patriotism?” – Sylvia Lambert, Sioux
City
... Season
ends for Iowa Hawkeyes softball team. Register
sports headline this morning said “Series
hopes wash away …Huskies end Hawkeye’s
season” after the Iowa women were defeated
yesterday 11-0 by the Washington Huskies in
NCAA regional tournament in Lincoln, Neb. ...
DSM
12 noon 71, overcast with haze. Cold front
moving across state – midday temperatures
range from 56 (with wind gusts up to 37 mph)
in Sioux City and 58 in Spencer
to 76 in Waterloo and Ottumwa.
Today’s high 72, Showers & T-storms.
Tonight’s low 45, Windy. Tuesday’s high
65, mostly sunny. Tuesday night’s low 42,
clear. From WHO-TV’s Steve Templeton: “By
early [this] evening, the storms should be
into Eastern Iowa as we dry things out around
central Iowa tonight. Temperatures in the mid
to low 60s this evening as the cold air spills
in behind the front. Much cooler for
tomorrow morning with lows in the 40s and then
a high in the low 60s. Our next round of
rain then appears for late Thursday into
Friday morning.” ...
Excerpt
from Rob Borsellino’s column in today’s
Register: “There’s a local angle to the four-page
correction in last Sunday’s New York Times.
Jeanne Pinder is one of the editors mentioned
in the story. She’s from Grinnell and
used to be a copy editor here at the Register.
Her father, Al Pinder, is the publisher of the
Grinnell Herald-Register.”
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Quote
I of the morning:
Dean's bombastic bombardment of Bush
escalated Sunday in Davenport, Iowa.
According to the Kansas City Star newspaper,
Dean said the reelection of President Bush
would mean the nation would be plummeted into
a depression.
"If we reelect this president, we'll be
in a depression. That's 8 million jobs in 8
years."
Quote
II of the morning:
“I know I can win the 27 electoral
votes in Florida and not have to rely on the
U.S. Supreme Court.” – Graham,
speaking at a Dem fundraising dinner in Omaha
over the weekend, apparently refusing to
acknowledge he trails GWB in recent FL polls.
to read past Iowa Morning Reports