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Iowa 2004 presidential primary precinct caucus and caucuses news">
Iowa 2004 presidential primary precinct caucus and caucuses news, reports
and information on 2004 Democrat and Republican candidates, campaigns
and issues Iowa
Presidential Watch's
IOWA DAILY REPORT Holding
the Democrats accountable today, tomorrow...forever.
The Iowa Daily Report, Tuesday, October 28, 2003
... QUOTABLE: "There are terrorists in
Iraq who are willing to kill anybody in order to
stop our progress. The more successful we are on
the ground, the more these killers will react. And
our job is to find them and bring them to
justice," Bush
said after White House talks with Iraq's U.S.
administrator, Paul Bremer, on Monday. “Lieberman and Clark
raise - once again - the discussion about the Iowa
caucuses and their role in the
presidential-selection process. Just as holidays
bring traffic death toll stories, every four years
the presidential campaign brings talk about
whether Iowa should play the role it does in the
selection of America's president,”
said David
Yepsen Des Moines Register’s political columnist
in today’s column. “I was talking to my
friend in Boston, who's never met either of her
senators. I met both of them in one week,"
said self-described "political junkie" Janelle
Rettig referring to the Johnson County Democrats'
annual barbecue featuring Sens. John Kerry and Ted
Kennedy on Sept. 27. "So I said come out
here and I'll introduce you." "It’s obviously been no
secret to us that she’ll be a huge target in ’06,
if not the No. 1 target,"
said Patti Solis
Doyle, executive director of HillPac, Clinton’s
leadership political action committee in response
to the Republican National Committee beginning
recruitment for a Senate candidate against
Hillary. "I wish it weren't
occurring in an election year,"
he said,
referring to the campaign cycle leading into the
2004 presidential election. "It's always
easy blaming the president,"
said Bob Dole
about the current Iraq situation. "The first thing I'm
going to do is lift, remove, withdraw the Bush
restrictions on embryonic stem cell research,"
said Sen. Joe
Lieberman while attending a forum organized by the
Every Child Matters Education Fund in New
Hampshire. "Dennis is one of us,"
said New
Hampshire Green Party spokesman Guy Chichester
declared Monday, as the party endorsed the Ohio
congressman. "You should not now say,
`Oh my God, where is the exit strategy?' You
should have asked him that when you gave him
entry," said Al
Sharpton on MSNBC’s Hardball regarding his
criticism of Joe Lieberman, John Edwards and John
Kerry being disingenuous. "When it comes to whether
or not we are going to wage this war against
terror in places like Kabul or Baghdad or be more
likely to have it waged in places like Boston or
Kansas, the American people understand the front
line has become Iraq,"
said Republican National Committee Chairman Ed
Gillespie "It looks increasingly as
though the effect of Wesley Clark's campaign will
be to waste the Democratic Party's time,"
Ramesh Ponnuru
writes at National Review Online. "I'm not wasting my time
with any more non-straight-talking candidates,"
said Congressman
Jesse Jackson in introducing Dean to a group of
about 150 people at Chicago State University.
… Among the
offerings in today’s update: Fair taxes? Lieberman’s Closing
Deficits Plan Lieberman launches
BushIntegrityWatch.com Edwards’ tax plan
attempt Kerry/Wellstone Unions love Gephardt Dean likes feet on the
streets Dean’s gold Clark insures children New Hampshire Green
Party endorsement Top three a must Boston Globe poll: New
Hampshire CNN/USA Gallup poll:
Nation Iowa again? Korea meeting Stealing the show Another Whopper, Bill? New Hampshire’ oh New
Hampshire
* CANDIDATES &
CAUCUSES: Fair taxes?
Fairness for the Middle Class, Responsibility for
Our Economy. Sen. Joe Lieberman takes on one
of life’s inevitability’s, taxes. Lieberman chose
the snappy title, Fairness for the Middle Class,
Responsibility for Our Economy. It may say
something about Lieberman’s having to get out of
Iowa and no traction in New Hampshire. While
Lieberman calls his plan fair, let me see what
does he call Bush’s plan? The Bush
Unfairness Plan,
now isn’t that a snappy spin. The Plan:
First, he will keep in place the middle
class tax cuts included in the Bush tax cuts –
some of which were included only because Democrats
fought for them—such as the increase in the child
tax credit and the elimination of the marriage
penalty. Second, to make the system better
balanced, he will:
Restructure the
income tax brackets in a systematic way
Reset the top two
income tax rates that George W. Bush decreased
Lower the middle
two rates for middle class families
Expand the Earned
Income Tax Credit for low-income families
Repeal the
dividend tax cut that Bush pushed for
Reform the estate
tax that Bush repealed
Eliminate wasteful
corporate loopholes and subsidies that Bush has
protected
Add a special
“recapture” bracket for the highest income
taxpayers that will recoup the benefits of the
lower rates.
As a result, about 98 percent of all
taxpayers will get a tax cut – as well
three-quarters of all small business owners.
In particular:
A married couple
earning $50,000 could expect to save up $500.
Couples earning
$75,000 could expect to save up to $1000.
Couples earning
$100,000 could expect to save up to $1500.
Couples earning
$150,000 could expect to save up to $2800.
The site also has a neat chart comparing “Bush
Plan” to the “Lieberman Plan.” The chart allows
for married filling separate as well as single.
Lieberman’s Closing
Deficits Plan
Lieberman has announced his plan to close the
deficit; a few highlights:
Capping overall spending at the rate of inflation,
other than for Social Security and Medicare and
national and homeland defense;
Setting new rules to protect Social Security and
Medicare that would a) require full public
disclosure of the impact of any new tax cuts or
spending on our ability to meet long-term
commitments to our seniors, and b) block
legislation that will make it impossible to honor
these commitments;
Re-establishing “pay-go” budgeting, which requires
any new spending above the caps to be paid for;
Creating a nonpartisan national commission to cut
wasteful corporate welfare;
Eliminating waste and duplication throughout
federal agencies, including the 19 different
programs now responsible for promoting overseas
trade; and Mandating that agencies offer better
and cheaper services to the public and measuring
and reporting on their performance to the public. For all the details, including
Lieberman’s Bush bashing, go to
Lieberman’s tax plan details. Lieberman launches
BushIntegrityWatch.com In a separate shot at the
president reported in the
Boston Globe, Lieberman's campaign announced
it was creating a website,
www.bushintegritywatch.com, to chronicle alleged
distortions and deceptions by the president. Chief
among them, the senator said, was Bush pushing a
war with Iraq -- a conflict Lieberman supported --
without adequately building a coalition of wartime
allies and planning for a postwar occupation. Edwards’ tax plan attempt In
typical Edward’s angry style, he has launched his
tax ideas under the guise of - Exposing Bush's
New Front In The War On Work in his latest news
release on his
website. Edwards cites media sources that the
Bush administration plans to propose a new round
of tax cuts that would allow a family of four to
save up to $60,000 a year tax-free. He further
claims that over time, the wealthiest Americans
could shift massive amounts of money into these
accounts and avoid any taxes on their interest,
capital gains, and dividends income. He states
that eventually, 21 percent of this tax cut will
benefit the top 1 percent of taxpayers, and this
package would cost the government $50 billion a
year - more than a third of the long-term Social
Security shortfall. Edwards refers to the Bush
alleged tax-cut proposal of horrors of horrors
allowing Americans to save $60,000 tax free, as a
gift to his Millionaire fund-raisers. Edwards’
plan:
Establish the American Dream tax credit will
provide $5,000 toward a first home. His tax
credits for saving will help families with incomes
up to $50,000, who have the most trouble saving
and who get the least benefit from tax deductions
in current law. And he will cut capital gains and
dividends taxpayers for 95 percent of Americans.
Set the tax rate the unearned income of the
wealthiest 1 percent at 25 percent, equal to the
top income tax rate on earned income for
middle-class families consisting of teachers,
nurses, and secretaries.
He will also repeal the Bush tax cuts that benefit
only the top 2 percent of Americans, including the
new top two tax rates on income, and the new rates
on income from dividends and capital gains for the
wealthiest 2 percent of Americans. Only those
earning about $240,000 or more are in the top two
income tax brackets. In addition, Edwards will
retain the tax on very large estates and crack
down on corporate tax loopholes. Kerry/Wellstone Kerry’s website has a drive for
individuals to sign a petition to honor Senator
Paul Wellstone. The site says, “ One year ago this
week we lost a great champion for mental health
and so many important issues: Senator Paul
Wellstone. There is no better way to honor his
memory than to pass the Senator Paul Wellstone
Mental Health Equitable Treatment to Act of 2003.”
The visitor can then click on the petition and
sign on-line. Unions love Gephardt
Gephardt latest website press release rolls out
another union endorsement. Iowa Local 234 of the
International Union of Operating Engineers is the
latest endorsement of Dick Gephardt for president.
Do you suppose this has anything to do with Dean
holding a rally in Des Moines to announce his
endorsement by a union? The Union of Operating
Engineers cited Gephardt’s record and vision on
job creation and economic stimulus, the
2,300-member Iowa local threw their support behind
the candidate with the best chance to beat
President Bush. Twenty international unions have
endorsed Gephardt meaning that, with the Iowa
operating engineers, there is a combined
membership of over 52,000 members in unions
supporting his candidacy for president. If you
have lost track of all of Gephardt’s endorsements
he has a friendly reminder: Amalgamated Transit
Union; American Maritime Officers; Bakery,
Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers
International Union; Brotherhood of Maintenance of
Way Employees; International Alliance of
Theatrical Stage Employees; International
Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and
Reinforcing Iron Workers; International
Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers;
International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron
Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers;
International Brotherhood of Teamsters;
International Union of Bricklayers and Allied
Craftworkers; Laborers International Union of
North America; Marine Engineers' Beneficial
Association; Office and Professional Employees
International Union; Operative Plasterers and
Cement Masons International Association;
International Longshoremen's Association;
Seafarers International Union; United Food and
Commercial Workers; United Steelworkers of
America; International Union of Journeymen
Horseshoers and Allied Trades; and Paper,
Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers
International Union. Dean likes feet on the
streets The
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
(IUPAT) today became the first international
union to endorse Howard Dean in the 2004 campaign.
The Army of Black and Gold, as the 140,000 members
are known, was named by the AFL-CIO as the most
effective political organization in the labor
movement in 2001. Their motto, “feet on the
streets,” reflects how you will defeat George W.
Bush in this election. "My commitment to the right
to organize has deep roots," Dean said. "President
Bush is the most anti-union President in modern
history. As President I will vigorously enforce
worker protections in federal law, reverse the
policies of Enron Economics, and make job creation
a top priority," said Dean. Dean should check his
history and contact someone in the PATCO Union
about Ronald Reagan about the “most antiunion
President in modern history. I guess we can’t
expect original lines all the time. Speaking of
endorsements. Dean picked up Congressman Jesse
Jackson Jr. According to an article in the New
York
Times: Representative Jesse L. Jackson Jr.
said Monday that he would soon endorse Howard Dean
for the Democratic presidential nomination,
telling a mostly black audience on the South Side
of Chicago that Dr. Dean had "the best chance to
be the next president of the United States." Dean’s gold The
Hill on-line has a story about President
George W. Bush and former Vermont Gov. Howard
Dean, the two leading fund-raisers in this
election cycle, have taken vastly different
approaches to getting people to support their
campaigns financially. Their methods are as
different as night and day, according to a
detailed examination of their respective
10,000-plus- page financial disclosure reports to
the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Clark insures children
USA Today covers Clark’s proposal to insure
children: Wesley Clark says his health care plan
is based on a lesson he learned from 34 years in
the military — those who don't have adequate
medical attention won't live up to their
abilities. The retired Army general says if
elected president, he would look to spend $695
billion over 10 years to provide coverage to 31.8
million of the more than 40 million uninsured
Americans. New Hampshire Green Party
endorsement The Manchester
Union Leader is carrying the story about that
state’s Green Party endorsement of Cong. Dennis
Kucinich: "Your endorsement sends a signal to
everyone in New Hampshire and throughout New
England who is really concerned about those
environmental issues that relate to protection of
the environment, protection of the economy and
protection of the natural world, that they have a
candidate," Kucinich said. Top three a must The collective wisdom of
seasoned early Presidential watchers is conjoining
around the principle that you have to be a top
three finisher in Iowa and New Hampshire. Because
of the shortening of the Iowa field, a fourth
place finish is not going to be worth a
plug-nickel. In New Hampshire the winnowing
process will continue and will undoubtedly crash
more Presidential hopes. After New Hampshire the
field is likely to be shortened to three possible
winners. The shortness of time will not give
Presidential candidates much time to make a come
back. Union Leader Senior Political Reporter John
DiStaso covers the issue well in an article he
wrote on the subject regarding the racehorse
status of the New Hampshire Primary. (Link) Boston Globe poll: New
Hampshire In a poll done for the Boston
Globe and Boston CBS affiliate WBZ, Dean continues
to lead in New Hampshire with 37 percent of
Democrats and independents supporting him. Sen.
John Kerry, D-Mass., is 13 points back at 24
percent. Trailing Dean and Kerry are Sen. John
Edwards at 9 percent, retired Gen. Wesley Clark at
8 percent, Rep. Dick Gephardt at 7 percent, Sen.
Joe Lieberman at 5 percent, Rep. Dennis Kucinich
at 3 percent and Rev. Al Sharpton and former Sen.
Carol Moseley Braun, both at less than 1 percent.
The survey was taken by KRC/Communications
Research from Oct. 20 to Oct. 22 and has a margin
of error of plus or minus five points.
Lieberman in trouble: In the latest survey, 28
percent reported having a favorable opinion of
Lieberman and 42 percent said they regarded him
unfavorably. That's an almost complete reversal
from six weeks ago when 46 percent viewed him
favorably and 25 percent did not. CNN/USA Gallup poll: Nation Clark’s numbers are fading, Dean
moves back to front, Gephardt moves up and
Lieberman is in free fall according to the poll.
The numbers are: Dean-16; Clark-15; Gephardt-12;
Lieberman-12; Kerry-10; Edwards-6; Sharpton-6;
Moseley-Braun-4; Kucinich-1. The other startling
find was that the Democrats are going more
liberal. Democrats are 39 percent in favor of a
liberal up from 27 percent in August. Those
wanting a moderate are now at 53 percent. Iowa again?
Des Moines Register Political Columnist David
Yepsen has come to the defense of the Iowa
Caucuses. For the past 30 years no candidate for
President has succeeded without finishing in the
top three places in Iowa. Yepsen covers some of
the improbable history that has led the ancient
history of caucuses to become such a huge event. *
ON THE BUSH BEAT: Korea meeting
Drudge
is reporting a breaking story at the time of
publishing. Communist China's defense minister
Gen. Cao Gangchuan, most associated with nuclear,
chemical, biological and missile proliferation to
terrorist countries, set for DC meeting with Condi
Rice tomorrow; split over Oval Office greet by
President Bush, Congress may get involved, say
sources.
* THE CLINTON
COMEDIES: Stealing the show For weeks Democrat candidates
for President have put a hold on Democrats on Utah
Gov. Mike Leavitt's nomination to head the
Environmental Protection Agency. Republicans
pushed Tuesday for a procedural vote to move the
nomination despite Joseph Lieberman, John Kerry
and John Edwards’ holds on the nomination.
Lieberman’s opposition was highlighted in the Hill
online edition for failure to show up to the
Committee overseeing Levitt’s nomination.
Lieberman serves on the Committee and was making
the most of blocking the nominee. A hold on the
nomination is one of those peculiar courtesies
Senators afford each other. A hold means that
until a Senator removes that hold that the Senate
will not vote on that matter unless a provision of
Senate Rules are followed to dislodge the matter
to the floor. Republicans in the Senate had
accumulated the 60 votes necessary to confirm and
move the matter. So, who should step to the Senate
microphone – Lieberman, Kerry, Edwards? No,
Hillary Clinton, She explained that the White
House had told her in a letter that it would take
additional steps over two years to protect New
York City residents who potentially had been
exposed to harmful substances from the World Trade
Center rubble. Clearly the White House knows who
is important to deal with in the Senate. And, all
of a sudden the question is about Bush’s treatment
of New York and exposure to the World Trade
Disaster, not Bush’s environmental policies as the
three Presidential Wannabees claimed. Another Whopper, Bill? The Washington Times’
Inside Politics recounts how Tony Blair’s
spinmeisters are questioning the veracity of Bill
Clinton’s knowing about Blair’s irregular
heartbeat previously.
* NATIONAL: New Hampshire’ oh New
Hampshire A movement that is moving:
The Internet has created another political
movement that is sweeping into New Hampshire. This
one may not be welcome and it is still to be seen
if it will be effective. The movement involves the
Libertarian Party recruiting individual to move to
New Hampshire and change the political character
of the state. The story ran in the
New York Times and it reports that the
Libertarian Party is calling the movement The Free
State Project. It aims to make all of New
Hampshire a laboratory for libertarian politics by
recruiting libertarian-leaning people from across
the country to move to New Hampshire and throw
their collective weight around. Leaders of the
project figure 20,000 people would do the trick,
and so far 4,960 have pledged to make the move.
The Times reports that most of the “fellow
travelers” in the movement have only met over the
Internet and that there was a debate among the
following states: Alaska, Delaware, Idaho, Maine,
Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and
Wyoming. The state’s quadrennial high political
profile is part of the reason New Hampshire won
out. However, the Granite State may not be
entirely hospitable to becoming a Free State
according to Kathy Sullivan, chairwoman of the
state Democratic Party. “…If they want to have a
radical change in our form of government, no,
you're not welcome here," said Sullivan
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