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

THE CLINTON COMEDIES:

There she goes again: This time Hillary says she’ll block EPA nomination in effort to force answers (and probably some admissions) on post-9/11 report. Headline on FOXNews.com this morning: “Hillary Clinton Says She’ll Block Bush’s EPA Nominee” From New York, AP’s Erin McClam reported: “Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said Saturday she planned to block President Bush's nominee to head the Environmental Protection Agency over an internal report saying the EPA misled New Yorkers about health risks after the World Trade Center attack. In a telephone interview, Clinton told The Associated Press she would place a hold on the nomination of Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt, a procedural move that would prevent the full Senate from voting on his confirmation, though it does not stop committee hearings. ‘This is an effort to get the administration that he wants to join to take responsibility,’ she said. Clinton said she would lift the hold only if the White House answered her concerns about the EPA report. She said she held no personal grudge against Leavitt but hopes the hold to force the administration to answer questions. ‘This is a very big issue,’ she said. ‘It not only has to do with the health and safety of the people I represent. It has to do with the credibility and trust of this entire government.’ A spokeswoman for Leavitt did not immediately return a call seeking comment. There was no immediate comment from the White House. The report, issued by the EPA's inspector general Aug. 22, said the agency gave New Yorkers misleading assurances that there was no air-quality health risk after the Sept. 11, 2001, attack that spread debris, smoke and dust across lower Manhattan. The White House ‘convinced EPA to add reassuring statements and delete cautionary ones’ by having the National Security Council control EPA communications after the attack, said the report by EPA Inspector General Nikki L. Tinsley. Seven days after the attack, the EPA announced that the air near ground zero was safe to breathe, but the agency did not have enough information to make such a guarantee, the report found.”

Unsettled situation in South Dakota. In this morning’s Chicago Sun-Times, columnist Bob Novak reported: “The prospective resignation from Congress of Republican Rep. Bill Janklow, facing manslaughter charges in an August auto fatality, threatens to reshuffle South Dakota politics to the benefit of Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle. The White House and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist have been pressing former Rep. John Thune to run for the Senate as the only Republican with a chance to defeat Daschle. However, Thune might prefer the safer option of running for his old House seat, which he gave up to make an unsuccessful Senate race last year. The House seat might well go to Democrat Stephanie Herseth if anybody other than Thune runs against her. However, the GOP high command considers the race against Daschle more important in view of the slimmer Republican majority in the Senate.”

Des Moines Register, top front-page headline: National – “Bush wants $87 billion for terror war” … State – “Iowa grants paroles in record numbers…Many nonviolent offenders get early releases to ease prison overcrowding.” Copyright report says the state board granted paroles to 3,782 inmates during the budget year that ended June 30, up 4.4 percent from last year.

LA Times, main online headlines: “Bush to Seek $87 Billion for Effort in Iraq” & on the California recall campaign “Candidates Skirt Immigration Issue”

Quad-City Times, main online heads: “Bush seeks $87 billion to fund war” & “Unaccounted for weapons might be bookkeeping glitches, ex-inspectors say”

Nation/world online stories, Omaha World-Herald: “Bush puts $87 billion price tag on terror fight” & “Nebraskans in Congress have mixed reactions to address”

New York Times, featured online reports: “Some Grim News About Iraq: Bush Warns of a Heavy Burden” & “Arafat Nominates a Replacement for Palestinian Prime Minister”

Top stories, Sioux City Journal online: “Bush wants $87 billion to fight terror” & “U.S. troops raid homes of Saddam loyalists”

Chicago Tribune online, main headlines: “Bush wants UN in Iraq” & “President sidesteps exit strategy issue”

The Des Moines Register Online reports from Onawa, Iowa, that four have been arrested for possession of marijuana – 820 pound of it. Police estimated the value at up to $1.5 million. The marijuana was found in two minivans by a drug-sniffing dog. The search, conducted by the Monona County Sheriff’s Department and Onawa Police Department, was conducted in the parking lot of the Super 8 motel in Onawa. Police found the marijuana wrapped in plastic bundles weighing in at 2 to 3.5 pound each. Monona County’s sheriff, Jeff Pratt,s stated it was the biggest marijuana bust he’d seen in his 13 years with the county. The four people arrested are being held in the Monona County Jail on felony charges.

WHOTV.com reports that another Madison County bridge has been set on fire Saturday night. (the historic Cedar Bridge was destroyed last year by arson). Excerpt: “the Madison County Sheriff’s Department got a 911 call that the historic Hogback Covered Bridge was on fire. Crews responded and were able to keep damage to a minimum. The state fire marshall confirms the fire was arson.”

… VOA (Voice of America) reports that a top U.S. official has urged European leaders to cooperate with the United States in the war on terrorism by sharing information on airline passengers. Excerpt from the article: “Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said in Italy on Saturday that the EU's current policy prohibiting the sharing of passenger information must be balanced by the right of those same passengers to travel safely. A new U.S. law went into effect in March that requires airlines to submit passenger data - name, address and birthdate - within 15 minutes after an aircraft departs for the United States. Last month, the European Commission, noting the information request violated EU privacy laws, said Washington had failed to prove passenger data would be safe from abuse. Mr. Ridge said it was important to develop an acceptable procedure to ensure both privacy and a greater level of air security. “

… On the North Korea front: the Miami Herald Online – AP story headline “N. Korea Dismisses Softer U.S. Stance”. Excerpt from article: “North Korea on Monday described as a “sheer lie” reports that the United States was softening its stand on its nuclear crisis, and said it retains the option to “increase its nuclear deterrent force.” The angry rhetoric followed a report earlier Monday in a South Korean newspaper that North Korea has developed a long-range missile capable of targeting all of Japan and the U.S. territory of Guam. The developments gain significance as they come on the eve of North Korea’s 55th anniversary, which his expected to be celebrated with a military parade amide speculation in Washington that North Korea might conduct a nuclear test.

Quad City Times reporter Ed Tibbetts reports that Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley will be running for re-election to the U.S. Senate without a rival. Excerpt from Tibbetts’ report: “Next year, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, will stand before the voters and ask for another six-year term. So far, he’s standing alone. Fourteen months before Election Day — and well past the time when many would expect a credible challenger to emerge — Iowa Democrats have not yet fielded a candidate. And while party officials say it’s still early — and not too late by any means for somebody to enter the race — even some of the top Democrats in the state say there is little buzz among the faithful about toppling Grassley. Ever since 1958, Grassley, a 69-year-old New Hartford farmer, has held elected office, first in the state Legislature and then the U.S. House. And, beginning in 1981, after he defeated incumbent U.S. Sen. John Culver, a Democrat, Grassley has continuously held a seat in the Senate. He has risen in the ranks, too. This year, he became chairman for the second time of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, where he has presided over major tax and health-care legislation. A tough road? Even his critics say beating him will be tough. But with next year being a presidential race, it’s curious why it has taken so long for somebody to get in the race. That is especially true since some Democrats, such as Gordon Fischer, the state party chairman, say Grassley is vulnerable. “Chuck Grassley has had the worst year of his political life.” Fischer adds. Fischer says it is hardly too late for his party when it comes to toppling Grassley. “There’s plenty of time to do it.” And, he says, there’s plenty of reason. “The economy is in the tank while the deficit has exploded. I don’t think that’s a good platform in Iowa.” He is hoping one of the statewide officeholders will run. So far, it appears only Secretary of State Chet Culver and Lt. Gov. Sally Pederson are possibilities. Culver will say only that he is considering it. Matt Paul, a spokesman for Pederson, says, “She’ll make a statement later as to her intentions.” He did not elaborate. Gov. Tom Vilsack has already said he is not interested in the race. Grassley says one of the negative byproducts of not having a clear opponent is overconfidence on the part of Republicans. “It’s very difficult for me to raise money in the state of Iowa,” he adds. That has not stopped his financial juggernaut, though. He already has amassed $4 million in preparation for the campaign. As finance committee chairman, he also has the potential to raise much more, too. Grassley thinks there is a stealth campaign going on, with one of the statewide office-holders waiting in the weeds to run. “I’ve been surprised that, by now, it hasn’t surfaced. I presume it won’t be long until it surfaces,” he added.

“State aid to wealthy Wells Fargo makes sense” Excerpt: “It is obvious that if Iowa hadn’t made a competitive bid to Wells Fargo, some other state would have lured them away. This has occurred too frequently in Iowa.” … “Vote yes for DMACC’ Excerpt: “The maximum levy is 20.25 cents per $1000 of property valuation, meaning for a $100,000 house, the levy would amount to about $20 a year, or about the cost of one home pizza delivery.”

Looming on the horizon this week, the most anticipated game on the fall schedule is drawing a subdued response from the rival forces: Iowa State and the University of Iowa. The Saturday showdown is coming fast but the team members are mum about it. The Quad-City Times sports reporter Don Doxsie writes: “It’s understandable that members of the Iowa football team didn’t want to discuss or even think about Iowa State until after they had taken care of business Saturday against the University at Buffalo. But even after their 56-7 romp over the Bulls, the Hawkeyes weren’t inclined to enter into a lot of conversation about next Saturday’s annual showdown with the Cyclones. “You won’t hear any bulletin board material around here,’’ freshman center Brian Ferentz said. “And I don’t think you’ll hear any in Ames, either.’’ At that moment, immediately after the Buffalo game, the Hawkeyes weren’t inclined to even think about the Cyclones. Not yet, anyway. “Our coaches are real good about letting us enjoy wins,’’ quarterback Nathan Chandler said. “We’ll come back (today) and start thinking about the next game then. They’ll let us enjoy this one first.’’ That said, it also is apparent the Hawkeyes are determined to end their five-game losing streak against the Cyclones in the 11:30 a.m. clash at Jack Trice Stadium. No current member of the Iowa squad has beaten ISU. “Our team is hungry,’’ Brian Ferentz said. “They’ve beaten us five years in a row. It’s what they’ve built their program up on — beating us.’’

Des Moines at 7 am: 63 with clear skies. Barometric pressure 30.09 and rising. Relative humidity at 86%. Today’s high 88, sunny. Tonight’s low 57, clear. Tuesday’s high 86, sunny. Tuesday night’s low 63, partly cloudy. Wednesday’s high 85, partly cloudy. Wednesday night’s low 65, partly cloudy. Other Iowa temperatures at 7 a.m.: Cedar Rapids 61 , Davenport 56, Dubuque 58, Iowa City 56, and Sioux City 52.

AM600 WMT Radio is airing an AP report that this August was the driest on record. Iowa’s state climatologist Harry Hillaker says less than an inch of rain fell during the month. Normal accumulation is just over four inches. Not to worry, though -- Hillaker states that there is no major affect on Iowa’s water supplies. However, the low rainfall amount will lower the state’s crop yields. According to Hillaker, 2003 is the 27th driest year on record.