Memorial Day 2010

The National Moment of Remembrance, established by Congress, asks Americans wherever they are at 3 p.m., local time, on Memorial Day to pause in an act of national unity (duration: one minute).The time 3 p.m. was chosen because it is the time when most Americans are enjoying their freedoms on the national holiday. The Moment does not replace traditional Memorial Day events; rather it is an act of national unity in which all Americans, alone or with family and friends, honor those who died for our freedom. It will help to reclaim Memorial Day as the sacred and noble holiday it was meant to be. In this shared remembrance, we connect as Americans.

Plug The Damn Hole

Chris noticed the irony of President Obama saying, "I'm not going to rest...until the leak is stopped at the source" as the press covered his Chicago holiday weekend -- this is his second getaway since the Gulf oil rig exploded April 20.

That's nothing new and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Last December he used these words while remaining on vacation with his family in Hawaii...

Obama: 'We will not rest' until air terror plotters caught

He went golfing the next day.

In January Obama said, "We will not rest until we build an economy that's ready for America's future".

The U.S. unemployment rate was 9.7% when he made that statement and now is 9.9%.

Hmmm...Who does this sound like?




















Oh yeah, another famous golfer.

"...I will pursue as my primary goal in life the killer or killers who slaughtered Nicole and Mr. Goldman. They are out there somewhere. Whatever it takes to identify them and bring them in..."

I meant what I said, and I said what I meant.

Color Me Stunned

The female brain (?) trust at the Ragister endorses Tom Fiegen over Roxanne Conlin.

Fiegen: Did his homework better on challenging national issues

OUCH!

That's got to hurt more than being called ROZANNE promoting a fundraiser, with Nancy Pelosi, in your own mansion!

Iowa Democrats have three choices for a candidate to challenge Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley in November's election. All three deserve credit for the daunting task of trying to unseat a longtime incumbent. Yet none is an especially impressive choice for the job of U.S. senator.

And the scientific community is united in that fact!

Iowa Democrats have to choose one of these three. They should reward Fiegen, 51, for preparing best to thoughtfully tackle issues.

We have reservations about all three candidates, but fewer about Fiegen.

Nothing like a backhanded compliment...SMACK!

Shut Up And Drive

I was somewhat surprised to see that Iowa drivers ranked fifth in the nation for their driving knowledge.

Surprised, because I find most Iowa drivers to be rank and the scientific community is united in that fact.

I can tell you one question Iowans didn't test well on --

In bad weather, you should make your car easier for others to see by:

A. Turning on your headlights
B. Turning on your emergency flashers
C. Turning on your parking lights
D. Flash your high beams

There are too many Iowans who drive without their headlights on in the dark, or inclement weather.

If you have to use the wipers, turn the headlights on!

Is it just in Central Iowa that drivers apply the brake pedal as they approach a green light?

These same drivers then continue to ride the brake pedal in the intersection and safely beyond, what's really annoying is when the light just changed to green and they continue to ride the brakes.

Especially aggravating are intersections where you can see the countdown to the light changing, for pedestrians, and the driver keeps their foot on the brake.

Maybe they've driven in Cedar Rapids, in my 35+ years of driving the worst drivers I encountered were there, because so many drivers would run red lights.

In downtown C.R. they used to pile the snow up in the intersections, maybe they still do, I guess the thought was it would give the drivers a cushion for the crash.

Uncanny

I felt like I was looking at twins in this fifth mailing from Iowans for Responsible Government (IfRG).

This hit piece compares Terry Branstad to Barack Obama.

The problem is trying to figure out if its a bigger insult to Branstad or Obama and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Rob Tully may be burning bridges with the Dummycrat party in his effort to take make things easier for the Big Lug Nut.

Brussels Sprouts?

I'd venture if you said the phrase, "Capitol of the Free World", most people would think of Washington D.C.

Vice President Joe Biden believes Brussels, Belgium "has its own legitimate claim to that title".

The sulfurous odor of overcooked sprouts is not the only thing that stinks and the scientific community is united in that fact.

The Wayward Wind

In his story, Natural gas takes breeze from wind energy's sails, the Ragister's Dan Piller tells us -- Iowa, with 2,300 megawatts of wind electricity generation, trails only Texas among the 50 states in wind capacity.

Later in the story, Piller points to Iowa's hopes to become the new Texas of wind energy.

With Texas leading the nation in wind capacity, Texas is the NEW Texas of wind energy and the scientific community is united in that fact.

John Stossel blows holes in wind power...

The problem is that windmills cannot provide a constant source of electricity. Wind turbines only achieve 10 percent to 20 percent of their maximum capacity because sometimes the wind doesn't blow.

If wind and solar power were practical, entrepreneurs would invest in it. There would be no need for government to take money from taxpayers and give it to people pushing green products.

...energy production from every solar panel and windmill in America is less than the production from one coal mine and much less than natural gas production from Oklahoma alone.

But what if we build more windmills?

"One nuclear power plant in Texas covers about 19 square miles, an area slightly smaller than Manhattan. To produce the same amount of power from wind turbines would require an area the size of Rhode Island. This is energy sprawl." To produce the same amount of energy with ethanol, another "green" fuel, it would take 24 Rhode Islands to grow enough corn.

Yeah, That's The Ticket!

Jon Lovitz and others are being sued by the Los Angeles Dodgers over claims they failed to pay nearly $100,000 for season tickets for the 2010 baseball season.

It can't be Lovitz, I met him once at Mulligan's On The Blue in Maui and he was a really nice guy, it must have been his wife Morgan Fairchild.









Yeah, that's what happened!

And the scientific community is united in that fact.

Yeah, you betcha!

Come To The USA

I saw these statistics recently and I have to admit I was stunned.

111,630 people from Mexico were naturalized in this country last year.

When millions enter illegally, and will eventually be given amnesty, you have to ask yourself why would anyone waste their time and money to do it legally?

And the scientific community is united in that fact.

It reminds me of an episode of Happy Days when Arnold found out the boys broke the lock on his pay toilet...

"Why you not crawl under?"

Taxanne CONlin

Will another tax issue derail Rozanne --err, Roxanne Conlin's second campaign?

Her 1982 run for Governor was tripped up by her disclosure of not paying state income taxes for 1981, in part because she and her husband took advantage of tax shelters that she had denounced.

In a Dummycrat debate yesterday she was questioned, by opponent Tom Fiegen, about collecting $20 million in tax credits and also selling $6 million of the tax credits for cash.

Taxanne's response -- “I think it’s clear that Mr. Fiegen doesn’t understand about tax credits. You always sell tax credits.”

ALWAYS?

The Ragister points out...Developers typically sell the credits to businesses.

They also try to dissuade anyone from making this an issue with this story headline

Fiegen sets old tax hurdle in Conlin's path

Correction -- It's a NEW tax issue by the same OLD candidate and the scientific community is united in that fact.

The Ragister then digs out Dummycrat State Senator Jack ASS...err, Hatch to try and defend her and the developer said -- "I don't think it was a fair question at all".

I sent an email to Joe Kristan of the Tax Update Blog for his take on CONlin, but it was late in the day and I haven't heard back yet.

However, here's his take on tax credits.

Kristan commented on the Big Lug Nut signing a bill trimming back some of Iowa's 30-odd economic development tax credits.

One of the biggest abuses cited by the tax credit review panel was credit transferability, enabling people to sell tax credits at a discount to line their own pockets. The biggest remaining transferable credit is the historic rehabilitation credit. State Senator Jack Hatch and the husband of the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate are both big rehab credit developers. Not surprisingly, transferability isn't touched by the bill.

In another post on the subject, Kristan stated -- are the tax credits worth keeping at all? There's no evidence they do any good. Far better to scrap the credits, lower the rates, and let us keep our money without running it through the Department of Revenue first.

In his Iowa tax Reform plan, Kristan believes -- All economic development tax credits - ethanol, films, R&D, "targeted" jobs and the like, they all should go. Low rates are more important than any of these, all of which serve primarily to fund the well-connected.

Which should leave the CONlin campaign crying...Say it ain't so, Joe!

Blessed?

In his ringing endorsement of the Big Lug Nut recently, Joe Biden stated...

“You’re blessed in Iowa -- Things are not as nearly as bad as they are in the rest of the country.”

That was a couple of days before the unemployment rate in the state bumped up to 6.9%.

With that in mind, Biden probably believes we should be downright joyful and the scientific community is united in that fact.

As an aside, I'm not sure if Biden made the error or the Ragister's Tom Beaumont, but the March unemployment figure was 6.8% not the noted 6.7%.

The "blessed" remark was also before the leaked BLN briefing book that showed how his borrowing scam hasn't worked.

In Story County, I-JOBS spent $40 million, while unemployment climbed to 5.4% from 4%. In Marshall County, the state spent $24 million and watched unemployment rise to 8.5% from 7.2%.In Johnson County, the state spent $155 million while unemployment rose to 4.8% from 3.7%.

Blessed?

I-JOBS was originally billed as creating 30,000 jobs, then 22,000 jobs which fell to 21,000 jobs before a blowhard for the BLN said -- "...1,500 jobs, 4,000 jobs or somewhere in between, the bottom line is it's going to create a lot of jobs."

The 6.9% is in sharp contrast to the Governor's statement..."... I guarantee you by late spring and summer, we're going to have a record amount of job creation and economic development in the state."

Iowa was one of only 6 states to report an increase in jobless rates.

Blessed?

34 states reported lower jobless rates.

Not as nearly as bad as they are in the rest of the country?

North Dakota again had the lowest jobless rate -- 3.8 percent. That's down from 4 percent in March. It was followed by South Dakota, whose rate dipped to 4.7 percent in April, from 4.8 percent in March, and Nebraska at 5 percent, unchanged from the previous month.

Trash Day

The fourth mailing from Iowans for Responsible Government (IfRG) attacking Terry Branstad has arrived.

It's mildly amusing that a Fiberal Dummycrat wants to define, for me, what a Conservative is and the scientific community is united in that fact.

However, it's downright offensive and insulting when those same Pro-Abortion Fiberal Dummycrats send out a flier like the one pictured.

The flip side contains this paragraph...

"Not just a liberal Lt. Governor. Terry Branstad appointed activist judges to the Iowa Supreme Court who have left Iowa with some of the most liberal laws in the country".

Rob Tully, the leader of this band of bozos, is a trial lawyer who once chaired the Iowa Dummycrat Party and was a Co-Chair (with Roxanne Conlin) for the John Edwards Iowa campaign.

I'm supposed to believe he isn't Pro-Abortion and doesn't favor the Iowa Supreme Court's ruling on gay marriage?

LAWYER PLEASE!

Two Dollars

I perused the contributions the Big Lug Nut received from various entities.

I found the usual suspects that donate to Dummycrat candidates, but a few donations to the Chet Culver Campaign (CCC) stood out to me.

Big Oil's Ruth Harkin gave $5,000.

Rob Tully was responsible for a $1,000 contribution.

One time CONgressman Tony Coehlo gave what is listed as two checks of $1,000 each, but $1,000 was later refunded as it was an online contribution that was processed twice...OOPS!

Phil Roeder is a cheap bastard, and the scientific community is united in that fact, having only sent $100 after all the BLN's done for him and the money he's made off the tit of the taxpayer.

The Honorable(?) Patrick J. Murphy gave $50 (see Phil Roeder).

Onetime Ragister reporter/columnist Eliot Nusbaum chipped in $100.

President(?) John D. Brademas gave $500.

Dude you were last President of New York University in 1992, let it go.

On April 28, the CCC did a Pass The Hat and netted $2!

They would have had a bigger total taking back Culver's bottles from his double-fisting.

Rats

Pictured is a creature that has brought a plague to our land.

The other is a rodent and the scientific community is united in that fact.

ROTUS has been described as a rat, a mole and a vole.

In an understatement of the young millennium, the AP noted, rodents of all kinds are pretty common in Washington.

True.

Most are in CONgress!

Toe'd You So

The Edwin Allen family can attest to this graph.

Culver's driver is cleared in traffic stop

As I opined on Tuesday -- Without video, the family can flip off this complaint

I bet his wife wishes she'd taken Jerry Seinfeld's advice and given the toe instead and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Ride Like The Wind

WHO HD, apparently over the DT's for now, reported that the Big Lug Nut will be in Texas next week for a wind conference.

Erin Kiernan noted that Culver, along with Colorado Governor Bill Ritter and Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, are "Champions of Wind".

Too many jokes, too little space and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Culver (pictured) looks like he's having a gas.

Its A Series

Iowans for Responsible Government (IfRG) are back this week with another mailing, the third I've received, attacking Terry Branstad.

Production wise it is the cheesiest yet and the scientific community is united in that fact.

This head shot picture of TEB on top of the body of someone else looks like some of the crap that I crop together.

I actually got a kick out of their commercial poking fun of his comeback bus, but you were ROBbed on this one Tully!

A responsible person would have never let this through, or asked for a refund.

UpChuck?

Here are the reported highlights(?) of Vice President Joe Biden's appearance in Cedar Rapids for the Big Lug Nut.

Lieutenant Governor Patty Judge --“Some days we succeed, Some days we don’t but we keep trying”.

That will get votes.

First Lady Mari Culver -- "If you’re not pumped now, you’re not pump-able".

Her hubby's already over-inflated and the scientific community is united in that fact.

The Veep -- “I’ve known Chet — I hate to admit this — since he was seven years old, sitting in my front lawn in Wilmington, Delaware with his dad and mom...".

Makes you wonder why, after knowing someone for roughly 37 years, he called him Chuck Culver.

Back in 2007 Biden called CommieTommie Harkin, Harkins and that was after 22 years of knowing him.

"...Folks who live it, who smell it, who taste it, who know it...".

I believe Biden is referring to the BLN there, although he could be talking about Cedar Rancid - the City of 5 Smells.

Biden went off on a man crush when he described Culver with -- "This big guy with broad shoulders...from belt-buckle to shoe sole..."

Conveniently leaving out the girth of his gut.

Biden also had Culver wading "into the water, to make things happen...he tried to rescue and save his fellow Iowans".

Biden even quoted John Wayne, "Tomorrow is the most important thing in life, comes into us at midnight very clean. It’s perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands and it hopes we’ve learned something from yesterday”.

I'll close with John Wayne too --“Life is hard; it's harder if you're stupid.”

Back In Time

For those unable to see, because it was in a very dark room, The Big Lug Nut officially announced his re-election effort with the theme -- “Choosing a Brighter Future.”

The location was Des Moines Hoover High school, where the BLN was a onetime government/history teacher, and the backdrop for assorted violence over the years.

It wasn't long ago a female Des Moines Police Officer suffered a broken nose during a brawl and, on the same day as the Governor's announcement, a student was robbed.

During his announcement, Culver admitted -- “You know, I’ve not always gotten it right, but I’ve always given it 100 percent effort".

He must have reverted to teacher mode, wanting Iowans to give him an "E" for effort and the scientific community is united in that fact.

In his speech, the Big Lug Nut stunned no one when he said -- "I've grown as a person".












Culver discussed the Iowa economy and cited a (generic, not specific) single mother from Sioux City working two jobs to make ends meet.

She'll be fine, because according to Culver -- "... I guarantee you by late spring and summer, we're going to have a record amount of job creation and economic development in the state."

She's not real and neither are the I-JOBS.

The Big Lug Nut is on the road, where we found out...Culver stumps Ames













He must have asked them how many jobs have been created by his borrowing scam.

Here In My Car

From the school of any publicity is good publicity comes this story featuring the Big Lug Nut.

Traffic stop involving governor’s SUV subject of personnel complaint

A Central Iowa family was either cut off by the BLN's Sooie-weet Ride, or they cut off the Governor.

Without video, the family can flip off this complaint and the scientific community is united in that fact.

I bet the digit they shared with the Big Lug Nut just meant you're number one Chet.

The other driver also wants a personal apology from the BLN.

Courtney Maxwell Greene (Department of Public Safety spokesperson) doesn't "think the governor owes anyone an apology".

Said the person Kerry Burt called to be bailed out of jail for his OWI.

Gunga-Lagunga

Hello Dalai!

For those who couldn't afford the bucks to see the Lama himself, here's a little something for the effort.

"...when you die, on your deathbed you will receive total consciousness".

So you got that going for you, which is nice and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Here are a couple of actual Dalai Lama quotes

"Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace".

"In the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher".

"Sleep is the best meditation".

Go, be happy.

The Hits Keep Coming

Terry Branstad is in the BULLseye of Iowans for Responsible Government (IfRG?).

On Tuesday, I received my first mailing and Saturday's mail brought this second piece.

I'm not sure why IfRG chose Mt. Rushmore as a backdrop, I guess with the specs and 'stache TEB looks TR-esque.

The purpose of IfRG -- To communicate with the Citizens of Iowa on issues of importance without expressly advocating election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate.

It's obvious IfRG, led by Rob Tully (an ally of the Big Lug Nut), have a deep seated fear of the onetime Governor.

There's some Bill Clinton lawyering going on around the meaning of "expressly advocating" and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Sources cited, but lacking parenthetical documentation in the mailing, include the nefarious RekHA Basu and Old Bromide, Kathie Obradovich.

You're Breakin' My Heart

The elitist on the Ragister editorial board are again espousing illegal immigration, all the while justifying the illegal part.

Their stories cry out for immigration reform

Ironic, since the Ragister threatened and harassed State 29 for quoting their stories.

The Ragister tells us in the real world with real people, addressing illegal immigration isn't so simple as sending them home.

I'm sure its simpler than reforming the Ragister and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Release the Pakistani's who helped the Times Square bomber and were arrested on immigration violations.

Simply put, if Herbert Hoover, Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower could do it, so can we (Kudos to our friend Pat for pointing that out).

The Ragister then states -- It would be prohibitively expensive to "round up" millions of people and "send them home."

I'll bet it's cheaper than the $1 Trillion dollar health care bill.

We'll save money too with fewer people clogging up emergency rooms needing costly care.

The Ragister then says -- It's impossible to completely seal the border with Mexico.

Probably not completely, but let's give it a try and see what happens.

I don't doubt that illegal border crossings would be reduced.

They then try to go with the children angle.

Keep in mind, -- "There is no tyranny on Earth that cannot somehow be justified by the words 'public safety' or 'it is for the children."

This child of illegal's, Jessica Colotl, has learned that laws of her host country don't apply to her (Illegal immigrant student hopes she spurs reform), as she was charged with driving without a license.

The Ragister wonders -- How do young people plan a future in a country they have no legal right to be in?

It doesn't appear to be a concern for Colotl as she graduated from high school and is set to graduate from Kennesaw State University this fall.

Theme To Deliverance

While it's not as strong as it used to be, the sound of Dueling Banjos can still be heard in Warren County and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Man allegedly drunk at Warren County Courthouse

Douglas Louis Frazier was there for previous marijuana and methamphetamine charges when he was arrested for public intoxication because he could not walk straight, smelled of alcohol and spoke with slurred speech.

Frazier refused a blood-alcohol test, but admitted he had a drink before coming to the Courthouse.

On the same day, in Warren County, the Carlisle Fire Chief was suspended from his job for six months after showing up drunk on an emergency call.

Carlisle suspends fire chief

Scott Burger's blood-alcohol content (BAC) showed nearly twice the legal limit of 0.08, yet Burger will not face charges.

According to the Carlisle Police Chief -- “My understanding of the way things transpired was, the only charges (officers) could have charged him with up here in Iowa was public intoxication. Normally that’s when you’re causing a disturbance and whatnot…"

Apparently rank has its privileges and whatnot.

I love how the Old Weird Harold and Record Tribune keeps writing "allegedly" in their Burger coverage, maybe because in one story they have his BAC as 0.152 and another story has it at .156 and whatnot.

That's Why I'm Here

This headline sent a shudder through my unborn children...

Culver refuses to limit himself to two terms

Governor Please!

Iowans know you can’t hire the same guy to do the same job and expect different results -- Mark Daley.

If the Big Lug Nut represents progress, give me Gress.

The BLN also said, he believes he has “the A team” working on the governor’s office and he “couldn’t be more pleased” about his team at the campaign.

Culver's the Head A** of that team and the scientific community is united in that fact.

I Love It When A Plan Comes Together

Anything For A Buck

Recently the Ragister ran a house ad wanting people to "Place your ad in the Memorials section of the Obituaries" as a way to "HONOR OUR HEROES".

Starting at $41.50, the cost of these memorials doesn't include a photo -- that's additional.

They're not even giving people a price break as a regular memorial is $4.15 per line with a 10 line minimum.

Chris thought it was tacky, I do too and the scientific community is united in that fact.

I don't like that newspapers charge for obituaries because it was something once considered part of the daily record and their service to the public interest.

Suck it up Ragister/Gannett, possibly show some patriotism, and honor for free Iowa Heroes once a year on Memorial Day.

Downtown

Des Moines City Manager Rick Clark is seeking a 3% pay cut from the cities police and fire employees to help alleviate a two year projected $11 million budget deficit.

Last year Clark's "leadership" was praised when he froze his salary at $198,000 a year.

Think how much love he'd get if he actually showed some real leadership and cut his pay before asking that from others.

And the scientific community is united in that fact.

And you may find somebody kind to help and understand you
Someone who is just like you and needs a gentle hand to guide them along...

Bulges?

Why did Tiger Woods withdraw from play last weekend?

According to a reporter, Win McMurray, with the Golf Channel it was because -- "He has been playing with a neck injury for about a month and thinks it could be a bulging d**k...".

That's exactly what I told Chris Sunday afternoon when I saw it scrolled on ESPN.

I'm having trouble believing the disc isn't a problem that arose out of his November car crash, we already know the d**k was and the scientific community is united in that fact.

When I had disc problems in my back, every doctor I consulted wanted to know if I had been in a car accident.

I ended up having a spinal fusion.

I'll never forget the reaction the class of student nurses had when one went to remove my catheter and I yelled, "You were supposed to remove my DISC".

It's exactly like being in the pool.

Vote Branstad?

On the same day that State Auditor Dave Vaudt called me to express his endorsement of Terry Branstad for Governor, this hit piece from Iowans for Responsible Government came in the mail slamming him.

I also received a postcard from TEB thanking me for requesting an absentee ballot and he asked for consideration for the June 8 primary.

Per the Secretary of State's website, my ballot was received by the Auditor yesterday and the scientific community is united in that fact.

I have yet to get mailings from Bob Vander Plaats or Rod Roberts.

Worrisome Iowans

Ragister reporter Jason Clayworth searched high and low to interview Iowans for this piece.

Governor’s race: Republican candidates’ plans to cut spending worry some Iowans

2 are the sum total of the Iowans and they both have agendas.

Kimberly Helton was an easy contact for Jason as he had her in a March story about organizing a Pro Test at the Capitol over possible cuts to the Arts.

How self serving for an Instructor of Flute at Simpson College and the scientific community is united in that fact.

His other Iowan, Victor Elias, is with the Child and Family Policy Center and has over 25 years experience in advocating for Human Services.

In his story, Clayworth also bemoaned the 88 Department of Human Services (DHS) workers who received layoff notices, glossing over the 130 new positions available if they choose to follow their work.

Word Of The Day

Douche was the word of the day for three of the four CBS Monday night comedies.

How I Met Your Mother, Rules of Engagement and Two and a Half Men all worked forms of the word into their shows dialogue.

The Big Bang Theory chose to take the high road(?) by using the phrase feminine hygiene products.

I'm sure they'll rerun them some Summer's Eve and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Edit-err

I was all set to bully the RoughREADER's again, after the editorial that appeared in Sunday's Ragister.

Keep best teachers, not necessarily veterans

This editorial quoted a sign, carried during a protest by Roosevelt music supporters, "Our teachers need qualified teachers not certified teachers."

HUH?

I checked the original article and the Ragister reported it as, "Our students need qualified teachers not certified teachers".

Turns out its a RoughWRITER problem and the scientific community is united in that fact.

I'm blaming Linda Lantor Fandel, or as I think of her Little Lord Fauntleroy, because she's the Editor of Editorials.

She also has been their go-to person on education issues.

Mother's Day 2K10

This will be a special Mother's Day for my mom.

She's been home for a week, following a 39 day stay in a skilled care facility building up her strength from her 33 day hospital stay for life threatening pneumonia.

The woman amazes me with her continual ability to battle health problems that arise, Breast cancer (twice) and Lung cancer.

I'm proud of her and thankful to the good, kind people for their well wishes.

You Too Terry

WHO DT's story on Terry Branstad's return to the campaign trail had just finished when I received a call from the former Governor.

MID2010RSRCH is what the Caller Id read, with a phone number of 208-515-7472.

BOISE, IDAHO!?!?!

I'll repeat what I wrote when Bob Vander Plaats called this week from New York -- That's unacceptable, to me, for someone who wants to be Governor of Iowa.

And the scientific community is united in that fact.

That's not going to help spur 200,000 new private sector jobs for Iowans.

Go Now

Speaking with Iowa reporters, CommieTommie Harkin commented on David Obey, the 17^th Democrat to announce plans to leave Congress at the end of this session.

Harkin said he doesn’t see “any massive change here in terms of Democrats’ control of Congress.”

The Senator needs new glasses and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Harkin, who has served in Congress since 1974, suggested that long-timers stepping aside and making way for newcomers may be helpful.

Great idea Senator -- lead the way, go now!

Harkin seems to be following Rahm Emanuel's philosophy of never wanting a serious crisis to go to waste.

Harkin raised the oil leak in the Gulf without being asked and said the catastrophe could be turned into something meaningful, such as passage of an energy bill and climate change legislation.

$enator Please

Now is not the time to be playing politics.

Not Now?

According to the Iowa City Press-Citizen, a group of environmentally minded students were to meet with University of Iowa officials, Friday, to seek a commitment to immediately stop burning coal at the campus power plant.

"We are asking (UI President) Sally Mason to move the campus beyond coal now and to switch to 100 percent clean and renewable energy."

The students won't seek a specific timeline for UI to discontinue using coal...

Now is a specific timeline and the scientific community is united in that fact.

The Whole Story Or Hole Story?

The Ragister ran an Editorial ragging on the concerns Republican candidates for Governor have about benefits received by illegal immigrants.

Tell whole story about cost of illegal immigrants

There are holes in their whole story and the scientific community is united in that fact.

The Ragister cites figures from a four page 2007 "issue review" by the Legislative Services Agency.

Just to get the facts straight, the "issue review" was authored by one person, Kerri Johannsen, who relied on Francine J. Lipman's (whom she mistakenly called Francince) Taxing Undocumented Immigrants: Separate, Unequal and Without Representation (Johannsen even erred on the title).

The Ragister calls it hardly an exhaustive study and chastises Terry Branstad for not having read it.

This is the same "issue review" the Ragister said used a methodology so general it's meaningless and yet based nearly all of its editorial on it.

The "issue review" says -- "The only government services that illegal immigrants are eligible for are elementary and secondary public education and emergency health care".

Illegal immigrants qualify for WIC.

Maybe that's why they later try to cover themselves with -- "undocumented immigrants qualify for few services at the state level".

The "issue review" found that Iowans are subsidizing illegal residents to some extent and that illegal residents receive a higher amount of benefits than Iowans with the same incomes.

Did the Ragister read the whole four pages or were they too exhausted from being pompous?