Iowa

In 2004 and 2006, I supported Leonard Boswell, Congressman from Iowa's third Congressional district. Boswell has been heavily targeted by the Republican party and tends to squeak by to victory. His age and health were issues in 2006. I supported him through it all.

This year I am supporting a primary challenger to Boswell with some reluctance. Bottom line is I am tired of having to defend the district against increasingly aggressive Republican challenges just waiting for Boswell to retire. The time for him to retire is now and there is an excellent alternative.

Sometimes a local candidate catches my attention. And, when I can view the situation without bias (which I can't in NYC), I have been a good judge of those candidates who are winners and those who are losers. One of the winners I picked in 2006 was Elesha Gayman, who ran for State Rep in Iowa's 84th House district. There were several reasons she caught my attention. First, the district includes Davenport, IA, where my father was born. So I have a family interest in the district. Second, Elesha was clearly a progressive grassroots favorite, endorsed by the local Democracy for America groups. Third, it was clear to me that Elesha was an intelligent, progressive candidate who would do a great job representing her district. She was a longshot, up against a well-funded, long-time Republican incumbent. But I had the feeling Elesha had a chance.

So I donated to her campaign and I blogged for her. And she won. She is now an incumbent representing the 84th State House district in Iowa.

And she is doing a great job focusing on alternative energy, healthcare, minimum wage, agriculture, etc. You can get a rundown of her positions on these issues on her website. And you can read about Elesha's biography here. Recently, the Republican machine has targeted Elesha Gayman. She represents Iowa voters, but she sure doesn't represent the interests of the Greedy Oil Party in Iowa, so they are targeting her and some of her colleagues. So, I include her and the other targeted progressive Democrats on my Iowa Act Blue Page. Help out either by donating or volunteering. Elesha really deserves our support and she really is pissing off right wing extremists.

Iowa Rep. Steve King recently made news insulting blacks and Muslims in one little hate-filled speech.

But this isn't anything new. Steve King, a man who supports no-bid contracts for Halliburton but was one of only 11 Congressmen who voted AGAINST aid to Katrina victims, has a long record of intolerance and advocay of human rights abuse. Here's some footage of Steve King on the floor of Congress advocating...well, human rights abuses (thanks to Kingwatch.org):

According to King we should treat people like livestock. Just how far does he want to take that? How far does his confusion between humans and livestock go?

So these are Republican "values?" I say Feh!

Republicans routinely insult Blacks, Native Americans and Muslims, and even Jews. It is no wonder hate crimes are up during Bush's time in office.

The latest example of Republican anti-Black and anti-Muslim hate speech comes from a Congressman from Iowa. From an email I got from American Family Voices:

While the Democratic Party has yet to decide who the nominee of the party will be, the radical wing of the Republican Party is just beginning their opening salvo against Sen. Barack Obama.

We need your help today to stop these racist and bigoted attacks.

Congressman Steve King (R-IA) is known for his outrageous and disgusting comments. In the past he's been quoted as comparing immigrants to livestock, calling undocumented workers a "slow-moving terrorist attack", claiming that immigrants have murdered more Americans than the combined death toll in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2002, comparing the abuses at Abu Ghraib to mere "hazing" and waging a war against "secularists" who want to "eradicate Christ from Christmas." Suffice it to say, this man is off his rocker.

Iowa Farmers Union Lobby Day & Press Conference
When: Mon, Mar 17, 22:00 – Tue, Mar 18, 04:00
Where: North Rotunda area of the State Capitol in Des Moines.

Iowa Farmers Union members & supporters will talk with legislators & their staff about top legislative priorities for 2008 including local control, market access, & local ownership of renewable energy projects. For more information contact Leigh Adcock at 515-232-4082 email: leigh_adcock_at_prairienet.net

Iowa Children’s Water Festival,
May 8
Des Moines Area Community College, Ankeny.

Volunteers, presenters and donations to support the festival are being recruited now! The festival is a "Splash of Educational Fun" for approximately 2,300 fifth graders from communities across Iowa. This fun, hands on learning experience includes classroom instruction, an exhibit hall, games and much more concerning all the many aspects of water. Contact: Laura Ceretti, (515) 283-8705, ceretti_at_dmww.com.

Iowa Rivers Revival Festival
3rd Annual Conference
April 4th – 6th, 2008
Iowa Falls, IA

Rediscovering Our Rivers:
GREENBELTS, HABITATS, CLEAN WATER & FUN

Friday: Iowa Rivers Revival Fundraiser
Boat Club, Iowa Falls, IA
Live Entertainment/Silent Auction/Appetizers/Local Wine and Beer

Saturday: 3rd Annual Conference – Ellsworth Community College
Keynote: Kenny Salwey, author The Last River Rat and Tales of a River Rat

Clean Water • Outreach, Engagement, Community Participation, & Advocacy • The Wild Places: Rivers, Greenbelts, and Habitats • Fun: Recreation & Community Enterprise

Sunday: River Tour Options – Experience Iowa Falls and the Iowa River with a guided tour highlighting many of the historic and scenic spots along the river.

¢ Nate Hoogeveen will lead a guided Canoe Tour down the Iowa River
$20/includes canoe and lunch (approx. 4 hr trip)

¢ Rod Scott will lead a guided Motor Coach Tour down the Iowa River
$30/includes lunch (approx. 4 hr trip)

Conference Registration $45
(conference and three meals; including Saturday evening’s annual banquet)

RSVP TODAY: roz.lehman_at_mchsi.com

Lodging information: click here

(Lodging will not be included in registration costs this year.)

Exhibitors: $250 or $100 for non-profits
Click here for registration

SEED Mid year conference
Apr 26, 2008
Davenport North High School, Davenport, IA

SEED ( sustainable ecological economic development ) will hold their mid year conference in April in Davenport. To register or for more information contact: richlands@earthlink.net

Iowa Democratic Veterans' Caucus
Feburary Leadership and Member Meeting
Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 10:00 AM

Pappajohn Center
1200 Grand Avenue
Des Moines , IA 50309

Check out our web site at www.idvc.org

During our February meeting, we will have a facilitated work session and we will discuss and reach conclusions on the following:

Proposed: The IDVC will more clearly delineate our vision, mission, and objectives for the coming year along with some $$ estimates for accomplishing those objectives.

Proposed: IDVC will become a model instrument wiithin the IDP for party building, communications and GOTV efforts to our target market ? i.e. Veterans, their families and all others who share our issues within the context and values of the Democratic Party.

Proposed: IDVC will determine the most appropriate administrative and management structure and function for our caucus.

Proposed: IDVC will determine appropriate and non-conflicting avenues to pursue financing for IDVC market penetration ? including member attraction, member fulfillment and member retention.

Proposed: IDVC will meet our Leadership, Management, Money and Marketing objectives and we will approach the DNC to diffuse our model into other states that may need or request our help to organize their veteran?s caucus.

Respectfully Submitted

American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy's 2nd National Forum on Energy Efficiency in Agriculture

Food and Energy from the Ground Up: Efficiency's Role in Sustainable Agriculture

Embassy Suites Hotel • Des Moines, Iowa • Februrary 20–22, 2008

Co-Chairs:
Rich Hackner, Wisconsin Focus on Energy and GDS Associates
Mike Morris, National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT)

In the recent national dialogue about biofuels and other renewable energy opportunities for agriculture, efficiency has been a strangely neglected topic. The usual vision or hope is that agricultural lands will produce enough fuel and electricity to meet future energy demands that continue to expand rapidly.

This conference will explore an alternative vision, where increased energy production by agriculture is accompanied by equally significant improvements in energy efficiency throughout our economy. Making these improvements will require rethinking and redesigning many aspects of our interrelated food and energy systems.

Background

In recent years, ACEEE has been active in reinvigorating interest in energy issues in agriculture. We supported the Senate Agriculture Committee in their crafting the energy title (Title IX) of the 2002 Farm Bill, helping to insure that energy efficiency was included. Since the bill's passage, we have worked to provide information on energy efficiency opportunities in the agricultural sector and to identify successful program strategies, becoming a leading source of information the government and the energy efficiency community on energy efficiency in agriculture through our Web site, reports and presentations.