Iowa

As the flood waters recede in the Midwest, it becomes increasingly clear that this was yet ANOTHER preventable disaster that the Republicans let happen. McCain is one of many Republicans who fought tooth and nail to prevent flood control measures in the Midwest.

First, some general background. On June 8th, 2008, NPR ran a report on the decline of America's flood control dams (you can listen with Openplayer, I think). There has been a jump of 33% in the number of dams that are considered unsafe. Consider that as you ponder the impact of these floods.

Now, more specifically, the Des Moines Register carried a piece on how Republicans, despite warnings from 1993 on, refused in 2007 to fund a much-needed upgrade to the levees protecting Des Moines. Many other similar upgrades were part of the same bill. McCain fiercely opposed the bill and Bush eventually vetoed it when Democrats passed it. From the Des Moines Register:

Republican presidential candidate John McCain opposed legislation last year that included money for flood control in Des Moines, which shows he is wrong to push for reforms to the congressional earmark system, a Democratic lawmaker charged Thursday.

If you need a "how-to" ignite your outrage over yet another set of levees neglected by the Republicans' doctrine of "Drowning America in a bathtub", then start at David's Drowning America: Iowa Edition.

For now let's look at the devastation through the eyes of Iowans themselves. Let's start with Liz Martin's aerial view for the GazetteOnline, offered without voice over or comment:

Mere days after I discussed the breaking of a levee in Iowa being another example of deliberate Republican neglect of our national infrastructure (the same kind of neglect that led to the flooding of New Orleans after Katrina), Wisconsin gets hit by the same kind of neglect. An embankment holding back a man-made lake in Wisconsin has broken, flooding yet another Midwest town: (from Salon.com)

The swollen Kickapoo River engulfed nearly the entire town Monday morning, forcing about 150 people to evacuate. By evening, the village was a grid of canals with cars submerged up to their windows and parking lots looking like lakes, just as it was in August...

An engineer assessment team from the Wisconsin National Guard was headed to Lake Delton on Tuesday to determine what would be needed to begin repairs on an embankment along the man-made lake that gave way, releasing a powerful current.

The 267-acre lake emptied into the nearby Wisconsin River on Monday, washing out part of a highway, sweeping away three homes and tearing apart two others...

I have already discussed at some length the dismal and DELIBERATE Republican failures to maintain America's infrastructure. The Republican Party has a stated policy of "Drowning American in a Bathtub," essentially reducing government to nothing. This is how Republican guru Grover Norquist put it:

"Cutting the government in half in one generation is both an ambitious and reasonable goal," Norquist stated in May 2000. "If we work hard we will accomplish this and more by 2025. Then the conservative movement can set a new goal. I have a recommendation: To cut government in half again by 2050"

We saw the direct and tragic result of that Republican "Drown America" policy in Louisiana and Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina, in closed and collapsed bridges in Minnesota, and now...floods in Iowa this month (June 7th).

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.