Top Stories

Open letter to readers: Today and tomorrow

By Lynda Waddington | 11.17.11

Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.

ACS lockout continues; plan emerges to repeal sugar protections

crystal_sugar_80
By Virginia Chamlee | 11.15.11

A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.

Cain campaign: Farmers know more about regulations than EPA

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By Andrew Duffelmeyer | 11.15.11

The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.

Mathis wins, Democrats maintain Senate control

Liz Mathis
By Lynda Waddington | 11.08.11

The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.

Press Release

PR: Nation should work to address veterans’ challenges

By Press Release Reprints | 11.11.11

BRUCE BRALEY RELEASE — As US involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan ends, it’s more important than ever that our nation works to address the challenges faced by the men and women who fought there.

PR: Honoring veterans, help in hiring

By Press Release Reprints | 11.11.11

CHUCK GRASSLEY RELEASE — A difficult job market is challenging the soldiers, sailors and airmen who have protected America’s interests by serving in the Armed Forces.

PR: In honor of America’s veterans

By Press Release Reprints | 11.11.11

TOM LATHAM RELEASE — No one has done more to secure the freedom enjoyed by every single American than our veterans and those currently serving in the armed services.

PR: Honoring and supporting our nation’s veterans

By Press Release Reprints | 11.11.11

DAVE LOEBSACK RELEASE — Veterans Day is an opportunity to reflect on the service of generations of veterans and to honor the sacrifices they and their families have made so that we may live in peace and freedom here at home.

Second-tier shenanigans: Biden supporters silenced by caucus crowd

By Adam Burke | 01.05.08 | 3:45 pm

Media observers Matt Palevsky and Bess Kalb witnessed the caucus at Brody High School in Des Moines and caught an example of what they termed “mob mentality” on the part of the front-runners’ supporters.

Writing at “Off the Bus” on the huffingtonpost.com, they have an article and video footage from the event, including the voice vote that denied Joe Biden supporters from attaining viability and a delegate to represent them.

The precinct chair explained to one of Biden’s supporters:

“We don’t have time to get the Biden folks back into a group … There are old women in there that need to get home.”

70 delegates were needed to become viable and Biden’s supporters alleged that they were miscounted and not given an opportunity to count all their supporters. The precinct secretary ended their caucus for Biden when he declared “Time’s up!” and forced the group to scramble for their second choices.
Biden supporter Kevin Owens explains his frustration with the process:

Owens said, “I want the second tier to be heard because the national media is ruling the election and that’s wrong.”

Framing the vote in terms of “more time” and “letting Biden have more time” the precinct chair puts the matter to a voice vote in this video:

So-called “first-tier” candidates’ supporters easily shouted down the proposal to allow Biden’s people to reconvene.

Palevsky had this to say about the event:

This vignette is meant to show the chaos inherent in the caucus system and illustrate how well-intentioned people can corrupt the democratic process.

Read the rest of the article at: Biden Stripped of Caucus Delegates: What the Faucus? Palevsky and Kalb were in Iowa covering the caucuses for The Real News.com, an on-line video news network.

Comments

  • desmoinesdem

    that is a total disgrace My precinct chair would never have allowed that to happen.

  • Michael Nash

    Mob Rule This is a perfect example of how the “mob” has been persuaded to go with the “glamor candidates…the candidates annointed by the news media and the National Democratic Leadership Committee.  Iowa Democrats should be absolutely appalled and ashamed of the behavior demonstrated at the Iowa caucuses last Thursday night.  I am sure the YouTube example was repeated dozens if not hundreds of times that night.  We were at a caucus held in Marion and we witnessed the same thing.  Both Obama and Clinton “bussed” participants into the caucus.  Yes, many of these people were “first time” caucus attendees, but I would also be willing to bet they were “one time” and perhaps “never again” caucus attendees as well.  Even though many of these first timers were in their late 20′s and 30′s, most of them had NEVER even been registered to vote before.  I stood at the entry door to the caucus hall and watched as caucus volunteers frantically, tried to get these “new” attendees registered in the time allotted.  The new attendees had absolutely NO idea what they were to do at the caucus. And it was also evident, that once the caucus attendees gathered and stood to be counted, for their candidate, all of these first time attendees left the caucus.  Even though both Clinton and Obama had more than the numbers needed, to secure their delegates, members of their caucus aggressively attacked the undecided caucus goers and those who at that moment seemed to be representing a candidate, who wouldn’t be viable.  Most of the undecided and nonviable caucus attendees were trying to make a decision as to where to go or how to regroup to perhaps bring Richardson, Dodd and Kucinich supporters over to the Biden group, who with a little work could have achieved viability.  The caucus chairperson told everyone they would have 30 minutes to regroup and persuade other caucus attendees, to join the undecided and/or the Biden group.  For the record, the 30 minutes that was supposed to be allocated, turned out to be only 5 minutes.  Where is the justice in this??  We were Biden supporters….we saw over 500 people turn out for the Wednesday night rally held for Senator Biden at the Riverside Roundhouse, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  No matter what the news media and the Clinton, Obama and Edwards supporters tell you and want you to believe, Senator Joe Biden WAS a viable Democratic presidential candidate.  Everyone involved in this farce should be ashamed of themselves!!  Iowa Democratic leaders should be especially ashamed and Americans should be ashamed!! 

    What transpired at the caucuses, is no worse than what transpired at the Jefferson/Jackson Day Dinner, held in Des Moines this fall.  For that event both Obama and Clinton bussed in thousands of people, from other states, in order to fill the Veteran’s Memorial auditorium and make everyone watching on C-Span and all of the other national news media, that these people were ALL Iowans, there supporting their candidates.  What we have seen in Iowa is how money controls everything and how the voters of Iowa have very little to say about what the outcome will be.  American voters need to be very concerned about the lack of fair play.  We all need to make certain the news media gives EQUAL time to EVERY candidate and NOT just the ones who have the most money.

    Iowans have always been able to make up their own minds and make their own decisions.  We don’t beed Oprah, Bill Clinton and the national news media coming in and telling us how we should vote and for whom we should vote!!

  • peoplepowergranny

    people power granny Check out http://peopleppowerg… and vote in my new presidential poll.  I also reflect on the recent Iowa Caucuses and what comes next.

  • peoplepowergranny

    people power granny Check out http://peopleppowerg… and vote in my new presidential poll.  I also reflect on the recent Iowa Caucuses and what comes next.

  • desmoinesdem

    that is a total disgrace My precinct chair would never have allowed that to happen.

  • Michael Nash

    Mob Rule This is a perfect example of how the “mob” has been persuaded to go with the “glamor candidates…the candidates annointed by the news media and the National Democratic Leadership Committee.  Iowa Democrats should be absolutely appalled and ashamed of the behavior demonstrated at the Iowa caucuses last Thursday night.  I am sure the YouTube example was repeated dozens if not hundreds of times that night.  We were at a caucus held in Marion and we witnessed the same thing.  Both Obama and Clinton “bussed” participants into the caucus.  Yes, many of these people were “first time” caucus attendees, but I would also be willing to bet they were “one time” and perhaps “never again” caucus attendees as well.  Even though many of these first timers were in their late 20's and 30's, most of them had NEVER even been registered to vote before.  I stood at the entry door to the caucus hall and watched as caucus volunteers frantically, tried to get these “new” attendees registered in the time allotted.  The new attendees had absolutely NO idea what they were to do at the caucus. And it was also evident, that once the caucus attendees gathered and stood to be counted, for their candidate, all of these first time attendees left the caucus.  Even though both Clinton and Obama had more than the numbers needed, to secure their delegates, members of their caucus aggressively attacked the undecided caucus goers and those who at that moment seemed to be representing a candidate, who wouldn't be viable.  Most of the undecided and nonviable caucus attendees were trying to make a decision as to where to go or how to regroup to perhaps bring Richardson, Dodd and Kucinich supporters over to the Biden group, who with a little work could have achieved viability.  The caucus chairperson told everyone they would have 30 minutes to regroup and persuade other caucus attendees, to join the undecided and/or the Biden group.  For the record, the 30 minutes that was supposed to be allocated, turned out to be only 5 minutes.  Where is the justice in this??  We were Biden supporters….we saw over 500 people turn out for the Wednesday night rally held for Senator Biden at the Riverside Roundhouse, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  No matter what the news media and the Clinton, Obama and Edwards supporters tell you and want you to believe, Senator Joe Biden WAS a viable Democratic presidential candidate.  Everyone involved in this farce should be ashamed of themselves!!  Iowa Democratic leaders should be especially ashamed and Americans should be ashamed!! 

    What transpired at the caucuses, is no worse than what transpired at the Jefferson/Jackson Day Dinner, held in Des Moines this fall.  For that event both Obama and Clinton bussed in thousands of people, from other states, in order to fill the Veteran's Memorial auditorium and make everyone watching on C-Span and all of the other national news media, that these people were ALL Iowans, there supporting their candidates.  What we have seen in Iowa is how money controls everything and how the voters of Iowa have very little to say about what the outcome will be.  American voters need to be very concerned about the lack of fair play.  We all need to make certain the news media gives EQUAL time to EVERY candidate and NOT just the ones who have the most money.

    Iowans have always been able to make up their own minds and make their own decisions.  We don't beed Oprah, Bill Clinton and the national news media coming in and telling us how we should vote and for whom we should vote!!

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