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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

hermancain_80x80
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.

Obama: Full seating for Florida and Michigan at Dem Convention

By John Deeth | 08.04.08 | 6:58 am

Remember that all-important Democratic Rules and Nominations committee meeting at the end of May, that finally, definitively punished Florida and Michigan for violating the primary calendar? Well, forget it. Barack Obama is, now that it doesn’t matter to the nomination math, recommending seating the two states at full strength.

“Democrats in Florida and Michigan must know that they are full partners and colleagues in our historic mission to reshape Washington and lead our country in a new direction,” Obama writes in a letter to the credentials chairs. “Accordingly, I ask that the Credentials Committee, when it meets on August 24 to approve the delegates for the National Convention, pass a resolution that would entitle each delegate from Florida and Michigan to cast a full vote.”

Concurrence from the Clinton camp: “Today, Senator Obama has requested that the Credentials Committee give Florida and Michigan delegates their full votes,” writes Hillary Clinton in her followup letter. “This is the right position for the Democratic Party and for the country and I urge the Credentials Committee to restore full votes to Florida and Michigan delegates.”

Assuming this happens — and what the nominee says generally goes — Florida and Michigan will suffer no punishment at all for their open defiance of the DNC’s official nomination calendar. Yet Iowa may still be in good shape for staying first in 2012. Republicans have a tentative calendar that keeps Iowa first, and on the Democratic side Obama clearly credits his Iowa win with setting him on the road to the nomination.

Comments

  • Ad-Rock

    Not that this is shocking but it is baffeling. This could put Hillary in a position to win if she can muster a superdelegate defection amongst the Obama ranks. It is a risky move. Maybe the right move but risky.

  • Ad-Rock

    Not that this is shocking but it is baffeling. This could put Hillary in a position to win if she can muster a superdelegate defection amongst the Obama ranks. It is a risky move. Maybe the right move but risky.

  • nt

    It’s too late, Obama. I will vote McCain.

  • nt

    It's too late, Obama. I will vote McCain.

  • sophistihick

    This is typical of liberal philosophy – make rules, then break them when convenient.

  • sophistihick

    This is typical of liberal philosophy – make rules, then break them when convenient.

  • Bob

    Does Obama have any respect for rules?

    The stated reason for the earlier compromise and disallowing of delegates was to punish states for early conventions.

    Now that it doesn’t change the outcome , let’s disregard the rules.

    Obama – the rule of law is important !

    Meaning what you say and sticking to it – is Important !

    What does this say to other governments about Obama’s listening to treaties/agreements?

    To me – it says Obama likes to make up and change the rules as things go.

    What a bozo.

  • Bob

    Does Obama have any respect for rules?

    The stated reason for the earlier compromise and disallowing of delegates was to punish states for early conventions.

    Now that it doesn't change the outcome , let's disregard the rules.

    Obama – the rule of law is important !

    Meaning what you say and sticking to it – is Important !

    What does this say to other governments about Obama's listening to treaties/agreements?

    To me – it says Obama likes to make up and change the rules as things go.

    What a bozo.

  • who cares who you vote for

    Its too late McCain I am voting for a winner (i.e. who cares who you are voting for?) You don’t want a piece of this historic moment then quit whining and put your friggin vote in in private.

  • who cares who you vote for

    Its too late McCain I am voting for a winner (i.e. who cares who you are voting for?) You don't want a piece of this historic moment then quit whining and put your friggin vote in in private.

  • http://deleted Bob

    One more thing –

    Isn’t it the Democratic party that determines this ?

    Not Obama.

    Obama is acting like the head of the party, when he is only a candidate .

    Again – crowning himself emperor i.e head of the rules committee.

    I don’t wnat this guy making up and rules for me or crowning himself the head of my world.

  • Bob

    One more thing –

    Isn't it the Democratic party that determines this ?

    Not Obama.

    Obama is acting like the head of the party, when he is only a candidate .

    Again – crowning himself emperor i.e head of the rules committee.

    I don't wnat this guy making up and rules for me or crowning himself the head of my world.

  • roneida

    That is the beauty of situational ethics…there are no ethics, or standards, or rules. What do you mean by “is” . If you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with.

    Democrats , liberals etc. can always be right because there is no right for them

  • roneida

    That is the beauty of situational ethics…there are no ethics, or standards, or rules. What do you mean by “is” . If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with.

    Democrats , liberals etc. can always be right because there is no right for them

  • http://iowaindependent.com Paul A. Hughes

    What a SAD FRICKING JOKE…

    lowrider

  • http://iowaindependent.com Paul A. Hughes

    What a SAD FRICKING JOKE…

    lowrider

  • jodi

    It has always been clear that both Florida and MI would count as full delegates which is why it was misleading for the media and Obama to pretend he was ahead in delegates when he was not and there by lead folks that just need to feel like they have voted for the winner to vote the false lead of Obama and therefore create a real although small delegate lead by June and a small loss in popular votes. It will not matter as far as Obama is concerned because Obama will never beat McCain. I will vote McCain and his republican ticket for the first time in my life due to the sleazy, racist and sexist campaign Obama ran………we do not need another inexperienced liar in the White House as we have just lived through 8 years of that.

    VOTE McCAIN 2008 and HILLARY 2012 True if Super Delegates had any ability to represent the voters then they would upset the convention by voting Hillary instead of Obama but this year has proven that the Super Delegates can not be trusted to work for the voters……they work for themselves.

  • jodi

    It has always been clear that both Florida and MI would count as full delegates which is why it was misleading for the media and Obama to pretend he was ahead in delegates when he was not and there by lead folks that just need to feel like they have voted for the winner to vote the false lead of Obama and therefore create a real although small delegate lead by June and a small loss in popular votes. It will not matter as far as Obama is concerned because Obama will never beat McCain. I will vote McCain and his republican ticket for the first time in my life due to the sleazy, racist and sexist campaign Obama ran………we do not need another inexperienced liar in the White House as we have just lived through 8 years of that.

    VOTE McCAIN 2008 and HILLARY 2012 True if Super Delegates had any ability to represent the voters then they would upset the convention by voting Hillary instead of Obama but this year has proven that the Super Delegates can not be trusted to work for the voters……they work for themselves.

  • Gene

    Maybe this has something to do with political strategy. He needs the Hillary Clinton democratic voters. I think this is a sign that she will be his VP. Let’s face it and he has to face it also. She is a major political figure and she has him by the horns (with many political connections backing her up).

    If he doesn’t make her happy then she might try to make him miserably. I like Obama and I like Clinton. I’m not sure what she is doing behind the scenes but I respect her even more seeing this in the news. It, however, does make Obama a flip flopper on this issue. I really think most politicians avoid flip flopping because of the negative publicity for it. That is what leads me to believe that she is doing something behind the scenes and what you see in politics is not always what you get.

    In all honesty, I just hope whoever is in office fixes the gas prices. I could just about cry whenever I have to fill the tank.

  • Gene

    Maybe this has something to do with political strategy. He needs the Hillary Clinton democratic voters. I think this is a sign that she will be his VP. Let's face it and he has to face it also. She is a major political figure and she has him by the horns (with many political connections backing her up).

    If he doesn't make her happy then she might try to make him miserably. I like Obama and I like Clinton. I'm not sure what she is doing behind the scenes but I respect her even more seeing this in the news. It, however, does make Obama a flip flopper on this issue. I really think most politicians avoid flip flopping because of the negative publicity for it. That is what leads me to believe that she is doing something behind the scenes and what you see in politics is not always what you get.

    In all honesty, I just hope whoever is in office fixes the gas prices. I could just about cry whenever I have to fill the tank.

  • RABO

    Oh boy, here it goes… again…
    Obama chooses to seat the delegates, and the idiots out there get fired up. If he had chosen to stick with sanctioning, the same idiots would be writing about how wrong that would be. There’s no winning.
    We are suffering terribly under the policies of an administration which suffers from a myopic view of the world. One so unyeilding in it’s wrong-headed views that it would lead us to our own destruction in pursuit of tit’s own misinformed policies.
    Frankly, I think we deserve a president that can see things for what they are (not what his vice-president tells him they are) and be flexible enough to adjust policies and adapt to events as they happen.
    There is a running 7 year intellect deficit in the White House. Let’s fix that.

  • RABO

    Oh boy, here it goes… again…
    Obama chooses to seat the delegates, and the idiots out there get fired up. If he had chosen to stick with sanctioning, the same idiots would be writing about how wrong that would be. There's no winning.
    We are suffering terribly under the policies of an administration which suffers from a myopic view of the world. One so unyeilding in it's wrong-headed views that it would lead us to our own destruction in pursuit of tit's own misinformed policies.
    Frankly, I think we deserve a president that can see things for what they are (not what his vice-president tells him they are) and be flexible enough to adjust policies and adapt to events as they happen.
    There is a running 7 year intellect deficit in the White House. Let's fix that.

  • mark

    It is a purely symbolic gesture for party unity. Those who would vote McCain now and Clinton 2012 have no consistency or concern for their country.

  • mark

    It is a purely symbolic gesture for party unity. Those who would vote McCain now and Clinton 2012 have no consistency or concern for their country.

  • Republican 4 Obama

    Obama will win in a Landslide. McCain is already acting desperate and its only August. 1 out of every 3 ads McCain runs mentions Obama. 90% of Obama’s ads don’t mention McCain. That doesn’t even count the internet rumor mill that would be funny if so many morons didn’t parrot these falsehoods as gospel.

  • Republican 4 Obama

    Obama will win in a Landslide. McCain is already acting desperate and its only August. 1 out of every 3 ads McCain runs mentions Obama. 90% of Obama's ads don't mention McCain. That doesn't even count the internet rumor mill that would be funny if so many morons didn't parrot these falsehoods as gospel.

  • rob

    OBAMA 08 !

  • rob

    OBAMA 08 !

  • Boo

    Jodi, I doubt that you have never voted Repulican before unless this will be the first time you actually vote. Are you scared a Black man might be President? Small minds are easy to scare aren’t they Jodi.

  • Boo

    Jodi, I doubt that you have never voted Repulican before unless this will be the first time you actually vote. Are you scared a Black man might be President? Small minds are easy to scare aren't they Jodi.

  • jodi

    No Mark, those that would vote Obama over anybody have no concern for their country. Reality is that McCain is so close to democratic that John Kerry seriously considered McCain for VP……had he chosen McCain instead of Edwards we would have had President Kerry elected in 2004.

    Obama has no experience, flip flops on anything and everything and in a very sleazy manner plays race and sex cards. We never need a President that would stand in front of a crowd giving a speach and stick up his middle finger while uttering the name of his female opponent. This man is trash and will not be elected…….he will not even win MA. If democrats really want to elect a democrat for President this year then the only way is to nominate Hillary. Hillary as VP would be the only way Obama would have a chance but it would be foolish for Hillary to accept the VP slot under Obama because she would then be blamed for every stupid thing he does and certainly would be blamed if he still lost the election with her on the ticket. Hillary should wait for 2012 and let Obama bury himself this year for good…..unless the DNC wants to nominate Hillary and allow her to pick a VP other than Obama.

  • jodi

    No Mark, those that would vote Obama over anybody have no concern for their country. Reality is that McCain is so close to democratic that John Kerry seriously considered McCain for VP……had he chosen McCain instead of Edwards we would have had President Kerry elected in 2004.

    Obama has no experience, flip flops on anything and everything and in a very sleazy manner plays race and sex cards. We never need a President that would stand in front of a crowd giving a speach and stick up his middle finger while uttering the name of his female opponent. This man is trash and will not be elected…….he will not even win MA. If democrats really want to elect a democrat for President this year then the only way is to nominate Hillary. Hillary as VP would be the only way Obama would have a chance but it would be foolish for Hillary to accept the VP slot under Obama because she would then be blamed for every stupid thing he does and certainly would be blamed if he still lost the election with her on the ticket. Hillary should wait for 2012 and let Obama bury himself this year for good…..unless the DNC wants to nominate Hillary and allow her to pick a VP other than Obama.

  • Neil M

    Oh for crying out loud! Obama did not make the rules that stripped MI and FL of their delegates, and he’s perfectly within his rights to call for the committee to reconsider its decision.

    Oh, and those crazy, bitter, angry Hillary fans should remember that Hillary was first to ask for those delegates to be seated despite the rules by which she agreed to play. Therefore if Obama is being slippery he’s merely perfecting the technique Clinton invented.

  • Neil M

    Oh for crying out loud! Obama did not make the rules that stripped MI and FL of their delegates, and he's perfectly within his rights to call for the committee to reconsider its decision.

    Oh, and those crazy, bitter, angry Hillary fans should remember that Hillary was first to ask for those delegates to be seated despite the rules by which she agreed to play. Therefore if Obama is being slippery he's merely perfecting the technique Clinton invented.

  • Jerry

    This is so simple. It’s political expediency. Barack needs Florida and Michigan to win. Punsihing them may alienate voters in those states. If both of these states vote Republican he loses. Of course to anyone with half a brain, he’s too immature to lead the country anyway. He vacilates on every thing. Rememeber his 20 year stint with Jeremiah Wright? His Louis Farakan connection and Tony Rezko? He’ll do anything to get in office and he’ll do anything to stay there. Have you heard that “Politics makes strange bedfellows.” Well, Barack is a perfect example of a man who makes very bad judgments. Just look at his bedfellows. If he will change his mind every time the political wind shifts, what will he do as president. This man is a gutless wonder. We need a president with some guts to lead us in the times ahead. John McCain was not my first choice, but given that we now need to choose between him and Barack Obama, he is obviously the best choice for the country.

  • Jerry

    This is so simple. It's political expediency. Barack needs Florida and Michigan to win. Punsihing them may alienate voters in those states. If both of these states vote Republican he loses. Of course to anyone with half a brain, he's too immature to lead the country anyway. He vacilates on every thing. Rememeber his 20 year stint with Jeremiah Wright? His Louis Farakan connection and Tony Rezko? He'll do anything to get in office and he'll do anything to stay there. Have you heard that “Politics makes strange bedfellows.” Well, Barack is a perfect example of a man who makes very bad judgments. Just look at his bedfellows. If he will change his mind every time the political wind shifts, what will he do as president. This man is a gutless wonder. We need a president with some guts to lead us in the times ahead. John McCain was not my first choice, but given that we now need to choose between him and Barack Obama, he is obviously the best choice for the country.

  • arthurW from VA

    Are almost all the above poster’s naive or just dogmatically spirited. Obama is the defacto head of the democratic party- he is the presumptive nominee for President of the party. Historically the nominee drives the Dem or Rep party as far as the convention goes. There isn’t a snowflakes chance in our Iraq that Hillary, with the full seating of the delegates, will now win the nomination. She has conceeded, the superdelegates have pretty much all gone Obama’s way and there just is no going back. And do I smell a bit of a double standard with a black man acting presidential because he is presidential/smart/charismatic? I never head folks insinuating that Regan (who acted much the same/presidential) was being upidiy, “crowning himself emporer”, elitist because he has been proven right on Iraq, right on talking to our enemies, right on the economy? Give it an hisotric break and embrace the best candidate for president.

  • arthurW from VA

    Are almost all the above poster's naive or just dogmatically spirited. Obama is the defacto head of the democratic party- he is the presumptive nominee for President of the party. Historically the nominee drives the Dem or Rep party as far as the convention goes. There isn't a snowflakes chance in our Iraq that Hillary, with the full seating of the delegates, will now win the nomination. She has conceeded, the superdelegates have pretty much all gone Obama's way and there just is no going back. And do I smell a bit of a double standard with a black man acting presidential because he is presidential/smart/charismatic? I never head folks insinuating that Regan (who acted much the same/presidential) was being upidiy, “crowning himself emporer”, elitist because he has been proven right on Iraq, right on talking to our enemies, right on the economy? Give it an hisotric break and embrace the best candidate for president.

  • jodi

    Boo: With a name like that I guess you are 3. I have voted every election since 1972 and always voted democrat. I also lived through the race riots in MA although I attened a Catholic School where there were only 6 blacks in my class of 840. I along with the majority of classmates voted and elected one of the 6 blacks for class President…….there has never been an once of racism in me. I also voted for our Governor Duval Patrick, a black man. It is Obama and not his skin color that will never get my vote. When November 5th comes the young folks will begin to see that democrats can not win without the heart of the democratic party which includes women over 35…….and no self repecting woman will vote Obama after watching the primary.

  • jodi

    Boo: With a name like that I guess you are 3. I have voted every election since 1972 and always voted democrat. I also lived through the race riots in MA although I attened a Catholic School where there were only 6 blacks in my class of 840. I along with the majority of classmates voted and elected one of the 6 blacks for class President…….there has never been an once of racism in me. I also voted for our Governor Duval Patrick, a black man. It is Obama and not his skin color that will never get my vote. When November 5th comes the young folks will begin to see that democrats can not win without the heart of the democratic party which includes women over 35…….and no self repecting woman will vote Obama after watching the primary.

  • Boo

    Jodi, you’re grasping at straws. The use of the middle finger salute is usually done with only one finger extended not two. Can you make your arguement without innuendo and the use of “Cards”. Tax and Spend TAX AND SPEND. We’ve heard it before. Biggest deficit ever under Bush’s reign. Wake up Jodi, the party is over.

  • Boo

    Jodi, you're grasping at straws. The use of the middle finger salute is usually done with only one finger extended not two. Can you make your arguement without innuendo and the use of “Cards”. Tax and Spend TAX AND SPEND. We've heard it before. Biggest deficit ever under Bush's reign. Wake up Jodi, the party is over.

  • Brahmin

    The Messiah of “Change” has spoken. Make it so.

  • Brahmin

    The Messiah of “Change” has spoken. Make it so.

  • Mim

    What determines a black candidate from ArthurW-va? Obama’s mother was white. Look at his family tree, Arab, etc. Hopeflly, he is not running as a black person, but an American. Should another catagory exist, when the person is of mixed race?

  • Mim

    What determines a black candidate from ArthurW-va? Obama's mother was white. Look at his family tree, Arab, etc. Hopeflly, he is not running as a black person, but an American. Should another catagory exist, when the person is of mixed race?

  • http://WWW.NOBAMA.COM Walter

    Just goes to show you that now that he utilized the DNC’s rules to eliminate Hillary he wants to reinstate those states to use them for his own benefit. How arrogant do you have to be to show that once your opponent is taken care go after that one thing you used to eliminate them with. WAKE UP AMERICA AND DENOUNCE THIS FAKER. Should Obama win there goes your lifestyle as you know it because he’s going to take about 7% of America’s Gross income and distribute it over theworld.

  • http://WWW.NOBAMA.COM Walter

    Just goes to show you that now that he utilized the DNC's rules to eliminate Hillary he wants to reinstate those states to use them for his own benefit. How arrogant do you have to be to show that once your opponent is taken care go after that one thing you used to eliminate them with. WAKE UP AMERICA AND DENOUNCE THIS FAKER. Should Obama win there goes your lifestyle as you know it because he's going to take about 7% of America's Gross income and distribute it over theworld.

  • sophistihick

    Political discourse has devolved. Obama is too liberal and his proposed policies will cause a deeper economic downturn. Eco 101- raise taxes on something(e.g. tax big oil) you get less of it at higher prices. And this is supposed to help the little guy? A free market society, something we still have to a degree, is the largest cause of our fredom and standard of life. Obama does not understand this critical reality at all.

  • sophistihick

    Political discourse has devolved. Obama is too liberal and his proposed policies will cause a deeper economic downturn. Eco 101- raise taxes on something(e.g. tax big oil) you get less of it at higher prices. And this is supposed to help the little guy? A free market society, something we still have to a degree, is the largest cause of our fredom and standard of life. Obama does not understand this critical reality at all.

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