U.S. Rep. Leonard Boswell still not among most vulnerable House incumbents.

Iowa gubernatorial race listed as “leans Republican,” but list forgets about Rod Roberts.

Republican poll shows Republican resurgence.

U.S. Rep. Tom Latham presses transportation secretary for advice to worried Toyota owners: “If anybody owns one of these vehicles, stop driving it… “

“Today, we’ve reached a fork in the road”, Grassley said. “The president this very day, this afternoon can make a very big difference” on whether it’s a bipartisan bill or not.

When he met with Obama last month the president said he’d “rather have a bipartisan bill that didn’t have everything he wants than a partisan one that would include 100 percent of what he wants,” Grassley said. With the scale change being talked about, moving forward without Republican input would be a mistake, he said.

“Health care is 16 percent of our Gross [Domestic] Product, and I happen to think that if Congress is going to pass one bill restructuring 16 percent of the Gross [Domestic] Product… that you’d want a broad based consensus of how you ought to do that.,” he said.

Grassley, as the senior Republican member of the Senate Finance Committee, is expected to be highly involved in crafting health care legislation. Several reports indicate that Democrats will insist that a public health insurance option be included in any health care legislation, an idea Grassley has spoken publicly against several times.

The White House Council of Economic Advisers Tuesday released a report detailing the potential economic gains from reform, finding it could result in an additional $10,000 in income by 2030 for a family of four.

The report found that in Iowa the average annual premium for employer-sponsored family coverage rose from $5,952 in 1996 to $11,070 in 2006.

Health care expenditures currently account for 18 percent of our nation’s GDP, the report said, and “if we remain on our current path, health care spending is expected to reach 34 percent of GDP by 2040.”

Register political columnist David Yepsen

A press conference is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Southern Illinois University.

The Southern Illinoisan newspaper reported that Yepsen’s answering machine said he would be out of the office for the remainder of the week. That is because Yepsen is in the middle of his mandated week-long furlough.

Yepsen started writing for the Register and Tribune in 1974. In 1977 Yepsen became a statehouse reporter for the Register, and in 1983 he became the paper’s chief political reporter. In 1994 he was named political editor and in 2000 became the Register’s full-time political columnist. His column appears on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Register Editor Carolyn Washburn told her paper she was not surprised that Yepsen was looking elsewhere.

“He just finished probably the biggest one Iowa’s ever seen and the biggest one Iowa will ever see for the rest of David’s career,” Washburn said. “So it doesn’t feel unnatural to me that at this moment in his career and in his personal life, that someone would want to tap that incredible mind.

“It’s also understandable to me that after completing what he just has, that he would be interested in another fascinating opportunity,” she said.

Atlantic Monthly political reporter Marc Ambinder laments the loss of the “Dean of the Iowa Press Corps,” then makes a prediction of who will fill Yepsen’s shoes.

Who is Yepsen’s heir? My money is on O. Kay Henderson of [Radio Iowa].

The layoffs are in several departments including advertising, editorial, production, circulation and finance.

Gannett Co., which owns the Press-Citizen, announced in October plans to cut 10 percent from its payroll at each of its 85 daily newspapers. Wednesday, the Gannett-owned Des Moines Register, Indianola Record-Herald and Altoona Herald announced a total of 71 job cuts.

According to a tally being kept by Jim Hopkins at GannettBlog, Gannett’s downsizing has now claimed 1,770 newspaper jobs nationwide thus far. More layoffs are expected to be announced.

The Associated Press is reporting that James Carabelli, the chair of the Macomb County Republican party, is suing the Michigan Messenger and its parent organization, the non-profit Center for Independent Media, over the Messenger’s report last month in which Carabelli was quoted as saying the party planned to use lists of foreclosed homeowners as the basis for Election Day challenges.

“As soon as we see the complaint, we will issue a response on Michigan Messenger,” said Jefferson Morley, National Editorial Director for CIM.

CIM sponsors the Iowa Independent, the Michigan Messenger and online news sites in three other states and Washington, D.C.

The president of Interstate Power & Light, who is also the former chairman and a longtime member of the Iowa State Transportation Commission, says four-laning U.S. 30 through Iowa is the “right answer,” while a plan to do the same with U.S. 20 is a project backed by more political arm-twisting than common sense.

Tom Aller, who is also senior vice president of energy delivery for the Alliant Energy Corp., which owns IPL, talked about the state’s transporation future in a wide-ranging interview with this writer, who doubles as a Carroll Daily Times Herald reporter and Iowa Independent fellow.

“When you run the models, four-laning Highway 30 is the right answer,” Aller said. “It diverts that traffic off (Interstate) 80 to a different route. When I was on the commission, I advocated for that solution. What I advocated also was that we didn’t spend another dime on (U.S.) 30 or (U.S.) 20 until we made that decision. My position on 30 was not anti-Carroll or western Iowa or pro-eastern Iowa. It was ‘let’s make a decision what we’re going to (do to) solve the I-80 problem.’ I could never get the commission to do that, including the last two years when I was chairman, because of the enormous political pressure in northwest Iowa to four-lane 20. I’m not on the commission anymore. But there is no justification for four-laning Highway 20. There is no computer model. If it was built tomorrow, there would never be any traffic on it.”

Aller served on the Iowa State Transportation Commission from 1995 through 2003, including serving as the chair from 2001-2003.

“The issue on I-80 east and west is probably the single most important problem we have facing the transportation system in Iowa,” Aller said. “It’s overloaded. It’s continuing to be overloaded. It’s dangerous to drive on. It’s increasing truck traffic. There are two potential solutions to relieving I-80. One is four-laning Highway 30. The other is four-laning Highway 20.”

According to the U.S. Highway 30 Coalition of Iowa, the Interstate 80 corridor has the most population (947,010), followed by U.S. 30 (524,562) and U.S. 20 (473,812). U.S. 30 is also the longest road in the state at 331 miles, stretching from the Mississippi to the Missouri.

One of the more divisive battles in western Iowa is over the priority in funding for U.S. 30 and U.S. 20.

Liz Belden, an Iowa senior who receives Social Security, was happy to start the day with a discussion of the benefits for older Americans.

“When they first started talking about privatizing Social Security, I was against it,” she said. “It wasn’t too long after that the stock market took a huge plunge. I knew that if a lot of people had invested their Social Security that they would have lost their money. So, I completely agree with Sen. Obama’s plan to protect and secure those funds.”

Likewise, Chinese international student Elaine Chen, who is not a citizen and will not be taking part in either the Iowa caucuses or the general election, said at the later event that she was glad to have the opportunity to hear from the Illinois senator and learn more about the American system of government.

“I’m from a different system of government,” said Chen, for whom English is a second language. “I want to know how everything here works. This has been a lot of listening — an exercise for me. But I think it was all very good.”

She added that Obama was very “talkative” and that she was happy to hear him discuss many global issues.

Securing a Future for Older Americans

Cedar Rapids retired middle school teacher Myrna Cooney provided the introduction for the Illinois Senator during the morning campaign stop at the Cedar Rapids Public Library.

“I declared for Barack before he declared he was running for president,” she said. “I started talking about his authenticity. I sensed his ability to listen to people and to see the common needs that we share. Because of this, I know he will keep our interests at heart.”

Obama told the audience of about 150 that he knows social security is often on their minds.

“The issue is a personal one for me,” he said. “As most of you know I was raised mostly by a single mom with the help of my grandparents.”

Obama said his grandparents worked hard their entire lives, he said, and they, like many in the audience, “earned a secure retirement.” That secure future is now being threatened by rising costs and government mismanagement, he added.

“Here in Iowa, 95 percent of seniors rely on their monthly Social Security checks,” he said. “So, we know what a difference it makes in people’s lives. We also know that the system has some problems. Some argue that the problems are so severe that Social Security is fundamentally broken. This is the argument that George Bush was trying to make when he was seeking to privatize the system. That is an exaggeration. It is not true. The underlying system of Social Security is is sound.”

According to Obama, the problem is a projected cash shortage that could be solved, but the situation is time-critical.

“If we do nothing, annual surpluses will end in 2017 and the trust fund will then be exhausted by around 2040,” he said. “The question is how do we solve this problem. You might remember that this question came up in the last presidential debate. When Sen. [Hillary] Clinton was asked about it, she wouldn’t say what she thought we should do. The other day here in Iowa she skipped another chance to answer a direct question on this issue.”

Refusing to answer questions — especially about Social Security, he said, is politics as usual. Then he took advantage of an opportunity to take a direct swipe at Clinton, the junior senator from New York and his most direct opposition in the bid for the White House.

“Conventional thinking in Washington says that Social Security is the third wheel in American politics,” Obama explained. “It says that says that you should hedge or dodge or spin on this issue, but, at all costs, don’t answer the question. In fact, there was some chatter on the Sunday morning news programs where it was said that it is good politics not to talk about it. But I reject that notion. I think that on issues as fundamental as how to protect Social Security, candidates for president owe it to the American people to tell us where they stand. Because I don’t think you’re ready to lead if you can’t tell us where you’re going.”

Obama says his approach to Social Security is to steer away from privatization and to raise the $97,000 income cap on the tax.

Speaking to Young Voters

The roughly 250 students who gathered in the Coe College auditorium for the MTV/MySpace presidential candidate forum saw someone a little different than did senior citizens and supporters at the library. Somewhere along the mile-long route between the two locations, Obama lost his tie, although he continued to wear the same dress shirt and dark suit.

The forum — the second in a series for the cable network and social networking internet site — featured questions both submitted online and from students in the venue. Those listening were encouraged to answer polls throughout the event to determine how closely Obama’s views matched their own.

Obama faced a wide variety of questions including same-sex marriage, foreign policy, immigration, the separation of church and state, waste exportation, net neutrality and No Child Left Behind. The one question which seemed to give the candidate the most pause, however, was what many might consider a softball.

“If you were given the opportunity to make a movie about your life or some aspect of it, what would you call it and who would you cast as yourself and your wife?” asked Tara, a reporter for the Coe College Cosmos.

Obama had not missed a beat when discussing the possibility of a Kurdish state in the Middle East. Ditto when confronted with electronic waste shipped to other countries by the United States. This question, however, left him stuttering for several beats — and appealing to one of the co-hosts as a time-stalling measure — before he answered and indicated that the title of his current book, The Audacity of Hope, would be his preferred movie title.

“In terms of who would play me… uhm… I suppose Denzel is already taken,” he said. “Will Smith is a possibility because his ears match mine. In terms of my wife, there’s nobody that good lookin’ — so, she’d have to play herself.”

The question, however, that hushed journalists in the press room was asked by Jeanice Perez, a Minnesota resident who’s father was deported to Mexico three years ago.

“I just want to ask a question on immigration because it is very personal to me,” she said. “A few years ago my dad was deported, and I’ve seen first-hand how it can really destroy a family. What are your thoughts and feelings on granting amnesty to illegal immigrants who have been deported but have legal family here?”

Obama said the situation Perez outlined is one of the reasons America has to fix the current immigration system while securing the nation’s border.

“We’ve got 12 million people who are here and we’re not going to be deporting all of them,” he said. “What we are doing is selectively deporting one or two or 50 or 100, but that’s not a way to solve the long-term problem. So, I am a strong supporter of a pathway to legalization for the 12 million people who are already here — most of whom are here just because they want to provide a better life for their children and their grandchildren.”

Those individuals who came into the country illegally would have to pay a fine, would need to learn English and would be placed at the “back of the line” when applying for citizenship. America should be “a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants,” he added.

Following the forum, Perez said that she appreciated Obama’s response to her question and personal struggle.

“Even though I was a daughter of an illegal immigrant that doesn’t mean that I don’t support protection of our borders,” she said. “It’s just hard when you are in a position where you build a life here in the United States and you’ve paid dues.”

Perez said her father had come to America as a young man and had lived here for 18 years.

“He built his life here and it was just heartbreaking because there was no warning and there were no questions asked,” she said. “They just came, took him and he was thrown into a country nowhere near where his family was. He was just dumped there. It was very disheartening to see how people are treated when they don’t belong.”

Her father, she said, is now living in Mexico, keeps in touch with his family here and “is doing the best that he can.”

“He has more faith in this country than I used to — than I did,” she said. “He loves this country. It just amazes me and I ask him, ‘How can you love a country that doesn’t love you?’ He says this is the best country in the world.”

Liz Belden, an Iowa senior who receives Social Security, was happy to start the day with a discussion of the benefits for older Americans.

“When they first started talking about privatizing Social Security, I was against it,” she said. “It wasn’t too long after that the stock market took a huge plunge. I knew that if a lot of people had invested their Social Security that they would have lost their money. So, I completely agree with Sen. Obama’s plan to protect and secure those funds.”

Likewise, Chinese international student Elaine Chen, who is not a citizen and will not be taking part in either the Iowa caucuses or the general election, said at the later event that she was glad to have the opportunity to hear from the Illinois senator and learn more about the American system of government.

“I’m from a different system of government,” said Chen, for whom English is a second language. “I want to know how everything here works. This has been a lot of listening — an exercise for me. But I think it was all very good.”

She added that Obama was very “talkative” and that she was happy to hear him discuss many global issues.

Securing a Future for Older Americans

Cedar Rapids retired middle school teacher Myrna Cooney provided the introduction for the Illinois Senator during the morning campaign stop at the Cedar Rapids Public Library.

“I declared for Barack before he declared he was running for president,” she said. “I started talking about his authenticity. I sensed his ability to listen to people and to see the common needs that we share. Because of this, I know he will keep our interests at heart.”

Obama told the audience of about 150 that he knows social security is often on their minds.

“The issue is a personal one for me,” he said. “As most of you know I was raised mostly by a single mom with the help of my grandparents.”

Obama said his grandparents worked hard their entire lives and they, like many in the audience, “earned a secure retirement.” That secure future is now being threatened by rising costs and government mismanagement, he added.

“Here in Iowa, 95 percent of seniors rely on their monthly Social Security checks,” he said. “So, we know what a difference it makes in people’s lives. We also know that the system has some problems. Some argue that the problems are so severe that Social Security is fundamentally broken. This is the argument that George Bush was trying to make when he was seeking to privatize the system. That is an exaggeration. It is not true. The underlying system of Social Security is is sound.”

According to Obama, the problem is a projected cash shortage that could be solved, but the situation is time-critical.

“If we do nothing, annual surpluses will end in 2017 and the trust fund will then be exhausted by around 2040,” he said. “The question is how do we solve this problem. You might remember that this question came up in the last presidential debate. When Sen. [Hillary] Clinton was asked about it, she wouldn’t say what she thought we should do. The other day here in Iowa she skipped another chance to answer a direct question on this issue.”

Refusing to answer questions — especially about Social Security, he said, is politics as usual. Then he took advantage of an opportunity to take a direct swipe at Clinton, the junior senator from New York and his most direct opposition in the bid for the White House.

“Conventional thinking in Washington says that Social Security is the third wheel in American politics,” Obama explained. “It says that says that you should hedge or dodge or spin on this issue, but, at all costs, don’t answer the question. In fact, there was some chatter on the Sunday morning news programs where it was said that it is good politics not to talk about it. But I reject that notion. I think that on issues as fundamental as how to protect Social Security, candidates for president owe it to the American people to tell us where they stand. Because I don’t think you’re ready to lead if you can’t tell us where you’re going.”

Obama says his approach to Social Security is to steer away from privatization and to raise the $97,000 income cap on the tax.

Speaking to Young Voters

The roughly 250 students who gathered in the Coe College auditorium for the MTV/MySpace presidential candidate forum saw someone a little different than did senior citizens and supporters at the library. Somewhere along the mile-long route between the two locations, Obama lost his tie, although he continued to wear the same dress shirt and dark suit.

The forum — the second in a series for the cable network and social networking internet site — featured questions both submitted online and from students in the venue. Those listening were encouraged to answer polls throughout the event to determine how closely Obama’s views matched their own.

Obama faced a wide variety of questions including same-sex marriage, foreign policy, immigration, the separation of church and state, waste exportation, net neutrality and No Child Left Behind. The one question which seemed to give the candidate the most pause, however, was what many might consider a softball.

“If you were given the opportunity to make a movie about your life or some aspect of it, what would you call it and who would you cast as yourself and your wife?” asked Tara, a reporter for the Coe College Cosmos.

Obama had not missed a beat when discussing the possibility of a Kurdish state in the Middle East. Ditto when confronted with electronic waste shipped to other countries by the United States. This question, however, left him stuttering for several beats — and appealing to one of the co-hosts as a time-stalling measure — before he answered and indicated that the title of his current book, The Audacity of Hope, would be his preferred movie title.

“In terms of who would play me… uhm… I suppose Denzel is already taken,” he said. “Will Smith is a possibility because his ears match mine. In terms of my wife, there’s nobody that good lookin’ — so, she’d have to play herself.”

The question, however, that hushed journalists in the press room was asked by Jeanice Perez, a Minnesota resident who’s father was deported to Mexico three years ago.

“I just want to ask a question on immigration because it is very personal to me,” she said. “A few years ago my dad was deported, and I’ve seen first-hand how it can really destroy a family. What are your thoughts and feelings on granting amnesty to illegal immigrants who have been deported but have legal family here?”

Obama said the situation Perez outlined is one of the reasons America has to fix the current immigration system while securing the nation’s border.

“We’ve got 12 million people who are here and we’re not going to be deporting all of them,” he said. “What we are doing is selectively deporting one or two or 50 or 100, but that’s not a way to solve the long-term problem. So, I am a strong supporter of a pathway to legalization for the 12 million people who are already here — most of whom are here just because they want to provide a better life for their children and their grandchildren.”

Those individuals who came into the country illegally would have to pay a fine, would need to learn English and would be placed at the “back of the line” when applying for citizenship. America should be “a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants,” he added.

Following the forum, Perez said that she appreciated Obama’s response to her question and personal struggle.

“Even though I was a daughter of an illegal immigrant that doesn’t mean that I don’t support protection of our borders,” she said. “It’s just hard when you are in a position where you build a life here in the United States and you’ve paid dues.”

Perez said her father had come to America as a young man and had lived here for 18 years.

“He built his life here and it was just heartbreaking because there was no warning and there were no questions asked,” she said. “They just came, took him and he was thrown into a country nowhere near where his family was. He was just dumped there. It was very disheartening to see how people are treated when they don’t belong.”

Her father, she said, is now living in Mexico, keeps in touch with his family here and “is doing the best that he can.”

“He has more faith in this country than I used to — than I did,” she said. “He loves this country. It just amazes me and I ask him, ‘How can you love a country that doesn’t love you?’ He says this is the best country in the world.”

12:09. About 50 people waited loudly for the handshake moment while Richardson took three or four press questions.  Staff literally had to drag him away to the next event.  The press questions mainly got answered with his emphasis on experience/resume items, though his sense of humor was noted: “I’m a regular guy, I use humor,” he said, mentioning the ads.

Karen Refusedtogive-Lastname thinks I’m a staffer and asks if she can have a sign.  I explain that I’m press and ask if this means she’s committed. “No, but I’m very impressed.  He’s very thoughtful, very diplomatic.” She also likes Edwards, but has harsh words for one candidate: “I wish Hillary would apologize for her vote on the war.  I can’t get over it, never will.”

11:56 Let everyone buy into fed plan if they want, bring Medicare down to 55, vets can use “Heroes card” and go anywhere not just VA.  Refundable tax credits for businesses and individuals.  Cap credit card costs — that relates.  Negotiations for prescription drug costs.  And focus on prevention.  I see a librarian hovering nearby…

“One last point.  I’m gonna be back a lot.  I appreciate your time.  Give me a chance.  Don’t you want to take your country back?  Thanks you all very much.”

11:49 and “the library police’ are threatening.  (Now I can see why he was running late — he just can’t stop taking questions.) Immigration:  1) Secure the borders, but “I’m not for this wall.  If we build a 10-foot wall, they’ll build 11-foot ladders.”  We need more PEOPLE, people will contain the flow.  Penalize employers.  I’m for increasing LEGAL immigration quotas.  Have a conversation with Mexico: “give your people jobs, take care of them.”  May mean joint border projects.

Legalization: “Here’s where I’ll go from 13%  to 2%.”  You can either do nothing (worst alternative), 2) round them up (not practical, not America) “the hotel industry, meatpacking, will end.”  3rd alternative makes the most sense – not amnesty, but earned path to citizenship. English, pay back taxes, fine for coming here, get in back of line.  “Taking those steps will make the problem… (pause) a little better.”

Health care: Take the 400 billion to Iraq to health care and domestic.  In my plan everybody pays and shares: worker, employer, state, and feds.  We ensure everyone can afford.  “No new bureaucracies.”  No tax increase: health care is 20% of GDP yet 47 million uncovered, we spend twice what Canada does and they cover everyone.  31% of health costs are administration.  (Wonder if he’s seen “Sicko” yet).11:35 “I’ll have six of you ask a question, I’ll answer it all at once.”  health care, favorite book, Blackwater, global warming, comm. center in New Mex, Iran and Palestine, voting equipment., deficit, immigration, “will you pledge to stop our war of terror because we’re now a terrorist state,” cutting Pentagon budget.

Ballots: we’re going to paper in NM, I’d do it national (gets applause) William Faulkner and Profiles in Courage, Doris Kearns Goodwin.  Staffer reads question: “health care.”  BR: “do the easy ones” laughs.  Blackwater: No residual forces, our people are targets.  The community center in New Mex – “this is that Imus thing.  He’s a little cranky to say the least.”

He’s barely used the podium — out from behind it, only bout a step back from the front row.

The $ is there for the center. “But I’m not Bush; I have to go to the legislature.”
Middle east – “what we do in the region is interrelated.  To make Israel-Palestine better, you have to deal with Iraq.”  I’d have a Mideast peace envoy, pushing both sides every day for a two-state solution.  “I say to my Israeli friends, do you feel safer since Bush?  We need some diplomacy in the region; we need to talk to Syria.  We can’t say ‘you don’t exist’” Need Hamas-Fatah unity govt. Hamas needs to renounce “destroy Israel.”  I’d talk to Iran, they’re susceptible to sanctions.  he’s going very fast, as if he can’t wait to be at the table negotiating, like he really misses it.

Deficit: I’ve had to balance budgets.  Support balanced budget amendment.  “We can do it; we did it in Clinton admin.”  Line item veto.  Audience member: “the supreme court ruled against it.”  BR: “I know, I know but you really need that.”  Dump earmarks (gets applause) Pay as you go policies.  Corporate welfare.  “I’m also for shifting from the pentagon into our domestic needs” 1/3 of the $ in Iraq has been wasted.  “Now, I do want to see more men and women in the military.”  But should be shift.

11:31 Caroline Dieterle: War on drugs?  BR “it’s not working.”  In New Mex, we combine proper incarceration with treatment.  I’ve discussed this with… “what’s his name?”  Mirthful discussion with staff it turns out to be Ako.  Supports med. marijuana (applause).  Helps 199 people in NM. It deals with the pain, “but what about the cure?”  We need more cancer research.  Lack of funds and commitment.  Internationally I’ve spent time on this, we need to re-evaluate those.  “What do you think?” he asks back at Caroline.  She discusses prisoners ratting each other for lower sentences, and police infractions.  “it isn’t right or fair; the laws are not enforced equally on a racial basis.” 

11:27 Nick Johnson asks “what can citizens do for you after you’re president?”  Question leads into overall corporate influence on American life.  “What have you thought of that will empower us.”  BR: “Whew!” Discusses national service plan — not mandatory.  Much like Peace Corps and ACTION.  “Citizens’ cadres” that would help not only local communities, but also a corps of pub. service vols. that would be a strong grass-roots movement. “I’ll strongly fund any civil rights entity in the govt.  I’d revitalize all of them.”  FCC will encourage small media.  “It’s a question of leadership.  Special interests — you’re gonna have some battles now.”

11:19 Dave Bradley asks about campaign finance.  “I wish I had Clinton and Obama’s $.”  We need public finance (appl.) “Half of my time, I’m raising money.”  People need to meet candidates instead. 

Social security solvency.  BR: “1) stop raising SS trust fund. 2) Stop talking about privatizing.  3) tie SS to the budget because it isn’t right now.” I’d consider universal pensions with portability.  Bankruptcy law winds up eliminating pensions.  “That’s slightly unfair” (laughs)  Soc Sec counts on a low growth rate, but with a pro-growth economy — along with good jobs and wages.

Gay marriage?  “I can’t hear you.”  (laughs) The questioner is fished in by the joke and repeats the question to more laughs.  “I’m not for gay marriage but I believe in civil unions.”  (No laughs now and a hiss is overheard)  Federal hate crimes law (mild applause)  “I want America to be a tolerant nation.”  Don’t ask and DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) — I’d repeal.  Gets a fact wrong – thinks IA has civil union.  He’s loudly corrected but accepts that.

11:17 Restoring professionalism to Justice Dept. “I’d fire the present A.G..”  My AG’s job is to be atty. for the people not for me.  US atty’s will need senate confirmation, upgrade civil rights and worker safety divisions.  This administration it’s been a political arm that’s unacceptable.

Next ?: NATO, OAS, we’ve lost respect.  BR: “We’re rejoining the international. community.  We’re gonna be partners now.”  The way to build intl. support is to get orgs. behind us.  But I’d also say we have to modernize.  Get UN fiscal house in order, expand security council.  Emphasize human needs, not pork.  “I’m sorry to mention pork in Iowa, I mean wasteful spending, not your pork, your pork is good.”  Laughs.  “Hey, when you’re at 13% you gotta say stuff like that.”  Talks about micro-lending.

11:13 Question 1: Coal power plants.  “You have to sequester 60% of your carbon, you’ve gotta be clean.”  We have the tech to shift, it’s gonna cost a bit more.
Question 2: Pat Hughes assigns him Day 7 “because you aren’t on a union agreement.”  Audience laughs knowingly.  Pat asks about Free Choice Act, what would you do?  “I will stand with you, and a union member will be Sec. of Labor”  Card check, fair share.  “I will make sure we win a veto fight.  I’ve been a legislator, I know how to work with legislators.  I’m a negotiator, I know how to get things done.”

11:09 closing … “we need someone who can bring this country together.” Deauthorize war “before the summer.”

11:04 and Day 5, revitalize the economy (like we’ve done in New Mexico.)  “I’m a different kind of Democrat.”  (think I hear that in debates)  I’d invest in high tech, take away tax incentives for outsourcing.

Day 6: restate what we are as a nation.  “We’re gonna respect a woman’s right to choose” applause.  promote adoptions, family planning.  “We will not discriminate. on basis of sexual orientation.”  Don’t’ ask don’t tell scrapped.  (all these are applause lines.)  “America will be respectful of the constitution” gets biggest applause.  “I will not go to war w/o approval of congress.”  Will shut Gitmo, restore habeas corpus – applause building.

Mentions multiple foreign policy issues incl. Rwanda, Darfur.

11:00 “Day three — every American with universal health care.”  Reduce Medicare to 55, everybody shares in plan, major focus on prevention.  “We’re gonna do what we did in NM – get rid of junk food in schools.”  appl.  “Make sure private sector gets exercise/wellness incentives.  Stem cell research (appl.)

“Day 4 — I gotta take a day off.”  Education.  Notes short time to discuss issues in debates.  Full day K, teacher pay, update curriculum.  $40k minimum for teachers, strict licensure.  “Emphasize civics and languages in our curriculum.”  “If we’re spending $400 billion in Iraq we can have universal college education.”

10:54 Day One: Get us out of Iraq. No residual forces.  Our troops have become a target.  I’d personally lead diplomacy.  Iraq federal gov’t, all-Muslim peacekeeping force.  Iran and Syria would be in discussions.  Bill Clinton used to tell me “bad people like Richardson, that’s why we’ll send him.”  That’s a laugh line.  Withdrawal fro Iraq signals that US will be a moral leader.  Shift foreign policy from aggression to diplomacy – applause.

“Day two.” (laughs.) Apollo energy program.  (he seems to prefer this construct to Manhattan project.)  30 MPG CAFE insufficient, should be 50. Takes opportunity to mention time as energy sec.  Solar, wind, biomass, etc.  (Unlike the GOP contenders, does not mention nukes).  “I will ask every American to sacrifice – just a little bit – because it involves our natl. security.”  Gas prices – this is also a moral imperative.  Nat;. campaign to make us more fuel efficient in the way we live. (appl)  Reduce greenhouse gases 90% by 2040.

10:51 Showtime.  Flaherty’s intro is swift resume points.

Richardson makes a robo-call joke and greets the “big shots” meaning the electeds.  I missed State Rep. Todd Taylor.  Says he’s gonna do the first six days in office bit and cut it short for questions.  He’s glad election will be settled in Iowa not beltway, pledges to visit every Iowa home.

10:46.  Campaign Standard Time is kicking in.  Still a few stragglers trickling in but the room is beyond full as folks are perching rather than sitting.  Some bird-doggers sighted.  Chairman Brian is hovering near the side door on alert for the arrival.

10:27.  Folks are still streaming in and we’re now up over 150 bodies.  Good for midday, though leaning a little older than usual for Iowa City.  Fellow bloggers Nick Johnson, the podcaster Rosemans, and II colleague Tom Lindsay are here.  Also spotted: county treasurer Tom Kriz, Iowa City Fed. of Labor leader Pat Hughes, state central committee member Al Bohanan, Johnson Co. Dems chair Brian Flaherty, county attorney Janet Lyness.

Only two TV cameras sighted.  Buzz dies down a little, must be nearing show time.

10:20 AM and good morning from the Iowa City Public library where 100+ folks are awaiting Governor Bill Richardson.

This event is billed as a “job interview” in keeping with the theme of the fun TV spots.  The hoopla level is medium: no music (this is after all a library) but significant signage.

The Richardson event is the last remnant of what would have been a campaignapalooza today in downtown IC.  Five candidates and Son Of Biden were to have spoken at the firefighters’ convention, but the sitting senators had to actually go be Senators.

A couple electeds sighted: supervisors Stutsman and Sullivan (both committed to other candidates).