2005 September archive at Political Forecast

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Archive for September, 2005

Will Jim Nussle stop taking money from Tom DeLay now that he’s been indicted?

Published by

Chris Woods

September 28, 2005 in 2006 Elections, Congress, Ethics, Iowa politics, Radical Right, Republicans and Tom DeLay. 2 Comments

UPDATE: IDP press release with the same kind of theme can be found in the extended entry.

Today, I think it is time for all Iowans to ask Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Nussle a very important question: Now that House Republican Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX-22) has been indicted and stepped down from his leadership position, will you promise to no longer accept contributions from him or his PAC, Americans for a Republican Majority (ARMPAC)?

According to FEC disclosure reports, in his 2004 re-election bid to Congress, Nussle accepted $10,000 from ARMPAC, the most closely aligned national PAC to Tom DeLay. In 202, Nussle received $5,000 from ARMPAC.

In the last three years, thats $15,000 from Tom DeLay, quite possibly the most crooked Republican serving in the United States House of Representatives.

Nussle has also served DeLay’s ethical lapses over the past decade in Congress and never publicly challenged him to clean up his act.

Iowan’s don’t need a surplus-wasting, budget-mismanaging politician for Governor. Iowans deserve a Democrat who will be honest and straightforward, a leader who isn’t shrouded in ethical and criminal investigations.

So, Congressman Nussle, will you face our challenge and clear yourself from any connections to Tom DeLay?

Or will you just continue to be another Washington Republican?

Continue reading ‘Will Jim Nussle stop taking money from Tom DeLay now that he’s been indicted?’

Put that in your pipe and smoke it: Tom DeLay indicted

Published by

Chris Woods

September 28, 2005 in Congress, Ethics, Radical Right, Republicans and Tom DeLay. 0 Comments

Tom DeLay will hopefully now be forced to eat shit and to step down from leadership position.

He just got indicted on a conspiracy charge.

UPDATE: Whacko CA Rep. David Dreier has been selected by Speaker Dennis Hastert to take over DeLay’s position, which according to GOP rules he must “resign” from…instead, according to CNN, he’s “temporarily stepping down.”

That, plus the fact that it appears the Sen. Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) has been under SEC investigation since June of this year.

Washington Republican corruption is everywhere–from the bottom to the top. Prepare for 2006. These events could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

Cross your fingers

Published by

Chris Woods

September 27, 2005 in Congress, Ethics, Radical Right, Republicans and Tom DeLay. 0 Comments

I guess Tom DeLay still might be indicted thanks to everyone’s favorite little charge–conspiracy!

“A Texas grand jury’s recent interest in conspiracy charges could lead to last-minute criminal indictments — possibly against House Majority Leader Tom DeLay — as it wraps up its investigation Wednesday into DeLay’s state political organization, according to lawyers with knowledge of the case.

Conspiracy counts against two DeLay associates this month raised concerns with DeLay’s lawyers, who fear the chances are greater that the majority leader could be charged with being part of the conspiracy. Before these counts, the investigation was more narrowly focused on the state election code.

By expanding the charges to include conspiracy, prosecutors made it possible for the Travis County grand jury to bring charges against DeLay. Otherwise, the grand jury would have lacked jurisdiction under state laws.”

I’m crossing just about everything I own plus my fingers to make this come true.

It’s about time the asshole got what’s coming his way.

Arrogance and ignorance at its finest

Published by

Chris Woods

September 27, 2005 in Bush Administration, North America, Poverty and Republicans. 0 Comments

I’m sure its hard making the transition from raising horses (and then getting fired) to running the Federal Emergency Management Agency. I bet it was even harder for Michael “Drownie” Brown, who had absolutely no experience and was merely a political crony. But today he made sure to try and clear up his name and blame it on Democrats and anyone he possibly could outside of Washington who didn’t support the efforts of the Bush Administration.

This was the quote that got me, though, from the New York Times piece on Brown’s testimony. It only confirms how disconnected Brown and the others under Bush are from the people of the Gulf states:

“Mr. Brown said perhaps some people had forgotten that “individuals must take personal responsibility for being prepared” because “first responders may not be able to get to them quickly.”"

I’m sure its mighty easy for the thousands of impoverished people in New Orleans and across the Gulf Coast to prepare for hurricanes by paying for their supplies with…umm…..well, I’m sure Mr. Brown could tell us how they’d afford preparedness?

Oh, and I guess Brown also forgot that FEMA, since it is under the DHS (Homeland Security) now, has assumed full responsibility for the preparedness of first responders.

It really is the little things that get you. You can read a full transcript of his testimony here.

Cindy Sheehan arrested

Published by

Chris Woods

September 26, 2005 in Cindy Sheehan, Democrats, Iraq, National Security and White House. 1 Comment

Civil disobedience at its finest. I don’t necessarily support the immediacy of the “Bring them home now!” movement, but I support responsible withdrawal.

Here’s what the AP says:

“Cindy Sheehan, the California woman who has used her son’s death in Iraq to spur the anti-war movement, was arrested Monday while protesting outside the White House.

Sheehan and several dozen other protesters sat down on the sidewalk after marching along the pedestrian walkway on Pennsylvania Avenue. Police warned them three times that they were breaking the law by failing to move along, then began making arrests.

Sheehan, 48, was the first taken into custody. She stood up and was led to a police vehicle while protesters chanted, “The whole world is watching.”"

Today’s Times-Delphic, Drake’s student newspaper, had a decent editorial from the President of Drake Democrats, Pat Rynard, about the anti-war movement and its apparent lack of leadership (to some degree). If only the TD could get their act together and make their website work instead of just looking pretty, I would post a link.

Take this test

Published by

Chris Woods

September 24, 2005 in Off topic. 6 Comments

I’m a socialist…maybe I’m further left than I thought?

You are a
Social Liberal
(80% permissive)

and an…
Economic Liberal
(11% permissive)

You are best described as a:

Socialist

Link: The Politics Test on OkCupid Free Online Dating

Candidate to beat?

Published by

Chris Woods

September 23, 2005 in 2006 Elections, Democrats and Iowa politics. 0 Comments

It looks like former the for Director for Iowa Economic Development, Mike Blouin, is set to become the Democrat to beat in the race for governor of Iowa in 2006. Today, 17 Iowa state senators and Senate Democratic Co-Majority leader Mike Gronstal (a former candidate himself) endorsed Blouin for Iowa’s top political slot. The race is still pretty up in the air, and has been for a while, but I can honestly say I’m feeling myself leaning towards Blouin.

The most important thing to me, though, is fielding a candidate who can beat Jim Nussle. And Blouin is definitely that guy.

Senate Democratic frustration

Published by

Chris Woods

September 22, 2005 in Democrats, John Roberts and Supreme Court. 1 Comment

I just don’t understand the reaons behind voting yes on Judge John Roberts, particularly by those Senators on the Judiciary Committee who are clearly more liberal members of the Senate than many other Democrats in the Senate. The committee vote was 13-5, with Herb Kohl (WI), Russ Feingold (WI), and Patrick Leahy (VT) as the Democrats voting for him. Not a single one of these senators are Democratic moderates in any sense of the word. For the last few years, Russ Feingold could almost be considered the hero for many liberals in America because he was the only vote in opposition to the liberty-restricting USA PATRIOT Act.

I don’t know what it is that made these senators vote yes to send his vote to the floor. I guess it isn’t as important as an actual vote to confirm. I just hope that by the confirmation vote comes around, they’ll re-think their positions a bit.

Then again, maybe I’m just being incredibly idealistic and Democratic unity is just a figment of my imagination.

Bipartisanship from … THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION?!?!?!?!?

Published by

Chase Nordengren

September 21, 2005 in Congress, Democrats, Economy, Ethics, Republicans and Tom DeLay. 1 Comment

I’m not even being sarcastic. In an editorial on giving back highway funds to offset hurricane spending, Heritage applauds Nancy Pelosi and rips Tom Delay a new one:

Offsetting the cost of the Katrina relief effort with funding from low-priority projects and programs is the fiscally responsible thing to do, and strong leadership like that exercised by Minority Leader Pelosi and the Republican Study Committee could make this proposal a reality.

Beyond the fact that they’re obviously right, I think this may be a noteworthy day in the history of the universe.

Reflections on the Harkin Steak Fry

Published by

Chris Woods

September 21, 2005 in Democrats, Iowa politics, North America and Poverty. 2 Comments

Well, sorry about the lack of posting folks. I’m sure you all know how college is.

Anyway, last Sunday was the 28th Annual Tom Harkin Steak Fry at the Warren County Fairgrounds. I went with a legion of Drake Democrats, mainly to see the dreamy ( ;-) ) Senator John Edwards speak. And it was really an awesome time.

I had a big write-up prepared on how Edwards could’ve elaborated on his speech to address the poverty issues affecting those in America, particularly those who felt the rath of Hurricane Katrina, and how he could’ve made clear his call for a new-age WPA program.

However, yesterday I found out that he gave quite a similar speech, only with more detail and more explanation at the Center for American Progress in Washington, DC. It seems quite clear that his speech at the Steak Fry was kind of a testing point and he saved the real details in policy for the expert folks at CAP. Good plan. Think Progress has the text of the full speech here. Go read it now.

One other thought for you loyal readers: Are John Edwards and John Kerry trying to run a type of shadow government in America? This CNN headline story from yesterday clearly makes that seem possible. If so, how well are they doing?

My friend and I pondered this idea for a bit while Edwards was talking at the Steak Fry. Maybe it is deserving of some more careful thought.

Does the UN have a challenger?

Published by

Chase Nordengren

September 16, 2005 in United Nations. 4 Comments

Bill Clinton was counterscheduling?

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former President Bill Clinton wheeled and dealed on Friday at his Clinton Global Initiative summit, yielding promises from global leaders to do things to make the world a better place and bringing the value of aid commitments over two days to nearly $500 million.

Friday’s pledges announced by organizers included more clean water for Africa, an Arab entrepreneurship initiative and the assignment of a youth corps to help in relief, recovery and rebuilding efforts in the U.S. Gulf states devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

And they say the man can’t be Secretary General. Sure as hell’s doin a better job then the guy whose trying now. It just proves diplomacy is more art than science.

Clinton leads “Meet the Press” this week

Work to do

Published by

Chris Woods

September 16, 2005 in Congress, Democrats, Iowa politics and Off topic. 2 Comments

Well, I didn’t get elected Drake Democrats President. But that’s ok. I did, however, get elected as the Legislative Liaison.

The problem is that this position was basically made up last year with no real intent behind it. My goal is to give it some purpose. That means I need a plan of action, which is where any of you local readers come in.

I want your ideas. Who should I contact and who should I work with to be a true legislative liaison? I’ve got the contact information for Democratic staffers in the Iowa state legislature. Should I get information from Congressman Boswell’s office as well as Senator Harkin’s? What should an email to these folks say? Should I emphasize stuff like initiatives or issues affecting students? Should I ask them for special updates when addressing issues like education or Social Security?

I would definitely appreciate your thoughts in the comments section, so please let them flow.

The Speech

Published by

Chase Nordengren

September 15, 2005 in Bush Administration. 0 Comments

Okay, is it just me, or was this announced “ambitious economic program” eerily like the one that was supposed to be in effect for the whole country? (Home ownership, small business loans, minority ownership, etc.)

That and I’m really getting sick of the President of the United States having to give out phone numbers and URLs. Somehow the rallying part of the speech is lost there.

I’ll be honest, I was bored. It was a news story with a few minor policy proposals.

Vote Chris Woods!

Published by

Chris Woods

September 15, 2005 in Democrats, Iowa politics and Off topic. 0 Comments

Ok guys, I have been very busy lately, but I just had to pass this little message on to any Drake students reading the blog:

Tonight, at 7 PM in Bulldog Theater at Drake University, I will be making my announcement to run for Drake Democrats President. Voting shall proceed almost immediately before the watching of “Bush’s Brain.” I kindly request your vote. Thank you.

That is all, back to your regularly scheduled programming.

WTF Moment of the Day: How a FEMA employee spends his day

Published by

Chase Nordengren

September 14, 2005 in WTF Moment of the Day and White House. 0 Comments

Well, lest you think that FEMA had truly failed Americans in its disaster preparedness, they have this rap for kids to set you straight. (RealAudio Required.)

No, I’m not kidding.

Please give it a listen and play it at your next rave, or, you know, something like that. It is days like these that make me wish I had a radio show.

Discovery of clip courtesy of Harry Shearer’s Le Show.