DISQUS

Fantastic roundup John It looks like Iowans for Tax Relief isn't challenging any incumbents this cycle.  If I remember right they challenged a couple in 2006.

Why? Does anyone know why he is doing this?  His own caucus will not support him, and this won't help the party in November. 

Farm bill good and bad This bill has some good points, like the livestock and organic titles, but it also has some serious problems.  For one thing, the payment caps, while laudable, are still far too high. 

Yesterday, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church USA called for this bill to be vetoed.  Here are her two main points:

1.  First, the legislation leaves intact the deeply unjust American farm-payment system, which has been ruled a violation of international trade law for the manner in which it cripples the ability of farmers in poor countries to sell their products fairly in world markets.

2.  Second, and even more surprisingly, House and Senate negotiators unexpectedly slashed funding for a key program that provides meals for poor school children around the world. Known as the McGovern-Dole International Food-for-Education Program ...  [they cut its funding from $100 M to $84 M per year]

Here's the link  Presiding Bishop urges Farm Bill defeat  (Episcopal Life, May 9, 2008).

Its nice to have Matt Hayek on board Matt won huge majorities in the city council election, and he has friends on both sides of the aisle. 

There was a good turnout at Dodd's event in Coralville's Old Town Hall on Saturday afternoon.

Harkin voted No on the first cloture vote. Harkin was one of only 10 who voted with Dodd on this first procedural vote.

Its nice to see Joyce Schulte on this list Its nice to see Joyce Schulte on this list, are there any other candidates or elected officials?

This was a great event U2 songs felt like they were written for this service.  People even sang along on the choruses.  I am so glad to see liberal Christians leading this effort, and even getting some TV coverage.

I was at the Dodd book signing in Iowa City This morning, Sen. Dodd was at Prairie Lights bookstore in Iowa City to sign copies of his book Letters from Nuremberg, which is about his father's experience as a prosecutor at the Nuremberg war trials.  Sen. Dodd recalled how many people opposed the trials at the time, and wanted summary executions of the Nazi leaders.  The US set a standard of moral leadership then that Bush & Co. have squandered in recent years.

I am supporting Sen. Dodd, because he has been the clearest voice in defending America's tradional moral position, and in protecting the Constitution against Bush's attacks.

I wonder if he'll mention this in his next series of TV ads? Romney has flip-flopped on every issue under the sun - and he knows we have the videos. Why is he even running?