The Iowa Daily Report -- Wednesday, January 7, 2004

* QUOTABLE:

"I'm afraid Howard Dean has said a number of things that are polarizing," said Joe Lieberman. "He has represented anger. Anger has fueled his campaign."

"It is true I said Medicare is the worst program that was ever invented, because you can't administer it properly," Howard Dean said. "Of course we're going to keep Medicare. It's one of the great programs that ever was."

"But here's what I won't do: I won't raise taxes on the middle class or cut basic benefits for children and older Americans," John Kerry said. "Hard working Americans have already had to deal with George Bush — and they don't need more pain."

The former Vermont governor is closing in on the honor of leading the Democratic ticket at the same time that his critics and rivals are busily converting his own utterances into controversies that could blow his chances to smithereens. The nightmare possibility for the Democrats is that the two might happen at once -- that Dean will polish off his opponents just as he commits the gaffe of all gaffes, the one for which no repairs are possible. -- writes David S. Broder.

"That gap is enormous — married and single voters live not on different planets, but different solar systems, when it comes to their politics and values," John Zogby said. "Republicans have a problem with single voters, especially single women. The Democrats' problem is with married people, especially married women."

"Dean is electable precisely because he's making a decisive break with the spinelessness and pussyfooting that have become the hallmark of the Democratic Party," Arianna Huffington writes."Far from Dean not being able to 'compete' with Bush on foreign policy, he's the one viable Democrat who isn't trying to compete on the playing field that Bush and Karl Rove have laid out,"

A sense of skittishness about Howard Dean is beginning to stir in New Hampshire. Whether that doubt freshens to a gaffe-driven gust or is merely an evanescent breeze of unease remains to be seen, but creeping disquiet about Dean came up often in conversations with more than three-dozen voters on Friday and Monday. -- writes Scot Lehigh of the Boston Globe.

When asked why, as it seemed the Senator [Kerry] was suggesting, he felt frontrunner Howard Dean had stepped up his attacks on a re-focused Kerry, the Senator offered only one word: "footsteps."

"People like myself – meaning evangelical Christians, regular church-going people – that's his home plate. George Bush can lose with us, but he cannot win without us," -- anonymous.

The Chicago Sun Times reports Mayor Daley digs Dean — or at least finds his message has real appeal. Says Daley of Dean, "He's tapping into this whole anti-Washington, anti-establishment [movement] … If you look at the polls, he is hitting a chord there against the establishment, the Democratic Party and everything else." More Daley: "He symbolizes that, if you go to Washington as a senator or congressman, you cannot run for president. That's a real big symbol."

* TODAY’S OFFERINGS:

Just Politics: *NPR Debate *Overtime pay flap
*Super Delegates *Poll Watching

Howard Dean: *Staffer oops *Dean’s lie
*Dean’s wife will appear *Dean needs money
*Dean making major shift *Short people
*The gang’s all here

Dick Gephardt: *Gephardt & Oklahoma
*Gephardt’s new ad

John Kerry: *Kerry’s $25 billion to states
*Pocketbook watchdog

Wesley Clark: *Clark off the wagon
*No regrets  *You’re in the army now

John Edwards: *Fix No Child Left Behind

Dennis Kucinich: Kucinich -- it’s radio
*Willie’s signed lyrics *Patch Adams

Carol Moseley Braun: *Carol missed

* CANDIDATES & CAUCUSES:

NPR Debate

"I don't know of a case where a Democratic candidate for president has been elected who called for a massive increase in taxes on the middle class," Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman said. "These are our people," said Joe Lieberman

"If I can begin to breach the gap between Bill Bradley and Al Gore, and bring in people who have served long periods of time in Washington, and all the enthusiastic supporters we have, then I think I may be the right candidate to beat George Bush," Howard Dean said.

The NPR sponsored debate found the Democrats once again arguing about whether tax cuts are tax cuts and whether tax increases are tax increases. Each Democrat candidate has a plan to increase taxes, however, in Dean’s case he believes that his increase is a cut and that Bush’s tax cut is an increase.

Sen. John Kerry took Dean’s repeal of all of the Bush tax cuts to task "Everybody in Iowa will pay additional taxes at 15 percent and the marriage penalty will be reinstated," Kerry said. "Now, there's a terrific message: Democrats in America, if you get married, you ought to pay more taxes. I think it's wrong."

Dean said Kerry's argument was "hogwash," adding: "We cannot keep telling people we're going to give them all the programs they want and then there's not going to be any sacrifice of any kind."

Overtime pay flap

Democratic presidential hopefuls criticized the Bush administration Tuesday for suggesting how employers could avoid paying overtime to 1.3 million workers who would be newly eligible in its proposal. White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the options were part of "an economic analysis that's required under the rule-making process."

"Working men and women deserve a president who will fight for them and their hard-earned dollars, and not a president who helps big corporations find loopholes to cheat their employees out of decent pay for a hard day's work," Sen. John Edwards said.

"Instead of doing whatever it takes to create jobs, it seems like George W. Bush is working overtime to make life harder for working families. The Bush assault on working people won't stop until we give the President a pink slip. This Administration simply doesn't share the values of the American people," Sen. Joe Lieberman said.

"When will the Bush administration devise a how-to plan to put people back to work?" Sen. John Kerry asked.

Employers' options to reduce costs, according to the department's report, include cutting workers' hourly wages and adding the overtime to equal the original salary, or raising salaries to the new $22,100 annual threshold so they would be ineligible.

Super Delegates

The Associated Press has canvassed the 725 named super delegates (there are another 77 super delegate slots that have not been filled). A total of 802 super delegates are qualified to attend the Democratic convention when it convenes in Boston starting July 26.

The results show: Howard Dean-80; Dick Gephardt-57; John Kerry-50; John Lieberman-25; Wesley Clark-22; John Edwards-15; Al Sharpton-3; Carol Mosley Braun-3; and Dennis Kucinich-2 super delegates.

It is expected that most super delegates will commit after the Feb. 3 round of states.

Poll Watching

In the national USA Today/CNN/Gallup Poll Bush is viewed favorably by nearly 2-to-1, 65% to 35%. Howard Dean has a net negative rating, with 28% viewing him favorably, 39% unfavorably. Of the Democrats, only retired Army general Wesley Clark has a net favorable rating of more than one point. His rating was 37% favorable, 26% unfavorable.

If the election were held today, President Bush defeats Democratic front-runner Howard Dean 59% to 37% among likely voters. Against an unnamed Democrat, he wins 55% to 38%. Bush’s support is fairly strong with 45% saying they're sure to vote for him. Democratic support is softer; 27% say they will support their party's nominee.

Six in ten Americans say they approve of the job Bush is doing. That's higher than the approval ratings Clinton, Carter, Reagan or the elder Bush had at this point. Bush's approval rating on handling Iraq has risen 11 points in a month, to 61%.

Bush’s rating on the economy is up 6 points. His 54% approval rating on the economy contrasts with a 24% rating for his father one year before the 1992 election.

Staffer oops

Howard Dean’s staff messed up and wound up having a reporter for the Arizona Republic listening in as they discussed tactics on a conference call. The Republic recounts how the Dean campaign planned to attack Wesley Clark and help make Dean look more decisive in the voters’ perceptions:

"Tomorrow, (Tuesday) we're going to start by having Bradley do sort of a subtle thing, if we can, by saying that Dean is a real Democrat, and then follow that up the next day with an in-state person that's probably a little more direct," one unidentified staffer said.

The mistake seemed to be a matter of timing. The reporters were discovered when another reporter joined the line and they were informed that they were early and to call back in ten minutes at which time Howard Dean would be on the line discussing No Child Left Behind. However, that wasn’t before the reporters heard Dean staffers talk about how to position Bill Bradley and then do a follow-up attack on Clark:

"The Bradley message could be, like, (Dean) knew where he stood on the war, is still a Democrat, takes . . . positions, blah, blah, blah," the staffer said.

The next day, the speaker said, "surrogates" for Dean, both local and national, could "then hit Clark on the flip side of the argument: that he's indecisive, didn't know what party he's with, doesn't know his position on the war," she said.

Clark Campaign Communications Director Matt Bennett responded to this report:

"The Dean camp's secret back-room plotting to have Bill Bradley and others attack Wes Clark isn't a bit surprising. Governor Dean seems to like others to do his heavy lifting - just last week Howard Dean asked Democratic Party Chairman Terry McAuliffe to protect him from the criticisms of his rivals. The fundamental difference between Governor Dean and General Clark is that Howard Dean is a politician, and Wes Clark is a leader."

"Wes Clark has run a war, making life and death decisions every day. If the Dean Campaign wants to have a debate about decisiveness, we're ready."

Dean’s lie

Democratic presidential front-runner Howard Dean, during a candidates' debate in Iowa on Sunday, "baldly lied in a way that may come back to haunt him," New York Post columnist John Podhoretz writes.

Mr. Dean, criticized by Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry for once having suggested that President Bush might have known in advance of the September 11 terrorist attacks, responded: "You better go look what I said about Saudi Arabians tipping off the president. I said I didn't believe it, and I said it right on that show."

Mr. Podhoretz said, "Here's the totality of what Dean said on Diane Rehm's National Public Radio show in December: 'The most interesting theory that I've heard so far, which is nothing more than a theory, I can't — think it can't be proved — is that he was warned ahead of time by the Saudis. Now, who knows what the real situation is .. .'

The columnist said, "Do you see anywhere in this quote an assertion that Dean 'didn't believe it'? (He did use those words on 'Fox News Sunday' a few weeks later, after a firestorm erupted on the matter.)"

"Rarely has a major-party candidate told as blatant (and as easily checkable) an untruth in a debate," Mr. Podhoretz writes.

Dean’s wife will appear

Howard Dean announced that his wife will do press interviews and make some campaign appearances. However, she is not going to be a key campaign prop, according to the Associated Press account:

"I do not intend to drag her around because I think I need her as a prop on the campaign trail," he added.

 Dean’s wife, Judy, is expected to do television interviews and possibly appear in a campaign commercial.

Dean said that if he wins the nomination, Judy’s life will remain focused on her medical career and caring for their teenage son still living at home, he said.

Judy Dean, 50, is a doctor with a full-time practice in their hometown of Burlington, Vt., where she is known professionally as Judy Steinberg. Dean said she would practice medicine in Washington if he won the presidency.

Dean said his two children — Paul, 17, and Anne, 19 — will be "out of bounds" as he pursues the presidency.

Dean needs money

Howard Dean’s campaign may be the most financed of the Democrats, but if he is to reach his $200 million goal he needs to get going. Dean will have to raise $20 million to $26 million every month before the Democratic convention opens July 26. According to the Times Mirror Joe Trippi Dean’s campaign manager is hoping Dean becomes the presumptive nominee soon:

Trippi acknowledged that a sharp increase in fundraising will not take place until Dean becomes the acknowledged nominee. "Its hard to raise that kind of money" when running against fellow Democrats, he said. But "it's different when the story gets turned and raising money is to defeat George Bush. ... If and when we are at the point where it's Howard Dean versus George Bush, that is when we believe we can do that (raise $200 million)."

Dean making major shift

Howard Dean is reported to be contemplating a major shift in his policies just after defending those policies on Tuesday’s debate on NPR. Dean, while weathering an attack on his repeal of all of Bush’s tax cuts, accused his opponents of not leveling on the fact that it takes tax revenues to pay for the things they were promising the American people. The Boston Globe reports that Dean is now looking for a tax cut to deliver to the voters:

Dean's action comes after his team of economic advisers privately gave him a "unanimous" recommendation to back a middle-income tax cut to offset the increases that would come with repealing Bush's plan, a top campaign official said.

The economic team has been especially concerned that Dean's proposed repeal of the Bush cuts has enabled critics to accuse him of supporting what amounts to a $2,000 tax increase on families earning between $73,000 and $145,000.

Some advisers worried that stance could be politically fatal in the general election if Dean is the Democratic nominee.

The signal that this would happen came during the same debate in which he condemned his opponents. He stated, "Ultimately, we will have a program of tax fairness for middle-class people."

Short people

Rush Limbaugh is tweaking Howard Dean on how he came off equal in height to 6’8” Bill Bradley in a CNN story that carried Bradley’s endorsement. It happened because Dean was on the podium platform and Bradley wasn’t. Here is a recount carried by Limbaugh:

"Chatting with reporters on his campaign jet recently, Dean complained about a New York Times story that had described him as 'diminutive.' Dean first noted that the Times reporter, Adam Nagourney, is 'about five-three.' Then he added, 'I don't know that I'm so short.' Well, a reporter asked, how tall are you? 'I'm five-eight,' Dean replied. 'Almost five-nine.' Dean probably should have stopped here, but he didn't. 'Five-eight and three-quarters,' he continued. 'The reason I don't tell anybody about the three-quarters is that it sounds like I'm very sensitive about my height. And I'm not.' Where would anyone get that impression?"

The gang’s all here

Howard Dean has been collecting stars and they are about to come out according to the NY Times:

Former Vice President Al Gore is scheduled to spend Friday and Saturday campaigning for Howard Dean in the eastern Iowa cities that gave Mr. Gore an overwhelming victory in the 2000 Democratic caucuses. Then he heads to South Carolina on Dr. Dean's behalf later this month.

Mr. Gore's wife, Tipper, is likely to be the headliner at several events for Dr. Dean next week, Dean campaign aides said. And Mr. Gore's rival in the 2000 primary fight, former Senator Bill Bradley, who made his endorsement official on Tuesday with twin appearances in Des Moines and in Manchester, N.H., has agreed to sign an e-mail solicitation for contributions.

At the same time, Representative Jesse L. Jackson Jr. of Illinois, who is featured in an advertisement for Dr. Dean now running on black radio stations in South Carolina, plans to make several visits to stump for him in that state before its Feb. 3 primary. Representative Robert Menendez of New Jersey will do the same in the heavily Hispanic states of Arizona and New Mexico, which vote the same day.

Gephardt & Oklahoma

Marking his seventh visit to the Sooner State, Rep. Dick Gephardt made stops in McAlester and Oklahoma City last Monday morning. Despite the early hour, Gephardt enjoyed a strong showing of supporters at a breakfast meeting in McAlester before heading to an event at the Mary Mahoney Clinic in Oklahoma City where health care was the focus.

The meeting was also an opportunity for influential Rev. John A. Reed, President of the Oklahoma Baptist Convention, to make his formal endorsement of the Congressman's presidential bid. The choice reflected a growing sentiment in Oklahoma's African American community that Gephardt is the best candidate to create jobs and improve access to quality health care.

Pledging support, the Pastor commented, "I did not choose Dick Gephardt because he is the only candidate, I chose to endorse him because he is the candidate that understands the issues that folks in this community face everyday. He brings faith, integrity, and experience to job of president."

On a more lighthearted note, Rev. Reed added, "We need a tall, strong tree to replace the Bush we have in the White House." The comment drew laughter from the crowd of health care professionals and other African American ministers who were present for the endorsement.
Rev. Reed heads Oklahoma City's Black Ministerial Alliance and the Concerned Clergy for Spiritual Renewal. He is considered one of the Oklahoma's most influential leaders in the religious community.

Additional Sooner State Supporters will be announced every week until Oklahoma's Presidential Primary on February 3rd.

Sooner State Supporters for the week of January 6th:

Ruby Ames, Democratic activist, Tulsa; Richard Armstrong, retired railroad worker, Yukon; Lisa Blanco, Social Worker, McAlester; Steve Brinlee, Democratic activist, Wilburton; Reverend A.D. Carpenter, New Hope Baptist Church, Tulsa; Pauline Cates, retiree, McAlester; Jolene Chastain, retiree, McAlester; Shirley Cobb, Democratic activist, Oklahoma City; Rene deTurenne, former Arkansas Traveler Clinton White House Volunteer 1993-2001, Tulsa; Ken Curtis, Democratic activist, McAlester; Roberta Durant, retired dietary manager, McAlester; Buck Durant, retired civil servant, McAlester; Bill Erwin, attorney, McAlester; Sharon Erwin, writer, McAlester; Lois Felder, Democratic activist, Oklahoma City; Summer Gaiski, member IBEW 1141, Midwest City; Steven Gaiski, Democratic activist, Midwest City; Laura Garrison, Democratic Activist, Tulsa; Jonathan Garrison, Democratic Activist, Tulsa; Reverend Scott Gordon, Christian Ministers Alliance 3rd Vice President, and Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Sapulpa; Mark Gregory, IBEW Local 1141, Oklahoma City; Carolyn Lewis, Democratic activist, Oklahoma City; Jama Moore, high school teacher, Tonkawa; Dr. Mike Moore, professor, Tonkawa; Michael Pierson, student, member of Young Democrats, McAlester; Lorine Powers, activist, Oklahoma City; Rev. John A. Reid, Pastor, Fairview Baptist Church, President, Oklahoma Baptist Convention, Oklahoma City; Mary Stauffer, Democratic Activist and Precinct Secretary, Pryor; Cia Terauchi, Small Businessperson, Tulsa; Earl Tillery, President TWU Retiree Association of Oklahoma, Collinsville; Matt Wittman, Democratic activist, McAlester; Freddie Wright, Democratic activist and member of USWA Local 998L, Oklahoma City.

Gephardt’s new ad

The Gephardt for President campaign began running a new television ad across the state of Iowa this week. Full text of the ad follows:

"Everyone"

Announcer: "One candidate for President voted against NAFTA and the China trade deal... Dick Gephardt."

Dick Gephardt: "We must raise global standards so that everyone everywhere does better. As president, I won't sign trade agreements with countries that use slave or child labor. I'll push for an international minimum wage and raise our minimum wage. It's fair to our workers and it's right for workers everywhere. I'm Dick Gephardt. I approve this message because it's time we change America's trade policies."

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry proposed Monday a $25 billion package to aid cash-strapped states and recharge the economy.

Kerry’s $25 billion to states

Kerry coupled his Monday economic proposal with a series of efforts to end the drain of American jobs overseas, largely by shifting tax policies to reward companies keeping jobs in the United States.

Most polls have shown Kerry in third place in the race for Iowa's leadoff caucuses, trailing Howard Dean and Dick Gephardt. Kerry has stepped up the pace of his campaign in recent weeks and was seeking to draw attention with a high-profile speech touting his efforts to boost the economy.

In remarks prepared for delivery Monday, the Massachusetts senator downplayed recent reports of economic improvement, arguing that most workers haven't felt any change.

"In an economy that grew 8 percent last quarter, the average American got to bring home an extra 3 cents for every hour of work," he said. "That's the slowest wage growth in 40 years."

Kerry's proposals included:

* Setting aside $25 billion a year for two years to aid states struggling with budget deficits. States have boosted college tuition and taxes, more than offsetting tax cuts President Bush (news - web sites) has pushed, Kerry said.

* Raising the minimum wage, which hasn't been increased since 1996.

* Providing a tax credit on the first $4,000 a year a family spend on college tuition. He would have a 100 percent credit on the first $2,000 and a 50 percent credit on the second $2,000.

Many Democrats have worried that signs of economic improvement have dimmed their hopes of ousting Bush, but Kerry discounted that improvement.

"They may be celebrating this so-called recovery in the White House and on Wall Street, but it's not so rosy in the houses down on Main Street," he said. "America can do better than a Bush-league recovery - we can have a real recovery that reaches every American."

Kerry argued that the nation would be better served by strategic investments in key infrastructure areas, including creating an education trust fund to bolster local schools. He put no price tag on that fund.

Kerry underscored an earlier proposal giving workers a $10,000 tax deduction for the expenses of training or other steps taken to improve job skills.

Kerry: pocketbook watchdog

Sen. John Kerry announced in a speech to New Hampshire business leaders that he would appoint a "director of personal economic security" to protect workers' pensions and retirement benefits, crack down on identity theft and ensure fair housing lending. The appointee also would oversee efforts to enforce financial consumer protection laws, develop new ways to help people save money and promote programs to educate them about the financial world.

Clark off the wagon

IPW missed Clark’s performance on Hardball with Chris Mathews Monday. Clearly we have to take back Clark’s performance rating for that day. While Clark may want to out-do Howard Dean regarding the War in Iraq, he doesn’t need to look ridiculous doing it. After all, he is close enough to the Dean moniker of “mad mouth disease.”

Democratic presidential hopeful Wesley Clark charged Monday that Vice President Dick Cheney, not President Bush, "has called a lot of the shots," and that the administration went to war in Iraq for "purely political" reasons.

Mr. Clark, interviewed by Chris Matthews on MSNBC's "Hardball," was asked, "Tell me what you think about the performance of Dick Cheney, vis-a-vis the president. Is he calling the shots, or is the president calling the shots?"

Mr. Clark replied: "Well, my information, and it's based only on limited inside information, is that he's called a lot of the shots."

When asked why the administration chose to go to war in Iraq, Mr. Clark replied: "I think it was purely political. I think it started with a Republican Party pledge, an effort to embarrass the Clinton administration. It swelled and just grew out of control.

"And finally, they decide that, after 9/11, they needed to do something. They needed to look really strong. And Afghanistan looked problematic. ... I think they just decided this was the opportunity. Let's go for Saddam Hussein."

Mr. Matthews asked: "Would you say the president of the United States traded American lives for electoral votes?"

Mr. Clark: "Well, I can't say that. ... "

Mr. Matthews: "You just did."

No regrets for Clark

"We are not experiencing any regret," said Matt Bennett, Clark's communications director.

The Wesley Clark Campaign is being asked over and over again whether they made a mistake in not campaigning in Iowa. They continue to point to the rising poll numbers in New Hampshire that have them tied with Sen. John Kerry at 14 percent with Howard Dean’s leading at 37 percent.

The Boston Globe reports on the story:

And though some second-guessing from outside has increased as Clark has showed fund-raising success -- his fourth-quarter take of about $11 million was second only to Dean's -- aides say the ability to buy ads in Iowa wouldn't have helped much in a caucus that depends on organizational networks, which are needed to turn out voters in 1,993 locations.

Besides, they say, there are benefits to avoiding the Iowa ruckus. While headlines out of Iowa debates have focused on the candidates attacking Dean, they say, Clark has appeared in stories about his plans for tax reform.

It is not as if sidestepping Iowa was not without its consequences:

The decision had some early negative consequences for the campaign. When leaders of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees announced its endorsement of Dean, some said they had stopped considering Clark when they learned he wouldn't compete in Iowa.

You’re in the army now

Here’s an interesting exchange between Peter Jennings and Wesley Clark:

Peter Jennings:: Do you remember as a child when you first thought about the Army?

Gen. Clark: Somehow I had a nickel. And I don't know how I got, it was my first money. So I walked a mile to a variety store, and the only thing I bought with the nickel was a toy soldier. And he was like a plastic, rubber soldier like they had in 1950, he was a machine gunner. He was laying down like this, prone position, with a machine gun. And I walked home with that in my fist. And I had that little machine gunner for years. That's the first time I ever thought about the army.

Edwards: fix No Child Left Behind

Senator John Edwards (D-NC) Tuesday laid out a comprehensive education reform agenda that goes beyond merely fixing No Child Left Behind to changing America's two school systems and providing equal educational opportunity to every child.

"Nearly 50 years after Brown v. Board of Education, we still have two school systems, not divided by race but by income,” Edwards said. "Now we are all angry at George Bush for putting photo ops ahead of progress and slogans ahead of solutions. But we have to do more than just fix No Child Left Behind. As a nation we need a comprehensive plan to change our schools so that all teachers can teach and all students can learn.”

In a speech at Metro High School in Cedar Rapids Tuesday, Edwards said he shared his Democratic opponents' anger about President Bush's poor implementation of No Child Left Behind, but that real change needs to go much further.

Over the last year and a half, Edwards has laid out the most detailed and comprehensive agenda of all the candidates to lift up all schools. Edwards' plan would:

·        Bring an Excellent Teacher into Every Classroom. Edwards will increase teacher pay, particularly where there are shortages. He will create scholarships for future teachers who commit to teaching in underserved areas and help current teachers improve their skills. Edwards will double the national investment of $3 billion a year in teacher quality.

·        Reform America's High Schools. Edwards will shrink high schools, build new ones and break up bigger ones so that adults know their students. He will beef up high school curricula and require schools that participate in his College for Everyone program to expect every child to complete a college-prep curriculum. Edwards will expand programs that help low-income students prepare for college and will ask every college to adopt at least one high-poverty school. He will also help schools promote community service.

·        Create After School Centers. Edwards will create voluntary, high-quality after school centers at or near every school, building on successful programs at schools and non-profit agencies like the Boys and Girls Clubs and YMCAs.

·        Fix and Fund No Child Left Behind. Edwards will update the benchmarks used to grade schools and teachers so that federal and state officials have the flexibility to focus on the schools that are truly failing and keep quality teachers in specialized fields. Edwards will convene a commission of educators to evaluate the strengths of the law and point out the places where it can be improved. Edwards will also keep No Child Left Behind's promise to fund schools, particularly in special education.

Edwards explained how his blueprint for education reform would, over the next decade, put an excellent teacher in every Iowa classroom, allow 15,000 more Iowans to graduate high school and 25,000 more to graduate from college. It also will give an additional 150,000 Iowa students the opportunity to attend a high-quality after school center.

"Our answer to what George W. Bush did to our schools shouldn't be just about anger,” Edwards said. "We need to lift our schools up and make them everything they ought to be. And I am the only candidate in this race who offers this positive agenda to bring our schools into the 21st century.”

Kucinich -- it’s radio

National Public Radio sponsored a radio-only debate yesterday, but Dennis Kucinich didn’t seem to get it. He came with a pie chart that he held up as he was explaining why the Defense budget is bloated.

"Congressman Kucinich is holding up a pie chart, which is not truly effective on radio," moderator Neal Conan told his listeners.

Kucinich was not fazed by the obvious detraction.

"Well, it's effective if Howard can see it," Kucinich countered.

Willie’s signed lyrics

Following the Willie Nelson and Friends Concert Fundraiser for Dennis Kucinich last Saturday night at the Austin Music Hall, a post-event reception was held at La Zona Rosa. There, supporters were able to bid on various collectibles including Nelson's signed lyrics for his new song "Whatever Happened To Peace On Earth," which he debuted on Saturday. Viewers of the webcast on www.kucinich.us were also able to bid. The winning bid of $2,900 went to two webcast viewers: Dr. Esteban O. Brown of McAllen, Texas, and John Fulwiler of Temple, Texas. They will pick up the lyrics, framed by a generous supporter, at Jovitas, 1619 1st Street in Austin at 4:00pm CT this afternoon. The event will be followed by a meeting of Austin Kucinich supporters at 5:00 p.m.

Kucinich's events in Austin this past weekend grossed over $140,000 for the campaign.

Patch Adams

Patch Adams, who was portrayed by Robin Williams in the film "Patch Adams," will campaign for Kucinich in Ames and Des Moines. Adams will appear at 10 a.m. at Cafe Diem in Ames, at 11:30 a.m. at Ames High School's presidential caucus forum, and at 12:30 p.m. at A-Dong restaurant in Des Moines, 1511 High St.

Carol missed

Carol Moseley Braun will not be on the ballot for New York's March 2 Democratic presidential primary ballot, campaign manager Patricia Ireland said yesterday. "We are, what shall we say, a low-budget, independent campaign in the Democratic primaries," said Ireland, the former president of the National Organization for Women. "We really have not been able to cover all the states we would have preferred." Braun, the former senator from Illinois, is the only woman among the nine major candidates seeking the Democratic nomination. The other candidates have all filed petitions to secure places on the New York primary ballot. In New York, Democratic candidates are required to collect the signatures of at least 5,000 party members statewide to be in the primary. Ireland said the Moseley Braun campaign, plagued by fund-raising problems, managed to get on the primary ballot in at least 20 states and expects to get on the ballots in another six or eight states, including California.

* ON THE BUSH BEAT:

Immigration proposal

Here are some details of the changes in immigration policy proposed by President:

*The new "temporary worker program" would allow either one of the estimated 8 million illegal immigrants already in the United States or someone abroad to apply for the right to work legally in the country for a three-year term that could be renewed. The White House is not saying how long the term could be extended or how many times it could be renewed.

*An applicant for the program already in the United States must pay an unspecified registration fee and show they are currently employed. Applicants still in their home countries won't have to pay a fee, but must have a job lined up.

*The employer must show no Americans wanted the job.

*Temporary workers would get all the same protections afforded American workers.

*The worker must return to his or her home country at the end of the term.

*Dependents of the temporary workers would be allowed in the United States if the worker can prove they can support their family. The workers would be allowed to move freely back and forth between the United States and their home country.

*The White House also is calling for an unspecified increase in the number of green cards allowed to be granted annually.

*The plan also would provide incentives for the workers to return to their home countries, including the promise of access to retirement benefits and new tax savings accounts.

*Congress would have to write legislation for the changes to take effect

In the money

President Bush heads into his re-election year with $99 million in the bank.

* NATIONAL:

Republicans in trouble

Republicans are meeting at a swank resort in Arizona with the Western Business Roundtable that is made up of energy interests from Western states. The meeting is being attended by Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, and representatives of the Energy and Interior departments and the EPA. Other House members confirmed as attending include Reps. Rob Bishop and Chris Cannon of Utah; Jim Kolbe of Arizona; Denny Rehberg of Montana; Darrell Issa of California; and Tom Tancredo of Colorado.

Industry sponsors will pay the food and lodging tab for members of Congress and other government participants. Rooms at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa start at $395 a night. The Western Business Roundtable members include utilities, mining companies, railroads and energy companies. The members of Congress are expected to receive contributions from members of the Roundtable and discuss policies and legislation.

 

homepage