Another Gem From Gronstal

June 18, 2008 by 4 Comments

As if making the claim that he wanted to keep the option of sending the State of Iowa into debt to pay for recovery efforts. Senator Gronstal has once again opened his mouth and manure has spilled out. According to an article on Channel 8′s website, Gronstal now wants to raise the gas tax to pay for recovery efforts. Yes you read that right, yesterday he wanted to go into debt, today he wants to raise taxes.

http://www.kcci.com/money/16635210/detail.html

Evidently Senator Gronstal does not understand that the government needs to tighten it’s belt in tough times. He needs to learn that the citizen’s of this great state are not the governments private piggy bank that he can reach into anytime that he wants to raise more money. My fellow citizens, I feel deeply for those affected by this tragedy, but I am not willing to sacrifice Iowa’s future so that Gronstal and his cronies can have a little bit of comfort now.

Senator Gronstal needs to tighten the belt at the statehouse, he along with the rest of Iowa’s elected officials need to determine the programs that they are most willing to sacrifice. This will show if Gronstal is truly dedicated to recovery efforts in the state or whether he is addicted to the power to tax the citizens of Iowa.

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Wow I Got Interviewed

June 18, 2008 by 1 Comment

I just wanted to let our loyal readers know that I have been interviewed by an international news blog called the Pakistani Spectator. This came as quite a shock when I received notifcation that the author wanted to ask a few questions. At first I thought that it was some sort of scam, but after some research I discovered that it was the real deal. As a result I filled out all the questions that the Spectator asked, and guess what. It is already published. You can check out the interview at the following link.

http://www.pakspectator.com/interview-with-blogger-albert-bregar/

Now as soon as the rest of the Alliance fills out their interview sheets, those answers will be published as well.

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Gronstal Calls for Debt Option

June 17, 2008 by 4 Comments

I am sorry to do this. I was really wanting to stay away from politics until after the floodwaters had completely receded from Iowa. However the words of Iowa Senate Majority leader Mike Gronstal has changed all that.

In comments that Senator Gronstal made recently in regards to the recovery efforts from the Flood of 2008, he said that the state should not rule out as an option, taking out loans to pay for the recovery efforts. Hasn’t those that wield the power in our government learned that you have to pay your debts eventually. Doesn’t he realize that if the state of Iowa were to go into debt today to pay for our recovery efforts then it would be our children that would end up having to pay for it. It is obvious to me that tax and spend Mike has absolutely no fiscal responsibility, at least when someone else’s money is at stake. I believe that his recent comments that debt should not be ruled out as an option shows the depth of his misunderstanding of a sound fiscal policy. Because of this lack of common sense, I truly believe that Gronstal should be tossed on the ash heap of history as the failed leader that he is.

My problem with going into debt to pay for Iowa’s recovery effort is rather simple and fundamental. We should not mortgage the future of the state and the future of our children for our comfort now. We should be willing to make the sacrifices now to rebuild the state’s infrastructure with what we have. I am sure that there are state entitlement programs that can be cut to fund the reconstruction effort. I am sure that there are many unnecessary programs that the state is currently funding that can receive a sizable cut in funding, especially considering how fast Iowa’s spending has increased in the last few years.

In closing, I would urge each of you to call your State Senator or State Representative to tell them that you are opposed to the State of Iowa borrowing money to pay for our efforts to recover from the Flood of 2008.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080617/NEWS10/806170368/-1/FLOODING&theme=FLOODING

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A Request for Forgiveness

June 16, 2008 by 8 Comments

As the floodwaters recede in much of Iowa today, please forgive the Iowa Defense Alliance for a lack of new material. As many of our readers were battling the floodwaters in attempts to save not just their homes, but their livelihoods as well; members of the IDA or their families are dealing with the rising tide as well. I know for me this is why I have not posted on line in better than a week. Sometimes there are things more important than politics. The Flood of 2008 is one of those rare things that bring together whole communities in a concerted effort to save entire neighborhoods from inundation. We saw this in Cedar Falls and Waterloo where sandbag levee’s were put into place to hold off the Cedar River. Or Iowa City in an attempt to save the University of Iowa campus from the rising Iowa River.

The Flood of 2008 has shown the world what Iowa is made of. We have shown the country that one does not have to loot after a disaster. We have shown the country that when Iowans are hit with adversity, everyone pitches in to overcome it. This is the Iowa that I have come to know and love. We have shown that WE do not need to have the government hold our hands in order to do the right thing.

As I conclude I would like to stress that many areas of the state are still under threat of flood or are currently flooding, especially in Eastern Iowa. Please be careful, we have been relatively safe up to this point, let us keep that record going. And please forgive us for putting Iowans in general above petty political bickering.

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My first post!

June 10, 2008 by 5 Comments

I’m a self-declared political nerd (okay maybe just a nerd in general). In kindergarten I remember proudly telling my teacher that my parents were voting for George Bush. In 2nd-grade I collected Desert Storm trading cards and my teacher gave me the “teacher edition” of the Weekly Reader that focused on Desert Storm (complete with a map of Iraq). In 3rd-grade I stated that I would be the first female senator from South Dakota. I sat devastated in my 4th-grade class room as I watched Bill Clinton be inaugurated.  My senior year of high school I vehemently defended Bush in my government class during the Florida recount.

To fuel my nerdiness, up until the past year I watched Fox News, read Bob Novak’s columns, and listened to talk show hosts such as Laura Ingraham and Sean Hannity. I would watch, listen, and read what these right-wing darlings were saying and I would get excited. I thought to myself, “Man, these people must really care about the issues I do. They must really care about life, about family, and about education. Why else would they be conservative?” Well, guess what? I was dead wrong. These self-proclaimed conservatives are not really conservatives at all. They are concerned with their own status in life, their own power, and are sold-out to a version of conservatism that puts so-called fiscal issues above issues that protect our fundamental rights as people and as Americans. No, they don’t care about the issues I really care about. These “conservatives” fail to see what is in my heart and in the hearts of those on this blog.

What is in my heart? Well, that is for the next post!

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What are you going to do?

June 9, 2008 by 11 Comments

Today I want to write about a subject that may upset some people. That’s okay, I think that it is time that people get upset. Maybe then they will get off their rumps to do something. I want to ask each of you reading this, just what you have done recently to make a difference? What have you done to change things. Have you simply and anonymously complained about what is going on with your government today? Or are you one of those people that, to put it mildly, bitch and moan about how your government is not representing you any more? Do you not get off your butt to make a difference? Do you say, someone else can do it, I am too busy to do anything about? It is this attitude that has brought America down the path that it is on.

All too often Americans just sit on the sidelines and watch other people make the decision of who is going to run this country or who is going to run this state. All too often Americans take the passenger seat and let others decide their future. Instead these people complain about the state of our government, but they are too lazy to do something about it. We all know who these people are. They can be your sibling, a parent, a friend, or about anyone. They are the ones the complain, but do nothing to change the situation. They are LAZY and SELF-CENTERED. These people throw away the rights that the founders of this nation fought and died for. They forsake the heritage and the principles upon which this country was founded. They are just as bad as the people that go in to the vote by pushing one button and never knowing who they are voting for. They are going to be the downfall of the country, the disinterested citizen that will not voice their opinion on the government.

So in closing I want to ask our readers again. What are you going to do? What are you going to change?

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Deja Vu

June 5, 2008 by 4 Comments

Those that are in the know say that deja vu is actually the brain malfunctioning when it processes something you experience.  Instead of storing that experience, the brain kicks it back out so it seems like a memory of something you already did, saw, experienced, etc.  Well what happened in the Republican US Senate race here in Iowa during the primaries on June 3rd was not deja vu, even though it might have seemed like it.

Christopher Reed was the youngest of the three US Senate candidates.  He had no name recognition or strong organization.  He raised the least amount of money and did not have big name endorsements, but yet, he is the candidate who surprised everyone and won.  No, your brain did not just malfunction.  This almost identical situation did happen before.  It happened just five short months ago on a cold January night.  The night of the Iowa Caucuses when another young candidate who was written off because he didn’t have the money, name recognition, organization, or endorsements stunned the nation with a victory.

So, Iowans have spoken twice on what they DON’T need in a candidate.  They don’t need a rich boy who can buy the votes, they don’t need a popular name for electability, they don’t need a big staff, and they definitely don’t need the Iowa GOP cramming the wrong candidate down their throats.  What Iowans DO want, however, is someone who is the future of the sagging Republican Party.  Someone who is firmly grounded in the traditional conservative values of the party, but willing to reach out in different ways to attract new voters into the fold.  That means talking about education, poverty, and environment to name a few while remaining true to the traditional family, the sanctity of human life, and less government.

So, take some notes Republican Party of Iowa.  Christopher Reed is just one example of the candidates who won on June 3rd.  When you take a look at the House and Senate district races across Iowa, the same outcomes are evident.  Those candidates who were grounded in the values of conservatism were the winners.  The candidates who got the nod from the Iowa Right to Life, Iowans for Tax Relief, and the Iowa Christian Alliance were the victors that night and not the moderate candidates who the party elite thought should be the next generation of Republicans.  The plans are in motion to take this party back.  

 

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Primary Results

June 4, 2008 by 12 Comments

Last night was a good night for us. We are filled with the heady combination of victory and accomplishment as the majority of the candidates that we chose to support not only won their districts, but they won them convincingly.

Take for example Erik Helland in Iowa House District 69. He defeated his challenger Al Lorenzen in a lopsided battle. The final tally for District 69 shows Helland capturing 1,187 votes or 73% of the votes in his district. By comparison Lorenzen captured only 440 votes or 27% of the votes in district 69. This was an utter blow out that left Lorenzen limping home with his tail tucked between his legs. Congrats to Erik Helland on his well fought and well earned victory in the primary. Watch for future updates on Hellands candidacy in district 69.

Another race that we have concentrated on was the Iowa Senate race in District 18 between Jod Childers and Karla Sibert. This was another case of a wide margin of defeat. Childers beat Sibert by a full 44%. The final tally in this district was Mr. Childers capturing 1,666 votes or 72%. Ms. Sibert on the other hand won just 648 votes or 28%. This loss will give Ms. Sibert the opportunity to do more of her work with animals.

Okay the most hotly debated and contested race on the Republican primary was the race for the nomination for the ability to challenge Tom Harkin in November. This was a close race with the lead changing hands numerous times. In the end it came down to a battle between George Eichhorn and newcomer Christopher Reed, this of course relegated Steve Rathje to an also ran early in the evening. In the end it was my guy Christopher Reed that came out on top with the narrow margin of just 415 votes. Still Reed managed to pull off a win with the designated 35% of the vote. Now Reed will be challenging Harkin for his US Senate seat in November.

In the US House District 2, the RINO, Marianette Miller-Meeks came out on top in another close race. She faced two other Republicans for the party’s nomination for 2nd District candidate. She narrowly beat challenger Peter Teahen, this is amazing because of all the bad press that Teahen has received as of late. The margin of victory was just 109 votes. I can honestly say that this is the smallest margin of victory I have ever seen. Miller-Meeks will now go on to challenge US Rep Loebsack in Novermber while Teahen and Harder go off to lick their wounds. Hopefully these two never show back up in Iowa politics, but I have a feeling that we will have to deal with these two bad pennies again.

The following are the actual results from the Tuesdays primary.

US Senate Race

Christopher Reed-25,150 35.3%

George Eichhorn-24,735 34.7%

Steve Rathje-21,326 29.9%

US House District 2

Mariannette Miller-Meeks-7,360 43.6

Peter Teahen-7,251 42.9%

Lee Harder-2,274 13.5%

Iowa House District 19

Carlin Hageman-481 77.6%

Marshall Shoemaker-139 22.4%

Iowa House District 41

Adam Vandall-358 68.3%

Susan Schmidt-166 31.7%

Iowa House District 55

Jason Schultz-1,207 59%

Don Fredrichsen-839 41%

Iowa House District 59

Chris Hagenow-733 57.8%

Susan Murphy-536 42.2%

Iowa House District 62

Chris Sanger-182 68.9%

Jeremy Walters-82 31.1%

Iowa House District 69

Erik Helland-1,187 73%

Al Lorenzen-440 27%

Iowa House District 70

Kevin Koester-878 73%

Jeff Wright-324 27%

Iowa House District 71

Jim Van Englehoven-1,074 72.4%

Marc Held-410 27.6%

Iowa House District 94

John Bridges-436 47.3%

Howard Hubbard-485 52.7%

Iowa Senate District 16

Dave McLaughlin-2,009 87.8%

Gary Culver-278 12.2%

Iowa Senate District 18

Joe Childers-1,666 72%

Karla Sibert-648 28%

Iowa Senate District 20

Tim Kapucian-1,206 63.1%

Richard Vander Mey-704 39.6%

Iowa Senate District 42

Shawn Hamerlinck-1,019 87.2%

Thomas Black-150 12.8%

Iowa Senate District 48

Kim Reynolds-2,482 61.7%

Jim Parker-1,538 38.3%

These results are not final, they are just the preliminary results. The official results will be out next week after the county canvass confirms the results.

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I Just Voted for Christopher Reed

June 3, 2008 by 6 Comments

I admit it. I’m one of those people who are perfectly comfortable voting for someone because of my “gut feeling”. I had one of these “gut feelings” about candidate for US Senate Christopher Reed. When a young newcomer with no voting record comes along sometimes you have to put your blind faith in him and mark his name on the ballot, and that is what I did.

Reed’s Republican challengers never really appealed to me. Since they all do have conservative credentials I am not saying I loathe any of the three, but there is just something about the other two that made me have my reservations. Steve Rathje has raised the most money and has campaigned the longest, but he seems fake, scripted, and just not one of us. Never mind that he blew off the IPTV debate which, to me, sent the message “I am the front runner so I do not need to associate with these two clowns.” Then there is George Eichhorn who has his conservative voting record to back him up, but I just can’t get over the fact that he LOST his seat in the Iowa House in 2006. I know he has the most endorsements, but why would I vote for a loser?

Christopher Reed has shown to be genuine and driven. A newcomer, not a politician, who seems to have strong convictions and a bright political future. The underdog fighting the one candidate with money and the other candidate with experience. I think that it is candidates like Reed who show true determination to win your vote based solely on promoting themselves and not their money or supporters. Christopher Reed shows that he is willing to work this hard for voters now against the odds, and that means that he will do the same for us again in Washington.

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“Banking on Becoming President”

June 3, 2008 by 6 Comments

This AM Diane Sawyer reported on Good Morning America something that caught my interest: The presidential campaigns will spend “200 Million… each”! The amount was almost mind boggling to hear as I started out my day! Also today, more news of weather damage to so many Iowans and becoming president is big business requiring such amounts of money. The knowledge of the cost of campaigns does not add up to me when I see such human suffering in so many places in the world.

So I did some research on OpenSecrets.org to find that Obama has actually spent 219 Million so far with Clinton behind him at 185 Million, followed by McCain at 73 Million.

Mind boggling…. I would even say a “sinful” amount when there are so many other places to be spending this amount of money. Education, health care, energy… just to name a few. And we are just now getting to the actual presidential race. These totals will continue to rise.

And while I am at it, OpenSecrets also lists another interesting fact: Romney spent 105 Million during his campaign verses the 16 Million that Mike Huckabee spent.

My words may not be as eloquent as some but I will say that to me these math facts are disturbing and very sad.

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