Tough Saturday for Iowans: The Hawkeyes lose first game of season, while later HR 3200 passes U.S. House, ouch!

Iowa 10

Northwestern 17

Final

The Hawkeyes lose four turnovers in the second quarter and QB Ricky Stanzi to injury to eventually fall to the Wildcats 10-17 at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday. The beginning looked good, as Iowa opened up with a 10-0 lead. But, instead of taking what the defense would give, short passes, the Hawkeyes were forced to punt, then turned the ball over, and eventually allowed Northwestern to take full control of the game with ball control, field position and mistakes by the Hawkeyes.

‘Cost us a TD and a QB’ - The Gazette

IOWA CITY — On Ricky Stanzi’s right, Iowa had a tackle, tight end and an H-back. Then, the ball was snapped...

Cidsports: Sadly, the tight end and H-Back may have gave away the play with the
pre-snap conversation!

Northwestern 17, Iowa 10: The Fifth Quarter - DesMoinesRegister.com
Iowa players said after Saturday's 17-10 loss that the redshirt freshman from Keokuk had few to no game reps with the No. 1 offense. On the bright side, ...
Final: Northwestern 17, Iowa 10 - ESPN
Big Ten: Iowa's perfect season ruined by Northwestern - Los Angeles Times
Northwestern topples No. 8 Iowa 17-10 - Chicago Tribune

Later on Saturday, the U.S. House passed a revised H.R. 3200 by a vote of "220 to 215 vote on HR 3962, Affordable Health Care for America Act, was taken late Saturday evening, and fell largely along party lines, although 39 Democrats voted no and one Republican – Rep. Joseph Cao of Louisiana – voted yes, according to C-SPAN."

The country has been hit by a “difficult economic shock” over the last year.
He said huge government spending efforts like the stimulus bill haven't helped,
and said the government was on an “unsustainable” course - Rep. John
Boehner (R-Ohio), the House minority leader

House passes health care reform bill Saturday - Lake County News - Elizabeth Larson
A summary of HR 3962 provided by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce states that HR 3962 would include sliding scale affordability credits, ...

When the smoke cleared last night in the House of Representatives, the score
was Speaker Pelosi 220 and the American People 215 - The Examiner

President lies and Pelosi swears to it. Illegal aliens get benefits in ... - The Examiner
It is also worth noting that in its preliminary score of HR 3200, CBO found that in 2019 there would be “about 17 million nonelderly residents uninsured ...

In its preliminary score of H.R. 3962, the Congressional Budget Office noted
that, in 2019 there would be “about 18 million nonelderly residents uninsured
(nearly one third of whom would be unauthorized immigrants).” Thus, unless the
number of illegal immigrants is projected to be fewer than 6 million individuals
in 2019—nearly half the illegal immigrants currently estimated to be in the
U.S.—the CBO score presumes illegals would have health coverage, raising further
questions as to whether or not said coverage would be taxpayer-funded - The
Examiner

Iowans in the Second District re-elected Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa) in November 2008. He was among the 220 House members who vote for the bill. His opponent in November 2008, Dr. Marrianette Miller-Meeks does not support this type of Health Care Reform. Dr. Miller-Meeks has been busy at Tea Parties and at Health Care Forums discussing how health care reform should be shaped.

Loebsack pleased with vote on health care bill - Burlington Hawk Eye
"A lot of things, we've actually improved since it was (the earlier) HR 3200." Among the improvements are the provisions Loebsack and his fellow Iowa ...

Tough Saturday for Hawkeye fans and those concerned about the direction Health Care Reform is taking in Washington D.C. QB Ricky Stanzi joins RB Adam Robinson and OL Dace Richardson with ankle injuries and likely the rehab room for the rest of the regular season.

The Hawkeyes will face a tough road in Columbus next Saturday for the Big Ten title and the right to represent the Big Ten Conference in the Rose Bowl.

On the Health Care Reform front, taxpayers and Americans will face a tough battle as the Health Care debate moves the U.S. Senate, where hopefully long-term impact and fallout from the House plan will be thoughtfully debated and overturned.

peace

Received the following Election Day e-mail from Ron Corbett's campaign

Please vote! and a big THANK YOU.

Today is the day. Please make the effort to vote.

I look back over the last eight months and think how fast the time has gone. Many people have worked hard on this campaign. It was a team effort that we all hope will end in success at 8:00 p.m. tonight. Thanks to everyone who helped along the way.

The polls close at 8:00 p.m. You are invited to an election party starting at 7:30. We will meet at the IBEW 405 Hall at 1211 Wiley Blvd., SW. They will have a big screen to watch the results as the precincts report. You are welcome to send this email around and invite others. We have received many endorsements, but the biggest endorsement is the endorsement of the people. Please take the time to vote.

Paid for by Corbett for Mayor

Happy All Saints' Day: It's November 1, 2009

Per the Gazette, 23% of the public 'Don't know/no answer' who they would vote for on the November 3, 2009 Municipal Election in the City of Cedar Rapids. More on the story titled:
Poll: Corbett leads Fagan in Cedar Rapids mayoral race - The Gazette

The City of Cedar Rapids has an interesting election on Tuesday. Will the voters support candidate Brian Fagan, who is lock, stock and barrel with City Manger Jim Prosser or will they go with a new direction, candidate Ron Corbett? Mr. Prosser is a proponent of the Carver Governance Model, which Fagan has taken too, as well. James Prosser - Lyle, IL - KCRG-TV
Mr. Prosser came from a consultants position to become our City's first city manager and he has been a strong proponent in the use of consultants in the roughly 3-1/3 years he has been in Cedar Rapids.

In the District 3 council race, The Gazette has an article titled Opponents decry McGrane’s District 3 campaign flier. It's certainly interesting to see an incumbent who is At-Large step down and face an incumbent in a District race. That is exactly what is happening as incumbent District 3 council member faces current At-Large council member Pat Shey.

The Shey campaign dropped literature off to District 2 voters on Sunday in Cedar Rapids. Two other candidates are on the ballot in District 3, including Kathy Potts.

Voters in Cedar Rapids and else where in the State of Iowa will conduct municipal elections on Tuesday, November 3, 2009. Polls in Cedar Rapids are open from 7 am to 8 pm.

If elected, he will ask the City Council to put City Manager Jim Prosser under a
90-day assessment “to see how he performs.” - Ron Corbett

Cedar Rapids mayoral candidates debate city manager’s merits - The Gazette

Common ground: Mayoral candidates excelled as young football players - The Gazette

• One candidate was a Division III all-American running back (Ron Corbett)
• One candidate was a third-team all-State defensive lineman (P.T. Larson)
• One candidate was a first-time all-metro selection (Brian Fagan)

Big disparity in mayoral campaign contributions - The Gazette

McGrane leads in council campaign contributions - The Gazette

Hawkeye Labor Council endorses Corbett for mayor - The Gazette

Labor council endorses Corbett for Cedar Rapids mayor - The Gazette

In State of Iowa government news, a special election will be held on November 24, 2009 for House District 33 in Cedar Rapids, which includes SE and SW Cedar Rapids voting precincts.

Running-Marquardt (Dem.) vs. Thurston (Rep.)

Democrats nominate Running-Marquardt in House 33 - The Gazette

Iowa GOP: Chairman Strawn congratulates Republican candidate in House District 33 -IowaPolitics.com (press release) - Danielle Plogmann
... like Josh getting involved to try and change the direction of his community and our state.” Thurston, 27, works at Cargill West in Cedar Rapids and is a ...

Finally, what about Health Care reform and a public option?

Harkin predicts public option will be law - The Gazette

Does the public really want the Federal Government to move more and more into the operations of 1/6Th of the United States economy?

peace

Final Weekend before Tuesday's Municipal Election in Cedar Rapids

Cedar Rapids mayoral candidates debate city manager’s merits - The Gazette
Posted on Oct 30, 2009 by Rick Smith.

• We would suggest that Mr. Jim Prosser's being named the state’s “City Manager of the Year” a year ago was due to his lobbying efforts on behalf of Cedar Rapids and all municipal governments throughout the State.

BizPac Endorses Cedar Rapids City Council Candidates - KCRG-TV
By Rick Smith, Reporter

• Don't forget to Vote on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 in Cedar Rapids
• A run-off election will be held on December 1, 2009, if necessary

peace

District 1 Debate between three candidates for Cedar Rapids City Council

• Incumbant Kris Gullick
• Tim Pugh
• Ryan Russell
  

"Pugh called revenue diversification “a slippery slope,” and he said property
taxes have continued to increase even with a new franchise fee on heating bills
and a new local-option sales tax. Gulick said the property-tax increase for the
most part was needed to fix the streets." - Rick Smith of The Gazette

District 1 City Council candidates talk taxes, streets - The Gazette

District 1’s Gulick faces challengers Pugh, Russell; says city can’t afford new City Hall on its own - Rick Smith, The Gazette

REPLAY LIVE COVERAGE: Cedar Rapids District 1 Candidate Forum - The Gazette
The Gazette’s Todd Dorman will provide live coverage of tonight’s Cedar Rapids City Council District 1 candidate forum. The forum, which starts at 7 p.m., is being held at Pierce Elementary School, 4343 Marilyn Dr. NE.Cedar Rapids District 1 Candidate Forum

Polling the Candidates - The Gazette
Last night, during a forum for five candidates running for two at-large seats on the Cedar Rapids City Council, the hopefuls were asked who they support in the hotly contested race for mayor.Three candidates, Chuck Swore, Donald Karr and Nick Duffy said they support Ron Corbett.Swore said he’d love to have Corbett’s top rival, council [...]

Are New Taxes and Revenues coming to Cedar Rapids? Yes, if a couple of current City Council members have their way. The two in question (Chuck Wieneke and Tom Podzimek) are not up for re-election on November 3, 2009, but do they carry the same views as the current members who are up for re-election?

The following article highlighted the following:

"Podzimek also asked City Manager Jim Prosser about
establishing a system of payment, in lieu of taxes, that would attempt to raise
revenue from hospitals, churches, colleges, non-profits and others "not
contributing to this system" because they are exempt from paying property
taxes."

"Prosser emphasized that the meeting was intended only to offer
a forecast of budget challenges ahead. Among those: a 3 percent drop in property
value because of flood damage, an expected 6 percent increase in personnel costs
and increased contributions to employee pension plans."

peace

Mayor Candidate Corbett says not going to let Massive Yard Sign Thefts "Slow Campaign"

The following is an e-mail received from Corbett Campaign today.

For immediate release.

October 19, 2009

Contact: Ron Corbett, 319-573-5050

Corbett Says Massive Yard Sign Theft Won't Slow Campaign

Cedar Rapids - Responding to the theft of hundreds of his campaign yard signs over the weekend, Cedar Rapids mayoral candidate, Ron Corbett, said today that his campaign will not be slowed or intimidated by this deliberate effort to hurt his candidacy.

"Yard signs use a lot of time and money in a campaign, that's why it's so
disappointing to see that hundreds of our signs have been stolen from yards
during the dark of night," said Corbett. "We don't know who did this, but
our message is simple: this campaign will not be slowed by those who think they
can prevent the voice of the people from being heard."

After dark Friday, vandals took to the streets to remove Corbett for Mayor signs from yards all over town. The campaign estimates that between 200 and 300 signs were taken, about 1/3 of the posted signs. "

We are asking for people to keep an eye out for the signs so that we can recover
them if possible. We are hoping that a business or homeowner will find
them disposed of somewhere and if so, we may be able to salvage some of them,"
said Corbett.

Anyone who finds the signs are asked to call 319-573-5050 or visit the campaign Web site at

www.RonCorbett.com

to send a message.

"The most disappointing part of this is that for many citizens, hosting a yard
sign or putting up yard signs is one of the ways people participate in the
election process. It's too bad that vandals would want to take away this
small part of democracy," concluded Corbett.

Paid for by Corbett for Mayor

Forward email

peace

We received the following e-mail from a friend recently

Ain't this the truth?


If a *conservative* doesn't like guns, he doesn't buy one.
If a *liberal *doesn't like guns, he wants all guns outlawed.

If a *conservative* is a vegetarian, he doesn't eat meat.
If a *liberal* is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for everyone.

If a *conservative* sees a foreign threat, he thinks about how to defeat his enemy.
If a *liberal *wonders how to surrender gracefully and still look good.

If a *conservative *is homosexual, he quietly leads his life.
If a *liberal* is homosexual, he demands legislated respect.

If a person of color is *conservative*, they see themselves as independently successful.
Their *liberal *counterparts see themselves as victims in need of government protection.

If a *conservative* is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation.
A *liberal* wonders who is going to take care of him.

If a *conservative* doesn't like a talk show host, he switches channels.
*Liberals* demand that those they don't like be shut down.

If a *conservative* is a non-believer, he doesn't go to church.
A *liberal *non-believer wants any mention of God and religion silenced. (Unless it’s a foreign religion, of course!)

If a *conservative *decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it.
A *liberal* demands that the rest of us pay for his.

If a *conservative *slips and falls in a store, he gets up, laughs and is embarrassed.
If a *liberal *slips and falls, he grabs his neck, moans like he's in labor and then sues.

If a *conservative* reads this, he'll forward it so his friends can have a good laugh.
A *liberal *will delete it because he's "offended".

Of course, the use of labels has become far too common for Americans. At times it may have a place to a limited degree, but we are far better as individuals to get to know one another than define one another through use of a label.

Conservative vs. Liberal Beliefs - Student News Daily.
Conservative vs. Liberal Beliefs - We all want the same things in life. We want freedom; we want the chance for prosperity; we want to be the best we can be ...

Conservative Liberal - Eric-Odessit
But if you are a Humanitarian and a Liberal — in the real, not the prostituted sense of these words — you will say with us that Man, each single, solitary, ...

Conservative Democrats, Liberal Republicans Hard to Find - Gallup.com
Sep 2, 2009 ... Six percent of Americans are white conservative Democrats; 11% are white moderate/liberal Republicans. Nearly half of Americans (48%) fit ...

peace