Don't forget to Vote today in Cedar Rapids or around the State of Iowa

Click the link below to find your polling location in Iowa, so you can vote in either the Democrat or Republican primary. http://sos.state.ia.us/elections/VoterReg/PollingPlace/search.aspx

Further, if you are not registered, you can still vote, by registering at your polling place. You will need proof of identity and show proof of residence, but you can vote.

There are contested races that will be determined in today's statewide primary. The polls are open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Our favorites are http://millermeeks.com/ in the 2Nd Congressional District race. We believe Branstad will likely defeat Roberts and Vander Plaats in the Republican Governor's Race.

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Miller-Meeks rocks 2Nd Congressional District Convention in Iowa

Republicans in the 2Nd Congressional District in the State of Iowa meet in Fairfield on Saturday, April 24, 2010 for the District Convention. There was a good turnout from the 15 counties in the 2Nd District, but not all 128 delegates from Linn County were in attendance. Linn County will send 128 delegates to the State Convention in June.

The morning began with Senator Chuck Grassley addressing the GOP audiance. All three governor candidates spoke during the day. Governor Terry Branstad and State Representative Rod Roberts addressed the audiance early in the day. After Terry Branstad spoke, the first of four 2Nd Congressional candidates spoke, starting with Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who is seeking the Republican nomination to face Democrat David Loebsack in the November general election.

The primary in the State of Iowa will be held on Tuesday, June 8, 2010 for both the Republican and Democrat parties in Iowa. Incumbant Governor Chet Culver and 2Nd District Representative Loebsack, both Democrats, will each face an interesting race with Branstad and Miller-Meeks, the likely opponents.

Miller-Meeks had the strongest address of the afternoon. After the address, newly elected State Central Committee representative passed on his postitive impressions of Miller-Meeks strong speech to her campaign manager, Tracie Gibner. It rocked the audiance in Fairfield.

The three other 2Nd Congressional candidates, each from Linn County, addressed the audiance as well. Most of the speeches were similar to most speeches they have each given in the past. Miller-Meeks distinguished herself with a fresh and spiritied address to the activists in attendance at this year's district event.

Most of the GOP state candidates came to Fairfield to address the 2Nd District. Secretary of State candidate Matt Schultz of Council Bluffs spoke early in the day. Later in the day, State Auditor David Vaudt, Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey and Attorney General candidate Brenna Findley each addressed the audiance one after the other. All three were traveling the State together today.

Later in the day, State Treasurer candidate Dave Jamison and finally the third and last governor candidate Bob Vander Plaats addressed the audiance. By that time, most of the audiance was tired, after the long day of elections, especially with the State Cental Committee, which took multiple ballots, after David Chung of Linn County was elected on the first ballot.

Nine candidates seeked election to the State Central Committee from the 2Nd Congressional District. They elected three new members to the State Central Committee. Two of three incumbants seeked re-election, but each was voted out, including the longest member of the State Central Committee, Lisa Smith of Ottumwa.

The Republicans voted not to debate the platform this year in the 2Nd district, due to time constraints. This was a frustration for some in attendance, but the election of State Central Committee members and other elections took time. Further, there were a lot of candidate speeches, including House Minority Leader Kraig Paulsen of Linn County and GOP Iowa State Chairman Matt Strawn.

As mentioned, the June 8, 2010 primary in Iowa will determine the Republican and Democrat candidates for the general election on November 2, 2010.

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State and Federal Candidate papers have been filed in the State of Iowa

The article mentions the Federal and State wide races in the State of Iowa as well as local legislative races for State Senate and State Representative in Eastern Iowa ...

Highlights of June 2010 primaries in the State of Iowa:

• Governor Terry Branstad is seeking his party nomination for the opportunity to face Governor Chet Culver in November 2010


• Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks is seeking her party nomination again to face 2Nd Congressional Representative David Loebsack in November 2010


• Council Bluffs attorney and city council member Matt Schultz is seeking his party nomination to run against current Secretary of State Michael A. Mauro in November 2010

Who’s running for election - The Gazette
These candidates filed nomination petitions by 5 p.m. Friday with the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office and will be on the June 8 primary election ballot. Note that (i) indicates incumbent, D indicates Democrat, and R indicates Republican. Incumbents, regardless of party, are listed first ...

The primaries will be very interesting for both Republican and Democrat party races in June 2010. Do you need to register to vote in Iowa? Link

Interesting billboard in Cedar Rapids on 3rd Avenue SW near the Sled Shed highlighted by Facebook user Doug Wagner. The billboard asks "How's that 'Hope and Change' working for You?"

We the People are the voice of America.

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P.S. - Linn County and other county races will be determined on March 31, 2010 and primaries and the general election for county races in Iowa will be in June and November as well.

Primary Candidate Forum on Saturday, February 6, 2010 at Mt. Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa for U.S. House 2Nd District

From the Linn County Republican Central Committee by e-mail ...

One can only regret to notice that the local GOP official web site at the time of this post on this blog has this Forum and this weekend's gun show missing as events for February 2010. Here's the e-mail on today's forum from the LCRCC. Both events are scheduled ...

It's Election Year Already! Yes it's true. Come and hear the candidates for the Second Congressional District Primary in June.

Our Candidates include:
Steve Rathje, Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Chris Reed.

Saturday, February 6,
Time: 1:30-3:30
Betty Cherry Heritage Hall - Mount Mercy College

Brought to you by Linn Area Pro Life United and the Mount Mercy Political Science Club.

The Republican and Democrat primaries in the State of Iowa will be conducted on June 8, 2010. The map at the top shows the county layout for the 2Nd Congressional District of Iowa.

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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 ...

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What's up on the Health Care discussion: VA pamblet and Budget Strains

Page 21 is a bit creepy. I'm not defending or complaining at this point. I'm
just saying why are enough people concerned that the VA book was pulled from the .gov website and we're hearing that section is being removed from HR3200? ...I finally found the book online (thanks Deb) - and I kept a copy. - A person on Facebook wrote

Your Life, Your Choices -www.docstoc.com
Your Life Your Choices Planning for Future Medical Decisions: How to Prepare a Personalized Living Will Your Life Your Choices Planning for Future Medical Decisions: How to Prepare a Personalized Living Will Authored ...

The Monday, August 24, 2009 edition of The Wall Street Journal features a story titled, Budget pain spreads to energy-rich states. For more on economic recovery policy ideas, read Institute Brief: The American Option.

In the State of Iowa, newcomer Christian Fong, the Western Iowa native, who is a businessman here in Cedar Rapids, released his first radio advertisement that was critical towards the use of bonds by the current governor. In speaking engagements, Fong often speaks about the dangers of generational debt.

“As governor I would end the use of taxpayer money to fund lobbyists and
veto any budget that is not balanced.” - Christian Fong

Fong begins statewide radio ad campaign; Dems cry ‘foul’ - The Gazette CEDAR RAPIDS – Republican gubernatorial hopeful Christian Fong is on the airwaves with a statewide radio campaign. ...

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Hopefully, we haven't seen the last of Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks

IowaPolitics.com (blog) reports Tuesday, November 18, 2008 that Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks is open to another run for public office.

"The fact that my job ends as of Dec 31st - I had to resign from my practice
- I kept that a secret. I have some latitude now in what I do in the future
and
I would definitely not rule out running again. I was working full time
and
campaigning." - Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks

Miller-Meeks, an Ottumwa Republican and a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve who was candidate in Iowa's 2nd congressional district in November 2008.

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The Democrats in contol: Who will the GOP turn to for the future for Leadership?

The Wednesday, November 19, 2008 edition of The Washington Times. The Times features an article titled Steele chastises 'country club' GOP. Republican National Committee Chairman candidate Michael S. Steele is former Lt. Governor for the State of Maryland. For more on political philosophy read Facts & Opinions: Remembering that we are a constitutional people. (pp 1-2 and 8).

But, Michael Steele may not be the only candidate with support.

“I think Michael Steele is a great, great talent. He certainly would offer the
kind of vivid, strong voice that we could use, and I think that the party would
do very well if he ends up being chairman.” - Newt Gingrich

“Steele is one of several people who are running of whom Newt is supportive,” Gingrich spokesman Joe DeSantis told Politico, adding that Gingrich had also said “good, positive things” about two of Steele’s rivals, South Carolina Republican Party Chair Katon Dawson and Michigan Republican Party Chair Saul Anuzis.

The Republican Party has a lot of work ahead. New leadership is the next step for the political party that is losing the White House, after losing Congress two years ago. Leading the Democratic Party is former Vermont Governor and early front runner in the 2004 Democrat Presidential nomination.

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The Economist: China seeks stimulation too

China seeks stimulation A stimulus plan to inject $586 billion into China's economy. But the devil lies in the detail Full article
Into the wilderness Republicans try to rediscover themselves, and puzzle over Sarah Palin's fate Full article

The week ahead A global summit to discuss the economic and financial crisis, and other news Full article

A painful job to do As unemployment surges Barack Obama will have to take some awkward economic decisions Full article

Germany's feeble stimulus package A stimulus package in Germany amounts to mild fiscal loosening Full article

Who will the government look to bail out next? Colin Cowherd today was suggesting the media, since they employ people too. Newspapers are seeing rough times these days.

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Vote for the Best person... always is a good motto!

---

Originally posted by jbincr:
Good for you, Marion. Independent is the way to go. Choose the best candidate regardless of party. Straight-ticket voters are worse than people who vote on a whim.

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Your Headline needs to be changed to make your comments "choose the best candidate regardless of party" to hold true.

I am frustrated with both parties. Neither are doing a good job of protecting and promoting a Limited Government. I'm frustrated with the growth of the non-profit sector (look at salaries at MAHP in Cedar Rapids, for example) and the Fortune 500, which has been the push of both powers the past 20 years.

However, Clinton - Republican Controlled Congress is much different than Obama-Democrat Controlled Congress that many on this board are proposing.

Clinton lost the Democrat House at the mid-term election. Hillary's national health care message was wrong for America.

The Republicans in the House during the Bush years have a lot explaining as well, with the expansion of the Federal budget.

We need both parties in many ways to implode. The original two parties weren't Republican nor Democrats. Both have some serious house cleaning to do.

It's too bad that S. 190 in the 109th Congress didn't include constraints and further over site on Freddie or Fannie, but the Democrats didn't see the need. The Republican I liked before John McCain was Governor Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin, but he was 4 years too late. His ideas are stronger than any one's I have seen to date. I preferred Ms. Clinton over Mr. Obama, though I am sick of the Bush-Clinton era, the past 20 years.

The direction many Democrats in power are going appears wrong and may be dangerous to small business and the America way. The Republicans have their own train wreck to repair, in many respects.

I had a visit with a European customer this week... his biggest negative in the USA was the tie between Corporations and our government. Plainly, Europeans don't want America to be like them, they want America to clean up their act.

I'm all for the best person, but in many ways, going back to Jepsen-Harkin... we vote against the person in Iowa and nationally, not for the person. I see one clear race this year that I am voting for the person.

Dr. Miller-Meeks - a Republican that deserves a strong look - my vote!

Mr. McCain - better than expansion of Federal government under Obama... Further, he will be likely be a one term president and if successful, will bring a coalition government in for the 4 years in office. Unlike Mr. Bush - who didn't bring that bi-partisanship from Austin to Washington DC. Maybe it was 9/11, but on January 20, 2009... it's over!

Sen. Rob Hogg (D) - Senate Democrat - Let's talk light rail - it would be nice to see the Corridor linked, but in a rural region - do we have the population?

Rep. Tyler Olson (D) - House Democrat - Let's talk fiscal responsibility in the State of Iowa

A balance of power is highly recommended in these times.

Sen. Grassley and Sen. Harkin - wow, does any other State in the Union reflect balance?

On the mortgage crisis, where are the Democrats that deserve to be thrown on the carpet with others? What about Rep. Franks' role in the mess?

Thank God I'm an American! Let's clean 435 out of the House! I'll start with my vote for Dr. Miller-Meeks in our US House Representatives!

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"Service Above Self" - words mentioned tonight

It's the Republicans turn for their national convention in St. Paul, Minnesota.

John McCain - Country First motto!

President George W Bush commented about "Service Above Self" a motto used by Rotarian's when he was describing Senator John McCain, the Republican presumptive candidate.

The RNC paid tribute to Ronald Reagan today. The Midwestern sportscaster, who used to cover the Iowa Hawkeyes, who moved onto Hollywood and then, into politics.

A simple platform... lower taxes, less regulation and "getting government off our backs..."

John McCain... a man influenced by two conservatives...

• Barry Goldwater and
• Ronald Reagan

Will America seek another conservative in 2008? We will find out on November 4, 2008... when we vote for our next President!

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