It’s up to us, and as usual, you are one of the brave ones, leading the charge, Art. We should all be right behind you, and thanking you. I am and I do.
I feel complicit by the complacency, what can I do? I can vote next year, hopefully. Election boards are under fire in small spaces everywhere, does Musk have enough bandwidth inside the building to make it possible to vote electronically? Making hacking a National Pastime in the process, The Mrs. and I will turn 67 this year and someday hope to call on Social Security for a little grocery money. My check ought to cover a dozen eggs, if the 25-year-old doesn't have a bad dream on his cot one night and shut off the Social Security payments.
Scared shitless Art, the Iowa Statehouse is no better. Glysophate is just as harmless as gasoline and strychnine. Just as long as it doesn't get out of the container and into the soil, water or air. Farmers have valid concerns that they won't be able to use RoundUp for weed protection. We've found ways to take corn production from a "record" in 1985 of 8.87 billion bushels to 15.3 (USDA figures) in 2023. Doubled in little more than a generation. Good thing too because we have a tendency to chew up tillable acres for growth. Better living through chemistry, but it ain't a whole lot better. Cancer rates continue to rise with Iowa striving to be #1 per capita; we're not there yet but hang in there.
It's not all due to agriculture, according to the Iowa Cancer Registry, Iowa ranks 4th nationally in Binge Drinking? What the hell, I mean I get it; you can't turn on the news without hearing something dreadful but keep the Black Velvet outta yer Corn Flakes. Probably shouldn't keep a bottle in the minivan either eh Gov?
I'm sick and tired of hearing the name Trump, but that's his M.O. Wear you out, turn you numb to the news, make you turn to Gilligan's Island reruns. I'm hopeful that the Judiciary will hold, Congress will flip in '26 and nature will catch up with DJT after a lifetime of KFC.
If not, Lovey and I are getting on the SS Minnow and heading to Winnipeg.
Just upgraded to paid: it was the brilliant description of Chuck Schumer as a “hamster for Wall Street” that put me over the edge. The Dems are worse than useless and have been for decades. We are on our own and have to work around them.
I have a glimmer of hope because several judges have courageously upheld the Constitution.
And we have a brave Sheriff in Decorah who wants a warant signed by a judge before he will deprive a person of their liberty, while ICE seeks a reason to get a warant.
I suggest the Democrats wash themselves of pre-2022 election leadership and get some hungry idealists to wage a little war. Document and chastise. Call out feckless Lindsay Graham, Tom Cotton, and, it seems, waffling John Thune to their constituents. Crowd newspapers with letters to the editor. Say the words on radio and TV. Call them out. Give every one of our Reps and Senators hell whenever they appear in the state. Start signage, now. Phoney Joanie; sleepy Chuck; One M dumber than M&Ms, Feigning Feenstra, etc. It is a war of ideals...and Trump can do a lot of damage.
Despite the bleak circumstances, I try to focus on potential silver linings. Like the image of Rob Sand on a white stallion charging toward the Capitol Building in Des Moines.
Something is rotten in a lot of places, and Iowa is just another four-letter word. There is something wrong with a majority of the people there, for supporting this, enabling this. Thanks for your sharp insights and great writing.
….from all of the Nuclear Fallout that rained down on Iowa from the Nuclear Testing out West I. The fifties. Nuclear Fallout has an effective half life many times that of Senator Grassely.
I lived in Iowa when all that was taking place. What has become of my State while I was away ministering to those Savages in Texas. They have proven to be beyond redemption and it was never my choice to be here anyway. I will cast my shadow on Iowa again soon.
It’s up to us, and as usual, you are one of the brave ones, leading the charge, Art. We should all be right behind you, and thanking you. I am and I do.
I feel complicit by the complacency, what can I do? I can vote next year, hopefully. Election boards are under fire in small spaces everywhere, does Musk have enough bandwidth inside the building to make it possible to vote electronically? Making hacking a National Pastime in the process, The Mrs. and I will turn 67 this year and someday hope to call on Social Security for a little grocery money. My check ought to cover a dozen eggs, if the 25-year-old doesn't have a bad dream on his cot one night and shut off the Social Security payments.
Scared shitless Art, the Iowa Statehouse is no better. Glysophate is just as harmless as gasoline and strychnine. Just as long as it doesn't get out of the container and into the soil, water or air. Farmers have valid concerns that they won't be able to use RoundUp for weed protection. We've found ways to take corn production from a "record" in 1985 of 8.87 billion bushels to 15.3 (USDA figures) in 2023. Doubled in little more than a generation. Good thing too because we have a tendency to chew up tillable acres for growth. Better living through chemistry, but it ain't a whole lot better. Cancer rates continue to rise with Iowa striving to be #1 per capita; we're not there yet but hang in there.
It's not all due to agriculture, according to the Iowa Cancer Registry, Iowa ranks 4th nationally in Binge Drinking? What the hell, I mean I get it; you can't turn on the news without hearing something dreadful but keep the Black Velvet outta yer Corn Flakes. Probably shouldn't keep a bottle in the minivan either eh Gov?
I'm sick and tired of hearing the name Trump, but that's his M.O. Wear you out, turn you numb to the news, make you turn to Gilligan's Island reruns. I'm hopeful that the Judiciary will hold, Congress will flip in '26 and nature will catch up with DJT after a lifetime of KFC.
If not, Lovey and I are getting on the SS Minnow and heading to Winnipeg.
Thanks Art, thanks a helluva lot!
Did you ever know you are my hero? Every morning I wake up thinking this is all a bad dream. I need my Canadian whiskey.
Drink Iowa, Templeton Rye.
Crazy, sick, rotten times.😥
Just upgraded to paid: it was the brilliant description of Chuck Schumer as a “hamster for Wall Street” that put me over the edge. The Dems are worse than useless and have been for decades. We are on our own and have to work around them.
"Hamster for Wall Street." I love it.
Nailed it again, Art. Open the Templeton and pass it around 🥃🤦♀️
Oh, but the hangover!
Might be worth it.
Another NYT-worthy column!
You are right: we Iowans are way past shame.
I have a glimmer of hope because several judges have courageously upheld the Constitution.
And we have a brave Sheriff in Decorah who wants a warant signed by a judge before he will deprive a person of their liberty, while ICE seeks a reason to get a warant.
I suggest the Democrats wash themselves of pre-2022 election leadership and get some hungry idealists to wage a little war. Document and chastise. Call out feckless Lindsay Graham, Tom Cotton, and, it seems, waffling John Thune to their constituents. Crowd newspapers with letters to the editor. Say the words on radio and TV. Call them out. Give every one of our Reps and Senators hell whenever they appear in the state. Start signage, now. Phoney Joanie; sleepy Chuck; One M dumber than M&Ms, Feigning Feenstra, etc. It is a war of ideals...and Trump can do a lot of damage.
When the prez was talking about redeveloping Gaza I immediately had Bruce Springsteen's "Atlantic City" going through my head.
Today, war and desolation. Tomorrow....WrestleMania at Trump Plaza Gaza!
Despite the bleak circumstances, I try to focus on potential silver linings. Like the image of Rob Sand on a white stallion charging toward the Capitol Building in Des Moines.
Something is rotten in a lot of places, and Iowa is just another four-letter word. There is something wrong with a majority of the people there, for supporting this, enabling this. Thanks for your sharp insights and great writing.
Thank you for the courage to write what I am feeling.
….from all of the Nuclear Fallout that rained down on Iowa from the Nuclear Testing out West I. The fifties. Nuclear Fallout has an effective half life many times that of Senator Grassely.
I lived in Iowa when all that was taking place. What has become of my State while I was away ministering to those Savages in Texas. They have proven to be beyond redemption and it was never my choice to be here anyway. I will cast my shadow on Iowa again soon.
You had me at Thorazine shuffle, as you know.
Great descriptions of spineless Democrats including the whiners in Iowa who blew it, and continue to blow it.