Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.
The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.
The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
7:42 PM and hello from an Iowa City debate house party. Teams Obama and Edwards are also having get togethers here in Johnson County, but Team Clinton invited me first so here I am. Crowd is still gathering, chatting, ignoring the Obama ad running on “Deal Or No Deal” pre-debate.
7:58 and the crowd’s up to 15 or so; assorted local Clinton supporters including Rep. Mary Mascher. She hints at an upcoming local activist endorsement. We’ve got two crowds around two TV sets.
Showtime and we switch over hurriedly, bypassing the Bionic Woman.
No intro at all just straight to Obama. How do you end the war? Obama: I ooposed this war from the start (gets grumbles from living room crowd). Phased redepoyment, 1-2 brigades a month. No military solution. Russert: will you pledge no troops by end of first term? Obama: Hard to project. I’ll drastically reduce our presence. We *should) have all or toops out but no promises.
To Hillary: why won’t you pledge all troops out in 2013? HRC: I’ll try but we don’t know what we’ll find when we take office. Dems have pushed hard to change Bush’s course. I supported Biden’s plan today. But Dems don’t have the majority (sic) in the senate to get past filibuster. Bush “height of irresponsibility” to leave troops.
Edwards can’t make that commitment either. I’ll immedatelydraw down 40-50,000 out. But embassy and humanitarian workers have to be protected. 3500-5000 troops. “To me that’s a continuation of the war.” Takes shot at Hillary. Hillary shoots back: “wast majority of our combat troops should be out.” Edwards continues with the break format and pushes back. “Combat misisons mean the war is continuing. I want to bring this war to an end.”
Russert turns it to genocide; Edwards ays don’t act unilaterally.
Richardson: I have a fundamental differennce with these 3. “Their position is changing the mission. My position is ending the war.” And congress has not done enough to end war. Russert: how do you get them out in a year? Bill: thru Kuwait and Turkey, leave some light equipmemt behind. Need stability in entire region.
Dodd: Why are we there – is the continuation of presence making us secure. No, we’re more vulnerable now. Redeploy, and robust diplomacy. But Congress has an obligation. We’re not getting to the fundamental power: terminate the funding. Troops out in 1st term? Dodd: “I will get that done.”
Biden: “We offered a political solution today, it got 75 votes.” Federal system will end civil war and let us bring troops home. If there is no politcal solution I would bring them out, “they’re fodder.” But with my plan we get a stable Iraq.
Dennis: we can get out in three months. Reconciliation, not partition. Don’t privatize Iraqi oil. “All troops out by April 2007,” Oops. “I’m ready to be president today” gets laughs here.
Gravel: Vote every day on cloture. He’s next to Hillary and I half expect her secret service agents to tackle him. She’s glaring at him as he bashes her on Iran vote. She responds: vote gives us options for sanctions to deal with Iran.
Is it practical to vote for 40 days to vote to cut off war? Dodd: we’ll have lots of chances, but every day is unrealistic. We need to understand congressional powers and use them. You may not have the votes, but clarity and leadership are called for.
Biden: What we voted on was not partition.
Would Israel be justified in attacking Iran? Hillary: that’s a hypothetical. Let’s look at what we know about Syria. Israelis took that out “and I strongly support that.” Russert repeats, in house audience grumbles.
Here’s the Dodd Clock:
Russert: Would you promise no nuclear Iran? Hillary: I will do everything I can – - diplomacy, sanctions. We need comprehensive strategy.
Obama: Iran is stronger than it was pre-war. Before we launch attacks, we need to understand intelligence. We don’t know all the specifics on syria. “We are a stalwart ally of Israel” but we need sanctions first. Rudy G was irresponsible. We need to talk directly to Iran. “Weve got to talk to our enemies not just our friends.”
Edwards: recognize that Ahmedinajad is upopular in Iran, push sanctions. Audience: “He’s gonna explain it to us again, folks.” “I have no intention of giving Bush the first step to a war with Iran.” We have a different approach (looking at Hillary)
Richardson: No nuke iran and safe israel are essential. “I’ve talked to a lot of these bad guys already.” We don’t have the international support for economic pressure. Says diplomacy about 20 times in answer.
New Hampshire reporter asks about sanctuary cities. Would you let these cites ignore fed law?
Richardson: “did you ask me because I’m the Hispanic here?” We need a comprehensive fix. Border protection, “not this silly wall.” Mexico: give yoyur people jobs. Earned legalization. Don’t deport everybody.
Biden: there is no funding at federal level for the enforcement, that’s why cities ignore the law. Rudy Giuliani “is the most uninformed person on forign policy ever to run for president.” Gets great reacts even from the Hillary crowd.
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