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.
“We had no idea Mitt Romney was going to show up here,” Molly said. “In fact, we are Barack Obama supporters. I’m from Boston, and I came to canvass for Obama this week. Well, that, and visit my sister, Colleen, who goes to school at the University of Iowa.”
Unbeknownst to the Kinder sisters, they were sitting in the famed table No. 6, where Ronald Reagan sat during a visit in 1992. “Literally, we came for brunch and heard the Hamburg had the best milkshakes,” Molly said. “Next thing we know, a bunch of people began showing up, and we heard they were here to see Romney, so we decided to stay and check it out since we already had a table. Obviously, we’re not supporting Romney, but I’ll admit that it was pretty exciting to see him.”
Molly (left) and Colleen (right) Kinder put the finishing touches on their brunch at table No. 6
Elizabeth Sommers, 17, of Iowa City braved the cold to get a final glimpse of Romney before Thursday’s caucus. “I’ve been volunteering with the Romney campaign for the past few months,” Sommers said. “I’m taking AP Government at West High, which has taught me the importance of civic responsibility, so I decided to get involved. Several of my classmates have volunteered with some of the campaigns. It helps that Iowa City is a hot zone for politics, even though, as a Republican, I’m a minority in this town.”
Larry Brown, a recently retired athletic director at City High, echoed Sommer’s sentiment. “I’ve been a Mitt supporter for three years, ever since the he saved the Olympic Games in Utah,” Brown said. Despite falling behind Huckabee in the recent polls, Brown is confident Romney will win Iowa because of his strong organization. “I don’t really see Iowa as a must-win for Romney. That’s what the liberal media wants people to think.”
Before too long, the Mitt Mobile pulled up in front of the Hamburg, followed by a charter bus. Romney, accompanied by his wife, Ann, made their way through the crowd and entered the diner, where he delivered a brief rally cry. “No one votes for yesterday. We vote for tomorrow,” Romney told the standing-room crowd squeezed into the diner. “This election is about the future. The Democrats represent the old failed policies of the 1960s and the old failed policies of the old Europe: big government, Big Brother, and big taxes.”
As if imbibing the spirit of Reagan and table No. 6, Romney argued that America needs to put together a coalition similar to what Ronald Reagan put together: social conservatives and foreign policy conservatives. “We’re going to come together and take back America and follow that pathway Ronald Reagan helped establish,” Romney said. “I can’t wait to debate Hillary, people, and when people ask me what’s the difference between my health care plan and hers, I’ll say `Mine got passed.’”
After his brief remarks, Sheila Goins, a UI professor managed to wade through the crowd and asked Romney a question about his foreign policy. Again, Romney infused Reagan in his response, calling for the firm, yet conservative policy that Reagan implemented in the 1980s.
Romney responds to a question posed by undecided voter Sheila Goins
“I’m completely undecided at this point. I’m not even sure if I’m going to caucus with the Republicans or Democrats,” Goins told the Iowa Independent. “Foreign policy is the biggest issue, and I wanted to hear what the candidates had to say about this in person. That’s why I came to see Mitt Romney, and right now, I’m leaning toward him as far as the Republicans go. On the Democrat side, I really like Joe Biden, but I’m worried he may not be viable. My husband and I may have to split up and go to each of the caucuses.”
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