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.
Delving into the discussion this week of whether former Gov. Terry Branstad should jump back into politics is anonymous Cityview gossip columnist Civic Skinny, and the answer is a resounding ‘no.’
Former Gov. Terry Branstad
Skinny lays out the reasons why Branstad should remain a private citizen, as relayed to her by “a long-time Iowan, a political junkie and a big name in certain political — but nonpartisan — circles.”
From a bloody Republican primary to poll numbers with no place to go but down to the fact that losing would tarnish the unblemished political record of Iowa’s longest serving governor, Skinny makes the case that entering the 2010 gubernatorial contest has no upside.
Perhaps the most compelling reason, though, is that if he runs there is a very real possibility that he may win.
From Cityview:
… If you win, you’re stepping into an ugly mess. As a returning governor, expectations will be unrealistically high. You’ve seen what happened to Obama, who, for different reasons, ended up languishing in anticipointment. You assembled wise counsel when you were governor who helped you avoid many pitfalls and kept you focused. But Marvin Pomerantz is gone. While Doug Gross may become your new Marvin Pomerantz, who is your new Doug Gross? You’ll need superb staff — something recent Iowa governors have not enjoyed. You may face Democratic majorities in the Statehouse. If they take their cue from Washington, they will believe there is no benefit in giving you anything you want. Politics has changed since you were governor and only gotten harder.
Branstad has been flirting with a run for governor for months, saying he will make up his mind by October. Former state Rep. Sandy Greiner has formed a political action committee designed to convince Branstad he should run, and opponents (Democrat and Republican alike) are not waiting for him to re-enter politics to attack his 16 years in office.
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