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We’re not really back up to speed yet. But I just couldn’t stand the thought of having a month with no posts. So here it is, the July 2008 post.

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Did anyone notice that we won the Iraq campaign this week? American casualties fell to five. All evidence indicates that al Qaeda in Mesopotamia has been annihilated, the Mahdi Army crushed, the Sunnis integrating into the political process and activel…

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At his campaign stop in Cedar Rapids today, Barack Obama asked John McCain if the election is going to be about Paris Hilton and Britney Spears or if there will be a serious debate about the issues.

We want to have a serious debate. But so far, we’ve been hearing about Paris Hilton and Britney Spears. I do have to ask my opponent: is that the best you can come up with? Is that really what the election is about? Is that worthy of the American people? Even the media has pointed out…that McCain has fallen back into … predictable political attacks and demonstratively false statements… Spending all this time talking about me instead of talking about what he’s going to do. That’s not going to lower your gas prices. That’s’s not going…to help you find a job if it’s been shipped overseas. It doesn’t do a single thing to help the American people. It’s the politics of the game. But the time for game-playing is over. That’s why I’m running for President.

John Deeth once again did a great job live blogging the event.

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Usually considered a rural issue, two proposed hog confinements Dallas County are making urban lawmakers pay more attention.

The proposed hog confinements would have a total of 7,440 hogs in rural Dallas County, which is the fastest growing county in the state. These confinements will proposed as much waste as a town of 30,000 people and it will go untreated.

Earlier this month, Dallas County Supervisors voted against allowing these proposed hog confinements, but in reality there isn’t much the local people can do about the hog confinements that will be owned by the out of state company, Cargill.

Dallas is among 70 counties that have adopted a system of requirements used by state regulators to determine whether construction of an animal confinement is allowed, which means the Board of Supervisors and dozens of residents who live near the proposed buildings provide input but have little say over what happens in their backyards.

The so-called “master matrix,” created in 2003, awards points based on how a confinement will affect the air, water and community. Both proposed Dallas County confinements garnered enough points for approval, which county officials must submit to the state by Monday.

Residents say the grading system creates an illusion of local control. “In reality, the county has very little control over this,” said Jim Thompson, who lives near one of the proposed sites west of Perry.

Applications to build animal confinements are submitted to the county, where officials score the matrix. If an applicant gets the needed points, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources approves the application. If the county issues a failing grade, the state rescores the matrix and can overrule the decision.

In the past some state legislators from more urban districts stayed away from this issue, saying that it was a rural issue. However, these proposed hog confinements demonstrate that hog confinements are moving into more urban areas and can be put up anywhere without little control from local citizens.

Hopefully, this will force urban lawmakers in the Iowa legislature to start pushing for the need for local control.

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Yepsen = Lazy Des Moines Register columnist David Yepsen has a column in today’s paper about the state borrowing money to repair state and local highways, levees, and water treatment plants that were damaged by the floods. He argues that Iowa shoul…

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Common House Fly - Musca domestica - also known as Mouche domestique (French), musca domestic…

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The Nation magazine has an open letter to Barack Obama in response to Obama’s move to the center recently. I just added my name and you should consider adding yours.

The letter asks Obama to stick with the bold positions that won him the Democratic primary, which include…

§ Withdrawal from Iraq on a fixed timetable.

§ A response to the current economic crisis that reduces the gap between the rich and the rest of us through a more progressive financial and welfare system; public investment to create jobs and repair the country’s collapsing infrastructure; fair trade policies; restoration of the freedom to organize unions; and meaningful government enforcement of labor laws and regulation of industry.

§ Universal healthcare.

§ An environmental policy that transforms the economy by shifting billions of dollars from the consumption of fossil fuels to alternative energy sources, creating millions of green jobs.

§ An end to the regime of torture, abuse of civil liberties and unchecked executive power that has flourished in the Bush era.

§ A commitment to the rights of women, including the right to choose abortion and improved access to abortion and reproductive health services.

§ A commitment to improving conditions in urban communities and ending racial inequality, including disparities in education through reform of the No Child Left Behind Act and other measures.

§ An immigration system that treats humanely those attempting to enter the country and provides a path to citizenship for those already here.

§ Reform of the drug laws that incarcerate hundreds of thousands who need help, not jail.

§ Reform of the political process that reduces the influence of money and corporate lobbyists and amplifies the voices of ordinary people.

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“What’s Daddy doing?”"Up and alert.”"Hugging babies.”"On point!”

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Last week I asked what happens if you ignore a subpoena from Congress after Karl Rove refused to testify in Congress.

Today the House Judiciary Committee voted to hold Karl Rove in contempt of Congress…

The House Judiciary Committee has voted 20-14 to approve a contempt of Congress resolution against former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove for his failure to appear after a Congressional subpoena.

Voting along party lines Wednesday morning, the committee said Rove broke the law by failing to appear at a July 10 hearing on allegations of White House influence over the Justice Department, including whether Rove encouraged prosecutions against Democrats.

The committee decision is a recommendation. It remains unclear whether Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) will allow a final vote.

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Here is a view inside the McCain campaign.

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