Posted 5/16/2012 by Christopher

Wow, looks like I struck a nerve with my column on Sunday about the Jorgensen-Ung primary for state house.  

A few hours after publication I received an email from Mr. Ung, which he also published on his website under the heading “Open Response Letter to Christopher Rants”.   In my column I stated I that Mr. Ung’s attacks were misleading (we’ll get to that point shortly) but I cut him some slack because it was obvious to me that someone else was behind the attacks, that it was someone else’s penning the attack mailer.

Mr. Ung responded that his direct mail piece “was not written” nor financed by “outside groups.”

That is very tough to believe when you compare his letter side by side with letters from other candidates across the state. I’ve taken the time to do that, and to publish them side by side on my website.  I’d encourage you to look below and you can compare Mr. Ung’s mail piece with that of Jake Highfill running in Polk County.  While the letters aren’t word for word, several paragraphs are and they are stylisticly identical.  I think any reasonable person after comparing the two will come to the conclusion  that they were written by the same person.  (If you click on each page, you can down load the page as a pdf.  I apologize for the cramped spacing on in the web view.

Now to the misleading part.  Here is the issue - medicaid is a federal/state partnership providing health care for the poor and elderly.  Its 2/3 federal and 1/3 state.  In 1993 Congress adopted the “Hyde” amendment named after pro-life stalwart Congressman Henry Hyde that precluded the use of federal dollars for funding abortions with the exception of rape and incest. The federal law goes even farther in saying that states cannot discriminate among health care providers. That puts both the floor and ceiling on what states can do, and still receive medicaid funding.  What Mr. Ung and Pastor Gordon want is for the state to not spending any medicaid funds on abortions in the case of rape or incest.  I certainly understand that. However that would mean Iowa’s medicaid funding (which our hospitals, doctors, nurses, and dentists rely on) would disappear as Iowa would not be compliant with federal law. 

Enter Pastor Gordon who expressed his frustration in Wednesday’s paper with me and other “squishy politicians” who compromise. I understand that compromise is a dirty word these days, but at some point office holders have to govern.  Rick Santorum understood that, and he supported federal medicaid funding under the Hyde amendment.  Pastor Gordon didn’t seem troubled by that when he endorsed his presidential aspirations.  I’m also fairly certain our own Congressman Steve King supported federal funding for medicaid under the Hyde amendment.  I wonder if either of them has been described as squishy.

Posted 5/13/2012 by Christopher

Republicans have a lot of important decision to make on June 5th.  Even though our caucuses are long behind us, and there are no challenges for federal races, the GOP primary ballot is full of locally contested races.  Republican voters need to pay attention and turn out to vote.  Primaries are notoriously low turn out elections.  Remember when you don't go to the polls you are letting a small group of people make your decisions for you. 

State Representative District 6: Ron Jorgensen vs Matthew Ung

County Supervisor District 1: Mike Hobart vs Linda Holub

County Supervisor District 3: Dick Salem vs Eldon Eliason vs Greg Trucke

County Supervisor District 5: Brian Ashley vs Judy Darwin

Auditor/Recorder: Doug Batcheller vs Mark Jensen vs Chris Pierce

Sheriff: Dave Drew vs James Bauerly vs Gregory Logan

I can't remember a time when there were so many competitive races on the GOP primary ballot.  However, aside for some yard signs popping up for sheriff and state house, there hasn't been much activity by which to judge the candidates and their campaigns. 

However what I have seen from one of the candidates troubles me greatly.

I care a great deal about who is the State Representative for Morningside and Sgt. Bluff.  I think Ron Jorgensen has done an exemplary job for us in the state house.  I've heard repeatedly from my former colleagues in the House that Ron quickly earned their respect and his stripes when he floor managed the collective bargaining reform legislation.  It was very much trial by fire, but he demonstrated he does his homework and can take the heat from the Democrats and unions on the floor.  He has become one of the "go to" guys when it comes to numbers in the House - not a surprise considering his CFO background. 

Jorgensen hasn't just been focused on policy in Des Moines; just as importantly he's been doing his constituent work here at home.  When a guy knocks on my door in a non-election year it gets my attention. 

What has disturbed me in recent weeks are the misleading attacks his primary opponent Matthew Ung has leveled on him.  After twenty years of campaigns I can tell when the charges and the letters are written by the candidate and their campaign, and when it's being written and financed by someone outside of the district - and that's what I've seen from Ung.  

Ung's attack that Jorgensen somehow isn't sufficiently pro-life is misleading at best, but downright laughable to those of us who took the time to research the votes he is citing.  Every legislator endorsed by Iowa Right to Life cast the exact same vote.  Would Ung have us believe that pro-life stalwarts like Sioux County's Dwayne Alons or Betty DeBoef had somehow gone weak kneed on the issue of protecting the unborn? 

But that's the thing - I doubt Mr. Ung knows that.  It's who ever wrote his direct mail for him. Considering that fully one quarter of the House Republican legislators have primary opponents, all running from a position further to the right, leads me to believe this is  someone else's doing.  My problem is that I cannot identify who yet, and won't be able to until after the campaign disclosure reports come out after the balloting is over and votes are counted. 

It's tough to imagine a credible argument that the House Republican caucus isn't sufficiently conservative.  Under Jorgensen and the Republicans spending is down; both in terms of percentage of growth and real dollars. More importantly at the negotiating table they held the Democrats to spending only on-going revenue and not using one-time funds; which makes Iowa's budget more stable and ends the yo-yo effect of having funds one year and slashing budgets the next.

I encourage my fellow Republicans to vote to keep Ron Jorgensen as our state representative.  I also cast my primary votes for Linda Holub, Dick Salem, Doug Batcheller and Dave Drew - I've known all four for years and trust them to make wise decisions and be good stewards of my tax dollars.

Posted 1/22/2012 by Christopher

There is an old saw that 24 hours is a life time in politics.

I went to sleep Wednesday thinking all was right with the world (or the GOP primary anyway) and awoke Thursday to discover Mitt Romney was no longer the winner of the Iowa caucuses.  By the time I downed my morning caffeine Newt’s second wife was out to “end his campaign with one interview”, and before lunch Rick ‘the outsider’ Perry had quit his campaign endorsing Newt ‘I’m the ultimate insider’ Gingrich.

Wow.

The winner is…

Iowa Republicans received a black eye with news that Rick Santorum received more votes on January 3^rd.  While some in the press have tossed accusations at the party apparatus in Des Moines and Chairman Matt Strawn, let us be honest about where the blame lies - the volunteers.  That is correct.  The volunteers.  You know, the folks who give of their time to be precinct chairs and secretaries.  Some of them transposed numbers.  A few forgot to sign the forms.  Apparently eight of them didn’t send in the forms.  Oh my.

The Republican Party pooh-bahs need to figure out a better way to do the tally.  Mistakes happen.  Always do. But the planning needs to start now.  The caucuses have value to both parties, so I’d suggest a bi-partisan committee to look at how both organizations do their counting.  The news media did the count in previous caucuses.  If the parties are going to do the counting we need to be sure it is correct.

It is important to remember on the Republican side the Iowa caucus is actually a straw poll.  The results are not binding.  There are no delegates awarded based on the finish, unlike how the Democrats handle their caucuses.   The GOP caucuses are about winnowing the field and creating a sense of momentum for candidates.  Santorum while not getting an official “W” for two weeks got what he needed – a surge of momentum and he became the story.  Bachman and Perry had their fates sealed.  Romney did better than previously expected.  Newt did worse.  None of that changes.

Will the Open Marriage Close Newt’s Chances?

Marianne Gingrich’s decision to talk about her former husband’s desire to have an “open marriage” with his wife and the staffer with whom he was having an affair became the question for which the South Carolina CNN debate will be remembered.

Newt was righteously indignant.  He was “appalled” and decried that asking him such a question was as “despicable as anything I can imagine.”  Something tells me that Wife #2 can imagine something equally appalling and despicable.

You’ll have to check the front page of today’s paper to see if the Bible belt voters in South Carolina think an “open marriage” is an acceptable “family value.”  Before the day of shockwaves, Gingrich was out polling Romney by six points in two different polls.  If Newt’s name isn’t in the headline, he finally will have paid the price for his philandering. 

Mittmentum

Before the first vote in South Carolina was cast, Mitt Romney lost the opportunity to claim the first ever three state sweep.  But even with a Gingrich win in South Carolina, it is tough to see how Romney doesn’t sow up the nomination after Florida.  Here is why –

Santorum’s momentum shattered on the granite of New Hampshire.  He should have gone straight from Des Moines to Columbia.  New Hampshire was never the place to be.  Ask Huckabee.  While out performing Gingrich to finish in fourth place, it was still fourth place.  He is now likely to finish third or fourth in South Carolina in a four man field.   Polling in Florida has him third, but 20 points behind Romney.  Santorum needs Gingrich to drop out to close the gap.

But Gingrich continues to call on Santorum to drop out.   It’s hard to see that happening.  Santorum served under Newt’s erratic Speakership in Congress.  He’ll have none of it.  Even if Santorum quits, it will be hard for the evangelicals propelling his campaign thus far to get behind the candidate James Dobson describes as married to his mistress of eight years. 

Newt’s campaign is fueled solely by strong debate performances.  No money.  No organization.  So what happens when the free tv goes away as it will in February?  There are no debates between January 26 and February 22^nd.  Only paid advertising. 

After Florida the campaigns head to Maine and Nevada, which are Romney strongholds; then Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri, where Gingrich didn’t qualify for the ballot – all before the next televised debate. After that its Romney’s home state of Michigan.

It seems like everything may be right with the world after all. 

Posted 12/25/2011 by Christopher

And the angel said unto them, “Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, Which shall be to all people For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. – St. Luke ii

A very merry Christmas to you and yours.  Writing a column appearing on Christmas morning, but only nine days before the caucuses is fretful task.  Like the candidates giving you one day off from their onslaught of advertisements, I’m going to try having it both ways by giving you my take on the state of the campaigns, and share the words of those wiser than I on the meaning of Christmas.

There has been only one Christmas - the rest are anniversaries.  ~W.J. Cameron

Its truly a shame to have the caucus so close to Christmas.  I enjoy trying to extended the holiday season for as long as I can.  Many bemoan the first sighting of holiday lights and displays as they come earlier each year.  Not me.  Considering the state of our world, the sooner we open our hearts, and wish our fellow man peace on earth and good will, the better I say.  

Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.  ~Bobby, age 7

Yesterday, and probably tomorrow, if you listen to the television you probably won’t hear a lot of love for ol’Newt.  Me, I like Gingrich.  I have his GOPac tapes in my cabinet, and books upon my shelf.  I find him intelligent, witty, and wholly unsuited to be President.  I lost my political innocence when Reagan finally admitted that he was trading arms for hostages.  Never again will I overlook faults that I would find in others, but chose to ignore in those I admire.

It was Republicans who reprimanded and fined the Speaker for ethical violations. Gingrich acknowledged he “engaged in conduct that did not reflect creditably on the House...”  It was Republicans who saw him in a position of power that eventually took his power away.  

It matters not whether Gingrich made $1.6 M or $35,000 from Freddy Mac - the fact that he aligned himself at all with this economic destroyer costing taxpayers $360 billion in bailouts disqualifies him as our standard bearer.  

Gingrich doesn’t deny this - he just prefers Iowans ignore it.

Oh, for the good old days when people would stop Christmas shopping when they ran out of money.  ~Author Unknown

Apparently Rick Perry has found a way around that problem.  Governor Perry is now both the active Governor of Texas, and the retired Governor of Texas.  Exploiting a loop hole, Perry is drawing both his salary ($133,000) and his pension ($92,000).  We call that double dipping into the taxpayers wallet.  Iowa has worked to ban that practice.  Perry banned it for teachers in Texas, but kept it available for himself.  We have another word for that as well...

It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas when its mighty Founder was a child Himself.  ~Charles Dickens

Of all the candidates, Ron Paul attracts the youngest and largest crowds.  Unlike four years ago, the Texas congressman is a serious threat to win the caucuses.  

One hitch - there is no absentee caucusing.  Thousands of students who turned out for speeches won’t be on campus. But the Paul operators appear prepared for that.  I’ve watched the Campaign for Liberty’s rise over the last few years, and envy their organizational work in Iowa. 

If Paul ekes out a win over Romney on January 3rd, I won’t be surprised.    Baring last minute revelations or maneuvers I think it will be down to the wire for those two and could go either way. 

This is the message of Christmas:  We are never alone. Not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the world seemingly most indifferent.  For this is still the time God chooses. ~Taylor Caldwell

Conventional wisdom says that Paul’s campaign ends in Iowa, even with a win.  The theory is his foreign policy positions are out of the mainstream;  that he prevails only because the Iowa evangelical vote is splintered.  I’m not so sure. Unlike other candidates, Paul is bringing out new caucus participants.  Like Obama, he’s not just grabbing his slice of the electoral pie, he’s working to grow the pie. In future states with open primaries Paul will continue to draw non-Republican votes.  An Iowa win only boosts that possibility.

While I admire Ron Paul’s uncanny ability at predicting our economic future, share his belief in individual liberty, and find his unwavering consistency an admirable trait; I worry that his foreign policy positions are extreme and dangerous.  A Paul presidency would invite those who mean us harm to test our resolve repeatedly.

I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.  ~ Charles Dickens

Remember, if Christmas isn’t found in your heart, you won’t find it under a tree.” ~ Charlotte Carpenter

Now put down the newspaper, and go share what is in your heart with the ones you love.

Posted 11/27/2011 by Christopher

“I think sometimes there is this anxiety within the Republican Party of who is the perfect candidate. The answer is there isn’t one.”

- Mike Huckabee

Here is how the story ends: Mitt Romney.

If you are looking for a quick guide on who to support in the Iowa caucus - that’s all you really need to know.  I believe that Mitt Romney is the best candidate running, and would be the best President.  

I’ve got six hundred words to make my case, but let me use just one for starters: “competence.”

I’ve watched the series of GOP debates asking myself - is this really the best my party has to offer?  The gaffes.  The lack of intellectual curiosity.  The embarrassing revelations.  For Republicans to slough off or excuse any of it is a profound disservice to our party.   We wouldn’t cut Democrats any slack for the same transgressions.  

Through it all Romney is the candidate to emerge unscathed.  That requires both discipline and competence.  While Republicans say they don’t think about electability, but prefer ideological perfection -  the ability to effectively run a national campaign against the Obama team does matter.  There is no room for error.

Americans are looking for a President who will jump start the economy.  In that regard, Mitt Romney is the only logical choice.  No other candidate can compare to his business background.  Sorry, not even Herman Cain.  Romney’s career in the private sector taught him the skills he needed to rescue the 2002 Olympics.  His ability to turn around a large organization, and do it under public scrutiny is good practice for the White House.

Catch phrases like 999, or simplistic “cut the red tape” slogans are not enough to put our economy back on track; and prepare our workforce and employers for global competition with Asia and India.   Over the last decade a billion new workers entered the world’s workforce, and American workers have fallen behind in the globalized economy.  

Mitt’s 59 point economic plan may not be a quotable sound bite, but only Romney has demonstrated that he is competent to the task.

Four years ago I asked every Republican candidate how they how we could compete for jobs with India and China.  Most looked at me blankly and then started talking about Iraq and terrorism.  Only Mitt Romney understood the question, and better yet, talked for twenty minutes about his answer.  For fear of embarrassment, I’d be afraid to ask this year’s field.

Romney’s squeaky clean image may make for late night television fodder, but the fact remains that Mitt is a deeply moral man.  There will be no tales of behavior unbecoming a President to use against him.  While his faith journey may be on a different path than mine, I know that Romney shares my values.  Mike Huckabee, long viewed as the leader of the anit-Mitt crowd recently said of those who harbor suspicions, “Mitt Romney may not be their first choice, but Mitt Romney every day of the week and twice on Sunday is going to be a much more effective president for issues that they care about than Barack Obama.”

I wrote this column after watching Tuesday’s CNN foreign policy debate which reminded me that no one can predict what issues will confront our President four years from now - or even the day after their inauguration.  It is imperative we nominate someone we trust to respond to the unknown challenges in a thoughtful, disciplined, and competent way.  Who has the judgement, character, and, frankly, the smarts to respond to a crisis?  I trust Mitt Romney.

Posted 11/2/2011 by Christopher

Too much going on in the world to ignore, but too little space in the paper, so this week you get my twitteresque analysis.  Too short, but it'll have to do.

#OWS

That's twitter for the Occupy Wall Street movement.  OWS is a challenge for Republicans to handle.  It's too simplistic, and unfortunately too easy, to take a look at the dreadlocked, dirty protestors and write them all off as a bunch of left wing nuts.  That would be a mistake.  Far too many Americans are sympathetic to the protestors, and mad at Wall Street.  Count me among them.

 I'm mad as hell at Wall Street executives who took a trillion dollars of my children's money, bankrupted companies  and then paid themselves millions in bonuses.  I'm even angrier that not one person has gone to jail for fraud  over collateralized debt obligations and credit default swaps that was perpetrated in the housing market.

@THEHermanCain (his twitter handle) laughs that protestors have only themselves to blame for lacking a job.  Yet Mr. 999 was on the Federal Reserve Board and watched the tanking of the housing market, rewarded Wall Street's corruption with our children's inheritance, and bankrupted large parts of our manufacturing sector.  We Republicans can support free markets and capitalism while still rejecting the corruption and fraud perpetrated on Wall Street.  President Obama, Geithner and Bernake own that mess.

@ Tom Padgett

Sioux Cityians go to the polls shortly to select a new mayor.  Given our unique structure in which we directly elect a mayor, but give them no additional powers; I think the trait most needed in a mayor is the ability to forge a consensus among divergent view points.   I see that virtue in Tom Padgett, and that is why he gets my vote.  We need a mayor who can bring people together to foster a climate in which businesses want to locate here.  At a time when public confidence in our government institutions is at an all time low, we need a mayor who will be approachable and solicit public input. Our community has had enough trouble when the mayor and  the rest of the council were unable to work together.  We need all oars rowing in the same direction.  Tom Padgett is the best candidate to do that.

Flat Tax Fever

@GovernorPerry rolled out a lumpy bumpy tax plan this week.  Make no mistake, there is nothing flat about it.  In fact it's a dream come true for H & R Block. First, every taxpayer will have to crunch the numbers twice to see which version of the federal tax hurts them the least.  Thanks for the bigger accounting bill.  Perry's plan is not flat because it still treats taxpayers differently for different behavior, such as mortgages, charitable giving, etc.  But at least the lumpy, bumpy parts of Perry's plan take out the takes hikes of Cain's 999 plan in which 84% of us without a doubt will pay more taxes.

#Delta @MSPairport

I'm typing this as I fly from SUX to MSP.  I've flown 125,000+ miles this year on #Delta airlines, all but twice originating out of SUX.  I want to keep flying Delta.

I fly for business, from Juneau AK to Augusta ME - Delta gets me to where I need to be when I need to be there.  There isn't a hub I like less than Chicago OHare.  When you see a news story of an airport shutting down, it's usually ORD.  (I flew to Chicago two weeks ago and chose to fly into Midway.)   When you look at on-time statistics OHare barley cracks the top thirty.  Minneapolis is seventh best among major airports.

From a small business perspective (very very small) I have found Delta to have excellent customer service.  They have fully embraced the internet for business travelers - I often book my next flight from my iPad while sitting in the Delta sky lounge, my satellite office.  

Over the last two years I've invested in the Delta family of travel partners.  Meanwhile, Delta has invested in our community providing employment.  

Ideally we would have two airlines providing competing service to multiple hubs.  But we don't.  In the meantime, I know that Delta works for me.  I'd like to keep it that way. 

Posted 10/2/2011 by Christopher

I didn't have time to write my column this week, so I got in touch with Ann Landers sarcastic second cousin twice removed, Arnie, who writes an advice column for aspiring politicians, and asked him to share some recent letters. 

Dear Arnie,

I just don't understand what happened, I was Queen of Iowa for 24 hours, and then that vaccine injecting Texas troublemaker stole my crown.  What do I do to get it back.

Signed,

Miffed in Minnesota

Dear Miffed,

What's in the water in Minnesota these days?  I thought it was just the Vikings who didn't know a football game had four quarters.  Just like them, you forgot to come back onto the playing field after half time.  Here's a clue, if that plane ticket in your hand does not have SUX, DSM, OMA, MLI, or CID on it, GET OFF THE PLANE.  There are no funds for you to raise in Hollywood.  Your only hope is to spend 24/7 in Iowa.

Arnie

Dear Arnie,

I'm the only candidate to really throw some punches in the debates, but I'm just not getting any traction.  What am I doing wrong?

Pugilistic in Punksatawney

Rick,

I hope you don't mind me using your real name, too many folks don't know you're a Senator from Pennsylvania.  Quit picking fights with Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman.  Your not fighting for third place.  If you want to win, you gotta hit the front runner.  Last I checked, it's that Texan who stole Bachmann's crown.  Hang in their buddy.  Everyone will get their moment in the sun, and yours is coming.  Mark my words.  You've laid the groundwork in Iowa.  Hit Perry on immigration and your turn will come.  Be ready for it.

Arnie

Dear Arnie,

Everyone told me they were waiting for the anti-Mitt, and now that city slicker Rommney has me on defense, just cause I want to end social security.  I thought America wanted a Texas gunslinger, who didn't bother with the details, and didn't have much time for learnin policy, but was an authentic conservative.  How do I get back to my pre-announcement poll numbers?

Texas Ranger

Dear Ranger,

Don't fret none.  Them seniors are used to being scared of losing their big government checks  every four years.  Stayed focused on how you created jobs in Texas.  Roll out your plan for prosperity by discovering oil and gas in the other states, and paying folks less than minimum wage.  I'm sure all will be well.

Arnie

Dear Arnie,

I'm winning over my critics with my newer, tougher approach to the debates.  How do I keep up the momentum?

Manning Up in Massachucetts.

Dear Manning Up,

Congratulations.  I wasn't sure someone from a Commonwealth had it in them.  My dad once told me, when you knock someone down, don't let 'em get back up.  That's good advice for you.  Put your foot on Texas Ranger's neck and keep it there.  You could score an early knock out, but that means taking a chance in Iowa. The fact that the Babtist minister turned Fox News commentator has taken Perry to task means you've got an opening, but you better get moving.  The way things are going those caucuses could be around Thanksgiving.  

Arnie

Dear Arnie,

I just don't understand, I served President Obama faithfully in China, I put my campaign headquarters down the street from the Magic Kingdom in Florida, and the media loves me.  But I'm in danger of getting kicked out of the debates because my poll numbers are so low.  Why aren't I doing better?

Sincerely

Utah Is Better Than Texas

Dear Utah,

Before I can make a proper diagnosis, tell me which party's ticket you are running on?

Arnie

Dear Arnie,

I've made history, I've done exactly what I campaigned on, but nobody's happy.  Even my own party is starting to turn on me.  What can I hope to change?

Barry

Dear Barry,

Rumor has it that New Hampshire has an open primary.  Democrats crossed over last time to help out John McCain.  Maybe you can get them to cross over and vote for Ron 

Paul.  

Arnie 

Posted 9/18/2011 by Christopher

I admit to being dumbfounded by the rapid rise in the polls of Texas Governor Rick Perry.  I cannot figure out what is causing GOP voters to flock to his campaign with seemingly little information on his record.  Yet there he is - the clear frontrunner in three weeks time.  

Two weeks ago at the state fairgrounds I got to see him in action and was amazed at the crowd.  I was particularly struck by an elderly couple, wondering if they knew what Gov. Perry plans for social security?  

Perry's description of Social Security as a Ponzi scheme doesn't trouble me.  The Left is jumping all over his choice of words,  but that isn't the problem.  It's his prescription to fix said Ponzi scheme that is worrisome. 

"Give it back to the states," he said on MSNBC when promoting his book "Fed Up" last year.  "Let the states do it," Perry told CNN.  

I've watched the video.  It took this former legislator a long time to recover because Perry means it.

The states currently have over a TRILLION dollars in un-funded public employee pension plans according to the Pew Center!  Even Texas has $42 Billion in unfunded liability.

Perry really wants to add to that?  Worse still - do we want states competing with each other by offering businesses a lower tax rate for the employer share of social security?May be good for the employer, but not so good for the retirement system or employees.  With a mobile workforce what happens to the person who works in Iowa in their 20s, Nebraska in their 30s South Dakota in their 40s, Minnesota in their 50s and retires to Florida in their 60s?

Maybe I'm wrong.  Maybe putting all fifty states in charge of social security is why people are supporting Perry.

Or, maybe it's his record on jobs.  That does seem to be the central focus this year.  However there are two basic tenants to GOP philosophy about job creation - that it should be private sector jobs, and the government shouldn't be in the business of picking winners and losers.

According to the Wall Street Journal, while private sector jobs grew 9% over Perry's ten years in office, public sector jobs grew a whopping 19%!  That means the taxpayer financed jobs are growing twice as fast as the tax paying supporting jobs.  No disrespect to the teachers, Rangers, and wildfire fighters down there in Texas, but when those jobs grow at a clip twice as fast as the private sector jobs needed to support them, trouble is on the horizon.  

More troubling is that too many of those jobs were low wage.  Perry leads the nations' governors for having the highest percentage of people making minimum wage or less.  He may be able to explain away that fact to the Left given his public position favoring an open border with Mexico, but most Republicans don't favor an open border. 

Of those jobs that Perry can actually brag about, many were "poached" from other states by offering a "subsidy" from his $492 billion Texas Enterprise Fund, on top of Texas  long standing 0% income tax.  Which begs the question, with no income tax, why does Perry still need a half a billion slush fund to lure companies across the border...

Never let it be said that Republicans are not a forgiving lot.  Apparently the GOP can get over Perry's endorsement of Al Gore, Hillarycare, and the federal bail outs.    Me, I guess I'm just out of step with too many Republicans on this one.

Posted 8/19/2011 by Christopher

Last month when I shared with you my  definition of leadership (the ability to disappoint those that placed their trust in you at a rate that they can absorb) I did so mindful of the pending debt ceiling showdown.  

I think it's safe to say there is plenty of disappointment to go around. 

In February I shared my belief that our national debt is the single over arching issue facing our country; impacting everything from social issues to foreign policy.    This debacle underscores the seriousness of the issue.  In terms of a wake up calls this is Mom pouring a bucket of cold water on a reluctant child's head to get them out of bed and off to school.

So, let me ask again - where is the leadership?  Who among our current crop of candidates aspiring to be our national leader demonstrated any leadership at all?

The national frontrunner was apparently in "Mittness" protection program. Now I like Romney, I supported him four years ago, but to ducking the issue and only after the decisions have been made say you are opposed - lacks leadership.  I expected more.

Two candidates who had roles to play, Rep Ron Paul and Rep Michele Bachman were both "no" votes.  I understand that.  However, lacking was any active leadership on their parts to influence the outcome.  

Congresswomen Bachmann chose to be in Ankeny where she proclaimed she would never raise the debt ceiling, but she failed to outline instead how she would avoid default, or how she would avoid the downgrade of the US credit rating impacting all of our interest rates, or how she would solve the crisis.  More difficult to understand is why Rep. Bachmann wasn't in congress exerting leadership or influencing the outcome.  She failed the test of leadership, not because she voted "no" but because she did not try to change the outcome, or offer an alternative remedy.

The other half of the Minnesota Twins slugfest, Governor Pawlenty, couldn't decide if he was for or against doing something.  Initially he came out for the Boehner plan, got crosswise with some Tea Party activists, and eventually opposed the final version even though it was stronger than Boehnner's initial proposal.  Again, no alternatives offered or  leadership demonstrated.

Sarah Palin promised on Facebook primaries to those who voted "yes" and Rick Perry was injecting his own stem cells into his spine in an oddly unorthodox surgery.  No help there. 

Until this crisis I'd not been a big fan of Speaker Boehnner, but now have a new found respect.  He demonstrated what I consider to be real leadership.  In an imperfect situation, one that was not of his creation, he made the best of it, and didn't quit until he got the job done.

The one candidate in the race who demonstrated leadership was (shamelss plug for my guy) Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, who cancelled his Iowa campaign appearance to go do his job.  Despite his misgivings McCotter was a "yes" vote.  Today I got to hear his reasons why, and I'm more convinced then ever I made the right call in signing up.  

He supported the deal because we must prove our model of self governance works.  We tend to ignore that there are rival models in the world, and they are watching us to see if we can make our system work or not.   America cannot afford to look like Greece. 

Secondly, default would be catastrophic. Something we could never erase from our history.  He firmly believes a default would have occurred.  Not necessarily on August 3, but later this month.  Eventually, no matter how you prioritize the spending (pay social security checks first, and NPR last) there would still be a cash flow crunch that leads to default.

McCotter demonstrated leadership because he knew he would disappoint some folks politically today, but the needs of future generations required him to support a solution, imperfect as it may be, to avoid larger problems down the road.  Watching him with prospective voters today, he is clearly conscious that his vote may cost him votes in the GOP primary, but he put that aside and did what he thought was right.  I call that leadership.  Something apparently in short supply these days.

Posted 7/13/2011 by Christopher

Take a moment this morning and ask yourself how you define "leadership".

As the Iowa straw poll and caucuses approach it should be something we are thinking about.  We have plenty of "leaders" running about our state right now.  But is being a "leader" the same thing as exhibiting leadership?

Governors, congressmen and women (past and present), business executives.  Most would say those are all positions of leadership.  But that is using the word as a noun.  Me, I'm looking for the verb - leadership as an action.

So how do you define it?

There is no right or wrong way.  Books have been written on the subject.  Schools from 

West Point to Harvard teach whole semesters on the topic.

The definition of leadership I subscribe i picked up from Martin Linsky at Harvards Kennedy School of Government and it is this: the ability to disappoint those who have placed their trust in you, at a rate they can absorb.

Chew on that as you pour yourself another cup of coffee.

If you never disappoint, that means you never challenge.  You never stand out to point a flaw in what your own group is doing, or push people to move in uncomfortable directions.  Without disappointment, the "leader" is simply standing at the head of the mob moving the same direction, even if it is the wrong one.

The aspect of trust is important.  It is the power voluntarily conveyed upon the leader.

There is an element of timing and communication that goes with that.  If those who are following the leader cannot absorb that disappointment, well, they won't be following for long.  The leader will have lost their trust.

So who among our presidential candidates is displaying leadership?  Either my definition, or your own.

Anyone?

You'll find story after story in the press about what they would not do.  Michele Bachmann (remember my prediction last month that she would win the caucuses...) just pronounced that she would not raise the debt limit.  Period. Great.  But where does she want to lead us to avoid another financial crisis?

Mitt Romney, the co-leader if the polls are to be believed, announced that Obama has made the economy worse, only to recant a week later.  It's ok Mitt, with unemployment at 9.2% you can say he made it worse, but please give us your prescription for turning it around without the typical pander of "lower taxes and reduce red tape" that every candidate on our side of the aisle repeats.

I would submit to you that we haven't seen a lot of leadership from our GOP candidates thus far.  To me that is more disconcerting than anemic fundraising numbers, or disappointing poll results.  In fact, I would argue that some honest leadership, some hard discussions about what it will take to turn out country around will lead to political success as it is measured by the press. 

The candidate that tells us he can fix what ails our nation without some pain, without some shared sacrifice, is not going to provide the leadership we need.

So ask yourself the next time a candidate comes to town, are they exhibiting leadership?

Posted 6/12/2011 by Christopher

As the thermometer keeps climbing, the heat is on the Minnesota Twins this summer.  They will be especially hot under the collar as the Ames Straw Poll approaches. 

I’m not writing about the Twinkies; but the twin politicians from Min-nu-soo-da  who are about to have one heck of a slugfest this summer – Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, and former Governor Tim (call me TPaw) Pawlenty.  Given the way the Twinkies have been playing, there will be more “hits” in Iowa, then in Target Field.

Despite genteel words expressed through clenched jaws that there is room in the race for two Minnesotans – there isn’t.  There also isn’t a lot of love between these two going back to their days in the Minnesota State Senate.

Both Twins are going all out to load the bases for the straw poll and caucuses.  Both need a win – not a 2^nd or a 3^rd place finish – to keep their presidential hopes alive past Iowa. 

Governor Pawlenty has assembled the largest staff of any GOP candidates thus far.  From consultants to field staff, TPaw has some of the best operatives in the state with plenty of experience in statewide races.  I’ve worked with all of them in the past, and there isn’t one of them I would not want on my team. 

The lingering question among observers is, what happens if the staff is better than the candidate?  Pawlenty’s biggest problem is that he doesn’t seem to excite folks.  He’s solid, no question.  Good credentials.  Nice story.  Good guy.  He has been telling folks for two years he wants to run for president.  But he doesn’t exactly fire up anyone.

Maybe there is one exception – while giving a speech at an Iowa GOP event a few years back, one of the centerpieces at his table caught fire.  Maybe it was inspired, maybe it was just a lopsided candle – we’ll never know.

Contrast that with Rep. Bachmann.  For two years people have been telling her she needs to run.  Few politicians fire up a room like the Waterloo native.  Oh yes, despite representing Minnesota in Congress, she reminds everyone she is Iowan by birth. 

Bachmann has also assembled an “in it to win it” team, picking off many of Mike Huckabee’s operatives long before the Governor pulled the plug on another run.  She is tight with the Tea Party movement and has one of their leaders as her state political director.

Rather than be compared to Pawlenty, Bachmann is more often compared to Sarah Palin.  People will comment on obvious similarities, and finish up by noting that Bachmann is the (take your pick) smart one, accomplished, experienced, policy expert….

But with no Palin bus tour in Iowa (apparently Paul Revere didn’t cross the Missouri to warn the British…) Bachmann’s biggest contrast will be with Pawlenty.

My bet is on Bachmann.  She is my pick to win the caucuses.  Understand, she is not MY pick, but the person I think is most likely to win.  There are many reasons – but she has a secret weapon no other candidate possesses - the King factor. 

The first person I ever heard mention Michele Bachmann was Congressman Steve King.  Those two are not just kindred spirits, or intellectual compatriots – they are foxhole buddies.  They fight the same wars together. I can’t imagine him not putting his organization to work for her.  Plus, helping her helps him. King needs to tune up his own organization for his newly drawn district and prep for a future run statewide run. Nobody fires up a room of caucus going Republicans like King.  And in his case, if a centerpiece catches on fire, you know it’s because of the rhetoric.

This column appeared in the Sioux City Journal June 12, 2011.

Posted 10/1/2009 by Chris

1. Allow nonresident owners of farmland to be eligible for free landowner deer licenses now allowed to resident farmland owners.