Fong’s In

Christian Fong just tweeted that he’s entering the campaign for governor:
christianfong Today I announced & filed that I am a candidate for Governor of Iowa
So I guess Eastern Iowa now has a candidate.  He talked to James Lynch of The Gazette first.

Krusty Calls it a Krush

Krusty Konservative today expands on his misgivings about the possibility of Christian Fong jumping into the GOP race for governor.
Krusty contends that service on the Generation Iowa Commission does not make a hefty gubernatorial resume, he’s a young unknown and would be better off seeking a legislative seat first — all valid, fair points.
Krusty also thinks I [...]

Tuesday Column — Culver Visits Denial

Misplacing a governor is never good, as we’ve learned in recent days.
You think he’s hiking and it turns out he’s crying in Argentina. So it’s important for Iowans to keep track of our governor, for his sake and ours.
So where is Gov. Chet Culver?
“It’s just like he’s in a state of denial,” said former Gov. [...]

Elect Me. Impeach Me.

Republican candidate for governor Bob Vander Plaats has unveiled a new campaign strategy. If elected, he promises to be impeached.
From The Iowa Independent:
Appearing on the show of controversial Christian radio host Steve Deace, Vander Plaats once again said if elected governor in 2010 he would issue an executive order stopping same-sex marriage until the legislature [...]

Iowa, You Can Still Make Me Smile

Good news, the state isn’t banning smiling.
The DOT is using new facial recognition software on driver’s licenses. But unlike other states, Iowa won’t require a long face. From Radio Iowa:
(DOT spokesperson Dena) Gray-Fisher says the software Iowa is putting into practice will not require people to put on a blank, stony face. “Any Iowan can certainly [...]

The Register’s Excellent Choice

So I was in an intense column idea-generating session yesterday afternoon on Gardner Golf Course when my BlackBerry buzzed with news that Kathie Obradovich will be The Register’s new political columnist.  She replaces some guy named David Yepsen, who took a job at Southern Illinois U.
The Register made an excellent choice.
Kathie was Des Moines bureau chief for [...]

A Presidential Precedent in Hiawatha

The Washington Post carries newsof a new Maryland elementary school a few miles from the White House that’s going to be named for President Obama. It would be the second school in country named after The One.
Obama is also not the first president to have a school named after him while he’s still in office.  The Post notes that it [...]

Thursday Column — Young and Ambitious

I spent Wednesday trying to pin down the young and ambitious.
First, I hoped to check in with Christian Fong, the brain drain-plugging guru and rising conservative star from Cedar Rapids who is being mentioned as a potential Republican candidate for governor. With all these western Iowans running, I was wondering if Eastern Iowa might have [...]

New Digs

My base of operation inside The Gazette mothership was moved to a new locale today. The opinion desk is now located on the first floor.
The good news is that I’m still allowed in the building.
Also,  I now have two windows instead of one. Bonus.
For your enjoyment, I snapped photos of both the south vista, with its commanding view of [...]

Hinzman Suspends his Mayoral Ambitions

Gary Hinzman says he’s staying on the sidelines in Cedar Rapids’ mayoral race, at least for the time being.
For months, the director of the Sixth District Department of Correctional Services was expected to run. He posted a campaign Web site and asked city officials for advice on any ethics problems that his election might pose for family members who work for [...]