Coralville Courier

McCain Campaign: John McCain 2008 launches new TV ad: "Troop Funding"

ARLINGTON, VA-- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today released its newest television ad entitled "Troop Funding." The ad highlights Barack Obama's record of failing to call a single oversight hearing on NATO's mission in Afghanistan, failing to visit our troops on the ground in Iraq for over 900 days and failing to support our troops when he voted against critical funding in 2007. The ad will air on national cable and in key states.

Al Gore's global warming and Congressional stonewalling

So Al Gore is doing another self-promotion tour, this time "challenging" the nation to produce every kilowatt of electricity through wind, sun and other Earth-friendly energy sources within 10 years.

Meanwhile, the Democrat led Congress is doing everything it can to obstruct domestic drilling for oil and natural gas.  They are pretending that conducting a witch hunt on oil speculators will actually bring down the cost of a gallon of gas.  Such twisted priority begs the question, "Why focus on speculators now when we need to start drilling like, 15 years ago?"

Is this a marriage of lies or what?  Isn't it a little convenient that Al Gore issues his green challenge at the same time a Democrat led Congress is doing anything BUT addressing the reality that we need greater U.S. production of oil, not imports?

Alternative energy sources and their potential is something that absolutely needs to be pursued.  But in their current stage of development they simply can't do the job that oil, natural gas, nuclear, and coal can do today.  There are a multitude of national security and economic reasons to take advantage of the many untapped traditional energy sources we have right here in the United States.  Congress is ignoring that reality, Al Gore is selfishly ignoring that reality so he can line his pockets with tree hugger cash.  And no, using the fossil fuels we have on hand will not bring an end to the earth.

Do Nothing Nancy Pelosi

What a grandstanding Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (D-CA.) said on April 24, 2006:

"With skyrocketing gas prices, it is clear that the American people can no longer afford the Republican Rubber Stamp Congress and its failure to stand up to Republican big oil and gas company cronies. Americans this week are paying $2.91 a gallon on average for regular gasoline – 33 cents higher than last month, and double the price than when President Bush first came to office."

Congress is about to go on a four-week vacation without taking action on rising gas prices.  Last week President Bush nixed a decades old executive order, a moratorium that banned offshore drilling.  He challenged Congress to lift their legislative ban as well.  Those two things - the President nixing the Executive Order, and Congress lifting their ban - would allow energy companies to tap into domestic sources of oil and natural gas.  But this Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid (D-NV) do-nothing Congress hasn't taken any action to lift the legislative ban that prohibits more drilling.

We have known, vast, untapped sources of oil here at home.  With today's technology we can do so efficiently, in an environmentally sound way, and without putting a black eye on the pristine beauty of nature.  Drilling here, drilling now, means cheaper gas and energy independence.  That's good for the economy, good for national security.  All Congress has to do is get their bureaucratic butts out of the way and let energy companies do their jobs, but Nancy and Harry - DEMOCRATS - would rather go on vacation.

Al Gore's liberal limousine hypocrisy

Why does anybody believe in this guy?

AL GORE, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: "We have less than 10 years to make dramatic changes in our global warming pollution, lest we lose our ability to ever recover from this environmental crisis."

What a load of invented crap and the blatant hypocrisy and double-standard to boot!

Evidence doesn't bare out alarmist claims of global warming

Poor decision making by the state cost taxpayers millions

The Iowa Attorney General's office announced Friday that the state has agreed to pay $15.5 million to TouchPlay machine litigants, who sued the state over the machines now banned in Iowa.

The state legislature studied proposals and authorized TouchPlay machines in 2002, and with that law in play (pun intended) more than 7,300 machines went into operation across the state.  The legislature then pulled the rug out from underneath businesses in May of 2006, placing a ban on TouchPlay games.

Your taxdollars at work.  You are paying that $15.5 million to TouchPlay machine litigants, because legislators don't know what they're doing.

Kiwanis Park is site of next Party in the Park

IOWA CITY -- Local musician Ron Hillis will provide live musical entertainment at the next Party in the Park, scheduled Thursday, July 24 at Kiwanis Park, located at the intersection of Aber Avenue and Teg Drive in Iowa City. Party in the Park, a summertime leisure series sponsored by the City of Iowa City’s Parks and Recreation Department and Neighborhood Services division, seeks to bring neighbors, families, and friends together in their local park for an evening of fun and entertainment. There are no admission fees, and the event is open to the public.

The Kiwanis Park event will kick off with a family theater workshop at 6 p.m., followed at 6:30 p.m. with live music, a tie-dyed paper craft project for all ages, carnival games, free ice cream and other forms of family-friendly entertainment.

The Party in the Park schedule for the remainder of the summer is:
July 31 – Creekside Park
August 7 – Hunter’s Run Park
August 14 – Mercer Park

For more information, contact Joyce Carroll at the City of Iowa City Parks & Recreation Department at 356-5223, or Marcia Klingaman at the City’s Neighborhood Services division at 356-5237.

Editor's Note:  Looks like Marcia Klingaman took our advice and thought better of implying that such events are "FREE." It's good to see that the press release above included the suggested line of, "There are no admission fees" instead of saying it's FREE.  It's a good step in the right direction, now if we could only get them to include that it's a taxpayer funded event (in whole or part).  People need to know where and how their money is being spent - it's an awareness thing.....

Iowa City Officials Plan Trip to DC

Iowa City officials will be meeting with federal delegates in Washington, D. C. next Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss flood recovery efforts in our area. The group will include: Mayor Regenia Bailey, City Manager Michael Lombardo, Public Works Director Rick Fosse and Planning & Community Director Jeff Davidson, as well as representatives from Coralville and the University of Iowa.

The visit will provide an opportunity to provide more details on the extent of the damages in Iowa City, and pointing out key needs for the area.

Editor's Note & Translation:  "Let's go to DC at local taxpayer expense, and ask for more easy money at national taxpayer expense." 

Are the days of self-reliance gone?  It seems that as a society, we've put ourselves into a loop of dependency.

Two Pedestrians Injured in Motor Vehicle Collision

IOWA CITY -- On Saturday, July 19, 2008, at about 1:57 AM, Iowa City Police received a report of a personal injury accident at the intersection of Burlington Street and Clinton Street. Additionally, the caller stated that three pedestrians had been struck by a vehicle.

Upon arrival, officers located two injured pedestrians lying on Burlington Street, just east of Clinton Street. Investigation into the collision determined that a vehicle driven by Kenneth Fox Jr., age 28 of Marshalltown, Iowa, and was travelling eastbound on Burlington Street through its intersection with Clinton Street. The two pedestrians, Allison Loan, age 23 of Coralville, and Adam Gent, age 23 of Waverly, Iowa, were southbound crossing Burlington Street, just east of Clinton Street, when they were struck by the vehicle operated by Fox. Loan and Gent sustained injuries from the collision and were transported to University of Iowa Hospitals by the Johnson County Ambulance Service. Their conditions are not available.

Fox was later arrested for Operating While Intoxicated, second offense, and transported to the Johnson County Jail.

The investigation into this incident continues. Additional charges are expected.

The Iowa City Police Department was assisted by the University of Iowa Police Department, Iowa City Fire Department, and Johnson County Ambulance Service.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Solon: School Issue Awareness

Dear Concerned Parents,

I feel compelled to share with you a few discussion points from this week’s school board meeting.  My hope is to create more awareness on issues that effect your families and perhaps offer another perspective. 

The first discussion was prompted by a concerned parent regarding the $75 textbook fee assessed to ALL 1,200 plus students. This fee generates in excess of $90,000/yr in discretionary spending for our school system as stated by board president, Dick Schwab.  This fee is NOT mandated by the Iowa Department of Education.  There are public schools in IA that do not charge this fee and the amount of the fee is set by the schools administration.  This administration chose to assess families this fee a few years ago and it does not have a cap or limit on it.  How these funds are allocated I do not know but would hope prudence is exercised.

How to generate more money to cover the $16,000 athletic budget shortfall was another topic. Two options were mentioned.  The first was advertising at sporting events and second, charging admission to middle school events.  The advertising would entail a partnership with a company such as “Scoreboards by Design” who is currently in contracts with Anamosa, Ankney, and Johnston to name a few.  Reaping financial gain via exploiting children on school premises may be a philosophical hurdle for some and understandably so.  One could pose the same argument for charging admission to a middle school event.  Obviously, we have learned all too well the financial gain created from children and athletics in our school systems.  My preference would be if a school makes it to post season play, Des Moines (the financial redistribution center) should allocate the financial resources.  Why schools couldn’t be awarded financially for their athletic achievements I do not know?   Certainly the statewide 1 % local option sales tax, which generates hundred’s of thousands of dollars a year for our school could cover this expense. Or why not designate a portion of the $90,000 in discretionary spending?  Haven’t we already paid our dues and than some?  There is a costly difference between spending a budget and managing a budget and until we demand accountability you will have less in your pocketbook.

Lastly, over two months have passed since a petition of no confidence in our superintendent was presented to the president of the school board.  Do these 220 plus community members not deserve closure on this issue?

If any of these issues are of importance to you, if you have potential solutions, I encourage you to contact the school board.  Invest in children.

Lori P. Cardella, Solon

Congressman Dave Loebsack, beholden to political action committees

According to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, Congressman Dave Loebsack collected $20,650 in political contributions from individuals and $59,750 from political action committees (PACs) during the second quarter.

Loebsack is seeking a second term in the U.S. Congress, representing Iowa's Second District.  The Mt. Vernon Democrat has raised a total of $746,154 as of June 30, and has $469,051 remaining for his re-election campaign.  About two-thirds of that war chest comes from PAC sources, not individuals of the Second District.

His opponent, Republican Marriannette MIller-Meeks took in more from individual donors during the second quarter, raising $30,965.   Using a much more grassroots oriented financing approach than Loebsack's PAC agenda, Miller-Meeks has raised $123,000 overall according to campaign manager Todd Versteegh.

Editor's Note:  Miller-Meeks raised $30,965 from individuals, compared to Loebsack's $20,650.  Considering Democrat leaning and affluent Johnson County is in play, Loebsack's low number from individuals suggests that he prefers paying attention to PACs, and not the folks here at home.  And here's a thought, the general campaign season is barely six weeks old and Loebsack has already spent over $277,000?  On what?  Collect and spend, collect and spend....  Again, on what?  That represents Iowa values?