Yes, I early voted today. There was actually a line today, already, for voting in Iowa City's Public Library. I proudly filled in all the bubbles, but found one ballot initiative that took me off guard. A fellow named John Deeth blogs about it here:
The so-called "Idiot amendment" would delete the words "idiot" and "insane" from the Constitution’s section on voting rights, replacing them with the more PC phrase "mentally incompetent."
Deeth points out that "in the short term it’s likely to produce a fair share of insensitive humor, and a fair amount of voter confusion." Done and done.
A brief glance at the spectacular failure of GOP challenger in IA-2, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, against all-around-good-guy, dem. Dave Loebsack, after the jump. When political jujitsu fails...
If a press release goes through the tubes, and nobody reads it, does it make a sound? I hesitate to give this tripe a place on DailyKos since I'm all but sure this is the most circulation Mariannette Miller-Meeks has ever gotten, but read these sharp wordsfor Congressman Dave Loebsack:
"While it's important that Congress finally acted, it's clear David Loebsack had little to do with the relief package and he has not been a leader. There's a big difference between action and leadership," Dr. Miller-Meeks said. "He followed the failed leadership of a Do-Nothing Congress that chose to play politics before delivering aid to Iowans as soon as possible."
Dave Loebsack was on the scene soon after the flood, and has been a single-issue representative in his leadership since the flood, leading talk-back sessions, meeting constituents and homeowners at every pass, and keeping the horrific flood of '08 alive and urgent. In short, the government professor emeritus he did what all reps should do: he made it a point to fight for his constituents.
I thought he was being a leader. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe he was taking action. Whatever. I'm confused, Ms. Miller-Meeks: which is the good and the bad? And let's take a look at Dave Loebsack's votes from yesterday, shall we?
639 25-Sep H R 758 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended P Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act of 2008
638 25-Sep H RES 1490 On Agreeing to the Resolution P Same Day Rule
637 25-Sep H RES 1490 On Ordering the Previous Question P Same Day Rule
636 24-Sep S 2606 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass P United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2008
635 24-Sep H R 7006 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass P Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2008
634 24-Sep H R 7005 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass P Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008
633 24-Sep H R 5265 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended P Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Community Assistance, Research, and Education Amendments of 2008
632 24-Sep H R 2638 On Motion to Concur in Senate Amendment with Amendment P Making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for fiscal year ending September 30, 2008
In these days of OMG the banking sector is failing OMG OMG panic, to get tax relief for homeowners in small businesses for a disaster that, at 3.5 months old, has faded from national consciousness, Loebsack deserves a medal.
But Loebsack has one big problem. There is one charge of Mariannette Miller-Meeks' that he has not, to my knowledge, answered:
Loebsack Tax Break For Bike Riders Proves He'S Out Of Touch With Iowans' Real Needs
Congressman Loebsack, what do you say to this? Anti-bicycle voters everywhere demand an answer.
Prediction? No joke? Loebsack +50 in IA-2. Obama, +35 +/-10.
Just a hunch. We're mobilized. We're activated. We're registered. We're voting.
And we're not idiots.