IowaPolitics.com BlogWatch

I'm grateful that the Iowa Independent bloggers listen to our local
Rush Limbaugh clones so I don't have to. If anything newsworthy comes
out of some right-wing radio show, I can read about it online. I
learned recently that no matter how crazy Congressman Steve King
seems, there are some conservatives who think he should be further
outside the mainstream. … You may recall that Steve King reacted quite
negatively to the Iowa Supreme Court's Varnum v Brien ruling. He
immediately called on the state legislature to pass a constitutional
amendment banning gay marriage. He also advocated imposing residency
requirements for marriage licenses "so that Iowa does not become the
gay marriage Mecca due to the Supreme Court's latest experiment in
social engineering." He has recorded anti-gay marriage robocalls for
the National Organization of Marriage.

Labels: Bill Salier, Steve King

Former Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, Bill Salier, continued his criticism of Congressman Steve King last week while on Steve Deace's program on WHO radio. Salier's most recent criticism stems from an op-ed the congressman penned in the Des Moines Register, which called for a constitutional amendment defining marriage. ... Salier went so far as to suggest that Congressman King is either uninformed about how to stand up to the court, or he is simply reading the political tea leaves and making a political calculation. Salier then said if it is the later, "then somebody should primary King." ... It appears as if Salier is upset with King for wanting to take a practical approach. Passing a marriage amendment to the Iowa Constitution is standing up to the court. While that process is long and tedious, that doesn't mean you forgo that route.

Labels: Bill Salier, marriage, Steve_King

Everything that Cillizza writes is correct, however I don't think there is anyway that Latham or King give up their safe seats in congress to run against Tom Harkin. I also don't think that Republican activists in Iowa are excited Jim Nussle running against Harkin. The only way that I can see Nussle running against Harkin is if Rudy Giuliani is the Republican nominee for President. ... Since I'm a kind and generous person, I thought I'd throw out a few names that should be konsidered. Ron Corbett – Former Speaker of the Iowa House, Former Cedar Rapids Chamber President. ... Bob Vander Plaats – Bob is a perennial kandidate, he has spent the last six years running for Governor or Lt. Governor. Part of me thinks that some people might have grown tired of Vander Plaats, he does has a following of social konservatives that can not be ignored. ... Bill Salier – Bill gave Kongressman Ganske a tough primary fight in 2002 even though he was probably outspent 1000 to 1. Salier is another champion of grassroots konservatives and is now reengaged in Iowa politics, after agreeing to chair Kongressman Tom Tancredo's presidential kampaign here in Iowa.

Labels: Bill Salier, Bob Vander Plaats, Ron Corbett, Steve King, Tom Latham, Tom_Harkin