I read (but don't usually think much of) David Yepsen's column in the Des Moines Register. When I was a young neophyte I commented to Spellman that I liked Yepsen's political columns. Spellman - never one to mince words - said only an "f'ing right winger" would like to read Yepsen. Over the years I've wised up and Yepsen's right-of-center bias is as clear as my left-of-center bias.
In yesterday's column Yepsen says the Vilsack pick is a firewall to keep Iowa Democrats happy in case Obama is challenged from the left in 2012. Our first in the nation caucus could be the key to another Obama nomination, much in the same way that Iowa served as Carter's firewall against Ted Kennedy in 1980.
I'm going to stick with my assertion that it had more to do with Senator Harkin than it did Iowa. If Iowa Democrats sincerely took the endorsement of Vilsack seriously Hillary would not have come in third in the Iowa caucuses.
In today's column I agree with Yepsen that the Harkin-Grassley-Vilsack trifecta is the most power our state has had in Washington since Hoover was President. I would add that Congressman Braley's appointment to powerful committees shows he's destined for leadership in the House.
As if having every presidential candidate kiss our ass is not enough we now have real power in Washington and a President who remembers that it all started in Iowa.
Unfair, unfair! Grassley and Harkin are as powerful as any across-the-aisle duo in Washington. And Obama proved he loves Iowa when he came back here late in the campaign even though Iowa was in the bag.
ReplyDeleteVilsack is Iowa's first cabinet appointment in 60 years. Even though I think he's a douchebag, it is better than Screech's win.
Hmmm, I might be wrong. After Screech won that fight he did porn.
That will remain in the top ten things I never want to see.